“Than to be the king of a vast domain Or be held in sin’s dread sway; I’d rather have Jesus than anything This world affords today.”  I can still hear George Beaverly Shea singing this at a Billy Grahm Crusade as it aired on our television in the 1980’s.  The Hymn mentions; I’d rather have Jesus than … silver or gold, riches untold, houses or lands, men’s applause, world-wide fame – verse 3 reads He’s fairer than lilies, sweeter than honey, all that my hungering spirit needs.  I remember struggling in my own mind, wondering if I actually believe that myself.  I wanted to and sort of thought I did, but it is an extreme declaration.

As God continued to work in my life, I became convinced that He was calling me to make my living through vocational ministry.  I answered His call and headed to Bible College to learn about Christianity and all that goes with it in order to get close to God and serve Him.  One day in chapel Professor Richard Collier brought the message out of Philippians 3; his title was “intimacy with God” and it forced me to consider if I was flying right-side-up or up-side-down (as Dallas Willard begins chapter 1 of his book “The Divine Conspiracy).  In fact Paul’s message in Philippians 3 still haunts / challenges / inspires me in this way; and the stakes are high if you think about it.  The flow of Paul’s thought is actually quite simple, but the implication of the message is something that is quite overwhelming and honestly more demanding than most of us are willing to undertake.

Our theme for the year is “A Better Way” and God through Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is instructing us in His plan on differing issues.  This week, I want to take us back and make sure we are flying right-side-up.