(My response to the first of the application essays.)
Hope!
The expectation and trust in the never changing, ever present, living God. The gospel spells out how He has done as he said he would do… namely, provide the means by which His people would/will be reconciled onto Him through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus, thus laying that foundation for our hope.
The gospel provides the capability for me to trust that my expectations of heaven can be, or rather have already been, secured and the closest I will ever get to hell is the life I’m living now.
While living in a world that seems to be increasingly embracing evil, the hope of the Gospel, and the help of the Holy Spirit, I am able to maintain faith and convey to those around me the love of Jesus Christ and with the the Holy Spirit’s help, provide the means of hope for them also.
When doubt grabs hold and I wander from the narrow way, it is hope that guides me back between the white and yellow lines.
It was hope that enabled my wife and I to open the door and walk into Pilgrim Lutheran that first day. Hope that we would find Christ, in and among His people and, we’d find a new Christ centered church family.
That specific hope was fulfilled. We serve a good God.
The SMP Life 