Blog Archives

PRESSED, BUT NOT CRUSHED

3/31/2015

Have you ever heard the phrase “Built Ford Tough”? Well, having come through an automobile accident this past Sunday morning on the way to church, I am living proof that those who say this are right. The exception may be when a little ol’ Ford Escape SUV meets a big ol’ Ford 350 Super Duty Pickup. Then, the results may be fairly predictable.

Nevertheless, the Lord definitely took care of me this past Sunday morning! Things could have been a lot worse. The Apostle Paul once told the Corinthians in his second New Testament letter (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)” “8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

I can certainly relate to this. And I praise the Lord that I came through my accident without having been crushed, destroyed, or abandoned by the Lord. As it is, I do have quite a few bumps and bruises. But the Doctor seems to think these will all pass in due time. And I hope to be back in the pulpit very soon.

Thanks for all of you who have prayed for me during my accident, as well as the other individual involved. Thanks as well for the many cards, emails, calls, and texts. They have meant a lot.

I leave you with these words from the Apostle Paul (in Philippians 4:11-13): “…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

AN EYE FOR AN EYE

3/27/2015

James Hewett relates the story of the Ancient Greek Ruler, Zaleucus, who flourished in the 7th century B.C. Zaleucus is famed as the Greek lawgiver of the Epizephyrian city state of Locri, in southern Italy, and is said to have devised the first written Greek law code, known as the Locrian Code.

We are told that Zaleucus’ government over the Locrians was severe, but also just. In one of his decrees, he forbade the use of wine unless it were prescribed as medicine; and in another, he ordered that all adulterers should be punished with the loss of both their eyes.

When his own son became subject to this penalty, the father, in order to maintain the authority of the laws, but also to show parental leniency, shared the penalty with his son by ordering one of his own eyes to be thrust out along with one of his offending son.

In this way, the majesty of his government was maintained, and his own character as a just and righteous sovereign was magnified in the eyes of his subjects.

In Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve violated the commands of God in the Garden of Eden and sinned against Him, they incurred His just punishment in fulfillment of His word (Genesis 2:16-17): “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

This is why the Apostle Paul writes in the New Testament Book of Romans (6:23a) that “the wages of sin is death.”

The story of mankind would indeed be sad if it ended there. But, praise the Lord, it does not! For Paul continues (in Romans 6:23b), stating: “…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” How was this made possible? Because of what Paul tells us (in Romans 5:1-2,6-10):

1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand...

6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

And that is what Easter is all about. Jesus Christ died for us. He paid the price for our sins. And then He rose again form the grave! And because He lives, we too can live forever in Heaven, reconciled to the God we abandoned way back in the Garden of Eden.

In other words, as the Apostle John tells us (John 3:16): “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” And again (in John 1:1-5,9-13):

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

9The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

As Easter approaches, I hope all who read this have heard and embraced the great story of what God did for us through His one and only Son. I hope all men everywhere will receive eternal life through Jesus Christ.

SOURCE: James Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale house, 1988), p. 39.

NOTE: Franklin L. Kirksey, Pastor of First Baptist Church of Spanish Fort, Alabama, also recounts the story of Zaleusus. His source was Dr. Thomas W. Jenkyn (1794?-1858), who served as president of Coward College, London, from 1840 to 1850. He cites Jenkyn’s work, The Extent of the Atonement, in its Relation to God and the Universe (Boston: Gould, Kendall & Lincoln, 1846), pp. 4-5.

“Zaleucus, the king of the Locrians, had established a law against adultery, the penalty of which was, that the offender should lose both eyes. The first person found guilty of this offence was the king's own son. Zaleucus felt as a father toward his son; but he felt likewise as a king towards his government.

If he, from blind indulgence, forgive his son, with what reason can he expect the law to be respected by the rest of his subjects? and how will his public character appear in punishing any future offender? If he repeal the law, he will brand his character with dishonor, for selfishness, in sacrificing the public good of a whole community to his private feelings; for weakness, in publishing a law whose penalty he never could inflict; and for foolishness, in introducing a law the bearings of which he had never contemplated. This would make his authority for the future a mere name.

The case was a difficult one. Though he was an offended governor, yet he had the compassion of a tender father. At the suggestion of his unbribed mercy, he employed his mind and wisdom to devise a measure, an expedient, through the medium of which he could save his son, and yet magnify his law, and make it honorable.

The expedient was thus: the king himself would lose one eye, and the offender should lose another. By this means, the honor of his law was preserved unsullied, and the clemency of his heart was extended to the offender. Every subject in the kingdom, when he heard of the king's conduct, would feel assured that the king esteemed his law very highly; and though the offender did not suffer the entire penalty, yet the clemency shown him was exercised in such a way, that no adulterer would ever think of escaping with impunity.

Every reporter or historian of the fact would say that the king spared not his own eye that he might spare his offending child with honor. He would assert that this sacrifice of the king's eye completely demonstrated his abhorrence of adultery, and high regard for his law, as effectually as if the penalty had been literally executed upon the sinner himself. The impression on the public mind would be, that this expedient of the father was an atonement for the offence of his son, and was a just and honorable ground for pardoning him.

Such an expedient in the moral government of God, the apostles asserted the death of Christ to be. They preached that all men were ‘condemned already;’— that God had ‘thoughts of peace, and not of evil,’ towards all men; — that these thoughts were to be exercised in such a manner as not to ‘destroy the law;’ and that the medium, or expedient, for doing this was the sacrifice of his ONLY SON, as an atonement, or satisfaction, to public justice for the sins of men.”

Cf.: http://www.sermoncity.com/members/sermon.asp?SERMON_ID=3451.

A SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL PRAYER

3/23/2015

Throughout most of my adult life, I have tried to exercise consistently. Admittedly, there have been times when I have been more faithful; and there have also been times when I have been less faithful. And I will be the first to admit that I have not always exercised as vigorously as I should have even when I have worked out.

Several years ago, I made it my practice always to pray before I begin exercising. I have been reasonably consistent in this endeavor as well. My simple but effective prayer is essentially always the same. I ask the Lord to give me three things as I work out. I ask for: (1) provision, (2) protection, and (3) production.

I ask first for provision, meaning that I ask God to give me the wherewithal from within to work out. Let’s be honest: without a desire, a passion, a motivation to exercise, not much will be accomplished.

After this, I ask for protection. The older I get, the more I realize how susceptible to injury I am. After all is said and done, the body is indeed a frail thing. Even when the spirit is willing, if the flesh is weak, not much can be accomplished. So I ask the Lord to watch over my body as I exercise and to protect me from injury.

Lastly, I ask for production. By this I mean that the whole process needs to serve some greater purpose. Exercise for the sake of exercise means very little. As the Bible asserts (in I Timothy 4:8), in relation to eternity, bodily exercise profits little. So, there has to be some greater purpose, which for me is the conditioning of the body as God’s temple in order that I will be better suited to tend to things of eternal significance.

I like to think that God has both heard and answered that simple prayer. Admittedly, there are days when I feel more like working out than others. But for the most part, I find the required motivation to exercise each day. Likewise, while I have my share of nagging complaints, I have never really suffered any serious injuries. And exercising regularly really does make me feel more productive in life.

For these reasons, as of late, I have found myself applying this little prayer to various other endeavors in life as well. And I have discovered that it has applicability to a great many other pursuits in addition to mere bodily exercise.

Whether I am fulfilling more professional roles, such as that of pastor, preacher, teacher, writer, or administrator, or whether I am fulfilling more personal roles, such as that of husband, father, son, or brother, I find that a simple little prayer along these lines still applies:

“Lord, please give me divine provision as I undertake this activity. Let me have a holy passion so that I will apply myself with the appropriate dedication to the task at hand.

Please give me divine protection as well. The evil one would gladly cause me to stumble or otherwise hamper me as I proceed. May your protective hand be upon me so that he is thwarted in his intentions.

And lastly, please give me divine productivity as well. Let what I am doing matter. Let the outcome be such that it glorifies You and that it impacts others in a positive way. More than this: let it have some impact on eternity.

Thank you for hearing my prayer, for I offer it in the name of Jesus Christ.”

SOUND FAMILIAR?

3/20/2015

Today’s post is actually a day late for my normal weekly pattern. I sat down last evening and spent about an hour writing a blog post on a given subject. As I was preparing to upload it, I found myself somewhat troubled by the nagging suspicion that what I had written sounded vaguely familiar.

Thankfully, I decided to go to the search bar on my web page and do a search. Low and behold, I had written and posted a very similar blog on the same subject about three years ago. I am glad I took the time to check things out. Otherwise, I would have virtually repeated myself.

I hate to admit it; but I do seem to be having more and more of these “Senior Moments” these days. My only consolation, I suppose, is that the time will eventually come when I will no longer be bothered by a bad memory as, all things having been forgotten, virtually everything will be fresh and new! And who knows? Maybe, just maybe, that is what Heaven will be all about!

After all, in the midst of a description of Heaven (in the 21st chapter of the New Testament Book of Revelation, verses 1- 5), the Apostle John does say,

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

In light of this, could it be that so much of our pain and tears are related to the memories of the past – memories of our mistakes, our shortcomings, and our failures? If so, then perhaps, just perhaps, one of the greatest blessings of Heaven will be to remember them no more! What a blessing that would be.

In conclusion, I did remember a wonderful little story about failing memories. If my own memory serves me correctly, it goes like this…

An 80 year old husband and wife are having problems remembering things, so they decide to go to their doctor to get checked out to make sure nothing was wrong with them. When they arrive at the doctor's, they explain to the doctor about the problems they are having with their memory.

After checking the couple out, the doctor tells them that they are physically okay, but might want to start writing things down and make notes to help them remember things. The couple thanks the doctor and leaves.

Later that night while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair and his wife asks, "Where are you going?"

He replies, "To the kitchen."

She asks, "Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?"

He replies, "Sure."

She then asks him, "Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?"

He says, "No, I can remember that."

She then says, "Well, I also would like some strawberries on top. You had better write that down cause I know you'll forget that."

He says, "I can remember that: you want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries."

She replies, "Well, I also would like whip cream on top. I know you will forget that so you better write it down."

With irritation in his voice, he says, "I don't need to write that down; I can remember that." He then fumes into the kitchen.

After about 20 minutes, he returns from the kitchen and hands her a plate of bacon and eggs.

She stares at the plate for a moment, and says, "You forgot my toast."*

*SOURCE: http://www.ahajokes.com/age28.html. (At least, I think this is where it came from!)
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: http://biblehub.com/niv/revelation/21.htm.

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

3/16/2015

One of my favorite Christian communicators is Ron Hutchcraft. He is a gifted speaker and an even more gifted writer, who is passionate about communicating the good news of Jesus Christ.

The stated mission of Ron Hutchcraft Ministries is: "We seek to reach lost people where they are, and in ways they will understand.” This is encapsulated in their catchphrase: “Communicating Christ to the Lost in their language".

I encourage all of my readers to visit his web site and become familiar with his voluminous material. It is all very helpful in sharing the message of Jesus Christ.

With Easter on the horizon, I thought I would re-post one of his blogs today. He titled it “Lincoln's Last Wish”.

Abraham Lincoln - the hero of my boyhood - died on Good Friday. I knew that because I was sort of a Lincoln encyclopedia when I was a kid.

But until this month, I didn't know his final wish. Whispered to his wife just before that fatal shot at Ford's Theatre. What's so moving is how very much it has to do with Good Friday.

Abe Lincoln grew up with a God-loving mother and a religious but demanding and distant father. His mom died when he was a boy. As Lincoln grew, he went from spiritual skeptic to a Bible-bashing unbeliever.

But somewhere along the way, he began to realize his deep need for God. I guess losing a son and carrying the weight of a bleeding nation can do that for a man.

The Civil War ended five days before that fateful Good Friday. On what would be the Great Emancipator's last day on earth, he and his wife went for a carriage ride. And, with the war over, they dreamed together about the months and years ahead.

Then at the theatre that night - as the assassin crept into the President's box - Abraham Lincoln uttered his final wish. "We will visit the Holy Land and see those places hallowed by the footsteps of the Savior. There is no place I so much desire to see as Jerusalem."

And then he was gone.

In his last moments, he was thinking about Jesus. "The Savior," he called Him.

And the journey Abe Lincoln wished for is a journey I have made. Because it is ultimately a journey of the heart.

Walking with Jesus. Through the cheering multitudes of Palm Sunday. Through the jeering crowd of Good Friday. And then following the trail of blood to that place of death called Skull Hill.

The crown made of thorns jammed into the forehead of the King of Kings. The merciless mockers, blaspheming the One angels worship. The spikes pounded into the hands that shaped the universe. The "God, why have You forsaken Me?" cry of God's one and only Son.

My heart screams, "Why?"

The Bible answers: "The Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

For me. That's what levels me. Jesus chose to go through that hell - for me. And hell it was. Because "He personally carried away our sins in His own body on the cross" (1 Peter 2:24). All the pain, all the guilt, all the eternal separation from God for all the sinning of my life. Jesus took my hell so I could go to His heaven.

Yes, my heart has been to His cross. I went there with my sin and left forgiven. I went there dirty and came away clean. I went there without Him in my life and left there with the promise I'll never be without Him again.

Because I got what He died for when those two words captured my heart.

"For me." He did this for me. I embraced Him as the Savior. For me. For my sin. I flung open the door of my heart to this One who has loved me like no other. He said, "If you open the door, I will come in" (Revelation 3:20). He kept His promise.

And He will for you. If you'll make your way to that cross. And tell Him - "For me, Jesus. For me."

Ron concludes his blog post with this suggestion:

If you've never told the Man who died for you that you're pinning all your hopes on Him, I invite you to join me at our website, YoursForLife.net. And let me share with you how this day can be your personal Jesus-day. He walked out of His grave that Easter morning so He could walk into your life. Today.

Well said, Brother Ron!

SOURCE: https://www.hutchcraft.com/blogs/ron-hutchcrafts-blogs/lincolns-last-wish. He states here that the Lincoln account is based on Stephen Mansfield's book titled Lincoln's Battle With God (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2012, pp. xiii-xvii).

Ron Hutchcraft is involved in numerous ministry endeavors. Please visit his web site at: https://www.hutchcraft.com/. I think you will find it well worth your time.

LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

3/13/2015

Most of us are familiar with the all too frequent reports of this or that child star who went on to have a very difficult life as he or she later transitioned into adulthood.

Along with those of other child actors, the adult experiences of little "Danny Partridge" (one of six in a family who toured successfully in a very cool Mondrian inspired bus), little "Kevin McCallister" (who was, more than once, left home alone), and little "Hallie Parker/Annie James" (who once trapped her own parents) have all been chronicled ad nauseam in the media.  In each of these cases, it seems as if little children were thrust into instant stardom, the legacy of which they were ill-prepared to deal with in later years.

I suppose that is why a recent article in the news so caught my attention. It was the story of whatever became of “Little Ricky Ricardo”. Fans of the I Love Lucy show, such as my wife (who has virtually every single line of every single episode of the ground-breaking sit-com memorized) remember with great affection the little drum playing reproduction of his television father, “Ricky Ricardo” (played by Lucille Ball’s real life husband, Desi Arnaz).

The news story went on to answer the question of whatever became of “Little Ricky”, or rather, of Keith Thibodeaux, the real life actor who portrayed him so endearingly. It turns out that, unlike so many child actors, whose lives seemed to have taken them down sad and/or miserable paths, such is not the case for Thibodaux.

According to the article, and his web site, he went on to various acting stints on television, including The Andy Griffith Show, Route 66, The Shirley Temple Playhouse, Hazel, and many more. Later on, while he was a student at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette, he joined and recorded with what was then a mainstream rock band titled "David and the Giants."

He soon went through a dark time – one that eventually led him into a life of rebellion, drug abuse, and eventually, even clinical depression. “David and the Giants” also disbanded. By this time, and by own testimony, Keith knew he desperately needed help.

And then he had a life-changing experience. He underwent a conversion to Christianity. Thereafter, he got together with other “David and the Giants” band members who had also received Jesus Christ and began playing anew as a Contemporary Christian Music band. According to his web site,

“As a drummer, singer, and songwriter for the Dove nominated ‘David and the Giants,’ Keith toured extensively for 10 years in the United States, Canada, Jamaica, and England, recording 9 albums before leaving the group in 1989 to pursue other interests. He has been featured in such publications as Newsweek, People, Saturday Evening Post, Modern Drummer, CCM, and Classic Drummer Magazine. He has also been a guest on NBC's The Today Show, Entertainment Tonight, CBS's Good Morning America and The O'Reilly Show. In January of 1991, he joined his wife Kathy on the road with Ballet Magnificat! and in 1993, Keith became Executive Director. In addition to his current responsibilities at Ballet Magnificat!, Keith still finds time for the drums and recording.”

Along the way, he even found time to author a book titled Life After Lucy, in which he recounts his experiences as “Little Ricky” on the I Love Lucy show. More importantly, he shares his all-important subsequent encounter with Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior.

While I have yet to read this book, I have now ordered myself a copy; and I certainly look to reading the story of his life.

As I do, I praise God for the fact that not every child actor, whose life started out with such promise, has ended up as a tale of woes! At least one such actor came to know the One who said (John 10:10), “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

And by Keith Thibodaux's testimony, that has made all the difference for him. I too share that testimony; and I wish for so many others, including you, my friend, the very same blessing.

SOURCES:  The news story is available on numerous web sites. See, for example, http://www.foxnews.com/junior-reporters/. Thibodeaux's web site is: http://www.balletmagnificat.com/about-us/staff.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT

3/9/2015

The 1934 movie titled House of Rothschild, starring among others, Boris Karloff, depicts the rise of the powerful Rothschild banking family of Europe. The movie is known for one scene in particular.

To set the stage, let me quote from www.History.com:

The Battle of Waterloo, which took place in Belgium on June 18, 1815, marked the final defeat of French military leader and emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), who conquered much of continental Europe in the early 19th century. Napoleon rose through the ranks of the French army during the French Revolution (1789-1799), seized control of the French government in 1799 and became emperor in 1804.

Through a series of wars, he expanded his empire across western and central Europe. However, a disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812, coupled with other defeats, led to his abdication and exile in 1814. He returned to France in 1815 and briefly resumed power.

On June 18, Napoleon led his army of some 72,000 troops against the 68,000-man British army, which had taken up a position south of Brussels near the village of Waterloo, Belgium. The British army, which included Belgian, Dutch and German troops, was commanded by Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), who had gained prominence fighting against the French during the Peninsular War.

In a critical blunder, Napoleon waited until midday to give the command to attack in order to let the waterlogged ground dry after the previous night’s rainstorm. The delay gave Blucher’s remaining troops, who, by some accounts, numbered more than 30,000, time to march to Waterloo and join the battle later that day.

Although Napoleon’s troops mounted a strong attack against the British, the arrival of the Prussians turned the tide against the French. The French emperor’s outnumbered army retreated in chaos. By some estimates, the French suffered more than 33,000 casualties (including dead, wounded or taken prisoner), while British and Prussian casualties numbered more than 22,000.

Reportedly fatigued and in poor health during the Belgian campaign, Napoleon committed tactical errors and acted indecisively. He also was blamed for appointing inadequate commanders. Ultimately, the Battle of Waterloo marked the end of Napoleon’s storied military career. He reportedly rode away from the battle in tears.

Of course, news of the outcome of such battles did not travel as quickly and/or as accurately in that day as it would today. It is the precisely the mistaken report of the outcome of that battle that is depicted in the House of Rothschild movie.

Following the decisive blow to Napoleon, a Morse-like message, delivered with light, was flashed across the English Channel to a nervous nation anxious to hear the outcome. When the message came though, it read “WELLINGTON DEFEATED…”

As one might imagine, panic swept through the British Isles. The Board of Trade collapsed. All was feared lost. And what was the cause of all this panic? Much of the intended message had simply been obscured by fog. When the message was finally deciphered correctly, it said: “WELLINGTON DEFEATED NAPOLEON AT WATERLOO”

As we approach Easter, I am reminded that, for three days, the world mistakenly thought that the forces of evil had defeated Jesus Christ. After all, the man from Nazareth who had claimed to be the very Son of God had been both crucified and buried.

But on Easter Sunday morning, a different message came through. And that message, loud and clear, was that Jesus Christ was not dead after all! In fact, He was very much alive and well! Panic, grief, and despair among His disciples quickly turned to relief, joy, and celebration.

And new meaning was given to the words of that same Jesus, Who had earlier stood outside the tomb of Lazarus and said (Gospel of John 11:25-26), “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Of course, not having been there to witness this on our own, we must now trust the testimony of God’s word. Which makes the question Jesus asked of Mary and Martha all the more important for us: “Do you believe this?”

I hope you do. For, according to the New Testament Book of Hebrews (11:6): “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

But, as John also writes in his First General New Testament Epistle, or Letter (1:12): “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

So, then, the question remains. Do you believe this?!

SOURCE: http://www.history.com/topics/british-history/battle-of-waterloo.

LEARNING FROM CRACKPOTS

3/5/2015

Down through the years, a number of Christian communicators have shared a story titled “The Cracked Pot”. It is a wonderful parable that bears repeating. It seems that...

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master’s house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."

"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some.

But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure. The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father’s table.

This little parable brings to mind an episode in the life of the Old Testament Prophet Jeremiah, as recorded in Jeremiah 18: 1-6:

1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2“Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” 3So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

5Then the word of the Lord came to me. 6He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.

Indeed, to some extent, we are all “crackpots”! But, praise the Lord, we are still in His hands; and He still uses us, in spite of our imperfections!

This much I will say: nothing brings me greater joy than to know that, even though my own shortcomings abound, I am still being used of God to truly make a difference in this world!

May His name be glorified – in, through, and even in spite of, my own shortcomings!

SOURCE:  This parable is available widely on the internet. See, for example: http://varietyreading.carlsguides.com/christianstories/cracked.php.

WHAT AM I?

3/2/2015

In John’s Gospel (8:58) Jesus said, “Truly, Truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I Am”, which means that Jesus existed before His human life on earth. Jesus then went on to say ‘I Am’ on seven more occasions. Each ‘I Am’ is a description Jesus gave of Himself that help us better understand the divinity of Jesus Christ.

Jesus said “I am”:

1. The Bread. “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger.” John 6:35

2. The Light. “I am the light of the world; he who fallows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

3. The Gate. “I am the gate; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9

4. The Good Shepherd. “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for His sheep.” John 10:11

5. The Resurrection and Life. “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies.” John 11:25

6. The Way, The Truth, and The Life. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” John 14:6

7. The True Vine. “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” John 15:1

More than once, the Apostle Paul stressed how he patterned his own life after that of Jesus. See for example, 1 Corinthians 11:1, where he says: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” Thus, even in his teaching, he looked to Jesus for inspiration.

And like Jesus, he too employs the use of several “I am” sayings. In the first chapter of his New Testament Letter to the Romans, scholars tell us that Paul’s use of this phrase "I am" three times in rapid succession is an intentional literary devise that is based upon the teachings of Jesus. In verses 14-17, Paul says:

I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed - a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

I am obligated to all people; I am eager to preach the Gospel to everyone; I am not ashamed of the Gospel! What a powerful statement about the priorities of life for a follower of Jesus Christ.

In reading this, I was reminded of the following story, as recounted by Paul W. Powell in his book, Getting the Lead Out of Leadership:

Around midnight on July 28, 1981, three masked men reportedly entered the church rectory of the Santiago de Atitlan, in the Highlands of Guatemala, and shot Rev. Stanley Rother twice at close range.

The assassins were a right-wing Guatemalan death squad who had targeted the mission priests because of their efforts to improve the living conditions of the Tzutuhil Indians, who lived in the impoverished villages surrounding Santiago.

In his 13 years as priest in Guatemala, Father Rother had developed a deep and lasting bond with the Tzutuhil Indians, taught them how to terrace the land so they could raise crops on the steep mountain sides, and developed a written alphabet for them.

Prior to his death, four other priests had been killed in the previous seven months, and Father Rother learned he was on the hit list.

A friend, Susan Alig, said, “He saw firsthand what it was like to be on the death list, and how people were brutally murdered in the streets. But, in spite of the danger, he chose to stay and serve, saying, ‘The shepherd cannot run.’”

With that statement Father Rother wrote in his own blood one of the essentials of leadership - courage! If he is going to lead, “the shepherd cannot run.”*

While I certainly hope that no one ever has to undergo persecution and especially martyrdom for their faith, I would that more of us (including me) who bear the name of Christian were as committed to the task of loving people and sharing Jesus Christ with them as was this man!

Would that more of us felt as obligated, as eager, and as not ashamed of the Gospel as did Paul! Perhaps we too would then be better suited to say, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ!”

*Source: Paul W. Powell, Getting the Lead Out of Leadership, pp.47-48. Cf.: http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php?.