Going Home!

I had the wonderful pleasure of speaking at the Homecoming of the church I was raised in this past Sunday. It was a great day. Not that the lessons were that great, but the atmosphere, people and spirit were the real prize. I tried to challenge and encourage this church. I, in turn, was the one that was challenged and encouraged.

I saw old friends, relatives and even met new people. It is a wonderful church with a history of serving God for more than a century. They have been challenged because they are trying to "do church" a little different from their heritage and people are criticizing them. I applaud them for trying to mature their saints and reach the lost. I would pray that all churches would do that.

It is a wonderful place - not because of the architecture - not because of the layout - not because of the programs - not because of the location. It is wonderful because it is God's house. I learned about God in worship, classrooms, and VBS in that place. It will always be home.

Sid

Are You Ready To Find Jesus?

A drunk stumbled along a baptismal service on Sunday afternoon down by the river. He proceeded to walk down into the water and stood next to the Preacher. The minister turned and noticed the old drunk and said, "Mister, Are you ready to find Jesus?" The drunk looks back and says, "Yes, Preacher. I sure am."
The minister then dunked the fellow under the water and pulled him right back up. "Have you found Jesus?" the preacher asks.
"No, I didn’t!" says the drunk.
The preacher then dunks him under for quite a bit longer, brings him up and says, "Now, brother, have you found Jesus?"
"No, I did not Preacher."
The preacher in disgust holds the man under for at least 30 seconds this time brings him out of the water and says in a harsh tone, "Friend, are you sure you haven’t found Jesus yet?"
The old drunk wipes his eyes and says to the preacher, "Are you sure this is where he fell in?"

Unfortunately, sometimes we are like the drunk - we just don't understand what is going on. Or we are like the preacher - communicating Jesus to a world that does not understand what we are saying. Let's be clear - tell the world about Jesus and show them what that means by the life that we live.

Sid

God In The Dock

Is God obligated to shield us from undeserved pain? I am not talking about the pain that you brought on yourself. We all know that there is a certain amount of pain or struggle that we go through because we made bad choices and we did wrong things. What about those times when pain comes your way and you are not responsible? What about the unfairness and injustice of life? Is God obligated to protect us from undeserved pain? We cry, "life is suppose to be fair." But there is a problem with that statement.
The "life is suppose to be fair" idea in reality puts God on trial. In a short story by C. S. Lewis entitled "God In The Dock" suggests what modern culture has done with God. Dock is a British term for the place where the accused stands when in court. So God In The Dock suggests that what we have done is to put God on trial. Many of us would be a kind judge. If God should have a reasonable defense for the God that permits war and poverty and disease man is ready to listen to him. The trial may even end in God’s acquittal. The important thing to realize is that man is on the bench and God is in the dock. That’s what you’re saying when you say "life is suppose to be fair."
The true test of our walk is when things don’t go our way is that we trust in God. Because in reality we are in the dock and God is on the bench. Do you trust Him?

Broken Eggs

The nursery rhyme of Humpty-Dumpty.

Humpty-Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty-Dumpty had a great fall,
and all the king's horses and all the king's men,
couldn't put Humpty-Dumpty back together again.

Charles Swindol reports that Humpty-Dumpty was originally written as a parable and not as a nursery rhyme. It was not about broken egg shells, but broken people.

There are a lot of broken people in the world. There are tragic deaths, unexpected illnesses, unfaithful marriages, and financial failures.

God is the only one that can put us back together. Paul tells us that if we die to ourselves and are baptized, then we will have a new life. What a promise. Even when all the stuff happens to us, we have a hope beyond this life. What a God!

Sid

I'm Gonna Wash Out Your Mouth

There was a professor of English by the name of Harry Michael and he was late for one of his classes. He was driving down a Tucson road too quickly and an unmarked police car pulled him over. Harry Michael explained that he was speeding and he was late for a class and after hearing his story the officer was kind enough to give Mr. Michael a warning. The officer left him with these words: "Slow down and drive safe." Harry felt obliged and obligated because he was an English teacher to correct the officer. He said, "Excuse me sir, but it should be slow down and drive safely." The officer nodded and went back to his car and wrote him a ticket for $72.

We talk too much!

We camouflage our positive attitudes by making remarks that seem to us to be productive, but they are so damaging.

We talk behind people’s back, and again think it is innocent, but Jesus said for us to go to the person.

We criticize, complain, give our opinion, voice a concern, point out our perspective and the body of Christ suffers.

James tells us how it should be, “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.”

Sid