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Teach us to number our days

Posted by :abible On : May 21, 2013
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I READ OF an old Norwegian who had kept very careful notes of his life in a series of notebooks he kept on the shelf of his business…

On his eightieth birthday he went to the store and pulled the books from the shelf and began to compute his life.  He was surprised to find that he had spent five of his eighty years waiting on customers.  He had spent six months tying neckties, three months scolding children who had been running around the store, and eight days telling his dogs to lie down and be quiet.

THOUGHT: Some stuff is pressing (i.e., urgent); some stuff is consequential (i.e., important).  We need to learn to distinguish between the two and then act accordingly.

“So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”  Psalm 90:12

Mike Benson

Sufferings faced by Jesus

Posted by :abible On : May 20, 2013
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Jesus died an awful death.  Ruthless assassins, terrorists, sadistic and serial killers, and perverted criminals all have received much more humane treatment.  What Jesus endured at the cross can only be described as vicious.  Consider the violent aspects of His crucifixion.

THERE WAS PHYSICAL TORTURE.  He was scourged, beaten with a jagged whip (Mt. 27:27).  He was fitted with a crown of thorns (Mt. 27:29).  He was hit on the head repeatedly with a staff (Mt. 27:30).  The soldiers struck Him with their hands (Jn. 19:3).  He carried His heavy cross until it fell on Him (Jn. 19:17).  He was nailed to a cross (Jn. 20:25).

THERE WAS MENTAL ANGUISH.  His countrymen hatefully yelled for His death (Mt. 27:25).  Soldiers mocked Him and pretended to worship Him (Mt. 27:29).  People hurled abuse at Him (Mt. 27:39,40).  Religious leaders mocked Him (Mt. 27:41-43).  The thieves on the cross insulted Him (Mt. 27:44).  The Heavenly Father left Him alone (Mt. 27:46).  His disciples followed Him, mourning and wailing (Lk. 23:27).

THERE WAS SOCIAL EMBARRASSMENT.  They stripped Him (Mt. 27:25).  He was spit upon (Mt. 27:30).  The soldiers gambled for His clothes (Mt. 27:35).  He was watched like a sideshow (Mt. 27:36).  They jokingly put an elegant, purple robe on Him (Lk. 23:11).  He endured great shame (Heb. 12:2).

The sheer brutality of the crucifixion tells one how serious sin is!  The proposal from heaven is, “Stop sinning and serve the Savior!”  In the light of the cross, examine Heaven’s every demand, command, and reprimand.  What expectation from the Father or requirement from the Son is too great?  Before answering, look back at the cross!

Neal Pollard

The Bible: Many stories, one book

Posted by :abible On : May 17, 2013
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IN HER BOOK Mystery on the Desert, Maria Reiche describes a series of strange lines made by the Nazca in the plains of Peru, some of them covering many square miles…

For years, people assumed these lines were the remnants of ancient irrigation ditches.  Then in 1939, Dr. Paul Kosok of Long Island University discovered their true meaning could only be seen from high in the air.  When viewed from an airplane, these seemingly random lines form enormous drawings of birds, insects, and animals.

Similarly, people often think of the Bible as a series of separate, unrelated stories.  When we view the Scriptures as a whole, however, we discover that they form one great story of redemption–from the first “In the Beginning” of Genesis to the final “Amen of Revelation.  Weaving through all the diverse strands of the Bible is a divine story line, the overarching story of how God has rescued, redeemed, and restored humanity, from the first nanosecond of creation through the final cry of victory at the end of time.  (Mike Macintosh)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.”  Ephesians 1:3-10

–Mike Benson

Some thoughts on *reputation*

Posted by :abible On : May 16, 2013
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It was a cool morning in Jerusalem when they came face to face. One, a ruler, had come to town due to politics; the other, a King, had come out of love.

A son of Herod the Great, Herod Antipas, was worldly, cruel and ambitious. He was rebuked by John the Baptist (Mark 6:18) and called a fox by Jesus (Luke 13:32). Even some of the Jews, whom he sought to cater to (merely to serve his own political aspirations), were leery of him. We must remember that he built the great city Tiberius, named for his friend the Roman Emperor Tiberius, over a Jewish cemetery /1.

Yet one day life brought this Tetrarch of Galilee before the Son of God.

When Herod finally met Jesus he, like many today, desired entertainment not salvation (Luke 23:8). While the Jews, who witnessed this encounter may have been honored to stand before the powerful and well-known monarch, Jesus, a man of perfect character, wouldn’t even speak to him.

Reputation is how the world perceives us whereas character is who we truly are. Too many times Christians have reputations that don’t equal their character. We are devout followers on Sunday morning and maybe even Sunday night, but once Monday rolls around we casually slide into a ‘work week’ Christianity.

We talk as the world talks and act as the world acts, leaving our friends and co-workers dazed and confused when we mention anything spiritual. Our hypocrisy drives others away from God and then we have the audacity to question why the church isn’t growing.

In order to fortify our character, we must be a people of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Note the word perfect isn’t in that list. God doesn’t expect us to be perfect although He does want us to desire perfection as we daily strive to live like his Son.

Our Father understands that we will sin and have times of weakness, trials and discouragement. However, it isn’t the difficult times that define our character. Our character is revealed the moment we stand up, shake the stresses and disappointments of this world off, and begin again to follow him.

As we ponder our relationship with God, let us forget about our worldly reputation and take inventory of our character. For only a good character has the potential to save the lost and change the world.

Paula Harrington

Honesty is the best policy

Posted by :abible On : May 15, 2013
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THE STORY IS told of a father who took his two boys one afternoon to play miniature golf…

The father walked up to the man at the ticket counter and said, “How much is it to get in?”  The young man replied, “Three dollars for you and three dollars for any kid who is older than six.  We let them in for free if they are six or younger.  How old are your two?”  The father replied, “This one is three and the other one is seven, so I owe you $6.00.”

The young man at the ticket counter said, “Hey mister, did you just win the lottery or something?  You could have saved yourself three bucks if you would have told me that the older one was six; I wouldn’t have known the difference.”

The father replied, “Yes, that may be true, but the kids would have known the difference…”  (Steve Higginbotham)

“The integrity of the upright will guide them…”  Proverbs 11:3

Mike Benson

Job 11:6

Posted by :abible On : May 14, 2013
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This statement was not made regarding the final judgment of man.  Instead, a grieving Job is responding to the poor perceptions and assumptions of an arrogant man, Zophar the Naamathite.  Zophar had rashly said such things as, “Know therefore that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves” (Job 11:6).  Job lost every dollar and asset he owned, as it were, all ten of his children died in the same accident, he was an outcast from society, and he had a painful, extremely aggravating infirmity, and he had to cope with the sorrowful feelings that his God had abandoned him.  Yet, Zophar says, in essence, “Job, you deserve worse.”  Zophar concludes that Job is deceitful, wicked, and empty-headed (12, cf. 20).  The miserable friend urges Job to repent so that he could have God’s favor restored (14ff).  Can you imagine what Job felt to have a “friend” making such presumptions and judgments about him, how that must have compounded his trials?

Amid his masterful answer, Job makes the statement of the above caption.  Job is saying, “If that view is right, how are you going to fare when God picks your life apart like you say he has picked apart mine?” (cf. 13:9).  Let’s consider an important principle borne out by this suffering servant of God.  It is so easy for us to smugly sit back and make judgments about people’s situations, why they lost their job, why their child has left the Lord, why they are embroiled in a lengthy series of setbacks or trials, or the like.  Yet, we had better be careful that we are not pulling a Zophar, rashly concluding and assuming without benefit of the whole picture.  Remember, in Job the whole picture is the Satan’s desire to test Job’s faithfulness.  All of that is going on “behind the scenes.”  Even Job was unaware of it.

What is called for in our dealings with each other is empathy, the benefit of the doubt, that loving cloak that hides rather than searches for faults, patience, and a love that does not think evil of others.  We need that humility that causes us to consider the question Job raises here before we snap to hasty assumptions about the unfortunate circumstances of others.   Almost always, we are not privy to the whole picture.  Instead of gossip or harsh judgment, may our response be one of desiring to help, encourage, and show love.  By taking such an approach to life, we can be assured that it “will be well when He searches us out.”

–Neal Pollard

The Scarlet Letter

Posted by :abible On : May 13, 2013
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HAD IT NOT been for a confident and encouraging wife, Sofia, we might not have listed among the great names of literature the name of Nathaniel Hawthorne…

When Nathaniel, a heartbroken man, went home to tell his wife he was a failure and had been fired from his job in a customhouse, she surprised him with an exclamation of joy.

“Now,” she said triumphantly, “you can write your book!”  “Yes,” replied the man, with sagging confidence, “and what shall we live on while I am writing it.”  To his amazement, she opened a drawer and pulled out a substantial sum of money.  “Where on earth did you get that?” he exclaimed.  “I have always known you were a man of genius,” she told him.  “I knew that someday you would write a masterpiece.  So every week, out of the money you gave me for housekeeping, I saved a little bit.  So here is enough to last us for one whole year.”

From her trust and confidence came one of the greatest novels of American literature, The Scarlet Letter.

THOUGHT: When most people who’ve achieved great things tell their stories, they mention those who encouraged him along the way.  (David Jeremiah)

“Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.”  Acts 11:22-24

Mike Benson

The power of thought

Posted by :abible On : May 10, 2013
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AS A MAN Thinketh by James Allen is arguably the best non-inspired book ever written on the power of thought…

Allen compared the mind to a garden and its owner to a master gardener.  A good character is not the product of chance any more than a beautiful garden could happen by accident.  Integrity is a natural result of continued effort in right thinking.

The overarching theme of As a Man Thinketh is that individuals control the development of their character through controlling their thoughts.  At the very moment one chooses his thoughts, he also chooses his destiny.  Allen’s garden analogy well-illustrates this cause and effect relationship.  Just as plants come from seeds, actions grow from thoughts.  The challenging part is getting the right seeds into the garden of the mind.  Useless seeds find their way there all by themselves, but useful ones must be purposely planted.  Good thoughts must be deliberately sown and carefully nurtured to produce the fruit of righteousness.  Bad thoughts must be eradicated in the same way one removes weeds to preserve a well-kept garden.  Good thoughts cannot produce bad acts and bad thoughts cannot produce good acgts.  The law of sowing and reaping is as true in the mental and moral realm as it is in the plant world (Galatians 6:7-8).  Holiness, like husbandry, requires planning, effort and diligence.  (Aubry Johnson)

“Keep your heart will all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”  Proverbs 4:23; cf. Romans 12:2

–Mike Benson

“He hath blessed thy children within thee”

Posted by :abible On : May 9, 2013
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The Psalms contain some wonderful lessons for every generation of mankind.  Though written more than 3,000 years ago, these songs and devotions of David provide insight into the nature of God and the very nature of man.  The 147th Psalm is no exception.  Israel has returned from a long night of Babylonian Captivity.  It has been seven decades since they left their homeland.  Now they have come home with thanksgiving in their hearts and praise on their lips.  Would you focus on Psalms 147:13-14 for a moment?  Note four blessings that Israel would enjoy as a result of their restoration to God, and to their homeland.

First, God had “strengthened the bars of thy gates.”  A nation is secure so long as they trust in God for their guidance and protection.  If armament and military power provide security, then the former United Soviet Socialist Republic would still be standing.  While we would not discount the importance of a strong military, we dare not ignore the importance of godly principles as a guide for those who lead that army.

Second, God had “blessed thy children within thee.”  Our generation has enjoyed the benefits and blessings of God’s gracious lovingkindness.  As the “children,” “grandchildren,” “great-grandchildren,” and even unto “great-great-grandchildren” of our forefathers, we have enjoyed the benefits of the seeds of righteousness and godliness planted by our forefathers in the early years of this nation. Don’t let anyone tell you that this nation was established as a “secular” nation – it was founded upon Biblical principles. To deny this truth is to ignore history.  The horn of plenty has been turned upside down on America, and we reap the benefits of peace, joy, and happiness because of the seeds planted by our forefathers.  It has been observed on more than one occasion that America is rooted in a deep respect for God and His word.  Our founding fathers believed that the great experiment of democracy and the establishment of this nation would not succeed without divine blessings.  Men were given the freedom to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.  But that life and liberty they held so dear was not a pursuit of fleshly lusts or materialistic gain. It was the pursuit of God and His purpose in our lives.   And so, for more than two centuries God opened up the windows of heaven and gave to this nation unparalleled opportunities and abundant wealth.

Third, God “maketh peace in thy boarders.”  Until that infamous September day many years ago, this nation had never been attacked on its homeland by an outside enemy.  It is no accident that our boarders remained secure from the intrusion of those who would overthrow our way of life and rob us of our determination to seek God’s blessings on us as a nation.  This generation has enjoyed unparalleled peace and tranquility that has been the envy of the world around us.  Even during those stressful days of the cold war, we enjoyed peace within our boarders, and a sense of deep contentment within our hearts.

Fourth, God has “filled thee with the finest of the wheat.”  Who would argue that our nation has enjoyed the best of the best?  Who would dare deny that our standard of living has been the envy of the world?  Millions have sought to come to America to enjoy the prosperity this nation has had to offer to her citizens and those who would seek to become a part of that great American dream.  Our generation has enjoyed the best that America has had to offer.  Whereas previous generations had to struggle through economic crises such as the Great Depression, we have had at our disposal abundant and unparalleled prosperity.  Walmart Super Centers provide every good imaginable; all we need to do is pick up a cart, move up and down the aisles and pick off the shelf anything we might desire.  And if we don’t have the cash to pay for our basketful of goodies, we can pull out a plastic card and, zip zip, no questions asked – we can walk out the store with our baskets overflowing.  From necessities, to luxuries and entertainment, it seems as if there is nothing we cannot get our hands on.

But now there has arisen a generation that does not know God.  The pursuit of life, liberty and happiness has become a pursuit of the gratification of the flesh.  God has been “expelled” from almost every institute of higher learning.  The word of God has been banned in the halls of our public schools.  Now the humanists and God-haters have pushed the throttle to full speed in an effort to rid us of every vestige and display of the name of God from our coins, strip it from our halls of justice, and eradicate it from our monuments.   God has been left out of the lives of our citizens, the Bible has been banned from our institutes of learning, and the only mention that Jesus receives in Hollywood is in another movie that seeks to shock our sensitivity and display our Lord as nothing more than a homosexual pervert or radical cult leader.  Unless things change drastically, our generation will not be able to pass along to the next generation the things we have too often taken for granted.  What does this generation have to offer the next?  This generation no longer studies the Bible; this generation has fed on the husks of humanism, and drank deeply from the well of Charles Darwin; this generation has capitulated to the demands of the liberal left; this generation has grown fat and lazy, irresponsible, and irrational.  Oh, there may be a few exceptions, and perhaps the silent majority has remained silent for too long, but for the most part, I do not see anything on the horizon that holds out a lot of hope for the future of our country and the next generation.

Reread the Psalm again.  Learn what Israel learned.  God blessed her children only when Israel turned back to God.  If we would have something to give to those generations yet in the distant future, let us like Israel, begin our journey home to God.  Therein lies our hope; only then can it be said of unborn generations, “He hath blessed thy children within thee.”

by Tom Wacaster

Give people hope

Posted by :abible On : May 8, 2013
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WHEN SIR ERNEST Shackleton set out to sea in 1914, he did so with the ambitious goal of making the first land crossing of Antarctica…

But his ship, the Endurance, never even reached its base camp.  It became stuck in the icy waters for months and eventually sank.  Shackleton and his twenty-seven-member crew were stranded more than twelve hundred miles from civilization, drifting on ice floes in the terrifying cold with just three rickety lifeboats, a few tents, and limited provisions.

Eventually, they reached a small island and waited while Shackleton and a handful of men took one of the lifeboats eight hundred miles over tumultuous seas to a whaling station.  Shackleton returned with a rescue ship, and every man survived the eighteen-month ordeal.

How did he keep the hopes of his men from fizzling out…?

First, he modeled optimism.  Shackleton, who once described optimism as “true moral courage,” always believed he and his crew would survive, and his optimism was contagious.  He communicated that optimism to everyone around him.

Second, he nurtured his men’s sense of significance.  He kept everyone involved by seeking their opinions and by giving them tasks that made them feel like they were part of the solution.

Third, he encouraged them with humor and promoted a lighthearted atmosphere.  Shackleton recognized that under extreme pressure, the ability to lighten the mood neutralizes fear and enables a team to focus, reenergize, and prevail over daunting obstacles.  People might find it strange that one of the few items that Shackleton rescued from the sinking ship was a crewman’s banjo.  He did it so the group could have music.

It was Napoleon who said that a leader is a dealer in hope, and Shackleton was a prime example of how one person can keep hope alive.

If you know someone who is in the middle of a difficult trial–a long illness or a period of financial strain–your words of kindness and love, your confidence in them, your ability to lighten their load can bring hope and encouragement to their lives.  (John Maxwell)

“He who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” Romans 12:8

Mike Benson

How badly do you want to go to heaven?

Posted by :abible On : May 7, 2013
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Back in August, a 20-year-old British girl named Emma French wanted to take her driving test. She was pregnant and suffering labor contractions but did not want to forfeit her opportunity to take the test she had failed five months earlier. Even when her water broke and everyone telling her to go to the hospital, she finished her test, passing it. Then she drove herself to the hospital later that day. Little Eva was born to a mom with some strong determination!

How badly do you want to go to heaven? How important is it in life – like Emma French – and for eternal life to have the ability to not gratify immediate urges? Can we work through the pain and discomfort of this life, knowing that if we remain faithful to God, we’ll have something far better? Too many people can’t do that. Too many people are too easily knocked off course – fear, doubt, persecution, self-denial of various forms. There are a lot of “labor contractions” that Satan tries to use to get us to get out of the car and go somewhere else.

Can we use Emma French as an example of someone who knew what she wanted and was willing to tolerate the pain necessary to get it? How badly do you want to go to heaven?

So we do not lose heart. “Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

–Paul Holland

The Word Of God:

Posted by :abible On : May 6, 2013
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The Word Of God is:

Our Guide – “When thou goest, it shall lead thee.”
Our Guard – “When thou sleepest, it shall keep thee.”
Our Guest – “When thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.”

Proverbs 6:22

The Wonderful Attributes of God

Posted by :abible On : May 3, 2013
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In 1715, King Louis XIV of France died after a reign of 72 years. He had called himself “the Great,” and was the monarch who made the famous statement, “I am the state!” His court was the most magnificent in Europe, and his funeral was equally spectacular. As his body lay in state in a golden coffin, orders were given that the cathedral should be very dimly lit with only a special candle set above his coffin, to dramatize his greatness. At the memorial, thousands waited in hushed silence. Then Bishop Massilon began to speak; slowly reaching down, he snuffed out the candle and said, “Only God is great.”

Our God is truly great!  But even this seems like a huge understatement.  A particular verse that seems to say more about God’s greatness is 1 Timothy 1:17, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”  Let’s break down these attributes.

1. King eternal.  God is king, but He is not like every other king who has died.  He is eternally in power and on the throne.  This statement would literally be “the king of the ages.”  No matter what age, what time, what place, our God is king of them all!  Beyond all of this, He is going to exist forever.  What an honor to be a part of the one king and kingdom that will never fall.

2. Immortal.  God does not ever grow old or weak.  He has never lost strength or power and never will.  Sometimes immortality seems like a mythical attribute, but it is nice to know that our God actually possesses this.

3.  Invisible.  Our God is one that is not flesh and blood in this realm, but He is still here.  He is present but is not seen.  He is not bound by the human confinements of this world.  This could even be speaking to the omnipresence of God.  He is everywhere, even though He is not seen.  Such an attribute is hard to comprehend, but it just further shows the greatness of God.

4. The only God.  Despite what many nations and people have said over time, there is only one God.  Not only has our Lord proved that He is superior to any man-made “god,” but over time it is quite evident there are not many gods in control of various aspects of the universe, but just one supreme God.  Even beyond all of this, we are able to have a direct line of communication with God in prayer, and have the privilege to worship Him.  This is truly wonderful!  How undeserving we are.

5. Honor.  This is what God deserves from us.  This has to do with submission and compliance.  Not only should we submit to Him as the ruler of our lives, but we should also comply with the requests He has made known to us in His word.

6. Glory forever and ever.  This has to do verbal adoration and praise.  He is deserving of the songs we sing about Him, and the words we speak to others about Him. Because of the wonderful things God has done for us, He is MORE than deserving of this adoration and praise from us.  Not only is He worthy of this, but we should do this forever and ever.

These are just a few of the incredible attributes of God.  We truly serve an amazing God.  May we always recognize the honor and obedience He deserves.

Brett Petrillo

A $21,000 toothbrush

Posted by :abible On : May 2, 2013
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POSSESSIONS OF THE powerful, wealthy, or famous, no matter how common, can become extremely valuable, even priceless…

Napoleon’s toothbrush sold for $21,000.  Can you imagine paying thousands of dollars for someone’s cruddy old toothbrush?  Hitler’s car sold for over $150,000.  Winston Churchill’s desk, a pipe owned by C. S. Lewis, sheet music handwritten by Beethoven, a house once owned by Ernest Hemingway.  At the Sotheby’s auction of Jackie Kenndy Onassis’s personal belongings, her fake pearls sold for $211,500 and JFK’s wood golf clubs went for $772,500.  Not because the items themselves are worthy but because they once belonged to someone significant.

Are you ready for a surprise?  We fit that bill too.  Think of the value of something owned by God.  What incredible worth that bestows on us, what inexplicable dignity!  We belong to Him.  (Charles Swindoll)

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim this praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”  1 Peter 2:9

Mike Benson

Success is measured by how high you bounce when you’ve hit bottom

Posted by :abible On : May 1, 2013
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GENERAL GEORGE PATTON argued, “Success is measured by how high you bounce when you’ve hit bottom…”

Simon Peter is a perfect illustration of this truth.  He forsook his Lord and Friend in the garden.  He even denied that he knew Jesus when identified by a young maiden around the fire.  He hit bottom.  However, he didn’t stay on the bottom.  He bounced, and he bounced high.  He would preach the gospel powerfully on Pentecost just a short time later (Acts 2).  He would be a catalyst in the growth of the early church (Acts 3-12).

The question is not whether we are going to fail; but rather, how high we are going to bounce once we do.  (Wade Webster)

“Peter answered and said to Him, ‘Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble’” (Matthew 26:33).

–Mike Benson

MAKING THINGS RIGHT

Posted by :abible On : April 30, 2013
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There was a British writer by the name of Frederick Lonsdale. Lonsdale was a member of this club in London, and one New Year’s Eve, he was attending a club gathering and was asked by a friend to reconcile with a fellow club member. It seems that Lonsdale and this other fellow had quarreled in the past and never restored their friendship. And so Lonsdale’s friend told him, “You really need to try to make things right. It is very unkind to be unfriendly at such a time as this. Go over now and wish him a happy New Year.”

As the story goes, Lonsdale reluctantly crossed the room and spoke to his enemy. He said, “I wish you a happy New Year, but only one.” Forgiveness can be a difficult thing. And one of the biggest problems between husbands and wives, friends, and members of the body of Christ who struggle in their relationship with one another are those interpersonal problems that remain unresolved.

I’m not talking about those petty little annoyances and offenses that come our way from time to time. Solomon said, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.” (Proverbs 10:12) Not every little thing that rubs you wrong needs to be brought up and hammered out. Some things we’re able to overlook just because we’ve learned not to get offended at every little thing that goes wrong.

But sometimes there is a problem in a relationship that can’t be ignored. It’s causing a problem and it’s not going to just go away. And in those situations, loose ends need to be tied up and taken care of. Forgiveness needs to be sought. Forgiveness needs to be extended. Either way, it can be a tough thing to do, but it’s crucial if we want to preserve a good relationship.

Jesus said, “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone….” (Matthew 18:15).

He also said, “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23)

Seek to be reconciled. If you have done wrong, apologize and make it right. If you have been done wrong, summon up the courage to say (without anger or resentment), “You hurt me. What was that all about?” And be prepared to forgive! We can’t be right with God until we’re right with each other.

Alan Smith

Jesus Is Lord

Posted by :abible On : April 29, 2013
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In his book Jesus and Power, David Prior saw little use in a distinction between the terms “power” and “authority.”

The importance of that distinction can be seen in Micah 2:1 where evil people carry out their plans to sin “because they have the power to do so” (NET). Certainly, no authority inheres in their plans or activities.

What one has the power to do does not mean one is authorized to do it. Authority means the right to exercise power.

Jesus has both power and authority.

In the Great Commission, the Lord plainly states:

Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

This passage tells us at least five things about Jesus’ authority.

1. Complete Authority. Jesus has “all authority.” He uses a common Jewish construction which we call a divine passive. The passive verb is understood to have God behind it as the subject or acting force. With all authority given him by his Father, no one ever has any space to dispute an order or decision of his.

Jesus detains today all authority in matters of faith, practice and mission. No one today has authority to impose on others. The only time a disciple has authority is when he speaks God’s word (Titus 2:15) — and the authority is still God’s, not his.

2. Exercised Authority. Based on his authority, Jesus gives orders: “Therefore.” He makes use of his authority to command his people, so his is not an authority that can be ignored, bypassed or substituted. Christ is not an absent or inactive Master.

3. Benevolent Authority. Jesus wields his authority for good. Making disciples and baptism brings forgiveness to the world. At the beginning of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus declares that he has authority on earth to forgive sins (Matthew 9:6). His authority does not send us out for humanitarian relief, political action or benevolent causes, but for the spiritual redemption of all, the greatest good that can be done for another.

4. Specific Authority. Jesus does not leave it to our imagination as to how a disciple is made. By the two participles in the phrase, he orders that we make disciples through baptism and teaching. Baptism is the response to the preaching of the gospel. Jesus sends us into the world to preach and teach. Jesus’ authority is specific, and that means when he specifies, we forget all other options.

5. Supported Authority. “I am with you always.” Jesus does not send us on an impossible task. His presence guarantees his help and strength. Whatever he commands us to do, we can by his help perform.

What does having all authority make Jesus? Lord of lords, and King of kings!

–J. Randal Matheny @ www.forthright.net

Being an encourager

Posted by :abible On : April 25, 2013
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A HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR was startled to see a patient fleeing down the hall from the operating room…

He stopped the patient and asked, “Do you mind telling me why you ran away from the operating room?”  The patient looked at him with startled eyes and said, “It was because of what the nurse said!”  The administer inquired, “Oh?  What did she say?”  “She said, ‘Be brave!  An appendectomy is quite simple.’”  To which the administrator replied, “Well, so what?  It is a simple procedure.  I would think her words would comfort you!”  The patient said, “I’ll tell you so what!  The nurse said it to the doctor!”

In Romans 12 Paul tells us that one of the gifts that exists in the church is exhortation.  The word literally means a “calling to one’s side for the purpose of giving comfort.”  The word we would probably use is encouragement.

We all need a word of encouragement on occasion.  There are times when each of us struggles with his or her role in the church.  Some feel as though the only functions of profit are the “high visibility” jobs, such as teaching or leading in some public way.  But if we all need to be encouraged, it seems that the one who encourages fills as a useful function as anyone in the church (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:14-26).

The greatest thing about being an encourager is that everyone can do it.  It doesn’t take a lot of time or effort, but it does take some.  It can be done in person, by mail, email, or phone.  You never know how much a word of encouragement is needed or how much good it can do.  Solomon said, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Proverbs 25:11).  Mark Twain said he could live a week on a compliment.  (Mike Greene)

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us…if a man’s gift is…encouraging, let him encourage” (Romans 12:6, 8 NIV).

Mike Benson

LifeHacker.com

Posted by :abible On : April 24, 2013
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“Life-Hacking”

According to definitions I’ve found on the Internet, a “hack” is “a productivity technique used by programmers to solve an everyday problem” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hack). My desire to learn this definition was aroused by a web site I’ve been frequenting lately: LifeHacker.com. Each day there are two or three dozen tips or suggestions on a variety of topics. Occasionally one of them relates to a need I have.

Each day LifeHacker mentions new software programs and apps that others have found useful. There are also odd contributions, such as an item found on today’s edition: “Use plastic wrap to protect furniture or fixtures when painting narrow, hard-to-reach places”. Earlier this week we were told how to bake a turkey and guarantee moist white meat (apply an ice pack to the turkey before baking it – honest!). You never know what you’ll find on LifeHacker, and that’s part of its appeal.

It’s human nature, I suppose, to be interested in better and easier ways of doing things. Who doesn’t appreciate hearing where gasoline can be found at the lowest cost? You know how to get rid of those pesky sugar ants that appear in warm weather? Tell me, please. Whether you call it “life-hacking” or a scoop or whatever, if it will improve the way I live my life, I am seriously interested.

There is no better place to go for life-improvement suggestions than God’s word. God is the One who created us; shouldn’t He be trusted for the best tips on how to live? That’s the claim often made in the word of God.

The wise man made this claim in Proverbs 13:15: “Good understanding gains favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.” Have we not seen this principle demonstrated repeatedly? Some think they can enrich themselves by skirting the law, perhaps by selling drugs or scamming unsuspecting folks out of their hard-earned money. But are they truly living a better life? Are they not constantly looking over their shoulders, going from one infraction to another? Many eventually are busted.

Consider another statement in that same passage: “Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, but he who regards a rebuke will be honored” (Proverbs 13:18). Humility and patience are required to learn from our mistakes. Some, though, choose to stubbornly push ahead despite the correction they’re offered, and learn too late that their way just won’t work.

Cain and Abel were brothers, sons of Adam and Eve. When Cain became jealous of his brother’s acceptance by God, his anger burned. God warned Cain about that anger: “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it” (Genesis 4:7). Cain could have benefited from God’s warning, but he chose to ignore it. In the end, he took his brother’s life and forever after bore the consequences.

Looking for a “hack” for your life? Here’s the best I know: “The thief [Satan] does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Abundant life! That’s the offer Jesus makes to anyone.

No one is forced to welcome Jesus into their life. But knowing how life is improved when He is Lord should be reason enough to gladly receive Him. (Read Galatians 3:26,27 for a quick statement of how to receive Him.)

Timothy D. Hall

How long can a bare-footed person stand in a bucket of ice water?

Posted by :abible On : April 23, 2013
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YEARS AGO AN experiment was conducted to measure people’s capacity to endure pain…

How long could a bare-footed person stand in a bucket of ice water?  It was discovered that when there was someone else present offering encouragement and support, the person standing in the ice water could tolerate paiin twice as long as when no one else was present. (John C. Maxwell, Encouragement Changes Everything, 25)

THOUGHT: Could it also be the case that elders could serve twice as long, preachers could work twice as long, and members could be faithful twice as long, if they had someone holding their hands and encouraging them?  I believe that this is the case.  As you know, the book of Hebrews was written to those who were discouraged and in danger of falling away.  The inspired writer of this book often exhorted brethren to encourage one another (Hebrews 3:13; 10:24-25).  In the twelfth chapter, we read these words, “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees” (v. 12).  (Wade Webster)

“But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.”  Exodus 17:12

Mike Benson

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