Puddling Up

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. — Revelation 22:1-2

As some lose vision of our Christ and his kingdom, this beautiful river may become ponds, then puddles. Not forever.

Wobbly Doctrine

I just participated in a Celebration of Life. My aim for these is to console people who are hurting, help them grieve with hope, and point to eternal life as a present and available reality. I also listen and observe. Celebrations of Life, memorials, and funerals are good places to gauge the broader culture's knowledge of God and his kingdom. It's pretty wobbly. From the preacher who stokes fear, to statements like "God must have needed another angel," narratives, even ones labeled Christian, seem far afield of God's message. It's sad because it leaves people to wander aimlessly.

Smells Like

He shall take out the memorial portion from the grain offering and burn it on the altar as a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. — Leviticus 2:2

In the New Testament age, we are to offer our whole selves to God as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1). When we do, we will spread the aroma of the knowledge of Christ [eternal life] among those being saved and those perishing (2 Cor. 2:15-16). It's a pleasing aroma.