What Do You Smell Like?

This past weekend we had a 'multi-campus' event for our church as we had The Rescue's First Annual All Church Campout with Pastor Ralph still bringing the message at home base-Maple Lawn Elementary.
I would consider myself a veteran camper. I know how to make hash browns, like the smell of a fire, can tell scary and mostly true stories, can setup a tent in 2 minutes, and can stand a whole weekend without showering. Which brings me to the topic of smell.
For our worship time on Sunday we looked at 2 Corinthians 2:14-17. Paul talks about Christians being the aroma of Christ, but also gives us our duties as that aroma-'to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.' Paul used the imagery of Christ's triumphal procession which refers to the 'Roman Triumph'.  This is a simple concept that describes the re-entry of the successful army general and his soldiers back into the city. Behind the victorious army the arrested soldiers would follow shackled in chains. 
Priests would line the parade and spread the smell of incense over the entire festivities. The same smell was the smell of victory for the general and his army, but was also the smell of death to those who had lost the war.
When we speak about Jesus, people will feel the same. It will be the sweetest aroma they have ever smelled, or it will mean the smell of defeat. God is waiting to use us to spread the knowledge of His Son, Jesus. He wants us to fall in love with Jesus so much that we can't help but smell like Him because we've lived so closely to Him. 
So how do you change your smell? Realize that a change needs to be made. Realize that God loves you and wants to rescue you with His Son, Jesus. You can do it, because the hard work has already been done by Him.

-PC
pastorcory@rescuesumner.org
www.rescuesumner.org

How to Walk in the Light

John 8:12, 'Jesus spoke again to the people and said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.''

In this passage from Sunday the Pharisees were more attracted to the situation than the message. Jesus was speaking about saving all mankind, and the Pharisees were trying to hammer Jesus on the fact that he didn't bring any witnesses to back up what he was saying. They still viewed Jesus as just a man. He spoke of a Father that they thought they knew and they thought they worshipped. The Father they prayed to revolved around their traditions and man made rules. The situations and details started to overshadow their God.
Jesus was speaking at the Feast of Tabernacles. A Jewish holiday where they remembered the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. God led them away during the night with a pillar of fire (Ex. 13:21). And so at this festival they constructed a huge candelabra, set it on fire to remember that pillar. I can envision Jesus standing by this man made pillar of fire (that could be seen from miles around!) and saying the words, 'I am the light of the world.'
Simply to say-I led you out of Egypt and I still call you to follow me.
I'm learning that to follow does not mean agreement alone. It means to serve, to obey, to give, to be taught, and the scary part-to change. How hard is it to change? It's up to you and whether you want to follow Jesus.
Our goal at The Rescue is to dive into the Word of God-the Bible-and see how Jesus told us to live. If we are doing something that doesn't line up with Jesus' words-we change. We still have lessons to learn. I still have lessons to learn, and I'm excited to be along side a group of people who are dependent on God and want to honestly learn more about their amazing creator. If you are reading this and have questions about God-please contact me.

-PC (Pastor Cory)
pastorcory@rescuesumner.org
www.rescuesumner.org