Wednesday May 24

Here you go, the last of the five week thing we have been working on for the last two months. It has been good, we have learned new things and had good talks. I look forward to seeing each of you Wednesday night. Read through this, we will discuss it at the study. We will probably meet my at Kevin's house. If not I will post an address by 3:30 Wednesday.

The Thought:
Because God is seeking worshippers of all peoples, I desire to magnify Him among the nations. I actively commit my life and energy to participate in His global purposes in my generation.

The Prayer:
God, kindle in me the desire to go anywhere, at anytime, at any cost, to do anything to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Word:

All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name.
Psalm 86:9 (NIV)

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (NIV)

he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob 
 and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."
Isaiah 49:6 (NIV)

And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Revelation 5:9-14 (NIV)

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah
that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.
May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you.
May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. Selah
May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you.
Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us.
God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.
Psalm 67 (NIV)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Acts 1:8 (NIV)

Thanks Passion Resources for the copied material.

I Have Seen It, and This is What I Think

The Da Vinci Code, that is, that is what I saw. I figured a movie ticket was cheaper than a book and I have never in my life read a book in two and a half hours. So, I went to the movie theater and myself, and about 15 other strangers, sat there and watched Tom Hanks run all over Western Europe. So, if you plan to go see the movie, possibly in the group that is going tonight, this is how it ends. No, I'm kidding, I will not give away the end, or really even say anything about the content of the movie. I have nothing to say about the movie at this point. I figure if enough of you go see it then we can have discussions about the merit of the story. But, until then this is all I have to say. I will have a little fun with this too. In true Da Vinci code style I am not going to say what I thought about the movie, but I will leave you a clue that you can figure out. To see what I thought, and maintain that everyone should keep in mind, can be found here: read the forth word of the third credit at the end of the movie, in this case “a” is considered a word. It says exactly what I think about all this Da Vinci Code business(I really hope I remembered right and didn't get this wrong. If I am right you will get it, although if it ends up being Ron Howard’s middle initial, then my memory has failed me. So, after you see the movie, make a comment to let me know if I am or am not crazy.) Other than that, enjoy the movie; and take a little advice, go to the restroom before the movie. Boy I hope I counted right.

If I Perish, I Perish (also see note about Wednesday May 17)

NOTE: So we will go to the school this week. Meet at the round concrete tables by Moore auditorium, we will consider you late after 9:00 pm. I will have posters, we will talk and walk. Hope to see you there.

If I perish, I perish.

That phrase speaks volumes when you stop to consider what it really means. Last week at the Get Closer bible study we mentioned the story of Esther. We find this story in the Old Testament in a most likely place, the book of Esther. Yes, she managed to have a whole book about her in the Bible. Here is the Kevin’s Note’s summary of the events. Seems Esther was a Jewish orphan girl who was adopted by her older cousin Mordecai. Mordecai raised Esther as his daughter. The Bible indicates that Esther grew up to be quite a hottie. Esther was eventually taken by King Ahasuerus (NOTE: If you read this story in the New American Standard Bible the King’s name is Ahasuerus. Do not be confused. The New International Version had the King named Xerxes. I don’t understand it, I just know what I saw.) as his queen, they where married. So, orphan Esther turned into Queen Esther. Now, King Ahasuerus had an adviser by the name of Haman. Seems Haman hated Mordecai and also all the Jewish refugees that lived in the kingdom. Haman worked to persuade the King to have all the Jews in the land executed. Seems the King did not realize that he was married to a Jewish woman. Mordecai heard of the extermination decree and sent word to Esther to intercede with the King. Esther was in a tight situation. Apparently there was a law that anyone that approached the King without being called would be put to death unless he raised his gold scepter. So, Esther faced possible death if she was to go before the King to intercede on behalf of the Jewish people. This is the reply she sent to Mordecai, "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish (Esther 4:15 NIV).”

There it is, the last sentence in that passage, if I parish I parish. Esther knew that something much larger than her self was at risk in this situation. Esther had a great faith. See, we have the benefit of reading the rest if Esther. Esther did not have a bible or gospelcom.net handy to read the rest of the story. If you read on past Esther 5 you see that Esther did not perish, she lived, Mordecai was honored for his previous service to the King and Haman was killed on the very gallows he had built for Mordecai. Esther had never read Esther chapters 5 – 8. She did not know how it would turn out.

Esther is not the only story in the Bible that illustrates such faith. Think about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, they did not have the benefit of reading the rest of their story.

These folks and many others followed their belief when they had no guarantees of life. They had to make a decision that could have very well resulted in their death. They had faith. Not so much faith that they would survive whatever obstacle they faced, rather faith that God was God. Come death or some great outward display of God’s glory they did what brought glory to God.

How easy is it for us to think that these folks just somehow knew that God would save their lives and be glorified greatly in their trail. They did not know what would happen. Faith is not stepping out and knowing what will be under your foot. God does not always call us to step out into things that are sure. We do not always start a journey knowing where we will end or even how we will get there. There is no certainty outside of the fact that God is God.

If I perish, I perish.

1 Thessalonians 1:3 (NIV)
We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ

Colossians 1:4-6 (NIV)
the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 6that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth.

Thoughts if you wish.

My Confession!!!

It’s time for a confession. Did that get your attention? I am telling you that I am going to confess to something. Ah something is fixing to go down! Some titillating revelation that we will all talk about for minutes, maybe hours to come. Yes, I must confess, it is true if you have heard the rumors. I am …. (for suspense) ….(more of those dots for more suspense) going to admit to one and all (needless banter for more suspense) that I am (yet another needless parenthetical phase) tired. Yes, it is true. I feel all poured out. Petered, as some might say. It has been a long year. Layton, might I add, turns one this month.

Now, that paragraph was fun, but I suspect that I am not the only one that can relate to the sentiments expressed there in. I sense it all around, especially in you student types. You just finished a semester and many of you are heading straight back into another or your getting down as a dutiful employee. School, work, church, eating, and sleeping just seem to take a toll. As I have been experiencing this state for the last few weeks I have been thinking more and more about Paul, who once was known as Saul.

No doubt that you know who I am talking about. It is the Paul who wrote most of the New Testament, was blinded by Jesus on his way to Demascus. If you need clarification, find a Bible and read the book of Acts. Towards the end of Paul’s ministry he wrote a confessional to his trusted friend Timothy, “…I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:6-7 NIV).” Paul also uses the same phase in another writing, “But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you (Philippians 2:17 NIV).”

I must confess that I can relate to this poured out feeling. Of course, it is a little different. Paul was referring to his perceived death in the first verse. I am not to that point in my life where I feel that I am going to die anytime soon. I mean we do never know, but there too comes a time when people seem to sense that the end is near, I do not sense this yet. What I see in this verse is a man who gave and gave. Poured out, but being glad and rejoicing, having fought the good fight, finished the race, kept the faith.

Now, if you know anything about Paul’s life you realize those words carry some weight. I am constantly amazed at Paul’s God focused life. Consider this incident, “Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand…But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects (Acts 28:3&5 NIV).” Now, what you don’t know yet is that this little snake bite incident happened after Paul had been taken prisoner, ship wrecked, after being caught in a storm, blown off course by the storm, nearly starved, oh and nearly killed by the prison guards on the ship to prevent his escape during the storm. Read all about it in Acts 27 and 28, it’s good stuff. All of that shipwreck business was just one of the many near death type events that happened in Paul’s life.

Paul went through all kinds of troubles. The types of troubles that will just wear you down, I could imagine that Paul could have used a few days, maybe even a week in the mountains or on the beach. I kind of take Paul as a mountain type, I mean did you read that ship wreck story? Oh, I nearly forgot. All this stuff was happening to Paul when he was trying to do what God wanted him to do. “Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island (Acts 27:23-26 NIV)."

Hungry, tired, wet, frustrated, in chaos, (have you read the chapter yet, it’s a crazy time), as a prisoner and an angel shows up saying it’s all going to be ok. Well, that’s good. Paul had a good understanding of suffering and following. God said he would graciously give the lives of all who where with Paul. But Paul still understood that it would be no easy task. He says, “I have faith in God, but we must run aground on some island.” Still, after the angel says it will be ok, we have to run aground, and on an island none-the-less, so we still have to get in another boat to get where we are going. Then get bit on the hand, I hate getting bitten on the hand, especially by vipers! Not only that, his clothes where probably wet, and that is frustrating. Sand all sticking to you and cold wind blowing on you, craziness!
Poured out. What more can you say? He was poured out. Does this challenge you? I mean I have never been ship wrecked, bitten by a viper. But Paul went, he went so strong it is mind blowing that he did not give up.
Tell us what you think.