BUT GOD

60.4 inches of snow and we are still standing. I pray all is well with you. This time of year is always amazing to me coming from Oklahoma. If we received an inch of snow there, schools, churches and all events would be cancelled and a state of emergency would be called.

In South Bend, winter is a part of life, snow comes and we keep moving. The past Sundays have been amazing in the fact people didn't let snow stop them from coming to church or from having church once they arrived. I am humbled and honored to serve in South Bend at the Macedonia Church.

We started a 5 Week Sermon Series entitled "BUT GOD". It has been a blessing to people and the preacher as God has reminded us in the words of James Montgomery Boice, "If you understand those two words------BUT GOD--------they will save your soul.

I recommend two excellent books that have provided both information and inspiration for this series. The first is a book written by Casey Lute entitled, "BUT GOD...The Two Words at the Heart of the Gospel" 

This is an excellent informative read that for readers who like Boice and his commentaries, you will love this book. He stresses in this book that we need to learn how to finish the sentence. We are so quick to not speak this or not claim that; we miss the greater reality!

Lute suggests To the Left of "But God" in Scripture are some of the worst human atrocities, characterized by rebellion and disobedience. To the left of "but God" is Hopelessness, darkness and death but if you will not stop mid sentence and complete the thought you will see on the right side of "But God", readers of God's Word will find hope, light and life.

The second book I recommend on this topic is written by a fellow Oklahoman named Herbert Cooper entitled "BUT GOD" CHANGES EVERYTHING".

I call this my inspirational book. Please don't let that tag mislead you to believe this book isn't informative or theologically based because it is. The reason why I call it inspirational is because the reading of this book affected me differently than Lute's interpretation. Lute appealed to my theological mind but Cooper helped transform my mind into application.

Cooper helps the reader to understand and to chronicle their own "but God" story. He shares from the things God has delivered him from to help encourage the reader to look back at the divine pivot point  they have come through and right at the moment it seemed like all hope was lost, providentially a BUT GOD moment arrived.

Cooper says, "There is no easy way to define "But God" changes but you always know when you encounter them. WHen you have a "But God" moment in your life, what follows from that moment will be drastically different from what came before it.

What we have been experiencing at Macedonia through this sermon series as birthed by God through this writers has been nothing short of miraculous. We are writing our own "but God' Stories and God willing we will share some of those on this blog or thru the other church sites.

BUT GOD