From Wikipedia:
Dr. Shadrach Meshach (S.M.) Lockridge (March 7, 1913 – April 4, 2000) was the Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, a prominent African-American congregation located in San Diego, California, from 1953 to 1993. He was known for his preaching across the United States and around the world.
Biography
Shadrach Meshach Lockridge was born March 7, 1913, in Robertson County, Texas, the oldest of eight children and the son of a Baptist minister. A graduate of Bishop College in Marshall, Texas, he worked for two years as a high school English teacher. In 1940 in Dallas, he felt led to preach. In 1941 he married Virgil Mae Thomas but they never had any children.
Ministry
In 1942, he accepted his first pastorate at Fourth Ward Baptist Church in Ennis, Texas. In August 1952, he was named pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego where he served until retiring in 1993.
During Dr. Lockridge's tenure at Calvary Baptist, a predominantly African-American congregation, his ministry touched the lives of more than 100,000 people. He preached at crusades, revivals, religious rallies and evangelistic conferences around the world.
He also served in key regional, state and national positions with the Baptist Church, including being elected the first president of the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America.
He held doctorates and numerous honorary degrees and was often sought as a public speaker, even after he retired in 1993. He served as guest lecturer at numerous schools and universities and on the faculty of several others, including the Billy Graham School of Evangelism.
Dr. Lockridge was active in the civil rights movement, and under his leadership Calvary Baptist hosted several of its leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Jesse Jackson.
His best-known message is a six and a half minute description of Jesus Christ, known as "That's my King!" for Lockridge's repeated refrain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upGCMl_b0n4
Here is the text of that talk
The Bible says my King is a seven-way king....
He's the King of the Jews; that's a racial king....
He's the King of Israel; that's a national King....
He's the King of Righteousness....
He's the King of the Ages.....
He's the King of Heaven....
He's the King of Glory....
He's the King of kings, and He's the Lord of lords. That's my King.
Well....I wonder, do you know Him?....
David said, "The Heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork. My King is a sovereign King. No means of measure can define His limitless love. No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply. No barrier can hinder Him from pouring out His blessings. He's enduringly strong....
He's entirely sincere....
He's eternally steadfast....
He's immortally graceful....
He's imperially powerful....
He's impartially merciful.......
Do you know Him?
He's the greatest phenomenon that ever crossed the horizon of this world. He's God's Son....
He's a sinner's Saviour....
He's the centerpiece of civilization....
He stands in the solitude of Himself....
He's august....
He's unique....
He's unparalleled....
He's unprecedented....
He's the loftiest idea in literature....
He's the highest personality in philosophy....
He's the supreme problem in higher criticism....
He's the fundamental doctrine of true theology....
He's the cardinal necessity for spiritual religion....
He's the miracle of the age....
He's the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him....
He's the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Saviour......
I wonder if you know Him today?
He supplies strength for the weak....
He's available for the tempted and the tried....
He sympathizes and He saves....
He strengthens and sustains....
He guards and He guides....
He heals the sick....
He cleanses lepers....
He forgives sinners....
He discharges debtors....
He delivers captives....
He defends the feeble....
He blesses the young....
He serves the unfortunate....
He regards the aged....
He rewards the diligent....
and He beautifies the meek.......
I wonder if you know Him?
Well, my King....is the King....
He's the key to knowledge....
He's the wellspring to wisdom....
He's the doorway of deliverance....
He's the pathway of peace....
He's the roadway of righteousness ....
He's the highway of holiness....
He's the gateway of glory.......
Do you know Him?
Well....His office is manifold....
His promise is sure....
His light is matchless....
His goodness is limitless....
His mercy is everlasting....
His love never changes....
His word is enough....
His grace is sufficient....
His reign is righteous....
and His yoke is easy, and his burden is light. I wish I could describe Him to you, but He's indescribable....
He's incomprehensible....
He's invincible....
He's irresistible.
Well, you can't get Him out of your mind....
You can't get Him off of your hand....
You can't out live Him, and you can't live without Him....
The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him....
Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him....
The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree....
Herod couldn't kill Him....
Death couldn't handle Him, and the grave couldn't hold Him.
Yea!!!, that's my King, that's my King.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
4 wives
Once upon a time there was a rich King who had four wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best. He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms? However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another. He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confident and was always kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through the difficult times. The King's 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife. Although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her! One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, "I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone." Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I have loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company? “No way!" replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word. Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart. The sad King then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company? "No!" replied the 3rd wife. ?"Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to remarry!" His heart sank and turned cold. He then asked the 2nd wife, "I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I am sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave?'' Her answer struck him like a bolt of lightning, and the King was devastated. Then a voice called out: "I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The King looked up, and there was his first wife. She was very skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the King said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!" In truth, we all have these 4 wives in our lives: Our 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die. Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others. Our 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave. And our 1st wife is our Soul - often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go? Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of us that will follow us to the throne of God and continue with us throughout Eternity.... Thought for the day: Remember, when the world pushes you to your knees, you're in the perfect position to pray.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Where those sayings came from...maybe
I received this the other day...not sure if any of it is true...but all sounds good.
Here are some facts about the1500s: Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water..
Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying . It's raining cats and dogs.
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house.. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.
The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, Dirt poor. The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entranceway. Hence the saying a thresh hold. (Getting quite an education, aren't you?) In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old..
Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, bring home the bacon They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat..
Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.
Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.
Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.
England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a ...dead ringer..
Here are some facts about the1500s: Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water..
Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying . It's raining cats and dogs.
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house.. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.
The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, Dirt poor. The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entranceway. Hence the saying a thresh hold. (Getting quite an education, aren't you?) In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old..
Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, bring home the bacon They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat..
Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.
Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.
Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.
England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a ...dead ringer..
Thursday, April 16, 2009
The Law of the Garbage Truck
I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport . We were driving inthe right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us
My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.
So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!' This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'
He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you.
Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks takeover their day.
Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so..... 'Lovethe people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't.'
My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.
So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!' This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'
He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you.
Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks takeover their day.
Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so..... 'Lovethe people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't.'
Monday, April 13, 2009
Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?
The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.
1. Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 2. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, "They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!" 3. Peter and the other disciple ran to the
tomb to see. 4. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first.. 5. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. 6. Then Simon Peter arrived and went
inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, 7. while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.
Is that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes! In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of
that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I'm done". But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because...........
The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!"
He Is Coming Back!
1. Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 2. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, "They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!" 3. Peter and the other disciple ran to the
tomb to see. 4. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first.. 5. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. 6. Then Simon Peter arrived and went
inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, 7. while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.
Is that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes! In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of
that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I'm done". But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because...........
The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!"
He Is Coming Back!
The Man Minute
I recently started receiving emails from The Man Minute. Here is today's...
The Man Minute
sixty second investments
in Christ-like manhood
The Man Minute
April 13.09
The vast majority of men everywhere want some level of success. Whether it's making more money, the ability to acquire more possessions, or simply to hold a career position that brings him satisfaction, success is something that is a desire in most every man on planet earth.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with ambition or achievement. The real question is, what is it about success that truly motivates you?
A man's greatest fear should never be fear of failure, but the fear of actually succeeding at something that doesn't really matter.
I enlarged my works ... I built houses ... I planted vineyards ... I became great and increased more than all who proceeded me ... all that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. Then I considered all my activities which my hands had done ... and behold it was vanity ... there was no profit in it.
Solomon
Ecclesiastes 2
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?
Jesus
Mark 8
http://www.bethemanministries.com/
The Man Minute
sixty second investments
in Christ-like manhood
The Man Minute
April 13.09
The vast majority of men everywhere want some level of success. Whether it's making more money, the ability to acquire more possessions, or simply to hold a career position that brings him satisfaction, success is something that is a desire in most every man on planet earth.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with ambition or achievement. The real question is, what is it about success that truly motivates you?
A man's greatest fear should never be fear of failure, but the fear of actually succeeding at something that doesn't really matter.
I enlarged my works ... I built houses ... I planted vineyards ... I became great and increased more than all who proceeded me ... all that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. Then I considered all my activities which my hands had done ... and behold it was vanity ... there was no profit in it.
Solomon
Ecclesiastes 2
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?
Jesus
Mark 8
http://www.bethemanministries.com/
Friday, April 10, 2009
Lack of Leadership
I have recently struggled with leadership in several different areas of my life. As a player in my sphere of influence. I learned a lot about leadership academically and have written several papers on the topic in school, not as it relates to ministry, but on examining the personal characteristics of a leader, the relationships that a leader has, how leadership develops, and the most effective leader traits and habits.
Leaders can be classified as leaders based on many different attributes: power, influence, knowledge, position, age, status, situation, etc. But there is one thing that is characteristic of all leaders…that is, one thing that every leader must have to be called a leader…followers…
I think one way to be a leader after God’s heart, is to keep the followers in mind and as a priority. This brings to mind 1 Peter 5. We are called to be leaders…not because we have to, but because we want to please God. He says to tenderly show others the way. He also calls us (from the Message) to be down to earth with each other….be honest with what you think…not overly critical, but telling others what you think (relates to Titus verse, I think).
I think this is where a control freak may come into play. Imagine a shepherd with 100 sheep, trying to control each and everyone of them, eat here, drink now, sleep, etc…makes for a lot of mindless followers, who prefer the safe and mundane and will only do something when told or via force…not to mention that it makes the leader no longer a leader, but more of a manager.
For some reason, Phillip Yancey comes to mind….Jesus did not say, "all men will know you are my disciples...if you just pass laws, suppress immorality, and restore decency to the family and government..., but rather...if you love one another." Shepherds that love the sheep gently guide until they get too close to edge of the cliff or until they see a wolf. I have always pictured Jesus as a “gentle rebuker”. I am sure that this was not the case, but I do know that some of his most stern rebukes came to those that were not his followers…
Think about Peter writing this…first can you imagine Peter being a shepherd? I picture him kicking the sheep back in line much more than gently using the staff to guide them. I also picture Jesus saying to Peter to feed my sheep and Peter’s reaction to this…. I think to be a godly shepherd we have to be willing to tenderly rebuke in some situations, but also willing to sharply rebuke in others…I guess its finding that balance that I find the source of my struggles…I do believe that different situations call for different leadership tactics or styles.
Being a lazy wimp for much of my life, I can relate to this. I also know that its taking the easy way out. The important thing about falling off the horse is getting back on. I know that God would rather have us fall off everyday than never get on. ...1 Peter 5: 8 and 9...the devil is poised to catch us napping and is always looking for lazy wimps...
Here is a recent prayer that has had meaning for me….
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it...
Merton
Leaders can be classified as leaders based on many different attributes: power, influence, knowledge, position, age, status, situation, etc. But there is one thing that is characteristic of all leaders…that is, one thing that every leader must have to be called a leader…followers…
I think one way to be a leader after God’s heart, is to keep the followers in mind and as a priority. This brings to mind 1 Peter 5. We are called to be leaders…not because we have to, but because we want to please God. He says to tenderly show others the way. He also calls us (from the Message) to be down to earth with each other….be honest with what you think…not overly critical, but telling others what you think (relates to Titus verse, I think).
I think this is where a control freak may come into play. Imagine a shepherd with 100 sheep, trying to control each and everyone of them, eat here, drink now, sleep, etc…makes for a lot of mindless followers, who prefer the safe and mundane and will only do something when told or via force…not to mention that it makes the leader no longer a leader, but more of a manager.
For some reason, Phillip Yancey comes to mind….Jesus did not say, "all men will know you are my disciples...if you just pass laws, suppress immorality, and restore decency to the family and government..., but rather...if you love one another." Shepherds that love the sheep gently guide until they get too close to edge of the cliff or until they see a wolf. I have always pictured Jesus as a “gentle rebuker”. I am sure that this was not the case, but I do know that some of his most stern rebukes came to those that were not his followers…
Think about Peter writing this…first can you imagine Peter being a shepherd? I picture him kicking the sheep back in line much more than gently using the staff to guide them. I also picture Jesus saying to Peter to feed my sheep and Peter’s reaction to this…. I think to be a godly shepherd we have to be willing to tenderly rebuke in some situations, but also willing to sharply rebuke in others…I guess its finding that balance that I find the source of my struggles…I do believe that different situations call for different leadership tactics or styles.
Being a lazy wimp for much of my life, I can relate to this. I also know that its taking the easy way out. The important thing about falling off the horse is getting back on. I know that God would rather have us fall off everyday than never get on. ...1 Peter 5: 8 and 9...the devil is poised to catch us napping and is always looking for lazy wimps...
Here is a recent prayer that has had meaning for me….
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it...
Merton
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Called to Craftsmanship
Exodus 31:1-5
*Then the Lord said to Moses, "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.*
Bezalel was called by God to perform a most important work for Him. I am sure that Bezalel believed that he was naturally gifted with his hands to make fine crafts with gold, silver, and bronze. He probably did not associate it with God's work.
But the Scripture tells us that God chose him and filled him with God's Spirit to enable him.
Does God call men and women into their vocations to fulfill His purposes-to fulfill that which needs to be accomplished throughout the world? Have you ever thought about how many occupations there are in the world? How did that balance of interest among each human throughout the world happen? Did it just happen? Was it by chance that we have only so many doctors, only so many accountants, only so many geologists?
Your interest in your vocation is not born of your own making. So many businesspeople and even pastors have made the mistake of encouraging us who have a deep desire to walk with Christ in the workplace to pursue vocational ministry. To remove us from the marketplace where the greatest harvest is yet to occur would be to remove us from where God called us. Do not take this bait. Serve the Lord in the marketplace where He has gifted you and called you.
*Then the Lord said to Moses, "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.*
Bezalel was called by God to perform a most important work for Him. I am sure that Bezalel believed that he was naturally gifted with his hands to make fine crafts with gold, silver, and bronze. He probably did not associate it with God's work.
But the Scripture tells us that God chose him and filled him with God's Spirit to enable him.
Does God call men and women into their vocations to fulfill His purposes-to fulfill that which needs to be accomplished throughout the world? Have you ever thought about how many occupations there are in the world? How did that balance of interest among each human throughout the world happen? Did it just happen? Was it by chance that we have only so many doctors, only so many accountants, only so many geologists?
Your interest in your vocation is not born of your own making. So many businesspeople and even pastors have made the mistake of encouraging us who have a deep desire to walk with Christ in the workplace to pursue vocational ministry. To remove us from the marketplace where the greatest harvest is yet to occur would be to remove us from where God called us. Do not take this bait. Serve the Lord in the marketplace where He has gifted you and called you.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Abou ben Adam
Abou ben Adam (may his tribe increase!)
awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight of his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
an angel, writing in a book of of gold.
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adam bold,
And to the Prescence in the room he said:
"What writest thou?" The vision raised its head,
And, with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord."
"And is mine one?"said Abou, "Nay, not so,"
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerily still, and said, "I pray thee, then,
Write me as one who loves his fellow men."
The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again, with a great awakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blest,
And lo! Ben adam's name led all the rest.
- Leigh Hunt
awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight of his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
an angel, writing in a book of of gold.
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adam bold,
And to the Prescence in the room he said:
"What writest thou?" The vision raised its head,
And, with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord."
"And is mine one?"said Abou, "Nay, not so,"
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerily still, and said, "I pray thee, then,
Write me as one who loves his fellow men."
The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again, with a great awakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blest,
And lo! Ben adam's name led all the rest.
- Leigh Hunt
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