Dear Family of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Hi Dewey ~
In viewing the many photos of the bomb scene at the Boston Marathon, I noticed all the people in motion – running away from the blasts or running toward the injured. The thoughtful response to this tragedy printed below confronted me with my own typical response to situations which are not as they ought to be…
Do I run away to save myself…..run toward the problem to see how I can help…..or sit on the sidelines and comment about what everyone else is doing?
Holy Spirit, You have some serious work to do in me…
~ Kay
PS – you may share this with others if you wish.
Running Toward Chaos
Making the Invisible Kingdom Visible
Eric Metaxas
April 18, 2013
Scarcely a day goes by without yet another reminder of the ancient Roman phrase, Homo homini lupus est: man is a wolf to his fellow man. The terrible bombing at the finish line of the Boston Marathon—which, at the time of this recording, killed three people, including an eight-year-old boy, and injured at least 140 others—is just the latest graphic piece of evidence.
And the bombing is also further proof—as if we needed more—of what Christian writer Ed Stetzer calls “the brokenness in our fallen world.”
Yet Christians know that this is, at best, an incomplete depiction of man. Fallen men are capable of incredible—or, perhaps, all-too-credible—cruelty towards each other. But even in our fallen state, we are capable of just the opposite: overcoming evil with good.
As one of my colleagues pointed out, one of the most striking and certainly the most moving images coming out of Boston was of people rushing forward toward the sites of the explosions to help the injured.
But it wasn’t only those in uniform. Carlos Arredondo, a peace activist whose son was killed in Iraq, became a national hero when he jumped over the security fence and started helping the injured. And he wasn’t the only civilian who ran towards the chaos when common sense dictated running away from it.
Watching the coverage, another colleague was not only inspired by the actions of those who rushed to the aid of the injured but also saw in their actions a metaphor of what it means to be the Church in a broken and fallen world.
As Ed Stetzer wrote, “it’s not enough for Christians merely to recognize that the world isn’t what it ought to be and that people are suffering in ways they shouldn’t have to suffer.” Instead, our “sorrow and indignation” should prompt us to act in ways that “subvert” that brokenness.
Our task is to “work to make this world more as God would intend it to be—with justice, peace, and more.” Or as Chuck Colson used to put it,” our task is to make the invisible Kingdom visibl”e.
Chuck loved to tell the story of how, when the great plagues struck ancient Rome and the doctors fled the city, Christians stayed behind and cared for the sick, even though as a result some contracted the plague themselves and died. They saw this as part of what it meant to be God’s people in a suffering world. As a result of their witness, many pagans became Christians because they saw in this sacrificial love something that paganism could not offer.
That “something” was the invisible Kingdom now made visible.
Think of Mother Theresa. While other people abandoned the sick and dying of Calcutta, she embraced them. In doing so, she and her Missionaries of Charity made the invisible Kingdom visible one dying person at a time.
Every time Prison Fellowship volunteers reach out to a different kind of pariah—prisoners—they announce that this world’s brokenness is not final. God is at work setting things right.
One day, because of the resurrection of Jesus, it will all be set right. But for now, we keep running toward the chaos making visible to the world the invisible Kingdom of God that will one day fill the whole earth.
The Carpenter
Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side-by-side, sharing machinery and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference and finally, it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.One morning there was a knock on John’s door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter’s toolbox. “I ‘m looking for a few days’ work,” he said. “Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?”
“Yes,” said the older brother. “I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That’s my neighbor. In fact, it’s my younger brother! Last week there was a meadow between us. He recently took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I’ll do him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence an 8-foot fence — so I won’t need to see his place or his face anymore.”
The carpenter said, “I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I’ll be able to do a job that pleases you.”
The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day — measuring, sawing and nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.
The farmer’s eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all.
It was a bridge … A bridge that stretched from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all! And the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched.”You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I’ve said and done.” The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in middle, taking each other’s hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder.”No, wait! Stay a few days. I’ve a lot of other projects for you,” said the older brother. “I’d love to stay on,” the carpenter said, “but I have many more bridges to build.”
Remember This…
God won’t ask what kind of car you drove, but He’ll ask how many people you helped get where they needed to go. God won’t ask the square footage of your house, but He’ll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.God won’t ask about the clothes you had in your closet, but He’ll ask how many you helped to clothe.
God won’t ask how many friends you had, but He’ll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.
God won’t ask in what neighborhood you lived, but He’ll ask how you treated your neighbors.
God won’t ask about the color of your skin, but He’ll ask about the content of your character.
God won’t ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation, but He’ll lovingly take you to your mansion in Heaven, and not to the gates of hell.
April 19, 2013. Something good is about to happen to you. While you were not aware, the Lord was making His plans to pour out specific blessings for you. One blessing may surprise you. It is something you have counted on happening that will not occur as you thought. God is protecting you at this point from something that could bring disappointment and sustained frustration. This is a time to keep your eyes on Jesus. He is your source for wisdom and peace. He brings heavenly gifts to bless people. Ask and receive.Psalm 19:14 (NASB) “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.” Ras RobinsonApril 19, 2013. This is a relatively quiet time, a time of peace. There is just an occasional skirmish, but even they are not out of control. Now is the time you need to be reinforcing your spirit. Now is a time to be solid in your thought life…solid on Me and My ways. Stack away thoughts of My goodness and how I brought you through things in the past. Let your mind take up residence on the good peaceful side. This strengthens your body, soul and spirit for times to come. Be prepared.Ephesians 6:18 (NASB) “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,” Bev Robinson
For God’s Glory Alone in the Love of our Lord Jesus Christ, Dewey Sharon and familyVisit us today!www.fggam.orgIf you would like to support the much needed work of For God’s Glory Alone Ministries, Dewey Moede, and Dewey’s Daily Cup please consider giving a financial gift. You can securely give by clicking on this link- https://fggam.org/
donate.html then scroll down the page to securely give through PayPal. Be assured my friends, your gift will be of the greatest help in furthering the ministry work the Lord has laid upon us to carry out in His Holy Name.
Thank you,Dewey Moede
If you have friends or family you think would like to share a daily cup of inspirational coffee with Dewey please forward this email and encourage them to join Dewey’s Daily Cup. All they have to do is send an email saying “Sign me up!” to radiodewey@aol.com.