I grew up in a house that sat on an acre of land at the edge of a forest. I knew how far away I could go and still hear Mom call. If it was close to supper I stayed in the yard. If I did not want to hear her call then anywhere in the woods would give me the freedom to play as I wanted. Of course, I might get in trouble when I came home. And, if I needed help, she could not hear me either. Temptation comes when we get out of earshot.
We are all tempted and the Bible tells us we all sin, (Romans 3:23). If we search the scriptures we can discover the character and content of sin and how to find forgiveness through Jesus Christ. We can also find teaching in the Bible that will help us avoid temptation in the first place.
First and foremost is the need to stay in God’s Word, the Bible. In Genesis 3 we see that when sin entered the world the serpent lied to Eve, and Adam, to get sin started. His first lie begins with, “Has God said…?” When we doubt God’s Word we open the door to temptation. We tend to doubt the word of someone we do not know well. The closeness of our relationship with God and our faith in His Word go hand in hand.
When Jesus was being tempted by the devil He was tempted first to turn stones into bread. He answered that temptation by remembering that man does not live by bread only but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. “Every Word,” keeps rolling around in my mind. All of the Bible is important as food for our spirit. It is the food we need not only to grow spiritually but our very survival depends on the spiritual nourishment of daily taking in His Word.
David said, “Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against God,” (Psalm 119). Read, study, memorize, and meditate on God’s Word. Make a commitment now to read through the Bible in 2008. Stay in earshot of God. The life you safe might be your own.
Bro. Robin
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The Power of Touch
Remember the telephone commercials that invited you to, “Reach out and touch someone?” I enjoy my phone but it is never the same to talk on the phone as it is to sit down with someone in person and have a conversation. This week we saw some of our kids in person and some we saw on webcam. We went to the zoo with the ones who came to visit in person. The webcam is a wonderful invention but it cannot replace a day at the zoo with your family.
We read of the many times Jesus touched someone and healed them. He was personal. He did not send letter or call on the phone. Even when He healed at a distance He was personal with the person who came to Him and requested the healing. Even when a woman touched Him for healing His power was there available for her as He responded to her touch.
One of my favorite stories of Jesus was the story of the blind man who needed to be touched twice. (Mark 8:22-25) With the first touch Jesus restored his sight but not his focus. With the second touch he saw all things clearly. I think this miracle is a parable about the way God touches many of us. We see Jesus, we have been touched by Him and know we have eternally life, but we have no focus. We see men as trees walking. The people around us might as well be trees because to us they are just objects in our world. We need to see people. We need to see them clearly. We need to see the world as Jesus sees them, a world of people for whom Christ died. We need to reach out and touch someone with the touch of Jesus.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could phone in all your responsibilities? You could take care of your spouse and children with a phone call. Some people work over the phone, or internet, so, why not? If you need glasses can you get your eyes checked over the phone? You can make the appointment over the phone. But if you want to see clearly you will have to see the doctor in person.
Some things have to be done in person. Jesus did not command us to sit down and write a letter. He commanded us to, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone.” (Mark 16:15)
A Revival is an opportunity for us to get a second touch from Jesus. We have Sight. But we still need Focus. You can only get that in person. I will see you there.
Bro. Robin
We read of the many times Jesus touched someone and healed them. He was personal. He did not send letter or call on the phone. Even when He healed at a distance He was personal with the person who came to Him and requested the healing. Even when a woman touched Him for healing His power was there available for her as He responded to her touch.
One of my favorite stories of Jesus was the story of the blind man who needed to be touched twice. (Mark 8:22-25) With the first touch Jesus restored his sight but not his focus. With the second touch he saw all things clearly. I think this miracle is a parable about the way God touches many of us. We see Jesus, we have been touched by Him and know we have eternally life, but we have no focus. We see men as trees walking. The people around us might as well be trees because to us they are just objects in our world. We need to see people. We need to see them clearly. We need to see the world as Jesus sees them, a world of people for whom Christ died. We need to reach out and touch someone with the touch of Jesus.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could phone in all your responsibilities? You could take care of your spouse and children with a phone call. Some people work over the phone, or internet, so, why not? If you need glasses can you get your eyes checked over the phone? You can make the appointment over the phone. But if you want to see clearly you will have to see the doctor in person.
Some things have to be done in person. Jesus did not command us to sit down and write a letter. He commanded us to, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone.” (Mark 16:15)
A Revival is an opportunity for us to get a second touch from Jesus. We have Sight. But we still need Focus. You can only get that in person. I will see you there.
Bro. Robin
Monday, March 10, 2008
Check Your Messages
What did we do before cell phones? It is hard to remember. I remember when I got my first one. I was taking my oldest daughter out to lunch, from school, and got a call about a person who had just gone to the hospital. My daughter was concerned that we would never again be able to have our special time with just her and me and no interruptions. I tried to do this with each of the kids at least once a month. The phone was a threat to that special time. Her immediate reaction was, “I hate that thing already.”
Fast forward a few years and the same daughter has children, a great life, and her own cell phone. I check my messages on my cell phone in the morning. This morning there were two, both of them from this daughter. The first was an excited call about the youngest grandson and the emergency room. In her message she says she has tried my phone and mom’s phone and “I can’t find you.” The second message was that he was ok. We also got an email, complete with pictures.
How have we come to depend on something so unreliable? I check my land line messages and my email more often than my cell phone yet pride myself on being “accessible.” Or, perhaps it is more about me and my habits than it is the phone system. But isn’t that the way it is with our spiritual communication as well?
There is nothing wrong with the system of prayer. The message never fails to go through. There is always someone on the other end who can do something about your request. Prayer only fails when we fail to pray. They used to say the same thing about letters. You have to send some to get them. If you send messages to God, He will send messages back to you.
Effective prayer is a habit. Just like checking your messages. The difference is that the benefits, of prayer are eternal. When was the last time you messaged God? When was the last time you checked your messages from God. His messages come in many forms, just like ours. Wouldn’t now be a good time to check your messages from God?
Dr. Robin
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Bible Thoughts
Bible Drill
It was a pleasure to watch out Bible Drill Team in action on Sunday night. I think some adults were a little intimidated by the Bible knowledge of these bright young students. They have gotten excited and worked hard to learn their way around the Bible. Their enthusiasm is contagious and I am hoping it will spread through the Church.
The Bible is our source of life and hope, the very Word of God. The great heroes of faith took comfort in not only hearing the words of God but also in reading and reflecting on the written Word of God. The Ten Commandments were first written by the finger of God. Moses gave them God’s blessing if they would not only keep those commandments in their hearts but also talk about them, and write them down, and hang them up on themselves and their houses, (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Joshua began his campaign to take the Promised Land with a promise to meditate daily on the Bible, (Joshua 1:8). The longest chapter in the Bible is about meditating on God’s Word, (Psalm 119). In the New Testament, Peter called on the Church to read Paul’s writings comparing them to the other scriptures, (2 Peter 3:15-16). Paul’s great comfort in the end was a cloak, his books, and parchments, his collection of Bibles and letters.
Jesus quoted from Scripture so often that even great scholars called him Rabbi. He was recognized as a teacher of the Word by his contemporaries, even many who were his enemies. Paul told Timothy, “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)
Stay in the Word. God will guide you.
Bro. Robin
A Warm Fire
Cold weather means a fire in the wood stove. When I was growing up we had a fireplace in the house but I do not remember it producing a lot of heat, unless you were standing right in front of it. Our main source of heat was a gas furnace. My parents were very frugal and did not think we needed heat while we slept. So, every night they would turn down the furnace and pile on the blankets.
As we raised our own children our thinking was different. We tried to find a temperature that was suitable for us all the time. We like being comfortable, not too hot, not too cold. In the evening when we all settled in for after supper relaxing we added throws, and for the last twenty years, a wood stove or wood burning fireplace. Heat is comforting.
After the cross the disciples went fishing, not knowing at the time what else to do. They fished all night and caught nothing. As they were coming back to shore they saw Jesus who called to them and asked about the fishing. Then he suggested that they try again, on the other side of the boat. When they listened to Jesus they caught an over flowing net full. Then, at the highlight of the story for me, Jesus invited them to bring some fish to a fire he already had going.
He started the fire when there were no fish, when they had been out all night and were tired, and cold, and discouraged. He called them to the fish. Then, he called them to the fire. He still does that today. He calls to us when we are cold, tired, and discouraged. He knows what we need. He invites us to His fire, the comfort of His life, and warmth of His love.
Bro. Robin
Can you hear me?
I grew up in a house that sat on an acre of land at the edge of a forest. I knew how far away I could go and still hear Mom call. If it was close to supper I stayed in the yard. If I did not want to hear her call then anywhere in the woods would give me the freedom to play as I wanted. Of course, I might get in trouble when I came home. And, if I needed help, she could not hear me either. Temptation comes when we get out of earshot.
We are all tempted and the Bible tells us we all sin, (Romans 3:23). If we search the scriptures we can discover the character and content of sin and how to find forgiveness through Jesus Christ. We can also find teaching in the Bible that will help us avoid temptation in the first place.
First and foremost is the need to stay in God’s Word, the Bible. In Genesis 3 we see that when sin entered the world the serpent lied to Eve, and Adam, to get sin started. His first lie begins with, “Has God said…?” When we doubt God’s Word we open the door to temptation. We tend to doubt the word of someone we do not know well. The closeness of our relationship with God and our faith in His Word go hand in hand.
When Jesus was being tempted by the devil He was tempted first to turn stones into bread. He answered that temptation by remembering that man does not live by bread only but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. “Every Word,” keeps rolling around in my mind. All of the Bible is important as food for our spirit. It is the food we need not only to grow spiritually but our very survival depends on the spiritual nourishment of daily taking in His Word.
David said, “Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against God,” (Psalm 119). Read, study, memorize, and meditate on God’s Word. Make a commitment now to read through the Bible in 2008. Stay in earshot of God. The life you safe might be your own.
Bro. Robin
It was a pleasure to watch out Bible Drill Team in action on Sunday night. I think some adults were a little intimidated by the Bible knowledge of these bright young students. They have gotten excited and worked hard to learn their way around the Bible. Their enthusiasm is contagious and I am hoping it will spread through the Church.
The Bible is our source of life and hope, the very Word of God. The great heroes of faith took comfort in not only hearing the words of God but also in reading and reflecting on the written Word of God. The Ten Commandments were first written by the finger of God. Moses gave them God’s blessing if they would not only keep those commandments in their hearts but also talk about them, and write them down, and hang them up on themselves and their houses, (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Joshua began his campaign to take the Promised Land with a promise to meditate daily on the Bible, (Joshua 1:8). The longest chapter in the Bible is about meditating on God’s Word, (Psalm 119). In the New Testament, Peter called on the Church to read Paul’s writings comparing them to the other scriptures, (2 Peter 3:15-16). Paul’s great comfort in the end was a cloak, his books, and parchments, his collection of Bibles and letters.
Jesus quoted from Scripture so often that even great scholars called him Rabbi. He was recognized as a teacher of the Word by his contemporaries, even many who were his enemies. Paul told Timothy, “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)
Stay in the Word. God will guide you.
Bro. Robin
A Warm Fire
Cold weather means a fire in the wood stove. When I was growing up we had a fireplace in the house but I do not remember it producing a lot of heat, unless you were standing right in front of it. Our main source of heat was a gas furnace. My parents were very frugal and did not think we needed heat while we slept. So, every night they would turn down the furnace and pile on the blankets.
As we raised our own children our thinking was different. We tried to find a temperature that was suitable for us all the time. We like being comfortable, not too hot, not too cold. In the evening when we all settled in for after supper relaxing we added throws, and for the last twenty years, a wood stove or wood burning fireplace. Heat is comforting.
After the cross the disciples went fishing, not knowing at the time what else to do. They fished all night and caught nothing. As they were coming back to shore they saw Jesus who called to them and asked about the fishing. Then he suggested that they try again, on the other side of the boat. When they listened to Jesus they caught an over flowing net full. Then, at the highlight of the story for me, Jesus invited them to bring some fish to a fire he already had going.
He started the fire when there were no fish, when they had been out all night and were tired, and cold, and discouraged. He called them to the fish. Then, he called them to the fire. He still does that today. He calls to us when we are cold, tired, and discouraged. He knows what we need. He invites us to His fire, the comfort of His life, and warmth of His love.
Bro. Robin
Can you hear me?
I grew up in a house that sat on an acre of land at the edge of a forest. I knew how far away I could go and still hear Mom call. If it was close to supper I stayed in the yard. If I did not want to hear her call then anywhere in the woods would give me the freedom to play as I wanted. Of course, I might get in trouble when I came home. And, if I needed help, she could not hear me either. Temptation comes when we get out of earshot.
We are all tempted and the Bible tells us we all sin, (Romans 3:23). If we search the scriptures we can discover the character and content of sin and how to find forgiveness through Jesus Christ. We can also find teaching in the Bible that will help us avoid temptation in the first place.
First and foremost is the need to stay in God’s Word, the Bible. In Genesis 3 we see that when sin entered the world the serpent lied to Eve, and Adam, to get sin started. His first lie begins with, “Has God said…?” When we doubt God’s Word we open the door to temptation. We tend to doubt the word of someone we do not know well. The closeness of our relationship with God and our faith in His Word go hand in hand.
When Jesus was being tempted by the devil He was tempted first to turn stones into bread. He answered that temptation by remembering that man does not live by bread only but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. “Every Word,” keeps rolling around in my mind. All of the Bible is important as food for our spirit. It is the food we need not only to grow spiritually but our very survival depends on the spiritual nourishment of daily taking in His Word.
David said, “Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against God,” (Psalm 119). Read, study, memorize, and meditate on God’s Word. Make a commitment now to read through the Bible in 2008. Stay in earshot of God. The life you safe might be your own.
Bro. Robin
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