The Dash...

As a child I thought life was a destination. My destination included going to college, getting married, having children, and driving a red BMW. I thought that once I arrived at the "destination" I would lean back, prop my feet up, smile and simply enjoy life! Man, was I wrong!

I'm sure you have learned by now that life is not a destination, but a journey. And you know what, I'm glad its not a destination. Think about it, how boring life would become if it was a "destination." The life we live is to be an awesome, exciting, up and down, melting pot of various experiences, relationships, educational ventures and emotions. Even Jesus taught us that when we dedicate our life to Him and allow Him to be LORD over us that then we will experience "...life, and... have it abundantly" (John 10:10).

Someone once said, “Life is not a journey to the grave with intentions of arriving safely in a pretty well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming ... WOW! What a ride!”

When you look at a grave marker you see the persons "begin" date and thier "end" date with a "dash" in between. Both dates are important. The "begin" date because of our beginning. The "end" date is important because no one really has an end date. Death is simply a door to either eternity with Christ or without Christ. And that is why, it's the "dash" in the middle that is Most Important! The dash in the middle is your life! How did you live the dash? What decisions did you make in the dash? Who's lives did you touch in the dash? What did you do with Jesus in the dash.


How are you living the "dash"? St. Augustine once said that everyone has a "God-shaped hole" in their heart and nothing, and no-one can ever fill that space. It is reserved only for God! My hope for you is that you invite Jesus Christ, God's Son, to fill that space in your heart. Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship. Religion will leave you empty, confused and frustrated. But a relationship with God through Christ will leave you at peace, fulfilled and full of joy!

Invite Christ into your heart. Live for Him in the "dash." Get into a strong, loving, Bible-preaching, praying church and surround yourself with other believers. Then, make the most of the "dash" you have by touching others, sharing the Good News of Jesus with those far from God and leaving a legacy that will long be remembered when someone walks up to your tombstone and examines your "dash."

Living on Mission

Do you enjoy sitting down with a nice cup of coffee and a newspaper? I do. Often on Sunday afternoons I will relax in my favorite recliner, sip on a hot cup of joe and skim thru the pages of the newspaper seeing if anything pops out at me.

In Acts 5, we see a highlight, a sort of newsreel that gives us a vivid picture of the early church living on Mission for God. It’s an interesting passage that displays the early church being the hands and feet of Jesus to the world.

And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. 13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. Acts 5: 12-16

Through the actions of the church, people were Converted to Christ, Compassion was shown, Needs were met and Hope was birthed. And as a result, God was glorified and the community respected the work of the Church. This is how the church of Jesus Christ was known then, and should be known today! Amen?!

Now understand this, God’s plan is not for one individual to try and be the world’s superhero. God’s plan is and has always been that the world is to be impacted by His CHURCH! And friends, the Church is not a building…the Church is a Body, a body of people who love Him and have surrendered their Life to Him through faith in Jesus Christ His Son.

God chooses to use people to (1) Share His message of Salvation through Christ, (2) Reach out to others with a heart of Compassion, (3) Meet Needs, and (4) Love and Support one another! . This has always been God’s mission for His Church.
If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then you are to live your life on Mission! Think about this. God has chosen you for His Mission, the most important mission anyone could ever be given. Do you know how special you are to God? The Bible refers to you in Zechariah 2:8, as the “apple of His eye.”

One of my personal favorite verses is Zephaniah 3:17. I often sign this verse along with my name on correspondence. It says, “The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Our Lord Jesus reemphasized this in the book of John15:16 when He said “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”Again He said, “So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” John 20:21

God has chosen you for His Mission! So, go! Go and bring glory to our great God by sharing His message of Salvation with those far from God, by meeting the needs of others through a heart of compassion, by birthing hope to those around you! Go in the Name of Jesus and make an impact in the world around you! God loves you! God had chosen you! God will be with you!