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Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Confronting that Leads to Repentance




Steve Douglass

Steve is the International President of Campus Crusade for Christ.


A number of years ago, I was on a trip in another country.  One of my pairs of pants needed to be dry cleaned, so I asked my local contact person if he could help me with that. He said, “Sure, I’ll take care of it.”  I told him I needed it by the end of the day.  He said, “Fine.”
Well, the time came when I needed to wear those pants, so I asked him where they were. He handed me the pants, and I immediately observed that they had not been cleaned. When I asked the person what happened, he said, “Well, dry cleaners here aren’t open on Saturday, so I couldn’t do it.” I asked him why he didn’t just tell me that in the first place. He said, “Because I knew you wanted them to be cleaned, and I didn’t want to disappoint you.”
To say the least, it was even more disappointing and inconvenient to learn of this just before I needed the pants. So what was going on in that person’s mind? In his culture it is very hard to have a conversation which disappoints another person. So apparently it seemed better to him to please me temporarily, even though in the end I would learn that my pants could not be dry cleaned.
So what do you do in a situation like that?  I felt mislead—even lied to perhaps.  He was a Christian. He should summarily be confronted, right?
Well, I have discovered that it is usually better to start from a different place and eventually end up dealing with what we find offensive.

Affirm What You Can
I have found it is best to start by affirming what is good. In 1 Thessalonians 5:11 we are told to “encourage one another and build each other up.”
So what was good? Well, he was very responsive to my need. He wanted to help. In fact, a great strength of his culture is to put the needs of another person above one’s own.
So I could start my response by saying, “Thank you so much for wanting to meet my need. That was very gracious of you. Even in our brief time together I have seen you are a sensitive person.”

Believe the Best
In 1 Corinthians 13 we find the classic biblical description of the qualities of love. Among them are kindness and bearing, hoping and believing all things. On one hand, I could assume that the man was, at the very core of his being, a liar. After all, he did know that it was impossible to get the dry cleaning done.
Or I could believe that he was basically a good person who loved God and wanted to do what was right. My one incident did not give me nearly enough evidence to assume the worst.
So I could honestly say, “My friend, I know you intended to be helpful and to please me.”

Confront What You Must
But, of course, that still leaves the matter of his words that I perceived to be untrue (and maybe sinful). What do I do about that?
To say nothing would mean that I failed to speak the truth in love.  So how could I do that in this case? I could say, “Even though I sense you were only trying to encourage me, you did give me the impression that you could get the cleaning done. That wasn’t true, was it?”
What you hope would happen next is a good response from the other person. If he really does love God and is humble, he will begin to see how what he did violated a standard of biblical holiness.
If so, then you have in love applied the truth of 2 Thessalonians 3:15 (NASB). It says to “admonish him as a brother.” Galatians 6:1 (NIV) says, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.” Both passages exhort us to deal with sin. But they tell us to do that gently, relationally and with spiritual humility.
One of the ways God uses us in the lives of fellow Christians is to hold them accountable to biblical standards, but in a way that encourages repentance and personal growth. Sometimes we are too quick and unloving in our confrontation. At other times, in the name of sensitivity, we are too reluctant to confront.
Only God can give us the right balance for each situation. I find it is best for me to pray that God will give me ways to affirm and believe the best about people. At the same time, I pray He will show me how to admonish and restore as I should.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

As for Me and My House - John Waller




Do you remember, one day you said " As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord". You mean it when you said it. But now... Think about it. Are you really serving the Lord now? Really? your house..? If any change happened, its the time for coming back. Watch this video. Its just about it.




Tuesday, May 15, 2012

THE RESUME OF JESUS CHRIST





The Resume of Jesus Christ

Address: Ephesians 1:20
Phone: Romans 10:13
Website: The Bible.
Keywords: Christ, Lord, Savior and Jesus

Hello. My name is Jesus - The Christ. Many call me Lord! I've sent you my resume because I'm seeking the top management position in your heart. Please consider my accomplishments as set forth in my resume.
Qualifications
  • I founded the earth and established the heavens, (See Proverbs 3:19)
  • I formed man from the dust of the ground, (See Genesis 2:7)
  • I breathed into man the breath of life, (See Genesis 2:7)
  • I redeemed man from the curse of the law, (See Galatians 3:13)
  • The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant comes upon your life through me, (See Galatians 3:14)

Occupational Background
  • I've only had one employer, (See Luke 2:49).
  • I've never been tardy, absent, disobedient, slothful or disrespectful.
  • My employer has nothing but rave reviews for me, (See Matthew 3:15-17)

Skills Work Experiences
  • Some of my skills and work experiences include: empowering the poor to be poor no more, healing the brokenhearted, setting the captives free, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind and setting at liberty them that are bruised, (See Luke 4:18).
  • I am a Wonderful Counselor, (See Isaiah 9:6). People who listen to me shall dwell safely and shall not fear evil, (See Proverbs 1:33).
  • Most importantly, I have the authority, ability and power to cleanse you of your sins, (See I John 1:7-9)

Educational Background
  • I encompass the entire breadth and length of knowledge, wisdom and understanding, (See Proverbs 2:6).
  • In me are hid all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, (See Colossians 2:3).
  • My Word is so powerful; it has been described as being a lamp unto your feet and a lamp unto your path, (See Psalms 119:105).
  • I can even tell you all of the secrets of your heart, (See Psalms 44:21).

Major Accomplishments
  • I was an active participant in the greatest Summit Meeting of all times, (See Genesis 1:26).
  • I laid down my life so that you may live, (See II Corinthians 5:15).
  • I defeated the archenemy of God and mankind and made a show of them openly, (See Colossians 2:15).
  • I've miraculously fed the poor, healed the sick and raised the dead!
  • There are many more major accomplishments, too many to mention here. You can read them on my website, which is located at: www dot - the BIBLE. You don't need an Internet connection or computer to access my website.

References
  • Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine healing, salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration and supernatural guidance.

In Summation
Now that you've read my resume, I'm confident that I'm the only candidate uniquely qualified to fill this vital position in your heart. In summation, I will properly direct your paths, (See Proverbs 3:5-6), and lead you into everlasting life, (See John 6:47). When can I start? Time is of the essence, (See Hebrews 3:15).
Only HE can possibly do all these things and he's not done yet ... 2jesus

Is it the life for me?



Discover Purpose

Guy thinkingTake a look at your life. How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. There are things we dream of doing one day, and there are things we wish we could forget. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?
The Bible talks about the world beginning with the creation of a beautiful garden and two blameless people who walked and talked with God. They were truly innocent – they didn’t even know that they were naked. But it didn’t stay that way. They chose to turn away from God and sin entered the world, and with it guilt, shame, regret. Humankind was no longer blameless. But God still loved the world that he created and so he sent his Son to redeem it.

Monday, May 14, 2012

A candle that saves many ships

I would love to share you a story today. A story about a small candle carried by a man who was climbing the stairs of a lighthouse.


In their way up to the top, the candle asked the man, "Where are we going?"

"We're going to the top of this lighthouse and give signals to the big ships on the ocean," the man answered.

"What? How could it be possible for me with my small light to give signals to those big ships?"

"They will never be able to see my light", replied the candle weakly.

"That's your part. If your light is small, let it be. All you have to do is keep burning and leave the rest to me", said the man.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

The Paradoxical Commandments

This is the new wall post I have placed on my room today. It is originally written by Dr. Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

Mother Theresa had her own version for this Poster

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered,
LOVE THEM ANYWAY

If you do good, people will accuse you of
selfish, ulterior motives,
DO GOOD ANYWAY

If you are successful,
you win false friends and true enemies,
SUCCEED ANYWAY

The good you do will be forgotten tomorrow,
DO GOOD ANYWAY

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable,
BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY

What you spent years building may be
destroyed overnight,
BUILD ANYWAY

People really need help
but may attack you if you help them,
HELP PEOPLE ANYWAY

Give the world the best you have
And you’ll get kicked in the teeth,
GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU’VE GOT ANYWAY.