As I was leaving the concert hall tonight, a man was standing on a step ladder in the grass preaching. I heard someone comment, "I can't believe they let him do that!" But to me that was a positive comment because it means she heard what he was saying. Was what he was doing right? Definitely. Was his method unorthodox? Perhaps. Was there anything wrong with it? I'm still thinking on that one but my initial answer is no.
Think about the places Jesus preached. The Sermon on the Mount was presumably preached on a mount. :-) When he fed the 4,ooo and the 5,ooo, they were in a field or by a lake...or in a field by a lake. In Acts 1, I think the disciples were preaching in the public square. And didn't John the Baptist preach in the desert? This is interesting; I'll have to look at the venues of some Bible sermons. But back to my topic.
Step Ladder Man (SLM) is a bold witness for Christ. I like that. I need to be that. SLM is taking the message outside the walls of the church to more of the people who need to hear it. Sometimes I think we don't do enough of that.
As I listened to him, I thought of the verse that says the Word will not return void. Later I thought of the verse about the Holy Spirit bringing things to our remembrance. I often think that for those who have been to church or otherwise heard the gospel but haven't been saved or have strayed away, a line of a song or a fragment of a familiar verse is enough to start them on their journey (back) to Christ. That's why I think even if no one stopped to listen to all SLM had to say, what someone heard in passing was exactly what they needed to hear.
I said a prayer for him and for all the passersby who would hear him. I gave him a thumbs-up and smiled as I walked to my car.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Another car story
It's been almost 8 months since I posted to this blog! I've had this story in mind ever since I shared the last one.
For 11 years I drove a 1986 Honda Civic. Toward the end, I started having some problems with it. I knew the time was coming when I'd have to replace it, but how would I know when that time was? And my biggest worry: how would I afford a car payment? Being a financial person, I had played with my budget, trying a variety of scenarios, and none of them looked like I would be able to get a car. One day on the way to work, my car died. Just like that. I was driving south on Research Park Boulevard (I think it was still called Rideout Road at the time) not far from Madison Square Mall and I felt it lose power. I coasted to the side of the road. Did I have a cell phone then? I can't remember, but I think I did because I don't recall walking across the road. Perhaps I called my brother... I don't know, but I called someone to come get me and I left my car on the side of the road. I decided then not to fix my car again. It was time to get another one. Which I did. I got a brand new Honda Civic! I financed it for 5 years. As excited as I was to have it, I seem to recall sitting at my desk at work in tears, still unsure of how I would pay for it.
Well, God came through again. I made the payments with no problem and was even able to pay extra sometimes. The car loan was paid off in less than 5 years.
The point of these two stories - the point of this blog, I guess - is that God speaks to us in different ways. He fixed my car situation both times, in one by giving me the money to pay what was needed and in the other by taking care of what I was supposed to pay. So when we pray, we need to truly "take our burdens to the Lord and leave them there." We must trust Him to work things out in His own way and in His own time. If we had the answers, we wouldn't need Him, now would we? But we don't (have the answers) and we do (need Him).
I need Thee, O I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.
For 11 years I drove a 1986 Honda Civic. Toward the end, I started having some problems with it. I knew the time was coming when I'd have to replace it, but how would I know when that time was? And my biggest worry: how would I afford a car payment? Being a financial person, I had played with my budget, trying a variety of scenarios, and none of them looked like I would be able to get a car. One day on the way to work, my car died. Just like that. I was driving south on Research Park Boulevard (I think it was still called Rideout Road at the time) not far from Madison Square Mall and I felt it lose power. I coasted to the side of the road. Did I have a cell phone then? I can't remember, but I think I did because I don't recall walking across the road. Perhaps I called my brother... I don't know, but I called someone to come get me and I left my car on the side of the road. I decided then not to fix my car again. It was time to get another one. Which I did. I got a brand new Honda Civic! I financed it for 5 years. As excited as I was to have it, I seem to recall sitting at my desk at work in tears, still unsure of how I would pay for it.
Well, God came through again. I made the payments with no problem and was even able to pay extra sometimes. The car loan was paid off in less than 5 years.
The point of these two stories - the point of this blog, I guess - is that God speaks to us in different ways. He fixed my car situation both times, in one by giving me the money to pay what was needed and in the other by taking care of what I was supposed to pay. So when we pray, we need to truly "take our burdens to the Lord and leave them there." We must trust Him to work things out in His own way and in His own time. If we had the answers, we wouldn't need Him, now would we? But we don't (have the answers) and we do (need Him).
I need Thee, O I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Work in progress
Sometimes my memory is not very good, so I like to write down things God has done for me. Last week I was cleaning out my email and ran across this message from a couple of years ago.
A warning light came on yesterday on my dashboard. I took it in to have it checked out. I just got a call that what should have been $800 was free because of an extended warranty on the problem part. I was lamenting this morning before I took it in, "Lord, I've been trying to be good and save money and now I've got to have my car repaired..." Like a co-worker asked me when I told her about it, When will we learn? Okay, maybe you've learned, so let me speak for myself. When will I learn?
Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
(Matthew 6:27 NKJV)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
(Proverbs 3:5, 6 NKJV)
A warning light came on yesterday on my dashboard. I took it in to have it checked out. I just got a call that what should have been $800 was free because of an extended warranty on the problem part. I was lamenting this morning before I took it in, "Lord, I've been trying to be good and save money and now I've got to have my car repaired..." Like a co-worker asked me when I told her about it, When will we learn? Okay, maybe you've learned, so let me speak for myself. When will I learn?
Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
(Matthew 6:27 NKJV)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
(Proverbs 3:5, 6 NKJV)
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
In the beginning
Hello!
I like the idea of blogging. I think. I like to journal and have done so for many years. I had a blog once before but it was mostly for me. I'm hoping a few friends will agree to co-author this blog with me. More about that in a minute.
This blog is named after Mandisa's song of the same name: God Speaking. It is a beautiful and thought-provoking song that reminds us to listen for God's message in every circumstance of our lives. The idea for the URL came from a sermon I heard some years ago. Wait, first of all, let me share Psalm 34:3 in case you aren't familiar with it. It says, "O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together." I think the sermon title was Raise the Praise. The preacher talked about how we as Christians can be encouraged and uplifted simply by telling each other how good God is. Soon after hearing the sermon, a group of us started an email group called RTP! The idea was simple: we praised God together via email. I don't recall now how long it lasted or why it went away, but the blessings of that group have stayed with me and my prayer is that something similar can be achieved through this blog.
That's enough rambling for now, especially considering the time. But I wanted to get this first entry done so I can send it to my friends the potential co-authors!
May your heart overflow with joy.
I like the idea of blogging. I think. I like to journal and have done so for many years. I had a blog once before but it was mostly for me. I'm hoping a few friends will agree to co-author this blog with me. More about that in a minute.
This blog is named after Mandisa's song of the same name: God Speaking. It is a beautiful and thought-provoking song that reminds us to listen for God's message in every circumstance of our lives. The idea for the URL came from a sermon I heard some years ago. Wait, first of all, let me share Psalm 34:3 in case you aren't familiar with it. It says, "O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together." I think the sermon title was Raise the Praise. The preacher talked about how we as Christians can be encouraged and uplifted simply by telling each other how good God is. Soon after hearing the sermon, a group of us started an email group called RTP! The idea was simple: we praised God together via email. I don't recall now how long it lasted or why it went away, but the blessings of that group have stayed with me and my prayer is that something similar can be achieved through this blog.
That's enough rambling for now, especially considering the time. But I wanted to get this first entry done so I can send it to my friends the potential co-authors!
May your heart overflow with joy.
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