Bro. Jack's Blog

November 22

God's Presence

He passes alongside of me, and I don't even see Him. He goes pass me and I don't even notice Him. [Job9:11]

Can God be near without our recognizing His presence? Yes, most definitely! God is omnipresent, He is everywhere. Jesus put His disciples in a boat and commanded them to cross over to the other side. Jesus went up on the mountain overlooking the sea and was praying. The disciples got caught in a storm but Jesus was very aware of the storm. It is possible, that he ordered the storm. The disciples felt abandoned, alone and terrified. Where was Jesus? Why did He send them into a storm? You and I know that Jesus was present. He was there all the time. He was first beyond the storm [on the mountain that overlooked the sea], then in the storm and finally He was over the storm. You know the story, they finally saw Jesus in the storm, walking on the water but He was in the storm long before they recognized His presence. In the great commission Jesus said, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to do everything I have commanded you, and remember that I am always with you." You have His word, His promise, what more do you need? Do you need visible proof? Do you need a feeling? Or do you need to take Him at His word.

PS--Joe David, Lori, Mandy and Jason went to see Steve yesterday. He was up walking. He feeds himself and in another week he will be discharged from a regular room and be seen as an outpatient. What about a praise the Lord! Our good friend Tom Bennich lost his brother on Friday. The memorial service is today at 2:30 pm. Our Luke 14 Feast is tonight at 5:30. Joe David was able to raise $80 per child for Christmas for the Youth Ranch children. Today is the deadline for operation Christmas Child.

4:45 AM GMT | Read comments(0)

November 20

God Is Love

No fear exists where His love is. Rather, perfect love gets rid of fear, because fear involves punishment. The person who lives in fear does not have perfect love. [I John 4:18 God's Word Translation].

God is love and we need not fear someone who loves us perfectly. If we are afraid, it is proof that we are not convinced of His love. John said in 4:8, "God is love". Just as water is wet and fire is hot so God is love. You cannot influence who He is. He has always been love and He will always be love. You can't do anything to make Him love more: His love is perfect. When this truth dawned upon me, it changed me completely. It gave me a sense of security that I had never had before. I know that no matter what I do nor how much shame I bring upon myself [like Peter denying the Lord], that He will still love me. His love is unconditional and undeserved. He loves me because He choose to love me. Hallelujah, what a SAVIOR!

PS--made the trip to Valley Head yesterday. Had a great visit with Colonel Matthews and family. Darlene Williams got to come home from Hospital. My brother in law is slightly better. Joe David, Lori, Jason and Mandy are going to see Steve tonight.

5:29 AM GMT | Read comments(0)

November 18

God Is A Potter: He Works With Mud

And yet, LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and You are the potter. We are all formed by your hand. [Isaiah 64:8] "O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand. [Jeremiah 18:6]

Four men were confessing their sins. The conversation got them depressed. One of them said, "how can God let us live, why doesn't He kill us all and purify His creation?" Another one spoke up and said, "Because God is a potter and He works with mud". I like that answer. Both Isaiah and Jeremiah used the analogyof the potter and the clay--God as the potter and we humans as the clay. Of course we were made from dirt and the Apostle Paul referred to us as clay pots. God is our sovereign Creator and we are the creation. He is infinite and we are finite. He is faithful and we are liars. He is holy and we are sinful. None of us deserve to live. We all deserve death and hell but it is His infinite mercy that allows us to live and breathe. Folks I believe in depravity. I confess that I am mud. I get amused at the deeper lifers: they say such foolish things as "God can only use a clean vessel" as if they are clean. God is God and He can use anyone He chooses anytime He chooses. He used Balaam, Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar and Jonah. Find a clean vessel in that group. God uses mud and don't forget it. Elisebeth Elliot says, "God uses sinners because that is all He has". So don't give me the pious garbage about having all your sins confessed: you don't know all your sins. If He revealed them all to you at one time, you would probably go into shock or cardiac arrest. If you really want God to use you, losen your halo, and acknowlege the truth that you are made out of dirt and only God in Christ can make you clean. Remember, any analogy can be pressed too far. The potter is greater than the clay; the potter shapes the clay but remember, you are more than a piece of clay. You can have a relationship with Jesus Christ. You and I can talk to the Potter. I'm not suggesting that we can tell Him what to do but I am saying we can know Him and interact with him. We are not inanimate objects. We are body, soul and spirit. No piece of pottery has a spirit.

PS--Lord willing, I will be traveling today. Going to Valley Head to visit with Mr. Matthews [Chips Dad]. He has mulitiple tumors. I have not decided if I will continue on to Atlanta. I'm going to make that decision later today. Pray for me as I try to share the love of Christ with Colonel Matthews.

10:10 PM GMT | Read comments(0)

Storms

"Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash." [Matthew 7:24-27]

I'm not a sailor. I have been on one Caribbean Cruise but we encountered only one small storm. My father was literally shipped to Germany in WWII. I don't know how big the ship was but I remember him talking about sea sickness and the horror of the storms. No ship is big compared to the vastness of the ocean. Some folks talk about the adventure in sailing a small craft across the Atlantic but the odds of making it across without encountering a storm are not good. Life is like a voyage across the ocean, sooner or later you will encounter a storm. Storm comes unexpectedly and some times they last for a long time. You can ask my sister June Daphney, her husband went in for a routine surgery [knee replacement] and he has been in the hospital for 23 days, most of that in ICU and twice in critical condition. As a believer, I have learned that Jesus is in the storm with us. We may not see Him at first but He is there. We may not get a quick or sensational fix but we do have His presence and we have His word. If you are caught in a storm just remember to look for Jesus. He is not only in the storm with you, He is trying to teach or reveal something about Himself to you; something that you have not understood to this point. By the way, you probably noticed in the Scripture: storms come to everybody, wise or foolish. Storms are a part of life.

PS-Marty Pope had surgery today and is doing fine. There is not a more delightful couple to spend time with than Marty and Robert: those two will entertain you. Darlene Williams is much better and wanting to go home [Hartselle Medical Center]. Charlie and Debbie's brother Bill Wilbourn is going to have a surgery this evening. He has problems with a foot. Katie and Carrie's granddad Colonel Matthews is very sick [brain tumors]. He is in Erlenger in Chattanogga. Marla and Amy's granddad, Mr. Shepherd is a tad better. He ate some strawberry ice cream today. He has not been eating and has lost a lot of weight. Tommy Tuberville was on the Opening Drive [radio] this morning talking about the new movie that comes out Friday night about the Ole Miss football player. Its the movie that Nick Saban, Tommy Tuberville and Lou Holtz are in but I can't think of the name. It stars Sandra Bullock and Faith Hill. Tommy says it is a good movie. I like Tommy better as a ESPN analysis. He did a great interview this morning. I kind of feel bad now about making so much fun of him. My friend Jerry has told me more than once that I had Tommy pegged wrong! Maybe Jerry is right and Bro. Jack is wrong! You think!

9:13 AM GMT | Read comments(0)

November 17

Who Sees Everything?

As Jesus sat facing the Temple offering box, He watched how much money people put into it. Many rich people put in large amounts. A poor widow dropped in two small coins worth less than a cent. He called His disciples and said to them, "I can guarantee this truth: this poor widow has given more than all the others. All of them gave what they could spare but she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on."

Jesus and His disciples were looking at the same thing but they didn't see the same thing. Jesus sees things that we miss. They saw the rich put in large amounts but Jesus saw that and more. He saw what they had left after they had given. He saw their heart, their motive. He also saw their sacrifice or lack thereof. Nothing has changed. When the wealthy start a charitable foundation, the cameras are there, CNN is there, the Newspapers are there: everyone sees. Who sees you when you say a silent prayer for your hurting neighbor? Who sees you when you show kindness to a little child or an aging Senior? Who sees you went you visit the hospital or the nursing home? Jesus not only watches us when we give, He watches how we live. He picks up on the small things, the things that others do not notice. I know that we have some credit hogs among us and they worry themselves sick out of fear that no one knows about all the good things they are doing but they have missed the point. Don't be like the hypocrites, don't be motivated by getting credit or praise from others. You'll be just as miserable as the Pharisees and Scribes if you live that way. Live to please Jesus. Play for an audience of ONE. I can't remember the names but I remember the story of the piano student who played his first concert to a packed house. At the end, the crowd gave him a standing ovation, everyone stood and cheered except his teacher. He left the stage dejected. Someone said, "Man, why are you down, they are cheering like crazy". He pointed to his teacher sitting on the front row. "I didn't please him" he said, "and if I don't please him, it doesn't matter who else I please." Live for an audience of ONE and let that ONE be Jesus. He sees your heart. He sees the things that others don't see and He will not forget what you have done. There is no greater joy in life than to bring pleasure to Jesus. Live to honor HIM and don't let the opinion of others spoil your joy.

PS-Darlene Williams is in the hospital. She has the flu and some pneumonia. Darlene's immune system is low; please pray for Darlene. My brother in law Hural Jones may be a tad better but still in SICU at H'ville Hospital. My sister is holding up pretty well: her kids and grandkids have been wonderful. I don't know what she would do without them. Steve Tanner is making remarkable progress. We saw more changes this week than any since the accident. He has use of both arms, PTL. "Shep", Suzanne Randolph's dad is also in the hospital. This is Marla and Amy's granddad. Pray for Susanne, she had some hard decisions to make. I heard some wonderful news yesterday, one of our young couples is pledging $3,000.00 to Lottie Moon. I almost shouted! This means that we have a shot at going over the 75% mark this Sunday. The LORD is at work and I praise HIM. Thank YOU Jesus! Of far lesser importance: Tico Vargas, president of the Seminary in Guatemala, is a huge Alabama fan. Teddy carries him to the games when he is in the States, plus his wife is from B'ham. Notre Dame is always bragging about having fans in all 50 States; shucks, we have fans in Guatemala, China, Iraq, etc. Finebaum got the Auburn folks stirred up yesterday. He suggested that Alabama go ahead and work on the Florida game plan because Auburn would be just a bump in the road. Personally, I wish he would shut up. Auburn will play a good game and if Alabama plays poorly or makes critical mistakes, Auburn will win. I believe it will be close. I don't think we will see two blow outs in a row. Of course, you know that I want to be wrong! Joe David mentioned just the other day that DBC is fortunate: we do have great Auburn fans. Who is a more avid fan than Susan and everybody loves Susan. It's just a game: isn't that right Mr. Allen in Asia who's dad graduated from Auburn but is an avid Alabama fan! A PRAISE JESUS always trumps a Roll Tide or a War Eagle, amen!

5:08 AM GMT | Read comments(0)

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