Saturday, February 25, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
A Phony Prophet
February 22, 2012
A Phony Prophet
by Charles R. Swindoll
Read Acts 13:6--12
This was no time for Paul to be tolerant or passive. We live in a culture that virtually deifies tolerance. One lady recently said to me with a broad grin, "I love everybody; I even love the devil." I call that "tolerance gone to seed." Make no mistake, we're not to love the devil, nor are we to love everything everybody does. Christ commands us to love people, even our enemies, but that doesn't mean we shrink from standing up for righteousness.
Paul didn't back off an inch. I can see the hair stiffening on the back of his neck as he showed his spiritual teeth and growled,
"You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time." And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. (Acts 13:10--11)
When he had to be firm, he stepped up. The result was magnificent. Stunned by the obvious display of God's power and Paul's emboldened response, the pagan official believed, and we can almost see the door to the Gentiles opened wider.
You may face similar opportunities to confront enemies of truth. They come in a number of different forms. Some are more insidious than others. My advice, when the opposition against the truth is this severe, based on Paul's model, is that you confront it. Leave the results with God. Step up and speak out in the name of the Lord. Be certain of His protection. Don't rush in. Pray for wisdom in the choice of your words before saying anything, and then speak boldly. The results may not be as dramatic as what happened in Cyprus, but the Lord will honor your faith. The few times I've had to stand this firmly against wrong, the Lord gave me a sense of near-invincible courage.
When you stand for God, you stand with God. He's got your back. So you can stand with confidence.
Excerpted from Charles R. Swindoll, Great Days with the Great Lives (Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2005). Copyright © 2005 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
A Phony Prophet
by Charles R. Swindoll
Read Acts 13:6--12
This was no time for Paul to be tolerant or passive. We live in a culture that virtually deifies tolerance. One lady recently said to me with a broad grin, "I love everybody; I even love the devil." I call that "tolerance gone to seed." Make no mistake, we're not to love the devil, nor are we to love everything everybody does. Christ commands us to love people, even our enemies, but that doesn't mean we shrink from standing up for righteousness.
Paul didn't back off an inch. I can see the hair stiffening on the back of his neck as he showed his spiritual teeth and growled,
"You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time." And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. (Acts 13:10--11)
When he had to be firm, he stepped up. The result was magnificent. Stunned by the obvious display of God's power and Paul's emboldened response, the pagan official believed, and we can almost see the door to the Gentiles opened wider.
You may face similar opportunities to confront enemies of truth. They come in a number of different forms. Some are more insidious than others. My advice, when the opposition against the truth is this severe, based on Paul's model, is that you confront it. Leave the results with God. Step up and speak out in the name of the Lord. Be certain of His protection. Don't rush in. Pray for wisdom in the choice of your words before saying anything, and then speak boldly. The results may not be as dramatic as what happened in Cyprus, but the Lord will honor your faith. The few times I've had to stand this firmly against wrong, the Lord gave me a sense of near-invincible courage.
When you stand for God, you stand with God. He's got your back. So you can stand with confidence.
Excerpted from Charles R. Swindoll, Great Days with the Great Lives (Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2005). Copyright © 2005 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Be Prepared Get Into the Ark"
"GET INTO the ARK"-by David Wilkerson. John Owen, the great Puritan preacher, spoke the following Message to his congregation on April 9, 1680: "You know that for many years, without failing, I have been warning You continually of an approaching calamitous time, and considering the sins that have been the causes of it. I have told you that Judgment will begin in the house of God; that God seems to have hardened our hearts from his fear, and that none knows what the power of his wrath will be. In all these things I have foretold you of perilous, distressing, calamitous times. These all now lie at the door, and are entering in upon us." God did send his awful judgments on that society. John Owen lived to weep over a flaming holocaust that engulfed London. Yet, before he ever saw a single one of these calamities take place, Owen faithfully cried out from his pulpit, "I am going to show you how we ought to deport ourselves in and under the distressing calamities that are coming upon us, and may reach, it may be, up to the very neck." Beloved, we're living in just such a time as Owen's. And in times like these, there is only one response to the coming storm. "The just shall live by faith!" Owen admonished his people with tears, "Get you an ark-prepare an ark for the safety of you and your families." Then he added, "The ark is Jesus Christ. There is no other way, no other ark-for Isaiah, the prophet, said of our Lord, 'And a man [Christ] shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest, as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadows of a great rock in a weary land.' That is our ark! Blessed are they that trust only in him. I know of no safety, no deliverance, in the trials and afflictions coming upon the earth, but in believing Christ as our only refuge." We may see dangers on all sides, including a devil and his principalities who want to drown our faith in doubts. But we have a fiery guard of angels surrounding us and a God who is under oath to carry us through any disaster we may face. So let me ask you, do you want to face the coming storm with quiet confidence and peace of mind? Then die today to all your own ways and means of saving yourself and commit the keeping of your life wholly to God's care. He's your good, loving Shepherd-and he is faithful to see you through all! Fix your eyes on Jesus. He alone is our hope. SOURCE - http://worldchallenge.org/en/node/12729
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
"AccordingtotheBook": SIX THINGS GOD CANNOT DOby Stan Butler...
"AccordingtotheBook":
SIX THINGS GOD CANNOT DO
by Stan Butler
...: SIX THINGS GOD CANNOT DO by Stan Butler God is sovereign. We say and believe that God is sovereign and although the word “sovere...
SIX THINGS GOD CANNOT DO
by Stan Butler
...: SIX THINGS GOD CANNOT DO by Stan Butler God is sovereign. We say and believe that God is sovereign and although the word “sovere...
Monday, February 13, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
The Push
An excerpt from
The Push
by David McNally and Mac Anderson
The eagle gently coaxed her offspring
toward the edge of the nest. Her heart quivered
with conflicting emotions as she felt their resistance
to her persistent nudging.
"Why does the thrill of soaring have to begin
with the fear of falling?" she thought. This ageless
question was still unanswered for her.
As in the tradition of the species, her nest was
located high upon the shelf of a sheer rock face.
Below there was nothing but air to support
the wings of each child.
"Is it possible that this time it will
not work?" she thought. Despite her fears
the eagle knew it was time. Her parental
mission was all but complete.
There remained one final task ... the push.
The eagle drew courage from an innate wisdom.
Until her children discovered their wings, there was
no purpose for their lives.
Until they learned how to soar, they would fail
to understand the privilege it was to have been born an
eagle. The push was the greatest gift she had to
offer. It was her supreme act of love.
And so, one by one, she pushed them and ...
THEY FLEW.
The Push
by David McNally and Mac Anderson
The eagle gently coaxed her offspring
toward the edge of the nest. Her heart quivered
with conflicting emotions as she felt their resistance
to her persistent nudging.
"Why does the thrill of soaring have to begin
with the fear of falling?" she thought. This ageless
question was still unanswered for her.
As in the tradition of the species, her nest was
located high upon the shelf of a sheer rock face.
Below there was nothing but air to support
the wings of each child.
"Is it possible that this time it will
not work?" she thought. Despite her fears
the eagle knew it was time. Her parental
mission was all but complete.
There remained one final task ... the push.
The eagle drew courage from an innate wisdom.
Until her children discovered their wings, there was
no purpose for their lives.
Until they learned how to soar, they would fail
to understand the privilege it was to have been born an
eagle. The push was the greatest gift she had to
offer. It was her supreme act of love.
And so, one by one, she pushed them and ...
THEY FLEW.
Trusting God in the Shadows
Google
Trusting God in the Shadows by Charles R. Swindoll
Read Acts 11:25; 2 Corinthians 12:2--6
I want to dispense a fresh supply of hope. To help accomplish that, let me suggest four principles. They may mean more to you later than now---in a time when God leads you to wait in the shadows.
First, when God prepares us for effective ministry, He includes what we would rather omit---a period of waiting. That cultivates patience. As I write these words, it occurs to me that I've never met anyone young and patient. (To be honest, I've not met many old and patient folks either.) We're all in a hurry. We don't like to miss one panel of a revolving door. Patience comes hard in a hurry-up society. Yet, it's an essential quality, cultivated only in extended periods of waiting.
Second, as God makes us wait, hiding us in His shadow, He shows us we're not indispensable. That makes us humble. One major reason the Lord removes us and has us wait in His shadow is to remind us we're not the star attraction. We're not indispensable. That realization cultivates genuine humility. I'm convinced Paul never once questioned God for having His hand on Peter and Barnabas, rather than on him. In a time when most gifted individuals would have been volunteering at the revival headquarters, Paul willingly remained behind the scenes. All the while waiting for his time---correction, God's time.
Third, while God hides us away, He reveals new dimensions of Himself and new insights regarding ministry. That makes us deep. What we need today is not smarter people or busier people. A far greater need is deeper people. Deep people will always have a ministry. Always. God deepens us through time spent waiting on Him.
Fourth, when God finally chooses to use us, it comes at a time least expected, when we feel the least qualified. That makes us effective. The perfect set-up for a long-lasting, effective ministry begins with surprise. "Me? You sure You don't want that other person? She's got great qualifications and obvious gifts. You may want to talk to her." That's the idea. It's refreshing, in this highly efficient age, to find a few who are still amazed at the way God is using them.
Trusting God in the Shadows by Charles R. Swindoll
Read Acts 11:25; 2 Corinthians 12:2--6
I want to dispense a fresh supply of hope. To help accomplish that, let me suggest four principles. They may mean more to you later than now---in a time when God leads you to wait in the shadows.
First, when God prepares us for effective ministry, He includes what we would rather omit---a period of waiting. That cultivates patience. As I write these words, it occurs to me that I've never met anyone young and patient. (To be honest, I've not met many old and patient folks either.) We're all in a hurry. We don't like to miss one panel of a revolving door. Patience comes hard in a hurry-up society. Yet, it's an essential quality, cultivated only in extended periods of waiting.
Second, as God makes us wait, hiding us in His shadow, He shows us we're not indispensable. That makes us humble. One major reason the Lord removes us and has us wait in His shadow is to remind us we're not the star attraction. We're not indispensable. That realization cultivates genuine humility. I'm convinced Paul never once questioned God for having His hand on Peter and Barnabas, rather than on him. In a time when most gifted individuals would have been volunteering at the revival headquarters, Paul willingly remained behind the scenes. All the while waiting for his time---correction, God's time.
Third, while God hides us away, He reveals new dimensions of Himself and new insights regarding ministry. That makes us deep. What we need today is not smarter people or busier people. A far greater need is deeper people. Deep people will always have a ministry. Always. God deepens us through time spent waiting on Him.
Fourth, when God finally chooses to use us, it comes at a time least expected, when we feel the least qualified. That makes us effective. The perfect set-up for a long-lasting, effective ministry begins with surprise. "Me? You sure You don't want that other person? She's got great qualifications and obvious gifts. You may want to talk to her." That's the idea. It's refreshing, in this highly efficient age, to find a few who are still amazed at the way God is using them.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Ladybird Carpet Care
Ladybird Carpet Care
A married lady was expecting a birthday gift from her husband.
For many months she had admired a beautiful diamond ring in a showroom, and knowing her husband could afford it, she told him that was all she wanted. As her birthday approached, this lady awaited signs that her husband had purchased the diamond ring.
Finally, on the morning of her birthday, her husband called her into his study.Her husband told her how proud he was to have such a good wife, and told her how much he loved her.He handed her a beautiful wrapped gift box.
Curious, the wife opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the wife's name embossed in gold. Angrily, she raised her voice to her husband and said, 'With all your money you give me a Bible?' And stormed out of the house, leaving her husband.
Many years passed and the lady was very successful in business. She managed to settle for a more beautiful house and a wonderful family, but realized her ex-husband was very old, and thought perhaps she should go to visit him. She had not seen him for many years. But before she could make arrangements, she received a telegram telling her that her ex-husband had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to her. She needed to come back immediately and take care of things.
When she arrived at her ex-husband's house, sudden sadness and regret filled her heart. She began to search through her ex-husband’s important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as she had left it years before.
With tears, she opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. Her ex-husband had carefully underlined a verse, Matt 7:11, 'And if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father, who is in heaven, give what is good to those who ask Him?'
As she read those words, a tiny package dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a diamond ring, with her name engraved on it -- the same diamond ring which she saw at the showroom. On the tag was the date of her birth, and the words.'LUV U ALWAYS'.
How many times do we miss God's blessings, because they are not packaged as we expected? I trust you enjoyed this. Pass it on to others.
Do not spoil what you have, by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.
IF YOUR GIFT IS NOT PACKAGED THE WAY YOU WANT IT, IT’S BECAUSE IT IS BETTER PACKAGED THE WAY IT IS. ALWAYS APPRECIATE LITTLE THINGS; THEY USUALLY LEAD YOU TO BIGGER & BETTER THINGS.'The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart
A married lady was expecting a birthday gift from her husband.
For many months she had admired a beautiful diamond ring in a showroom, and knowing her husband could afford it, she told him that was all she wanted. As her birthday approached, this lady awaited signs that her husband had purchased the diamond ring.
Finally, on the morning of her birthday, her husband called her into his study.Her husband told her how proud he was to have such a good wife, and told her how much he loved her.He handed her a beautiful wrapped gift box.
Curious, the wife opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the wife's name embossed in gold. Angrily, she raised her voice to her husband and said, 'With all your money you give me a Bible?' And stormed out of the house, leaving her husband.
Many years passed and the lady was very successful in business. She managed to settle for a more beautiful house and a wonderful family, but realized her ex-husband was very old, and thought perhaps she should go to visit him. She had not seen him for many years. But before she could make arrangements, she received a telegram telling her that her ex-husband had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to her. She needed to come back immediately and take care of things.
When she arrived at her ex-husband's house, sudden sadness and regret filled her heart. She began to search through her ex-husband’s important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as she had left it years before.
With tears, she opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. Her ex-husband had carefully underlined a verse, Matt 7:11, 'And if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father, who is in heaven, give what is good to those who ask Him?'
As she read those words, a tiny package dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a diamond ring, with her name engraved on it -- the same diamond ring which she saw at the showroom. On the tag was the date of her birth, and the words.'LUV U ALWAYS'.
How many times do we miss God's blessings, because they are not packaged as we expected? I trust you enjoyed this. Pass it on to others.
Do not spoil what you have, by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.
IF YOUR GIFT IS NOT PACKAGED THE WAY YOU WANT IT, IT’S BECAUSE IT IS BETTER PACKAGED THE WAY IT IS. ALWAYS APPRECIATE LITTLE THINGS; THEY USUALLY LEAD YOU TO BIGGER & BETTER THINGS.'The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart
Thursday, January 26, 2012
"AccordingtotheBook"
"AccordingtotheBook"
Rapture ???By Stan ButlerA lot of money has been made and is being made with the scare tactics involved with something called the “rapture”. Let’s look at how this “rapture thing” got started, and then spread, and then what the word of God has to say about Christ’s return.The doctrine of a secret rapture was first conceived by John Darby of the Plymouth Brethren in 1827. Darby, given credit for being known as the “father of dispensationalism, is the inventor of the doctrine known as “the rapture”, claiming that there are two second comings of our Lord Jesus Christ.In 1830 in Scotland, a 15 yr old girl named Margaret McDonald had a vision that Jesus would return to earth twice. She saw Jesus taking true believers to heaven and then returning again for the last judgment. During a Darby visit to her hometown of Port Glasgow, she shared her vision with John Darby. He then incorporated Margaret’s vision and his own thoughts into a precise end time plot based on passages found throughout the Bible. The centerpiece of his prophetic system—Jesus would rescue believers before the horrors of the book of Revelation. This doctrine was then spread by Darby throughout Great Britain and America and called “the rapture”.In the early 20th century, Darby’s ideas were taken up by a man named C.I.Scoffield. C.I.Scoffield annotated a Bible based partly on Darby’s end time prophecies. (Annotate—add explanatory notes to a book, document, etc.) He put his notes on the same page as the biblical text and often times readers couldn’t remember if they had read about the rapture in the book of the Bible itself or on the bottom of the page. This Scoffield Bible has sold over 11,000,000 copies worldwide and is still in print in seven different languages.We’re told in Acts 2:9-11…"And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” No secret coming or snatching away here. He’ll return just as He left, with witnessesJesus said in Matthew 26:64… that we would see Him coming in clouds of glory. No secret coming or snatching away here. All eyes shall behold Him.In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17..."For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." No secret coming or snatching away here either. It’ll be a loud announcement from the start, and then we’ll see the graves opened up and those that are “in Christ” will be caught up with the dead in Christ. Does this describe a secret snatching away (rapture)?And in Revelation 1:7…"Behold He cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him."There will be no secret snatching away of just the faithful. (All eyes shall be a witness)There will be no second chance for the lost to be saved. (Better talk to your loved ones now)There will be no rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem with animal sacrifices. Our Jewish friends need to accept and believe that Jesus is their promised Messiah.Absolutely nothing on earth is preventing or will prevent the second and final coming of our King. All that has to happen is for the Father to look to the right hand side of His throne and speak the words, “Go get ‘em Son.” No future events must take place first. Now is the day of salvation. Don’t be deceived into thinking you have time on your side and many things must happen before Christ can return. Don’t think you can wait till there is a temple being rebuilt in Jerusalem. Don’t think you can wait till some guy with a scar on his face comes into power. Act, and do it now.Hear the gospel, believe that Jesus is the only Christ and the very Son of God, confess this before men now and till you die, repent of your sins, be baptized for the remission of those sins, and be faithful till death to the Lord and His Table. Put your energy into soul winning instead of arguments about an imaginary “rapture.”
Rapture ???By Stan ButlerA lot of money has been made and is being made with the scare tactics involved with something called the “rapture”. Let’s look at how this “rapture thing” got started, and then spread, and then what the word of God has to say about Christ’s return.The doctrine of a secret rapture was first conceived by John Darby of the Plymouth Brethren in 1827. Darby, given credit for being known as the “father of dispensationalism, is the inventor of the doctrine known as “the rapture”, claiming that there are two second comings of our Lord Jesus Christ.In 1830 in Scotland, a 15 yr old girl named Margaret McDonald had a vision that Jesus would return to earth twice. She saw Jesus taking true believers to heaven and then returning again for the last judgment. During a Darby visit to her hometown of Port Glasgow, she shared her vision with John Darby. He then incorporated Margaret’s vision and his own thoughts into a precise end time plot based on passages found throughout the Bible. The centerpiece of his prophetic system—Jesus would rescue believers before the horrors of the book of Revelation. This doctrine was then spread by Darby throughout Great Britain and America and called “the rapture”.In the early 20th century, Darby’s ideas were taken up by a man named C.I.Scoffield. C.I.Scoffield annotated a Bible based partly on Darby’s end time prophecies. (Annotate—add explanatory notes to a book, document, etc.) He put his notes on the same page as the biblical text and often times readers couldn’t remember if they had read about the rapture in the book of the Bible itself or on the bottom of the page. This Scoffield Bible has sold over 11,000,000 copies worldwide and is still in print in seven different languages.We’re told in Acts 2:9-11…"And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” No secret coming or snatching away here. He’ll return just as He left, with witnessesJesus said in Matthew 26:64… that we would see Him coming in clouds of glory. No secret coming or snatching away here. All eyes shall behold Him.In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17..."For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." No secret coming or snatching away here either. It’ll be a loud announcement from the start, and then we’ll see the graves opened up and those that are “in Christ” will be caught up with the dead in Christ. Does this describe a secret snatching away (rapture)?And in Revelation 1:7…"Behold He cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him."There will be no secret snatching away of just the faithful. (All eyes shall be a witness)There will be no second chance for the lost to be saved. (Better talk to your loved ones now)There will be no rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem with animal sacrifices. Our Jewish friends need to accept and believe that Jesus is their promised Messiah.Absolutely nothing on earth is preventing or will prevent the second and final coming of our King. All that has to happen is for the Father to look to the right hand side of His throne and speak the words, “Go get ‘em Son.” No future events must take place first. Now is the day of salvation. Don’t be deceived into thinking you have time on your side and many things must happen before Christ can return. Don’t think you can wait till there is a temple being rebuilt in Jerusalem. Don’t think you can wait till some guy with a scar on his face comes into power. Act, and do it now.Hear the gospel, believe that Jesus is the only Christ and the very Son of God, confess this before men now and till you die, repent of your sins, be baptized for the remission of those sins, and be faithful till death to the Lord and His Table. Put your energy into soul winning instead of arguments about an imaginary “rapture.”
PASTOR'S CORNER: Legalism Can Be Lethal
PASTOR'S CORNER: Legalism Can Be Lethal: Col 2:16-23 Legalism by definition is..... the attempt of self-atonement for the purpose of self-glorification and ends up in self-wors...
Thursday, December 2, 2010
How Can I Forgive...Vera Sinton
Imagine some of the things you would find most difficult to forgive.
At the climax of it all he was bearing the full penalty of all the sin committed by people down the centuries. He experienced what it felt like to be out of touch with God, as you and I are. He cried, 'Why have you forsaken me?'
God responded with a unique demonstration of his power over the universe. He raised his Son to life again. Jesus met his followers again and gave them good news to pass on: the offer of forgiveness and new life lived in love with God.
The forgiveness God offers us is not a cheap and easy one.
The philosopher sneered, 'God will forgive. It is his business.'
The cross of Jesus Christ tells another. story. God poured out his heart in costly love, sending his beloved Son to die for you and me. He invites you to turn to him and say, 'I am sorry for my sin. I believe Jesus died for me. Please forgive me and make me your son or daughter again.'
But realize, if you take that step, you are also committing yourself to forgive.
- injustice carried out for cynical political ends
- the jealous destruction of a man because of his good influence over others
- being betrayed for money by someone you trusted
- desertion by a close com[anion at the moment of danger, denying all knowledge of you
- beating someone up for a bit of fun
- allowing an obviously innocent man to be sentenced to one of the most cruel deaths ever devised
- standing and jeering at a person in excruciating pain
At the climax of it all he was bearing the full penalty of all the sin committed by people down the centuries. He experienced what it felt like to be out of touch with God, as you and I are. He cried, 'Why have you forsaken me?'
God responded with a unique demonstration of his power over the universe. He raised his Son to life again. Jesus met his followers again and gave them good news to pass on: the offer of forgiveness and new life lived in love with God.
The forgiveness God offers us is not a cheap and easy one.
The philosopher sneered, 'God will forgive. It is his business.'
The cross of Jesus Christ tells another. story. God poured out his heart in costly love, sending his beloved Son to die for you and me. He invites you to turn to him and say, 'I am sorry for my sin. I believe Jesus died for me. Please forgive me and make me your son or daughter again.'
But realize, if you take that step, you are also committing yourself to forgive.
How Can I Forgive...Vera Sinton
You Are Not Perfect
We have seen that one reason for forgiving is the inward-looking one: resentment damages yourself.
But there is a more outward-looking reason. None of us is perfect. If you are honest you will admit that, like everyone else, you frequently need forgiveness. You need it from other people. You need forgiveness from God.
That last thought may be a new one to you. Your words, your actions are not meaningless. They are not just your private concern. They matter to a God who knows every detail of your inner life.
When you are lazy or untruthful, careless or cutting, greedy and cowardly, you offend the Creator who made you. When you hurt another person, or fail to put energy and talents to use, you are actually hurting a Father who cares about you and the people around you, like children and family.
King David in the Bible once arranged the death of one of his best soldiers because he had fallen for the man's wife. When he began to feel guilt about what he had done, he wrote in a poem to God, 'Against you, you only, have I sinned.'
He understood the seriousness of his actions in the eyes of a God who cares.
This may sound gloomy to you, especially if you are feeling sore about how other people have hurt you. But in fact it is only the prelude to good news. The good news is that God offers you complete forgiveness, and He does it in a way that takes seriously the hurt and damage done by your failure and sin.
God's forgiveness is linked to a real event that took place in history but is still immensely relevant today.
Imagine some of the things you should find most difficult to forgive.
We have seen that one reason for forgiving is the inward-looking one: resentment damages yourself.
But there is a more outward-looking reason. None of us is perfect. If you are honest you will admit that, like everyone else, you frequently need forgiveness. You need it from other people. You need forgiveness from God.
That last thought may be a new one to you. Your words, your actions are not meaningless. They are not just your private concern. They matter to a God who knows every detail of your inner life.
When you are lazy or untruthful, careless or cutting, greedy and cowardly, you offend the Creator who made you. When you hurt another person, or fail to put energy and talents to use, you are actually hurting a Father who cares about you and the people around you, like children and family.
King David in the Bible once arranged the death of one of his best soldiers because he had fallen for the man's wife. When he began to feel guilt about what he had done, he wrote in a poem to God, 'Against you, you only, have I sinned.'
He understood the seriousness of his actions in the eyes of a God who cares.
This may sound gloomy to you, especially if you are feeling sore about how other people have hurt you. But in fact it is only the prelude to good news. The good news is that God offers you complete forgiveness, and He does it in a way that takes seriously the hurt and damage done by your failure and sin.
God's forgiveness is linked to a real event that took place in history but is still immensely relevant today.
Imagine some of the things you should find most difficult to forgive.
Friday, November 26, 2010
How Can I Forgive...Vera Sinton
Resentment Is Bad For You.
a proverb says, Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never harm me.
Alas that is quite untrue! Words can do untold damage, even at a physical level. When someone deceives you, or curses you, the anger of rear you feel produces profound changes to your heart rate and blood pressure. Your body gears up to fight or run away. In extreme cases, people can suffer heart attacks and strokes as a result of hearing cruel words or watching horrible events.
Pain is an important safety valve. When you cut your leg, the pain you feel warns you of the damage done and reminds you to be more careful. It may send you hurrying to someone you love for consolation. Or to a doctor for stitches.
Feeling anger when you have been hurt by someone is not wrong. (We shall come back to this).) It is a normal reaction and the sign of a healthy personality. If the matter is small and trivial you probably need simply to admit the feeling and quietly bring it under control.
But if it is a more serious hurt you may well need help. The pain should not be ignored. It should be openly admitted to someone else who can comfort and help. It often takes time before emotional pain subsides.
Ideally, talking will be followed by reconciliation with the person who caused the hurt. You say to me, 'You hurt me.' We talk about it until I understand the hurt and show I am sorry about it and want to give you comfort and love.
Usually that will be sufficient to take much of the pain out of the hurt. But suppose you refuse to talk or to admit there is a problem. The anger you felt at the beginning does not go away. Instead it settles down into a long-term resentment. Every time you think about the event you smoulder inside. It worms its way into your personality and relationships. 'I'll never trust anyone again,' you say and hold people at arm's length.
If the resentment is strong enough, the inner stress may take its toll on the body. So initial anger may be health but long-term, unhealed anger is very dangerous indeed. For our own good, we need to learn how to forgive.
a proverb says, Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never harm me.
Alas that is quite untrue! Words can do untold damage, even at a physical level. When someone deceives you, or curses you, the anger of rear you feel produces profound changes to your heart rate and blood pressure. Your body gears up to fight or run away. In extreme cases, people can suffer heart attacks and strokes as a result of hearing cruel words or watching horrible events.
Pain is an important safety valve. When you cut your leg, the pain you feel warns you of the damage done and reminds you to be more careful. It may send you hurrying to someone you love for consolation. Or to a doctor for stitches.
Feeling anger when you have been hurt by someone is not wrong. (We shall come back to this).) It is a normal reaction and the sign of a healthy personality. If the matter is small and trivial you probably need simply to admit the feeling and quietly bring it under control.
But if it is a more serious hurt you may well need help. The pain should not be ignored. It should be openly admitted to someone else who can comfort and help. It often takes time before emotional pain subsides.
Ideally, talking will be followed by reconciliation with the person who caused the hurt. You say to me, 'You hurt me.' We talk about it until I understand the hurt and show I am sorry about it and want to give you comfort and love.
Usually that will be sufficient to take much of the pain out of the hurt. But suppose you refuse to talk or to admit there is a problem. The anger you felt at the beginning does not go away. Instead it settles down into a long-term resentment. Every time you think about the event you smoulder inside. It worms its way into your personality and relationships. 'I'll never trust anyone again,' you say and hold people at arm's length.
If the resentment is strong enough, the inner stress may take its toll on the body. So initial anger may be health but long-term, unhealed anger is very dangerous indeed. For our own good, we need to learn how to forgive.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Forgiving Against All Odds.. Vera Sinton
In times of war and political unrest, things happen which leave huge scars of unforgiven wrongs. But such times can also produce shining examples of forgiveness.
Pastor Son in Korea in the 1940's was a gentle, gracious man. He had already suffered imprisonment by the foreigners who controlled his country. then he received news that his two sons at college had been murdered by student activists because they would not join the cause.
As the Pastor took their funeral service, the congregation was astonished to hear him announce that God has given him a love which made him determined to seek out and adopt the killer.
Through a network of friends, a frightened young man was rescued from a firing squad and brought face to face with his victims' family.
'We've lost two sons,' said Pastor Son. 'Come and be our son instead.'
In 1987, millions of viewers watched television interviewers with Gordon Wilson. He and his daughter were buried in rubble by a bomb blast at a public parade in Northern Ireland. He was holding her hand as she died. But he refused to nurse ill-will against the bombers.
I shall pray for them tonight and every night. God forgive them, for they don't know what they do.'
A Dutch women, Corrie ten Boom, at the age of fifty was suddenly plunged into the excitement of helping Jews escape the Nazis. As a result, she and her sister Betsie were sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp, where Betsie died. After the war, Corrie worked tirelessly helping people to forgive.
Then came the day when one of those sadistic guards stepped up to her with a beaming face. He had found God's forgiveness and wanted to shake her hand. All the horrors of the camp and her sister's suffering passed before Corrie's eyes. Her arm seemed to be stuck to her side.
Silently she prayed, 'Jesus, I cannot forgive him.
give me your forgiveness.' 'As I took his hand,' she writes 'the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while in my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me.'
'Oh, but,' you may be saying, 'those are very special people. I couldn't be like that. I'm not even sure I want to be.'
Of course, you can choose not to forgive. but before you do, it is worth looking at the consequences.
Pastor Son in Korea in the 1940's was a gentle, gracious man. He had already suffered imprisonment by the foreigners who controlled his country. then he received news that his two sons at college had been murdered by student activists because they would not join the cause.
As the Pastor took their funeral service, the congregation was astonished to hear him announce that God has given him a love which made him determined to seek out and adopt the killer.
Through a network of friends, a frightened young man was rescued from a firing squad and brought face to face with his victims' family.
'We've lost two sons,' said Pastor Son. 'Come and be our son instead.'
In 1987, millions of viewers watched television interviewers with Gordon Wilson. He and his daughter were buried in rubble by a bomb blast at a public parade in Northern Ireland. He was holding her hand as she died. But he refused to nurse ill-will against the bombers.
I shall pray for them tonight and every night. God forgive them, for they don't know what they do.'
A Dutch women, Corrie ten Boom, at the age of fifty was suddenly plunged into the excitement of helping Jews escape the Nazis. As a result, she and her sister Betsie were sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp, where Betsie died. After the war, Corrie worked tirelessly helping people to forgive.
Then came the day when one of those sadistic guards stepped up to her with a beaming face. He had found God's forgiveness and wanted to shake her hand. All the horrors of the camp and her sister's suffering passed before Corrie's eyes. Her arm seemed to be stuck to her side.
Silently she prayed, 'Jesus, I cannot forgive him.
give me your forgiveness.' 'As I took his hand,' she writes 'the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while in my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me.'
'Oh, but,' you may be saying, 'those are very special people. I couldn't be like that. I'm not even sure I want to be.'
Of course, you can choose not to forgive. but before you do, it is worth looking at the consequences.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)