Precious Love

According to the calendar, it is National Retro Day --whatever that means. So, in celebration, I decided to take a little break and repost an article from February 27, 2011. Have a great day and enjoy this throwback!

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So, it's Oscar time again, and as usual, I'm on top of things! Last week I sat breathlessly through the Oscar nominated movie, "Precious." OK, a mere 365 or so days behind, but some movies are just meant to be seen alone, at your own pace. In case you're one of the four or five other people left who have never seen it, this is the gist: obese, illiterate, inner city kid coping with motherhood, pregnancy, and eventually HIV, victimized sexually by her father, abused emotionally and physically by her mother, struggles to overcome her disadvantages, finding love and self-worth along the way. Some criticized it for being "over the top" -- too many stereotypes, too may social issues addressed in one film, and too much drama for one character. Fine, deny its reality, but you can't deny its premise -- one victimized at every twist and turn, one struggling for "normal" in an environment so dysfunctional that "normal" has been expunged from existence.

Point is, I found myself, probably like most who saw it, knowing darkness and struggle exists in our society, but not wanting to believe it. The dead walk the streets of our cities and towns; the empty sit next to us on buses and benches. It's that moment when we first ask ourselves, "How can anyone live like that?" that we choose to ignore. Its answer eventually leads to a desperate realization we need action, and who but ourselves is there to take up that action? So, we emerge from a darkened theater and reject the existence of such defect, or shake our heads in disgust before retreating to the safety of busy schedules. The truth is, there are many Anyones, and change is facilitated by the Ourselves. Our wonderment needs to move beyond empathy or disgust, out of our hearts and minds, onto our lips, regardless of our busy schedules, and into our hands and feet. Which, by the way don't belong to us. God gave us tools with which to serve others and bring glory to Him. We are His servants and ambassadors in Christ Jesus. History has shown, as well, the blessing that we receive when we help others; God has promised to prosper those who do His Will. Let us not ever forget Who ransomed and redeemed us, Who put us here with purpose, Who blessed us with our very next breath, and Who calls us to love as we have been loved - with action, with selflessness, with His very hands and feet.

Midweek: The Open Bible, NKJV

It's been a while since I've shared a review with you. Today, I'm happy to review what has been called "The Ultimate Reference Bible," Thomas Nelson's Open Bible, 50th Anniversary Edition. In short, I would say I agree with that assessment. The complimentary copy I received is brown Leathersoft™ with stitched edging, printed in NKJV Comfort Print®, and comes tucked into a protective sleeve. It is beautifully gilt-edged, with a red satin bookmark and a presentation page, the words of our Lord printed in red, and has a lifetime guarantee --perfect for gift-giving! It is available in hardcover and genuine leather editions as well. So, let's get into it! 

Of course, there are the usual Bible furnishings:

• Table of Contents
• a list of Book Abbreviations
• Bible study plans (and a seven-page guide to various methods of Bible study)
• a table of Monies, Weights, and Measures
• a Harmony of the Gospels
• a Jewish Calendar
• a list of Jewish Feasts
• an Index to Starred Messianic Prophecies
• full-color maps

There are some other "typical finds" in any good study Bible, but those in The Open Bible are what I would call "super-charged." There is a Topical Index which, in many Bibles contains a couple hundred entries; that of The Open Bible is 230 pages containing over 8,000 entries! The five-page chart of Prophecies of the Messiah Fulfilled in Jesus Christ contains the prophecy and its fulfillment written out for easy reference. The Parables of Jesus Christ and The Miracles of Jesus Christ (usually simple lists in other Bibles) are articles that provide references and small summaries of each entry. 

In the front matter, there is a beautiful and creative, 23-page Visual Survey of the Bible. This graphic overview shows "the entire flow of the Bible's panorama of events," according to one website. Included in this summary sketch are principles that can be extracted from sections of Bible history and guided challenges for the reader to respond to those principles. Two wonderful articles, The Scarlet Thread of Redemption, by the late Dr. W.A. Criswell of the SBC, and a comprehensive and heavily notated article, The Christian's Guide to New Life, by the late Paul R. Fink, provide the reader with a foundational look at Scripture and guide to its practical application. 

Each book is a prefaced by an introduction that provides the Who?, Why? and Where?, but also includes an outline of the book and a case for finding Jesus Christ in that book of the Bible. A very important addition, I believe. Throughout the text are notes, cross-references, and study helps like charts, illustrations, maps, and shorter features which explain biblical concepts and aid the reader in his/her study. Uniquely, between the two Testaments is an article addressing "the period of silence," the four hundred years in which no commissioned prophets spoke to Israel. Though the Torah was considered to be closed, and the Messiah had not yet come, God was far from inactive. The article Between the Testaments outlines God's work during this period. Many other articles and, once again, a super-charged Concordance make up the rest of this compendious, highly recommended reference Bible.  

The brown Leathersoft™ edition I received is available through Amazon for $77.13; but as of this writing, is on sale at Christianbook for $51.83 and faithgateway for $55.99. 

You Did This!

You did this! The words stung. You didn't ... You don't ... This is all your fault! A friend had placed the blame for a terrible situation squarely on my shoulders, and it was time for me to reassess. Not reassess our relationship. Not reassess my initial response to the accusations (though I certainly did). But reassess my actions up to this point. Did I cause this? Could I have done more? Did I fail this person? Did I fail my job as a minister of reconciliation?

You did this! The words just burst forth from my heart. As I looked at the faces gathered around our table, faces of people I love beyond words, I couldn't help but thank God. When I was broken, when I could not see how it would all come to pass, when I was sure all was lost, You did not fail. You did this!

Three words that can either tear down or build up. Three words that can cause us to remain stuck where we are or propel us forward.  

The calendar on the wall before me has for the month, a picture of Joseph being sold off into slavery by his brothers. Imagine that level of betrayal. Imagine the fear and uncertainty of being taken away by strangers, the unlikeliness you will ever see home again. You did this! Joseph finds favor but is later falsely accused. He is thrown into prison for doing the right thing, the holy thing. You did this! In prison, he is respected by others, made to prosper, and is given the opportunity to be remembered to Pharaoh and released. But the prisoner to whom Joseph showed kindness, forgot him, allowing Joseph to languish in prison another two years. You did this! Eventually, Joseph is remembered and given a place of honor second only to Pharaoh in all of Egypt. But this is not the end of the story, nor is it the reward. Joseph's brothers appear before him, needing help. Those who had treated him so cruelly now appeared as beggars before their brother, a man of great authority. 

We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us. (Gen. 42:21)   

We did this! His brothers knew their guilt. But how did Joseph respond? 

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. (Gen. 50:20)

You, my God, did this! You allowed these things to happen, You consented to the evil my brothers did against me, You permitted these ups and downs --all so that many people might be saved! Glory to God! Look what has been brought to fruition! You have rewarded my obedience with the redemption of many!  

How will you use those words? Will you use them to keep fueling bitterness? Will you use them as an excuse to avoid the higher place God has planned for you? Will you use them to be a better friend? Will you use them to call yourself to a place of forgiveness? Will you use them in worship of the One who uses all things for the good of those who love Him and for His glory? Will you use them to point others to the God who has an eternal plan, who can save by many or by few? Will you use them to commit your life to Your Savior for the triumphant consummation of His will?