It's hot. Here in North Carolina we went through weeks of 90+ degree heat and oppressive humidity. My friends in Phoenix and Las Vegas are dealing with air temperatures of 118. And no, being a dry heat does NOT make it any cooler. 118 is 118.
While the world debates climate change, I'd like to talk about another kind of heat. The heat of Hell. You don't hear much about that any more. Used to be you could find at least one "hell, fire and brimstone" preacher around. Seems as if the church forgot about Hell. But we can't. Hell is real.
Whether we think of Hell as a place described in Dante's "Inferno" or simply a place in eternity where we are separated from God, it is real. Which means we need to make sure that we, as Christians, live the life that will send us to heaven, and not end up in eternal damnation.
We need to spend time thinking about our brothers and sisters who need us and not focus on ourselves all the time. We need to share our resources with those less fortunate who need the charity that Jesus told us about. We need to take time from our summer vacations to listen for God's guidance in His word.
While summer is a time when we can enjoy the outdoors, take time to praise the one who created this magnificent planet. Watch the ocean roll in and marvel at how it helps feed us and nourish us. Look at the mountains in all their splendor and let your heart burst with the glory God provides.
Enjoy the summer and the warmth it bring always praising the one who created it and live the life that assures us of a place in God's heaven above.
While the world debates climate change, I'd like to talk about another kind of heat. The heat of Hell. You don't hear much about that any more. Used to be you could find at least one "hell, fire and brimstone" preacher around. Seems as if the church forgot about Hell. But we can't. Hell is real.
Whether we think of Hell as a place described in Dante's "Inferno" or simply a place in eternity where we are separated from God, it is real. Which means we need to make sure that we, as Christians, live the life that will send us to heaven, and not end up in eternal damnation.
We need to spend time thinking about our brothers and sisters who need us and not focus on ourselves all the time. We need to share our resources with those less fortunate who need the charity that Jesus told us about. We need to take time from our summer vacations to listen for God's guidance in His word.
While summer is a time when we can enjoy the outdoors, take time to praise the one who created this magnificent planet. Watch the ocean roll in and marvel at how it helps feed us and nourish us. Look at the mountains in all their splendor and let your heart burst with the glory God provides.
Enjoy the summer and the warmth it bring always praising the one who created it and live the life that assures us of a place in God's heaven above.