Overnight Hero

Pilot C.B. "Sully" Sullenberger. By now I am sure you have heard of this man. A simple pilot, who is now referred to as the Miracle on the Hudson man, did a miraculous feat of landing a plane which engines failed into the Hudson river without killing a single person. I'm sure when "Sully" left his house that morning it was business as usual. When he took off on the plane it was business as usual - this was just another day at the office; little did "Sully" know that the decisions he made this day on at "the office" would prevail him as a hero.

This was an ordinary man who for is being praised for being meticulous in his job, even to the point of being the last person off the plane after making two walk throughs to make sure no one was left on. Now I don't know "Sully" but from the sound of what is being told about him, he is the type of man that doesn't really want any appreciation or recognition because he just did his job the best he knew how. He had done the same things for years upon years with no recognition of being meticulous in his taking off and landings yet every time he landed the plan on pavement people took for granted the job that he was doing.

In our Christian walk day in and day out are we as meticulous? Do we always do the right thing even when we know no one will praise us for the job that we do? Or do we thrive off the recognition of others? Everyone likes praise and recognition sometimes in a while for a job well done - and as Christians the final judgement day we will receive our recognition; but this should never become our purpose for our actions.


We don't ever do what is right to be recognized but yet we do all for the Glory of God. We do everything so that others will look at us and will say How Great God is, not so that they look at us and say how great we are. The chief end of man is to bring glory to God. So making the right choices, glorifying God, and making decisions that honor God should be just "another day in the office" for us as Christians, not just a rare occurrence that happens when we are around certain people or certain places.

Do I think that the day will ever come when I will be praised as an over night hero for doing the right thing, something that I have done over and over before? Probably Not. But if it does I will, and I challenge you also, to say, "All Glory Be to God and God Alone".

jbc

Do We Care?

Five minutes ago sitting in the Starbucks in Midlothian I ran into a guy that I admit I didn't even remember his name till halfway though the coversation. He was struggling with somethings and wanted to talk about it. Struggling where to go to college, what to do with his life, and getting plugged into a church. He wanted to talk, I was busy with some schoolwork, but I listened. I didn't really have the time to waste but the though came across - it's not always about Jonathan, service is about others.

I'm busy. I have a lot going on most of the time between planning a wedding, working at the church, landscaping, school, finances, and the normal business of life (cleaning, cooking, ect...).

So I've thought about this, I make time for what I want to make time for. If I want to read about apple news, play on facebook/myspace, or watch tv; I make time for it. Therefore if I don't make time to listen to others problems when they need somone to talk to, it's not because I'm really that busy, it is just because I don't want to "make time" for it.

I know many times I need someone to talk to and it seems as if there is noone - I know that there are people that feel like this, so I am convicted just listening to people makes a world of difference in their day and lives. Maybe this is a way that we could share God's loves with others; listen to their problems and when they ask for your advice or need your help there is your opportunity to share God's good news with them.

Just some thoughts,


jc

Some Old Blogs

As you may have noticed, I've uploaded some of my old blogs from the past year. These are combinations of just thoughts that I have had and newsletters I have written for the church that I work at in the past year. 2008 was a great learning experiance just as I'm sure 2009 will be. I am amazed at how much God teaches me daily - even when I am not aware that He is teaching me. I pray that you will be aware to what God is trying to teach you today, look around and see what He is allowing you to learn from every one you are surround by.

Some Old Posts V

Chapter 5: The Unveiled Worshipper

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

Jesus is inviting us into a greater intimacy with Him. The word for eat in the above passage in the Greek comes from the noun deipnon, or the main meal of the day. In this culture this was the evening meal, where people would sit down together at the end of a day’s work and spend quality time with one another. The reason for such a meal was fellowship, not just food. It wasn’t a hurried event but one where you would sit for a while and get to know the people with whom you ate. When Jesus was saying this, He was in terms saying, “Let Me deepen into you life. I want to come and eat with you, to be close to you, to better know you, and you to better know Me. Christ is not calling us just to be a waiter at the table, serving Him as He eats, Christ is calling us to sit down with Him and for us to eat together.” What a joy! As servants and slaves of Christ – He is not only providing for us, He is inviting us to sit at the table with Him! When I think of our relationship of intimacy with the Father I recall the last line of one of my favorite hymns growing up, My Shepherd Will Supply My Need, “No more a stranger, nor a guest, but like a child at home”.

Christ has invited us to dine with him, when we know we’re not worthy to gather up the crumbs under his table. Intimate as it may be, this will never be a meal between two equals. I believe this is the greatest mystery of the universe. Yes I’m curious how the Earth was formed, or how far the galaxies stretch, but even more fascinating to me is that Almighty God would invite me to intimacy with Himself, and the Son of God would willingly die on a cross to make that possible. Understanding that, we don’t deserve to be in the presence of God, but we are allowed to, brings about a deeper form of reverence. William Barclay said it this way, “The hand of Christ is strong enough to uphold the heavens, and gentle enough to wipe away our tears”. This paradox between fear and intimacy is something that only could be orchestrated by God.

“In an age of informality and irreverence, true unveiled worshippers recognize the “otherness” of God and treasure the call to intimacy with Him. Transfixed by His glory and transformed in His presence, we become ever more like Him. Unveiled worshippers are different when they come down the mountain. They are radiant, for all to see, and shining with the glory of God.” The invitation has been given, for us to dine with the father in intimately day in and day out; let us do our part in taking time to spend with the Father each day. Coming before His throne in fear and reverence.

“The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him” Psalm 25:14