Proverbs 19:20 (NIV) 20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.
Recent events have given me pause and I wish to share some of my thoughts with others. Hopefully this will flow well and not be too disjointed. I am writing this on the fly without making an outline or any of those other nice things my English teachers in school and college demanded for "proper" writing.
When I think about how things are happening in the world today, I cringe. I read daily, it seems, of another police officer being killed violently in the line of duty. I read of a deranged man shooting 20 some people including a congresswoman in Arizona. Six people died including a young girl who was born on, of all days, 9/11/2001. I see how the media is trying to spin the shootings to favor their side of the political argument. Lost in the midst of their words are the feelings of the victims and their families. Oh sure, the talking heads give lip service to the dead and wounded, but do they really care at all? Or are they more concerned that they get their view out before the other side has a chance? It is happening on both sides, so I don't want to single out either the liberal or conservative mindset. It is a shame no matter who spouts the talking point. I know what I believe and will defend my views, but why right now? Why can't we allow the dust to settle first?
Ultimately, this is not meant to be an opinion piece on the process of today's media and politicians. I am writing this to remind the reader of one very important point that is being missed here. We are not promised any more days than what God has planned for us. To think that we should live to a ripe old age because of how long our mother or father lived is silly. Where is that written? How do we know what God has in mind for us? Well, we should know that there is a time to be born and a time to die (Ecc 3:8). We know that we won't die until God completes the plan He has for us, but we don't have any idea when God is done, He has no obligation to tell us. His plan may actually be to work good from the evil of the death of someone (Gen 50:20). We don't know how or when we will die, just that eventually, barring the Rapture, we will die.
This brings me to another point, the unbiblical teaching that "God has a wonderful plan for your life". Does He? Well, yes and no. His plans are wonderful. He is God, of course He works in wonderful ways. But does that mean the definition of "wonderful" is the same for us as it is for God. If God sees fit to allow you to suffer greatly to grow your faith, would you consider it "wonderful" while you are going through the suffering? I know I would not. I will credit Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron for helping me see through the fallicy of this when I heard them give the possible scenario of someone telling the airplane passengers of the 9/11 flights that "God has a wonderful plan for your life" the night before the flights. Really? Do you think they would believe that as the planes were speeding to their doom? Another misused portion of Scripture is Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." These words were from Jeremiah to the Israelites and to them alone. I hear this verse quoted every year at graduation ceremonies. It is inspiring and uplifting. However, it is not directed to us. God knows the plans He has for me too. It just may not be to prosper me and not harm me. Read further in Jeremiah: 29:17 "yes, this is what the LORD Almighty says: “I will send the sword, famine and plague against them and I will make them like figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten. 18 I will pursue them with the sword, famine and plague and will make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse and an object of horror, of scorn and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them. 19 For they have not listened to my words,” declares the LORD, “words that I sent to them again and again by my servants the prophets. And you exiles have not listened either,” declares the LORD." Do we dare claim the blessings of the Lord and not His punishment? Perhaps I need to be poor and harmed to remember the Author of my life. Or perhaps, this side of Heaven, I will be tortured, beaten and persecuted for my faith. God grant me the faith to be a target of that persecution!!
We need to continue to realize that God did not put us on earth to live large and puff up our chests to be glorified for our lives. We are put on this earth to glorify Him, the Author and Creator! We need no help in self-centeredness and pride. We need constant reminders that it isn't about us, but it is about Him. How do we respond to these reminders? Do we shrug our shoulders and walk away to our own righteousness or do we respond as God would desire, on our knees in awe and worship to the King of kings and Lord of lords?
"George was a good guy, he worked hard." Nice, but is that how I want to be remembered after I die (it could be tomorrow)? Not really. How about, "George was a good guy, he was on fire for God! He helped me see that I need God in my life!" Now that is worth striving for! I write this not to condemn anyone personally. I write this struggling with all the issues I raise above. I suffer alright. I suffer from self-righteousness, self-centeredness and self-pity. I do not live the life I want to live. Romans 7:15 "For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate."
Can we turn our lives around and follow Him? Yes we can, but not by our own works, it is by Faith through Grace that we are saved. I will not boast in myself but in Him who has saved me!!
In this New Year, I do not resolve (because resolutions are made to be broken), but I do desire to more completely 'serve my King'. May He grant me my prayer to be closer to Him.
George Beuckelaere
The Shadows
By Pastor Frank Mills
Youth Ministry International
Louisville, KY. 40299 See the man in the shadows. It's Peter! Peter the great apostle! He once actually walked on water. Stepped right out of the boat and didn't sink. He was fearless, passionate and impetuous. But, now why is Peter in the shadows? Why is he weeping so? It is thought by some that a fountain of tears began to flow whenever, Peter remembered this night.
But Peter said to Jesus, Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and even to die with you! But Jesus said, Peter, before the cock crows this day, you will say three times that you don?t know Me. (Luke 22:33-34)
There's our answer for why Peter is in the shadows with tear stained cheeks. For indeed that very night, Peter would deny His Lord three times (Matthew 26:69-75). Denying His Lord on the night of His betrayal was bad enough, but did he have to boast that he wouldn't (Luke 22:33) One denial was shameful, but three times (Matthew 26:69-75) And, did Peter have to curse and swear (Matthew 26:74)
THE BIG QUESTION!
Is Peter the only person to do the very thing he swore he'd never do?
Of course he isnt! We've all been in the shadows of shame.
Infidelity is behind me. No more lustful thoughts! No more cheating on my spouse! I'm going to control my tongue. No more gossiping! I've learned my lesson. No more shady deals! Nothing but the truth! No more lies!
And the cock crows in the distance and Peter has a partner in the shadows of shame.
The next time we see Peter with the now resurrected Jesus, it is on the shores of the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:1). Peter and several of the disciples decide to go fishing (John 21:3a). That is NOT what they are supposed to be fishing for (Matthew 4:18-20). Well, they fish all night long and catch NOTHING (John 21:3b). Not even a minnow! When Peter and the other disciples arrive on the shore, after Jesus performs a miraculous catch for them (John 21:6), they are greeted with a meal (John 21:9). Jesus invites them for breakfast. The fish are sizzling and the bread is warm and waiting. Jesus prepared a meal for them and EVERYONE, including Peter, was invited for a bite to eat. No one could have been more thankful than Peter. Peter was welcomed to the meal of Jesus. Jesus has a heart for those who blow it!
All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. (John 6:37)
Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow. (Isaiah 1:18a)
A famous painter or a gardener?
When Karen and I were living in the Paris area, one of our favorite "day trips" was to Giverny… Claude Monet’s home and garden. We actually visited Monet’s estate three times. We went once in the spring, then in the summer and finally in the fall. With each seasonal change, there were different flowers in bloom. It was almost like seeing three different gardens. It was MAGICAL! The colors were always SPECTACULAR!
Claude Monet has always been one of my favorite artists, so being able to visit his home and his garden was such a treat. His impressionistic works fascinate me. His use of colors and shadows and paint textures and light are brilliant. Monet once declared: "I am good for only two things in life: painting and gardening. I was first a gardener, before I became a painter."
I was searching for a hobby, since I can’t play golf anymore. Way too expensive here in France! I was inspired by Monet. But, I had to make a decision. Do I become a famous painter or a gardener? A famous painter or a gardener? A famous painter or a gardener? I went back and forth and then finally decided to become a gardener, since I do not have one artist bone in my body.
I am so enjoying the flowers in my garden. But, it takes a lot of work. Monet said: "My garden work is slow and pursued with love." As I work in my garden, I am finding Monet’s assessment to be, OH… so very true! Here are some things I am learning, now that I am a GARDENER!
GARDENING…
needs patience, because it can take a long time before you actually see the fruit of your labors!
needs good soil in order to produce a strong and healthy plant!
needs regular weeding, so that the weeds don’t choke off your plants!
needs regular feeding and plenty of water!
needs bees for pollination to encourage along the growth process!
needs insect sprays to keep those pesky little bugs away!
needs pruning!
needs the sun!
is hard work!
As I look at the things I am learning about gardening in order to produce a strong and healthy plant, I see many corresponding similarities that are necessary if I want to produce a strong and healthy disciple for Christ.
DISCIPLING…
Many times when we are discipling a person, we don’t always see the fruit of our labors for many years. So, we who are working with young people, especially, we need to be patient (Philippians 1:6).
To produce a strong and healthy disciple, the "soil of their heart" needs to be good soil for the planting of the seed of the Word of God (Mark 4:8).
Every now and then, we need to challenge our disciples to remove some things (some weeds) from their lives that are choking the Spirit of God’s desire to change them (Mark 4:7).
In order to have a strong and healthy disciple, they need to have a regular in-take of good teaching from God’s Word to satisfy their spiritual hunger (Psalm 1:1-3).
We cannot make it alone in the Christian life. We need others in the faith, the Body of Christ, who will encourage us to continue to grow (I Corinthians 12 & Hebrews 10:24-25).
A disciple of Christ needs to spend time with people who are going to have a positive influence on their walk with Christ. So… helping them to make wise choices regarding their friendships is critical (I Corinthians 15:33).
Sometimes, some things need to be pruned away from the disciple (John 15:1-2). This may hurt at the moment, but in the end it will prove to be the best thing (Romans 8:28).
The disciple of Christ needs the Son, for apart from Him they can do nothing (John 15:5).
Discipleship is hard work (Galatians 4:19 & 6:9).
Discipleship takes a lifetime of commitment. My responsibility, now that I am a gardener, is not to just plant my flowers and then walk away and hope that they will grow strong and healthy on their own. Our responsibility as Christians is not to just get people saved.
Our responsibility is to "make disciples"!
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…"
(Matthew 28:19a)
By:
Pastor Frank Mills Youth Ministry Int.
The Heart of Worship
It has been a while, but I have finally been inspired to write another essay on Christianity. This time it is not so much as a critique as it is a series of observations (and to some extent a series of confessions). This was partially inspired by the sermon at church yesterday on John 4, focused on worshiping "in spirit and in truth". That said, one of the most profound and convicting statements from the sermon was something along the lines of "worship is not about us". This is certainly true.
From Wiktionary.org;
worship (uncountable) The devotion accorded to a deity or to a sacred object The religious ceremonies that express this devotion (by extension) The ardent love of a person Nowhere in the definition of worship can one find a focus on the worshiper. It is devotion to and the "ardent love" of God. So many times I have found myself thinking "I got nothing out of worship today at church" when in reality whether I "get" anything out of worship is immaterial. The purpose of my worship should not be for me to get anything but rather to honor the God of the universe. As I am increasingly realizing, God owes me nothing. Period. End of story.
However, despite the fact that God owes me nothing, He has given me everything. Despite my incessant sin I have been blessed with the promise of eternal life through faith in Christ. Christ took my sins (of which there are many) along with the sins of the world upon Himself and suffered my punishment. In other words, God gave up His Son in exchange for me. His Son sacrificed His life so that I would not suffer eternal damnation for my sins, which I so rightfully deserve.
Isaiah 53:5 (KJV): "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
How can I go to "worship" this ever merciful and gracious God with the expectation that I receive anything in return? It is as if I expect some sort of reward over and above eternal life simply because I bothered to go to Church that Sunday.
What makes matters worse is that, at least for me, my audacity does not end there. I cannot count the times when in my prayers I have tried to broker a deal with God. I find myself saying things like "God, if I give my tithe/go to church/read my bible/etc please give me/let me/etc this that or the other thing". Never mind of course that I should be doing these things anyway simply out of obedience. How can I be so focused on myself when I go to God? He has already given me far more than I deserve, and is withholding the one thing I do deserve, eternal damnation for my sins.
There are so many more thoughts in my mind that follow in this vein, but I guess I can simply sum it all up with this statement:
"God owes me nothing, but I owe Him my everything."
By Ian Beuckelaere
CONTENTS
A Famous Painter or a Gardener? By Pastor Frank Mills
The Heart of Worship By Ian Beuckelaere
Past Contributors to Area Broadcast: Chaplain Dave Purdle, Founder, Ministry 9-1-1, Shelby Twp., MI Pastor Frank Mills, Youth Ministry International/Ligue Biblique Francaise PSO Walt Wawra, FCPO Member Ian Beuckelaere is the Son of FCPO Member Sgt. George Beuckelaere
Please send us your comments to the above Area Broadcast articles, so we can know how they ministered to you. Comments expressed are not necessarily held by the Peace Keepers, or the FCPO. Thank You in Advance and may God Bless you as you grow in your faith.
Fellowship Of Christian Peace Officers - FCPO - (2006)
