Faith...

Alonzo's new book...

One of my heroes is Alonzo Mourning. I like him because he is a great basketball player who has maximized his potential on the court. He never struck me as the most talented person skill-wise, but he is athletically gifted AND works hard! As a result of his hard work, he became one of the top centers in the NBA.

But recently I found one more thing to like about him: his faith.

I shouldn't have been surprised that he is a Christian because off the court he is involved with a lot of charity work, but that aspect of his life is not as widely publicized as his exploits on the court.

Excerpt from the book.

It's always inspiring to hear about people who live their faith in times of darkness. Way to go, 'Zo!

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Trying Times

During this unstable financial climate, many Americans are truly beginning to worry about their future. But the Apostle Paul faced a much more dire situation; while jailed for the sake of the Gospel, he didn't know if he was going to live or die.

Nevertheless, he had this to say:

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have."

What great faith! But it isn't an unattainable faith. We need only be obedient and wait on the Lord. Truly, when it comes down to it, isn't that quite simple?

Worrying and Complaining

Jesus, after telling the story of the man who spent his life storing up good for himself only to die without a chance to enjoy it, said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear." (Luke 12:22)

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?", he queried (Luke 12:25).

It's a good point; why do we worry about things we can't control? And when examined closely, do we really even have that much to complain or worry about?

In today's Wall Street Journal Opinion, Gregg Easterbrook points out some interesting statistics about the state of our Union.

Unemployment is 5.5%, low by historical standards; income is rising slightly ahead of inflation; housing prices are down, but the typical house is still worth a third more than in 2000; 94% of Americans do not have threatened mortgages, and of those who do, most will keep their homes.

All forms of pollution other than greenhouse gases are in decline; cancer, heart disease and stroke incidence are declining; crime is in a long-term cycle of significant
decline; education levels are at all-time highs.

Sure, gas prices are up, the dollar is weak and credit is tight – but these are complaints at the margin of a mainly healthy society.

So why are we so worried? Why do we spend so much time fretting over frivolous things like gas prices? (Did you know that California gas prices are still cheaper than in the UK, Germany, or France?)

Could it be that we, as sinful humans, are proned to complain and worry? I think our worry and our discontent comes from an inability to see all the good things that God has blessed us with. Worry is a form of unfaithfulness and complaining is ungodly discontent.

Take a moment today to consider all the wonderful things that you do have instead of focusing on all the bleak forecasts we hear around us. Remember Jesus' words; "Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!" (Luke 12:24)

Press on!

Just Do It!

Sometimes we are hesitant to move forward because we want a cue from God. We want God to send us a miraculous Outlook Calendar event that reads: "Thursday noon, Take Bobby to Lunch and Share Gospel."

Sometimes God works that way, but most of the time, He doesn't.

The majority of "walking in faith" is the actual walking part. James 2:20 says, "But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?"

Consider the hemorrhaging woman in Matthew 9...

A distressed woman who had had an incurable blood hemorrhage for twelve years secretly approached Jesus as he was mingling with a crowd of followers. Her thought was that Jesus would be able to heal her. But instead of asking to be healed as many others were doing in that time, she snuck up behind him to touch the hem of his garment. She thought to herself, "If I only touch His garment, I will get well." (Matt 9:21b)

Yes, she believed that she could be healed by touching the hem of Jesus garment (which, incidentally, is a pretty bold faith!) and Jesus indeed exhorted her by saying, "Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well." (italics mine).

But it was her actions that brought her to that point.

Is there something that you believe God wants you to do? Is there some way you need to give of your time, your energy, yourself? Is there someone God would like you to minister to? If you have even an inkling of it, I challenge you to JUST DO IT! and see if God doesn't turn your faithful action into a miracle.

I will do the same!

Press on.