T.J.I.F.A.

THANK JESUS IT'S FRIDAY AGAIN!
PASS IT ON...& ON...&. ON...& ON
JUNE 6, 2003


LET US BE FIRST TO SALUTE ALL FATHERS THIS JUNE...HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!  SALUTE!

SUBJECT: THE FOOLISH THING

THERE IS A FOOLISH THING THAT GOD HAS PLACED IN HIS WORD.  JESUS CHRIST EXHORTED HIS DISCIPLES TO DO IT.  BY THIS FOOLISH THING ALL MEN WILL BE EITHER SAVED OR THEY WILL PERISH.  DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT FOOLISH THING IS?  ARE YOU WILLING TO READ ON AND FIND OUT?    DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO DOES THIS?  ENJOY "THE FOOLISH THING."

NOTEWORTHY: A COUPLE OF GOOD HEALTH NOTES THAT WE SHOULD KEEP IN MIND AS WE GO TO THE OVER -THE -COUNTER MEDICATION RACK.  

FRIDAY'S WORD:  REDOUBTABLE

IN THE MIRROR:  SLC  TALKS ABOUT LIFE

O TASTE AND SEE!   A QUICK SUMMER CORN SALAD RECIPE - SENT IN BY BMCC.    

LOOKING FORWARD

SEE YA NEXT TIME!


TER A FOOLISH THING
       

1Cor. 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of GOD.
vs:21 For after that in the wisdom of GOD the world by wisdom knew not GOD, it pleased GOD by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.  
vs:25 Because the foolishness of GOD is wiser than men; and the weakness of GOD is stronger than men.

Do you remember who witnessed to you about the Goodness of GOD?  Do you recall the name of the one who labored and prayed for your soul to be saved?  Was it only your mother or father, or was it a score of dedicated Christians?  

This week let us all look back to a time when we were in need of a true Savior.  Let us all remember how lost we were until that very special person introduced Jesus Christ and His power into our lives.   

Thank GOD for the Preachers, Teachers, Evangelists and Missionaries.  Thank GOD for Sunday School teachers, Deacons and Ushers.  But mostly, thank GOD for the strange little witness who wouldn't leave you alone until you understood the message of the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST.   Do you remember who that was?  

In Matthew Jesus exhorted His disciples and ultimately ALL to, "GO INTO ALL  THE WORLD and preach the GOSPEL."  He didn't specify only those who are called to be Preachers or Teachers.  He gave the mantle of "Witness" to everyone who believes on Him.  GOD always starts with a seed.   From Adam came mankind; from Abraham came Faith walking Hebrew children; From Jesus, came Believers.  It certainly looked impossible for GOD to populate the whole earth starting with only one man...But He did!  It was surely not perceivable for Abraham to claim all of the land that he walked across...But he did, and even today that land remains in dispute.  How inconceivable is it to think that Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour, came from Heaven, spilled His blood, and rose up from the grave so that anyone who believes on Him can be saved?  But it's true.  

With these foolish things GOD has written in indelible ink, His will across time.  Comparing a man today to the man Adam, they are the same.  No one has created an better specimen, he remains man.  

The land that He gave to Abraham for His people may be in dispute, but it was covenanted to Abraham by GOD.  (Is there any other place on earth that can stake that  claim?)

GOD sent His Only Son to the earth to redeem mankind from sin.  He, in turn, sent twelve men; and they preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole known world.  They had no television, no radio, no computers, no newspapers, barely had Bibles for every household.  But they did it.  How?   Face to face; man to man; speaking the Word in Truth and Power, ushering people into the presence of Almighty GOD.  

The Spirit or Mantle of The Disciple is still alive today.  

The Disciple of today doesn't have a pulpit and refuses a following.  He never  claims to be an ordained preacher of the Word, but he holds to being a student of Jesus Christ;   And because of his discipleship he wants to tell a sick and dying world about his Lord.  This is the witness that all of us have met at one time or another.  He's the man in black with the worn Bible siting on the park bench; he's the co-worker who eats alone then reads his Bible after lunch; he's the old man whose eyes seem to always see further than where you are; she's the young woman who cares for everyone else's baby;    she's the neighbor who gives timely advice and prayer in desperate conditions;  Disciples GO and PREACH the Gospel.  They have pealed away that popular and acceptable  look to take up   that sure and certain mantel.  They labor and pray for lost souls.  They knew what life was without Christ, and to find someone who hasn't realized this  abundant truth,  places a disciple on his knees interceding for that soul.  

Many disciples are looked upon with discuss and disdain.  They are rejected from the inner circle, and are usually the topic of discussion around the water cooler.  Especially if they find a needy soul and make no hidden plans to take it under their wings of compassion.  


Disciples want for others what Jesus wants for all.  And through the foolishness of Preaching His Gospel has been spread.  Preaching and witnessing in the Power of The Holy Spirit has caused thousands at a time to turn from wickedness unto the marvelous light.  

The Preaching of the Gospel has been done in so many varied ways.  People watch those who claim  to be ‘Christians' to see if their lives measure up to a higher  standard  than that which they are accustomed.  If the lives of the Christian doesn't come up to what they think it should, they immediately reject whatever message  was given them by the failed disciple.  This is where the true Disciple is so  important.  The life of the true Disciple is different in every way, and he gives ALL Glory to GOD through Jesus Christ.

He may not be perfect, but, his life style attempts to mimic that of Jesus Christ;   And in this mimicking, he achieves a replica of the results of the ministry of Jesus Christ. His compassion; His comfort; His Love; these observable concerns for others,  without undue pressure to conform.   For the disciple knows that one plants, one waters, BUT GOD gives the increase.  Only GOD can bring the convert to the place of wanting to change and receiving the Kingdom of GOD through Jesus Christ.  

Do you remember who labored in prayer for your soul?  You maybe greatly surprised, when you  get to Heaven and find out who actually went down on their knees for you while you were on this earth.     Those things which seem so foolish  now, are the very things which will mean so much in Eternity.    Preaching is foolishness to those who perish, but to those who believe, it is a saving Grace.  

Jesus made His last command to His Disciples to "PREACH." If, indeed, this preaching was foolishness, then why did Jesus send His followers out to do the same?  The answer is obvious...Because there are those who would be saved by this same PREACHING.  

"GOD has taken the foolish things to confound the wise."  Thank GOD for those who have received this foolishness and are now secure.  

Looking Forward

See Ya Next Time

TER

NOTEWORTHY:  

Supplementation with both vitamins C and E may improve outcomes for surgical patients.
A study of 600 people  published in the "Annuals of Surgery" found that trauma patients who received these vitamins were less likely to experience organ failure, had shorter stays in the intensive care unit, and spent less time on the ventilator.  Antioxidants are thought to be effective   because they reduce oxidative stress, which damages cells and organs by producing free radicals.

Acetaminophen, Tylenol, and others- overdose have replaced hepatitis (usually hepatitis B) as the leading cause of sudden acute liver failure in the United States according to a study in the "Annuals of Internal Medicine"   Today, nearly 40 percent of acute liver failures result from taking an excessive amount of this medication.  The maximum amount of recommended daily dose of this medication is 4000 milligrams.  Many over the counter medications contain Acetaminophen.  One common reason for overdose is the inadvertent use of several acetaminophen containing products.  At a time.  
From: John Hopkins Medical Letter April 2003.
Submitted by TER

Personal note: Read all labels.  Over the counter medications can be dangerous!

We're concerned about our readers and others - pass it on.

Ter

FRIDAY'S WORD: redoubtable; re*doubt*able; (adj.)  arousing dread; causing fear; formidable, fearsome; worthy of commanding respect

IN THE MIRROR:

Recently in Bits and Pieces Magazine, there was a story worth sharing with the world. It talked about an "Unfulfilled Life," and it peaked my interest to the point of looking at the story against the backdrop of Scripture.

It's a story about a baby Eagle, (eaglet). The story told of a young warrior who found a lone eagle egg. To be helpful he placed it in the nest of a prairie chicken.
The little eagle grew up with the prairie chicks–clucking and pecking around on the ground as they did for worms, insects, and seeds. When he flew, he never rose more than a few feet off the ground–as they did. Life was one pleasant day after another, and soon enough the days turned into years. The eagle matured and grew old.

One day as he was searching the ground for food, something caught the eagle's eye and he glanced upward. There, soaring in the clouds, was the most splendid bird he had ever seen. He couldn't take his eyes away from the bird's gorgeous, strong, golden wings that seemed not to move as the unusual creature commanded the sky.

He raced to the head prairie chicken and asked, "What is that stunning, noble animal navigating over the treetops?" The Senior prairie chicken looked up. "That? Oh that is the Eagle, Chief of Birds," he replied."But he's far above you. Keep scratching."

The eagle kept scratching the ground. He died never realizing he was not a prairie chicken.

The Eagle was designed by God to be a redoubtable bird. So much that in the book of Isaiah 40:31, we're told, "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as Eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk, and not faint."

In Job 39:27,28, we're told, "Doth the Eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place."

David said of the Lord in Psalm 103:5, "Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the Eagle's."

When God want's you to have a likeness, so there be no misunderstanding, He puts it into a place in science, nature, biology, or in another human spirit, just so you don't have to miss the point, or that something is foreign to your comprehension.

The story doesn't just tell us of a, "unfulfilled life," without allowing us to carefully examining the turn of events in the life of our little eaglet. He was a product of his environment, a most understandable condition for most to relate to.

It was a life of  being raised with nothing but prairie chickens for our little buddy, but how much do we look at, or question our own environment? In the day of the Romans, Rome was the known Capital of that time, and even to this day you'll still hear the statement used, "When in Rome, do as the Romans." It worked much by intimidation, so from what I've read, you didn't really have a choice. (Until the Christian revolution that is.)

God is concerned with  our environment. It's the environment of the mind, the soul, and the spirit. It's where we live, and there's no escaping it as long as we draw breath. In Philippians2:5, we read, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." "Let,"(allow) Why? Because God knows that unless we allow our thoughts to be directed by the Holy Spirit, we'll go through life ‘satisfied,' or "one pleasant day after another,"only to look back one day, and realize we never really lived our full Godly potential.

Jesus not only ‘told' the truth, He was the truth of God, and He never offers a counterfeit, or pseudo illustration of a life. [John 14:6]

The  old bird, after looking up and seeing what should have been so obvious; his own majestic image; did something so typical. He ‘races off to the Head Prairie Chicken,' in an effort to learn the truth of this magnificent bird.  After all, he is the, "Head,"   Chicken which oftentimes carries the connotation of "Authority."... When you make a concerted mistake, conferring with the wrong ‘authority' in any matter, there's a remarkable chance you'll find yourself ending up somewhat like our very good, and now very mature  friend, Mr. Eagle.

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; [11Tim.3:3]

"When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."[John 8:44b]

As we look through the Bible, and seek the face of God as to who we really are in Him, and question Him pertaining to our true identity; I sincerely believe it will be difficult for any Christian, or non-Christian alike, to come up with an, "Unfulfilled Life."

S.L.C.   

O TASTE AND SEE!

QUICK SUMMER CORN SALAD


2   CUPS FRESH OR FROZEN WHOLE  KERNEL CORN COOKED  AND DRAINED
3/4   CUP CHOPPED TOMATOES

½   CUP GREEN PEPPER

½   CUP  CHOPPED CELERY

1/4   CUP CHOPPED ONION

1/4   CUP KRAFT LIGHT RANCH DRESSING


DIRECTIONS:

IN LARGE SALAD BOWL, COMBINE VEGETABLES;
STIR IN DRESSING.

COVER AND REFRIGERATE UNTIL SERVING.

SERVES  EIGHT

NOTE:
THIS IS A LOVELY AND COLORFUL QUICK  SUMMER SALAD,  
AND WILL COMPLIMENT ANY SUMMER BUFFET.

CONTRIBUTED BY: BMCC.