The Gift of Encouragement----- Saturday April 17, 2010 by Pastor Dave

THE GIFT OF ENCOURAGEMENT



Saturday, April 17, 2010



“To inspire with courage, spirit, or hope.”--- ENCOURAGE definition.


The reality is that when we encouraging people elevate us beyond where we are. They lift us up and urge us. To encourage another is one of life’s greatest gifts we receive and one of the greatest gifts we offer. What are the ways in which you are encouraged by others? Who are the grand encouragers in your life? Who needs you to be an encouraging presence?

Barnabas is lifted up in today’s story as “the son of encouragement”. In a nutshell, that will be his lasting legacy for he accompanies Paul on the early Chrsitian missionary journeys. Barnabas likely was the one when Paul got down saying “keep at it. the Lord needs us”. In the lesson today, our first mention of Barnabas is lifting him up as an example of financial generosity- a reminder to us (and a continual theme in scripture) that the sharing of resources is a profoundly encouraging witness!



Give thanks this day for those who encourage you personally and for those who are the grand encouragers for the Christian community in our day. Blessings for a great Saturday. Looks to be a nice day here in Maryland. .


Today’s Text- Acts 4: 32-37

32 Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’). 37He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Bold Faith--------Friday, April 16, 2010 by Pastor Dave

BOLD FAITH



Friday, April 16, 2010


If only I could be so bold. If only I had the faith that this boy on the right has. He looks at this incredibly steep hill as an adventure, a joyous opportunity to do something exciting- to skateboard. Whereas others would only see danger, he sees fun.



I want to live in this world with an adventurous faith. We need to take on this world with a sense of adventure, to seize opportunities, and not shy away fro situations that scare us. The early church gathered together regularly and prayed for boldness- over and over and over again. And here’s the good news. . the more they prayed for it, the more they were filled with boldness. This gift enabled them to reach out in the midst of a “new time, a scary time, a time of uncertainty.” But, in reaching out, they changed many lives for the better.



Do we pray for boldness enough- especially to live by bolder faith in Jesus? If we were more bold in our faith, what kind of impact would it have? Ponder that. Describe it. If you have a chance, please share with me what you think a bold faith would look like.




TODAY’S TEXT- Acts 4: 23-

23 After they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, ‘Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them, 25it is you who said by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant:

“Why did the Gentiles rage,

and the peoples imagine vain things?

26The kings of the earth took their stand,

and the rulers have gathered together

against the Lord and against his Messiah.”

27For in this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 28to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, 30while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ 31When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness

LASER POINTER LIVING---- Thursday, April 15 2010 by Pastor Dave

LASER POINTER LIVING



Thursday, April 15, 2010






YOUR LIFE IS LIKE A LASER POINTER!

Laser pointers. You know what I’m talking about? A small gadget about the size of a pen that emits a glowing colored and “hits” a mark off in the distance. When the beam hits that spot, it settles there and draws your attention there. Teachers or presenters use it on their white boards or powerpoint presentations or maps or images to draw attention to details that might otherwise be missed by others. My experience is simple—when a laser is in use, my eyes are drawn to what the laser hits!

Peter and John may not have literal laser pointers but they indeed are pointing with laser like focus. They are deflecting praise away from themselves in the story today and saying, “it’s the power of Christ in me” that is at work, helping others. In a world where we are taught to celebrate our accomplishments (not a bad thing but. . . )and be proud of what “we’ve done”, Peter and John remind us that all we are & all we do are gracious gifts from God, thus—we should make sure to point to the source of blessing.

Life as a laser pointer is about:

Being grateful

Seeing oneself as an instrument whom God will work through and make a mark on the world.

Sharing your gifts

Looking beyond self (a key focus in ACTS)



It’s easy in a twitter filled, facebook status obsessed world (I tread carefully here as I update my status as well) to put the focus on what we are doing. What if our status update was seen as a chance to “mark” how God is helping us today? Just food for thought.



Also- I got a little chuckle at the end of the reading today (below) where the religious leaders were amazed that a man over 40 was healed. I guess miracles can happen for the post 40 crowd! So, to all of us in the post-40 fraternity/sorority—there’s still hope for God to do great things in our life. My two cents.



For music lovers- You might check out Nichole Nordeman’s song “Legacy” on youtube.com Great lyrics with the continual question- “did I point to you enough to make a mark on things?” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbi4nSrhRxo







Today’s Text- Acts 4: 5-22

5 The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, ‘By what power or by what name did you do this?’ 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, 9if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, 10let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. 11This Jesus is

“the stone that was rejected by you, the builders;

it has become the cornerstone.”

12There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.’

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus. 14When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15So they ordered them to leave the council while they discussed the matter with one another. 16They said, ‘What will we do with them? For it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it. 17But to keep it from spreading further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.’ 18So they called them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered them, ‘Whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; 20for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.’ 21After threatening them again, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all of them praised God for what had happened. 22For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.

The Facebook Porch------ Wed April 14 2010 by Pastor Dave

THE FACEBOOK PORCH



Wednesday, April 14, 2010



The early followers of Jesus like to hang out in a public place called Solomon’s Porch. It was a public place located in the temple complex/campus where people passed by often. They debated there, had conversations there, and extended care in that setting. It was a 1st century gathering spot to “do ministry.”



For all the time people spend on Facebook, perhaps we can start to see that as a form of Solomon’s porch. A place to do more than just post pictures, play games, and tell the world what cereal we are eating. Facebook, if we can claim it, is a good venue for extending our Christian compassion and concern to others for it is a place where many gather daily.



At the Facebook “porch”, we can build up relationships. We can share an inspiring Bible passage on our profile. We can extend an invite or tell someone we are praying for them (or better yet. . . dare to write a prayer for them). We can be a presence with a purpose—seeking to enrich the lives of others, to build others up. That is really what the followers of Jesus were doing in the temple. Hanging out, talking, and seizing opportunities to share the faith in word and deed in a way that was timely. Those opportunities are there daily on Facebook just as they are in face to face encounters. We need to minister in both settings. See yourself as god’s representative on the Facebook Porch.







Today’s Text- Acts 3: 11- 4:5

11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s Portico, utterly astonished. 12When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, ‘You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. 14But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, 15and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.

17 ‘And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. 19Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, 20so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus, 21who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets. 22Moses said, “The Lord your God will raise up for you from your own people a prophet like me. You must listen to whatever he tells you. 23And it will be that everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be utterly rooted out from the people.” 24And all the prophets, as many as have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, also predicted these days. 25You are the descendants of the prophets and of the covenant that God gave to your ancestors, saying to Abraham, “And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 26When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.’

Peter and John before the Council

4While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them, 2much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead. 3So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4But many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand.

Attention Can Spark Healing----- Tuesday April 13 2010

ATTENTION CAN SPARK HEALING



Tuesday, April 13, 2010


Text- Acts 3: 1-10



One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. 2And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. 3When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. 4Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, ‘Look at us.’ 5And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6But Peter said, ‘I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.’ 7And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9All the people saw him walking and praising God, 10and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.



TODAY’S REFLECTIONS

I am a firm believer in the importance of being generous with our financial resources- what God has given us but. . . .today reminds me that “hands on involvement” can offer others the healing presence of God.

The man lying at the gate was asking for money. Perhaps he thought that was all he could get from others. What he gets from Peter and John is focused attention. They ignore everything else and pay careful attention to his needs. They look him in the eye. They are interested in him. They reach out to offer him help and care and support. And . . .their focused attention provides much more than he ever expected.



To take this home and apply to our daily lives- “who is sitting right in front of us” in need? Who could we give some extra attention to that might be lifted up if we simply gave them some focused care and support? Maybe we could take someone out for coffee or stop at the next cubicle or reach across the hedge and inquire about another. Whatever we come up with, we must take note that Peter and John had the courage to take the initiative and reach out. When we can reach out as they did, we indeed can offer others inner healing. When we do that, they may just end up “leaping for joy” just as the man in the story today!



Blessings.

O.P.---------- April 12, 2010

O.P.



April 12, 2010


Text- Acts 2:42-47

42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.



Today’s Comments

There is so much need in the world. Nations are struggling. We have people living in absolute uncertainty. Just tick off in your head people in your life who are facing hardship and struggle.

What strikes me about this “summary passage” (Luke likes to write about what “typically happened in the early Christian community) is that they had a dislike of having “people in need”. Therefore, when one in their midst had a need, they made sure it was taken care of. It was not sufficient for one person to have their needs met. They insisted that all people were cared for.

When I was a kid, a very cool brand was OP which stood for Ocean Pacific. I have no idea if the brand still is in existence but the early church had an OP mentality- meaning, “other people” mattered. The other was worthy of consideration. The other was worthy of being built up. The other was worthy of being offered tangible care.

Yet, even as we say this- the people in the early church must have recognized that as they cared for others, the other would always be looking out for them.

I see this as a great ideal to aim for. The more we can become people to look outward and care for the “other”, there is no doubt that the God of abundance will ensure that we are cared for.