From the desk of Pastor Ben:

In the little Old Testament book of Jonah, there is an interesting story many of us have heard since we were kids. You will recall, Jonah is asked to go to Nineveh to preach against their wickedness. He does not want to go because he knows they will repent and God will be compassionate towards them. Most of us remember the story because of the whale or big fish story. I have been thinking of this story in light of church and our attitude of what the role of the church ought to be.

A while back, I learned of a family who had left our church because someone (that was probably directed at me) had failed to see them during a time of need. I was not even aware of the need, but that is not the issue. Is the church designed to meet my needs? Is our primary function to make sure my family concerns are met? There is a growing trend today in evangelical Christianity that burdens my heart. More and more churches are really feeling the pressure to have the best children’s and youth ministries; the most outstanding music programs; the most convenient worship times; not to reach the lost, but to keep the found. Much of church growth is not new people being reached for Christ, but Christians looking for a church that better meets my needs.

This brings us back to Jonah. He was not interested in reaching new people. He was very comfortable with things just as they were. Nineveh, with all its wicked people, would bring a whole set of problems he was not interested in pursuing. In the Christian faith, the line to success and leadership is a serving line. In other words, too many of us are asking the wrong questions in the church. Our questions are, “Will this meet my needs? Will this serve me? Will I enjoy this? Will someone care for me when I hurt?” Not many of us are asking, “Where can I serve? How can I help? If I am aware of a concern, what can I do to make it better?”

Years ago, I heard an old preacher say that the cross is the greatest symbol of the Christian faith. But there is another incredibly important symbol which captures the message of Christ. That symbol is the towel. He was, of course, referring to Jesus taking the towel and washing His disciple’s feet. As we think about the role of the church, are we in Jonah’s camp or are we in the serving line? That is an important question for all of us to answer.

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

When in sorrow………………………..Call John 14
When people fail you…………………Call Psalm 27
If you want to be fruitful….. ……….Call John 15
When you have sinned……………….Call Psalm 51
When you worry………………………..Call Matthew 6:19-34
When you are in danger……………..Call Psalm 91
When God seems far away………….Call Psalm 139
When your faith needs stirring……Call Hebrews 11
When you are lonely & fearful…….Call Psalm 23
When you grow bitter & critical…..Call 1 Corinthians 13
When you feel down & out………….Call Romans 8:31
When you want peace & rest……….Call Matthew 11:25
When you want assurance…………..Call Romans 8:1-30
When you want courage……………..Call Joshua 1
To get along with fellow man………Call Romans 12
Depression………………………………..Call Psalm 27
Empty pocketbook……………………..Call Psalm 37
If discouraged……………………………Call Psalm 126
When dealing with fear………………Call Psalm 121:3
For reassurance…………………………Call Psalm 145:18

(All numbers may be dialed direct. No operator assistance is necessary. All lines to Heaven are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.)

The Paradoxical Commandments

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.

Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.

Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.

Be honest & frank anyway.

The biggest men & women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men & women with the smallest minds.

Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.

Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.

Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.

Help people anyway.

Give the wold the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.

Give the world the best you have anyway.

-Author Unknown-

This was given to me years ago by Carolyn DeHoff. The origin is unknown.

The Fellowship of the Unashamed

I am a part of the “Fellowship of the unashamed.” The die has been cast. The decision has been made. I have stepped over the line. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense and my future is secure. I’m finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, love with patience, live by prayer and labor with Holy Spirit power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable and my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up, let up or slow up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up and spoken up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple d Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. I am a committed believer and a satisfied servant of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

My banner is clear and in that hour my hope will be realized and my joy will be full. It will have been worth it all!

I am a part of the “Fellowship of the Unashamed!”

May this be the mantra of all of us believers! AMEN!

The Good Samaritan – By Tim Hansel

One semester, a seminary professor set up his preaching class in an unusual way. He scheduled his students to preach on the Parable of The Good Samaritan and on the day of the class, he choreographed his experiment so that each student would go, one at a time, from one classroom to another where he or she would preach a sermon. The professor gave some students 10 minutes to go from one classroom to the other; to others he allowed less time, forcing them to have to rush in order to meet the schedule. Each student, one at a time, had to walk down a certain hallway and pass by a bum, who was deliberately planted there, obviously in need of some sort of help.

The results were surprising, and offered a powerful lesson to them. The percentage of those good men and women who stopped to help was extremely low, especially for those who were under the pressure of a shorter time period. The tighter the schedule, the fewer were those who stopped to help the man in need. When the professor revealed his experiment, you can imagine the impact on that class of future spiritual leaders. Rushing to preach a sermon on the Good Samaritan, they had walked right past the beggar at the heart of the parable. We must have eyes to see as well as hands to help, or we may never help at all. I think this well-known, anonymous poem expresses it very powerfully:

I was hungry and you formed a humanities club to discuss my hunger. Thank you.

I was imprisoned and you crept off quietly to your chapel to pray for my release. Nice.

I was naked and in your mind you debated the morality of my appearance. What good did that do?

I was sick and you knelt and thanked God for your health.

But I needed you.

I was homeless and you preached to me of the shelter of the love of God.

I wish you had taken me home.

I was lonely and you left me alone to pray for me.

Why didn’t you stay?

You seem so holy, so close to God; but I’m still very hungry, lonely, cold, and still in pain. Does it matter to you?