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Welcome to THE TIMOTHY REPORT for January 19, 2004
“To assist, encourage, enable and equip”
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ALLAH OR JESUS?
By Rick Mathes
(Read it at http://www.mychristianwalk.org/truth-will-prevail.htm)
Last month I attended my annual training session that's required for maintaining my state prison security clearance. During the training session there was a presentation by three speakers who represented the Roman Catholic, Protestant and Muslim faiths who explained their belief systems. I was particularly interested in what the Islamic Imam had to say.
The Imam gave a great presentation of the basics of Islam complete with a video. After the presentations time was provided for questions and answers. When it was my turn I directed my question to the Imam and asked: “Please, correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that all of the Imams and clerics of Islam have declared a holy jihad [Holy war] against the infidels of the world. And, that by killing an infidel, which is a command to all Muslims, they are assured of a place in heaven. If that's the case, can you give me the definition of an infidel?"
There was no disagreement with my statements and without hesitation he replied, "Non-believers!"
I responded, “So, let me make sure I have this straight. All followers of Allah have been commanded to kill everyone who is not of your faith so they can go to heaven. Is that correct?”
The expression on his face changed from one of authority and command to that of a little boy who had just gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He sheepishly replied, “Yes.”
I then said, “Well, sir, I have a real problem trying to imagine Pope John Paul commanding all Catholics to kill those of your faith or Pat Robertson or Dr. Stanley ordering Protestants to do the same in order to go to heaven.”
The Imam was speechless.
I continued, “I also have problem with being your friend when you and your brother clerics are telling your followers to kill me. Let me ask you a question…would you rather have your Allah who tell you to kill me in order to go to heaven or my Jesus who tells me to love you because I am going to heaven and wants you to be with me?”
You could have heard a pin drop as the Imam hung his head in shame.
Chuck Colson once told me something that has sustained me these 20 years of prison ministry. He said to me, “Rick, remember that the truth will prevail.”
And it will!
(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications, www.timothyreport.com
January 19, 2004)
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LISTEN UP, PREACHER!
CHARACTER OF THE PREACHER
It is of primary importance that the preacher should be clothed with the garment of salvation; that he should be filled with a sense of the immense worth of the truth, the guilt, depravity and danger man is in; the unsearchable love of Christ in the bloody purchase, and his ability and willingness to save redeemed penitents. Without this robe, he will preach a distant Jesus, by an unfelt gospel, and with an unhallowed tongue.
--John Leland
(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications, www.timothyreport.com
January 19, 2004)
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LESSONS FROM THE SANDBOX
In the book, "Lessons From The Sandbox," Alan Gregerman, offers organizations the magic of childhood to improve organizational performance. He found 13 special gifts from children. They are:
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The Gift of Play. As kids our job was to play and constantly make things happen. As adults in companies, we need to make play and laughter important parts of our work in getting the right things done.
The Gift of Play. As kids our job was to play and constantly make things happen. As adults in companies, we need to make play and laughter important parts of our work in getting the right things done. •The Gift of Enthusiasm and Energy. As kids we were filled with endless enthusiasm, energy, and passion for anything worth doing. As adults in companies, we need to create greater enthusiasm, energy, and passion for our customers, employees and shareholders.
The Gift of Enthusiasm and Energy. As kids we were filled with endless enthusiasm, energy, and passion for anything worth doing. As adults in companies, we need to create greater enthusiasm, energy, and passion for our customers, employees and shareholders. •The Gift of Focus. As kids were always focused on where we were going and why we were going there. As adults in companies, we need to stay focused on our direction and be willing to ask for help along the way.
The Gift of Focus. As kids were always focused on where we were going and why we were going there. As adults in companies, we need to stay focused on our direction and be willing to ask for help along the way. •The Gift of Urgency. As kids we felt compelling urgency for anything important to us. As adults in companies, we need to understand what is really important and how to beat the clock in order to get the right things done.
The Gift of Urgency. As kids we felt compelling urgency for anything important to us. As adults in companies, we need to understand what is really important and how to beat the clock in order to get the right things done. •The Gift of Leadership. As kids we took the lead in helping others to create their own magic. As adults in companies, we need to rediscover how to create environments where magic is an everyday occurrence.
The Gift of Leadership. As kids we took the lead in helping others to create their own magic. As adults in companies, we need to rediscover how to create environments where magic is an everyday occurrence. •The Gift of Wonder. As kids we found wonder in everything around us. As adults in companies, we need to rediscover wonder and possibilities in the big picture and the details of business life.
The Gift of Wonder. As kids we found wonder in everything around us. As adults in companies, we need to rediscover wonder and possibilities in the big picture and the details of business life. •The Gift of Curiosity. As kids we looked at the world with curiosity and a burning desire to figure out how things worked. As adults in companies, we need to be much more curious about how things work, why we do them, and how to consistently improve the right thing.
The Gift of Curiosity. As kids we looked at the world with curiosity and a burning desire to figure out how things worked. As adults in companies, we need to be much more curious about how things work, why we do them, and how to consistently improve the right thing. •The Gift of Questioning. As kids we asked a million great questions. As adults in companies, we need to ask tough questions and answer them in ways that delight our customers and our people.
The Gift of Questioning. As kids we asked a million great questions. As adults in companies, we need to ask tough questions and answer them in ways that delight our customers and our people. •The Gift of Trying. As kids we tried new things without fear of failure. As adults in companies, we need to be open to trying new things, despite the chance of failure, and be more skillful in learning from our mistakes on the road to getting things right.
The Gift of Trying. As kids we tried new things without fear of failure. As adults in companies, we need to be open to trying new things, despite the chance of failure, and be more skillful in learning from our mistakes on the road to getting things right. •The Gift of Creativity and Innovation. As kids we always came up with new ideas by making many new and powerful connections. As adults in companies, we need to rediscover how to think creatively and innovate in all aspects of what we do.
The Gift of Creativity and Innovation. As kids we always came up with new ideas by making many new and powerful connections. As adults in companies, we need to rediscover how to think creatively and innovate in all aspects of what we do. •The Gift of Participation. As kids we figured out how to get involved and make contributions. As adults in companies, we need to figure out how to gain the participation and unique talents of all of our people.
The Gift of Participation. As kids we figured out how to get involved and make contributions. As adults in companies, we need to figure out how to gain the participation and unique talents of all of our people. •The Gift of Cozy Places. As kids we created safe and comfortable places where we could be our best. As adults in companies, we need to create places to safely and comfortably nurture people and their ideas.
The Gift of Cozy Places. As kids we created safe and comfortable places where we could be our best. As adults in companies, we need to create places to safely and comfortably nurture people and their ideas. •The Gift of Accomplishment. As kids we delighted in accomplishing things great and small. As adults in companies, we need to inspire all of our people to make things happen so that everyone has the opportunity to say, "I did it."
The Gift of Accomplishment. As kids we delighted in accomplishing things great and small. As adults in companies, we need to inspire all of our people to make things happen so that everyone has the opportunity to say, "I did it."(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications, www.timothyreport.com
January 19, 2004)
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A POWERFUL STATEMENT
There is a preacher of the old school, but he speaks as boldly as ever. He is not popular, though the world is his parish and he travels every part of the globe and speaks in every language. He visits the poor, calls upon the rich, preaches to people of every religion and no religion, and the subject of his sermons is always the same. He is an eloquent preacher, often stirring feelings which no other preacher could, and bringing tears to eyes that never weep. His arguments none are able to refute, nor is there any heart that has remained unmoved by the force of his appeals. He shatters life with his message. Most people hate; everyone fears him. His name? Death. Every tombstone is his pulpit, every newspaper prints his text, and someday every one of you will be his sermon.
--John MacArthur, in his commentary on 1 Corinthians, pp. 441-442
(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications, www.timothyreport.com
January 19, 2004)
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SULKING THROUGH THE INEVITABLE
Not long ago, I stumbled across a slender fragment of a tender letter that was written nearly a hundred years ago by an Austrian theologian named Friedrich von Hügel. It was a letter of encouragement that Mr. von Hugel sent to his niece, who was going through an extremely difficult ordeal.
Mr. von Hugel reminded his niece that there was no way out of her difficulty other than to just live through it. He told her that whether she endured those dreadful days bitterly or nobly, "they would still have to be lived through." He wrote that if she endured those difficult days nobly, seeking whatever was best in her trial, then the time would pass and she would emerge from it all a better person. If she chose to be bitter, however, the time would still have to pass, but the experience would diminish her and do her harm. Then, with these words, von Hugel concluded his letter to the troubled, struggling young woman: "I have now come to feel that there is hardly anything more radically mean and deteriorating than sulking through the inevitable."--Charles E. Poole, in "Is Life Fair? Good Words for Hard Times," 1996, Smyth & Helwys, Macon, Georgia
(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications, www.timothyreport.com
January 19, 2004)
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DO NOT FEAR
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you (Is 443:1). I am with you (Is 43:5). And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Mt 28:20).
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me (Jn 14:1). I will help you (Is 41:14). When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned (Is 43:2).
Do not be afraid (Lk 12:7). Even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid (Mt 10:30). The mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed (Is 54:10).
Come, my beloved (Song 7:11). I will take you … in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. I will take you … in faithfulness, and you shall know the LORD (Hos 2:19-20). I AM WHO I AM (Ex 3:14). I am the Lord your God (Ex 20:2).
As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you (Jn 15:9). I have called you by name, you are mine (Is 43:1). Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you (Jer 1:5). You did not choose me but I chose you (Jn 15:16).
You are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you (Is 43:4). I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you (Jer 31:3). How can I give you up? … My compassion grows warm and tender (Hos 11:8).
Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. See I have inscribed you in the palms of my hands (Is 49:15-16). For I, the LORD your God, hold you by the right hand (Is 41:13).
--As cited in Roy Lawrence, "How To Pray When Life Hurts," 1993, InterVarsity Press.
(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications, www.timothyreport.com
January 19, 2004)
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TRUE SPIRITUALITY
True spirituality manifests itself in:
The desire to be holy rather than happy.
The desire to see the honor of God advanced through his life.
The desire to carry his cross.
The desire to see everything from God's viewpoint.
The desire to die right rather than live wrong.
The desire to see others advance at his expense.
The desire to make eternity-judgments instead of time-judgments.
--A. W. Tozer
(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications, www.timothyreport.com
January 12, 2004)
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WHILE AWAITING HIS OWN EXECUTION
O God, early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray
And to concentrate my thoughts on you;
I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness,
But with you there is light;
I am lonely, but you do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help;
I am restless, but with you there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience;
I do not understand your ways,
But you know the way for me …
Restore me to liberty,
And enable me so to live now
That I may answer before you and before me.
Lord, whatever this day may bring
Your name be praised.
--Dietrich Bonhoeffer, while awaiting execution in a WW II German prison camp
(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications, www.timothyreport.com
January 19, 2004)
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THE BOOK WHICH NOW SPEAKS
Approach your Bible with the idea that it is not only a book which was once spoken, but a book which is now speaking … God's speaking is in the continuous present … a word of God once spoken continues to be spoken, as a child once born continues to be alive, or a world once created continues to exist. And those are but imperfect illustrations, for children die and worlds burn out, but the word of our God endureth forever.
--A. W. Tozer
(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications, www.timothyreport.com
January 19, 2004)
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