Bittersweet Farm

When Chuk (our second-born son, third-born child) was working with Starbucks he came into work one morning a co-worker named Latif, a tall, handsome young man from a Muslim family had a story for him.

He told him that early that morning a customer drove up and ordered his coffee and then said, “I want to pay the bill for the car behind me, too.” Then he added; “Please just tell him that Jesus loves him.”

When the next car pulled up to the window he passed on the message, “The car ahead of you paid for your coffee this morning and he wants you to know that Jesus loves you.”

Latif was eager to tell Chuk because he knew of his love for Jesus.

Being a witness can be simple and fun. Attach the name of Jesus to acts of kindness and good-will to others. Leave people with a smile on their face. Do something to nudge everyone you meet every day just a little closer to Jesus, and get the name of Jesus into play. It is a powerful name.

Ken Pierpont
In Winona Lake, Indiana
July 24, 2014

Another similar story is here

The New Zealand All-Blacks Rugby Team has a unique way of intimidating their opponents before a match. They use a version of an ancient Haka War Dance. It’s a dark and intimidating ritual.

Before a match in England one day something unusual happened the All-Blacks started their war dance and the entire stadium burst into a hymn–actually a spiritual. Tens of thousands of English spectators began to sing Swing Low Sweet Chariot–and they sang it so loud they drown out the intimidating war cry.

Our Enemy is a master of spiritual intimidation. There is a cry of suffering and groaning going up all over this world and it has been getting louder and more intimidating over the centuries–but one day when the Sunrise of Eternity dawns and Jesus comes in power and great glory the thunder-song of heaven will come to earth and all over God’s New Heaven and New Earth the song of singing saints will drown out the groans of the fallen earth–glory be to God…

Ken Pierpont
Granville Cottage
Riverview, Michigan
July 14, 2014

Haka War Dance

Haka War Dance drowned out by a hymn.

It’s continually tempting to have a moralistic view of the Bible and to believe that we are accepted by God based upon our performance. The temptation to put ourselves on a performance-track with God is a deadly, damning temptation that attacks us over and over again. Today I stumbled on a video of Brennen Manning talking about the love of God. He said;

“I am convinced that on the judgment day the Lord Jesus is going to ask us one and only one question; “Did you believe that I loved you, that I desired you, that I waited for you day after day, that I longed to hear the sound of your voice?”

“Do you see why it is so important to lay hold of this basic truth of our faith? We are only as big as your concept of God. We often make God in our own image and he turns out to be as fussy, rude, narrow-minded, legalistic, judgmental, unforgiving and unloving as we are.”

“The God of the Word revealed in Jesus Christ comes right to you and says; “I know your whole life story. I know every skeleton in your closet. I know every moment of sin, shame, dishonesty and degraded love that has darkened your past. Right now I know your shallow faith, your feeble prayer life, and your inconsistent discipleship and my word is this: I dare you to trust that I love you just as you are and not as you should be because you are never going to be as you should be.”

Do you really believe God loves you and cherishes you just as you are? I believe that genuine believers will answer to God at the Judgment Seat of Christ and that unbelievers will face Him at the Great White Throne Judgment at another place and time, but Manning’s point is still valid. People of true and genuine saving faith are those who believe that God through Christ has loved and accepted them on behalf of Jesus—not their own merit or performance.

Hear the voice of Jesus today: “Do you really believe that I know everything there is to know about you and love you with an unwavering and eternal love? Do you believe I love you?”

“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) “I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers nor things present nor things to come nor power, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

Are you convinced?