Grace Party: Escape to Reality Greatest Hits, Volume 3 by Paul Ellis Page A
Authors: Paul Ellis
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Scripture
quotations marked “ESV” are taken are from The Holy Bible, English Standard
Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News
Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scriptures
quotations marked “GNB” are taken from the
Good
News Bible.
Copyright © 1994 published by the Bible
Societies/HarperCollins Publishers Ltd UK,
Good News Bible
© American Bible Society 1966, 1971, 1976, 1992.
Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked “KJV” are taken from the King James
Version of the Bible (1611).
Scripture
quotations marked “MSG” are taken from The Message . Copyright
© by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by
permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
Scripture
quotations marked “ NKJV” are taken from the New King
James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All
rights reserved.
Scripture
quotations marked “YLT” are taken from Young’s Literal Translation of
the Bible (1898).
Please
note that KingsPress’ publishing style capitalizes certain pronouns in
Scripture that refer to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and may differ from
some publisher’s styles.
Cover
layout and design by Brad Wallace of bradwallaceimaging.com.
Version:
1.0 (May 2015)
Dedication:
This is for the weak, the weary, and the worn out.
A Word Before
One of the best parties I have
ever been to was a surprise party. It was a hot, humid Friday night in Hong
Kong and Camilla and I were running late. We were supposed to be at church for
our weekly prayer meeting, but one of us was taking her sweet time getting
ready. No need to mention names.
When we
finally arrived at church, the place was dark. I flipped on the lights and was
greeted with a shout of “Surprise!” I was shocked to find a room full of
people, all dressed in colorful sixties’ gear, waiting to celebrate my
birthday.
A couple
of things from that night endure in my memory. One was the dancing. I don’t
dance much but that night there was such a happy, joyful vibe that everybody
danced for hours. We almost missed the last train home.
Another
memory: unexpected guests. Some of my friends ducked out to buy drinks and they
came back with five German tourists. One of the Germans was having a birthday
so we celebrated with him as well.
To
appreciate the effect of this party you have to understand that the Hong Kong I
lived in was all work, work, work. I worked seven days a week. Even church was
work. This party was an unexpected break in the routine, a vacation, a breather
that I sorely needed. It was one of those moments of frivolity and festivity,
that C.S. Lewis said reveal heaven.
At least
it felt like heaven to me.
Jesus
said the kingdom of God is a party, and it is because Jesus is there and everywhere
he goes there is joy.
The Son
of God gave reasons to rejoice by turning thieves into givers and haters into lovers.
He healed lepers (thank you, Jesus!), delivered the demonized (free at last!),
and raised the dead (look who’s back!). He told stories that ended in
unexpected parties for undeserving prodigals. When he rose from the grave his surprised
disciples were filled with joy and wonder. And after he ascended into heaven they
returned to Jerusalem “with great joy.”
Jesus
said “I am the life,” and his is a life of righteousness, peace, and joy. It is
a life of freedom and celebration. And it’s a life of fun that offends the religious.
The
Pharisees were not impressed by all the joy that followed Jesus. “He’s out of
order. He’s not observing the rules. Why is he healing on the Sabbath?” These
party-poopers tried to rain on his parade but the parade of his grace just kept
rolling.
I can’t
imagine the Pharisees ever throwing a party, can you? And yet by law they were
required to do so. According to Deuteronomy chapter 14, the Israelites
www.zondervan.com
Scripture
quotations marked “ESV” are taken are from The Holy Bible, English Standard
Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News
Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scriptures
quotations marked “GNB” are taken from the
Good
News Bible.
Copyright © 1994 published by the Bible
Societies/HarperCollins Publishers Ltd UK,
Good News Bible
© American Bible Society 1966, 1971, 1976, 1992.
Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked “KJV” are taken from the King James
Version of the Bible (1611).
Scripture
quotations marked “MSG” are taken from The Message . Copyright
© by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by
permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
Scripture
quotations marked “ NKJV” are taken from the New King
James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All
rights reserved.
Scripture
quotations marked “YLT” are taken from Young’s Literal Translation of
the Bible (1898).
Please
note that KingsPress’ publishing style capitalizes certain pronouns in
Scripture that refer to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and may differ from
some publisher’s styles.
Cover
layout and design by Brad Wallace of bradwallaceimaging.com.
Version:
1.0 (May 2015)
Dedication:
This is for the weak, the weary, and the worn out.
A Word Before
One of the best parties I have
ever been to was a surprise party. It was a hot, humid Friday night in Hong
Kong and Camilla and I were running late. We were supposed to be at church for
our weekly prayer meeting, but one of us was taking her sweet time getting
ready. No need to mention names.
When we
finally arrived at church, the place was dark. I flipped on the lights and was
greeted with a shout of “Surprise!” I was shocked to find a room full of
people, all dressed in colorful sixties’ gear, waiting to celebrate my
birthday.
A couple
of things from that night endure in my memory. One was the dancing. I don’t
dance much but that night there was such a happy, joyful vibe that everybody
danced for hours. We almost missed the last train home.
Another
memory: unexpected guests. Some of my friends ducked out to buy drinks and they
came back with five German tourists. One of the Germans was having a birthday
so we celebrated with him as well.
To
appreciate the effect of this party you have to understand that the Hong Kong I
lived in was all work, work, work. I worked seven days a week. Even church was
work. This party was an unexpected break in the routine, a vacation, a breather
that I sorely needed. It was one of those moments of frivolity and festivity,
that C.S. Lewis said reveal heaven.
At least
it felt like heaven to me.
Jesus
said the kingdom of God is a party, and it is because Jesus is there and everywhere
he goes there is joy.
The Son
of God gave reasons to rejoice by turning thieves into givers and haters into lovers.
He healed lepers (thank you, Jesus!), delivered the demonized (free at last!),
and raised the dead (look who’s back!). He told stories that ended in
unexpected parties for undeserving prodigals. When he rose from the grave his surprised
disciples were filled with joy and wonder. And after he ascended into heaven they
returned to Jerusalem “with great joy.”
Jesus
said “I am the life,” and his is a life of righteousness, peace, and joy. It is
a life of freedom and celebration. And it’s a life of fun that offends the religious.
The
Pharisees were not impressed by all the joy that followed Jesus. “He’s out of
order. He’s not observing the rules. Why is he healing on the Sabbath?” These
party-poopers tried to rain on his parade but the parade of his grace just kept
rolling.
I can’t
imagine the Pharisees ever throwing a party, can you? And yet by law they were
required to do so. According to Deuteronomy chapter 14, the Israelites
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