10/28/13

From Ben Fronczek... The carrot, the egg, and the cup of coffee

The carrot, the egg, and the cup of coffee

Intro. This past week I had something that stunned me bit for a while. Even though we all experience things that may shock us, and even disappoint us, sometimes it has more of an effect on us. Sometimes it’s wake up call or even a hurtful blow.

When I received a tidbit of information this past week, I have to admit it was a blow. I was not proud of my reactions. I didn’t get angry or anything like that, I just remember thinking that it felt like someone punched me in the stomach. (Probably because I got the news after eating a big breakfast.) With all my faith in God, and knowing that I truly trust in Him and His providence I still allowed myself to get a bit discouraged and a bit down. Well at least for five or six hours.
It was the day I had planned to start working on a sermon for Sunday. I  attempted to write something but I just couldn’t do a thing. I went to the internet for some ideas but everything I read seemed blurry and insignificant. I shared my disappointment with my wife and she tried to encourage me with her own faith and helped some, but in my gut I still felt a bit blue. So I decided to do something else. I decided to start going through the piles of paperwork in my office, cleaning, organizing and getting rid all kinds of stuff.  As I did this I remember going to God in prayer and I apologized for letting myself get so disturbed. I told Him that I trusted Him, telling Him that I knew that He would take care of my needs. I also remember telling Him that I needed some help coming up with a sermon idea for Sunday. As I was going through a pile of papers about 3 or 4 inches thick, I came across a story that I must have printed out from the Internet a while ago. Not remember seeing it before I set it aside until I finished going through the pile chucking out papers left and right. After I was done and before I threw out this story I decided to read it. In a matter of minutes somehow God turned my attitude around 180 degrees and left me with a happy peaceful feeling inside. He also gave me a sermon idea which I had asked for.  I’d like to share the story with you. Maybe some of you heard it before:

A carrot. an egg, and a cup of coffee…
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed a carrot, in the second she placed an egg, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrot out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the egg out and placed it in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me what you see.” “A Carrot, an eggs, and coffee,” she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrot. She did and noted that it was soft and mushy. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.
Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma the daughter then asked, “What does it mean, mother?”
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity; the boiling water. But each reacted differently:                                          
•The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
•The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its soft liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its insides became hardened.                                                                                                  
•The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.  
“Which are you?” she asked her daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?”
Ask yourself this: Which am I?                                                                         
•Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength and go moping around?
•Am I the egg that starts with a soft heart, but then changes with the heat? Did I have a soft heart, but after
a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff inside? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside have I become hard hearted and tough with a stifled spirit?                                                                                                         
•Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brought the pain. When the water got hot, it released the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, the best part of yo comes out, and somehow you change the situation around you.
When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level?
How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
She went on to tell her daughter “May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.
The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can’t go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you’re the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.”

For some reason this little story opened my eyes. I don’t ever remembering reading it before and really don’t remember printing it out. I believe God had me print it out and save it for the day I needed it.
I asked myself, ‘What are you going to end up like, the carrot, the egg, or the coffee?’

It was what I needed to hear. The rest of my day went great. I felt good. I became happy and even excited. And I praised God, because even though I may say it a lot, and preach about it a lot, in my gut I knew that He really is in control and has my best interest in mind. And that gave me a sense of peace in my heart and mind.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says that we should

“Trust in the Lord and lean not on our own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your path straight.”

I don’t know about you, but I’ve come to realize that my ability to understand everything is flawed, and not always dependable. I really need to trust in the Lord. And then he goes on and writes, ‘In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.’ Some other translations say, “He will give you success.” or, “He will make your path smooth,” or, “He will show you the right way.”  What more could you ask for? 

In 1 Peter 5:6-8, Peter wrote,

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you.  Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 

God really does care for you and me. Believing that makes all the difference in the world. But then Peter goes on to warn us that our enemy, the devil, prowls around looking for those whom he can devour. And which animals do the lions pray upon first? Those who are weak. When things bad happen and you start to get down, asked yourself if you really trust God. Ask yourself if you really believe He is control and is going to take care of you? Ask yourself, “How am I going to let this effect me? Am I going to fall apart like a overcooked piece of carrot? Am I going to become hard hearted like that boiled egg?  Or will I let this situation bring the very best out of me; because of my faith, and my  assurance in God.  Do you want to experience His peace?  Become like those coffee beans.

For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

From Jim McGuiggan... All Israel will be saved (3)

All Israel will be saved (3)

Gentile "fullness" is not a certain number of Gentile converts. It is their state of fullness. It's their being filled with the riches of God's grace in Jesus Christ. In 15:29 Paul tells the Roman Christians that he is coming "in the full measure of the blessing of Christ." He comes with what all that Christ means and is and he calls that "the fullness of Christ." Israel is hardened until the Gentiles have experienced the meaning of Christ.

"Until" the fullness of the Gentiles has come in? "Until" appears to suggest a time sequence. As if, "the hardening will continue (only) until the Gentile fullness has arrived." At that point the hardening will cease. That appears to be the commonly accepted view. Taking that to be true, what then? It's tempting to think that when the hardening ceases Israel will automatically turn to Christ and this is what very many evangelicals believe. But we need to remember that the hardening didn't make this section of Israel into unbelievers—they were already unbelievers and the hardening (God's judicial sentence) made use of their sin. If God withdrew the special circumstances that hardened a section of Israel it would not follow that they would automatically come to faith. If they didn't believe before the hardening there's no guarantee that they will believe after it.
But it's the following phrase that generates the evangelical view. "A hardening in part has happened to Israel until Gentile fullness has come in and so all Israel will be saved." The "and so" is often taken as something like "consequently" or "and then" or "following that" all Israel will be saved. But "and so" should be taken as an adverb of manner, "in this way" or "and this is how" all Israel will be saved.

But making "and so" an adverb of manner is awkward if we link it immediately with the hardening of Israel or Gentile fullness. N.T. Wright in his commentary on Romans takes "and so" to mean "in this way". He thinks that it's always been God's way of saving Israel, by hardening. Maybe it's better to say that it's by bringing in Gentile fullness (and so making Jews jealous so that they want in—11:31) that God will save Israel. But I'm sure it's better still to look back to 11:23-24. All Israel will be saved "in this way," namely, turning from unbelief. This means that 11:25-26 is a little—but not unimportant—aside before he returns to how Israel is to be saved. Where lies their hope? In turning from unbelief (11:11:9,23-24). And when they turn from their unbelief it will be in keeping with the purpose of the Messiah's coming (11:26-27).

Paul changes a preposition in quoting Isaiah 59:20. The prophet speaks of a Redeemer coming "to" Zion but Paul says that the Redeemer will come "from" Zion. I think Paul is rebuking the Gentile arrogance again and reminding them that the root bears them and not they the root (11:18). The redeemer who redeems both Israel and the Gentiles comes not from Gentiles but from the Jews. The Messiah is theirs (9:5, 15:27).

So here's what I think Paul has said here in this section. "You Gentiles must not be arrogant because you are now people of God while Jews are on the outside looking in. You stand by faith and they are outside. It's true that they were cast off (11:15,22b) but this was no permanent purpose of God, he hasn't 'washed his hands of them'. No, if they turn from unbelief they will be received into their own blessings (11:23-24). This is the way all Israel will be saved. Understand this, the hardened condition God produced, is on a segment of Israel—an unbelieving segment (11:20) and it was accomplished that your rich blessing might be brought in (11:30). If unbelieving Israel turns from unbelief they will be gladly received as if they were alive from the dead (11:15,23) because that's precisely why God sent the Redeemer (11:26-27). And by the way, the Redeemer that saves you and them comes from among them!"

©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... How To Be Free From Anxiety (Philippians 4:6-7)

                    "THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS"

                   How To Be Free From Anxiety (4:6-7)

INTRODUCTION

1. If anyone had good reason to be anxious, it could have been the
   apostle Paul...
   a. His beloved friends at Philippi were disagreeing with one another 
      - Php 4:1-3
   b. There were preachers in Rome who were filled with envy and strife,
      and out to "get" Paul - Php 1:15
   c. To top it off, Paul himself was under house arrest, awaiting trial
      and his possible execution!
   -- Yet we have seen that throughout this epistle the keynote repeated
      again and again is "rejoice!"

2. Evidently Paul had found the secret of overcoming anxiety, and
   fortunately for us, he shares that secret in Php 4:6-7

[We shall examine what that secret is, but first, let's take a closer 
look at "anxiety" itself...]

I. UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF ANXIETY

   A. DEFINING THE WORD...
      1. The word "anxious" (careful, KJV) is from "merimnao"
         {mer-im-nah'-o}
      2. As defined by THAYER...
         a. It means "to be pulled in different directions"
         b. For example, our hopes pull us in one direction; our fears
            pull us in the opposite direction
         c. Thus, to be anxious is to be "pulled apart"!
      3. The word "worry" (a synonym for anxiety) in its English origins
         presents a different, yet enlightening picture
         a. It comes from a word meaning "to strangle"
         b. If you have ever really worried, you know how it does indeed
            strangle a person!
            1) In fact, worry (or anxiety) has definite physical side
               effects:  headaches, neck pains, ulcers, even back pains
            2) Worry affects our thinking, our digestion, and even our
               coordination

   B. ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ON ANXIETY...
      1. From a spiritual perspective, anxiety is:
         a. Wrong THINKING and wrong FEELING about circumstances, people
            and things
         b. The greatest thief of joy
      2. It is not enough for us to tell ourselves, "Quit being anxious",
         in an effort to stop the thief from stealing our joy
         a. Anxiety is "an inside job"
         b. It takes more than good intentions to get the victory over
            anxiety

[The "antidote" to anxiety is revealed by Paul in our text, which we 
will now look at closely...]

II. WINNING THE VICTORY OVER ANXIETY

   A. THE "ANTIDOTE" IS THE RIGHT KIND OF "PRAYING"!
      1. In which we pray about "everything"!
         a. Like the hymn, Paul counsels us to "take everything to God
            in prayer"
         b. To put it another way, "Don't worry about ANYTHING, but pray
            about EVERYTHING!" is Paul's admonition
         c. We are prone to pray about the "big things", and forget to
            pray about the "little things"
            1) But "little things" left unattended grow up to become "big
               things"
            2) Therefore, God would have us talk to Him about
               "everything"
      2. In which we pray by "prayer and supplication"
         a. "Prayer" is the general word for making requests known to God
            1) It carries the idea of adoration, devotion, and worship
            2) Whenever we find ourselves filled with anxiety, our first
               action ought be to spend time alone with God in prayerful
               adoration and worship
            3) Adoration for God helps us to remember the greatness and
               majesty of God
               a) We must remember that He is big enough to solve
                  problems we cannot
               b) Too often, we rush into His presence and hastily tell
                  Him our needs
               c) But freedom from anxiety comes when we spend more time
                  on Who He is, rather than on what our problems are!
            4) Having spent time in prayerful adoration, we are now ready
               to move on...
         b. "Supplication" is where we begin making our requests known to
            God
            1) It involves an earnest sharing of our problems and needs
            2) Freedom from anxiety does not come from half-hearted,
               insincere praying!
               a) While we know that we are not heard for our "much
                  speaking" - Mt 6:7-8
               b) Still we should realize that our Father wants us to be
                  earnest and persistent in our asking - Mt 7:7-11
            3) An example of this sort of praying is found in He 5:7
               a) Jesus offered up "prayers and supplications"
               b) He did so, "with vehement cries and tears", suggesting
                  true earnestness in making His requests
      3. In which we pray "with thanksgiving"
         a. This implies "appreciation" on our part
            1) Certainly the Father delights in hearing His children say
               "Thank you!"
            2) Yet so many people are like the nine lepers healed by
               Jesus - cf. Lk 17:11-19
            3) Are we eager to ask, but slow to appreciate?
         b. Note that this "thanksgiving" is to be offered at the same
            time we make our requests!
            1) Doing this serves to remind us of all the other things God
               has done and is doing for us
            2) Which in turn helps to keep our problems in perspective

   B. SUCH "PRAYING" WILL RESULT IN A FORTRESS GUARDING OUR MINDS AND
      HEARTS...
      1. God may not always remove the problems that were the initial
         cause of our anxiety, but He promises a "peace which surpasses
         all understanding"!
      2. It is a peace that the world cannot provide, but He can! - cf.
         Jn 14:27; 16:33
      3. It is a peace that "guards" (to guard, garrison like a fortress)
         our "hearts" and "minds"
         a) Guarding the HEART (which is susceptible to wrong feeling)
         b) Guarding the MIND (which is susceptible to wrong thinking)
      4. This does not mean the absence of trials on the outside, but it
         does mean...
         a) A quiet confidence within
         b) Regardless of circumstances, people, or things that would
            otherwise steal our joy!

CONCLUSION

1. This wonderful peace, this freedom from anxiety, is the result of
   letting our requests be known to God through the right kind of
   praying:
   a. Praying about everything
   b. Praying with prayer and supplication
   c. Praying with thanksgiving

2. But note well, all this is possible THROUGH Christ Jesus (Php 4:7)!
   a. He is the source of every spiritual blessing from God, including
      the peace that surpasses understanding - cf. Ep 1:3
   b. And we must be IN Christ if we desire this peace of which Paul
      writes in our text

3. Do you desire the "peace of God"?
   a. Then you must be IN Christ (to see how one gets INTO Christ,
      consider Ga 3:26-27)
   b. And then you must commune with God frequently in the kind of
      praying taught by Paul

Are you in Christ?  Do you commune with God as you should?  If we can
assist you in either way...

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011


From Gary... SIN and consequences


The other day, I had a long phone conversation with my younger brother, David.  We both just needed company (I miss my Linda, so I have the greater need) and spoke of many things from our childhood.  It wasn't long before the topic of food came up, but it wasn't a pleasant topic.  Now, I LOVE TO EAT, but in the first few years of the sixties, we didn't have much.  Dave would joke about the Christmas we had a potato to split between us or the Thanksgiving it took to prepare our Turkey Pot Pies (four hours to heat on a electric burner on top of the stove that only would heat half way) or the slop my Grandfather brought home from the kitchen where he worked.  Sometimes, the food before us was unappealing to say the least.  I remember my mother telling me, "I don't care what it looks like; eat!!!" and the kicker here: "EAT EVERY SINGLE THING ON YOUR PLATE, DON'T YOU KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE STARVING IN CHINA"!!!  I was more fortunate than Dave, because our Grandmother favored me and used to secretly give me extra food to eat in a out of the way room in our old farmhouse.  You guessed it- food is a controversial topic with Dave and myself.  And that extra bit of food I received caused many, many problems.  Doctors have told my brother that the severe physical problems he has today were caused by a lack of proper food in childhood and we both blame our parents for being lazy and not fulfilling their responsibilities towards their children.  Parental indolence and many other sins were the cause of our hardship and frankly - their shame!!!  Is all this just a bit TOO PERSONAL for you?  Sorry about that, but these things (and many others I have mentioned in the past) are true.  Our upbringing caused us to think long and hard about caring for our families and the value of work and to the best of my knowledge we both have provided for our families.  All these things reminded me of a specific passage from Ezekiel and also of a generic passage as well.  They are as follows...

Ezekiel, Chapter 18
   1 Yahweh’s word came to me again, saying,  2 What do you mean, that you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?  3 As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, you shall not use this proverb any more in Israel. 4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins, he shall die.  5 But if a man is just, and does that which is lawful and right,  6 and has not eaten on the mountains, neither has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither has defiled his neighbor’s wife, neither has come near to a woman in her impurity,  7 and has not wronged any, but has restored to the debtor his pledge, has taken nothing by robbery, has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment;  8 he who has not lent on interest, neither has taken any increase, who has withdrawn his hand from iniquity, has executed true justice between man and man,  9 has walked in my statutes, and has kept my ordinances, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, says the Lord Yahweh.  10 If he fathers a son who is a robber who sheds blood, and who does any one of these things,  11 or who does not do any of those things, but even has eaten on the mountains, and defiled his neighbor’s wife,  12 has wronged the poor and needy, has taken by robbery, has not restored the pledge, and has lifted up his eyes to the idols, has committed abomination,  13 has lent on interest, and has taken increase; shall he then live? he shall not live: he has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be on him.  14 Now, behold, if he fathers a son, who sees all his father’s sins, which he has done, and fears, and does not such like; 15 who has not eaten on the mountains, neither has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, has not defiled his neighbor’s wife,  16 neither has wronged any, has not taken anything to pledge, neither has taken by robbery, but has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment;  17 who has withdrawn his hand from the poor, who has not received interest nor increase, has executed my ordinances, has walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.  18 As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, robbed his brother, and did that which is not good among his people, behold, he shall die in his iniquity.  19 Yet you say, Why doesn’t the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son has done that which is lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes, and has done them, he shall surely live.  20 The soul who sins, he shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him.  21 But if the wicked turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.  22 None of his transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him: in his righteousness that he has done he shall live.  23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord Yahweh; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?  24 But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered: in his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die.  25 Yet you say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, house of Israel: Is my way not equal? Aren’t your ways unequal?  26 When the righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and dies therein; in his iniquity that he has done shall he die.  27 Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.  28 Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.  29 Yet the house of Israel says, “The way of the Lord is not fair.” House of Israel, aren’t my ways fair? Aren’t your ways unfair?  30 Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, everyone according to his ways, says the Lord Yahweh. Return, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.  31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, in which you have transgressed; and make yourself a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, house of Israel?  32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies, says the Lord Yahweh: therefore turn yourselves, and live. 

Proverbs, Chapter 14
 34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.


 Israel said they were suffering for what their fathers had done. Now, in ancient times, if a member of the family did something wrong, the WHOLE FAMILY often paid for it; often with their lives.  But in this context, I believe we are talking about the personal responsibility for what you do and if you sin, you will pay for it!!!  Sin will destroy a person spiritually as well as physically and this applies both individually and collectively as well. Sin and suffer the consequences. Let a nation sin and likewise there will also be consequences.  The consequences that the path the United States of America has taken over the past few decades have led to the cartoon becoming a reality for a large segment of country.  And, unless things change, America will continually degenerate and eventually fall!!!!  

I urge every single person who reads this to take a moment to think about their lives.  This year, have you even thought about your shortcomings, the things about your life that are not right and need to be changed and anything that might even be remotely classified as sin?  Yes, sin.  Remember this passage?

Romans, Chapter 3
 19  Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God. 20 Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.  21 But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;  22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction,  23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God 24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;  25 whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance;  26 to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.

Frankly, I can tell you I have thought of this passage often and encourage you to do the same.  Along with the knowledge of sin, this passage gives us all a way out- take it!!!!  Looking for the whole story?  I encourage you to read Acts, Chapter 2 and follow the example of those who wanted to change.
Lastly, I know that today's post is both long and difficult (compared to what I usually write) but as one friend to another, sometimes facing difficult things in our lives really does work out for the best, once they are resolved.  I wouldn't write these things unless I thought they would help both the writer and the reader!!!

Your friend,

Gary