mergers

The last few years have seen many company mergers. Here are some possible mergers to expect in the future:

1. Xerox and Wurlitzer: They're going to make reproductive organs.

2. Fairchild Electronics and Honeywell Computers: New company will

be called Fairwell Honeychild.

3. Polygram Records, Warner Brothers and Keebler: New company will

be called Poly-Warner-Cracker.

4. Hale Business Systems, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Fuller Brush, and W.R. Grace

Company: New company will be called Hale Mary Fuller Grace.

5. 3M & Goodyear: MMMGood

6. John Deere & Abitibi-Price: Deere Abi

7. Honeywell, Imasco, and Home Oil: Honey, I'm Home

8. Denison Mines, Alliance, and Metal Mining: Mine, All Mine

9. Zippo Manufacturing, Audi, Dofasco, Dakota Mining: Zip Audi Do-Da

10. Knott's Berry Farm & National Organization of Women: Knott NOW!

11. Netscape & Yahoo: Net 'n' Yahoo

12. Fed-Ex & UPS: FedUp

There's another "merger" that took place years ago even more unbelievable than any of those listed above. What do you get when you merge the omnipotent God of the universe with human flesh and blood? Jesus Christ, the only being who ever lived who could rightfully wear both the title "Son of God" and the title "Son of Man". Understanding why God, in loving humility, would be willing to stoop so low for our benefit remains a mystery, but it is the foundation of our hope.

"....Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross!" (Phil. 2:5b-7, NIV)

Praise be to God for the "merger" that offers us life!

law

You've heard of Murphy's Law ("Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.") Here are some new "laws", though, that you may not have heard of:

* Lerman's Law of Technology - Any technical problem can be overcome given

enough time and money.

Corollary - You are never given enough time or money.

* Murphy's First Law for Wives - If you ask your husband to pick up five

items at the store and then you add one more as an afterthought, he

will forget two of the first five.

* First Law of Living -- As soon as you start doing what you always wanted 

to be doing, you'll want to be doing something else. 

* The Salary Axiom - The pay raise is just large enough to increase your

taxes and just small enough to have no effect on your take-home pay.

* Miller's Law of Insurance - Insurance covers everything except what

happens.

* Kenny's Law of Auto Repair - The part requiring the most consistent

repair or replacement will be housed in the most inaccessible

location.

* Second Law of Names - If there are two possible ways to spell a person's

name, you will pick the wrong one.

Corollary - If there is only one way to spell a name, you will spell it

wrong anyway.

* The Grocery Bag Law - The candy bar you planned to eat on the way home

from the market is hidden at the bottom of the grocery bag.

* Yeager's Law - Washing machines break down only during the wash cycle.

Corollary - All breakdowns occur on the plumbers' day off.

* Lampner's Law of Employment - When leaving work late, you will go

unnoticed. When you leave work early, you will meet the boss in the

parking lot.

* Troutman's Fifth Programming Postulate - If the input editor has been

designed to reject all bad input, an ingenious idiot will discover a

method to get bad data past it.

* Lovka's Dilemma - You never get away, you only get someplace else.

The Bible is also filled with laws, everything from "You shall not commit adultery" to "You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together." Some laws are a part of the law of Moses and are no longer binding on us, others are a part of the New Testament and are binding, and some laws are eternal, like this one:

* The Law of Sin and Death -- "The soul who sins shall die." (Ezek. 18:4)

Like many of the laws listed above, it is rather pessimistic and depressing, and rightfully so. We have all sinned, and so we know what the penalty is. Fortunately there is a corollary, though:

* The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ -- If you are "in Christ" and

walking "according to the Spirit," you can ignore the Law of Sin and

Death (because Christ's death has paid the penalty for sin).

Listen to these words of hope: "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." (Rom. 8:1-2)

May these words encourage those of us who are "in Christ Jesus" and spur us on to live godly lives.

..........hope

Tom had never been on a fishing boat before, and he was now thinking it was the stupidest thing he'd ever done in his life. Who would ever have believed that seasickness could be this awful? With every pitch and roll, Tom wondered how he was going to survive the remaining two hours of the trip.

One of the deckhands came up to him and said, "Don't worry, young fella. Nobody ever died of seasickness."

"You've just taken away my last hope for relief," Tom said.

It's a terrible thing to live without hope. It's bad enough to be miserable and have no hope of relief, but it's even worse to have no hope of anything beyond this life.

Paul looks back to what the Ephesians had before they became Christians (or more accurately, what they didn't have):

"Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world." (Eph. 2:12, NIV)

We live in a world without hope, because it is a world without Christ. But we as Christians have a hope that is founded in Christ and what he has done for us. "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast..." (Heb. 6:19) 

Hold fast the hope of your calling!

......gratitude

A foursome of senior golfers hit the course with waning enthusiasm for the sport.

"These hills are getting steeper as the years go by," one complained.

"These fairways seem to be getting longer too," said one of the others.

"The sand traps seem to be bigger than I remember them too," said the third senior.

After hearing enough from his buddies, the oldest and the wisest of the four of them at 87 years old, piped up and said, "My friends, just be thankful we're still on this side of the grass!"

It is easy to find things to complain about (and some people seem to enjoy doing it!). Very few things around us are just the way we would like them if we were living in an "ideal" world. However, we need to be careful that we do not get so caught up in our complaints that we overlook the great blessings that abound in our lives.

May the "attitude of gratitude" be evident in our daily lives.

justice

After a tiring two-week criminal trial in a high profile bank robbery case, the jury finally ended its 14 hours of deliberations and entered the courtroom to deliver its verdict to the judge. The judge turned to the jury foreman and asked, "Has the jury reached a verdict in this case?"

"Yes we have, your honor," the foreman responded.

"Would you please pass it to me?" the judge declared, as he motioned for the bailiff to retrieve the verdict slip from the foreman and deliver it to him.

After the judge read the verdict himself, he delivered the verdict slip back to his bailiff to be returned to the foreman and instructed the foreman, "Please read your verdict to the court."

"We find the defendant NOT GUILTY of all four counts of bank robbery," stated the foreman.

The family and friends of the defendant jumped for joy at the sound of the "not guilty" verdict and hugged each other as they shouted expressions of gratitude. The defendant's attorney turned to his client and asked, "So, what do you think about that?"

The defendant said, "I'm real confused here. Does this mean that I don't have to give all the money back?"

I don't believe the story is true, but it certainly could have been. "If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things..." (Eccl. 5:8a). We know, all too well, stories of injustice in our court system. There is a big difference between receiving a "not guilty" verdict in a court case and truly being "innocent." And it angers us when we believe that someone has "beat the system" and avoided punishment they deserve.

For someone who does not believe in God, injustice leads to bitterness and depression. Life is unfair. Innocent people are hurt and guilty people are not held accountable.

But, for the Christian, we know that justice will prevail. God is not only a God of absolute love and grace, but He is also a God of absolute justice.

"[God] will render to each one according to his deeds: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness -- indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil..." (Rom. 2:6-9).

We live in an unjust world, but we take comfort that someday all men will stand accountable before a just God.

grow

Over the years, the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line staff have had their share of memorable calls -- inquiries that stand out from the crowd because they're heartwarming or amusing. Some of the veteran staff members were asked to tell their favorites.

It's hard to beat the call from a trucker who planned to cook his

Thanksgiving turkey on the engine of his truck ("Will it cook faster

if I drive faster?"), but some of these come pretty close. These are real incidents, true stories!

* Taking turkey preparation an extra step, a Virginian wondered,

"How do you thaw a fresh turkey?" The Talk-Line staffer explained

that fresh turkeys aren't frozen and don't need to be thawed.

* A woman called to find out how long it would take to roast her turkey.

To answer the question, the Talk-Line home economist asked how much the

bird weighed. The woman responded, "I don't know, it's still running

around outside."

* A restaurant owner in California wanted to know how to roast a turkey for

a vegetarian menu.

* A West Coast woman took turkey preparation to extremes by scrubbing her

bird with bleach. Afterward, she called the Talk-Line to find out how to

clean off the bleach. To her dismay, she was advised to dispose of the

turkey.

* A young girl called on behalf of her mother who needed roasting advice.

To provide approximate roasting times, the home economist asked what

size the turkey was. Without asking her mother, the little girl paused,

then replied, "Medium."

* Then there's the time a lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at

the grocery store, but couldn't find one big enough for her family. She

asked a stock boy, "Do these turkeys get any bigger?" The stock boy

replied, "No ma'am, they're dead."

I realize that's not what she meant, but it's a point worth noting: "Dead things don't grow." Only living things grow. Flowers grow (until they are cut), but rocks don't. Puppies and kittens grow, but automobiles don't.

It's a simple concept, yet so vital to our Christian lives. Are you alive in Christ? Check to see if you're growing. Things that are living will grow.

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18)

..........grow

Over the years, the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line staff have had their share of memorable calls -- inquiries that stand out from the crowd because they're heartwarming or amusing. Some of the veteran staff members were asked to tell their favorites.

It's hard to beat the call from a trucker who planned to cook his

Thanksgiving turkey on the engine of his truck ("Will it cook faster

if I drive faster?"), but some of these come pretty close. These are real incidents, true stories!

* Taking turkey preparation an extra step, a Virginian wondered,

"How do you thaw a fresh turkey?" The Talk-Line staffer explained

that fresh turkeys aren't frozen and don't need to be thawed.

* A woman called to find out how long it would take to roast her turkey.

To answer the question, the Talk-Line home economist asked how much the

bird weighed. The woman responded, "I don't know, it's still running

around outside."

* A restaurant owner in California wanted to know how to roast a turkey for

a vegetarian menu.

* A West Coast woman took turkey preparation to extremes by scrubbing her

bird with bleach. Afterward, she called the Talk-Line to find out how to

clean off the bleach. To her dismay, she was advised to dispose of the

turkey.

* A young girl called on behalf of her mother who needed roasting advice.

To provide approximate roasting times, the home economist asked what

size the turkey was. Without asking her mother, the little girl paused,

then replied, "Medium."

* Then there's the time a lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at

the grocery store, but couldn't find one big enough for her family. She

asked a stock boy, "Do these turkeys get any bigger?" The stock boy

replied, "No ma'am, they're dead."

I realize that's not what she meant, but it's a point worth noting: "Dead things don't grow." Only living things grow. Flowers grow (until they are cut), but rocks don't. Puppies and kittens grow, but automobiles don't.

It's a simple concept, yet so vital to our Christian lives. Are you alive in Christ? Check to see if you're growing. Things that are living will grow.

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18)

..........heart

Lord of reality, make me real,

not plastic, synthetic, pretend, phony,

an actor playing out his part - hypocrite.

I don't want to keep a prayer list

- but to pray,

Nor agonize to find Your will

- but to obey what I already know,

I don't want to argue theories of inspiration

- but to submit to Your Word.

I don't want to explain the difference between eros and philos and agape

- but to love.

I don't want to sing as if I mean it

- I want to mean it.

I don't want to tell it like it is

- but to be like You want it.

I don't want to think another needs me

- but I need him, else I'm not complete.

I don't want to tell others how to do it

- but to do it;

I don't want to have to be always right

- but to admit it when I'm wrong.

I don't want to be a census taker

- but an obstetrician

Nor an involved person, a professional

- but a friend.

I don't want to be insensitive

- but to hurt where other people hurt

Nor to say "I know how you feel"

- but to say, "God knows"

and "I'll try if you'll be patient with me"

and meanwhile I'll be quiet.

I don't want to scorn the clichés of others

- but to mean everything I say

Including this.

"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ." (Philippians 1:9-10)

-joe bayly

war

A young guy in a two-engine fighter was flying escort for a B-52 and generally being a nuisance, acting like a hotdog, flying rolls around the lumbering old bomber. 

The hotdog said over the air, "Anything you can do, I can do better." 

The veteran bomber pilot answered, "Try this hot-shot." The B-52 continued its flight, straight and level. 

Perplexed, the hotdog asked, "So? What did you do?" 

"I just shut down two engines, kid."

I suppose you may heard something in the news the past few days about a war going on in Iraq. These are difficult times, and we all feel the urgent need to spend more time with God in prayer. We pray for the safety of our troops. We pray for a quick end to the conflict. But, beyond that, what should we pray for?

Ron Hutchcraft recently sent out an e-mail entitled "10 Ways to Pray in Times Like These" (http://www.gospelcom.net/rhm/editorials/waystopray.php). Here are seven of his good suggestions:

1. "Lord, do something that will show people Your glory over all the earth."

This is a moment for God to do something that no diplomat, no world leader, no army could possibly do - so all will know that "the Lord He is God."

2. "Lord, use these anxious and uncertain times to bring many to Christ."

God can use this fearful time to reach the hearts of many - in Iraq, in America, across the Middle East, among the young men and women of the military.

3. "Lord, guide our leaders to be instruments of Your will on earth."

"I urge ... that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority." (I Timothy 2:1-2)

4. "Lord, protect the innocent."

5. "Pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:27)

Jesus has charged us to represent even our enemies before His Throne of Grace.

6. "Lord, help Your people model peace in these troubled times, pointing the people around them to Jesus - at a time when hearts are soft."

This uncertain time is a life-saving moment - when those who belong to Jesus have an unusual window to introduce Him to those who don't. But the window may not be open for long.

7. "Lord, bring peace out of all that's happening."

God has told us that the result He desires in answer to our prayers for our leaders is a climate where peace and righteousness can flourish (I Tim. 2:2).

-ron hutchcraft

faithful

In the country of Armenia, in 1988, Samuel and Danielle sent their young son, Armand, off to school. Samuel squatted before his son and looked him in the eye. "Have a good day at school, and remember, no matter what, I’ll always be there for you." They hugged and the boy ran off to school.

Hours later, a powerful earthquake rocked the area. In the midst of the pandemonium, Samuel and Danielle tried to discover what happened to their son but they couldn’t get any information. The radio announced that there were thousands of casualties.  Samuel then grabbed his coat and headed for the schoolyard. When he reached the area, what he saw brought tears to his eyes. Armand’s school was a pile of debris. Other parents were standing around crying.

Samuel found the place where Armand’s classroom used to be and began pulling a broken beam off the pile of rubble.  He then grabbed a rock and put it to the side, and then grabbed another one.

One of the parents looking on asked, "What are you doing?"   "Digging for my son," Samuel answered. The man then said, "You’re just going to make things worse! The building is unstable," and tried to pull Samuel away from his work.

Samuel just kept working. As time wore on, one by one, the other parents left. Then a worker tried to pull Samuel away from the rubble.  Samuel looked at him and said, "Won’t you help me?"   The worker left and Samuel kept digging.

All through the night and into the next day, Samuel continued digging.  Parents placed flowers and pictures of their children on the ruins.  But, Samuel just kept working.  He picked up a beam and pushed it out of the way when he heard a faint cry. "Help! Help!"  Samuel listened but didn’t hear anything again.  Then he heard a muffled voice, "Papa?"

Samuel began to dig furiously.  Finally he could see his son.  "Come on out, son!" he said with relief.

"No," Armand said.  "Let the other kids come out first because I know you’ll get me."  Child after child emerged until, finally, little Armand appeared.  Samuel took him in his arms and Armand said, "I told the other kids not to worry because you told me that you’d always be there for me!"

Fourteen children were saved that day because one father was faithful.

How much more faithful is our heavenly Father!  Whether trapped by fallen debris or ensnared by life’s hardships and struggles, we are never cut off from God’s faithfulness.  He is true to His character.  He is reliable and trustworthy and can always be counted on.

Deuteronomy 7:9 "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations…"

1 Corinthians 1:9 - God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

Psalm 37:28, "For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever" 

rely

"Rely not on yourselves, but on God...
He delivered us...
He will deliver us...
He will continue to deliver us..." (2 Corinthians 1:9-11) 


I quit!
I've tried my best to live
...as God expects me to
...as my family expects me to
I want to do the best, but I always fail.
I give up!
There's no use trying!
I just fail...


I?


"Rely not on yourselves, but on God...
He delivered us
He will deliver us
He will continue to deliver us"
Again and again and again
like food,
like sleep,
God will give us strength every day.

"Rely not on yourselves, but on God"

knew

Earl C. Willer tells the story of two men who grew up best friends; though Jim was just a little older than Phillip and often assumed the role of leader, they did everything together. They even went to high school and college together.

After college they joined the Marines. By a unique series of circumstances they were sent to Germany together where they fought side by side in one of history's ugliest wars.

One sweltering day during a fierce battle, amid heavy gunfire, bombing, and close-quarters combat, they were given the command to retreat. As the men were running back, Jim noticed that Phillip had not returned with the others. Panic gripped his heart. Jim knew if Phillip was not back in another minute or two, then he wouldn't make it.

Jim begged his commanding officer to let him go after his friend, but the officer forbade the request, saying it would be suicide. Risking his own life, Jim disobeyed and went after Phillip. His heart pounding he ran into the gunfire calling out for his friend. A short time later his platoon saw him hobbling across the field carrying a limp body in his arms.

Jim's commanding officer upbraided him, shouting that it was a foolish waste of time and an outrageous risk. Your friend is dead, he added, and there is nothing you could do.

"No sir, you are wrong," Jim replied. "I got there just in time. Before he died, his last words were 'I knew you would come.'"

Think of it friends. Someday, we'll be together in Heaven and I'm certain that we'll be rejoicing and saying the same thing.  "Jesus, I knew you would come back for me." 

He is the epitome of Loyalty. His love for us was so great that He gave up His life on the cross.  He said that He would come back and take his church back to Heaven to spend eternity with Him. You can count on that! 

I don't believe that it's a long time off in the future either. Be ready.

-tim levin

in

"'But Lord,' Gideon asked, 'how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.'"  (Judges 6:15) 

Once when he was to preach at the University of Sydney in Australia, evangelist and Pastor John Stott lost his voice. He says: "What can you do with a missionary who has no voice? We had come to the last night of the evangelistic campaign. The students had booked the big university hall. A group of students gathered around me, and I asked them to pray as Paul did, that this thorn in the flesh might be taken from me. But we went on to pray that if it pleased God to keep me in weakness, I would rejoice in my infirmities in order that the power of Christ might rest upon me.

As it turned out, I had to get within one inch of the microphone just to croak the gospel. I was unable to use any inflection of voice to express my personality. It was just a croak in a monotone, and all the time we were crying to God that his power would be demonstrated in human weakness.  Well, I can honestly say that there was a far greater response that night than any other night. I've been back to Australia ten times now, and on every occasion somebody has come up to me and said, 'Do you remember that night when you lost your voice? I was converted that night.'"

The Lord loves us when we are weak, because it is then that He can work through us. Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord that when we are weak He is strong.

"God had looked for a man weak enough, and He found me." - Hudson Taylor

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."  (2 Corinthians 12:9)

-peter kennedy

starting

One of the problems with the end of the old year and the beginning of a new one is that I stop and contemplate the old year's happenings. I tend to review the months and think of all of the things that I mishandled, left undone and should have thought more about before jumping into. I don't think I am that much different than most folks. I think we all do a certain amount of looking back. There is nothing wrong with that, it gives us a chance to take note of things we need to do differently or areas in which we need to grow.

With the start of a new year God has given us a chance for new beginnings. In one of our favorite stories, Anne of Avonlea the character at one point says, "Every day is brand new, with no mistakes." I believe there is a lot of truth to that saying!

Reflection and contemplation also gives you a chance to remember some of the things you did well. I have to admit that I am on a crusade to encourage people to get to know God better in 2015. I firmly believe that the only way to get to know him better is to listen to him speak, in other words, read your Bible. As I look back at the past year, one of the things for which I am thankful, is that I once again read through the Bible. My wife and I encourage each other to read God's Word daily. I don't know how many years we have been reading through the Bible each year, but I know we have read through it more than 20 times.

Some might read that sentence and think, "I would get bored doing that." Do you know what is amazing? It is that every time we read through the Bible, we learn new things! Every time you read it you are at a different place in your life, you have dealt with different struggles, you have grown in different ways and you have come to a different level of spirituality. Often we will do our Bible reading and comment to one another about some new insight we have just come upon.

So, if you want to set some goals or perhaps a New Year's Resolution, let me suggest that you choose reading your Bible every day, read it completely through this coming year. There are many daily reading plans available online or at your local Christian Book Store. My wife and I use "The Daily Bible, in Chronological order," printed by Harvest House, but there are a large variety of Daily Bible's available, just look around for them.

Whatever it takes, whatever you need to use to help you in reading your Bible, use it!

2016 is about new beginnings, why don't you challenge yourself to join with our family in letting God speak to you through his word! A changed world begins with you changing and you can only change when you let God change you. As David wrote in Psalm 1:1-3, "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers."

May our God bless you and keep you in the coming year of new beginnings!

-russ lawson

 

starting

The ABC's of Starting Over

Is your life predictable? Do you do the same thing, day after day? Do you feel as though 2016 will be just as dull and monotonous as 2015? There is a wonderful passage that shows us a practical example of how one man changed his life. 

Mark 10:46-52

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. [47] When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” [48] Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” [49] Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” [50] Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. [51] “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” [52] “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

From this passage, we can discover the ABC’s to help us change our lives…

A - Assume Responsibility For Your Own Life! 

When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (v.47)

We live in a generation that tries to blame someone else for its problems.

Teenagers blame their parents,

Parents blame their children,

Workers blame their co-workers or their boss.

Things happen that you can’t control – but you can control your response.

Let me repeat that. Things happen that you can’t control – but you can control your response. I hear people say all the time… “He makes me so mad” or “She makes me so mad.” Nobody can make you mad. You’re the only person who can make you mad. People can do things that upset you, things you don’t like, things that hurt you. But you decide how you’re going to respond. Look back at the scripture. See what did Bartimaeus did and did not do.

1. He didn’t blame someone else. He didn’t think that God or anyone else owed him something.

2. He DID go to Jesus. He humbled himself and sought help and deliverance.

B – Believe You Can Change! 

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” (v. 51)

He believed he wouldn’t walk away the same.

He believed that he’d be DIFFERENT.

So often people pray…

     “God, if you’ll just change my employer,

              if you’ll just change my husband or my wife

              if you’ll just change my children or my friend,

              if you’ll just change my boss, or co-worker, or relative

God never promises that he will change your situation. God does promise that he will change YOU. He’ll change your attitude… your perspective… your outlook… Then you can change your attitude toward your situation.

C – Clarify What It Is You Really Need

Notice the question in verse 51 – “What do you want me to do for you?”  Specific prayers get specific answers. How often do we pray, “God bless the missionaries overseas.” Jesus already knew what the man needed. Jesus just wanted the man to say it.

How often do we play communication games with each other? A wife will tell me, “He doesn’t meet my needs.” “Well, does he know what you need?” “Sure, he loves me, he ought to know.” ” Maybe he ought to know, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he really knows. You have to tell him what your needs are.”

Another example: “I’m so mad at him.” “Well, does he know why you’re mad at him.” “Of course, he does. He knows what he did!” “How does he know? Did you tell him?” “I don’t have to tell him. He knows.”

We do the same thing with God. We assume that since God knows everything, we don’t have to tell him. But that’s just exactly the opposite of the way God operates. He wants us to tell him what we need. Exactly what we need. Jesus will meet your needs when you tell him what your needs are. But sometimes He doesn’t meet your needs because you never tell Him what you really want and how you really feel.

Notice his cry – “Have mercy on me.” He was beggar. Yet, notice, he didn’t cry out for food, or clothing, or money or housing. He was given sight that day. He was healed that day – because he realized that his most basic need was for mercy and grace. He needed what only Jesus was offering – and because of that, he was healed.

D – Decide to Stop Worrying

1. First, Stop Worrying About What Other People Will Say 

“Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more.” (v. 48) 

What were they telling him?

     Shut up! Nobody wants to hear what you have to say!

     This isn’t the right place.. This isn’t the right time…

     Nobody’s ever done it that way before…

     You can’t do that – just be quiet

We have to quit worrying about what other people think. In this particular situation, everyone else was wrong. Everyone else told him he shouldn’t do it that way. He didn’t care what the protocol was. He didn’t care if all the people agreed that you just don’t approach Jesus that way. He knew he needed help and he wasn’t going to be denied.

Have you prayed for something and God hasn’t answered you yet?

     Keep on calling out to God.

Do you have a need and God hasn’t met it yet?

     Keep on calling out to God.

Are you hurting and don’t have an answer?

     Keep on calling out to God.

Are people telling you to give up?

Are people telling you to quit?

Are people telling you that God doesn’t care?

Are you worried about what other people think or what other people will say?

Are you concerned about how it might look?

Are you worried that other people will think you crazy or you’re a fanatic?

     Stop worrying.

     Don’t quit.

     Don’t give up

     JUST CRY OUT EVEN LOUDER

Two of the greatest attributes a Christian can have are persistence and perseverance. Jesus tells a parable about the neighbor who comes at midnight and is rewarded for his persistence. Someone once said, God doesn’t answer shallow prayers, he answers desperate prayer.

2. Second, Stop Waiting for the Ideal Circumstances

As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus was sitting by the roadside begging. (v. 46)

Bartimaeus almost missed his chance. Jesus was on his way out of town. This is the last time Jesus would come to Jericho. If he had missed Jesus this time, he never would have been healed.

We have to quit waiting for just the right time.

We have to quit waiting for the right opportunity to come along. It may not happen.

We have to do something NOW!

E – Exercise Your Faith

“Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.” (v’.50)

Sometimes, we have to do something different. We can’t do the same old thing.

If we’re really going to change,

If we want life to be different,

we have to do something bold and dramatic.

Bartimaeus did something unique and unusual for that day and time. It was not normal for a man to cast aside his garment. It was not the usual protocol for a man to leave his garment. Sometimes we have to do something totally out of the norm. Totally different. Hebrews 12:1 says, let us lay aside every weight, every sin that so easily entangles us.”

Notice those words, lay aside every weight and every sin. We know the sins. But what are the weights? Whatever is keeping you from keeping Jesus first in your life. Whatever is keeping you from running to Jesus. Whatever is holding you back from surrendering your life to the LORDSHIP of Jesus so he can do a miracle in your life.

F – Follow Jesus

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. (v. 52)

He was a beggar, he was blind, he had been healed. It would have been so easy to go into town and tell everybody what had happened – to show his friends and relatives, to let the whole town know that he had been healed – but that’s not what the scripture says. It simply says, “He followed Jesus!”

2016 can be totally different from 2015 if you’ll…

A – Assume responsibility for your own life

B – Believe you can change

C – Clarify what it is you really need.

D – Decide to stop worrying

E – Exercise Your Faith

F – Follow Jesus!

-david langerfield

stay

Stay warm, stay safe, and stay close to Jesus.  That's the way I ended an email to a friend who lives in an area experiencing an ice storm...

Stay Warm

That is advice for a winter day. Stay warm. If you can, stay inside, by a fire, and with someone you love. For those who have lost their heat, have not home, have not heat, or must work outside in this weather, I am sorry that circumstances require you to work outside in the cold. For those who are serving others by working outside, I am thankful for your faithfulness in doing what you do. For the rest of us who can, stay warm.

Stay warm on the inside as well. Don't just avoid the cold temperatures, but avoid the cold heart, the cold attitude, and the cold spirit. Staying warm is a choice we will have to make. It is not natural. It will not come easy. It may never be noticed or appreciated. But, choose to stay warm.

Matthew 14:13-14, "When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick."

The world has a tendency to want to squeeze us into its mode of skepticism, negativism, cynicism, and suspicion (Romans 12:1-2). Don't let it happen to you. Stay warm.

Stay Safe

Stay safe if you must get out in the weather. Icy roads are treacherous and dangerous. A common warning when winter storms come is, "If at all possible, stay at home." Sometimes it is better not to make it to a church service (yes, I did say that), stay home from work, and miss the ball game, than risk your life, or the life of someone else by trying to navigate slick roads. When the weather is bad, it is good advice to stay safe.

Stay safe, though, is not always the best thing to do. Sometimes people of faith are asked to take a risk, to do the ill-advised, to step out in faith, or to take the road less traveled. When you do you may be criticized, you may be ridiculed, and you may be called foolish, childish, or even crazy. Do it. Step out. Don't play it safe. (See Hebrews 11)

Matthew 14:27-29, But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."  "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."   "Come," he said.

His friends may have said, "Peter, stay safe here in the boat with us." If he had, he could have never said, "I walked on water!"

Stay Close To Jesus

Stay close to Jesus. This is always good advice. This always the best route to take. This is always the right choice. Warm weather or cold icy conditions: Stay close to Jesus. On your job or in your home: Stay close to Jesus. Working hard or on vacation: Stay close to Jesus. Through the good times and through the bad: Stay close to Jesus. In sickness or in health: Stay close to Jesus. Through times of wealth and times of poverty: Stay close to Jesus.

Matthew 14:29b-31, "Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!'  Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him."

Wherever you are today, whatever you are doing, whoever you are with: Stay warm, stay safe, and stay close to Jesus.