From Gary.... By GUM!!!

Hobson's Choice; the trailer

Yesterday, my wife and I watched this old black and white film; not expecting much, but hoping it would come close to the rave reviews I saw on the net.  Well, it was not only better than the reviews, it was so good that I watched it again this morning. You will see above the main characters, played by Charles Laughton, John Mills, and Brenda De Banzie.  Underneath the pictures is a promotional trailer, which gives you the gist of the story.  The movie is named Hobson's Choice, but after watching it twice, I still ponder whose choice is really being referenced.  The father, the oldest daughter, the boot hand, the other daughter's or their soon to be husbands?  Perhaps, in a way- all of them.  When it comes to choice, I am reminded of the choice that the apostles had to make before the council (The Sanhedrin).  Here is the tale...

Acts, Chapter 5

 27  When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them,  28 saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.” 

  29  But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.  30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree.  31 God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.  32 We are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

33  But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and determined to kill them.  34 But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while.  35 He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do.  36 For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.  38 Now I tell you, withdraw from these men, and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown.  39 But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!” 

  40  They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  41 They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name. 

  42  Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ. 

Even though the movie is about about choices, there is something else here; something about surprises when choices are made. And this surprise is really what struck me about the film. The boot-hand repeatedly uses the exclamation "By GUM" to express his surprise and wonder at each and every amazing turn of events.  The council was undoubtedly taken by surprise at what the apostles did and it was only with persuasion that they decided not to kill them.  After they finally let them go, the apostles went right back doing what they were INSTRUCTED NOT TO DO!!! We are NOT TOLD what happened when they heard about what happened after verse 42.  But, somehow I have a feeling that someone uttered the Jewish equivalent of BY GUM!!! 

From Gary... Bible Reading February 5

Bible Reading 

February 5

The World English Bible

Feb. 5

Genesis 36

Gen 36:1 Now this is the history of the generations of Esau (that is, Edom).

Gen 36:2 Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon, the Hittite; and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, the Hivite;

Gen 36:3 and Basemath, Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebaioth.

Gen 36:4 Adah bore to Esau Eliphaz. Basemath bore Reuel.

Gen 36:5 Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau, who were born to him in the land of Canaan.

Gen 36:6 Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, with his livestock, all his animals, and all his possessions, which he had gathered in the land of Canaan, and went into a land away from his brother Jacob.

Gen 36:7 For their substance was too great for them to dwell together, and the land of their travels couldn't bear them because of their livestock.

Gen 36:8 Esau lived in the hill country of Seir. Esau is Edom.

Gen 36:9 This is the history of the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir:

Gen 36:10 these are the names of Esau's sons: Eliphaz, the son of Adah, the wife of Esau; and Reuel, the son of Basemath, the wife of Esau.

Gen 36:11 The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.

Gen 36:12 Timna was concubine to Eliphaz, Esau's son; and she bore to Eliphaz Amalek. These are the sons of Adah, Esau's wife.

Gen 36:13 These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau's wife.

Gen 36:14 These were the sons of Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, Esau's wife: she bore to Esau Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.

Gen 36:15 These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho, chief Kenaz,

Gen 36:16 chief Korah, chief Gatam, chief Amalek: these are the chiefs who came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Adah.

Gen 36:17 These are the sons of Reuel, Esau's son: chief Nahath, chief Zerah, chief Shammah, chief Mizzah: these are the chiefs who came of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Basemath, Esau's wife.

Gen 36:18 These are the sons of Oholibamah, Esau's wife: chief Jeush, chief Jalam, chief Korah: these are the chiefs who came of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau's wife.

Gen 36:19 These are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these are their chiefs.

Gen 36:20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,

Gen 36:21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs who came of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom.

Gen 36:22 The children of Lotan were Hori and Heman. Lotan's sister was Timna.

Gen 36:23 These are the children of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.

Gen 36:24 These are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he fed the donkeys of Zibeon his father.

Gen 36:25 These are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah.

Gen 36:26 These are the children of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.

Gen 36:27 These are the children of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.

Gen 36:28 These are the children of Dishan: Uz and Aran.

Gen 36:29 These are the chiefs who came of the Horites: chief Lotan, chief Shobal, chief Zibeon, chief Anah,

Gen 36:30 chief Dishon, chief Ezer, and chief Dishan: these are the chiefs who came of the Horites, according to their chiefs in the land of Seir.

Gen 36:31 These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the children of Israel.

Gen 36:32 Bela, the son of Beor, reigned in Edom. The name of his city was Dinhabah.

Gen 36:33 Bela died, and Jobab, the son of Zerah of Bozrah, reigned in his place.

Gen 36:34 Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.

Gen 36:35 Husham died, and Hadad, the son of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place. The name of his city was Avith.

Gen 36:36 Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place.

Gen 36:37 Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the river, reigned in his place.

Gen 36:38 Shaul died, and Baal Hanan, the son of Achbor reigned in his place.

Gen 36:39 Baal Hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his place. The name of his city was Pau. His wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.

Gen 36:40 These are the names of the chiefs who came from Esau, according to their families, after their places, and by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth,

Gen 36:41 chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon,

Gen 36:42 chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar,

Gen 36:43 chief Magdiel, and chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession. This is Esau, the father of the Edomites.

From Mark Copeland... Fulfill Your Ministry ( 2 Timothy 4:5)

                    "THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"

                      Fulfill Your Ministry (4:5)

INTRODUCTION

1. Encouraging Timothy to do the work of an evangelist...
   a. Paul charged him to "fulfill your ministry" - 2Ti 4:5
   b. That is, "fulfill in all its requirements, leaving nothing undone"
      - JFB

2. A similar charge was given to Archippus...
   a. "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord,
      that you may fulfill it." - Col 4:17
   b. The Greek suggests "that thou keep on filling it full. It is a
      lifetime job." - RWP

[The charge given to Timothy and Archippus is one that should be heeded
by all Christians:  "Fulfill Your Ministry".  "But do I have a
ministry?" one might ask. Yes, indeed, and therefore...]

I. WE NEED TO FIND OUR MINISTRY

   A. GOD HAS GIVEN MANY GIFTS...
      1. To each one God has given gift(s)
         a. He has given to each one a "measure of faith" - Ro 12:3
         b. We each have gifts "according to the grace that is given us"
            - Ro 12:6a
      2. Not all have the same gift(s)
         a. Not every member has the same function - Ro 12:4
         b. We have "differing" gifts - Ro 12:6-8
            1) E.g., prophecy, ministering, teaching, exhorting
            2) E.g., giving, leading, showing mercy
            c. For God's grace is "manifold" - cf. 1Pe 4:10

   B. EVERY GIFT OR MINISTRY IS IMPORTANT...
      1. All are important for the body to be complete
         a. None can say they are unimportant - 1Co 12:14-20
         b. None can say others are not needed - 1Co 12:21-25
      2. All are needed for the body to grow
         a. Growth come from the head, Christ - Ep 4:15-16a
         b. Also by the effective working of each part, doing its share
            - Ep 4:16b
            1) Otherwise the body is handicapped in service
            2) Otherwise the body is hindered in growth

   C. FINDING YOUR MINISTRY...
      1. Providence
         a. Consider your natural abilities
            1) Are you gifted in hand, speech, or heart?
            2) Some gifts are better suited for certain services
            3) Your natural abilities may suggest how God wants you to
               serve
         b. Consider your opportunities
            1) Were you called early in life, late in life?
            2) Were you called with skills already developed?
            3) Your circumstances when you obeyed the gospel may suggest
               areas of service - cf. 1Co 7:18-24
      2. Preparation
         a. Develop your abilities
            1) Not all abilities are self-evident; seek to develop as
               many as you can
            2) As your abilities become evident, seek to excel in them
               - cf. Ezr 7:10
         b. Utilize your opportunities
            1) Opportunities as provided by the Lord - cf. Mt 25:14-18
            2) Opportunities to even change your circumstances - cf.
               1Co 7:21
      3. Prayer
         a. Seek wisdom to discern your abilities
            1) Wisdom comes through prayer - cf. Jm 1:5
            2) Wisdom is given to those who so diligently seek it - cf.
               Pr 2:1-9
         b. Seek open doors to use your abilities
            1) The Lord often opens doors to serve Him - cf. 1Co 3:5
            2) We might also pray for opportunities to serve Him - cf.
               1Ch 4:10
      4. Presentation
         a. Commit your ways to the Lord
            1) Present yourself and your plans for service to the Lord
               - cf. Pr 16:3
            2) Let your attitude be like that of Isaiah - cf. Isa 6:8
         b. Make yourself available to the brethren
            1) Minister your gift(s) to your brethren - cf. 1Pe 4:10
            2) Follow the example of the Hebrew Christians - cf. He 6:10

II. WE NEED TO FULFILL OUR MINISTRY

   A. TO BLESS ONE ANOTHER...
      1. God desires that we minister our gifts to one another - 1 Pe 4:10
      2. Even as Jesus came to serve us - Mk 10:45
      3. Are your brethren being blessed by the ministry God has given
         you?  Or have you...
         a. Been negligent to utilize your gift(s)?
         b. Allowed the world's distractions to keep you from being a
            blessing? - cf. Lk 8:14

   B. TO GLORIFY GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST...
      1. Through the gifts given by Christ to those in His church, God
         is to be glorified - 1Pe 4:11
      2. Even as Paul prayed for the Philippians - Php 1:9-11
      3. Is God being glorified by the fruits of your righteousness?  Or
         have you...
         a. Been negligent to develop your gift(s)?
         b. Allowed the love of the world to keep you from glorifying
            God? - cf. 1Jn 2:15-17

   C. TO FACE THE LORD AT THE JUDGMENT...
      1. The day is coming when the Lord will hold us accountable - Mt 25:14-19
      2. Even as the master held his servants to accountable - Mt 25:
         20-30
      3. Are we preparing ourselves for that Day?  Or are we...
         a. Burying our talent(s)?
         b. Allowing fear to keep us from utilizing our talent(s)? - cf.
            Mt 25:25

CONCLUSION

1. May we take to heart the admonitions given to Timothy and
   Archippus...
   a. "Fulfill your ministry" - 2Ti 4:5
   b. "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord,
      that you may fulfill it." - Col 4:17

2. As we do so, remember the exhortations given to the Hebrew
   Christians...
   a. God will not forget your work and labor as you minister to your
      brethren - He 6:10
   b. But show diligence to the end, and do not become sluggish - He 6:
      11-12

In so doing, you will not only "Fulfill Your Ministry", but also
"imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises"...
- He 6:12

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011