Sunday, January 06, 2008
Action
The only movie we were able to see during the Holiday Season was “The Great Debaters” with Denzel Washington. I highly recommend it. In the course of watching the movie the notion of the power of words occurred to me. To someone like those involved in Debates, words seem to be a powerful tool and even at times, a weapon. Yet words, my words, your words, or anyone’s words are weak and meaningless without action. I suppose and please correct me if I’m wrong, I suppose a preacher’s biggest frustration is when his words however carefully crafted, coupled with the greatest words of all time, Scripture, fail to motivate or prod one’s listeners to action or even apparent signs of life.
The text of Don’s message today was Joshua 1:1 – 9.
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them (emphasis mine)—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea [a] on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
God’s Words are powerful and full of promise. He made the same promise to the previous generation of Israel but they had refused to cross The Jordan into the Promised Land. Perhaps that’s the reason God uses the admonition to Israel to be “strong and courageous.” Don pointed out that God wants to bless us but we must have courageous faith and in essence, that courageous faith must evidence itself with action.
May this be a year family in which all of us move even closer to what God wants us to be by taking action.
Some of you might say that my finally writing a post is a good first step. Sorry for the absence. God bless.
Comments:
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I often find it frustrating, this thing about words. Some say, and write, that no one changes their minds… In a way it means that words don't mean anything. Or maybe they mean they want to see life and words. The assurances that God made to Joshua, and to us, strike a cord in our souls.
Glad to see you back on the air…
Glad to see you back on the air…
I can't fuss at you Cecil for the lack of blogging. I too have been away from the blogging comments lately.
You are right about it being frustrating to preach the truths of Gods word and not feel like you are penetrating the hearts of the hearers. But I have come to believe that people hear more and "respond" more than I can ever see openly. I am amazed at how many times people approach me days, sometimes weeks, after speaking and they tell me how much something I said touched their life.
I try to remember the promise of God that "His" word will not come back void. He is the one doing the penetrating by the power of the Holy Spirit--not my feeble ability to present it.
God bless you brother.
You are right about it being frustrating to preach the truths of Gods word and not feel like you are penetrating the hearts of the hearers. But I have come to believe that people hear more and "respond" more than I can ever see openly. I am amazed at how many times people approach me days, sometimes weeks, after speaking and they tell me how much something I said touched their life.
I try to remember the promise of God that "His" word will not come back void. He is the one doing the penetrating by the power of the Holy Spirit--not my feeble ability to present it.
God bless you brother.
I've missed you. Words are great tools, they surely are, most especially God's words. Coupling them with action on our part is the difficulty, at least for me. I pray, too, that we can all creep closer to the Master, injest His Word into our hearts, and follow through with love so that those around us can see Him living in us.
Good to "hear" from you, Cecil, and good post to start the new year!
Thanks!
Dee
Thanks!
Dee
# posted by 
: 9:39 AM
: 9:39 AM
And here we are again.
I agree about words. Lately I'm learning how to plan LESS for my words and allow MORE room for His.
I agree about words. Lately I'm learning how to plan LESS for my words and allow MORE room for His.
My most frustrating comment from a listener in the audience is is: "You stepped all over my toes today." Most often I will respond, "I'm sorry. I was aiming at your heart."
Crafting of words is both a challenge and delight, but I have to say that speaker and audience do miss each other from time to time.
My job, as I see it, is not to induce guilt, but to move the heart to change.
Peace.
Crafting of words is both a challenge and delight, but I have to say that speaker and audience do miss each other from time to time.
My job, as I see it, is not to induce guilt, but to move the heart to change.
Peace.
that girl - Thanks.
Brady - Yes they do.
Keith - That is so true Bro. I had a Principal who was fond of saying that we as teachers, never know when a casual word of encouragement to one of our students could me an indelible mark on their lives.
Brady - Yes they do.
Keith - That is so true Bro. I had a Principal who was fond of saying that we as teachers, never know when a casual word of encouragement to one of our students could me an indelible mark on their lives.
Judy - Thanks, missed you too.
Dee - Thanks. I loved your heating / a/c questions.
Steve - "...how to plan LESS for my words and allow MORE room for His."
Now there is spiritual inequality if I've ever heard one.
Puck - Amen.
Matthew - Sounds interesting and sparks memories of the famous 70's Chess Match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky.
Dee - Thanks. I loved your heating / a/c questions.
Steve - "...how to plan LESS for my words and allow MORE room for His."
Now there is spiritual inequality if I've ever heard one.
Puck - Amen.
Matthew - Sounds interesting and sparks memories of the famous 70's Chess Match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky.
This crowd is way too soft on you. You've been out of school for two weeks for crying out loud! What's your excuse for NOT blogging?? You have all the time off and you don't blog?? Supwifdat?
I'm with Keith ... I've been amazed at how many people will tell me long after the sermon (months or years ... yes, there have been a couple of sermons that were remembered for years, which in itself amazes me because I don't remember them) just how much something I said affected them.
I'm with Keith ... I've been amazed at how many people will tell me long after the sermon (months or years ... yes, there have been a couple of sermons that were remembered for years, which in itself amazes me because I don't remember them) just how much something I said affected them.
Very good thoughts. Glad you liked the movie. I'm looking forward to seeing it myself. As someone who is something like a professional debater it has personal appeal
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