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Seems the most natural thing in the world. Getting even. Someone offends me, I have the right (maybe even the obligation) to get back at them. I may think that my self-respect depends on evening up the score, otherwise I’m some kind of wimp. While my parents strictly had ordered me not to fight, I was given permission to hit back the bullies. That seemed so right. Jesus once again is counter-intuitive. It’s pretty hard to let thing go and wish our tormentor well. But that’s the Jesus way. When you read the Gospels, can you find anywhere where Jesus hit someone? Or where Jesus called down a foul curse on those who opposed Him? At the same time, He was no wimp. His immense divine power and prerogative was always under the control of the Father’s will, even to the point where He could say about those nailing Him to the cross, “Father, forgive them.”

(2Tm.1:1-3,6-12;   Ps.123:1-2;   Mk.12:18-27) “He has robbed death of its power and has brought life and immortality into clear light through the Gospel.” It is this Gospel which Paul exhorts his “dear child” Timothy to serve, to preach and to teach “with the strength which comes from God, bear[ing] [his] share of the hardship which the Gospel entails.”  Paul has suffered for the sake of the Gospel – and suffers “present hardships” till the end – and he would see his favored disciple carry on in his way.  And so he encourages him: “The Spirit God has given us is no cowardly spirit but rather one that makes us strong, loving, and wise.”  For of the life Christ brings the world must know, and who shall preach it if we don't?  And so, through his letter Paul calls us all to be as he is, “an apostle of Christ Jesus sent to proclaim the promise of life in Him.” Does Jesus not bear well His hardships today in our gospel?  Does He not stand strong and speak of life everlasting even before those who “hold there is no resurrection”?  The Sadducees question Him: “At the resurrection, when they all come back to life, whose wife will she be” – she who has married so many?  Again a trap is laid, and again it is shown so futile, for what word can stand before the word of God.  And that Word answers simply and directly: “When people rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage but live like angels in heaven.”  These Sadducees “fail to understand Scripture or the power of God,” and so they are terribly blind in their mistaken thinking, which sees nothing beyond the present time.  (Yet the present, too, they do not understand, for they do not recognize Him who stands before them.) Brothers and sisters, we are called to live like the angels of heaven, and not only to live such, but to preach this life as our Savior has done, as Paul has done, as Timothy.  We must keep “our eyes on the Lord, our God,” “confident that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to [us] until that Day” when we join Him who is “enthroned in heaven.”  And so let us “stir into flame the gift of God”; let us speak His Word of life without fear for the hardships the Gospel entails.  The Light that lasts forever has come into our midst, and before Him death has no dominion. ******* O LORD, through all the trials of this world, bring us to the light of Heaven. YHWH, God of the living, let our eyes be ever upon you, let us ever remember you whom we serve… and let us ever serve you with strength and dedication, knowing it is through you we are brought to new birth and made immortal as you.  O let us live with you now and forever! Why should we be afraid, LORD, of any challenge to our faith?  Why should we turn away from our call to worship in your NAME?  Why should we hesitate to proclaim your glory and the grace you bring us by your Son's death and resurrection?  His sacrifice means life to us, and to turn from His Cross would spell our death.  May we serve Him and His Gospel in confidence all our days and so come to the place He prepares for us in Heaven. All your angels and saints live forever in your holy presence, their eyes ever upon you and their voices ever praising your NAME.  May we share with them in your holy life even as we toil for you on this plane.

(2Tm.1:1-3,6-12;   Ps.123:1-2;   Mk.12:18-27) “He has robbed death of its power and has brought life and immortality into clear light through the Gospel.” It is this Gospel which Paul exhorts his “dear child” Timothy to serve, to preach and to teach “with the strength which comes from God, bear[ing] [his] share of the hardship which the Gospel entails.”  Paul has suffered for the sake of the Gospel – and suffers “present hardships” till the end – and he would see his favored disciple carry on in his way.  And so he encourages him: “The Spirit God has given us is no cowardly spirit but rather one that makes us strong, loving, and wise.”  For of the life Christ brings the world must know, and who shall preach it if we don't?  And so, through his letter Paul calls us all to be as he is, “an apostle of Christ Jesus sent to proclaim the promise of life in Him.” Does Jesus not bear well His hardships today in our gospel?  Does He not stand strong and speak of life everlasting even before those who “hold there is no resurrection”?  The Sadducees question Him: “At the resurrection, when they all come back to life, whose wife will she be” – she who has married so many?  Again a trap is laid, and again it is shown so futile, for what word can stand before the word of God.  And that Word answers simply and directly: “When people rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage but live like angels in heaven.”  These Sadducees “fail to understand Scripture or the power of God,” and so they are terribly blind in their mistaken thinking, which sees nothing beyond the present time.  (Yet the present, too, they do not understand, for they do not recognize Him who stands before them.) Brothers and sisters, we are called to live like the angels of heaven, and not only to live such, but to preach this life as our Savior has done, as Paul has done, as Timothy.  We must keep “our eyes on the Lord, our God,” “confident that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to [us] until that Day” when we join Him who is “enthroned in heaven.”  And so let us “stir into flame the gift of God”; let us speak His Word of life without fear for the hardships the Gospel entails.  The Light that lasts forever has come into our midst, and before Him death has no dominion. ******* O LORD, through all the trials of this world, bring us to the light of Heaven. YHWH, God of the living, let our eyes be ever upon you, let us ever remember you whom we serve… and let us ever serve you with strength and dedication, knowing it is through you we are brought to new birth and made immortal as you.  O let us live with you now and forever! Why should we be afraid, LORD, of any challenge to our faith?  Why should we turn away from our call to worship in your NAME?  Why should we hesitate to proclaim your glory and the grace you bring us by your Son's death and resurrection?  His sacrifice means life to us, and to turn from His Cross would spell our death.  May we serve Him and His Gospel in confidence all our days and so come to the place He prepares for us in Heaven. All your angels and saints live forever in your holy presence, their eyes ever upon you and their voices ever praising your NAME.  May we share with them in your holy life even as we toil for you on this plane.

Take A Back Seat - March 22nd, 2020 Luke  14: 1-11 Why are we obedient to God? To simply obey the rules? Do we expect God to show us more favor because we followed the rules?  At what point does our obedience become an act with a focus on us instead of Him? At what point are we just obedient to the rules to get something from God?    Follow us online! Instagram - @cbcportsmouthoh Facebook - Facebook.com/portsmouthcbc Soundcloud - soundcloud.com/beyond-church www.portsmouthcbc.org

Jesus prepares his disciples for His departure from this world. What does their future hold? How can they go forward without Him? At this point, he tries to make clear to them that they will be left behind, but not left alone. He promises a future with Him. “Trust in God, trust also in me.”

This podcast explores the differences between ideals and reality in a walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. When the rubber hits the road, we must ask the question is our commitment sound? Life has a way of weeding out our intentions and our undeniable actions. This is no difference in our relationships with God. Are we truly committed to Him or are we ideally committed to Him? At some point our ideals need to become our reality or we will never experience the depth of what it means to live in the Kingdom of God. His Kingdom has come but our commitment must be sure.

Do you know Him? At the end of your life looking back what will you see? What we do here on earth echos in eternity.Its easy to please God but He can't be fooled. He sees our true motives not just on the surface. God wants to build a history and a friendship with Him. Today know that His love is made complete among us.