From Gary... Don't pull on your towel

We have been taking care of buddy for two weeks now and he is doing fine.  Last week I gave him a "bath" in the driveway, but Linda said that just wasn't good enough, so this time WE used the large sink in the laundry room.  Much to our surprise, he loved it!!!  But he did NOT love being dried off by the towel.  So, when he was completely dry, he attacked the towel.  Of course, he didn't realize being dried off was a GOOD THING, so being the aggressive little dog that he is-- HE ATTACKED!!!   Sometimes, humans don't know what is good for them either; even the most spiritual among us...

2 Corinthians, Chapter 12

  1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.  2 I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows), such a one caught up into the third heaven.  3 I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; God knows),  4 how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.  5 On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.  6 For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me, or hears from me. 7 By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.  8 Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  9 He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. 

Why do bad things happen to good people?  Sometimes we cause the "bad" by our own foolishness or stupidity, but at other times God is obviously at work in our life to perfect us.  Buddy pulled and pulled and pulled on that towel and tried to "get it" for what it did to him, not realizing that being dry was a "GOOD THING"!!!  As we go through life, look for God's teachings and direction- if you really look, it will amaze you!!!  And just one more thought for today - DON'T PULL ON YOUR TOWEL!!!

From Jim McGuiggan... Questions Arise

Questions Arise

When it comes to suffering at a serious level questions arise about God. We wonder why he does this or that or why he allows this or that. The questions wouldn't arise if we knew beforehand that he was cruel and got his kicks out of seeing people suffer. We protest and question because our pain pries our lips open.

Even if we knew he was cruel we'd still gasp out our questions. In the movie Color Purple the cruel man of the house wanted to have his wicked way with his wife's young sister. The girl thoroughly rejected his outrageous advances and for this he drove her out of the house. It wasn't the house she was going to miss and it certainly wasn't his attentions she would miss. But her sister was dearer to her than life and it was this that crushed her and led her to shout at him as he drove her off, "Why? Why?" It wasn't information she was looking. She knew very well why he was doing all this. He was bitter because she rejected him, vindictive because he was cruel and cunning because he knew this separation from her sister would be the worst pain of all.

But Jesus Christ has persuaded us that God loves us with a tireless love and it's that in part that creates our perplexity. If he were cruel we'd know why he hurts us or allows it. But if he loves us then why this or why that?

So you mustn't think that your sense of disappointment is nothing more or less than a bad attitude. He is your Holy Father and your pain and loss makes it difficult for you to see why he wouldn't make things easier for you. You feel like you ought to walk away from him and yet you can't help believing that there's some good answer to it all if only you could find it.

What you feel in your bones is correct. Hang on and he will prove you right.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... Take Heed What You Hear

                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                   Take Heed What You Hear (4:21-25)

INTRODUCTION

1. When we have opportunities to hear or read the Word of God...
   a. Are we aware that we will be judged by we how give heed?
   b. That the blessings we receive are proportionate to how we hear?

2. During His ministry, Jesus began teaching in parables...
   a. To the public He would tell the parables - Mk 4:1-2
   b. In private He would explain them to His disciples - Mk 4:10-12,
      33-34

3. In "The Parable Of The Four Soils" Jesus...
   a. Illustrated how not all receive the Word as they should
   b. Ended with the cry, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" - Mk 4:9

[After explaining the parable, Jesus exhorted His disciples to "Take
Heed What You Hear" (Mk 4:21-25).  Let's first consider Jesus' words...]

I. AS CHARGED TO THE DISCIPLES

   A. THAT WHICH IS HIDDEN IS TO BE MADE KNOWN...
      1. Jesus asked rhetorical questions involving a lamp - Mk 4:21
      2. What was hidden would be revealed, what was secret should come
         to light - Mk 4:22
      3. The context regards His use of parables and the ultimate
         intention of His teaching
         a. Jesus spoke publicly in parables at the time - Mk 4:11
         b. The meaning was explained privately - Mk 4:33-34
         c. But His teaching was meant one day to be proclaimed abroad
         d. His disciples would be involved in publicly proclaiming it
            - cf. Mt 10:27
      4. Thus they were to pay close attention to what He was saying
         - Mk 4:23
      -- Jesus intended one day for all to hear and know His teaching

   B. TAKE HEED WHAT YOU HEAR...
      1. Jesus charged His disciples to take heed what they hear - Mk 4:24a
      2. The importance of taking heed is repeatedly stressed - Mk 4:
         24b-25
         a. "With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you"
         b. "To you who hear, more will be given"
         c. "For whoever has, to him more will be given"
         d. "But whoever does not have, even what he has will be take
            away from him"
      3. This is illustrated in the parable of The Talents
         a. Talents given according to each person's ability - Mt 25:15
         b. Those who utilized their talents received more
            responsibility - Mt 25:20-23
         c. The one talent man lost that which he did not utilize - Mt25:24-28
         d. "For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will
            have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he
            has will be taken away." - Mt 25:29
      -- Jesus promised more for those who take heed to what they hear,
         utilize what they have

[Jesus spoke these words to prepare and motivate His disciples for their
future service.  Let's now reflect on His words...]

II. AS APPLIED TO US TODAY

   A. THAT WHICH WAS HIDDEN HAS BEEN MADE KNOWN...
      1. Things kept private were to be made public after His
         resurrection - cf. Mk 9:9
      2. The Spirit would be given to guide the apostles into all the
         truth - Jn 16:12-13
      3. They were to proclaim the gospel and His commandments to all
         - Mk 16:15; Mt 28:19-20
      4. The apostles (including Paul) were faithful to their charge
         - Ac 20:27
      5. What was once a "mystery" has now been revealed - Ro 16:25-26;
         Ep 3:3-5,8-9
      -- In the New Testament, that which was hidden can now be known by
         all!

   B. TAKE HEED WHAT YOU HEAR...
      1. The need to take heed to what we hear is still the same
      2. Consider the importance of listening carefully:
         a. To be blessed - cf. Mt 13:16-17
         b. To have faith - cf. Ro 1:16-17; 10:17
         c. To bear fruit - cf. Lk 8:15; Col 1:6
         d. To prevent apostasy - cf. He 2:1-3
         e. To avoid rejection and condemnation - cf. Mt 10:14-15; 

            Ac 13:44-49; Mt 12:41-42
         -- For more, see "How Well Do You Listen?"
      3. The principle of measure remains the same - Mk 4:24-25
         a. "With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you"
         b. "To you who hear, more will be given"
         c. "For whoever has, to him more will be given"
         d. "But whoever does not have, even what he has will be take
            away from him"
      -- For those willing give careful heed to the Word of God, they
         will be richly blessed!

CONCLUSION

1. There is a well known maxim:  "You get out of something what you put
   into it."

2. Does this not explain why many get little out of religion and the
   Bible in particular...?
   a. They have little interest in spiritual matters
   b. They make little effort to learn what the Bible says
   c. Their interest in spiritual things declines with time

3. Yet Jesus promises for those willing to "Take Heed What You Hear"...
   a. "With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you"
   b. "To you who hear, more will be given"
   c. "For whoever has, to him more will be given"

That is why some never stagnate in their spiritual growth, why their
faith is refreshed and renewed daily (cf. 2Co 4:16).  And so together
with Jesus we offer the following admonition:

              "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
                               (Mk 4:23)

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011