W.W.J.D. -1990's Nostalgia or Ageless Relevance?

I think most people over the age of 30 years old can remember the 90's. It was during that time, particularly, in the Evangelical Community. It was a time of  Rebirth, Renewal and Revival, a time of 'Show and Tell' to the Nation and even the World; 'What Would Jesus Do' aka 'WWJD'.

We were admonished to look beyond our own understanding and ideas and grasp the undeniable wisdom and power of Jesus the Christ; who was and yet is the true barometer of all life's situations, issues and problems. T-shirts, hats, bracelets and signs were in abundance; reminding not only the Believer, but the Unbeliever as well to think and ask themselves when faced with a decision...WWJD?

Mistreated, WWJD?
Lied on, WWJD?
Passed over, WWJD?
Talked about, WWJD?
Lead astray, WWJD?
Bamboozled, WWJD?
Hoodwinked, WWJD?

It was the purpose, in the 90's, to become more Christ-like everyday of our lives and not just merely on Sunday mornings or Mid-week Bible Studies. It was great...for a time, but unfortunately like any and all campaigns, slogans and fads; it dissipated and we went back to doing and thinking the way of Primetime: What Would You Do?; which in a nut shell is a show based on the actions and in certain cases, in actions of what people would or would not do. The morality and common decency of individuals are placed on display, and rarely if ever their spirituality.

Have we become so morally astute today; that we no longer need nor require to mimic the lessons learned from the Life of Jesus? Have we progressed so far in our wisdom and understanding; that we no longer need James 1:5?

Are our buttons, hats, t-shirts and bracelets now sitting on display, with our trophies of yesteryear, to be shown, with a sense of nostalgic pride mind you, to our children and grandchildren of a time when we use to ask and think 'WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?'

Or, will we revive again the revelation; that we can do it His way, we can think of it His way, we can say it His way, and most importantly, we can live it His way...

Whatever your circumstance, whatever your situation. There is a better way!

The question is: W.W.J.D.- 1990's Nostalgia or Ageless Relevance?

My answer: Hebrews 13:8


Blessings!

If we had Faith for That, do we have Faith for This?

I recently delivered a sermon entitled: 'We had Faith for That, but do we have Faith for This'. The title of the sermon is based around the story of a man by the name of Jairus; which is found in Mark 5 (new testament by the way {smile}).

The story opens with this man, who is said to have been a leader in one of the local synagogues, coming and bowing himself at the feet of Jesus asking, perhaps pleading with Jesus to come to his home and heal his daughter; who was "at the point of death". And, as this story progresses (after the "on the way to jairus' house miracle with the woman with the issue of blood") someone comes from Jairus' home with news that his daughter has died. One of the more interesting statements in this story are the words spoken by the individual from Jairus' home; when he said: "your daughter is dead, so why bother the Master any further".

It was that very statement which caused me to really pause and wonder, "why would he say that?" As I thought about what may have taken place at Jairus' home prior to him going to find Jesus, and pleading for Him to come to his home and heal his daughter. Could there have been a discussion with those in the home, and did the discussion include trusting what has been said and done by Jesus to date, and could this have been the discussion that prompted Jairus to seek out Jesus?

I can imagine everyone who was there in the home at the time of Jairus' departure were all on the same page; believing that this Jesus could in fact 'Heal' the daughter of Jairus. They had the Faith for That! However, when the daughter died before Jairus returned with Jesus; the Faith for her healing was now a moot point.

As you read the story and the word is given that his daughter was now dead, and don't worry about bringing the Master to your home, because it's now pointless, Jesus immediately speaks to Jairus and tells him not to be afraid, only believe.

Those very words spoken to Jairus over 2000 years ago are just as applicable to us today. We are able to find our story when reading about Jairus. There isn't many of us who have sought the Lord, in Faith, for a situation and while waiting for the Lord to come to our aide; that situation worsened. And, if you allow me to be transparent for a moment (only a moment). When my situation worsened, I immediately thought to myself, 'Well, that's that...' And, it was as if the Lord, Himself spoke to me as He did to Jairus, and said, "Don't be afraid, only Believe."

I realized that I no longer needed to have a Bazillion different levels of Faith, but rather only one level of Faith and that is Faith in Him.

As long as we are human, we will frequently run into these types of moments. And, when we do I would that we remember the words spoken to Jairus...Don't Be Afraid, Only Believe.

The answer to the question is simple: "If we had Faith for That, do we have Faith for This?" Answer: Yes

Give it a little more time...

As a preacher of the Gospel, I have had the idea that at a certain point one should be at a certain place and doing "A", "B", "C". I mean this is what is said without being said by those who are of the same vocation I am, and yet there are those of us who haven't measured up to the said status quo, and this is tends to give me fits more than anything else. Why have I not...? What is it that...? When do I...?

There is a parable Jesus used in Luke 13:6-9, and I know this maybe a bit of a stretch to use this passage of scripture to show my point but if you bare with me I think you'll get what I'm saying, or at least I hope you do. Jesus was telling us about a man who planted a fig tree in his vineyard and after coming to see if the tree had produced any figs he didn't find any, so he told the gardener to cut the tree down. The gardener; who in this case is a representation of Jesus, tells the owner to wait just a little while longer and let him, the gardener, spend more time with the tree, and if after a time it doesn't still produce then OK we'll cut it down but if it does then it's all good.

This parable help me to understand that though the status quo says, "...at this stage in the game you should be here and if you aren't then..." that there are times when certain 'trees' aren't going to bring forth fruit right away and that it's going to take just a little more time perhaps than most, but as long as I'm in the hands of the Gardener I know that I will continue to receive the proper nutrients necessary to promote the growth needed to bare the fruit required to feed those in need.

Have you produced fruit at every stage in your development? What parable or passage of scripture have you found beneficial in helping you produce?