Word for Life World Ministries – Minute Messages

Editor’s note: This was written by my friend Marilee Miller, who passed away earlier this year:

“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. “For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.” (Isaiah 60:1-2)

     What is this “glory of the Lord”? It’s the evidence of his Presence. It’s ALL of his goodness (see Exodus 33:19). It’s his weight (a root word in Hebrew) — that is, all of his weightiness, mightiness, splendor, and full personality.

     If one counts up the stories in the Bible, Jesus seems to have spent nearly eighty percent of his time here on Earth in healing those who needed help. Isaiah looks forward to an event Christians sometimes call “the Second Coming of Christ”. This passage of Scripture gives us great hope that one of the signs of God’s glory our generation will see, is healings.

     For we see how dark it’s getting in the world. But Christians with waiting hearts say the Lord’s brightness is getting stronger. (“Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound…” Romans 5:20)

     Many believe our generation is living in the “last days” before Christ’s return, and that in this time, there will be a great outpouring of miracles.

     In every generation, God brings forth persons who become willing containers (vessels), emptied entirely of self, and completely filled with him. That’s why we go through the fire (trials). To be cleaned and ready for God’s glory to fall upon us. That we may walk in darkness no more! For we belong to him, who is the Light.

-Marilee

(See the entire series of mini-studies at http://wordforlife.com/kingfisher/mbibls1.html )

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When I was in college, I was blessed to spend one summer in Takahagi, Japan teaching English using the Bible. One day our hosting minister Sensei Yatabe, took us on a tour of Tokyo. Without any instruction or preparation, we stepped off the train in downtown Tokyo. Sensei Yatabe looked at me alone, since I was the closest person to him, and quickly said, “Follow Me.” Quickly turned back around and hurriedly started walking ahead. With only a slight hesitation and moment of concern, I glanced immediately at the team member behind me, making brief eye contact and said, “Let’s Go!” From the corner of my eye I could still see the back of Yatabe’s head and darted off.

Keeping my eyes resolutely set on his indistinct straight black hair, we were led through intersections and streets flooded with thousands of other Japanese citizens. I was fearful of losing track of my leader and at the same time fearful of losing my followers. Our Sensei never once looked back to make sure I was following, and I in turn was never able to look back at my followers. If I had gone astray, I would have gotten our whole team lost. As God was with us, I was able to catch up to our leader and avoid being lost. Only then was I able to look back to joyfully see that my three friends were right behind me. I guess it helps to have red-hair. We are all called to be disciples and disciple-makers. We are called to be followers and leaders. As a leader it is helpful to stay close, look back, and assist your followers.

When calling his followers Jesus says, “repent” and steer your life toward his kingdom. Once redirected and committed Jesus says, “Come follow me.” Later along their discipleship journey of becoming like him, he says, “Go and make disciples.” The goal is that the students will become the teachers. And like Paul, the disciple-making disciples will be able to confidently say to their followers, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Jesus is looking back at you. As you make disciples, be sure to look back at your followers.

Bryan Johnston

Preaching minister, North Bend, Oregon USA Church of Christ – nbcoc@hotmail.com / www.churchofchristnb.com

(Editor’s note: Life Groups, often called “Small Groups” in some congregations, are groups of believers that meet at various times  to discuss Christian life. Some follow topical studies, discuss that day’s sermon, or whatever as is their interest. They are very beneficial in growing strength in the congregation. Here is a note Bryan sent out just before ours restarted for this term, which speaks some of their value.)

Our Life Group ministry will be starting September 10! Our groups meet on Sunday evenings in homes and at the building from September thru May. It is essential to our growth and maturity that we have opportunities to share our love for God and love for one another. Life Groups provide members a setting to grow as disciples of Christ and to minister one to another. We will share in God’s word and discuss the morning sermon. We will share our lives with each other, providing opportunity to be encouraged and mentored in our walk with Christ. Life Groups provide a place for each one to use their gifts to edify and build up the body of Christ. As we are built up our love overflows into serving the world and growing the kingdom of God.

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(Written 8/27/17 – shortly after a full solar eclipse was visible from our location)

Millions of people traveled hundreds of miles to witness perhaps a once in a lifetime experience – the 2017 Solar Eclipse! We traveled 100 miles to Newport, Oregon to witness one of nature’s amazing sites. It took planning and forethought to position ourselves in the right place at the right time. The solar eclipse was predicted to start at 9:05 A.M., so we were in place at that time. It took the right equipment to safely view the astronomical attraction. We pre-purchased the NASA/ISO approved protective eye wear to stare observantly at the ocular occurrence. It took patience and endurance to wait for the moon to align itself perfectly in the path of the sun’s light rays to display the total solar eclipse. It took faith to trust that the weather would comply with our viewing location. The fog did give us quite the scare during the last fifteen minutes before totality. Then, at ….

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On August 21st a total solar eclipse was visible in totality within a band across the entire contiguous United States. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partly obscuring the image of the sun for a viewer on Earth. The last time a total solar eclipse was visible across the entire contiguous United States was on June 8, 1918. Among others, the towns of Newport, Salem, and Madras Oregon will be flooded with eclipse enthusiasts. The eclipse was estimated to begin at 9:05 A.M. PST with the totality occurring at 10:17 A.M. PST. The totality itself will only last about two minutes. We had to be warned against looking directly at the sun while the eclipse is setting into and releasing from its totality. There was a high potential for extreme and even permanent damage to the eye from looking directly into the sun for that extended period of time. NASA and the American Astronomical Society urge solar gazers to only use glasses with the safety standard number “ISO 12312-2” printed and guaranteed on them. Be safe and enjoy this once in a lifetime experience.

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Resting in the Lord is hard to do. It is a gift from God that he commands his people to set apart one day a week for the Lord. In Exodus 20:9-10 the Lord says, “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.” This day of rest is holy because it is dedicated to the Lord and him alone. It seemed foolish to those living apart from God in the ancient world to take a day of rest. It appears lazy as Pharaoh says, “Lazy, that’s what you are – lazy! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ Now get to work.” (Exodus 5:17-18a) In our modern culture where riches and materials rule the day, taking a day off for the Lord seems like such a waste of time.

My grandfather was a wheat farmer in Northeast Montana. During times of harvest workers were committed to spending days and days at a time
with very little sleep, in order to get their crop out of the ground to make the most profit for all their toils. It seemed foolish to take time off. My grandfather knew who his Lord was. He put his faith and trust in the Lord. He never worked on a Sunday in his life. He also never missed getting his harvest. He was blessed, God was glorified, and all who knew him knew who his God was.

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The names for Jesus go on and on, I have never met someone who has so many names. The descriptions that are associated with our Lord are innumerable. So what is the name that the Lord our God prefers to be known as? I have known many people who preferred to go by a particular name. I think it is respectful to address others by the name that he or she desires to be called. I have known Michael’s that are particular about being called Michael and not Mike. There are others who like to be known by their middle names rather than their first. And there are even those who select names that are completely different from any of their birth names. For example I knew a guy named David Kinzer who was only known by the name “Whompy.”

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There is not a more beautiful sight than coming home to the McCullough Bridge into North Bend (Oregon, USA- See footnote). This architectural expansion is laid down firmly to provide safe entry into the Bay Area from the North. The mile-long cantilever bridge allows travelers easy entry as they pass high above the city of North Bend. It endures the high winds and rain to provide access to community life. The bridge’s function is to provide passage by welcoming patrons to travel over its surface. It does not mind the burden of bearing the treading and tracking of all the traffic. It takes great delight to serve people into city limits.

Jesus as the gate is the only entry into the kingdom of God. He is the door that opens to let his people in. As the door he provides access and protection for his followers. Jesus takes great joy in watching over his flock. As the Good Shepherd he knows his sheep and they know him. He meets

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