All About Jesus
January 14, 2008"Real Wisdom"
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5
On January 1st, the Associated Press carried an article about a man in Mesa, Arizona, who took one of his pet buffaloes for a ride. No, he didn't put the great beast in a horse trailer and drive him around the neighborhood. The man put a saddle on his bison and tried to ride him.
Now the article didn't say if the man did this sort of thing regularly. That's why I don't know if this was the first time or the hundredth time the man went riding. I do know this time the man was bucked off and trampled. The unnamed fellow was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Since he has probably been released by the time you read this, I can be forgiven if I ask, "What was he thinking doing something so silly, so dangerous?"
His actions are almost as bad as those Pam and I observed when we were living in western South Dakota near Custer State Park. There we watched in astonishment as a man tried to put his little daughter on a wild buffalo so he might take a vacation picture. We, along with a lot of others, called out and dissuaded him from his foolish action.
Right about now, I imagine, you, like me, are thinking, "I'm glad I'd never do anything as stupid as that." I know I won't. Not because I'm so smart. I probably won't try to ride a buffalo because I don't own a buffalo. But if I did, who knows?
In truth, each of us do some very strange things, stupid things, sinful things -things, which can get us into temporal and eternal trouble. This is why we need a Savior. Jesus is the only One of the human race who has done the right thing, the smart thing all of the time. In perfect love He came and lived a perfect life. This He did, so that we, who were being trampled by our own transgressions, might be rescued and saved. Now, as forgiven children, we ought to be able to see life a little more clearly. We ought to put away the foolish pursuits of the world and live our lives with the wisdom God wishes to give. And if we don't have such wisdom right now we ought to listen to James.
In the first chapter of his book he wrote, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, Who gives generously to all. . . ."
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, forgive the sinful things I do -my stupidity for wanting my way and not Your way. Grant me wisdom, so that in all I do, I may be able to live with Your will being done in my life. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
THIS WILL GIVE YOU CHILLS:
AFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL SUNDAY EVENING HYMNS,
THE CHURCH'S PASTOR SLOWLY STOOD UP,
WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND,
BEFORE HE GAVE HIS SERMON FOR THE EVENING,
HE BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST MINISTER
WHO WAS IN THE SERVICE THAT EVENING.
IN THE INTRODUCTION, THE PASTOR TOLD THE
CONGREGATION THAT THE GUEST MINISTER WAS
ONE OF HIS DEAREST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS AND
THAT HE WANTED HIM TO HAVE A FEW MOMENTS
TO GREET THE CHURCH AND SHARE WHATEVER
HE FELT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SERVICE.
WITH THAT, AN ELDERLY MAN STEPPED UP TO THE
PULPIT AND BEGAN TO SPEAK.
"A FATHER, HIS SON, AND A FRIEND OF HIS SON WERE
SAILING OFF THE PACIFIC COAST ," HE BEGAN.
"WHEN A FAST APPROACHING STORM BLOCKED ANY
ATTEMPT TO GET BACK TO THE SHORE.
THE WAVES WERE SO HIGH, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE
FATHER WAS AN EXPERIENCED SAILOR, HE COULD NOT
KEEP THE BOAT UPRIGHT AND THE THREE WERE SWEPT
INTO THE OCEAN AS THE BOAT CAPSIZED."
THE OLD MAN HESITATED FOR A MOMENT,
MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH TWO TEENAGERS WHO WERE,
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SERVICE BEGAN,
LOOKING SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN HIS STORY.
THE AGED MINISTER CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY,
"GRABBING A RESCUE LINE, THE FATHER HAD TO MAKE THE
MOST EXCRUCIATING DECISION OF HIS LIFE: TO WHICH BOY
WOULD HE THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE LINE.
HE ONLY HAD SECONDS TO MAKE THE DECISION.
THE FATHER KNEW THAT HIS SON WAS A CHRISTIAN AND
HE, ALSO, KNEW THAT HIS SON'S FRIEND WAS NOT.
THE AGONY OF HIS DECISION COULD NOT BE MATCHED BY
THE TORRENT OF WAVES.
AS THE FATHER YELLED OUT, 'I LOVE YOU, SON!'
HE THREW OUT THE LIFE LINE TO HIS SON'S FRIEND.
BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE FRIEND BACK
TO THE CAPSIZED BOAT, HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH
THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THE BLACK OF NIGHT.
HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED.
BY THIS TIME, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE SITTING UP
STRAIGHT IN THE PEW, ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THE NEXT
WORDS TO COME OUT OF THE OLD MINISTER'S MOUTH.
"THE FATHER," HE CONTINUED, "KNEW HIS SON WOULD
STEP INTO ETERNITY WITH JESUS AND HE COULD NOT
BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS SON'S FRIEND STEPPING INTO
AN ETERNITY WITHOUT JESUS.. THEREFORE, HE SACRIFICED
HIS SON TO SAVE THE SON'S FRIEND. "
HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE SHOULD DO THE
SAME FOR US. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SACRIFICED HIS ONLY
BEGOTTEN SON THAT WE COULD BE SAVED. I URGE YOU TO
ACCEPT HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU AND TAKE A HOLD OF THE
LIFE LINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO YOU IN THIS SERVICE."
WITH THAT, THE OLD MAN TURNED AND SAT BACK DOWN IN
HIS CHAIR AS SILENCE FILLED THE ROOM.
THE PASTOR AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TO THE PULPIT AND
DELIVERED A BRIEF SERMON WITH AN INVITATION AT THE
END. HOWEVER, NO ONE RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL.
WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE ENDED, THE TWO
TEENAGERS WERE AT THE OLD MAN'S SIDE.
"THAT WAS A NICE STORY," POLITELY STATED ONE OF
THEM,"BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS VERY REALISTIC FOR A
FATHER TO GIVE UP HIS ONLY SON'S LIFE IN HOPES THAT
THE OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME A CHRISTIAN."
"WELL, YOU'VE GOT A POINT THERE," THE OLD MAN REPLIED,
GLANCING DOWN AT HIS WORN BIBLE. A BIG SMILE BROADENED
HIS NARROW FACE. HE ONCE AGAIN LOOKED UP AT THE BOYS
AND SAID, "IT SURE ISN'T VERY REALISTIC, IS IT? BUT,
I'M STANDING HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT STORY GIVES
ME A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR GOD
TO GIVE UP HIS SON FOR ME.
YOU SEE...
I WAS THAT FATHER AND YOUR PASTOR IS MY SON'S FRIEND."
January 15, 2008"Getting Busy"
And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:11-12
In my wanderings I've come across a great many retired pastors. Now I'm using the word "retired" in the loosest way possible. Most of these pastors are still working. They are serving vacancy congregations, calling on the hospitalized and shut-ins, and they are preaching almost every Sunday.
Almost to a man, each of them says, "I'm busier now than I have ever been." Then, with a twinkle in their eyes, they add, "Only I don't have to be the Pastor-on-call at Voter's Assemblies."
The activity of these pastors is quite a contrast from the four people in New York who are competing to be the world's couch potato king. And what do you have to do to earn such a dubious title? Nothing. You have to do absolutely nothing.
On New Year's Day four people sat down in front of a dozen large-screen televisions to watch continuous TV for as long as they could. The old record was 69 hours and 48 minutes. These folks are trying to break that record. If they do, they'll receive $5,000, a high-definition TV, and a reclining chair. When I read of that story, which is being carried on television, I thought, "Thank the Lord He didn't have the same kind of attitude when it came to us!"
Truly, when our first ancestors fell into sin, the Lord could have assumed the role of Divine Couch Potato, contenting Himself to watch humanity begin and continue a hopeless procession into the fires of hell. He could have, but He didn't. The Lord, in His grace, got involved. So we might be saved from our sin, so we might be rescued from damnation, Jesus took our place under the law, resisted Satan's every temptation, died the death we deserved and, in His wonderful resurrection conquered the grave. For His involvement, the Savior received no cash, no easy chair, no TV. He has never asked for or wanted such things. What He does want is people who, by the Holy Spirit's power, acknowledge Him as Savior and actively hold fast to the full assurance of hope that comes through Him alone.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I thank you for getting involved when You didn't have to. I rejoice in the Savior who made a commitment to saving me. Now, let me also get involved in sharing the wonderful story of Your great love. In Your Name I ask it. Amen.
Wow....3 power packed messages sent to me my brothers and sisters in Christ. Well. I need that. To face the oncoming trouble. It's great to remind yourself that you are living in God's Grace.
Wow...So much have happened. God is moving mountains in my life.
1 Major event where God showed a sign when I asked Him. Wahaha....Well Recently , I stepped down from a leadership position in SYFC to help out at Campus Crusade. I must confess that as much as I believe it is God's will for me, I know that I have not done it God's way or with the right heart. My focus was to upgrade myself. To think of it now, I as not much different from Eve who ate the fruit in order to gain knowledge.
I however had asked God that if it is not according to His will, He should tell me or do somwthing to tell me. Well...God did that...at first I ignore it. Quite difficult to just jump off a commitment . However, God decides to put a bigger sign. He used someone close to me to display my silliness.
Well that woke me up a huge bit. Haha....I repented and requested to be place out of the team . Freeing myself to return to SYFC again. Thing went back to normal after that.
Lesson Learnt?
1) It's not about you but about God.
2) God answers if you dare to ask. (John 16:24)
I did Campus Evangelism today! It was fantastic. I got to share a bit with a muslim lady. It's more like a discussion whereby we look at each other's religon. It was great. At first I was freaked out.
Cause, it's a lady and she's muslim. Well.. She's nice. Thank God for that.
I love doing CE ! Even though Satan always put obstacles to stop me. Discoragement, Fear...or just the don't wanna go feelings. I thank God that He gave me the perserverance tojust go no matter how I feel. Wahaha! After CE it's great. You know that you have played a part in that person's life and God's plan to save that person.
Had great time today in Class.Hees. Immunology rocks!
Oh!! pray for me people.
Financial status of my family is all time low!
According to bro, Mom is in debts and Dad cannot even support Himself, Bro and Me.
I'm going to ask God for supernatural endurance and providences again.
Haha...You know what is so great? God hears and provides.
For me, being rich has a new meaning.
KNOWING GOD.
OH!! Swimming tommorrow at RP with Andrew!! Yeah!! Underater drummer!! Andrew Lee!