The Book Most Awesome
Psalm 119:97-104
Neil Pasricha wrote, “The Book of Awesome”. He saw the ‘ugly’ around him – things like climate change and the impacts of natural disasters. He started a website called 1000 Awesome Things which he created as a getaway from his everyday. The Book of Awesome talks about the simple exercise of recognizing little things overlooked such as “finding money in an old coat pocket” or “the smell of gasoline.” He mentions missed opportunities such as hearing the crack of ice cubes in your drink and moving “clothes from the washer to the dryer without dropping anything”. The Book of Awesome is a playful book intended to get people to look at the amazing things of our everyday lives that we often miss which is good therapy to dealing with negativity bombarding us.
Good effort Neil. My next comment is not to diss what Neil’s suggesting because I like his light-hearted approach to problems. But I have a suggestion that’s even more solid toward definitive, long-lasting, positive change. I became excited at the thought that there is another Book of Awesome. I consider it The Book Most Awesome. You know where I’m going. It’s God’s Book!
I’ve marked my Bible. I mark all my Bibles. I wonder, as someone challenged once, “Has my Bible marked me?”
As we continue in the four thrusts for Kitchener Community Church reading The Book Most Awesome will help us maintain a spirit of CELEBRATION as an ongoing experience. It will overshadow the negativity and drudgery so common to us.
2011 started yesterday, and it’s pretty awesome in itself that on day 2 we are together as ‘family’ and we’re encouraged to discover as if for the first time The Book Most Awesome!
Could you tell a story of a riveting moment when your Bible reading made you go “WOW!” Or, being honest, would you suggest that it’s not a WOW experience and actually you don’t put much time into Bible reading and study?
The invitation before you today is to discover or rediscover how awesome God’s Book really is! (TAKE A MOMENT TO PAUSE FOR PRAYER BEFORE READING FURTHER)
Why would you want to discover or rediscover the Book MOST awesome? Well, because:
1. God’s Book is full of life-changing antidotes
• Antidote: something that counteracts unwanted or undesired effects that can be harmful or destructive. Excessive weight can lead to heart disease, high cholesterol or death so we resort to antidotes of good diet, exercise and sometimes medication to counter the possible dangers.
• God’s Book is full of antidotes from people who have been around the block and know a thing or two about life:
--- When dealing with hate – Galatians 5:20-21 says we cannot have any part of God’s Kingdom if we have hate toward someone; 1 Jn4:20 – if we say we love God but hate people we’re liars. Furthermore, “Hatred stirs up dissension” (Pro10:12). Antidote: love. “Love covers over all wrongs.” (Pro10:12)
--- If having problems with dishonest gain – “Dishonest money dwindles away.” The antidote: “he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.” (Pro13:11)
--- If you want to Extend your life, live honestly: “Use honest weights and measures, so that you will enjoy a long life” (De 25:15)
--- The Ten Commandments of Exodus 20 represent God’s loving instruction to avoiding harmful, destructive, and painful life experiences.
--- If you want to have purpose and be fulfilled: “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it.” (Jesus, Matt 10:39)
THERE’S MORE ON THE SUBJECT! READ THE BOOK!
2. God’s Book has life-enhancing antibiotics
Many of us know the impact of illness due to infection and within hours of starting a treatment of antibiotics our condition changes; we improve and get well. Every parent knows the sleepless night of tending a child with an ear infection. When we’ve had those and took our children for antibiotics we even knew what medication was needed. Once, when a doctor was prescribing something for Janine’s ear infection, mom said to the doctor, “No that won’t work. We need amoxicillin and it has to be for fourteen days and not ten!”
The Bible’s antibiotics have varying effects, some instant and others require progressive applications. The ultimate Blood-transfusion is instantaneous! Jesus said, as recorded in Matthew 26:28, “for this is my blood, which seals the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many.” This transfusion cleanses and heals the diseases that attack the human spirit, the intangible diseases that kill the soul, which modern medicine and remedies cannot address.
Brian Orchard and Paul Roberts wrote about the Biblical Perspective of disease control. Many of us don’t realize God issued the best policies around disease control.
--- Lev 11 – healthy eating tips
--- Lev 13 – dealing with leprosy (quarantine)
--- Lev 15 – personal hygiene. Interesting note by Patrick D. Miller and Charles T. Haley, Professors of OT Theology, Princeton Theological Seminary shows us how blindness was a very common problem in Biblical times, and likely the result of trachoma, an infection of the conjunctiva and cornea, as a result of poor hygiene, especially the result of infection by flies.
Some of the Bible’s remedies take instant effect, other prescriptions require time but they all work!
THERE’S MORE ON THE SUBJECT! READ THE BOOK!
3. God’s Book has a Global Positioning System
My first experience with GPS was difficult. I would have the route mapped on the GPS and not trust “Nina’s” instructions to turn here or there. Eventually I got used to believing her, for the most part, to get me where I needed to go. I didn’t realize at first that with a push of a button here and there the GPS could provide me with a satellite image. It highlighted my starting point, route and finally my destination. Once I got that feature tucked away I began to use my GPS very religiously and depended on the value directions it provided.
It is so important that we learn to trust the navigation system of God’s Book. There are rich benefits and payouts when we learn to do that because The Book never steers us wrong.
For instance, Jesus clearly states his purpose in Luke 4:18 – to preach, to heal, to free and in John 10:10 – came to give us “life in all its fullness” (NLT), or “have life and have it abundantly” (NAS).
How about the lesson that our journey in this life involves looking after each other as brothers and sisters in Christ – Galatians 6:2, when we bear one another’s burdens we fulfill Christ’s Law (Law is Lu 10:27 – love God with all your heart and your neighbour second to that.) The way we bear one another’s burdens is broken down by Jesus in Matthew 25:35-40. Looking after one another involves providing food when we’re hungry, drink when we’re thirsty, friendship when we’re among strangers, clothes when we’re threadbare, and visiting when we’re sick or even in prison.
Then there’s the Book of Revelation, a fascinating read with details of coming events!
--- Jesus speaks to the churches of where they fit in the final days of God’s Kingdom establishment – Rev 2-3
--- God’s throne, judgements – Rev 4-6
--- The sealed or protected servants of God! – Rev 7!
--- Finally Rev 21 – new heaven and earth!
--- God’s plan for humanity, justice and eternity are all mapped out for everyone to read and to determine where they’ll end up and how they’ll fit it into God’s scheme.
THERE’S MORE ON THE SUBJECT! READ THE BOOK!
4. God’s Book is complete with love-letters, drama and stories
The Book Song of Songs (some of you didn’t even know there was a book in the Bible called that) – fascinating love story. Some language can make us blush to read it in church! Its theme is to paint a picture of God’s love for Israel, for us. It could be a movie!
Then there’s the love story of Jacob, Leah and Rachel. Jacobe worked seven years for his uncle to marry Rachel but it resulted in him marrying Leah the oldest as custom dictated so he worked another seven years because he so desperately loved Rachel! (Gen 29ff)
• Deliverance of 2 million plus Jews after 400 years of Egyptian slavery! (Ex 12ff). Can you imagine the adrenaline rush if I told you to come back tonight with your suitcase packed and have lots of beach wear because we’re heading South! (They went to Sinai first which was South before heading North to the Promised Land of Canaan )
• Water from a rock in a barren desert (Num 20:11); Daniel in a den of lions and not a scar! (Dan 6); Jonah and the great fish and God’s amazing love to forgive a wicked nation (Jonah 1-4); then the story of stories – John 3:16, “For God…
THERE’S MORE ON THE SUBJECT! READ THE BOOK!
5. God’s Book is an advice column
Most of us are familiar with people such as Ann Landers. It was a Pen name created by Ruth Crowley in 1943 who was an advice columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times. The name was assumed by her successor, Eppie Lederer in 1955. Today you can go online and share your issue with “Ellie” (Ellie Tesher is an internationally syndicated advice columnist for newspapers across the country).
I don’t doubt these columnists can be helpful but they pale compared to God! His advice and guidance is life-changing in mega proportions!
For instance, He tells us that He’d like us to respectfully understand our place in His Plan. He wants us to have frequent communication and be in relationship with Him. He goes on to say that if we will seek His interests and walk away from everything that is contrary to His interests, then He will be drawn to what we want to say and will do some amazing stuff that will blow our minds! (2 Chronicles 7:14)
• 1 Samuel 7:3 – God’s spokesman, Samuel, told the people that if they’d turn their attention back to God and not be distracted from other, more important interests, God would act on their behalf to solve their problems and deal with their biggest challenges.
• Jesus offers us a model for prayer. He wasn’t saying in Luke 11:1-5 that we should pray a ritual prayer by saying “Our Father which are in heaven…” but was advising us on the principle components of our praying – recognizing the Person to whom we pray and the sacredness of approaching Him – “Father, hallowed by your name” or “reveal who you are” (THE MSG)…”
THERE’S MORE ON THE SUBJECT! READ THE BOOK!
I wonder how our approach to a situation we’re facing would be handled differently if we knew the counsel of the Bible.
Challenges:
I. Think of something you’re facing that’s a big challenge for you; something where you have to make a decision or solve a problem but up to this point you haven’t considered any process based on guidance from the Bible. Actually you’re still trying to figure it out. Now, decide to research that issue from the Bible’s perspective and take action based on what you learn.
II. Commit to 10 minutes of Bible reading every day or to read one chapter a day. Encourage you to pick a time that would be the same time on a daily basis as much as possible. If not, read that chapter or 10 minutes whenever you can fit it in but make sure you don’t go to bed before it’s done.
THERE’S MORE ON THE SUBJECT! READ THE BOOK!
