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Mon, Apr 30th - 8:52AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! ABE LINCOLN'S AGE
A father said to his son, "When Abe Lincoln was your age, he was studying books by the light of the fireplace."
The son replied, "When Lincoln was your age, he was President."
"There is always enough time for the things that really matter to us."* Jim Pleitz
*"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21 (NRSV)
A teacher was helping one of her kindergarten students put his boots on. He asked for help and she could see why. With her pulling and him pushing, the boots still didn't want to go on.
When the second boot was on, she had worked up a sweat. She almost whimpered when the little boy said, "Teacher, they're on the wrong feet."
She looked and sure enough, they were. It wasn't any easier pulling the boots off then it was putting them on. She managed to keep her cool as together they worked to get the boots back on - this time on the right feet.
He then announced, "These aren't my boots." She bit her tongue rather than get right in his face and scream, "Why didn't you say so?" like she wanted to. Once again she struggled to help him pull the ill-fitting boots off.
He then said, "They're my brother's boots. My Mom made me wear them." She didn't know if she should laugh or cry. She mustered up the grace to wrestle the boots on his feet again.
She said, "Now, where are your mittens?"
He said, "I tuffed them in the toes of my boots..."
"There is only one way to achieve happiness on this terrestrial ball, and that is to have either a clear conscience or none at all."* - Ogden Nash
*5But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5 (NRSV)
19having faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain persons have suffered shipwreck in the faith; 1 Timothy 1:19 (NRSV)
3I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 2 Timothy 1:3 (NRSV)
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! EATING AND DRI
(a) The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.
(b) On the other hand, the French eat a lot of fat and also suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.
(c) The Japanese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.
(d) The Italians drink lots of red wine and also suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.
(e) Conclusion: Eat and drink what you like. It's speaking English that kills you.
"I try to avoid looking forward or backward, and try to keep looking upward."* -- Charlotte Bronte
*Colossians 3:1 - 2 (NRSV) 1So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth,
"Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,"
"looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2 (NRSV)
After Sunday service a young couple talked to the pastor about joining the church. He hadn't met the husband before, so he asked what church he was transferring from.
The husband looked down at his feet and replied, "I am transferring from the Municipal Golf Course."
Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.*
*"Send out your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will get it back." Ecclesiastes 11:1 (NRSV)
"give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” Luke 6:38 (NRSV)
It is easy enough to be friendly to one's friends. But to befriend the one who regards himself as your enemy is the quintessence of true religion. The other is mere business*. -Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948)
*"And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?" Matthew 5:47 (NRSV)
Little Johnny was left to fix lunch.
When his mother returned with a friend, she noticed that Johnny had already strained the tea.
The two women then sipped their tea happily while having lunch.
"Was it hard finding the tea strainer in the kitchen?" Johnny's mother asked.
"I couldn't find it Ma, so I used the fly swatter," he replied.
His mother nearly fainted, so Johnny hastily added:
"Don't get excited, Ma, I used the old one!"
Doing good to our enemies “....has a power to do what laws and bullets and bombs can never do--namely, bring about transformation in an enemy’s heart. When God flexes His omnipotent muscle, it doesn’t look like Rambo or the Terminator--it looks like Calvary.” (Greg Boyd: The Myth of a Christian Nation. p. 32*
*44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:44-48 (NRSV)
27“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Luke 6:27-29 (NRSV)
35But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Luke 6:35 (NRSV)
A Sunday School teacher asked little Willie who the first man in the Bible was.
"Hoss." said Willie.
"Wrong," said the teacher. "It was Adam."
"Aw, shucks!" Willie replied. "I knew it was one of those Cartwrights."
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: G. K. Chesterton was asked to submit an essay to a contest titled, "What's wrong with the world?" His entry:
Dear sirs:
In response to your question, What's wrong with the world,
I am.
Sincerely yours,
G. K. Chesterton
The source of my problems is lurking in the nearest mirror. The solution to my problems is waiting for my next prayer.* (Jim Denison in God Issues 2/1/08
*1 Timothy 1:15 (NRSV) 15The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY! We evangelicals tend to be strong in piety and weak in praxis ... All of us will agree that theological reflection is indispensable; I hope we agree that it is equally indispensable to translate our theology into action.Knowledge of Scripture can never be an end in itself. We are called not only to 'believe' the truth, but to 'do' or 'obey' it.* JOHN STOTT
*I was overjoyed when some of the friends arrived and testified to your faithfulness to the truth, namely how you walk in the truth. 3 John 1:3 (NRSV)
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! PAYING THE BIL
A mangy looking guy who goes into a restaurant and orders food. The waiter says, "No way. I don't think you can pay for it."
The guy says, "You're right. I don't have any money, but if I show you something you haven't seen before, will you give me the food?"
"Deal!" replies the waiter.
The guy reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a hamster. He puts the hamster on the counter and it runs to the end, across the room, up the piano, jumps on the keyboard, and starts playing Gershwin songs. And the hamster is really good.
The waiter says, "You're right. I've never seen anything like that before. That hamster is truly good on the piano." The guy downs the hamburger he ordered and asks the waiter for another.
"Money or another miracle," says the waiter.
The guy reaches into his coat again and pulls out a frog. He puts the frog on the counter, and the frog starts to sing. He has a marvelous voice and great pitch. A fine singer. A stranger from the other end of the counter runs over to the guy and offers him $300 for the frog.
The guy says, "It's a deal." He takes the three hundred and gives the stranger the frog. The stranger runs out of the restaurant.
The waiter says to the guy, "Are you crazy? You sold a singing frog for $300? It must have been worth millions."
"Not so," says the guy, "the hamster is also a ventriloquist."
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Past experiences are doubtful food for Christians; a present coming to Christ alone can give us joy and comfort. Morning and Evening WORDSEARCH. Morning Verse April 17th*
*By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain's. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks. Hebrews 11:4 (NRSV)
and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Hebrews 12:24 (NRSV)
A forestry-service employee was recording the rainfall in his area. One drizzly day, his thoughts were apparently elsewhere as he typed "thirty three inches" instead of "thirty-three hundredths of an inch" into the computer.
It was obvious that the machine had been programmed by someone with a sense of humor, for this message quickly appeared on the screen "Build the ark. Gather the animals two by two..."
THOUGHT FOR TODAY! To Jesus there was nothing He did that was not God's business. Yet many Christians go to church on Sunday and live the rest of the week like it is none of God's business.*
*"And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? " Luke 2:49
A False Philosophy Gripping the United States of America
"If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor. You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be."
Deuteronomy 15:7-8
Luke 10:25-37 (NRSV)
25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?"
27 He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."
28 And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live."
29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.
31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.
34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.'
36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?"
37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Also, Jesus identified with the poor. His commission was to the poor: Luke 4:18 (NRSV)
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free,
Never is Jesus' identification with the poor so clearly stated as in Matthew 25:31-46 (NRSV)
31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,
33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.
34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.'
37 Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?
38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?
39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?'
40 And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'
41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;
42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'
44 Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?'
45 Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'
46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
This total consciousness of the poor continued in the early Church: Acts 2:44-47 (NRSV)
44 All who believed were together and had all things in common;
45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.
46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts,
47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
We know the practice of having all things in common did not continue because of the occasion of temptation it gave. For example, Acts 5:1-4 (NRSV)
1 But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property;
2 with his wife's knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet.
3 "Ananias," Peter asked, "why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land?
4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!" We do note that the experience of holding all things in common was a voluntary participation because Peter asked: While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? So these early Christians cannot be accused of Communism because it was totally voluntary. Nevertheless, a compassion for the poor continued with the early Christians.
The Apostles continued to admonish the Christians to minister to the poor: 1 John 3:14-17 (NRSV)
14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death.
15 All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them.
16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.
17 How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?
It is my conviction that God has created enough resources to provide for all life that He has created. However, it is as the following illustrations shows that God's provision for the poor is being horded by rich people: A minister stood up in the pulpit and announced, “I have good news and I have bad news. The good news is that we have the money to build our expanded Worship Center. The bad news that the money is still in your pockets.”
This is the case in the world today. The poor go hungry because their needs are still in our pockets.
The very purpose of work is to have something to get to the poor. Ephesians 4:28 (NRSV)
28 Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy.
There is a verse of Scripture that throws light on our subject: 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NRSV)
10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. The Bible does not discourage work. Clearly one not willing to work is not worthy to eat. However, some get so focus on this that they conclude that everyone not working is not worthy of food. But that is not the Biblical philosophy.
David said in Psalm 37:25 (NRSV) “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” Some take this verse as justification for looking down on welfare recipients. But just because David had never seen the righteous begging didn't mean that there were then or now no righteous beggars. David had not seen Lazareth and the rich man: Luke 16:19-31 (NRSV)
19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores.
22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.
23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side.
24 He called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.'
25 But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony.
26 Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.'
27 He said, 'Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house—
28 for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.'
29 Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.'
30 He said, 'No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'
31 He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"
There is a grave danger in closing our hearts of compassion to the poor.
We are not in a position to look down on anyone. Only God is in a position to look down on anyone. We are not able to judge whether a person does not want to work or does want to work unless we thorough investigate the persons situation or he tells us he will not work or that he will work. Jesus illustrated the attitude we should have in Matthew 20:1-16 (NRSV)
1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
2 After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace;
4 and he said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went.
5 When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same.
6 And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why are you standing here idle all day?'
7 They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard.'
8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.'
9 When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage.
10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage.
11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner,
12 saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'
13 But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you.
15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?'
16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last."
This illustrates that many who are not working are not working because no one has hired them. This is so true in the time of recessions. My daughter and my son have been unemployed for over two years because no one has hired them, not because they are unwilling to work. My daughter has 'worked' faithfully with the Texas Work Force all these two years. She has discovered that some employers have rules not to hire anyone over 40-50 years old. Some will not hire anyone that does not have a job.
This is not the attitude reflected in the story Jesus gave about the laborers in the vineyard. One thing strike about this story is that it says the agreement was for a days wages. God knows that it takes as much money to live one day as a worker or as an unemployed person. Here again, this passage is not teaching Communism because is ask the question: “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?”
It is obvious that the philosophy we have been describing is inoperative in much if not most of the world even by Christians.
In fact, there is a false philosophy in practice in at least or nearly half of the citizens of the United States. The Philosophy is that of Ayn Rand who advocated reason as the only means of acquiring knowledge and rejected all forms of faith and religion. Here are some comments I have previously written about this vain philosophy: Ayn Rand (1905–1982). Her philosophy is: “…the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.” Even a babe in Christ recognizes this as a godless philosophy.
The philosophy of Ayn Rand drives many of our American legislators. Selfishness and greed are virtues. We are to pursue our own happiness. Look after number one.
This philosophy also promotes economic Darwinism: the survival of the fittest. Of course, the fittest in Darwinism economic system are the rich. (I asked a person how his daughter was doing? He replied, “She’s driving a Mercedes.”) The laborers are the slaves of the rich, who make them rich. The Ayn Rand legislators balance the budget on the backs of the working class, the seniors, and those who for varied reasons are not working. The fittest rich pay little or no taxes. The government is financed by the taxes of the middle class.
I do not claim to have worked out a Christian Economy. However, I am sure it is not godless Communism, and I am sure it is not driven by Ann Rand’s ‘Look after number one! I read a disturbing article in “God Politics” a blog posted by Jim Wallace. The article was written by Ernesto Tinajero. He wrote on July 12, 2011::
In one of the most-viewed articles on FoxNews.com several weeks ago, writer Onkar Ghate presents a choice of competing moralities between Ayn Rand and Jesus. While his exegetical powers leave much to be desired, he is correct in noting that the choice many Americans will have to make, as far as political philosophies go, is between Ayn Rand and Jesus.
I grew sad reading while his comments stating that Ayn Rand is the best representative of the neo-conservative vision for America — one where the individual is responsible only for the individual and selfishness is a virtue.
This grave false philosophy is gripping the United States of America. It is a vain, atheistic philosophy. God save America.
God did not create us to make us happy, but for His own pleasure!*
*"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Revelation 4:11 (KJV)
An American businessman goes to Japan on a business trip, but he hates Japanese food, so he asks the concierge at his hotel if there's any place around where he can get American food.
The concierge tells him he's in luck, there's a pizza place that just opened, and they deliver. The concierge gives the businessman the phone number, and he goes back to his room and orders a pizza.
Thirty minutes later, the delivery guy shows up to the door with the pizza.
The businessman takes the pizza, and starts sneezing uncontrollably. He asks the delivery man, "What on earth did you put on this pizza?"
The delivery man bows deeply and says, "We put on the pizza what you ordered, pepper only."
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! MEDICAL HISTORY
It was the toughest experience of my life.
First, I got angina pectoris and then arteriosclerosis. Just as I was recovering from these, I got tuberculosis, double pneumonia and phthisis. Appendicitis was followed by tonsillectomy.
These gave way to aphasia and hypertrophic cirrhosis. I completely lost my memory for a while. I know I had diabetes and acute ingestion, besides gastritis, rheumatism, lumbago and neuritis.
Realizing that perhaps I might do better with another doctor, I made an appointment at new medical office. The receptionist had me fill out forms that included my medical history.
I don't know how I pulled through it. It was the hardest spelling test I've ever had.
"The last dejected effort often becomes the winning stroke."* -- W.J. Cameron
*Galatians 6:9 (NRSV) "So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up."
A husband and wife constantly bickered and fought, often yelling deep into the night. Most fights ended with the husband shouting, "When I die, I will dig my way up, out of the grave and come back and haunt you for the rest of your life!"
Everybody in the neighborhood who heard this threat feared and avoided him for his temper - a fact he enjoyed right up to the day he dropped dead of a heart attack in the middle of one of his tirades.
After his funeral and burial, his widow threw a huge party for the neighborhood to celebrate their shared freedom. The neighbors, however, were concerned for her safety and asked, "Aren't you afraid that he may indeed be able to dig his way out of the grave and haunt you for the rest of your life?"
The wife smiled and said, "Let him dig. I had him buried upside down. And I know he won't ask for directions."
As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands. One for helping yourself, the other for helping others."* -- Audrey Hepburn
*Philippians 2:4 "Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others."
A woman in a drafting unit was promoted to supervisor and some of the older male workers were having difficulty accepting her authority.
While she instructed one such subordinate, he interrupted with, "Young lady, I'm old enough to be your father."
"And," she replied, "I'm old enough to be your supervisor."
A servant girl, who was once asked how she knew she was a converted Christian, replied: 'Well, you see, I used to sweep the dust under the mat, but now I don't.' It is possible to visit somebody else as if Jesus Christ lived there, to type a letter as if Jesus Christ were going to read it, to serve a customer as if Jesus Christ had come shopping that day, and to nurse a patient as if Jesus Christ were in that hospital bed. It is possible to cook a meal as if we were Martha in the kitchen, and Jesus Christ were going to eat it.* JOHN STOTT
*28just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Matt 20:28
In rivers, the water that you touch is the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes; so with present time*. -Leonardo da Vinci, painter, engineer, musician, and scientist (1452-1519) 'Now' is where God lives! (Greg Boyd)
*2 Corinthians 6:2 (NRSV) "For he says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.” See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!"
"I try to avoid looking forward or backward, and try to keep looking upward."* -- Charlotte Bronte
*Colossians 3:1 - 2 (NRSV) 1So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth,
I tried to acquire a fondness for the very poor, and I finally came to like them very much if they were rather good. But I was not satisfied with liking them; I wanted to love all the poor whom I met.* - Rose Hawthorne, Founder of The Servants of Relief for Incurable Cancer (1851-1926)
*40And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:40 (NRSV)
You have heard of radio and TV evangelists who send out handkerchiefs that they have prayed over. They use Acts 19.11-12 for Scriptural support:
Acts 19:11-12 (NRSV)
"God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that when the handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, their diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them."
Acts 19:11-12 (KJV)
"And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them."
When I hear these TV Evangelist ask for these handkerchiefs that they have prayed over to be sent to their listeners with the promise of healing effects I am reminded of an experience I had in the Seminary. My beloved Preaching Professor, Dr. Clinard gave the assignments of the whole semester on the first day of the semester. I held up my hand and stated. “Dr. Clinard, I can see Jesus nor the Apostles studying all this long and hard for a sermon.” Dr. Clinard replied, “Mr. Purifoy, let me remind you that you are neither Jesus nor an Apostle. Go home and get your lessons!.” I was known as Apostle Purifoy from them on.
These TV Evangelists are not Peter nor Paul who did extraordinary miracles which do not occur very often or they would not be extraordinary. These miracles were over and above the ordinary miracles we see often in our lives.
Notice that that these miracles were ‘special’ or 'extraordinarily’ according to the NRSV. These were not everyday, available on demand miracles as these radio and TV evangelists imply.
They explain that the handkerchiefs provide a 'point of contact' to the believer. It seems clearer to me that people are our point of contact with God! God meets us in and through people--especially people in need.
In the Old Testament we find God meeting the patriarchs in human form. Gen. 18:1-2 is an example: Genesis 18:1-2 (NRSV)
"The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground."
Several times the Old Testament records God appearing as an angel. The Hebrew word translated 'angel' is "mal'ak, from an unused root meaning to dispatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher): -ambassador, angel, king, messenger." So, again, God's appearance may have been in the form of a person. As Heb. 13:2: (NRSV)
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it."
We may miss a great blessing by ignoring strangers. People are our point of contact with God.
It is much clearer in the New Testament that people are a point of contact with God. God identified with people in the incarnation. God became a man and dwelt among us. God's point of contact with us is primarily in His Son, Jesus Christ. Matt. (NRSV)
"Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."
John (NRSV)
"And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth."***
Philippians 2:5-11 (NRSV)
"Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
There is no more thrilling truth than that God became a man in Jesus Christ and lived life like He expects us to live. Also, the astonishing thing is that, when we receive Christ as Lord and Savior, He lives in us. Colossians (NRSV)
27To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
God was in Christ Who is in us who are in Christ Who is in God. The Christian Life is an inside job!
Our primary point of contact with God is in the Person of Jesus Christ. When we look in the face of the Man, Jesus, we are looking in the face of God.
We are called upon to minister to Jesus. When Jesus was here, His disciples could minister directly to Him as did the woman with the alabaster box. Matt 26:7-13:
"a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, "Why this waste? For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor." But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her."
His disciples had a hands-on experience with Jesus.1 John 1:1-3:
"We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us—we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ."
But we no longer relate to Jesus, Himself after the flesh. 2 Cor 5:16:
"From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way."
We now relate to Christ through the Spirit, and we minister to Christ through people. The only way we can have a hands-on experience with Jesus is with people, not only fellow Christian Brothers and Sisters, but all people in need.
We are never nearer to Jesus than when we meet people in need. Jesus has so identified with people that whatever we do to people, we do to Him and for Him.As Acts 9:1-5 says:
"Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”
Jesus pronounced judgment that when Saul persecuted the church, the people of God, Saul persecuted Jesus.
***This is ever so clear in Mat 25:31-46:
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' Then he will answer them, Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
When we meet a person in need, we meet Jesus face to face. People in need are our point of contact with God. Mature Christians will do what Jesus would have them do when confronted with people in need. I agree with Danny Vestal that the WWJD (What would Jesus Do?) movement is a sign of being serious about our responsibility to be like Jesus. That is a welcomed movement. A person in need is our point of contact with Jesus, our opportunity to minister unto Jesus.
There are so many things that turn us away from Jesus in the faces of people in need. We rationalize with half truths such as "Give a man a fish and you have fed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you have fed him for life." But how many of us actually give the man the fish for a day so that we may gain his attention to train him to fish? We emphasize individual responsibility. We hear the Word of the Lord: "Every man shall bear his own burden" But we are deaf to God's Word: "Bear ye one another's burdens."
It is heart breaking to me to read history and find out the injustice that has been done Walter Rauschenbusch. Some fondly call him the Father of the Social Gospel. Others mockingly call him that. Fundamentalists accuse him of promoting a social gospel apart from regeneration of the heart. But no one can read his Christianity and the Social Crisis and conclude that he did not base his Christian sociology on regeneration. In his introduction he said,
". . . the essential purpose of Christianity was to transform human society into the kingdom of God by regenerating all human relations and reconstituting them in accordance with the will of God."
Again, on page 48 he said,
"No man is a follower of Jesus in the full sense who has not through him entered into the same life with God. But on the other hand, no man shares his life with God whose religion does not flow out, naturally and without effort, into all relations of his life and reconstructs everything that it touches."
These quotes can only mean that regeneration, or the new birth, was the fount from which social reformation flowed.
Walter Rauschenbusch was a Baptist who believed in the new birth or regeneration, but also he believed that the invariable results of the new birth were
".... to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." (Micah 6:8)
Fundamentalists may mockingly decry Walter Rauschenbusch as the Father of the Social Gospel, but what shall God say to those who have disconnected the invariable results of social behavior from the new birth?
Many say, "We just want to see souls saved." What they forget is that Paul wrote twelve letters of the New Testament (thirteen, if he wrote Hebrews). None of the twelve letters was written 'primarily' to win souls to Jesus. Even though there is much material in these letters to support evangelism, they were primarily written to teach sound doctrine and correct doctrinal errors and behavior in the churches.
Churches today are losing their identity by ignoring doctrine and behavior. Anxious to get people to make professions of faith and join churches, they are no longer identified by sound doctrine but by entertaining preachers, entertaining music, and frivolity. They have confused hyperactivity and emotional hype with spirituality.
James teaches that regeneration, true faith, results in social relief: James 2:14-18:
"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works."
I would say that Jesus and His brother, James, were the Fathers of the social gospel, not Walter Rauschenbusch.
In how many ways we fail to minister unto Jesus who has identified with those who are hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick, in prison? We miss our points of contact with Jesus. We fail to minister to Him. We go to Sunday School, and worship services Sundays and Wednesdays. We pray and read our Bibles daily, but we avoid people in need. These spiritual exercises are of no value if they do not move us minister to Jesus through people in need. People in need are our point of contact with Jesus Christ.
It appears that our economy is moving toward a sweatshop economy. Companies are willing to work people all day for less than a living wage. In the name of profit, companies are moving their jobs to foreign countries where the labor laws of the United States do not apply. Companies hire two part time persons instead of one full time person to avoid paying benefits. At the same time these persons are stigmatized because they cannot provide for their families on part time minimum wage jobs. More and more people not only have to have both husband and wife working but many are working two jobs. Wealth is limited to only a small percentage of the population. How can the cigarette industry loose billions of dollars in law suits and still stay in business? Corporations are hoarding profits by the billions. Of course, business must have profit margins, but some profits become immoral. Some company CEOs make more in 10 minutes that an ordinary worker make all year long.
We need new prophets with the spirit of Walter Rauschenbusch to call us to a renewed compassion for Jesus Christ Whom we meet in the faces of people in need. Yes, we need to 'teach men to fish' but they can hardly learn on an empty stomach. Yes,"... every man shall bear his own burden." Gal.6:5 But it is incumbent upon every Christian to "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Gal. 6:2
Paul says the purpose of work is not just to make ends meet, but to give to those in need: Eph. 4:28
"Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth."
We should make as much money as we are capable of making not just to make our ends meet but that we can give to those in need.
More research and creative writing needs to be done on defining a Christian economy, but definitely 'every man for himself or a 'what's in it for me' economy' is not a Christian economy.
What is our motive in shopping? When we shop, are we just shopping for ourselves? Or, do we shop so that others might have a job? You might call it the ministry of consuming. No doubt, we should not be extravagant, but neither should we hoard our resources. Invest in others.
We see on TV and receive reports in mission magazines of people starving all over the world. Yet, I believe that God has provided for these people. But, we hoard our wealth, passing off our responsibility. We justify hoarding by the irreligious philosophy of "every man for himself.
James 1:27:
'Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."
I was with one of my previous supervisors once. We were social workers. A deaf man approached him handing him a card asking for money. My supervisor tore the card up in the presence of the deaf person and said, "You don't have to beg. You can get yourself a job." What he said may be a fact, but it was truth spoken without love and compassion. This deaf person and I were shocked by his act. I don't believe the deaf person was inspired to seek training before his next meal.
1 John 3:17
"But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"
Just because it is possible for a deaf person to be trained and get a job and become self supporting does not relieve us of our responsibility of giving to the immediate needs of such a person and also to provide for the long range need of training, etc. I believe Jesus would say, “You ought to have provided long term training for this deaf person, but not have left undone meeting the immediate need of this deaf person.”
Recognize the Person of Jesus in the faces of people in need around you.
Humbly minister to Jesus by meeting the needs of people. People in need are our point of contact with God.
"The reason why many miracles are not now wrought is not so much because faith is established, as that unbelief reigns."* - Bengel.
*19Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a£ mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:19-20 (NRSV)
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! A LONG HAPPY LIFE!
A woman walked up to a little old man rocking in a chair on his porch. "I couldn't help noticing how happy you look,"she said. "What's your secret for a long happy life?"
"I smoke three packs of cigarettes a day," he said. "I also drink a case of whiskey a week, eat fatty foods, and never exercise."
"That's amazing,"the woman said. "How old are you?'
Will Rogers told us not to defend ourselves, for the simple reason that your friends don't need your explanation and your enemies won't believe you anyway. St. Augustine prayed, "Lord, save me from the need always to justify myself." I heard a friend of mine, Dan Layne, pray: “Lord lead us to pass up every opportunity to be offended.”*
*39But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Matthew 5:39-41 (NRSV)
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! LAWYER OF THE YEAR!
At an annual Bosses Night dinner for Helena, Montana, lawyers, sponsored by legal secretaries, it was time to announce the Boss of the Year.
The master of ceremonies began: "First of all, our winner is a graduate of the University of Montana. So that already eliminates some of you as candidates."
"Our winner also is a partner in a downtown Helena law firm. That eliminates some more of you. "Our nominee is honest, upright, dedicated..."
A voice from the audience cut in: "Well, there go the rest of us!"
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."* -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
*"and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20 (NRSV)
"To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27 (NRSV
On his first day the straw boss (floor supervisor) calls ol' Leroy into his little office and says,
"You're the new man, huh? What's yer name?"
Leroy replied "Leroy"
The straw boss says "I don't call anyone by first names. It breeds familiarity and that leads to breakdown in my Authority. I refer to all employees by last names; Now what is Your Last Name!"
Leroy sort of smiles and says, "It's Darling - Leroy Darling!
The Straw Boss said, "Now, Leroy, the next thing..."
In rivers, the water that you touch is the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes; so with present time*. -Leonardo da Vinci, painter, engineer, musician, and scientist (1452-1519)
*2 Corinthians 6:2 (NRSV) "For he says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.” See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!"
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! SENATE COMEBACK
A member of the Senate, known for his hot temper and acid tongue, exploded one day in mid-session and began to shout, "Half of this Senate is made up of cowards and corrupt politicians!
All the other Senators pleaded to the angry member that he withdraw his statement or be removed from the remainder of the session.
After a long pause, the angry member accepted.
"Ok" he said, "I withdraw what I said.
Half of this Senate is NOT made up of cowards and corrupt politicians!"
A bell is no bell 'til you ring it, A song is no song 'til you sing it, And love in your heart Wasn't put there to stay - Love isn't love 'Til you give it away.* -- Oscar Hammerstein from "The Sound Of Music"
*8Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:8-12 (NRSV)
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Insofar as the church is conformed to the world, and the two communities appear to the onlooker to be merely two versions of the same thing, the church is contradicting its true identity. No comment could be more hurtful to the Christian than the words, 'But you are no different from anybody else.'* John Stott
*Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, 2 Corinthians 6:17 (NRSV)
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! PRENATAL VISIT:
A couple was making their first visit to Dr. Mike Wilson prior to the birth of their first child.
After the exam, the doctor took a small stamp and stamped the wife’s stomach with indelible ink.
The man and his wife were curious about what the stamp was for, so when they got home, the man took out his magnifying glass to try to see what is was. In very small letters, the stamp said, “When you can read this, come back and see me.
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! PRETZEL CHARITY
A little old lady sold pretzels on a street corner for 25 cents each.
Every day a young man would leave his office building at lunch time and, as he passed her pretzel stand, he would leave her a quarter, but would never take a pretzel.
This went on for more than five years. The two of them never spoke.
One day as the man passed the old ladies pretzel stand and left his quarter as usual, the pretzel woman spoke to him
"Sir, I appreciate your business. You are a good customer, but I have to tell you that the pretzel price has increased to 35 cents.
Name: Doyle Purifoy ChristiansUnite ID: doylepurifoy Member Since: 2010-04-23 Location: Corsicana, Texas, United States Denomination: Baptist About Me: I was born Jan 2, 1934 in Stamford Tx. I was born again August 8, 1942 at First Baptist Church, Munday Tx. I was called to preach at 13 years old at First Baptist Church Mineral Wells Tx. I married Jo Ann Stuard of Abilene Tx. I was in the Navy from ... more
Name: Doyle Purifoy
