I Want to Forever Struggle

Jim Dennison said it well:

"Our divisive, negative culture will know we are Christians by our love (John 13:35).  We are most clearly the children of a loving God when we love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44-45).  As I've often noted, you can tell if you're a servant by the way you react when people treat you like one.  When last did you "turn the other cheek" for Jesus?"

I want to forever struggle with being a loving servant of the Living One.  

I too much want to be served, not to serve.  I too often want to condemn my "enemies", but not love and pray for them.  I know I should want to turn the other cheek when someone is raging out at me but I too easily strike out and slap others' faces. 

I want to forever struggle with being a loving servant of the Living One. And He will help me in my struggle (2 Pe 1: 3).

Thanks to Calvary

This song is my testimony. I thank God for Calvary and the change it is bringing in my life even to this day.  While I'm never going to be perfect, and I have deep regrets about the past, Jesus Christ has decisively stepped into the area of my life and forgiven, saved, and cleansed my heart.  Thank you, Lord, for who you are and the difference you're making in my life this very hour!

Listen to George Younce and The Old Friends Quartet sing one of my favourite life songs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6F2kQ3gxfk

Do You Like Chinese?

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (John 4: 34 NIV)

If I were to take a survey today and ask about your favorite food choices, I bet one of them would be Chinese food.  From my early days in Canada (where Chinese food is authentic and delicious), one of my favorite dinners is Chinese egg rolls, sweet and sour chicken, fried rice (pork or chicken!), and beef and broccoli delight.  Anyone reading this share my love for this Asian cuisine?

While out and about doing spiritual work last week, I was impressed by the Spirit to drop into one of our favorite chinese restaurants.  This was not a feeding frenzy but a spiritual visit to open doors of communication that I might tell the restaurateur about Jesus Christ and His ability to feed his soul for eternity.  The young man who greeted me was very cordial and we struck up an instant friendship.  We discussed the restaurant’s history and what it was like for them to serve the Glens Falls public.  It was fun and informative interacting with him. Finally the moment arrived for me to tell him the purpose of my visit.  Imagine my joy when I learned that the owner was a Christ follower.  I’d found a friend who knew my Best Friend personally!

After explaining the real reason for my visit, I left my card, promised to help them in any way I could, and strode to my car. Once inside the cool comfort of my vehicle, I gave thanks to God for the privilege of being able to visit people to tell them about my Lord Jesus.

Jesus once commented on His mission: “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” (John 4: 34 NIV).  I’d like to think that it is God’s will and my mission to drop into people’s lives and tell them about Jesus and His death and resurrection. Why? So that they can feast with me at the Wedding Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19: 9).

How about you? Have you begun the work He’s calling you to do so that you can finish it before Jesus returns (1 Thess. 4: 13-18)?

Needed Sense of God

One blogger told of a pulpit committee that was seeking a new pastor… He noted, 

“The deputation listened to the speaker and later gathered to discuss their response to him.  A serious, shy man finally spoke with deep intensity and yet hesitantly, as if very afraid that he would be misunderstood.  He said, ‘The fact is, I for one am set down among earthy and material and sometimes squalid things; these shape my life; and the church services are my one chance.  Unless I see God there, I shall forget about Him altogether, shall lose sight of him, amid the din and dust and press of life.  And while this preacher taught me, interested me, even fascinated me while he was preaching, I was given none of that needed sense of God.”

Weathering the Storm

"Just as the tumultuous chaos of a thunderstorm brings a nurturing rain that allows life to flourish, so too in human affairs times of advancement are preceded by times of disorder.  Success comes to those who can weather the storm." (I. Ching)

Two Nations Remembering

The cold wind and pelting rain drove the memory of wars fought and won deep into my soul.  It was Remembrance Day, the 11th day of the 11th month at 11th hour, when all the world declared that The Great War was done with, the “boys” could come home, and the world would finally be at rest.  

I was Bugler at the War Monument that day and I listened intently to the hymn “Abide with Me”  as sung by the thoughtful crowd.  I closed my eyes in reverence for the prayers offered by the humble clergy. And I focused my ears on the names being read of fallen sons who paid the ultimate price so that liberty could raise her iron hand and peace could flourish from sea to shining sea.  

An old comrade, himself worn and torn by battle, stood to face the assemblage and uttered the Ode to Remembrance from Laurence Binyon's poem "For the Fallen", which was first published in The Times in September 1914:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

Suddenly, it was time.  I lifted the bugle to my lips and blew out the tones that signaled Good Night and Good Morning to military personnel everywhere.  I played taps as expertly and with as much emotion I could muster!  They needed it to be good; I gave so that it could be grand!

I have given you a glimpse of a Canadian Remembrance Day ceremony.  It’s held in November each year and mirrors our time in May on Memorial Day.  Please find time this weekend to get alone and pray to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that this United States can achieve her destiny free from the tyranny that threatens yet our world.  And should you see an old vet marching or riding in a parade, approach him and shake her hand and let them know that you will never forget what they did for this nation and for you.

Not Misdoubting Her Strength

"Though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so Truth be in the field, we do ingloriously, by licensing and prohibiting, to misdoubt her strength.  Let her and Falsehood grapple: who ever knew Truth put to the worse in a free and open encounter?" (John Milton)

Actions Do Not Emerge from Nothing

Dallas Willard gets it:

"Actions do not emerge from nothing. They faithfully reveal what is in the heart, and we can know what is in the heart that they depend upon."


Think back to the last thing you did that was just a little bit "off the mark" of your best self.  Now think about why you did what you did and what it communicates about your heart's true condition. 


Lots to chew on here!

Insecure Preachers

Rick Warren nailed it: 

"Insecure preachers always need a whipping boy to belittle. Little people belittle people."

Underestimating

One should be very careful not to underestimate the quiet person.  While seemingly docile on the outside, a lion may well be roaring on the inside and be simply waiting to execute a damning pounce on its unsuspecting prey.

Near His Throne

From Mark Wilson's post in Facebook:

"Well I know your trouble, O my servant true. You are very weary -- 

I was weary too. But that toil shall make you some day all my own, 

and the end of sorrow shall be near my throne." 

-- St. Andrew of Crete (trans. John Neale)

True Hope...Active Effort

Life has been more than interesting of late, with a barrage of issues both personal and in ministry that cause me to give pause and reflect.  This quote has been part of what is feeding my soul these days:

"True hope dwells on the possible, even when life seems to be a plot written by someone who wants to see how much adversity we can overcome.  True hope responds to the real world, to real life; it is an active effort." (Walter Anderson)