What Are You Giving?

And a lame man from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.

Acts 3:2 ESV

In Acts 3:1-10, we find the story of the lame man sitting at the Beautiful Gate.  This was the gate that was the entrance to the Temple. It separated the Court of the Gentiles from the Temple proper.  If you were on your way to the Temple to worship, you passed through this area.  

It was here that this man sat for years. He was 40 when he experienced the healing power of God (Acts 4:22).  Since a boy entered manhood around 12 or 13, this man probably had been sitting at the gate for 27 years. Think of it...twenty-seven years of begging for enough money to buy something for each day.  Every day he was there. In the rain, sunshine, heat and cold.  Watching the people move about. Hoping they would take pity on him as they made their way into the Temple to worship.

He sat and watched as the priests entered the Temple to serve.  He watched the scribes on their way to the Court of Israel.  He watched as the Pharisees pompously walked past him, probably on the other side for fear he was unclean.  He watched as the religious entered to worship, some giving to him and others ignoring him. None bringing him what he truly needed or desired--healing.

What about us? What are we doing with knowledge with have.  What are we doing with our relationship with Jesus?  Are we so focused on "going to the temple" that we ignore those in need around us? Do we give out "token" bits knowledge or even money when they need something much more?

Purpose today to NOT be like the religious who passed this man by.  Purpose today to be like Peter and John:  "what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus..."  They didn't give him a temporary fix. They gave him Jesus.

A Season to Sit

      But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.  Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.                                                                  

    Luke 10:41, 42 ESV

 
Often we accuse Martha because she was in the kitchen and Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus.  But before we place the blame we must inventory our own lives.
 
Martha was excited to be preparing for the Lord.  After all, she had invited Him to their home (Luke 10:38).  But when her sister, Mary, decides to sit in the presence of Jesus, Martha’s self-absorption shines through.  She complains to Jesus about Mary’s lack of service.  Then Jesus kindly speaks to Martha the words listed above.
 
To be sure, there are times when we MUST be serving.  In fact, serving  should be a MAJOR part of our life.  However, there are seasons when we MUST sit at the feet of our Lord; when we must FOCUS and LISTEN to what He is saying to us.  
 
Beginning Wednesday, January 18, we will once again enter 40 Days of Fire.  This time of prayer and fasting is our chance to be Mary—to sit at the feet of Jesus and LISTEN to Him.  A chance to quiet our spirits and seek His face.
 
We encourage ALL of you to join with us as we pray for the church, pastors and missionaries around the world, the nations and our families.  You can sign-up for meals and days by filling in the calendar at the altar, contacting the church office, or email at: dryfork.assembly@ymail.com
 
Additionally, we are encouraging everyone to fast something for the entire 40 day period.  This can be dessert, coffee, meat, internet, television;  anything that is important to you.  As we do this—laying aside distractions and things of importance to us—He will speak into our lives. 
 
Now is the time to be still.  Now is the time to listen.
 

Changes of Life

Twelve years ago my oldest son, who was eleven at the time, went to Peru on a missions trip. He went with a group of 5th and 6th graders from our church and a LOT of adult supervision. My wife and I were NOT among the adults. However, there were very good friends in the group. People we trusted with our eleven year old. Hey...they were going OUT of the country!!

My wife and I stood at the departure gate at Columbus International Airport. We watched our firstborn walk down the long corridor. We watched the 747 that would carry him 3591 miles begin the process for departure. We were standing at the gate, watching our son take his first plane ride. Not just any plane ride, but one out of the country.

This is somewhat fresh in my mind because earlier this year I took a missions trip to Kenya. My wife and youngest son dropped me off at the terminal door of the Pittsburgh Airport. I then made my way through two layers of security to my departure gate. I sat for and hour and a half (because you have to be there 2-3 hours early) by myself. I texted my wife. Quite a contrast to twelve years earlier when we talked with our son until he boarded the plane.

Why the difference in twelve years? The date of change was 9/11/2001. On 9/11, our lives were forever changed. We do not view the world with the same childlikeness we did on 9/10. Family going to the boarding gates in airports to see their loved ones off became a thing of the past. It is a distant memory like 8-track tapes and the test pattern on TV.

One thing for certain is that life brings change. Some good, some bad. We cannot prevent change. It is part of the existence of our world. But our hope is not in this life. Our hope is in an unchanging God. He is an everlasting rock, unchangeable, immovable.

No matter what change life brings, we can trust in the Lord forever. He NEVER changes.

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. Isaiah 26:4


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Interconnectedness

The end of our annual Christmas Shopping Outing was more than we bargained for.  What should have been a 3 1/2 hour drive home became an event.  Due to the weather, we changed our route home thinking the Interstate would be better than some of the State Routes.  However, an accident forced us to sit for over 2 hours.  Due to no fault of our own, our plans were greatly affected.

Many times we underestimate the power of our lives.  Our influence reaches farther than any of us imagine.  Just as our journey was delayed because of other's actions, so our actions influence lives around us.

Our lives are far more connected than we think.  My decisions affect more than just me.  My family; my friends; my leadership team; people I don't truly know; all are affected by my decisions.  The same is true in your life.  Your circle of influence radiates from your life like ripples in a pond. 

What is your life saying?  How are you influencing your world? 

Review of The Summit

In a world flooded with books about leadership, this book is not from the same mold.  Where most leadership books tell you how to be a leader, how to influence people, or how to be all you can be, Eric Alexander (get to know him here) takes you on a leadership journey...quite literally.  You journey to the peak of Mount Everest.  But you do not travel alone; or, just with him.  You travel with a group determined to ascend the peak with a blind man.

The Summit is full of thought-provoking experiences.  The descriptions of the climbs leave you breathless in thin atmosphere and shivering from the bone-chilling cold.  You also feel the excitement when the summit is reached, the ice-flow is crossed, and when Erik Weihenmayer (the blind climber) successfully reaches the bottom of Mt. Elbrus after skiing the 9500-foot descent from the summit.  But mostly the life lessons from the climbs are what impact you most. 

You are faced with the question: "What defines success?"  In mountain climbing, most (including me initially) would think that reaching the top defines success.  Alexander gives pause to think when he defines success as returning safely to the bottom--even if the summit was NOT reached.  My favorite quote from the book details this thinking:

For success, we need to seek the extraordinary, but learn to find joy in the ordinary.  It may sound like an aim-low strategy, but what I am trying to understand and apply in my life is I can't walk only on mountaintops.  Life is lived in the valleys, and for moments we are able to reach the heights and look out.  But these places are inhospitable for the long term.

This book is as much about living life as it is about leadership.  But when you think about leadership, it is really about how you live your life.  As John Quinncy Adams said:

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.

I highly recommend this book.

Pastor Ric received a copy of The Summit in consideration for this review.