June 6th

How do you want to be remembered?  On April 20th 2008, a 51 year old Catholic priest known as Adelir Antonio wanted to be known for setting the world record for clustered balloon flight to both pay homage to Lawn Chair Larry (who attached 45 weather balloons to his lawn chair and was arrested for entering LAX air traffic lanes), and to publicize his plan to build a spiritual rest stop for truckers.  

To accomplish this monumental task, Father Antonio used enough helium party balloons for lift-off.  Unlike Lawn Chair Larry, the priest took numerous safety precautions which included a survival suit, packing a satellite phone, a parachute, and a GPS (even though he didn’t know how to use it).  Well, Father Antonio will be remembered as a nominee for the Darwin Awards, named in honor of Charles Darwin to commemorate those who improve the human gene pool by removing themselves from it in the most extraordinary ways; we learn from the Darwin Awards what happened to Father Antonio and why he was nominated for the Darwin Awards:

“The winds changed, as winds do, and he was blown inexorably toward open sea. He could have parachuted to safety while over land, but chose not to. When the voyager was perilously lost at sea, he prudently phoned for help--but rescuers were unable to determine his location, since he could not use his GPS. He struggled with the unit as the charge on the satellite phone dwindled.  Instead of a GPS, the priest let God be his guide, and God guided him straight to heaven. Bits of balloons began appearing on mountains and beaches. Ultimately the priest's body surfaced, confirming that he, like Elvis, had left the building.”[1]

Paul had it all; he had a great education, a respectable future as a Jewish religious leader, and he was respected by his Jewish peers.  As you know, when Paul received the Gospel of Jesus Christ and became a follower, all of what he once held dear changed.  This is why he wrote to the Philippian church: 

“If anyone else thinks he is confident in the flesh, I have more reason: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith...” (Phil. 3:4–9) 

Did you hear what the Apostle said?  He said, “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”  According to Paul, the most important thing in life is not who remembers us, but do we know Jesus Christ and are we citizens of His Kingdom.  What matters is not my accomplishments, but that I have Jesus and the righteousness that I have only in and through Him.

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday in our 9AM and 11AM worship services!

Grace,

Pastor Keith