All Good Things Do Not Have to Come to an End

Posted on June 8, 2005 by gophumek | Permalink 0

All Good Things Don’t Have to Come to an End
Luke 20:14-17; 19-23; 26-29
Wednesday June 8, 2005

I have been writing and sending out this devotional tidbit for over six months. I am grateful for all who have responded at one time or another. Today’s devotional is going out to those who normally receive it as well as to a specially selected list of individuals who will read it for the first time.

Those I have specially selected to receive this devotional have a connection in one way or another to the Center for Christian Education in Irving, TX. I graduated from the Center last May. I am now saddened to say that they are closing their doors at the end of June. I am currently auditing a class there with our beloved Dr. Bill. I did not know this would be the last class ever taught at the Center. My wife and I (mostly my wife) have also been cleaning the Center for over three years. Excuse me if my tears are flowing through your monitor. I will dearly miss the Center.

They say all good things must come to an end. When Jesus was crucified, the religious leaders thought their problems were over. Jesus would no longer exist. His followers would not exist. After all, their leader Jesus would be dead. The cheers didn’t last long did they? Not only did Jesus arise, his followers spread his teachings and the good news of his death, burial, and resurrection to all parts of the world. Jesus was not a one man band tooting his own horn. He took men away from their jobs, a tax collector, fishermen, and others and made them all fishers of men. They preached the good news, they taught others about Christ. Jesus took them in and showed them personally the love of God. He had patience with them when any mere human would have lost their wits.

What Jesus did for the apostles, the Center for Christian Education has done for so many men and even a few wonderful women (Carol M. and Laura C. come quickly to mind) over the past 40 years. Jesus was full of patience when teaching the apostles, and our professors have been extremely patient with us as students. I think Dr. Herman Alexander was quite patient with me in preaching class. Every professor was patient with Sean, Luke, Rick U., and others with questions that interrupted important lectures. Most of all I want to mention that the Center for Christian Education legacy will live on forever through the teaching we received which we will teach and preach to others. There are many of us who want to continue the great teaching tradition of the Center. I personally know five or six current and former students that want to teach at the college level. We have been inspired by our wonderful professors to teach others in the way we have been taught. We are especially grateful for being taught how to study the Bible for ourselves.

All good things do not have to come to an end. While the Center may close its doors, the students who have passed through those doors will continue to teach the gospel message, hopefully with the same passion as Dr. Bill and Dr. Herman Alexander. Some of you man not know the Center for Christian Education and its professors, but you have seen their influence in these devotional tidbits over the past six months. I thank God for the education I received at the Center for Christian Education.

In Christ,
Brian Humek

Encouragment, Evangelism, Longevity, Ministry

Blessings

Posted on June 2, 2005 by gophumek | Permalink 0

Blessings
Ephesians 2:4-5

We recently returned from the trip mentioned in last week’s devotional tidbit. While on our preaching/teaching/going to see Grandma and Grandpa trip, I asked my wife a key theological question. I asked her if she thought God would bless us even when we don’t act in the best Christian behavior. I had really been struggling with this question and she answered it with common sense.

She said, “If the only time God would bless us was when we acted perfect, then the blessings wouldn’t be blessings, they would be rewards for doing good.” Wow! I definitely needed that loving smack in the face with a logical conclusion about God’s grace. My wife is indeed a treasure and I thank God for giving her that knowledge. God has also given me that knowledge. Unfortunately, I, like many others let the knowledge God has given get bogged down underneath all kinds of troubles and worries. Acknowledging God’s grace should spur me, and all of us, on toward more works of righteousness and a closer walk with Christ.

What my wife said made me think of the following words of Paul: "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved." Eph. 2:4-5 (NIV)

God's Love, Sin, Struggles

Searching

Posted on May 25, 2005 by gophumek | Permalink 0

Searching
Acts 17:16-34

Our family is leaving on a trip at noon today, or so we hope. Before we can leave, we must find a rental car. I didn’t think this would be a problem. I called a lot of places and couldn’t find the car we needed. This search was very tiresome. Advantage, Avis, etc. This search of mine reminded me of how people sometimes search for the truth and have a hard time finding it. In Acts 17, Paul spoke to such people in Athens. They were very religious, they liked to listen to and talk about the latest ideas, sounds a lot like today. We all have our own personal searches, wallets, brushes, rental cars, or the truth. Although I’ve found a car, I have yet to pick it up. If all goes well, I should have the car in two hours. The truth is a lot more accessible than a full-size rental car a few days before Memorial Day.

In Christ,
Brian Humek

Evangelism

An Example for Children-Norman B. Gillis Sr.

Posted on May 18, 2005 by gophumek | Permalink 0

An Example for Children-Norman B. Gillis Sr.
Colossians 3:20-21

We sometimes like to stress certain Bible verses and put less stress on others. One example may be Colossians 3:20-21. Verse 20 speaks of children obeying their parents. We love to stress that verse to our children. We sometimes forget the following verse which commands fathers not to embitter or exasperate (infuriate, annoy, frustrate) their children. As parents (both mothers and fathers), we should always set the best example we can for our children.  Our words, our attitudes, all aspects of our personality are taught to our children. Even if we’re not trying to teach certain aspects, they are learned. Our children are sponges, aren’t they? Comedian and master storyteller Jerry Clower tells of a good example which was demonstrated to him as a youngster. I want to include that story in today’s tidbit. In this story, he speaks of a prized possession of his as a child, a coon dog named “Little Red." You should read this story with a thick southern drawl.

“One night we went huntin’ down in the swamps and Little Red got cut on a cross cut saw. I picked him up and started crying and held his back leg where that saw had cut him. Every time his heart would beat, blood would gush from his leg. We loaded him up in an old rattly-trap Ford car. My brother Sonny finally got it cranked, and we rushed to Macomb, Mississippi. I was crying, holdin’ my coon dog. We rushed to Gillis’ drug store and walked up on the sidewalk and the store was already closed but there was a light on in the back. Mr. Gillis was counting the days’ receipts. We bumped on the door and Mr. Gillis opened the door and said, ‘What do you boys want?’ There we stood with our overalls on, dog blood all over me, scared to death. My brother Sonny said, ‘Mr. Gillis, we understand there’s a veterinarian rents an office from you. Any way we can see him? Jerry’s coon dog Little Red is bleeding to death.’ He said, ‘Boys, I’m sorry but Dr. Williams is out of town and won’t be back until tomorrow but bring your coon dog on in my store. Put him down on the floor and let me get the lights on and let me see if I can help ya.’

“Now Mr. and Mrs. Adult, what would you have done? Would you have said, ‘Get that filthy dog off of this sidewalk! Look at the blood you done put down here!’? Yes, you could of run me off, and I’d a hated you the rest of my life. Ever since that night, I been lookin’ for a boy with a hurt dog because Mr. Norman B. Gillis Sr. showed me how adult people are supposed to set the right example for young people to follow. He called his family physician and asked him how to put a pressure bandage on Little Red’s leg. He gave him some pills. He said, ‘Son, you go on home. I’ll put your dog on my back porch, and Dr. Williams will see him first thing in the morning.’ Little Red lived to hunt again, and I thank God for men like Norman B. Gillis because he showed a young boy, a little teenager, how adult people are supposed to treat youngsters with problems.”

Wow! Well said Jerry.

I too want to set such a good example for youngsters, especially my own.

Encouragment, Leadership, Servanthood