A New Emmaus

We all have an Emmaus in our lives.

Emmaus was a place of short-lived military victory for the Jewish people of Jesus' day. Judas Maccabee won a battle there in 166 B.C. So when Jesus' joined two men who were walking on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus (Lk. 24:13-32) He knew what thoughts went through their minds as they approach their destination.

Thoughts of past victories made irrelevant by new failures.
Thoughts of oppression. (The Romans controlled it now)
Thoughts of still awaiting a redemption from a past that can't help but repeat itself.

They were walking back to the place where they once had victory as a people, but now were oppressed again by an outside military force. The scriptures tell us that they were sad. Sad about the crucifixion, sad about an empty tomb (they probably thought Jesus body had been stolen since the testimony of women wasn't trusted or worth anything in those days), they were sad about returning to the lives they had been living.

But Jesus changed all that.

They did go back to Emmaus. And He walked with them.
But it was more than just a gesture when Jesus was going to "keep walking" after they had stopped. It was symbolic of something much bigger.

Jesus was going back to the place of pain and failure with them.
But He wasn't going to leave them there.

When they broke bread they recognized Him for who He really is.

Now everything was different.

Now they understood the kingdom that He brought with his death and resurrection.
Not one of military might.

But a kingdom that is eternal.
A kingdom that overcomes our past failures and shame.

A new Emmaus.
It didn't matter any longer that the Romans were still in control of Emmaus.
They had a new King.
His kingdom was not of this world.

His
Kingdom
is
our
Kingdom.

We're going to talk about a new Emmaus this Sunday.
You
should
join
us.

peace,
glo

Pretty much sums it up...

It's funny how much people will put on the act and want to look religious and at the same time stand on their soap boxes and shout about being "real" and "genuine". It's also funny how most of the time, those same people are the first ones to exit when things really do get real and genuine...

I've seen it happen more times that I would like to admit, and most of the time it's about one thing...Money. This video sums it up pretty good...and it's funny too!

Enjoy!

An ideal church.

What does that mean in the 21st century. We're 2100 years removed from the Christianity of the first century. Jesus said that He was going to build His "church".

James Strong defined the original word of ekklesia as "a calling out, that is, (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both"

For the first few hundred years most "churches" met in homes, caves and in hiding...not because homes and caves are more "spiritual" than other places, but simply because if they made their meetings public they would most likely be killed. Today, in America, we don't have to deal with that type of persecution, we actually have buildings where the church meets now, and we have signs to tell people where those buildings are. But buildings are not the church, homes are not the church, caves are not the church. People gathered together with a common vision and purpose.

With that thought, I was thinking it would probably make sense to put into words what our ideal of a healthy church is. We share a common vision with our parent church in Chillicothe in regards to this...so, without further adieu...