Handmaidens - Christian Issues

September, 2000

Christian Issues

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Just a Thought... By Staff Writer Sharon Barrett
Ever do something so stupid you felt such embarrassment your face turned red and you felt like a fool? Of course you have, we have all at one time or another done something stupid and embarrassed ourselves. How about reading someone wrong. Isn't nice that no matter how foolish we feel or how stupid we act, it doesn't matter to the Lord. His love is always continuous, always unconditional love.

Illuminated Bible Project Saint John's Abbey and University has commissioned an illuminated Saint John's Bible -- you know, the handwritten and decorated kind popular before Gutenberg. At the Saint Johns Bible site you can learn about the project -- supposedly the first of its kind in 500 years!

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Are You Satisfied with the Parade?
by Staff Writer Teri Underwood

In the early 1900s there was a young boy in England whose heart's desire was to see the circus. He'd heard about the acts and animals, the tents and performers. To him - it sounded like the most wonderful place on earth.

Finally, the circus was coming to his town. He saved his money to buy his ticket. On the opening day of the circus there was a parade. The boy watched the parade in wide-eyed wonder. He was amazed by the lions, tigers, elephants, and bears. He was enthralled with the acrobats and side show entertainers. And he laughed with the rest of the crowd at the antics of the clowns who were at the end of the parade.

As the crowd turned to leave, the boy ran to the clowns and gave one of them his money. The clown asked him why he was doing so and the child smiled and said, "I had to pay someone for my ticket." With that, he left smiling believing he had been to the circus.

We may chuckle at the naivete of the boy who had only seen the parade. He missed the real thrills because he didn't know what the circus really was. But how many of us are in that same position? How many of God's children are missing the main events - satisfied with the parade and blissfully unaware of all God offers us?

I'm afraid far too many Christians fall into that category. We're content and happy where we are. In the apostle Paul's language - we're still drinking the milk and God is offering us meat!

In Revelation, Jesus spoke to this same complacency.

"I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! But since you are like luke-warm water, I will spit you out of my mouth." (Rev. 3:15-16, NLT)

That's pretty clear, huh? Jesus Christ wants us to choose - we can't sit on the fence any longer.

Now, I must confess that I've gotten really comfortable on that fence. Once I get myself balanced, it's a fairly nice place to be. I can "see both sides" and not have to take any stands. I don't know if any of you have ever been on the fence; but, if you have, you know it's really hard to get off!

Then I read a verse like Philippians 4:8 -

"Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."

And the Holy Spirit makes my comfortable seat on the fence not so comfortable. It's really hard to be pure on the fence! The fence requires compromise and mediocrity. The Danish philosopher Soren Kierrkegard said that far too many Christians were living mediocre lives and that in doing so damaging the witness of Jesus Christ. But, mediocrity is the way of life on the fence.

But, I wiggle a little in my seat and try to get comfortable again. And then 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds me that I am a new creation. And bit by bit I find myself moving back to where God wants me to be.

I find myself yearning for the confidence Paul had -

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful." (2 Timothy 4:7, NLT)

Paul went to the circus!

Read Hebrews 11 - Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, the people of Israel, Rahab - these people were not sitting on the fence and they weren't satisfied to see the parade!

I've shared with you all that my desire is to be where God is. God is working and moving and changing lives and my prayer is that He moves me with Him. I've seen the parade and it's okay. But, I've participated in the circus and that's where the action is!

Dear Father,
We know Your desire is to have a relationship with us.
Make our desire to know you more.
Move us from our complacency, mediocrity, and comfort zones.
Change our view from the parade to the circus.
Open our hearts to Your plans and Your movement.
Thank you, Lord, for letting us be a part of Your will.
Amen

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