The Father gave the Son

AFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL SUNDAY EVENING HYMNS, THE CHURCH'S PASTOR SLOWLY STOOD UP, WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND, BEFORE HE GAVE HIS SERMON FOR THE EVENING, HE BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST MINISTER WHO WAS IN THE SERVICE THAT EVENING.

IN THE INTRODUCTION, THE PASTOR TOLD THE CONGREGATION THAT THE GUEST MINISTER WAS ONE OF HIS DEAREST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS AND THAT HE WANTED HIM TO HAVE A FEW 
MOMENTS TO GREET THE CHURCH AND SHARE WHATEVER HE FELT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SERVICE....

WITH THAT, AN ELDERLY MAN STEPPED UP TO THE PULPIT AND BEGAN TO SPEAK.

 

'A FATHER, HIS SON, AND A FRIEND OF HIS SON 

WERE SAILING OFF THE PACIFIC COAST ,' HE BEGAN. 

'WHEN A FAST APPROACHING STORM BLOCKED ANY ATTEMPT

TO GET BACK TO THE SHORE.  

THE WAVES WERE SO HIGH, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE FATHER

 WAS AN EXPERIENCED SAILOR, HE COULD NOT KEEP THE BOAT UPRIGHT

AND THE THREE WERE SWEPT INTO THE OCEAN AS THE BOAT CAPSIZED.' 

THE OLD MAN HESITATED FOR A MOMENT,

MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH TWO TEENAGERS WHO WERE,

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SERVICE BEGAN,

LOOKING SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN HIS STORY...
 

THE AGED MINISTER CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY, 

'GRABBING A RESCUE LINE, THE FATHER HAD TO MAKE THE MOST EXCRUCIATING DECISION

OF HIS LIFE: TO WHICH BOY WOULD HE THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE LINE. 

HE ONLY HAD SECONDS TO MAKE THE DECISION. 

THE FATHER KNEW THAT HIS SON WAS A CHRISTIAN AND
HE, ALSO, KNEW THAT HIS SON'S FRIEND WAS NOT..

THE AGONY OF HIS DECISION COULD NOT BE MATCHED BY THE TORRENT OF WAVES. 

AS THE FATHER YELLED OUT, 'I LOVE YOU, SON!' 

HE THREW OUT THE LIFE LINE TO HIS SON'S FRIEND. 

BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE FRIEND BACK TO THE CAPSIZED BOAT,

HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THE BLACK OF NIGHT. 

HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED.
 

BY THIS TIME, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE SITTING UPSTRAIGHT IN THE PEW, ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THE NEXT WORDS TO COME OUT OF THE OLD MINISTER'S MOUTH.
 

'THE FATHER,' HE CONTINUED, 'KNEW HIS SON WOULD STEP INTO ETERNITY WITH JESUS

AND HE COULD NOT BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS SON'S FRIEND

STEPPING INTO AN ETERNITY WITHOUT JESUS.. 

THEREFORE, HE SACRIFICED HIS SON TO SAVE THE SON'S FRIEND. 

HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR US.

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SACRIFICED HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WE COULD BE SAVED.

I URGE YOU TO ACCEPT HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU 

AND TAKE A HOLD OF THE LIFE LINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO YOU IN THIS SERVICE.' 

WITH THAT, THE OLD MAN TURNED AND SAT BACK DOWN IN HIS CHAIR

AS SILENCE FILLED THE ROOM. 

 

THE PASTOR AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TO THE PULPIT

AND DELIVERED A BRIEF SERMON WITH AN INVITATION AT THE END. 

HOWEVER, NO ONE RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL. 

WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE ENDED,

THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE AT THE OLD MAN'S SIDE. 

'THAT WAS A NICE STORY,' POLITELY STATED ONE OF THEM,

'BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS VERY REALISTIC FOR A FATHER

TO GIVE UP HIS ONLY SON'S LIFE IN HOPES THAT 

THE OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME A CHRISTIAN.' 

'WELL, YOU'VE GOT A POINT THERE,'  THE OLD MAN REPLIED, 
GLANCING DOWN AT HIS WORN BIBLE. 
A BIG SMILE BROADENED HIS NARROW FACE.

HE ONCE AGAIN LOOKED UP AT THE BOYS AND SAID,

'IT SURE ISN'T VERY REALISTIC, IS IT? 

BUT, 
I'M STANDING HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT STORY 

GIVES ME A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR GOD 
TO GIVE UP HIS SON FOR ME. 

YOU SEE...

I WAS THAT FATHER

AND YOUR PASTOR IS MY SON'S FRIEND.'

Please receive the free gift offered to you by the Father above.  It is salvation through the death of His Son, Jesus.  No man comes to the Father but by me.   

                           Then, watch the power of God work in your life.  For you know he loves you.


I do not know who wrote this moving story but I do know the Father gave the Son to be the savior of the world.  Please be sure you are on your way to Heaven when you die.  Trust Jesus only for your salvation.     "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from youselves, it is the gift of God--not by works of righteousness you have done.  Eph 2:8,9     You cannot be saved with baptism, doing good things, saying a creed, or helping a little lady across the street. The only way to be saved..........  If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.....Romans 10:9  

Giving God the Glory

Herod's Death

Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while. He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply.

On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.   Acts 12:19b–23 NIV

This is a terrifying story about how God views His glory being received by mortals. 

Well, Herod was fighting with the people of Tyre and Sidon.   Their food supplies were about to be shut off completely.  They had to make peace with him some way so their people could have food and not die.   The names Tyre and Sidon were famous in the ancient Near East. Both towns are now located in Lebanon, with Tyre 20 mi south of Sidon and only 12 mi north of the Israel-Lebanon border. Today each is just a shadow of their former selves.

So the people of Tyre and Sidon got the support of Blastus, a trusted servant of the king.  So Blastus was able to get an audience with the king for the people of Tyre and Sidon. 

The day finally arrived for the people and king Herod to meet.  We see Herod in his royal robes sitting and giving a great speech to the folks at his feet.  Maybe he promised to fill every pot with a chicken and every oven will have bread baking in it from now on.  Whatever he said it must have been impressive.  The people became excited and shouted, “This is the voice of a god and not a man.” 

The Bible says   “Immediately”    Not 5 minutes from now.  Not the next day.  But Immediately an angel of the Lord struck Herod down and he was eaten by worms and he died. 

Oh my goodness!!!  Can you see that picture?  One minute Herod is sitting there giving a speech.  His hands are raised in the air and he is telling the people what they want to hear.  They begin to shout and tell him speaks as a god.  This is exactly what he wants to hear. 

The angel of the Lord came and struck him down.  Right there in front of all the people.  All of his flesh was consumed by worms and he died right there in his royal robes. 

Why? You ask.  It was because Herod did not give God the glory.  He took the people’s glory for himself. 

Our God is a jealous God.  He does not suffer prideful men.  Other prideful men have not died by worms but they have died strange and terrible deaths.  When one chooses to do as Satan did in Heaven and challenge God’s authority and take His glory for themselves, then look out…….    

Folks, we do not live by our own power.  We only are here by the graciousness and mercy of God.  He is the only one who has the power to make us live and breathe and move here on this earth. 

He must receive all of the Glory for everything in Heaven and on earth.  He is the one who gives sunshine and rain so we have food to eat and survive.  He gives clean air for us to breathe.  He gives material to make our clothes.  He gives relationships for our edification.

He gave His Son for our salvation from sin past, present and future.  He gave the pathway to Heaven.  Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:6 NIV

Psalm 18:3 (NLT) ³ I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.

          Please be careful to give God glory and praise and honor.  

Grief... Everyone will Experience It

When we lose someone or something we will go through grief.  

We have all experienced grief. We have all had those intense waves of emotion.  Whether we lose our job, our beloved dog, our health, our imagined future (as in divorce), or when a beloved friend or relative dies, we will experience grief.

There are specific stages of grief as described by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross in her book, On Death and Dying.   In it, she identified five stages that a dying patient experiences when informed of their terminal prognosis.  We can apply these stages to our everyday loses. 

The stages Kubler-Ross identified are:

• Denial (I cannot believe this is happening to me!)
• Anger (It isn’t fair.  Why me? It is _____’s fault.)
• Bargaining (I promise I'll be a better person if... Or… If I had done something differently this would not be happening)
• Depression (I don't care anymore.  This is an important stage and must not be thwarted.)
• Acceptance (I'm ready for whatever comes.)

After you think you are done with all the stages do not be surprised to realize you are going through them again and then again.  The stages do not always come in this order.  They may mix up some and repeat and then finally acceptance will come.

There is no time frame on any of the stages.  But if there is difficulty in any stage one may need to seek professional assistance.   You may not recognize you are having difficulty but your family or friends will let you know.  Please listen to them. 

Grief is part of life.  It is part of death.  This is how God so wonderfully made us.  

A Story for Today

The subject of today's lesson is of a very sensitive nature.

  King David had many children. Amnon was David's firstborn son, born to his wife,   Ahinoam of Jezreel. Absolam and Tamar were brother and sister. They were born to  David's wife, Maacah, daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. Amnon was half-brother to Absolam and Tamar.

King David was a 'man after God's own heart'. He was a key chosen ancestor of Jesus Christ.  But David's family was what we call dysfunctional, to say the least. We are going to explore one particular incident that happened to Tamar.

2 Samuel 13:1-22  Paraphrase

Tamar was a beautiful young virgin living in her father's home.
Amnon was love sick over his half-sister, Tamar.

It was not proper for Amnon to be with Tamar.

Jonadab was a 'friend' of Amnon. Jonadab was the son of Shimeah, David's brother.  They were cousins.  Jonadab was a crafty man. He was sneaky and devious.

Jonadab saw Amnon losing weight and getting thinner. He said to Amnon, "You are the king's son. Tell me, will you, why are you wasting away?"  Amnon confessed, "Tamar is Absolam's sister and I love her."

Jonadab cooked up a plan. He told Amnon to lie on his bed and when his father, David,  noticed he was not where he was supposed to be, he would come to check on him.  "When David comes to check on you, tell him you are sick. Ask him if Tamar could come and fix some food at your bedside where you can watch. Then tell Tamar that you are so weak that it would be better if she could feed you."

Amnon lay down on his bed and did as Jonadab suggested.

David sent word to Tamar to do just as Amnon asked.

So, Tamar went to Amnon's house and she took out the flour and kneaded it; and made cakes in his sight and baked them.

A woman working in the kitchen is sensuous to a man. She was thin with long dark hair and she was very beautiful. The lust in his heart increased.

When the cakes were baked she took the pan and served them to Amnon. But Amnon would not eat them.

This situation would have caused concern to Tamar… Amnon asked her to come to his house. She came. He asked her to cook for him and she did. Now, he will not eat what she cooked. What is happening here?

Amnon said, "Have everyone go away." And they all left.

This is not a good thing. Tamar is worried that her brother is so sick that he cannot  eat in front of the group.                  But we know Amnon has evil in his heart.

Amnon said, "Come to my bedroom and feed me."

Tamar is really concerned now for his health. He has never been so sick before so that he needed to be fed…..  She is clueless of what he is thinking.  So Tamar takes the cakes into Amnon's bedroom to feed him.

Now when Tamar came into Amnon's bedroom with the cakes he took hold of her hand and said, "Come lay with me, my sister."

This is the first she has a clue that he has more on his mind than the evening meal. He hold's on tightly.  There is no one there to protect her. She is alone. If only she could have at least known that God was with her.

Tamar said, "No, my brother, do not force me. For no such thing should be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing. I could not bear the shame. And you would be as one of the wanton fools in Israel. Just talk to, the king. Tell the king that you want to marry me and he will give me to you. I will come and be your wife. It will be only a short time and I can be with you whenever you want.

Absolam is so wrong. They are not married She is a virgin. It is lust and not love. Tamar has said NQ!!!! Why won’t he listen to her?

But he would not hear her. He was stronger than she. "Noooooooooooooo!!!!!!!"  ……..And then he hated her……. More than he loved her before.     Amnon said. "Get out….. Leave me."

Can you imagine how Tamar felt?  Tamar said. "No way. This is worse than the first thing you did to me."  

She is in tears end disheveled.

Amnon called a servant who attended him. He said, "Put her out and bolt the door behind her." So she gathered up her robe of many colors. It was for the daughters of the king who were virgins. The servant put her out of the house and bolted the door.

Tamar put ashes on her head and tore her robe of many colors and laid her hand on her head and went away crying bitterly.

She did not hide what was done to her. She went out into the street. Tamar put ashes on her head and tore her robe because she was shamed.   Not only once for the first thing but twice when Amnon put her out of the house. And she was in mourning for the loss of her life as she knew it and for her future. She has lost so much. Where can she go? She could not go back to the palace where the virgins live. She was defiled.  Where could she live? Who would take care of her now? In her country women who were not married were not able to earn a living to sustain themselves.  If they did not have a father or a husband to look after them they were outcasts from society. 

Absolam saw Tamar as she sat in sackcloth and ashes and crying bitterly. "What happened?"  She told him everything.

"It's OK my sister. Hold your peace. Be still. He's your brother. Do not take this to heart. It is not as bad as you are making it out to be. You will be alright," he counseled her.

What kind of advice is that? Absolam doesn't understand how badly she felt? He didn't know the shame she felt. He didn’t understand how this has changed her life. .He didn't see how the dreams of a young girl were dashed upon the rocks. He didn’t know how she had dreamt of having a wonderful husband, a home of her own and children at her feet. He didn't know how this is all gone now - totally gone forever.

No one would want her since she is not a virgin. She would not be able to walk outside the house except that people would point and say she is impure. Others would say she brought it on herself by the way she dressed, walked and talked.  She would never be able to sit at her father's table again in fine clothes like her sisters.

This isn't what was supposed to happen. "All I was doing was taking care of my sick brother just like my father asked me to. And look what he did to me? I said 'NO' but he wouldn’t listen. I tried to get away but he wouldn't let me go. Now I sit by myself alone forever at my brother's house. There will be no husband for me. There will be no children for me to cuddle, teach and love. My life is over. "

So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absolam's house.

When King David heard of all these things he became angry. Very Angry.

But did he do anything about it? No… Sometimes when we have committed similar sins as David did with Bathsheba we are unable to deal with that kind of sin in other people's lives. Especially when the people are close to us. If David had stood up for Tamar maybe things would have been different for her.

Absolam went to Amnon and talked to him. Not good or bad. But Absolam hated Amnon for what he did to Tamar, his sister.

The hatred was deep and strong. He won’t deal with him now. Sometime later. .. perhaps.

What about Amnon? Was he shamed? Doesn't look like it. Kind of looks like he is going to get away with it all.

But does he?

It was not Tamar's fault. The shame is not hers to bear.

Well, I said this is a story for today. This still happens today. Sometimes it is uncle or father or neighbor or baby sitter. Sometimes it is boys instead of girls who are hurt.

Mom, Dad, if one of your kids comes to you with a story like this don't just brush it off like David and Absolam did. Check it out. Search for the truth and when you find it stand up for the child. Take the child to a trained professional s0 they may put it all in perspective and release the emotion from the event and from their life.
Help them to forgive. Make sure they have Jesus in their heart. Jesus will help them heal from all of this. There are Christian counselors in every county.

If you are one in three who has had this or a similar experience…. there is hope. You must know it isn't your fault. You did nothing wrong. You can rise above your devastation. You can leave it behind. You can forgive. If Jesus helped others He will help you. Please call someone and talk to them about your pain. Bring your shame out into the open.  Healing can begin when you tell someone what happened. If you have been threatened go to a safe place in your community. Talk to a friend or to a Pastor or counselor. You may call me. 239·282-2013

In the midst of pain remember: Hebrews 13:5 For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you."

 In the midst of trying to rid yourself of the pain remember  Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

 In all things and in all days remember: Psalm 91:1-5 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him will I trust." Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night. Nor the arrow that flies by day. 

How do You Eat an Elephant?

Sometimes in our lives we become so bogged down with the cares of this world that we are not able to get 'it' all done.  We have so many errands and tasks to complete that there is not enough time to do it all.  All we can see is the great big elephant and he is sitting on our own plate.

So how do we eat an elephant?  ONE BITE  at a time.

Just do one task at a time.  One focus at a time.  It will all get done.  Or maybe it didn't need to be done to begin with.

This is to encourage you to relax and take a breath and see your task in a different light and take one bite at a time.  Another thing is... You may ask for help to eat that elephant.  Invite someone over to take a stab at that elephant with you.  It is always more fun with a friend.  

always, sue

How to Keep the Honeymoon Alive.....

Sometimes as the years progress we may let our relationships slip into disarray.

 May I ask you to consider these words…. 

Ø  I’m wrong

Ø  I’m sorry.

Ø  Will you forgive me? 

Ø  I love you. 

Do you think you and your mate might repair your friendship?   What would happen if you both would come together and touch hands and confess the above words.  Do you think your hearts might touch  again? 

What would it hurt to give up the right to be right?   What if you both would humble yourselves and converse again like you did when you were first married?  What would be the outcome then?   Could you learn to love him/her again? 

What about your relationship with God?  Would you be able to confess the above words to Him?  He asks you to humble yourself and to confess your sins and accept Him in your heart. 

Learn to love Him well.   

How do you study the Bible???

When we read the Bible we should be open to ask some questions about what we are reading.  In doing this we will get so much more out of the time we have spent with God. 

Just take a chapter in the Bible that seems interesting to you.  Or you may be reading through the Bible in a systematic fashion.    Whatever the case, as you read, here are some questions you might enjoy searching out the answers for.

1.       What is the chapter about? 

2.       Who is talking and to whom is it written?

3.       Why was it written?  What is the purpose of the chapter? 

4.       What do we learn about God, ourselves and others?

5.       What promises, insights, commands, warnings, and encouragements do we see?

6.       How can we apply these findings to our lives today.  

You can shorten these questions to what we used to ask in the journalism profession. 

Who

What

Where

Why

When and 

How.  

If you are willing to answer these questions, your Bible study will change dramatically.  Happy studying.....  always, Sue