6/4/11 cblog IF U R FILLED w/ JOY PEOPLE WILL KNOW IT

6/4/11 cblog IF U R FILLED w/ JOY PEOPLE WILL KNOW IT, FEEL IT: Lady of Grace el Cajon "many years ago..panning for gold in montana..after long time..came to fame..shouted "I found one" it was gold ..celebrated..but stopped to go get suppliies ..agreed not to tell all ..but when they returned..100's followed..who told they wondered ..one said, "how can u hide your joy? "...same way..disciples could not hide their joy ...our joy is our ultimate source of joy...as disciples called ...go and baptize ..all called to become witnesses..in greek ..marterion..martyrs..not only words actions but way of life ..why we fail ..mostly b/c we r afraid we might be rejected ..in every successful city ..hige building ....first we must really care ....in acts..lord cont cares ..they.were able to let go of possessions..courage..dare..share ..practice sermon..but get up in front of cong..and I freeze ..near christmas ..pastor leaving..I said opposite of what I planned..it was fear..but when ..lord will give spirit we need ..oe time a typhoon..our community..near river..rain..floodwe rescued trapped families ..I jumped into river..swam into house where family was trapped..could have been dangerous..but when inspired..didn't think abt it..early christians had this spirit of courage..didn't worry about dangers ..what can I share ..? The spirit of the lord ..perhaps presence words love ..many ways ...if willing..llastly ..p for prayer ..come togethe 7 pray..thank lord for making us instruments of his love peace..st francis of assissi..w brother went thru villages ..brother complained "all we did is walk thru villages"..francis responded it was the presence that was sufficient ..share what is most precious to us ..

[Readings fr ascension day, june 2]
Acts 1:1-11 In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While meeting with the them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” When they had gathered together they asked him,“Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upo

lem but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” When they had gathered together they asked him,“Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem throughout Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven."

R. (6) God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:

Ephesians 1.17-23 " May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

Matt 28.16-20 "The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them,“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”