Jonathan Shradar

The image of what has occurred in Christ and what we have hope in for the future is often pictured as refreshing water. "Come all who thirst and drink of the water without price" (Isaiah 55:1, Revelation 22:7... even Jesus in John 7). This is what the gospel is really, a cool drink of water, freely given to parched souls, thirsty people in need of refreshment and hydration. Many of us have realized this in real ways in our lives. A big piece of the picture though is that this water is not meant only for you. It is meant to flow from you for others. As a people we are called to drink deeply of the good news of Jesus - his life, death and resurrection - together, in community, making sure everyone among us is staying "hydrated" in the gospel. And we take this water to those dying of thirst around us. Those that have been drinking all kinds of other things;  the sand of success, the sugar of pleasure or the dust of self, all leaving them parched and withering. Like dro

Now take this and apply it to those that call Lord the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. That have Jesus working for them, forgiving, empowering and calling them his own.  https://youtu.be/8DgUeCpXtqE

Over two years ago I ascended the small platform in a coffee shop that no longer exists to preach my last sermon to a group of young adults crammed into a trendy building to hear the gospel. It was the sermon that said, I have left it all on the field, I have given you what I know, now carry on and preach the gospel to each other and the waiting world. The text of the night was Acts 20 and Paul's final words to the elders of the church in Ephesus. Paul shows his resolve and I had tried my best to model my ministry after his, to preach nothing but Christ and him crucified. Oh to live this way! Then this week a good friend who is sensing an increasing call to global missions shared how he was stirred by a sermon on Acts 20:24 and the Lord used it as a sweet reminder of the call to faithfulness. Here are Paul's words to the leaders of the church: "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I receiv

All of life is about pursuit. Everything for sale promises a met need or fulfillment. Every entertainment lures us with escape and rest. Every advance entices with happiness upon success. But we are not stupid. At the core of who we are, we know these things won't comfort, settle or fulfill us. Money can't buy you love and love doesn't equal happiness. Even so, we keep pursuing, we keep tracking the illusive "thing" and are usually just as lost at the end as we were when we set out. So what if we were meant to find all of this, fulfillment, love and happiness - you add whatever it is for you, somewhere else that is not pursued but received? This is the grace of Christianity. That Jesus would be all these things and he is the one doing the pursuing. The Prophet Hosea brought a word of warning to Israel. "She shall pursue her lovers but not overtake them, and she shall seek them but shall not find them." Hosea 2:7. She being the people, shall pursue, searc