Choosing Truth


John 8:30-32

Society is full of vain philosophies that promise much but offer nothing. Capturing truth in a deceptive world run by Satan, the father of lies, is as unlikely as catching wind in a paper sack. The only place truth exists is in God and His inspired Word. "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me," Jesus says in John 14:6. When we become Christ's disciples, Satan's deceptive power is broken. Believers can be free from wrong thinking and evil lies.

Unfortunately, some people will never apply biblical truth to their lives. By choice, they will remain captive to the world's lies. Many believers fear changing their ways to follow God, while others refuse to seek and serve Him because living a true Christian life seems too difficult. Or, rather than allowing fear and laziness to defeat them, plenty of people arrogantly prefer relying on their own abilities. We might see small successes while living as we see fit, but satisfaction and joy will remain elusive. Conversely, recognizing God's truth about life situations - finances, relationships, rejection, or loss - guides us to make wise decisions that can be carried out with strength, courage, and the comfortable knowledge that the Lord is at work.

We cannot begin to build a truth-based life until we accept God's way as the only way. He honors our desire to make wise and biblically sound decisions. When we commit to applying truth, God accepts responsibility for revealing His principles through Scripture so that we can live righteously and triumphantly.

--------- courtesy from Crosswalk.com
Entrusted with a holy calling are we,
The light of the world to be,
To lift up the lamp of the Savior,
That others His light may see.

WHO was the woman with the alabaster jar?

Frank said I should include more photos... Here's a snapshot of him, one year anf four months ago.

WHO?
Turn with me to Luke, the chapter before 8.
Let's close our Bibles for a while and open your heart.

IMAGINE... you are a character in the story. One of the bystanders in the courtyard of Simon's house. Say, you are a cook, a servant, or one of Simon's friends who was invited. You are seeing a lesson of Jesus unfolding in front of you right now.

Here, it is customary to offer your guests a 'foot washing', simply because the roads are really sandy and it doesn't feel good to eat and stay with dirty feet. For Rabbis such as Jesus (who was VERY well known), they would be given olive oil as well - known for its cleansing properties, olive oil was also used to clean the face of grime. But when Jesus arrived, he was ignored. He was given the INVISIBLE TREATMENT.

WHY???
The Bible didn't say. Maybe Simon wanted to embarrass him. Maybe Simon was embarrassed to acknowledge him as a Rabbi in front of his guests. Or ...did he just forget that Jesus was on the guestlist?

If you were Jesus, how would you react to this treatment?

Everyone pretended not to notice. But... a woman SAW.

Not just any woman. She was a woman of 'ill repute', a immoral woman, a sinful woman, a prostitute. No one associated with her, no one wanted to acknowledge her presence or even that they knew her. Those men who knew her had to come to her quietly, at nightfall. Out of all the people present today, only she could feel how Jesus felt.

She had been feeling this way her whole life. But...she couldn't understand why they were doing it to a Rabbi, a teacher, someone highly regarded, somewhat like a university professor today. 'Why are they doing this to Him', she wondered in her heart.

You are there today. You know what she did for Jesus. The alabaster jar contains perfume. For most women, it was used as dowry, something you pour on yourself as a gift to your husband on your wedded night. For immoral women with her job, often involving carousing with dirty, smelly, men, the perfume was used to cleanse herself when she had finished. But today, there was a man that did not treat her the way all the other men did. He dared to look at her. He dared to associate with her. He did not chase her away. So she wept. Tears of freedom, of knowing she has been accepted by God. She just pours out, unable to speak, just sobbing at Jesus' feet.

If you are present today, as a bystander, a guest, a cook, a servant...You will realise one thing. Jesus has not spoken. All through the 'invisible treatment' he has kept silent. When the woman was at his feet, he kept silent.

Now it was his turn to speak.

He spoke addressing Simon, but not looking at him. "Look at this woman." Does Simon not see her? Of course everyone can see her, is looking at her and passing judgment on her. Jesus tells him a simple story of a man who was forgiven more. Who would be more grateful? This is a question that doesn't need Simon to answer, really. It's quite foolproof. The point Jesus is trying to draw here is a parallel between Simon and the woman. The woman is obviously, sinful. More so than Simon. Who has the larger debt? The parallel draws a contrast between the woman's sin - she is painfully aware of it - and Simon's sin - he is painfully unaware of his.

Yet Simon has sins too, the sins of the heart. How about a hardening of the heart. A natural criticism of 'immoral women'. A disrespect for Jesus. Even an attitude problem.

Jesus saw the woman with the alabaster jar as she is - someone who needed acceptance. In His eyes, she saw understanding without being judgmental.

==

Consider:

In many ways, we are like the woman with the alabaster jar. We are also like Simon.
a) What has the woman with the alabaster jar taught you about today?
b)In your VALUE system, what is one thing you gotta change?
c) Share an area of our life that we struggle with (Eg being judgmental, unable to show acceptance, etc.) WHAT IS YOUR ACTION PLAN?

Pray.

And remember the story of the woman with the alabaster jar. =)


Copyright mine.

Related with thanks from John Ortberg's book, courtesy of Penelope's library.

The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe

CS Lewis letter tells tales of Narnia

When a little girl wrote to CS Lewis asking him for an explanation of the Chronicles of Narnia, she never expected to get a reply.

But the letter Anne Jenkins from Hertfordshire received when she was just 10-years-old is to be displayed in Queen's University's new CS Lewis Reading Room.

Anne wrote to the Belfast born author in 1961 after being intrigued by a particular passage in The Silver Chair.

Recalling that time, Anne said she was fascinated by the books and the mystical world of Narnia.
"I just used to scrutinise them quite carefully and it was a little bit at the end of The Silver Chair, that I just didn't understand what he was saying," she said.

"It was where the dead king Caspian is brought back to life by Aslan the lion's blood and Eustace says 'hasn't he died' and the lion says 'yes he has died, most people have you know, even I have, there are very few people who haven't'.

"For some reason this stuck in my brain, so I asked my parents what does he mean by saying that most people have died?

"They didn't know, so they said that I should write and ask him."

Christian theme

There is a widely held view that CS Lewis' Narnian chronicles carry a predominantly Christian theme.

And as far as Anne is aware, her letter is the only known document from the author which supports the argument that Aslan represented Jesus Christ.

Anne said she has often thought about what exactly was in the author's mind at the time he wrote to her.

"I think it must have been the mood he was in at the time, his wife had died a couple of years before, maybe he was just thinking about it a lot at the time," she said.

"I see it as a coincidence, but maybe not."

In the letter Lewis simply states that the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe tells the story of the "Crucifixion of Christ and the resurrection".

He also explains that the story of Prince Caspian "tells the restoration of the true religion after the corruption".

"If you read the letter he wrote to other children, none of them are like this at all," Anne said.

Anne believes the letter is just too important a piece of historical literature not to be shared with the world.

"The letter could easily have got lost it is just lucky I have kept it safe all of these years, she said.

"The letter is so valuable and really needs to go into the public domain now rather than where I've kept it in a wardrobe, which is quite appropriate."

The letter will be displayed in Queen's University's new £44m library, which is due to open in 2009.

Until then it will be kept in the university library's special collection.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/5078462.stm

Light cell's first oikos themed bbq this sunday. Bring someone or sometwo.
Cheers.



copyright brudder geedeon. july 2007

“I am free to obey God”

Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you

What is submission? What does submission mean? Often we tend to link this word “submission” to exploitation and abuse. Many people picture it as a doormat for someone else to step on. But does some of us feel that shouldn’t submission mean something better? Something better than what we perceive it to be? After all, God does call us to submit.

In actual fact, true submission in the kingdom of God is a very powerful and liberating thing.

Submission is God’s idea, therefore true submission should not be oppressive. It should not be to limit or restrict us, but instead, it should be to protect us. Submission as God intended it to be, is to release us into a new level of obedience and faith in God.

In order to become mature in our relationship with God and others, often time we are required to understand the principles of authority and submission and how they operate in the kingdom of God. For since God set up this authority structure, he usually works within this authority structure and does not bypass it often. This also means that he speaks to us, disciplines us and moulds our character through our parents, pastors and spiritual leaders.

what kind of situations do you find it difficult to submit to others? How did you feel when you were expected to submit in that situation?

Luke 2:51-52 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Even though Jesus was the Son of God, how did he behave towards His earthly parents?

Even though his mother knew that Jesus would be the Messiah, she didn't understand his purpose here on earth. Still, despite her not being able to sympathise, Jesus's act of obedience spoke of his love for her more than anything... in relative comparison, how is our relationship with Our parents? does understanding matters? or love come first and thereafter strike understanding? Do our love for them show?

Hebrews 5:7-8 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered
Even though Jesus was the Son of God, what did he learn as a human being?

In our life situations, does the pride in us stand in the way of submittting to the situations?

1Peter 2:21b-24 …Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
Philippians 2:5-11 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
What example did Jesus set for us to follow?

Throughout the bible, Jesus models for us true submission. And if Jesus the powerful Son of God was submissive in his life it means that submission is not a sign of weakness. Contrary to what the world thinks, submission is not for wimps, or losers, cowards. Anyone can rebel, but it takes a mature person to submit. Submission does not make you smaller, but bigger. It shows maturity of character. Through your attitude and act of submission, at the same time, you are honoring and pleasing God actually.

Submission is Not:
1)to be a doormat
2)to blindly follow orders
3)to be forced to do something you do not want to do
4)to undermine or diminish your personhood, self-esteem and well-being.

Submission IS:
1)to acknowledge the God-given authority of someone, that God has place him or her in authority over you.
2)to have humility
3)to voluntarily co-operate with authority, even when you disagree
4)to realize that God knows best, that you are not the person to judge those who are in authority over you.
5)An act of faith that expresses trust in God
6)A sign of spiritual maturity. It honors and brings pleasure to God.

When we submit to God and the authorities He has placed over us, we are honoring God. We do not have to gear that we would be trampled upon. And we can definitely be assured that God has our best interest at heart.

In our moments of quiet time with the Lord, commit into prayer that we may learn the true submission. As lessons and testing come our way, in our spiritual walk, pray that the guiding hand of God would be evidently mentoring us, leading us to breakthrough in this area of submission.


Entrusted with a holy calling are we,
The light of the world to be,
To lift up the lamp of the Savior,
That others His light may see.

 

'Come Away': The Practice of Seclusion

“And He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.’” -- Mark 6:31 (NASB)

One day years ago while I was listening to a book on tape in my car, the cassette’s thin tape caught on a tiny wheel inside the machine and began playing the same few sentences over and over again as it looped around. Try as I might, I couldn’t eject the tape from the player. Neither could I turn the player off, no matter how many times I pushed the “on/off” button. I was trapped inside a car filled with incessant chatter, and I had at least one more hour of driving to go before I reached my destination.

My pulse increased and my concentration decreased as I began to panic, trying in vain to override the tape by switching the player over to the “radio” setting. Finally, in desperation, I turned the volume down to its lowest level. Yet I couldn’t escape the tape’s muffled droning in the background while I drove. A wave of relief washed over me when, at last, I reached a parking lot and was able to shut off the tape by turning off the car.

Do the tapes that play in your life cause you stress sometimes? Maybe it’s the buzz of technology that clamors for your attention every waking moment – your cell phone, e-mail, fax machine, and pager. Perhaps it’s the static of people who place constant demands on you – young children, difficult co-workers, ailing parents, or a friend in a crisis. Do you wish you could turn off your schedule, only to find that it keeps you looping around in a frenzy of activity?

If so, God invites you to come away with Him to secluded place. There, in the embrace of solitude and silence, you can turn off the world’s voices and tune into the voice of the One who made you. You’ll never hear all He’s whispering in your ears until you meet Him in seclusion.

No one who has ever walked the Earth had more important work to do than Jesus. He was confronted with crowds, demands, noise, and interruptions nearly everywhere He went, and He could easily have been constantly busy. Yet He made seclusion a priority: “In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there,” (Mark 1:35, NASB). After He had spent time away in quiet, Jesus returned to His work renewed.

God will recharge your batteries, too, if you make seclusion a daily habit. Here’s how you can do so:

· Give yourself permission to enjoy a daily time of seclusion. Realize that seclusion is a vital habit to have in order to gain the perspective, clarity, and peace God wants for you. Recognize that God designed life’s natural rhythms to include times of aloneness as well as relationships, and times of silence as well as sound. Don’t feel guilty about making time for seclusion. Don’t worry that a habit of seclusion will impair your relationships or make it harder for you to get things done. Trust that, in your time of seclusion, God will strengthen you to deal more effectively with every person and situation in your life.

· Choose a specific time and place for seclusion. Realize that if you don’t schedule a daily appointment for seclusion, the shouts of urgent tasks will overpower the whispers of important ones. Choose a time of day that works best for you, such after you first wake up in the morning, during your midday lunch break, or in the evening before going to bed. Plan to spend a set amount of time – even if only a few minutes – in solitude and silence. Go to a regular place for your solitude: a corner of your bedroom with a cozy chair, your backyard, a break room, or even your car. Whenever you can manage a longer time of seclusion (such as on a weekend or during a vacation), schedule it and go to a special place (such as a park or retreat center) for it.

· Break away from distractions. Don’t compromise your seclusion by carrying your cell phone with you, answering the doorbell if it rings, or sneaking a peek at your “to-do” list or a newspaper. Make a conscious effort to break away from all distractions. Ask God to help you break free of your daily pressures and quiet your spirit.

· Bring vital supplies. Take a copy of the Bible, a notebook, and a pen with you. Have a particular Scripture passage in mind to read and meditate on during your time of seclusion. As you pray about it and other topics, ask God to speak to you, and write down the insights you receive.

· Be honest. If people ask where you’re going when you break away for seclusion, don’t be ashamed to tell them the truth. Simply say you need some time to think and pray about things. They will likely respect your decision.

· Be patient. Expect it to take at least a few moments for echoes of the world’s pressures and noise to stop reverberating in your mind. Relax and sit still. Listen to the silence around you. Anticipate hearing God’s voice speaking to you when the time is right.

· Do it when you need it. Whenever you’re facing a particularly stressful situation and feel the need for some time in seclusion, make time for it however you can. Just excuse yourself and pull away so you can return in greater strength later. Make use of the downtime stuffed into the pockets of your day by turning it into extra seclusion time. For example, while you’re sitting in a line of minivans waiting to pick your kids up from school, turn off the radio and sit alone in silence to clear your mind, then pray.

· Reengage with enthusiasm. After withdrawing for your times of seclusion, be enthusiastic as you reengage with people and activities. Celebrate your newfound peace, strength, and clarity. Thank God for the gifts He has given you during the times you’ve accepted His invitation to “come away” with Him.

Whitney Hopler
Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer

Entrusted with a holy calling are we,
The light of the world to be,
To lift up the lamp of the Savior,
That others His light may see.