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Welcome to THE TIMOTHY REPORT for July 12, 2004
“To assist, encourage, enable and equip”
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FEAR NOT! JUMP ON MY BACK!
I grew up in Columbia, South Carolina. Because we lived on a dirt road, I always considered it “the country.” Across from our place was a stretch of woods, and in the middle of the woods was a small lake. One evening I wanted to watch the South Carolina sunset over the lake. I was in the fifth grade at the time. That evening Dad and I walked down the little path carved through the woods, and we stood on the bank of the lake and watched the sunset.
Out of the blue, Dad asked, “Son, do you want to see a big water moccasin?” I said, “Yes, sir. I do.” He pointed toward the bank, “Look, Ed.” Sure enough, right on the bank was a five-foot water moccasin—big, thick, and muscular. This snake was so thick he had a goatee, I think. I said, “Wow, that’s a big snake, Dad!” I looked to my right and asked, “Dad, is that another one?”
Dad looked and said, “Son, I think it is. That’s really interesting. We have seen two big snakes in 30 seconds.Wow!”
Then I asked, “Dad, is that another one?” I don’t know what happened, but we saw 50 water moccasins within a matter of minutes. They were on the bank, around our feet, in the water. I was terrified. I was beginning to panic and wondered if we would get out of there alive.
I’ll never forget what my father said: “Son, jump on my back. Jump on my back.”
I didn’t have to take a running start. My vertical leap at that moment would have embarrassed a professional basketball player. I jumped on Dad’s back and will never forget grabbing him and burying my face in his shirt. I clung to his strong back as he shone his tiny flashlight on the winding path and negotiated our safe exit around all those snakes.
I remember being so relieved as Dad found the path and took us home. At that moment, my dad could have walked on water as far as I was concerned. I’ll never, ever forget that experience. I knew my father was in control of the situation.
Are you living in fear? As turmoil, apprehension, and anxiety begin to make you feel trapped, as if there’s no way out, your Heavenly Father says, “Come on. Jump on My back. I am in control. Jump on My back. I will shine My light on your situation and take you through. I will walk with you and show you where the path is. I will take you home.”
--Ed Young, Jr. in “Know Fear: Facing Life’s Six Most Common Phobias”
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, July 12, 2004)
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THINGS YOU DON’T WANT TO HEAR DURING VBS
--There's a minor problem with the air conditioning. We should get it fixed by Friday.
--We're running low on refreshments, so we fed the kids chocolate candy and Mountain Dew.
--Using a hammer is too difficult for our fourth graders, so they're using a nail gun to build their bird houses.
--What time were the children supposed to be back from the field trip to the maximum security prison?
--No one told us they were permanent markers.
--Our substitute pianist doesn't know the sit down or stand up chords, but he's memorized a lot of Broadway show tunes.
--Gerry Peak
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, July 12, 2004)
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BREAKING THE RESISTANCE
In studying a passage to preach, I ask three questions:
--Who is God?
--How is he revealed in this text?
--What are the most natural inclinations that resist or deny that truth?
Then, for the rest of the sermon, I seek out that resistance and break it.
If God is revealed as holy, why do we resist? Because we don't want to think of ourselves as unholy. If Scripture reveals Christ as sovereign, why do we resist? Because we don't want to surrender. These are the strongholds that preaching assaults.
Preaching is unique in its power to break people. And once broken, once softened, God rebuilds repentant lives.
I have seen hundreds broken by a single sermon. I love to see people reach the end of their pride, autonomy, and self-reliance. This is what inspires me to preach: watching broken people bowed in repentance, hands extended to receive communion, and then those same hands lifted in gratitude and praise.
--Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill Church, Seattle, Washington.
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, July 12, 2004)
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WORSHIP
Worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness; the nourishment of mind with His truth; the purifying of imagination by His beauty; the opening of the heart to His love; the surrender of will to His purpose—and all of this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable and therefore the chief remedy for that self-centeredness which is our original sin and the source of all actual sin.
--Archbishop William Temple, quoted in “Preach It!” by Stuart Briscoe (Group Publishing, 2004).
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, July 12, 2004)
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HELP IS JUST A CALL AWAY
The film “Snow Dogs” tells the story of a dentist named Ted Brooks who discovers he has inherited a rustic cabin and a dogsled team in Alaska. His efforts to master the new sport meet with bumps, bruises, and bears. One particular outing proves especially challenging.
When the dogs suddenly go into high gear, Brooks is thrown into the deep Alaskan snow. He struggles to his feet, grumbling and dusting the snow off. Suddenly a large shadow covers his own, and he realizes he's not alone. A large grizzly bear is only a few feet away. When the bear roars, displaying a full set of sharp teeth, Brooks begins to run down the mountainside.
Just as it appears the bear is going to win the race, Brooks falls off a cliff and lands on a precipice. As he shouts victoriously, "I'm alive! I'm alive!" the precipice gives way, dropping Brooks to a steep slope, where he rockets down the mountain like a bobsled, narrowly missing tree after tree. He screams all the way down, until he finally comes to a halt.
He smiles, but his smile quickly fades when he realizes he is lying on a thin layer of ice covering a lake. As the ice begins to crack beneath him, he lunges forward, leaving a trail of ice water in his wake. Brooks lands on what appears to be a solid piece of floating ice. The ice supports him only momentarily, and Brooks begins to sink.
Brooks reaches for his cell phone and dials 911, only to hear a recorded message: "You are outside of your coverage area. Should you like to expand your service plan, please call back during our business hours."
Have you ever been in such a situation? Just when you think life can't possible get worse, it does. The good news is help is just a call away. And God won't tell you to call back during business hours.
--David Slagle at ChristianityToday.com
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, July 12, 2004)
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DEPENDENCE UPON GOD
God expects nothing from Alan Redpath but failure. I as a man am no different today from the day before I was converted. Five minutes after I've finished preaching I would be capable of committing any sin imaginable but for the grace of God. Alan Redpath is no different as a man from what he was as a youngster. And the sins that beset him then beset him now, were it not for a constant, continual dependence upon the blood of Jesus, and the grace of God, and the power of the Holy Ghost to keep me.
--Alan Redpath
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, July 12, 2004)
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GRACE OF GOD
A preacher dreamed he had died and was standing in front of the gates of heaven. As it will happen in such make-believe dreams, he came face to face with St. Peter, who was holding a big book and was ready to decide if this man – a preacher – was going to be allowed into heaven.
St. Peter gave him a surprise announcement. “You’re going to need 100 points to get inside the gates.”
“Well,” said the preacher proudly, “I was a minister for 47 years.”
“That's nice," answered Peter. "That gets you one point."
“One point?! That's all I get? Just one point for 47 years of service?”
“Yes, that's correct,” said Peter.
The minister was concerned at the scoring system. He tried to think of other things he had done in life. “Well," he said, "I visited shut-ins every chance I got.”
“One point."
“I developed a number of recovery programs, and I took part in many civic groups in our city. People loved me!”
“One point. Now you've got three points.”
“I worked with youth,” said the minister, “and surely you must know what that's like!”
“One more point,” said Peter, “and that makes four. You need 96 more points.”
“Oh no!” the minister cried out in panic. “I feel so helpless, so inadequate. Except for the grace of God, I don't have a chance.”
St. Peter smiled a big smile. “Ah … the grace of God! That’s good for 96 points. Come on in!”
--Andy Cook
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, July 12, 2004)
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WE KNOW HOW IT TURNS OUT
Lyle Arakaki shares this insight: In Hawaii, because of the time difference with the continental U.S., the NFL Monday Night Football game is played in mid-afternoon, so the local TV station delays its telecast until 6:30 in the evening. When my favorite team plays, I'm too excited to wait for television, so I'll listen to the game on the radio, which broadcasts it live. Then, because they're my favorite team, I'll watch the game on television, too.
If I know my team has won the game, it influences how I watch it on television. If my team fumbles the ball or throws an interception, it's not a problem. I think, That's bad, but it's okay. In the end, we'll win!
"In this world you will have trouble," said Jesus. "But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). When going through trouble, knowing the final outcome makes all the difference.
-- Fresh Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching (Baker), from the editors of Leadership
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, July 12, 2004)
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THE STRENGTH AND BEAUTY OF OLD AGE
When we are young, we can't wait to grow up. When we are old, we look back longingly to former years. But God intends that we joyfully take each season of life as it comes. Whatever our age, He imparts what we need to be all that we can be. He asks us to commit our way to Him and accept the struggles He allows and the strength He provides.
A woman who was facing the difficulties of aging asked Bible teacher J. Robertson McQuilkin, "Why does God let us get old and weak?" McQuilkin replied, "I think God has planned the strength and beauty of youth to be physical. But the strength and beauty of old age is spiritual. We gradually lose the strength and beauty that is temporary so we'll be sure to concentrate on the strength and beauty that is forever. And so we'll be eager to leave the temporary, deteriorating part of us and be truly homesick for our eternal home. If we stayed young and strong and beautiful, we might never want to leave."
Are you in life's springtime? Trust God's timing to fulfill your dreams. Are you in life's summer or autumn? Face your daily challenges head-on. And if you feel winter's chill, draw close to the Lord. His presence can make every season of life one of strength and beauty.
--Dennis De Haan
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, July 12, 2004)
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SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD
Admiring the sunset, I pointed out to our 4-year-old grandson, bobby, all the colors God uses to paint the sky.
“Yes,” Bobby agreed. “And He doesn’t have to stay in the lines.”
--T. LaMance, Prewitt, New Mexico, quoted in “Today’s Christian,” May/June 2004, p. 7
(NOTE: This remark should serve to remind all of us that God doesn’t have to “stay in the lines” on anything He does. He does not operate according to our perspectives, whims and desires. He is God. He answers to no one. The only “lines” He has to follow are those He has set for Himself—such as love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, etc. Beyond that, He follows only His own timetable.—Rocky Henriques)
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, July 12, 2004)
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