We Are Able

SCRIPTURE

“Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”

~Mark 10:39, NLT

QUOTE

Despair ruins some, presumption ruins many.

~Benjamin Franklin

You see James and John’s presumptuous answer above but what is the question? Jesus asked them, Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?” Without a moments hesitation, they replied, “We are able.” I’m sure Jesus just shook His head in unbelief. These guys who were a part of the inner circle {Peter, James and John} had committed to mistakes.

Their first mistake was that they were not paying attention to what Jesus had just said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans. They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again.” Jesus had no more than got this out of His mouth when the two asked for seats of honor in His kingdom. Their second mistake is as bad as the first, it was ignorance. They had no idea what they were asking for or committing themselves to do. I don’t know which was greater: their arrogance, their ignorance or their insensitivity.

James and John did undergo Christ’s baptism and they did drink from His bitter cup. James was the first to die for Christ. They were able to drink the cup because Jesus made them able. Sometimes we allow our mouth to overload our ability. We are able only because His grace enables.  Oh the needless grief we bring into our lives by our prideful presumption.

• Talked to Noah yesterday evening: Michelle is still packing. They are planning to be here by tonight.
• We got a lot done yesterday that we have been putting off. We have paper towel racks in the women’s bathroom in the FORTE. We also got the baptistery cleaned and filled with fresh water. Lord willing, we will baptize three this Sunday and we have one scheduled for November 1. I pray that we will baptize every Sunday between now and Christmas.
• FELLOWSHIP Sunday night at 5:30–Hay rides at 6:15. Members bring a pot, not a bowl, but a pot of stew, soup or chili. If you do not bring one of the three then your option is two of the following items: homemade desert, cornbread, chips [Frito’s], cokes. We have crackers and Tea.
• We had 28 in our COLLEGE BIBLE STUDY last night.
• I’m probably going to have to get off of Facebook but I do enjoy the pictures: this one comes from Sandy Hendrix in Cherokee, Alabama. It was made at mile marker 375 on the Natchez Trace Parkway. The Trace runs less than a mile behind the first church I served out of Seminary. I would love to drive the Northern stretch [in a gentle rain], from Cherokee to Franklin, Tennessee. I got to do that a few years ago and I loved it.

Presumption, The Mother of All Sins

SCRIPTURE

Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh, nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”

~Genesis 6:3, NASB

QUOTE

There is an invisible line that no human can see. We call it a deadline, it is that point when the door of God’s mercy is closed.

~Ya’akov

How many chances should a man get? How many years should God give us to repent? He gave the Antediluvians 120 years and yet not a single one repented. The consequences of presuming upon God’s grace are tragic. The Antediluvians did not intend to drown in a flood but they kept rejecting Noah’s message and refused to enter the ARK. Of course, it would have taken an act of repentance for them to do so. They would have to change their minds about Noah, God, sin and they would have to believe Noah’s message of judgment.

The word strive means to contend. How many things in our lives are contending for first place. God is a jealous God, He will not keep contending. Do you keep contending with people who are unresponsive. I remember asking two girls for a date that turned me down; I never asked them a second time. I don’t handle rejection well. I am not suggesting that God is as insecure and quick to give up as myself but He did say, “My Spirit shall not strive {contend} with man forever.” There is a deadline for individuals, congregations and nations. My prayer and hope is that America has not sinned away it’s day of grace.

• I know Hartselle got a good rain and we got three or four dust settlers but no rain. I put 750 gallon of water on our corn patch but we could use a rain.
• Gary Garner is coming home for the weekend: still no diagnosis.
• Milford fields is progressing each day. He was sitting up reading the paper yesterday morning. We had a good visit. Preston was having a bad day. I did not make it to DGH.
• Full schedule today: Deacon’s meeting at 8:15, LCBS at 9:15 {I’ll be teaching Jason’s class again LORD willing}, Worship at 10:15 and 6:00. Joe David will be preaching out of 1 John this morning and I will be in Luke 5, Jesus healing the leper.

Presumption

SCRIPTURE

“Do whatever he tells you.”

~John 2:5, NLT

QUOTE

The same Jesus Who turned water into wine can transform your life. He is still in the miracle-working business, and His business is the business of transformation.

~Adrian Rogers

THOUGHT

No one knew Jesus like Mary. She had spent more time with Him than anyone on earth. She went to Him with her problem but His verbal response was, “It’s not My problem.” Actually He said, “Woman, it’s not My problem.” He was either disrespecting her or kidding her and I choose to believe the later. She knew He would do something but she dared not tell Him what to do. She knew that whatever He did, it would be something new, refreshing and probably incredible. I love this woman and this story…she says to the servants, “Do whatever He tells You,” and walks off.

Presumption may be the mother of all sins. The Jews presumed the Messiah would be a king in the mold of David and would lead the Jewish Nation to military victory over the domineering Romans. They never imagined a suffering servant who would be crucified by the Romans, with their help of course.

Now days we have all these prophecy experts telling us exactly what is going to happen in the end time. Time will reveal them to be as presumptuous as the Jews. He will do something they have never imagined. It is His nature and Mary knew Him well and so she said, “Do whatever He says.” She left all the details to Jesus. To quote Yoda,  “Intelligent woman she was!”

EXTRA

• Essie Holladay, Gregg’s Aunt and the last of her generation was promoted on Tuesday June 17th at the age of 100. She was pretty active until the last year or so. Her COLS is today at FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH at 11:00 am with Dr. J. Wayne Penn, Dan Compton and Don Gentry. Mrs. Essie was born November 17, 1913, in Lawrence County to Dr. James Samuel Crow and Dona Bell Miller Crow. She and her husband, Clyde Holladay had six children. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two children: Parris Holladay and Lyle Holladay, and her siblings: Coy Crow, Myrtis Crow, Evie Holladay, Hazel Holladay, Zemon Crow and Christine McKay, and her son-in-law: Bob Puckett. Essie was a homemaker, quilter, gardner, hospital employee and caretaker of children and the sick. She was a life-long faithful member of Friendship Baptist Church.
• Full slate this Sunday beginning with Deacon’s meeting at 8:00. We have one surprise which we will share with you Sunday morning. I know how much you like surprises.
• Adam’s family, not the Adams family, left for China yesterday morning and the Guatemalan crew came home yesterday evening except for Haley Rae who is going to spend the Summer is beautiful Guatemala. Haley Rae is a good Missionary: she never gets home sick. You have to love the country and the people to be effective and I think she does both.
• I am not responsible for what my daughters post of FACEBOOK!