STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN

There is something about being in the wilderness; something about communing with nature that says "renewal" with every breath. Place yourself in that building for a moment; what would it be like? Four walls, some windows, a front porch and even a small building out back (maybe an outhouse or storage shed, who knows?). No one else around; absolutely no one!! No telephone to bother you (a cell would probably not work with THOSE MOUNTAINS so close), no TV, no distractions whatever. What WOULD YOU DO? Hunt, probably; read, certainly; think, absolutely!! So, what WOULD YOU THINK ABOUT? I can't say for certain, but with all that scenery around, probably NOT YOURSELF! Eventually all those things we do that revolve around us would become a distant memory and we would become one with the background. Maybe that's what we all need; to stop having the world revolve around us. God has a way of using our surroundings to make us think and then CHANGE! One of my favorite stories is that of Elijah, AFTER his confrontation with the Baal prophets, when he fears for HIS life. God reaches out to him to get his attention and change his life.

The book of 1st Kings

1Ki 19:1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
1Ki 19:2 Then Jezebel send a messenger to Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I don't make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.
1Ki 19:3 When he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
1Ki 19:4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is enough; now, O Yahweh, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
1Ki 19:5 He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, Arise and eat.
1Ki 19:6 He looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on the coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and laid down again.
1Ki 19:7 The angel of Yahweh came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.
1Ki 19:8 He arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the Mount of God.
1Ki 19:9 He came there to a cave, and lodged there; and behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, and he said to him, What are you doing here, Elijah?
1Ki 19:10 He said, I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword: and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
1Ki 19:11 He said, Go forth, and stand on the mountain before Yahweh. Behold, Yahweh passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before Yahweh; but Yahweh was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but Yahweh was not in the earthquake:
1Ki 19:12 and after the earthquake a fire; but Yahweh was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
1Ki 19:13 It was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. Behold, there came a voice to him, and said, What are you doing here, Elijah?
1Ki 19:14 He said, I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
1Ki 19:15 Yahweh said to him, Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when you come, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria;
1Ki 19:16 and you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah to be prophet in your place.
1Ki 19:17 It shall happen, that he who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu kill; and he who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha kill.
1Ki 19:18 Yet will I leave me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth which has not kissed him.

1Ki 19:19 So he departed there.......

The World English Bible

I like Elijah because this passage shows a second side of him; an unflattering side, but one that I can relate to. Elijah had performed miracles in the name of Yahweh, but was afraid of Jezebel. Sometimes, the closer you get to heaven, the longer the fall to Earth; the more you do, the more there is to lose. So, Elijah ran for his life! But, in the wilderness, Yahweh reaches out to him and finally gets through to him. How typically human Elijah is and how frail we as human beings really are. Yet God knows our faults and cares about us; HE reaches out to us in many ways; being alone in the wilderness is just one of them. It begins with us: We need to STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN to the world around us without ourselves being in the way. When we do this, we may find out we have a lot of company, maybe even "seven thousand" others who are a lot like us! Wait a minute, I can't be certain, but did someone say something to me: it wasn't very loud, so I guess I will just have to be silent and LISTEN!!!

Book 'em Dan-O

If you are over 50, then this picture will probably remind you of one show: Hawaii -5O. If the name doesn't ring a bell, how about "Book 'em Dan-O". A seventies show through and through, the plot was a little predictable, but the scenery was spectacular! As I remember, it was on quite a few years, but I couldn't tell you how long. One thing was certain, the police always got their man (or woman as the "case"might be). Somehow, I wish life could be like that show; in the space of an hour (45 minutes if you exclude the commercials) whatever crime was committed was solved and the legal system had already begun to grind the offender into the pumice soil of the islands. Real life isn't like that; the wicked sometimes seem to get away with whatever they want to do and never seem to get their "just desserts". Even the best of us have bad things happen to us; consider the Apostle Paul's attitude in the last book he "penned".

2nd Timothy

2Ti 4:14 Alexander, the coppersmith, did much evil to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works,
2Ti 4:15 of whom you also must beware; for he greatly opposed our words.
2Ti 4:16 At my first defense, no one came to help me, but all left me. May it not be held against them.
2Ti 4:17 But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me, that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
2Ti 4:18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me for his heavenly Kingdom; to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

World English Bible

Paul had a problem with Alexander actions and he put it in the hands of the judge of all the Earth; God. He knew that he didn't have much time left and wasn't going to see this man punished, but he also knew that God views things on a MUCH BIGGER TIME SCALE. So, the next time you see someone do something wrong, remember that God will eventually make everything right, but it might take a lot more than an hour. On the last day, when all history is reviewed in heaven and the final judgments are pronounced, I wonder if the commercials are included? One thing is certain, when God books em, they stay booked!

Just another fork in the road

"Did you ever have to make up your mind, pick up on one and let the other one ride; its not always easy and its not often kind, did you ever have finally decide" sang the Lovin Spoonful back in the 60's. Sometimes you just have to do it; make a decision. How? Well, how do you decide anything? Are all decisions the same; I don't think so! Which candy to buy or which player to choose for the ball team is just not the same how many exemptions to claim for taxes or who will be your spouse for life. Bottom line is... the more important the decision, more care should be taken. Your intuition may be fine for choosing candy, but I think its wise to think awhile before buying a house. Face it, when it comes to the REALLY IMPORTANT decisions in life, EVERYTHING comes into play; The mind, experience, intuition, advice, friends... absolutely EVERYTHING!!! What is the most important decision you will ever make; does it involve your career, your spouse, your home, your car or something else?? Read this short passage to find out.

Matthew
Mat 16:13 Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
Mat 16:14 They said, "Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."
Mat 16:15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Mat 16:16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Mat 16:17 Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19 I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven."
Mat 16:20 Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no one that he is Jesus the Christ.

World English Bible

We value things by their duration; a car lasts longer than a bouquet of flowers and a house lasts longer than a car, that's why diamonds cost more than cotton candy. What is the longest lasting thing you can think of; for me, its forever with God. The way there is by making a decision to follow and obey Jesus. That begins with making a decision about who he is and that is a fork in the road everyone must be confronted with. So, carefully use EVERYTHING YOU HAVE; consider all you want, but make the right choice and never, ever, ever look back, your life depends on it because forever is a long, long, long, long time!

Do-4

This is a prime example of what I refer to as a do-4; that is, something you substitute in an emergency. In 1966 I was driving my '56 Pontiac through the Ferry tunnel in Troy, NY, when all of a sudden my engine started revving. When I looked under the hood, I noticed that the linkage for the carburetor had come off. So, I took off my shoe lace and tied it together. It worked so well that I ran it that way for two whole years. Sometimes you just have to make-do. Jesus was faced with a problem of having to make-do; Matthew tells the tale.

Mat 14:14 Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them, and healed their sick.
Mat 14:15 When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, "This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food."
Mat 14:16 But Jesus said to them, "They don't need to go away. You give them something to eat."
Mat 14:17 They told him, "We only have here five loaves and two fish."
Mat 14:18 He said, "Bring them here to me."
Mat 14:19 He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes.
Mat 14:20 They all ate, and were filled. They took up twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces.
Mat 14:21 Those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

World English Bible


Jesus only had a couple of fish and five loaves of bread and he fed something over five thousand people. The disciples didn't know what to do, but Jesus did; pray! There is power in prayer, awesome power. I can only tell you that when my car acted up in the tunnel, boy, did I pray. Why, because if I didn't get Linda home on time, she would have been immediately grounded, that's why. I can't tell what they attached the mirror in the picture with, but whatever works, works! Humm, I wonder if they prayed first?

There will be a test

Ever done this? If you have teenagers, I guarantee it! The eternal "why" and the search for understanding is part of what makes us human. We start out with questions of origin, consider morality, followed by the meaning of life and finally, eternal destiny. Philosophers call it our "world view", but I just call it growing up. We begin with ourselves and end with God; simple. Consider the greatest thinker of all time: Solomon.

Ecclesiastes

Ecc 12:8 Vanity of vanities saith the preacher; all is vanity.
Ecc 12:9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge: yes, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
Ecc 12:10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
Ecc 12:11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
Ecc 12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecc 12:14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.

Webster Bible

No matter how smart you are, I guarantee there is someone smarter. You may have to look for a long time, but sooner or later.... bamm, you are humbled. It is very good to learn and to consider one's condition in the light of God's word is wisdom. If, after much reflection you think you know yourself very well, then wait, tomorrow you will change again. Solomon summed it up succinctly in the last two verses of the book, consider what God wants you to do and do it; there will be a test.... judgment day.

Don't hold back

This picture reminds me of an old song by Larry Verne: "Mr. Custer". The first verse goes like this: "Please Mr. Custer, I don't wanna go, Hey, Mr. Custer, please don't make me go. I had a dream last night about the comin' fight, Somebody yelled "attack!"And there I stood with a arrow in my back." Ok, you probably don't remember it, but it was way back in 1960 and I do. Both the picture and the song do say something interesting, though. Sometimes we find ourselves in situations that no matter what we do, something bad is going to happen. Paul was told about just such a thing; read on to see how he handled it in the book of Acts.

Act 21:1 When it happened that we had parted from them and had set sail, we came with a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.
Act 21:2 Having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard, and set sail.
Act 21:3 When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload her cargo.
Act 21:4 Having found disciples, we stayed there seven days. These said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
Act 21:5 When it happened that we had accomplished the days, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way until we were out of the city. Kneeling down on the beach, we prayed.
Act 21:6 After saying goodbye to each other, we went on board the ship, and they returned home again.
Act 21:7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers, and stayed with them one day.
Act 21:8 On the next day, we, who were Paul's companions, departed, and came to Caesarea. We entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.
Act 21:9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
Act 21:10 As we stayed there some days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
Act 21:11 Coming to us, and taking Paul's belt, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit: 'So will the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.' "
Act 21:12 When we heard these things, both we and they of that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.
Act 21:13 Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."
Act 21:14 When he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The Lord's will be done."

Agabus confirmed what Paul had already heard; he should not go up to Jerusalem. He was unwilling to listen, unafraid of the consequences. There is something so brave and yet so submissive about the man that it is a little scary. Try to put yourself in his situation and ask yourself: would I do the same? Probably not, yet Paul was a man that God had put on a mission and he knew it. He also knew that in the end he would be with The Lord Jesus, so there was nothing to fear. Death is nothing to fear as long as you know life follows. So, be like Paul, don't hold back, jump right in and do what God is leading you to do; who knows, you might actually like the water?

Suspense

Well, I don't think there is any doubt which baby belongs to the couple outside the nursery. Just goes to show you that there is someone for EVERYBODY! Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. Who knows, maybe the child with the bag over its head is better looking than either one of its parents and perhaps be a future Einstein. This cartoon reminds me of a passage from the sermon on the mount found in the book of Matthew.

Mat 7:1 "Don't judge, so that you won't be judged.
Mat 7:2 For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.
Mat 7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye?
Mat 7:4 Or how will you tell your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye;' and behold, the beam is in your own eye?
Mat 7:5 You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye.

World English Bible

Its human nature to find fault with others and yet ignore MY OWN FAULTS. Yet, here Jesus is calling this for what it really is: Hypocrisy! I have always been impressed how Jesus can be gentle with those who deserve it and harsh with those of a hard heart. Beginning today, I am going to try to be more understanding with those around me and look at the motives of my own heart more often. Who knows, someday when I am MUCH OLDER and in a nursing home some attendant may hand me a bag to put over my head; I hope they still will make paper, plastic bags could be fatal.

Pot-luck

1982. I was on a try-out for a preaching position in Minnesota. After teaching the adult class and presenting a sermon, I was treated to a pot-luck something like this only MUCH, MUCH LARGER. The food was delicious, but since I had to try every one's favorite dish, I had the weirdest combination of foods I had ever had. One leg of the flight home was on a small nine passenger plane and we ran into a severe storm. We went up and down hundreds of feet at a time and you guessed it... I started to turn green. As we hit the runway, I used the bag provided for airsickness and filled it completely. As we deplaned a Cherie stewardess was about to ask me how my flight was, but I placed the warm bag in her hands. When she realized what the warmth meant, she didn't know what to say, but attempted a smile and just nodded her head knowingly. I really don't know if this episode made her think about what she did, but I know I did. Sometimes you can see things happening to you and you don't know WHY and other times you realize their importance later. I saw how professionally the stewardess acted and this example has stayed with me all these years. When I encounter a difficult customer, I remember this episode and try to be the best I can, REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. The Apostle Paul was faced with something like this in the book of 2nd Corinthians.

2Co 12:1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2Co 12:2 I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I don't know, or whether out of the body, I don't know; God knows), such a one caught up into the third heaven.
2Co 12:3 I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don't know; God knows),
2Co 12:4 how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
2Co 12:5 On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
2Co 12:6 For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me, or hears from me.
2Co 12:7 By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.
2Co 12:8 Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9 He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.
2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

World English Bible

God had blessed Paul. His thorn in the flesh was a reminder to be humble; a little lesson to help him grow spiritually. When bad things happen, it is best to learn from the situation and grow as a result. A professor of mine used to say: "When bad things happen, you either get bitter or better". I probably could have learned this lesson another way, but the memory of the shock on that poor lady's face did the trick... I remembered and learned. However, I just wish I had not turned green because that was the color of my suit; I must have looked like a giant green pea.

Death and taxes

People who die remain dead; obviously the person who wrote this headline meant to say it a little differently. I have not personally seen someone come back to life, but I know it has happened because The Bible tells me it has. However, those who become Christians do so by identifying with Jesus and his death and RESURRECTION. The following passage from the book of Romans tells about this process.

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer?
Rom 6:3 Or don't you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection;
Rom 6:6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.
Rom 6:7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.
Rom 6:8 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him;
Rom 6:9 knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no more has dominion over him!
Rom 6:10 For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God.
Rom 6:11 Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

World English Bible

Death and taxes; these two things are certain! Just as certain is the fact that Jesus was raised from death. The documentation of his resurrection is incontrovertible. Facts are facts and because this IS true, we who have identified ourselves with him will not stay dead forever. So much for death, now, I wonder what we can do about the tax problem? Does anyone out there have President Obama's cell phone number?

Now that is something to brag about!

Ha, Ha! Maybe he should have looked a little closer at that box! On another level, this cartoon does say something about human nature. Human beings tend to boast about their activities far more than they have any right to do. What do we really accomplish in this world, anyway? If we are blessed with a job, most of us do the same sort of thing day in and day out. If God blesses us with enough money, we pay our bills, raise our kids and have a little left over for "someday". When was the last time you remember doing something REALLY worth boasting about; something that will last one hundred years or more? However, each of us has an opportunity to do something that will last a thousand years or more. Read this passage from 1st Corinthians and I think you will see what I mean.

1Co 1:18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are saved it is the power of God.
1Co 1:19 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing."
1Co 1:20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn't God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1Co 1:21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn't know God, it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe.
1Co 1:22 For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom,
1Co 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks,
1Co 1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1Co 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1Co 1:26 For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble;
1Co 1:27 but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;
1Co 1:28 and God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are:
1Co 1:29 that no flesh should boast before God.
1Co 1:30 But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:
1Co 1:31 that, according as it is written, "He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."

World English Version

Once we realize how foolish our temporal accomplishments are, we can begin to take a wider perspective of our life. This begins by putting God at the center of everything; changing our focus from something WE DID, to what God can do THROUGH US. Pride can be a terrible thing, but when God's will is prioritized in our lives, HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS make all the difference. Think back, the last time you boasted about something, was it something that you did, or that God did THROUGH YOU? This question makes me a little nervous, does it do the same for you? Well, there is a sure cure for this problem and that begins with doing something "foolish"; boast about what God has done for you. His Gospel and HIS SACRIFICE will last a thousand times a thousand years and more. Now that is something to brag about!