K. Lynn Lewis's Blog, page 4

Truly: The Brothers’ Encomium

Encomiums, a form of ode originated by the Greeks, developed as an extended discourse of praise for victors of the ancient Olympics, which endured for more than one thousand years, starting around 776 B.C. and ending around 393 A.D. The winners of these quadrennial games were typically immortalized in poems, songs and stories. In an associated tradition, our modern Olympics often incorporate odes into ceremonies, and certainly, after the completion of the quadrennial Olympic games, our champions are immortalized on cereal boxes, in sportswear lines, and in commercials, and recounts of their memorable achievements contribute to media discourses for years.

Amidst the backdrop of the ancient Olympics, around 30 A.D. or so, two sets of brothers began following a man they thought might be the ultimate victor, the grand champion of all things.

This person, whom they believed might be the long-awaited Messiah and whose coming had been foretold in prophetic encomiums, invited them to follow him, which they did, for several years, until he was killed, resurrected, and ascended into heaven before their very eyes. They then invested the rest of their lives in recounting his exploits and explaining the significance of his actions.

This is a summary of their story – an encomium – about Jesus Christ.

Truly: The Brothers’ Encomium

By K. Lynn Lewis

“The time has come,” the man called out. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news.”

“Come follow me,” he said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

So, the four of us, dropped our nets in array, relinquished our boats, careers, compatriots, and preparations, and left without delay.

Truly, we have seen this Jesus Christ of Nazareth, with our own incredulous eyes. We heard him speak with our own ears; we are witnesses, and cannot help but speak about what we have seen and heard.

Truly, the time has come, to have confidence in the Sovereignty of God.

He knows the thoughts of his detractors, the doubts of his friends, the faith of his neighbors, and the needs and worries of his family.

Fish provide payment for his taxes, swine abide the legions of his enemy, trees wither or flourish at his word, water beads beneath his feet like soil.

Stones restrain themselves from crying out, the whole earth stands silent before him, and groans in travail in anticipation of his return.

Diseases are cured by his touch; demons know him by sight and obey his commands; even the wind and waves obey him.

Stars herald his existence, wise men seek him, God loves him and is pleased with him.

Satan tempts him, angels attend him, Moses and Elijah visit him. Children praise him, centurions acknowledge him, Samaritans believe him.

The diseased want to touch him, the hungry want to eat with him, the crowds want to meet with him, the lame want to walk with him, the blind want to see him, the scholars want to test him, the self-righteous want to kill him, the hometown doesn’t want him.

He eats with sinners, drinks with saints, dips with traitors, breaks bread, makes bread, bakes bread, cooks fish, washes feet, sings hymns, and prays privately, fervently, and repeatedly.

He amazes over lack of faith, distresses over stubbornness, longs over cities, cries over friends, turns over tables, gets over denial, and presides over all eternity.

He obstructs palterers, confronts pretenders, skews predilection, acts with prescience, stands silent in the face of accusation, and restrains angels from coming to his aid during his most critical hours of need.

Truly, the time has come, to have reliance on the Word of God.

He was with God in the beginning, He was, is, and is to come; in Him is life.

Truly, no one ever spoke like him. He teaches with authority, preaches with conviction, elucidates with patience, and commands with expectation.

Infirmities flee at his direction, by his word, sins are forgiven, the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear, and the dead rise.

Truly, the time has come, to have dependence on the power of God.

He created and sustains all things – the heavens and the earth, animals, plants, and people, music and laughter, pain and healing, life and death, health and wealth, faith, hope, and love.

By His Holy Spirit, we speak, we stand firm and ready, still, to trust this man, and only this man, with all that we have, with all that we are, with all that we ever hope to be – in ages past or present, and all eternity.

Truly.

Originally © 2009 K. Lynn Lewis. Published in Meat and Potatoes for the Soul, K. Lynn Lewis, 2013.

Speak Aptly

Forests of words, seasonally cropped on limbs upon limbs, and then dropped to the ground and scattered to the skies like leaves in a late autumn wind. Platitudes, raked into piles and burned, or bagged and thrown away, and remembered no more.

But, among these, trophies emerge, apt words, vested verbiage that capture the essence of a moment, that open the mind, or feed the soul, or rally to action; spoken at the right time, in the right place, in the right way, and, perhaps, by the right person. Such words are remembered and repeated, cherished and treasured, and will be so, until the time for words passes away.

As for you, seek to speak aptly. Whether many or few, employ words gainfully such that others might listen, and discover that you have something to say worth remembering.

© 2010 K. Lynn Lewis

Truly: The Brothers’ Encomium

Encomiums, a form of ode originated by the Greeks, developed as an extended discourse of praise for victors of the ancient Olympics, which endured for more than one thousand years, starting around 776 B.C. and ending around 393 A.D. The winners of these quadrennial games were typically immortalized in poems, songs and stories.

In an associated tradition, our modern Olympics often incorporate odes into ceremonies, and certainly, after the completion of the quadrennial Olympic games, our champions are immortalized on cereal boxes, in sportswear lines, and in commercials, and recounts of their memorable achievements contribute to media discourses for years.

Amidst the backdrop of the ancient Olympics, around 30 A.D. or so, two sets of brothers began following a man they thought might be the ultimate victor, the grand champion of all things.

This person, whom they believed might be the long-awaited Messiah and whose coming had been foretold in prophetic encomiums, invited them to follow him, which they did, for several years, until he was killed, resurrected, and ascended into heaven before their very eyes. They then invested the rest of their lives in recounting his exploits and explaining the significance of his actions.

This is a summary of their story – an encomium – about Jesus Christ.

“The time has come,” the man called out. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news.”

“Come follow me,” he said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

So, the four of us, dropped our nets in array, relinquished our boats, careers, compatriots, and preparations, and left without delay.

Truly, we have seen this Jesus Christ of Nazareth, with our own incredulous eyes. We heard him speak with our own ears; we are witnesses, and cannot help but speak about what we have seen and heard.

Truly, the time has come, to have confidence in the Sovereignty of God.

He knows the thoughts of his detractors, the doubts of his friends, the faith of his neighbors, and the needs and worries of his family.

Fish provide payment for his taxes, swine abide the legions of his enemy, trees wither or flourish at his word, water beads beneath his feet like soil.

Stones restrain themselves from crying out, the whole earth stands silent before him, and groans in travail in anticipation of his return.

Diseases are cured by his touch; demons know him by sight and obey his commands; even the wind and waves obey him.

Stars herald his existence, wise men seek him, God loves him and is pleased with him.

Satan tempts him, angels attend him, Moses and Elijah visit him. Children praise him, centurions acknowledge him, Samaritans believe him.

The diseased want to touch him, the hungry want to eat with him, the crowds want to meet with him, the lame want to walk with him, the blind want to see him, the scholars want to test him, the self-righteous want to kill him, the hometown doesn’t want him.

He eats with sinners, drinks with saints, dips with traitors, breaks bread, makes bread, bakes bread, cooks fish, washes feet, sings hymns, and prays privately, fervently, and repeatedly.

He amazes over lack of faith, distresses over stubbornness, longs over cities, cries over friends, turns over tables, gets over denial, and presides over all eternity.

He obstructs palterers, confronts pretenders, skews predilection, acts with prescience, stands silent in the face of accusation, and restrains angels from coming to his aid during his most critical hours of need.

Truly, the time has come, to have reliance on the Word of God.

He was with God in the beginning, He was, is, and is to come; in Him is life.

Truly, no one ever spoke like him. He teaches with authority, preaches with conviction, elucidates with patience, and commands with expectation.

Infirmities flee at his direction, by his word, sins are forgiven, the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear, and the dead rise.

Truly, the time has come, to have dependence on the power of God.

He created and sustains all things – the heavens and the earth, animals, plants, and people, music and laughter, pain and healing, life and death, health and wealth, faith, hope, and love.

By His Holy Spirit, we speak, we stand firm and ready, still, to trust this man, and only this man, with all that we have, with all that we are, with all that we ever hope to be – in ages past or present, and all eternity.

Truly.

Originally © 2009 K. Lynn Lewis. Published in Meat and Potatoes for the Soul, K. Lynn Lewis, 2013.

Unexpected

Some think him arrogant, brash, and insensitive. He has publicly mocked those who oppose him by calling them names and detailing what he considers their misdeeds and transgressions. His own behavior has, at times, so embarrassed his family and friends that they have either thought him unhinged or denied knowing him at all. Many cannot believe that truly religious people of faith can support him. Some think a vote FOR him is tantamount to blasphemy. Although some of his policies and principles actually do seem beneficial, even to those who hate him, many dislike his packaging.

“He is not worthy,” they say. “He is not what we expected from a leader. Rather, he deserves rejection and repudiation. He, and any who dare follow him, deserve our chagrin, our chastisement, our censorship, our condemnation, our disgust, and our distrust.”

Some downplay his past so-called “successes” since he obviously got a giant head start from his father. How anyone could respect such a person, gather in large crowds and publicly profess support and love for him, seems the height of irrationality, according to some. Some privately schemed for and many have rejoiced in the prospect and promise of his demise.

“He deserves to be crucified,” they have said, staking their lives, families, fortunes, and sacred honor on fulfilling their demands. And they succeeded, or at least they thought they did.

But, like him or not, Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah. Despite expectations, God chose him to be the Savior and Lord of all. What will matter in the end is not, as much, our opinion of him, but his opinion of us.

God still chooses whom He wills to do His will no matter what anyone else thinks about them. At the end of time, everyone, every single one of us, will be judged for our own words, our own actions, and even our own thoughts. Prudence suggests caution against imperiling our own soul by improperly raging against persons who might be serving the purposes of God in our time, even if we dislike the packaging.

“If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” – Acts 5:38-29

K. Lynn Lewis serves as President of The Bible Seminary in Katy, Texas and is the founder and President of InspireUSA: Celebrating the Best of America®. A seasoned entrepreneur with a diverse professional background in business, education, and ministry, he is the author of Boss Like God: A Blueprint for Elite Workplace Performance (2018), Meat and Potatoes for the Soul (2013,2015), Plight (2015), and Christian Communication in the Twenty-first Century (2002), and producer of What a Dig and Shiloh Network News video series.