Welcome to this week's posting of the Weekend Sermon. I am glad to be back posting on a regular schedule. There have been a lot of bad storms in my area over the past several days, but I am thankful to the Lord that I have been safe through them all.
I have a lot of decisions to make about work in the next few days. I would ask that you would please pray for me that I would know what it is that the Lord wants me to do. I would like to get back into writing more, but I am not entirely sure that it is going to be possible right now.
Please remember to pray this week for all of the people in the Midwest and South who experienced bad storms and flooding. Pray that they will quickly recover.
Continue to be in prayer for peace in this troubled world. Pray for peace in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Libya and Somalia.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us be in prayer for the nations of Lebanon and Albania. Pray that many in these two countries will hear the message of Jesus' love and mercy.
Over the course of the last several weeks, we have been studying the parables of Jesus and what they have to say to us. This week, we are going to study two parables that use different images but have the same basic message.
In the first parable, Jesus used the image of a mustard seed to get His message through. He said that the Kingdom of Heaven was like a mustard seed. Even though it is a very small seed, the plant grows to be quite large. The birds of the air can come and dwell in its branches.
In the second parable, Jesus uses the image of leaven. Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a woman who is baking bread. She mixes a small amount of leaven into the wheat, but it is enough to leaven they entire batch.
What lessons can when learn from Jesus' message in these two parables? First of all, Jesus is stating how the Kingdom of Heaven operates and expands. These parables are prophetic in a way.
When Jesus began His earthly ministry, He started out with just a few followers.
In the Upper Room on the day of Pentecost, there where about 120 people gathered together. This certainly isn't a large group. However, this was the group that had remained faithful to Jesus. These were the people that had the message of the Kingdom placed in their hearts, and they believed in the message of Jesus.
From this group of 120 followers, the message of Jesus spread all across the world. Just think of how amazing that is. This small group of people revolutionized the world.
At the time in which we live, the message of Jesus has gone around the world. People from all over the planet for the last 2.000 years have turned in repentance and faith to Jesus. They have trusted in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Right now in 2017, about 30 percent of the people on earth claim to be some type of Christian. That is a significant number of people. Thanks be to God, the church is growing rapidly in some parts of the world.
There is still so much work to be done. The Great Commission still needs to be obeyed. As followers of Jesus Christ it is our mission and our responsibility to go into the world and share the message of the love of Jesus.
You might not think that you can do much to make a difference for the Lord in the world. However, even though you may think that your contribution is small, God can use you to accomplish something great for Him.
I know that when I started writing I wanted to use my writing to reach people with the message of Jesus. I started writing some devotional articles for a magazine. I didn't think that they would reach that many people. However, the Lord Jesus used these devotional articles to reach people from many nations. All the praise and glory belongs to the Lord.
I think that these two parables also speak to us about doing good in the world. There are many needs in these world and there are a lot of hurting people out there. Sometimes the problems are overwhelming. But if each one of us does something to make this world a better place, these good deeds will grow and grow and make a tremendous difference in the world.
I know that when the founder of Habitat For Humanity began his organization he never expected it to be what it is today. From a small beginning, that organization has grown to encompass projects throughout the United States and around the world.
The Lord may be calling you to start ministering to hurting people. You might not think that you can make a difference. With the Lord's help, you can do great things for Him.
There is one other thing that I want to point out about this parable. These parables speak to me about starting small and growing. I don't even mean this in a spiritual or a religious sense. You will never accomplish anything in life unless you just start.
There was a minister on television who used to say, "Beginning is half done." We have to launch out on our dreams and our goals if we expect to accomplish anything at all. At first, our dream or goal may seem small. But with hard work, our dreams can grow and grow and fill our lives and enrich the lives of others.
That's kind of where I am right now. I know what is in my heart to do. The mustard seed of a dream is taking root. It is up to me with Jesus' help to move ahead and work to make the dream a reality. I want to see the mustard seed of my dream grow into the plant Jesus spoke about in His parable.
Next week, I will post the verses on Monday. On Wednesday, I will post my book in its entirety. This will be in place of a review next week. On the following two Wednesdays, I will post reviews of two good dog books that I am currently reading. Next Friday, we will continue with our parables of Jesus series on the Weekend Sermon. May God bless you all. Amen.
Friday, May 12, 2017
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Book Review -- "Nine Horses"
Today I am reviewing a poetry collection written by Billy Collins entitled "Nine Horses". Billy Collins is one of the more well-known poets writing today. Mr. Collins was the Poet Laureate of the United States, and he has written approximately ten other books of poems.
Many people who don't read poetry on a regular basis find much of contemporary poetry to be difficult to read and understand. This is not the case with Billy Collins' poetry. Like Mary Oliver, who is one of my favorite poets, Collins expresses himself in images that readers are able to grasp. His subject matter is often the simple and everyday things that we encounter in life.
If you are not a regular reader of poetry, or if you read poetry everyday, I believe that you will enjoy the poems in "Nine Horses".
I have worked as a poet for several years, and I've been privileged to be published in a number of literary journals. So few people that I meet have any desire to read poetry. I think that in a number of cases that they just haven't given poetry a try. Billy Collins, Mary Oliver, Ted Kooser and Dana Goia are good, modern poets to begin reading. Robert Frost is a great poet of the twentieth century whose work is very accessible.
Some of the other poets who I enjoy are Juan Ramon Jimenez, Frederico Garcia Lorca, Robert Herrick, William Wordsworth, Robinson Jeffers, William Carlos Williams and Mark Doty. There are so many more to mention. I recommend just going to the library and choosing a few poetry books and reading them. You never know what you might discover.
Monday, May 8, 2017
Verses For the Week
Psalm 112:5 -- "Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice."
Luke 6:30 -- "Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back."
Luke 6:30 -- "Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back."
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Weekend Sermon -- "Two Verses to Live By"
Welcome to this edition of the Weekend Sermon. I am very glad to be with you this week. I apologize for the sermon being delayed this week. There has been so much going on with the weather and health issues.
Thankfully, my house was not damaged during the recent heavy rains in my area. A little water did get in the garage, but it was nothing like what I was afraid of. I thank the Lord for this, and I thank you all for your prayers in this matter.
Also, this week, I developed another bad lung infection. I've had to go into the doctor and get a breathing treatment, and I am back on prednisone and antibiotics. Please pray that I can get well soon.
In prayer this week, please continue to pray for those in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Illinois who are facing flooding. Pray that the waters will recede quickly.
Let us also be in prayer for France. The French presidential elections are this Sunday. Pray that those in France will have wisdom as they vote for a new leader.
Please continue to pray for peace in this very troubled world. Syria, Iraq, Yemen and South Sudan still need prayer.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let's pray for those in the nations of Myanmar and Kosovo. Pray that people in these two nations will hear the message of Jesus' mercy and love.
Over the course of the this year, most of our Weekend Sermon's have dealt with one of the parables of Jesus. Today, I want to deviate from that series and speak about something that has become very important to me over the course of the last few months. In fact, I've written about this here on the blog not too long ago. However, with the state that the world is in, I believe it is something that has to be reiterated over and over again.
There are two verses in the Bible that I believe are more important that ever in our world. In Matthew 7:12, the Lord Jesus spoke the words that we now refer to as the Golden Rule. Jesus said, "Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them." In Ephesians 4:32, the Apostle Paul stated these great words, "Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
It is my belief that if we were to take these two verses seriously, the world would be revolutionized. Let's think about this for just a moment.
It seems to me that the world in which we live is become much more course and rude. There seems to be little kindness within the interactions people have with one another on a daily basis. I happen to work at a job which over the last two plus years has brought me into contact with some high levels of nastiness. Over the course of the last two plus years, I've been called horrible names, heard others called horrible names and heard some general awful things about how people react to one another and treat one another. I find this all very upsetting.
There is a great deal of selfishness in the world with people only thinking about themselves and not seeming to care how other people feel.
This attitude has become very clear in politics in my country. Politicians pass pieces of legislation that will only end up hurting the poor and the vulnerable, and the politicians don't seem to care as long as they and the rich and the powerful get more for themselves.
A good example of caring only for oneself and not for others was related on a news story I heard on the radio this morning. Apparently, a major company in the United States had made a good profit, so they decided to give their employees a raise. This actually, made some of the major shareholders angry because they said it was not maximizing profit, and it would make the value of their shares lower.
I believe that Christians need to lead the way in helping to make the world a better place by following the two verses I've shared with you today. If Christians would begin to live out these two verses, I believe that it would have a very positive effect on the world at large.
As believers, let us follow the words of our Lord. For each action, let us think how we would like others to treat us or not treat us. Then, let us act upon it.
For instance, I don't believe that anyone wants to be spoken to in an abrasive and hurtful manner. So, as you deal with others this week in person or on the phone, attempt to speak words that heal and not words that hurt. Try to put yourself in the other person's shoes.
As you consider political positions, put yourself in somebody else's position. Ask yourself, If I was in this circumstance, would I want to be treated in this manner? If you wouldn't want to be treated in that way, don't treat others that way.
In business, take into consideration the feelings and the needs of others when implementing work rules and compensation. If you were in your employees' shoes, would you want to live with the rules and regulations you make them follow? Would you want to try to live and support a family on what you are paying your workers?
Paul's words are also important words to live by. If we could all be kinder and nicer to each other, the world would be so much better.
May 7 is coming up, and that is always an important day to me. May 7 is my friend Toby's birthday. Whenever I think of Ephesians 4:32, it reminds me of the times that Toby and I had together. We had a kind and peaceful relationship. It was a relationship where the Lord Jesus demonstrated His kindness towards me by allowing me to find just the right friend at just the right time to help me make it through life when I was getting too deep into depression.
When the spirit of kindness is brought into someone's life, it changes everything. It makes the day go smoother, and even when dark times arise, a relationship based on kindness will help you carry on.
Try to find some way to spread kindness and goodness in the world and in your relationships. In word and in deed, let each one of us try to think about helping others and being those who speak words of encouragement and healing.
I think that one of the keys in implementing what these two verses are trying to teach is to get the focus off of us and put the focus on others. The Apostle Paul urges us in Romans 12:3 not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. We don't have to have our own way all of the time. This week, try to analyze your behavior and your thought patterns in light of the Golden Rule and Ephesians 4:32. If we work hard to follow the messages of these verses, I believe that the power of the Holy Spirit will be with us to do great things.
As I close this message, one thing that really strikes me is how good and kind the Lord is to us even though we often reject Him and do what we want to do instead of what He wants us to do. Over and over again, the Lord has been gracious. Jesus demonstrated His great kindness and goodness to us when He came to this earth to show us how to live a holy and good life. He demonstrated His kindness and love by bearing our sins on the cross and rising from the dead to conquer death, hell and the grave. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, and He will come again for us because of His great kindness and love.
In my own life, the kindness and love of the Lord has been demonstrated in so many ways. I've already told you about one with my friend Toby. But, the Lord has been kind in so many other ways. He allowed me to be a writer and poet. He has allowed me to play and create music. These are great kindnesses of the Lord for which I am truly grateful.
Think about the kindness of the Lord in your life. Let it motivate you to be kind to others. Think about doing unto others as you would have done to you in all things.
Next week, I will post the verses on Monday. There will be a review on Wednesday. On the following Wednesday, I am going to post the book I wrote as a single post. My posting of it chapter by chapter was very haphazard for which I am sorry. To remedy this, and to make the book more readily accessible, I will post the entire book as a single post the Wednesday after this Wednesday. Next Friday, I will post the Weekend Sermon. We will continue with our parables of Jesus series, Lord willing. May God bless you all. Amen.
Thankfully, my house was not damaged during the recent heavy rains in my area. A little water did get in the garage, but it was nothing like what I was afraid of. I thank the Lord for this, and I thank you all for your prayers in this matter.
Also, this week, I developed another bad lung infection. I've had to go into the doctor and get a breathing treatment, and I am back on prednisone and antibiotics. Please pray that I can get well soon.
In prayer this week, please continue to pray for those in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Illinois who are facing flooding. Pray that the waters will recede quickly.
Let us also be in prayer for France. The French presidential elections are this Sunday. Pray that those in France will have wisdom as they vote for a new leader.
Please continue to pray for peace in this very troubled world. Syria, Iraq, Yemen and South Sudan still need prayer.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let's pray for those in the nations of Myanmar and Kosovo. Pray that people in these two nations will hear the message of Jesus' mercy and love.
Over the course of the this year, most of our Weekend Sermon's have dealt with one of the parables of Jesus. Today, I want to deviate from that series and speak about something that has become very important to me over the course of the last few months. In fact, I've written about this here on the blog not too long ago. However, with the state that the world is in, I believe it is something that has to be reiterated over and over again.
There are two verses in the Bible that I believe are more important that ever in our world. In Matthew 7:12, the Lord Jesus spoke the words that we now refer to as the Golden Rule. Jesus said, "Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them." In Ephesians 4:32, the Apostle Paul stated these great words, "Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
It is my belief that if we were to take these two verses seriously, the world would be revolutionized. Let's think about this for just a moment.
It seems to me that the world in which we live is become much more course and rude. There seems to be little kindness within the interactions people have with one another on a daily basis. I happen to work at a job which over the last two plus years has brought me into contact with some high levels of nastiness. Over the course of the last two plus years, I've been called horrible names, heard others called horrible names and heard some general awful things about how people react to one another and treat one another. I find this all very upsetting.
There is a great deal of selfishness in the world with people only thinking about themselves and not seeming to care how other people feel.
This attitude has become very clear in politics in my country. Politicians pass pieces of legislation that will only end up hurting the poor and the vulnerable, and the politicians don't seem to care as long as they and the rich and the powerful get more for themselves.
A good example of caring only for oneself and not for others was related on a news story I heard on the radio this morning. Apparently, a major company in the United States had made a good profit, so they decided to give their employees a raise. This actually, made some of the major shareholders angry because they said it was not maximizing profit, and it would make the value of their shares lower.
I believe that Christians need to lead the way in helping to make the world a better place by following the two verses I've shared with you today. If Christians would begin to live out these two verses, I believe that it would have a very positive effect on the world at large.
As believers, let us follow the words of our Lord. For each action, let us think how we would like others to treat us or not treat us. Then, let us act upon it.
For instance, I don't believe that anyone wants to be spoken to in an abrasive and hurtful manner. So, as you deal with others this week in person or on the phone, attempt to speak words that heal and not words that hurt. Try to put yourself in the other person's shoes.
As you consider political positions, put yourself in somebody else's position. Ask yourself, If I was in this circumstance, would I want to be treated in this manner? If you wouldn't want to be treated in that way, don't treat others that way.
In business, take into consideration the feelings and the needs of others when implementing work rules and compensation. If you were in your employees' shoes, would you want to live with the rules and regulations you make them follow? Would you want to try to live and support a family on what you are paying your workers?
Paul's words are also important words to live by. If we could all be kinder and nicer to each other, the world would be so much better.
May 7 is coming up, and that is always an important day to me. May 7 is my friend Toby's birthday. Whenever I think of Ephesians 4:32, it reminds me of the times that Toby and I had together. We had a kind and peaceful relationship. It was a relationship where the Lord Jesus demonstrated His kindness towards me by allowing me to find just the right friend at just the right time to help me make it through life when I was getting too deep into depression.
When the spirit of kindness is brought into someone's life, it changes everything. It makes the day go smoother, and even when dark times arise, a relationship based on kindness will help you carry on.
Try to find some way to spread kindness and goodness in the world and in your relationships. In word and in deed, let each one of us try to think about helping others and being those who speak words of encouragement and healing.
I think that one of the keys in implementing what these two verses are trying to teach is to get the focus off of us and put the focus on others. The Apostle Paul urges us in Romans 12:3 not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. We don't have to have our own way all of the time. This week, try to analyze your behavior and your thought patterns in light of the Golden Rule and Ephesians 4:32. If we work hard to follow the messages of these verses, I believe that the power of the Holy Spirit will be with us to do great things.
As I close this message, one thing that really strikes me is how good and kind the Lord is to us even though we often reject Him and do what we want to do instead of what He wants us to do. Over and over again, the Lord has been gracious. Jesus demonstrated His great kindness and goodness to us when He came to this earth to show us how to live a holy and good life. He demonstrated His kindness and love by bearing our sins on the cross and rising from the dead to conquer death, hell and the grave. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, and He will come again for us because of His great kindness and love.
In my own life, the kindness and love of the Lord has been demonstrated in so many ways. I've already told you about one with my friend Toby. But, the Lord has been kind in so many other ways. He allowed me to be a writer and poet. He has allowed me to play and create music. These are great kindnesses of the Lord for which I am truly grateful.
Think about the kindness of the Lord in your life. Let it motivate you to be kind to others. Think about doing unto others as you would have done to you in all things.
Next week, I will post the verses on Monday. There will be a review on Wednesday. On the following Wednesday, I am going to post the book I wrote as a single post. My posting of it chapter by chapter was very haphazard for which I am sorry. To remedy this, and to make the book more readily accessible, I will post the entire book as a single post the Wednesday after this Wednesday. Next Friday, I will post the Weekend Sermon. We will continue with our parables of Jesus series, Lord willing. May God bless you all. Amen.
Thursday, May 4, 2017
Update
I want to thank the Lord that my house did not get flooded. There is a little bit of water in my garage and under a section of the crawlspace, but it is not that bad. Thank you all for your prayers. Hopefully, things will dry out for awhile.
I would ask that you would continue to pray for those just to the south and east of where I live who are really having a mess with the flooding. In southern and central Missouri, southeast Kansas and Arkansas, the flooding is a lot worse than where I am a couple of counties northwest.
On another note, the Weekend Sermon may be delayed one day this week. I may need to post the sermon on Saturday. If you don't see it tomorrow, look for it on Saturday. I should be able to get back to a regular schedule next week, Lord willing. I have another bad lung infection, so I will just have to see how things go. Thank you again for all your prayers. I pray everyday for those who read the blog. May God's blessings be on you all.
I would ask that you would continue to pray for those just to the south and east of where I live who are really having a mess with the flooding. In southern and central Missouri, southeast Kansas and Arkansas, the flooding is a lot worse than where I am a couple of counties northwest.
On another note, the Weekend Sermon may be delayed one day this week. I may need to post the sermon on Saturday. If you don't see it tomorrow, look for it on Saturday. I should be able to get back to a regular schedule next week, Lord willing. I have another bad lung infection, so I will just have to see how things go. Thank you again for all your prayers. I pray everyday for those who read the blog. May God's blessings be on you all.
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Update
There is a lot of flooding in my area. Some places have received record rainfall. Tomorrow, the forecast is calling for more heavy rain. Please pray that this flooding will stop. My house is OK so far, but I am getting very nervous. Thank you for your prayers.
Monday, May 1, 2017
Verses For the Week
So far, my house has made it through fairly well. We have had a tremendous amounts of rain, and the county that I live in is in a flood warning. Please continue to pray that this bad situation will improve. I would ask that you please continue to pray for me and others concerning this situation. Thank you for your prayers.
Here are the verses:
Romans 8:31 -- "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?"
I Thessalonians 3:3 -- "But the Lord is faithful, and He will protect and strengthen you from the evil one."
Here are the verses:
Romans 8:31 -- "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?"
I Thessalonians 3:3 -- "But the Lord is faithful, and He will protect and strengthen you from the evil one."
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