The Lord blessed us with a summer-like day yesterday. Our grandchildren spent
part of the day in Boston's Arnold Arboretum, which is studded with variant and
vibrant trees, hundreds of flowering trees, bushes, and plants. I talked to
Simeon, and talked about coming to New York in summer and going to Sky Lake,
walking and hiking. and looking for big turtles and deer. It is
fully summertime in Orissa , India. It has been 114-116 degrees in Phulbani,
the county seat of the area where I was born. In the summer schools closed for
summer vacation. During my growing up days in that area, we spent summer time
in the mango groves, climbing the trees, impressing the girls, (Days of
innocence) and gathering mangoes. I also went hunting for deer in the summer.
My dad was a hunter. We used to drive deer for him. In one of the hunting
expeditions he shot a tiger, in another expedition he shot a wild buffalo,
and so on and so forth. We used to climb the mountains and walk in the valleys
for hunting. The village where I was born is situated 7000 feet above sea
level. The air is always clean and the water always sparkling. I was raised in
the area surrounded by Four mountains, one in each direction.
The highest of
all mountain peaks in the world is, of course, Mt. Everest. The locals call it
Holy Mountain or Saint Mother. The world's most daring climbers call it
Utopia. Most of us simply call it Mt. Everest, earth's grandest peak at 29,028
feet. It remains the most challenging and dangerous ascent in the world. In
fact, Everest is littered with the frozen bodies of fallen climbers who've never
been removed due to the hazardous terrain. For them, climbing it was the
ultimate challenge for which to die. On May 29, 1953, this elusive real estate finally
was scaled by Sir Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay. For
their efforts, Hillary was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II of England, while
Norgay was politely thanked.
Often, those who deserve more get less. This is
also true in ministry, where some of God's choicest servants are easily
overlooked. They climb the mountain unnoticed. They top the peak and plant the
flag, far from the stage lights and out of sight without fanfare or reward.
Their efforts are off Broadway, so to speak —way off.
That's
because God's work is rarely carried out in the spotlight of a crowded theatre.
In one of the Bible's most notable scenes, David brought down the famed over-sized Philistine, Goliath. As a result, the slim and ruddy shepherd became a national hero. Songs were written about him. The king showered him with gifts. Yet nothing is known of the fearsome foursome that took on Goliath's revenge-seeking brothers. The names Abishai, Sibbecai, Elhanan, and Jonathan (not the Jonathan you're thinking of) are all but forgotten. Yet, each downed a giant.
The process of choosing the 12 disciples was not easy. Each selection would play a critical role in the Lord's ministry and the formation of the church. Therefore, Jesus prayed all night prior to their announcement. Yet, despite all that effort, I still find myself wondering why some of the 12 were chosen.
Thaddaeus had a name meaning "Breast Child," which was probably a reference to being the runt in his family. With such a stigma he possibly labored under an identity crisis or poor self image. I would pass, but Jesus found him worthy.
Then there James the less, as Mark called him. Apart from having an eternally humbling nickname, we know nothing more about him because nothing more has been said. An executive search committees quickly would disqualify him for the lack of a resume, and I might pass him by, but Jesus found him worthy.
Simon the Zealot—whose close association with his political party has been forever branded to his name had a radical agenda which could not possibly gel with the Savior's. I would pass on him, too, but Jesus found him worthy.
For whatever reason, Peter, James and John were granted notoriety, while the others slipped into the second or third tier. Yet, Jesus saw enough in each to extend His personal invitation to "follow Me." They were His choices, distinguished or not.
Many of Israel's judges were similar. Samson was legendary then and now. Ehud was not. Scripture gives no clues about Ehud's background, family, intellect, personality or qualifications. We are only told he was left-handed. Still, with a little faith and plenty of guts, this unknown southpaw delivered a nation. Even less is well-known of Shamgar, Ehud's successor.
These insignificant persons may be the world's definition of nobodies, but such was not the case for God. Each scaled his mountain under the watchful eye of the Sovereign One who had called them to climb and planned their routes.
William Carey, the father of modern missions, spent the bulk of his ministry in India, far from the notoriety of those who'd be impressed by his work, translating the Bible into 44 languages; but that wasn't why Carey had done it. He only sought the approval of One. On his deathbed, he said, "When I am gone, speak nothing of Dr. Carey. Speak only of Dr. Carey's Savior.
What way to live, what way to serve, what way to die, and what a way to live again.
In Christ,
Brown
http://youtu.be/c9zHn4QSH-8
In one of the Bible's most notable scenes, David brought down the famed over-sized Philistine, Goliath. As a result, the slim and ruddy shepherd became a national hero. Songs were written about him. The king showered him with gifts. Yet nothing is known of the fearsome foursome that took on Goliath's revenge-seeking brothers. The names Abishai, Sibbecai, Elhanan, and Jonathan (not the Jonathan you're thinking of) are all but forgotten. Yet, each downed a giant.
The process of choosing the 12 disciples was not easy. Each selection would play a critical role in the Lord's ministry and the formation of the church. Therefore, Jesus prayed all night prior to their announcement. Yet, despite all that effort, I still find myself wondering why some of the 12 were chosen.
Thaddaeus had a name meaning "Breast Child," which was probably a reference to being the runt in his family. With such a stigma he possibly labored under an identity crisis or poor self image. I would pass, but Jesus found him worthy.
Then there James the less, as Mark called him. Apart from having an eternally humbling nickname, we know nothing more about him because nothing more has been said. An executive search committees quickly would disqualify him for the lack of a resume, and I might pass him by, but Jesus found him worthy.
Simon the Zealot—whose close association with his political party has been forever branded to his name had a radical agenda which could not possibly gel with the Savior's. I would pass on him, too, but Jesus found him worthy.
For whatever reason, Peter, James and John were granted notoriety, while the others slipped into the second or third tier. Yet, Jesus saw enough in each to extend His personal invitation to "follow Me." They were His choices, distinguished or not.
Many of Israel's judges were similar. Samson was legendary then and now. Ehud was not. Scripture gives no clues about Ehud's background, family, intellect, personality or qualifications. We are only told he was left-handed. Still, with a little faith and plenty of guts, this unknown southpaw delivered a nation. Even less is well-known of Shamgar, Ehud's successor.
These insignificant persons may be the world's definition of nobodies, but such was not the case for God. Each scaled his mountain under the watchful eye of the Sovereign One who had called them to climb and planned their routes.
William Carey, the father of modern missions, spent the bulk of his ministry in India, far from the notoriety of those who'd be impressed by his work, translating the Bible into 44 languages; but that wasn't why Carey had done it. He only sought the approval of One. On his deathbed, he said, "When I am gone, speak nothing of Dr. Carey. Speak only of Dr. Carey's Savior.
What way to live, what way to serve, what way to die, and what a way to live again.
In Christ,
Brown
http://youtu.be/c9zHn4QSH-8
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