Christian Acroyms

I guess all of us have seen the WWJD bracelets that have been popular over the last few years. Of course, if we knew or really cared about what Jesus would do, the world would be transformed into something that looks nothing like what we see today.

Around the world, and even here in the US, there is a hatred for Christians that I could not imagine 20 years ago. The bible predicted that the earth would come to hate Christians, and I have lived long enough to see that prediction come true. The freedom that is preached in the bible is apparently too much for the dictators and communists around the world.

Anyway, at the risk of inciting fresh hatred for freedom loving and Jesus worshiping Christians around the world, I am listing a few acronyms that are helpful in bringing about the right attitude for getting along with people:

THINK (before you speak, is what you are going to say:)
Truthful? Helpful? Inspirational? Necessary? Kind?
If the answer to one of these is "no", then don't say it.

JOY
Jesus first, Others second, You last

GRACE
God's Riches At Christ's Expense

PUSH
Pray Until Something Happens

BIBLE
Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

There are lots more out there; here's a list I found recently. I thought I would post this while it was still legal to do so!

Quotes from Billy Graham

I admit that I have gotten slack about posting to this blog. I wanted to average one post each week and 51 posts was close enough. Let's start 2010 with some advice in quotes from Billy Graham:

Read the Bible. Work hard and honestly. And don't complain.

Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has.

Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.

Give me five minutes with a person's checkbook, and I will tell you where their heart is.

A child who is allowed to be disrespectful to his parents will not have true respect for anyone.

A real Christian is a person who can give his pet parrot to the town gossip.

Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion - it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.

Believers, look up - take courage. The angels are nearer than you think.

God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with.

God is more interested in your future and your relationships than you are.

I've read the last page of the Bible. It's all going to turn out all right.

If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life.

If we had more hell in the pulpit, we would have less hell in the pew.

It is not the body's posture, but the heart's attitude that counts when we pray.

Man has two great spiritual needs. One is for forgiveness. The other is for goodness.

Nothing can bring a real sense of security into the home except true love.

Prayer is simply a two-way conversation between you and God.

Tears shed for self are tears of weakness, but tears shed for others are a sign of strength.

The framers of our Constitution meant we were to have freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.

The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service. The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless.

The men who followed Him were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.

The most eloquent prayer is the prayer through hands that heal and bless.

The word 'romance,' according to the dictionary, means excitement, adventure, and something extremely real.

Romance should last a lifetime.

There is nothing wrong with men possessing riches. The wrong comes when riches possess men.

We are not cisterns made for hoarding, we are channels made for sharing.

When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.

You're born. You suffer. You die. Fortunately, there's a loophole.

There is nothing wrong with noticing an attractive woman. The problem occurs when you turn around for a second look.

The only time my prayers are never answered is on the golf course.

We are not cisterns made for hoarding, we are channels made for sharing.

Only those who want everything done for them are bored.

My home is in Heaven. I`m just traveling through this world.

12 miles to the bale

Not that I care too much about gas mileage (see Full Size!), but here is this month's cartoon from Reverend Fun.

Real Strength

Judges 15:14-15

As he (Sampson) approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting, and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and the ropes dropped off his hands.

And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and grabbed it, and slew a thousand men with it.

Evolution

Evolution will always remain defeated by the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics. This Law predicts that a road-killed animal cooking on the side of the road will break down instead of rejuvenate. Likewise, it predicts that systems breakdown over time, which is basically the opposite of what Darwin hypothesized. Not that anyone is worried about the science behind the religion of evolution these days. And just in case someone wants to comment on open versus closed systems, please cite an example that exists outside of the biochemical and nuclear physics labs (in other words, natural).

God's Secret Agents

by Greg Laurie (originally published Friday, December 12, 2003)

It seems that Americans today are fascinated by the concept of angels, depicting them in everything from jewelry and Christmas decorations to movies and television programs.

A poll conducted by Time magazine in 1993 reported that 69 percent of American adults believed in the existence of angels, and 46 percent felt they had their own guardian angel. Also, 32 percent claimed to have felt an angelic presence at some time in their lives.

In addition, a 2000 poll conducted by the Barna Research Group of Ventura, California, found that 81 percent of adults polled said they believed that "angels exist and influence people's lives."

But is it correct to assume that angels are the non-threatening, loving beings that many people believe them to be? That all depends.

We find instances in the Bible when angels were sent to deliver specific messages from God. They often began their messages with phrases like "Do not be afraid," or "Do not fear."

But we also find instances in which God used angels to execute His judgment, as in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah and elsewhere.

Generally, God's angels operate undercover. They don't draw attention to themselves, but instead carry out God's assignments.

One reason we may not recognize the presence of angels in our lives is because they are doing their jobs properly. Angels are actively involved in the lives of the people of God, and even in the affairs of people in general. They have a specific function and ministry in the lives of Christians.

The Bible says in Psalm 34:7, "The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them" (NKJV). Hebrews 1:14 says of angels, "Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?" (NKJV).

It is even possible that you have personally met an angel. Hebrews 13:2 teaches, "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels" (NKJV).

It is amazing to think that some of us may have communicated with an angel, but were unaware of it. Angels are nearer than we may realize.

If an angel of God were to appear before you right now, you would stand in awe because angels are very beautiful. When we read biblical accounts of people who encountered angels, they were often overwhelmed by the glory and beauty of them.

Still, angels remain invisible most of the time, except on very special occasions when God sends them on a unique mission or clothes them in human form.

Contrary to what some have been led to believe, angels are not deceased human beings who are trying to earn their wings. Also, when someone dies, their friends or loved ones may say that person is now an angel who watches over them. However, this is not true.

When people say that someone who has died now helps them or guides them or their presence is felt, it is not true. People who have gone from this life into eternity do not communicate with us. They do not comfort us. They do not guide us. Certainly, they do not turn into angels. Angels are an altogether unique group created by God.

Also contrary to what some people have attempted to do, it is incorrect to attempt communication with an angel, to try to pray to an angel, or to specifically develop a relationship with an angel. We find in Scripture that the focus is on praying to God, looking to God, and developing a relationship with God.

Yes, God does work through angels, but that is not the point. The point is that it is God who is doing it.

We don't know how many times angels have been working behind the scenes, how many times they have delivered us, helped us out of tight situations, or intervened on our behalf. Angels are all around us, taking care of us and ministering to us, even when we are not aware of their presence. This certainly gives hope in these troubled, dangerous times in which we are living.

When we think of all of the violence and chaos and danger in the world today, it is comforting to know that God's angels are watching out for us. They may not help you find a parking space or make your casseroles more flavorful, but you can be certain that angels are God's secret agents, powerfully and effectively doing the work He has called them to do.

Find more of Greg's sermons and teaching at harvest.org

Second Chances

John 8:1-11

1. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4. and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. Now what do you say?” 6. They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. (Note) 7. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8. Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, and the woman still standing there. 10. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11. “No one sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Note:

Greg Laurie has suggested that Jesus wrote the secret sins of the accusers into the sand. Can you imagine seeing your worst moments written in the sand before a group as God in human form gazed into your eyes?

Jesus Walks on the water

Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid."

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

"Come," he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."