I'm using the following in an upcoming radio devotion but thought I'd share it with you now...good for a laugh!
Remember the 2000 Year Old Man comedy routine that Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks did so many years ago? During one of the routines, Reiner asked the old man, "Did you always believe in the Lord?"
Brooks replied, "No. We had a guy in our village named Phil and for a time we worshipped him."
Reiner asked, "You worshipped a guy named Phil? Why?" Brooks responded, "Because he was big and mean and he could break you in two with his bare hands!"
Reiner went on, "Did you have prayers?" Brooks answered, "Yes, would you like to hear one? O Phil, please don't be mean or hurt us or break us in two with your bare hands. Amen."
Reiner went on to ask, "So when did you start worshipping the Lord?" Brooks, as the 2000 Year Old Man, explained it like this: "Well, one day a big thunderstorm came up, and a lightening bolt hit Phil. We gathered around and saw that he was dead. Then we said to one another, "There's something bigger than Phil!"
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
We saw your smoke signal!
Did you hear the story about the only survivor of a shipwreck? He was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue Him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed to be coming.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the weather and to store his possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke drifting up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. The survivor was stunned with grief and anger. "God, how could you do such a thing to me?"
Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.
It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn't lose heart because even in the midst of pain and suffering, God is at work in our lives. Remember, the next time your little hut is burning to the ground, it just may serve as a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.
And God is gracious! We say, "It's impossible!" God says, "All things are possible." (Luke 18:27) We say, "Nobody loves me!" God says, "I love you." (John 3:16) We say, "I can't forgive myself." God says, "I forgive you." (1 John 1:8) We say, "I'm always worried and frustrated." God says, "Cast all your cares on me." (1 Peter 5:7)
Know anyone whose hut is about ready to catch on fire? Encourage them with the Word of God!
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the weather and to store his possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke drifting up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. The survivor was stunned with grief and anger. "God, how could you do such a thing to me?"
Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.
It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn't lose heart because even in the midst of pain and suffering, God is at work in our lives. Remember, the next time your little hut is burning to the ground, it just may serve as a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.
And God is gracious! We say, "It's impossible!" God says, "All things are possible." (Luke 18:27) We say, "Nobody loves me!" God says, "I love you." (John 3:16) We say, "I can't forgive myself." God says, "I forgive you." (1 John 1:8) We say, "I'm always worried and frustrated." God says, "Cast all your cares on me." (1 Peter 5:7)
Know anyone whose hut is about ready to catch on fire? Encourage them with the Word of God!
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
The sun will come up tomorrow!
Finally, we've come to the end of another election cycle (Maybe?). There's lots of trepidation about where our country will go depending on who wins the presidential election. And I'd agree that there are numerous reasons for all Americans to be concerned.
But as I was doing sermon study this morning on 1 Kings 17:7-16, I was comforted. God tested both Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. Both were given the opportunity to step out in faith. In both cases, God provided both physical and spiritual blessings. The gracious and generous God provided; He was in control.
Neither candidate is our best chance or our last hope for having the kind of life we desire for ourselves, our kids and grandkids. God is our hope. He is more powerful than political parties or the news media. God's will cannot be thwarted. His promises are certain and sure. No matter what challenges we face - whether individual or as a nation - our hope is in the Lord. (Hebrews 6:19; 1 Peter 1:3; Psalm 39:7)
So be sure to vote today. And no matter the outcome, the sun will come up tomorrow. And tomorrow will be one more day for you and me to put our hope and trust in God's one and only Son - the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our hope. He is our salvation.
But as I was doing sermon study this morning on 1 Kings 17:7-16, I was comforted. God tested both Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. Both were given the opportunity to step out in faith. In both cases, God provided both physical and spiritual blessings. The gracious and generous God provided; He was in control.
Neither candidate is our best chance or our last hope for having the kind of life we desire for ourselves, our kids and grandkids. God is our hope. He is more powerful than political parties or the news media. God's will cannot be thwarted. His promises are certain and sure. No matter what challenges we face - whether individual or as a nation - our hope is in the Lord. (Hebrews 6:19; 1 Peter 1:3; Psalm 39:7)
So be sure to vote today. And no matter the outcome, the sun will come up tomorrow. And tomorrow will be one more day for you and me to put our hope and trust in God's one and only Son - the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our hope. He is our salvation.
Monday, November 5, 2012
The Unanswerable Question
"Why are some saved and not others?" This was one of the questions that I dealt with last Saturday at the "Basics" class I taught for folks interested in becoming part of the Life in Christ church family. This is a question for which we have no good answer but Frank Starr, in one of his "Light for the Way," devotional booklets, offered an important insight:
Whatever the reason, God's Word (irresistible in some quarters) can be resisted by people - not because we are more powerful than God, but because He will not force Himself on us. He desires to be loved. And love must be given. It cannot be forced.
Whatever the reason, God's Word (irresistible in some quarters) can be resisted by people - not because we are more powerful than God, but because He will not force Himself on us. He desires to be loved. And love must be given. It cannot be forced.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
For All The Saints...
This Sunday we remember all those from our church family who found their rest in Jesus in the past 12 months. And we'll learn what Jesus means when He says that those who mourn will be comforted (Matthew 5:4). If you're in our area, please join us. Worship at 8 and 10:45 am with Christian LIFE Hour (classes for everyone!) at 9:15 am. Hope to see you this Sunday at LICL!
Friday, November 2, 2012
Talking about Jesus...making new friends
I'm very excited about tomorrow. I'll be conducting our "Basics of the Christian Faith" class for 8 people. These are folks who want to join our church and who want to know more about what our church believes and confesses. In another part of the campus, Pastor Vern Trahms will be leading an "Explorers Class." This group is made up of Lutherans who are also interested in joining our church family and want to know more about living the new life in Christ. For me it will be a long but very fruitful day. Praise the Lord for continuing to grow our church!
Thursday, November 1, 2012
At Home with Jesus
On this All Saints Day, my heart was warmed and encouraged by these words from Gerald Oosterveen's book, "Too Early Frost."
Parents are not supposed to bury their children. The old are not supposed to stand beside the graves of the young. It is unnatural. One is not prepared for it. The death of a child tears apart a family like the uprooting of one plant out of a cluster that have been allowed to grow together in one pot. It cannot be done. All those roots become so intertwined over the years that nothing short of violence can separate them. And it leaves all the plants stunted...
Oh yes, we mourn...But we have hope - bright hope for tomorrow, when all who trust in Jesus Christ as Savior will move beyond pain and grief forever because we shall be forever with the Lord. And it is not just some pipe dream, some opium to stupefy and mislead hurting people. It is real, because Christ is real, because in our past there is a blood-stained cross on which the Prince of Glory died. Because of that bloody, pain-filled past we have hope when all things are made new and death shall be no more, nor grief, nor crying.
In a little cemetery in a small out-of-the-way town there is a tiny marker. It bears only three lines:
1961-1970
GERARD RICHARD OOSTERVEEN
"At Home with Jesus"
Of the three lines, the last line is the only one that really matters.
"At Home with Jesus." When I think of my Mother and Father, when I think of good friends like Jim Peterson, when I think of the people who I've had the opportunity to serve as pastor and shepherd, the only line that really matters and the only line that can comfort sorrowing hearts is that they are at home with Jesus.
Let that line, that thought, be your comfort today as you think about and give thanks for those you loved who were loved by Jesus even more and now rest in His gentle and nail-scarred hands.
Parents are not supposed to bury their children. The old are not supposed to stand beside the graves of the young. It is unnatural. One is not prepared for it. The death of a child tears apart a family like the uprooting of one plant out of a cluster that have been allowed to grow together in one pot. It cannot be done. All those roots become so intertwined over the years that nothing short of violence can separate them. And it leaves all the plants stunted...
Oh yes, we mourn...But we have hope - bright hope for tomorrow, when all who trust in Jesus Christ as Savior will move beyond pain and grief forever because we shall be forever with the Lord. And it is not just some pipe dream, some opium to stupefy and mislead hurting people. It is real, because Christ is real, because in our past there is a blood-stained cross on which the Prince of Glory died. Because of that bloody, pain-filled past we have hope when all things are made new and death shall be no more, nor grief, nor crying.
In a little cemetery in a small out-of-the-way town there is a tiny marker. It bears only three lines:
1961-1970
GERARD RICHARD OOSTERVEEN
"At Home with Jesus"
Of the three lines, the last line is the only one that really matters.
"At Home with Jesus." When I think of my Mother and Father, when I think of good friends like Jim Peterson, when I think of the people who I've had the opportunity to serve as pastor and shepherd, the only line that really matters and the only line that can comfort sorrowing hearts is that they are at home with Jesus.
Let that line, that thought, be your comfort today as you think about and give thanks for those you loved who were loved by Jesus even more and now rest in His gentle and nail-scarred hands.
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