ECHOES OF WISDOM FROM SOUTH AFRICA

I have observed in life that sage advice frequently emerges from problems, persecution, pressure and pain.  To wit, there is a phenomenal legacy of wisdom that resides within the people of the Republic of South Africa.  To minimize mistakes and maximize maturation, we must be ever open to the impartation of wisdom from our tribal elders.  King Solomon framed it this way: “Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.” (Proverbs 22:17)

The Wisdom of President Nelson Mandela

Wounds that can’t be seen are more painful than those that can be seen and cured by a doctor.  I learned that to humiliate another person is to make him suffer an unnecessarily cruel fate.

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear but the triumph over it.

Where people of goodwill get together and transcend their differences for the common good, peaceful and just solutions can be found, even for those problems that seem most intractable.

A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.

For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.

There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.

If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy.  Then he becomes your partner.

[Nelson Mandela, civil rights leader • prisoner for 27 years for his anti-apartheid work • winner, 1993 Nobel Peace Prize • elected South Africa’s first freely chosen president, 1994-1999]

The Wisdom of Bishop Desmond Tutu

Each one of us can make a contribution. Too frequently we think we have to do spectacular things. Yet if we remember that the sea is actually made up of drops of water and each drop counts, each one of us can do our little bit where we are. Those little bits can come together and almost overwhelm the world. Each one of us can be an oasis of peace.

If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.  If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.

Forgiveness says you are given another chance to make a new beginning.

Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.

Your ordinary acts of love and hope point to the extraordinary promise that every human life is of inestimable value.

God’s dream is that all of us will realize that we are family, that we are made for togetherness, for goodness, and for compassion.

[Desmond Tutu, cleric • anti-apartheid activist • winner, 1984 Nobel Peace Prize • winner, 2005 Gandhi Peace Prize]

Sisters and brothers, true wisdom is not the product of perfect people.  Rather, it is the result of one’s experiential encounters with “the only wise God.” (I Timothy 1:17)  Be continually blessed!

CHOICES

Portia Nelson penned her autobiography in five short chapters.

CHAPTER ONE
I walk down the street.
There’s a hole in the sidewalk.
It is a very deep hole.
I fall in...I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

CHAPTER TWO
I walk down the same street.
There’s a hole in the sidewalk.

I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in...again.
I can't believe I’m in the same place, but it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

CHAPTER THREE
I walk down the same street.
There’s a hole in the sidewalk.

I see it is there.
I still fall in...it’s a habit, but my eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

CHAPTER FOUR
I walk down the same street.
There’s a hole in the sidewalk.

I walk around it.

CHAPTER FIVE
I walk down another street.
What a marvelous progression…from a helpless victim of life...to a victim of self...to taking responsibility...to self-discipline...to making better choices! 

Indeed, life is a process.  All of us should be experientially wiser today than we were one year ago, five years ago, etc.  Where are you in this cycle?  What is the progression, quality and character of your personal choices?  Consider carefully.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed!

UNITY IS A PRACTICAL CONFIRMATION OF THE WORD

More than ever before, I am preoccupied with the indispensable importance of unity in the Body of Christ.  Like nothing else, it becomes a very visible and tangible confirmation of the gospel.  The world is watching.  And if we embody effective witness, or words must be in alignment with our relationships, to the very best of our ability.  Otherwise, we not only lose credibility, but the saving truths of the gospel are diluted or obscured from those who need them most.

Take heed to the wise counsel of the Apostle Paul:

Ephesians 4:1-3

¹ I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

² With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

³ Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Consider this key excerpt from the high priestly prayer of Jesus Christ:

John 17:20-21

²⁰ Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

²¹ That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Bottom-line: The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ must be a unity community.  Enough said. 

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed

THERE IS HELP...ALONGSIDE

Jesus Christ presents a powerful privilege and promise to every believer: “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:20b)  Wow!  It simply suggests that there are no problems, no pains and no challenges which will totally overwhelm believing disciples who pursue and practice the presence of the Lord.

I am often encouraged by Christ’s departing decree to his disciples (and by extension to us): “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14:18)  Since He is the high priest who is constantly concerned and intimately involved with us, Jesus Christ indeed shows up to engage and enlighten us (in every day and in every situation) as The Paraclete, the One who walks alongside for fellowship, direction and comfort.  We never need to look for alternatives or substitutes, because in “the author and finisher of our faith,” we indeed have The Real Thing. (Hebrews 12:2)  Acting as Jehovah Shammah, “the Lord is there”…all the time. (Ezekiel 48:35)  This inspiring truth reminds me of an intriguing story I read recently.

In a rural area, a poor farmer was tending to his horse named Buddy, when a stranger walked up, desperately needing the farmer’s help.  This stranger had lost control of his vehicle and ran off into a ditch.  He asked the farmer if his horse could somehow pull the vehicle out of the ditch, and he informed the farmer that his vehicle was very small.  The farmer said he would come along, bring his horse, and take a look, but could not promise he would help if his horse might be injured in some way from attempting to pull the vehicle out of the ditch.  

The farmer saw that the stranger was correct and that the vehicle was indeed small, so he fastened a strong rope to the vehicle and to his horse.  He was confident that Buddy would be able to pull the vehicle out of the ditch.  The farmer then shouted, “Pull, Casey, pull,” but the horse would not budge.  The farmer then called out, “Pull, Bailey, pull,” but the horse would not budge again. The farmer then screamed, “Pull, Mandy, pull,” but once again his horse would not move.  The farmer then said, “Pull, Buddy, pull,” and the horse quickly pulled the vehicle out of the ditch.  The stranger was very grateful but puzzled.  He asked the farmer why he had called his horse by four different names.  The farmer replied, “Buddy is blind, and I had to make him think he had a lot of help pulling the car out of the ditch or he might not have pulled at all.”

Interesting and applicable to us, isn’t it?  Whenever we embrace the mistaken notion that we are somehow incapable of accomplishing Christ’s Kingdom mission and mandate for our lives, we too wind up living far beneath our predestined position, power and privilege.  Although we were certainly designed to live in connection and community with others, we must never forget that the One True Source of our help is Almighty God.  No wonder the Psalmist David exclaimed with such commitment and confidence, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)  Amen!  Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed.

TODAY I ASK FOR YOUR PRAYERS

I am truly blessed and highly favored of the Lord because I am married to a wonderful woman, Belinda McClendon Bass.  Belinda loves the Lord with all her heart and consistently exemplifies a life of genuine devotion and faithful commitment to Christ.  Her heart’s desire is to please God and to build His Kingdom.  Belinda is an exceptionally dedicated and loving wife, mother and grandmother.  I love my wife and long to see her divinely released from suffering with a chronic illness that causes tremendous discomfort and pain.  So today, I ask all of you for a personal favor.  Please pray for Belinda…for the manifestation of total healing.  Belinda is hospitalized now, but we are trusting God for her rapid recovery.

Here are a few scriptures to focus our faith:

James 5:16b

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Matthew 18:19

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

John 14:12-14

¹² Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

¹³ And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

¹⁴ If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

I Peter 3:12a

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers.

Psalm 107:20

He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Isaiah 53:5

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

I Peter 2:24

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Luke 5:17

And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

Matthew 15:30

And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:

Exodus 15:26b

For I am the Lord that healeth thee.

Matthew 14:35-36

³⁵ And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;

³⁶ And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

Matthew 4:23

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

III John 1:2

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Luke 6:19

And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

Acts 5:16

There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Acts 10:38

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Mark 9:23

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Please accept our heartfelt gratitude for your faith-filled prayers.  Thank you so much.  We are decreeing and believing Belinda’s total healing and sustained health.  My sisters and brothers, be continually blessed.