From Above!
An Online Ministry for the Men of CLF
When we venture into the world to earn a living, we all face our own unique set of challenges. As you can see, my office has a great view! But some days are more challenging than others. Long days away from home, weekly hotel stays, continuous jetlag and stress are some of the challenges we face in the travel industry. As men, sometimes our life is not aligning with our testimony...what people see on the outside is far from the feelings and emotions we are experiencing on the inside...
Thursday, December 28, 2006
If Christ had not come
A few years ago a thought-provoking Christmas card was published with the title, "If Christ had not come." It was based on the idea of a pastor falling asleep in his study on Christmas morning and dreaming of a world void of the miracle of Christ's birth.
In his dream he found himself looking through the home without any sign of the season--no celebrations of Jesus birth, no manger scenes, no stories of the arrival of a Savior in human form who indwelt young Mary with His growing physical presence (much like He desires to indwell us with His Spirit now). The library in which he was sleeping was suddenly missing every book with reference to Christ! Soon the doorbell rang and a child asked him to visit his dying mother. He ran to the bedside of the woman and family who were standing by and opened his Bible to find it ended with the book of Malachi--no gospels...no hope of salvation...no promise of heaven--only warnings of law and rules of the faith and the unfullfilled promise of a savior that never came!
At the gravesite, there was no message of the consolation of God who lived among us and wept at the death of His friend, no story of the resurrection and heaven where a home is promised for all of us who believe. All he could offer was "dust to dust, ashes to ashes" and an uncertain look into eternity. He began to weep with grief at the hopelessness of such a faith and miserable ministry.
Then he awoke! Joy burst into his heart, and he remembered that Christ had in fact come, just like the angel testified, "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."
What a blessed thought to keep in the center of our hearts this New Year!
Cort
cetangeman@kmoraine.com
In his dream he found himself looking through the home without any sign of the season--no celebrations of Jesus birth, no manger scenes, no stories of the arrival of a Savior in human form who indwelt young Mary with His growing physical presence (much like He desires to indwell us with His Spirit now). The library in which he was sleeping was suddenly missing every book with reference to Christ! Soon the doorbell rang and a child asked him to visit his dying mother. He ran to the bedside of the woman and family who were standing by and opened his Bible to find it ended with the book of Malachi--no gospels...no hope of salvation...no promise of heaven--only warnings of law and rules of the faith and the unfullfilled promise of a savior that never came!
At the gravesite, there was no message of the consolation of God who lived among us and wept at the death of His friend, no story of the resurrection and heaven where a home is promised for all of us who believe. All he could offer was "dust to dust, ashes to ashes" and an uncertain look into eternity. He began to weep with grief at the hopelessness of such a faith and miserable ministry.
Then he awoke! Joy burst into his heart, and he remembered that Christ had in fact come, just like the angel testified, "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."
What a blessed thought to keep in the center of our hearts this New Year!
Cort
cetangeman@kmoraine.com
Friday, December 01, 2006
Injustice...A test of our faith
After the September 11 attacks, many of America's airlines fell into bankruptcy. Though this in itself was less disastrous than living through the actual attacks, lives were changed through these financial crisis. In the bankruptcy process, which should be a just and fair process by our courts, many workers lost a lifetime of savings and years of future return on corporate managed retirement plans. Every day in the news, we hear of other injustices in our justice system--rulings motivated by financial gain not judicial fairness. We should pray for those who rule our land and direct our affairs, who treat others with an unjust selfishness! The call to God's people is to act like Christ. He died suffering under very unjust conditions, yet all the while, He only spoke the truth in love and prayed unceasingly. His whole purpose was to fulfill God's plan for His life, save the lost, and comfort the brokenhearted. We must strive to do likewise.
But the future for the unjust and greed motivated judicial ruler is bleak. Without a real turn back to God, James 5:3-4 has this to say:
"This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgment. For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The wages you held back cry out against you. The cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty."
This cry of the heart must be answered. God can no more ignore this cry than we can stand by hearing the shriek of agony from one of our own children and remain unresponsive. He will respond to the weak in their suffering, though like His response to His own Son's suffering, He will act in His time.
C.H. Spurgeon said this about standing in the place of the sufferer--the victim of injustice:
"God's seasons are not at our choosing or control. If the first stroke of the flint does not bring forth the fire, you must strike again. God will hear prayer, but He may not answer it at the time we think He should; He will reveal Himself to our seeking hearts, but not just when and where we have settled in our own expectations. Hence the need for perseverance. Never despair, and never quit asking because the reply is delayed. Just strike the flint again, until the fire of mercy and justice finally burns!"
Jesus said in Luke 18:6, "Learn a lesson from this evil judge. Even he rendered a just decision
in the end, so don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who plead with Him day and night? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly!"
Keep on living for Him....He will see us through it all!
Cort
But the future for the unjust and greed motivated judicial ruler is bleak. Without a real turn back to God, James 5:3-4 has this to say:
"This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgment. For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The wages you held back cry out against you. The cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty."
This cry of the heart must be answered. God can no more ignore this cry than we can stand by hearing the shriek of agony from one of our own children and remain unresponsive. He will respond to the weak in their suffering, though like His response to His own Son's suffering, He will act in His time.
C.H. Spurgeon said this about standing in the place of the sufferer--the victim of injustice:
"God's seasons are not at our choosing or control. If the first stroke of the flint does not bring forth the fire, you must strike again. God will hear prayer, but He may not answer it at the time we think He should; He will reveal Himself to our seeking hearts, but not just when and where we have settled in our own expectations. Hence the need for perseverance. Never despair, and never quit asking because the reply is delayed. Just strike the flint again, until the fire of mercy and justice finally burns!"
Jesus said in Luke 18:6, "Learn a lesson from this evil judge. Even he rendered a just decision
in the end, so don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who plead with Him day and night? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly!"
Keep on living for Him....He will see us through it all!
Cort
