Nothing "Vain" About This Repetition

"Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever." (Psalm 145:2b)

Here we are at the end of the month and my "favorite" Psalm, if one is allowed to have such.  No greater expression of praise has been ever uttered, and I plan to utter it until I depart this life and join the, "ever and ever," chorus in Glory.  

I have said this before, that one could say I repeat myself.  I confess, yes I do------ and so does the Bible.  The Word of God, Jesus Christ, has seen fit to add nothing to what He has already said.  Beware, therefore, of "new" words which are not rooted in the "old" words, the Scriptures.  The NLT has an interesting perspective on 1 John 2:7,8, "Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning.  This old commandment-- to love one another-- is the message you heard before.  Yet it is also new.  Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it.  For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining."  It is as E. Stanley Jones said, "The Word became flesh in Jesus, and continues to become flesh in us." 

So repetition of our text and any other portion of Scripture is in many ways not repetition; it is "moment by moment" new, alive, fresh.  I repeat breathing every few seconds, and every breath is new, refreshing, invigorating.  Yet without this repetition over and over and over in my being, there would be no life, in fact my life would stop, I would cease to exist.  If any persons every grew tired or bored with this process of life, it would be the end of them, so too in the spirit; therefore, "I will extol Thee, My God, O King; and I will bless Thy Name for ever and ever.  Every day will I bless Thee; and I will praise Thy Name for ever and ever," and ever and ever and ever and...................................... 

Father, in Jesus' Name, enable me to, "speak of the glorious honor of Thy majesty, and of Thy wondrous works," over and over and over.  Amen.

*************

I ask prayer for the next three Sundays.  I will be preaching in the meetings of three congregations.  

July 1: Renewed Strength Church, Westville, Ohio, Pastor Mark

July 8: Covenant Church East, Greensburg, PA., Pastor Jim

July 15: Amsterdam Covenant Church, Amsterdam, Ohio, Pastor Mike

Thanks in advance.

2 Perspectives on Recent Court Ruling: www.jerberwash.blogspot.com

Unreached People Group of the Day: www.apfunreachedpeoples.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Are You a Good Listener?

"Why do you not understand My speech?  Because you are not able to listen to My word."  (John 8:43)

Marlon Brandon once said, "An actor's a guy who if you ain't talkin' about him, ain't listening."

There is much more in our text than I can speak of now, but it seems to me that the reason we, "are not able to listen to My (His) word," is that we just, "are not able to listen...."  Humanity is basically so full of itself that the only thing it can do if it cannot either express itself is not listen.  

Not only are so many not able to "listen" to Jesus, they cannot listen to one another.  One of the most difficult things to overcome in a small group setting is, "not able to listen."  The expression-people tend to dominate, and at the same time they, "are not able to listen."  Bonhoeffer once said, "Christians who can no longer listen to one another will soon no longer be listening to God either; they will always be talking even in the presence of God."  I think today I want to work on better listening to our Lord Jesus------ and His Followers.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess, I am a talker.  Keep me in Your grace to also be a listener.  Amen.  

"To Him Be Glory in the Church"

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen." (Ephesians 3:20, 21)

This passage, which comes right near the end of my quarterly trek through the Scriptures, is always so very powerful, but also a gentle (or not so gentle) rebuke.  Like most evangelical/pentecostal people, I have tended to revert to "individualism" in the walk.  But when I reflect on our text, I must tell you that my most memorable "worship experiences" have come in what Hebrews 12 describes as, "the general assembly and church of the firstborn."  This is Who the Church is, and it is in this Church the Holy Spirit most powerfully manifests (sorry if this offends you "rugged individualists").

I also read a great devotional by Bonhoeffer today on Christian Community.  It is a topic which the evangelical/charismatic traditions seem to avoid.  Most seem to have the attitude of the man interviewed by Chuck Colson years ago, and when asked what his definition of the Church was, he replied, "I'm my own church."  Nobody is.  We together comprise the Church, the Body of Christ.  Evangelicals would also balk at the statement, "there is no salvation outside the Church;" but there is not.  Right now, some are thinking only of the Catholic Church or some other institutionalize version of "church," and miss, as most evangelicals have over the decades, the true "nature" and saving power of the Church.  It is the Church for whom Jesus prayed in John 17.

This is not an either/or argument.  You just cannot separate the individual Follower of Jesus from the Church of Jesus.

I have desired to serve the Church of Jesus Christ, "the Church of the Living God," over these past 48+ years in "full-time" service.  As with any who serve the Christian Community, some have received me, some have not, and I neither blame others nor justify myself.  It has been the all-too-prevalent "spirit" of car buying, Walmart vs. Target shopping experience, as in, "Well, I just like that better than this."  Yet none of this should deter me nor you in maintaining "membership," service, regular Christian Community (Church) fellowship, support, and service.  "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?  The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ....Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually."  Some may try, but you cannot separate the Resurrected Body of Christ from His Church, Which is, "the body of Christ."  Jesus said He lives in me, in you, in the, "general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven...."  Personally, I greatly delight in the implications and reality of, "Christ in you (the Church), the hope of glory."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I ask that you help me and my friend to continue to serve Your Church.  Amen.

******************

You Can Access Bonhoeffer's Article at: www.jerberwash.blogspot.com

Unreached People Group of the Day: www.apfunreachedpeoples.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

The Words and Wisdom of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Click on the highlighted portion below; you will be able to read it better.  I just wanted to share with you a devotional from one of the greatest Followers of Jesus Christ in the 20th Century.  Please note the great format for us.

To view this email as a web page, go to the link below, or copy and paste it   into your browser's address window.  http://click.lists.biblegateway.com/?qs=0fffa991478d48b1f3b94339d1ec063e4e64fbe5ea3940c1c53490a5d1be02dd   The Words and Wisdom of Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Day 25  Christians are persons who no longer seek their salvation, their deliverance,   their justification in themselves, but in Jesus Christ alone. They know that   God&#';s Word in Jesus Christ pronounces them guilty, even when they feel   nothing of their own guilt, and that God&#';s Word in Jesus Christ pronounces   them free and righteous even when they feel nothing of their own   righteousness&#...;    Because they daily hunger and thirst for righteousness, they long for the   redeeming Word again and again. It can only come from the outside. In themselves   they are destitute and dead. Help must come from the outside; and it has come   and comes daily and anew in the Word of Jesus Christ, bringing us redemption,   righteousness, innocence, and blessedness. But God put this Word into the mouth   of human beings so that it may be passed on to others. When people are deeply   affected by the Word, they tell it to other people. God has willed that we   should seek and find God&#';s living Word in the testimony of other Christians,   in the mouths of human beings. Therefore, Christians need other Christians   who speak God&#';s Word to them. They need them again and again when they   become uncertain and disheartened.  Biblical Wisdom  Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the   outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.  http://click.lists.biblegateway.com/?qs=0fffa991478d48b15412ad6463fc3a15e4f05c29d4c6011b6ddec020e6f0883a     Hebrews 13:7   Questions to Ponder  	- Where do disciples go to satisfy theirdaily hunger and thirst for   righteousness?  	- If Christians find their salvation, deliverance, and justification not in   them&#��;selves but in Jesus Christ, how should they use their resulting   freedom?  	- If God has put God&#';s word into the &#";mouth of human beings,&#"; who is   responsible to speak the word? Only pastors or church workers? Why?Psalm   Fragment  On the glorious splendor of your majesty,  &#��;&#��;&#��;and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.  The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed,  &#��;&#��;&#��;and I will declare your greatness.  They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness,  &#��;&#��;&#��;and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.  http://click.lists.biblegateway.com/?qs=0fffa991478d48b10632ee43cc54c92d8fb11aafb8aeee684ea982509734f329     Psalm 145:5-7   Journal Reflections  	- Write about specific Christians who have spoken a word from God to you when   you needed it.  	- Write about people to whom you have spoken God&#';s word.Intercessions  Think of someone you would like to be a spiritual friend with and ask God to   help you build a mutually supportive spiritual relationship with him or her.  Prayer for Today  O Holy Spirit, send the people I need to bring me the word of God, and send the   people I need to speak the word of God to.        =====================    Buy a copy of the book this devotional is taken from here!    http://click.lists.biblegateway.com/?qs=0fffa991478d48b1b07ad5c5b1e91652caa5d6e9a6678f830a558b071d2c95b3         One of the most widely admired theologians of the 20th century, Bonhoeffer was a   profound yet clear thinker. Klug selects significant passages from his works,   pairs them with appropriate Scripture, sets up a journal-writing exercise, and   concludes with prayer.    =================  Subscription Info  =================    You received this newsletter because you signed up for it on  http://click.lists.biblegateway.com/?qs=0fffa991478d48b1ca3a068a8e57ea741b9da5d6a6d3e65a840e3b98e74cbbab     BibleGateway.com  or one of its associated websites.    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