My Apologies

Posted on July 18, 2005 by gophumek | Permalink 0

My Apologies

Ephesians 3:20-21

I recently came upon a website which contained numerous attacks on committed Christians. However, the people who were making the attacks felt their objects of derision were anything but Christian.

I stumbled onto this website by accident. I was simply searching for the lyrics of a song titled, Now to Him.  The song is actually the words from Ephesians 3:20-21: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

As I stated above, I merely stumbled onto this website. Parents are warned all the time about the dangers of the internet and the sites their children can stumble onto, such as pornography sites. Well, today I stumbled onto a very dangerous site. If a seeking non-Christian were to see that site, they may put off their search for Christ indefinitely. As the dedicated Christian I like to claim I am, the offensive hatred on that site put tears in my eyes. After those tears appeared in my eyes, I returned to listening to that song which says God can do anything.

I apologize to God today for wondering if he can really heal the hearts of men who possess such revulsion and disgust as these so-called Christian men have. I know God can do all things. However, some people just don’t want or won’t let God change their hearts.

I apologize to those who are seeking to be closer to God and stumble onto a website where Christians treat other Christians like wild dogs. To you, I offer my sincerest apologies.

A bit of preaching, Belonging, Ministry, Peace

Your Greatest Miracle?

Posted on July 13, 2005 by gophumek | Permalink 0

Your Greatest Miracle?
John 11:17

I think this makes three devotional tidbits in a row in which I use a text from John 11, a text so rich in teaching lessons. Today I’d like to offer some words on Jesus raising Lazarus after four days. What was so important about that?

In Rabbinic literature, there was a belief that the soul of a deceased person hovered above the body for three days, waiting for a way to get back into the place it belonged. After three days, the soul left, unable to ever enter the body again. This belief is documented to the early 2nd century (early 100s) but definitely could have existed to the time of Jesus. The religious leaders believed that any body could be resuscitated during this period of three days. But after the fourth day, there would need to be an actual resurrection. Because of this belief, raising Lazarus on the fourth day makes this sign or miracle even more impressive. Remember, Jesus waited to go to Bethany, causing him to arrive on the fourth day. After this miracle, the religious leaders decided that Jesus must die. There was definitely something significant about this miracle. As Jesus said, “…it is for God’s glory” This was indeed a great miracle, arguably the greatest miracle during his earthly ministry.

What is the greatest miracle Jesus has accomplished in your life? I know a story of one such great miracle. There was a young boy in the 2nd grade riding his bike along a mildly busy street in Hammond, Indiana. All of a sudden, an older kid came along and stopped him. The desired and stated goal of this older kid in not so many words was molestation. The bad situation never fully developed because a woman came out on her porch and yelled, “What are you doing over there?” The older boy quickly left. In the life of that young boy, this was the greatest miracle Jesus had ever done. I know this to be the fact because that young boy was me. The greatest miracle, the fourth day miracle Jesus did for me was protecting me on that day in Hammond, Indiana.

I would like you to reflect today and think about the greatest miracle Jesus has ever done for you. If you have time to drop me an email, I’d love to know what it is. I will take time in prayer to praise God for the miracles he has done for each of you.

Faith, God's Love

Send Me a Sign

Posted on June 29, 2005 by gophumek | Permalink 0

Send Me a Sign
John 11:1-37

The book of John is filled with signs, not miracles. Same thing? Yeah, but there is more significance to a sign; a sign points to something greater. The signs in the book of John pointed to Jesus, his divine nature, and his ability to save lives. After Jesus’ seventh sign, the raising of Lazarus from the dead, the religious leaders finally understood. This sign cements Jesus’ position as someone they must kill (John 11:53).

A Scottish preacher, Billy Wilson, used the following illustration to make a point about signs. In the movie The Man with Two Brains, Steve Martin’s character went to his dead wife’s picture to ask if she would mind if he married a specific woman. Steve Martin’s character looked at the picture and asked her to give him a sign if she would not approve of the marriage.  The painting begins to move, the fireplace below the painting shakes, everything in the room vibrates as if an earthquake has just hit. Unaware of the events (or more likely ignoring them) he continues, “Just give me a sign, any sign!”

We’re a lot like that. A Bible could fall in front of us, our car could break down in front of a certain church five days in a row, a parent or co-worker could invite you to church, your favorite restaurant could be torn down and a church built in its place, you could win round trip tickets to Christchurch, New Zealand, or maybe a minister may move in next door to you. You may never see the signs that may point to something greater like, maybe you should visit church for the first time in years, months, or weeks. Maybe there is indeed a good message for you there. In fact, I know there is a good message there for both you and me.

Why did I write something today about signs? Well, I received another rejection today on one of my picture books. This particular picture book has now received five form rejections without any comments whatsoever. That is not a good sign, but it may be a sign that the story is just not right for the market. If I keep sending that manuscript to publishers and continue getting rejections, I just might be the one needlessly saying to God, “Send me a sign, any sign.”

May God bless you this week, 
Brian Humek

Holy Spirit, Struggles

Jesus Wept

Posted on June 21, 2005 by gophumek | Permalink 0

Jesus Wept
John 11:35

In some churches, Jesus is held up as a miracle worker and someone who seems to be beyond our grasp. We may think, “how in the world can we, sinful men and women, ever identify with Jesus?” He did this miracle. He did that miracle. He never sinned. We may come away with the idea that He’s too different from us.

But God came to earth in the flesh to identify with us. There are times when we see the human attributes of Jesus. There are times he thirsts, times he hungers, times when he is angry, and then there is that favorite memory verse of Vacation Bible School students, “Jesus wept.” – John 11:35.

There are many reasons suggested by scholars for why Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus. He was either sad at the passing of a friend, he was upset at the lack of faith on the part of Mary and Martha, or he was upset and sad that sin entered the world and brought heartache to the people he loved. Whichever reason you believe to be the case, the point is that Jesus cried tears just like you and me. This is just one example of Jesus’ emotions. They were real. Jesus was real. He actually felt the same feelings we do at times.

When you go to God in prayer over any matter; remember that He knows how you feel. God is not aloof and far off. He has connected with mankind on a close personal level through Jesus.

God is waiting to hear from you. He wants to step into your life to personally help you. However, he cannot force himself on you. He cannot force you to want him. Take that next step that will get you closer to God. If you are a Christian, you still need to be one step closer to God than you are today. If you are a non-Christian, that next step may be a Bible study with a friend, it may be baptism, it may be opening your Bible for the first time in years. Whatever that next step is, take it. God won’t force you to take that step, but he is there to help you in case that next step is a dooozy.

Attributes of God