Monthly Archives: February 2010

Millionaire Gives It All Away — Will live on $1,250 a month

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This story blows my mind. Back in 1986 Karl Rabeder starts a furniture business. He works hard, things go well, and 24 years later he finds himself worth between 4.6 and 7 million dollars, depending on who’s telling the story. Recently he’s on his way home from a Hawaiian vacation, a great truth clunks him right on the noggin — he’s “dying from consumerism.” tonic.com So he decides to give it all away. He’s selling his cars, his plane, his luxury alpine villa. It’s all going to orphanages and the poor in South America. When it’s over he’ll be living on approximately $1,250 per month.

George Pitcher in his article at Telegraph.co.uk commends Rabeder for giving to the poor. And later in his article makes a great point when he writes,

The rich young man of the gospel was told to give his money to the poor and to follow Christ. So getting rid of the money is only half the job. (Matthew 19)

Your Life:

Jesus said

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Mark 9:44-48

Think about this! We are talking about eternity here — that’s a long time. If anything gets in the way of your relationship with Christ, give it up. Your hand — if you’re doing things that separate you from God; your foot — if you’re going places that separate you from God; your eye if you’re looking upon things that separate you from God.

Or your money.

Karl Rabeder gave it all to the poor. You and I should too if our money is a detriment to our relationship with Jesus. Do the whole job — follow Him.

Applegate Christian Fellowship / Jon Courson

New 9/11 Photos From Helicopter

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This photo from Wiki

New 9/11 photos were released today. They were taken by Detective Greg Semendinger from a helicopter. He responded in 6 or 7 minutes and took the photos from 1300 feet while his co-pilot flew the chopper. For a look at the new photos and a full description of the helicopter flight from the pilot go to Telegraph.co.uk (posted photo is from Wiki – not from Semendinger)

Your Life:

David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Lord however according to David the Lord told him, You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. 1 Chronicles 22:8

So what did David do? He didn’t focus on what he couldn’t do but rather focused on what he could do. The Bible tells us that David organized labor in Israel to cut the stones for building the temple. He provided iron and bronze (more bronze than could be weighed), and made nails and fittings for the doors and the gates of the temple.  He also provided more cedar logs than could be counted. 1 Chronicles 22:5 says that David made extensive preparations before his death.

Shortly after 9/11 I joined a team of Christian firefighters and law enforcement personnel and we headed for ground zero. Although I prayed about going I really wasn’t convinced that we could help. I wondered what skills we brought to the table — we were a bunch of operational emergency workers who were used to responding to an emergency in progress, not helping out during the aftermath. But the leader of our team, retired Fire Chief and pastor Rick Hopkins, kept us focused on what we could do rather than what we couldn’t. So after receiving some training with Samaritan’s Purse we simply did what we could.

When we spoke with New York firefighters they told us that there were so many firefighter funerals occurring around New York that they were having to choose between which ones to attend. Do I go to my nephew’s funeral or my cousins? Do I attend my brother-in-law’s funeral or my Captain’s? They were in obvious pain. It was terrible. So, we dressed in our class A’s and attended funerals. We also served food to personnel who were working on the clean-up at ground zero at nearby Nino’s restaurant. (Nino’s served the workers for free BTW) We served food at the Medical Examiners post — which was overwhelmed. We did a few other odds and ends. We just did what we could.

Any time I’ve done something like this I find that I’m the one who winds up being blessed.

In any circumstance, when you find yourself faced with challenges or limitations, don’t focus on what you can’t do but rather do what David did.

Do what you can.

Applegate Christian Fellowship / Jon Courson

Scientists Communicate with Man in Vegetative State – Mind Readers – Video

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Scientists can now, literally, read your mind. Check out this video.

Hope for those in a vegetative state.

More to come soon.

Color Blind — New Orleans elects first white mayor in 32 years — Video

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New Orleans made big news yesterday and it didn’t come from a member of the Saints football team. New Orleans has had a black mayor in office for the last 32 years. That’s not too surprising. Two thirds of New Orleans’ population is black. But yesterday, for the first time in 32 years, the people of New Orleans elected a white man, Mitch Landieu, as mayor. (see Kathy Finn – Reuters) The election was a landslide victory. People interviewed after voting said they were weary of the slow progress in the recovery from Katrina, weary of corruption in the city government, weary of corruption in the New Orleans police force, and weary of a high crime rate. The people of New Orleans voted for the person they thought would be most effective in leading their city, irrespective of race.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau the United States is 79.8% white. Yet we elected a black president.

Today, Sunday, Jim Caldwell could become the second black head coach to win a Superbowl.

Don’t you think it’s time for the people of the United States to go color blind?

I love Morgan Freeman’s comments on race in the following video.

(Thank you Nate for turning me on to this video)

Your Life:

When it comes to race, I’m in Morgan Freeman’s camp. I believe that as a Christian we are to be color blind. There is no place for racism in the Christian faith.

In the Bible the prophet Jonah is directed by God to warn the people of Nineveh of their sin. Jonah of course headed the other direction. He did so because of Nineveh’s evil nature. Nineveh was a city of the Assyrians and at that time in history the Assyrians were brutal. They liked to make furniture covered with the human skins of their enemies. They made pyramids out of skulls. Nevertheless, God desired to save the Assyrians of Nineveh from the destruction that would come if they did not repent. You know the story, after an attempted escape and a wild ride in the belly of a whale, Jonah did warn the city of Nineveh. And the people heeded God’s warning. They fasted for three days and repented of their sins. God in His mercy spared them.

The point of the story is that God loves people, all people. Even the Assyrians of that time, who to this day are regarded as the cruelest and most sadistic people in history. (Jon Courson‘s Application Commentary, Volume 2) God loves all people, of all races.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28
For more information see Bill Crouse’s briefing paper on the Bible and Race.

Facebook Aquarium Game Fish Eat Plenty — Real Fish Starve!

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I want to start by saying that my wife, Kathy, gave me permission to make this post. Because it’s about her I requested permission. Early on in our marriage relationship we both decided that I would request permission on any decision that has to do with Kathy. “How’s that working?” you might ask. So far in our marriage, all decisions have to do with Kathy.

Kathy is a Facebook user and, in a noble effort to grow closer to her nephews and nieces, she has started to play the various Facebook games such as Farmville and the Facebook Aquarium game. So one day a few weeks ago, she goes to her Facebook Aquarium and finds a fish floating, belly up. She hovers the cursor over the dead fish and much to her alarm it says, “floater!” Kathy is an animal lover — broken hearted she vows never to let another fish die again.

This morning as I sat at the dining room table that overlooks our gold fish pond, I heard aquarium-like noises coming from her computer and asked what she was up to. The conversation went like this:

“I’m feeding my fish.” (her Facebook Aquarium game fish)

“Sweetheart,” I began, in my best, I’m-sounding-like-a-nice-guy-because-I’m-about-to-ask-a-loaded-question voice, “when was the last time you fed our real fish?”

“Shut up.” she immediately replied — laughing.

After some further discussion it was determined that it has been, well, awhile since Kathy has fed our real fish.

Now I have to qualify what I’m writing by adding three things:

1) I substituted the photo of these ridiculously hungry fish in this post for the photo of our real gold fish.

2) I had to do # 1 for effect. You see our gold fish are doing fine. In fact they continue to grow even though we don’t feed them very often. I’m told that they’re eating algae and little bugs that fall into the pond.

3) My arms are not broken. There’s nothing preventing me from feeding our fish — the real ones.

Even so, don’t you find it disturbing on some level that we’re feeding the Facebook fish before the real fish?

I can only hope and pray that Facebook doesn’t come out with a Facebook husband game…

Your Life:

Feed your family the word of God every day. Find a good devotional book. Read your kids a few pages of the Narnia Chronicles then close with a scripture. Go to 10 Tips for Fun Family Devotions for more information.

“Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.”

John 6:57, 58

Scott Brown – Al Franken – Humility a missing ingredient

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Democratic Senator Al Franken is bustin’ skulls in D.C. according to Matt Sussman’s article, There’s Al Franken, Bustin’ Skulls Everywhere . From fellow Senator Joe Leiberman to White House Advisor David Axelrod, Franken has been generous when it comes to giving people a piece of his mind. But he’s not alone in his propensity for making rookie mistakes in his rookie year as a Senator.

Republican Senator Scott Brown stated that he has no regrets about posing for a nude centerfold in Cosmopolitan magazine some thirty plus years ago now. (Washington Post) OK, so I get it that you might be young and dumb and did something foolish, maybe even several things foolish, in your younger days. Remember not the sins of my youth oh Lord. Psalm 25:7 But now you’re a part of the top leadership of our country! You’re supposed to have matured and put away foolish things.

Far from the status of statesmen, I believe that a lack of humility is at the core of the less than desirable behavior of these two men.

Your Life:

To be effective in relationships and in leadership you, I, we must embrace what the scriptures teach us about humility. Bruce Winston in his excellent book Be a Leader for God’s Sake tells the story of his experience visiting his relative’s ranch for the first time as a boy. Around 5 AM he mounted a horse given to him to ride out to the fields to work with the men. As the rest of the men started out,

I kicked this big mare in the ribs to get her going. The mare, upon being kicked, turned her head and looked at me with a look that was of pure disgust and disdain! The mare snorted a bit and turned her head back to watch the other horses and riders head down the dirt roadway. Thinking that all I needed to do was to establish authority I once again kicked the big mare in the sides and gave the old cowboy shout: “Giddy-up.” The mare turned and looked at me with contempt in her eyes and tried to bite my left leg. I quickly remembered that this was an animal that could throw me off her back and trounce me into the dirt if she really wanted to. But fortunately for me, she had decided not to do so and was allowing me to get my self-directed efforts for control out of my system. It was clear that the horse was the stronger of the two of us and that she had controlled her discipline, thus sparing me a trouncing that I probably deserved.

As I relaxed my hold on the reins I quietly told the mare that I was sorry and that she could do what she wanted, the mare nodded her head, snorted, and started off down the road toward the other horses. I don’t think she understood my words, but she must have understood the change in my attitude or position in the saddle, since communication obviously happened. Her gait was a bit fast and uncomfortable, but we soon caught up with the rest of the riders and she settled down into a relaxed pace.

With great power comes great responsibility. Humility and restraint are key ingredients to great leadership.

Moses was one of the greatest leaders the planet has ever seen. Moses confronted Pharaoh more than ten times. He was successfully used by God to deliver his people from slavery. He instituted God’s government system. He lead the Jewish people through the transition from a group of slaves to a great nation. And then he led that nation into the promised land. Two of the key qualities that enabled Moses to be used by God in such a profound way were his self control and his humility. The Bible says that,

Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.

Numbers 12:3

Franken and Brown would do well to learn from Moses’ example.

And they could also learn a thing or two from that big mare.


Jesus’ First Missionary A Formerly Demon Possessed Man

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Ever have doubts about your ability to be used by Christ? Consider the account of the Gerasene man who was possessed by a legion of demons:

When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you evil spirit!”

Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

Mark 5:2-13, 18-20

Your Life:

The following is from a teaching heard at Applegate Christian Fellowship.

Who, do you suppose, was Jesus’ first missionary? One of the twelve disciples perhaps? Paul the Apostle?

Nope.

Jesus’ first missionary was the Gerasene man. A man who only minutes before was possessed by a legion of demons. A man whose theology was only minutes old. A man whose doctrinal knowledge could be summed up in one sentence: “Jesus scared the hell out of hell.” Yet Jesus instructed him to, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And the result was that …all the people were amazed.

The key to being used is not your theological educational foundation. The key to being used is to share what you’ve heard from God’s word. Jesus said,

Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

Mark 4:24

Of course we are to study to show ourselves approved unto God. 2 Timothy 2:15  But the appetite for studying increases proportionally to the amount that we share with others, the amount that we “mete” out.

Are you teaching your kids the great stories of the Bible? Are you blogging to influence people for Christ? Are you leading a small home group? Are you sharing the gospel with neighbors? Don’t doubt God’s ability to use you. It’s more dependent on Him than it is on you. The key to being used is to give out the bread of life that you take in. In other words, you use it, or lose it.

From a Jon Courson teaching at Applegate Christian Fellowship, January 27, 2010

Abstinence Only Program Found Most Effective Study Says

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The results of a University of Pennsylvania study showed that an abstinence only program was effective in reducing sexual activity in teens.

Rob Stein quotes Sarah Brown, the head of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, in Stein’s article from the Washington Post :

This new study is game-changing. For the first time, there is strong evidence that an abstinence-only intervention can help very young teens delay sex.

This piece of research is important for two reasons. First because after ten years of decline, sexual activity, pregnancy, and incidences of STD’s have all risen in frequency among teens. And second because the Obama administration has cut millions of dollars of funding for abstinence-only intervention, citing a lack of scientific evidence to support such programs.

In the study students who attended the abstinence only program engaged in sexual activity within the next two years at a rate of 33%. Three other groups who received education on healthy living that had no sex education component; “safe sex” and abstinence combined; or a “safe sex” only class all had a significantly higher frequency of sexual activity within the following two year period, ranging from 42 to 52%.

Your Life:

Life can be confusing for parents. There’s a lot of information out there, more and more every day, touting the virtues of condoms or the morning after pill or birth control pills or the patch or hormone shots. The fact remains that the only way to be 100% certain of avoiding pregnancy or an STD is abstinence. Teach your children to live God’s way.

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:6