by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Cor. 5:17
These words breathed NEW life into my barren soul as a twice divorced woman of 27. How could this be? How could a woman so fraught with sin and despair become a new creation? As our pastors at Summit Church often say—the Gospel changes everything—and so it does.
Even now, all these years later, I sometimes have to remind myself that I am a new creature, no longer led by a sinful nature but rather, the Spirit of God. Just as often, though, I have to remind myself that others deserve that same life-giving, God-speaking freedom I claim for myself.
Years ago, while in a disagreement with Brian, I brought up something from his past, a time before he knew Christ. It didn’t take long for the Holy Spirit to remind me that the Brian before Christ was gone.
How could someone who no longer exists be held to the standards of the NEW man he had become? He couldn’t, nor should he be.
Do you know someone who could use a 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminder today? Could it be you? If so, rest assured you’re not alone. The good news is we also share in a fresh opportunity for mercy as we claim this truth for ourselves, as well as others. (Lamentations 3:22, 23)
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Have I mentioned lately how much I love and appreciate Summit Church — the pastors, their families, the elders, life group leaders (Kevin and Carolyn), etc.? Brian and I are very blessed to be a part of this church family. One blessing we’ve discovered since joining Summit is one we never expected to find and that is the ability to “do life” again with friends from a former church — but that’s exactly what’s happened — and continues to happen!
This particular blessing kicked into high gear Sunday morning when Sue Johnson and her husband, Paul, visited Summit for the first time. I’d not seen them since we left our former church in 2008. It was a sweet reunion on many levels.
As the service began, I smiled as I noticed Sue sitting next to Susan B. and waving at Jared G. in the sound booth. Both Susan and Jared were also members of our former church and are now current members at Summit.
Watching everyone wave and exchange hugs after a four year separation immediately transported me back to the time when the four of us (Sue, Susan, Jared, and myself) served together on the design team, alongside the teaching and worship pastors. For years, we gathered weekly in Steve’s office to pray, “design”, and execute upcoming teaching series in creative and meaningful ways. It was the highlight of my week.
So, yes, I smiled on the outside at the sight of my friends together again. On the inside, however, was a twinge of pain as I recalled “what used to be.”
But before the twinge had the opportunity to become a full-fledged ache, God reminded me of how He is using those past experiences to benefit His purposes in and through my life today.
Sadness turned into gratitude.
And gratitude melted into praise.
For everything there is a season.
For everything there is a season,
and a time for every matter under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Around here, October is referred to as the month o’ love for a few reasons:
- Brian and I celebrate our anniversary on the 20th (year 22 for us this year!)
- What is there not to love about this season? Scarlet leaves twirling mid-air, Honey Crisp apples, soft fuzzy sweaters, and one of my personal favorites — no mosquitoes!
- And then there are the mountains — a place we travel to as often as possible, especially in October. I can’t put my finger on it, but in many ways those winding roads feel like home.
Yesterday, we woke up early and headed to Lake Lure, one of our favorite destinations. The leaves had not yet dressed for the new season (as you can see above) but it was beautiful nonetheless.
On the way home, we were surprised to find one of our favorite antique stores open. By the time we left, however, I’m pretty certain Brian had wished otherwise. I picked up a small vintage ceramic Christmas tree, a small handmade bench, and an early 1900’s picture in its original frame. I love scenic pictures and this one did not disappoint. Snow, church steeple in the distance, and a small boy on a farm scene. Who knows? It may inspire my first short story!
As much as we missed church yesterday, it was nice getting away, especially since I’d not seen Brian on Saturday. We’re heading up again this weekend for our anniversary and my big 5-0 (yikes!) and then I’ll be in the mountains with a few writing buddies on the last weekend in October, so I won’t be posting Sunday Snippets until November. (In the meantime, I do plan to listen to the podcasts of our services. Hope you’ll join me!)
What do you most love about this season?
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Our focus on Summit’s core values continued yesterday. Below are snippets from Kyle’s compelling sermon on the value of biblical community. I encourage you to visit Summit’s site to hear the sermon in its entirety.
Matthew 22:34-40
His religious audience knew from Deuteronomy 6:4 that they were to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind—but others? Jesus ushers in a radical change when He commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves.
- We have little to do with who moves in next door, works in the cubicle close by, or beats us to the Target cash register after a long day at work — but that’s Jesus’ point. We’re not only to love those who look like us, smell like us, or talk like us — but everyone. God has placed us where we are for divine possibilities.
- “Jesus makes it very clear that spiritual formation is about relationships. Relationships with God and with others.” – Scott McKnight, The Jesus Creed
- Jesus would pay the price on our behalf so that selfishness could be put to death. We are empowered by God’s Spirit to live a new life with wholehearted devotion, freeing us to follow hard after God. By God’s grace, we can know Him, love Him, and love others in a way that He desires. Awaken these desires within us!
In response:
1. We need to actually live connected.
“We
think we’ve chosen our friends, and in reality, a few years of
difference and dates of our birth, a few more miles, the choice of one
school rather than another, any of these chances might have kept friends
apart. But for Christians, there’s strictly no speaking of chances. A
secret master of ceremonies has been at work in your life. Christ who
said to his disciples, “You have not chosen me but I have chosen you,”
can truly say to every group of Christian friends, “You have not chosen
one another, but I have chosen you for one another.” At this feast, it
is he who has spread the board, and it is he who has chosen the guest
list. It is he who sometimes does and always should preside. Let us not
forget our host as we eat.”
-C.S. Lewis
2. Resist isolation. Does our commitment to biblical community reflect God’s commitment to community? We’re not talking about church attendance but living connected to those who God will use to shape us into being more like Christ.
3. Live for one another.
“In many cases, we may, by the rules of the gospel, be
obliged to give to others when we cannot do it without suffering
ourselves…If our neighbor’s difficulties and necessities be much greater
than our own, and we see that he is not like to be otherwise relieved,
we should be willing to suffer with him, and to take part of his burden
on ourselves; else how is that rule of bearing one another’s burdens
fulfilled? If we are never obliged to relieve others’ burdens, but when we can
do it without burdening ourselves, then how do we bear our neighbor’s
burdens, when we bear no burden at all?” [Jonathan Edwards, Christian Charity, The Works of Jonathan Edwards]
Because people matter to God, they matter to us.
What “neighbor” will God place on our paths this week to love as Christ loves us? Lord, give us eyes to see and ears to hear so that we might put the Gospel on display.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Some observations from yesterday’s service, preached by Jason Malone, no doubt led by God’s Spirit:
- When we steward with open hands, we are putting the gospel on display.
- We believe that doing life with other people that love Jesus Christ — for the sake of those that don’t know Jesus — is essential in our own transformation and living on mission with our God.
- Having access to people isn’t the problem, connecting is.
- It’s not bad to want to go to church to worship, to learn, or to connect, but if our ultimate reason for going to church is about “me” — it’s insufficient. When we treat church like a vendor of services, it is such a limited picture of what God has for His Bride.
- God is asking us to connect with others for the sake of other people. The Church has neglected “for the sake of other people”. Why? It’s messy. It will cost us something. It’s a lot of work. But when we cut this off we are usurping God and becoming a spectator, a consumer.
- Casual connections are good, but they are not life-giving—and we, as the body of Christ cannot settle for less. Why? Because the gospel is at stake.
When we live in isolation:
- We lose perspective. We need other wise voices to help bring life into balance.
- We fear intimacy. If someone knew the “real” us, they would reject us.
- We become selfish. If our life is defined by or priorities and desires, we become self-centered.
- We have poor health. 7,000 people over a period of 9 years were observed. Those who were isolated were 3 times more likely to die. Even those who drank and smoke outlasted those who were isolated!
“Our relationship with others is the criterion the world uses to judge whether our message is truthful—Christian community is the final apologetic.” – Francis Schaeffer
To listen to the sermon in its entirety, visit Summit’s site here. It should be posted by Wednesday.
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