ONE SIMPLE THING TO REMEMBER IN 2016

ONE SIMPLE THING TO REMEMBER IN 2016

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

No matter what comes or who goes, remember…

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

NO MATTER WHAT...FINISH STRONG!

NO MATTER WHAT…FINISH STRONG!

The sage Solomon’s wisdom alludes to the manner in which we ought to complete whatever has been purposefully started.  In his words, “The END of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” (Ecclesiastes 7:8, NKJV)  That is to say, the quality of one’s finish is a clear reflection of one’s faith, character and spirit.

Consider this true story.  The Summer Olympics of 1992 were held in Barcelona, Spain.  It’s a beautiful stadium which I had the opportunity to visit 15 years ago.  In the quarter finals of the 400 meter sprint, British athlete Derek Redmond was one of the favorites for the gold medal.  A lifetime of training had brought him to this moment.  The official’s gun sounded and the athletes burst powerfully from their starter blocks.

Halfway through the race, Derek Redmond was leading.  Then disaster struck.  He pulled his hamstring and collapsed on the track.  It was a crushing blow, with physical and emotional agony clearly visible on his tear streaked face.

Medical attendants ran over to assist, but Derek waved them away.  He had entered this race and he was determined to finish, no matter what.  Derek got to his feet and started hobbling down the track.  The crowd was mesmerized and the officials didn’t know what to do.

Just then, an older man ran onto the track.  He brushed off the officials who tried to stop him and ran up beside Derek, placing his arms around him.

That man was Derek Redmond’s Dad, Jim.

“You don’t have to do this son,” the father advised compassionately.

“Yes I do!” Derek insisted.

“Then we’ll finish this race together,” came the response from Derek’s Dad.

Arm in arm, with agony etched on Derek’s face and tears streaming down his father’s face, Derek and Jim continued down the track.  Derek buried his face in his father’s shoulder.  His father’s strong shoulder supported his son, both physically and emotionally.  Jim waved away any official who tried to stop them.

Finally, accompanied by a roaring crowd that was standing in unison and applauding, Derek Redmond crossed the line.  It became the defining moment of the Barcelona Olympics.

Undoubtedly, many have faced trying and challenging circumstances this year, but we must hold on to our resolve to stay positive and finish strong.  After all, it’s the hopeful thing to do – and it opens a wide door for future blessings.  “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (I Corinthians 15:58, NKJV)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

BE CAREFUL HOW YOU TREAT STRANGERS

BE CAREFUL HOW YOU TREAT STRANGERS

Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith, admonishes us to adhere to what we now call The Golden Rule: “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.” (Luke 6:31, NKJV)  The Apostle Paul states it another way, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unaware.” (Hebrews 13:2) 

The following true story is a powerful illustration that highlights the fact that we never know who we are encountering during the regular course of our day.  It is important to note that these events occurred during the turbulent American civil rights movement, in the southern state of Alabama.

One night around 11:30 pm, an African-American woman was standing on the side of a highway trying her best to endure a lashing rain storm.  Her car had broken down and she desperately needed transportation.  Although she was nervous about seeking the aid of strangers, she was soaking wet and in urgent need of help, so she decided to flag down an oncoming car.  A young white man stopped to help her, which was somewhat atypical during the conflict-ridden 1960s.  This very kind gentleman drove to a shop where she could get assistance for her vehicle, then safely ushered her into a taxi cab.

The unidentified woman was in a big hurry, but she took time to write down the man’s address and to thank him profusely before departing.  Seven days later, a knock came at the man’s door.  To his utter surprise, a giant combination console color television and stereo record player were delivered to his home.  

A beautiful note was attached, which read as follows:

Dear Mr. James,

Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night.  That terrible rain drenched not only my clothes but my spirits.  Then you came along.  Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband’s bedside just before he passed away.  God bless you for helping me and for so unselfishly serving others.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Nat King Cole

Lesson learned.  No matter who it is, we should always make ourselves available to help others in their times of urgent need – as much as humanly possible.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

NOEL: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SEASON

NOEL: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SEASON

The French word “NOEL” is derived from the Latin root, “natalis,” which means BIRTHDAY.  When capitalized, it is synonymous with the angelic heralding of yuletide or CHRISTMAS.  This term came into popular usage when “The First Noel” was penned during the 18th century by an unknown English composer.  Its joyous lyrics are perennially familiar to us.

The first Noel, the Angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel!

Nevertheless, as we reflect upon the contemporary celebration of Christmas, the central message of the miraculous Incarnation and birth of Jesus Christ is noticeably absent.

Our focus seems to be on the festivities, food, parties, gatherings with family and friends, or the exchanging of gifts.  The result is a time of tremendous emotional upheaval and widespread depression (even suicide) for many, especially those who lack sufficient resources to fulfill the more mundane and material expectations of the season.  The gospel of Jesus Christ becomes virtually sidelined by our cultural and customary traditions.  We believers silently ask ourselves: “Should this be?”

Another question is begged: “Is it logical (or even possible) to remove JESUS CHRIST from Christmas?”  I think not.  After all, HE IS THE ONE who voluntarily disrobed Himself of the eternal splendors of Heaven and entered into a fallen and finite world system that is dominated by an insidious quest for fortune, fame and power.  Jesus Christ, alone, is the Savior of our world.  The scriptures testify triumphantly of His matchless and miraculous gift to humankind:

Psalm 40:6-8
6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
7 Then said I, LO, I COME: IN THE VOLUME OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME,
8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

Isaiah 9:6
FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Matthew 1:21
And she shall bring forth a son, and THOU SHALT CALL HIS NAME JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

John 1:11-12
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, TO THEM GAVE HE POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, even to them that believe on HIS NAME:

Because of the victorious life, vicarious suffering and vital atonement of JESUS CHRIST, we are free forever from the power, practice, penalty and guilt of sin.  HALLELUJAH…WHAT A SAVIOR!

Romans 8:1-4
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in CHRIST JESUS, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 FOR THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS HATH MADE ME FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Bottom-line: JESUS PAID IT ALL!  So in this season (and always) we thank you, JESUS, for your timely birth, your sinless life, your substitutionary death, your victorious resurrection and your marvelous legacy of spiritual power, life and peace that is eternally bequeathed to us.  We pledge to remember You in this season as we collectively celebrate OUR GREATEST GIFT with unbounded joy.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

OUR FREE AND FOREVER GIFT

OUR FREE AND FOREVER GIFT

According to the apostle of love, the gospel writer John, our HEAVENLY FATHER loved us so much that He quite willingly “gave his only begotten SON” that, believing on Him, we would have an eternal and abundant life. (John 3:16 – John 10:10)

Centuries before Christ’s advent, the eagle-eye prophet, Isaiah, foretold His coming:

Isaiah 9:6 (New King James Version)
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

As the CHILD that was BORN, he was fully MAN.  As the SON that was GIVEN, he was fully GOD.

As the CHILD that was born, he experienced hunger, thirst, pain, loneliness, isolation, indifference, sorrow, and even death.

As the SON that was given, HE IS The Way to Salvation, The Living Bread, The Water of Life, The Great Physician, The Burden Bearer, The Friend of Sinners, The Comforter, The Resurrection and The Life.

During this Advent season, let us celebrate the CHILD and the SON by fully embracing and sharing the good news about THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL…JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD and THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.  Rejoice…for He belongs to us and we belong to Him, henceforth, now and evermore.  Amen!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT

Please stop stressing about buying the most unique (or expensive) Christmas gifts you can locate or imagine.  Fact is, you already have them.  As you check out the following story by Joseph Rebecky, you will consciously embrace the spirit of gratitude and the wonderful fulfillment that is found in the most precious of gifts.

As a young child I remember running down the steps on Christmas morning and looking around the tree for the biggest box.  I always believed that within the biggest box lay the most expensive and best gift.  But as time worked its wonders on my mind and soul, I realized that each and every gift was special, unique and meaningful.

In fact, the presents that I remember most are the gifts that came directly from the heart, such as one of my mother’s handmade sweaters or scarves.  Actually, Christmas is not about the gifts themselves, but rather the expressions of love behind the gifts.

This Christmas I have already been blessed to receive the most beautiful and amazing presents in the world, the love of the special people in and around my life.  Deep down inside, I know the true meaning of Christmas is found in the word “giving.”  So, this Christmas, I pledged to search and search until I find the most incredible gifts for some phenomenal people.

I spent many days in crowded stores and scanned numerous holiday catalogs, but nothing seemed to stand out.  As Christmas approached, I wondered if I would ever find those “perfect” gifts so I decided to try the local mall one last time.  Perhaps I had missed an amazing store or some awesome merchandize that had just hit the racks and shelves.

But as I quietly passed from one store to the next, nothing managed to catch my eye.  Feeling somewhat defeated, I slowly made my way toward the mall exit.  But before I could reach the doors, I suddenly found my “perfect” gift.

No, this gift was not found in a fancy and expensive department store.  It will not be wrapped in colorful Christmas paper and adorned with bright ribbons and bows.  Actually, this gift doesn’t have a receipt and it cannot be returned or exchanged.  So where did I find this “perfect gift” – and more importantly, what is it?

I found it in the eyes of an elderly couple holding hands.  I heard it in the playful words between a grandfather and his grandson.  I glimpsed it in a proud new mother’s caress of her infant daughter.

Yes, my “perfect gift” is LOVE.  L-O-V-E!  So this Christmas, before anything else, I will offer the gift of LOVE.  And I believe with all my heart that its recipients will treasure and keep it always.

Well said, Joseph Rebecky, well said.  We shall also make a collective and conscientious effort to truly treasure our loved ones.  And all of us will be supremely grateful for the most precious gift: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)  Above all else, Christmas is all about JESUS CHRIST!  Indeed, HE is the reason for the season; and HE is our most perfect Christmas gift.  Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

ONE NEVER KNOWS

ONE NEVER KNOWS

If any among you are tempted to feel sad or depressed during this Christmas season due to a lack of adequate resources or the absence or loss of a loved one, you must read and share the following story written by an unknown author.  It will surely inspire and bless you.

A pastor and his wife were given their first assignment, to reopen a church in Brooklyn, New York.  They arrived in early October, thrilled beyond measure to be entering an exciting ministry opportunity.  However, when they entered the church their enthusiasm faded because they found the building to be run down and in dire need of restoration and repairs.  But right then and there, they set a goal to have all the necessary work done in time to have their first worship service on Christmas Eve.

They worked ever so diligently, repairing pews, plastering, painting, etc., and on December 18th they were well ahead of schedule, just about finished.  Nevertheless, on December 19th a tempestuous storm hit the area and lasted for two full days.

On the 21st of December, the pastor went to inspect the edifice.  His heart sank immediately when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary, just behind the pulpit.  He swept up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do, headed homeward, planning to postpone their first service.  On the way home he noticed a local business sponsoring a flea market for charity, so he decided to stop by.

One of the items on sale was a beautiful, hand-made, ivory colored, crochet table cloth.  It was truly an exquisite work of art, with striking colors and an ornate cross embroidered at the center.  The new pastor thought, ‘It’s just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall of the sanctuary and it has a Christian theme!’  So he bought it and quickly headed back to church.

By this time it had started to snow.  An older woman hurried from the opposite direction, trying to catch a passing bus, but missed it.  The pastor invited her to wait inside the warm sanctuary for the next bus, which was due to arrive 45 minutes later.  The grateful woman sat in a pew and paid little attention to the pastor while he gathered a ladder and wall hangers to mount the gorgeous tablecloth as a church tapestry.  The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and how perfectly it covered the entire problem area.  Just then, he noticed the woman walking slowly down the center aisle, wearing a shocked facial expression.

“Pastor,” she inquired, “Where…where…did you get that tablecloth?”

The pastor related the story of his recent purchase.  The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials “EBG” were present there, and they were.  These were actually the initials of this woman, who had crafted the ornate tablecloth 35 years previously in Austria.

The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria.  When the Nazis arrived, her husband sent her to safety, and planned to follow the next week.  Unfortunately, she was captured, detained in a camp, and never saw her husband or her home again.

The pastor offered to give her the tablecloth, but she insisted that he keep it for the church.  He said “Then I will drive you home; that is the least I can do.”  The woman lived on Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day doing a housecleaning job.

Christmas Eve arrived, and what a wonderful service they had!  The church was practically full, and the Holy Spirit moved upon the hearts of all who attended.  At the close of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many people promised to return often.

One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood, stayed afterwards, sitting in one of the pews with a blank stare on his face.  The pastor wondered why he had not left with all the rest.  The man asked, “Where did you get the tablecloth on the front wall?  It is identical to one my wife made before the war when we lived in Austria.  Could there be two tablecloths so much alike?”

He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for safety with plans to follow, but then he was arrested and placed in a concentration camp.  He never saw his wife or his home again for all the 35 years in between.

The pastor smiled inwardly and asked the gentleman if he would accompany him on a ride.  They drove to Staten Island, to the same building where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier.  He helped the elderly man climb three flights of stairs to the woman’s apartment, knocked on the door and saw the greatest Christmas reunion anyone could possibly imagine!

What a miraculous story this is – a saga of the matchless grace and marvelous love of God!  Consider this.  None of this heartwarming story would have been possible without that terrible storm and the hole it caused in the church sanctuary!  Oftentimes, our apparent 'storms' are divine appointments that ultimately serve to bless us and others.  In truth, ONE NEVER KNOWS what GOD has in store.  So…please…please…do not surrender to doubt or despair.  God is in control.  It is our sincere prayer (Belinda’s and mine)  that your Christmas will be generously endowed with the love, grace, peace and joy that is the life legacy of believers through OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

I WISH YOU ENOUGH

I WISH YOU ENOUGH

In December of 2013, my friend and colleague, Elder Willie Templeton, shared the following inspirational story.

Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together after the daughter’s airline departure had been announced.  Standing near the security gate, they hugged rather emotionally and the mother said, “I love you and I wish you enough.”

The daughter replied, “Mom, our life together has been more than enough.  Your love is all I have ever needed.  I wish you enough, too, Mom.”  They kissed each other affectionately as the daughter moved slowly toward the jetway.  The mother walked over near the window where I was sitting.  Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry.

I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, “Did you ever say goodbye to someone knowing it would be forever?”  “Yes, I have,” I replied.  “Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever goodbye?”

“I am old and she lives so far away.  I have health challenges ahead and the reality is that her next trip back will be for my funeral,” she said.

“When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, ‘I wish you enough.’  May I ask what that means?”

She began to smile. “That’s a wish that has been handed down for generations in our family.  My parents used to say it to everyone.”  She paused for a moment and looked up as if trying to recall that memory in greater detail, and her smile grew ever brighter.

“Whenever we say ‘I wish you enough,’ we want the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.”  Then turning toward me, she shared the following heartfelt prayer, reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sunshine more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through your final good-bye.

The mother began to cry again, and she slowly walked away.

For all your lifetime, sisters and brothers, I wish you enough…and more.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

WE'RE BETTER TOGETHER

WE’RE BETTER TOGETHER

Before deciding you don’t need to live in harmony with others, carefully consider this.  A cord of rope has significantly greater aggregate strength than the individual strength of the strands of which it is composed.  How could this possibly be?  The answer is quite simple.  In nearly every case, the individual strands have weak spots – points at which they could easily bend and break.  But within a rope, those weak spots are randomly distributed along its length and its twists, allowing the adjacent strands to cancel out any weak spots in the individual fibers.

First natural, then spiritual… 

GOD has designed us to exist and operate much like a cord of rope.  That is, all of us have particular strengths and even points of weakness.  However, when we remain united together, our weaknesses are diminished and rendered inconsequential in the presence of others – and ultimately via our connection with the awesome power of God.  It’s a synergy thing.  1 + 1 really equals 3!  So stay connected.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

THE POWER OF POSITIVE WORDS

THE POWER OF POSITIVE WORDS

Fred Craddock, a lecturer at Phillips Theological Seminary, told of a time when his family was on vacation in Tennessee.  They were having dinner at a restaurant when an elderly man approached and asked if they were enjoying themselves.  But Fred just wanted to enjoy some quiet time with his family.  So when the man asked Fred what he did for a living, he saw it as a way to get rid of him and replied enthusiastically, “I’m a preacher!”

“A preacher?  That’s great!  Let me tell you a story about a preacher.”

The elderly gentleman took the liberty to sit down at their table.  Fred’s annoyance grew immediately, but was gradually changed to profound gratitude as the man told his story.  The old man explained that he was what most people would call an “illegitimate child.”  [Editor’s Note: There is really no such thing].  However, in the early 1900s, being born without knowing the identity of his father was a source of great shame in his tiny hometown.

One day a new minister was installed as pastor in the local church.  The old man explained that as a youngster he had never gone to church, but one Sunday he decided to go and hear the new pastor preach.  As it turned out, the new pastor was an excellent speaker, so the young lad went back again and again.  

But his shame always accompanied him.  So he would always arrive late and leave early to avoid talking to anyone.  However, one Sunday he got so caught up in the sermon that he forgot to leave.  And before he knew it, the service was over and the aisles were filled with people.  He rushed to get out the door, but as he did so he felt a hand gently touching his shoulder.

He turned around to see it was the pastor, a very tall man, who was smiling warmly at him.  He asked “What’s your name?  You are always alone.  Whose child are you?”

The little boy died inside because the very thing he desperately wanted to hide was now exposed.  But before he could say anything, the preacher answered the question for him.  “I know who you are.  I know your family.  There’s a distinct resemblance.  Why, you’re the son…you’re the son…you’re the son of God!”

Tears streamed from the old man’s eyes as he said to Jim Craddock, “You know, mister, those powerful words absolutely changed my life.”  And with that he got up and left.

When the waitress came over, she asked the Craddocks, “Do you know who that man is?”

“No,” they replied.

“That’s Ben Hooper, the two-term governor of Tennessee!”

My friends, this day is pregnant with opportunity to breathe words of inspiration into people who really need them.  Make sure you tell them that they are who GOD says they are – and in light of that profound truth, nothing else really matters.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

AVOIDING HERD MENTALITY

AVOIDING HERD MENTALITY

In an age that is given to political correctness, it is rather tempting to follow the pack.  That is, many of us have a tendency to buy in to the opinions or dictates of the majority, as if GOD has not imparted any unique wisdoms or capabilities within our own hearts and minds.

Nevertheless, it has been proven over time that the majority is not always right.  Had Joshua and Caleb ‘read’ the majority report, the Israelites would been deprived of sufficient vision and courage to possess their promised land. (Numbers 13:1-3;17-33)  While we do not advocate a spirit of stubbornness or rebellion, it is wise to take a serious look at what Robert Frost called, “The Road Less Traveled,” and to thereby avoid following the pack. 

Consider the lack of wisdom in the following viewpoints, that were once embraced by corporations and people who, in hindsight, we think should have known better:

“I think there is a worldwide market for maybe five computers.” – Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.

“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” – Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977.

“The telephone has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication.  This device is inherently of no value to us.” – An internal memo of Western Union, 1876.

“The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn better than a ‘C,’ the idea must be feasible.” – A Yale University management professor in response to Fred Smith’s paper proposing reliable overnight delivery service.  Smith went on to found Federal Express.

“Who in the world wants to hear actors talk?” – H. M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927.

“I’m just glad it’ll be Clark Gable who’s falling on his face and not Gary Cooper.” – Gary Cooper on his decision not to take the leading role in the movie classic, “Gone with the Wind.”

“We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out.” – Decca Recording Company rejecting the Beatles, 1962.

“Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible.” – Lord Kelvin, president, Royal Society, 1895.

“So we went to Atari and said, ‘Hey, we’ve got this amazing thing, even built with some of your parts, and what do you think about funding us?  Or we’ll give it to you.  We just want to do it.  Pay our salary, we’ll come and work for you.’  They said, ‘No.’  So then we went to Hewlett-Packard, and they said, ‘Hey, we don’t need you.  You haven’t gotten through college yet.'” – Apple Computer founder, Steve Jobs, on attempts to get Atari and H.P. interested in his personal computer.

“Drill for oil?  You mean drill into the ground to try and find oil?  You’re crazy!” – People who Edwin L. Drake tried to enlist to his project to drill for oil in 1859.

“Stocks have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau.” – Irving Fisher, Professor of Economics, Yale University, 1929.

“Everything that can be invented has already been invented.” – Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899.

“X-rays will prove to be a hoax.” Lord Kelvin, President of the Royal Society, 1893.

“It’s unworthy of the attention of practical and scientific men.” – British Parliamentary Committee’s report on Thomas Edison’s electric light bulb.

Totally fascinating, isn’t it?  According to King Solomon, GOD is the giver of “witty inventions.” (Proverbs 8:12)  So we will never get stuck in stinkin’ thinkin’ or become discouraged about any of our plans, attempts, or failures of the past.  We are and will be believers.  We are and will be doers.  We are and will be world-changers.  We will never give up!   

PERSEVERE.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

THE PARABLE OF THE PENCIL

THE PARABLE OF THE PENCIL

This one is so relevant for so many that I just feel the need to repeat it from time to time.

The PENCIL-MAKER took the PENCIL aside, just before putting him into the box. “Before I send you out into the world,” he told the pencil, “there are five important things you must know. Never forget them and you will become the best pencil you possibly can be.”

“One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone’s hand.”

“Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you will need it to become better.”

“Three: You will be able to correct or erase any mistakes you will make along the way.”

“Four: The most important part of you will always be what lies on the inside.”

“Five: On every surface where you are used, leave your mark. No matter what, you must continue to write.”

The pencil understood, promised to remember and went into the box with real purpose in its heart.

Now let’s substitute YOU for the pencil. Always remember these wisdom nuggets; and, if you never forget, you will become the best person you possibly can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God’s hand. Also, you must allow people to access the many gifts you possess.

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time via various problems in life, but you actually need this process in order to become a stronger person.

Three: With God’s help, you will be able to address and correct mistakes you will make along the way.

Four: The most important part of you will always be what lies on the inside.

Five: Wherever you walk, leave your mark. No matter what the situation, be faithful, be diligent, be resilient and be true.

Please allow this PARABLE OF THE PENCIL to encourage and energize you. Remember how absolutely special YOU are to GOD, and to OTHERS. Only YOU can fulfill that unique purpose and destiny for which you were born into this world.

So never allow yourself to become so discouraged that life seems insignificant or there is little hope and expectation for a positive change. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “Be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (I Corinthians 15:58)

And here's a divine telegram from THE PENCIL-MAKER...sent just for you: “Hey PENCIL, live faithfully and fearlessly. Never be afraid of the pencil-sharpener and never ever skip the pressure and pain of the process. You just might enable someone else to obtain life’s passing score!” Amen? Amen!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

WHAT IS YOUR STORY?

WHAT IS YOUR STORY?

The American writer, Marianne Wiggins, wrote the novel “Almost Heaven.”  One of her central characters is a middle-aged woman named Melanie John.  We meet her in the psychiatric unit of the Medical College of Virginia, suffering from hysterical amnesia.  Shortly before that, she was a happily married mother of four living in the Richmond suburbs.

But five weeks earlier, she and Jason, her husband and the love of her life, were headed down the highway with their four kids seated in the back.  Melanie had been writing during their drive, when a gust of wind carried her paper out the window.

Jason pulled the car over to the side of the road and Melanie got out and headed into a nearby field to recover her writing.  That’s when she heard a terrifying screech of tires skidding.  She turned just in time to witness another vehicle slamming into the rear of her family car.  The car exploded, and Jason and the children were killed instantaneously.

Melanie’s emotional system coped by shutting down completely – blocking out all memories of that day and, sadly, all memories of her family life as well.  The last 20 years were totally erased from conscious memory.  The last memory Melanie could recall was her graduation from law school two decades earlier.  But all of her major memories, of meeting Jason and falling in love, of her wedding day, of the births of her children, of the building of their new home, were absolutely lost.

Although her amnesia acted as an emotional anesthetic, Melanie was totally robbed of herself and had no real sense of the most meaningful parts of her identity.  Powerful unanswered questions filled her room.  Inside this shell of a body, who is Melanie John?  What is her life?  Where does she fit?  What’s her place and purpose?  Without the stories of the last 20 years, she had no easy way of knowing.  Without the stories of her past, there was no meaningful present, and quite possibly no meaningful future.

The novel recounts Melanie’s painful journey to recover her memories and regain her sense of self.  One of the things this story reminds us about is that our lives are made up of our stories.  Our sense of self, who we are, why we are here, where we fit and where we are headed are the roadmaps by which we make sense of our lives.

Indeed, our lives are fundamentally shaped by our family stories and our cultural stories, those times of gain and loss, those times of weeping and rejoicing, those stories that tell us who we are, those stories that reveal our priorities and our values.  Nevertheless, for the Christian there is an alternate story.  It is a faith saga that transcends culture, time, space and happenstance – providing us with meaning and direction.

My personal journey has a multiplicity of chapters, scenes, settings and life-events – some saturated with joy and fulfilment, some not so much.  But I do have one primary overarching story that colors all and affects all.  Do you want to know what it is?

Fanny J. Crosby, a blind Christian composer, captured it so well in the lyrics of her classic hymn, “Blessed Assurance.”

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;

My friend, what is your story?

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT GIFT

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT GIFT

During the Great Depression in America, Marjorie Talcott was married with one child.  Her family managed to scrape their way through, but as Christmas approached Marjorie and her husband were very disappointed that they would not be able to buy presents.

The week before Christmas they explained to their six-year-old son, Pete, that there would be no store-bought presents this Christmas.  “But I’ll tell you what we can do,” said Pete’s father.  “We can make pictures of the presents we would like to give to each other.”

It was a busy week as Marjorie and her husband set to work.  Christmas Day arrived and the family rose to find their skimpy little tree made most magnificent by the picture presents with which it had been adorned.  There was luxury beyond imagination in the hanging pictures: a black limousine and red speedboat for Dad, a diamond bracelet and fur coat for Mom, a camping tent and a beautiful swimming pool for Pete.

Then Pete pulled out his present, a crayon drawing of a man, a woman and a child with their arms around each other laughing and loving on each other.  Under the picture just one word was inscribed: “US.”  Years later, Marjorie wrote that it was the richest, most satisfying Christmas they ever had.

It took a present-less Christmas to remind their family that the greatest gift we can ever offer is ourselves, our presence.  This is the great gift that Christ offers to us, not only at Christmas but throughout the year, the matchless grace and gift of Himself.  If He was to draw a gift, perhaps it would be similar to Pete’s – although with four people – with arms lovingly encircling one another in a wonderful portrait of genuine family love, with Christ at the center.

Make sure that HE and HIS LOVE are at the heart of your plans to celebrate Christmas.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!