December 13, 2009
Bell Gardens Baptist Church
December 13, 2009
Photographic Memory
Alberto was saved 18 years ago at a Billy Graham Crusade. He recently saw the difference between following Christ and being in a religious system and concluded now was the time to be baptized.
"When we look at Jesus Christ,we realize that there is a twofold strangeness about him. There is, first, the strangeness of his deity, He is the God-man, the one who is bold enough to say that he and the Father are one – a statement that made the Jews accuse him of blasphemy (John 10:31-33). He is the one who forgives sins – something only God is supposed to do. He is the one who even dares to say, 'Before Abraham was born, I am!' (John 8:58).
But there is also the strangeness of his humanity. Though genuinely human, he is unique in his humanity. He is totally sinless. His obedience to the Father is perfect, his prayer life is unexcelled, his love for people is fathomless. And when we realize that this strangeness makes us ashamed, because it tells us what we all should be like. The strangeness of the human Jesus holds a mirror before us; it is an exemplary strangeness, for it tells us what God's intentions are for each of us." —Anthony A. Hoekema
Remembering His Grace, Begging His Mercy
Mary sang a song of joy in the difficult circumstances of her life and discovered at least four wonderful qualities about her God. Give us, O Lord, a song of joy in our troubles. We praise You for the blessing at the Rigsby's home last Sunday evening, visiting with some we don't see to often, and delighting in the four impromptu Christmas solos.
Praise the Lord for the repairs made on the east wall in the auditorium as well as the painting there, too! God provided an Eagle Scout candidate from the Korean congregation needing to fulfill a leadership project.
Linda Covington's father had a stroke and in in ICU. Thursday he was to have fluid pressure on his brain relieved. There is also a blood clot in his skull. As you pray for his health, also ask God to give his family wisdom in the decisions they face.
The Korean congregation is preparing for their Bible Conference that will be held between Christmas and the New Year. Be praying that each one participating will understand and receive for themselves the Gospel.
Woody Blalock was able to go home for dinner Thanksgiving Day! It was discovered that he has pneumonia (may be a cause for the pain in his back).
Continue to pray that Pastor Tony Núñez can complete his Ph.D. requirements in the next few months.
Sherry Cosgrove will be flying from Oregon Monday (12-14) for a nice (but all too short) Christmas visit.
Joyce Holeman is preparing for knee replacement surgery January 4th. Pray that pain will be minimal during the holidays and that recovery will be swift.
The Talbot Bible Lands class leaves for Israel December 27, 2009 and returns January 17, 2010. Please ask God's mercies in health, happiness, and holiness.
Kevin Nicholas will be re-dployed to Iraq soon. Would you again pray for his safety and well-being while there? We pray for the physical safety. emotional stability, and spiritual awakening of the men and women of our military forces fulfilling their responsibilities.
- Marvin Funkhouser—deployed to Iraq for 18 months
- Coleen—a friend of Woody and Barbara Blalock
- Tony Loving—flying troops in and out of various areas
- Bryan Miller—in Guam, will be in Iraq soon
- Sam Im
- Jorge Avalos
- Ryan Bareng
- Jeremy Peters—currently in Iraq
- Jeremy Thomas—currently in Afghanistan
- Jason Kiser—currently in the Gulf
- John Kiser—currently in Iraq
- Kevin Nicholas—will be re-deployed to Iraq
Hearing and Reading the Word
Luke 2:1-20. The Angels Song of Good News. Listen to recent sermons.
We end our Bible reading this year in the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The Bible reading for December also includes the book of Acts. Remember to include 3 Psalms and 1 chapter from Proverbs each week.
The suggested 2009 Bible reading guide (1 page) can be downloaded here.
"Deny your weakness and you'll never realize God's strength in you."
Letters
Steve and Eida Irwin, New Tribes Mission
Christmas begins [early] in Colombia. This is the night of the candles in Colombia. There will be light blue banners hanging outside homes and businesses and thousands of candles on window sills and door steps, as well as bonfires in the streets and open fields, lighting the way for…Read the entire letter. Send an email.
The Kisers, The Baja, Mexico
This past Sat the weather permitted us to have the Youth Rally. We held it at the Ranch in the gym-a-torium. It was barely 50 degrees; but… Read the entire letter. Send an email.
Doug & Bev Croot, New Tribes Mission
Greetings from Perth, Western Australia where summer is hitting with a vengeance. They tell us that Christmas Day is going to be a record hot, with Boxing Day (that is the day after Christmas, for those who live outside Australia) – being even hotter. Read the entire letter.
"Hell has no exile. Heaven needs none."
Seasonally Distracted
While it might be common to say that we are easily distracted, do you wonder whether God is ever pulled in different directions?
Last week I read Psalm 40:17. "But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God."
We know David wrote this psalm. We know that, almost more than anyone else in the Bible, David seemed to always be surrounded by "enemies" that sought to end his life. David responded to his persecution with joy. I am not saying David was delighted to be persecuted. I am saying that David did not let the antagonism aimed at him defeat his spirit and relationship with God. I admit, it isn't natural for me to think that a cry to God for help can be an expression of joy. However, you've read how his story ends and know that God never failed David. While David recognized his true condition before the Lord ("poor and needy"), we are not quite as quick as we could be to get that message. At various times in his life neither did David—that (almost) makes him appear human. Maybe that was the quality that helped David stay focused on what was important.
A "selah" moment came in the second phrase of the verse. While not written after this particular verse, "selah" was used in the Psalms to give some kind of direction. Maybe it was for a pause in the singing or a musical sign to play softly or stop playing altogether. Whatever its original purpose, mentally the "selah" is a good place to pause and ponder the significance of what has been read. Selah with me about this for a moment: "The Lord thinks about me."
What is the application here for each of us? David may have said this about himself, even though there had to be times when he must have questioned whether God even remembered his name. Being bewildered wasn't highest on my list of relevance. Still, I had to ask, "doesn't God have more important things to do than to esteem, value, watch, make plans for, and be mindful of 'me'?" Dread followed. Maybe you're not sure you want God doting over you so meticulously. And finally awe. It is nothing for God to "think about" each of us simultaneously with His full and undivided attention. That would be all six billion plus of us living on this earth as well as the throngs of souls already in heaven and hades. I can't begin to fathom all that God can do, but from my perspective, why He would want to do some of the things He does is even more incredible.
In the Psalm as a whole, David was giving a praise report to the congregation about his being rescued from danger. With that testimony, David challenged each one to trust the Lord alone. David testified how "the Lord is my help" from literal, physical enemies. We can affirm with David that the Jesus Christ is also "my deliverer" from the enemies of our soul; and that as the Sin-Bearer of His people He "did not delay" in redeeming us.
While I may be (sadly) distracted, "the Lord thinks about me." And you?
Send an email to Jim Covington.
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