My ’100,000 Hits’ Post

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16)

I had to write something today.

I only need 11 more hits/views to reach 100,000 readers and I didn’t want that to occur without having written something to mark the occasion. I fully understand that in the blogosphere 100,000 really isn’t a big deal, unless of course a single post gets that many hits in one day — it took me 3 years to hit the number.  Nevertheless, I am appreciative — first to the Lord for providing ‘good’ material, and second to those who stumble upon this ‘blog’ in my eye.

Thank you and God bless you.

If this is your first time reading, welcome. This blog is about Jesus and Christian discipleship. If you’re into that kind of thing, please subscribe, and if you have a blog, I’ll subscribe back. That’s how I roll. By the way, do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Do you believe and follow Him? You should. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. There is no other way to be saved. You are going to live forever somewhere: Heaven or Hell. Smart folks choose Heaven and the smartest folks choose Jesus.

Anyway, that’s all I got.

I did play golf this morning with my buddy Gary and it cost me $28 bucks. That works out to 27.5 cents for each stroke I took. You do the math; I’m too embarrassed to tell you my score.

Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Related articles

• Difference (ijustlovejesus.wordpress.com)
• Do We Understand the Real Commandment of Jesus Messiah? (aaronhalim.wordpress.com)
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• My Magnetic Pull Needs to be Jesus (cyndieq.wordpress.com)
• What if ??? (mydelightandmycounsellors.wordpress.com)
• How much do we value Jesus? (mydelightandmycounsellors.wordpress.com)
• Bless the name of Jesus at all times!!! (brothabless.wordpress.com)
• Day 24: Missional Excellence (bishopbillmcalilly.com)
• Witnesses in Henning, and all Minnesota and the United States and the ends of the Earth (Sermon) (lawgospelaction.wordpress.com)
• Keep your eyes on Jesus (deweymoede.wordpress.com)

HEY! If you enjoyed the blog (even though it was a little scant today), please LIKE it, subscribe to it, share it, or leave a comment. If you want to know more about Jesus, drop me a note — I’ll tell ya everything I know. God bless you.

 

Don’t Call Me a Prayer Warrior

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11

Prayer Warrior

It’s a term we all recognize. I have used it, my pastor has used it, and probably every Christian I’ve been blessed to schmooze with through the years, has used it. We use the expression because it best describes the actions of those of the faith who earnestly lift others in prayer; who consistently and persistently go before the Lord with all requests, supplications, intercessions, and thanksgivings, and often time while possessing prayer lists and maintaining prayer logs. They are classified as our  ‘go to’ people within the body of Christ when an appeal, a plea, or petition is desired. That brings me to a twofold question:

“Is the label right (and by ‘right’ I mean Biblical), and is it harmful?”

I’ll explain. First…

Is it Biblical?

The short answer is, I don’t believe so. While there are certainly folks in the church who fit the definition, I’m not convinced God would concur that a special designation is called for. Is being a prayer zealot a gift of the Holy Spirit? If so, I’m not seeing it. The Bible records three main passages regarding spiritual gifts: Romans 12:6-8;1 Corinthians 12:4-11; and 1 Corinthians 12:28. According to the list, we see…

Prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, mercy, the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues, helps, governments, and diversities of tongues.

But, I don’t see prayer warrior on the list.

I suppose you could make an argument that tenacious prayer falls under one (or more) of these categories, but I sense that’s when we begin to stretch the doctrine a little too thin. Let’s be honest, prayer is a vital component of each of these giftings, but is not the actual gift.

Is it Harmful?

Yes, I believe it is, and I’ll tell you why — our Father in Heaven desires that we all pray in this manner. Could we really believe that the Lord would want us to delegate our conversation to somebody else; someone who we perceive is better at it then we are? Where in the Bible does God suggest to us to go find a prayer warrior, or even to make a separate distinction? Nowhere that I can find, but I do see this…

“In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.” Acts 10:34

Elevating someone to the status of prayer warrior may encourage the believer who happens to fit the mold, but it simultaneously sends an erroneous message that this person is gifted in a way that we are not, and therefore, we have been relieved of this duty. Do we really believe that? Aren’t prayer warriors doing the very thing that we are called to do? Wouldn’t it be more accurate to say that prayer warriors are obedient, rather than gifted? Finally, should we be seeking out a prayer mediator when the Father has already provided us one?

“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus“ 

Haven’t we also been given a Helper in our pursuit of prayer?

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26

Here’s the truth — God desires all His children pray in this manner! The fact that you don’t now is not the point. God never intended that in your discouragement (in this regard) you turn to another Christian, but rather you turn to Him. Therein lies the point!

Look at these directives from God’s word…

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

There is nothing in there that remotely suggests we find a prayer warrior to do this for us.

Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17-19

Do you see anything in there that implies this is somebody else’s job? Me either. The one thing that does jump out at me [is] that if we’re not praying like this, we’re throwing water on the fire that is the Holy Spirit. That cannot be good.

One more…

“Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” Ephesians 6:17-18

The Last Word

Try to look at like this — it’s the church (not God) that has created a prayer warrior status. When we serve to encourage others with the moniker, it is a wonderful, Christian gesture, but what we’re really saying (when we use the term), is that we recognize there is a great void within the body Christ that only very few are filling. It might be better to recognize this Christian’s faithful obedience instead. May I suggest that the next time we sense the need to identify another believer in this manner, that we also ask the Lord to examine our own hearts to determine why the title is not befitting for us. The question should not be, “Lord, why am I not a prayer warrior,”  but rather, “Why am I not submitted to Your will in my life?”

Am I suggesting we should not seek out others to pray for us?

Heaven forbid!

We are called to pray for one another. I’m saying that there is not a circumstance to ever shy away from being the type of communicant the Lord wants us to be or to relegate the duty to someone else. God wants to talk with us directly and has fully equipped us to be fervent communicators.

Talk — God is listening.

These articles may or may not be related:

• The Power of Prayer & The Spoken Word (walkingwithawarrior.com)
• Unanswered Prayer ~ (poetrybydeborahann.wordpress.com)
• The Incense of Prayer (shawnethomas.com)
• Types of Prayer – 3 (Thank Him for What He Has Done and Will Continue to Do) (watchandprayblog.wordpress.com)
• Girls With Swords: Chapter 6 – “Becoming A Warrior” – “Saul’s Warrior Son” (Pgs 90-98) (girlfriendscoffeehour.com)
• I Got My Name (kelund.wordpress.com)
• The Pros and Cons of Being a Prayer Warrior (rosemichels.wordpress.com)
• Urgent Prayer Need Calling All Prayer Warriors! (deweymoede.wordpress.com)
• TALKing with God (via Kindling) (thesovereign.wordpress.com)
• I GET to go again. (heatherlconrad.com)

If you enjoyed the post please like it, share it, comment on it, or subscribe to it. Frankly, I am blessed that you stopped by to read it today. God bless you too!

Pray and Obey

“What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (John 6:28-29)

It’s been estimated that since Christ’s time on earth, 70 million Christians have been martyred for their faith. Recent statistics reveal that over 100,000 Christians are killed each year. Their crime: faith in Jesus Christ. Some reports say that annual number is closer to 160,000 deaths per year! As for general Christian persecution not necessarily leading to death, it is estimated that currently over 200 million Christians are being persecuted worldwide. That’s 200 million Christians who are routinely subjected to oppression, humiliation, jail, beatings and/or torture.

Again, that’s 200 million!

How should we respond?

I don’t know about you, but I very often feel helpless. My attention has been drawn to the reports of American Christians, arrested in foreign lands. Names like Saeed Abedini, Kenneth Bae, Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirizadeh have made our recent headlines, thanks primarily to a select few media sources, such as Fox News.

Why would God allow this to continue?

The answer to that question has too many facets for us to count. In a sad way (and in one small aspect), I see these arrests and the media attention they are receiving, as a good thing, in that the eye’s of American Christians are being opened to the horror. Is this a tiny portion of God’s plan? It very well could be, although I would not be dogmatic about it. The reality is that many of us have heard the outrageous statistics, but at the end of the day they are just numbers on a piece of paper and we do nothing. So in a sense, Saeed Abedini and Kenneth Bae have become the face for Christian persecution – essentially they are the poster boys for the 200 million tyrannized Christ-followers, worldwide.

Now that you know, what will you do?

I submit to you that God has a purpose for each of us in this, and that the directive behind the purpose is unveiled, at least in part, in these two Bible passages:

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

“We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)

To simplify…

Pray and  Obey

As a first response to any situation, prayer is our course of action. Frankly, it is the best thing we can do. God, through prayer, does many incredible things, but the fact that God changes us when we pray could perhaps be the most significant factor. Don’t believe God changes us? Then try praying sincerely for your enemies or for the needy or praying thanksgiving over the blessings you already have, and watch how God changes you. The truth of the matter is that in our earnest prayers, God reveals the next step we are to take. It might be a baby step or it might be a grand leap, but whatever it is, He shares the maneuver with us. In contrast, if we do not pray, we probably will not hear.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

We need to know that our prayer, at least as it pertains to how God wants to change us, is often rendered powerless, unless it is our intention to obey whatever we learn from God in those prayers. In actuality, we might want to include that talking-point in our prayer, for as we know it is not an uncommon thing for our Spirit to be willing, but our flesh to be weak. It has been my experience that if the Lord detects any insincerity in this regard, He likely guides us to address our submission issues, while putting the other items we presented on hold. Not always, but remember, our Father is a God of order, not chaos.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Practicality 

What God says to you may not be the same thing He says to me. It could be, but I believe the Father takes our individual needs into account, in order that the changes He makes in us are most appropriate for us. That makes sense, doesn’t it? Let us also keep in mind that these changes in us are for His glory, not ours.

For example, when I began to pray for the persecuted church, God’s initial response to me was that these prayers needed to be an everyday, consistent practice of mine. The Lord then moved me to share the dire situation with others so they would pray. I’ve got to be honest with you — I was waiting for God to say to join some cause, or financially support some persecution ministry, such as Voice of the Martyrs. He still might! I am willing, but that’s not the direction God is nudging me, today.

One substantial thing He has led me to do is to exercise my liberty as a US citizen – to share the Gospel more boldly and passionately. It seems to me, and I could be wrong, that God would not have reached me with this change He desired to make, unless I had been praying for the persecuted church and the likes of Pastor Saeed Abedini and Kenneth Bae. All that is to say, God is faithful.

I don’t know firsthand what the Lord is doing on behalf of Saeed and Kenneth, and the millions of nameless Christians whose plight we bring before the throne each day, but I know God’s way is the best way and that He will get His glory in each situation. My prayer is that you will be encouraged to pray for the persecuted church and  all things, with an attitude of submission to God’s will.

Expect to hear from the Lord and be prepared to obey.

These articles may or may not be related:

• Pray For Pastor Saeed Abedini (vineoflife.net)
• Saeed Abedini- American Prisoner in Iran (lightingthegate.wordpress.com)
• God of Change, God of Same (mypathtowalk.com)
• Stand Up! (trawlingsblog.wordpress.com)
• Praying Heaven Down | Pastor Eric Dykstra, The Crossing Church, Elk River, MN (pastorericdykstra.com)
• The Power of Prayer (kswpgoodfriends.wordpress.com)
• Victory in Jesus (whatthebiblesaysdoctrine.wordpress.com)
• Intentional Discipleship: Building Endurance (3 Steps of Maturity) (calltoprayerministriesblog.org)
• Brian Lee’s Prayer for the Government (matthewtuininga.wordpress.com)
• The Lord is Near (completeinhim.org)

If you enjoyed the post please like it, share it, comment on it, or subscribe to the blog. God bless you.

Nothing Has Changed

“Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known.” (Deuteronomy 11:26-28)

I had a discussion with a man the other day on the street. He was a nice fellow; a banker type, and he professed to be a follower of Jesus Christ and also a Hindu. He shared how Heaven was a place bound within the confines of his mind and that all mankind is on a quest to unleash some kind of inner joy, peace, and knowledge. Our chat was friendly enough, but when I told him that Jesus Christ was the only way, he responded, “Our God is too loving to limit our choices to just one god.”

I hear that a lot.

The truth of the matter is that God has not limited our choices in order to make Christianity exclusionary, but rather to keep the selection process as easy as humanly possible. Our Father in Heaven has made it simple. As the Deuteronomy passage proclaims, there are 2 possible choices: a blessing or a curse. Here we sit thousands of years later and nothing has changed! Vanilla or chocolate; black or white; light or darkness; good or evil; Heaven or Hell; the narrow road leading to life everlasting or the broad way that leads to destruction…

Which do you want?

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

What you may perceive as exclusiveness, God presents as simplicity.

Why?

Well for one reason, the Father knows our covetous frame. God knows that if He provided ten ways, we are wired to want eleven; if He gave a hundred ways, someone would rise to his feet and demand a hundred and one. We know this to be true; I hear it almost every day — the guy who says, “Our God is too loving to limit our choices to just one god,” is really saying, “Why aren’t there a hundred and one ways?”

These folks typically counter with something like, “You mean to tell me that all Muslims are following a false god and are going to Hell?”

The reality is that I’m not sharing my opinion on the matter; I’m telling you what God has declared in His word, the Bible. I’m also telling you that I am very grateful that God has provided One way and that He took the time to tell me about it! And I’m telling you that I understand and appreciate that God kept the choices incredibly simple. And finally I’m telling you, God never changes; He is not swayed by public opinion or our emotions.

God is truth.

God is just.

God is right.

“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (Numbers 23:19)

As of right now, this decision you face is not about anybody else; it’s about you — what are you going to do about your eternal future? Are you going to continue to roll the dice and defend the freedom to choose false gods; false gods by the way that you’re not even following (what do you care)? Or are you going to face the reality that Jesus Christ died for you in order to save you for eternity and that His resurrection is proof positive that He is the real deal?

It’s time to decide. Today is the day of your salvation. You are not promised a tomorrow where choosing is still an option. If you die today, where you end up will be based on the choice you make right now.

Choose Jesus.

Ask me how.

These articles may or may not be related:

• The Kingdom of Heaven (samuelatgilgal.wordpress.com)
• Depart From Me. I Never Knew You. (inspirationalchristiansfortoday.com)
• LISTEN: Jesus Christ: The Son of God, the Savior of Man (blackchristiannews.com)
• The Blood Of Jesus Christ (bummyla.wordpress.com)
• Celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ (bummyla.wordpress.com)
• I am blessed (broomformybrain.wordpress.com)
• Heart Soul and Mind (dedicated2jesus.com)
• When You Know Who You Are (afriendofjesus2013.com)
• Freely Obeying (mypathtowalk.com)
• Understanding the Cross of Christ – Part 6 (Christ Arose!) (graceofourlord.com)

If you enjoyed the blog please like, share it, subscribe to it, or leave a comment. If you’d like to know how receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, drop me a note and I’ll get back to you. God bless!

Freedom

“I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. The works of the Lord are great, Studied by all who have pleasure in them. His work is honorable and glorious, And His righteousness endures forever. He has made His wonderful works to be remembered…The works of His hands are verity and justice; All His precepts are sure. They stand fast forever and ever, And are done in truth and uprightness. He has sent redemption to His people…”(Psalm 111:1-4; 7-9)

The Road to Freedom

I was 12 years old when I first heard the Richie Havens song, “Freedom.” It moved me then and it still moves me now.  Later on Havens would recount, “I think the word ‘freedom’ came out of my mouth because I saw it in front of me…I saw the freedom that we were looking for. And every person was sharing it, and so that word came out.”

What do you think?

Want to know what I hear in that song?

Desperation.

Havens lyrically presented a liberating absolute that resonated with the masses — the notion that there is something great to be attained that this world cannot provide. We feel the anguish-laden desire in his voice, we sigh, and then we grasp at it, for it is the very same thing we simultaneously agonize over and long for. We recognize the words of this simple song. We’ve seen them before. They’re scrawled like graffiti upon the walls that define the hole in our heart.

I found this blurb about Richie (and the song) in an article from Rolling Stone (1972) that gives us some much-needed Spiritual insight:

“As the opening act at Woodstock, Richie Havens was supposed to perform for only 40 minutes. But when an unexpected traffic jam delayed the other performers, organizers asked him to keep playing. Three hours into it, Havens had run out of songs, so he started to make one up to the melody of “Motherless Child,” a spiritual he’d sung as a kid.”

Richie’s quote reminds me of God’s promise.

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

Back to Woodstock

There was another kind of desperation going on this day in 1969. Havens was running out of music to play. Havens later said of his performances, “I really sing songs that move me. I’m not in show business; I’m in the communications business. That’s what it’s about for me”.

With that in mind, he wasn’t looking to just fill a space — he needed to dig deeper into his soul and pull out something he knew in heart would move the crowd. It was in this empty place, perhaps in an act of futility, Richie Havens went back to church. The song that morphed forth still draws and captivates us.

Why is that so?

The truth be told, Richie Havens was drawing upon something that was not of himself, regardless if he realized it or not. The old negro spiritual that he borrowed in desperation was so thick with desperation, that when he touched it, he got it all over himself. In turn, he got it all over us.

Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
A long ways from home
A long ways from home
True believer
A long ways from home
Along ways from home

 Sometimes I feel like I’m almos’ gone
Sometimes I feel like I’m almos’ gone
Sometimes I feel like I’m almos’ gone
Way up in de heab’nly land
Way up in de heab’nly land
True believer
Way up in de heab’nly land
Way up in de heab’nly land

 Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
A long ways from home
There’s praying everywhere

(from « American Negro Spirituals» by J. W. Johnson, J. R. Johnson, 1926)

I suppose there’s not much more desperate than the life of a slave; agony far beyond my capacity to fathom. But like I said earlier, this stuff is like tar; so thick, so prevalent, when you’re near it, it just gets on you. We all identify with it, not because we have it in massive quantities, but because we all have (at least) a wee portion of it, and it grieves us. We know intuitively that there is freedom from it. The slave; the man or woman who first sang this song, put all their hope in freedom’s future. They knew of a place that was not of this world, but a sure haven for the true believer.

Richie Havens, consciously or not, tapped into it. When we heard it, consciously or not, we tapped into it to. Did Havens know ‘Who’ he was singing about? Perhaps. After all, he sang, “I got a telephone in my bosom and I can call him up from my heart.” I pray he knew Him, but that’s not really my point. Whether or not Richie Havens was a follower of Jesus Christ, we’ll likely never know, but God knows. The only pertinent question to ask at this juncture is whether or not you are a follower of Jesus Christ.

It could rightly be said that “Freedom”, was an anthem of a generation, but it could also be said that by and large, the word was misappropriated. How do you define freedom and where do you see its source? If you said true freedom is found in Christ Jesus alone, you have answered wisely. If not, consider what God has to say…

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2 Corinthians 3:17)

“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32)

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1)

Therein lies our freedom and our hope — Jesus Christ is the only One who can provide the eternal respite we all long for. Let’s face it: to deny Jesus is to forever embrace desperation. Jesus alone holds the cure for our bondage problem. If you want to know more about inviting Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, please drop me a comment below.

Related articles

• Richie Havens, Woodstock Festival’s Opening Act, Dies at 72 – Bloomberg (bloomberg.com)
• Folk Icon Richie Havens Dies At 72 (wncx.cbslocal.com)
• Richie Havens dies at 72 (imagesfromscott.wordpress.com)
• R.I.P. Richie Havens (poodyheads.wordpress.com)
• Richie Havens dies (uofmusic.wordpress.com)
• Richie Havens, Woodstock legend, dies at 72 (todayentertainment.today.com)
• Woodstock icon Richie Havens dies (bbc.co.uk)
• Richie Havens dies aged 72 (guardian.co.uk)
• U.S. folk musician Richie Havens dead at 72 (vindy.com)
• Richie sometimes felt like a motherless child (kenyatta2009.wordpress.com)

If you enjoyed the blog please let me know. If you want to know more about Jesus Christ, then drop me a comment, otherwise please share the post, like it, or subscribe to it. God bless you and please pray for Richie Havens family and that the Lord would come and get His glory.

 

It’s About Time

Jim Elliot, (October 8, 1927 – January 8, 1956) was an evangelical Christian who was one of five missionaries killed while participating in Operation Auca, an attempt to evangelize the Waodani people of Ecuador. He once said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” 

So profound.

Jim Elliot wound up being murdered by the very same people he was attempting to share the Gospel with. After his death, and the deaths of fellow missionaries, their wives returned to these jungles and continued the Lord’s mission. As a result, the tribesmen responsible for the murders received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Time

When I read Jim’s quote today, the Holy Spirit moved me to consider time. The first thing that crossed my mind is the obvious — it is something we spend regardless if we desire to or not. Time is not a thing that can be hoarded, for it is constantly being taken away. Despite the world’s claims to the contrary, we cannot keep it or save one bit of it. As we reckon and reason with time, the most effective thing we can do with it is first recognize its true owner.

Is it my time, is it the boss’s, is it the spouse’s or the family’s, or is it all really just God’s time?

I believe it is this recognition that will ultimately determine the eternal worth of the time we inescapably spend. We’re going to give it whether we want to or not, so should we not capitulate wisely? Before it flies, can we not determine its direction and course?  More accurately, should we not submit to the direction and course our Father wants it to go?

We should submit, and for at least two very good reasons: it pleases the Owner and He is taking notes. In light of how Jesus Christ spent His time on the cross, spending our time wisely is our reasonable service.

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17)

These articles may or may not be related:

• God’s Love and Truth: Breaking Barriers and Penetrating Hearts (imallbooked.com)
• Growing in Knowing the Lord (incontestable.org)
• Meeting a Hero (hollysoutherland.wordpress.com)
• To Hate Is To Love (jacobmsmith.wordpress.com)
• The Hand of God is not Limited to Building Leaders (blessedaaron08.wordpress.com)
• Magog connection to Boston Marathon bombers/Chechnyan region (lynleahz.com)
• The Hidden Giant, Masked in Quiet Strength (jacobmsmith.wordpress.com)
• When You Know Who You Are (afriendofjesus2013.com)
• Today we will be starting our Biblical Studies on the book of Romans, Not Ashamed of the Gospel (whatshotn.wordpress.com)

If you enjoyed the blog, I would be blessed if you liked it, left a comment, shared it with someone else, or subscribed to the blog. God bless you today!

Jesus Christ and Chinese Dumplings

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. (Proverbs 11:24-25)

God is Good

Most of the folks that frequent this blog are christians, so to them the notion that God is good is not a foreign concept. It’s reality. God is. And God is good. Anyway, all that is to say, Christ’s goodness was clearly evident today, which is not to say it always isn’t evident, but that today the Father provided a double portion and then some.

So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 

Today, the temperature reached a breezy 72 degrees and as I set out this morning it just felt like a Red Bank kind of day. So I loaded the guitar into the truck along with a handful of tracts, and a testimony or two and headed north. Why Red Bank? The answer is kind of silly actually — they have park benches on their sidewalks. It seems the towns around my neck of the woods have removed most of them. Of course the boardwalk down by the beach is loaded, but’s it’s not quite boardwalk weather yet. Soon, but not yet.

I parked on the south-end (before the parking meters begin) and walked down to Starbucks and settled into a recently painted, but dry bench. I don’t frequent Starbucks (that’s a topic for another blog I probably won’t write), but they get a lot of foot traffic. Today’s agenda, for lack of a better word, called for foot traffic. I met a couple nice folks to chat with, but after about an hour or so a guy comes along with his dog and asks if I would please move. Apparently, I was in his spot. Drew was his name and he told me that he comes to this bench regularly to ask for donations for disabled vets. Sure enough, he had a coffee can with a handmade label on it that said, “Please Donate to Our Disabled Veterans.”

There ya go.

We talked a little and he invited me to stay, but I thought I’d probably cramp his style, so outa respect for this older gentleman, I acquiesced. I handed him a Gospel tract and he indicated he a was non-practicing Jew ‘waiting’ for the Messiah. I reminded him that as luck would have it, Jesus was a Jew! Apparently he had heard that before. I shared with him some Old Testament Bible prophecy and told him how Jesus fulfilled all of it with His birth, life, crucifixion, and resurrection. Drew wasn’t buying too much of it, but I sensed the wheels were turning inside his head. As I left I challenged him to Google ‘Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by Jesus Christ‘ and ask the Lord to reveal Himself in those Bible scriptures.

As I walked away Drew called to me, “David, from now on, you and me are friends!”

His words meant a lot to me. Please pray for Drew that he would follow through with the prayer and prophecy challenge.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

I crossed the street and headed south and settled in by a Chinese restaurant called Temple. The restaurant has tables set up outside on the sidewalk, but it was still early and the place was seemingly closed. I broke out the guitar and started praising Jesus. This actually turned out to be a better spot, at least as it pertained to striking up conversations with pedestrians. I’m thinking that back over at Starbucks most of the folks were on a mission: to get inside to get their coffee or to get back to wherever they were going so they could drink it before it got cold. The people walking over by Temple didn’t seem to be as focused.

“Hey Dave, how ya doin?”

“George!”

As it turns out, George, an old friend, is a waiter at Temple. I knew this, but  because of the early hour I didn’t expect to see him. He greeted me over the shrubbery that separates the dining area from the rest of the sidewalk. George is a Christian, a recent college grad and a stellar musician in his own right. He’s also one of the nicest guys you’d ever want to meet — truly, I’ve never heard a foul or angry word come out of this kids mouth — never. Back in the day when I was assisting with youth-group stuff at a friend’s church, George was one of the regulars. Looking back, I guess he had to attend regularly, as his dad was the youth pastor. 

We chatted briefly and he got back to work. In the meantime I had some more wonderful conversations with folks; some believers, but mostly unbelievers. It was just one of those days where I really felt the power of God mingling through all the exchanges we were having. At one point a psychologist (and atheist) sat down and chatted with me. Quite a cheery sort actually, but my heart ached for him because he would not budge from his ‘God is not’ position; to him Jesus Christ was nothing more than an aberration; a placebo for the weak-minded. At one point I felt I was in way over my head with him, but God imparted His peace to me; our words to each other were pleasant and edifying.

“From one musician to another.”

Perhaps an hour went by and George appeared from behind the Temple bushes carrying a ‘takeout’ bag. I assumed he was making a delivery. He took about ten steps and stopped right in front of me, handing me the bag saying, “From one musician to another.” Earlier when we said our hellos, I had teased him about bringing me out some pot stickers.

So what do you think was in the bag?

That’s right — a huge order of fried dumplings (aka: pot stickers). I cannot begin to tell you how blessed this kid made me feel. First, for suggesting that I was a musician (just trust me, I’m not. I play 4 chords and sing loud to cover it up). And second, for feeding me! I had to get up and hug the kid right there on the street. Honestly, I can’t wait to see what God is going to do with him — so much God-given talent, so personable and kind, and such a refreshing sight in this occasionally ugly world where the wicked leave bombs on sidewalks to blow up children.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

I handed out my last tract and headed home, filled today in so many glorious ways. Thanks be to God.

Without question, God is good.

If you have a moment, check out some of George’s original music HERE.

By the way, the dumplings were great!

These articles may or may not be related:

• You, too, can make Chinese dumplings like Judy Fu (seattletimes.com)
• What a Savior we have in Christ Jesus (bummyla.wordpress.com)
• Christ Is The Israel Of God (reformedforhisglory.wordpress.com)
• Overview of the Bible’s Story of the Birth of Christ (christianity.answers.com)
• “Until Shiloh comes…” (pastoremmanueldavis.wordpress.com)
• Matthew 27:51 Behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. (lacykitkat.wordpress.com)
• Is Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior bad for your business? (bummyla.wordpress.com)
• “Does the Old Testament predict the coming of Christ?” (altruistico.wordpress.com)
• Celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ (bummyla.wordpress.com)
• Prayer points for marriages (bummyla.wordpress.com)

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