LIFE IN THE SON - Part V

LIFE IN THE SON - Part V

As stated multiple times in this series, it is mission critical that we make a complete commitment to JESUS CHRIST, THE SOURCE OF ALL LIFE and THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH.  Whoever gets THE SON…GETS EVERYTHING!  

I John 5:11-12   And this is the record…that GOD hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in HIS SON.  He that hath THE SON hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Ephesians 4:13-15   Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love may GROW UP INTO HIM in all things, which is the head, even CHRIST.

Consider this.  SIN always results in SEPARATION ISSUES, which invariably breed SEPARATION ANXIETIES. (Isaiah 59:2) When Adam sinned and entered the pathway of spiritual death, the very first thing he did was to try to find something to cover-up his problem.  However, you cannot save a DYING MAN with a bandage of DYING LEAVES! (Genesis 3:7)  Adam attempted to apply a leaf poultice to a terminal condition.  But you can’t ‘TREAT’ death; it’s a bit late for that!

Nevertheless, tune in to see the HOPE that is always resident in the Word:

Romans 8:28-29   And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Despite our origins, we are PREDESTINED FOR LIFE, and that more abundantly! (John 10:10)  The scriptures inform us that GOD “has chosen us IN HIM before the foundation of the world.” (Ephesians 1:4)  For example, as God created Adam, He blew into him His BREATH (the PNEUMA of life) and man became a living soul.  To wit, it was neither the DAY that God made Adam, nor the WAY that God shaped Adam, that made Adam “ADAM!”  Adam become a living soul when (and only when) DIVINE BREATH was exhaled into the nostrils of dust-formed Adam.   So if Adam came into being because of what came forth OUT-OF-GOD, simple logic dictates that (before Adam was IN EARTH) Adam was (first of all) IN GOD!  It seems that God had been “waiting to exhale,” if you will, and at the moment of creation God blew the very essence of Himself into a clay-case-construction called a human body.  That is, God deposited the true essence of Adam…the GOD BREATH (the PNEUMA of life) into the lifeless dust of the earth.  No wonder Paul declared “we have this treasure in earthen vessels.”  Nevertheless, ever since the Creator blew the Spirit INSIDE-of-Himself into the dust OUTSIDE-of-Himself, humankind has been unquestionably incomplete.  And ever since we discovered that we are OUTSIDE-of-GOD, we have been trying to get back to our first estate, INSIDE-of-GOD.  

Allow me to break it down like this: Anyone can hang AROUND God, or speak OF God, or offer praises TO God, or even preach ABOUT God, but no one can truly UNDERSTAND God or TRUST God or LOVE God…until one resides IN God!  The Apostle John declares that you cannot get INSIDE-THE-FATHER any other way than THROUGH THE ENTRY DOOR, JESUS CHRIST.  That’s what Jesus was getting at when he said “I am the WAY, the truth and the life.”  I am the WAY TO GOD.  I am the TRUTH ABOUT GOD.  I am the LIFE OFGOD!  You simply CANNOT get to The FATHER, unless and until you (faith-fully) pass THROUGH THE PORTAL OF HIS SON!

Are you listening with your spirit?  My friend, God had you in mind long before Mom and Pop met and made each other glad!  Just in case you want to know the real deal about who Wayne Manning Bass really is – I am NOT (exclusively) the son of Joseph Edison Bass and Mary Watts Bass.  In an ultimate sense, in the eternal sense, I am a son of GOD!  For long before my father, Joseph, or my mother, Mary, appeared on the scene of human history, GOD had created and fellowshipped with Wayne in the halls of eternity!  If that is difficult for you to wrap your mind around, allow me to prove it in the Word.  God to Jeremiah:  “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)  I KNEW YOU long before you were INSIDE your mother’s womb!  And the way I knew you before you were INSIDE your mother’s womb is simply this: Before you were at your Mom’s side, you were at MY side!  You came THROUGH your mother, but you didn’t come FROM your mother!   Here’s a Rhema Word for someone: “STOP focusing on who your mother WAS or what your mother DID!”  Your mother was convenient to your destiny…but not absolutely necessary.  Your mother simply produced a BODY for a SPIRIT that had already been with GOD.  Wow!

It is important that you understand this revelation of truth because, when we view yourself in this manner, the facts and circumstances of your nativity become irrelevant or meaningless!   Let me lay a life-liberating truth on you: It doesn’t really matter HOW you CAME or WHERE you CAME FROM!  What matters is HOW you are COMING OUT!  Therefore, your birth status, your social situation, your heredity, your looks, your wealth, your health, (or lack thereof), mean absolutely NOTHING in the PLANS and PURPOSES of GOD!   Listen up sister…listen up brother…you are not a victim of your DNA because you are much more than your genes, your looks, your lips, your kinky hair or your crooked teeth.  YOU are a SPIRITUAL BEING who only LIVES IN A BODY.  YOU are a CHILD OF GOD!  So…WHOEVER I am…WHATEVER I am…HOWEVER I am…WHEREVER I am…I can “boldly approach the throne of grace.” (Hebrews 4:16)  I am cordially invited TO COME TO THE FATHER…THROUGH THE SON!   FOR THERE IS LIFE IN THE SON! (John 14:6 – I John 5:11-12)

NEVER FORGET: WHOEVER TAKES THE SON…GETS EVERYTHING!  

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

LIFE IN THE SON - Part IV

LIFE IN THE SON - Part IV

Think seriously about this.  It is mission critical that we make a complete commitment to the recognition and reception of JESUS CHRIST, THE SOURCE OF ALL LIFE and THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH.  Because whoever gets THE SON…GETS EVERYTHING!  

Let’s review the pertinent scriptures:

I John 5:11-12 

And this is the record…that GOD hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in HIS SON.  He that hath THE SON hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Ephesians 4:13-15

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love may GROW UP INTO HIM in all things, which is the head, even CHRIST.

Exactly what is the contemporary dilemma of the institutional church, contrasted with the predicament of those who fully embrace the standards of the world?  Consider this.  Most UN-believers are unfulfilled [they harbor lost and empty feelings] because they long for the Christ-Word to be poured into their souls.  On the other hand, many believers also appear to be unfulfilled.  But in so many cases, it is not the empty feeling that is derived from being full of the world.  Instead, it is a bloated feeling because, although we are so full of the Word, we somehow fail to empty ourselves into this generation!  We are pregnant with so much purpose and so much destiny; but instead of giving birth, many of us are experiencing a seemingly endless gestation period, and relatively few spiritual babies are being birthed!  That’s why WE BELIEVERS sometimes feel listless or restless and out-of-sorts!  Are you ready for this?

In the Garden of Eden, God came looking for Adam – not because God did not know where Adam was – but because ADAM desperately needed to know where ADAM was!  What is our current state of affairs?  Today, a significant number of men and women are LOST, both outside and inside the church!  When GOD cried out, “Adam, where art thou?”…He did not mean which BUSH are you hiding behind?  Quite the contrary.  He meant…there IS a PLACE BY ME that at one time you occupied…and now I am painfully aware that you have departed from MY PRESENCE.  And only in My presence is fullness of joy.  Only at My right hand are pleasures forevermore! (Psalm 16:11)

After Satan launched the exact same primal temptations against THE SECOND ADAM, JESUS CHRIST, the Bible says “he [Satan] departed for a season,” which simply means he went away for a while, but he came back.   He would return – to attempt again – to tempt again.  That ‘old boy’ just won’t quit, will he?  Consider this: If Satan was bodacious enough to come again to tempt JESUS CHRIST, don’t you think (after the fall), that he came again to Adam to tempt him again and to solidify his STRONGHOLD over his life and family?  I can imagine the KIND of things Satan must have been trying to speak into Adam’s life, even after his original fall from grace: “I told you God was lying!  He said the DAY that you eat of the tree you would die.  Yeah, you and Eve are lookin’ pretty good for ‘dead folks!’  You’re 800-years-plus now – and you ain’t dead yet!  And if God lied about that, how can you believe what He says about anything else?   That old ungrateful Creator!  You and your old lady have worked your fingers to the bone…pruning His trees… picking His fruit…work-work-work…and do you mean to tell me that GOD JUST DISSED YOU AND THREW YOU OUT…just like that?   After all you’ve done for God - you mean God treated you like that?”

The Word of God declares, “And you hath He quickened [made alive] who were dead in trespasses and sins.” (Ephesians 2:1) We were not physically present in our fore-parents’ day.  Nevertheless, when Adam fell, WE WERE VERY MUCH ALIVE - LIVING [INSIDE OF] THE FIRST ADAM.  Indeed, we were TRAPPED-IN-ADAM; and as such, we were partakers of his fallen nature.  That’s why the Bible says that MAN is born IN sin…not born TO sin…but born IN sin! (Psalm 51:5) That is, when God told Adam “The day that you eat of the tree, you shall die,” God was simultaneously speaking to ALL FUTURE GENERATIONS THAT WERE LOCKED-UP-INSIDE-ADAM.  Yes, Adam, the day that you decide to eat of the tree…you are spiritually dead…but THANK GOD FOR CALVARY!  Thank God for THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB, without which there is no remission of sin! (Matthew 26:28) Do you know what THE CROSS OF CALVARY means?  Jesus Christ, the Anointed One, freed us forever from the curse that we were LIVING under (and DYING under).  And because of His shed blood, “IN HIM WE LIVE, and move, and have our being.” (Acts 17:28) Henceforth, we are alive, liberated and we are covenant “PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE.” (II Peter 1:4) You better believe it!   You and I are WINNER-BELIEVERS and our permanent victory is assured!

Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.

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

LIFE IN THE SON - Part III

LIFE IN THE SON - Part III

Please allow me to repeat this very important point: It is mission critical that we make a complete commitment to the recognition and reception of JESUS CHRIST, THE SOURCE OF ALL LIFE and THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH.  Because whoever gets THE SON…GETS EVERYTHING!  

Let us prayerfully ponder the following scripture passages:

I John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony: that GOD has given to us eternal life, and this life is in HIS SON.  He who has THE SON has life; and he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Ephesians 4:13-15 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, may GROW UP IN ALL THINGS INTO HIM who is the head--CHRIST.

To enhance our understanding of our covenant connection with the person and work of Jesus Christ, let’s take a closer look at our fore-parent, ADAM.  First, please be reminded that GOD is never surprised by whatever GOD CREATES!  Therefore, God was not blindsided or shocked by Adam’s sin; and God is never surprised by our sins!  Believe it or not, God made Adam with full knowledge that Adam would eventually mess up!  Because the intent-of-creation (what The Designer originally had in mind) was NOT the first Adam, but the second Adam, JESUS CHRIST!  Indeed, this is a mystery, but I contend that God created man with full and free will.  All will agree with that; some may disagree with this: In God’s permissive will, He allowed man to descend the ladder-of-sin, which gave GOD a reason to become like MAN, so that MAN could have a season to become like GOD!   Ponder this prayerfully.  God was neither shocked nor surprised by Adam’s sin.

On the 6th day of creation, all the stuff-of-the-universe was complete.  And God said “That’s good!”  However, there was nothing in creation that LOOKED-LIKE-GOD!  Let me explain this way.  As much as you love and emotionally connect with your pet, you are not actually the same being as Lassie or Fido or Rex!  Therefore, as close as you might be to Fido, in the final analysis, (relationship-wise) your pet cannot possibly provide ALL of the emotional fulfillment that might be attained in a relationship with another human being.  No matter how intelligent your cat seems to be, you can never derive full conversation!  Admittedly, you can talk to Caesar, but however you interpret his purring and mewling, Caesar is simply incapable of full communication with you.  Your pet might sense your emotional state, but s/he cannot completely commiserate with you, simply because s/he cannot understand the details or nuances of your darkest hour.  Ultimately, you need something more human (someone more LIKE you) with which to connect and commune!  [Editor’s Note to Pet Owners: Please understand the ‘spirit’ of my discourse because I know that you truly ADORE your pets!]

Since all truth is parallel, first I have presented natural truth; now we may more readily discern a spiritual truth.  On the 6th day of creation, notwithstanding the infinite variety of flora and fauna that were present in the universe, THE CREATOR needed something more!  I submit to you that GOD created US from the same mindset and with the same love that we experience emotionally at the birth of our children.  Mothers and fathers, we know those feelings quite well.  There is an indescribable pride and joy in your first gaze upon the face of baby Brian or cuddly Cindy.  Indeed, you see SOMETHING-OF-YOURSELF laying in that bassinet.

ON THE SIXTH DAY, GOD BREATHED SOMETHING OF HIMSELF INTO ADAM.  Think about that.  It is both a natural and spiritual truism that you cannot place your lips on something without that something becoming part of you, and without you becoming part of that something.  Now hear this: Be careful who you kiss!

On a more serious note, even though Adam was created from dust and brought to life by the very PNEUMA or breath of God, he soon fell from God’s grace, headlong into sin and shame.  And it was incumbent upon GOD to provide an efficacious remedy because fallen man could not possibly save himself.  To wit, the gospel of John records the miracle of KENOSIS, i.e. that God poured out of Himself, THE ETERNAL WORD, into JESUS CHRIST, THE LIVING WORD. (John 1:14) That’s what I call PHASE ONE of the salvation plan.  In PHASE TWO, Jesus embraced a substitutionary death on our behalf.  And as recorded in John 20:22, Jesus “BREATHED on them [us], and said unto them [us], Receive the Holy Spirit.”  That is, Jesus Christ pours out HIMSELF, THE LOGOS (the Living Word) into US, and we are baptized into the BODY OF CHRIST.  In PHASE THREE, which is “The Great Commission,” recorded in Matthew 28:19-20, THE LORD declares our obligation (after we receive JESUS CHRIST, THE LIVING WORD) to pour out a deposit of ourselves (i.e., CHRIST IN US, “the hope of glory”) into unbelievers everywhere. (Colossians 1:27) WOW!  What all-wise, sovereign, gracious, merciful and mighty God we serve!

Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.

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

LIFE IN THE SON - Part II

LIFE IN THE SON - Part II

It is mission critical that we make a complete commitment to the recognition and reception of JESUS CHRIST, THE SOURCE OF ALL LIFE and THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH.  Because whoever gets THE SON…GETS EVERYTHING!  

I John 5:11-12 offers clear affirmation of this fact.  “And this is the record…that GOD hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in HIS SON.  He that hath THE SON hath LIFE; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

And Ephesians 4:13-15 must and shall be the end-goal of every believer: “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love may GROW UP INTO HIM in all things, which is the head, even CHRIST.”

Let’s take an honest look in the mirror for a moment, shall we?  Do you know why so many us do not live well-balanced, productive and joyous lives?  Because most of us seek to discover happiness by plugging into sources of happiness that are NOT real.  Most of the sources of happiness we seek are mere illusions, dim and distant shadows of what THE CREATOR originally determined and designed for us.

Key Question: Haven’t we learned yet that the possessions, the pride, or even the people we are tempted to center our lives around are transient images, mirages and substitutions for true happiness?  Yes, all of us are indeed THIRSTY for something (and we ought to be) while traversing this sometimes barren desert called life.  And, at times, we THINK we have spotted some thirst-quenching oasis that is overflowing with life-giving water, but when we change course and travel there, we discover only one more dusty, dead and dry place.  Does this ring familiar or somehow resonate with your own life experiences?

                                                                                                              

Sisters and brothers, do you want to know what JESUS has to say about all of this?  The Master teaches that we can indeed achieve true and lasting fulfillment…genuine happiness…lasting peace…limitless joy…but it is not of this world.  Yes, we may find it IN this world…but it is not OF this world!  That’s why the Bible says “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world,” because what we are searching for is not really IN this world…it is IN JESUS!  (I John 2:15) 

Perhaps you have seen the old television commercial that promotes Prego spaghetti sauce.  The commercial simply says this about Prego: “IT’S IN THERE!”  According to them, everything you need to create a delicious spaghetti sauce lays within the Prego jar.  And that’s what I say about JESUS.  Whatever you are seeking, whatever solutions you may need, just remember this: IT’S ALL IN THERE!  YOUR FUTURE is already present and absolutely possible via a sure covenant connection and an intimate sibling relationship with THE SON, JESUS CHRIST!  

How so?  The Bible clearly teaches that JESUS CHRIST is our ELDER BROTHER.  That is, JESUS CHRIST is the ELDER BROTHER of EVERY BELIEVER. 

Romans 8:16-17 offers affirmation: “The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHRIST.”

All right, let’s think this through.  We believers are HEIRS of GOD, THE FATHER, and JOINT-HEIRS with GOD, THE SON.  As you know, a FATHER is the BENEFACTOR of an estate and a SON (not meant to be gender specific here) is typically the BENEFICIARY or HEIR of an estate.  So, since believers are JOINT-HEIRS with THE SON, we receive through THE SON all that THE FATHER WILLS TO US and WILLS FOR US.  And, since JESUS CHRIST, THE SON, came BEFORE US, does it not follow logically that JESUS CHRIST is our ELDER BROTHER?   

Consider first a natural truth, then a spiritual one.  Every parent knows how important it is to get THEIR FIRST CHILD walking along a righteous, respectable and orderly path.  If THE FIRST CHILD is respectful and right, the children born afterwards have a MODEL to emulate and duplicate.  According to Romans 8:29, JESUS CHRIST is “the FIRSTBORN…among many brethren.”  Our ultimate goal, according to Ephesians 4:15, is that we believers will become just like our elder brother.  That is, we seek diligently to “GROW UP INTO HIM IN ALL THINGS…which is the head, even CHRIST.”  

So often during my private prayer time, I gaze over at JESUS (with the spiritual eye of faith) and I whisper to Him: “WHEN I GROW UP…I WANT TO BE JUST LIKE YOU!”  

Because, as the scriptures mandate, I am striving diligently every day…TO GROW UP INTO HIM…i.e., TO BE JUST LIKE HIM when I grow up!   Every person on the planet should have a similar spiritual aspiration.

Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.

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

LIFE IN THE SON - Part I

LIFE IN THE SON - Part I

It is mission critical that we recognize and receive JESUS CHRIST, THE SOURCE OF ALL LIFE and THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH. (John 1:4 – Hebrews 12:2) One of my favorite stories tells us exactly why, in a very eloquent and memorable manner:

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art.  They owned many beautiful and precious paintings, from Rafael to Picasso.  Often during the evening hours, they would sit together to admire and discuss their magnificent art treasures.

When the Vietnam War broke out, the son was drafted into the U.S. Army.  He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier.  When the father was notified, he grieved deeply and inconsolably for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there came a knock at his door.  A young man stood in the doorway holding a large package in his hands.  He said, “Sir, you don’t know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life.  He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart.  He died instantly.  I am so very sorry for your loss.  So often, he talked about you, and your love for fine art.”

The young man held out a package, wrapped in plain brown paper.  “I know this isn’t much.  I’m not really a great artist, but I think your son would want you to have this.”

The father opened the package.  It was a beautiful portrait of his son, which had been painted by the young soldier standing in the doorway.  He stared in awe at the way this soldier had captured the spirit and personality of his son in the painting.  The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears.  He thanked the young man repeatedly and offered to pay him for the portrait.

“No sir, I could never repay what you son did for me.  He saved my life.  This is a gift.”

The father immediately hung his son’s portrait over the mantle.  Every time visitors came to his home, he took them to see the portrait of his son before showing any of the other great works of art he had collected.

Unfortunately, the father died a few months later.  There was a great auction of his paintings.  Many influential people gathered, excited about the opportunity to purchase some of those exceptional paintings for their own collections.  On the platform, center stage, stood the portrait of the deceased man’s heroic son.

The auctioneer pounded his gavel.  “This evening, we start our bidding with the picture of the son.  Who will bid for this portrait?”  Absolute silence prevailed.  After a few moments, a voice from the back of the room shouted, “We came to see the famous paintings.  Just skip over this one.”

But the auctioneer persisted, “Will someone bid for this painting?  Who will start the bidding?  $100?  $200?”  Another voice, more angry this time, boomed out: “No one wants to buy this painting.  We came to see the Van Gogh’s, the Rembrandt’s and the Picasso’s.  Get on with the real bidding!”

But still the auctioneer continued.  “The son!  The son!  Who will take the son?”

Finally, a meek voice spoke from the rear of the room.  It was the longtime gardener of the deceased father and son.  “I’ll pay ten dollars for this painting.”  And being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

“We have ten dollars.  Who will bid twenty?”  Someone else had grown tired and inpatient.  “Give it to him for ten dollars, and let’s get on with it!”  The crowd had become agitated.  They didn’t want the picture of the son.  They were seeking the more worthy investments for their collections.  So the auctioneer pounded his gavel and announced “Going once, going twice, sold for ten dollars!”

One man seated down front remarked, “Now we can get on with the REAL collection!”

But the auctioneer laid down his gavel.  “I am sorry,” he announced, “but the auction is over.”  Someone shouted out in shocked disbelief, “What about the other paintings?”  The auctioneer explained, “When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will that could not be revealed until now.  You see, only the painting of THE SON would actually be auctioned.  It had been arranged by THE FATHER that whoever bought the painting of THE SON would inherit his entire estate, including all of the priceless paintings.  The man who takes THE SON…gets everything!”

What an awesome story!

OUR FATHER freely gave HIS OWN SON, approximately two millennia past, to die on a cruel and rugged cross.  Much like the auctioneer, HIS MESSAGE for all of us today is: “THE SON, THE SON…WHO WILL TAKE THE SON?”  Because whoever takes THE SON…gets EVERYTHING! (John 10:10 – II Peter 1:3) Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.

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 which 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 some 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 her to a shop where she could get assistance for the 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 is 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!

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 is 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 that lay 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 could not be found in a fancy and expensive department store.  It would not be wrapped in colorful Christmas paper and adorned with bright ribbons and bows.  Actually, this gift doesn’t have a receipt so 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 of all: “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)  Beyond anything 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!

A HEARTWARMING CHRISMAS STORY

A HEARTWARMING CHRISTMAS STORY

One may never apprehend the real significance of Christmas in the absence of embracing the timeless truth that our “GOD IS LOVE.”  In light of the loving character of God, we are admonished by His Word to “love one another…for everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” (I John 4:7-8, NIV)  In 1982, Nancy W. Gavin penned a touching story which underscores the meaning and message of Christmas: LOVE.  Here it goes…

It’s just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree.  No name, no identification, no inscription.  It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past 10 years or so.

It all began because my husband, Mike, hated Christmas.  He did not dishonor the true meaning of Christmas, but he despised the commercial aspects of it – overspending – the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Tommy or dusting powder for Grandma – the gifts given in desperation because you just couldn’t think of anything else.

Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties, and so forth.  I searched for something special just for Mike.  My inspiration came in a most unusual way.

Our 12-year-old son, Kevin, was on the wrestling team at school.  Shortly before Christmas, there was a match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church, comprised mostly of black children.  These youngsters, who were dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and their sparkling new wrestling shoes.

As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a light helmet designed to protect a wrestler’s ears.  It was a luxury the inner-city team simply could not afford.  Well, we ended up walloping them that day; we took every weight class.  As each one of the opposing team’s boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tattered uniform with false bravado, a kind of street pride that refused to acknowledge defeat.

Seated beside me, Mike shook his head sadly.  “I wish just one of them could have won,” he said.  “They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them.”  Mike loved kids and he knew them well – having coached little league football, baseball and lacrosse.

That’s when the idea for a unique Christmas present came.  That same afternoon, I went to the local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church.

On Christmas Eve, I placed an envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what had been done and the fact that this was his gift from me.  His radiant smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year, and in succeeding years.

Every Christmas thereafter, we followed this giving tradition – one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year mailing a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground right before Christmas, and on and on.

THE GIVING ENVELOPE became the highlight of our Christmas.  It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their Dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents.

As the children grew, toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its loving allure.  The story doesn’t end there.  You see, last year we lost Mike due to dreaded cancer.  When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up.  But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more.  Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their Dad.

Our family’s Christmas tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with grandchildren standing around the tree in wide-eyed anticipation, watching as their parents take down the envelopes.  Mike’s spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always be present, and will always be a present, for us.

May we all remember each other this year, and may we never forget THE REAL REASON FOR THE SEASON AND THE LOVING SPIRIT OF THE CHRIST CHILD, now and always.  Merry Christmas!

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

CHRISTMAS IS NOT ABOUT GIFTS...IT'S ALL ABOUT CHRIST!

CHRISTMAS IS NOT ABOUT GIFTS…IT’S ALL ABOUT CHRIST!

Since we are increasingly experiencing a COMMERCIALIZED CHRISTMAS in America, I thought it would be wise to reprint an article I read by Miles Patrick Yohnke.  Here it goes:

Recently, as I was cycling to my destination I passed a park along the way.  As I went by, I heard a male voice.  An old man was training his young dog.  With a clear, strong, yet tender voice, he taught his dog to sit and the dog did just as he was commanded.  With his leash on, they walked a few steps and repeated the process.  He praised his dog and I could see that the dog was very happy.

The man was teaching the dog that it could be more.  He taught the dog focus, discipline, and structure.  What really struck me was that this took time.  AND HE TOOK THE TIME.

As I continued along my journey I reflected on what I had witnessed, thinking how that man in the park took quality time.  He was there.  He was getting the most out of his dog.  How fortunate that dog really was.

How often do we take the time to teach our own children?  We constantly hear echoes of, “I’m so busy, I feel like I’m running on a treadmill, I’m so stressed!”

Our modern world is inundated with marketing and advertising that has one goal, and one goal only.  That is to make products so attractive that the consumer feels an obsession to possess them in order to feel special, fulfilled or popular.  Children and teens need to understand the powerful attraction that marketing can create.  They must learn to differentiate between what one truly needs and what one only wants.

And we must teach the children well.  We need to teach them that advertising exists so that individuals or big corporations can make money.  Because of that, advertisers use powerful methods to convince consumers to buy products.  We must teach our children how media corporations need paid advertising to stay on the air or to continue publishing.  We need to show them how advertising convinces people to want something, even if they don’t really need it.  We must discuss this because our families are confronted by powerful and attractive advertising, whether on television, radio, newspapers, magazines, or billboards.

We should discuss how advertising tries to make you feel better about yourself if you own a certain product or convince you that other people will like you better or think you’re “cool.”

We should explain that shopping should seldom be seen as a fun pastime, but rather something people should do to buy items that they truly need. 

Help your children observe how many times a day your family is exposed to advertising.  For example, there are ads on the sides of buses, in arenas, on radio and television, on billboards, etc.  Teach them to understand when a television or radio station tells you to tweet them or post to their Facebook site, that they are only doing so to create traffic hits to their own website that will increase their revenue.  Show our youth that advertising tries to create an image of what a person should (or should not) look like, even though this image quite often does not reflect reality.

Here is the alarming thing: Do parents really know the difference between needs and wants?  And, if so, do we love enough to speak truth to our children (and to ourselves) even when it is uncomfortable or unpopular.  Parents and grandparents, we must refuse to retreat to that old mindset of “I’m busy, I’m running, I’m stressed.”  And we need to forge genuine connections with our offspring, our real life legacy.

These days, most married couples both work full-time.  Perhaps, as an indirect result, divorce rates have soared to all-time highs and tag-team parenting has become the order of the day.  Parents feel overwhelmed.  And, frankly, much of this is centered on how to pay their rent or mortgage, or for the miscellaneous stuff in their homes, or for their vehicles, their clothes, their vacations, their holidays, and on and on.  For the most part, we no longer understand the core values of life or the real meaning of life.

Ask yourself this question today: Do I actually need to keep up with the Joneses?  Or am I acting as a child and merely wearing an adult face?

WOW…thank you Miles Patrick Yohnke!  You have given us something to think and pray about.  Don’t get me wrong, sisters and brothers, I love Christmas just as much as anyone, and I, too, am thrilled with the opportunity to purchase and distribute gifts.  But as we celebrate this Advent Season, let us make a solemn pledge in 2016, and let’s stay true to it:  WE WILL KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS!

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