You Hardly Ever Hear This in the Senate

By Rhonda Rhea –

I had an interesting conversation with a couple of my kids last week. My son Jordan was making a passionate argument about something or another and he ended his proclamation with “Mom. Seriously.” Only I can’t express it with the same punch he did because he totally power-burped the last word.

My daughter Kaley said, “Yeah, Jordan. It always helps your argument when you belch it.”

Jordan responded with: “Yeah, that’s why they do it all the time on the senate floor.”

Okay, I’m sorry, but it cracked me up when I got this visual of all our statesmen in a “who can burp their point the loudest” competition. I have to wonder if this could end a few of those disputes on Capitol Hill. Or maybe start some new ones.

Anyway, no one really asks why neither I nor any of my children have ever run for public office. And while I’ll probably never represent any of my fellow Americans in congress, I do need to keep in mind that I’m always representing Christ.

The Amplified Version of 2 Corinthians 5:20 tells us that “we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We, as Christ’s personal representatives, beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor now offered you and be reconciled to God.”

A representative? As a matter of fact, I’ve already been elected. You have too if you’ve given your life to Christ. What an honor it is to represent! I pray regularly that the Lord will help me communicate His truth in whatever way He wants me to communicate it. May it happen through each of us as His representatives. However He wants us to communicate it and to every person He wants us to communicate it to. Seriously.

Paul referred to himself as an ambassador as well. “Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should” (Ephesians 6:19-20, NIV). There is usually prestige connected to becoming an ambassador or a representative. But an “ambassador in chains”? It may be tougher to find people to run for that office or make themselves available for that appointment.

But when we’re looking at the appointment from an eternal perspective, it’s startling what an honor we find it is to be called to passionately lobby those who don’t know Jesus. We are to “beg” them, as the passage in 2 Corinthians describes it, to be reconciled to God through Christ.

Believe it or not, that’s also very often a topic of conversation between me and my kids. Even though we’re not members of the House of Representatives, we’re ever seeking to challenge each other to remember that we do have a house full of representatives.

Back on the political side though, can you imagine some of the conversations we’ll be having in the Rhea house as we near election time? I’m thinking it will likely go something like, “I’d never vote for that guy. Why, he probably couldn’t burp his way out of paper bag.”

To Advertise or Evangelize

By Hally Franz –

There is a lovely cinema that my family and I visit in a suburban area not far from our home. At that theater, like many others, there are ads running prior to the start of the movie. Over the course of several months, that cinema showed ads for a large, non-denominational church in the area. I don’t remember the name of the church, but I do remember one stunning statement from the commercial. The advertisement invited people to attend their services, assuring them that, unlike other churches, “the people aren’t weird.”

I remember initially questioning myself about what I had heard, but when our minister referenced the same ad one Sunday, I knew I had understood the message correctly.

Wow! What a discouraging way for a church to communicate to the masses! Unfortunately, in our society, there are already enough challenges for Christians when it comes to evangelizing and carrying out The Great Commission. Calling traditional Christians, or any other body of believers, weird would not seem to serve His purposes. Encouraging that thinking seems more divisive than helpful in the pursuit of new believers.

I have great pride (hopefully, not in a sinful way) about my church home. We are blessed with a gifted minister, committed leaders, wise men and women, and an ever-growing group of youth. We are a family, seeking to study and follow God’s Word, and we have fun while we do it.

I know there are other congregations in our small town doing the same thing. Our orders of worship may differ, membership size may vary, and our church cultures are all unique. And, while my family is blessed to be just where we are, there are many other churches doing great things, too. I wouldn’t judge them as “weird” simply to appeal to the unchurched.

People re-connect on facebook because they share a high school or college alma mater. Serious fans buy season tickets to large-scale and local sporting events. We offer up huge amounts of time to our children’s activities and endeavors. Let’s remember to support our church bodies with the same enthusiasm, time and energy. That display of spirit and home-church pride will bring more people to Christ than calling the other guys names any day.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, provide wisdom for individual Christians and church bodies as they seek to reach others in the community. Lead us to evangelize with kindness and excitement for You, so that Your message is heard.

BIBLE VERSE: “For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything” (1 Thessalonians 1:8 NKJV).

 

Time For A Good Soak

By Rosemary Flaaten –

I recently pulled out a familiar cookie recipe, and upon reading through it, discovered that I had previously missed a step. I am used to simply giving the raisins a quick rinse before adding them to the batter, but the recipe actually called for the raisins to soak for an hour. I scoffed at the notion, thinking that raisins are dried fruit and should be simply eaten as dried fruit. But I decided to follow the recipe’s directive and covered the raisins with water and let them soak. The cookies that resulted were incredibly moist and much more flavorful than the previous batches. Soaking the raisins had a profound effect not only on their cleanliness but on their tastiness.

I wonder how often we simply rinse off in Scripture rather than soak in it? Daily reading programs help direct us through the Bible and gain a overall perspective. Serious studying helps us delve into a deepening knowledge. Wherever we are on the scholarly scale, at some point we must move from being a student to being Christ’s disciple, choosing to meditate and soak in God’s Word. Soaking produces heart change.

Jan Johnson, in her book, Savoring God’s Word, describes the difference between typical Bible study and  meditating on Scripture. “When we study, we dissect the text; when we meditate, we savor the text and enter into it. When we study, we ask questions about the text; when we meditate, we let the text ask questions of us. When we study, we read and compare facts and new ways of applying facts; when we meditate we read to let God speak to us in light of the facts already absorbed.”

What is your habit? Do you have a tendency to simply have a quick rinse in Scripture?  Do you dissect, ask questions and compare facts? Or, do you sit and soak in God’s holy words, allowing their truth to seep into your soul. The God-flavors that will then permeate through us and emanate out of us into our world, will be rich and life changing.

Is it time for a good soak?

PRAYER: Lord, May the truth of Your words, soak deep into my soul to make me more like You.

BIBLE VERSE: “Blessed is the man… (who) delights in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither” (Psalm 1:1 – 3 NIV).

 

 

 

Waiting for the Fall

By Heather Allen –

As we prep our fall schedule I am reminded that life is swift as a current. I relish the last scents of summer as they float on the cooling breeze. New seasons somehow hold all the possibility for change and growth. This is an opportunity to glance over my shoulder, pausing to bless His name for all He has done. And although busy I will indulge the urge to sit longer recounting His ways.

Tonight I balanced the story of Jonah on my knee while scratching a small itchy back. My son, like many a child, is drawn to this story. And as I read I find myself hanging on each word. I close the book, remembering a time when the end of Jonah’s story was my story.  God is enduring, if there is a truth He wants me to learn, He will teach me in multiple ways.

Years ago my hubby and I were part of a ministry that ended in a sad, hard way.  I was disillusioned.  I had intently worked to come out of the mess clean, and I was angry that things were ending the way they were.  I believed there should be some consequences for the bad things that had gone down. Somebody needed a good hard spanking and I wanted to watch the smack down.

I looked for justice but ran head long into conviction. It started with the book of Jonah. I get Jonah. The people of Nineveh were evil and he thought there should be consequences. God wanted to offer forgiveness instead and Jonah was pretty mad about it. So he sat waiting and watching and hoping that Nineveh would still pay.

God laid that example in front of me. But I was too focused on how we might be blessed for doing right and really did not want to face my pride.  So one evening, He led me to Matthew 7:21-23 (KJV). This is a pretty scary passage: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity”.

I dropped down on my face, a holy fear coursed through my body. I laid there for what felt like hours, and in the stillness that lingered, I knew. I was to long for salvation for those who had wounded me the way I longed for my own. It was time to pray for grace and mercy for someone else. No more sitting in the hot wind above Nineveh watching eagerly for destruction.

The years have sped along, and I still pray for those involved. The anger and hurt are gone. God alone knows tomorrow, but I will endeavor to live it free from bitterness. I breathe easier knowing my assignment here does not involve being my own defense. I step in time with Him, knowing my back and my heart are covered.

Prodigal Parties

By Art Fulks –

All of us stray at times. It is our nature, as sheep.

When we read the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15, most of us see the story as primarily being about a rebellious son who, at his lowest point, comes back home to find a compassionate, welcoming father. This story displays an incredible picture of the grace and forgiveness of our Heavenly Father, while providing us a wonderful example of family reconciliation.

It would be safe to say that I have heard this text taught at least 20-30 times over the span of my life. But while recently telling this story to a small group of believers, two probing questions were asked. First, what does the story teach us about God? The answers were consistent, that the grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father are overwhelming.

The next question inquired as to our personal identification with the three main characters. Was it the father, the lost son, or the older brother? Everyone in the group agreed that we could identify with the lost son because of periods of personal rebellion. But when we got below the surface, another common theme was revealed. At some time, we all had been the resentful elder brother who would not even attend the homecoming celebration.

At some point in our lives, many of us have felt resentment toward a sibling, parent, spouse, friend, or co-worker who was rebellious, irresponsible, dishonest, or even adversarial. While we had remained faithful and loyal without any great display of appreciation or notice, the rebellious person experienced grace, favor, and even notoriety.

How do you feel when a lost son comes home and is met with compassion? According to the Apostle Paul, we are given a ministry of reconciliation, yet we often find it difficult to accept. Being reminded of the grace God has extended to us personally can really help us to not only forgive others, but also to rejoice when they experience grace.

Have you partied lately with a returning prodigal?

BIBLE VERSE: “But we had to be merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found” (Luke 15: 32 NASB).

« Previous Page — Next Page »