Baton… I never could twirl one of those things, hit my elbow every time…
My little sister could twirl it. I’ve watched amazing performances over the years where girls could keep two of them spinning like crazy, throwing them up in the air. I even saw fire on the ends of a twirling baton in one performance.
Runners use batons. They have to ‘pass the baton’ to the next runner. Doesn’t matter how soon you get to the finish line if you failed to catch that handed off baton.
Looking at a scene revealed to us in Acts 6, I see a baton being passed off, and several batons being twirled at the same time.
“During this time, as the disciples were increasing in numbers by leaps and bounds, hard feelings developed among the Greek-speaking believers--"Hellenists"--toward the Hebrew-speaking believers because their widows were being discriminated against in the daily food lines. So the Twelve called a meeting of the disciples. They said, "It wouldn't be right for us to abandon our responsibilities for preaching and teaching the Word of God to help with the care of the poor. So, friends, choose seven men from among you whom everyone trusts, men full of the Holy Spirit and good sense, and we'll assign them this task. Meanwhile, we'll stick to our assigned tasks of prayer and speaking God's Word." The congregation thought this was a great idea. They went ahead and chose…..” (Acts 6:1-5 The Message)
I’m a pretty good multi-tasker. (…less so the older I get !! ) These Twelve apostles were definitely multi-tasking.
Testifying about the risen Jesus, performing signs and miracles to validate the power of the Holy Spirit, praying and ministering the Word of God, explaining the scripture and revealing the fulfilled prophecy within them…..and meeting physical needs of women who had no husband. Social work…
Seems they weren’t much different then us. How often I have complained to the minister that somebody wasn’t being cared for just right. Or complained about him because he didn’t do what I thought he should..
How many times have I complained that the preacher didn’t visit, the church didn’t bring food or send flowers… Why is it we think that is always somebody else’s job? Why is it we think we are off the hook because there is somebody on a payroll to do all that? Maybe it’s just me that’s guilty of that….
In this situation of the early church, there were some cultural things we just can’t appreciate. I am a woman, and though I’ve never been a widow, I don’t fear being without resources to feed and care for myself.
In this situation of the early church, the leading characters were doing the grunt work along with being on stage and in all the speaking engagements. Am I as willing as they to not just do the works that I have a passion for, but also be willing to roll up my sleeves and do the behind the scenes stuff? The dirty work? The stuff that’s not fun?
In this situation of the early church, when the baton was held out to be passed on, there were those willing to grab it and run with it. Am I as willing to accept a baton held out to me? Do I accept that responsibility without ill-will? Do I do everything I can to free others to move on to greater responsibility?
I admit it, it is sometimes hard for me to let go of that baton, hard to pass off to somebody else. After all, they might not do it ‘right’….they might do it differently than I do !! Gasp !!
I confess it, I often hesitate to accept a baton handed out to me. “Well, that’s just not my gift….”
Nonsense… I doubt Jesus thinks much of that excuse. Especially when there is a need and I’m an able body.
And I confess, I’m guilty….guilty of thinking the money I put in that plate on Sunday pays somebody to do stuff I could participate in myself. I have plenty excuses. I work. I don’t have time. I’m just not good at that. I don’t know those people. Those people don’t know me. I have dozens…
Course….I might be the only one.
But I doubt it.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Love is....
Love… I ran across a list of quotes about love. Reading them made me wonder how differently we define love....just what does it means to love, what does it look like to be loved.... What do you say?
I think lots of us have some very skewed perceptions about love. Some of the quotes I can’t agree with, some of them don’t measure up with the teaching of Jesus.
“God IS love.” (1John 4:16 emphasis mine)
He invented the whole concept, it defines Him…and He gets to define what love is, not me
Or you.
One of the quotes I read is : “Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.”
Interesting quote to think about.
How does the happiness of another person effect me? What person’s happiness matters to me?
Jesus said we are to love God first and foremost. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' …..”
And He said we are to “Love your neighbor as yourself.'…” (Mark 12:30-31)
Loving other people is second only to loving God. I’d say that’s a pretty important matter to consider.
“ There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:31)
I tried hard to love a god I didn’t really know. I knew facts of history, not character and nature.
I was afraid of Him, knew I was supposed to love Him but didn’t find Him very loveable. Nor did I grasp His love for me. I didn’t know it, and certainly didn’t live in it.
All the dissatisfaction within me was a symptom of my need to know and live in His love. God loves us with a love we can not fathom, nor can we duplicate it. Man was created to live in His love…we are never complete and happy any other way.
His capacity to love is beyond human capacity, but He DOES enable us to love beyond our nature.
His love is essential to my happiness.
Loving Him is essential to my happiness.
If you don’t love Him, you wonder that you don’t know really Him.
Find Him today. He is so good.
I think lots of us have some very skewed perceptions about love. Some of the quotes I can’t agree with, some of them don’t measure up with the teaching of Jesus.
“God IS love.” (1John 4:16 emphasis mine)
He invented the whole concept, it defines Him…and He gets to define what love is, not me
Or you.
One of the quotes I read is : “Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.”
Interesting quote to think about.
How does the happiness of another person effect me? What person’s happiness matters to me?
Jesus said we are to love God first and foremost. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' …..”
And He said we are to “Love your neighbor as yourself.'…” (Mark 12:30-31)
Loving other people is second only to loving God. I’d say that’s a pretty important matter to consider.
“ There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:31)
I tried hard to love a god I didn’t really know. I knew facts of history, not character and nature.
I was afraid of Him, knew I was supposed to love Him but didn’t find Him very loveable. Nor did I grasp His love for me. I didn’t know it, and certainly didn’t live in it.
All the dissatisfaction within me was a symptom of my need to know and live in His love. God loves us with a love we can not fathom, nor can we duplicate it. Man was created to live in His love…we are never complete and happy any other way.
His capacity to love is beyond human capacity, but He DOES enable us to love beyond our nature.
His love is essential to my happiness.
Loving Him is essential to my happiness.
If you don’t love Him, you wonder that you don’t know really Him.
Find Him today. He is so good.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Names...
Name… Everybody gets one at birth. For us gals, most of us get a name change when we marry. Some folks get a name for themselves…whether a name for good or not so good…
In my religious heritage, the name of the church was an important issue. I mean the name that is on the sign out front. I have heard lots of sermons about names. I have come to understand that the only name that is important in that regard is the Name of Jesus the Christ. But, some folks are convinced otherwise, so whatever….
When we named our children, we considered lots of options. But we never thought past the sound of the name. Frequently, we didn’t like a name because it reminded us of someone else.
In scripture, names were very important, and had lots of meaning. They were words…they communicated something. Often, they indicated something to come to pass about the child….prophetic.
Hanna named her son Shmuel, in English spelled Samuel. It comes from the two Hebrew words ‘shama’ meaning to hear, and ‘el’ meaning almighty, which referred to diety. Samuel means heard of God. Hanna had no children, prayed fervently for a child, and she heard from God an answer to her prayer, conceived and bore a son. (1 Samuel 1:20)
Jesus, Jehovah saves. Immanuel, God with us.
Eve, Noah, Moses….I could write dozens of examples like this.
Have we lost something in the way we name our children? Maybe, maybe not….
When our youngest grand-daughter was to be born, the name was discussed almost every day. I can’t explain to you the why of it, but I knew her name. Her name was Caroline. I finally gave my suggestion, and eventually announced to my precious children that I would be calling this unborn child Caroline until I was told differently and informed of the name she would be given.
I looked the name up one day, and upon reading what the name means, was even more convinced that Caroline was indeed her name…… she was a ‘bringer of joy’.
And indeed she was and is.
Connie…. ?
“constant; steadfast”
In my religious heritage, the name of the church was an important issue. I mean the name that is on the sign out front. I have heard lots of sermons about names. I have come to understand that the only name that is important in that regard is the Name of Jesus the Christ. But, some folks are convinced otherwise, so whatever….
When we named our children, we considered lots of options. But we never thought past the sound of the name. Frequently, we didn’t like a name because it reminded us of someone else.
In scripture, names were very important, and had lots of meaning. They were words…they communicated something. Often, they indicated something to come to pass about the child….prophetic.
Hanna named her son Shmuel, in English spelled Samuel. It comes from the two Hebrew words ‘shama’ meaning to hear, and ‘el’ meaning almighty, which referred to diety. Samuel means heard of God. Hanna had no children, prayed fervently for a child, and she heard from God an answer to her prayer, conceived and bore a son. (1 Samuel 1:20)
Jesus, Jehovah saves. Immanuel, God with us.
Eve, Noah, Moses….I could write dozens of examples like this.
Have we lost something in the way we name our children? Maybe, maybe not….
When our youngest grand-daughter was to be born, the name was discussed almost every day. I can’t explain to you the why of it, but I knew her name. Her name was Caroline. I finally gave my suggestion, and eventually announced to my precious children that I would be calling this unborn child Caroline until I was told differently and informed of the name she would be given.
I looked the name up one day, and upon reading what the name means, was even more convinced that Caroline was indeed her name…… she was a ‘bringer of joy’.
And indeed she was and is.
Connie…. ?
“constant; steadfast”
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Quote 13...
Quote 13… “Mama always had a way of explaining things so I could understand them.” …
Communication is vital isn’t it? You can lecture for hours, read a zillion words, write a zillion more…But unless the thoughts are conveyed, you’ve just wasted time, energy, and ink. (…or in my case, memory on a computer.)
Sometimes, I get an attitude and mindset that I need to be right about every single thing, as well as make sure you are correct too. Sometimes, I skip right over the message, and focus on the method.
I’m sure I’m the only one guilty….
Don’t misunderstand me. Being correct is of the utmost importance, but sometimes I correct form, when form doesn’t make a bit of difference.
Mama talks baby talk so baby can understand. THAT is the important thing. Understanding. And baby talk is far from correct grammar !
I’ve heard folks argue over which translation of written scripture to use, as if Jesus used one of them. (He did use one, and I understand it was Hebrew….I don’t understand Hebrew much better than I understand the original KJV.)
Translations line the shelves of bookstores now. There are groups of scholars from all over the globe who regularly gather to examine the old documents and manuscripts. They study the language of the era, and they consider how words were used in all sorts of literature of that day.
They consider what words we use today, and how we use them. Which, by the way, changes from generation to generation. Big time.
Scholars’ goal is to take the message in that old manuscript, written to that ancient world, a document that used their language and their words, and then communicate the message of it to our world today, using our language and our words.
I bet the people of other foreign languages don’t have this axe to grind….I’m pretty sure there’s not a lot of Bibles written in Chinese. Certainly not the King James Version ! And I’m glad I don’t have to read either of them. But I am thrilled that the Chinese can read and understand what was once only written in Hebrew or Greek.
It is certainly a good thing to be educated in the correct use and form or words. It’s a far better thing to be able to use all of them to effectively transfer a thought from one mind and heart to another.
We are told to “ …grow in the grace and knowledge…”(2Peter 3:18)
I wonder if some of us don’t need some refresher courses in grace. Are we impressed with our knowledge and the other person’s lack of it ?
Might we need to heed the words of Paul…. Certainly I do.
“ Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up…” (2 Cor. 8:1)
It is the message that is important. Not the method, not the pronunciation, not the spelling, not the punctuation, not the grammer.
Father, may our desire be to grow in grace and not simply knowledge. May our knowledge be only a tool to help us build others up and communicate the message of Jesus Christ.
Communication is vital isn’t it? You can lecture for hours, read a zillion words, write a zillion more…But unless the thoughts are conveyed, you’ve just wasted time, energy, and ink. (…or in my case, memory on a computer.)
Sometimes, I get an attitude and mindset that I need to be right about every single thing, as well as make sure you are correct too. Sometimes, I skip right over the message, and focus on the method.
I’m sure I’m the only one guilty….
Don’t misunderstand me. Being correct is of the utmost importance, but sometimes I correct form, when form doesn’t make a bit of difference.
Mama talks baby talk so baby can understand. THAT is the important thing. Understanding. And baby talk is far from correct grammar !
I’ve heard folks argue over which translation of written scripture to use, as if Jesus used one of them. (He did use one, and I understand it was Hebrew….I don’t understand Hebrew much better than I understand the original KJV.)
Translations line the shelves of bookstores now. There are groups of scholars from all over the globe who regularly gather to examine the old documents and manuscripts. They study the language of the era, and they consider how words were used in all sorts of literature of that day.
They consider what words we use today, and how we use them. Which, by the way, changes from generation to generation. Big time.
Scholars’ goal is to take the message in that old manuscript, written to that ancient world, a document that used their language and their words, and then communicate the message of it to our world today, using our language and our words.
I bet the people of other foreign languages don’t have this axe to grind….I’m pretty sure there’s not a lot of Bibles written in Chinese. Certainly not the King James Version ! And I’m glad I don’t have to read either of them. But I am thrilled that the Chinese can read and understand what was once only written in Hebrew or Greek.
It is certainly a good thing to be educated in the correct use and form or words. It’s a far better thing to be able to use all of them to effectively transfer a thought from one mind and heart to another.
We are told to “ …grow in the grace and knowledge…”(2Peter 3:18)
I wonder if some of us don’t need some refresher courses in grace. Are we impressed with our knowledge and the other person’s lack of it ?
Might we need to heed the words of Paul…. Certainly I do.
“ Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up…” (2 Cor. 8:1)
It is the message that is important. Not the method, not the pronunciation, not the spelling, not the punctuation, not the grammer.
Father, may our desire be to grow in grace and not simply knowledge. May our knowledge be only a tool to help us build others up and communicate the message of Jesus Christ.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Quotes 12....
Quotes 12.…“A place where there isn't any trouble. Do you suppose there is such a place, Toto? There must be. It's not a place you can get to by a boat or a train. It's far, far away. Behind the moon, beyond the rain…”
Have you ever been in such a place? Ever longed for such a place?
I tried for years to make such a place. Didn’t happen.
There is a such a place though. And it is indeed beyond the moon, beyond the rainbow… somewhere.
I find my mind going to the old hymns….
“Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin? The blood of Jesus whispers peace within….”
“When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.”
“The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will, peace be still.
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea, or demons, or men, or whatever it be.
No water can swallow the ship where lies, the Master of ocean and earth and skies;
they shall sweetly obey Thy will, peace be still, peace be still.”
I do long for a place where there is no trouble. No global trouble, national or international… political, cultural….personal.
I have known people who lived in circumstances that looked so distressing…like there was not a moment of peace. Yet, they exhibited joy.
How often I have said ‘I don’t know how you do it…’.
“Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with then thousand, ten thousand beside….” Great is His faithfulness.
There is peace for our now and for all of eternity for those who have The Holy Spirit of God dwelling within.
We all have eternity in our hearts. Will your eternity be one of peace?
No need to search for peace over the rainbow, no need to try to orchestrate it for yourself, you can’t.
Jesus Christ says “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me”
He is waiting. Let Him in….“and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds…” (Phillipians 4:7)
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Quotes 11....
Quotes 11.…. “….you are under the unfortunate impression that just because you run away you have no courage; you’re confusing courage with wisdom.”
The speaker of that quote was not at all what he pretended to be. He hid behind curtains, used bells and whistles of all sorts to make himself appear to be THE grand, all knowing, and all powerful one. Some wizard he was….
He was pretty ordinary….pity he didn’t apply his words of wisdom to his own life and come out from hiding behind that curtain sooner…. It takes courage to step out of hiding and be real.
We have an enemy who is a liar and a deceiver of the brethren ( John 8:44, Rev.12:10, Rev. 13:14, Gen. 3:13) He prefers to keep us in pretense.
One of the enemy’s most effective weapons against most of us is fear. Satan deceives us, we choose to believe him over believing God, we find the truth out for ourselves by experience, then instead of running TO God, we hide behind our own curtain, displaying our own bells and whistles…those of denial, pretense, and excuse.
We too are often under the unfortunate impression that running and hiding means we are weak and cowardly. A usual tactic of the enemy...take a little truth and twist it....
Hiding our sin from God IS cowardly. And futile.
“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.” (Hebrews 4:13)
Hiding our sin from ourselves is not only cowardly but catastrophically unwise.
It does takes courage to evaluate ourselves in the Light of the holiness of God because we …“all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”(Romans 3:23)
I am convinced that only when we KNOW the love of God can we come out of hiding.
Only when we have the Presence of Jesus Christ by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, can we see ourselves both as we are, (sinful to the core….), as well as loved by our Creator God beyond human capacity and beyond human understanding.
Don’t confuse courage with wisdom, nor fear and hiding with safety.
There is only one safe place to hide. ….“hidden with Christ in God”(Col. 3:3) “We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body..” (Hebrews. 10:18-20)
The speaker of that quote was not at all what he pretended to be. He hid behind curtains, used bells and whistles of all sorts to make himself appear to be THE grand, all knowing, and all powerful one. Some wizard he was….
He was pretty ordinary….pity he didn’t apply his words of wisdom to his own life and come out from hiding behind that curtain sooner…. It takes courage to step out of hiding and be real.
We have an enemy who is a liar and a deceiver of the brethren ( John 8:44, Rev.12:10, Rev. 13:14, Gen. 3:13) He prefers to keep us in pretense.
One of the enemy’s most effective weapons against most of us is fear. Satan deceives us, we choose to believe him over believing God, we find the truth out for ourselves by experience, then instead of running TO God, we hide behind our own curtain, displaying our own bells and whistles…those of denial, pretense, and excuse.
We too are often under the unfortunate impression that running and hiding means we are weak and cowardly. A usual tactic of the enemy...take a little truth and twist it....
Hiding our sin from God IS cowardly. And futile.
“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.” (Hebrews 4:13)
Hiding our sin from ourselves is not only cowardly but catastrophically unwise.
It does takes courage to evaluate ourselves in the Light of the holiness of God because we …“all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”(Romans 3:23)
I am convinced that only when we KNOW the love of God can we come out of hiding.
Only when we have the Presence of Jesus Christ by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, can we see ourselves both as we are, (sinful to the core….), as well as loved by our Creator God beyond human capacity and beyond human understanding.
Don’t confuse courage with wisdom, nor fear and hiding with safety.
There is only one safe place to hide. ….“hidden with Christ in God”(Col. 3:3) “We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body..” (Hebrews. 10:18-20)
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Quote 10....
Quote 10.… “Houston we have a problem.”…….
Houston, LA, Seattle, New York, Miami…Hong Kong, London, Cairo…
New Boston, Foreman, DeKalb, Simms…
Every person in every city….we all have a problem.
“You know the story of how Adam landed us in the dilemma we're in…”(Romans 5:12 The Message)
Our problem is that we can not be perfect. No matter how bad we want to, no matter how hard we try.
"…….What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise.
So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary. But I need something more!
For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help!
I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it.
I decide to do good, but I don't really do it;
I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway.
My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions.
Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. It happens so regularly that it's predictable. (Romans 7:14-21 The Message)
The apostle Paul had the problem, we all share it. And Houston can’t fix it….
So what to do?
“Who will save me from this sin that brings death to my body? I give thanks to God. He will do it through Jesus Christ our Lord…”(Romans 7:24-25)
“With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved.”(Romans 8:1 The Message)
Hallelujah.
Houston, LA, Seattle, New York, Miami…Hong Kong, London, Cairo…
New Boston, Foreman, DeKalb, Simms…
Every person in every city….we all have a problem.
“You know the story of how Adam landed us in the dilemma we're in…”(Romans 5:12 The Message)
Our problem is that we can not be perfect. No matter how bad we want to, no matter how hard we try.
"…….What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise.
So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary. But I need something more!
For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help!
I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it.
I decide to do good, but I don't really do it;
I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway.
My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions.
Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. It happens so regularly that it's predictable. (Romans 7:14-21 The Message)
The apostle Paul had the problem, we all share it. And Houston can’t fix it….
So what to do?
“Who will save me from this sin that brings death to my body? I give thanks to God. He will do it through Jesus Christ our Lord…”(Romans 7:24-25)
“With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved.”(Romans 8:1 The Message)
Hallelujah.
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