Real Peace. Real People.

I have found that the worst times of my life have always been the times when I’ve been in a place, but I haven’t really been there. Times when joy was surrounding me, but I felt heavy inside. Times when my coke was fizzing, but my heart was fizzling. Times when my eyes were seeing palmetto trees and waves, but my heart was only seeing emergencies and problems. And there I was by my lonesome. Just me. Wearing the weight of my world. Cut off from real life by the walls of my own dark spiritual castle. Impervious to the beauty around. Disconnected from the people next to me. There, but not really there for anyone. This is a sermon ending that life and breaking into the life that comes from the Spirit because of Jesus. Listen in.

This is a sermon about love. Just that. Well - sort of. It's also about being loved. Thus, you see the title. It's worth listening to because love is that big a deal. We all need it more than we need anything else.

Humans are created to love. That is our God-given design. That is what we were always meant to do. To love. Even social science has finally noticed that about us calling humanity existential sharks. Why? Even science has to come to see that humans are always trolling in their lives for the next thing to love. We follow our hearts. It’s what we do. It’s like I said. Our hearts will be filled. The only question is by what. John here makes sure our hearts are filled the only saving way. Listen in!

Easter didn't quite do it for John. It didn't quite top him off emotionally. That's an interesting and amazing concept for Christians because Christians know that the main point of Christianity is inner joy - joy that we can have even now - and John, Jesus' own apostle, is saying here that he didn't yet have in full measure what Jesus rose to give him. What was missing for John? People. This is a sermon that attempts to show how a Christian can have complete joy through having "real" people in their lives even now. Listen in.

You might be surprised to discover that Easter's big surprise is actually not the angels. You might be further surprised to find out that Easter's big surprise is not Jesus' physical resurrection either. What's the big surprise? A complete downer. And why is it important to notice that downer even on Easter? For your joy. Listen in.

Jesus asked and answered your life's greatest question. It's here for you to receive in faith. Listen in.

Imagine that you worked really, really hard to make a gift that you hoped would delight somebody you loved very much. You did your absolute best, and you gave them a gift you were proud to give. Then imagine that the person you gave it to spent all of their time looking for the flaws in your work, pointing each one out and mocking you for being a failure.

90% of the things that make you angry in the world make you angry because you're like that uncaring friend. You disregard the good behind the things you have received and focus exclusively on the faults. Thank God that Jesus wasn't like us, and that his purity becomes ours.

This is a delicate topic and it is handled delicately. You can see it everywhere in John's account. You can also see it clearly in Jesus' approach. He is delicate with this delicate topic in your life. He is also brilliant. Jesus reveals to us here our inner thirst for acceptance and love and respect. And, better yet, he shows us how that thirst is quenched properly all the way into eternity and in a way that won't leave you poured out and dry. Listen in.

We look at the mask of God known as creation and the apologetic arguments associated with it.

When you look around your life, it sure can look like it's lacking God's love. Especially when things aren't going right. In fact, it can really look like your worst fears are being confirmed  - like God's out to get you. That's the person John writes to and the person Jesus speaks to. Both Jesus and John are both intent that you look around your life and you see the love of God undeniably towering above everything else in your life. It's time to see that. Tune in.