SUNDAY FUNNIES

COMFORT

Mathew 16: 24 – 26

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Now having read the above verses, and seeing the way some Christians act, not to mention the churches that appear to have the same attitude, I feel compelled to ask myself this question;
“Where in the scripture does it say that our faith is supposed to be convenient or comfortable”?
I know that when I came to know the Lord, I thought that my life was going to get a lot easier, that all the turmoil would cease, and riches would come my way, after all I was now friends with Jesus, and I found a church that reinforced attitude.

Every Sunday I heard a lot of “Jesus loves you”, and not enough “Thou shalt not”.

I felt very comfortable hearing all those pretty songs and felt good about myself after listening to every message that the Pastor taught. The church offered services that were convenient to my schedule, and I felt comfortable with my once a week acknowledgment of a higher power.
I was happy with my faith, and my life seemed to go along nicely. I got to act the way I wanted during the week, then felt the presence of God in my life each Sunday.
Life was good.
I'm sure that we have all seen people and churches like this. The churches usually have packed parking lots every week and the Pastors are quite charismatic and likable. All the congregants smile as they leave the coffee counter, Bibles tucked firmly under their arms, wishing everybody a good week as they get in their cars and drive home and away from God.
There is nothing here that requires any effort. It is quite a convenient and comfortable religion. But we know that following Jesus is a lifestyle and not a Sunday-only convenience. Being a “disciple” calls for giving up our lives for Him. It’s about living as Jesus calls us to live, daily giving up our plans and purposes for His. A relationship with Him causes us to be concerned with our thoughts, decisions, attitudes, and actions, all to make our life joy-filled for us and pleasing to God.
It ain't easy I tell ya, but the change in your life is worth every bit of it.
I guess that thats about all I have to say on the subject. I hope you are able to apply the scripture to your life.

THANKSGIVING

Psalm 100

3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Psalm 100 is one of the best songs of thanksgiving in the Bible. It reminds us that we belong to God, our maker, and we are to praise him gladly for his goodness mercy and truth.

2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

One of the things I do, is to get to church early each Sunday and walk the perimeter of the sanctuary praying for the pastor, the worship team, and for every person and seat in the church. I consider it my job, as I pray, I also read Psalm 100 praying it over the singers and band.
As I said, I consider it my job.
A job.

Where is the gladness that I have in serving God?

There are times when we all fall into the pit of ordinary worship and service. We go to church, smile at the people near us, listen to the service or Mass, then we shake hands and go home.
But, God wants us to worship with gladness
Oswald Chambers put his finger on our unthankful attitudes when he said: “The will of God is the gladdest, brightest, most bountiful thing possible to conceive, and yet some of us talk of the will of God with a terrific sigh—‘Oh well, I suppose it is the will of God,’ as if His will were the most calamitous thing that could befall us. . . . We become spiritual whiners and talk pathetically about ‘suffering the will of the Lord.’ Where is the majestic vitality and might of the Son of God about that!”
True thankfulness is more than being grateful for what we possess. It’s an attitude that permeates our relationship with the Lord so that we may serve Him with gladness and joy.

5 For the LORD is good and his love endures for ever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Today we gather as family and friends to give thanks to God, for all the blessings he has given us in our lives. One day out of 365. Shouldn't we do this more often?
So, why don't we?
Take the lessons in this Psalm to heart, meditate on it and apply it to your lives. Give thanks and serve Him with gladness every day.
Go ahead. Smile. What's it going to hurt.

GONE FISHING

Romans 6: 15 – 23

When I go fishing, which has been many years by the way, I go for the relaxation of it all. I love the meditative aspect of sitting by the waters edge and waiting to see what happens on the end of the line. Now let me say that although there have been times when I have eaten what I have caught, I have usually practiced the catch and release method. I catch the fish, remove the hook as gently as possible, and let the fish go. I have no interest in taking the fishes life for my pleasure, and I really don't like torturing the helpless creature.
It would be wonderful is Satan practiced catch and release, but he doesn't. Once he hooks you, he won't let you go without a fight.
We may think we can deliberately sin in a limited way for a short period of time and then get ourselves free. But as Jesus teaches us, even “little” sins lead to greater and greater unrighteousness. Sin becomes the consequence of sin. We find ourselves entrapped and enslaved, and like a luckless trout, we cannot wriggle free.
I used to live my life that way, thinking that I was okay with my little sins that never hurt anybody. I was caught, hooked straight through the lip, and could not admit my fate. I was a slave to my sin.
Sin enslaves us. But when we yield ourselves in obedience to Christ and call upon Him for the strength to do His will, we are “released.”

16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey— whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.
18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!
22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

To paraphrase the book of John; those whom the Son has set free, are free indeed.
As we approach a holiday dedicated to giving thanks to God for what He has done in our lives, I am thankful that I have been set free from the sin that almost destroyed me.

Christ releases us from sin’s slavery into salvation’s liberty.

JEALOUS AGAIN

Psalm 73

26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

There have been times when I have looked upon other people with envy. I know it's wrong and I shouldn't do it, but sometime I just can't help it. I see them with their wealth and good times, with all the money in the world. I get all jealous inside wishing and hoping that I could live their lifestyle with all it's apparent rewards and pleasures.

2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
5 They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills.

When I come to my senses, I realize that those I envy are enjoying their reward here and now, while I await mine in heaven. Where I put my faith in God, they have theirs in themselves.

16 When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!

Ever hold the hand of a child? It is one of life's simple pleasures. We hold their hands not so much for affection, but to guide and keep safe the child under our care. We can help them walk across the street, keep track of them in a crowd, and steer them clear of danger.
God will sometimes guide us by holding us by the hand. I know this because I have read it in His word, and I have experienced it myself as He helped me through my troubled times.

21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterwards you will take me into glory.

So, next time you stumble, remember that the powerful hand of God is holding your hand and walking you through life—all the way home!

NOPE, AIN'T HAPPENIN.

Mathew 19: 16 – 26

24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

I don't know about you, but there have been times in my life when I tried to accomplish what I first thought to be an easy task that turned out to be an impossible venture that defeated my earnest attempts at success. Then I turned my efforts over to Jesus and was able to overcome the obstacles that were set in my path.

26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Two thousand years ago, a young ruler asked Jesus an “impossible” question: “What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” After an intriguing exchange, the man “went away sorrowful” when he realized he would have to give up his wealth—the very thing he valued more than a relationship with Jesus.
That's harsh.
The things I was talking about that I was trying to do had nothing to do with my eternal soul. I just wanted to quit smoking and couldn't do it without leaning on God. I felt terrible and defeated every time I lit up. I just wanted to go away, continue smoking, and deny ever having tried to quit claiming that it was my final decision to stay a smoker. I can't even come close to imagining how the young ruler felt knowing that he could not put down the thing that Jesus said that he must. The knowledge of what his actions meant and shame he must have felt had to be devastating.

21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

This upright man had kept the letter of the law, yet had fallen short. “Who then can be saved?” asked the astonished disciples (v.25). Jesus answered, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (v.26).
The One who created this universe out of nothing has a history of accomplishing the impossible. When we forsake what this life has to offer and follow Him, He does the impossible once again.

He gives us eternal life!

SUNDAY FUNNIES

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

1 John 4: 7 – 21

8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Did you ever notice that some people who call themselves Christians sometimes don't act like Christians?
They can be seen in church every Sunday. Some will complain about the selection of the music, while others will say that they feel like they are being treated unfairly because their talents are being exploited, or wasted. They become grumpy and talk behind the back of the leaders of the church and complain about the way the church is run. There are other things that I am sure that yo have noticed that need not be listed here.
Show me the love people!
We're like this mostly because we are fallen and the enemy is loving every minute of it. He loves to make us think that we are loving caring people while watching us just fall deeper and deeper into our selfish sins, because we have forgotten the basic tenants of our faith.
As Christians, we must stand for truth as spelled out in the Bible.
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19 We love because he first loved us.
20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

As we read 1 John 4:7-21, we see that God’s love seeks to transform our behavior. In His love, we don’t react disdainfully toward others simply because we don’t agree.

Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Do others see the love of Jesus in you?

SURPRISE

1 Samuel 16: 1 – 7

I loved the movie Planet of the Apes. Not the remake with Marky Mark, but the original with Charlton Heston. Of course one of my favorite scenes, and favorite quotes, was when Heston's character yelled; “Keep your filthy hands off me, you damned dirty ape”.
The reactions of the apes in the scene were priceless. They had never seen a human that could talk. They couldn't believe their eyes or ears.
We have all had those moments in our lives that were similar, something so surprising we are stunned, it just wasn't expected, we didn't see it coming, or any other epithet that can be thought of.
The Bible is filled with such things. One of which was the story of David.
David was the second king of Israel. Compared to Saul, David was nothing. The Bible tells us that Saul was the tallest man in Israel, David one of the shortest, Saul was handsome, David not so much. Yet David was the king that God sent Samuel to find.

7 But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

How many times are we taken in by outward appearances? Don't we have the tendency to believe the good looking people rather than the homely? Aren't we surprised when we see a strong body builder type, turn tail and run when confronted with the slightest danger? Yet when a small not so handsome guy goes charging to the front, when somebody stays at your side when you most need it, we are taken aback.
Why?
Why do we continue to look at the outside, why aren't we learning the lessons we are taught in the Bible?
Martin Luther King said it best when he said that he looked forward to the day when a man was not judged by the color of his skin, but by his character, and I agree. We need to look deeper into the person and not just go with the shallow, cursory looks we give most folks.

If we judge others only by their outer appearance, we might miss the wonderful surprise of what’s in their heart.

WISE COUNSEL

Proverbs 17: 22 – 27

When I first became a Christian, a Pastor friend of mine told me that I should surround myself with men of God who could give me wise counsel. As I would often have questions, I would go to one or more of these men and ask for advise as to how I should proceed.
I had yet to read much of the Bible and was filled with mis information about it. I had also heard that there was a book written by the wisest man of all history called the Proverbs.
Wisdom for those who need it, how cool is that?

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

24 A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

27 A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.

Three verses three great words of advice. Solomon knew what he was talking about, so he was included in my circle of men of God that I will go to for wise counsel.
I'm beginning to ramble a little here, so lets get to the meat of the matter.
As we interact with others, disagreements are inevitable. The discerning believer understands his own heart and takes steps to deal with conflict diplomatically.
Proverbs 17:27 tells us: “He who has knowledge spares his words.” This means keeping in check a multitude of opinions that could ignite further anger in others. Someone who displays wisdom will think before speaking, and then will share only insights likely to be helpful.
The Proverbs also give us wise counsel on the emotional side of controlling our frustrations. “A man of understanding is of a calm spirit.” A mature person exhibits understanding by keeping cool in conflict. Problem-solving is enhanced by an even-tempered approach.
The next time you become angry, stop and prayerfully reflect for a moment. Ask God for a calm spirit and the right words to say. (ODB)
I leaned heavily on ODB today, it made more sense then I was when I started, and it was saying essentially what I wanted to say anyway.
Read the proverbs, theres one for each day of the month, read them often, one a day, every day.

ROBBERY BLUES

Acts 5: 1 – 11

After the final episode of the 2002 TV program Survivor: Africa, a wrap-up special focused on the final contestants. The show’s host Jeff Probst said that the victor won “mostly by sticking with his principles.” The champion later explained that he wanted to win while retaining “dignity and self-respect.” He elaborated that you don’t have to lie, cheat, or do underhanded things to win. You can be competitive, yet still be truthful and nice. In short, he permitted no discrepancy between image and reality.

1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.
2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price."

We know that both Ananias and Sapphira both lied about the price they got for their land and were struck dead by the Holy Spirit. Was it because they kept back a part of the money for themselves?
No, it was because they lied and said that they gave the full price.
They cheated.
They wanted to be recognized as a generous couple, but they were not what they appeared to be. This gap caused them to lie to the Holy Spirit and to the faith community. They paid a terrible price—death. Their example stands as a stark warning to us all.

We hear all the time that; “Cheaters never prosper”. That may well be true in the long run, but it never seems that way at the time, Cheaters mostly appear to do well. Just watch any reality game show. Lies and cheating abounds as people claw and scratch their way to victory. Because of examples like this we tend to forget the example of Ananias and Sapphira, all we get are negative life lessons, and are told that it's how to play the game.
So, if the only example of what happens to those who cheat God are two people, how can we use it when we are overwhelmed by images to the contrary?

The easy thing to do is not always the right thing, and the right thing to do is not always easy, but there lies the difference between winning at all costs, and being victorious in the end.
Why be struck dead when we can stand victorious?

Keeping our integrity in all the things we do, doing what is right, being who we say we are, being transparent in everything we do, these are the things that separate us from the world.
What discrepancies have we permitted in our lives? We must confess them and close the gaps.

Integrity means never having to look over your shoulder.

SUNDAY FUNNIES

TEACH YOU CHILDREN

Exodus 12: 13 – 17, 25 – 27

It began to hit me about twenty years ago while I was at a party. I was talking to a friend about music when this younger guest, who over heard us, said; “Who are the Beatles”. My first reaction was to think that either I'm really old, or this kid is really young, or this kid is just a fool who needs some schooling.
The problem is that it didn't stop there, I was at work the other day when my supervisor admitted that she had never been to a drive in. she said that she had heard of them, but had never even seen one. Another co-worker said that she had never heard of Gilligan's Island.
Ask your kids if they know about something that you took for granted that everyone knows, and see their reactions.
This is not a recent phenomenon. God knew that knowledge would be lost unless the children were taught and reminded of the significant events of the past.

13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

26 And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’
27 then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’" Then the people bowed down and worshipped.

When our children ask us about our values, lifestyle, prayer in decision-making, Bible-reading, church attendance, and worship, we have a responsibility to answer them. We are followers of Jesus. We must retell the story of how He became our Passover Lamb. His blood is the marker over our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin but are free to serve the Eternal One of heaven.

It's just that simple I guess. Let your children know the past and what's important to you and of benefit to them.

When it gets to the bottom line, a parents life is a child's guidebook.

WHO DO YOU TRUST

Philippians 3: 1 – 11

Ayn Rand, an American philosopher who died in 1982, gathered a sizable following who read her books and attended her lectures. An avid individualist, she had this to say: “Now I see the free face of god and I raise this god over all the earth, this god who men have sought since men came into being, the god who will grant them joy and peace and pride. This god, this one word, I.” When asked if she believed in God, she answered, “This god is myself, I.” Egotism—faith in oneself—that’s what this philosopher believed in.

Just as it takes a chef to mess up a really good meal, it takes a philosopher to mess up the belief in God. Would any one trust that I could save their eternal soul? Would I trust myself, or anyone else?
Which one of you would bow down at the temple of Roadblock?
These things are of course ridiculous. Even though I do believe that we should have faith in ourselves, so as not to cower in the corner when called on to act in the service of God, I do not believe that there is anything to boast of in this. Like Paul I put my trust in Jesus Christ who is God incarnate, the true God of love and mercy.

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.
3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh
4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:

7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

Now, I ask you, who do you put your trust in; God, or yourself?

We are saved not by what we do but by trusting what Christ has done.

IN SEARCH OF

2 Kings 22: 3 – 11

Ever watch that old show with Leonard Nimoy called “In search Of”? The hook of the show was that each week, they would talk about something of legend like Nessie, UFO”s, Big Foot, and on and on. Once the subject of the week was established, clues and interviews were shown to try to establish the existence of the weeks subject. Maybe it was found, maybe it wasn't. The key is, they searched, they looked for what it was they wanted.
King Josiah wanted to worship God. The Temple was in disrepair, the people had strayed, and the law of Moses was lost to antiquity.

3 In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the secretary, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the temple of the LORD. He said:
4 "Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and make him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people.

As the temple was repaired, the search for the book of the law was productive. There it was in the Temple and Hilkiah had to have his secretary Shphan read it to him. Once he knew what it was that was found, the book was brought to the King to be read.

8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD." He gave it to Shaphan, who read it.
9 Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: "Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of the LORD and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the temple."
10 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.
11 ¶ When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.

We all started on a search for fulfillment, at least I know that I did. There was a hole in my heart and I looked everywhere for something to fill it. I have heard so many stories from people that have found God, that their searches brought them from one false spirituality movement to another, from UFO”s to Buddha, nothing worked.
But, we we finally found Jesus, we fell on our knees and wept, for we knew that we had found the fulfillment of the book of the law of Moses. We found him in the Bible.

The Bible is old, but its truths are always new.

VETERANS DAY

john 15: 9 – 17

In Melbourne Australia, they built a war memorial after the first world war, on which they have written the names of all those brave soldiers that gave their lives in service to their great nation. Included in this memorial is a large stone with John 15:13 written on it;

13 Greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Also there is a mirror placed to reflect the sun so that on the 11'th hour, of the 11'th day, of the 11'th month (the day and time that ended the first world war), the word “love” is lit up with the reflection of that mirror.
All over the world memorials are erected to honor those who have given their lives, today we have set apart a day in which we are able to honor those warriors both living and dead for their sacrifice.
Today, if you run into a veteran, thank him or her for their service to this country so that we can remain free, and live in safety.
Jesus was teaching his disciples about the love of God and the love that he wanted them to show the world.

9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
17 This is my command: Love each other.

Jesus told his men this the night he was to be arrested. The night before he was to give his life as sacrifice for the sins of the world.
His death was not for freedom from political tyranny but freedom from the penalty of sin. His death was not just to give us a better life, but to give us eternal life.
It is important to remember those who have given their lives for their country—but may we never forget to praise and honor the Christ who died for a dying world. Truly, there is no greater love than this.

SUNDAY FUNNIES

HEROES

1 Corinthians 1: 18 – 31

When I was a teenager, I played the drums. To be truthful, I played them into my early thirties. I loved the sound different drums produced, the rhythm that came from them that held up and drove the rest of the music was amazing. Now if I am to be completely truthful, I wasn't very good. Oh, I could hold my own, I played with a few bands and thought that I would make it as a musician one day, but that was a drug fueled illusion.
But, the point here is that I had a hero who played the drums like no one I ever heard before or since, Buddy Rich. I bought his records listening to every nuance and break while I tried to copy his technique. Every time he was on TV, I would watch focusing on his hands to see if there was something he did that I could do.

HE WAS THE BEST!

One day, I saw in the paper that Buddy was coming to Boston with his quartet, rather than his Big Band, to play in the “Intimate” surroundings of Paul's Mall. I bought tickets and was the first one in line to get in. when Buddy and his band took the stage, I was amazed at how old he was. Gone was the vital man I saw on TV and album covers and in his place was a skinny, frail, old man, who had trouble keeping up with the tempo of the rest of the quartet.
After the show, I saw him at the bar, drunk and pounding down drinks.
My hero was gone.
But his legend remained. I would still listen to his records, but with a different ear. Buddy was not some super hero of the drums, he was a normal guy with many flaws that inspired me to become a better drummer than I was, even if I didn't go anywhere with my limited talents.

26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

In the Bible we see that God consistently used people who were far less than perfect. That shouldn’t surprise us. God is glorified by showing Himself strong through our weaknesses. It shows us that He desires to work through our lives not because we are perfect but because He is. And since He uses weak and foolish things it means you and I are prime candidates for His work.

The Lord isn’t looking for superheroes. He uses those of us who are flawed and frail, so that He can show His strength and grace. He wants those with a willing and available heart.

WAITING

Psalm 70
1 Hasten, O God, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.
5 Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.

I don't know about anyone else, but I am impatient. I hate waiting; in lines, in traffic, for the train or bus, I even hate waiting for the movie to begin. There are times when I think that I am the only one that feels this way as I see others waiting with me appearing to be comfortable passing the time.
Reading Psalm 70, I come to the conclusion that David was like me; impatient. David pleads with God to come quickly and not delay. He wants God to act, and act right now!
Don't we all?
We pray to God for our circumstances and that he would intervene when we ask him to, but, God knows better than we do, and he knows how and when to act on our behalf.
What we wait for, however, is far less important than what God is doing while we wait. In such times He works in us to develop those hard-to-achieve spiritual virtues of meekness, kindness, and patience with others. But more important, we learn to lean on God alone and to “rejoice and be glad” in Him
Ain't that boogie a mess?

4 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "Let God be exalted!"

My head knows, and my heart understands that patience is not a virtue, it's a gift of the spirit, but when I'm in the thick of it, I want action and I want it now. I want God to race to my aid, I hate it when he does things in his time not mine, yet I know that the teaching, the lessons for life, happen while waiting to see what God will do for us, and we have to be ready to accept the results of his actions both good and bad as we perceive them to be.
Have patience. Know that God is in Charge.

Ps 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

READ THE WORD

1 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no-one will fall by following their example of disobedience.
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

GOTTA SERVE SOMEBODY

Joshua 24: 14 – 25
Today is the day we choose the political leaders for our local communities and our nation. We have been blessed by God to have a choice in choosing our leadership, in other words, we are going to choose who we are going to follow.
Not everyones favorite is going to win but every voter has a choice.

14 "Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD!
15 "And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Unlike a political election in which the majority rules, each of us is given the opportunity to select our personal leader each day. In the spiritual election deep within our hearts, our choice will stand no matter what others may decide.
Something inside me really wants to go into this conservative Christian rant about our choices for president today, but I will refrain. We must all search our hearts and make a choice for president that most fits our own spiritual and moral beliefs.
We are at a cross roads as to the direction that our country is about to take so I pray that we will all choose wisely.

You may be a construction worker working on a home,You may be living in a mansion or you might live in a dome,You might own guns and you might even own tanks,You might be somebody's landlord, you might even own banks
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeedYou're gonna have to serve somebody,Well, it may be the devil or it may be the LordBut you're gonna have to serve somebody. (Bob Dylan)

I love the words of Joshua when he declared that he and his family would serve the Lord. If you look around my house you can see that verse displayed in many places because it is such a powerful statement of faith. I pray that you will make that same choice.

CATALOGS

John 17: 20 – 26
I love catalogs. They may be the most perfect reading material known to man. A catalog comes in the mail for free, just the right size and shape, all shiny and filled with pictures of things I didn't know I needed, or even that these items on the pages existed. When I get them, I immediately put them on the book shelf in the bathroom leaving them there to wait for that time when I go have my morning sit down. There I can read the little articles that describe the items on the page in such a way that it makes me want to buy all of them, on every page, and it doesn't matter where I begin to read a catalog, I can start at the end, the beginning, or the middle, and a catalog can be read over and over. I really want what's on every page of a well put together catalog, the feeling can be overwhelming.
The people who make these catalogs, put them together in such a way as to make the illustrations desirable to all who would look at them.
In a way, we as Christians are God's catalogs.
We are His illustration to the world of what He has to offer. His work in our lives makes us a picture of qualities that people may not know they need or want until they see them at work in us.

20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:
23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24 "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25 "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.
26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

Jesus prayed that His followers would be unified so the world would know that God sent Him and loved them as God loved Him. When Christ is alive in us, we become examples of God’s love. We can’t manufacture love. God is the manufacturer, and we are His workmanship.
As you browse through catalogs, consider what the “catalog” of your life says about God. Do people see qualities in you that make them long for God?

SUNDAY FUNNIES

ME, ME, ME, ME.

James 3: 13 – 18
13 Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts.
16 Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.

There are times when I read the Bible and it grates against my nerves, I sometime feel angry, other times embarrassed, and still other times resentful. I wonder, sometimes aloud, where is the comfort strength and hope I should be getting from the word.
Why does this happen?
The word of God will point to my weaknesses, and to my character defects, by putting my life up to a mirror so that I can see the way I live and act are not the way I should be.
We all have it in us, that ego driven way we see our lives.
We think that we're okay and living the way we should, believing that we have it all licked, and are examples of the way others should be. Then we get knee capped by the word, and we realize we are living in ways that are in direct opposition to the word.
I don't know about you, but I can get pretty sick of this whole “Iron sharpens Iron” stuff.
It hurts, and the sparks scare me.

17 Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced.
18 You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

It never stops!
I'm a good guy, and I'm sure that you are too.
So, why does the word point out our flaws?
Why doesn't it just tell us what we want to hear?
I have come to the conclusion that we are flawed beings, and that left to our own devices, we will fall prey to Satan and the lies he tells us daily. That whole free will thing is a trap that we set, and spring, ourselves. Living the way God wants us too is harder than the way we want to. But, it can be easy if we allow it to be and get our egos out of the way.
I choose to follow the precepts of God rather than the lies of my ego.
It is not always the easy thing to do, but sometime the right thing is a hard thing to do.