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Articles from this month's issue of the Berean News |
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Viewpoints The dictionary defines the word "responsibility" as a condition, quality, fact, or instance of being responsible; a duty, obligation, accountability, dependability, etc. I would like to suggest an altemate type of spelling as "response-ability". Christians are charged with a response-ability to respond to the words of the Lord in particular. We are to respond to the Scriptures, sermons, studies, church activities and fellowship. You might want to read Hebrews 2:1-4 and 1 Peter 1:13-16 to help you in this area. We know from studies and discussions that it is easy to be a Christian in church and much more difficult when we are exposed to the world and its influences. Our studies and sermons strengthen us for this. But only if we react and respond. James 2:14-26 gives us an idea for our response-ability to each other. We also can find that Romans 14:12-23 should not stop us from trying to help others, merely to realize what works for one, may not help another to the same degree. We should adjust our response accordingly; we should not be so vain as to think we know the only, or even the best way. We may know what works for us, but we should be responsive to the needs of others and we can do this with the help of the Holy Spirit. As children, we receive lots of instructions and teachings, but not so much when we grow older. I guess we respond to the old adage that it is 'hard to teach an old dog new tricks'. Yet if we read Phillipians 3:12-16 we realize we are children in Christ! Our response-ability is to knock and enter. Do we get something for nothing ? Not quite. Romans 8:12-14 would indicate that we have added responsibilities. Acts 4:32-37 and 5:1-11 give us an indication of what happens if we do not respond responsibly. Paul is a wonderful example of what to do with responsibilities as we can read in Acts 20:22-24. He studied and grew in the Lord before he tried to tell others how to react, to live, to respond. The stories about David, Timothy, Ruth, the Apostles, Kings, Judges, the Jewish nation and its escape from Egypt are all examples for us within the Bible, but what is our responsibility to react to all of this? 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 can help us here. Hebrews 6:4-6 and 2 Peter 1:3-11 warn us about falling away from God's word. If we are not responsive to the messages in the Bible, we can fall away. 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 indicates that we are responsible to be better Christians in comparison to ourselves, not one another. We can hear the best of sermons and attend the most interesting of studies, but we must respond, investigate, probe and decide what each of us must do to improve and become more response-able Christians. Colossians 3:1-17 & 4:2-6 give us an indication of our goal. As growing Christians we should resolve to take on more response-ability. I don't know if it's supposed to be easy or not to be a Christian, but it sure is easier and infinitely more rewarding than any other life style if we merely assume more of the response-abilities as described in the scriptures. --Joe Horak |
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Perspective According to "Faith at Work" magazine, a recent survey was directed to only those people who were over 95 years of age. One of the things they were asked was what they would do differently if they could live their lives over again. Here are the top three changes they would make if they could: #1: REFLECT MORE. They would spend more time getting away from the daily grind in order to examine thoughtfully the direction and the meaning of their lives. #2: RISK MORE. The elderly made it clear they would be more courageous about stepping out of their comfort zones. They would take risks to raise their accomplishment level and make life more interesting. #3: INVEST MORE. No, not money. They reported that they would give themselves to things that would outlive them, things that had lasting value rather than passing value. It's an interesting top three choice of changes. Too bad it took these people over 95 years to arrive at it. Too bad they cannot live their lives over again and actually make these changes. They no doubt would all be better people and lead enriched lives if they did. If only they could start over again ... You and I are so blessed because we have been given the opportunity to start over again. We have been called to be born again, to start life over&emdash;this time as spiritual rather than carnal people. We have been empowered by God's holy spirit to live a different life and to get it right this time. The very top three changes that these elderly foLks would make in their lives if given that chance are the very things that we are asked to do when we become Christians. In fact these three things are very fundamental to what becoming a consecrated disciple of Jesus Christ is all about. Hopefully you and I don't need to become over 95 to realize it. #1: REFLECT MORE. We are invited to examine the direction and meaning of our lives. We are asked to make a change in order to give our lives far greater meaning. And we are instructed the direction in which we are to go. We are also encouraged to continue to spend time on a regular basis in meditation and reflection and prayer to help us make sure that the direction and meaning of our lives stay on course. Not only personal reflection is advised, but also corporate (church) reflection. #2: RISK MORE. The entire Christian walk is about risk taking. We call it faith. Stepping out of one's comfort zone because of what one has come to believe is called faith in action. God made us fantastic promises through His son. These are recorded for us in the Bible. Accepting and living by these promises requires us to "go against the grain" of society. The world teaches and pushes us to conform to its standards and methods. These are not the standards and methods of Christ. To follow Christ means risking much of the comfort and wisdom of this world. It means learning to live the life of faith. Nothing makes life more interesting than that. #3: INVEST MORE. Lasting value over passing value is what the elderly want. This is the very foundational promise of Christianity. Eternal values over momentary pleasures. Spiritual values and rewards over materialistic and ego-pleasing ones. The elderly would invest more of themselves for lasting values. Well, they don't quite have that one right. We are asked to invest ALL of ourselves for those things that last. But we are also not investing in things that will outlive us because we are promised that we will live forever. And that eternal life that we will receive when Christ returns and resurrects us will be one of the highest possible value&emdash;one united with Christ himself. &emdash;Larry Urbaniak |
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Other Items Ebenezer: Hitherto hath the Lord helped us Fact: Ebenezer meeting, Sunday, August
22, 1999, 10:15 AM. There are times when the finger of God comes down from the heavens and, in a very specific and obvious way, helps us. An Ebenezer meeting is your opportunity to dedicate a stone of remembrance and tell us the story of that event. I'll bring the stones, you bring the stories, and we'll dedicate some new and exciting Ebenezers on Sunday, August 22. --Jon Larson ___________________________________________________________________ Dear Friends, Thank you all for your many calls, cards, notes, and prayers during our Mother's recent illness and death. We really appreciate your kindness and many expressions of sympathy. The reach of our Christian family is truly amazing! You brought us memories of many experiences cooking with her at camp and of fellowship through the years and those are truly sweet memories. Finally, we take great comfort in these words ... "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him." 1 Thes. 4:14,15 Much Christian Love, The Heitlands - Roger, Ken, Doug, and Families ___________________________________________________________________ Find Us Faithful We're pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful |
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Roy's Reflections Then An Amazing Miracle! The city was surrounded by the enemy and slowly but surely starving to death. Donkey heads were being sold on the streets for food. Even cats and dogs were being fought over by the inhabitants to be eaten as food. Humanity had sunk to its lowest possible level. It could not get any worse. A local preacher confronted the city leadership with a message. "By this time tomorrow, there will be so much food that bushels of flour will be sold on the streets for pennies." One leader stood to question such a bold prophecy and the preacher pointed his bony old finger in his direction and replied: "You'll see it with your own eyes, but you will never taste any of it!" What a prediction: A city going from famine to feast in 24 hours? From donkey head soup to a chicken in every pot? Does it sound like election year politics with too many empty promises? Who is this preacher trying to kid? There would have to be a military victory followed by an economic miracle and all occurring in one day! Who could possibly accomplish all of this? Meanwhile, in another part of the city, near the outside wall, were four men with leprosy, a gruesome disease believed to be highly contagious. Anyone with leprosy was considered an outcast from society. These poor men could not even remain in the city to starve with the rest of the people. They were shunned, feared, and abandoned. One leper had an idea. "Why stay here to die? Let's go to the enemy camps outside the gate and surrender. If they spare us, we might get some food and live. If they kill us ... hey we're dying anyway!" They all agreed, so in the middle of the night, four starving lepers shuffled and hobbled their way down the hill to the enemy camp to surrender and hopefully get a meal. Here comes the miracle! The sound of their shuffling feet was somehow magnified to resemble the attack of a mighty army. The sleeping soldiers heard the noise, panicked and ran for their lives leaving their weapons, clothes and all of their food behind. What made these hardened soldiers run? The sound of four sick, starving lepers stumbling down the mountain to surrender. As the lepers reached the camp, they were greeted with silence and the inviting aroma of fresh pepperoni pizza. "It's party time!" one shouted. They ate and drank, carried away money, clothes and all the food they could eat. Then they said to each other, "We're not doing right. This is a day of Good News and we are keeping it to ourselves. We must report this to the city." At first, the city didn't believe the lepers shouting outside the gate, but they sent a scouting party and found everything to be true. The enemy had run away leaving the whole lot behind. The gates were opened and everyone rushed out to eat and take away whatever could be found. Food was so plentiful that a bushel of flour could now be sold for pennies as predicted. The leader who originally questioned the preacher was assigned the duty of counting everything that was brought back. In the confusion, he was trampled to death, all as the preacher predicted. Wild? Yes, but it's true. (Well, everything but the pizza!) Read it in 2 Kings 6:24 - 7:20. But what can we learn? 1. Tragedy is a part of life:&emdash;The city is suffering just as you and I often suffer!! 2. God is in the midst of our tragedy:&emdash;God never abandons you! 3. Ordinary humans are often used by God to accomplish miracles - four lepers! 4. Our bold faith and our willingness to take risks based on this faith honor God&emdash;This means you! 5. If God can use four lepers to accomplish such an amazing miracle, just think what can be done with you and me! Roy P. Boswell |
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