The Book Most Awesome!

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.