Resurrection Power

2006 Central Family Retreat
"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, to somehow attain the resurrection from the dead."

The theme of this year's retreat at Cumberland Falls was "I want to know Christ." I don't just want to know about Christ, but I want to have an intimate relationship with the Son of God. The only way that is going to happen is through the Spirit that indwells, searches and knows me.

I think the reason we don't experience real resurrecting power, is not because we don't have it, but because we are scared of it. We are scared to allow Christ's Spirit to empower us because of what it might mean. We have become so comfortable with "doing church" why would we want to mess with that. Well, like the speaker said this weekend, I am tired of "church service." There are times I feel like I am going to bust out of my shoes when I think of the calling we have in Christ. Inviting people to church just doesn't do it for me anymore. I want to live Christ.

This morning we were able to share in a communion meal. Like most years I have been there, it spilled over into people confessing, admonishing and giving testimonials. The emotion was almost scary. At one point a very shy lady, that everyone loves and respects, stood up and poured her heart out. It was as if God was speaking directly through her to us. To show us her true heart. I love being reminded that God is personal, and he wants us to be personal. He wants us to get beyond the "shallowness" of most of our relationships into the stuff that matters. Into the good stuff of how we are feeling about things.

This weekend, for those that were there, resurrecting power was experienced. We were first hand witnesses of his glory. Praise be to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!!!