Emmanuel Christian Fellowship - McGregor, TX

One of my favorite lines in the late 90’s blockbuster movie “Armageddon” involved a couple of NASA scientist explaining to a bunch of oilfield ruffins, misfits and neurotics, what they might expect to encounter on the meteor the size of Texas that was rapidly approaching planet earth.  After the grim explanation, Owen Wilson sumarized the overview this way:  “The scariest environment imaginable…thanks!  The scariest environment imaginable….that’s all you had to say!”  It’s a funny scene, but something about that line touches me.   Nothing like cutting thru the BS and getting to the important stuff.  At times I feel that it would be so good to have one of these kinds of talks with Jesus about the seriousness of what He deems the most significant work that we do as the Body of Christ or His church.  I wonder if we would like His answer or His summary?  Honestly, I don’t think we would have a problem with the answer if we heard it direct from Him.  But, I think deep down inside, we know the answer already, but the sheer cost to us personally is something that requires tenacity and discipline.  Few ever really push past the work of it and move into the delightof it.   I’m talking about PRAYER AND GETTING INTO GOD’S PRESENCE.   It’s another one of the balls that we’re not catching!  (If you’re confused by that last sentence, listen to the May 25 podcast).

I’m convinced that prayer is at the epicenter of every significant work of the people of God.   Of course we need God to move!  Of course nothing happens unless He makes it happen!  Of course.  But our part is to pray and submit ourselves to the Lord for His insight.  Oswald says that we go to the Lord in prayer for relationship first!  Then, once we get His heart on something our decision or direction is usually made for us.   I’m absolutely convinced that anything good that happens on Sunday morning at ECF is a DIRECT result of the prayer and worship lifted on Tuesday nites!  I’ve hammered this more than once to our body, but we’ve been slow to swallow this much needed medicine.

Guys, we don’t need anymore theology on prayer, teaching on prayer, convincing sermons that we need to pray.  WE NEED TO PRAY!  WE OUGHT TO MAKE PRAYER THE MOST SIGNIFICANT WORK THAT WE DO!   More has been written and taught about prayer in the last 30 years than probably the last 500 years combined!  We know what we need to do!  Knowledge isn’t the problem.

The mentor of the pastor who baptized and then discipled me was a guy named Sidlow Baxter.  I heard him say once in his brilliant Scottish accent:  “Until we learn to defeat the devil in our prayer closet, we can forget trying to whip him in the streets.”  Nothing more true was ever spoken.  If you’ll look thru the gospels, you’ll find that Jesus probably spent more time in prayer than he did anything else during his ministry.  It was so vital for him to get the download from his father before he acted.  I wonder how much better our daily encounters would go if we lived out that principle?  I wonder how much better our marriage would be if we prayed before we fought?  How much better would work be, if we prayed instead of complained…or if we prayed before we absolutely wig-out in fear and stress? 

One little passage of scripture and I’ll close this: 
2 Chr 7:12-16  Then the LORD appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.  If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and PRAY, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  Now My eyes shall be open and My ears attentive to the prayer {offered} in this place.  For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.”  (NAS)

WE CAN’T AFFORD TO MISS OUT AND NOT TAP INTO THIS PROMISE!   It is the most significant thing that we can do.

I Love You All!

Mike

Mike asked me to post this here for everyone to read. This is an email that Paul sent out to some of us detailing his bum-related adventures this past weekend. –DTaylor

My Grumpy Bum…

Last weekend, I was at a restaurant in Waco with some friends when I stepped outside to take a phone call. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice a man trying to get my attention. He was sitting on bench along the wall of a row of eating establishments. I quickly surmised that he was looking for a handout of some kind and I was correct. He said his name was David and that he was just a “bum” out trying to make it.

I visited with him for a minute and he gave me the spill. I took out my wallet and opened it (knowing that I didn’t have a single greenback) and showed him that I was just as broke he was. After all, $7.00 beers will drain the wallet in a hurry. In a moment of inspiration he made me aware of the possibility that the restaurant might have an ATM machine. I simply ignored that bit of info and asked him if he would like some food. He said that a hamburger would be fine so in I went.

I walked in the place, ordered a hamburger and fries and then visited until the food arrived. I felt good, I guess, about helping someone out. Just knowing that this meal would sustain him long enough for me to get gone and get home gave me a sense of peace.

Finally, the meal was ready to go and I took it out to my self-proclaimed “bum.” I could see the obvious disappointment when he realized that I was not going to give him any money. By the way, he must have been a “prophet” because there WAS an ATM machine right inside the doorway of the restaurant. I presented the meal to him and he kind of grumped, presumably because there wasn’t a wad of sweaty cash mixed in with the fries. He said “thank you,” I think. It was not the response I had imagined it would be. He then stated the he was very thirsty and that a Coke or a glass of water would be great with the meal.

I asked him if there was anything else that I could do for him. Something like, take him to a Rangers game, help him catch up on back-taxes, or make him a beneficiary on my life insurance policy. He said no thanks, just a large coke and $500.00 would suffice.

Well, I did go back in for a drink and I could not get waited on. It was very busy by now and my group was walking toward the door to leave. I did not want to go back to my bum and have to face him empty handed so I did what any good Christian man would do. I blended into the crowd that was walking out the door and never looked back. Someone else could get the bum a water, coke, or BMW.

I was a bit frustrated with my demanding bum. But really, what was I expecting? Was he supposed to jump for joy at the sight of a single hamburger as if it was the ticket to new life? Was I expecting him to make me feel good about helping him out? No, he acted exactly like most men that sit on benches and ask for handouts. Was it wrong for him to be mad that I did not give him money along with the food? Probably, but the fact that he is in a place of begging means that something had gone wrong somewhere along the way. I don’t know how he got that way. Maybe it was by his own actions. That seems to be the way I get into some of my mindsets and habits.

I really don’t even know what the lesson is here. We just need to remember that lost people do lost things. Even “spiritual” people do some screwy things at times. I’m sure on some level my hamburger blessed the guy. What if it didn’t? Was I doing it for warm fuzzies or doing it “as unto the Lord?” We just try and discern what actions to take, how to pray, and what attitudes to maintain. It IS okay to say no to certain requests. I guess we also need to be ready to say yes when God speaks to us.

Oops, gotta go. My bum just called and asked where that Coke is!

peace and love in Christ,
Paul