The Eggstra Special Event

Good Evening Everyone.

We were really blessed today by Chris and Susan Peters. They hosted the Eggstra Special Event which included an egg hunt and dying party. I made a slideshow of the event I hope you enjoy. Thanks Chris and Susan for all you do.

Be Strong and Courageous,

Which Nicodemus Are You Most Like?

Good Morning Everyone,

So I looked at the calendar this morning just to make sure it was in fact the month of April and sure enough it is, the only problem is that it was 46 degrees this morning. I don't know about you but that seems a bit cool for the month of April in South Texas.

I want to thank everyone for the nice comments you left of on the series of posts on the book of Proverbs. It was an amazing journey for me and I really enjoyed helping to lead all of you through that amazing book of God's word. I'm not really sure where I want to go next. I enjoyed a daily post on a chapter from a book of the Bible but not all books lend themselves as well as Proverbs does. So until I decide where I want to go next I just want to give you something to chew on today.

Nicodemus is an interesting character in the Gospels. People like to use Nicodemus as a whipping boy for the purposes of feeling superior in their own faith. We look at what we have done as Christians and compare that to the life of Nicodemus and think "hey, I'm doing alright". This is a dangerous way to live your Christian life (a whole other post) and if you choose to look at the story of Nicodemus in its entirety you would see it is also an invalid way of looking at his life. Let's take a look.

John 3:1-4 ¹ Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council.² He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”³ In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”⁴ “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”

Nicodemus was at the right place, at the wrong time but for the wrong reasons...let me explain. Nicodemus was at the right place, with Jesus, a place where I believe we all wish we could be. Nicodemus was at the right place at the wrong time, night. Why would Nicodemus go to Jesus at night? There are a lot of people who have tried to answer this question but the best I can see is that he went to him at night because he didn't want to be seen. The Gospel of John is full of light and dark imagery and every time dark is the negative of the two. So, Nicodemus was in the right place (with Jesus), at the wrong time (night), and for the wrong reasons. Obviously Nicodemus knew he couldn't physically enter his mother's womb a second time so what he was trying to do was trip Jesus up on something.

This is usually where people quit reading the story because they say things like, "Sure I may have cheated on my taxes but I would never try to trick Jesus.",the whole time feeling oh so superior when in reality I know a lot of Christians (myself included) that from time to time act like Nicodemus. I see Christians who come to the right place (amongst God's people in worship or in congregational activities) and they may even be there at the right time but they are there for the wrong reasons. Maybe they are there because they feel the need to check "church" off the list for the week, or maybe they are there solely for the social aspect or maybe because they have nothing better to do. Whatever the incorrect reason for being in the right place at the right time the fact of the matter is you're not that much different that Nicodemus...at least the Nicodemus on John 3. When was the last time you looked at Nicodemus in John 19?

John 19:38-42⁸ Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. ³⁹ He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. ⁴⁰ Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. ⁴¹ At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. ⁴² Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

This is the same guy that was trying to trip up Jesus back in Chapter 3. I was talking about this with one of my ministry buddies and he asked a good question. What happened between John 3 and John 19? I don't have an all inclusive answer for you because those facts are not revealed to us in Scripture, but, what I do have is a simple answer of redemption. Something along the way made Nicodemus believe in Jesus enough that he would openly go and ask for the body and make a huge financial commitment is providing the spices for burial.

Some people look at Nicodemus and see a coward that was trying to test Jesus. I look at the story of Nicodemus and I see myself, a flawed individual that has been blessed to come into contact with Jesus Christ, and I see a great story of redemption. I hope that when I come to the end of my life that I look like Nicodemus in John 19 and not like the one in John 3. What are you doing to make sure that you are more like the Nicodemus in John 19? I would love to hear some good ways to look more like that Nicodemus so let me know. I hope you are all blessed today because I am blessed for knowing all of you.

Be Strong and Courageous,

Paul

End Of The Road

Good Evening Everyone,

Well I didn't forget about our Proverbs journey, I just got a little sidetracked. More than anything I have been working on a funeral I have been asked to preach tomorrow, and I will admit I have been taking advantage of this wonderful weather and doing a little yard work. Let's finish the journey.

Proverbs 25

Proverbs 25:15

¹⁵ Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,

and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

I remember when Pap-paw was in the hospital I decided to get into a battle of whits with another visitor. Pap-paw was sick and didn't feel well but he took the time to teach me that by keeping my mouth shut I would come out ahead. While it's a little different than what is being said here I think the principle applies.

Proverbs 25:21-22

²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
²² In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the LORD will reward you.

I am reminded of two friends I had in college that had been friends since High School. These two guys went to a small Christian school where everyone knew everyone else. One of these guys didn't particularly like the other at first. The guy who wasn't liked made it his mission to become friends with the other guy. I believe he lived out the passage I have referenced here. As Christians we don't have the option of treating some people better than others, let's try to be good to everyone.

Proverbs 26

Proverbs 26:18-19

¹⁸ Like a madman shooting
firebrands or deadly arrows
¹⁹ is a man who deceives his neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”

I work with teenagers therefore I hear a lot of jokes at other people's expense. I am even guilty of making a few of the jokes myself from time to time. I hope that we are the kind of people who would rather build someone up rather than tear them down.

Proverbs 27

Proverbs 27:5

⁵ Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.

I mentioned that I am preaching a funeral tomorrow. Right now there is a family that will never be able to tell their loved one that they love him ever again. Make sure that you are taking every opportunity to tell the people that are closest to you how you really feel about them.

Proverbs 27:17

¹⁷ As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another.

This should be the anthem of Christians. we need to spend our times building each other up all of the time. This doesn't mean that we only build one another up in services or when we go to camps and retreats but all the time without ceasing.

Proverbs 28

Proverbs 28:22

²² A stingy man is eager to get rich

and is unaware that poverty awaits him.

I was privileged to know a man named Willie Sandlin. Willie was a minister in Northeast Arkansas and made a huge difference in the life of teenagers and adults alike. Willie was one of the most generous men I have ever known. Willie was known for loaning his vehicle to total strangers because they needed it, giving the last dollar in his billfold to someone who was in need or just taking time our his day to talk. All of this might not sound all that remarkable but it might if you knew that Willie lived most of his life in extremely poor health. Willie had a number of ailments that had never been seen before. There are surgical procedures that exist today because of Willie, and even when he didn't have money to pay his medical bills he still found ways to help others. When I grow up I want to be like Willie.

Proverbs 29

Proverbs 29:27

²⁷ The righteous detest the dishonest;
the wicked detest the upright.

I can't really add much to this, it's a good thought and one very appropriate to our times.

Proverbs 30

Proverbs 30:24-25

⁴ “Four things on earth are small,
yet they are extremely wise:
²⁵ Ants are creatures of little strength,
yet they store up their food in the summer

As I was working in my yard the other day I found lots and lots of ant hills. This passage really made me think about the ants in my yard. They are tiny creatures but when a lot of them work together they can build these large hills. When you look at your average person he or she is pretty small but when you put a lot of us together we can do some amazing things. Next time you think you don't make a difference go take a look in your yard and see if you see so ant piles.

Proverbs 31

I'm not going to try to select a few verses from Proverbs 31because this is the chapter used at both of my Grandmother's funerals. I encourage those of you men who are unmarried to read this chapter and then go find a lady who lives up to these standards.

I have enjoyed this journey more than I can tell you. I hope you have enjoyed the journey and more than that I hope you keep on reading your Bible every day.

Be Strong and Courageous,

Paul