CHRIST'S DEATH GIVES LIFE

Something To Think About Jesus' Death:

A week ago we remembered the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.  All around the world people remember the death of people, especially people we love.  There are cemeteries all over the world.  It is common for churches in Europe and North America to be surrounded by graves.  The Pyramids one of the wonders of the world and the Taj Mahal are among the many edifices and monuments erected “In memory of.”  I’m not a particularly sentimental guy, but I have several objects that I keep because they remind me of someone who was important to me in life. Remembering the death of the Lord is different, though.  Surely His life was inspirational and exemplary, but the Bible says that something remarkable was accomplished by His death. Romans 5:8 & 1 Thessalonians 5:10 says “Christ died for us.” Hebrews 2:14-15says that the death of Christ “render[ed] powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, [and made] . . . free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”  In heaven the Lord is worshipped because He “purchased for God with [His] blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). It is a bigger topic than this daily-thought format can handle, but the fact is that Jesus death accomplished something, it changed and changes lives, and will lead to the renewal of all creation.  Read more about it here and here. The short version is Christ’s death brings life. It’s STTA. Find information about how Christ's death can change your life here.

Serving the Lord Where I Am

Something To Think About Where I Serve the Lord:

Andrew Napolitano is retired judge, who does commentary on Fox News.  He does a series of short features where he explains some little known point of law that has, or might have, impact on the general listener.  The spots are filmed outdoors in front of a public building or on street corner.  At the end of his commentary the Judge holds out his arms and says, “Welcome to my chambers.” Napolitano models a characteristic that ought to be true about the church.  We think about going to church.  Usually when we plan a church event we think of something that goes on inside the walls of a church building, or at least on the property set aside for a local assembly.  The church, though, is not the building to which the people go to worship, important as that is.  The church is the people who go to that meeting place, and those people do not cease to be the church when they leave that assembly. I don’t think the Judge will sue us.  Let’s hijack and modify his line.  Wherever you are think of the place where you are as the place where you serve the Lord.   Welcome to my place of ministry. It’s STTA.

ATTITUDE

Something To Think About ATTITUDE:

Attitude.  Way of thinking.  Approach to life. If my life is an arrow, my attitude is the aim of the shot.   In the little book of Philippians the Apostle Paul speaks repeatedly about this matter.  There is a Greek word phroneo that is used ten times in the four chapters of this letter.  That is more than a third of its occurrences in the entire New Testament.  In Matthew 16 Jesus confronted Peter for having the wrong phroneo.  In Romans 8:5 and Colossians 3:2 the word is used almost like the concept of programing a computer, or, on a more basic level, setting a clock.  If you want to know what time it is next week, you need to set your clock correctly today.  Likewise, our phroneo will determine the way we think and thus the way we act. In the book of Philippians Paul, who was under house arrest at the time, challenges his readers to have the right attitude. He does so by example in 1:7 as he responds with gratitude to the kindness the Philippian believers had shown to him.  Indeed, in 4:10, he points out that the help the Greek church had provided him came from the right attitude they had You won’t find the word there, but Paul’s attitude toward his imprisonment and his opponents, shows a marvelousphroneo.  He was willing to put the progress of the Gospel ahead of his own comfort and welfare. He desires that God’s people be united in having the right attitude. He holds before us the supreme example—the attitude of Christ, that led to His incarnation and the salvation of all who trust Him. I know it sounds trite, but we need to check our attitude.  The Book of Philippians provides a good measuring stick for doing so. It’s STTA.

The Gospel Changes Us and Our World

Something To Think About The Change the Gospel Brings:

What a powerful story is in and behind the little book of Philemon. Only three decades had passed since Jesus death and resurrection.  Philemon was one of the rapidly expanding body of believers in Christ.  He lived in Colosse, well over a thousand miles from Jerusalem, yet the Good News about Jesus Christ had already spread throughout his region, and beyond.  Perhaps Philemon came to know the Lord through contact with the Apostle Paul in nearby Ephesus.  His dedication was such that his home was a meeting place for the church in Colosse.  He was a man of good reputation.  I would like for an observer with Paul’s credentials to say about me, “I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother” (1:7).  That was Paul’s assessment of his friend Philemon. It is clear that the message of Christ, had changed Philemon.  What may not be as clear is that the Gospel was bringing changes to this man’s life that would change his community, and indeed the Good News was having impact that would long outlive Philemon. I encourage you to read the little letter from Paul to Philemon.  It won’t take long; it is less than 500 words.  Yet in this touching note from one Christian to another, we can see a marked change in world view.  There is a story, behind The Letter of Paul to Philemon, that is implied.  Onesimus was a slave in Philemon’s household.  Slavery was an accepted part of Roman society.  Onesimus ran away, perhaps stealing from his master as he escaped.  The run-away came into contact with the Apostle Paul, who pointed him to Jesus.  Legally, Paul was obligated to send Onesimus back to his master, where the consequences could be harsh.  Some take Paul to task.  “Why didn’t he start a refuge for run-away slaves instead of sending Onesimus back?”  Read the letter, Paul did not mount a frontal assault on slavery, yet “the fuller implication of Paul’s teaching here is that the Christian faith is incompatible with the ownership of slaves.  While not attacking the institution of slavery as such, therefore, the letter does bring us into an atmosphere in which the institution of slavery could only wilt and die.”*  Sadly it took way too long, but in those places where the Gospel has had free reign, slavery has become abhorrent. The Gospel--the good news that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again, for us, and thus made forgiveness and new life possible--not only changes people, it changes the world. What is the Lord doing through me to change my world? It’s STTA. * Carson, D. A.; Carson, D. A.; Moo, Douglas  J.; Moo, Douglas  J. (2009-05-26). An Introduction to the New Testament (Kindle Locations 14476-14480). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

An Old Guy's Birthday and a Holiday to Honor Youth

Something To Think About An Old Guy's Birthday and a Holiday for Youth:

I never thought it would happen.  My birthday is a national holiday.  It’s not a holiday in the country where I am a citizen, but it is in the Republic of Palau where Kathy and I are living for four months. My birthday, a national holiday, and I’m not even dead, yet! OK.  Reality check. Yes, March 15 is a holiday in Palau, but it isn’t because this is the day I came into this world.  The fact is it is “Youth Day.”  Youth is a demographic of which I am not a part.  I am ruled out by having celebrated an excessive number of birthdays.  I am glad, however, to be making a small contribution to the development of youth, here, in Palau.  One of the goals of Pacific Islands University, the college Kathy and I are involved with, is to help students, most of whom are young, develop a Biblical Worldview.  This is a nation still in its infancy.  The Republic of Palau was born in 1994.  Though it is a tiny nation it must deal with mammoth issues.  Some of the most powerful nations in the world are interested in Palau—USA, China, Japan, Australia, to name a few.  The increase of tourism is taxing the infrastructure.  Far more damaging, though, is the cultural strain that interface with other dominant cultures is bringing to these islands.  The internet here is slow—often frustratingly slow; it is fast enough, though, to bring in everything that is polluting the rest of the world.  Add to that the music, television, and other media, and one can quickly get to a place where you need to hang up signs, “Don’t SWIM IN THESE WATERS!”  It’s not unlike what Paul experienced in Athens.   While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city.  (Acts 17:16, NLT) Sign or no sign, this world is where we live; we can’t avoid contact with all that is around us.  What we need to do is to get ourselves some glasses that enable us to view the world according to the truth of God’s word.  Wherever we are in the world, we are in the world.  Our goal needs to be not of it. (here)    The fact is Jesus not only left His followers in the world, He sent us into the world with a world changing message (See here) So, here is my birthday (Did I mention that it is a national holiday?) wish.    LIVE FOR JESUS! It’s STTA.

Don't Choose a President Based on the Paint

Something To Think About Presidents and Paint:

Political commentary from a former president: I’m living in one of the smallest nations in the world.  The government in Palau bears many similarities to the government of the USA, only it is incredibly smaller.  The population of the country is about the same as the rural county where I live in the USA    A pastor friend and I went out to eat the other day.  At the conclusion of our lunch I found out that the restaurant is owned by the former president of Palau.  Hearing me talk he concluded that I’m an American, so he stopped by the table to chat for a few minutes. President Nakamura is a gentleman, so he didn’t bring up the political campaign ongoing in my country.  When I asked him, however, if he had been watching the campaign in America, he couldn’t resist asking,   “How did the greatest nation on earth, and two of the greatest political parties end up like this?”  Indeed! Certainly the United States is not alone in experiencing political difficulties, but one difference—a big difference—is that the United States is a government of the people.  In many nations rulers seize power, and stay in control by military and financial might.  In the United States we step up and take our choice.  In recent decades—some think the Kennedy-Nixon debates marked the change—our choices have had more to do with the package than with what is under the wrapper.  It is a bi-partisan, or maybe pan-partisan syndrome.  My pickup truck is red.  The better part of twenty years ago, when I bought it, I was looking for a very basic vehicle.  Most trucks like what I was looking for are sold to fleet buyers.  They are painted white to provide a good background for the company logos that go on them.  I didn’t want a white truck.  Let me confess my shallowness.  One reason I bought the truck is because it is red. The privilege and responsibility that we Americans have when it comes to voting for those who will lead us is a great stewardship.  Let’s make sure that we get deeper than the paint.  If I’m able to visit with the President again, I’d like to have a conversation based on more encouraging news. It’s STTA.