Good Morning,
The Great News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that He changes people. We witnessed the work of the Lord in and through the Holy Spirit in the lives of people during the Franklin Graham Festival. According to the official report over 2800 people gave their lives to Jesus Christ. They aged from 7 year olds to 96. The Lord did an amazing work of grace. We had our last NYPENN Executive meeting yesterday. It was a great time of Thanksgiving to the Lord of the harvest. Over 27,000 people attended the Festival. This was the highest attendance of any event in the History of the University. The Lord transformed the Event Center in to a Cathedral. The Name of Jesus was proclaimed with truth and grace. The best news of it all is that the Lord transformed lives.
We read in the Book of Acts about an ordinary man who was transformed into an extraordinary one by the work of the Lord. Barnabas is known as the epitome of friendship. He is known as the son of encouragement. Acts 4:36-37 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
This was at least one of the acts that earned Barnabas his name. He sold a property that belonged to him and gave the money to the church to care for its poorer members. That’s putting teeth into your encouragement. This is the foundation of what it means to be a real friend; it’s the divider between fair weather friends and true friends. A genuine friend helps out even when it comes at great personal cost.
I read about a true story some time ago, that on the 19th of November, 1967, in the vicinity of Dak To, Viet Nam Chaplain Charlie Waters was moving with one of the companies of his Battalion when it engaged a heavily armed enemy battalion. As the battle raged and the casualties mounted, Chaplain Waters, with complete disregard for his personal safety, rushed forward to the line of contact. Unarmed and completely exposed, he moved among, as well as in front of the advancing troops, giving aid to the wounded, assisting in their evacuation, giving words of encouragement, and administering the last rites to the dying. When a wounded paratrooper was standing in shock in front of the assaulting forces, Chaplain Waters ran forward, picked the man up on his shoulders and carried him to safety. At least 6 more times Chaplain Waters went outside the perimeter to rescue wounded soldiers, exposing himself to both friendly and enemy fire. Chaplain Waters was giving aid to the wounded when he himself was mortally wounded. [from CH Waters’ Medal of Honor Citation] On that day chaplain Waters was a true model of friendship, as he made the ultimate sacrifice for the men he cared about.
In Acts Chapter 9 we meet up with Barnabas again. A man named Saul had experienced a radical conversion. This man who once had persecuted and executed Christians had now become a Christian himself, but he was having a little trouble gaining acceptance among his former enemies. Acts 9:26-27 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.
Saul the former Christian Killer was being shunned by the church, but Barnabas, the encourager, takes him by the hand, brings him to the leaders, and says let me tell you about the change in my brother Saul. In Acts chapter 11 news has come to the Church leaders that revival has broken out in Antioch--people are becoming Christians. The Apostles know just the guy to send down there to encourage the new believers... Acts 11:22-24 News of this [revival] reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
Barnabas encouraged the new believers in their faith, and he was a strong spiritual example. This is an important aspect of friendship that’s often overlooked. A friend who helps physically but doesn't offer spiritual help--sharing the good news about Jesus, encouraging others to follow the Lord--that friend isn't really all that great of a friend.
In his book "Another Chance," Dean Merrill, tells the story of a professional man who lost his job and was forced to take a menial construction job. Day after day, he was subjected to the crude language and humor of his boss and coworkers. One day he made a rookies mistake which made him the butt of jokes for days. Finally he decided that he would work one more day and quit. That day happened to be payday. As the offensive foreman brought him his check, he made his first civil comment to him in three weeks. "Hey, there’s a woman working in the front office who knows you. Says she takes care of your kids sometimes." "Who?" He named the woman, who sometimes helped in the nursery of the church where the man and his family worshiped. The foreman then went on with his rounds. When the man opened his envelope, he found, along with his check, a handwritten note from the payroll clerk: "When one part of the body of Christ suffers, we all suffer with it. Just wanted you to know that I'm praying for you these days." He stared at the note, astonished at God’s timing. He hadn't even known the woman worked for this company. Here at his lowest hour, she had given him the courage to go on, to push another wheelbarrow of mortar up that ramp. [Dean Merrill, Another Chance, Zondervan, 1981, page 138]
A good friend brings the spiritual aspect into daily life. When friends shares about struggles they’re facing what stops us from offering a prayer right then and there? When a friend is obviously failing to meet the Lord’s expectations, a true friend doesn’t just let it go, because a true friend is a spiritual influence on others.
Acts 11:25-26 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
At the end of the year at Antioch the pair headed out on a missionary journey and the Scripture refers to them as Barnabas & Saul, but at some point along the way Saul got a name change, and from then on it’s Paul & Barnabas. Barnabas has trained Saul so well that he surpasses him in leadership, and Barnabas cheers him on.
Acts 15:36-39 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus.
Barnabas again saw potential in Mark despite a past failure. Rather than labeling him as a quitter, Barnabas gave him another chance and anyone who has read the Gospel of Mark in the Bible is glad that Barnabas was that kind of friend. In fact even Paul himself later decides that Barnabas was right about Mark. In his second letter to Timothy Paul wrote, "Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry." 2 Tim 2:11
So that’s the story of Barnabas--he really was a great friend and a great example to us of what a friend should be. Yet there’s one friend in the Bible who demonstrates friendship in a way that makes Barnabas pale in comparison. That friend is Jesus Christ and He wants to be our friend today.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Brown's Daily Word 6-12-07
This is one of the ten best days. We praise the Lord for all His blessings. Praise the Lord for His marvelous grace. It is bright and beautiful all around us. It is just like Summer. The Lord makes all things beautiful in His time. He is the Lord of all Seasons and He is the Lord in every season. He is more than wonderful and marvelous in every way. He performs wonders, mighty deeds and signs even today in and through the Church, His Body. He works wonders and signs and the mighty deeds in and through the faithful witness of His servants. He performs signs and wonders and the mighty deeds often in spite of us. We saw many mighty deeds , wonders and signs during the Franklin Graham Festival. We read in Acts 5: Insomuch that they brought forth the sick, into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. In the Bible we read of many miracles of God; like miracles of healing: We read of the woman that had an issue of blood for 12 years, and by faith when she touched the hem of His garment she was made whole.
We read in Acts 19:12, how the Lord did many miracles, special miracles, by the hands of Paul. How they brought handkerchiefs and pieces of cloth from off his body to the sick and diseases and evil spirits departed. I truly believe in the miracle working power of Jesus. I am living proof of the miracle working power of Jesus. We have seen Jesus touch impossible situations and change those things. With Him all things are possible. I want to look at something in this Scripture that I think is often overlooked, and that is the presence of Jesus in the shadow of man. A man’s shadow is the symbol of his influence. The shadow of a man is often larger and more far reaching than the man himself. Make no mistake, each of us cast a shadow; either good or evil, but your life is having an effect on someone.
It is very amazing to see how far reaching are the repercussions of a good life. More important than genius or brilliance or even great achievement is the influence of a Godly life. I don't think Job, David, Paul, John or any of these men had any idea how far their shadow would reach. Jesus turned to ordinary people, no more gifted or well trained than you or I, and said, "Ye shall be my witnesses." There is no greater accomplishment that we can make than to have represented Jesus Christ in our community by our way of life, our standards of value and our attitudes toward each other. Peter was passing by. Each of us today are only passing by. What sort of shadow are we leaving behind? Is there healing in our shadow or hurt? Everyone exerts an influence quiet but real, maybe unconscious but in existence. The shadow of harsh words spoken in the morning may linger all day. Are we allowing the presence of the Lord to flow from us or are we allowing a different presence to work through us? The moon lights up the night, but it has no light of its own. It is just a reflector. It reflects the light of the sun. Our shadow is cast by our words, deeds, and works. Often our testimony is spoken louder by our actions than by our words. The fruits of the Spirit are manifest by the actions of our flesh. The presence of the Lord in the shadow of man. Proverbs 20:27. The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord. May the Lord shine on us today and shine through us today.
In His Light,
Brown
At the Day of Judgment, we shall not be asked what we have read, but what we have done.
... Thomas à Kempis
All God's revelations are sealed to us until they are opened to us by obedience. You will never get them open by philosophy or thinking. Immediately you obey, a flash of light comes. Let God's truth work in you by soaking in it, not by worrying into it. Obey God in the thing He is at present showing you, and instantly the next thing is opened up. We read tomes on the work of the Holy Spirit when... five minutes of drastic obedience would make things clear as a sunbeam. We say, "I suppose I shall understand these things some day." You can understand them now: it is not study that does it, but obedience. The tiniest fragment of obedience, and heaven opens up and the profoundest truths of God are yours straight away. God will never reveal more truth about Himself till you obey what you know already. Beware of being wise and prudent.
... Oswald Chambers
No Hidding the Facts
Taking advantage of a balmy day in New York, a priest and three other men of the cloth swapped their clerical garb for polos and khakis and time out on the golf course. After several really horrible shots, their caddy asked, "You guys wouldn't be priests by any chance?"
"Actually, yes, we are," one cleric replied. "How did you know?"
"Easy," said the caddy, "I've never seen such bad golf and such clean language!"
We read in Acts 19:12, how the Lord did many miracles, special miracles, by the hands of Paul. How they brought handkerchiefs and pieces of cloth from off his body to the sick and diseases and evil spirits departed. I truly believe in the miracle working power of Jesus. I am living proof of the miracle working power of Jesus. We have seen Jesus touch impossible situations and change those things. With Him all things are possible. I want to look at something in this Scripture that I think is often overlooked, and that is the presence of Jesus in the shadow of man. A man’s shadow is the symbol of his influence. The shadow of a man is often larger and more far reaching than the man himself. Make no mistake, each of us cast a shadow; either good or evil, but your life is having an effect on someone.
It is very amazing to see how far reaching are the repercussions of a good life. More important than genius or brilliance or even great achievement is the influence of a Godly life. I don't think Job, David, Paul, John or any of these men had any idea how far their shadow would reach. Jesus turned to ordinary people, no more gifted or well trained than you or I, and said, "Ye shall be my witnesses." There is no greater accomplishment that we can make than to have represented Jesus Christ in our community by our way of life, our standards of value and our attitudes toward each other. Peter was passing by. Each of us today are only passing by. What sort of shadow are we leaving behind? Is there healing in our shadow or hurt? Everyone exerts an influence quiet but real, maybe unconscious but in existence. The shadow of harsh words spoken in the morning may linger all day. Are we allowing the presence of the Lord to flow from us or are we allowing a different presence to work through us? The moon lights up the night, but it has no light of its own. It is just a reflector. It reflects the light of the sun. Our shadow is cast by our words, deeds, and works. Often our testimony is spoken louder by our actions than by our words. The fruits of the Spirit are manifest by the actions of our flesh. The presence of the Lord in the shadow of man. Proverbs 20:27. The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord. May the Lord shine on us today and shine through us today.
In His Light,
Brown
At the Day of Judgment, we shall not be asked what we have read, but what we have done.
... Thomas à Kempis
All God's revelations are sealed to us until they are opened to us by obedience. You will never get them open by philosophy or thinking. Immediately you obey, a flash of light comes. Let God's truth work in you by soaking in it, not by worrying into it. Obey God in the thing He is at present showing you, and instantly the next thing is opened up. We read tomes on the work of the Holy Spirit when... five minutes of drastic obedience would make things clear as a sunbeam. We say, "I suppose I shall understand these things some day." You can understand them now: it is not study that does it, but obedience. The tiniest fragment of obedience, and heaven opens up and the profoundest truths of God are yours straight away. God will never reveal more truth about Himself till you obey what you know already. Beware of being wise and prudent.
... Oswald Chambers
No Hidding the Facts
Taking advantage of a balmy day in New York, a priest and three other men of the cloth swapped their clerical garb for polos and khakis and time out on the golf course. After several really horrible shots, their caddy asked, "You guys wouldn't be priests by any chance?"
"Actually, yes, we are," one cleric replied. "How did you know?"
"Easy," said the caddy, "I've never seen such bad golf and such clean language!"
Monday, June 11, 2007
Brown's Daily Word 6-11-07
It has been an awesome and extraordinary week. The Lord visited our region in an wonderful and personal way in and through the Franklin Graham Festival. The Binghamton University Event Center was transformed in to a cathedral. The Home of the Bearcats became the arena of the Lion Of Judah, Jesus Christ. Every night starting Friday evening the Event Center was rocking as Christians and pre-Christians assembled by the thousands praising Jesus and proclaiming power in His name.
There was an explosive air of anticipation. Saturday night in the world is known as the devil's night. It became the Night of the Savior, Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. It was the night when there was an special invitation to the students and the youth. The place was packed withe high energy crowd of young people.
Saturday morning belonged to children. There was a children's choir consisting of over 1000 children. The Event Center was over flowing with children in the morning and with youth and the students in the evening. The Lord of the harvest visited the center and hundreds of children and the youth turned to Himself. These hundred's of children and the youth publicly went forward to commit their lives to Jesus.
Sunday afternoon the concluding event drew believers and non believers in to the Event center one more time. The Lord did it again. The music was electrifying. The preaching by Franklin Graham was anointed and powerful. People of all ages, from children to the senior citizens, went forward to give their lives to Jesus. Many also went forward to recommit their lives to Him. The Lord drew people from different and diverse back ground to Himself. People from different backgrounds, cultures, and denominations demonstrated and experienced oneness in Jesus Christ the Great Reconciler.
It has been a great honor and privilege for me, along with my wife and family, to be part of this great Jesus event. The Lord indeed has visited our area. He is going to continue to perform, wonders, signs and the miracles in our area. Over two thousand new believers were harvested in to the Kingdom of Jesus which is eternal and triumphant. We have seen signs, wonders and the miracles. The Lord of Grace and grandeur is still at work.
When Jesus walked the earth—teaching, and preaching, and healing—-strange things happened, though not the same kind of strange as in Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. It was more like strange as in counter-intuitive. It was strange as in turning upside-down what everyone knew to be true about how the world worked—what was important and what was not, who was important and who was not, what made for success and what did not. Otherwise responsible men picked up and left home—-left behind jobs and families, all that was familiar-—and followed him. Fishermen became evangelists. Tax collectors became teachers. Zealots became servants. Lepers were cleansed. Paralytics were healed. Sinners were welcomed. Storms were quieted at the sound of his voice. Demons fled. Dead boys and girls were raised to life. The greatest became servants. The proud were humbled. The outcast were welcomed. The conventionally powerful found themselves on the fringe. The last became first. Wherever Jesus went, life happened. . . Real life. . . Abundant life.
Even when Jesus walked no more, and his body was laid in the tomb, life happened. On the third day he rose again from the dead. According to the Book of Acts, everywhere the church went, strange things happened. Or maybe I should say, wherever the Holy Spirit led the church, strange things happened. They were strange as in turning upside-down what everyone knew to be true about how the world worked—-what was important and what was not, who was important and who was not, what made for success and what did not. An uneducated fisherman from the boonies preached in the capital city, and thousands repented and were baptized. A man who had not walked, ever, danced on the temple steps and praised God. Wherever the Holy Spirit led the church, life happened, real life, abundant life. Reading the Book of Acts yields all sorts of wonderful insights about prayer, missions, evangelism, church history and church government, leadership development, cross-cultural interactions, stewardship, perseverance, and preaching. Jesus is alive, a new community of people had been formed, people who demonstrated the reality and power of the risen Christ in their life together. They had a real and abundant life. This isn’t all that the Book of Acts has to say, but all that the Book of Acts says is in light of these truths. Whatever insights the Book of Acts gives on prayer or missions or leadership development or anything else, these insights are best understood in light of and as a consequence of these two truths.
Jesus is alive. He is really alive, and abundantly alive. Because Jesus is alive, a new community of people is formed, who demonstrate the reality and power of the risen Christ in their life together. Because Jesus is alive, a new community of people is formed—-people who demonstrate the reality and power of the risen Christ in their life together.All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
One of the most powerful demonstrations of the church’s new life together is the way that concerns and priorities about possessions and money are re-ordered. It’s not the re-ordering of money issues that makes for new life. It’s new life in Christ that makes for re-ordering of money issues. Those who were greedy are now generous. Those who coveted wealth as a hedge against insecurity are now secure in Christ. Those who desired the power money grants now desire to serve without power. Those who were seeking “eternal life” based on a financial legacy in their children or their property holdings or their philanthropic name-planting, now are confident in eternal life in Christ. Those who used to view financial gain as a mark of God’s favor upon them individually, now view wealth as a gift from God for the benefit of the body. Those who were held in bondage to their wealth are now free. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, ant it was distributed to anyone as he had need. Those who were hungry are now fed. Those who were homeless are now housed. Those who were held in bondage to their poverty are now free. When worldly values measure nearly everything according to money—-as the world does now and as the world did in the time of the early church—-how better to point to the new and abundant life demonstrated in the life of believers together than by pointing out that the role of money has been turned upside-down!
In some circumstances it might be tempting to interpret this as a not-so-subtle threat so that people will squirm until their wallets come loose…but I don’t think that would be faithful to the text. It’s about money, but it isn’t just about money.
In some circumstances it might be tempting to explain this away so that we can all breathe a sigh of relief…but I don’t think that would be faithful to the text. It’s about grace, but the One who mediates that grace is known as the Lion of Judah, not the teddy bear. Our loving, gracious, forgiving Lord is also a holy Lord, and the church is his bride. Jesus is alive. Really alive. Abundantly alive.
Because Jesus is alive, a new community of people is formed—people who demonstrate the reality and power of the risen Christ in their life together. Real life. Abundant life.
In Christ,
Brown
If man is not made for God, why is he not happy except in God? If man is made for God, why is he so opposed to God?
... Blaise Pascal
Church Choir Proficiency Test
In order to measure your level of proficiency as a choir member, the following test has been carefully developed by experts. Read and reflect on each situation and then select the option that will enhance the quality of the performance.
1. You are entering the choir loft on Sunday morning and suddenly trip and fall down. You should:
a. Assume a kneeling position and break into fervent prayer.
b. Pretend that you've had a heart attack.
c. Crawl into the nearest chair.
d. Sink to the floor in shame.
2. You are a soprano and count incorrectly. As a result you boom out a high "C" one measure too soon. You should:
a. Slide into an inspired "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing."
b. Look triumphant and hold on to the note.
c. Stop abruptly in mid squawk but keep your lips moving.
d. Sink to the floor in shame.
3. After all those long hard choir rehearsals, you show up twenty minutes late for the Christmas musical. You should:
a. Climb into the back row of the choir from the baptistery.
b. Enter pretending to be a soundman checking cables and thensuddenly slip yourself into the choir.
c. Turn the lights out in the church and slip into the choir during the blackout.
d. Read M. Stephen's pamphlet "Techniques for Tardy Appearances."
4. While singing, you discover you have only one page of a two page hymn. You should:
a. Hum for your life.
b. Sing "watermelon, watermelon, watermelon."
c. Try to get another hymnal out of the choir rack with your feet.
d. Sing the first page over again.
5. Inevitably that dreaded big sneeze occurs toward the end of the choir special. You should:
a. As you sneeze, come down hard on your neighbor's foot to create a diversion.
b. Try to make it harmonize.
c. Sneeze into the hair of the choir member in front of you to muffle the noise.
d. Sink to the floor in shame.
Count the number of A's, B's, C's, and D's you checked and find your proficiency rating below:
4 or more A's...there is nothing more you need to know to be a first rate choir member.
4 or more B's...your church choir reflexes are fully developed and you should do well in choir.
4 or more C's...your church choral experience is spotty but your team spirit is on target. You will be an asset to most any choir.
4 or more D's...it is recommended you take soccer or group therapy counseling.
There was an explosive air of anticipation. Saturday night in the world is known as the devil's night. It became the Night of the Savior, Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. It was the night when there was an special invitation to the students and the youth. The place was packed withe high energy crowd of young people.
Saturday morning belonged to children. There was a children's choir consisting of over 1000 children. The Event Center was over flowing with children in the morning and with youth and the students in the evening. The Lord of the harvest visited the center and hundreds of children and the youth turned to Himself. These hundred's of children and the youth publicly went forward to commit their lives to Jesus.
Sunday afternoon the concluding event drew believers and non believers in to the Event center one more time. The Lord did it again. The music was electrifying. The preaching by Franklin Graham was anointed and powerful. People of all ages, from children to the senior citizens, went forward to give their lives to Jesus. Many also went forward to recommit their lives to Him. The Lord drew people from different and diverse back ground to Himself. People from different backgrounds, cultures, and denominations demonstrated and experienced oneness in Jesus Christ the Great Reconciler.
It has been a great honor and privilege for me, along with my wife and family, to be part of this great Jesus event. The Lord indeed has visited our area. He is going to continue to perform, wonders, signs and the miracles in our area. Over two thousand new believers were harvested in to the Kingdom of Jesus which is eternal and triumphant. We have seen signs, wonders and the miracles. The Lord of Grace and grandeur is still at work.
When Jesus walked the earth—teaching, and preaching, and healing—-strange things happened, though not the same kind of strange as in Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. It was more like strange as in counter-intuitive. It was strange as in turning upside-down what everyone knew to be true about how the world worked—what was important and what was not, who was important and who was not, what made for success and what did not. Otherwise responsible men picked up and left home—-left behind jobs and families, all that was familiar-—and followed him. Fishermen became evangelists. Tax collectors became teachers. Zealots became servants. Lepers were cleansed. Paralytics were healed. Sinners were welcomed. Storms were quieted at the sound of his voice. Demons fled. Dead boys and girls were raised to life. The greatest became servants. The proud were humbled. The outcast were welcomed. The conventionally powerful found themselves on the fringe. The last became first. Wherever Jesus went, life happened. . . Real life. . . Abundant life.
Even when Jesus walked no more, and his body was laid in the tomb, life happened. On the third day he rose again from the dead. According to the Book of Acts, everywhere the church went, strange things happened. Or maybe I should say, wherever the Holy Spirit led the church, strange things happened. They were strange as in turning upside-down what everyone knew to be true about how the world worked—-what was important and what was not, who was important and who was not, what made for success and what did not. An uneducated fisherman from the boonies preached in the capital city, and thousands repented and were baptized. A man who had not walked, ever, danced on the temple steps and praised God. Wherever the Holy Spirit led the church, life happened, real life, abundant life. Reading the Book of Acts yields all sorts of wonderful insights about prayer, missions, evangelism, church history and church government, leadership development, cross-cultural interactions, stewardship, perseverance, and preaching. Jesus is alive, a new community of people had been formed, people who demonstrated the reality and power of the risen Christ in their life together. They had a real and abundant life. This isn’t all that the Book of Acts has to say, but all that the Book of Acts says is in light of these truths. Whatever insights the Book of Acts gives on prayer or missions or leadership development or anything else, these insights are best understood in light of and as a consequence of these two truths.
Jesus is alive. He is really alive, and abundantly alive. Because Jesus is alive, a new community of people is formed, who demonstrate the reality and power of the risen Christ in their life together. Because Jesus is alive, a new community of people is formed—-people who demonstrate the reality and power of the risen Christ in their life together.All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
One of the most powerful demonstrations of the church’s new life together is the way that concerns and priorities about possessions and money are re-ordered. It’s not the re-ordering of money issues that makes for new life. It’s new life in Christ that makes for re-ordering of money issues. Those who were greedy are now generous. Those who coveted wealth as a hedge against insecurity are now secure in Christ. Those who desired the power money grants now desire to serve without power. Those who were seeking “eternal life” based on a financial legacy in their children or their property holdings or their philanthropic name-planting, now are confident in eternal life in Christ. Those who used to view financial gain as a mark of God’s favor upon them individually, now view wealth as a gift from God for the benefit of the body. Those who were held in bondage to their wealth are now free. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, ant it was distributed to anyone as he had need. Those who were hungry are now fed. Those who were homeless are now housed. Those who were held in bondage to their poverty are now free. When worldly values measure nearly everything according to money—-as the world does now and as the world did in the time of the early church—-how better to point to the new and abundant life demonstrated in the life of believers together than by pointing out that the role of money has been turned upside-down!
In some circumstances it might be tempting to interpret this as a not-so-subtle threat so that people will squirm until their wallets come loose…but I don’t think that would be faithful to the text. It’s about money, but it isn’t just about money.
In some circumstances it might be tempting to explain this away so that we can all breathe a sigh of relief…but I don’t think that would be faithful to the text. It’s about grace, but the One who mediates that grace is known as the Lion of Judah, not the teddy bear. Our loving, gracious, forgiving Lord is also a holy Lord, and the church is his bride. Jesus is alive. Really alive. Abundantly alive.
Because Jesus is alive, a new community of people is formed—people who demonstrate the reality and power of the risen Christ in their life together. Real life. Abundant life.
In Christ,
Brown
If man is not made for God, why is he not happy except in God? If man is made for God, why is he so opposed to God?
... Blaise Pascal
Church Choir Proficiency Test
In order to measure your level of proficiency as a choir member, the following test has been carefully developed by experts. Read and reflect on each situation and then select the option that will enhance the quality of the performance.
1. You are entering the choir loft on Sunday morning and suddenly trip and fall down. You should:
a. Assume a kneeling position and break into fervent prayer.
b. Pretend that you've had a heart attack.
c. Crawl into the nearest chair.
d. Sink to the floor in shame.
2. You are a soprano and count incorrectly. As a result you boom out a high "C" one measure too soon. You should:
a. Slide into an inspired "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing."
b. Look triumphant and hold on to the note.
c. Stop abruptly in mid squawk but keep your lips moving.
d. Sink to the floor in shame.
3. After all those long hard choir rehearsals, you show up twenty minutes late for the Christmas musical. You should:
a. Climb into the back row of the choir from the baptistery.
b. Enter pretending to be a soundman checking cables and thensuddenly slip yourself into the choir.
c. Turn the lights out in the church and slip into the choir during the blackout.
d. Read M. Stephen's pamphlet "Techniques for Tardy Appearances."
4. While singing, you discover you have only one page of a two page hymn. You should:
a. Hum for your life.
b. Sing "watermelon, watermelon, watermelon."
c. Try to get another hymnal out of the choir rack with your feet.
d. Sing the first page over again.
5. Inevitably that dreaded big sneeze occurs toward the end of the choir special. You should:
a. As you sneeze, come down hard on your neighbor's foot to create a diversion.
b. Try to make it harmonize.
c. Sneeze into the hair of the choir member in front of you to muffle the noise.
d. Sink to the floor in shame.
Count the number of A's, B's, C's, and D's you checked and find your proficiency rating below:
4 or more A's...there is nothing more you need to know to be a first rate choir member.
4 or more B's...your church choir reflexes are fully developed and you should do well in choir.
4 or more C's...your church choral experience is spotty but your team spirit is on target. You will be an asset to most any choir.
4 or more D's...it is recommended you take soccer or group therapy counseling.
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