Vol. 16 No. 04 | January 28, 2013

In Luke 4 Jesus announces the coming of the Kingdom of God:

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:14-19, NIV1984)

In Luke 5 He had this conversation with the Pharisees:

But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:30-32, NIV1984)

The message seems clear. The Kingdom of God is about unhealthy people accepting God’s healing and turning around and helping other unhealthy people do the same thing. Sick people getting help, then helping other sick people.

How does that work?

It starts with the realization that at one time we were all helpless and hopeless (Romans 5) and without hope. In that condition we were far from God, foreigners, and weak.

As we accepted that truth we are all saved by grace the grace of God (Ephesians 2). By God’s grace we have moved from being foreigners to being brought close. We were aliens in a foreign land, and then brought near to God. Being saved we are brought into the body as new creations to do good works that God has prepared ahead of time for us to do.

Part of doing those good works involves moving out from our sickness, and leaving our limitations behind, relying on the Spirit of God as our new source of strength to look around us to others who are just as sick and unhealthy and bring them along the path toward healing and renewal.

How is this for a recruitment notice?

Wanted: Men and women who have admitted they have a helpless and sick nature, and want to walk with other men and women (who are equally helpless and sick) to a new life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Otherwise known as the abundant life. Perfect people need not apply.

That is our task. It is possible. May it begin with me.

Tom
© Copyright 2013 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

Vol. 16 No. 03 | January 21, 2013

Once upon a time there was a man who had achieved more than any of his colleagues and competitors. He had won every competition he had entered. Not only did he win but he won in impressive fashion. Year after year after year he excelled. Year after year he was praised. Year after year after year he claimed the titles, received the awards, and achieved his dreams. He became an icon. His face was on the cover of almost every magazine, he appeared on every talk show on every network, he was the headliner at all the big events, his accomplishments were the subject of every radio talk show, and his name became a household word around the world. He was the best.

The rumors began. Stories of inappropriate activity began to surface. Questions of his integrity became commonplace. Conversations turned into debates. Casual talk turned into heated discussions. Investigations were launched. Hearings were called to discuss the allegations. Charges were filed. The tide was turning.

“I am innocent!”

“I did not do it.”

“I am not guilty.”

“You have it all wrong.”

“You do not understand.”

“You do not know the pressure I am under.”

“I am not lying.”

“I am telling you the truth.”

Then, the truth came out. The stories were true. He had cheated. He had lied. He had deceived. He had destroyed lives to protect his image. He had used his power and influence to cover his crimes, his sins, his indiscretions, his poor choices, his abuses, and his shortcomings. He lied to cover his lies. He lied to protect his reputation. He lied to protect his fortune. He lied to “protect his family.”

Eventually the truth comes out. His face once again appears on the covers of magazines, newscast, and talk show promos. His image is soiled. His reputation is ruined. His integrity is lost. His family is devastated. His private life has now become the lead story on the evening news. The world that he had so carefully kept from public view is now discussed over coffee, in car pools, in living rooms, around dinner tables, in the local diner, at the lunch counter, and in small group Bible studies. The life that was once the envy of the world is now described with words of betrayal, disgust, and disbelief.

The wise man gives these words of truth on lies.

There are six things the Lord hates, 
 seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who poursout lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.(Proverbs 6:16-19, NIV)A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies. Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Proverbs 12:17-18, NIV)

“Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:8-9, NIV)

Let us be people of truth. Let us live by a higher standard. Let us be people of integrity. Let us be people that other people can trust.

Tom

© Copyright 2013 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

Vol. 16 No. 02 | January 14, 2013

In It’s A Wonderful Life George Bailey questioned that.

At his low point, defeated and broken and not knowing where else to turn, he visits Mr.Potter seeking help, only to have his nemesis pour salt on his wounds:

Mr. Potter: “You’re worth more dead than alive! Why don’t you go

to the riffraff you love so much and ask them to let you have 8,000? You know why? Because they’d run you out of town on a rail. But I’ll tell you  hat I’m going to do for you, George. Since the state

examiner is still here, as a stockholder of the Building and Loan, I’m going to swear out a warrant for your arrest. Misappropriation of funds, manipulation, malfeasance…”[sees George runs off]

Mr. Potter: “All right, George, go ahead! You can’t hide in a little town like this!”

Potter’s words hit home. George believed him. He concluded that he was indeed worth more dead than alive. He wished he had never been born.

He got his wish. The story is his look into his world without him in it. The result is a renewed, restored and revived George Bailey.

Can you identify with George? Are you feeling as if life has passed or is passing you by? ther people get all the breaks. Other people get the promotions. Other people take the dream-of-a-lifetime vacations. Other people live in the biggest houses in the nicest neighborhoodss and drive the coolest cars. You, well you’re stuck working at the same old “Broken-down savings and loan” in the same old boring Bedford Falls that you call home.

Do what George Bailey did. Take a few minutes and try to imagine what your world would be like if you had never been born into your world.

If you had never been born…

Your children would have never known their Daddy.

Your children would have never been able to say, “I love you, Mommy.”

Your wife would have never been able to walk down the aisle into your arms.

Your husband would have never heard you say, “I will love you until I die.”

Your company would have never rebounded from the recession and made the progress it has made.

Your students would have never experienced your passion for teaching English, or Math, or History.

Your parents would have never been able to say, “I’m proud of you.”

Those people with whom you shared the Gospel when you went on that mission trip would have never learned that they are loved by the Creator of the world so much that He gave His one and only Son to die so they could have eternal life.

That little boy down the street who got hurt while his mother was working late would not have gotten the care and attention he needed.

That money you gave to support the ministries in your church would have never been given.

That little boy who watched the way you handled yourself when you lost the big game would have never learned what it means to be a good sport and how to win gracefully and lose with grace.

That little girl who never knew her real dad would have never known what it meant to be loved the right way.

That couple watching the way you and your husband love and respect each other would have never seen what a good marriage looks like.

That young lady watching how you look at your husband when he comes to the office for a visit would have never known that there is a different way.

My name is not Clarence and I am not trying to get my wings, but I can assure you: When the enemy tells you that it would have been better if you had never been born, it is a lie. Do not listen to the lies.

You are not a mistake. You are not worthless. Your family would not be better off if you were dead. You are not worth more dead than you are alive. The world, your world, would not be better without you. You would be missed. You do make a difference. You have value. You are unique. You are special. You are needed. Nobody else can ever be you or make a difference for good like you.

How do I know this? Because I know that you were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Because I know that because God created you, you are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). Because I know that God loves you so much he gave His one and only son to die for you (John 3:16). Because I know that Jesus said, “I have come that you may life and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

If you had never been born? You were. God knew what He was doing. He knows what He is doing. Trust Him and live to the fullest!

Tom
© Copyright 2013 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

Vol. 16 No. 01 | January 7, 2013

It is time to stop playing games with the greatest story ever told. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He came. He lived. He died. He was buried. He rose again. He forgives us of all our sins. He invites us to live abundantly knowing that we are saved by His grace through our faith in the risen Lord. He will come again and we will be with Him forever.

It is time we start living like we have been saved by grace.

It is time we act like we believe that He is the risen Lord.

It is time we live like we know that we are saved.

It is time we love people like God loves us because He loved us first.

It is time we start sharing the story of God’s love, mercy and grace with as many people as we possibly can.

It is time we stop listening to and putting more trust in the news media, the stock market and prophets of legalism, and start hearing the Lord when He says, “If I am for you who can be against you?”

It is time we stop believing that people of faith have no voice, have no influence, and that we cannot live holy lives that make a difference.

It is time we allow the words we speak, read, and sing turn into actions of courage and faith.

It is time we stop listening more to those who are wise in the ways of the world and start listening to those who are wise in the ways of God.

It is time we stop accepting violence.

It is time we get serious about being peacemakers, not just peace lovers.

It is time we admit that we really are helpless without God and stop pretending otherwise.

It is time for us to honor those who truly deserve being honored and stop glorifying those who win medals that will not last.

It is time to speak up when we should speak up and be silent when we need to be silent.

It is time for us to focus on the things that really matter and stop spending our time and our money and energy on things that do not.

It is time we stop shirking our responsibility to be the voice of reason in a world that is being guided by those who can speak the loudest.

It is time to be people who love like Jesus, talk like Jesus, listen like Jesus, confront like Jesus, show compassion like Jesus, speak with confidence and authority like Jesus, respond to needs like Jesus, offer hope like Jesus, demonstrate peace like Jesus, and sacrifice like Jesus.

It is time we stop complaining about what others are doing or are not doing and start doing what God has called us to do and to be.

It is time! Let this be the year that we step out in faith with confidence and courage and make a difference for God.

Tom

© Copyright 2013 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.