Jonah 3:1-5, 10br...
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Jonah 3:1-5, 10
"Anger," writes Eugene Peterson in commenting on this story of Jonah, "is a useful diagnostic tool. When anger erupts in us, it is a signal that something is wrong. Something isn't working right. There is evil or incompetence or stupidity lurking about. Anger is our sixth sense for sniffing out wrong in the neighborhood."
Yet, Peterson continues, anger has its shortcomings. It may successfully inform us that something is wrong, but rarely does it tell us where the problem is:
What anger fails to do, though, is tell us whether the wrong is outside us or inside us. We usually begin by assuming that the wrong is outside us -- our spouse or our child or our God has done something wrong, and we are angry. That is what Jonah did, and he quarreled with God. But when we track the anger carefully, we often find it leads to a wrong within us -- wrong information, inadequate understanding, underdeveloped heart.
(from Eugene Peterson, Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness [Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1992], p. 157)
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Some people will change when they see the light. Others change only when they feel the heat.
-- Traditional
Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.
-- Thomas a Kempis
A man from the back mountains of Tennessee found himself one day in a large city, for the first time standing outside an elevator. He watched as an old, haggard woman hobbled on, and the doors closed. A few minutes later the doors opened and a young, attractive woman marched smartly off. The father hollered to his youngest son, "Billy, go get mother."
-- Source Unknown
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
The seminar began with the leader asking, "What are you avoiding doing that you know needs to be done?"
Terry was always complaining about how chaotic and out of control her life seemed. She blamed all of her problems on everyone else. She blamed her ex-husband for leaving her. She blamed her former boss for firing her and not giving a positive recommendation to perspective employers. She even blamed her son and daughter-in-law for failing to help her. In all of this Terry failed to grasp her role in the problems.
With the encouragement of her family Terry began counseling. Her therapist pointed out that she was never able to make a decision on her own. She always hemmed and hawed until someone was forced to decide for her, and then she complained endlessly about the bad decision. Perhaps we all know people like Terry. In the months following that break through Terry learned to place her trust in God. She began making decisions on her own -- trusting that God would see her through.
The prophet Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh. In fact, he went in the opposite direction. He was dragging his feet, not wanting to do what God called him to do offering as many excuses as he could think of. After spending time in the belly of a whale God called him a second time.
Reluctantly, Jonah went to the center of town and preached a one sentence sermon, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" That was all it took, the people of Nineveh "turned from their evil ways."
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Whatever else that can be said about him, Adolf Hitler was aware of his ability to use language and speech to motivate people. When one watches old film of Hilter's speeches, it is impossible to see the great effect he had over the people. It is tragic that this gift was used for such evil.
Jonah, another gifted orator, used his great gift to turn a whole nation to God. And the nation Jonah addressed was the enemy!
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
A WWII soldier stated, "The funny thing about war is this: the 'right' thing to do in one situation is not the 'right' thing to do another time in the exact same situation" (Jeff Danby, Day of the Panzer, p. xxv). In war life's dangers are magnified. It becomes obvious quickly that the same tactic doesn't always work in what seems to be the same situation. If you allow your mind to be lulled into repeating the same offensive or defensive maneuver, the enemy will figure it out and you'll be killed.
Paul writes to the Christians at Corinth that Jesus' resurrection and promised return must sharpen and intensify both how we evaluate life and also how we behave. For the sake of our Lord we can't be lulled into the world's usual ways of thinking or living.
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
The Danish philosopher, Kierkegaard, tells a parable of a theater where a variety show is proceeding. Each show is more fantastic than the last, and is applauded by the audience. Suddenly the manager comes forward. He apologizes for the interruption, but the theater is on fire, and he begs his patrons to leave in an orderly fashion. The audience thinks this is the most amusing turn of the evening, and cheer thunderously. The manager again implores them to leave the burning building, and he is again applauded vigorously. At last he can do no more. The fire raced through the whole building and the fun-loving audience with it. "And so," concluded Kierkegaard, "will our age, I sometimes think, go down in fiery destruction to the applause of a crowded house of cheering spectators."
(from Resource, July/August, 1990)
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
A change in the way people view the world is known to historians as a paradigm shift. There have been several sweeping paradigm shifts in history. The information revolution begun with the printing press was one. The way humans viewed knowledge took a radical change. There is no way to recapture the way we remembered and thought before the advent of the printing press; it would be like looking into some completely alien mind. Today, we are in the processes of a second information revolution with the internet. The amount of globalization brought on by the internet is changing the way the common man understands his economy. There is no going back. Today, Paul is talking about a paradigm shift, too: The change we undergo when we realize that the things of the world are not the be-all, end-all. Jesus is our be-all, end-all, and we need to live our lives for him instead of for the world.
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
The apostle Paul calls on the Corinthians and us for a radical reordering of our lives in the light of the imminent return of Christ. Preaching to people in his own day, Paul believes that the end of time as we know it will be soon. He is aware that his followers have families and friends, plus other commitments in their present lives, just as we do today.
How would your priorities change if you knew absolutely that this was the last week of your life? Possessions would lose their power over us, while our relationships would become much dearer. Who or what is on the throne of your life? Have you given much thought to what is of greatest value to you? Paul calls us to put Christ on that throne, and to remove whatever else may hold priority, whether it is your bank account, car, family, career, or house. Our prized possessions may ultimately become our spiritual downfall.
Mark 1:14-20
There's a Peanuts comic strip in which Linus is listening carefully as his sister, Lucy, boasts about her religious faith and her potential as an evangelist. She says to Linus, "I could be a terrific evangelist. Do you know that kid who sits behind me in school? I convinced him that my faith is better than his faith."
Linus asks, "How did you do that?"
Lucy replies, "I hit him with my lunch box."
Not exactly what Jesus means by "Fishing for people...."
Mark 1:14-20
For as long as anyone could remember Janet and Mary were the best of friends. They were neighbors and attended the same church. At church social events these two friends along with their families would always sit together.
Janet remembers the day she and her husband moved into the neighborhood and Mary came to welcome them. Later with the birth of their son, Janet looked to Mary for advice on raising her son. Mary told her of a young mother's group at her church. Janet began attending the mother's group and making friends with the other young mothers. Being in church, among other believers began to spark Janet's faith.
Janet would ask Mary questions about faith, the Bible, and church. Soon she began attending worship, sitting in the same pew as Mary and her family. A Sunday school class would form from the mother's group that Janet would help lead.
Years later these two women remain the best of friends. Today these women compare notes on their grandchildren. Janet credits Mary for leading her to faith in Jesus Christ. If it wasn't for Mary she might not have become a believer and joined the church.
Jesus called his first disciples, the brothers Simon and Andrew. Jesus challenged them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." Immediately they left their nets and followed Jesus. We, too, are charged with fishing for people. Who are the people we know who would benefit from a relationship with Jesus Christ and the church?
Mark 1:14-20
Why do people follow leaders? One way to approach the topic is to ask, "What kind of leader would I follow?" Chris Martlew, in his book, Leadership Recharged! Business and Organizational Architecture, lists the following reasons: Life and Death (I will die or he/she will kill me if I don't), Resources (the leader has access to resources/riches and shares them with his/her followers), Religion/Spirituality (I will grow, go to heaven), Politics (I share the same beliefs), Money (the leader pays me so I follow), Knowledge (I learn from the leader), Charisma (the leader is perceived to be a great human being), Post-Charisma ("She has a reasonable proposition. I like and trust her and believe we can work together and enjoy achieving our ambitions.")
Maybe with Jesus it was just the Holy Spirit working through him. Whatever, Jesus simply said, "Follow me," and his disciples followed.
"Anger," writes Eugene Peterson in commenting on this story of Jonah, "is a useful diagnostic tool. When anger erupts in us, it is a signal that something is wrong. Something isn't working right. There is evil or incompetence or stupidity lurking about. Anger is our sixth sense for sniffing out wrong in the neighborhood."
Yet, Peterson continues, anger has its shortcomings. It may successfully inform us that something is wrong, but rarely does it tell us where the problem is:
What anger fails to do, though, is tell us whether the wrong is outside us or inside us. We usually begin by assuming that the wrong is outside us -- our spouse or our child or our God has done something wrong, and we are angry. That is what Jonah did, and he quarreled with God. But when we track the anger carefully, we often find it leads to a wrong within us -- wrong information, inadequate understanding, underdeveloped heart.
(from Eugene Peterson, Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness [Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1992], p. 157)
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Some people will change when they see the light. Others change only when they feel the heat.
-- Traditional
Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.
-- Thomas a Kempis
A man from the back mountains of Tennessee found himself one day in a large city, for the first time standing outside an elevator. He watched as an old, haggard woman hobbled on, and the doors closed. A few minutes later the doors opened and a young, attractive woman marched smartly off. The father hollered to his youngest son, "Billy, go get mother."
-- Source Unknown
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
The seminar began with the leader asking, "What are you avoiding doing that you know needs to be done?"
Terry was always complaining about how chaotic and out of control her life seemed. She blamed all of her problems on everyone else. She blamed her ex-husband for leaving her. She blamed her former boss for firing her and not giving a positive recommendation to perspective employers. She even blamed her son and daughter-in-law for failing to help her. In all of this Terry failed to grasp her role in the problems.
With the encouragement of her family Terry began counseling. Her therapist pointed out that she was never able to make a decision on her own. She always hemmed and hawed until someone was forced to decide for her, and then she complained endlessly about the bad decision. Perhaps we all know people like Terry. In the months following that break through Terry learned to place her trust in God. She began making decisions on her own -- trusting that God would see her through.
The prophet Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh. In fact, he went in the opposite direction. He was dragging his feet, not wanting to do what God called him to do offering as many excuses as he could think of. After spending time in the belly of a whale God called him a second time.
Reluctantly, Jonah went to the center of town and preached a one sentence sermon, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" That was all it took, the people of Nineveh "turned from their evil ways."
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Whatever else that can be said about him, Adolf Hitler was aware of his ability to use language and speech to motivate people. When one watches old film of Hilter's speeches, it is impossible to see the great effect he had over the people. It is tragic that this gift was used for such evil.
Jonah, another gifted orator, used his great gift to turn a whole nation to God. And the nation Jonah addressed was the enemy!
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
A WWII soldier stated, "The funny thing about war is this: the 'right' thing to do in one situation is not the 'right' thing to do another time in the exact same situation" (Jeff Danby, Day of the Panzer, p. xxv). In war life's dangers are magnified. It becomes obvious quickly that the same tactic doesn't always work in what seems to be the same situation. If you allow your mind to be lulled into repeating the same offensive or defensive maneuver, the enemy will figure it out and you'll be killed.
Paul writes to the Christians at Corinth that Jesus' resurrection and promised return must sharpen and intensify both how we evaluate life and also how we behave. For the sake of our Lord we can't be lulled into the world's usual ways of thinking or living.
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
The Danish philosopher, Kierkegaard, tells a parable of a theater where a variety show is proceeding. Each show is more fantastic than the last, and is applauded by the audience. Suddenly the manager comes forward. He apologizes for the interruption, but the theater is on fire, and he begs his patrons to leave in an orderly fashion. The audience thinks this is the most amusing turn of the evening, and cheer thunderously. The manager again implores them to leave the burning building, and he is again applauded vigorously. At last he can do no more. The fire raced through the whole building and the fun-loving audience with it. "And so," concluded Kierkegaard, "will our age, I sometimes think, go down in fiery destruction to the applause of a crowded house of cheering spectators."
(from Resource, July/August, 1990)
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
A change in the way people view the world is known to historians as a paradigm shift. There have been several sweeping paradigm shifts in history. The information revolution begun with the printing press was one. The way humans viewed knowledge took a radical change. There is no way to recapture the way we remembered and thought before the advent of the printing press; it would be like looking into some completely alien mind. Today, we are in the processes of a second information revolution with the internet. The amount of globalization brought on by the internet is changing the way the common man understands his economy. There is no going back. Today, Paul is talking about a paradigm shift, too: The change we undergo when we realize that the things of the world are not the be-all, end-all. Jesus is our be-all, end-all, and we need to live our lives for him instead of for the world.
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
The apostle Paul calls on the Corinthians and us for a radical reordering of our lives in the light of the imminent return of Christ. Preaching to people in his own day, Paul believes that the end of time as we know it will be soon. He is aware that his followers have families and friends, plus other commitments in their present lives, just as we do today.
How would your priorities change if you knew absolutely that this was the last week of your life? Possessions would lose their power over us, while our relationships would become much dearer. Who or what is on the throne of your life? Have you given much thought to what is of greatest value to you? Paul calls us to put Christ on that throne, and to remove whatever else may hold priority, whether it is your bank account, car, family, career, or house. Our prized possessions may ultimately become our spiritual downfall.
Mark 1:14-20
There's a Peanuts comic strip in which Linus is listening carefully as his sister, Lucy, boasts about her religious faith and her potential as an evangelist. She says to Linus, "I could be a terrific evangelist. Do you know that kid who sits behind me in school? I convinced him that my faith is better than his faith."
Linus asks, "How did you do that?"
Lucy replies, "I hit him with my lunch box."
Not exactly what Jesus means by "Fishing for people...."
Mark 1:14-20
For as long as anyone could remember Janet and Mary were the best of friends. They were neighbors and attended the same church. At church social events these two friends along with their families would always sit together.
Janet remembers the day she and her husband moved into the neighborhood and Mary came to welcome them. Later with the birth of their son, Janet looked to Mary for advice on raising her son. Mary told her of a young mother's group at her church. Janet began attending the mother's group and making friends with the other young mothers. Being in church, among other believers began to spark Janet's faith.
Janet would ask Mary questions about faith, the Bible, and church. Soon she began attending worship, sitting in the same pew as Mary and her family. A Sunday school class would form from the mother's group that Janet would help lead.
Years later these two women remain the best of friends. Today these women compare notes on their grandchildren. Janet credits Mary for leading her to faith in Jesus Christ. If it wasn't for Mary she might not have become a believer and joined the church.
Jesus called his first disciples, the brothers Simon and Andrew. Jesus challenged them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." Immediately they left their nets and followed Jesus. We, too, are charged with fishing for people. Who are the people we know who would benefit from a relationship with Jesus Christ and the church?
Mark 1:14-20
Why do people follow leaders? One way to approach the topic is to ask, "What kind of leader would I follow?" Chris Martlew, in his book, Leadership Recharged! Business and Organizational Architecture, lists the following reasons: Life and Death (I will die or he/she will kill me if I don't), Resources (the leader has access to resources/riches and shares them with his/her followers), Religion/Spirituality (I will grow, go to heaven), Politics (I share the same beliefs), Money (the leader pays me so I follow), Knowledge (I learn from the leader), Charisma (the leader is perceived to be a great human being), Post-Charisma ("She has a reasonable proposition. I like and trust her and believe we can work together and enjoy achieving our ambitions.")
Maybe with Jesus it was just the Holy Spirit working through him. Whatever, Jesus simply said, "Follow me," and his disciples followed.
