HOPE EXCHANGE: DISCIPLESHIP GROWTH ENCOUNTER

  We completed The Truth Project in full. It is difficult to summarize the richness of this material, but if I had to, it might say:     Almighty God has chosen to reveal himself through all of creation of which we are a crown of his glory, and all of creation so loudly declares HIM it is like a whisper booming out volume so loud it shakes the entire city of New York.  Every critter, every insect, every heavenly body, every animal, every plant -- they all sing the song of the Father.  To HIS glory he has formed mankind in his image to reflect HIMSELF.  It is the Believers privilege and sacred obligation to eliminate from his or her life those things that fail to clearly reflect his glory.  It is a joy to be able to be a perfect reflector of HIM, and the more we choose to line up with his principles, the brighter light we shine, and the more we enjoy the radiance of HIS glory ourselves.   

 These were the words of Jesus Christ.  Let us review the principles and character of Christ revealed from his sermon on the mount.  What does it say? Blessed are the peacemakers...the humble in spirit...the meek...mourners...pure in heart.  Compare this with the love chapter, I Corinthians 13.  Observe the life of Christ who went about doing good, healing all who were sick and oppressed of the evil one.  Everything he did was a reflection in earthly form of the Heavenly Father.  He even said to Phillip, if you have seen me you have seen the Father.  How is it then that we want to lean to the the arm of the flesh--the sword--to protect us in the churches.  We build large cathedrals, value them at millions of dollars, take out huge insurance policies, hire armed guards, and begin to exclude people at the door for fear they might destroy our empire we have built with our own hands.  We set swords at the door and dare people to enter throug...