I have just finished reading Sarah Palin’s new book Going Rogue and I am half way through with Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography. It struck me as interesting the similarities between the two very distant figures. They both speak of God’s divine providence in their life. They both speak of a calling and direction that people have. Something that is unique and special to all of us. They both speak highly of their family as molding them and encouraging them from a young age.
At one point early in Franklin’s life his father exposed him to many different trades hoping to find one that would fit Benjamin’s life. Franklin’s father knew of Benjamin’s love for books and they both settled on the printing business for Benjamin. It seemed to work out very well. Palin wrote about God placing a desire in each individual that would encourage and lead people to find their place in life.
Another time early in Franklin’s life he led his band of friends to take some stones, that were being used to build a new home, to build a wharf so that they could stand by the lake and fish for minnows. The boys were eventually found out and each was punished by their fathers. Benjamin tried to reason his way out of punishment saying the wharf was of great benefit to the boys and others. Benjamin’s father taught him an important lesson: for something to be good and of use it must also be honest and true. As I read Palin’s account of her life it occurred to me that she always did what she thought was right in her mind not what was expedient. Sounds like a lesson learned and put to use by Franklin.
For something to be good it must be of the truth. That is a lesson from which we can all learn. There is a great need in our world today for truth and honesty and doing the right thing. Jesus said that he was, “the way, the TRUTH, and the life.” When we come to Jesus we gain the truth by being united with him.
As I learned from these two figures, Franklin and Palin, and their similarities I am reminded of the wisdom from Ecclesiastes 1:9 “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” At least from the lessons I have learned from these two figures separated by more than 200 years there seems to be nothing new under the sun. But that is the point of truth, it is timeless.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
From Where Have you Come?
Ezekiel 16:22, “In all your detestable practices and your prostitution you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, kicking about in your blood.” Don’t forget from where you came and more importantly don’t forget who got you to where you are.
One of the easiest things to do when you experience either success or failure is to forget from where you came. Part of this is because we have short memories. Part of this is because we do not think clearly in times of pain or joy. In Ezekiel God used a visual of his chosen people when he found them. He described their condition as being one of an infant lying naked in a field surrounded by their own blood. Not a pretty picture, but God described their condition as such and he said, “I took you from there and made you a great nation.” In their many successes and failures they forgot their beginning.
Why would God want them to remember their meager beginning? It was not because he wanted them to relive pain and suffering, rather it is because he wanted them to remember who brought them from the depths to the heights. There is a popular and familiar saying, “Whatever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.” That is not true. Whatever makes you look to God is what makes you stronger. One of the problems of joy and pain is we forget who has been with us and we put all of the focus on ourselves.
The truth is no one succeeded or failed on their own. The truth is no one has ever accomplished anything without God allowing it to happen. The Bible makes this clear in many passages: Ecclesiastes 3:11, 14 “He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end…I know that everything God does will endure forever’ nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does is so that men will revere him.” Paul said, “…everything comes from God.” (1 Cor. 11:12) and James said, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (1:17).
Certainly no one remembered from where he came like Jesus. Paul explains this beautifully for us in Phil. 2:5-8. Jesus humbled himself from the highest of highs to lowest of lows in order to be obedient to God. Jesus remembered from where he came when he said the very food that sustained him was to do what God asked him to do. John 4:34, “’My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.’”
So the next time something good or bad happens to you remember from where you came and remember for those of you in Christ Jesus who will always be with you.
One of the easiest things to do when you experience either success or failure is to forget from where you came. Part of this is because we have short memories. Part of this is because we do not think clearly in times of pain or joy. In Ezekiel God used a visual of his chosen people when he found them. He described their condition as being one of an infant lying naked in a field surrounded by their own blood. Not a pretty picture, but God described their condition as such and he said, “I took you from there and made you a great nation.” In their many successes and failures they forgot their beginning.
Why would God want them to remember their meager beginning? It was not because he wanted them to relive pain and suffering, rather it is because he wanted them to remember who brought them from the depths to the heights. There is a popular and familiar saying, “Whatever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.” That is not true. Whatever makes you look to God is what makes you stronger. One of the problems of joy and pain is we forget who has been with us and we put all of the focus on ourselves.
The truth is no one succeeded or failed on their own. The truth is no one has ever accomplished anything without God allowing it to happen. The Bible makes this clear in many passages: Ecclesiastes 3:11, 14 “He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end…I know that everything God does will endure forever’ nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does is so that men will revere him.” Paul said, “…everything comes from God.” (1 Cor. 11:12) and James said, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (1:17).
Certainly no one remembered from where he came like Jesus. Paul explains this beautifully for us in Phil. 2:5-8. Jesus humbled himself from the highest of highs to lowest of lows in order to be obedient to God. Jesus remembered from where he came when he said the very food that sustained him was to do what God asked him to do. John 4:34, “’My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.’”
So the next time something good or bad happens to you remember from where you came and remember for those of you in Christ Jesus who will always be with you.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
September Surrey Hills news
School Daze!
Well school has finally returned and our students are getting back in the swing of school work and activities. At the Youth Evangelism Conference last month our students were challenged to take Jesus to their campus. Now is the time the challenge becomes reality. Pray for our students as they face the challenge of being salt and light to their friends in a dark world.
Stay tuned for details about Leadership Rocks next month October 14-15. This is a two day conference put on by Student Leadership University that will be, “a world-class, high-energy Experience that challenges your students to reach beyond today and grab hold of their God-centered futures.”
God has blessed Surrey Hills Baptist Church with a group of wonderful students that are leading the church in many ways!
Ministering with you,
Doug Brown 405-317-8076 rev.dougbrown@gmail.com P.S. follow me on Twitter, pastordougbrown, or Facebook it’s fun!
Well school has finally returned and our students are getting back in the swing of school work and activities. At the Youth Evangelism Conference last month our students were challenged to take Jesus to their campus. Now is the time the challenge becomes reality. Pray for our students as they face the challenge of being salt and light to their friends in a dark world.
Stay tuned for details about Leadership Rocks next month October 14-15. This is a two day conference put on by Student Leadership University that will be, “a world-class, high-energy Experience that challenges your students to reach beyond today and grab hold of their God-centered futures.”
God has blessed Surrey Hills Baptist Church with a group of wonderful students that are leading the church in many ways!
Ministering with you,
Doug Brown 405-317-8076 rev.dougbrown@gmail.com P.S. follow me on Twitter, pastordougbrown, or Facebook it’s fun!
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