Pastor Schmidt March 2007

Dearly Beloved,


"I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."


There are a lot of info-commercials on television which are promising users of their product  “ life and life abundantly.”  The products vary from exercise machines to food processors, from dietary programs to beauty treatments to financial plans -- yet the “hype” is the same. “Purchase this product  and your life will be different. Use this product and not only will your life be changed but you will experience personal and lasting transformation. You will be the person you always wanted to be.  You will be the person you only dreamed you could be. You will live the life you always wanted. You will be: happier: more pleased: better than ever.  

Each product promises that they will lead you to “The Good Life.” And we find that appealing, very appealing.  We want “ THE GOOD LIFE.” How can you go wrong, these offers come with a guarantee. Their pledge is: “If after your 30 day free trial you are not completely satisfied for any reason, your money will be fully refunded.”

WOW. You can’t beat that!

Oh, YES, you can!

I pledge:  “If after the 40 days of Lent, you are not completely satisfied with the Wednesday evening Study Series “Discipleship: LIVING THE GOOD LIFE”, all your sins -- along with your former life -- will be fully refunded.

 You see, it is Jesus who leads us to “The Good Life.”  It is Jesus alone who able to make good not only on the guarantee, but also on the promise.  He alone is  ‘”the Way, the Truth and the Life.”

“The GOOD LIFE’? There is no better life than the life of discipleship which Christ offers each and every believer. Its free… and it surpasses the lifestyles of “The Rich and The Famous.”  Jesus invites you into experience for yourself  His way of “LIVING THE GOOD LIFE”. Beginning Wednesday, February 28t,h and continuing through the Wednesdays of March, participate in the 7:00 pm  discipleship study:



Decisions. Decisions. Decisions.  Not only how are you going to spend your vacation… but how are you spending your life?  Christ’s call to each and every believer is: “Follow me!”  How is the decision to become a disciple of Christ made?  Why is it that often one travels in a different direction?  We will explore the decision making process.  Scientific studies of the human brain are revealing some interesting and helpful insights as to how we make decisions.


Discipleship  requires more than self-determination after the decision. LIVING THE GOOD LIFE requires us to draw upon and have in place 3 essential spiritual resources. These essential resources are available to all, but are consistently and constantly overlooked. Catsup will not do when mustard is called for,… and not just any mustard.

                     

When owning a Rolls Royce, class demands that two people be present.  When traveling about, one is not to drive yourself. You are to travel with the assistance of another—a chauffer. Discipleship is not  “a go it alone” event. As we travel about in the Rolls Royce of our faith, God gifts us with spiritual mentors and Christian colleagues to “steer us” in the direction of THE GOOD LIFE.  We will build a spiritual support group to aid us in our discipleship.



In our discipleship, we do not always meet with success. Despite our efforts and no matter how noble the cause, there are those times we experience failure. We try and we fall. We try and we fall. We try and we fall.   What is Jesus teaching us -- to accept failure?  No.  But Jesus may be calling us through these experiences to accept something far greater – His Grace!



So often we hear about the “cost of discipleship” as though discipleship only comes with great personal loss to ourselves. We are left with the impression that discipleship is something to begrudge. In the parables of  “The Hidden Treasure” and “The Pearl of Great Price” Jesus talks about the joy of going after the greater. In these twin parables each person was more than willing to give up everything they had to gain something that was worth more than everything they possessed. In their minds, they didn’t think they were giving up anything, but gaining everything!  What is your mindset? Does “the cost” of discipleship  far exceed any possible personal “gain” ? Or is the very opposite true?


Anticipating being with you,
Pastor Schmidt