Dad's Ramblings -- Preachers from Hell

PARABLES OF JESUS – The Preacher From Hell
Luke 16:27-28
 
" 'Then he [the rich man] said, "I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him [Lazarus] to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they come to this place of torment." ' "
 
All the riches of the man in hell were of no value. He could not buy any comfort or rest. People in hell become believers, but it is too late. If it was possible for people to come back from hell, they would preach one sermon: "Don't go there!" Only one life, 'twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Preachers from hell would have one message: Live for Jesus!
 
Have a Christ-centered day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Parables of Jesus -- The Torment Of Memory

PARABLES OF JESUS – The Torment Of Memory
Luke 16:25
 
" 'But Abraham said, "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and your are in torment." ' "
 
It is better to live for God now with suffering and have peace in eternity than to live at ease in this life and suffer torment forever. The torment of hell takes various forms. One is the pain of the body – the thirst and burning. Another is the mental anguish, which can torment just as much as physical pain. People in hell are able to see across the gulf and observe the joys of heaven that could have been theirs. They will remember the times in their earthly lives that they heard the witness of God's grace and salvation, but they rejected it. Jesus said that in hell the fire is not quenched and the worm does not die (Mark 9:44). Worms eat and gnaw. That is what memory does. Remembering the past and what might have been eats and gnaws at the mind. I think hell will be one big insane asylum as people are driven crazy by their torments. It is to be avoided at all cost.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Mental anguish will be a part of the torment of hell.
 
Have a godly day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Parables of Jesus -- The Reality Of Hell

PARABLES OF JESUS – The Reality Of Hell
Luke 16:23-24
 
" 'And being in torment in Hades, he [the rich man] lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in torment." ' "
 
The thought of hell – a place of eternal torment – is so horrible that I don't like to even think about it. A conversation with a Seventh-day Adventist [they do not believe in eternal punishment] forced me to clarify my own thinking, and I came to the conclusion that there must be a hell, for several reasons. 1) Jesus believed it. He spoke more of hell than he did heaven. 2) His death and resurrection would have been pointless if there was no need to save people from such a place. 3) Just as light and dark, sweet and bitter, happy and sad provide contrast, the eternal bliss of heaven demand the eternal torment of hell to provide an opposite. 4) Justice demands punishment and reward. There is a world full of people who do not believe and are going there when they die. That's why evangelism is so important. The good news is that Jesus died to provide an escape so that we don't have to go there.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Hell is real and can be avoided.
 
Have a "reality" day. Love you.
 

Parables Of Jesus -- After The Funeral

PARABLES OF JESUS – After The Funeral
Luke 16:22
 
" 'So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.' "
 
Even though I understand that the death rate is 100% for both the rich and the poor (notwithstanding the news reports that say some new drug has cut the death rate by 50%), I felt sadly recently when I attended the funeral of a neighbor where only about 10 people came. Few people knew him or cared. I can imagine that nobody except angels came to Lazarus' funeral – if he had one. Probably few people even knew his name. But God knew his name and the angels came to welcome him home. The funeral for the rich man was probably packed out, but we don't know his name, and there were no angels. People will probably not long remember me after I die. "John? John who?" It's not what happens at the funeral that is important, but what happens afterward. As long as Jesus remembers my name, that's all that matters.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: God knows the names of those who love Him.
 
Have a memorable day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Parables of Jesus -- Rich Man, Poor Man

PARABLES OF JESUS – Rich Man, Poor Man
Luke 16:19-20
 
" 'There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptiously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table.
Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.' "
 
The picture that Jesus painted depicts a sharp contrast between two men. One man had everything he could possibly want in this life. He was self-sufficient and needed no one, not even God. The other man was a hungry, wretched, naked pile of sores. He even depended on others to lay him at the rich man's door. It is a myth that dog saliva aids healing. Like my daughter said to her daughter, "Just think where that dog's tongue has been!" So the dogs probably exacerbated the infection of his sores. Anyone in his right mind would rather be the rich man. But there is more to life than the material. One was rich in this world, but poor in spirit. The other was destitute in this world but rich in spirit. So, like the old game show "What's My Line" had it, "Would the real rich man please stand up?" Which would I choose to be?
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: One can be rich in this world's goods and poor in spirit, or poor in this world's goods and rich in spirit.
 
Have a "rich" day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Parables of Jesus -- Earning My Trust

PARABLES OF JESUS – Earning My Trust
Luke 16:10-11
 
" 'He who is faithful in least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore, if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?' "
 
It is a true saying: "Take care of the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves." Perhaps one reason people are poor is because they do not take care of the pennies. The same is true in the spiritual. If I have not been faithful in my stewardship of the material, why should God entrust me with true riches – like spiritual ministry? When I was pastoring, a man came to me and said he wanted to minister in the church. I said to him, "The restrooms need cleaning. That's a good place to start." He answered, "God did not call me to clean toilets," and he walked out. What he said may have been true, but I figured if he wasn't willing to do the little ministry, he wasn't ready to preach. I know I would not trust someone with a million dollars if he had not shown I could trust him with $10.00.  Trust is earned, and we earn it by being faithful in the small things.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: God gives us opportunity to earn trust by giving us small tasks first.
 
Have a "truthworthy" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Parables of Jesus -- Love and Loyalty

PARABLES OF JESUS – Love and Loyalty
Luke 16:9, 13
 
" 'And I say to you, make friends with unrighteous mammon [wealth], that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home .... No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.' "
 
Jesus was telling this parable to His disciples. In just a short time, one of His disciples would go to the "debtors" (vs. 5) and strike a bargain with them behind His back to betray Him. I wonder if Jesus, knowing that Judas would fail Him, looked Judas in the eye and said, in effect, "Go ahead Judas and make your deal with them. That's where your love and loyalty is. But know this, that when you fail Me, your eternal home will be with them and not with Me. You can't be loyal to me and serve money. It's impossible." We all have to make the choice whether we will be loyal to Jesus or serve the mammon of this world. So where is my love and loyalty?
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: It is impossible to love God and love money – to be loyal to Jesus and loyal to this world system.
 
Have a loyal day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Parables of Jesus -- Living Shrewdly

PARABLES OF JESUS – Living Shrewdly
Luke 16:4-9
 
" ' "I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses." [So he had the master's creditors change their invoices.] ....  So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.' "
 
This can be a challenging teaching. Was Jesus telling us to be like the conniving steward? Jesus gave another saying: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16). Jesus acknowledged the fact that we live in two spheres – the kingdom of this world (full of wolves) and the kingdom of heaven. Jesus calls us to live with both wisdom and integrity. I don't believe that he was advocating abandoning my integrity just to get along in this world. In the parable, the master commended this unrighteous steward because he used the principles of this world. The basic principle of living in this world is "take care of number one." In order to secure his future, he made his bed with people who had no more integrity than he did. (Is that a bad choice or what?) If my aim in life is to get along, then it is wise to live by this world's principles. But that is not my goal. Since heaven is my home, as a son of light I must live shrewdly in this world while not abandoning my integrity.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Living in this world requires shrewdness and integrity.
 
Have a wise day. Love you.
 

Parables of Jesus -- True Character

PARABLES OF JESUS – True Character
Luke 16:3
 
" 'Then the steward said within himself, "What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg." ' "
 
In these fragile economic times when many people have lost their jobs, many have had to ask the same question: "What shall I do?" Is digging ditches beneath my dignity?   Would asking for help attack my self-esteem?   Our society has fostered the idea that one should not be employed  below his status. So it is difficult to find a job because of being "overqualified." Economic hardship brings out the true character of a person. This man was willing to sacrifice his character to make money – both before and after he was fired.  He had no scruples or integrity.  To ask forgivenss and throw himself on the mercy of his master was not even an option for this man, so he just continued his practice of  scamming people.   Toward the end of this teaching, Jesus said, "He who is faithful in the least is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in the least is unrighteous in much" (verse 10). The steward demonstrated his true character. I need to live with integrity in both good and bad times.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Hard times brings out the true character of a person.
 
Have a "true character" day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Parables of Jesus -- Accountable

PARABLES OF JESUS – Accountable
Luke 16:2b
 
" ' "Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward." ' "
 
Stewardship and accountability are common themes in the teachings of the Lord Jesus, perhaps because it is such a common failing. We see it all the time: the elected official who misuses his office for personal gain; the financial advisor who steals his clients' money; the preacher who's goal is to build a large congregation so he will have his own kingdom; the TV evangelist who uses the money sent by listeners to buy five mansions around the country. But we are all guilty of misusing the gifts God has entrusted to us – our families, our time and talents, our callings – and using them to satisfy our own worldly pleasures. This is serious business. I am accountable to God, and I will stand before Him to explain how I have used the opportunities He has given to me.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: God will hold every person accountable for the stewardship of resources entrusted to him or her.
 
Have a faithful day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Parables of Jesus -- Accusations

PARABLES OF JESUS – Accusations
Luke 16:1-2a
 
"He also said to His disciples: 'There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. So he called him and said to him, "What is this I hear about you?" ' "
 
Accusations are easy to come by because we live in a world under the jurisdiction of Satan, the liar, who the accuser (Revelation 12:10).   Just because an accusation is made does not meant that it is true. It may be true or it may be false. The rich man was wise in that he called the steward in to let him explain or to defend himself. Confrontation is difficult, but when accusations are made, the best way to handle them is to go directly to the accused. In our judicial system the accuser is required to face the accused in court where the evidence is presented. I need to be careful not to automatically believe every accusation until the accused has had a chance to respond to the accusation.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Wisdom says to not believe every accusation we hear until we speak to the accused.
 
Have a wise day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- The Joy of Salvation

Dad's Ramblings -- Parables of Jesus -- Joyless Service

This new format does not include copy and paste like the old one.  If you can tell me how to do it, I would be greatful.  Dad.

Dad's Ramblings -- Parables of Jesus -- Anger

PARABLES OF JESUS – Anger
Luke 15:26-28a
 
" 'So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, "Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf." But he was angry and would not go in.' "
 
The elder brother care nothing for his younger brother. In fact, his anger shows a grudge that had festered for years. When the father blessed the younger brother with blessings he did not deserve, the years of bitterness erupted. How sad that his hard feeling kept him from rejoicing and enjoying the return of his brother.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Anger will keep us from rejoicing in other peoples' blessings.
 
Have a rejoicing day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Parables of Jesus -- The Older Son

PARABLES OF JESUS – The Older Son
Luke 15:25
 
" 'Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.' "
 
The older son. He was in the field working. He was the straight, no-nonsense, hard-working, dependable, responsible kind of guy – just doing what needed to be done. He had no time for music and dancing. He was too dedicated to his job to have fun. He was the epitome of the "good" child in the eyes of the Pharisees to whom Jesus was speaking (vss. 2-3). But as it turned out, he was as far from the father's heart as the prodigal was in his sin. I need to avoid being the "older son." There is a place for dedication to what God has called me to do, but there also needs to be room for music and having fun. A merry heart does good like a medicine.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: A person can be so dedicated to his calling that he misses the joy of life.
 
Have a "merry" day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- The Dead Son

PARABLES OF JESUS – The Dead Son
Luke 15:23-24
 
" ' "And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." ' "
 
This can be a difficult passage for those who believe in unconditional eternal security. Some would teach that the prodigal son did not lost his relationship with the father when he went into sin – only his fellowship. But the text belies that idea. In the parable, the father considered his son to be "dead" (see also verse 32) and needing to be made alive again. Ephesians Chapter 2 speaks of those who were "dead in their trespasses and sins," who walked "according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience" (verses 1 and 2), but who were "made alive" (vs. 5). This certainly fits the rebellious son who left the father to live his own life in rebellion according to the way the world lives, but was made alive again when he returned to the father. When he came back to the father, he not only came back into fellowship; he was "born again." By faith I know I am eternally secure because I trust Christ completely for my salvation. But there is always the prerogative for me to walk away from the Father and live in sin. God would still love me and long for me to return, but I would be "dead" as long as I live for myself and Satan. The solution is simple: Don't walk away from the Father.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Anyone who leaves the Father to live in trespasses and sins is dead and needs to be born again.
 
Have an "alive" day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Parables of Jesus -- The Grace of the Father

PARABLES OF JESUS – The Grace of the Father
Luke 15:21-22
 
" 'And the son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son." But the father said to his servant, "Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger, and sandals on his feet." ' "
 
How wonderful is the grace of the father. Even before the son had finished his prepared speech about being like a servant, the father interrupted him and spoke blessing on him. How unlike us. We say, "I forgive you, but....." There are no "buts" with the Father. Even though there may be natural consequences for our rebellion, they are not because God ordered them. When we come in humility to him confessing our sins, he simply forgives (I John 1:9) and pronounces blessing. "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God" (I John 3:1).
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: The Father only wants to bless the repentant child – not demand retribution.
 
Have a blessed day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Parables of Jesus -- Welcome Home!

PARABLES OF JESUS – Welcome Home!
Luke 15:20
 
" 'And he arose and come to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.' "
 
The father must have constantly watched to the road leading home, longing for his son to return. Perhaps every day he thought, "Maybe today is the day my son will come back." There must have been a ache in his heart each night as he went to bed because his son had not yet returned. But he did not give up, but with vigilance and anticipation, he kept looking. When one day the father saw his son with bowed head trudging down the lane leading home, he ran to him and embraced him even before the son had a chance to ask forgiveness. Oh, how the father longs for his wayward child to return home.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: The Heavenly Father longs with great anticipation to welcome His wayward child home.
 
Have a hopeful day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Parables of Jesus -- True Repentance

PARABLES OF JESUS – True Repentance
Luke 15:18-19
 
" ' "I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of the hired servants.' " ' "
 
True repentance is not just sorrow for the sad state that my wrong choices have gotten me into (in the pig sty), nor is it the shame for my filthiness, nor is it that I have wasted my life in selfish pursuits, nor it is that I have wronged another person. True repentance is acknowledging that I have sinned against heaven and a holy God. Without this last component, there is only worldly sorrow. As the Scripture says, "Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation...but the sorrow of the world produces death" (II Corinthians 7:10). Seeing my sin against the backdrop of the glory of God's holiness will bring true repentance and sorrow.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: True repentance is more than the fact that I have made mistakes in this life – it is that I have offended a holy God.
 
Have a "true" day. Love you.