Have you ever seen a sinner explode?

Jonah fled
Jonah swam
Jonah was swallowed
Jonah was vomited
Jonah was humbled
Jonah went
Jonah preached
The people were spared
Jonah was angry

How often, after finally saying okay, do we serve God expecting one outcome, but get an outcome that is totally different than we expected? When Jonah finally gave in and did what God asked him to do, I think he went into it expecting the people not to change. But when the people DID change, when they turned toward God, God was merciful and spared them. Jonah was angry because these horrible sinners from Nineveh didn't explode, or even catch fire, but were given God's grace. Never mind that just a few days earlier God had given Jonah the exact same grace and mercy.

I know that I am guilty of serving God while not expecting people to turn towards Him... expecting God to burn the sinners to the ground... not expecting God to shower down His grace and mercy on the unchangeable sinners... ignoring the fact that He showers me with His grace and mercy every single day. May I serve Him with the understanding that He is ready to jump at the chance to forgive a repentant heart, and that I not be disappointed when I don't see a sinner explode.

"I went down to the moorings of the mountains; the earth with its bars closed behind me forever; yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God." Jonah 2:6

I Saw Santa Before Christmas

Here comes Santa Claus

Here comes Santa Claus
Right down Santa Claus lane....

Oh, wait, Santa Claus isn't coming... Santa Claus was already here. Last week I, along with Jamie, had the honor of serving beside the mission team from Santa Claus UMC, Santa Claus, IN. The team consisted of 10 members and built a house for two 70-something sisters, Myrtel and Amboursine Blackburn. On Sunday evening, October 11, the team was able to attend a program at St. Cyprian's Anglican Church which showcased a number of local, award-winning performers in song, piano, dance and spoken word. For lunch on Wednesday the team was treated to a meal provided by Uncle-B's, a local jerk stand/cook shop owned by Mr. Brown. The choice of meal was fried chicken, curried chicken, or brown stewed pork, served with rice and mixed veggies, a sample of their jerk pork, and a cup of chicken foot soup. What a meal!!!

(Arthur and I had stopped at Uncle-B's the previous week and asked Mrs. Brown if she knew the Blackburn sisters. She said Amboursine had been in just a few days before and mentioned how difficult things were getting with the house they were in. Mrs. Brown was so excited to see us and to know the sisters were getting a new house that she took time out to take us to find the sisters.)

Thursday morning we took the team to the infirmary in Pt. Maria where they sang, prayed, read Scripture, talked and laughed with the residents. Some residents were new to them and a few, like Richard and Sylvia, are old friends for some. Richard was sharp as ever and had everyone in stitches. What a wonderful time of ministry!

Friday we took the team to Ocho Rios for a little bit of touristy stuff... the market and shopping, floating down the White River, and then to the Hibiscus Lodge for the night. I even talked a few of them in to walking down the road to get some Devon House I-Scream. Mmmmmm!!!! Then on Saturday it was on to the airport for the goodbyes. The week had come to an end. What a wonderful time of service and fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ. (This was my 3rd time to serve with Santa Claus UMC. My first was in Oct. '06 during my first visit to JA, and the second was last Oct.)

Thank you to Santa Claus UMC for a great week!

Do You Love Me?

Last Friday Jamie and I had Bible study and we talked about when Jesus asked Peter "Do you love Me?" (John 21:15-19). Each time Peter's answer was yes, and after the third time his feelings were hurt. So why did Jesus ask him three times? Did Jesus doubt Peter's love? No, He knew Peter loved Him without even asking the question. Some preachers will stand up in front of the church and say that Jesus asked Peter three times because Peter denied Jesus three times, and at face value that sounds good, but I don't think it's right, at least not completely. See, Peter was good at running his mouth and speaking before his mind had time to realize what he was saying, and I think Jesus' intent was to get Peter to realize that he loved Jesus more deeply than he knew.

The first time Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, Peter immediately said yes. He probably didn't even hesitate before answering.
"Feed My lambs." (Teach My early church)
The second time Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, Peter once again said yes. I can see him thinking for just a second "Didn't I already answer this question?"
"Tend My sheep." (Take care of My growing church)
The third time Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, Peter was hurt because He had asked him three times. This time I think Peter actually thought about it before he answered Jesus. "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You."
"Feed My sheep." (Teach My growing church)

Jesus knew that Peter loved Him, but He also knew that in order for Peter to be able to fulfill Christ's call for him to lead the early church, He had to get Peter himself to understand how deeply he truly loved Christ. If Peter was going to be the leader of the church he had to know how to express his love for Christ more deeply than by quick words. Yes, Peter loved Jesus. Yes, Jesus knew it. But I believe when Jesus asked the third time, "Do you love Me?", that a light bulb went off, and at that moment Peter realized just how deeply he loved the Savior. Otherwise it would not have hurt His feelings as it did.

Jesus already knows if we love Him or not, but from time to time He may ask us "Do you love Me" in order to help us realize that we truly do love Him, and that He has a specific call on our lives that we can't fulfill unless we are expressing our love for Him.

Don't Give Satan An Advil

What is your name?

When you were born did your parents give you a name worthy of who you are, or have you had to make yourself worthy of the name your parents gave you? In his story "Romeo and Juliet", Shakespeare writes, What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet. So does your name really even matter? Well, it depends on who knows it.

My parents named me John Boyd Gardner. If you just leave it at that then some people may not think it is a very spectacular name... (seeing as how it has been my name for over 36 years I am pretty partial to it though). I am not famous so I do not have a famous name. My name does not jump out at people because it is not an unusual or trendy name. My name is a good, solid name. But even though I am not famous there are hundreds, maybe even thousands, of people who know my name just because we have crossed paths at some point in my life. Some people will hear my name and think fond thoughts, some will think not so fond thoughts, and some people will think "Who? Oh, I kinda remember that guy." Regardless of what people think when they hear my name, I have made some sort of impression on many people.

But I wonder what sort of impression I have made on the devil over the years. In Acts chapter 19 the seven sons of Sceva were trying to cast out demons "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches." They knew that there was something to the name of Jesus, and even threw in Paul's name for good measure, kinda like a name-dropper would do. There was a problem with that though... one particular evil spirit had no idea who these seven guys were. See, all of hell knew Jesus because, well, He's Jesus, and they all knew Paul because he had been one of their top humans until he met Jesus on the road to Damascus and started doing battle against the army of hell. But, when these seven no-name sons of the Jewish chief priest, Sceva, came along, the evil spirit said "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on the brothers and put a whoopin' on 'em that EVERYONE around would remember for a long time.

So, do evil spirits know MY name? Am I known among the army of hell? Does Satan have to work overtime because I am on the job? I like what Dave Earley says in his book, "The 21 Most Dangerous Questions of the Bible",... I don't claim the amazing authority of the Lord Jesus Christ or the apostle Paul. But I believe I can live a positively dangerous life. I hope to live so completely for God's kingdom that I am known by those in the kingdom of darkness. I want to give hell a headache.

What about you? Does the devil need an Advil? Does hell know your name?

Is It Really Worth The Effort?

Okay, so, after 2 1/2 weeks of going to the gym there is no change to the scale. I have not lost a blessed ounce... but I have not gained any either, so I guess that is a good thing. But is it really worth waking up at 5:15AM, getting up at 5:30AM, and out the door at 5:50AM to go pick up Nick and meet Leo at the gym, walk for 35 minutes (and go nowhere), ride a bike for 15 or 20 minutes (and go nowhere), and do some stretching, arm and ab work?

Yes. It's worth it.

You see, I get to listen to some good praise and worship music, enjoy the fellowship and encouragement of two men of God, improve my overall health, sleep better at night, have more energy, and take care of the Temple. Do I wish the scale was showing a 12 pound loss? Yes. But watching the scale can be a big discouragement when you're trying to get healthy (I am not on the Biggest Loser here). It's not ultimately about losing weight anyway. It's about glorifying God. I know that if I do the things that need to be done in order to be healthy (working out and eating right), then the weight will follow... and God will get the glory!!

So, if you are thinking about getting healthy for Christ, my word of advice to you is:
THROW AWAY YOUR SCALE and work at being healthy before you worry about losing the weight.

Words Of Wisdom

Words Of Wisdom for September 14, 2009...

Do what God says!!!

Flab vs Fab

For those who are in-the-know, Pinto's food is some of the best... ever. (Her fried chicken blows the Colonel out of the water.) But I am thinking that at times her cooking is too good. Over the busy summer months, when teams were here and I was on the go most of the time, I managed to gain 10 pounds. Yes, 10 pounds. So the net loss for my first year here wound up being 30 lbs.

So, on Saturday, I met Pastor Leo Hall (Bethel United Church) at Fitness Physique and started getting my exercise on. Saturday, Monday, Tuesday (with Nick), and again this morning, I road the bike, walked on the treadmill, worked on the seated row and the seated ab machine (I am not gonna get on the floor if I don't have to), and did some stretching exercises. I already can tell I have more energy and am sleeping better at night after only a few days of working out. I will go again in the morning and probably Saturday AM, and at least 3 or 4 times a week after.

There are a few reasons I decided to start going to the gym...
1. Walking in the evenings is boring (but I haven't since December, so never mind)
2. There is someone who will keep me accountable
3. To lose the weight I have gained
4. To reach my goal weight
5. To look FABULOUS when I go home for my visit in November
6. To be more healthy and have more energy
7. To improve my witness by taking care of the Temple

Have you ever sat in church and listened to a fat pastor preach a message about sins of the flesh... while at the same time wondering why he doesn't apply his message to himself and his gluttony. Being overweight and in the ministry is not new, it's not uncommon, but it is not God's best and He is not glorified by it.

"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Cor. 6:19-20 (NKJV)