A Few Moments With God - January

[janbear]

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3 NRSV Bible)

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Someone has drawn a helpful analogy about the importance of unity in the church to the life of a honey bee. As I understand it, honey bees cannot live in isolation. You always keep bees (plural), you never keep a single bee. If you isolate a bee, you can give it the most favorable temperature, you can give it plenty of water and plenty of food, but the bee will die within two to three days. There is something about the community of bees that keeps individual bees alive. You can keep bees, but you cannot keep a bee.
In a sense that is also true of the church. One of the chief sources of our strength is our unity. If we are not as vital in our witness as we might be, it is probably because our bonds of love are not as strong as they might be. We, the church, must have an intense fellowship with one another.


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Dear God, remind me often of my need for study and fellowship with my brothers and sisters in the community of faith. Amen.
Ron Newhouse

[janbear]

For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10 NRSV Bible)

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We read in Acts 2:42 that they devoted themselves to "the breaking of bread and prayers." Prayer fueled the vitality of the early church. Prayer will also continue the vitality of our Christian journey.
I saw a news report of a church bulletin that read like this: "The outreach committee has enlisted 25 visitors to make calls on people who are not afflicted with any church." I'm sure this was a typo. We should nonetheless be in prayer for those who don't attend church.

At the end of World War II, Robert Woodruff, president of Coca Cola declared, "In my generation it is my desire that everyone in the world have a taste of Coca Cola." Today Coca Cola is sold from the deserts of Africa to the interior of China. Why? Because Woodruff motivated his colleagues to reach their generation around the world for Coke.

Any healthy organization reaches out. We must reach out too, as we share our savior with a lost world.


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Dear God, thank you for all the people who have reached out to me with the message of hope in Jesus Christ. Move me to share my savior in love for those who are in need of your hope. Amen.
Ron Newhouse

[janbear]

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19 NRSV Bible)

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Peppermint Patty steps up to the store counter in a PEANUTS cartoon. She says, "Yes, sir . . . I need some school supplies . . . some pencils, some paper, a loose-leaf binder . . . and some answers ... I need a lot of answers ..." Don't we all?
Life is full of difficult questions. There are many things in life we do not understand. Many of us have a hard time understanding the Trinity--God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Even the finest theologians find themselves at a loss to explain it satisfactorily. Some use the analogy of the masks worn by actors in the old Greek tragedies. One actor wearing many masks can play many parts. But it is still just one actor.

Others have used the analogy of water. Under normal conditions, water, H2O, is a liquid, but freeze it and it becomes a solid. Heat it and it becomes steam. It is still H2O, whatever form it takes, but it can have three radically different forms.

The secret of us, in our understanding of the Trinity, is trust. We can either spend our lives making ourselves miserable about what does not make sense to us or we can live joyful lives based on trust in God. An ancient Chinese proverb says, "The bird does not sing because he has an answer; he sings because he has a song."

I may not be able to understand the mystery of God in three persons, but I can enjoy the incredible beauty of God the creator. I may not understand how the Bethlehem's babe "can in the Godhead be," as the song says, but I can read with awe the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. If anyone has ever lived closer to God than Jesus, I'm certainly not aware of it. I may not understand all there is to understand about that Comforter that Jesus said he would send us, but there have been times when that Comforter, the Holy Spirit, has enveloped me with love. I don't have to understand God in three persons in order to experience the grandeur of what those three persons can mean in my life. The secret of a successful life is not understanding but trust.


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Lord Jesus, as you are a part of the Trinity, help me with my trust, as I seek to more fully understand you. Amen.

[janbear]

For just as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:19 NRSV Bible)

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Catherine Marshall, the author of many fine books including the bestseller, CHRISTY, and the widow of the well-known pastor Peter Marshall, was told during a routine physical checkup on March 20, 1943, that she was infected with tuberculosis. It was a devastating blow! The doctors ordered her to bed twenty-four hours a day. There she waited. And waited. In her book BEYOND OUR SELVES Catherine notes that fifteen months later she had gained some fifteen pounds. Otherwise nothing was changed. The area of infection was as widespread as the beginning. Other specialists were consulted. They had no answers, and could only recommend more bed rest. When Catherine and her husband Peter asked how long, the doctors replied that they had no idea.
Writing in retrospect, Catherine described this time as three weary, endless years. Over and over she asked the question, "Why, oh why do I have to lie here month after month? Why can't the doctors do something?"

Yet it was during this time that Catherine learned many important spiritual lessons. She became keenly aware that there were no shortcuts. God alone was in charge. She learned to deal ruthlessly and fully with sin in her life. She committed her life completely to Jesus Christ as Lord during that time. The seeds of her ministry of writing--a ministry that has touched thousands of people--were planted during this period of waiting and rest. She developed an increasingly strong faith in God's ability to heal. At first she was told there was no progress. Then x-rays began to show progress. And finally she was pronounced well. In addition, as her faith was strengthened, Catherine Marshall was able to reach out with word and pen and encourage others.

Catherine Marshall's successful life is marked by obedience and trust. There are many things too deep for us to fathom, but we can still trust and obey our Father in heaven.


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God of all, I may not know all that I would like to, but may I be faithful in my obedience and trust of you. Amen.
Ron Newhouse

[janbear]

Consider how I love your precepts; preserve my life according to your steadfast love. (Psalms 119:159 NRSV Bible)

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Ruth Graham tells a humorous story from one of their trips to Europe. Dr. Graham and a member of his team, Grady Wilson, had left for Moscow leaving Grady's wife, Wilma, and Ruth under the watchful eye of an old college friend living in Paris, Jeanette Evans. "Now don't go shopping," were Dr. Graham's final words.
Ruth says that she and Wilma waited for the plane to disappear out of sight and headed for the nearest junk shop. With Jeanette's expert French they managed beautifully. Wilma found several irresistible items: among them a silver inkwell adorned with cupids. Ruth found one lovely little painting she couldn't resist--the price, translated from French currency to American, came to ten dollars.

At the hotel that night in Versailles they couldn't resist unwrapping their treasures. Ruth propped her painting on the mantel over the fireplace and admired it. Wilma placed her acquisitions on the desk, likewise enjoying her lovely old French bargains.

When their husbands returned from Moscow, they drove to Versailles to pick the women up. They were to begin driving to Zurich, Switzerland, that afternoon. Wilma and Ruth were packing when Grady came in to hurry them up.

"I like this picture so much," Ruth said on an impulse, "I just think I'll take it with me." And taking her painting from the mantel, she packed it in her suitcase.

Catching on, Wilma exclaimed, "And I like this inkwell so much I think I'll just take it." Whereupon she picked up her cupid-decorated inkstand and, fitting it in her case, closed it.

Miles on their way Ruth got to thinking about what they had done and started to laugh. "What's so funny?" Grady wanted to know.

So, laughing, the women told him about their trip to the junk shop, their purchases, and what they had done at the hotel.

Silence. "What's wrong?" Ruth asked. "We spent practically nothing."

"Well," Grady said, "it's just that when Wilma's back was turned, I took the inkwell out and put it back on the desk."

Grady Wilson is a good man. And it must be a thrill to be associated with Billy Graham--one of the most respected men in the world. And yet Grady Wilson will never be a celebrity. He will always live in Graham's shadow.

That's where most of us live. We have our successes. We are loved by our family and friends. And yet, when our time comes to go, the world will take little note. Like our Master, we will die somewhat in obscurity. Maybe there's a lesson here: the world may not notice, but God certainly will.


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Loving God, thank you for noticing the importance of my life. Amen.
Ron Newhouse

[janbear]

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.
(Acts 2:4 NRSV Bible)

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The sign on the stage proclaimed, "The Motionless Man: Make Him Laugh. Win $100." The temptation was irresistible. For three hours boys and girls, men and women performed every antic and told every joke they could dream up. But Bill Fuqua, the Motionless Man, stood perfectly still.
Luis Palau in his book HEALTHY HABITS FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH, tells about Fuqua, the GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS champion at doing nothing. Fuqua, says Palau, appears so motionless during his routines at shopping malls and amusement parks that he's sometimes mistaken for a mannequin.

Fuqua discovered his unique talent at the age of fourteen while standing motionless in front of a Christmas tree as a joke. A woman touched him and exclaimed, "Oh, I thought it was a real person."

Doing nothing is really impossible--even for the Motionless Man. Fuqua attributes his feigned paralysis to hyper elastic skin, an extremely low pulse rate, and intense concentration. He may not laugh at your jokes, but he readily admits that he still has to breathe and blink--occasionally.

When I read about Bill Fuqua, the motionless man, and I thought about so many churches. So many congregations have mastered the art of doing nothing. We read about the church on the Day of Pentecost--the flames of fire, the sound of a mighty wind, the strange excitement that catches the attention of passers by. This is not the church as we know it! The church on the Day of Pentecost was a church that was chaotic and yet caring, tightly joined as a group, yet reaching out with extraordinary vigor. It was a church ablaze with the Holy Spirit.

How about us? Are we ablaze with the Holy Spirit?


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Dear Jesus, set my heart on fire in doing your work. Amen.
Ron Newhouse

[janbear]

Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. (Matthew 25:1 NRSV Bible)

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Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. In our scripture reading, we have some wise and some foolish bridesmaids. How do we live our lives--foolishly or wisely, prepared or unprepared?
Life is a gift, and I believe it is important to live our lives wisely. We shouldn't live our lives by thinking that we have the rest of our lives before us, so we can live life on the edge and do as we please. There is so much more to life than fulfilling ourselves. Living wisely means, we are constantly working to better our relationship with God. We work to do all we can to help others. Living wisely means we live each day to it's fullest.

In the Wall Street Journal, there was a report where someone saw a sign in a Hong Kong dentist's office. The sign said, "Teeth Extracted by the Latest Methodists." I don't know how good Methodists are at extracting teeth, but as God's people we can extract or bring out the best in one another. So, being wise means we are a part of the church that helps us be the best we can be.


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God of all things, work on me to make me the best I can be for your glory. Amen.
Ron Newhouse

[janbear]

If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23 NRSV Bible)

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Former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz once said, "I've been on the top and I've been on the bottom. At Arkansas my first year, we won the Orange Bowl. Then everybody loved me. "They put me into the Arkansas Hall of Fame and issued a commemorative stamp in my honor. The next year we lost to Texas, and they had to take away the stamp, because people kept spitting on the wrong side of it.
Life is full of highs and lows, and for many of us it is hard to be humble. But when we deny our own pleasures and desires, and put God first, then we begin to understand what is really important to be filled with God's desires of love and hope.

Jesus tells us today, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." The cross here is a very important symbol. Carrying the cross means we carry a burden of helping others, it means God is important, it means we have hope, it means we have forgiveness, it means we use our financial resources to help others, and it means we want to share God's love, forgiveness, and hope with our family, our friends, and our co-workers.

When we deny ourselves, we put God first.


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Dear Jesus, you gave up so much for me. Now, guide me as I deny my wishes for yours. Amen.

[janbear]

Make vows to the LORD your God, and perform them; let all who are around him bring gifts to the one who is awesome. (Psalm 76:11 NRSV Bible)

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I read a story that was about the very bashful young man who was hesitant about demonstrating his affection for his sweetheart. "Oh, but that I were an octopus," he said one night, "that I might wrap all eight arms around you." His impatient sweetheart replied, "Don't worry about having eight arms. Just make better use of the two arms you already have."
That is what we must do in doing the work of Jesus Christ. We shouldn't worry about weather or not we have the gifts to follow. We simply need to use what gifts we have to follow Christ and to do God's will.

Doing otherwise is simply a waste of time.


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Dear God, may I realize more fully today the wonderful gifts you have given me. May I respond to you call in fulfilling your will for my life in touching your people with love and forgiveness. Amen.
Ron Newhouse

[janbear]

And it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NRSV Bible)

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The only path to true success comes when we daily take up the cross of Jesus Christ. Even a self-centered generation knows that self-denial is the path to success. But listen. There is a catch. Self-denial will not bring us fulfillment if we only live for ourselves. We may say, "I am not doing this for my husband or my wife. I'm not doing this for my children. I am doing it for me." Fine. That may help you stay on your diet. That may help you keep up your studies. But it will not bring you ultimate fulfillment. Ultimate fulfillment comes only when we say, "I'm doing this for God and God's people."
I heard once that our will and God's will is like this, "Imagine a person carrying two buckets, one of them filled with oil and one filled with water. Now they are completely filled so that you cannot pour the oil from its bucket into the water bucket because there is no room and besides oil and water don't mix.

Now imagine that one of these buckets is you and your will and your purpose and your plan for your life and the other is God's will and plan and purpose for your life. Before you can know God's will and plan and purpose for your life you're going to have to empty your bucket to receive what God has to give. Now whom do you trust the most to know where real purpose and joy, satisfaction, and peace lie with you or with the heart of God?"

The key to truly successful living is to deny ourselves in order that God may fill us to overflowing with God's presence and power. As Paul said in Galatians 2:20, "and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me." There is the path to real success. If we who are followers of Jesus would learn that one simple truth, we could turn this world upside down.


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Dear God, fill me with the saving power of Jesus Christ, as I pick up his cross of salvation everyday. Amen.
Ron Newhouse

[janbear]

Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. (Matthew 18:19 NRSV Bible)

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It is important for us to understand that the church gets its power form being unified. Airing out our problems is important to building a unified community of God's people. Our church cannot be effective without our unity and support of one another. We are called to be one in the body of Christ.
I remember reading once about Henry Kissinger when he was a boy. In 1934, he grew up as a Jewish boy in Bravaria. His original name was Heinz, and he grew up learning well his religious teachings. One day, one of the bullies of his neighborhood caught up with the young Heinz. Instead of fighting, he talked his way out of the situation without anyone getting hurt. Henry Kissinger's talent of talking things out became important when he moved to the United States and became the great talker who brought peace to many areas of the world. His work brought unity, which helped the United States become even more effective in bringing peace to many places around the world.

Unity also brings more effectiveness to the church. Jesus, said our scripture reading today, "Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." When we agree on the things that we need, we build unity. We may not what we want, but our needs will be met. And, our churches will become more effective in helping people experience God's forgiveness and love.


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Lord Jesus, thank you for the great unity you bring to your church. Move me to do all I can to build unity in my church. In your name I prayer. Amen.
Ron Newhouse

[janbear]

But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance. (Luke 8:15 NRSV Bible)

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There is a cartoon that shows a company president announcing to his staff, "Gentlemen, this year the trick is honesty." From one side of the conference table, a vice president gasps, "Brilliant." Across the table, another VP mutters, "But so risky!"
A cartoon in "New Yorker" magazine: Two clean-shaven middle-aged men are sitting together in a jail cell. One inmate turns to the other and says: "All along, I thought our level of corruption fell well within community standards."

We have a crisis in our land--a crisis of honesty, integrity, ethics, morality, what the Bible calls "righteousness." Our newspapers and magazines abound with stories of people and corporations who have slipped and fallen. You could probably name several recent examples off the top of your head, some really well know people and companies. We have become a nation of cheaters. Sometimes we cheat a little. Sometimes a lot. Is it that big a deal? The answer is a resounding "Yes."

A man confessed to his pastor that he stole something--a hammer from the steel mill where he worked. Everybody was doing it, he said. No big deal. His pastor, though, told him about a report in the newspapers that thefts at this particular mill averaged out to a thousand dollars a week. His hammer along with what others were taking was costing the company over $50,000 a year. "To make up for that loss," his pastor noted, "the factory raises the price of steel. Consequently, everyone who buys a car, purchases an appliance, remodels his house, etc., has to pay the price for your hammer. You didn't hurt the company," his pastor assured him, "you hurt everybody in this city." And that's true. We hurt the entire society when integrity is not maintained, and we also hurt the witness of Jesus Christ.


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Dear Jesus, forgive me for the times when I have failed you by not being truly honest. May honesty be my best policy. Amen.
Ron Newhouse

[janbear]

If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. (Matthew 18:15 NRSV Bible)

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Doctors tell us it is important to get rid of our anger. John Lewis, a labor leader who often spilled out his anger to President Roosevelt, lived vigorously to the age of eighty-one. Roosevelt, on the other hand, who kept his anger inside, live to be only sixty-three. Expressing our anger is important in living a long healthy life, as God's people.
Jesus tells us how to do express our anger in our scripture reading, "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point our the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one."

Expressing our anger to someone else is important to our health. It is also important in maintaining a positive relationship with the person we are anger with. However, when we do talk to someone we are angry with, we should not unload on them. Our conversation should be a time of clearing the air and breaking down walls of hurt and separation.

In "Leadership" magazine, there was a cartoon that pictures a minister sitting with two obviously angry church members around a table in the minister's office. The caption reads, "With our current feelings, would anyone object to my praying with my eyes open?" Even a little humor can help our anger.


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Loving God, I'm thankful that you are in control of your anger. Help me to clear the air with those I'm anger with. In Jesus name, Amen.
Ron Newhouse

[janbear]

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:45-46 NRSV Bible)

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What is it that gives God the most pleasure? The answer is, God gets the most pleasure from taking something that the world perceives as worthless and giving it value.
"Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" they asked about Jesus, (John. 1:46). "But you, O Bethlehem, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel...," (Micah 5:2). "Pray, Lord," asked Gideon, "how can I deliver Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family," (Judges 6:15).

And these words from Paul: "For consider your call, brethren; not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth; but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Jesus Christ, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption...."

Paul is writing to the church at Corinth and saying, "Take a look at yourselves. You weren't much to begin with, but God finds joy in taking something that the world doesn't consider worth much and uses it in amazing ways." That's good news for each one of us today!


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Dear Jesus, thank you for blessing my life and making me something of great value for God's glory. Amen.
Ron Newhouse

[admin]

And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness. (2 Timothy 2:24-25 NRSV Bible) What makes a person truly great? We certainly have a lot of sports and activities in our society to help us find out who is the greatest. We defiantly live in a competitive world. Michele, my wife, can most certainly tell you about the ways I am competitive. But does being competitive and winning make a person truly great?

Probably not. Jesus does, however, give us some important characteristics that do make us truly great.

We all love happy endings. I remember a story about Hollywood producer Sam Goldwyn. He once listened to director Billy Wilder describe in detail the true life story of a famous artist. Wilder thought it would make a great movie.

"Does it end happy?" Goldwyn wanted to know.
"Well," said Wilder, "it winds up with the guy in an insane asylum thinking he's a horse."
Goldwyn threw Wilder out the door. But Wilder wasn't discouraged. He poked his head back in and said, "Okay, how about if at the end the guy who thinks he's a horse...goes on to win the Kentucky Derby."

We love it when the good guy comes out on top. And being a servant is a lot like coming out on top at the end of a good movie. A servant will have lots of hardships, work hard behind the scenes, and little recognition, but in the end a true servant will be rewarded by being the greatest in the sight of God.

God of true servants, help me to be one today. Amen.

Ron Newhouse
The Christian Counter

[admin]

One who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips. (Proverbs 24:26 NRSV Bible) In a U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT/CNN poll, Americans said that the quality which they thought was most important in a friend was honesty. It was considered to be more than twice as important as sharing common interests or having a sense of humor.

Think how terrible it is to have a friend, or a child, or a parent, or a husband, or a wife, whom you cannot trust. What a tragedy.

If I were a young person considering a potential mate for marriage, the quality I would look for first is integrity. Can he or she be trusted? That might be the best argument for saying no to sex before marriage. If a young person can handle this temptation, then he or she can handle almost any integrity-buster that comes along. He or she is a person of character. When we cheat, we hurt people we love. When we are dishonest, we hurt the people we love. We hurt our God of all love.

Dear God, remind me always to be truly honest with you, with myself, and with all of your great people. Amen.

Ron Newhouse

[janbear]

Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart; who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors... Those who do these things shall never be moved. (Psalm 15:2-3,5 NRSV Bible)

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I remember reading about a woman who a few years earlier was a new Christian. And as a new Christian, she listened to any person who proclaimed to be a Christian. Over time, though, she realized that not all people who claimed to be Christian offered a true message from God. As she matured in her faith, She had to learned to discern between those who spoke the truth and those who didn't.
How do we find the truth about God and Jesus Christ? How can we discern who is teaching the truth about the Christian faith and who is not?

I am a firm believer that actions speak louder than words. Look at the example of Jesus. He valued people and little children and life itself. Jesus was concerned about truth and honesty. Even when Jesus was confronted by the people who opposed him, he treated them with respect and wisdom. Jesus' actions proved that he cared about people and their human situation. He healed people, fed people, gave people hope, and forgave people. Jesus also took a lot of time for prayer to discern God's will. Jesus humbled himself, as he relied on God and not on himself. These are the qualities of one who is telling the truth about God, and how we are called to live for God. May all we do be done with a Christ-like truth.


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God of truth, it is not always easy to discern the truth. May I live more each day with a Christ-like truth. In Jesus name, Amen.
Ron Newhouse

[janbear]

For those who want to save their life will lose it, and for those lose their life for my sake, and for the gospel, will save it. (Mark 8:35 NRSV Bible)

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In our scripture reading today, Jesus said, "For those who want to save their life will lose it, and for those lose their life for my sake, and for the gospel, will save it." Jesus wants us to hear that going our own way leads to the loss of life, not only life in God's eternal presence, but the fullness and fulfillment of daily living. In my own life, I feel a whole lot better about who I am when I am following God's desires.
I remember once reading a story about the presidency of Lyndon Johnson. Bill Moyers, the President's press secretary and a minister, was asked to offer the mealtime prayer. He began by praying quietly. President Johnson became somewhat irritated and interrupted him. He said, "Pray louder!" The press secretary looked up and replied, "I'm sorry, sir, but I wasn't addressing you."

It is important that we address God by making God first in our lives. When we do we will begin to experience what life is truly all about--experiencing and sharing God's love, forgiveness, and hope. And then we will gain a life in God's presence that will have no end.


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Lord Jesus, today and always may I lose my life for yours. Amen.
Ron Newhouse

[admin]

Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all. (Mark 9:35 NRSV Bible) In our scripture reading today, the disciples and Jesus are on their way to Capernaum. During their travel the disciples start arguing about who was the greatest. When they got to Capernaum Jesus asked them what the were arguing about. They were silent. They were embarrassed. Jesus called all the disciples together and said, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all."

But what is a servant? In our society today, few of us have a real appreciation of what being a servant is all about. A servant is simply one who puts others needs before their own. This is not always easy to do, as demonstrated by the disciples in our text today. But, being a servant is what we are called to do, and being a servant makes us great in the eyes of God.

Dear Jesus, you are the greatest servant of all by dying for my sins. Help me to put the needs of others before my own. Amen.

Ron Newhouse

[janbear]

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18 NRSV Bible)

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I remember a story of George Crum. He was an Indian chief a century and a half ago. He was also a chef. One day the wealthy Cornelius Vanderbuilt came into the lodge where George Crum was the chef. Vanderbuilt ordered a new dish called French Fried Potatoes.
When it was brought out Mr. Vanderbuilt sent it back saying it was too thick. He know how is was supposed to be prepared, because he had been to France. This happened a few times until George got so angry that he cut the Potatoes razor thin and boiled them in animal fat.

Much to his surprise, Mr. Vanderbuilt liked the American variation of French Fries, which today we call potato chips.

The thing I like about this story is that George disciplined his anger and created something good-- potato chips. This also created unity between him and Mr. Vanderbuilt.

There are certainly times when we get angry or frustrated about the church, but we should not complain about it. We should use our frustrations to make the church better and more effective in its ministry to one another and to people of our community.


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Loving God, move me to not complain, but to do all I can to help your church touch peoples lives with your love. Amen.
Ron Newhouse

[janbear]

Happy are those who make the LORD their trust, who do not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after false gods. (Psalms 40:4 NRSV Bible)

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We all should know that, in the long run, it pays to do the right thing. In fact, according to a "Newsweek" article more and more large American corporations are enrolling their employees in business ethics courses. These corporations realize that the success of their business depends upon the personal integrity of each of their employees.
A company in Phoenix, Arizona during the 1970's was shut off from the Mexican market because they refused to give pay-offs to Mexican government officials. Something remarkable happened, however. The company's ethical behavior in refusing the pay-offs increased its stature in the eyes of some Mexican business people. Impressed by an American business that was bold enough to go against the system, a group of influential Mexicans lobbied the Mexican government to allow the company to open two Mexican dealerships. They are doing a booming business. One reason is that people know they can trust them.

What is true on the corporate level is true on the personal level. It pays to be a person of integrity. It may not appear so at times, but just hang in there. Sooner or later time will expose the person who cheats.


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Dear Jesus, thank you for not cutting corners so that you could truly be my savior. May I follow in your footsteps so that I will not let you down. Amen.
Ron Newhouse

[janbear]

The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again. (Mark 9:31 NRSV Bible)

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In our text today, Jesus informs the disciples that he will be betrayed, killed, and raised again. We know that Judas was the one that betrayed Jesus, but do we remember Judas as being a great disciples? We most certainly don't. He was not a servant. He looked out for his own interests first, and he betrayed his own friend--Jesus Christ.
Obviously, betraying a friend does not make one great. If you have ever been betrayed by a friend, then you know some of the pain that Jesus felt. When I was in college I had a friend who wanted to share an apartment with me. We had lots of similar interests and he was planning on entering a career in ministry, so I agreed to his request. Two months later, with bounced checks in my hand, a search that had found hidden phone bills, and an empty bank account, I was a victim of betrayal.

Betrayal can be as simple as making a negative comment about someone or as great as cheating on our spouse or selling secret information from the company we work for.

Being a truly great person involves honoring one another and honoring God.


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Dear God, help me to be a great person to those whom you have given me to serve. Amen.
Ron Newhouse

[janbear]

One does not live by bread alone. (Luke 4:4 NRSV Bible)

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Luke says, "The devil said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.'" Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'" The temptation here for Jesus is to simply be concerned only about his own physical needs. But for Jesus, his ministry involved much more that just taking care of his own needs. Jesus was called to feed people spiritually and to give up his life for everyone.
Are we tempted to live by bread alone? Do we only concern ourselves with our own physical needs and the things we want? To live as God's people means we are called to work on the spiritual dimension of our lives and those around us. To build a relationship with God involves working to deepen ourselves spiritually. There is much more to life than the things of this world.

There is a wonderful Peanuts cartoon where Linus comes to Lucy in a fit saying, "You buried my blanket. You can't do that! I'll die without that blanket! I'll be like a fish out of water! I'll die! I'll die! Tell me where you buried it! Tell me!" In the next section snoopy goes out in the yard and does some dog digging. Soon snoopy comes running to Linus with his blanket. Linus says, "My blanket! Oh, snoopy! You found it!! You found it! You found it! You found it! You found it!" Then snoopy, dozing on his doghouse says, "Every now and then I feel that my existence is justified."

Do we have such an attachment to our stuff, like Linus did with his blanket? Do we have such an overwhelming concern for the bread of life that we have lost sight of our spiritual needs?

Jesus said, "One does not live my bread alone."


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Dear God, it is easy to get caught up in the things of this world. Remind me daily that what really matters is the state of my soul. Amen.
Ron Newhouse

[janbear]

Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me. (Mark 9:37 NRSV Bible)

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Expecting her third child, one mother tells how her two children were suggesting names for the baby.
"Well, if it's a boy," said the oldest child, "can we name him John?"
"Or if it's a girl, can we name her Mary?"
"Maybe so," said mother
Finally, the youngest child, anxious to prove her intelligence, piped up, "Well, if it is a dog, Mom, can we name it Lassie?"
Children can sure bring us a lot of joy. A few years ago, Matt was swinging on our porch swing, and I, of course, was in front of the T.V. watching a football game. All of the sudden the door flung open and a crying little boy came running in. He had fallen out of the swing. He wasn't seriously hurt. Just a few scrapes. Together we examine the war wounds, and I said how about you sit with me. So together we sat watching football. Soon the pain was forgotten about and Matt started asking questions about how the game of football is played. For someone who loves a blond headed little boy and the game of football, it was a special moment. Children can sure be a lot of fun at times and bring us great joy. At other times, they sure can be a real pain too. But one of the characteristics of a great person is one who welcomes and loves children.

In our scripture reading today, Jesus took a little child into his arms and said, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me." Children are a very precious gift from God, and when we welcome them we welcome God. With all of the abuse of children in our world, there is a huge need for us to be great by welcoming and caring for God's beloved children.


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Lord Jesus, your love for children is a great example to follow. Help me to do all I can to demonstrate love to the children you have given to me. Amen.
Ron Newhouse

[janbear]

Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him. (Luke 4:8 NRSV Bible)

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Luke writes, "Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'"
What do we worship? I believe where we spend most of our time, money, and other resources, says what we truly value or worship. Jesus was tempted to gain power over all of the world. Jesus could have given up God's will for his life, so that he could gain lots of earthly power.

Jesus says to us today, "It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.'" We live in a world where right and wrong, good and bad are not always easily definable. However, God's word is clear that our purpose is to worship and serve God. Yes, Christian ethics do not come prepackaged and our call is not adherence to a list of rules, but our call is to faithfulness in our worship of God.


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Dear Jesus, forgive me for worshiping the wrong things. Move me to more faithfully worship our Father in heaven. Amen.
Ron Newhouse

[janbear]

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? (Matthew 5:46 NRSV Bible)

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Jesus emphasized the importance of love throughout his life. "Love your neighbor as yourself. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." These are some of Jesus' famous statements on the subject of love. Love is a very important characteristic in being truly great.
I remember reading a story in Better Homes and Gardens about a daughter who was home from college for the summer. She was in and out of the house at all hours, and rarely let her parents know where she was going.

The parents and their daughter got into an argument over the subject of where she was going one night. The daughter yelled, "You cannot expect me to act like a kid anymore." Her parents responded, "We don't want you to be a kid. We simply still worry about you."

After ten days of this, the parents decided to demonstrate how they felt about their daughter's behavior. With out telling their daughter, they scooped up the two younger children one Friday evening and headed to a nearby resort. They enjoyed playing in the pool and having fun together. Late Saturday evening when they returned home. Their daughter was frantic.

"Where were you guys," she yelled. "I was worried sick."

Her parents responded, "Why do we have to tell you where we are going all the time?" Their daughter laughed as she figured out the lesson she was being taught.

Though drastic, these parents are obviously great because they showed their love and concern for their daughter.

Being great means we love one another.


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Dear Jesus, you are truly great because you gave up your life for me and for all of God's people. May I also become great by sharing your love. Amen.
Ron Newhouse

[janbear]

And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave his debt. (Matthew 18:27 NRSV Bible)

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The King in today's scripture reading, forgave his slave so that he would could live in peace with himself. The King had pity for the slave. The King knew in his own heart that if he did not forgive the slave, he would be troubled. He would not sleep at nights or be at peace with himself, unless he released the slave of his debt. So, the King forgave in order to better his life and the life of the slave.
In the same way, we need to take care of ourselves. We need to forgive one another, so that we can be at peace with ourselves and with God. If we don't, we hurt ourselves more than anyone else.

I remember a story of a little girl who had a fight with her sister. As the day passed, she refused to speak to her sister. At bedtime, their mother said, "Don't you think you should forgive your sister before you go to sleep? The Bible says we should not let "the sun go down on our anger." The little girl thought for a moment and replied, "But how can I keep the sun from going down?"

There are many people that like to nurture resentment. I have found, in my own life, that holding on to resentment hurts me a lot more than it hurts anyone else. How about you?


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Dear Father, in my humanness I seem to what to hold on to things that hurt. Show me a better way of living in peace through forgiveness. Amen.
Ron Newhouse

[flick]

I read this elsewhere earlier and it reminded me of all the times I have had to go to bed at night with a heavy heart, so true you should never let the sun go down on an argument, it's a very lonely and empty thing to do. The heaviness in the heart is so not nice!!!...Just like a close friend once shared with me; "You ought always say goodbye and I love you to those close to you when they walk out the door each time...because you just never know!!!" And to have resentments sitting inside is like acid, speaking from experience on that one....getting better, but I used to be one to hold on tight to them...like they were my prized possessions!! Not healthy at all. Be quick to forgive, release and love.