JUNE 2010

Greetings to all on 7 June 2010

Word for the Day
Parsimonious – frugal to the point of stinginess.

Quote for the Day
The spiritual reformer is persecuted while living and venerated after his death. That speaks of the hazards of leadership. [1]

Song for the Day
I Want to Leave a Legacy by Nichole Nordeman
http://s0.ilike.com/play#Nichole+Nordeman:Legacy:242478:m9306877

Thought for the Day
What must I do to inherit eternal life? This is a recurring question during Jesus’ ministry. I submit for your consideration that this was the core appeal and promise of the gospel. Wouldn’t you agree that one of our most innate desires is to achieve immortality?

How do we try to live forever? For most of us, we believe that we will live on through the lives of our children and grandchildren. There is some truth to that, but even that memory is gone after a few generations. Some people leave business and civic legacies to perpetuate their life’s accomplishments. We have all been in buildings that bear the name of someone who passed on many years ago. Another attempt to gain immortality is seen in our quest to fight the aging process through creams, diets and surgeries. Even King David longed for eternal life when he concluded mourning for his son by saying that, “He cannot come to me, but I shall go to him.” [2SAM 12.21-23]

What must I do to inherit eternal life? Well, it depends. To one young man he said, “Go and sell all that you have and give it to the poor.” But he couldn’t pay the price. To some he said, “Come and follow me,” but to others he said, “Go back home.”

What would be his response to you and me? Is there something I need to give up? Maybe it’s something I need to take up? Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me.” But like the rich young man, am I willing to pay the price?

Dave Ramsey has a great line, “If you’ll live like no one else, then, later, you can live like no one else.” Of course Dave is talking about financial freedom. If you can scrimp and save now and get out of debt, then you will later be able to accumulate wealth and live like no one else. It occurred to me that there is a great spiritual application to that credo. Isn’t that exactly what Jesus was telling the young talmid? If you want to enjoy that elusive eternal life, then you must be willing to give up some of the luxuries of this life.

In typical Jesus fashion, he is most severe toward the wealthy and most compassionate toward the poor. “Come to me all you that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and come learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” [MAT 11.28-30]

May God Bless
Mike Toole
Lori Moores, ed.

Cecil Hook, found on http://graceawakening.faithsite.com/printcontent.asp?CID=46440&SID=263