I usually do my Bible reading in the morning, but today it was interrupted by a trip to the airport. I got all my Old Testament readings finished along with my Gospel reading. So, tonight, before watching any television, I read from Acts and James.
Why am I telling you this?
Well, to be honest, I sat and giggled with joy as I read Acts 12. It's a tragic, miraculous, hilarious chapter. It begins with the martyrdom of the Apostle James. Peter gets locked up by a power-crazed ruler - Herod. The church prays; on the eve of his execution, they pray through the night!
Meanwhile, Peter sleeps like a baby while chained to soldiers - with even more posted outside his cell, to make absolutely certain that he does't escape!
Sometime during the night, an angel pokes Peter awake and tells him to get up. As Peter gets up, his chains fall off. Together, they walk past guards and to the prison gate - which swings open all by itself! Peter, dazed, thinks it's all a dream; until he's left standing alone outside of the prison!
He goes to the home where he assumes he might find friends. A girl named Rhoda answers his knock. When she sees him, she leaves him standing outside and runs to tell everyone that "Peter is at the door!"
Peter knocks again and they let him in to tremendous rejoicing.
At daybreak, there is mass confusion in the prison! No one can explain how Peter got away. Herod orders the execution of the guards who were responsible! Meanwhile, Peter goes into hiding.
As a kind of post-script, Herod gives a great speech at an event designed to restore peace between Jerusalem and the cities of Tyre and Sidon. The people cry out: "The voice of god! The voice of god!"
Herod accepts their adulation instead of deferring glory to the God of Heaven and Earth. As a result, God sent an angel to afflict Herod with a humiliating and debilitating disease that eventually took his life!
What an amazing story!!!!!
I know that I'm a pastor and a lifelong student of the scriptures, but I just don't get it when people say that the Bible is boring. Maybe they need to get a more recent version, like The Message or The Voice! Granted, there are boring sections! But so much of it is scintillating and captivating.
Just this week, I read some scriptures to a small group. These scriptures divulge some of the most AMAZING things about Heaven! I was so excited to share this information! I slowly unpacked it all expecting to get an awestruck response. It didn't happen. I can't help but be perplexed and somewhat disappointed at times like that.
There are times when I read the scripture in public and wait for a response from the people - it never comes. I guess we've heard it too many times. It doesn't 'Wow!' us anymore! I think this is SO SAD!
"Lord, give us fresh eyes and ears for Your Word! Help us to read and hear it as though we were doing so for the first time again!"
Liturgical churches have an exchange that always thrills me when I hear it used:
LEADER: "This is the Word of the Lord!"
PEOPLE: "Thanks be to God!"
This really is the Word of the Lord - AND IT'S AWESOME! It deserves a response!
Well, preachers preach; I guess that's what I've done here. Enough for now - I've got to get back to my giggling! :-)
Showing posts with label Passion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Passion. Show all posts
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Thursday, December 15, 2011
A STIMULATING CONVERSATION
I just talked for over an hour with Dan. He and his wife, Debbie, operate Mt. Zion Retreat Center (in Roaring Branch, PA). A few years ago they also started a church in the gym at Mt. Zion. He tells me that it's made up of couples under the age of 38 (he and Debbie are the oldest folks in the church).
For quite a few years they had foster children (in addition to raising their own three) - about 60 of them over the course of time.
To support his family, Dan drives truck for a large bakery in Williamsport, PA.
They moved out of their home this summer to have it renovated into a safe-house for women trying to escape lives of sexual slavery. They hope to have it fully licensed to open by late January.
They want to start a Bible College in the next few years (at Mt. Zion) to educate young, adult men and women for ministry. One donor has pledged five million dollars to the start-up of this project!
Now understand, Mt. Zion is a small retreat center. It had two houses to lodge small groups, but one of them burned to the ground a year ago. They also have a large, three floor retreat house with many small rooms and shared restrooms. It is in much need of repair and is expensive to heat in the winter. The retreat center is a ministry - but it is not lucrative!
They tap into volunteer labor as much as they can. They have few financial supporters. However, various board members and a few others are extremely generous with contributions. The Retreat Center is six years behind in paying Dan and Debbie. Their church pays him $100 a week.
Yet, his vision is unending and his passion exceeds that of most people I know. As a result of talking with him, I feel like my batteries have been recharged! My hope renewed. My vision expanded.
Dan and Debbie are entrepreneurs! They start things. It's their gift! They desperately need people to come alongside them to help make things work.
They bless me by providing a place to retreat three times a year. It's usually quiet here. No cell service. No television. Solitude. Minimal distractions and a fantastic view of the mountains. I typically stay Sunday night through Friday morning; they ask me for $125. I bring my own food and prepare it in a tiny, outdated microwave oven.
Dan and Debbie are Kingdom people! They thrive because they are connected to the living God! He provides for their needs. Nearly everything they do is focused on making His name known.
I am humbled. They make my world seem small. I just thought you should know about them - maybe you'll bump into them in Heaven someday. If you do, you can tell them that you heard about the great things they did for God!
If you want to know more, or bless them, or encourage them:
Dan and Debbie Colton
Mt. Zion Retreat Center
287 Zion Road
Roaring Branch, PA 17765
Their church is on Facebook: Mt. Zion New Life Center
Debbie has a blog at: http://www.debbiesoasis.blogspot.com/
For quite a few years they had foster children (in addition to raising their own three) - about 60 of them over the course of time.
To support his family, Dan drives truck for a large bakery in Williamsport, PA.
They moved out of their home this summer to have it renovated into a safe-house for women trying to escape lives of sexual slavery. They hope to have it fully licensed to open by late January.
They want to start a Bible College in the next few years (at Mt. Zion) to educate young, adult men and women for ministry. One donor has pledged five million dollars to the start-up of this project!
Now understand, Mt. Zion is a small retreat center. It had two houses to lodge small groups, but one of them burned to the ground a year ago. They also have a large, three floor retreat house with many small rooms and shared restrooms. It is in much need of repair and is expensive to heat in the winter. The retreat center is a ministry - but it is not lucrative!
They tap into volunteer labor as much as they can. They have few financial supporters. However, various board members and a few others are extremely generous with contributions. The Retreat Center is six years behind in paying Dan and Debbie. Their church pays him $100 a week.
Yet, his vision is unending and his passion exceeds that of most people I know. As a result of talking with him, I feel like my batteries have been recharged! My hope renewed. My vision expanded.
Dan and Debbie are entrepreneurs! They start things. It's their gift! They desperately need people to come alongside them to help make things work.
They bless me by providing a place to retreat three times a year. It's usually quiet here. No cell service. No television. Solitude. Minimal distractions and a fantastic view of the mountains. I typically stay Sunday night through Friday morning; they ask me for $125. I bring my own food and prepare it in a tiny, outdated microwave oven.
Dan and Debbie are Kingdom people! They thrive because they are connected to the living God! He provides for their needs. Nearly everything they do is focused on making His name known.
I am humbled. They make my world seem small. I just thought you should know about them - maybe you'll bump into them in Heaven someday. If you do, you can tell them that you heard about the great things they did for God!
If you want to know more, or bless them, or encourage them:
Dan and Debbie Colton
Mt. Zion Retreat Center
287 Zion Road
Roaring Branch, PA 17765
Their church is on Facebook: Mt. Zion New Life Center
Debbie has a blog at: http://www.debbiesoasis.blogspot.com/
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