E-Letters

This eLetter is written by friend Michael Thompson. If you have never met Michael before then just picture Strider from Lord of the Rings. He is a Ranger fighting with a small battalion of men who are making lightning fast strikes deep into enemy territory. They are well trained, small, and undercover for the most part. They can form up or disband in quick order, they are so adept that enemy has never been able to flank them.

When they make a strike, they are very effective. They are feared by the enemy because of their willingness to take risks and fight unconventionally for the hearts of men.

If you know a man who needs to be released and reoriented to God, then send him to Top Gun in March. You can see Michael there, he will be the first one to walk on the battle field and the last one to leave.

Jeff

What Matters to God

By Michael Thompson
Jan 30, 2010

Much has been debated and much has been offered over the years as an answer to that question, What matters to God? Is it service? Is it obedience? Is it worship? Like hit records, all of these answers have reached the top of the theological billboard charts over the centuries. Jesus actually answers this question and not like we might think. Not in a sentence or one particular sermon message that He preached or parable that He taught. He answers the question of what matters to God with much, much more... His life. More than what He taught or said, Jesus' life, all of His life was the message and is the answer. How Jesus' lived answers what matters to God- WE DO. How do we know? Ultimately we know because He gave his life so we might have one. He came not for our behavior but for our core and at the core of us, at our center, the Bible offers a word, a term to define and describe this central place that the truest and deepest me resides... The Heart.

Every one on the planet is looking; everyone is searching, for what? For Life, our hearts are made that way. The redeemed heart of a believer or the unredeemed or yet to be transformed heart of a person who has yet to believe... both of those hearts are on mission, all hearts are. All hearts search for Life. It could be said that the difference in the two types of hearts, two kinds of people is the redeemed heart has found what it was searching for while the other heart still searches. For the heart that has found God, the questions are to have been answered and the issues of life that for so long have been unsettled are now settled. The most life-giving substance in the cosmos is Love. Love, according to I John is exactly what God is, God is Love... Taking God up on his offer to love us ends the search for Life and settles our hearts inviting them not to wander. All we've looked for and all we hope for is provided in abundance... You are loved! Getting this to our hearts seems to matter to God because we matter to God and that's where He desires us to know it the most and the deepest. It seems He is wagering it all on this great mission for one great result. He is betting on us that we will believe Him so we can bet on him to transform us and when all bets are in, one thing is abundantly clear, we win when He wins us.


Michael Thompson
919-210-3710
www.zoweh.com