A Near Death Experience

I once had a near death experience.

After years of attending churches around the world, I struggled under a heavy burden.  I had lost the joy I once felt when gathering with the body of Christ. I know I am not the only one.  For years I have met people whom no longer want to actively participate in church.

Most of those who have abandoned the church share stories of hypocrisy and church abuse. Long-time believers are ready to walk away out of boredom and frustration. Killed by the Church, Resurrected by Christ seeks to equip people with the principles they need in order to fall in love with the church again in a much healthier way.

I once sucumbed to "death by church". Then I found my identity.  It wasn't in anything the world had to offer.  It was only found in Jesus Christ!

In this book, you will find stories from around the world and right next door. Stories of all the good the church has to offer and sadly, some of the worst as well. You will discover Biblical principles that relate not only to church, but to our relationship with the body of Christ at large. You will hopefully develop a deeper understanding of your identity in Christ.

I invite you to pick up a copy of my new book, Killed by the Church, Resurrected by Christ.  

You can order it through your local bookstore (ISBN 9781490853789) or by clicking the image above.  (It is also available for download as an e-book on Amazon.)

You can also stop by the book's Facebook Page: Killed By The Church

Or Find Me on Twitter:   Killed By The Church

I Will Draw Near - Take 2

Earlier this month I posted the words to Sarah's new worship song, I Will Draw Near.

Today as she sat down to play it, our daughter Hanna joined her in singing what I feel is a beautiful song. I was able to record it with the words so you can follow along.

Song and Words are ©Sarah Apperson, 2014

I Wil Draw Near

My beautiful wife never ceases to amaze me.  She wrote this worship song last week for our upcoming Sunday service. Preceding the song will be Scriptures that contributed to her thought process.  I include those passages here and encourage you to spend time looking them up.

Here are the words to her song:

I Will Draw Near

 

Fountain of Life, flow over me

'till I'm filled with Your glory

Spirit renew the fire that once drew

me into the Holy of Holies

And I will draw near, as I wait here

I will return to my Father

My heart of stone, I lay at Your throne

That I may know You and be known

The sound of Your voice, fills me with joy

You turn sorrow to gladness

You don't disappoint, You never leave

and I am changed in Your presence

So I will draw near, as I wait here

I will return to my Father

My heart of stone, I lay at Your throne

That I may know You and be known

Only in You are justice and truth

and mercy binds me to You

How high are Your thoughts, How great are Your ways

Your covenant is my peace

Bridge:

You satisfy my soul with good

You bought my freedom with Your blood

Your fire consumes my sin

You captivate my heart

So, I will draw near, as I wait here

I will return to my Father

My heart of stone, I lay at Your throne

That I may know you and be known

© Sarah Apperson, 2014

Psalms 94:14; 107:9; 111:9-11 

Isaiah 31:3; 40:31; 54:10; 55:6-8

Jeremiah 2:13; 3:12; 3:19; 31:13

Ezekiel 36:25-27; 43:5

John 4:14 

Acts 2:2-4 

Ephesians 1:7-8

Titus 3:4-7

Hebrews 12:29

Blogapalooza - Hanna Apperson

Welcome to Blogapalooza.

I want you to meet some new people. I asked various friends and bloggers to share with you this month on my blog. So, all through the month of June I will feature different voices from around the world. Today I would like to introduce you to...

My Daughter: Hanna Apperson

Hanna was born in 1998. She gave her life to the Lord at the age of 6 and has been growing in Christ ever since. She approached me with this devotional of her own accord recently and I wanted to share it with you.

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LOVE

Love is patient,
Love is kind.
It does not envy,
it does not boast,
It is not proud.
It is not rude,
It is not self-seeking,
It is not easily angered,
It keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts,
Always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
1 Cor. 13: 4-8

Love is patient, Love is kind, love is gentle, love is merciful...and these are but a few descriptions of God.

God is a wonderful God, and I personally would love it if I could radiate all of these things everyday, at the same time. However, I can't. For only our wonderful God can really do that. I can do some of these things however, because I do have God's love in my heart.

Love comes from God and, because He lives in me, I can love. Do you have love? If you do not, PLEASE just ask God for that love and you will have it to. He loved us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross so that we could have love.

Blogapalooza - Sarah Apperson

Welcome to Blogapalooza.

I want you to meet some new people. I asked various friends and bloggers to share with you this month on my blog. So, all through the month of June I will feature different voices from around the world. Today I would like to introduce you to...

My Wife: Sarah Apperson

Sarah and I met in 1994 at a YWAM DTS. We were engaged a few months later and shortly after that we were married. Sarah is a passionate worshiper and has written scores of songs reflecting her love for the Lord. She currently leads our worship at Main Street Christian Fellowship and takes care of our 2 kids.

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Coping or Overcoming?

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3

I have recently been reflecting on what it means to inherit “every spiritual blessing in Christ.” After studying the Scriptures, I am confident that it truly means just what it says: everything that we need to live whole and fruitful lives has been made accessible to us through Jesus. “For we have come to share in Christ, if we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” Hebrews 3:15

In the midst of a stressful day, when I am tired from nursing a fussy baby the night before, frustrated by my daughter's difficult Social Studies assignment, overwhelmed by the endless piles of laundry, and unable to nap because the dog won't quit barking, I am tempted to give in to the feelings of helplessness pervading my soul. I want to cry a bit, then call a friend and dump on them until they join my pity party. I can't cope with this, I think to myself. But suddenly I hear a quiet whisper—so quiet I have to silence the negative thoughts so I can hear it: “You aren't called to cope, child. You are called to live abundantly! You're called to be an overcomer! Coping is for those who think they are strong, but you are meant to depend on me in your weakness.”

One of Paul's prayers for the Ephesians was “that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, and that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power... to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:16-19)

God knows what resources I need so that I can have joy and peace each day. He has already made provision for me, through Jesus Christ. If I am experiencing negative feelings, He has made a way for me to rise above them and walk in a higher realm: “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly...” Colossians 3:15

The epistles are full of commands such as “clothe yourself with holiness,” “put on Christ,” “walk in Him,” “live by the Spirit,” “seek the things that are above,” “put to death what is earthly in you... .” No matter how we feel, we may live as victorious children of God. But it is up to us to make the determination to allow the Spirit of God to do His work in us. He has provided the wardrobe, but we need to acknowledge our need, receive the gift, and put the clothes on!