Sunday was Ascension Sunday, the day we celebrate Jesus ascending to the Father. We talked about several things today. Here are some highlights:

• Saying Goodbye can be hard sometimes. The disciples had to say goodbye to Jesus again after he had spent 40 days preparing them for his going away and for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
• 40 is a special number in the Bible and usually follows or precedes a time of special spiritual preparation in expectation of a change that is about to take place. It appears 102 times in the Bible. Can you think of some of them?
• Sometimes, even in the hardest times of saying goodbye, we must remember the words that the angels spoke to the disciples who were gazing up into the sky: Why do you stand gazing up in the clouds. This same Jesus will return in the same way." In other words, "Don't just stand there. Get on with it! Jesus will return in the same way that you saw him go, but there is much to be done! So get busy!"
• Even in the tough times, the most important thing to do is just obey. I Sam.15 says "To obey is better than sacrifice" -- meaning that sometimes we need to just obey God. Jesus told the disciples to go and wait and pray. So they did. That simple. And they were filled with joy! Obeying God brings joy beyond description.
• The final words of Jesus included sharing the Gospel throughout the world, beginning with your own home and then spreading out to your neighbors, then to those people that would probably be the last people on earth you would ever consider talking to, then to the entire world. The order is pretty important. Taking care of business at home is vital before you can take care of others around you. Reconciling with those that you would consider your "other" or possibly even "enemy" is important to living a life that is totally pleasing to God.
• Our ultimate mission is to take the Gospel to all the world, as in the newly updated mission of the United Methodist Church: "The mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."

So let's get on with it. There is much to be done, and Yes, Jesus WILL return .... soon!

Expectantly,

Jan