Thursday, March 29, 2012
At the Park Again
Monday, March 26, 2012
Rainy Day Projects
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
We're Moving!
Friday, March 09, 2012
Burritos All Around
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Why Think About the End Times?
A sunrise is arresting in its splendor as its brilliant rays pierce the morning clouds and drive away the lingering darkness. Such it will be with the Son of Man and his impending, glorious return.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
(Matthew 24:29-31)
After the “darkness” of these trying days there will be a great day of darkness like has never been before. At this point in Jesus discourse with the disciples he transitions from talking about the horrible tribulations that will be happening on the earth (vv.4-28) to the hope that will be appearing in the heavens. Five times in this passage Jesus returns to that theme of “heavens” like a resounding hammer blow. It will be the prophetic climax of the ages when the King returns in his glory and claims his people (cf. Isa.13:10, 27:13, 34:4; Zech 12:10; Dan. 7:13-14; Deut. 30:4).
But why are we given such a vivid description of these events? Why are they not merely painted in black-and-white? Why is it not sufficient to know that he will return, why such detail? Here are three effects that it has had on my soul:
1) Refuge: This description of the final day of darkness has the Old Testament prophetic connotations of judgment. But this description is also meant to cause us to run for refuge to the first day of darkness when the Son of Man hung on a bloody cross under the brooding gloom of heaven as he bore the sins of men (Matt. 27:45-53).
2) Courage: The certain finality of this victorious King coming again in glory is meant to have an en-couraging effect upon his disciples who are thrust out on mission (Matt. 24:14, 28:18-20). Press on in the labors until the final trumpet blows and the banner of the King rises in heaven, He is coming!
3) Hope: “The one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matt. 24:13), and it is a battle of endurance. Then, in one moment, the longings, groaning, and tears of this age will melt away as our hope appears in the heavens.
When shall I be delivered from this vain world of sin,
And shall hear the trumpet sound in that morning?
And with my blessed Jesus drink endless pleasures in,
And shall hear the trumpet sound in that morning?
Oh shout glory! for I shall mount above the skies
When I hear the trumpet sound in that morning
-John Leland (1754-1841) Sacred Harp
A sunrise is arresting in its splendor as its brilliant rays pierce the morning clouds and drive away the lingering darkness. Such it will be with the Son of Man and his impending, glorious return.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
(Matthew 24:29-31)
After the “darkness” of these trying days there will be a great day of darkness like has never been before. At this point in Jesus discourse with the disciples he transitions from talking about the horrible tribulations that will be happening on the earth (vv.4-28) to the hope that will be appearing in the heavens. Five times in this passage Jesus returns to that theme of “heavens” like a resounding hammer blow. It will be the prophetic climax of the ages when the King returns in his glory and claims his people (cf. Isa.13:10, 27:13, 34:4; Zech 12:10; Dan. 7:13-14; Deut. 30:4).
But why are we given such a vivid description of these events? Why are they not merely painted in black-and-white? Why is it not sufficient to know that he will return, why such detail? Here are three effects that it has had on my soul:
1) Refuge: This description of the final day of darkness has the Old Testament prophetic connotations of judgment. But this description is also meant to cause us to run for refuge to the first day of darkness when the Son of Man hung on a bloody cross under the brooding gloom of heaven as he bore the sins of men (Matt. 27:45-53).
2) Courage: The certain finality of this victorious King coming again in glory is meant to have an en-couraging effect upon his disciples who are thrust out on mission (Matt. 24:14, 28:18-20). Press on in the labors until the final trumpet blows and the banner of the King rises in heaven, He is coming!
3) Hope: “The one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matt. 24:13), and it is a battle of endurance. Then, in one moment, the longings, groaning, and tears of this age will melt away as our hope appears in the heavens.
When shall I be delivered from this vain world of sin,
And shall hear the trumpet sound in that morning?
And with my blessed Jesus drink endless pleasures in,
And shall hear the trumpet sound in that morning?
Oh shout glory! for I shall mount above the skies
When I hear the trumpet sound in that morning
-John Leland (1754-1841) Sacred Harp
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