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"Helping Others Communicate"

MODERN DAY PRODIGAL

2/28/2011

 
Philip Yancey is a best-selling Christian author.  In fact, fourteen million of his books have been sold worldwide, making him one of the most successful and loved evangelical Christian authors ever.  Two of his books have won the ECPA’s Christian Book of the Year Award: The Jesus I Never Knew in 1996, and What's So Amazing About Grace in 1998.

The following is a story by Yancey, which was first printed in the October 6, 1997 edition of Christianity Today Magazine.  I used it in a message on Luke 15:1-24 this past Sunday morning.  It beautifully illustrates the message of the gospel as depicted in Jesus’ classic parable of the prodigal son.   

A young girl grows up on a cherry orchard just above Traverse City, Michigan. Her parents, a bit old-fashioned, tend to overreact to her nose ring, the music she listens to, and the length of her skirts. 

They ground her a few times, and she seethes inside.  "I hate you!" she screams at her father when he knocks on the door of her room after an argument, and that night she acts on a plan she has mentally rehearsed scores of times.  She runs away. 

She has visited Detroit only once before, on a bus trip with her church youth group to watch the Tigers play.  Because newspapers in Traverse City report in lurid detail the gangs, drugs, and violence in downtown Detroit, she concludes that is probably the last place her parents will look for her. 

California, maybe, or Florida, but not Detroit.  Her second day there, she meets a man who drives the biggest car she’s ever seen.  He offers her a ride, buys her lunch, arranges a place for her to stay.  He gives her some pills that make her feel better than she’s ever felt before. 

She was right all along, she decides: her parents were keeping her from all the fun. The good life continues for a month, two months, a year. 

The man with the big car--she calls him "Boss"--teaches her a few things that men like. Since she’s underage, men pay a premium for her.  She lives in a penthouse and orders room service whenever she wants.  Occasionally she thinks about the folks back home, but their lives now seem so boring and provincial that she can hardly believe she grew up there. 

She has a brief scare when she sees her picture printed on the back of a milk carton with the headline, "Have you seen this child?"  But by now she has blond hair, and with all the makeup and body-piercing jewelry she wears, nobody would mistake her for a child. 

Besides, most of her friends are runaways, and nobody squeals in Detroit. After a year, the first sallow signs of illness appear, and it amazes her how fast the boss turns mean. "These days, we can’t mess around," he growls, and before she knows it, she’s out on the street without a penny to her name. 

She still turns a couple of tricks a night, but they don’t pay much, and all the money goes to support her habit.  When winter blows in she finds herself sleeping on metal grates outside the big department stores. 

"Sleeping" is the wrong word--a teenage girl at night in downtown Detroit can never relax her guard.  Dark bands circle her eyes.  Her cough worsens. 

One night, as she lies awake listening for footsteps, all of a sudden everything about her life looks different.  She no longer feels like a woman of the world.  She feels like a little girl, lost in a cold and frightening city.  She begins to whimper.  Her pockets are empty and she’s hungry.  She needs a fix.  She pulls her legs tight underneath her and shivers under the newspapers she’s piled atop her coat. 

Something jolts a synapse of memory and a single image fills her mind: of May in Traverse City, when a million cherry trees bloom at once, with her golden retriever dashing through the rows and rows of blossomy trees in chase of a tennis ball. 

God, why did I leave, she says to herself, and pain stabs at her heart.  My dog back home eats better than I do now.  She’s sobbing, and she knows in a flash that more than anything else in the world she wants to go home. 

Three straight phone calls, three straight connections with the answering machine.  She hangs up without leaving a message the first two times, but the third time she says, "Dad, Mom, it’s me. I was wondering about maybe coming home.  I’m catching a bus up your way, and it’ll get there about midnight tomorrow. If you’re not there, well, I guess I’ll just stay on the bus until it hits Canada." 

It takes about seven hours for a bus to make all the stops between Detroit and Traverse City, and during that time she realizes the flaws in her plan.  What if her parents are out of town and miss the message?  Shouldn’t she have waited another day or so until she could talk to them? 

Even if they are home, they probably wrote her off as dead long ago.  She should have given them some time to overcome the shock. 

Her thoughts bounce back and forth between those worries and the speech she is preparing for her father.  "Dad, I’m sorry. I know I was wrong. It’s not your fault, it’s all mine.  Dad, can you forgive me?"  She says the words over and over, her throat tightening even as she rehearses them.  She hasn’t apologized to anyone in years. 

The bus has been driving with lights on since Bay City.  Tiny snowflakes hit the road, and the asphalt steams.  She’s forgotten how dark it gets at night out here.  A deer darts across the road and the bus swerves.  Every so often, a billboard, a sign posting the mileage to Traverse City.  Oh, God.  

When the bus finally rolls into the station, its air brakes hissing in protest, the driver announces in a crackly voice over the microphone, "Fifteen minutes, folks.  That’s all we have here."  Fifteen minutes to decide her life. 

She checks herself in a compact mirror, smoothes her hair, and licks the lipstick off her teeth.  She looks at the tobacco stains on her fingertips, and wonders if her parents will notice - if they’re there. 

She walks into the terminal not knowing what to expect, and not one of the thousand scenes that have played out in her mind prepare her for what she sees. 

There, in the concrete-walls-and-plastic-chairs bus terminal in Traverse City, Michigan, stands a group of 40 brothers and sisters and great-aunts and uncles and cousins and a grandmother and great-grandmother to boot. 

They are all wearing ridiculous-looking party hats and blowing noisemakers, and taped across the entire wall of the terminal is a computer-generated banner that reads "Welcome home!" 

Out of the crowd of well-wishers breaks her dad.  She looks through tears and begins the memorized speech, "Dad, I’m sorry. I know . . . "  He interrupts her.  "Hush, child.  We’ve got no time for that.  No time for apologies.  You’ll be late for the party.  A banquet’s waiting for you at home."

“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."  (Luke 15:10)

DEEP ROOTS

2/26/2011

 
It has well been said that prayer is the lifeline of the Christian.  Without prayer, our spiritual lives are stunted due to lack of nourishment.

When I was pastoring in north Georgia, the community where I served had a sister city relationship with a city in Japan.  A man in my church had made the trip to Japan several times.  One of his many souvenirs was a Bonsai tree.

The Japanese introduced this tree to the world.  What is unique about the Bonsai tree is that it is measured in inches instead of feet, as other trees are measured. 

It is not allowed to reach anywhere near its full growth potential; but instead is forced to grow into a stunted, miniature form of what it was intended to be.

The reason for it having grown in such a stunted form is that when it first came forth out of the ground as a sapling, the owner pulled it out of the soil and tied off its main taproot along with any of its branch feeder roots.  He then replanted it. 

By doing this, the tender  has deliberately stunted the tree's growth.  In limiting the roots’ ability to spread out, grow deep, and take in enough of the soils nutrients for a normal growth, the tree is quite literally turned into a dwarf.

What is done to the Bonsai tree by its owner is what Satan has purposed to do to the average Christian, if he can.  He will try to tie off the taproot of prayer.  In doing so, he wants to limit a believer's ability to receive in prayer what all God supplies for spiritual growth. 

Be careful not to let this happen in your life.  As a believer, your need to let your spititual roots run deep – especially the main or “tap” root of prayer.  Without it, you will surely be malnourished, and your growth and maturity will surely be stunted.

PAYING THE PRICE

2/21/2011

 
On Wednesday evenings, we are continuing to study the Book
of Revelation together.  John writes to the seven churches mentioned in chapters one through three (and located in what is now present day Turkey), in part, to encourage them in the midst of the terrible persecution unleashed by the evil Emperor Domitian.   

History tells us some of what they went through.  One particularly moving story is that of the martyrdom of the beloved and aged pastor of the church at Smyrna.  His name was Polycarp.  He was a disciple of the Apostle John.  

We are told that one could tell it immediately because he possessed the same tenderness and compassion as his mentor. Can you imagine what it must have been like for his congregation as they were forced to watch him burn at the stake?  

Records tell us that persecution broke out in Smyrna.  As a result, many Christians were fed to the wild beasts in the arena. Never satisfied, the Godless and bloodthirsty crowd called for the carcass of the leader – Polycarp himself.

The authorities sent a search party to find him.  He had been taken into hiding by the Christians.  However, the Roman authorities tortured two young believers until they finally disclosed his location.  When the authorities’ arrival was announced, there was still time to whisk Polycarp away; but he refused to go, saying, “God’s will be done.”

In one of the most touching instances of Christian grace imaginable, Polycarp welcomed his captors as if they were friends.  He talked with them and insisted they eat a meal.  He made only one request before being taken away – he asked for one hour to pray.  

The Roman soldiers listened to his prayer.  Their hearts melted and they gave him two hours to pray.  They had second thoughts as well; and were overheard asking each other why they were ever sent to arrest him.

Other authorities also experienced a warmed heart when Polycarp arrived.  The Proconsul himself tried to find a way to release him.  “Curse God and I will let you go!” he pleaded.
Polycarp’s reply was, “For eighty-six years I have served Him. He has never done me wrong.  How then can I blaspheme my King when He has saved me?”

The Proconsul again looked for a way out:  “Then do this, old man; just swear by the spirit of the Emperor; and that will be sufficient.”  Polycarp’s reply was, “If you imagine for a moment that I would do that, then I think you pretend that you don’t know who I am.  So hear it plainly.  I am a Christian.”

More entreaties by the Proconsul followed.  But Polycarp stood firm.  The Proconsul then threatened him with the wild beasts.  Polycarp’s reply was, “Bring them forth.  I would change my mind if it meant going from worst to best, but not to change from right to wrong.”

The Proconsul threatened him further, “Then I will burn you alive!”  Polycarp’s reply was simply, “You threaten with fire that burns for an hour and is over; but the judgment on the ungodly is forever.”

Thus did the fires engulf him.  But the witnesses noticed his faith and joy.  He was finished off with a dagger.  He was then buried for the cause of Christ - 1,856 years ago, this week, on February 22, 155 A.D.  And that day has been seen ever since as much a day of victory as it was a day of tragedy. 

Polycarp illustrated the power of knowing Jesus intimately - intimately enough to follow Him into the flames.  As Jesus said, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”  Amen.

LIVING BENEATH ONE'S PRIVILEGE

2/17/2011

 
As a way of leading up to the National Day of Prayer ceremonies during the first week of May, we have been using Sunday evenings at our church to focus on prayer.   

Far too many Christians, it seems, view prayer as a chore, rather than the privilege God intended it to be.  As a result,
a good number of believers do not practice the discipline of prayer as much or as often as they should. 

Unfortunately, for them, they do this to their own detriment.  They live beneath their privilege, in that they short-change themselves with regard to the blessings of God. 

The March, 1993 edition of Turning Point contains a classic example from history which illustrates all too well the tragedy of living beneath one’s privilege.  It is the story of the infamous Henrietta “Hettie” Green (whom the Guinness Book of World Records once called the “world’s greatest miser”).

It reads as follows:

It was 1916, and Hattie (sic) Green was dead.  Hattie’s life is a sad demonstration of what it is like to be among the living dead.  When Hattie died, her estate was valued at over $100 million; yet Hattie lived in poverty.  She ate cold oatmeal because it cost money to heat it.  

When her son’s leg became infected, Hattie wouldn’t get it treated until she could find a clinic that wouldn’t charge her.  By then, her son’s leg had to be amputated.  Hattie died arguing over the value of drinking skim milk.  She had money to meet her every need, but she chose to live as if it didn’t exist.  

How tragic it is to see people live beneath their privilege.  How much more tragic to see Christians live beneath their privilege.  I am not proclaiming a “Health and Wealth” gospel here.  I do not mean to imply that God intends every single believer to be completely healthy and/or independently wealthy. 

If this were the case, then the Apostle Paul surely would not have had a thorn in his flesh (2 Cor. 12:7-12); nor would the Son of God have lacked a pillow upon which to lay His head (Matthew 8:20).  However, the Bible does proclaim that every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father in Heaven (James 1:17).  He is certainly sufficient to meet our every need. 

Sadly, though, far too many of us have not, because we ask not (Matthew 7:7).  Or else we ask, but we do not seek; nor do we knock.  And thereby, we speak volumes about our convictions over how much God really cares for His own. 

What about you?  Are you living beneath your privilege?  You really don’t have to, you know.  After all (according to Psalm 50:10), your Heavenly Father, Who knows your every need, owns the cattle on a thousand hills! 

Note:  The source for this story is: 
http://bible.org/illustration/hattie-green.

THE HOLY BIRD

2/13/2011

 
Occasionally, an anecdote comes my way that seems to have particular relevance for my life.  The fact that I am a Southern Baptist Preacher who received the following story from a Southern Baptist Deacon serves to make my point.  I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.  It is the account of…

THE HOLY BIRD

Recently, Miss Lisa, our teacher, asked us what our favorite animal was; and I said, "Fried chicken."  She said I wasn't funny; but she couldn't have been right, because everyone else in the class laughed. 

My parents told me always to be truthful and honest; and I am.  Fried chicken is my favorite animal.  I told my dad what happened; and he said my teacher was probably a member of PETA.  He said they love animals very much.  I do, too - especially chicken, pork, and beef.

Anyway, my teacher sent me to the principal's office.  I told him what happened; and he laughed too.  Then he told me not to do it again.

The next day, in class, my teacher asked me what my favorite live animal was.  I told her it was a chicken.  She asked me why - just like she'd asked the other children. 

So, I told her that it was because you could make it into a fried chicken.  She sent me back to the principal's office again.  He laughed; and told me not to do it any more.

 
I just don't understand.  My parents taught me to be honest; but my teacher doesn't like it when I am.  
 
Today, my teacher asked us to tell her what famous person we admire most.  I told her, "Colonel Sanders". 

Guess where I am now ?!?!?

COUNTING THE COST

2/10/2011

 
On Wednesday nights in Bible Study, we have been working our way through the Book of Revelation.  In doing so, we have been reminded of the terrible suffering early Christians endured at the hands of the Roman authorities, including being arrested, tortured, crucified, burned alive, fed to wild animals, etc... 

John Fox(e) [I put it this way because both spellings are extant.], in his classic work, Fox(e)’s Book of Martyrs, which was written in the midst of the terrible suffering by Protestants in the Reformation of the sixteenth century, identifies ten ancient Roman persecutions of the church.  These are:
  1. Persecution under Nero (c. 64-68).  Traditional martyrdoms of Peter and Paul.  Burning of Rome blamed on Christians.
  2. Persecution under Domitian (c. 81-96).  Book of Revelation written.
  3. Persecution under Trajan (112-117).  Christianity is outlawed, but Christians are not sought out.
  4. Persecution under Marcus Aurelius (r. 161-180).  Martyrdom of Polycarp.
  5. Persecution under Septimus Severus (202-210).  Martyrdom of Perpetua.
  6. Persecution under Decius (250-251).  Christians are actively sought out by requiring public sacrifice.  Could buy certificates (libelli) instead of sacrificing.  Martyrdoms of bishops of Rome, Jerusalem, and Antioch.
  7. Persecution under Valerian (257-59).  Martyrdoms of Cyprian of Carthage and Sixtus II of Rome.
  8. Persecution under Maximinus the Thracian (235-38).
  9. Persecution under Aurelian (r. 270–275).
  10. Severe persecution under Diocletian (303-312).

Official persecution of Christians ended with the
Edict of Milan, signed by the (Christian convert) emporer Constantine (and his co-emperor Licinius).  This did not yet make Christianity the official religion of the empire (that happened under Emperor Theodosius in 381 A.D.), but did grant it legal status in c. 313 A.D.

The seven churches to whom the Apostle John is writing are identified in Revelation 1:11 as:   Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.  The remains of these cities are all located in modern day Turkey.  There were no actual church buildings (for there to be remains of) as the believers met in secret to worship, for the Christians in these seven churches were all facing severe persecution.

Fox(e) gives us some detail as to what they were up against.  It is well worth the time for we modern Christians in America to do a little reading and allow ourselves to be reminded thereby of just how blessed we are to live in the time and place that we do.  Please take the time to familiarize yourself with what all these early Christians faced by clicking at this site: 
http://www.ccel.org/f/foxe/martyrs/home.html.

As you do, remember to thank God for His blessings on your life.  You will understand why I say this after you have read a little bit of Fox(e)’s history of their persecution.

Also, for those within the church family here at First Baptist, Lenoir City who asked for the link to the video with which I concluded with on Wednesday night, it can be found at the following location:
http://wn.com/Christian_Persecution_in_Ancient_Rome_--_Prevail_by_Freddy_Hayler#.  It is the third video on the right side of the page and is titled:  With All I Am (Quo Vadis).  Note:  it is over six and a half minutes in length.

GOD'S CHILDREN

2/8/2011

 
Recently, a dear church member sent me the following piece, which she first came across a couple of years ago, and now keeps on her desk.  She shared that this thought, along with knowing that her God will never leave her no matter what comes her way in life, keeps her faith strong and alive.  Her testimony is:  “Even when I fall, and fail my Lord, and as unworthy as I am, He loves me just the same.” 

May I say “Amen!” to that sentiment.  May I also say that I am glad she felt led to send this piece to me.  As this week is my own mother’s birthday, I thought I would post it here.  It reminds me that the love of my earthly parents is exceeded only by the love of my Heavenly Father, who has adopted me into His forever family.

GOD'S CHILDREN

Our Sunday School superintendent had two new boys in Sunday School.  In order to register them she had to ask their ages and birthdays.  The bolder of the two said, "We're both seven.  My birthday is April 8th, 1976, and my brother's is April 20th, 1976."  

"But that's impossible!" answered the superintendent.  "No, it's not," answered the quieter brother.  "One of us is adopted."  Which one?" asked the superintendent before she could curb her tongue.  

The boys looked at each other and smiled, and the bolder one said to the superintendent, "We asked Dad awhile ago, but he just said he loved us both, and he couldn't remember any more which one was adopted."

In Romans 8:17 , Paul writes: "Now if we are (God's) children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co‐heirs with Christ..."(NIV).  Paul's comparison here is to adoption.  By our faith in Christ, we become his adopted brothers and sisters - adopted sons and daughters of God.  

As fully adopted and accepted children, we share the same inheritance as His only begotten Son, Jesus.  No wonder all creation waits eagerly for the full revealing and adoption to happen!

THE MEANING OF A.S.A.P.

2/7/2011

 
In light of this past Sunday evening’s message on prayer, I thought the following post would be fitting.  I would like to be able to say I thought this one up.  But I didn’t.  It was sent to me by a friend.  The timing, though, could not have been more perfect for a series of messages on prayer.  I hope you find this one applicable to your life.  I know I did for mine.

THE MEANING OF A.S.A.P. 

Have you ever seen the abbreviation A.S.A.P.?  Have you ever wondered what it means?  Generally, we think of it in terms of even more hurry and stress in our lives.  Maybe if we think of this abbreviation in a different manner, we will begin to find a new way to deal with those rough days along the way.

There's work to do, deadlines to meet;
You've got no time to spare,
But as you hurry and scurry-
A.S.A.P. - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

In the midst of family chaos,
"Quality time " is rare.
Do your best; let God do the rest-
A.S.A.P. - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.

Imay seem like your worries
Are more than you can bear.
Slow down and take a breather-
A.S.A.P. - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

God knows how stressful life is;
He wants to ease our cares,
And He'll respond to all your needs
A.S.A.P. - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.

The Apostle Paul would have certainly appreciated this, especially considering what all he had to say about diligence in prayer.  Consider the following:  “…In everything, by prayer…” (Phil. 4:6);  we are to “pray without ceasing” (I Thess. 5:17); and also to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions” (Eph. 6:18).  Yes, brothers, and sisters, we must be willing to “Always Say A Prayer”!

Note:  The poem appears all over the internet, but apparently originated with Abbey Press, as is attested to at: 
http://www.beliefnet.com/Inspiration/2000/11/The-True-Meaning-Of-A-S-A-P.aspx.  The actual author is unknown to me.

CHURCH FOOTBALL

2/3/2011

 
Time for a little humor.  In light of the fact that this Sunday night is the annual National Football League Championship game, known the world over as the Super Bowl, I thought I would post a bit of a wittiness titled “Church Football”. 

I do not know the origin of the piece, and several variations can be readily found with a quick internet search.  My particular copy came from an e-mail (Thanks, Pam.)  Be advised, however, for while it is humorous, it can also be a little convicting in places.  I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.

CHURCH FOOTBALL

**Quarterback Sneak - Church members quietly leaving during the invitation.  

**Draw Play - What many children do with the bulletin during worship.  

**Halftime - The period between Sunday School and worship when many choose to leave. 

**Benchwarmer - Those who do not sing, pray, work, or apparently do anything but sit.  

**Backfield-in-Motion - Making a trip to the back (restroom or water fountain) during the service. 

**Staying in the Pocket - What happens to a lot of money that should be given to the Lord's work. 

**Two-minute Warning - The point at which you realize the sermon is almost over and begin to gather up your children and belongings.  

**Instant Replay - The preacher loses his notes and falls back on last week's illustrations. 

**Sudden Death - What happens to the attention span of the congregation if the preacher goes "overtime".  

**Trap - You are called on to pray and are asleep. 

**End Run - Getting out of church quick, without speaking to any guest or fellow member. 

**Flex Defense - The ability to allow absolutely nothing said during the sermon to affect your life.

**Halfback Option - The decision of 50% of the congregation not to return for the evening service.  

**Blitz - The rush for the restaurants following the closing prayer on Sunday morning.

    Cleo E. Jackson, III

    Occasionally I will add
    a few thoughts to my blog. If you find them inspirational, I will be
    honored.

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