A blog entry from Jared C. Wilson on adoring Jesus:
 “We are typically very quick to note when someone is not showing love for their neighbor. But what about love for Jesus? Should it settle implicitly? Is love for Christ something that is sufficient when latent?
What I notice a lot every day in the Christian spheres of social media is just how incredibly adept we evangelicals are at doctrinal criticism, cultural rebuke, theological analysis, biblical exegesis, contending for the faith in apologetic and ethical debates, pithy spiritualbon mots, religious advice, and of course the quoting of Christian leaders present and past, but what seems less prevalent is adoration of Jesus.
When we see a Bible verse, we run its meaning through our mind and can expound on it with intelligence, but when we see Christ before us, do we stagger at his beauty and exult in it with awe? Do we adore Jesus?
When we see a lost person acting a fool in the news, our righteous indignation runs right through our fingertips to our keyboards, but when we see Christ before us, does our righteousness crumble and run right to his feet in a posture of supplication? Do we adore Jesus?
When we see one of our Christian heroes saying something smart or funny or challenging, we send them a virtual high-five and echo the proclamation in shouts of appreciation, but when we see Christ before us, do we lift him high in our hearts and herald his glory with shouts of acclamation? Do we adore Jesus?
When we see that someone is wrong on the Internet, we feel the responsibility to speak up, to be the one to stand in the gap between their ignorance and our assurance, but when we see Christ before us — supreme and sovereign and saving — do we feel the wonders of his radiance?
When we look at Jesus, are we warmed? Or do we shrug our shoulders?
Some professing Christians don’t seem to speak of Christ at all. Let them ask themselves, “Do I adore Jesus?”
Has Jesus become our mascot, our projection? When you look at him, what do you see?
There’s nothing wrong with using the Internet public squares for all kinds of messages, from the serious to the silly, and I don’t mean to suggest that there is. I just want to ask sometimes, “But do you adore Jesus? It seems you are fired up about all sorts of things, but it is not clear if you love Jesus.” I don’t think we should simply assume from some peripheral fire that the central ignition is love of Christ.
Christ is the apex of all that is precious, the center of all that is glorious and delightful. He is the very point of existence. He is the Son of the living God, the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last who was and is and is to come. “O come let us adore him!”, not scrutinize, utilize, or analyze him.”
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so…
– Psalm 107:2
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
– Isaiah 52:7

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
January 12, 2014

America is a Giving Nation

Charitable giving statistics in the U.S. were reported as follows for 2013:
  - 95.4% of households gave to charity.
  - Americans gave $335.17 billion which is a 4.4% increase from 2011.
  - Corporate giving held steady at $16.76 billion.
  - Foundation giving increased to $50.28 billion--a 5.7% increase from 2011.
  - The largest source of charitable giving came from individuals at $241.32 billion,

     or 72% of total giving; followed by foundations ($50.28 billion/15%), bequests ($26.81 billion/8%),

     and corporations ($16.76 billion/5%).
  - The majority of charitable dollars went to religion (31%), education (16%), human services (12%),

    and grant-making foundations (11%).

Charitable giving dipped a little bit in 2008, but giving is back on track again.  I truly believe our nation is a very generous and giving nation because the nation was founded on biblical principles.  Who said our nation is losing our grip on our faith in God?  Our nation is still staying strong in our faith in God because our giving is strong.
We just finished a series on biblical finance from God’s perspective, and have learned that God loves people who share their wealth with others because God cares about our attitude in giving.  Giving and sharing is very important to God.
One of the ways God evaluates our faith is on the basis of our giving and sharing attitudes. In Matthew 25:34-45, Jesus teaches one of the most exciting and yet sobering truths related to giving. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
Giving to the needy was a core part of Jesus’ teaching. Jesus always personally identified himself with the poor.  What it means is that when we share with the needy, we are actually sharing with Jesus, and it becomes an act of worship, an expression of our love to him, and gratitude for his faithful provision.
So how are you doing with your giving and sharing with others?  Are you still waiting until you have enough to give and share?  It’s not about what I could give if I had $10,000 in savings later; rather it’s about what I could give with the $100 I have now.  You can always begin with a small amount.
Jesus wants us to be like him who was that of an unselfish giver.  Giving is one essential way that will enable us to become like Jesus. The more faithful you are in giving and sharing, the deeper the intimacy in your relationship with Jesus. And it doesn’t end there. Also in God’s economy, the benefit of the giver outweighs the receiver’s. The Apostle Paul said in Acts 20:35, “Remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”  You would think you would lose when you give away what is rightly yours for the sake of others; rather, the opposite happens when you give to others. You would actually gain more. That’s the way God’s economy works! Have faith, and try it and see what happens…

From Pastor Neil’s Heart
March 1, 2015