Archive for the ‘ Jesus ’ Category

Giving for the King – Silver Bells

Get over to Proverbial Thought for Chris’s wise commentary on Proverbs 28:9!

This is the third week of my favorite Christmas carols. I started with one of my original favorites, The Little Drummer Boy, and last week I looked at a more recent favorite, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.

This week, I continue with the theme of bells, but it comes from an unlikely place.

Silver Bells

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style.
In the air there’s a feeling of Christmas.
Children laughing, People passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you’ll hear.

Chorus:

Silver bells, silver bells
It’s Christmas time in the city.
Ring-a-ling, hear them sing.
Soon it will be Christmas day.

Strings of street lights, even stop lights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush home with their treasures.
Hear the snow crunch, see the kids bunch.
This is Santa’s big scene.
And above all this bustle you’ll hear.

(Chorus)

The video above comes from The Lemon Drop Kid, a movie (yes, black and white) from 1951 with Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell. It is a fun little movie about a gambler and crook who decides to go straight.

There is some debate over the actual inspiration of the song, but I prefer to go with the story that it was inspired by the Santa Clauses and Salvation Army people ringing bells for donations.

It reminds me that we are to help others out of our abundance.

Now, it is all well and good to do something for goodness’ sake, but …

The real reason we should help people is out of the love and compassion given to us by our resurrected Lord and Savior.

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15, NIV

Christmas reminds us of this, because God showed His love through the most unlikely of acts.

He was born as a human baby and laid in a feeding trough. The Creator of everything was born into squalor.

And too often we stop with the birth.

Yet the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, reminds us that He came to save us from our sin and rebellion. His birth reminds us that we must be born again. His birth reminds us that we must show the same love and compassion He shows, and we must take that love and compassion to others.

That is why Silver Bells is one of my favorite Christmas songs. Though a secular song through and through, it reminds me that God has given us all a purpose: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)

In truth, this means we care for all people whenever we are able.

2013
11/19
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Playing for the King – The Little Drummer Boy

Get a dose of wisdom from Proverbial Thought!

For the next several weeks, as we build to “the most wonderful time of the year,” I am going to look at some of my personal favorite Christmas carols. Why not start with my longest-running favorite?

Carol of the Drum

The Little Drummer Boy started out in 1941 as a song by Katherine Kennicott Davis and by the name Carol of the Drum.

Here are the lyrics:

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we’ll bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum
When we come

Baby Jesus, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That’s fit to give our King, pa rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
Shall I play for You?, Pa rum pum pum
On my drum

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum

Why it is one of my favorites

First, I refer you to “The Parable of the Talents” from Matthew 25:14-30 (ESV):

 

 

14 For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 Well done, good and faithful servant.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Here is what I want to say, then, about the song:

We know that God has entrusted us with responsibility in this life. He has given each of us gifts, be they abilities/talents, understanding, or the fruit of the Spirit. It can come in any form and varies from person to person.

Like the Little Drummer Boy, there is something we are tasked with doing. (I am going to reveal a secret to you: no matter what, it includes sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to increase the Kingdom of God!)

Like the Little Drummer Boy, if we do our something to the best of our ability to give glory to God and make Him happy, God will smile on us.

It does not matter if we are rich or poor, eloquent or a stutterer, well-known or easily over-looked; if our goal is to play our part for His pleasure, we will one day hear our Lord say “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

2013
11/05
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A Simple Look at the Trinity

Look at the wisdom available at Proverbial Thought!

There is an objection to Christianity, or even within Christianity, which may be raised: the Doctrine of the Trinity.

There are various sources of this argument: Mormons (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or LDS), Jehovah’s Witnesses, Unitarians, Muslims, Jews, and many other sources including some people from church who may have doubts.

The biggest reason is that the word “Trinity” is not used in the Bible. The Trinity is the belief that God is one Being with three distinct Persons (not simply personalities): God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit.

This is true, but there are many things that are believed by Jews, Christians, Muslims, and various cults and belief systems that are not found in scriptures. They are inferred from readings. (One example could be “falling in love with Jesus”. Not in the Bible, but the phrase conveys the need to discover the truth, grace, and love of God that can change your life.)

However, the title says this is a simple look at the Trinity. Therefore, I will merely give a mental exercise which can also be used as a form of apologetics:

To the objection that there is no Trinity and Christians worship three gods:

Look at this man (any man, really). He is a father. There is his child. Do you dispute he is a father?

Look at this same man. Here is his father. Is this man also a son? How can he be two different people.

Look at this same man. He has a license to heal the sick and prescribe medicine. Is this man also a doctor? How can he be three different people.

Obviously I must be talking about three different men, right?

Please remember, there is no perfect analogy for describing/explaining God. This is not me trying to say I understand God. This is merely a tool to help us understand a little better how God can be three and one at the same time.

It is my prayer that this may help you in understanding your faith in a better way or in sharing your faith with others.

If you are not a Christian as you read this, I pray you may understand better what Christians truly believe. Naturally, I hope you would also come to believe as I do in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of the world!

2013
10/29
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Protection Through Encouragement

Encourage your soul with some wisdom from Proverbial Thought!

12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end …
Hebrews 3:12-14, NASB

This will be short and sweet today.

Relationships are very important. The Bible is all about God’s desire for relationships with us through His Son!

Therefore, I encourage you today to encourage each other.

Call your friends and family to tell them you love them.

Share Christ with family and friends who may not know Him.

Lift each other up in prayer, and tell those for whom you pray that you are praying for them!

Be with friends (“in spirit” if need be) who need friends: an ear, a shoulder, a helping hand.

Just love those who are close to you!

Take the time today to show those who are close to you that you care!

Remember: God loves you!

2013
10/22
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Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 09/22/2013

Find truth in wisdom at Proverbial Thought!

Jesus is the Truth of God. Our lives are interrupted, changed, and empowered by the Truth.

There are so many references in the Bible to what the Truth does for and to our lives.

Let the Truth change you!

(Also, this is the poem I first posted when I began using the headline “Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas” almost two and a half years ago!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Truth permeates my being
i cannot help but to think
about Your Word day and night
for i know it is good and right
Your Truth sets captives free
souls saved from going into the deep
it is by the power of Your Word
to cut loose sin like a sword
Your Truth cuts through to the marrow
and comforts me in my sorrow
by Your Word all things were made
and by grace through faith we are saved

2013
09/22
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Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 09/01/2013

Find wisdom at Proverbial Thought!

We are to emulate Christ however we can.

The poem today was inspired by Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

be like Christ is

 

our priests and preachers say
live like Jesus did
but what if we need today
to be like Jesus is
i do not want to be like
a person that once lived
to live like Jesus Christ
we need to know Who He is
if we want to change our world
the way that is the best
is to live out the Good Word
which is who Jesus still is

2013
09/01
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Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 08/25/2013

Find a life of wisdom, and go read our commentary at Proverbial Thought!

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

To deny Christ

Is to deny life.

 

 

 

 

 

there is no life

outside of Christ

worth any time

i could spend

on whom could i call

to save me from the fall

that ruined us all

our lives at an end

it is the true Messiah

sent down just because

our world lost all the awe

for a God and friend

He returned all of the joy

stolen in a satanic ploy

so that the devil could destroy

but our Christ made amends

2013
08/28
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Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 08/11/2013

Accept the truth that you need more wisdom, and go read the proverbial commentary at Proverbial Thought!

There are two groups in this world:

  1. Those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
  2. Those who do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

Within the first group there are subgroups which define a response to Jesus:

  1. Those who ignore Jesus.
  2. Those who hate Jesus.
  3. Those who love Jesus.

There can be subgroups for each of these, but the focus of the poem today is an explanation of that last group.

accept and respond

i heard the Good News

i looked at the facts

i know it was true

i accepted Jesus

my mental decision

brought in a choice

be a new person

or just say i know Jesus

this life can be hard

and not seem very just

i will take up my part

and respond to Jesus

i accept this truth

i will do what i must

i have to share with you

because i responded to Jesus

2013
08/11
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Build Your Kingdom Here

Learn the wisdom of the Kingdom by reading some thoughts at Proverbial Thought.

I am on a role with these song-inspired posts, as of late, so here is another.

The Kingdom of God Is Near

Prayer is certainly important in the life of a Christian, as discussed last week.

Jesus taught us to pray:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation
    but deliver us from the evil one.”
Matthew 6:9-13, NIV

Perhaps the reason we fail to see revival and change in our society is because we do not really pray for “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Sure, we say the words, but how often do we mean it?

A chapter earlier, Jesus says:

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.“
Matthew 5:13-16, NIV

Perhaps we do not see revival and change in our society, because we have not really asked our Father to change us through His Holy Spirit to be His salt and light in our world. We have a tendency to think God will just change all of their hearts without our intervention.

I could go on and on, but I think the Rend Collective Experiment sang it out best in this prayer to song:

Build Your Kingdom Here

Come set Your rule and reign
In our hearts again
Increase in us we pray
Unveil why we’re made
Come set our hearts ablaze with hope
Like wildfire in our very souls
Holy Spirit come invade us now
We are Your Church
We need Your power
In us

We seek Your kingdom first
We hunger and we thirst
Refuse to waste our lives
For You’re our joy and prize
To see the captive hearts released
The hurt; the sick; the poor at peace
We lay down our lives for Heaven’s cause
We are Your church
We pray revive
This earth

Build Your kingdom here
Let the darkness fear
Show Your mighty hand
Heal our streets and land
Set Your church on fire
Win this nation back
Change the atmosphere
Build Your kingdom here
We pray

Unleash Your kingdom’s power
Reaching the near and far
No force of hell can stop
Your beauty changing hearts
You made us for much more than this
Awake the kingdom seed in us
Fill us with the strength and love of Christ
We are Your church
We are the hope
On earth

2013
07/30
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Waiting for the New

Get your thrills (and some wisdom) over at Proverbial Thought!

Jesus said to His disciples just before His arrest, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:1-3)

My wife and I have thought about this verse a lot recently (such as in this post last month).

Home Renovations

As of this posting, we have had they keys to our house for a week and a half!

The promise has been made. We have a home.

The thing is, it has been We have keys to our first home! and emptied by people, so we cannot move in, yet.

On top of being summer in Phoenix, AZ, we have needed to go in (early, to avoid the 115 degree or higher temperatures in a house without air conditioning) to clean things before they can be painted.

We have to keep meeting with people to figure out colors, placements, designs, materials, and all of the hows and whys.

It takes cleaning things, removing walls and fixtures, building new walls and fixtures, renewing the electricity and water, replacing floors and ceilings and doors and locks.

Did I mention this is in the summer heat of Phoenix, Arizona?

And we cannot do it all. We have to have help every single step of the way, those with the knowledge and expertise to make our dirty, empty house into a beautiful new home.

It can be overwhelming at times, and sometimes it can be discouraging as we wait. But we have a hope that keeps us going that one day we can go to our home.

Spiritual Renovations

Likewise, we experience difficulties in this life for a myriad of reasons. As Christians, we know that God is preparing us for our Home with Him.

We will go through changes, many as we choose to let the Holy Spirit change us and many as God moves us through situations and seasons to change us.

All the while we see how fallen our world is, and we long for a better home.

Actually, I think Paul said it best:

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
2 Corinthians 4:16-5:5

We may face struggles and troubles in this life, but we can endure. We endure because Jesus Christ made us a promise that He is getting a Home ready for us, and He proved His promise is true by dying on a cross and rising from the dead three days later.

If Jesus can come back from the dead, He will come back to Earth one day to take us Home!

2013
07/02
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