We are finally home! – Really?

Our home in the fall.

After 6,526.6 miles of travel, we arrived back to Madison Avenue, our home.  It is so wonderful to be back in our own home with our own stuff.  And how can I even explain how wonderful it has been to see our family and friends.  Oh yes, home is a wonderful place.  But yet while we were in Arizona, we were at home on E. Velvet Dr. and we had family and friends there too.  So what is home?  The dictionary says, “the place where one lives permanently, esp. as a member of a family or household”.  From that definition, I am not home yet because my permanent home is in heaven with my Heavenly Father.

Frank loves gospel music, like the Gaither’s Homecoming series.  And the funny thing is when you listen very long you will notice that much of that music talks about our heavenly home, either in expectation of getting there or of being there. As we drove along we loved seeing the change in topography knowing that seeing the rolling hills and trees (even though there were no leaves yet) meant that we were almost home.  I will be 65 this year and Frank will be 80.  Yep, we are getting older, and as that happens, the funny thing is that the expectation of our heavenly home becomes clearer.  We know that we have much more of living behind us than before us, and that is OK because that means we are closer to home.  Don't get me wrong, we are not ready to go yet.  We love life and have lots to do yet.

Some of you reading this will be able to say a “big Amen” because you understand exactly what I am saying, while others may be thinking I am a little crazy.  Here is what I will say to the second group.  The Bible says that in order to be assured of having a permanent heavenly home, we must put our trust and faith in what Jesus did for us on the cross.  Jesus died to forgive us of our sins and make us acceptable for our heavenly home.

We are in the Easter season now and I urge everyone to spend some time this year reading the account of Jesus’ death and resurrection.  Read it in each one of the Gospels – it will be at least 2 chapters in each one.  It will make this season so worthwhile.  I will make it easy – just click on the links.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26&version=NIV

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+14&version=NIV

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22&version=NIV

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+18&version=NIV

Have joyous Easter.

CHURCH

I love church!  What?  Why would I say that?  Well, I have discovered through the years that my inner-self or soul or whatever you want to call it is most contented when I am affiliated with a church.  Does it have to be a particular one?  Of course not.  Here is the funny thing.  When you are a believer, a Christian, no matter where you are, you can be in fellowship with other Christian people and it seems like you have known them forever.

The Chapel of Christian Faith, The Villages, FL

Last year when we went to Florida, we went to a church and loved it.  

Portersville Bible Church

When we are away on weekends at home we go a country church in Portersville, PA and have such a great time with the people there.  http://www.portersvillebible.com/

Arizona Community Church

We have been going to a large (about 2500 members) church called Arizona Community Church.  (We needed a map of the Campus!) We love it. We are actually singing in the 60 -70 member choir.  http://www.azcc.org/ 

Calvary Baptist Church, West Mifflin

But of course nothing can take the place of our home church, Calvary Baptist in West Mifflin.

http://www.calvarybaptistwestmifflin.com/

Jesus wants us to go to church.  His Word tells us to do it – “Hebrews 10: 23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

Many people attend a church at the beginning and the end (birth – baptism, death – funeral), and a few times in-between – Weddings, Christmas and Easter.  But there is so much more to it than this.

The most important thing in choosing a church is whether the Bible (God’s Word) is central in every sermon – not stories or feel good motivation but genuine teaching from the Word.  It is God's Word that will get you through the week or months, through trials and problems, fear and worry.  There should also be a time of Worship and Praise of our Lord during the service.

As you get to know the people at church, you have a community with whom you can share the personal things in your life like prayer concerns and requests. Fellowship and food opportunities (we love our soup luncheons at Calvary) are important opportunities to get to know God’s family.

If you are a Christian and planning to spend eternity in Heaven with our Lord and all the other Christians, why wouldn’t you want to be in that place now?

Please test this if you are not attending a church.  And by the way, it is always good to find one in your own neighborhood or community.  It makes the fellowship part much easier.  And pray that God will lead you to the right church for you and your family.