OCTOBER IS PASTOR APPRECIATION MONTH
And we’re celebrating by slashing the price of the “Painting the Chicken” CD-ROM for the month of October ONLY. Click on the link at the top of the home page at www.timothyreport.com to find out more.
THERE’S JUST A FEW LEFT!!!
Hundreds of people have requested and downloaded the Cross Graphic which is featured on the www.timothyreport.com website. (If you haven’t seen it, go to the website, find the Cross Graphic link on the left side of the page near the top.) Anyway, many have written and requested a T-shirt—and now you can get them! Professionally designed in color, these shirts are sure to grab attention and draw comments. From a distance it will look like a cross (of course), but when people get closer, they see there are words on it, and they can’t help but look! A great way to share your faith in Christ!!!
They’re great for Christmas gifts (but you need to order quickly!), for yourself as a wonderful way to share your faith, or even as a fund-raiser for your youth group! You can see what the shirt looks like and find out all the details by clicking on the link at the top of the home page of the website.
THIS WEEK’S GRAPHIC
Is from Ephesians 5:1-20 and encourages us to “Imitate God.” ALSO, there is a graphic which will remain up for a period of time for you to use to remind your people to VOTE! Any of the graphics appearing on the website are absolutely free for use in your non-profit organization’s publications, and can be downloaded at www.timothyreport.com
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
Welcome to THE TIMOTHY REPORT for October 18, 2004
“To assist, encourage, enable and equip”
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
CHANGING ADDRESSES? If you are changing addresses, first unsubscribe
from the list and then subscribe to the new address
TO UNSUBSCRIBE:
Send a blank e-mail to: TimothyReport-unsubscribe@in-his-steps.com
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
COMMENTARY: DO YOU HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE?
Here’s something to think about the next time you are faced with making an important decision.
Our English word “decide” comes from the Latin word “decidere,” which means “to cut off.” How does cutting off something relate to making a decision? Well, think about it. A decision occurs when one option among two or more has been selected. Suppose you are driving on a trip and you get hungry. At that point you have several options: ignore your hunger and keep driving; pull off at the next exit and look for a snack to hold you until you can get a real meal; or find a restaurant where you can actually eat real food. Making a decision then is simply the process of eliminating options until you have one that you like—in effect, “cutting” them off one by one until you have one left. The one that is left is the one you’ve decided upon. But if you choose the restaurant, then you have another decision: which one will it be? Will it be fast-food, something you can grab and eat in the car? Or will you go to a restaurant with a buffet, or one with a menu and table cloths? Again, by “cutting off” the options that have no appeal to you or which do not fit into your situation or schedule, you eventually arrive at a “decision.”
Of course, life consists of a long series of decisions, many of them much more important than picking a restaurant. Education, career, marriage, children, leisure, finances—and of course, eternity. Each of those consists of eliminating all other possibilities until you are left with one. That one is your decision. That one is your choice.
Some of the options may be very good ones, which makes the decision-making process a little more difficult. It is vital, when we have several good choices, that we make a distinction between what is good and what is best. This particular choice may be a very good one, but is it the best one?
On a church marquee not far from where I live are these words: “Life has many choices, eternity but two.” When a person is faced with making the choice for eternity there are really only two options. Eternal pain, darkness and separation from God—or light, life, and joy in the presence of the Father forever? “Cut off” or eliminate everything that doesn’t appeal to you, and the one that’s left is the choice you need to make.
Have you made it? No? Then your decision today is “when will you do it?” Today, tomorrow, or next week? Never? Of those options, the BEST one is today, because not a single one of is guaranteed tomorrow. And if you are thinking “never” then remember this: NOT to decide IS to decide. If you don’t consciously make a choice today, you have already made your decision—and it won’t be heaven.
--Rocky Henriques
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, October 18, 2004)
-------------------
THE CONSTITUTION
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it's worked for over 200 years and we're not using it anymore.
--Unknown
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, October 18, 2004)
-------------------
NEW EYESIGHT CAN BRING NEW REVELATIONS
A very angry woman stormed up to the desk of the receptionist for an eye surgeon. "Someone stole my wig while I was having surgery yesterday," she complained.
The doctor came out and tried to calm her down. "I assure you that no one on my staff would have done such a thing," he said. "Why do you think it was taken here?"
"After the operation, I noticed the wig I was wearing was cheap-looking and ugly."
"I think" explained the surgeon gently, "that means your cataract operation was a success."
NOTE: When we come to Christ, we receive new insight into our lives and our sins. And what we see can be pretty ugly! What it means, is that the “operation” was a success! When the sins are brought to light, the next step is to confess our sins before God. See 1 John 1:9.
--Rocky Henriques
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, October 18, 2004)
-------------------
WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOOK AT ME?
“What do you see when you look at me?” the homeless drunkard asked.
I couldn’t understand his question or just exactly what he wanted from me. I rarely put myself in a position to be around these kinds of people. Little did I know my perspective was about the change?
“What do you see when you look at me?” he slurred at me again. I tried to move away from him but he reached and grabbed my hand. I tried to pull it away but he starred hard into my eyes. I wanted to run away.
“Let me tell you who I am, although you really do not care. You think I’m just a worthless drunk, a wasted shell of man. That’s ok…but you must hear who I really think I am.”
“I’m a teacher, a preacher, a poet and a politician. I’m a son, a brother, a father, a woman, a wife; a doctor, a lawyer, a custodian, a baker, a cabby, a ditch digger, and a plumber. I’m a murderer, a druggy, a paraplegic, and more. I’m a gambler, abuser, a drunk, a pilot, a farmer, sportscaster, a ballplayer and musician. I’m a face of sadness, depression and fear. I’m laughter and hate and joy and a sneer. My eyes may be blue or black or gray or green. I may have hair, no hair, or hair eaten away by cancer and sickness. I dread the light and stay away from mirrors. What do you see when you look at me? You see the gutter of mankind, shrunken and old; the lost, the wicked, the childish, and bold. And you keep looking my friend but you will never see what God sees in his hand because he holds me. I’m a sinner, you see and you are no better off. But take one consolation—he loves you and he loves me even though we are lost. He loves what we’ll become through him. And He will love us whether we believe it, understand it or accept it or not.”
My stare softened and my stance changed and I relaxed my hand. When I did he turned it loose and his face revealed a snaggled tooth smile. He had suddenly made me feel ashamed and then he continued his tale.
“What do you see when you look at me?” his face suddenly sober and intent. “I’m all God’s children at their very worse and sinfully bent. He loves me as I am and not as I should be. And you would do well to remember that. How are we different, you and I?” he asked. “We really aren’t all that different if you will look beneath the shell. Although my shell is dirty and yours is squeaky clean, mine stinks and yours is scented we’re still the same you see. For God doesn’t look at what I’ve become and he doesn’t see who you think you are. What do you see when you look at me? It is not at all what you think? Whatever reason life has put me here is not what you think you know. For in my heart where God resides there is an even flow. There is kindness, love, and tolerance. And humility like you will never see. Discernment, forgiveness, equality and compassion; they’re there past the shell of what you see. For God came to live in me and some day I’ll get it right or maybe I never will. Regardless of what happens He loves me thankfully still. You can judge me, hate me, or ignore who you think I have become. But, He loves me because I believe and He will change who I really am. So don’t be so self-righteous and don’t judge what you don’t know. What do you see when you look at me…a drunkard, homeless, irresponsible hunk of mankind? Jesus went to a cross for the very likes of me. I may make you uncomfortable; that doesn’t bother me. It’s your own insecurities. You think you’re better than me. When the shell peels off and God takes us home we’re just the same you and me. What do you see when you look at me? You can ask the same of me. I see Christ in all his beauty, a special child of his in the confused face before me. Don’t judge me by what you see or what you think you know. When God looks at us, we are just the same you know—a lost and hurting people with problems all untold. Some just come in cleaner, neater packages and some are shrunken and old. Take consolation, my friend, He loves us nonetheless. I see God’s child in you—won’t you please do the same. It is the least we can do in God’s holy name.”
What do you see when you look at me? I reflectively walked away. I’m certainly not who I thought I was and my heart began to ache. Thank God you love me Father God despite who I pretend to be. Let me see what you see when you lose the worst in me. And most of all let me love despite what I perceive to be for it must be only through you I see—You who’ve washed my sin from me.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8 NIV)
--copyright Melinda Clements 2004. Used by gracious permission of the author.
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, October 18, 2004)
-------------------
THERE'S A DAY ON THE WAY: 24 APRIL 2005
The growth of the Internet over the last ten years has been incredible. There will soon be one billion Web users around the world.
There are thousands of Christian websites, but the vast majority of these are written only for Christians. Very few are designed to reach out effectively to non-Christians. Yet the outreach potential of the Web is enormous.
The Internet Evangelism Coalition* is therefore sponsoring a new focus day on Sunday 24 April 2005, to help churches learn more about web outreach. (It is not a fund-raising focus.) The Internet Evangelism Day website offers downloadable materials that a church can use within a service or midweek meeting.
Patrick Johnstone, author of Operation World, comments: "Cyberspace is an amazing medium for communicating information. What better information is there than sharing about the real meaning of life and solid hope for the future. May this Internet Evangelism Day mobilize a new wave of online evangelists."
"The Internet is one of the most key tools that God has given us in the church today," says George Verwer, founder of OM.
For ideas on how to run an IE Day focus in your church, bible college or Christian group, visit www.InternetEvangelismDay.com
*Internet Evangelism Coalition is an umbrella group of evangelical agencies who are already involved in online evangelism.
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, October 18, 2004)
------------------
KEEPING GOD WAITING
Ah, I have kept Him waiting when I ought not, but He has waited even then. Always waiting - so patient with my foolishness, my weakness, my fear. Our fellowship is with God, and fellowship is friendship, and friendship means that partnership which, on His part, is the accommodating of His strength to my weakness.
--G. Campbell Morgan
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, October 18, 2004)
------------------
WHAT DOES A WOMAN WANT?
The great question that has never been answered, and which I have not yet been able to answer, despite my 30 years of research into the feminine soul, is “What does a woman want?”
--Sigmund Freud
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, October 18, 2004)
-------------------
ARE YOU DRY AS A BONE?
When we feel dry as a bone, when we've given until there's no more to give, when we want to pack it in and go home, we need a divine water source. And that depository of life-giving water is our heavenly Father & His holy Word.
--Woodrow Kroll, Back to the Bible.
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, October 18, 2004)
-------------------
THE PURPOSE FOR THE PRUNING
It is the branch that bears the fruit
That feels the knife,
To prune it for a larger growth,
A fuller life.
Though every budding twig be lopped,
And every grace
Of swaying tendril, spring leaf,
Be lost a space.
O thou whose life of joy seems reft,
Of beauty shorn,
Whose aspirations lie in dust,
All bruised and torn,
Rejoice, tho’ each desire, each dream,
Each hope of thine
Shall fall and fade; it is the hand
Of Love Divine
That holds the knife, that cuts and breaks
With tenderest touch,
That thou, whose life has borne some fruit,
May’st now bear much.
--Annie Johnson Flint
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, October 18, 2004)
-------------------
IN HIS PRESENCE
There come times when I have nothing more to tell God. If I were to continue to pray in words, I would have to repeat what I have already said. At such times it is wonderful to say to God, "May I be in Thy presence, Lord? I have nothing more to say to Thee, but I do love to be in Thy presence."
--Ole Kristian O. Hallesby
(The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com, October 18, 2004)
-------------------
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
All lists are owned by Rocky Henriques, publisher of THE TIMOTHY REPORT and of CQDAILY. Both are free and you may unsubscribe at any time by following the instructions above or on each message.
PLEASE do not send unsubscribe messages to the list owner without first trying to unsubscribe yourself.
****************************
The compilation of this material is copyrighted 2004 Rocky Henriques, Jackson, Mississippi. To receive your FREE subscription, Visit http://www.timothyreport.com
Scroll down on the main page for instructions on how to subscribe.
The Timothy Report is published every Monday by Rocky Henriques, 255 Swan Lake Drive, Jackson, MS 39212. E-mail address: rocky@timothyreport.com. Phone: 601-372-7710
Home Page: www.timothyreport.com
