ANOTHER TYPO? UGH!

June 1st, 2009 by Frank Walton

“We all stumble in many ways” (Ja 3:2)
“I hate typos! This is getting irritating!! I thought I had proofed the article…and it seems like I’m still having these pesky typos left in….”
Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there reading my thoughts to myself….
Okay, let me clarify the above. In the devotional, “Momma’s Cake,” I used a poem about small, seemingly insignificant acts of service being used for God. One line was “Rachel had a string.” This must have puzzled some of you because some wrote about where this was found in the Bible. (My wife thought I had meant that she had a hook in Jacob’s nose and led him around!)
I confess that Rachel’s string is not mentioned in the Bible.  Actually, the line should have read: “Rahab had string.” I had the correct version at the church office, but I copied a version off the internet that had the wrong person listed. Ugh! I didn’t check close enough. (In case you didn’t know, “ugh!” is Greek for “I’m really annoyed!”)
Also, there are been various typos that have cropped up in some of my different articles, business cards printed, etc. that “tick me off.” “How did that get there? I thought I had proofed this!” I could say it’s not my fault and that the typo fairies are sneaking them in, but we all know better!
Before some of you more merciful readers think I’m beating myself up unnecessarily (while the grammatical purist among you are rejoicing that I have been led to repentance), I think it’s time to make some kind of application.
James acknowledges, in dealing with problems of the unruly tongue, that we “stumble in many ways” (Ja 3:2). We, as limited and imperfect human beings, do not function flawlessly. We make mistakes. We never reach the plateau of sinless perfection in this life, despite our best efforts (1 Jn 1:8, Phil 3:12). Heaven is where we’ll be “made perfect” (Heb. 12:23). Now, Jesus understands that “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41).
Yet, we can improve. The church at Thyatira had significant problems with tolerating a Jezebel, but the Lord still commended them that “your deeds of late are greater than at first” (Rev. 2:19). Success is not where we are but rather it is found in the direction we are moving. We are responsible to mature and grow (Phil. 3:15, 2 Pet 3:18).
If you are like me, we have to learn to slow down and be more careful. Like Coach John Wooden has said, “Be quick, but don’t hurry!” He also would say, “If you don’t have time to do it right the first time, when will you have time to correct it?” Indeed, whatever we do is worth doing “with all your might” (Ecc. 9:10).
We realize that mistakes and oversights are not the end of the world. It is far more important that we are giving priority to obeying God daily in overcoming sin. We cannot let the fear of messing up stop us in the pursuit of facing up to our weaknesses and turning to the Lord for strength, motivation and forgiveness when we need it.
Thankz for reding my artecul ;-)

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THE MAN WHO TRIED THREE RELIGIONS

June 1st, 2009 by Frank Walton
“Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task” (Acts 6:3).
The growing Jerusalem church consisted of converted Hebrews from Jerusalem (Acts 3:13, 4:5) and Hellenistic Jews “from every nation” (Acts 2:5). The Hellenistic widows’ needs in the church were being overlooked, so the apostles’ put seven spiritual “men of good reputation” in charge of this benevolent task (Acts 6:1-2).
How many can you name from memory of these early benevolent servants in the Jerusalem church? Probably Stephen, later the first martyr (Acts 7), and Philip, who later devoted himself to evangelistic work (Acts 8:5). All seven men in this list have Greek names. These are Hellenistic Jews, except one man listed last: “…Nicolas, the proselyte from Antioch” (Acts 6:5).
Nicolas is the first Gentile convert documented in Acts. Previously, he had converted from Gentile paganism to Judaism. Greek paganism was frightfully superstitious and morally bankrupt. In this idolatrous darkness, Nicolas the Gentile was attracted to the goodness and righteousness of the Jewish religion (Deut 4:6-8). He became a practicing Jew that meant annually going up to Jerusalem for feast days (Exodus 23:17).
Hence, it is most likely he was among that international crowd of Jewish worshippers on Pentecost (Acts 2:5). If so, he was touched by the gospel of Jesus, by penitent faith in the Messiah, and gladly obeyed Christ in baptism (Acts 2:36-41).
What an exciting conversion story out of the wilderness of religious confusion! I like and admire Nicolas. He grew up amid Gentile idolatry, converted to Judaism, and then became, upon hearing the gospel, a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Here truly is a “good” man, willing to be led and controlled by “the Spirit” (Acts 6:3)! Having been in two other religions, he again was willing to change when faced with the truth. At last, he discovered the true religion of the Son of God and obeyed “truth as it is in Jesus” (Eph 4:21).
This is the spirit of an idealistic truth seeker (Acts 17:11). “Lord, what will you have me to do?” (Acts 22:10). Each person is his own “restoration movement” to be all the Lord wants us to be.
In seeking to be right before God, we must be willing to change wherever we err, as revealed in Christ’s ultimate and final word of truth (Jn 1:17). This is the final test of a good heart’s true sincerity: obeying the truth wherever it leads (Matt 5:6,8; Lk 8:15).
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THE POTENCY OF PRAYER

April 24th, 2009 by Frank Walton
“The intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful” (Ja 5:16 HCSB).
James encourages us to pray for one another’s difficulties and problems, whether spiritual or physical sickness (Ja 5:13-16). Earlier he had encouraged brethren to pray in steadfast faith for wisdom while facing trials, expecting a generous God to richly give what is best (Ja 1:2-8).
In our text, effective prayer cannot be a half-hearted, feeble petition, but it must be “intense” (Gr. energeo, “active…fervent”). Such prayers cannot be carnally selfish (Ja 4:2-3), which means we must pray in God’s will, so that He will be glorified foremost by the answer (1 Jn 5:14). If we are righteous by His grace, the Holy Spirit promises us that our prayers are potent in heaven. In this, prayer moves the Hand that moves the world.
So, humble, believing prayer in Jesus’ name is extremely powerful. It can move our mountains, which are humanly impossible obstacles to move (Mk 11:22-24). Only God can move a mountain, but Jesus assures us that the prayer of His faithful children can move God. In fact, Jesus encourages us to pray persistently “and not lose heart.” He urges persistence in prayer, like the poor widow who constantly pled for justice, until it was fulfilled (Lk 18:1ff). God’s answers today are by providential means, within the laws of His natural order (Rom 8:28).
God rewards such persistence because it evidences supreme faith and confidence in God’s merciful power to help in our need. We are promised we may come “boldly” in prayer “before the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace in time of need” (Heb 4:16). Weak, tentative prayers come from a weak, tentative faith. This does not honor God at all and will not be rewarded by Him.
Hence, I have a favor to ask of you. One of the elders in the church where I preach, Bob Harber, was recently diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer that has spread to his abdomen, although it has not spread to his lymph nodes and therefore may be treatable. This is very serious. I admire Bob’s wisdom and dedication to the Lord and divine truth. His leadership is a great asset to the Lord’s church here. He is well-loved and respected by the members.
So, I and the family ask for your prayers that God’s providence would help heal Bob so he might continue his needed place in the Lord’s service, if it be God’s will. The apostle Paul was thankful for God’s mercy in sparing Epaphroditus from a life-threatening illness (Phil 2:27), and so we would be grateful for your prayers on Bob’s behalf to our loving, compassionate heavenly Father.
Also, you may send a note of encouragement to Bob and Connie Harber at: 108 Lake Crest Dr., Madison, AL 35758. Thank you very much for your kind consideration in petitioning our heavenly Father on Bob’s behalf.
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