Gregory Mussmacher, God Bless!!


A 30-DAY GUIDE FOR NEW BELIEVERS
by JOHN D. BECKETT


DAY 30 BEARERS OF LIGHT
How can I most effectively help others?

This is the final day in this series. If you have followed these studies to this point, you have begun to set in place a solid foundation for your life as a believer. My goal at the outset was to help you explore some basic truths and establish patterns of thinking about your spiritual life. It was to build momentum toward a future in which you are vitally related to Christ. I am deeply grateful if these goals have been met. In fact, little could give me more joy than to know you are well on your way toward a growing, rewarding and purposeful walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now I want to encourage you to be a bearer of the light you have received. You can now be a light to help others. Light is a powerful metaphor in the Bible, and it is always set in contrast to darkness.

In the beginning of creation, when darkness covered the earth, God simply said, "Let there be light" -- and there was light (Genesis 1:3)
Jesus came into a dark fallen world as Light: "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness" (John 1:4,5)
On one occasion, Jesus forgave a woman caught in adultery, then said: "I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12)
When you came to Christ, you came out of darkness and received that light. Paul observed: "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love" (Colossians 1:13). And Peter says, "(He) called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).

A fascinating aspect of light is that it always extinguishes the darkness. Even a single candle burning in a dark room illuminates everything in that room. We can even consider the Internet from the perspective of darkness and light. Someone told me the Internet is 80-85 percent darkness. That may be so, but I praise God for the 15 percent that is light, because we know that light will ultimately overcome the darkness. Sending these studies to every corner of the world, some of which are very dark, is testimony to the power of light.

How can you be a bearer of light?

If you have encountered the truth of the gospel on a website, share that site with a friend. If you want to share my story, it is at www.lifesgreatestquestion.com.
Look for doors the Lord may open for you to tell a family member, a friend or coworker about Christ.
Let your transformed life be a beacon of light as the light of Christ flows through you. Remember, we are merely the conduits for the light. It is the light from Christ in us that will reach into the lives of others.
I close this study with the charge Jesus gave His followers in the Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew 5:14-16. It is a challenge to you and to me -- that we might be His light-bearers wherever He takes us for the rest of our days.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven.

May God bless and keep you always.

John Beckett


Final Thought I will bear His light to others who are in darkness.

If you would like to share Christ with a friend, you can suggest they go to www.LifesGreatestQuestion.com where they can learn about how God could change their life.

Copyright © 2006 by John D. Beckett


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Gregory Mussmacher, God Bless!!


A 30-DAY GUIDE FOR NEW BELIEVERS
by JOHN D. BECKETT


DAY 29 NEXT STEPS
What do I do next?

The other day I was in a meeting with a woman, now in her eightieth year. She is one of the most godly, mature Christians I have ever known. Yet at one point she said wistfully, "I'm no where near where I want to be in my prayer life." This was not false humility. This was the heart-cry of one who has gone deeply enough with the Lord to know there is so much more.

Such a realization should not discourage us, but rather serve as a strong motivator to pursue spiritual growth with undaunted passion. It was toward the end of the Apostle Paul's life, having seen incredible evidences of God's power and provision that he said, "That I may know Him ... " (Philippians 3:10). That same passion is what prompted him to say, as might a great athlete who is straining toward the finish line:

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me ... one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12-14, emphasis added).

T. Austin Sparks describes the wonder and challenge of our growing in Christ this way:

The effect of the Holy Spirit's work in us is to bring us to the shore of a mighty ocean which reaches far, far beyond our range, and concerning which we feel -- Oh, the depths, the fullness, of Christ! If we live as long as ever man lived, we shall still be only on the fringe of this vast fullness that Christ is (Sparks, The School of Christ).

This study will end tomorrow. You have stayed involved for a full 30 days, and I want to commend you. But I hope I have inspired you to press on -- to go the next step, and then the next. As much ground as we've covered in these 30 days, we have only "come to the shore of a mighty ocean." There is so much more! And God has given us the capacity to receive so much more.

By now I hope you have become accustomed to looking up scriptures, at least the ones in this study. I also hope you are beginning to read the Word each day on your own, letting its truths shape your thinking and actions. It would be wonderful to know you've made some Christian friends and are meeting together, praying together, caring for each other's needs. How good it would be to know you are hearing sound, biblically based teaching. Most important of all, I trust you are drawing close to the Lord Himself, sensing His love, being strengthened with the grace only He can give.

Finally, some great additional study materials are available through the Internet. Take advantage of these resources to continue your growth. Don't let up, but rather make continual growth your highest priority. Trust the Holy Spirit to provide what you need, remembering that "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it, until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).

An excellent site through which you can connect with a variety of proven, valuable resources is www.looktojesus.com. At this site you will find Ten Basic Steps, Transferable Concepts and other helpful materials.

In addition, here are several other websites, some with studies for each day of the year:

My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/
Experiencing God: http://swcbc.org/exp_god/
Purpose Driven Life: http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/
John Beckett's study helps: http://www.masteringmonday.com/


Key Scripture I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).
Key Thought There is so much more! Knowing Christ is a lifelong pursuit.

For more resources to help you grow as a Christian, you can go to iChristianLife

Copyright © 2006 by John D. Beckett


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Luke 15:1-10 and Day 27

Daily Reading & Meditation
Thursday (11/6): "Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Jesus"
Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.2 And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." 3 So he told them this parable: 4 "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.' 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 8 "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.' 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Meditation: Do you ever feel resentful or get upset when someone else gets an unearned favor or gets treated better than you think they deserve? The scribes and Pharisees took great offense at Jesus because he went out of his way to meet with sinners and he treated them graciously like they were his friends. The Pharisees had strict regulations about how they were to keep away from sinners, lest they incur ritual defilement. They were not to entrust money to them or have any business dealings with them, nor trust them with a secret, nor entrust orphans to their care, nor accompany them on a journey, nor give their daughter in marriage to any of their sons, nor invite them as guests or be their guests. They were shocked with the way in which Jesus freely received sinners and ate with them. Sinners, nonetheless, were drawn to Jesus to hear him speak about the mercy of God. Jesus characteristically answered the Pharisees' charge with a parable or lesson drawn from everyday life.

What does Jesus' story about a lost sheep and a lost coin tell us about God and his kingdom? Shepherds normally counted their sheep at the end of the day to make sure all were accounted for. Since sheep by their very nature are very social, an isolated sheep can quickly become bewildered and even neurotic. The shepherd's grief and anxiety is turned to joy when he finds the lost sheep and restores it to the fold. The housewife who lost a coin faced something of an economic disaster, since the value of the coin would be equivalent to her husband's daily wage. What would she say to her husband when he returned home from work? They were poor and would suffer greatly because of the loss. Her grief and anxiety turn to joy when she finds the coin. Both the shepherd and the housewife "search until what they have lost is found." Their persistence pays off. They both instinctively share their joy with the whole community. The poor are particularly good at sharing in one another's sorrows and joys. What was new in Jesus' teaching was the insistence that sinners must be sought out and not merely mourned for. God does not rejoice in the loss of anyone, but desires that all be saved and restored to fellowship with him. That is why the whole community of heaven rejoices when one sinner is found and restored to fellowship with God. Seekers of the lost are much needed today. Do you persistently pray and seek after those you know who have lost their way to God?

"Lord Jesus, let your light dispel the darkness that what is lost may be found and restored. Let your light shine through me that others may see your truth and love and find hope and peace in you. May I never doubt your love nor take for granted the mercy you have shown to me. Fill me with your transforming love that I may be merciful as you are merciful."

Psalm 46:1-5, 10-11

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. [Selah]
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God will help her right early.
10 "Be still, and know that I am God. I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth!"
11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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(c) 2008 Don Schwager





A 30-DAY GUIDE FOR NEW BELIEVERS
by JOHN D. BECKETT


DAY 27 WHEN WE STUMBLE
How do I get back up after I fall?

One of the most critical moments in the lives of believers is when they stumble. We're all vulnerable, and it happens to everyone at some point. We are going along, progressing in our Christian walk. We're getting to know God. We're adjusting our thought life. We're overcoming some bad habits. Then, boom! Without warning, we do something "really stupid." Maybe it's an outburst of rage at something, or someone, in unrestrained anger. Or, maybe just as we start to get free of an impure sexual habit, we revert back as though nothing had changed in our lives. Or, maybe we have a nasty moment of gloating over someone else's failure, swelling us with ugly pride.

Our next steps after that stumble are really important. Why? Because right after a failure, we will either draw back from our relationship with the Lord, or we will press into Him, drawing closer than ever. We are at a fork in the road. Let's see where each of these opposite paths takes us.

On one path you progressively distance yourself from God. You may be overcome with guilt from what you've done, thinking ... "I've blown it. I'm a failure. I'm not worthy. God doesn't want me the way I am." Or, you may become hardened, justifying yourself: "He deserved my tongue-lashing." "She set me up for that moral failure. It's her fault."

The further you go down this path, the more difficult it is to recover. Some never do. They abandon their faith and give up on trying to walk further with Jesus. Sadly, the world is full of people who once believed, but have strayed far away. The writer to the Hebrews issues this caution, and it applies to everyone: "Do not drift away" (Hebrews 2:1 NIV).

But the other path can restore you to even closer intimacy with God. An earlier scripture promises that God has provided "everything we need for life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3 NIV). That includes a perfect way back to Him when you stumble. First, it is important to realize you will stumble. Even at your very best, you are completely unworthy when compared to a holy God. Second, when you fail the Lord is watching and protecting. See this assurance from King David, who was no stranger to failure:

If the Lord delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand (Psalm 37:23,24 NIV).

Third, you can come to God in complete honesty about your failure, and ask His forgiveness. Remember, He knows all you have done, even what you've been thinking. There are no surprises with Him. But you need to take the initiative in returning. What is God's response when you humble yourself and come before Him? Hear what the Apostle John says: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

What a tremendous promise and wonderful reality. I couldn't put a number to the times I've had to walk this path. But one thing I know -- each time, the Lord has been utterly faithful to forgive. You can be washed clean and restored no matter how grievously you have erred.

Finally, it is so much to your benefit when you come quickly. And come as often as needed -- not just for the big slips but also for the small ones. As you do, you will increasingly discover the depth of God's love for you and find your love and trust for Him growing deeper and deeper.


Key Scripture If anybody does sin, we have One who speaks to the Father in our defense -- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One (1 John 2:1 NIV).
Key Thought I am not perfect, but I am forgiven.

Questions or Comments about this study? Click "reply" if you received this by email and let us know your thoughts.

Copyright © 2006 by John D. Beckett


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Luke 14:15-33

Daily Reading & Meditation
Tuesday (11/4): "You will be blessed, because they cannot repay you"
Scripture: Luke 14:15-24

15 When one of those who sat at table with him heard this, he said to him, "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!" 16 But he said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; 17 and at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, `Come; for all is now ready.' 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, `I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.' 19 And another said, `I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.' 20 And another said, `I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' 21 So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, `Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.' 22 And the servant said, `Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' 23 And the master said to the servant, `Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"

Meditation: What does it mean to "eat bread in the kingdom of heaven"? In the ancient world the most notable sign of favor and intimate friendship was the invitation to "share bread" at the dinner table. Who you ate with showed who you valued and trusted as your friends. A great banquet would involve a lavish meal of several courses and a large company of notable guests and friends. One of the most beautiful images of heaven in the scriptures is the royal wedding celebration and banquet given by the King for his son and close friends. We, in fact, have been invited to the most important banquet of all! The last book in the bible ends with an invitation to the wedding feast of the Lamb and his Bride, the church: The Spirit and the Bride say, Come! (Revelations 22:17). The 'Lamb of God' is the Lord Jesus Christ and his bride is the people he has redeemed by his own precious blood which was shed upon the cross for our salvation.

Jesus' "banquet parable" must have startled his audience. If a great lord or king invited his friends to a banquet, why would the guests turn down his invitation? A great banquet would take many days to prepare. And personal invitations would be sent out well in advance to the guests, so they would have plenty of time to prepare for the upcoming event. How insulting for the invited guests to then refuse when the time for celebrating came! They made light of the King's request because they put their own interests above his.

Jesus probes the reasons why people make excuses to God's great invitation to "eat bread" with him at his banquet table. The first excuse allows the claims of one's personal business or work to take precedence over God's claim. Do you allow any task or endeavor to absorb you so much that it keeps you from the thought of God? The second excuse allows our possessions to come before God. Do you allow the media and other diversions to crowd out time for God in daily prayer and worship? The third excuse puts home and family ahead of God. God never meant for our home and relationships to be used selfishly. We serve God best when we invite him into our work, our homes, and our personal lives and when we share our possessions with others.

The second part of the story focuses on those who had no claim on the king and who would never have considered getting such an invitation. The "poor, maimed, blind, and lame" represent the outcasts of society – those who can make no claim on the King. There is even ample room at the feast of God for outsiders from the highways and hedges – the Gentiles who were not members of the chosen people, the Jews. This is certainly an invitation of grace – undeserved, unmerited favor and kindness! But this invitation also contains a warning for those who refuse it or who approach the wedding feast unworthily. Grace is a free gift, but it is also an awesome responsibility.

Dieterich Bonhoeffer contrasts cheap grace and costly grace: "Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves ..the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance ..grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate. ..Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life."

God invites each of us to his banquet that we may share in his joy. Are you ready to feast at the Lord's banquet table?

"Lord Jesus, you withhold no good thing from us and you lavish us with the treasures of heaven. Help me to seek your kingdom first and to lay aside anything that might hinder me from doing your will."

Psalm 22:24-31

24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; and he has not hid his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.
25 From thee comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live for ever!
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him.
28 For dominion belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.
29 Yea, to him shall all the proud of the earth bow down; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and he who cannot keep himself alive.
30 Posterity shall serve him; men shall tell of the Lord to the coming generation,
31 and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, that he has wrought it.



Daily Reading & Meditation
Wednesday (11/5): Whoever does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple"
Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

25 Now great multitudes accompanied him; and he turned and said to them, 26 "If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, `This man began to build, and was not able to finish.' 31 Or what king, going to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy and asks terms of peace. 33 So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Meditation: Why does Jesus say we must 'hate' our families and even ourselves? The expression 'to hate' often meant to 'prefer less'. Jesus used strong language to make clear that nothing should take precedence or first place in our lives over God. Jesus knew that the way of the cross was the Father's way to glory and victory over sin and death. He counted the cost and said 'yes' to his Father's will. We, too, must 'count the cost' and be ready to follow Jesus in the way of the cross if we want to share in his glory and victory. What is the 'way of the cross' for you and for me? When my will crosses with God's will, then his will must be done. The way of the cross involves sacrifice, the sacrifice of laying down my life each and every day for Jesus' sake. What makes such sacrifice possible and "sweet" for us is the love of God poured out for us in the blood of Jesus Christ. Paul the Apostle reminds us that "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit" (Romans 5:5). We can never outgive God. He always gives us more than we can expect or imagine. Do you allow the Holy Spirit to fill your heart with the love of God?

What does the parable of the tower builder and a ruler on a war campaign have in common? Both risk serious loss if they don't carefully plan ahead. In a shame and honor culture people want to avoid at all costs being mocked by their community for failing to complete a task they began in earnest. This double parable echoes the instruction of Proverbs: "By wisdom a house is built" and "by wise guidance you can wage a war" to ensure victory (Proverbs 24:3-6). Every landowner who could afford it walled in his orchard as a protection from intruders who might steal or harm his produce. A tower was usually built in a corner of the wall and a guard posted especially during harvest time when thieves would likely try to make off with the goods. Starting a building-project, like a watchtower, and leaving it unfinished because of poor planning would invite the scorn of the whole village. Likewise a king who decided to wage a war against an opponent who was much stronger, would be considered foolish if he did not come up with a plan that had a decent chance of success.

Jesus tells his would-be disciples that they, too, must count the cost if they want to succeed as his disciples. Jesus assures success for those willing to pay the price. All it cost is everything! What does Jesus have to offer that's worth giving up everything else? More than we can imagine! Jesus offers the gift of abundant life and everlasting peace and happiness with God. (See the parable of the treasure hidden in the field and the pearl of great price in Matthew 13:44-45). It's natural to ask what will it require of me or cost me before I sign up or agree to pay for something. Jesus was utterly honest and spared no words to tell his disciples that it would cost them dearly to follow after him. There can be no room for compromise or concession with God. We either give our lives over to him entirely or we keep them for ourselves. Paul the Apostle says, "We are not our own. We were bought with a price" ( 1 Corinthians 6:19b,20). That price is the precious blood of Jesus Christ shed for us upon the cross to redeem us from slavery to sin and death.

The love of God compels us to choose who or what will be first in our lives. To place any relationship or any possession above God is a form of idolatry. Jesus challenges his disciples to examine who they love first and foremost. Jesus' way to glory and power is opposite the world's way of glory, power, and success. The choice is ours, but the Lord does not leave us alone if we choose to follow him. Does the love of Christ compel you to put God first in all you do (see 2 Corinthians 5)?

"Lord Jesus, may your love transform me that I may truly desire nothing more than life with you. May you always be first in my thoughts and intentions, and in my words and actions."

Psalm 112

1 Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments!
2 His descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in his house; and his righteousness endures for ever.
4 Light rises in the darkness for the upright; the LORD is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice.
6 For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered for ever.
7 He is not afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
8 His heart is steady, he will not be afraid, until he sees his desire on his adversaries.
9 He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever; his horn is exalted in honor.
10 The wicked man sees it and is angry; he gnashes his teeth and melts away; the desire of the wicked man comes to nought.Sphere: Related Content

Day 25 & 26

Gregory Mussmacher, God Bless President Elect Obama!!


A 30-DAY GUIDE FOR NEW BELIEVERS
by JOHN D. BECKETT


DAY 26 IN, BUT NOT OF ...
How do I maintain my equilibrium in daily living?

One of the great dilemmas of the Christian life is to know how we should relate to the world around us. For me, this has been a lifelong challenge. As I said earlier, I know I have been "called" to the business world. Yet with that call I am functioning daily in a non-Christian environment. I often interact with people who don't know Christ, and may not have the slightest interest (they may even be antagonistic to my beliefs). I have to deal with ideas and ideals that are steeped in materialism, selfishness and greed. I work alongside those with lifestyles and habits that are contrary to biblical patterns. The "fallen world" is never far away.

We can err in two ways as we try to navigate the troubled waters of the world around us. One is to isolate -- a direction taken in the extreme by those who have joined various monastic orders down through history. Such an approach may indeed keep us separated from the messy world about us. But if our isolation robs others of the witness of a Spirit-filled follower of Jesus, isn't that selfish on our part?

The other error is to assimilate -- to be so much like those around us there is no visible difference. This is often the mindset of believers who are living two lives, a religious life (say at home and on weekends) and a workplace life, where spiritual focus is muted for the sake of work in the "real world." In the closing book of the Old Testament the prophet Malachi prophesied that there would one day be a clear distinction between the righteous and the unrighteous, between those who serve the Lord and those who do not (see Malachi 3:18). Our lives should reflect that distinction. We should be different in ways that are important, yet approachable and accessible in ways that engage us in the lives of others.

Jesus both modeled and instructed an approach in which He neither isolated nor assimilated. He continually interacted with people where they were, in the "marketplaces" of His day. He drew His closest associates from trades and professional people, and His teachings centered around the everyday world -- "a sower went out to sow," "the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant" (see Matthew 13:3.45). Although Jesus fully engaged the world around Him, He did so without losing one iota of His devotion to His Father or deviating in the slightest from His integrity or values.

Jesus' teachings lined up to His personal example. For example, He prayed for His disciples, "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one" (John 17:15). He instructed His followers: "You are the salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13). (Salt has cleansing, flavoring and preservative qualities, but does no good if it is confined to a box or bottle.)

You have not been given a new life in order to isolate, nor have you been transformed only to assimilate. You are called to Christ, first to be His -- heart, soul, mind and strength -- and then commissioned to go out in His power to a needy world. As Paul said, "We are ambassadors for Christ ... workers together with Him" (2 Corinthians 5:20,6:1).

Billy Graham likens your role in the world to that of the Gulf Stream as it flows through the chilly waters of the Atlantic Ocean: "The Gulf Stream is in the ocean, and yet it is not a part of it. Believers are in the world, and yet they must not be absorbed by it." The warmth of the Gulf Stream profoundly affects the climate of many parts of the world. In fact, palm trees grow off the coast of Scotland, while further east, at the same latitude, Siberia experiences some of the world's harshest winters. You, as with the Gulf Stream, are to retain your identity and purpose, but also affect the surrounding climate, where you live and where you work. You are in the world but not of it.


Key Scripture As you sent Me into the world I have also sent them into the world (John 17:18).
Key Thought I may be the only bible my neighbor ever reads.




A 30-DAY GUIDE FOR NEW BELIEVERS
by JOHN D. BECKETT


DAY 25 CALLING
How can I serve God in my work?

Our primary "calling" is always to Christ. Os Guinness in The Call says, "First and foremost we are called to Someone (God), not to something (such as motherhood, politics, or teaching) or to somewhere (such as the inner city or Outer Mongolia)" (p. 31). However, we who are called to Christ are also "called" vocationally. God's plan for us includes our work.

There is a common idea in Christian circles that people cannot fully serve God unless they go into some kind of "full-time" Christian work -- as a missionary, a minister or a church worker. The root of this thinking is the long-held view that there is a sharp divide between the "sacred" and the "secular" -- the sacred being higher, more noble, more worthy, and the secular lower, less noble and less worthy. But this is not the view held by Jesus and His followers. A. W. Tozer, in The Pursuit of God, addresses the issue this way:

One of the greatest hindrances to the Christian's internal peace is the common habit of dividing our lives into two areas -- the sacred and the secular. But this state of affairs is wholly unnecessary ... It is a creature of misunderstanding. The sacred-secular antithesis has no foundation in the New Testament.

Removal of this divide in our thinking has profound implications for our daily work. The reality is that God calls people to a huge variety of honorable endeavors -- from educators to engineers, from sculptors to scientists, from farmers to factory workers, from medical technicians to moms at home with their children. If we receive such a vocational call, we can respond with the same sense of purpose and intensity as to any other call. The challenge is to keep our activities, whether designing a bridge or singing in the church choir, in harmony with God's design, rather than in opposition to that design. We can ask, "Are my motives right? Are my methods right? If Christ were standing right beside me as I operate this machine or paint this picture, would I do anything differently?"

After I became a Christian, I wrestled with the tension between the sacred and the secular. Most other believers I knew were employed in church-related work. My interests and background seemed to point toward a career in engineering and business, yet I had the nagging sense such pursuits were less "worthy." How could I find God's highest for my work? I didn't want to be a "second-class" citizen.

After an extended time of searching for God's will, I realized He indeed wanted to guide me. I didn't hear an audible voice, but I sensed Him saying, "John, I've called you to business. Do it with all your heart." As you might imagine, this clarity was tremendously liberating. It freed me to wholeheartedly pursue business as my calling in life -- a journey I've now pursued for over four decades.

Do you have clarity on your vocational call? I believe the Lord wants to give you confidence in your career choices. Here are some indicators that may help you. Ask yourself: What am I good at? What do I really enjoy? What do my education and experiences point to? Where do I sense God's pleasure?

You may see patterns in your life that provide clear direction -- as though an Invisible Hand has been at work, guiding you, even before you fully committed to follow Him.

You will spend the majority of your waking hours at work. How important that you respond to a call. Life is more than just doing a job and earning a paycheck. God calls you and gives purpose to your life -- right where you are, right in the workplace.


Key Scripture "Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men" (Colossians 3:23).
Key Thought I can be an "ordained plumber."

p.s. For a more thorough explanation of the sacred-secular divide and how it affects our work, please visit Loving Monday E-Book text, Part Two, at www.LovingMonday.com


Copyright © 2006 by John D. Beckett


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Obama Wins

Gregory Mussmacher, God Bless America!!



The Future of the Political Family

A few weeks ago, I wrote a message that offered some considerations on voting. In response, many people offered questions and comments of both praise and opposition . You may think that I would avoid political conversation (especially at the dinner table) because it can really get people going. But I sincerely valued the opportunity to hear more from you, the Grace Before Meals family! I’d rather hear about what you’re thinking in appropriate settings rather than harbor grudges . Therefore, a day after the general election , I think it’s necessary to write another political commentary. After all, it’s still a free country – I hope!



First, please know I’m writing this a few days before Election Day, so I have no idea who will be elected . Thank God, I can’t tell the future. If I could, I think I’d be slightly depressed. No one really knows what will happen in the future. Even the most informed media outlets, political pundits, and future presidential candidates cannot foretell the outcome of this election . Who knows what’s in store for our country, our world, and even our families in the next few years?

While only God knows the future, we can live in the present with a certain hope of the direction we’re going. If you’re living your life headed in the direction of Heaven (i.e., praying, living the Faith, going to church, receiving the sacraments), you can hope, with some certainty, you will get there someday. This hope is not presumptive, because I’m not using “hope” as a political motto, but rather a theological virtue. Theological hope tells us that no matter who sits in the Oval Office, God is still our ultimate leader. So if your candidate did not win, you can complain, whine, be depressed, even move to another country; or you can make sure that you remain an active and law abiding citizen with the hope that this nation is still under God – not as an elected official, but as a father who loves His children.

When I consider all of the problems our country faces, the criticisms and divisive issues of the universal church, and the news of world crisis, I am sometimes tempted to wonder if we are going to hell in a hand basket. Then I take time and pray and realize that every child born reminds us that God is not done with this world just yet. There is still hope that we will be ok – as a family, as a country, as a world. It just takes every person to put into practice what all religions agree upon: trust in a God who loves us and wants us to love one another as he does.

So, even if your presidential choice did not win, don’t lose hope in God, for He will send us the leader that will help us see we are citizens of a Heavenly inheritance. If your candidate didn’t win, it’s not because God didn’t answer your prayers. It was strange to hear in this election season how voters began praying for their candidate to win. From UN officials to Hollywood stars to the faithful home schooling family, many people began praying for an outcome according to their desires. Instead, we need to pray that we fulfill God’s desire. Prayer teaches us that even if our party did win, we cannot put our hope in one person. He will turn to dust just as all of history’s greatest and worst leaders.



Sorry if my commentary is raining on your parade or if it isn’t consoling enough. My job is to put families first and to make sure they can talk about the recent election with hope for the future. Change our country and the world can only happen if we first change our hearts and minds to God’s truth.

What Americans should hope for is a president who won’t pretend to be a fortune-teller. We need a leader who can be a prophet. In this election cycle, both candidates seemed to overstep their natural human ability. Both presented claims they would make dramatic changes that would benefit us all . While saints have shown that one life, lived fully for God, can change the world, I would question whether our President Elect (or any president for that matter) is a saint.

What would impress me about this new President is if he tried not to act as the Messiah, but a prophet in the Biblical sense and not as Hollywood portrays it.

Unfortunately, the modern mentality of presidents, Speakers of the House, Senate leaders, and even judges is they are allowed to act above the law. Some remind me of emperors who saw their position as a divine right, rather than a responsibility to public service.

Therefore, we need a prophet leader who can read the signs of the times similar to how weather is forecasted. A true prophet can see that the future of the political family will survive only if we allow unborn children to survive the threat of deadly choices. A true prophetic leader will respect and understand the power of history and realize that leaders fall from grace when they attempt to take God’s place and make decisions that harm life. A true prophetic leader is someone who desires to be a saint, someone who seeks the Kingdom of God rather than trying to create Heaven on earth.



In every election, there is a winner and a loser. But the real loser is the one who loses faith in the fact that we are a nation under God, not a nation under the whims of popularity or presidents.

This blast aims to remind all citizens, no matter what nation you live in, that we can’t place too much faith in politicians. They are only human. Before the elections, I read an article about how some Hollywood folk declared (once again) they would leave the country if their candidate didn’t win. My thought: It’s a free country. Go right ahead.

But for those who stick around, no matter which candidate puts his hand on the Bible on Inauguration Day, we have hard work ahead of us. We must do all we can to ens ure our family stays indivisibly united under God, with liberty and justice for all – born and unborn.



Banana & Apples Foster Crisp



At the end of this election season, we need something as American as apple pie. But, because I’m not a baker and I like to manipulate traditional recipes, I created something a little different for the Mount St. Mary’s winning soccer team dinner. The dessert received many positive votes and made seminarians very happy.

Please click here for the recipe.



Prayers for Leaders of Nations

Prayers work. Maybe not the way you want them to work, but then again, you’re not God. Therefore, trust God hears your prayers. And in this contentious political season, our prayers can help us understand that no matter who is p resident, God will continue to bless our nation. Remember, every child born in this world is a sign that God continues to send us future leaders for our families.

Let us Pray:

Father in Heaven, bless the leaders of our nation with wisdom, humility, and upright moral character. May our leaders know that justice can only be achieved when we uphold the principal priority of the Right to Life. Give to our public servants the grace to make decisions that are appropriate to their office. Allow them to be humble before all people, by serving the needs of the citizens, not just with words, but most importantly with actions. Lord, as nations experience division due to political fighting, give to citizens the grace to be peacemakers, to take responsibility for their own lives, and to try and work together for the good of all. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Ask Fr. Leo for fatherly advice.
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Luke 14:12-14

Gregory Mussmacher, God Bless

Daily Reading & Meditation
Monday (11/3): "You will be blessed, because they cannot repay you"
Scripture: Luke 14:12-14

12 He said also to the man who had invited him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your kinsmen or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just."

Meditation: Who do you honor at your table? The Lord is always ready to receive us at his table. As far as we can tell from the gospel accounts, Jesus never refused a dinner invitation! Why, in this particular instance, does Jesus lecture his host on who he should or shouldn't invite to dinner? Did his host expect some favor or reward from Jesus? Did he want to impress his neighbors with the honor of hosting the "miracle worker" from Galilee?


Jesus probes our hearts as well. Do you show favor and generosity to those who will repay you in kind? What about those who do not have the means to repay you – the poor, the sick, and the disadvantaged? Generosity demands a measure of self-sacrifice. It doesn't impoverish, but rather enriches the soul of the giver. True generosity springs from a heart full of mercy and compassion. God loved us first, and our love is a response of gratitude to his great mercy and kindness towards us. We cannot outgive God in his generosity towards us. Do you give freely as Jesus gives without expectation for personal gain or reward?

"Lord Jesus, fill me with gratitude for your unboundless love and mercy towards me. And purify my love for others that I may seek their good rather than my own benefit or gain. Free me to love others as you love."

Psalm 69:16, 30-36

16 Answer me, O LORD, for thy steadfast love is good; according to thy abundant mercy, turn to me...
30 I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31 This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.
32 Let the oppressed see it and be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
33 For the LORD hears the needy, and does not despise his own that are in bonds.
34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves therein.
35 For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah; and his servants shall dwell there and possess it;
36 the children of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it.



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