Still More Funny T-shirts

I don’t take naps.  I take horizontal life pauses.

When I talk about computers, I make my motherboard.

You can’t tuna fish, but you can play a bass.

A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.

7 days without a pun makes one week.

High Calling

Jeremiah the prophet was called to a grand mission in the first chapter of his book – he is to be God’s ambassador to His people.  Like Paul (Acts 9), God tells him the plan.  Like Moses (Exodus 3), he is hesitant to go.  Like Timothy (1 Timothy 4.12) he is a youngster.

The summons is multi-faceted and irresistible.  In Jeremiah 1.5, God says “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” 

When Jeremiah protests his young age, God says to him (verses 7-8),  “Do not say, ‘I am a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.  Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD.”

In verse 9, God touches Jeremiah’s mouth to insert His words.

And, God warns that the people will fight against Jeremiah and his messages (verse 19).  BUT, God will deliver him.  Verse 18 almost sounds like he is given super powers – “ I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls” against your enemies.

With this excellent start, Jeremiah served as ambassador / prophet for more than forty years.  He endured hardships and sufferings but continually feared his God more than men.

 

Resurrection and Trials

In the first chapter of his first book, Peter cries out in the third verse, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!”  Why?  Because this is what HE has done:

According to his (God’s) great mercy

He has caused us to be born again TO a living hope THROUGH the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

We are born again TO an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading

This inheritance is kept in heaven for us

By God’s power, we are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Knowing that heaven awaits, we are to rejoice even though we are grieved at this time by various trials

The trials test the genuineness of our faith, that it may result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1.3-8

 

Quantity vs Quality

A fisherman returned to shore with a huge giant marlin. On the way to the cleaning shed, he encountered a second fisherman who had a string of baby minnows.  The second fisherman looked at the marlin, turned to the first fisherman, and said, “Only caught the one, eh?”

 

 

 

Names for Zion

Isaiah 62.2 declares there is a coming renewal for Zion, His holy place, after the stench of exile is removed. Zion shall be called by a new name (vs 2):

  • You shall no more be termed Forsaken (4)
  • Your land shall no more be termed Desolate (4)
  • You shall be called My Delight Is in Her (4)
  • Your land shall be called Married (4)
  • The inhabitants shall be called The Holy People (12)
  • They shall be The Redeemed of the LORD (12)
  • You (Zion) shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken  (12)

Punography 1

I know a guy who’s addicted to brake fluid.  He says he can stop anytime.

 I stayed up all night to see where the sun went.  Then it dawned on me.

 I’m reading a book about anti-gravity.  I can’t put it down.

 They told me I had type A blood, but it was a type O.

 What does a clock do when it’s hungry?  It goes back four seconds.

 

 

Thanks to Linnea and her friend Rachel for sending these…

 

Word Does Not Return Empty

I have heard of two churches lately where the culture has turned around mainly because of consistent preaching of the good news of Jesus Christ. I should have expected that Isaiah 55.11 is true: “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

Paul made it clear what is most important in sharing the gospel (1 Corinthians 15.3-5): “…that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.” 

The death and resurrection of Jesus are the key historical events upon which Christianity is built. So, consistent proclamation of the testimony in the Scriptures will lead to increased understanding of the need for Jesus to come and to die.  God’s word WILL accomplish His purpose; our job is to be witnesses and to proclaim what we know to be true.