Dan Bolin's Blog, page 10

The Return of Courage

I am contented to consume my body, to sacrifice to God’s service, and to spend all that I have, and to be spent myself, for the souls of men. - Richard Baxter

When Paul and Barnabas miraculously healed a lame man in Lystra, the dumbfounded people assumed that Paul and Barnabas were the gods Zeus and Hermes. Paul and Barnabas assure the crowd that they were mere humans, like themselves.

Soon some of Paul’s detractors arrived, and the mob’s mood changed dramatically. They turned on Paul and stoned him until he appeared dead. But Paul survived the vicious attack, and he and Barnabas moved on to the nearby city of Derbe.

The record is unclear as to how long Paul and Barnabas ministered in Derbe, but their next stop was – of all places – back in Lystra. On Paul’s second missionary journey he again returned to Lystra where Timothy joined his inner circle. Amazingly, Paul probably visited Lystra once more on his third missionary journey.

If a mob had attacked me, peppered me with baseball sized rocks, and left me for dead, I would have stayed away. I would have found any excuse to steer clear and avoid a possible second attack.

Courageous Paul lived out the words of Jesus, “Do good to those who hate you.” (Luke 6:27) What better ‘good’ than to share the gospel with those who need it the most?

Excelsior,

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc

Hope for Change

We want to avoid suffering, death, sin, ashes. But we live in a world crushed and broken and torn, a world God Himself visited to redeem. We receive his poured-out life, and, being allowed the high privilege of suffering with Him, may then pour ourselves out for others. - Elisabeth Elliot

I once heard a young journalism student explain why she picked her future profession. Her response was she wanted to “change the world.”

Most people have a deep awareness that things are not right. Headlines, news stories, social media, and our experiences leave us longing for change. However, the solutions this world offers provide limited effectiveness and are sometimes counterproductive.

When all looks hopeless, try reading the Bible’s final pages. John witnessed Jesus seated on a regal throne and records, “He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!’” (Revelation 21:5). We remain hopeful that in God’s perfect timing the wrongs will be made right.

As bad as things are, Christians maintain hope that God Himself is working events toward a magnificent solution. Jesus experienced many of these problems firsthand as He walked this earth. He now provides our hope of an eternal remedy.

The noble efforts of those who fight injustice, disease, poverty, pollution, hunger, or other accurately diagnosed problems should be honored and encouraged. However, the only true solution is found in the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and who provides the ultimate hope that He is making all things new.

Excelsior,

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc

Seven Dollars Later

However many blessings we expect from God, His infinite liberality will always exceed all our wishes and our thoughts. - John Calvin

Winter’s first cold morning liberated my heavy coat from eight months of solitary confinement in a dark closet. As I put my hand into the pocket, I discovered seven wrinkled dollars.

The money was mine, I just forgot that it was available to me. The bills were always there, but I failed to use them and benefit from their value. Unfortunately, we forget much more than seven dollars. We often forget the blessings God has for us.

David wrote, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not his benefits.” (Psalm 103:2)

And what are those benefits we tend to forget? The rest of Psalm 103 catalogs a litany of amazing benefits. I’ll just highlight a few:

Who forgives all your iniquity. (v. 3)

Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy. (v.4)

The Lord is merciful and gracious. (v.8)

He does not deal with us according to our sins. (v.10)

As far as the east if from the west, so far does he remove our transgression from us. (v.12)

Remember the amazing benefits God provides for us. If we forget not His benefits, like this Psalm’s opening and closing lines, we too will say, Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Excelsior,

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc

 

Higher Goals

I wish, my brothers and sisters, that during this year you may live nearer to Christ than you have ever done before. Depend upon it, it is when we think much of Christ that we think little of ourselves, little of our troubles, and little of the doubts and fears that surround us. - Charles Spurgeon

Each new year anticipates grand resolutions. Most are predictable: lose weight, read more, save money, get organized! They tend to focus on what we do and are easily measurable.

In the Upper Room Jesus instructed His disciples, and His words provide us with the basis for higher goals in 2024. This year consider setting your sights on resolutions that will change your heart, not just your actions.



Love one another (John 13:34). Get along with one another. Give more than you take in relationships. Let not your hearts be troubled (John 14:1) This world overflows with troubling events; however, as Christians, our identity is in the world to come. With the end secure, we remain concerned but not fearful. Keep my commandments (John 14:15). The evidence of our love for God is found in our conformity to the commands of His Word. Abide in me (John 15:4). Connect with God. He provides the stability, nourishment, growth, and fruitfulness we need. Your Joy may be full (John 15:11). Remember God’s amazing love for us and affirm His ultimate victory over sin. These provide the joy that overwhelms our disquieting circumstances.

This year, set goals that will last into eternity: love, peace, obedience, connection, and joy.

Excelsior,

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc

Prime Example

I am persuaded that love and humility are the highest attainments in the school of Christ and the brightest evidences that He is indeed our Master. John Newton

(For December I will reflect on hints of Christmas in the Old Testament.)

Besides the Old Testament prophecies and the Gospel writer’s accounts, Paul provides a New Testament reflection on the meaning of Christmas. He says of Jesus, “...who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasp, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8)

Mysteriously and beautifully, Paul tells the Christmas story. Christ did not relinquish His full deity, yet He somehow emptied Himself and became fully human. A humble, obedient servant who laid down His life for us – a horrific death on the cross.

So why does Paul tell us his version of the Christmas story? He left the key in the front door. Paul begins this section with the command, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5).

Christ provided more than an example, but His example is clear and profound. Walking away from Christmas, let’s align our attitudes with those of Jesus and become more humble and obedient. And be willing to follow Christ’s example by serving others.

Excelsior,

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc

Early Release

I still can hardly believe it. I, with shriveled, bent fingers, atrophied muscles, gnarled knees, and no feeling from the shoulders down, will one day have a new body, light, bright, and clothed in righteousness—powerful and dazzling. Can you imagine the hope this gives someone spinal-cord injured like me? Or someone who is cerebral palsied, brain-injured, or who has multiple sclerosis? No other religion, no other philosophy promises new bodies, hearts, and minds. Only in the Gospel of Christ do hurting people find such incredible hope. - Joni Eareckson Tada

(For December I will reflect on hints of Christmas in the Old Testament.)

My grandson enjoys school, but he really enjoys days with early release. Teachers’ meetings or training conferences sometimes end school a few hours early! What joy!

Isaiah’s nod toward Christmas took early release much deeper. He said, “...the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom to the captives, and release from darkness the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Isaiah 61:1-2a)

Whether we are poor, brokenhearted, captive, or a prisoner, we can all experience an early release from the misery, pain, bondage, and darkness that disrupt our lives. We can all experience the year of the Lord’s favor.

Early in His ministry Jesus went to His hometown synagogue and read these verses from Isaiah. He concluded, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21b) Jesus announced His intention to right the wrongs and to provide early release from the bondage we all experience.

Christ’s entry into humanity provides the gateway of early release that we strive for today and long for from Him. We celebrate Christmas in part because of what Isaiah proclaimed, the beginning of the year of the Lord’s favor.



Excelsior,

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc

Slice of Life

When we truly come to Christ, our thirst is quenched by the fountain of life and our hunger is filled with the bread of heaven. We discover that Jesus is the supreme source of satisfaction, and we want nothing apart from Him. As we trust in Christ, He transforms our tastes in such a way that we begin to love the things of God that we once hated, and we begin to hate the things of this world that we once loved. David Platt

(For December I will reflect on hints of Christmas in the Old Testament.)

The prophet Micah pronounced, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah. . . from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel.” (Micah 5:2) This tiny, obscure village, about five miles from Jerusalem, would someday be the birthplace of the Messiah.

The name Bethlehem means House of Bread. And Jesus, the most famous hometown hero, would refer to Himself as the Bread of Life (John 6:35).

A few days earlier Jesus had performed an astounding miracle, feeding more than 5,000 hungry followers. When the throng later located Him across the lake, Jesus wondered aloud if they followed Him for another free lunch!

Jesus dove deeper and explained, “For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (John 6:33)

Too often we follow Jesus to satisfies our physical needs. We want health, family, friends, work, money, peace, and full stomachs. But when times get tough, when frustration reigns and pressure mounts, do we still follow the Prince of Peace who alone can fulfill the deep hunger of our spiritual lives?

Bethlehem, the House of Bread, provided the world with the only satisfaction for our hungry souls – The Bread of Life.

Excelsior,

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc

King Forever

He is great and glorious, whatever we may be; and it is for our joy, our safety, our everlasting happiness, that we should become his servants. It is necessary, for the right ordering of our lives, that our hearts may be in tune to yield the music of joy, that we should be tuned by obedience to his will, and that we should learn to serve him. - Charles Spurgeon

(For December I will reflect on hints of Christmas in the Old Testament.)

As the Old Testament patriarch Jacob approached his final days, he gathered his twelve sons and pronounced his ‘blessings’ upon each of them. Some were grand and reassuring, but many seemed more like condemnations.

One of the good blessings fell to Judah. Some of Jacob’s comments were, “Judah, your brothers will praise you. . . Your father’s sons will bow down to you. . . Judah is a lion’s cub…The scepter shall not depart from Judah.” (Genesis 49:8-10a)

The regal nature of the blessing anticipated the kingly line that David, from the tribe of Judah, would someday establish. But the pronouncement looked much further. The prophet Nathan delivered God’s special message to King David. He concluded, “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7:16)

When the angel Gabriel stunned Mary with the good news of her selection as Jesus’ mother, he assured her, “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever.” (Luke 1:32b-33a)

The birth of our King was foretold thousands of years ago and millions of years from now, He will still be on the throne! Merry Christmas indeed!

Excelsior,

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc

One Great Step for Mankind

The [Christian] message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity – hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory – because at the Father’s will Jesus became poor, and was born in a stable so that thirty years later He might hang on a cross. - J.I. Packer

(For the next four weeks I will reflect on hints of Christmas in the Old Testament.)

As God meted out the punishments after Adam and Eve’s sinful action in the Garden of Eden, He foreshadowed the reality and results of a future Christmas.

Several curses were pronounced, and the sentence directed toward the snake is fascinating and prophetic. “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”(Genesis 3:15)

Generations downstream, Jesus would fulfill this glorious prediction and crush Satan’s head with His dramatic and decisive victory on Easter morning. The empty tomb will forever signify Christ’s ultimate triumph over Satan.

The price of victory would be painful. When Jesus set foot on Earth on Christmas Day, 2,000 years ago, His heel was exposed to the serpent’s strike. He won Easter’s victory with the pain of Good Friday. The cross will forever remind us of Jesus’ pain when His heel touched Earth.

However, during this Christmas season, we celebrate. In a few months we will reflect on Christ’s bruised heel and revel in Satan’s crushed head. But today, we enjoy the grand entry of our Savior into the world. Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Excelsior,

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc

Doubly Blessed

Nº 277

Make God the peculiar object of your praises. . . If God so distinguishes you with His mercies, you ought to distinguish yourself in His praises. You should make it your great care and study how to glorify that God who has been so peculiarly merciful to you. - Jonathan Edwards

When an author repeats something, it is probably important! In Psalm 107:15 the psalmist states, “Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!” Sixteen verses later, in verse 31, the exact words are repeated.

The repetitious wording emphasizes the powerful expectation of this wonderful thanksgiving psalm. We should thank the Lord for His love for us, as well as the result that love has in our lives.

Thanking God for His steadfast love is our response to who God is. God is love (I John 4:8 & 16). But additionally, we thank God for His wondrous works to the children of man! Our thanksgiving is also for what He has done.

As Thanksgiving Day in the USA approaches, remember the true focus of this event is more significant than turkeys, pumpkin pies, and football. As wonderful as the traditions are, as sumptuous as the meal may be, and as exciting as the games may be, our hearts should overflow because of who God is and what He has done for us. This year, thank the Lord for His steadfast love, and for His wondrous works to the children of man!

Excelsior,

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc