Brown's Daily Word 9/24/08

Good Morning,
Praise the Lord for this new day a gift from the Lord. We live in a world full of concerns and crises. Thank you for praying for the persecuted Christians going through times of traumatic crisis in Orissa India. The Lord of the Church is concerned and compassionate towards them.
George Barna, a religious researcher stated, “We asked [American adults] what they felt were the most important reasons for churches to exist. Among the most frequent answers provided was to demonstrate the love of God by helping the needy." When you think of God, you might think of the Almighty Creator of the universe. Or, you might think of God as perfect holiness, into whose presence we dare not enter uninvited! You may also think of God as a loving father who has compassion for his children. Scripture says, “As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him” (Psalm 103:11). God cares about his creation. Further, God gently loves his entire creation with a tender compassion, “The LORD is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made” (Psalm 145:8-9). Compassion is simply understanding someone’s deepest needs together with a desire to do something about it. It is always directed at something or someone, and God is compassionate toward all of us. Bill Hybels has said, “You have never locked eyes with another human being who isn’t valuable to God.” No one is outside the compassion of God. How far would God go to alleviate our hurt and pain and sinfulness? Matthew tells us, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them” (Matthew 9:36). Remember, compassion is always directed toward someone. Jesus’ compassion was directed toward the crowds, “because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” He cares for the lost, and out of his compassion, Jesus came to rescue/find/to save the lost. If lost people matter to God so much that he sent His only Son Jesus, and if lost people matter so much to Jesus that he died to save them, then shouldn’t they matter to us? Ralph Neighbor, pastor of Houston’s West Memorial Baptist Church tells the story of a man named Jack, Jack had been president of a large corporation. When he was diagnosed with cancer, the company ruthlessly dumped him. He went through his insurance, used his life savings, and had practically nothing left. A pastor visited him with one of his deacons, who said, "Jack, you speak so openly about the brief life you have left. I wonder if you’ve prepared for your life after death?" “Jack stood up, livid with rage. "You -- ---- Christians. All you ever think about is what’s going to happen to me after I die. If your God is so great, why doesn’t he do something about the real problems of life?" He went on to tell us he was leaving his wife penniless and his daughter without money for college. Then he ordered us out. Later the deacon insisted on returning. Pastor Neighbor and his deacon went. "Jack, I know I offended you," he said. "I humbly apologize. But I want you to know I’ve been working since then. Your first problem is where your family will live after you die. A realtor in our church has agreed to sell your house and give your wife his commission. I guarantee you that, if you’ll permit us, some other men and I will make the house payments until it’s sold. Then, I’ve contacted the owner of an apartment house down the street. He’s offered your wife a three-bedroom apartment plus free utilities and an $850-a-month salary in return for her collecting rents and supervising plumbing and electrical repairs. The income from your house should pay for your daughter’s college. I just wanted you to know your family will be cared for." “Jack cried like a baby. He died shortly thereafter, so wrapped in pain that he never accepted Christ. But he experienced God’s love even while rejecting him. And his widow, touched by compassionate Christians, responded to the gospel message.” (Citation: Van Campbell, Homer, Louisiana. Leadership, Vol. 5, no. 1.) Friends, our neighborhood and our world need to be touched by compassionate Christians.
In Jesus our Saviour and Lord,

Brown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-zJHgaoVa4
All About Investments
STOCK: A magical piece of paper that is worth $33.75 until the moment you buy it. It will then be worth $8.50.
BOND: What you had with your spouse until you pawned his/her golf clubs to invest in Amazon.com.
BROKER: The person you trust to help you make major financial decisions.Please note the first five letters of this word spell "Broke".
BEAR: What your trade account and wallet will be when you take a flyer on that hot stock tip your secretary gave you.
BULL: What your broker uses to explain why your mutual funds tanked during the last quarter.
MARGIN: Where you scribble the latest quotes when you're supposed to be listening to your manager's presentation.
SHORT POSITION: A type of trade where, in theory, a person sells stocks he doesn't actually own. Since this also only ever works in theory, a short position is what a person usually ends up being in (i.e. "The rent, sir?" "Hahaha, well, I'm a little short this month.").
COMMISSION: The only reliable way to make money on the stock market, which is why your broker charges you one.
YAK: What you do into a pail when you discover your stocks have plunged and your broker is making a margin call.