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  • Begin to look the gorgeous you!

    Read: 1 Timothy 4:1-11

    About a couple of months ago a friend of mine offered to check my blood pressure after checking his. I said OK. I was confident that mine would be normal as it always had been. But to my dismay it was high–within the hypertensive level! I went to see a doctor who gave me two options: a mild medication or I diet and exercise. I chose the latter.

    We do not take our health for granted. During the holidays, some of us ate more and exercised less. Perhaps now we’re trying to reverse that. But there is another area of our life that we should even be more concerned about. And our Scripture text speaks directly to the issue: 

    7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

    We need spiritual training. Like in physical training, we do not have to start with a regimen that is way beyond our ability to do. Sometimes we, preachers, give people the impression that for them be spiritually healthy they need to be just like us–deep in theological understanding. (Sometimes we become “too deep” that we speak like we’re from another planet and yet tend to blame people when they don’t get it! Sorry.) Well, bear in mind that theology is also our “bread and butter” so, like physical trainers who spend all day and all week in the gym, you shouldn’t be surprised if you see some bulging “spiritual muscles” among some pastors or preachers.

    But just as muscles as huge as watermelons are not required for one to become healthy, and so eating healthy and walking regularly is a sufficient daily regimen, so for most believers a daily “walk with the Lord” may be enough. Unless, of course, one wants and have the time for more. The simple advice of an old Sunday School song “Read your Bible, pray everyday” is still good. And don’t worry about those stuff you don’t understand. Here’s our little secret: theologians and so-called Bible scholars don’t understand everything either!

    Indeed it’s a laudable thing to “move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity” (Hebrews 6:1). But let us not assume that the “intermediate” or “advance” teachings are all tough stuff. In our text, which I think has something to do with maturity (“godliness,” and therefore “beyond the elementary teachings”), the instruction is quite simple and straightforward: “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales….” And so are the other teachings in this passage. So don’t worry about whether or not you have the right spiritual regimen. If you read your Bible–with the determination to understand what you can and apply them–and pray everyday, I think you’ll be OK.

    “Read your Bible, pray everyday and you’ll grow, grow, grow!”

  • Want to be successful in 2012?

    Read: Proverbs 2:1-9

    We often assume we need to be wise to, well, live wisely and successfully. But what is a wise person? Let me suggest the definition found in verse 9: a wise person is one who understands “what is right and just and fair–every good path.”

    And how do we get there from wherever we are now in terms of wisdom? We are to pursue it–

    2 turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding
    3 indeed, if you call out for insight
    and cry aloud for understanding,
    4 and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure, 

    And here’s where wisdom for believers leads and results in: they will be in awe of God and become successful–

    5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD
    and find the knowledge of God.
    6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
    7 He holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
    8 for he guards the course of the just
    and protects the way of his faithful ones.

    People often think of success as something related to money. But as believers, we should think in terms of doing the will of God using the wisdom the Lord gives. Although God has given some believers the ability to make money, yet we should think of success as not just the shallow pursuit of financial success or “freedom” but of God’s kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33).

    To succeed as a believer, pursue wisdom and God’s kingdom.

  • What do you do with people you don’t like?

    Read: Luke 6:27-36

    The second day of 2012 is like coming down from a mountain-top experience. There’s the messy kitchen to clean up and laundry to do. Or, worse for some, going back to a job they hate and working with people they don’t like very much.

    But such is life. However, instead of just living with our realities we can make a change that would drastically change our attitude toward others and make life better: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

    Easier said than done, I know. But we are not without help. God, who is love, can fill our hearts with, well, love–a love that is big enough to include even our enemies.

    So today, why not let God love through you? Think of people you don’t like and name them one by one. As you do, pray for each of them. And if you have the chance, do good to them. Then wait and see what happens.

    Love is something you can do when the Lord of love is in you.

  • Something Worth Treasuring and Pondering

    Read Luke 2:15-21

    ________________

     

    Amazing

    One of CNN’s Top 10 Newsfeed the other day had this warning for a headline: Don’t Get Caught Using These Banned Words in 20121 

    Guess what word tops the list.

    “Amazing”!

     

    Amazing is one of the abused and overused words that people want banned.

    And someone blames Martha Stewart “because to her, EVERYTHING is amazing!”

     

    Here’s an example:

    Martha tastes binagoongan, a Pinoy dish of pork and shrimp paste, and she goes, “Amazing!”

     

    If Martha  really likes binagoongan, then the use of amazing is OK. But if not, you be the judge.

     

    Here’s another one:

    After watching Pinay singing sensation Charice sang “I Always Love You” in the style of Whitney Houston, Martha goes, “Amazing!”

     

    Do you think it’s a good use of the word?

     

    Let’s try this one:

    Martha is found guilty, sentenced, and taken to jail.

    The moment she steps into her prison cell, Martha goes, “_______!”

     

    Right, “Amazing!”

    What?!

     

    Despite the abuse and overuse of the word, I really don’t think amazing should be banned.

    What should be banned is the misuse of the word.

    Thing is, implementing that is really impossible.

    In our Gospel story today the verb form of the word appears: “amazed.”

    It is used to translate the reaction of the people who heard the shepherd’s revelation about Mary’s child:

     

    “17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”

     

    So what is amazing in what the shepherds said?

    The shepherds simply retell the angels’ revelation to them concerning the child.

    And so we need to take a look at what they heard from the angel of the Lord to find out what’s amazing.

    Here it is:

     

    11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

     

    That a Savior has been born in the town of David gives the shepherds and those that heard them a clue that the child lying in a manger is not just an ordinary child.

    This baby, Mary’s child, is going to be king!

    I almost sure that the moment the people heard the revelation about Mary’s child, immediately their imaginings took them to that glorious and prosperous kingdom ruled by King David, a kingdom they were wishing for.

     

    But as they look at this helpless child lying in a manger, it’s hard to believe he will be king.

    Much less a king who will be like David!

    The place where Mary gave birth was probably not as bad as painters, and some preachers, would depict it.

    Most likely, they were in a sleeping quarter intended for animal caretakers and were not really sharing a room with animals.

    Nevertheless, the Savior, the Messiah, this child who would be king is not born in a palace but in this humble place.

    And that indeed is surprising… amazing!

     

    “But…”

    That’s how Luke begins his description of Mary’s response to the revelation about her child.

    Why a word of contrast?

    Why not just say, “And Mary…”?

     

    There must be a reason.

    I think Luke wants his readers to see the contrast between people’s astonished reaction and Mary’s calm response to the revelation by the angel of the Lord through shepherds:

     

    “19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

     

    I think there’s more to see here than just the manner in which people and Mary responded.

    I would compare the people’s response to how people today generally respond to God and God’s word: superficial and shallow.

    Like those seed that fell in the rocky ground in the Parable of the Sower, they gladly receive the word.

     

    21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

     

    Indeed, many of those who followed Jesus rejected him in the end.

    They loved the picture of Jesus with the golden crown, and not the Jesus with the crown of thorns!

    And many today love the Jesus who sits on the throne—a great benevolent king who can provide them with everything they want!

     

    “If this Jesus can give me a job, heal me of my ailments, make me successful and rich, then I will follow him.”

    Unfortunately for those who expect a Savior who would reign like King David, Jesus does not wear a golden crown.

    He does not overthrow the Romans of the past and the present and sits on a glorious throne like his ancestor David.

    The only crown he wears is the crown of thorns.

    The crown of thorns which symbolizes the Lord’s sacrificial act of redemption, not the golden crown, secures for us another crown: the crown of life.

    But somehow we prefer the golden crown.

    We want the golden crown of peace, prosperity, and perfection… and we want it NOW!

    And what do we sometimes do when we don’t get it?

    We leave Jesus.

     

    Backsliders

    That’s what we sometimes become when we don’t we don’t get what we want.

    We become backsliders when our faith gets cold and we go back to our old selfish way of living.

     

    But there’s something worse than a backslider: an apostate.

    One becomes an apostate by falling away from the faith.

    I hope that none of us will become an apostate.

    Why? Because that would be the most dreadful thing that could happen to a follower of Jesus.

    In Hebrews 6, the Bible says,

     

     4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen[c]away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 

     

    What must we do then to prevent that from happening?

    I believe that our response to the love of God in Jesus should be one that goes beyond being amazed.

    Our response to the grace of God shouldn’t just be a “Wow!” or a selfish seeking of God’s blessings.

    Instead, it should be a selfless seeking of God’s kingdom and righteousness.

     

    Don’t get this wrong because we are not speaking against seeking God’s blessings.

    There’s nothing wrong about asking God’s help us become materially prosperous in this world, especially if we intend to use our wealth to serve God.

    And indeed, God can help us accomplish our plans that are within God’s will.

    It is against seeking the blessings to fulfill selfish ambitions and desires that we are speaking against.

     

    God wants to bless us.

    There is absolutely no question about that.

    In fact God has taken the initiative to bless us and that without us asking for it.

     

    If you feel that you have not yet been blessed by God and think that you’ve been deprived of God’s blessings, the truth of the matter is that God “has (already) blessed us (and that includes YOU) in the heavenly realms with (what?) every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).

     

    Since that is so what is our proper response to a very generous God?

    We are to bless God!

    That’s exactly what the beginning of the verse literally says: “Bless God…who has blessed us…”!

     

    Going beyond seeking for God’s blessings to seeking to bless God is a sign of a deeper spiritual life.

    It reveals a deeper relationship with Jesus, whose name means “the Lord that saves.”

    Now how do we develop a deeper commitment to the Lord who has been wonderfully gracious to us and saved us from the penalty of sin, continues to save us from the power of sin and, in the end, in glory, from the presence of sin?

     

    I suggest that we respond to the grace of God in Jesus the way Mary did.

    In contrast to the people’s reaction, Mary’s response went beyond being amazed—

     

    “19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

     

    The word of the Lord was planted in Mary’s heart like a seed planted on very good soil.

    You may be thinking: Of course, Mary was the mother of Jesus, that’s why he responded the way she did.

     

    True.

    But aren’t we all supposed to respond like her?

    If so, how does it actually work out?

     

    Indeed the depth of Mary’s response was brought about by her special experience that no one ever had and will ever have.

    Being the channel through whom the Savior was born Mary’s spiritual experience with Jesus was unique and deep.

     

    But, added to that, she was a willing ally in the fulfillment of God’s word.

    When the angel Gabriel told her that she, a virgin, would conceive through the Holy Spirit and give birth to a son, she said,

     

    “I am the Lord’s servant…. May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38)

     

    That, I believe, is a very important point.

    Like Mary we can choose to be a servant of God and an ally in the fulfillment of God’s word.

    Mary’s child may be the Savior of the world, but for now she knows he is a helpless child who needs to be picked up and nurtured by her.

     

    The Savior that Mary gave us was not a child but an adult.

    But before Jesus acted out his name and became “the Lord that saves,” Mary had to feed him, wash him, wipe his butt, teach him and had him circumcised.

    Mary did all things a good mother would do for her child!

     

    As the mother of Jesus, Mary must have been very proud of her son.

    She knew he was special, not in the sense that we use the term in America today, but special in the sense that Mary could not fully comprehend.

    Her child was literally from God and was “God with us.”

     

    Knowing what the angel said, that her child was conceived through the Holy Spirit, Mary must have wondered, “What child is this?”

    And so when she heard what the shepherd’s said about her child, she cherished everything she heard and reflected on them.

     

    Treasuring and Pondering

    I believe that this treasuring and pondering of the revelation about her son helped Mary fulfill her role as the mother and a follower of Jesus.

    What was the reward of Mary, the blessed among women, for doing God’s will?

    For sure she did not become the mother of a king.

    She did not become rich.

    Her life was not perfect.

    And she did not live in perfect peace—

    For how can a mother be at peace having a son whose life his enemies were seeking to take?

     

    In the end, like her son, Mary became poor.

    How?

    By giving her son away so that through her poverty we might become rich.

     

    When Jesus was crucified, she, too, felt being crucified with him!

    Why was Mary willing to suffer all this?

    Because Mary was willing to do the will of God.

     

    So she gave birth and delivered a son whom she delivered to the world so that the world might be delivered from sin through him.

    God sent his son, but his son had to become a son of Mary first before he could become the Son of Man—Savior, Messiah and coming King.

     

    All this, Mary was able to do because of the depth of her commitment.

    And her kind of commitment is what the Lord seeks in those that follow him.

    How then can we have such deep commitment to the Lord?

    I believe that we can become like Mary in her commitment if we, too, respond to God’s word like Mary did.

    Then we, too, can “deliver” the Savior to the world.

     

    Mary’s response to the revelation about Jesus went beyond “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…”

    So should ours.

    And when our commitment becomes as deep as Mary’s, then perhaps there will be a time when we can truthfully sing,

     

    Through many dangers, toils and snares
    I have already come;
    ‘Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
    and Grace will lead me home.

    —

    1Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/12/30/dont-get-caught-using-these-banned-words-in-2012/#ixzz1i55Kcv6s

     


  • Spread the Word: “Do not be afraid…”

    Read Luke 2:1-20 

    When we think of Christmas we begin to have this nice, warm feeling. Indeed, how can we not have such good feeling? Our past experiences of Christmas were mostly, if not all, pleasant. Today, Christmas Day, everything around us—the scents, sights, sounds, and, what else, mmm…  sarap (the smell of good food)—seem to conspire to give us that Christmassy feeling.

    In the Philippines, Christmas is a long season that begins on the first month that ends with a “ber,” continues on to New Year’s Day and lasts until the Feast of the Magi or “Three Kings” on January 6. So when I talk about Christmas bear in mind that long season of celebration.

    Since I was a kid, Christmas has been a pleasant experience for me. But not at the very beginning.  I was born on New Year’s Day, right within the very first hour, so the cacophonous and confusing sound of the world I was born into was just the exact opposite of a quiet and peaceful world that I came from: my mother’s womb.

    Do you remember anything when you were in your mother’s womb? Well, when I was in my mother’s womb…. Just kidding! No, I don’t really have any memory of  my “womby” life, and I don’t have any memory of my birth …except that I remember how good looking I was when I was born! (That’s really according to my mother!)

    Seriously now, when I was a little boy—not to say that I’m now a big boy!—I was scared to death whenever I heard those firecrackers!  So I assume that when I was born those firecrackers traumatized me! I would go behind my mother’s saya (a huge skirt)–or inside it!– but those loud and scary firecrackers and watusis—small firecrackers that when rubbed against a rough surface crackles into little sparks and jumps around—seemed to chase me wherever I went and I really had nowhere to hide, and I was just terrified!

    They were terrified

    Because of that terrifying experience I can appreciate that the shepherds in this Christmas story in Luke were at first scared:

     “9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.”

    The story of Christmas, as far as the shepherds were concerned, started like a scary movie. Yeah, it was an angel of the Lord, but who sees an angel every day? If a strange figure in white would appear to you in a dark night, wouldn’t you be scared? I would! And yes, the light that shone around them was the glory of the Lord, but who really can tell between the glory of the Lord and St. Elmo’s fire or, as we call it in Tagalog, Santelmo?

    But the shepherds’ fear I’m sure went deeper than that. They knew from history that in the past they were enslaved in Egypt, and while exiled in Babylon, life for them as a people became hard. Now, under the Romans, life was no better and they were afraid for them, their future and the future of their children and their children’s children.

    Do not be afraid

    But tonight, the words of the angel of the Lord calmed their fear and assured them that it was OK.  The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.” Why? Because…

    I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

    Just as I realized that Christmas was not a season to fear but a season to celebrate, so the shepherds’ fear turned into joy and celebration! And they were not alone in their celebration because suddenly a “praise band” of angels appeared, praising God and saying,

     14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

    They had a great experience. If something like that should happen in America today, I would not be surprised if somebody would start a church and perhaps call it “The First Church of the Joyful Shepherds.” The problem with some American churches, however, is that they may have everything, including a praise band, but because they have everything they forget about the Savior who gave them everything!

    Not so the shepherds!

    Let’s go to Bethlehem

     15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

     16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 

    The shepherds were not content with just hearing. They did not stop in that joyful worship experience with the heavenly praise band. They had to see and encounter the Savior in person. So they said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem….”

    So they went to Bethlehem…

    17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 

    So the shepherds did not just hear about the Savior. They had this personal encounter with the Savior. Having heard the good news and seen the Messiah, they, too, can now tell others about the Savior!

    And what became of these shepherds who were initially terrified? They were no longer a fearful group. They became a happy band of shepherds. Yes, they themselves became, in their own way, a praise band! How do we know that? Here’s what it says about them in the end…

    20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

    So, are you afraid of anything?

    Don’t be. Why? Because the Savior is born. Jesus can save you from fear itself, and he can give you peace.

    Afraid of death? Jesus offers eternal life.

    Afraid of the future or the unknown? Afraid that of the rumor that the world will end in 2012? Afraid that you might lose your job or means of living? Don’t be. Jesus holds the future!

    In Jesus you can live a fear-free life. But first you need to encounter  Jesus in a personal way, as the shepherds did. Believe in him as your Savior and Lord. Receive him and let him be born in your heart. When you do, you will be born-again into a new life—a life free from fear. And then, you, too, can begin to spread the word: “Do not be afraid.”


  • On Christmas, think about this: Why do you do what you do?

    “His Name Shall Be Called Wonderful” by Simon Dewey

    Read: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

    Believe it or not, I don’t get paid for this and a lot of other things I am doing. So why do I do them?

    Everything I do is a response to the love of God:  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only (or only begotten) Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). I think that we’ll appreciate the love of God more if we  know the true value of God’s gift to us: Jesus.  And when we do, we’ll respond to the love of God in a deeper and greater way.

    Scriptures reveal Jesus to us. The opening of the Gospel of John declares: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind” (1:1-4).  It is quite clear that Jesus is presented here as one who was (still is) God. If you believe in Scriptures as the Word of God, then this is a revelation you must accept.

    In addition, you must also believe the other revelation, that the Word who was God became human: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (v. 14). Thus the Word who was God and became human is appropriately called Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). This phenomenon, the union of deity and humanity in Jesus, which theologians call the hypostatic union, is not easy to comprehend. But that’s okay. In the same way as, for example, we appreciate the universe although it seems infinitely so vast and our knowledge of it is quite limited,  so we don’t have to understand things completely to appreciate them. The important thing is that we have a better appreciation of what God has done in giving Jesus to us.

    Christmas is a time to celebrate the gift of God. But the story of the gift of God in Jesus does not end in the Savior’s birth. Christmas is just the beginning. It does not end in the death of Jesus, either. It goes on and on, for the gift of God will never end. It is eternal! The moment we believe in Jesus we receive God’s gift of eternal life (John 3:16). However, experiencing the completeness of life will not take place until “the last trumpet” sounds (vs. 51-54):

    Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

    The gift of a loving God in Jesus is eternal life. Jesus was born as a human being. He died on the cross for our redemption. But he rose again! So those of us who believe in him will no longer “perish” but that through him we have eternal life!  It is in response to this great love of God that I do what I do. And I believe, as Scriptures says, that my “labor in the Lord is not in vain” (v. 58). How about you? Why do you do whatever you do? I hope that the same Scripture will encourage you and, if it already has, will continue to motivate you:

    “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

  • Tukso, Layuan Mo Ako!

    Dear Kuya Ed,

    Ako po ay namamasukan bilang isang katulong dito sa Hong Kong. Malapit lang sana ito sa Manila, kaya lang hindi po ako makakauwi ngayong Pasko dahil bago pa lang po ako sa trabaho. May asawa po ako pero wala pa po kaming anak. Nalulungkot po ako dito at may isang lalaking may gusto sa akin. Ang problema po, parang natutukso na rin po ako sa kanya dahil mabait. Ano po ba ang dapat kong gawin?

    Darlene

    __________

    Dear Darlene,

    Mahirap nga ‘yang sitwasyon mo–malayo ka sa asawa mo. Ang dapat ay lagi kayong magkasama dahil yan ang dahilan kung bakit nag-aasawa ang tao. Pero nandyan na ‘yan. Mahirap mang gawin, subalit kailangan mong magpakatatag. Iwasan mo ang lalaking may gusto sa ‘yo at huwag kang padala sa tukso. May asawa ka na at ang mga pangako na ginawa mo sa inyong kasal ay binigkas mo hindi lamang sa harap ng tao kung di sa harap ng Diyos.

    Kung ikaw ay hiningi ng tulong sa Panginoon, tutulungan ka Nya. Bibigyan ka ng Panginoon ng lakas upang maiwasan mo ang tukso. At ganito ang sabi sa Biblia, “Walang pagsubok na dumating sa iyo maliban sa karaniwang pagsubok sa tao. Ang Diyos ay matapat, na hindi ka pababayaang masubok nang higit sa makakaya mo. Kasabay ng pagsubok, gagawa siya ng paraan para makaligtas ka nang sa gayon, makayanan mo ang pagsubok” (1 Mga Taga-Corinto 10:13).

    Ang dalangin ko, sana ay magkaroon ng pagbabago sa buhay nyong mag-asawa upang kayo ay hindi na muling magkalayo. Tawagan mo sya at ipadama mo sa kanya ang iyong pagmamahal at katapatan.

    Lumiham kang muli at ipaalam mo sa akin kung may pagbabago, hane?

    Kuya Ed

  • Reason for Living

    I took this pic with my wife's cell phone.
    “I live to surf.”

    Read: Acts 20:22-32

    22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

    I’ve been away from home since last Friday night. I am with my family and friends visiting with other friends in Southern California. Last Sunday morning we watched a popular preacher’s TV show. He spoke about reaching “your promised land” (success, prosperity, or similar) that might require our willingness to embrace change, or something to that effect. Using Israel’s story in the wilderness, he said that sometimes all we need to do might be just some “tweaking” to change things, and that might involve getting rid of some temporary “scaffolding” (like people) that do not help us become successful. So in an indirect way, he taught people to use other people for their personal benefit.

    But those of us who are familiar with the story know that Israel, God’s people, needed more than a little tweaking here and there–they needed to repent, stop complaining and obey God! If the preacher did not use a Scripture passage, I was fine with his inspirational (not biblical) message. But when one uses Scripture as a diving board, it disturbs me.

    In this passage in Acts 20, we see a different picture of a believer in the Apostle Paul. His ultimate goal in life is not personal success but “to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Don’t get me wrong, I am not against anybody pursuing success in, say, business. I am involved in one myself. But we are not to forget that God has called us to fulfill a higher calling and that people are not to be used by us to fulfill our selfish ambitions. As followers of Christ, we should be willing to make sacrifices for the sake of others as we proclaim the gospel, “the good news of God’s grace” in Christ who died so that through faith in him they, too, may have eternal life.

    Jesus “died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”*   

    *2 Corinthians 5:15

  • Enjoying Freedom

    Read Galatians 4:1-7

    4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

    Freedom. When people talk about it in America I often wonder if they know what it really means. Those that have experienced enslavement in one form or another, however, know exactly what it means. But in a spiritual sense, I think people have a good idea of what freedom means because, if I’m not mistaken, it’s part of everyone’s experience to try to overcome things that enslave–perhaps drugs, a bad habit, or something else.

    For some religious people, enslavement can take the form of legalism. For example, I’ve encountered people who say they believe in Christ but think that they have to be morally perfect to be saved or get to heaven. That’s ironic because God sent His son Jesus to set us free because, on our own,  we cannot do it.  And it also underestimates the redemptive work of Christ. We are not to abuse the grace of God in Jesus but we are also not to think of it as not sufficient for our salvation.

    Spiritual freedom is a gift from God in Jesus. If you believe in Jesus you can enjoy it!

  • Jesus: God with Us

    Read: Isaiah 53

    The virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. —Isaiah 7:14

    “Yeah, right!” If Christopher Hitchens were still alive today, that’s probably how he would respond to Isaiah 7:14. But to us who believe, the revelation that Jesus is Immanuel, “God with us,” makes our hearts rejoice and moves us to praise.

    Whenever we reflect upon the birth of our Savior, we cannot help but think of his death as well. Jesus came to die for us. His death may once again cause people like Hitchens to mock our “fanaticism.” But those of us who believe respond with deep gratitude to God who has kept his promise and fulfilled the prophetic words of 53.

    Jesus was born and died for us, let us live for him.

  • Christopher Hitchens dies…got a song for him?

    Christopher Hitchens dies

    By Bethonie Butler

    Christopher Hitchens in D.C. in 2010. (Marvin Joseph — The Washington Post)And in light of the sad news Friday about Christopher Hitchens’s death, we wonder what song would honor the quick-witted and outspoken writer. He countedBob Dylan among his favorite musicians, so a Dylan song might be appropriate. We like “Mozambique” by Dylan and Jacques Levy.

    Have suggestions? Add your song selections in the comments, and tell us why they go with the news of the day. We’ll add some of your comments to this post.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/arts-post/post/congress-passes-deal-christopher-hitchens-dies-soundtrack-of-the-day/2011/12/15/gIQAVKgWyO_blog.html

  • Undying Love

    Read: Luke 15:11-24

    11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them

    Verse 11 is key to knowing what this parable, which has been called “Parable of the Prodigal Son,” is really all about.  One important  thing I learned in seminary is that Bible narratives have generally one important purpose: to draw people’s attention to God. God is always the story’s hero. Yes, even in narratives in which God or God’s name is not mentioned! I think this parable is no exception. In fact, as if to make sure that we don’t miss it, it tells us right at the beginning that it’s about the “man who had two sons.”

    So as we reflect on this parable today, let’s focus on God our heavenly Father whose love for us never ceases. The prodigal son is a very important part of the story, but when we read it, the father that represents God in the story should be the focus of our attention.  The parable is about God, our loving heavenly Father whose love for us is undying. There is nothing we can do that can make God not love us. That being so, the proper response to the unconditional and unceasing love of our heavenly Father is to love him and be faithful to him.

    God’s love for us is undying, so should our love for God.

  • Easier Said than Done

    Read: Romans 12:9-21

    17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 

    There is so much going on in this passage. I choose the verses above to be our focus because what they express seems to pose the greatest challenge, at least to me. Immediately after reading v. 17 my thoughts race to find some of the worst examples of the evil deeds that people can do and have done to believers. The pictures that come to mind are those of believers who were tortured and murdered for their faith. If I were the father or brother of one of those killed, would I be able to control myself and not take revenge?

    Most believers would probably easily say yes. But not me! Perhaps I am not as strong as others. Even just an insult is already hard for me to take. However, I believe that by the grace of God I, or any believer, can do what the Scripture says.

    I can’t, but by the grace of God, I can.

  • How to Look Beyond Great

    Read: Colossians 3:12-17

     12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

    Fashion and beauty is a multi-billion-dollar industry.  Helping people look nice has created a lucrative business for the likes of YouTube celeb Michelle Phan (whom my daughter Kristina frequently watches). Out of curiosity I went to Miss Phan’s YouTube channel to find out what she’s up to today. Well, it’s something I’m not into (honest!) but my I’m sure my daughter and Ruth, my wife, would be very much interested in: “Fun Holiday Lip Looks with One Lipstick.”

    It’s nice to always look great. But there is a kind of “fashion” that never goes out of style! The Scripture text above is great advice about “what to wear”: “clothe yourselves with….” If we fail not to clothe ourselves with these virtues, then we’ll look really good, we’ll be happy about ourselves, and the world will see the Lord’s beauty through us!

    Christian virtues never go out of style. Wear them…always.

  • ‎”Collaboration is the stuff of growth.”

     ‎”Collaboration is the stuff of growth.”

    That’s a quote from the video (click below to watch) that my Facebook friend, Gladys Pearl, shared on her wall. It’s a statement that those of us who want to grow should take to heart.

    RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms