SCRIPTURE: Colossians 4
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. [Colossians 4:5-6]
What kind of seasoning does your life add to others?
Paul’s actually says “gracious and seasoned with salt”, and means that our words (and lives) would be a positive blessing to others, a sample of God’s love and goodness.
This requires intentionality – we need to think about how we will live and speak among others, using every opportunity God provides to draw people to Him.
Sadly, many christians do not live intentionally like this; they do not prepare each with prayer, they do not pay attention to the things going on around them, looking for the opportunities God provides.
This is my personal experience… Continue reading good taste?

SCRIPTURE: Colossians 3
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honour at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. [Colossians 3:1-2]
In this passage, Paul is speaking about our core commitment or focus: may you be driven by something beyond this world, may you be motivated by Jesus, Lord of the Universe, and all that He has in mind for you.
This includes the kind of life, the kind of joy, the kind of morality, the kind of attitude, etc., that will characterize life with Jesus in the forever kingdom.
For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. [Colossians 3:3-4 (NLT)
By committing to Jesus, we have ‘died to’ (or been released from) the desperate attachment to stuff and things and “me”, the attachment that is killing people anyway.
Now we find life, joy, peace, hope, contentment in Jesus and in God, and in all they represent.
To borrow an analogy from C.S.Lewis, we are like children no longer excited about our little sandbox because we have been promised a day at the beach, a forever day! Continue reading life beyond the sandbox

SCRIPTURE: Colossians 2
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. [Colossians 2:16-17]
Paul honours Jesus like the Jews honoured the Law of Moses; for the Jews the Torah was the highest reality next to God, but for Paul Jesus is that highest reality.
Paul goes further, he describes the Law as a shadow (symbols, not the real thing but vague impressions of the real thing) of Jesus.
Our devotion is not the a set of rules, but to a person – Jesus the Messiah.
He has made it possible for us to be set free from the curse of the Law (doomed to always break it) and the accusation of the devil (rightfully mocked as Law-breakers), by taking that curse upon Himself (through His death) and beating the devil’s accusation (through His resurrection).
Jesus has fulfilled the imagery of both circumcision (the old testament) and baptism (the new testament), and now the only thing that counts is our connection to Jesus. Continue reading the real thing!

SCRIPTURE: Colossians 1
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
I love this letter, I love how it conveys Paul’s heart and passion, how it expresses the meaning of the message of Jesus so clearly – at least it does for me.
Paul is a passionate missionary for Jesus, and you can feel his excitement at the beginning of this letter for the new Jesus followers at Colosse.
But his passion for them is only beaten by his passion for Jesus, and his “song about Jesus” in the middle of this chapter shows how HUGE Jesus is, not just for Paul and other believers, but for the whole world!
Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together… So he is first in everything. [Colossians 1:16-18] Continue reading on fire for the Lord

There are two passages assigned for today!

SCRIPTURE: Esther 10
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Mordecai the Jew became the prime minister, with authority next to that of King Xerxes himself. He was very great among the Jews, who held him in high esteem, because he continued to work for the good of his people and to speak up for the welfare of all their descendants. [Esther 10:3]
When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honour at God’s right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs. [Mark 16:19-20]
In Mordecai, we see a picture of Jesus, positioned next to the highest ruler, ruling on behalf of the people.
What a great moment for the Jews, to have their man in the highest position in society, even though they were exiles in a foreign land.
We are in this same place: though we are like strangers in the world, we have our man in the highest position, working on behalf of His followers, confirming their efforts with His power! Continue reading He has our back

There are two passages assigned for today!

SCRIPTURE: Esther 9
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
He told them to celebrate these days with feasting and gladness and by giving gifts of food to each other and presents to the poor. This would commemorate a time when the Jews gained relief from their enemies, when their sorrow was turned into gladness and their mourning into joy. [Esther 9:22]
Sorrow into gladness, mourning into joy.
This day becomes a national holiday, an annual celebration to remember this great day of deliverance.
Many nations have days like this – Bastille Day in France, Cinco de mayo in Mexico, July 4th in the US.
For Jesus followers, we have Good Friday and Easter (also Christmas and Pentecost), but more than that, we have a regular meal by which we commemorate our great deliverance – the Lord’s Supper. Continue reading let the party begin!

This coming Sunday at Crossroads (July 18) Pastor Lisa Vanderleek will share a message from Luke 4:3-37. The message is entitled “The Onion Sermon”. As Jesus began his ministry, different people had different reactions to his message. Some rejected him right away. Others were amazed by his teaching, and still others recognized him as the Son of God. Just as an onion has layers, so too does our life of faith. We have layers of rejection, amazement and recognition as we discover the person and message of Jesus of Nazareth. How do you react to Jesus, or to His message?

SCRIPTURE: Esther 8
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
The decree was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the king’s signet ring. Mordecai sent the dispatches by swift messengers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king’s service. The king’s decree gave the Jews in every city authority to unite to defend their lives. They were allowed to kill, slaughter, and annihilate anyone of any nationality or province who might attack them or their children and wives, and to take the property of their enemies. [Esther 8:10-11]
The Jews were filled with joy and gladness and were honoured everywhere. [Esther 8:16]
Through Xerxes’ signet ring, God places His seal of protection on the Jews.
In the official decree, the name of the Jewish people was written, having the backing and protection of the king behind them.
Even though the original decree still stood (that people could kill the Jews on that day), this latest decree made it clear that the king did not support those who would try to kill the Jews; he was on their side!
No wonder the Jews rejoiced; no wonder non-Jews converted, out of fear for the king! Continue reading a royal decree

This coming Saturday 10 youth and 3 adult leaders will be going to St. Catharines (otherwise known as Niagara Serve) for a weeklong youth service event. I am excited, and thankful to be a part of this team. This is my 15th SERVE experience, and I have seen God work in amazing ways in all the participants, those served, those leading the site, the youth and adult SERVE-ants. The social time, worship time, motivational speakers, faith-stretching experiences, service opporunities – all surrounded by fun, laughter, and God’s Spirit touching the deep places in our hearts.

Please pray for the team, and for all the others involved in Niagara SERVE. There will be aroiund 50 youth plus adult leaders. Pray also for the Host Team as they work out all the details. Pray for a life-changing experience. The youth going from Crossroads are: Esther Andringa, Zach Biel, Tabitha David, Brandon Hong, James Roberts, Danielle Roberts, Janelle Sennema, Zach Vanderwel, , Cody Walton, Scott Yoshikuni. The adult leaders are Sue Crossman, Norm Sennema and Ralph Vanderwel.

SCRIPTURE: Esther 7
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai, and the king’s anger subsided. [Esther 7:10]
For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. [Matthew 7:2]
The bible repeatedly warns that there is a boomerang effect to our actions [see Proverbs 26:27].
We get what we give; if we live by the sword, we die by the sword.
Those who spread gossip will be slandered by gossip; those who make life miserable for others will end up being miserable themselves.
The flip side is also true; those that are generous will experience generosity, those that are loving will be loved. Continue reading the boomerang effect