Bible Thoughts

Today we were challenged by our pastor on re-examining our lifes and how we live to follow the path Jesus. As I sat there I thought, am I living for Jesus the best I can; my answer was yes for right now I am living the best I can live for Jesus. I take comfort in looking to the future where I can live more for Jesus and working for God. As our kids get older, they become less and less of a time commitment and as they leave us to find their own path, they will become less of a financial commitment. The financial groundwork I am laying now will give me the ability to quit working for “The Man” and allow me to work for God.

As I sat there I thought, maybe there is something else I can do right now. I thought maybe I could use the knowledge gained from the path God has put me on over the last two years. I thought YES, there is something else I can do.

I will not spoil the surprise until it is launched but what I will say is, if God’s blessing is upon this idea then will help feed and care for the poor.

I think it is important to “Take Up the Cross and Follow Him” everyday. This can be done in seemingly small and simple ways.

• Hold the door for someone
• Pickup a piece of litter and put it in the trash
• Buy someone a coffee
• Smiling is contagious
• Pat someone else on the back
• Encourage someone

The list is long, use your imagination. It is amazing how a few acts of kindness can improve someone else’s life or even just their day. Sometimes you may never see the fruits of your labour but, do not let that stop you.

God calls us to a higher purpose. Are you ready to rise, take up the cross and follow him?

“The Passion of the Christ” has started to play on The Movie Network. I consider this one of the most heart-wrenching movie on the life of Christ I have ever seen. As I watched this movie I am reminded what Christ went through for me. Just so I could be forgiven for all my sins and every time I sin, I crucify him repeatedly.

As I watched the movie, I took comfort that there were believers and non-believers who were watching the movie. Thinking that the believers are reminded by what Christ did for them and the non-believers may come to Christ through this movie.

Last night I had the pleasure of listening to Tony Campolo speak on what it means to be a disciple of Christ. If you ever get a chance to listen to him speak, take to time, travel the distance, the Lord will reward your efforts. During Tony’s talk, he reminded me of my commitment as a disciple of Christ to care of the poor in whatever way I could. Tony was working out of Matt 25 31-46 but this really hit home when he quoted verse 45.

Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

Matt 25:45

I heard you Lord LOUD and CLEAR! I found out long ago that if the Lord is speaking to you, you might as well listen because His voice only gets louder and louder.

Tony continued to say that if you look into the poor’s eyes, you would see Jesus looking back at you. I took this to heart last night and sponsored a girl from Kampala Uganda named Phoebe Akwango. Her favorite subject is writing and as a Blogger, I pray she will be able to develop her writing skill and maybe even have the opportunity to post her writings here someday. At least with this sponsorship she may have a fighting chance to survive to get that chance.

Here is a picture of her.

My niece says she looks so sad. I said this is why we are helping her, to make her happy again.

Here is her story so far.

Phoebe lives with her parents. Her father, a day labourer, does not have regular work, so it has been a constant struggle for him to provide the necessities of life for his family. Her mother is a housewife. This sponsorship is an important and continuing part of the assistance given to help this girl and her family attains self-reliance.

Sponsor a child, there are 13 million orphans in Africa, HELP THEM!

I have been meaning to comment on this subject about the “Left Behind” series. Is it better to be left behind or not to be left behind? The “Left Behind” series places their entire message on two verses, Matt 24:40-41 and Luke 17:34-36.

Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.
Matt 24:40-41

I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.
Luke 17:34-36

In these verses, Jesus said that if two men were in a field one would be taken and the other would be left. The trouble here is, Jesus never said if the believer would be taken or left. The “left behind camp” assumes that the believer would be taken and the non-believer would be left in the field.

This would all be well and fine accept for Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians. He clarifies who would stay and how would be left behind.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
1 Thess 4:14-17

Here, Paul speaks of Christ’s return. When he returns, those believers who fell asleep in Christ will be raised up. But more importantly, those who are alive and remain will be caught up together and raised into the clouds with those who were called from their slumber. We will all be with the Lord forever.

I want to be left behind!

The other day our worship leader really struck chord (no pun intended) with me. To understand the Word better, context of the writings are everything. I have been singing this song for a number of years, “I lift my eyes up‿ with no real understanding of the context in which it was written.

I lift my eyes up
I lift my eyes up to the mountains,
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from You, Maker of Heaven,
Creator of the earth.

O how I need You Lord, You are my only hope;
You are my only prayer.
So I will wait for You to come and rescue me,
To come and give me life.

I was always under the impression that the mountain was in some way a metaphor for God. This was an incorrect assumption.

The actual passage where this song draws its roots from is from PSalm 121.

I WILL lift up my eyes to the hills
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day.
Nor the moon by night.

The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.
PS 121

I LOVE my wide margin bible (it was gift from an anonyms party while I was attending some classes at the“Great Commission School‿) because of the center of the page. It is chalk full of cool references to help you understand what you are reading, providing proper context.

Anyways there is a reference that points, “I WILL lift up my eyes to the hills‿ to Jer 3:23 and Jeremiah says;

Truly, in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills,
And from the multitude of mountains;
Truly, in the LORD our God
Is the salvation of Israel.
Jer 3:23.

By this, I see that a hill is just a hill and a mountain is just a mountain. We should not expect salvation from the mountain, whatever that mountain turns out to be, money, things, high rank in the community, etc… We should realize that our salvation comes from and only from the LORD our God.

Thanx Brian for the food for Bible Thought.

A good friend of mine who I have lost touch with over the years, has fallen into darkness. He has always been a little eccentric; I just don’t know how he got involved with this evil Internet cult. His wife is a God fearing woman; she could not handle this change in him. This was very sad for her because of her faith but these changes were starting to border on violence toward her and the kids. She recently shared with me that over the past number of years he told her to not keep in contact with my wife and I because he was afraid of our faith. During the time we really hung out together, I was strong in my faith but I didn’t think I was that strong or I didn’t think my strength showed through as much as it did. I just figured that darkness scurries into the shadows when God’s light shines.

In my Bible study group, we were working through the passage PS 69:1-2. I read on a bit further and found a passage in PS 72:5-7 that explained the fear.

They shall fear You
As long as the sun and moon endure.
He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing.
Like showers that water the earth
In His days the righteous shall flourish
And abundance of peace
Until the moon is no more.
PS 72:5-7

The passage really spoke to me; as long as the sun and the moon endure, evil will always fear God’s light and His people who carry that light.

A place for deep deep thoughts about the bible.

For my small group.