Blog Archives

Our Task 3.22.10

3/22/2010

OUR TASK

One night a man who was asleep in his cabin dreamed that Jesus appeared in his room. The Lord then led the man outside and showed him a massive rock that was in front of his cabin. He then told the man that his mission was to push against the mammoth rock with all of his might.

Still dreaming, the man at once obeyed His lord. Day after day, with his shoulders set squarely against the rock, he pushed with all his might from sun up to sun down. Each night he returned to his cabin completely exhausted, feeling that his efforts had been in vain. Seeing that the man was getting discouraged, Satan approached and told him, "You have been pushing against that rock day after day and it hasn't budged an inch. You will never move it… so why try?" Satan’s words disheartened the man even more.

His thinking soon became infected with doubt, "Why am I killing myself over this?" he thought. "My efforts aren’t accomplishing anything! Maybe I should quit.”

At that moment His Lord again appeared. "Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, trying with all my might to do that which you asked. Yet, I have not budged that rock at all. What is the use of my going on with this hopeless assignment?"

To this Jesus responded compassionately. "My son, I told you to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. But never once did I command you to move it. You have faithfully obeyed my order.”

“But”, the man replied, “Why did you ask me to do something which was fruitless in its result?”

“Fruitless?” Jesus responded, “Notice that your arms are now robust and muscled, your back sinewy and strong, your hands are hardened, and your legs powerful. Through determined obedience you have grown much and your current abilities far surpass that which you possessed before. Most notably, you have obeyed my voice, which is the important thing. No, you never moved the rock, but I only asked you to push it, which you did. Well done!”

I have the distinct feeling that most who read this will instantly identify with the man in one or more areas of spiritual endeavor. Although we may not understand why Jesus asks us to do (or not do) certain things, rest assured that our obedience is the important thing. And although we may not see visible fruits from our labors, God is using us to accomplish more than we realize. No matter what happens (or does not), JUST KEEP PUSHING!

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:2-3)

Jesus, Always Jesus!

Dennis

Comments

The Truth about "The Sneeze" -- a Widespread Internet Tale 3.15.10

3/15/2010

Comments

THE TRUTH About “THE SNEEZE” -- a Widespread Internet Tale

Perhaps you have received an email message containing the following story:

They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-three students filing into the already crowded auditorium. With rich maroon gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked almost as grown up as they felt. Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and moms freely brushed away tears. This class would not pray during the commencements, not by choice but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it.

The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families.

The speeches were nice, but they were routine until the final speech received a standing ovation. A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then it happened. All 92 students… suddenly SNEEZED!

The student on stage simply looked at the audience and said, "GOD BLESS YOU…" And he walked off stage. The audience exploded into applause. The graduating class found a unique way to invoke God's blessing on their future with or without the court's approval.

The following addendum is usually given at the conclusion -- "This is a true story; it happened at the University of Maryland."

As is my habit when receiving such emails, I checked out the story at SNOPES.COM (dedicated to separating fact from fiction on the web), and sure enough, the story is NOT EXACTLY AUTHENTIC. However, in this case, the REAL STORY is just as inspirational, if not more so. The facts are as follows…

The incident took place on 20 May 2001 during the commencement exercises at Washington Community High School in Washington, Illinois. With help from the ACLU, the family of Natasha Appenheimer (that year's valedictorian) brought suit to prevent the inclusion of the invocation and benediction traditionally given at the school's commencement ceremony. The suit was decided in the favor of the Appenheimers, and the court handed down a temporary injunction barring the inclusion of the prayers at the graduation.

People were angered by the decision, which overturned an 80 year tradition at Washington Community High.

Undeterred, many found ways of protesting the judge's ruling. Before the ceremony, students organized a prayer vigil around the school's flagpole. Some 50 seniors clasped hands in a circle while about 150 underclassmen and members of the community encircled them. Several students festooned their mortarboards with religious slogans: "I'm praying now," "Amen," "1 nation under God," and "I will pray 2-day." One parent distributed 120 homemade wood-and-nail crosses among the students.

Yet it was the act of Ryan Brown, a member of the graduating class who was scheduled to speak during the event, which really got everyone’s attention. As his form of protest, he had worked it out with a handful of friends that when he faked a sneeze at the podium, they were to yell out "God bless you." The plan was carried out, with everyone playing their assigned parts. Ryan also made another protest on his way to the podium — he stopped to bow in silent prayer, an act that prompted the audience to stand and applaud. He replied to the crowd, "Don't applaud for me, applaud for God."

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction… but in this case, THE TRUTH IS EVEN BETTER!

“I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness in the great assembly; indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O LORD…” (Psalm 40:9)

Jesus, always Jesus!

Dennis

Comments

If I Were the Devil... 3.8.10

3/8/2010

Comments

If I Were the Devil…

The following is an adaptation of an article that the late great radio personality, Paul Harvey, purportedly read on his program nearly 20 years ago. Sadly, not much has changed since then.

If I were the prince of darkness I’d want to engulf the whole world in darkness, and I’d have a third of its real estate and four fifths of its population. But I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree: America.

So I’d set about, however necessary, to take over the United States. I’d subvert the churches first. I’d begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent I would whisper as I whispered to Eve, “Do as you please… no one will get hurt.”

To the young I would whisper that the Bible is a myth. I would convince them that man created God, instead of the other way around. I would convince them that what’s bad is good, and what’s good is outdated.

I would teach the old to pray after me, “Our father, which art in Washington...”

And then I’d get organized: I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature so exciting that anything else appears dull and uninteresting. I’d infiltrate the movies, the music and the TV with sex, violence and profanity.

I’d peddle narcotics to whomever I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquilize the rest with anti-depressants or painkillers.

If I were the devil I’d have families at war with themselves; churches at war with themselves; politicians at war with themselves and America at war with itself… until all ultimately disintegrate.

If I were the devil I would encourage schools to refine the young intellect, but overlook discipline, emotions and morals. Before you know it, police officers, drug-sniffing dogs and metal detectors would be routine at nearly every schoolhouse door.

Within a decade I’d have the prisons overflowing. I’d have judges protecting pornography and ridiculing decency. I would evict God from the schoolhouse, the courthouse, and the houses of Congress. In the remaining churches I would substitute psychology for religion, and I would deify science. I would lure priests and preachers into misusing church funds, church property, church members… and eventually helpless little boys and girls.

If I were the devil I’d disconnect Easter from the resurrection, and change Christmas into a profit maker.

If I were the devil I’d take from those who have, and give to those who refuse to work… until I succeed in eliminating the incentive of the ambitious. And I bet I could get entire states to promote gambling as the surest way to riches.

I would caution against extremes like hard work, patriotism, sexual abstinence and lifelong marriage. In fact, I would convince the young that marriage is old fashioned - that living together and fooling around is way more fun. Moreover, I would persuade the youth that what they see on TV or at the movies is THE way to live. And thus I could undress them in public, and lure them into bed with diseases for which there is no cure.

If I were the devil… I would just keep on doing exactly what I’m doing.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith...” (1 Peter 5:8-9)

Jesus. Always Jesus!
Dennis

Comments

Trust the Divine "Instrument"! 3.1.10

3/1/2010

Comments

Trust the Divine “Instrument”!

A man tells the story of a flight he took on a commercial jet. Seated next to him was a former commercial pilot that currently flies smaller planes. The two became engaged in a conversation concerning the risks associated with flying.
The pilot said, "Many people assume that these huge jets are built more safely and, therefore, are less risky than smaller planes. People also suppose that small planes are more dangerous because they are involved in more crashes than their large commercial counterparts.”
"But," he continued, "that is untrue. The reason that more small planes are involved in crashes has little or nothing to do with inferior equipment. It is primarily due to the mistakes of inexperienced pilots."

The first man replied, "Tell me more."
"The most common mistake of inexperienced pilots is that they occasionally refuse to believe their instruments," the pilot said. "For instance, in low or zero visibility conditions, they are tempted to trust their instincts rather than their navigational instruments. That's when they get into serious trouble."
"For example, they may become convinced that the plane is climbing when it is not. Even though their instruments indicate that the plane is flying level or even descending, inexperienced pilots have a propensity to distrust the instruments and fly the plane according to their senses. They may even believe that the plane is turning or banking when it is flying straight and level. When the pilot ignores his instruments and adjusts the plane according to his intuition, he is far more likely to crash."
Then he said, "Although aircraft instruments may not be 100% reliable, they are much more dependable than human instincts. If pilots would believe their instruments as opposed to their physical senses, there would be far fewer crashes.”

And so it is with life. It is a fact that most people get into trouble when they “fly by the seat of their pants", acting in accordance with emotion, intuition or gut feelings. Countless crimes, affairs, frauds and other ungodly acts have been rationalized by the explanation “It FELT like the right thing to do.”

Even Christians occasionally fall into the trap of relying on feelings instead of the DIVINE STANDARD. I have heard scores of erring brethren defend their sinful behavior by saying, “It felt right at the time” or “My heart convinced me that it was okay.”

Thank God that we possess a SPIRITUAL “COMPASS” THAT IS 100% INFALLIBLE –

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple…” (Psalm 19:7)

"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Satan, of course, will continually coax us to believe that if something “feels right, it cannot be wrong!” However, keep the following truths in mind –

“O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23)

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

Like every plane in the skies, each of us is headed for a specific destination at the end of life. If we desire to reach heaven, we must trust the infallible “instrument” of God’s word and steer a straight course based on His divine revelation rather than human intuition.

"You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory." (Psalm 73:24)

Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis!

Comments

Our Task 3.22.10

The Truth about "The Sneeze" -- a Widespread Internet Tale 3.15.10

If I Were the Devil... 3.8.10

Trust the Divine "Instrument"! 3.1.10

Preacher's Corner

Archives

Categories