It's Not About Getting to Heaven

Today our pastor was teaching out of Romans 16. Remarkably, he challenged the traditional pitch for salvation. Traditionally we are told we should accept Jesus as Lord and Savior so that we can go to heaven and avoid hell. Pastor told us today that we are seeking a person, not a place. Our challenge is to spend eternity with Christ and enjoy God forever, or to deny Christ and all the blessings He's purchased for us, to be separated from Him and His blessings for eternity. I heard it put another way, attributed to John Piper: "Would you choose heaven if Jesus wasn't there?" He is, but it is a good question that gets to the very heart of our salvation.

Every Tribe and Tongue and Nation

God wants a people from all the world to bring glory to himself. Really folks, it's not about me, it's about Him. Me-ology loses out to Theology.

Happy New Year

Peggy Noonan has an editorial explaining the meaning of the popular song sung each new year.

Old Long Syne, by James Watson (1711)
Should Old Acquaintance be forgot, and never thought upon; The flames of Love extinguished, and fully past and gone: Is thy sweet Heart now grown so cold, that loving Breast of thine; That thou canst never once reflect on Old long syne. CHORUS: On Old long syne my Jo, in Old long syne, That thou canst never once reflect, on Old long syne. My Heart is ravisht with delight, when thee I think upon; All Grief and Sorrow takes the flight, and speedily is gone; The bright resemblance of thy Face, so fills this, Heart of mine; That Force nor Fate can me displease, for Old long syne. CHORUS Since thoughts of thee doth banish grief, when from thee I am gone; will not thy presence yield relief, to this sad Heart of mine: Why doth thy presence me defeat, with excellence divine? Especially when I reflect on Old long syne CHORUS (several further stanzas)

It's a song of remembrance for old friends and loved ones.