By Pastor Tim White
I really love both my sons-in law. Spending time with Pastor Rey this last weekend was every father-in-law’s dream. I feel this way when I get together with either of my sons-in-law. But last weekend, we laughed, and it was just a celebration of life. We were having lunch with Rey’s sister, Sarai and his mom, Isabel, and started talking about the idea of using the “Game of Thrones” as the sermon title this week. You should know that Rey’s mom has been such an anchor to so many, she is a very Christ-like person. And Rey is always teasing his mom. So, Rey announced loudly enough for his mom to hear saying, “my mom doesn’t like Game of Thrones because it doesn’t have enough nudity in it for her.” And we all started laughing knowing he was just teasing her. Both of my sons-in-law bring so much joy to my life because they are both fully alive.
This week I will be preaching on 1 John 2:15-17 and it will be a very motivating message. With the help of the staff I entitled this message Game of Thrones - God Wins. Everyone is talking about this series of shows with Dragons, Knights and seven Monarchs trying to win the Iron Throne. But in real life, God wins the Throne. There are no if’s, maybe’s, and’s or but’s. God is going to win the throne and there is nothing anyone can do about it. That is a powerful reminder of how we should be making our life choices today. 1 John teaches us that there is a force pushing us to go one way and we need to stand against that push and take the narrow road that God has planned for us. That we must put God on the “Throne of our lives.”
It is going to be fun to learn the different Greek words translated into ‘World’ in the New Testament. There seems to be an apparent contradiction because in John’s gospel it tells us “that God so loved the world...” And yet in this passage in John’s epistle it is telling us that “we can’t love the world and serve God.” There is a distinction with a difference that can open doors for you to better understand the life that God has for you. Good old St. Irenaeus said, “the glory of God is man fully alive.” Father John Powell, a Jesuit priest, penned the words “I do not believe that following God is to be at the head of a funeral procession. It is to be fully alive, loving and being loved, savoring every moment of life because Jesus came to give us life in all its fullness.” Please join us this weekend for worship that inspires.
Your friend for the rest of my life,
Pastor Tim