Erasing Hell: Making Progress

As we've been progressing through the book Erasing Hell we've taken a look at what a) the Jews of Jesus' day believed b) what Jesus himself believed and c) what Jesus' followers believed. And we've reached some startling conclusions:

1. Hell is a place of punishment after judgment.
2. Hell is described in imagery of fire and darkness, where people lament
3. Hell is a place of annihilation or never-ending punishment.

These are not necessarily things we wanted to believe. Nevertheless, we can not deny the words of Scripture. If we are not going to question what God means when He says that as believers we will reign with Him "forever and ever" (Rev 22:5), then we cannot question He also means what He says when He uses the same "forever and ever" when He speaks about hell. 

Chan encourages us to stop trying to fit our view of justice on top of God's word. We must trust that our omnipotent, omniscient God knows what He's doing.

"I really belive it's time for some of us to stop apologizing for God and start apologizing to Him for being embarrassed by the way He has chosen to reveal Himself."

Another thing we must take from what we learn is that we are not just reciting facts, we are dealing with peoples souls and the power of God's word. The Lord calls us to "tremble" at His word (Isaiah 66:2), which never goes from Him without accomplishing its purpose (Isaiah 55:11). If He has said it, we can trust Him to do it. No matter how beautiful or terrible it may seem to us.

"For if we have died with Him, we will also live with Him;
if we endure, we will also reign with Him;
if we deny Him, He will also deny us;
if we are faithless, He remains faithful,
for He cannot deny Himself"
(2 Timothy 2:11-13)

This week we will be talking about what all of this has to do with those of us who already call ourselves "Christians". Hell doesnt just threaten murderers and blasphemers, but also the racists, those who call their brothers and sisters names, and those who lead others astray (Matt 8, 5 and James 3). 

It is time to decide if we are ready to let eternity permeate every aspect of our lives. And if we are,
It is time to change.

Story of Grace: Beauty with Purpose

Tiffany Miller

Age: 20

Major: Earth Science

Year: Junior

Favorite Animal: Jellyfish

Favorite Quote:

             "You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me”

                                                                                          -C.S. Lewis

Tiffany grew up in church and had been hearing about Christ since she was a small child. But it wasn’t until her first days as a college freshman that she really felt interest in the real relationship forming between her and her Savior. And happily, she hasn’t stopped pursing Him in the years since.

Tiffany tells us that one of the major turning points in her life was learning to hear God’s voice .Tiff had pursued the voice of God to frustrating ends many times in the past and as she sat in a room dedicated to that very purpose at last year’s ABIDE conference, she didn’t really know what to expect. Her heart poured forth questions and eager pleas to hear her Beloved’s voice as we often do in prayer. And in a sweet moment between breaths, she heard the whisper, “Stop running.”

Running from what? Tiffany wouldn’t get the answer until weeks later in her weekly meeting with former BSM director, Wayne Dillon. Tiffany had begun to become interested in missions and even had a particular GoNow trip on her mind so she was delighted but still doubtful when Wayne told her she still had a chance to apply. However, that night after a sermon on Jonah and the wise counsel that “sometimes running from God is just staying where you are”, Tiffany was ready to begin working towards what would be a life changing trip to New York to share the Gospel.

Tiffany later described her GoNow experience as a conduit to see herself and God in a completely new way.

“God used me in ways I never thought I could be used”.

Having learned French in high school but never finding opportunity to use it, Tiffany was thrilled to meet a woman at a festival while in New York who was deliberately seeking out a member of the team who spoke French. After basic introductions and small talk Tiffany had made a new friend and planted an important seed. The woman and her companions spent the rest of the festival at the mission team’s table and Tiffany and her friends would later find out that these weren’t just any guests, but guests of honor who were supposed to be in prime seating but chose to keep the company of the young Christians instead. Praise the Lord!

“Now one of the local New York missionaries goes to their home weekly and tells them Bible stories, and they are Muslim!”

Tiffany hasn’t stopped growing in her identity since the trip and is constantly enlarging her view of our great God. Recently she’s been studying true beauty. She says she’s been seeking the wisdom of scripture to help her understand the visible and invisible qualities that the Lord created in us.

“People tell you all the time that beauty isn't just on the outside, but I never paid attention until now. When He [God] says we are made perfect, we are made perfect to suit His will. God had a purpose for Esther’s beauty, maybe He has a purpose for yours too.”

Advice to Freshman: Looking back over the past few years, from where she was to how far she’s come, Tiffany advises freshman to get plugged in, as fast and as soon as they can. She warns them not to be stagnant or turn away, to keep pursuing the Lord and never give the devil a foothold.

Go Nowers

Hello Ladies,

Please be praying for two of our sisters who are still serving this summer on missions. Desi in Houston and Stephanie in Venezuela. I know that they really appreciate your support. Also, we recently welcomed home Kimberly from Asia. Please continue to pray over the work that the Lord has done, as well as all that he continues to do through the hands and feet of our sweet friends and the long term missionaries who are currently serving where they have been sent!!

The Ultimate Make-Over: The Benefits of Concealer

At our last captivate meeting I was trying to take some pictures for our new blog. In doing so, one girl responded as we all often do, "I don't have any makeup on." Several other girls began to comment and discuss that they too were in a similar situation. However, then one bold young woman chimed in and began to share her testimony with us about her recent commitment to abstain from the use of makeup. She went on to explain that she posses the head knowledge that the Lord has decreed her beauty but desires to establish that as heart knowledge. 


 All it took was one woman sharing her brokenness to unveil a room full of beautiful women who are constantly trying to cover up their imperfections out of insecurity.

One of the ways we try and make ourselves feel better is by saying, " I only use concealer and mascara." All the while meditating on the fact that we wouldn't be nearly as confident outside of our homes without those two things.

 According to Webster, the definition of concealer is as follows:


        1. One that conceals 


        2. A cosmetic used to conceal blemishes or discoloration under the eyes 

 Webster has it spot on. The makeup is a cover up (no pun intended). Out of insecurity our solution is to conceal the truth of how we have been created in order to fit into the standards of the society we live in. I recognize this is not always true daily, but maybe it is.

Although on the surface at our meeting we discussed body image there is more to it than just that. This goes deeper into the constructs of our souls. 


We come together and play the part, some days it's just easier than being transparent. However, it is harmful to our spirit to contain our sin and behave as though we are not who we truly are.

How beautiful it is to share the burdens of the darling spiritual siblings around you. Our heavenly father desires for us to not conceal the truth of our identiy but rather to share our shortcomings in order to elevate him higher. So in a spiritual sense, what are the benefits of concealer? 

What fears keep you from sharing your life open and honestly with those around you? Is there something that you are concealing?

Erasing Hell: The Beginning

Have you ever said that you just couldn't believe something about God?
I just can't believe God lets bad things happen to good people.
I just CAN'T believe an all-loving God would send people to hell.


I know I have. Sometimes the things I "can't" believe about God are so stressful to me I just brush them under the rug and try not to think about them.
Like hell.


But according to Francis Chan, its not really that we "can't" believe these things about our God, its that we just dont want to.


This past Monday, our women's bible study met  and discussed the first chapter of Chan's book, Erasing Hell. Our goal is to find out, as the book describes, what God had to say about eternity, and what we as Christians, nonbelievers, sinners and desperate people, have made up.
    
We shared that as we've grown older and matured, so has our view of what hell is. From a literal lake of fire to the sheer emptiness of a place that is void of God. Although we are still unsure and have much to learn, here is what we have discovered so far:


     1. There are no second chances after death.
     2. God gets what God wants: But, just because it is in God's moral will for everyone to be saved, it  may not      necessarily be in His decreed will. This is where our free will comes into play.
     3. God is God. His ways are higher, and He knows more than we do. God has the right to do WHATEVER He pleases.
    4. Not everyone will go to heaven.
And last, but not least
     5. We can not afford to be wrong.


People are at stake and even though it is a scary subject, we are determined to understand as best as we can. Chan's introduction afforded us a beautiful prayer that we have decided will be our compass for the next few weeks:

God, I want to know what is true.

I know I have cravings that sway and distort my abilty to reason.

You promise that Your Holy Spirit will guide me into all truth.

I pray that He will now.

I don't want to be wrong.

I don't want to be deceived by others or myself.

You alone possess all truth, and I want to be on Your side.

Give me eyes to see and ears to hear.

Give me courage to live and speak what is right no matter the cost.

I don't want to believe anything about You that is not true.

Amen.

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field'."

Matthew 9:37-38

<3 Kp

P.S Check out what Chan had to say as he began writing this book, just follow the link and click "watch video". Its worth it I promise!



http://francischan.org/#/erasing-hell