God puts broken things back together, and makes dead things live again. He does it in his own time, and in his own way. But he really does it. And just like in the beginning of creation and just like in Ezekiel’s day, God does it through his Word and through his Spirit.

In Ephesians Paul says:
"Wake up, sleeper,
    rise from the dead,
    and Christ will shine on you.”

What does it mean that Christ is shining on us? 

As we continue our series about loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, we look today at what it means to love God with all our strength. 

Strength is more than just our fortitude or endurance, but it encompasses all of our abilities, capabilities and talents.

When Jesus says that we’re supposed to love God with all of our mind, he has a lot more in mind (see what I did there?) than just your intellect. What about your inner voices, your motivations, mental talents, what about all your thoughts, and all the conversations you have with yourself?

Do you love God there?

What is the greatest commandment? The answer to this question is as fundamental to christianity and the Kingdom of God as we can get.

It's easy to look down on the older brother from the parable of the Prodigal Son but, it is just as easy to fall into the same attitude and feelings of entitlement. 

From afar off, the father sees his son and is filled with compassion and runs to meet him. The son tries to get his prepared speech out about how unworthy he is but the father is having none of it. He inturrupts him to let him know that whatever has happened in the past he is still his son and that is worth celebrating.

In the 15th chapter of Luke Jesus is having a meal with a group that is described by the Pharisees as "tax collectors and sinners. " These are the lowest of the low. In response to the grumbling of the Pharisees Jesus tells three stories. The first is about a shepherd who leaves 99 sheep behind to find one lost lamb, the second is about a woman who looses a coin and tears her house apart until she finds it, the third is a story that we call the "Prodigal Son."

Over the next few weeks we will take apart these stories and look deeply into what Jesus is saying about those who are lost and those who are searching.

Paul writes that "all scripture is God-Breathed." 

It is this breath of God that not only infuses His life into scripture but also into us, into the church and into the Word that created the world. 

Do you love me more than these?

From the beginning of our history with God, this has been the central question. In this week's story about an altar, we find God asking Abraham to lay Isaac upon the altar. Isaac, the "impossible son" that God miraculously provided.