Good Morning.
It is a beautiful sunrise, and should prove to be an amazingly beautiful day. The old record temperature for this date is 66. (You should see robins today, if you have not yet seen them.) May Jesus Christ be praised. Jesus our Lord in His Upper Room Discourse declared "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."John 15:13
There’s an old story about a 12 year old boy who came to church one cold winter day to get out of the blowing snow. He had been trying to sell newspapers but not a single customer had passed by because of the weather. He slipped into the back of the church, just hoping to get warm and to catch up on his sleep. Though the Sunday crowd was slim, the pastor preached with all of his heart about how Jesus loves us and how he died for our sins. The boy really paid attention, and he was greatly moved by the sermon. When the pastor was done, he called for the offering. The ushers went from row to row, and when the offering plate came to the boy, he stared at it for a while and then put it on the floor.
He then did something very strange and very beautiful. He stood up and stepped right into the offering plate. By then, all the people had turned around and were staring at the boy. When he looked up, he had big tears running down his face. And he said, "Pastor, I don’t have any money because I wasn’t able to sell any newspapers today. But, if Jesus gave His life for me, then the least I could do is to give my life to Him."
May the Lord propel us by the power of the Holy Spirit that we might offer our lives to Him fully . It is written in Romamns 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOY0mjjmx8Y
Friday, March 19, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Brown's Daily Word 3-18-10
Good morning,
Praise the Lord for the new day. We have several crocuses patches in full bloom around the parsonage and church. It has been so warm that the bees are back in full strength. It is going to be balmy and brilliant today. Thank you Jesus. The Lord blessed us with a wonderful Wednesday gathering for fellowship, study, and prayer. We looked again at Mathew 5.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy'. But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” This directive from our Lord goes against every natural tendency. In the natural man, we are not supposed to love our enemies, but to destroy them. Furthermore, our love is called to go above that, and we not only love those who love us, but to love those who hate us. Jesus said, "if you only love those who love you how are you any different from anybody else?"
This love for our enemies means we are going to have to look at people differently. As Christians we are called to put on the mind of Christ, so we are called to see people as Jesus would see them. One thing Jesus always did was to look past what a person was and look at who that person could be. As one preacher has said, "so many are enslaved by sin and they are trapped in their sin, and instead of condemning them for being there, we need to offer them a way out. We need to show them grace, love, and compassion just as Christ has shown it to us.
Romans 12:19-21, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written, 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” People are going to be won to the Lord not through name calling and brow beating, but by showing forth the love and compassion that we have ourselves received.
When I first came to the States in 1974, I read about Charles Manson. Many of you might remember the name of Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme. In 1976 her name exploded onto every front page in America. She had pushed her way through a crowd and had tried to kill the President of the United States. She was only 17 years old. Investigators later found that she was a proud follower of Charles Manson, the crazed killer who worked his evil through his small, dedicated band of fanatical “disciples.”
After the event news magazines began to dig into the background of this young woman. Their reports found that Squeaky had felt like a misfit in her town, so she wandered across the country until she reached California. There Manson met her and promised to take care of her. She went with him and was willing to kill and die for him. Reporters wanted to know why, “Why would you give your life to a man like Manson?” She explained that she had made a choice early in her teenage years that, “Whoever loves me first can have my life.”
Those who were once enemies of the cross are now followers of the One who gave His life for them. Hurts from the past can stay in our minds forever if, instead of letting the wound gradually heal, leaving a slight scar, resentment keeps picking at the scab. It is if we keep putting a video back in to watch it again and again. We keep a record of the wrong, and we keep underscoring it in the ledger.
We all can say that we do not feel like forgiving, but forgiveness has little to do with feeling. It is, rather, a matter of obedience to the Lord’s command. Harry Emerson Fosdick once said that when he was a boy he overheard a conversation between his dad and mother at the breakfast table. He heard his dad say, “Tell Harry he can mow the grass today if he feels like it.” As his father left, he heard him call back, “And tell Harry he’d better feel like it.” Forgiveness is something like that.
Some time ago I read about Paul Stevens, a man who lived in Evansville, Indiana. He endured perhaps one of the most horrific events that we could ever experience, as his daughter was stabbed to death by a neighbor. Paul Stevens spent nearly a decade being tortured by the memory of his daughter’s killer. To make things worse, his daughter’s killer was released after only seven years behind bars. The memories proved so hard to bear that Stevens moved his family from Evansville to a new home near Dawson Springs, Kentucky. Stevens’s hatred for this man remained almost unbearable. He said that, “At that time the only thing I wanted was to see that man dead”
In 1978, nine years after the murder, Stevens tried something radical. At a Christian retreat, he finally grasped that his hatred could not restore his daughter, so he vowed to overcome the tragedy and devote his time to working with violent criminals. Since that time, Stevens has spent two days each week working as a counselor and lay minister at a maximum security prison and he has come to call some of the 29 prisoners on death row his friends. Many of those prisoners have said that they could never have been led to Christ except by this man, who had such compassionate understanding and such unconditional love.
Now, If Stevens could forgive the murder of his daughter, if Joseph could forgive his brothers for selling him as a slave into Egypt, and if Corrie ten Boom could forgive a Nazi prison guard who tortured her and murdered her family, then we , with Christ's power, have the capacity to forgive those who have offended us. That is love.
Jesus said, “Greater love has no man than this that He would lay down His life for His friends.” “God demonstrates His love for us in this way, that while we were yet still sinners, Christ died for the ungodly.”
As sinners, we owed a debt we could not possibly pay, and He paid a debt He did not owe. Jesus died a vicarious death on our behalf. His death was not an accident, nor was it a spur of the moment decision. Jesus said, “No one takes my life from Me but I willingly lay it down.” That’s the love that God has for you and for me. It was not the nails that held Jesus to the cross; it was His amazing love for us that held Him there.
In Jesus our Saviour,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eA5u9nwpMs
Praise the Lord for the new day. We have several crocuses patches in full bloom around the parsonage and church. It has been so warm that the bees are back in full strength. It is going to be balmy and brilliant today. Thank you Jesus. The Lord blessed us with a wonderful Wednesday gathering for fellowship, study, and prayer. We looked again at Mathew 5.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy'. But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” This directive from our Lord goes against every natural tendency. In the natural man, we are not supposed to love our enemies, but to destroy them. Furthermore, our love is called to go above that, and we not only love those who love us, but to love those who hate us. Jesus said, "if you only love those who love you how are you any different from anybody else?"
This love for our enemies means we are going to have to look at people differently. As Christians we are called to put on the mind of Christ, so we are called to see people as Jesus would see them. One thing Jesus always did was to look past what a person was and look at who that person could be. As one preacher has said, "so many are enslaved by sin and they are trapped in their sin, and instead of condemning them for being there, we need to offer them a way out. We need to show them grace, love, and compassion just as Christ has shown it to us.
Romans 12:19-21, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written, 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” People are going to be won to the Lord not through name calling and brow beating, but by showing forth the love and compassion that we have ourselves received.
When I first came to the States in 1974, I read about Charles Manson. Many of you might remember the name of Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme. In 1976 her name exploded onto every front page in America. She had pushed her way through a crowd and had tried to kill the President of the United States. She was only 17 years old. Investigators later found that she was a proud follower of Charles Manson, the crazed killer who worked his evil through his small, dedicated band of fanatical “disciples.”
After the event news magazines began to dig into the background of this young woman. Their reports found that Squeaky had felt like a misfit in her town, so she wandered across the country until she reached California. There Manson met her and promised to take care of her. She went with him and was willing to kill and die for him. Reporters wanted to know why, “Why would you give your life to a man like Manson?” She explained that she had made a choice early in her teenage years that, “Whoever loves me first can have my life.”
Those who were once enemies of the cross are now followers of the One who gave His life for them. Hurts from the past can stay in our minds forever if, instead of letting the wound gradually heal, leaving a slight scar, resentment keeps picking at the scab. It is if we keep putting a video back in to watch it again and again. We keep a record of the wrong, and we keep underscoring it in the ledger.
We all can say that we do not feel like forgiving, but forgiveness has little to do with feeling. It is, rather, a matter of obedience to the Lord’s command. Harry Emerson Fosdick once said that when he was a boy he overheard a conversation between his dad and mother at the breakfast table. He heard his dad say, “Tell Harry he can mow the grass today if he feels like it.” As his father left, he heard him call back, “And tell Harry he’d better feel like it.” Forgiveness is something like that.
Some time ago I read about Paul Stevens, a man who lived in Evansville, Indiana. He endured perhaps one of the most horrific events that we could ever experience, as his daughter was stabbed to death by a neighbor. Paul Stevens spent nearly a decade being tortured by the memory of his daughter’s killer. To make things worse, his daughter’s killer was released after only seven years behind bars. The memories proved so hard to bear that Stevens moved his family from Evansville to a new home near Dawson Springs, Kentucky. Stevens’s hatred for this man remained almost unbearable. He said that, “At that time the only thing I wanted was to see that man dead”
In 1978, nine years after the murder, Stevens tried something radical. At a Christian retreat, he finally grasped that his hatred could not restore his daughter, so he vowed to overcome the tragedy and devote his time to working with violent criminals. Since that time, Stevens has spent two days each week working as a counselor and lay minister at a maximum security prison and he has come to call some of the 29 prisoners on death row his friends. Many of those prisoners have said that they could never have been led to Christ except by this man, who had such compassionate understanding and such unconditional love.
Now, If Stevens could forgive the murder of his daughter, if Joseph could forgive his brothers for selling him as a slave into Egypt, and if Corrie ten Boom could forgive a Nazi prison guard who tortured her and murdered her family, then we , with Christ's power, have the capacity to forgive those who have offended us. That is love.
Jesus said, “Greater love has no man than this that He would lay down His life for His friends.” “God demonstrates His love for us in this way, that while we were yet still sinners, Christ died for the ungodly.”
As sinners, we owed a debt we could not possibly pay, and He paid a debt He did not owe. Jesus died a vicarious death on our behalf. His death was not an accident, nor was it a spur of the moment decision. Jesus said, “No one takes my life from Me but I willingly lay it down.” That’s the love that God has for you and for me. It was not the nails that held Jesus to the cross; it was His amazing love for us that held Him there.
In Jesus our Saviour,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eA5u9nwpMs
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Brown's Daily Word 3-17-10
Top of the morning to you all,
Happy St. Patrick's Day. Praise the Lord for the faith and witness of St. Patrick. Raised in an age much like our own, gripped by a "culture of death" and filled with a spirit of lawlessness, he was kidnapped by Irish Pirates and taken to the Emerald Isle. Patrick could have become embittered. Instead, he completely surrendered his life to Jesus.
Patrick chose to reject "victim-hood" and self-centeredness. Instead, he embraced the way of the Cross, carrying on the redemptive mission of Jesus. He fell in love with the Lord by developing a profound and transforming inner life, and a personal relationship with the Risen Lord. He did this through deep, constant and abiding prayer. In this way of life, the Christian way, he learned to discern the voice of the Lord in his daily life, developed the eyes of faith, and responded with perseverance to the call to become an ambassador for Jesus our Lord. St. Patrick risked his life in a great adventure with Jesus. He walked by faith with Jesus for His Kingdom sake.
When the Lord Jesus invited Peter to walk on the water He said, "Come." Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus said, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Matt. 14:29-31)
A Canaanite woman came crying to Jesus, "Lord, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession. The disciples said, ’Send her away’. She then came and knelt before Jesus and said, "Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted. And her daughter was healed was healed from that very hour." (Matt. 15:22-28) This woman was an example of being willing to take a risk in order to see God work great things.
Jesus sent 72 disciples out two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was to preach. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into his harvest field. He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me. The 72 returned with joy and said, ’Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.’"(Luke 10:1,16,17) Jesus said, "Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me." (John 12:24-26) In order to see greater things we must be willing to lay aside some of our comfortable lifestyle and surrender it fully to follow our Lord and His ministries.
"Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me King of my heart; Christ within me, Christ below me, Christ above me never to part. Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand, Christ all around me shield in strife; Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting, Christ in my rising light of my life. Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me King of my heart; Christ within me, Christ below me, Christ above me never to part."
In Christ.
O'Brien McNaik
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQxHvBtR7hs
Happy St. Patrick's Day. Praise the Lord for the faith and witness of St. Patrick. Raised in an age much like our own, gripped by a "culture of death" and filled with a spirit of lawlessness, he was kidnapped by Irish Pirates and taken to the Emerald Isle. Patrick could have become embittered. Instead, he completely surrendered his life to Jesus.
Patrick chose to reject "victim-hood" and self-centeredness. Instead, he embraced the way of the Cross, carrying on the redemptive mission of Jesus. He fell in love with the Lord by developing a profound and transforming inner life, and a personal relationship with the Risen Lord. He did this through deep, constant and abiding prayer. In this way of life, the Christian way, he learned to discern the voice of the Lord in his daily life, developed the eyes of faith, and responded with perseverance to the call to become an ambassador for Jesus our Lord. St. Patrick risked his life in a great adventure with Jesus. He walked by faith with Jesus for His Kingdom sake.
When the Lord Jesus invited Peter to walk on the water He said, "Come." Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus said, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Matt. 14:29-31)
A Canaanite woman came crying to Jesus, "Lord, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession. The disciples said, ’Send her away’. She then came and knelt before Jesus and said, "Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted. And her daughter was healed was healed from that very hour." (Matt. 15:22-28) This woman was an example of being willing to take a risk in order to see God work great things.
Jesus sent 72 disciples out two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was to preach. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into his harvest field. He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me. The 72 returned with joy and said, ’Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.’"(Luke 10:1,16,17) Jesus said, "Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me." (John 12:24-26) In order to see greater things we must be willing to lay aside some of our comfortable lifestyle and surrender it fully to follow our Lord and His ministries.
"Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me King of my heart; Christ within me, Christ below me, Christ above me never to part. Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand, Christ all around me shield in strife; Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting, Christ in my rising light of my life. Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me King of my heart; Christ within me, Christ below me, Christ above me never to part."
In Christ.
O'Brien McNaik
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQxHvBtR7hs
Brown's Daily Word 3-16-10
Good morning,
Praise the Lord for this new day. The forecast for today indicates that it is going to be sunny and brilliant here in New York. Thank You, Jesus.
One of the profound and powerful prophecies regarding our Lord's suffering and resurrection has been recorded in Isaiah 53. When we read it we feel like it is an Eye Witness account of Christ's crucifixion. It declares that "by His stripes we are healed".
Max Lucado, in his book, "He Chose the Nails" wrote, “What would have happened to the Beast if the Beauty had not appeared? You know the story. There was a time when his face was handsome and his palace cheerful. But that was before the curse, before the shadows fell on the castle of the prince, before the shadows fell on the heart of the prince. And when the darkness fell, he hid. Secluded in his castle, he was left with glistening snout and curly tusks and a very bad mood.
"But all that changed when the girl came. What would have happened to the Beast if the Beauty had not appeared? Better yet, what would have happened if she had not cared? And who would have blamed her if she hadn’t? He was such a . . . beast. Hairy. Drooling. Roaring. Defying. Ill mannered. And she was such a beauty. Stunningly gorgeous. Contagiously kind. If ever two people lived up to their names, didn’t Beauty and the Beast? Who would have blamed her if she hadn’t cared? But she did. And because Beauty loved the Beast . . ."
The story is familiar, not just because it’s an exquisite fairy tale. It is also familiar, because it reminds us of ourselves. There is a beast within each of us, though it wasn’t always so. There was a time in human history when our faces were beautiful and our palace cheerful, but that was before the curse, before the shadows fell across Adam’s garden, before the shadows fell across Adam’s heart. Ever since that curse, we have been different. We have been beastly, ugly, defiant, angry, and ill-mannered. We do things we know we shouldn’t do, and then we wonder why we have done them.
Did you ever feel like saying, “I do not do what I want to do, and I do the things I hat.?” You are in good company if you do. The beast within was found in almost every person in the Bible. Abraham and Isaac lied, putting their wives at risk; Jacob stole his brother’s blessing; Shechem raped Dinah; Simeon and Levi murdered Shechem and his friends in retaliation; Moses murdered an Egyptian who killed a Hebrew; David stole another man’s wife and then murdered him; Solomon was seduced by his love for women more than by his love for God. In the New Testament one Herod murdered Bethlehem babies, and another Herod murdered John the Baptist. Disciples ran away when Jesus faced death. The Bible says, “He was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed.” (Isaiah 53.5)
But there’s even more about wholeness, ultimate wholeness. Some time agoI read about a plaque in church elevator that said – “There are no wheelchairs in heaven,” and it’s dedicated to Ray Burton, who died a few years ago; he was in a wheelchair.”
Ray Burton had endured 18 surgeries, as vascular disease was eating his body away. His legs were gone so he had become a paraplegic. He was a simple man, embarrassed a bit by his smoking. Yet there was something about Ray Burton. Though his body was no longer whole, there was a wholeness in his spirit that was rare. He had tasted something. Ray was loved by this family. He was known as one of the sweetest, gentlest, most godly men that have ever been around. He kept a prayer journal, though folks in his church didn’t know about it until after he died. He was a bit embarrassed by it – parts typed, parts handwritten, scratches and misspellings – 50 pages single spaced, multiple columns of names – names of people he prayed for every day. He prayed every day for the visitors who came to his church. Four hours a day, five days a week, for twelve years he prayed for the people. He said, "there’s nothing else I can do, so I pray". His body was broken, but in another way Ray was more whole than any one else around..
I am reminded about another young man in our church, who was wheelchair bound. He loved the Lord. He loved the church. He never missed a Sunday. He was full of contagious laughter. He lived laughing. He served the Lord laughing. He went to be with Jesus laughing.
Real wholeness isn’t about a beautiful body, or a balanced budget, a beautiful wife and perfect kids, or an enviable social circle. Real wholeness isn’t about temporary things. Real wholeness isn’t found in things our world pursues so obsessively.
Jesus said, “I came that you might have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10.10) “My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.” “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” It is more than patching up our sins, giving us a better self image, and restoring our peace with God, though that’s plenty. It is about real love, real joy, real peace, and real purpose – the kind that will last, forever.
In Christ the Suffering Servant,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eA5u9nwpMs
Praise the Lord for this new day. The forecast for today indicates that it is going to be sunny and brilliant here in New York. Thank You, Jesus.
One of the profound and powerful prophecies regarding our Lord's suffering and resurrection has been recorded in Isaiah 53. When we read it we feel like it is an Eye Witness account of Christ's crucifixion. It declares that "by His stripes we are healed".
Max Lucado, in his book, "He Chose the Nails" wrote, “What would have happened to the Beast if the Beauty had not appeared? You know the story. There was a time when his face was handsome and his palace cheerful. But that was before the curse, before the shadows fell on the castle of the prince, before the shadows fell on the heart of the prince. And when the darkness fell, he hid. Secluded in his castle, he was left with glistening snout and curly tusks and a very bad mood.
"But all that changed when the girl came. What would have happened to the Beast if the Beauty had not appeared? Better yet, what would have happened if she had not cared? And who would have blamed her if she hadn’t? He was such a . . . beast. Hairy. Drooling. Roaring. Defying. Ill mannered. And she was such a beauty. Stunningly gorgeous. Contagiously kind. If ever two people lived up to their names, didn’t Beauty and the Beast? Who would have blamed her if she hadn’t cared? But she did. And because Beauty loved the Beast . . ."
The story is familiar, not just because it’s an exquisite fairy tale. It is also familiar, because it reminds us of ourselves. There is a beast within each of us, though it wasn’t always so. There was a time in human history when our faces were beautiful and our palace cheerful, but that was before the curse, before the shadows fell across Adam’s garden, before the shadows fell across Adam’s heart. Ever since that curse, we have been different. We have been beastly, ugly, defiant, angry, and ill-mannered. We do things we know we shouldn’t do, and then we wonder why we have done them.
Did you ever feel like saying, “I do not do what I want to do, and I do the things I hat.?” You are in good company if you do. The beast within was found in almost every person in the Bible. Abraham and Isaac lied, putting their wives at risk; Jacob stole his brother’s blessing; Shechem raped Dinah; Simeon and Levi murdered Shechem and his friends in retaliation; Moses murdered an Egyptian who killed a Hebrew; David stole another man’s wife and then murdered him; Solomon was seduced by his love for women more than by his love for God. In the New Testament one Herod murdered Bethlehem babies, and another Herod murdered John the Baptist. Disciples ran away when Jesus faced death. The Bible says, “He was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed.” (Isaiah 53.5)
But there’s even more about wholeness, ultimate wholeness. Some time agoI read about a plaque in church elevator that said – “There are no wheelchairs in heaven,” and it’s dedicated to Ray Burton, who died a few years ago; he was in a wheelchair.”
Ray Burton had endured 18 surgeries, as vascular disease was eating his body away. His legs were gone so he had become a paraplegic. He was a simple man, embarrassed a bit by his smoking. Yet there was something about Ray Burton. Though his body was no longer whole, there was a wholeness in his spirit that was rare. He had tasted something. Ray was loved by this family. He was known as one of the sweetest, gentlest, most godly men that have ever been around. He kept a prayer journal, though folks in his church didn’t know about it until after he died. He was a bit embarrassed by it – parts typed, parts handwritten, scratches and misspellings – 50 pages single spaced, multiple columns of names – names of people he prayed for every day. He prayed every day for the visitors who came to his church. Four hours a day, five days a week, for twelve years he prayed for the people. He said, "there’s nothing else I can do, so I pray". His body was broken, but in another way Ray was more whole than any one else around..
I am reminded about another young man in our church, who was wheelchair bound. He loved the Lord. He loved the church. He never missed a Sunday. He was full of contagious laughter. He lived laughing. He served the Lord laughing. He went to be with Jesus laughing.
Real wholeness isn’t about a beautiful body, or a balanced budget, a beautiful wife and perfect kids, or an enviable social circle. Real wholeness isn’t about temporary things. Real wholeness isn’t found in things our world pursues so obsessively.
Jesus said, “I came that you might have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10.10) “My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.” “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” It is more than patching up our sins, giving us a better self image, and restoring our peace with God, though that’s plenty. It is about real love, real joy, real peace, and real purpose – the kind that will last, forever.
In Christ the Suffering Servant,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eA5u9nwpMs
Brown's Daily Word 3-15-10
Good morning,
Praise The Lord, for the way He brought joy to the world of sin and suffering. He was known as the friend of sinners. Tax collectors and sinners were drawn to Him. He loved to eat withe lost, the least, and the last. He talked about banquets and feasts. He spoke about the great tragedy of being lost and the great joy of being found. He also talked about the son who wen way to far away country and squandered everything. . . he wasted it all.
One of the readings for yesterday was taken from Luke 15, the parable of the prodigal son. We can look at this story and see the foolishness of this boy. The error of his way is so clear that we can see the results of his destructive lifestyle before they even come about. However, when you are in the middle of such a situation, it is not so easy to see what the outcome will be. The world looks so appealing, and people seem so free and appear to be having such a good time. You think you are invincible, and immune from the destruction that takes place in other people’s lives. You are (you think) smarter than they are. Those things will never happen to you. . . But they do happen to you. In the words of the Bible, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:7-8).
In the story of the Prodigal Son, freedom became freedom to sin, and pleasures provided a false enchantment, maybe even a deluded sense of self-justification. The lost son lusted for freedom without restraints and ended up enslaving himself. When his money ran out, his so-called friends deserted him. They, in fact, were never true friends, but merely the acquaintances that like to live off someone else's money. He learned the hard way that we cannot enjoy the things money can buy if we ignore the things money cannot buy.
Sin promises freedom but it only brings slavery. It promises success, but it only brings failure. It promises life, but "the wages of sin is death." Those who reject God’s rule are compelled to serve the Devil. The Prodigal Son reaps the results of sin, ending up in the pigpen. In fact, he came to have more in common withe pigs than human beings. Sin ravages our lives if we stray from the Lord. The Prodigal eventually came to his senses, as the Bible declares.
The prodigal complained about no one but himself, and spoke of no unworthiness but his own. He did not blame his plight on his former evil companions. He came to the point of his own sin, where he could admit the wrong in his eagerness to leave the protection of his home. He offered no excuses to cover his guilt or justify his waywardness. He reached rock bottom, where his only remaining resource was repentance. He confessed, "I have sinned; I am unworthy."
Guilt and shame are painful to face, yet we desperately need to see ourselves for who and what we are. Before we can respond to God’s mercy we must gain a sense of our personal inability and unworthiness, and acknowledge the horror of how our sin has debased our lives and offended God.
The now-penitent son unconditionally confessed his sin, offering no excuses. Realizing how well his father treated his servants, he turned from his sin and turned toward home. His resolutions turned into action. This an essential step on the road to recovery. Some people drown in guilt and depression and never turn to God for recovery. Conviction can lead to despair, but it can also lead to repentance and restoration.
The returned son attempted to deliver his prepared speech in vs. 21— where he admitted he had sinned against "heaven", too shamed to even speak the name of God. He began, but did not get to finish, because his father called to the servants to bring out the best robe (to cover the son’s poverty and shame), a ring (as a seal and symbol of his identity as a member of the household), and shoes (so that he could now walk in a new way). Shoes were not worn by servants, but only by members of the family! The father did not humiliate his son, but welcomed him into all the privileges of the family where he gave him honor. He then directed the servants to prepare a feast! Everything this wayward son hoped to find in the far country he discovered back home. He moved from a "give me" mentality in vs. 12, to "make me" in vs. 19, resulting in reconciliation. (vs. 24) "He was lost and has been found".
Sometimes we think we need to clean ourselves up before we come to God, when all we really need is to come home, where the Father will give His best even though we’re filthy. If you are afraid to come to God, if you are ashamed of your past, if all you have to offer is your guilt, then remember the loving father of the prodigal. He is, in fact, the Father of us all, ready to run to us with open arms.
Fredrick Buechner, in his book, "The Alphabet of Grace", told about Mark Twain at the end of his days, and described him as being “riddled with guilt and fame.” Late in life Twain wrote, “There is no God, no universe, no human race, no earthly life, no heaven, no hell. It is all a dream — a grotesque, foolish dream. Nothing exists but you. And you are but a thought — a vagrant thought, a useless thought, a homeless thought, wandering forlorn among the empty eternities.” The Christian message of hope is the opposite of Twain’s message of despair. It tells us that life is real, we are real, God is real. Its message is that we are not homeless, wandering vagrants, but people with a home. Ours is the Father’s home where we are welcomed, embraced and, yes, celebrated. The Father’s house has become our house — our eternal home.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMrAafe7Mns
Praise The Lord, for the way He brought joy to the world of sin and suffering. He was known as the friend of sinners. Tax collectors and sinners were drawn to Him. He loved to eat withe lost, the least, and the last. He talked about banquets and feasts. He spoke about the great tragedy of being lost and the great joy of being found. He also talked about the son who wen way to far away country and squandered everything. . . he wasted it all.
One of the readings for yesterday was taken from Luke 15, the parable of the prodigal son. We can look at this story and see the foolishness of this boy. The error of his way is so clear that we can see the results of his destructive lifestyle before they even come about. However, when you are in the middle of such a situation, it is not so easy to see what the outcome will be. The world looks so appealing, and people seem so free and appear to be having such a good time. You think you are invincible, and immune from the destruction that takes place in other people’s lives. You are (you think) smarter than they are. Those things will never happen to you. . . But they do happen to you. In the words of the Bible, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:7-8).
In the story of the Prodigal Son, freedom became freedom to sin, and pleasures provided a false enchantment, maybe even a deluded sense of self-justification. The lost son lusted for freedom without restraints and ended up enslaving himself. When his money ran out, his so-called friends deserted him. They, in fact, were never true friends, but merely the acquaintances that like to live off someone else's money. He learned the hard way that we cannot enjoy the things money can buy if we ignore the things money cannot buy.
Sin promises freedom but it only brings slavery. It promises success, but it only brings failure. It promises life, but "the wages of sin is death." Those who reject God’s rule are compelled to serve the Devil. The Prodigal Son reaps the results of sin, ending up in the pigpen. In fact, he came to have more in common withe pigs than human beings. Sin ravages our lives if we stray from the Lord. The Prodigal eventually came to his senses, as the Bible declares.
The prodigal complained about no one but himself, and spoke of no unworthiness but his own. He did not blame his plight on his former evil companions. He came to the point of his own sin, where he could admit the wrong in his eagerness to leave the protection of his home. He offered no excuses to cover his guilt or justify his waywardness. He reached rock bottom, where his only remaining resource was repentance. He confessed, "I have sinned; I am unworthy."
Guilt and shame are painful to face, yet we desperately need to see ourselves for who and what we are. Before we can respond to God’s mercy we must gain a sense of our personal inability and unworthiness, and acknowledge the horror of how our sin has debased our lives and offended God.
The now-penitent son unconditionally confessed his sin, offering no excuses. Realizing how well his father treated his servants, he turned from his sin and turned toward home. His resolutions turned into action. This an essential step on the road to recovery. Some people drown in guilt and depression and never turn to God for recovery. Conviction can lead to despair, but it can also lead to repentance and restoration.
The returned son attempted to deliver his prepared speech in vs. 21— where he admitted he had sinned against "heaven", too shamed to even speak the name of God. He began, but did not get to finish, because his father called to the servants to bring out the best robe (to cover the son’s poverty and shame), a ring (as a seal and symbol of his identity as a member of the household), and shoes (so that he could now walk in a new way). Shoes were not worn by servants, but only by members of the family! The father did not humiliate his son, but welcomed him into all the privileges of the family where he gave him honor. He then directed the servants to prepare a feast! Everything this wayward son hoped to find in the far country he discovered back home. He moved from a "give me" mentality in vs. 12, to "make me" in vs. 19, resulting in reconciliation. (vs. 24) "He was lost and has been found".
Sometimes we think we need to clean ourselves up before we come to God, when all we really need is to come home, where the Father will give His best even though we’re filthy. If you are afraid to come to God, if you are ashamed of your past, if all you have to offer is your guilt, then remember the loving father of the prodigal. He is, in fact, the Father of us all, ready to run to us with open arms.
Fredrick Buechner, in his book, "The Alphabet of Grace", told about Mark Twain at the end of his days, and described him as being “riddled with guilt and fame.” Late in life Twain wrote, “There is no God, no universe, no human race, no earthly life, no heaven, no hell. It is all a dream — a grotesque, foolish dream. Nothing exists but you. And you are but a thought — a vagrant thought, a useless thought, a homeless thought, wandering forlorn among the empty eternities.” The Christian message of hope is the opposite of Twain’s message of despair. It tells us that life is real, we are real, God is real. Its message is that we are not homeless, wandering vagrants, but people with a home. Ours is the Father’s home where we are welcomed, embraced and, yes, celebrated. The Father’s house has become our house — our eternal home.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMrAafe7Mns
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