Here is love
Ravi Zacharias’ latest book, SEEING JESUS FROM THE EAST: A FRESH LOOK AT HISTORY’S MOST FIGURE, just came off the press. Ravi invites readers to rediscover the cultural insights we often miss when we ignore the Eastern context of the Bible. He offers a refreshing picture of Jesus, one that appeals to Eastern readers and can penetrate the hearts and imaginations of postmodern Westerners. For example:
Tragically, Christ followers too often have watered down this matchless story to transform the Christian message into a “Western faith” of joy, peace, and success. So many of us in the West would rather talk of the Enlightenment or various philosophical movements than about our own walk in the darkness, or of cultural drift rather than our own soul struggles. Yes, when tragedy strikes a celebrity or someone close to us, we tend to doubt God and ask, “Why?” But we dare not probe too deeply, busying ourselves instead with mental health awareness and suicide hotlines, which, while good and necessary, don’t get to the heart of the matter. To be sure, the Eastern mind also asks the same question, but not because it doubts God’s existence. Rather, like Job, it wishes to probe the mystery of personal pain and individual struggle. The Bible addresses the individual struggle for meaning largely in the person of Jesus. His answer is not merely in statements but in himself. – page 56
Ravi is tweeting these final words (Monday) as he dies from cancer, quoting those who mentored him at their own dying;
“Lord, it belongs not to my care whether I die or live; to love and serve Thee is my share, and this Thy grace must give.”
“Come, Lord, when grace hath made me meet, Thy blessed face to see; For if Thy work on earth be sweet, what will Thy glory be?”
“Then I shall end my sad complaints and weary sinful days; And join with the triumphant saints, that sing my Saviors’ praise.”
“My knowledge of that life is small, the eye of faith is dim; But ‘tis enough that Christ knows all, and I shall be with Him.”
“Our God does not sleep. He is at work to right all wrongs and make all things new. Jesus is at the helm of the universe. Sleep well, children of God.”
Ravi’s favorite song, HERE IS LOVE, a hymn from 1876 written by Robert Lowry sung today by many Christian artists…
- Here is love, vast as the ocean,
Loving-kindness as the flood,
When the Prince of Life, our Ransom,
Shed for us His precious blood.
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten,
Throughout heav’n’s eternal days. - On the mount of crucifixion,
Fountains opened deep and wide;
Through the floodgates of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide.
Grace and love, like mighty rivers,
Poured incessant from above,
And heav’n’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love. - Let me, all Thy love accepting,
Love Thee, ever all my days;
Let me seek Thy kingdom only,
And my life be to Thy praise;
Thou alone shalt be my glory,
Nothing in the world I see;
Thou hast cleansed and sanctified me,
Thou Thyself hast set me free. - In Thy truth Thou dost direct me
By Thy Spirit through Thy Word;
And Thy grace my need is meeting,
As I trust in Thee, my Lord.
Of Thy fullness Thou art pouring
Thy great love and pow’r on me,
Without measure, full and boundless,
Drawing out my heart to Thee.
Millie’s son-in-law David has had his cancer surgery postponed due to a surgeon’s illness. Pray please.
Go to http://www.christianlifechapel.org/listen-read/ to read any CONNECTION Blogs you may have previously missed. How are you? Reply to this email with your testimony and prayer request. Please send all church offerings to: CLC, PO Box 91, Colchester, CT 06415. Thank you for your investment in the Kingdom of God.
Pastor Mike Brubaker, DMin
860-537-3914
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