THE VALUE OF A FRIEND

Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter: whoever finds one has found a treasure.
Faithful friends are beyond price; no amount can balance their worth.

-- Sirach 6:14-15


#2318

SHEPHERDS OF THE CHURCH

"For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood… Now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." (Acts 20:27,28,32)

As the great test of medical practice is that it heals the patient, so the great test of preaching is that it converts and builds up the hearers.

-- Herman L. Wayland (1830-1898)


#2317

A LETTER TO YOUR CHURCH

In the book of Revelation, John includes a lengthy passage addressed to seven churches, commending some and correcting others. The letter affirms service, patient endurance, courage, faithfulness, aliveness, sacrifice, and passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ. The letter also tells the truth about lukewarm commitment, poverty of spirit, waning love, lost focus, conflict, and division. The churches are invited and encouraged to come back, turn around, and return to their former passion and mission. Each of the seven churches is addressed personally in ways that are contextual, authentic, and tailored to its own circumstances. The tone is both pastoral and prophetic, positive and critical, encouraging and honest, building up communities while also holding them accountable.

…Suppose your congregation received such a letter. What would the letter say? What characteristics, spiritual qualities, practices, and ministries would be commended, worthy of praise, affirmed, and celebrated? And what characteristics, spiritual qualities, practices, and ministries of your congregation would be prophetically challenged, called into account, pierced by the spirit of truth? What truth would you be asked to confront? How would your congregation be invited to change?

-- Bishop Robert Schnase, excerpted from his Five Practices blog


#2315

A GOD THING

Did you happen to notice what word was the winning word at the 2009 Spelling Bee Championship this week? LAODICEAN.

You might say, "who cares?" Or like I did, "What does it mean?"

So I looked it up in the Webster Dictionary and this is what it said: 1. Of the ancient city of Laodicea. 2. Indifferent or lukewarm in religion, as the early Christians of that city: Revelation 3:14-16.

Well I must say that I was surprised that the secular Webster dictionary quoted Biblical scripture so I looked up that as well. And it said: "This is what you must write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: I am the one called Trustworthy. I am the faithful and true witness and the source of God's creation. Listen to what I say. I know everything you have done, and you are not cold or hot. I wish you were either one or the other. But since you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of my mouth."

Is this just a random occurrence or is it what a friend calls "A God Thing"? It makes you wonder... if it had been answered incorrectly it would have gone into obscurity like every other word at the Spelling Bee. Instead, there may be others around the country like me who wondered what it meant and looked it up... only to be reminded of the importance of not being lukewarm in our Christian faith.

-- Karen Brown


#2314

EASTER NEEDS PENTECOST

Without Pentecost, Easter reminds the church that Jesus has now gone to be with God and His followers are left alone in the world. Without Pentecost, Easter offers us a risen Christ whose return to glory leaves the church to face the world armed with nothing but fond memories of how it once was when Jesus was here. But with Pentecost, Easter’s Christ promises to return and has returned in the Holy Spirit as comforter, guide, teacher, reminder, and power. With Pentecost, the church does not simply celebrate but participates in Easter. With Pentecost, the risen Christ says hello and not good-bye to the church.

-- Dr. Fred Craddock


#2313