8/13/13

From Gary... Cudos


One can only wonder WHY this little guy in the center is getting so much adulation, but it is obvious to me that he is enjoying it!!!  Somehow, the saying "what goes around comes around" entered my mind when I saw this picture and with it a title given to someone who was obviously a very nice person....

Acts, Chapter 4
32 The multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul. Not one of them claimed that anything of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.  33 With great power, the apostles gave their testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Great grace was on them all.  34 For neither was there among them any who lacked, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,  35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet, and distribution was made to each, according as anyone had need.  36 Joses, who by the apostles was also calledBarnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race,  37 having a field, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 

For those who may be a bit more curious about him, here is a link with some more information...


Barnabus was someone special, but like you he had only one life to live and did it with gusto.  The only thing holding YOU back from being like him is YOU. So, give of yourself and whatever you give will undoubtedly come back with Cudos; even if you don't have fur and whiskers.

PS. I enjoyed the article- you might as well!!!

From Jim McGuiggan... GOD AND HIS COMPANIONS

GOD AND HIS COMPANIONS

Romans 6:23 says we earn death by sinning but that "eternal life" is a free gift from God.
Eternal life isn’t simply "endless" life! It is a quality of life that is part of the "new creation" that has come about in Jesus Christ. It isn’t just endless existence; it's life that takes it nature from the kind of life epitomized by Jesus Christ. Those that come to share eternal life—for which they now look forward and will one day fully experience individually—will enjoy it in the redeemed creation (see Romans 8:18-25). But it will be "life" and not some vapory excuse for "life"! The Christian hope is not summed up in some ghostly existence but embodied and immortal life, lived out in holiness and joy.
It's a great blunder to reduce eternal "life" to "forgiveness of sins". A rich relationship between two humans will involve mutual forgiveness but to boil the relationship down to that alone robs it of much that is vibrant, challenging and precious. I don’t suggest that Christians consciously reduce life with God to "sins forgiven" but so much literature and speech comes to focus on talk about sin that, simply by default, it sometimes appears that that’s what it’s all about; that and nothing else.
There is of course much talk about "let’s all be honest and pure and kind and tolerant" and such like. But more often than not—so I presently judge—this is "the right response" to God for his having forgiven us. It is "gratitude," don’t you see. And how can we not agree with that? Well...it’s not that simple; it’s richer than that.
To enter into "life with God" is to throw our weight into his purposes. To enter life with God is (sort of) to ask him, "Now, how does this work, this friendship of yours and ours?" God has a dream and vision and he is working toward that and to enter into a living relationship with him is to share his dream, pursue his goals, act with him to bring to completion his overarching purpose. It isn't groveling and endlessly talking about our sins and how nice it was of him to forgive us! It’s gratitude! How could we not be grateful to him for giving us life (and all that that means)? But it’s got to be more than gratitude, it’s astonished commitment, it’s looking in fathomless wonder at what we’ve been called to share and plunging into it, way out of our depth!
There’s something wild about the universe, William James said (saying more than he knew or believed), and we are needed to bring it into line. Eternal life is not about a post-mortem happiness, it’s about sharing God’s heart and purposes for his creation, it’s about living in his image.
I’m a great sinner and God knows I need forgiveness but I’m bound to say that there’s too much of this morbid self-examination. This constant taking of our spiritual temperatures and checking our religious pulses wastes too much time and energy and more importantly it takes our eyes off God, his purpose and his creation. Life with him isn’t just about us and how spiritually fine-tuned we are!
Some years ago when existentialism was enjoying one of its popular phases a USA senator felt compelled to say that he was weary of people that were always experiencing angst over just about everything. He complained that he didn’t have the luxury of having an inner debate about every blessed decision. He said they were agonizing over whether to go to the toilet while he was forced to make decisions quickly that affected hosts of people. He was complaining about people who took themselves much too seriously and can’t take their eyes off themselves. That’s the kind of thing I’m trying to get at here.
Constantly having ourselves on our minds is too great a burden. We're not up to carrying it. No wonder we often get weary and sometimes sour. Anyway, it's the wrong burden (compare Matthew 11:28-30).
We mustn’t think that God lives with us as if we were a mass of isolated humans. He doesn’t! We mustn’t think the center of his thinking is about sin. It isn’t! It’s about life! And it’s about more than you and me!
And I know in my bones, in the light of the biblical witness, that God wants to gather around him as companions in his grand enterprise, people who have peace and joy in and with him, people who are half-astonished that they have been privileged to be part of the grand adventure that has life at the end of it. He isn't obsessed with death, he isn't obsessed with sin; he's all about life and life and life! He's all about life for everyone rather than just about life for us.
So don't won't about the unanswered questions. It's all right for God to know some things that you don't. Rejoince in your life with him, freely accept his eagerly offered forgiveness which comes as part of your being united with the Lord Jesus [Romans 6:3-8]. Trust him that you're safe in the Lord Jesus [Romans 8:1]. Believe that! And finding yourself accepted in the Beloved One, see yourself as one of God's companions, riding on a white horse and following the Rider on the white horse to bring the word of rescue and hope and life. See yourself with your companions as making war against all the forces of cynicism, gloom and corrupted power and for the sake of the entire human family.
Once more, don't worry about how it all ends. Trust God and in the name of the blessed Lord Jesus throw onto the scale the stubborn ounces of your weight and believe that this entire divine and human drama will end gloriously. And know this, however fierce the battle, however much pain, in whatever form it comes, whatever scars you bear when the war is over you'll be glad you were in it. And those who refused the call and worked to take care of number one and only number one—they will hold their humanity cheap when they see the glory of God's companions on that day of honorable triumph that sees millions finally, permanently and gloriously free.       
COME WHAT MAY, WE WILL NOT GO DOWN WITHOUT GETTING BACK UP WE ARE GOD'S COMPANIONS!

©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... Obtaining The Prize (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)



                 "THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS"

                     Obtaining The Prize (9:24-27)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our text (1Co 9:24-27), Paul alludes to the ancient Grecian
   games...
   a. Running in a race
   b. Fighting as a boxer
   c. Competing for a prize

2. He observes that there are principles common to both athletes and
   Christians...
   a. The need for motivation
   b. The need for self-control
   c. The need for exercise

3. These are necessary to "obtain" the prize...
   a. The Greek word translated "obtain" is katalambano
   b. It means "to apprehend, attain, obtain, find" - Complete WordStudy
      Dictionary
   c. "In allusion to the public games, to obtain the prize with the
      idea of eager and strenuous exertion, to grasp, seize upon"
      - ibid.

[Whether one is an athlete or a Christian, there are three things
necessary to "Obtaining The Prize"...]

I. THE IMPORTANCE OF MOTIVATION

   A. IN THE LIFE OF THE ATHLETE...
      1. The proper motivation is necessary to win
      2. Different motives make a difference in a race
         a. Some run to win
         b. Others run for their health
         c. The latter really don't care if they win or not
      3. The successful athlete is motivated by the gold medal or wreath
         - 1Co 9:25b
         a. A perishable crown, to be sure
         b. But one representing fame and glory, that motivates the
            athlete to excel

   B. IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN...
      1. The proper motivation is likewise necessary to win
      2. Different motives can make a big difference
         a. Some are Christians to please their conscience, or to please
            others
         b. Some are Christians because of the present blessings (peace
            of mind, fellowship)
         c. Such motives may have their place in the life of the
            Christian
      3. But the successful Christian is motivated by what lies at the
         end of the race
         a. An imperishable crown - 1Co 9:25c
         b. The crown of righteousness, which motivated Paul - 2Ti 4:
            7-8
         c. The incorruptible inheritance that awaits us - 1Pe 1:3-4;
            2Pe 3:13-14
         d. Just as Jesus endured the cross "for the joy that was set
            before Him" - He 12:1-2

[What motivates you as a Christian, running the race of faith?  Is it
"Obtaining The Prize" at the end?  If so, then you should also take
note of...]

II. THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-CONTROL

   A. IN THE LIFE OF THE ATHLETE...
      1. Successful athletes are 'temperate' in all things - 1Co 9:25a
      2. They exercise 'self-control' in such things as:
         a. Their diet
         b. The amount of sleep
         c. Following their training schedules
         d. Often foregoing many social activities
      3. Self-control means doing it even when one doesn't feel like it:
         "When it's pouring rain and you have to go and ride six hours
         in the mountains, there's no fun in doing that." - Lance
         Armstrong

   B. IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN...
      1. Self-control is just as necessary - 1Co 9:27
      2. It is necessary to overcoming "the works of the flesh" - Ga 5:
         19-24
      3. The indwelling Spirit is given to the Christian to aid us - 
         Ga 5:16; Ro 8:11-13
      4. But the aid of the Spirit does not remove any sense of struggle
         - cf. 1Pe 2:11
         a. We must still do things that seem difficult
         b. We must still do things even when we don't "feel like it"

[Self-control is a necessary complement to proper motivation.  Without
it, motivation alone will not succeed.  Along with motivation and
self-control is...]

III. THE IMPORTANCE OF EXERCISE

   A. IN THE LIFE OF THE ATHLETE...
      1. The exercise performed by athletes is impressive
         a. Long distance runners train 10-20 miles a day
         b. Swimmers swim 10 miles a day to be competitive
         c. Gymnasts work out 8-9 hours a day
      2. Such exercise is essential
         a. To be competitive
         b. To endure the hardships of the competition
         c. To gain the victory!

   B. IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN...
      1. There is the need for godly exercise - 1Ti 4:8
         a. Offering benefits for the life which now is
         b. With promise for the life to come
      2. Examples of good spiritual exercise
         a. Diligence in rightly handling the word of truth - 2Ti 2:15
         b. Communing with the Lord in prayer - Php 4:6-7
         c. Meditating on things worthy of virtue and praise - Php 4:8
         d. Loving the brethren with sincerity - Ro 12:9-10
         e. Offering diligent, fervent service to the Lord and brethren
            - Ro 12:11-13

CONCLUSION

1. Certainly one engaged in such 'exercises' is a true spiritual
   athlete...
   a. Running the race of faith with certainty - 1Co 9:26
   b. Fighting the good fight with purpose - ibid.

2. Such efforts will not be in vain...
   a. When accompanied by the right motivation
   b. When joined with self-control

Are you "Obtaining The Prize"?  Make sure that you heed Paul's words to
"run in such a way that you may obtain it" (1Co 9:24b).  Also take
heart from his words found later in this same epistle:

   "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always
   abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not
   in vain in the Lord." - 1Co 15:58


Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

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