In a long discussion with a person of long association with churches, there was no mistaking his true desire to know God. The paradox was that this man, despite living religiously for most of his adult life, had no knowledge that he could have a close relationship with God. His expressions - even about Heaven - were more of the 'hope so' than 'know so' variety. The longer we talked the more sad I became inwardly. He just could not break through the religious jargon to understand the promise of the Presence of the Holy Spirit. It seemed to me that his religious experience was like an immunization that kept him from catching the life of Christ! He kept returning to the prayers his mother taught him when he was a child, to the many ways he had contributed to the church over the years, and to the fact that he had been 'good,' an assertion he quickly qualified with, "of course, I know I'm not perfect." John, as I'll call him, is not a unique person in this regard. There are millions of people who are merely religious, who do not know the sweetness of a daily walk with Jesus.
A contemporary worship song has this line in it - "I am a friend of God...." I don't care much for the song as it repeats that line ad nauseam, but the declaration is valid. I am a friend of God, and you can be also. The old Gospel song that says in part, "and He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me that I am His own," is not just a sentimental longing. It is a statement of the genuine Christian experience. As I write of my friendship with God, I do so with the deepest sense of humility for I know who I was, what I am capable of being apart from the Cross of Christ; and I know that He loves me anyway! That love not only changed me long ago from sinner to child of God. It is the source of an ongoing joyful relationship that continues to be transformational!
Every friendship in our lives affects us. A wise parent teaches his son early in life about the importance of choosing friends carefully. No matter how well defended we think we are, those that we invite to become more than acquaintances bring their values and ideas to us, changing us even if ever so imperceptivity. Proverbs says, "Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble." (Proverbs 13:20, NLT) Are you a friend of Jesus? Are you walking with Him, letting His influence work on your character? Don't just look back to some past high moment of spiritual experience. Cultivate your friendship with Him today, tomorrow, and until the moment when you take up residence in Heaven for eternity.
The prophet Amos, calling the people of God back to Him, asks - "Out of all the families on earth, I picked you. Therefore, because of your special calling, I’m holding you responsible for all your sins." Do two people walk hand in hand if they aren’t going to the same place? " (Amos 3:2-3, The Message) That is true for those who would please God today. Grace has been given to us. A holy privilege of being friends of God has been extended. Now, we must walk with Him, desiring what He desires, loving what He loves.
Are you a good friend of God? Do you talk with Him, listen to Him, spend time with Him? Do you love what He loves and express your worship of Him in demonstrable ways?
What a friendship! What benefits accrue to those who move beyond mere religion and into knowing God as their Friend. Walk with Him!
"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other,... Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:16-17, 25, NIV)
Jesus says, "I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father." (John 15:15, The Message)
________________________________
Friendship with Jesus,
Fellowship divine.
O what blessed sweet communion,
Jesus is a Friend of mine!
TFTD will be sent sporadically next week as I plan to attend the Assemblies of God General Council in Indianapolis, IN.It will be sent out regularly again on or about August 15. Thanks for reading along!
Friday, August 03, 2007
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Risk Management
The church pays over $1000 each month to an insurance company which gives us, in return, a promise to reduce our liability if one of our a buildings is damaged by fire or if we are sued by someone injured on our premises. At the time of renewal the company sends a person to visit who reviews our procedures and our properties. His job is to assess the risks and to suggest ways that we can reduce the likelihood of a claim being filed against our policy. He notes all kinds of things - big and small. He sees the issues that I have either ignored or just not even been aware are a risk. "Tighten that handrail." "Install a warning sign." "Add this safety device to the boiler." The risk management expert advises the church of ways to be a more safe place.
If you're like most people, you practice risk management everyday - consciously and unconsciously. You put on a seatbelt when you drive. Why? It is a proven way to reduce the risk of injury or death in an automobile accident. You don't smoke, right? It is a proven way to reduce the likelihood of many health issues occurring later in life! I take my daily vitamins, my 81 mg of aspirin, and eat less red meat. Why? Heart health!
But, no matter how carefully we try to eliminate risk factors in our lives - the unexpected happens.
Yesterday (August 1, 2007) residents of Minneapolis, Minnesota were commuting home from work on I-35 around 6 pm local time. As traffic slowed to a crawl due to construction, about 50 vehicles were on a six lane bridge that spanned the Mississippi River when it suddenly collapsed. Several people died, dozens were injured. Who could have anticipated that 'risk?' Not any of those drivers, to be sure. We all deal with issues beyond our abilities of control everyday. If we thought about each tiny risk, every possible danger, we would be unable to leave our home - and even there we would be in some danger of the unexpected.
In our increasingly complex world is it any wonder that more and more people are full of anxiety? What we fail to realize is that while some risks have increased, many have decreased as a result of safer cars, better roads, more understanding of health concerns, and legislation that governs our environs. But, because we have a window on the world in our television which brings tragedies far and wide into our living room, many of feel less safe despite the fact that we live longer and more safely than any previous generation of Americans!
We cannot eliminate all risk. The unavoidable fact is we are mortals and ... well, need I state the obvious? So how can we live with serenity? Set your hope in God! As I've written many times, our faith does not exempt us from all of life's difficulties. Followers of Jesus experience the same kind of accidents and illnesses that are common to humanity. The difference is that we never walk alone! Even in death, we have a Friend who is with us. The Bible says, "Since God assured us, "I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote, 'God is there, ready to help; I’m fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?' " (Hebrews 13:5-6, The Message) Don't let those words just be a motto, a saying repeated in crisis time for comfort. Make them the core of your life. When anxiety creeps up on you (and it will) make a decision to trust God completely.
The Word teaches us to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil." (Proverbs 3:5-7, NLT) Talk about having a risk management expert! Seek Him and He will direct you. Admit your need of guidance and He'll give you insight! Do what is right in His sight and enjoy His provision of peace in the middle of life's storms.
Life is unpredictable. You and I can do all we are able to do but things beyond our control still happen. We can live fearfully or we can live faithfully. That is our choice.
"Have you never heard? Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint."(Isaiah 40:28-31, NLT)
If you're like most people, you practice risk management everyday - consciously and unconsciously. You put on a seatbelt when you drive. Why? It is a proven way to reduce the risk of injury or death in an automobile accident. You don't smoke, right? It is a proven way to reduce the likelihood of many health issues occurring later in life! I take my daily vitamins, my 81 mg of aspirin, and eat less red meat. Why? Heart health!
But, no matter how carefully we try to eliminate risk factors in our lives - the unexpected happens.
Yesterday (August 1, 2007) residents of Minneapolis, Minnesota were commuting home from work on I-35 around 6 pm local time. As traffic slowed to a crawl due to construction, about 50 vehicles were on a six lane bridge that spanned the Mississippi River when it suddenly collapsed. Several people died, dozens were injured. Who could have anticipated that 'risk?' Not any of those drivers, to be sure. We all deal with issues beyond our abilities of control everyday. If we thought about each tiny risk, every possible danger, we would be unable to leave our home - and even there we would be in some danger of the unexpected.
In our increasingly complex world is it any wonder that more and more people are full of anxiety? What we fail to realize is that while some risks have increased, many have decreased as a result of safer cars, better roads, more understanding of health concerns, and legislation that governs our environs. But, because we have a window on the world in our television which brings tragedies far and wide into our living room, many of feel less safe despite the fact that we live longer and more safely than any previous generation of Americans!
We cannot eliminate all risk. The unavoidable fact is we are mortals and ... well, need I state the obvious? So how can we live with serenity? Set your hope in God! As I've written many times, our faith does not exempt us from all of life's difficulties. Followers of Jesus experience the same kind of accidents and illnesses that are common to humanity. The difference is that we never walk alone! Even in death, we have a Friend who is with us. The Bible says, "Since God assured us, "I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote, 'God is there, ready to help; I’m fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?' " (Hebrews 13:5-6, The Message) Don't let those words just be a motto, a saying repeated in crisis time for comfort. Make them the core of your life. When anxiety creeps up on you (and it will) make a decision to trust God completely.
The Word teaches us to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil." (Proverbs 3:5-7, NLT) Talk about having a risk management expert! Seek Him and He will direct you. Admit your need of guidance and He'll give you insight! Do what is right in His sight and enjoy His provision of peace in the middle of life's storms.
Life is unpredictable. You and I can do all we are able to do but things beyond our control still happen. We can live fearfully or we can live faithfully. That is our choice.
"Have you never heard? Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint."(Isaiah 40:28-31, NLT)
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Are you making Popeye's confession?
The little cartoon sailor, Popeye, was an unassuming guy who faced the villains, particularly Bluto, that desired his destruction, or at least his girl, Olive Oyl! At the moment that all seemed lost he managed to defeat his foes by consuming a can of spinach which made a miraculous trip to his amazing forearms. But it is one of his signature lines that comes to memory today - "I y'am what I y'am and thats alls I y'am!" Popeye was the same, never changing, comforted by this declaration. It's his way of saying "don't ask me to adapt, to change, or to adjust. I'm just Popeye, the sailor man." Toot, toot! There are many Believers who make the Popeye confession and remain stuck in the same old patterns of life, too.
Are you one of those Believers who has convinced himself that you are who you are, that your personality and habits are unchangeable? Have you come to Christ for forgiveness and then settled into a pattern of challenge, failure, shame, repentance, restoration.... only to do it all over again, and again, and again?
Then, you've believed a lie! Each one of us deals with tendencies to sin and we will until the day of our transformation from a creature of this world to a citizen of Glory. Understanding and accepting the reality of having a sinful nature must not keep us from the sure promise that when we come to Christ a spiritual nature is made alive in us by the Spirit! These two natures are conflict, but if we believe we are the hapless victims of sin and Satan, we have not come to the full Truth of the Good News of Jesus Christ. In Him, we can and we should grow up spiritually and gain increasing victory over sin! Let me illustrate from my own experience. Since childhood I have dealt with a temperament that is prone to anger. I am not proud of that fact, nor does it please me to admit that episodes of ungodly anger appear too often in the record of my life. In my youth, I readily gave vent to that anger, accepting it as 'just who I am.' For years I hid behind Popeye's confession! I excused temperish outburst as an inevitable expression of my personality. The Spirit of God and the Word spoke to me and showed me that what I excused was a sin against others and against God. And He called me to change, a process which is ongoing by His grace and with great effort! Am I still tempted by anger? Yes! Am I still prone to temperish outbursts? No! (I know that by writing this I am inviting a new assault of temptation! Lord, help me!) But, this I know: the Spirit of God working with me and in me. Praise Him!
Peter writes to Believers telling us that change is not only possible, but required.
He says, "May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.... the promises ... enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. " (2 Peter 1:2, 4 NLT) Sounds hopeful, doesn't it? Victory over the temptations around us is possible. Is total perfection possible? Why ask that question? How about just dealing with what needs to be dealt with today?
Peter envisions a process of change, building a life - one choice at a time - as God empowers us, that demonstrates the character of Jesus. He does not ask us to do it all by ourselves, nor does he teach us to expect that God will do it all for us! He says, "Make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away." (2 Peter 1:4-10, NLT)
Don't make peace with temptation. Don't invite sin to live in your house. It is a terrible guest that moves in, takes over, and brings undesirables by the dozen. Instead, admit to God where there are gaps between who you are and who you know that He wants you to be. Then, begin to change. Learn the Truth about Who He is, what He has promised, and the power He provides. Create strategies for the defeat of evil. Build alliances that strengthen resolve. Change today!
Take this word from the Word and believe it. "You were taught about Jesus Christ. He is the truth, and you heard about him and learned about him. You were told that your foolish desires will destroy you and that you must give up your old way of life with all its bad habits. Let the Spirit change your way of thinking and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy." (Ephesians 4:20-24, CEV)
___________________
Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou biddest me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind,
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just As I Am © Public Domain
William Bradbury
Are you one of those Believers who has convinced himself that you are who you are, that your personality and habits are unchangeable? Have you come to Christ for forgiveness and then settled into a pattern of challenge, failure, shame, repentance, restoration.... only to do it all over again, and again, and again?
Then, you've believed a lie! Each one of us deals with tendencies to sin and we will until the day of our transformation from a creature of this world to a citizen of Glory. Understanding and accepting the reality of having a sinful nature must not keep us from the sure promise that when we come to Christ a spiritual nature is made alive in us by the Spirit! These two natures are conflict, but if we believe we are the hapless victims of sin and Satan, we have not come to the full Truth of the Good News of Jesus Christ. In Him, we can and we should grow up spiritually and gain increasing victory over sin! Let me illustrate from my own experience. Since childhood I have dealt with a temperament that is prone to anger. I am not proud of that fact, nor does it please me to admit that episodes of ungodly anger appear too often in the record of my life. In my youth, I readily gave vent to that anger, accepting it as 'just who I am.' For years I hid behind Popeye's confession! I excused temperish outburst as an inevitable expression of my personality. The Spirit of God and the Word spoke to me and showed me that what I excused was a sin against others and against God. And He called me to change, a process which is ongoing by His grace and with great effort! Am I still tempted by anger? Yes! Am I still prone to temperish outbursts? No! (I know that by writing this I am inviting a new assault of temptation! Lord, help me!) But, this I know: the Spirit of God working with me and in me. Praise Him!
Peter writes to Believers telling us that change is not only possible, but required.
He says, "May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.... the promises ... enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. " (2 Peter 1:2, 4 NLT) Sounds hopeful, doesn't it? Victory over the temptations around us is possible. Is total perfection possible? Why ask that question? How about just dealing with what needs to be dealt with today?
Peter envisions a process of change, building a life - one choice at a time - as God empowers us, that demonstrates the character of Jesus. He does not ask us to do it all by ourselves, nor does he teach us to expect that God will do it all for us! He says, "Make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away." (2 Peter 1:4-10, NLT)
Don't make peace with temptation. Don't invite sin to live in your house. It is a terrible guest that moves in, takes over, and brings undesirables by the dozen. Instead, admit to God where there are gaps between who you are and who you know that He wants you to be. Then, begin to change. Learn the Truth about Who He is, what He has promised, and the power He provides. Create strategies for the defeat of evil. Build alliances that strengthen resolve. Change today!
Take this word from the Word and believe it. "You were taught about Jesus Christ. He is the truth, and you heard about him and learned about him. You were told that your foolish desires will destroy you and that you must give up your old way of life with all its bad habits. Let the Spirit change your way of thinking and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy." (Ephesians 4:20-24, CEV)
___________________
Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou biddest me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind,
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just As I Am © Public Domain
William Bradbury
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Living Hope!
A person without hope is the saddest person in the world. I know, for I've been on the doorstep of that bleak house. In the mid-1990's, I battled with severe depression. I experienced the terrible blackness that descends when it appears that there is no tomorrow, no reason for a new day to dawn. For several months at that time, I awakened each morning with an awful sense of futility shrouding every thought. The question - 'why go on living? was never far from my conscious thoughts. There were two faint glimmers of light that flickered into that dark time - the promises of God and the love of my family. I clung, desperately to the truth of Scripture, though a part of my mind insisted that I was unworthy - that others might experience His loving grace - but not me. My family held onto me, loving me when I was silent, patiently waiting for their husband and father to reappear. Who knows the 'why' of depression? Was it brain chemicals out of balance, spiritual attacks waged to destroy me, or the result of disappointment in life? Probably there is some combination of those factors, but I experienced it as a time of almost total loss of hope. And, I thank God for allowing me to walk that road, for it changed me for the better, in every way.
It need not be clinical depression that causes the loss of hope. Chronic illness, accumulated disappointments in life, financial ruin, rejection of those we love - are but a few reasons that hope fades, replaced with resignation and/or despair. For the Believer, however, the great hope of life is set outside of this world, beyond the circumstances of the moment. Peter writes this amazingly wonderful passage of promise. Read it thoughtfully - "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:3-7, NIV)
The promise of eternal life, of a glorious existence in the Presence of God, is our living hope! This hope cannot be stolen from us for we are protected by the strength of God, which we own now by faith. "Yes," Peter, acknowledges, "there will be grief and trials along the way. But even these are reasons for hopefulness. They are refining our relationship with Jesus and causing those who see us standing strong to realize that Jesus Christ is worthy of praise!" Out of this gift of faith, comes an amazing result. "Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy." (1 Peter 1:8, NLT) Believer, when we set our hope on Heaven, when we make success in life, money, safety, health, and reputation secondary to faith in Jesus Christ - real joy grows in our hearts. Paul overcame the difficulties of his life with this quality of faith. He declared, "If God is on our side, can anyone be against us? God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for us. If God did this, won’t he freely give us everything else?" (Romans 8:31-32, CEV)
Are you fighting with despair? Are you attempting to soothe the ache in your heart with something of this earth - sex, food, pleasure, diversion? These things can be fun - for a moment. Sin is gratifying at the time in which we plunge into it. But, ultimately, sin only deepens despair! When the music goes silent, when we sober up, when the affair is over - shame and guilt come to collect their terrible payment.
Believer, seek God!
Make the choice that Moses made - "He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward." (Hebrews 11:25-26, NLT)
Learn from the Lord Jesus "who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! " (Hebrews 12:2-3, The Message)
May you find a living hope through faith.
It need not be clinical depression that causes the loss of hope. Chronic illness, accumulated disappointments in life, financial ruin, rejection of those we love - are but a few reasons that hope fades, replaced with resignation and/or despair. For the Believer, however, the great hope of life is set outside of this world, beyond the circumstances of the moment. Peter writes this amazingly wonderful passage of promise. Read it thoughtfully - "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:3-7, NIV)
The promise of eternal life, of a glorious existence in the Presence of God, is our living hope! This hope cannot be stolen from us for we are protected by the strength of God, which we own now by faith. "Yes," Peter, acknowledges, "there will be grief and trials along the way. But even these are reasons for hopefulness. They are refining our relationship with Jesus and causing those who see us standing strong to realize that Jesus Christ is worthy of praise!" Out of this gift of faith, comes an amazing result. "Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy." (1 Peter 1:8, NLT) Believer, when we set our hope on Heaven, when we make success in life, money, safety, health, and reputation secondary to faith in Jesus Christ - real joy grows in our hearts. Paul overcame the difficulties of his life with this quality of faith. He declared, "If God is on our side, can anyone be against us? God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for us. If God did this, won’t he freely give us everything else?" (Romans 8:31-32, CEV)
Are you fighting with despair? Are you attempting to soothe the ache in your heart with something of this earth - sex, food, pleasure, diversion? These things can be fun - for a moment. Sin is gratifying at the time in which we plunge into it. But, ultimately, sin only deepens despair! When the music goes silent, when we sober up, when the affair is over - shame and guilt come to collect their terrible payment.
Believer, seek God!
Make the choice that Moses made - "He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward." (Hebrews 11:25-26, NLT)
Learn from the Lord Jesus "who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! " (Hebrews 12:2-3, The Message)
May you find a living hope through faith.
Monday, July 30, 2007
What a Friend
Dennis Kozlowski was born in a poor neighborhood in Newark, NJ. With a combination of amazing ambition and incredible opportunity, he climbed the corporate ladder becoming the Chief Executive Officer of Tyco, International. His drive turned a small, unknown company into a profitable multi-national one, that made money for a lot of people. Along the way, Dennis lost his way! Making over $100 million a year, he became a symbol of greed and excess. There was a $60 million private yacht, a $2 million birthday party, the mansions in Boca Raton, Colorado, and New York, and private jets on call. Convicted of wrongfully using his company's funds and tax evasion, he now occupies a small cell in a New York State Prison. The money is almost all gone, and, he is mostly alone! His wife, Karen, on whom he lavished gifts, divorced him. His friends disappeared. In an interview with 60 Minutes (CBS News) he sadly admitted that they didn't care for Dennis, but rather for Dennis' money.
Solomon observed that "Wealth makes many "friends"; poverty drives them all away." (Proverbs 19:4, NLT) Jesus told a story about a young man who took his inheritance and went off to the big city where he "wasted all his money in wild living." (Luke 15:13, NLT) He ended up alone, working for a pig farmer, and thinking about home. Who wanted to hang out with a guy who was broke and homesick? That's the universal human experience. When we are winning at life, full of laughter, and going strong - everybody wants to be a friend. When the bad times come, sometimes as a result of our sinful and/or stupid choices and sometimes for reasons we cannot begin to understand, many of our 'friends' disappear. In those moments we discover who really loves us, don't we?
A person who invests himself in building a network of real friends, not just party associates, is a wise man! One of my goals as a Believer is to love others authentically, not just the beautiful, the whole, and the happy, but all those that are part of God's great big wonderful family. I want to filled with the heart of Jesus who loved the broken and cared about the hurting. The religious elite in Jesus' time hurled this 'accusation' at Him - "he is a friend of sinners." Those that they considered the outcasts of society, were not beneath Jesus' friendship. I know about that because- He loves me! At the point in my life when I was most broken, spiritually and emotionally, He was there. That's the kind of man I want to be for those who are my friends, a true friend for all times.
Acceptance should be the mark of the true Christian. Jesus said that our love for each other would distinguish us from the rest of the world. What kind of love? Certainly not the highly conditional kind that is withdrawn at the moment of failure, sickness, or misfortune! The quality of love that marks us is modeled on His love, a love that cost Him His life which He gave on our behalf while we were still rejecting Him, doing our own thing. His love for us is powerful. "First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first. If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both." (1 John 4:19-21, The Message)
Know somebody who needs a friend? Be a friend to them! Make the measure of the quality of your friendship, the friendship you have received from God.
____________________
What a friend I've found,
Closer than a brother;
I have felt Your touch,
More intimate that lovers.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,Friend forever.
What a hope I've found,
More faithful than a mother;
It would break my heart
To ever lose each other.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,Friend forever.
What a Friend© Martin Smith 1996 Curious? Music UK (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) CCLI License No. 810055
Solomon observed that "Wealth makes many "friends"; poverty drives them all away." (Proverbs 19:4, NLT) Jesus told a story about a young man who took his inheritance and went off to the big city where he "wasted all his money in wild living." (Luke 15:13, NLT) He ended up alone, working for a pig farmer, and thinking about home. Who wanted to hang out with a guy who was broke and homesick? That's the universal human experience. When we are winning at life, full of laughter, and going strong - everybody wants to be a friend. When the bad times come, sometimes as a result of our sinful and/or stupid choices and sometimes for reasons we cannot begin to understand, many of our 'friends' disappear. In those moments we discover who really loves us, don't we?
A person who invests himself in building a network of real friends, not just party associates, is a wise man! One of my goals as a Believer is to love others authentically, not just the beautiful, the whole, and the happy, but all those that are part of God's great big wonderful family. I want to filled with the heart of Jesus who loved the broken and cared about the hurting. The religious elite in Jesus' time hurled this 'accusation' at Him - "he is a friend of sinners." Those that they considered the outcasts of society, were not beneath Jesus' friendship. I know about that because- He loves me! At the point in my life when I was most broken, spiritually and emotionally, He was there. That's the kind of man I want to be for those who are my friends, a true friend for all times.
Acceptance should be the mark of the true Christian. Jesus said that our love for each other would distinguish us from the rest of the world. What kind of love? Certainly not the highly conditional kind that is withdrawn at the moment of failure, sickness, or misfortune! The quality of love that marks us is modeled on His love, a love that cost Him His life which He gave on our behalf while we were still rejecting Him, doing our own thing. His love for us is powerful. "First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first. If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both." (1 John 4:19-21, The Message)
Know somebody who needs a friend? Be a friend to them! Make the measure of the quality of your friendship, the friendship you have received from God.
____________________
What a friend I've found,
Closer than a brother;
I have felt Your touch,
More intimate that lovers.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,Friend forever.
What a hope I've found,
More faithful than a mother;
It would break my heart
To ever lose each other.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,Friend forever.
What a Friend© Martin Smith 1996 Curious? Music UK (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) CCLI License No. 810055
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