Find the Ponderings below:

 

The Ship: a parable

 

Christmas - The Typical Paradox of God

 

 

Room for Jesus in 2008 (or 2011)

 

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THE SHIP: a parable

by Kent G. Biller     1/17/07

with credit to Max Lucado for some ideas   

Luke 8:22-25

        

I want to tell you a parable about another boat -- actually a Large SHIP.  You think some of the new Cruise ships that carry thousands of people are big.  This is a BIG Ship.  But it's the passengers & crew on it that are so interesting.  Most of them kind of form into groups on this Ship.    And when they gather together in their groups, they talk and sing and of course they eat.  They eat a lot.  Some of them always gather on the higher decks, and they believe you can only sing with organs & pianos.  Others gather on lower decks and sometimes even use drums and guitars to sing.  Some even dance or get knocked down by the Wind, when they gather in their groups.  And the group that gathers at the bow, well,  they bow a lot.  And there is a few that believe you shouldn't even have any instruments when you sing.  And yet others, when they gather, sit and wait for the Wind to blow before they say anything. 

 

Yes, I forgot to say this was a sailing Ship.  It is dependent on the Wind to blow to get it where it is going.  We don't know where the Wind comes from or where it goes, but we can see what it does to the sails and which way it pushes the Ship, IF we watch closely.  Now some of the passengers believe the Ship is predestined to get to its destination on time and they are on board just for the ride.   But others believe the Ship needs a crew and, if they don't work, it will take longer to get there.  So they keep busy trimming the sails and swobbing the decks and painting the rails.   There is also a group of forecasters on the ship.  They are always in the eagle's nest of the Ship looking ahead trying to see what is coming up before anybody else does.  They keep looking at the charts for clues about reaching their Destination.  They often shout down to let the others know what is coming, but they don't usually know what is going on on the Ship.  Many of them are beginning to see lights over the horizon and believe they are going to reach their promised Destination soon.  They also know that there is a great Storm brewing that the Ship will have to go through to reach its Destination.  Most passengers it seems just sit in their lounge chairs on the deck on the side of the ship and watch the world go by.  Oh, they gather and sing and eat, but then they go back to their lounge chairs. 

 

There is a group that doesn't smile much -- of course, they spend their time at the stern of the Ship.  They tend to spend their days looking back to where the Ship has been.  They don't like a change of scenery so they just look back remembering the good old waves they have been over.  There are some of the groups that stay in their own staterooms and they believe they are the only ones on the Ship.  Some believe you should dress up when you gather.  Others believe you must wear uniforms and dress a like and even cover your head, while others don't seem to care what they wear when they gather in their groups. 

 

Most of the passengers are pre-occupied with what is going on on shipboard and seem oblivious to what is going on out on the sea.  Some aren't looking for any new passengers to bring on board because they believe, if you are a passenger, it was because you were predestined to be on the passenger list.  But there is a few that stand by the railing and they see that there are people drowning out there on the sea.  Some of those yell to the drowning and say, "I see that hand."  Or "Come onboard!"  but they mostly just yell at the people drowning.  But some throw life-saving buoys with ropes attached and with instructions how to get on board the ship,  hoping people will grab hold so they can help pull the drowning people on board.  There are some groups who believe once on the Ship always on the Ship, but others have seen people fall off  and they try to warn people to watch their step on deck so they don't fall off. 

 

There are other boats floating around on the sea.  Their passengers think they are heading for the same Destination, but they don't follow the Grand Chart that would get them there.  And they don't know about the Great Storm coming up that will sink their boats.   And they don't know the Captain of the Big Ship who knows the Way. 

 

Now everybody on board the Big Ship does know the Captain.  You've got to meet the Captain personally to board the ship.  What many don't keep in mind is that the Captain of the Ship knows where He is going. He has been there before.  IF they would listen better to His commands, watch where He is heading and where the Wind is blowing, and work better together in unity, the journey to the Destination would go a lot smoother and they could save a lot more of those drowning people.  They might even enjoy the journey. 

 

Of course, there will be some squalls along the way to help people be prepared for the Great Storm that is coming.  But unfortunately the Great Storm near the journey's end will wash many of them overboard.  The ones that are along just for the ride will find that they aren't prepared for the waves that will come crashing into and onto the Ship.  They better batten down the hatches and find something to anchor themselves to because it'll be the Granddaddy of all storms.  Meanwhile, let's do some life-saving, shipmates! 

 

 

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Christmas  --  The Typical Paradox of God

By Kent G. Biller   12/07

 Totally illogical --  God becomes human.  Can you believe it?  Isn't it just like God to be paradoxical?  A paradox is parallel doctrines that never seem to merge (my definition) just like in math 2 parallel lines never meet.  Christmas is the typical paradox of God:  God becomes human; virgin gives birth; the rich becomes poor; the humble are exalted; the exalted are humbled. 

Much of God-understanding (theology / faith) is paradoxical:  God is just yet merciful; We must die to live; You must give to receive.  As Jesus said, "He who loses his life for My sake will save it."  Yet the greatest paradox of faith is undoubtedly = JESUS, fully God and fully human.  How could the awesome, wholly holy, all-righteous, all-powerful, all-knowing Creator become one of His own creatures -vulnerable, dependent, weak, mortal, even a Baby. BUT HE DID!   That's the Christian faith.  Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift! 

 Why did God become human -- to become one of us -- to take on our human flesh?  Was it to identify Godself with humanity (identification)- God walking in our shoes (OK, sandals)?  Was it to become accessible so we lowly creatures could at least partially understand an infinite God (revelation)?  Or was it to bridge the great gulf that sin had rent between God and humans (salvation)?  Yes!  Probably some of each of those and much more.  Remember, we are finite creatures trying to understand our infinite Creator, so we have limitations. 

But think of it!  The Limitless setting limits on Self.  The One who overfills the universe being scrunched into so many square feet of skin weighing in at 7lbs. 6 oz.   The One who birthed the universe being forcefully expelled through the birth canal.  --Leaving the glories of heaven to be birthed  in a pig sty (OK, a donkey barn).  Isn't it just like God to do the impossible?  -- Having 2 utterly unique events border the beginning and the ending of His life on earth  =  A  virgin birth and  a resurrection from the dead.  But with God nothing is impossible!  Illogical; paradoxical = Yes.  Impossible = No.

We couldn't bridge that great gulf.  We couldn't (can't) get to God, but God can (and did) come to us. God came to earth so humans can go to heaven.  Amazing!  Amazing grace!  Amazing love! 

Jesus is that Bridge across the Great Divide.  God made a way.   Take it!  Don't miss the Bridge or you will run off a cliff into oblivion.  Can you believe it? 

  

May your Christ-mas be filled with Christ!  And may your New Year be filled with all the blessings God has prepared for you from the foundation of the world!   (December 2010)

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ROOM FOR JESUS in 2008 (or 2011)

 
by Kent Biller         Chapel - World Missionary Press        12/31/07
 

 Scripture:  Luke 2:4-7  "...because there was no room for them in the inn."

 

Meditation:      When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, no one made much room for Him. Will you make room for Jesus in 2008?  Here are some "P's" to think about in preparing for a New Year.

 

JESUS has room for us.  At Christmas we realize how much Jesus has gone out of His way for us to come to earth leaving His glory in heaven with the Father to come to earth to be born in our mortal flesh out-of-town in a manure-stenched animal shed to a pre-maritally-pregnant mother and poor father who had to sacrifice pigeons because he couldn't afford a lamb and then had to be a refugee for a couple years to avoid an evil despot.   Not a great start in life but He did it for us - for ME.  Out of His love He made room for us in His heart.

Eliza Hewit's hymn entitled "Room for You" says it clearly:

Room , room, room for you,

            In the heart of the Savior above;

Room for me, room for you,

            Come, rest in His wonderful love.

 

He went out of His way to PROVIDE  for us.  He came, lived and died to make provision for our salvation and for abundant and eternal life.  What better Provider could we have? 

 

He also went out of His way to PROTECT us.  Jesus said, "I give them (My sheep) eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand."(John 10:28NIV)  Satan would like to snatch us from Him, but He can't unless we leave the Shepherd.  Jesus has paid for an eternal security plan to protect us from loss -- the best eternal insurance plan on the planet -- actually the ONLY eternal insurance plan on the planet. 

 

Thirdly, He went out of His way to PREPARE for us.  He told His followers before He left, "In My Father's house are many rooms. I am going there to prepare a place for you." (John 14:2NIV)  I am not real picky about a mansion or a log cabin because it will be in such a wonderful place in the presence of God that it won't even make a difference.  But I'm sure it is beyond anything we've experienced here on earth.  On my trip to Africa I read the book "A Place Called Heaven" by E.M. Bounds on some of our 18 plane flights, and it gave me a better appreciation for what Jesus is preparing for me and you and whoever else He has provided for, has protected, and is prepared for. 

 

Provide, Protect, Prepare = the 3 P's that remind us how far Jesus has gone out of His way to make ROOM in His heart for us.  So we know Jesus has made ROOM FOR US in many ways.  The question is:  Will we make ROOM FOR JESUS in our lives and especially in 2008? 

 

We so quickly forget about the gifts we got at Christmas.  I bet you can't remember most of the Christmas gifts you got in 2006.  I probably can't even remember all the ones I got last week in 2007.  But hopefully as you get into the routine and busy-ness of 2008, you won't forget the real Gift of Christmas?  The old hymn says, "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love." 

We are like sheep - prone to wander from the Sheperd.  But let's pray with Emily Elliott:  "Oh, come to my heart, Lord Jesus; there is room in my heart for Thee."

 

Here are some "P's" to concentrate on so you will have ROOM FOR JESUS IN 2008. 

PASSION - Will you make ROOM IN YOUR HEART for Jesus?  Are you passionate about the things of God, keeping your mind on the things above?  God gives each of us a passion for something -- Something that excites us, that moves us to action.  Pursue your passion that is God-given and God-directed.  Jesus went way out of His way for us, what will we do for Him with passion in 2008? 

 

PLANS - Will you make ROOM IN YOUR LIFE for Jesus?  Will your plans include Jesus?  Will your plans focus on God's will and God's work this year?  Are your plans about what you plan to do or about what Jesus plans to do with you?  The Lord made plans for you before you were even born, even before this universe was created.  Are you going to make room in your plans for Jesus in 2008?

 

PRIORITIES - Will you make ROOM IN YOUR TIME for Jesus?  Prioritizing your time is a constant struggle.  It is for me.  Satan would certainly like to keep you and me from spending our time with the Lord.  Do we give the Lord priority in our schedule?  Is spending time in God's Word and prayer a daily priority?  Jesus told us to make "room" for prayer in our life:  "When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen." (Mt. 6:6)  2008 may be a pivotal year in God's timetable - at least, it will be for some = they will go into eternity without knowing the Lord.  But I believe God's timetable is nearing an abrupt change.  Time is short.  Will our priorities match with what God has for us to do in 2008? 

 

Jesus made room in His passion, His plans, and His priorities for you.  I pray you will resolve to make room in your passion, your plans, and your priorities for Jesus in 2008, 2010, 2011!