I have to be honest, when ever I fly I pray that the seat next to me will be empty. I like the room and would prefer it, but I also tell the Lord if he doesn't answer that prayer I am more then willing to share with whoever sits next to me. On one trip I was flying to Oregon to speak at a church. The flight was full and I was jammed in the middle seat, I pulled out my Bible hoping to get some last minute studying done on the flight. Just a few moments after pulling out my Bible, the man seated to my left began asking questions, and we began a conversation that lasted the entire flight. Somewhere in our conversation we began to talk about Christmas and the incarnation of Jesus. Though he was not a Christian he found it amazing that God would come to earth as a man. As time went on I had to just smile because I wasn't witnessing to the man, he was witnessing to himself. As we spoke of Jesus' birth, he told me a story that he insisted was true. It had to do with a family that had all become Christians except for the dad. He didn't mind his family becoming Christians, in fact he liked the changes that their new faith had brought about in his home. He had heard the message of Christ but felt it wasn't for him. One Christmas eve his family went off to the church service and he stayed at home. The night was very cold and snowy, and after they had been gone for a little bit, he began to hear a funny thumping at the windows of their enclose patio. At first he thought it was the wind, or maybe some snow dropping from the roof. After the noise continued and began to annoy him, he threw on a coat and opened the front door to check the noise on the patio. In an instant he found the cause of the thumping, it was a little bird that had somehow gotten trapped in the screened-in patio. He knew that if the bird remained in the patio it would soon freeze to death. He then began an hour long process of trying to shoo the bird out of the patio, to somewhere it might find warmth, either under the house or even in the house. He failed at every attempt to save the bird because the little guy was so afraid of him. He tried to communicate his good intentions to the bird, first by speaking in a calm voice.... "don't be afraid I'm trying to save you", then in a not so calm voice.... "you crazy bird listen to me I'm trying to save your stupid life!!". As he was doing all he could to save the bird, the thought struck him, that if he could for only a moment become a bird, that the little bird would not fear him and he could then save the birds life. That very moment his eyes were opened and the truth of the gospel hit him. This man suddenly understood Christmas, man's need for a savior, and why God had come as man. He stood on that cold patio and gave his life to the Lord. After the telling of the story, the man to my left didn't need much convincing either! What a wonderful season we are now celebrating, God's everlasting love toward us is so great that He would come to us as man.
Monday, December 13, 2010
God With Us
I have to be honest, when ever I fly I pray that the seat next to me will be empty. I like the room and would prefer it, but I also tell the Lord if he doesn't answer that prayer I am more then willing to share with whoever sits next to me. On one trip I was flying to Oregon to speak at a church. The flight was full and I was jammed in the middle seat, I pulled out my Bible hoping to get some last minute studying done on the flight. Just a few moments after pulling out my Bible, the man seated to my left began asking questions, and we began a conversation that lasted the entire flight. Somewhere in our conversation we began to talk about Christmas and the incarnation of Jesus. Though he was not a Christian he found it amazing that God would come to earth as a man. As time went on I had to just smile because I wasn't witnessing to the man, he was witnessing to himself. As we spoke of Jesus' birth, he told me a story that he insisted was true. It had to do with a family that had all become Christians except for the dad. He didn't mind his family becoming Christians, in fact he liked the changes that their new faith had brought about in his home. He had heard the message of Christ but felt it wasn't for him. One Christmas eve his family went off to the church service and he stayed at home. The night was very cold and snowy, and after they had been gone for a little bit, he began to hear a funny thumping at the windows of their enclose patio. At first he thought it was the wind, or maybe some snow dropping from the roof. After the noise continued and began to annoy him, he threw on a coat and opened the front door to check the noise on the patio. In an instant he found the cause of the thumping, it was a little bird that had somehow gotten trapped in the screened-in patio. He knew that if the bird remained in the patio it would soon freeze to death. He then began an hour long process of trying to shoo the bird out of the patio, to somewhere it might find warmth, either under the house or even in the house. He failed at every attempt to save the bird because the little guy was so afraid of him. He tried to communicate his good intentions to the bird, first by speaking in a calm voice.... "don't be afraid I'm trying to save you", then in a not so calm voice.... "you crazy bird listen to me I'm trying to save your stupid life!!". As he was doing all he could to save the bird, the thought struck him, that if he could for only a moment become a bird, that the little bird would not fear him and he could then save the birds life. That very moment his eyes were opened and the truth of the gospel hit him. This man suddenly understood Christmas, man's need for a savior, and why God had come as man. He stood on that cold patio and gave his life to the Lord. After the telling of the story, the man to my left didn't need much convincing either! What a wonderful season we are now celebrating, God's everlasting love toward us is so great that He would come to us as man.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Crossing The Line
"There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filthiness."
Proverbs 30:12
There is a parental discipline technique that has been passed on from one generation to the next. My parents did it, and I'm sure their parents did it. It doesn't work, yet it seems every parent at one time or another uses it. I have seen it used at home, in stores, at church, in cars, and I'm betting it is used in many different cultures and tongues. I'm speaking of the dreaded count to three technique, as in, Bobby stop doing that.....one, two, three! I think there must be some power in the number three, why not say, Bobby, I'm going to count to twelve! It all begins of course with a strong "one", when the offense has just begun. When things intensify and clear disobedience is occurring, the count of "two" is given. If the count gets to "three", it must be done with a shout, and it has become clear that little Bobby has crossed some line set up by mom and dad, hopefully some sort of discipline will follow. Like I said it really doesn't work, but it illustrates that mom and dad are saying to the child that there is a line of disobedience or rebellion set, that cannot be crossed without some sort of consequences. Having said that, its important for us to know that God does not count to three. He has commands and standards and expects that we obey. He is very clear in setting the standards, and what the consequences of disobedience are. Man has never been able to live up to God's standards and God has clearly shown that He is patient and long-suffering toward this sinful world. Yet, I have wondered many times if we as mankind have crossed the line of arrogance and mutiny, and that God, will finally in one instant say enough, the line has been crossed. I just read of what I see as a line crossed, that grieves my heart. There is some web-site I've never heard of called Gawker.com, please stay away from it, my guess is its trashy. Well, this site has introduced to the internet world a couple, Pete and Alisha Arnold. Alisha is said to be 17 weeks pregnant, and the Arnolds have decided to let the people who visit the sight vote as to whether they should keep the baby until birth, or abort the baby. I don't have the right words to reflect my heart. My only solace and hope is that this is just some fake publicity stunt, because I can't fathom that it would be real. Still, it is a sad commentary on the depth to which the morality of our society has fallen. That a couple would think of it, that a web-site would publish it, and that people would vote on it, just screams out that we have crossed the line. That is the sad news, the good news is that this world is still under God's grace, and that this is the same rebellious world that Jesus died for. His love is such that He is even today, wooing this world unto salvation. How amazing that you and I have been raised up in this generation to bring forth the message of God's grace and salvation in Jesus. May these days drive us to pray, to intercede, and share the gospel. Alan Redpath had an exhortation that I keep filed away, it reminds me of the task set before us this very day, his exhortation was, "chin up, knees down!"
Proverbs 30:12
There is a parental discipline technique that has been passed on from one generation to the next. My parents did it, and I'm sure their parents did it. It doesn't work, yet it seems every parent at one time or another uses it. I have seen it used at home, in stores, at church, in cars, and I'm betting it is used in many different cultures and tongues. I'm speaking of the dreaded count to three technique, as in, Bobby stop doing that.....one, two, three! I think there must be some power in the number three, why not say, Bobby, I'm going to count to twelve! It all begins of course with a strong "one", when the offense has just begun. When things intensify and clear disobedience is occurring, the count of "two" is given. If the count gets to "three", it must be done with a shout, and it has become clear that little Bobby has crossed some line set up by mom and dad, hopefully some sort of discipline will follow. Like I said it really doesn't work, but it illustrates that mom and dad are saying to the child that there is a line of disobedience or rebellion set, that cannot be crossed without some sort of consequences. Having said that, its important for us to know that God does not count to three. He has commands and standards and expects that we obey. He is very clear in setting the standards, and what the consequences of disobedience are. Man has never been able to live up to God's standards and God has clearly shown that He is patient and long-suffering toward this sinful world. Yet, I have wondered many times if we as mankind have crossed the line of arrogance and mutiny, and that God, will finally in one instant say enough, the line has been crossed. I just read of what I see as a line crossed, that grieves my heart. There is some web-site I've never heard of called Gawker.com, please stay away from it, my guess is its trashy. Well, this site has introduced to the internet world a couple, Pete and Alisha Arnold. Alisha is said to be 17 weeks pregnant, and the Arnolds have decided to let the people who visit the sight vote as to whether they should keep the baby until birth, or abort the baby. I don't have the right words to reflect my heart. My only solace and hope is that this is just some fake publicity stunt, because I can't fathom that it would be real. Still, it is a sad commentary on the depth to which the morality of our society has fallen. That a couple would think of it, that a web-site would publish it, and that people would vote on it, just screams out that we have crossed the line. That is the sad news, the good news is that this world is still under God's grace, and that this is the same rebellious world that Jesus died for. His love is such that He is even today, wooing this world unto salvation. How amazing that you and I have been raised up in this generation to bring forth the message of God's grace and salvation in Jesus. May these days drive us to pray, to intercede, and share the gospel. Alan Redpath had an exhortation that I keep filed away, it reminds me of the task set before us this very day, his exhortation was, "chin up, knees down!"
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