Month: January 2016

Well, I might as well finish off this week of sharing tweets and links with this great story mentioned by Kid President yesterday.   I think this one is appropriate for several reasons.  It’s Friday, which means we need something encouraging.  The whole South/Mid-Atlantic is getting pummeled with Jonas, so we may need to be reminded about watching our for our neighbors ( Which is who, I might ask).  And well, it’s just the right thing to do!

Good samaritan gives shirt off his back to shivering homeless man on NYC train: https://t.co/wK3UXWsklw https://t.co/G1SBDuxSWd

— Kid President (@iamkidpresident) January 21, 2016

Enjoy the weekend.

⁴¹ Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward. Mark 9:41

Here is a fascinating little story that exemplifies one of the great parables of Jesus. This little sheep was stranded on a mountain ledge and climbers made their way down to rescue the little guy.

It’s a real life example of this story from the book of Luke:

3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

What a great reminder of one of the tasks that we should have on our list every day as we interact with people – to always be looking for those that have lost their way and bring them back.

He embraced His chosen child, Israel; He remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high. It’s exactly what He promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to now. — Luke 1:54–55 (MSG)
Yes,  that’s what we like.  Mercy, piled on!  Especially when it’s heading our way!  Sometimes however it’s not as special when the mercy is going to someone else.  This is the challenge we have as we live like the Christ.  He piled mercy on others, including each of us.  We, in turn, need to pile it on others.  Remember, you have a river of it, not a reservoir.  There’s no need or advantage of holding it back! 

Pile On!!! 

I know I share a lot from other people, but man so many people have such great ideas. Like this one from David Skidmore.

The central message of Colossians 3 is six simple words:

"You used to…"
"…but now you…"

How YOU finish these is key.#FIFTY2K16

— David Skidmore (@sycamoreskid) January 15, 2016

Wow, I love that. Please, spend some time today reading Colossians 3 and then come back and think about what his is saying. It’s a powerful chapter, with some really practical advice on the how and why Christians should present themselves in a radical way.  You used to, but now you.

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  Colossians 3:12-14

How will you finish?

This day creates tension for me.  A tension between where our world is, and where our world should be.  A tension between my daily experiences and the experiences that I read from others.  A tension between the thoughts in my mind and the stories and views of others.

I want to ignore it, and move along blissfully along my own path, however, I know that’s not good.  It’s better to stop and examine it.  And then create a way forward balancing the tension and continuing to grow and transform my little mind into one that matches the wishes of my master.

And with that, here are a few thoughts on the matter from the man of the day.

Let us continue to choose love as we interact with all the people of this world.

For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,

and every tongue shall confess to God.”

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Romans 14:7-12 (ESV)