Dear friends,
Every once in a while I get an email devotional that I think is really helpful, and this morning I received just such a devotional I thought was worth immediately passing along. It’s a devotional that concerns Malachi 3:3 that says of God, “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”
That’s a great verse, but this verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says, “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?” He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that's easy—when I see my image in it.”
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you. Whatever you’re going through right now, just remember that God has a purpose.
Peace,
Ernest
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
More About Baggage Claim
Dear People,
As you can tell from my last blog, I am excited about our upcoming play. However, some of you have asked, "But what is the play about?"
I am reluctant to say too much because I despise movie trailers that overtell about an upcoming movie. Saying too much spoils the fun, and this is a fun play.
What I will tell you is that Baggage Claim lays out the gospel in a way that can be easily grasped. The story revolves around the D'Baquel family who has decided to vacation at a much publicized Bed & Breakfast that is served by a bellhop who offers far more than meets the eye. The comic beginning of the play seques into a darker reality as the pain and inner conflicts of the four family members surface. This is one vacation where the rest only comes in shocking ways.
See you there!
Ernest
As you can tell from my last blog, I am excited about our upcoming play. However, some of you have asked, "But what is the play about?"
I am reluctant to say too much because I despise movie trailers that overtell about an upcoming movie. Saying too much spoils the fun, and this is a fun play.
What I will tell you is that Baggage Claim lays out the gospel in a way that can be easily grasped. The story revolves around the D'Baquel family who has decided to vacation at a much publicized Bed & Breakfast that is served by a bellhop who offers far more than meets the eye. The comic beginning of the play seques into a darker reality as the pain and inner conflicts of the four family members surface. This is one vacation where the rest only comes in shocking ways.
See you there!
Ernest
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
BAGGAGE CLAIM
Dear People,
I am very excited about what’s coming in the week before Easter Sunday: BAGGAGE CLAIM! I love this well-written play! We have such a wonderful opportunity to present the message of salvation through this dramatic production that will entertain and deeply move everyone who sees it. I hope you will take the opportunity to invite friends and neighbors to watch it with you.
Getting out the message of God’s love, grace, mercy, and salvation is as important as ever, and BAGGAGE CLAIM is a perfect vehicle for doing that. Our world is filled with visual images from television, computers, video games, and now cellular phones, so a live dramatic presentation of the Good News cannot be underestimated. People not only need to hear God’s Word, they want to see it!
For those who doubt the power and importance of drama in a church, we would do well to remember the implicit honor given to drama in the Bible. In the Old Testament, God presented dramas through His prophets. In the cases of Ezekiel and Jeremiah, the prophets actually acted out their messages. God uses actual events in the lives of real people to teach others His Gospel truths, such as Abraham's offering of Isaac or the life of Joseph, both of which illustrate John 3:16. Also consider the fact that whole Old Testament Sanctuary Service with its supplies, furniture, and rituals was an illustration of the entire plan of salvation that was fulfilled at the cross. Our Lord Himself taught with parables and dynamic life-lessons such as the withering of the fig tree. In keep with the Old Testament and New Testament, the early Christian Church under the Holy Spirit’s direction employed the use of drama to pass on the story of Jesus, a method that transcends the barriers of language and social class standings. In short, while people obviously appreciate some good drama, most importantly so does God!
So…I’m excited about this play, and I can tell you that our director Brian McMinn and his cast have been working extremely hard for well over a month now. Several others will be faithfully helping with the set design and construction. So I hope that at the very least you will make plans to come and see. More than that, I hope you will also encourage someone else to come and see with you. Do not underestimate this opportunity.
Peace,
Ernest
I am very excited about what’s coming in the week before Easter Sunday: BAGGAGE CLAIM! I love this well-written play! We have such a wonderful opportunity to present the message of salvation through this dramatic production that will entertain and deeply move everyone who sees it. I hope you will take the opportunity to invite friends and neighbors to watch it with you.
Getting out the message of God’s love, grace, mercy, and salvation is as important as ever, and BAGGAGE CLAIM is a perfect vehicle for doing that. Our world is filled with visual images from television, computers, video games, and now cellular phones, so a live dramatic presentation of the Good News cannot be underestimated. People not only need to hear God’s Word, they want to see it!
For those who doubt the power and importance of drama in a church, we would do well to remember the implicit honor given to drama in the Bible. In the Old Testament, God presented dramas through His prophets. In the cases of Ezekiel and Jeremiah, the prophets actually acted out their messages. God uses actual events in the lives of real people to teach others His Gospel truths, such as Abraham's offering of Isaac or the life of Joseph, both of which illustrate John 3:16. Also consider the fact that whole Old Testament Sanctuary Service with its supplies, furniture, and rituals was an illustration of the entire plan of salvation that was fulfilled at the cross. Our Lord Himself taught with parables and dynamic life-lessons such as the withering of the fig tree. In keep with the Old Testament and New Testament, the early Christian Church under the Holy Spirit’s direction employed the use of drama to pass on the story of Jesus, a method that transcends the barriers of language and social class standings. In short, while people obviously appreciate some good drama, most importantly so does God!
So…I’m excited about this play, and I can tell you that our director Brian McMinn and his cast have been working extremely hard for well over a month now. Several others will be faithfully helping with the set design and construction. So I hope that at the very least you will make plans to come and see. More than that, I hope you will also encourage someone else to come and see with you. Do not underestimate this opportunity.
Peace,
Ernest
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
A Letter from Royce
Dear Friends,
As many of you know, last Sunday we gave about seven minutes of our service to The Gideons International, and organization of business men dedicated to distributing Bibles around the globe. It's a fantastic organization with some exceptional men, and I thought it appropriate to pass along to you a letter I received from Royce today. The letter is addressed to me, but it actually concerns the entire church family. I hope you enjoy his letter.
Dear Ernest,
Thank you for the warm welcome that you and the Main Street congregation extended to the Gideons last Sunday. It was good for me personally to see friends I had missed for a few months. I especially appreciated your message and your introduction talking about the heart when I was all set to talk about pulse rate in my opening. A "coincidence" I'm sure!
Thank you for the privilege of presenting a report on what God is doing with and through Gideons International around the world. On behalf of The Gideons of Williamson County and The Gideons International, we want to express our sincere thanks to you and your congrgation for your past support of the Gideon work, as well as the outstanding response this year. We were blessed by donations in the amount of $1486.23, which will provide for 297 Bibles or 1061 Testaments to be purchased and placed! We can pray that many precious souls will come to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as a result of these Scriptures being distributed.
I mentioned in one of the services that current and past Gideons at Main Street that I know of include Bob McMinn and Wayne Doss (who assisted at the doors) as well as Tom Mulcahey, Brooks Slaughter and Marshall Duke.
I especially appreciate your prayerful supoort for this ministry. Your specific prayers for the Gideon ministry in the services, and your encouragement of the congregation to support financially was much appreciated. Thank you again for the privilege of representing the The Gideons in the services last Sunday.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Royce Lindsey
As many of you know, last Sunday we gave about seven minutes of our service to The Gideons International, and organization of business men dedicated to distributing Bibles around the globe. It's a fantastic organization with some exceptional men, and I thought it appropriate to pass along to you a letter I received from Royce today. The letter is addressed to me, but it actually concerns the entire church family. I hope you enjoy his letter.
Dear Ernest,
Thank you for the warm welcome that you and the Main Street congregation extended to the Gideons last Sunday. It was good for me personally to see friends I had missed for a few months. I especially appreciated your message and your introduction talking about the heart when I was all set to talk about pulse rate in my opening. A "coincidence" I'm sure!
Thank you for the privilege of presenting a report on what God is doing with and through Gideons International around the world. On behalf of The Gideons of Williamson County and The Gideons International, we want to express our sincere thanks to you and your congrgation for your past support of the Gideon work, as well as the outstanding response this year. We were blessed by donations in the amount of $1486.23, which will provide for 297 Bibles or 1061 Testaments to be purchased and placed! We can pray that many precious souls will come to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as a result of these Scriptures being distributed.
I mentioned in one of the services that current and past Gideons at Main Street that I know of include Bob McMinn and Wayne Doss (who assisted at the doors) as well as Tom Mulcahey, Brooks Slaughter and Marshall Duke.
I especially appreciate your prayerful supoort for this ministry. Your specific prayers for the Gideon ministry in the services, and your encouragement of the congregation to support financially was much appreciated. Thank you again for the privilege of representing the The Gideons in the services last Sunday.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Royce Lindsey
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Ignore
Dear Friends,
It’s not nice to ignore people…at least that’s what we tell our children. But then we read about how Jesus is in the middle of performing a miracle in Mark 5:36, and some doubters start to voice their cynicism. To describe Jesus’ reaction, Mark uses a phrase that throws some of us for a loop, Ignoring what they said.
Jesus goes on to heal the little girl, in spite of the surrounding doubt. This teaches us a valuable lesson: In order to witness the miraculous, sometimes you will have to ignore what they said. Maybe some people are perpetually misjudging your motives, and nothing you say seems to sway their verdict. Ignore what they said. Perhaps someone in your past filled your head with insecurity about who you could never be, and what you could never do. Ignore what they said. Sometimes the voice of doubt is manufactured from within—and we struggle to tune out the static of condemnation, faithlessness, and worst-case scenarios. Ignore what they said.
If any voice is raising itself in contradiction to the will and Word of God concerning you, be like Jesus. Practice selective hearing. Ignore what they said.
Peace,
Ernest
It’s not nice to ignore people…at least that’s what we tell our children. But then we read about how Jesus is in the middle of performing a miracle in Mark 5:36, and some doubters start to voice their cynicism. To describe Jesus’ reaction, Mark uses a phrase that throws some of us for a loop, Ignoring what they said.
Jesus goes on to heal the little girl, in spite of the surrounding doubt. This teaches us a valuable lesson: In order to witness the miraculous, sometimes you will have to ignore what they said. Maybe some people are perpetually misjudging your motives, and nothing you say seems to sway their verdict. Ignore what they said. Perhaps someone in your past filled your head with insecurity about who you could never be, and what you could never do. Ignore what they said. Sometimes the voice of doubt is manufactured from within—and we struggle to tune out the static of condemnation, faithlessness, and worst-case scenarios. Ignore what they said.
If any voice is raising itself in contradiction to the will and Word of God concerning you, be like Jesus. Practice selective hearing. Ignore what they said.
Peace,
Ernest
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Dear Friends,
Brooke Keith wrote that life is not about being prepared for whatever comes our way. Life is rather about being prepared to choose joy whatever comes our way. Those are good words for those of us who have continued to watch unemployment rates soar and the stock market tank.
Habakkuk seems to back up Brooke's observation. "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." (Habakkuk 3:17-19)
While all else fails, God never fails. Where is our trust? Where is our hope? Where is our joy? In circumstances? In our national leaders? In the wisdom of the 111th Congress? I most certainly hope not!
Peace,
Ernest
Brooke Keith wrote that life is not about being prepared for whatever comes our way. Life is rather about being prepared to choose joy whatever comes our way. Those are good words for those of us who have continued to watch unemployment rates soar and the stock market tank.
Habakkuk seems to back up Brooke's observation. "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." (Habakkuk 3:17-19)
While all else fails, God never fails. Where is our trust? Where is our hope? Where is our joy? In circumstances? In our national leaders? In the wisdom of the 111th Congress? I most certainly hope not!
Peace,
Ernest
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
It's Nearly Spring...Praise God!
Dear Friends,
The last few days have been pretty rough. Bad news on the domestic front is so abundant that some of you have told me that you have stopped watching the news. Last week a member of my extended family was the victim of a murder-suicide. I've been putting in lots of miles on the road to both lower my cholesterol and build up my endurance. In fact, last week I ran a total of 48 miles--sort of draining. I'm sort of looking forward to relief. I can't wait for Spring!
In spite of high winds and chill,
Winter is on the wing;
My calendar says it's early March,
But in my heart it's spring!
Dorothy Labelle
For those of you who've had a hard winter, I've got good news. Spring is coming! God always brings relief. Psalm 81:6, "I will relieve your shoulder of it's burden; I will free your hands from their heavy task."
Peace,
Ernest
The last few days have been pretty rough. Bad news on the domestic front is so abundant that some of you have told me that you have stopped watching the news. Last week a member of my extended family was the victim of a murder-suicide. I've been putting in lots of miles on the road to both lower my cholesterol and build up my endurance. In fact, last week I ran a total of 48 miles--sort of draining. I'm sort of looking forward to relief. I can't wait for Spring!
In spite of high winds and chill,
Winter is on the wing;
My calendar says it's early March,
But in my heart it's spring!
Dorothy Labelle
For those of you who've had a hard winter, I've got good news. Spring is coming! God always brings relief. Psalm 81:6, "I will relieve your shoulder of it's burden; I will free your hands from their heavy task."
Peace,
Ernest
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