A participant in our NDE class told this story.

When her mother died, the family found in her things a pendant they very much wanted to place on her for the funeral.

It would look good with the clothing they had selected.

But there was a problem. The gold chain was thin and delicate and all “knotted up.”

Several members of the family worked to get the kinks out, but no one succeeded.

They were disappointed, but finally gave up and went with something else.

When they returned from the funeral, there was the chain and pendant, laid out on the bed without a knot in it.

It was, of course, a word from their loved one. Her life continued. And she wanted her family to know that.

The body dies.

We do not.

Death is a transition.

Not an end.

That story was not a near-death experience, but it was fair game for the class, which is really about the reality of heaven and God and life beyond death.

Another member did share an NDE. She must have died momentarily with a brain aneurysm. At one point, she found herself up at the ceiling looking down on herself in the hospital bed.

She was later aware of Jesus at her bedside. He let her know she would survive. And said to her, “Tell your boys you love them.”

NDE class, 9:45 Sunday. Followed by breakfast.

Life is better than you think. Be encouraged.

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One week away:

A Night on Broadway.

Sat., Aug.10, 6:00 p.m.

We can promise you glorious music and a bit of food afterward.

After the news last Sunday around 2:00 p.m. I am filled with hope. I believe we will be okay.

Last Sunday was also a good day in church.

I hope I was clear in my sermon why we can be sure God did NOT kill Ananias and Sapphira. (Acts 1- 11)

It’s simple.

God loved them just as God loves you and me.

God is never unloving.

How do I know?

Jesus tells us so. God is “kind to the ungrateful and to the wicked.”

The father in the great parable loved the Prodigal Son just as much when the boy was away and in sin as when he returned home.

God’s love does not depend on our behavior.

It is unconditional.

This is one thing that astounds people who have NDEs. They are immersed in a love beyond words–all sins forgiven.

“God—IS—love.” It’s as simple as that.

As much as I cherish the book of Acts, the Ananias and Sapphira story is wrong about God.

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Speaking of NDEs, the study is going well. And you can join us—Sunday mornings at 9:45.

Here is a place where you can share those deep experiences you think no one will believe.

The class is also a kind of grief therapy for those who have lost a loved one.

We live forever.

When the NDE study ends, we will move right into an ongoing study of my book about religious experiences, Discovering God.

+ +

Our concerts resume in two weeks. Free. (We take an offering.) A Night on Broadway.

And join us for worship this Sunday at 11:00. (Or watch online.)

I asked the question last time:

“Did God kill Ananias and Sapphira?

I got several interesting answers—but I want more. Read the story in Acts 5:1-11. Send me an e-mail with your opinion.

Feel free to explain why you say “yes” or “no.”

I will read some of the e-mails in my sermon this Sunday (without giving your name.)

Truth is, the question is not hard to answer. And I will give you the definitive answer in my sermon this Sunday at 11:00.

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We have an interesting study of NDEs, just starting Sunday mornings, taught by my sister, Jackie.

I will chime in at times.

The class meets at 9:45 and will run for four Sundays.

Each week we will hear from someone who has had a near-death event.

Expect to be lifted and encouraged by this study.

And here is really good news: It is followed by breakfast!

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The 4-week NDE study will be followed by an extended study of my not-yet published book, Discovering God.

The book is continually changing as I work on it. It will be out by next Easter.

The study will be part of my closing work on the book.

Discovering God covers over 100 remarkable and moving encounters with God.

We will discover in this study that God’s love for us exceeds anything we could ever imagine.

And God is closer to us that most people believe.

So: study at 9:45 every Sunday morning.

And Sermon Sunday: Did God Kill Ananias and Sapphira? 11:00 and after.

Luke’s work, his Gospel and Acts, are among my favorite things in the Bible. But there is a story in Acts which may give us pause.

The early Christians in Jerusalem sold all their possessions and gave it to the church. They lived a communal life. (Acts 4:32)

Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold some land and gave part of the money to the church.

But they told the church they gave all of it.

Somebody found out and Peter confronted Ananias.

“How could you do this? Peter asked him. “You did not lie to us. You lied to God.”

And as soon as Peter said this, Ananias dropped dead at Peter’s feet. Peter called on some young men to carry the body away.

Later that day Sapphira came in, not knowing her husband was dead.

Peter asked her if she and her husband had sold their land for a certain sum of money.

“Yes,” she said, “that was the price.”

“You have schemed together to test the Spirit of the Lord,” Peter told her.

“Look over there,” he said. “You will see the young men who buried your husband. They will carry you out, too.”

And Sapphira dropped dead at Peter’s feet, just as her husband had.

And, we are told, “great fear seized the whole church.”

Yes, I think it would.

The implication is that God killed Ananias and his wife for lying about their offering.

I have a question for you—and I need answers from a lot of people. This is for my sermon a week from this Sunday.

Question: Did God kill Ananias and Sapphira?

Please give a reason for your answer.

My e-mail address is below.

revmaxb@tx.rr.com

We are in trouble as a nation because many Christians have such a strange idea of the Gospel.

Clearly, they don’t seem to know the Gospel I know and preach.

Which I think of as the Gospel of mainstream Christianity.

Consider this:

One of the guys on that debate stage last week is supported by Christians, racial hate groups, and Neo-Nazis.

Strange combination.

Why would Christians be with racists and Nazis?

Paul tells us to be careful about the company we keep. I would call Nazis bad company.

Yet there they are, Christians with bad guys.

But this is a different kind of Christianity.

It has nothing to do with the Christianity I know.

Let me say something that may sound a bit radical here: All who use the name “Christian” do not worship the same God.

Someone wrote to me recently, “You went so far as to say that God is only a God of love.”

He said that’s not true, then he listed some really mean things he says God did. He wants me to know God is a rough customer.

Another said to me, “God does not love all people. God loves only the people who keep his commandments.”

Here are two Christians who do not believe in grace, God’s unconditional love for all humankind.

Their idea of “God” is so different from my idea of “God” that I don’t think we share the same religion.

Yet, we are all called “Christians.”

But some Christians see God as love. Some see God as stern and exclusive.

And the meaner your God is, the more likely it is you will find yourself marching in lockstep with racists and Nazis.