It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. – Galatians 5:1a

Summer is here. It is a time of year that always reminds me of freedom. Now, Paul wasn’t talking about summer break specifically, but he was talking about real freedom that stretches through everything we do. This Christ-founded freedom is set apart from worldly ideas of freedom, it’s an eternal freedom where we live for joy, for love, and for the glory of a God who has saved us and set us free.

However, there are enemies of freedom: boredom, waste, sin, laziness and the list goes on. Now, I’m not saying we shouldn’t relax this summer, I’m saying we shouldn’t use our freedom as an opportunity to be lazy, bored, wasteful or to sin like its going out of style.

You know what I am talking about. The temptation to sleep until noon everyday is easy, so is the idea of playing Modern Warfare 2 all day or just literally doing nothing for days on end. Sleep until noon on some days, just not everyday. Spend some days just doing things you enjoy, but don’t waste your summer days. Don’t get caught doing nothing! Jesus has come, He has risen you up with him and seated you with Him in the heavenly places. We have a great opportunity in the summer to spend more time praying to, reading about, and listening to our Savior.

Summer is here. Now what do you do?

Relax. Enjoy your God given freedom to have fun and spend time with friends and family.

Pray. Spend time with the one who grants real freedom and his Spirit will lead you to joy and pleasure in God’s presence.

Read. There is literal life in scripture. It’s active, scripture is alive and it can fill you, satisfy you and motivate you like nothing else on earth. Spend some time deep in scripture, it may be work at first, but soon it will be a pure joy.

Relate. Talk to people, build relationships, show God’s grace through your friendships with everyone. You’d be amazed by how much of an encouragement you can be to other Christians or how open non-Christians will be to you if you just love them like a good friend.

Contemplate. Think about your future, ask God to speak to you and reveal giftings, callings or new passions. Get ready to use the next semester as an opportunity to make Jesus’ fame known.w

Celebrate your freedom this summer! It’s okay to veg out every once and a while, but don’t waste the freedom you have been given this summer. As you walk with Jesus throughout the summer, reading scripture and living out grace in relationships you will discover the true freedom that comes from living totally for who Jesus has called you to be. Who is that? Well, check out scripture and God will show you exactly who He has called you to be.

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I’ve been praying for you and the friends you plan to invite to our Easter celebration this Sunday at 11. Check out the latest post (Are You Ready?) on the main blog for some encouragement as you invite. People are waiting to know Jesus. I believe that. Scripture tells me that. Maybe it’s your friend, roommate, study partner, family member or workmate. Aren’t you glad someone told you the story of Jesus? I am. It was one of my classmates from Northwest. Bearcats rule!

Praying for you. See you soon.

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The book of 1 & 2 Timothy is written by Paul the apostle who was in prison for the gospel and the spiritual father to Timothy. Timothy was not an evangelist, he was primarily a shepherd, teacher and an apostle in his later years. But Paul always reminded people to tell the good news of Jesus.

Last week myself and a group of 8 people went out in the town and started sharing the gospel to people. we got to pray with a few and told the good news of Jesus to many. The Gospel is centered on Jesus, the Gospel is Jesus (Mark 1:1). We need to share this good news: that someone has died for all and has abolished death for all (John 3:16-17, 2 Cor 5:14-15, 2 Tim 1:8-10). Jesus paid it all and showed us love. First, by death on the brutal cross, and then by life rising again. He is still alive and reigning over all. Jesus deserves all of our praise and every part of our lives.

I think Jesus deserves that we get over our fear and start telling people about what He did for us. Jesus brings life and longs all to come to Him, He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Let’s love people and follow Jesus’ example by being honest with what we believe. People love honesty so let’s be honest and tell people what we believe and love everyone. We need to love people.

1 Corinthians 13

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The website is also a great way to get more plugged in to the church as well as seeing Living Hope in the bigger picture (i.e. St. Joseph and other future campuses). We will be regularly adding content via the amazing technological advancement that is blogging, so come and be amazed at the awesomeness of the future. I apologize, my online blog jokes are as bad as my sermon jokes, but I’m working on it, I promise.

As you browse this site, please feel free to send any questions or thoughts you have to mike@lhcsj.org. And don’t forget that as you invite everyone you know to come check out LHC at The Hangar you can also send them to the website so they can find out more about who we are.

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