“And those who have insight will shine like the glow of the expanse of heaven,
and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”
Daniel 12:3 (NASB)
Hi Men:
I pray your week has had profound moments where you were overwhelmed with Christ’s finished work – for you! Because of that, I had to give C.S. Lewis’ quote center stage. His quote and the verse from the Book of Daniel emphasize:
- The enduring impact of a life spent advancing God’s kingdom
- Are you advancing His Kingdom?
- A legacy that disturbs hell and shines eternally in heaven
- Are you rattling the gates of hell?
- Our absence is hell’s relief and heaven’s gain
- Will this be true for you?
A couple other “familiar” verses also come to mind that are worth pondering:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day…”
(2 Timothy 4:7-8)
“The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: fear Godand keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”
(Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
IN YOUR OWN SON’S BACKYARD
WATCH DAN Go Down the Zipline (YouTube 58 Sec’s)
A lot has happened in the last 2 weeks. Let me skip the slideshow and cut to the chase. My wife and I recently flew to North Carolina to celebrate three grandkids’ birthdays—back-to-back-to-back. It was a full house, with our other son and family driving in from Knoxville. A sweet time.
My son Mark had installed a zipline in his backyard, so of course Grandpa had to try it. On my third run, I knocked over the ladder and ended with a bad decision—I jumped off instead of waiting for the ladder and landed hard on my heel. X-rays showed no break, but a serious sprain. I’m two weeks into crutches, with a couple more to go.
Why tell you this? Because in the quiet of recovery, I’ve had a lot to reflect on.
In early May, two dear brothers and I discussed The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, and New York Times best-seller, Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer. I had already been praying, “Lord, how can I structure my days to better walk with You?” I never want to presume upon God, but this injury gave me time to listen.
Jesus’ words to Martha came alive again:
“You are worried and distracted by many things, but only one thing is necessary…” (Luke 10:41–42)
And Solomon’s wisdom hit me square:
“Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil…” (Eccl. 4:6)
Even good activity—yes, even ministry—can crowd out intimacy with God (His Presence). Sometimes the enemy doesn’t tempt us directly with sin, but with busyness.
I remembered that old acronym:
B.U.S.Y. – Being Under Satan’s Yoke.
Let us be pleading with the Lord for Him to reveal only those works that He prepared beforehand for us to do…… just as He chose us “in” Him before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4)
Dan
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
That verse is a jaw-dropper….. “Let’s Do It”
“Even after the Father welcomes you to His family, He says you should see yourself as nothing more than an “unworthy slave.”
Men… do you agree with that statement?
Jesus didn’t hesitate to use the word slave (Greek: doulos) — and neither did Paul. In fact, Paul repeatedly refers to himself as a slave of Christ. So do James, Peter, Jude, and John. Yet most English translations soften the word to “servant” or “bond-servant.” But let’s be honest: a servant can quit. A slave cannot.
The truth is, “slave” doesn’t market well in most churches today. We avoid words that make people uncomfortable — even when they’re straight from the mouth of Christ. But the gospel doesn’t call us to comfort. It calls us to surrender.
A Proper Perspective – Red Book Day 160
The purpose of these devotionals is to help you think Biblically
Solomon said, “As a man thinks, so is he
Over The Rainbow
Watch the John 10:10 Project’s Latest Video Release
(YouTube 6:30 mins)
There are few natural wonders of Earth that can evoke joy and fascination more quickly than rainbows. These beloved phenomena occur when beams of sunlight pass through trillions of water droplets that linger in the atmosphere after a storm. When conditions are right, white light is refracted into bands of seven individual colors that form familiar arches over the horizon. But beyond their aesthetic appeal, rainbows are also vivid symbols of God’s compassion for human beings—and timeless reminders of his forgiveness and grace. Celebrate the splendor in this inspiring short video.
FORGIVENESS
Men: Watch this great 45 sec explanation on forgiveness by Tim Keller
This was a good one from Living Waters – Ray Comfort
Watch Ray having an honest and tender encounter with a young man…….
(YouTube 13 minutes)
Have you ever heard of Dr. James Simpson? I had not until I read about him in The Evidence Bible. Take a moment to read about him…….
The Greatest Discovery!
Dr. James Simpson, born in 1811, was responsible for discovering the anesthetic properties of chloroform, revolutionizing medicine worldwide. He also laid the foundation for modern gynecology and even predicted the discovery of the x-ray. Dr. Simpson served as President of the Royal Medical Society and Royal Physician to the Queen — the highest medical position of his day.
He once said,
“Christianity works because it is supremely true and therefore supremely livable. There is nothing incompatible between religion and science.”
When asked what his greatest discovery was, Dr. Simpson replied:
“It was not chloroform. It was that I am a sinner — and that I could be saved by the grace of God. A man has missed the whole meaning of life if he has not entered into an active, living relationship with God through Christ.”
The greatest discovery in history is not the law of gravity, calculus, the telescope, or the telegraph. The greatest discovery a person can ever make is finding Jesus Christ — and making Him both Lord and Savior.
Whoa! From J.C. Ryle’s devotional (Evening ◾ May 24th)
How does this verse sit with you?…..
“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” (Phil 3:10)