Will Davis Jr.'s Blog, page 67

Dear Amy

My son Will 3 got engaged to a lovely young woman yesterday. Of course my wife Susie was up at 4:15 writing (and weeping) about it. It’s a classic. Here’s the link to her entry.

 

Never Stop Praying

On October 29, 1941, during some of the darkest hours for British forces in World War II, and over a month before the U.S. entered the war, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill gave a speech to the students at the Harrow School for Boys in London. In his now famous speech, he showed the kind of unrelenting resolve required to lead a nation during wartime. He told the students:

You cannot tell from appearances how things will go. Sometimes imagination makes things out far worse than they are . . . . Surely from this period of ten months this is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never–in nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.[i]

I can’t think of more appropriate or encouraging words for those of us engaged in the arduous work of intercession for lost souls. When you’re praying for someone who is not currently interested in Christ, it’s easy to draw the wrong conclusions from appearances. You pray and pray and pray, and yet no real effect seems evident in the life of the person you’re praying for. In fact, he may seem to be moving even further away from God. Do not get discouraged and do not stop praying! Remind yourself of the biblical promises about prayer and about God’s desire for all people to be saved. Believe in faith that God is working, even though you can’t see the results. There may be months and even years of below the surface work by the Holy Spirit before you’ll ever see any evidence of it in the life of a lost person. But be fully assured: God is working.

Take Churchill’s message to heart. Never give up! Never stop believing and hoping in the redemptive work of God. Your very next prayer may be the one that turns the tide and moves your lost friend toward God. So never stop praying, because it’s never too late.

From The Power of Praying Boldly (formerly Pray Big)

[i] From www.school-for-champions.com. Copyright © 2005, Ron Kurtus, Kurtus Technologies and The School for Champions.

Sneaky Prayers

Yesterday I was having breakfast at Waterloo Ice House 360 and doing some work when I suddenly felt two gentle hands on my shoulders. I was startled, so I jumped a bit. I heard a familiar and friendly voice say, “Just relax.” And then I heard praying.

It was a friend of mine and another regular at Waterloo. I see him frequently there, usually mentoring young business guys or leading a Bible study. He’s a well-known Austin guy and a strong Christ-follower. And he was praying for me. Right there in Waterloo, this man of God stood and prayed over me for over a minute. It was a very moving, touching moment for me.

And it was a sneaky prayer. My friend didn’t ask my permission and didn’t give me any warning. He didn’t take me back to a private room or wait till we were in church somewhere. He just started praying for me, as if it was quite normal and natural for one man to pray for another in the middle of a restaurant on a Tuesday morning in Austin.

It should be.

I’m going to start practicing more sneaky prayers. I also want to encourage you to do the same. Paul urged Timothy, “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing,” 1 Timothy 2:8.  I guess everywhere can mean at Waterloo, or the golf course, or the break room at the office.

I’d like to write more about this but I’ve got to run. I just saw someone I need to pray for.

Go get’em.

Two Atheists and a Christian Walk Into a Bar . . . .

I had dinner last night with two rather well-known atheist leaders. I’m having a meeting today with another atheist at his request. All of this is a direct result of the Atheist/Christian roundtable discussion we had two weeks ago.

I must say that my experience last night was quite enjoyable. We laughed, we poked fun at each other, we disagreed and we even agreed on some things. But most importantly, we developed a friendship.

And that’s the point of this blog. Way too many Christians and atheists are talking about each other and not to each other. I’m writing to ask all the believers who read this blog to deliberately invite someone who doesn’t share their beliefs into their lives. It will be good for both of you.

I know many Christians who are flat-out intimidated by atheists. They’re scared they’ll say something wrong or not be able to go point-for-point with them. Shame on us. Are we really so coddled and spoon fed as Christians that we’re afraid to actually engage with someone who will challenge our beliefs? Is our theology and faith so weak that we can’t stand a little healthy push back?

I know guys who can tell you who played third base for the winning world series team 20 years ago, or who can tell you the best bet and hottest stocks to buy, or who spend hours each week riding, swimming and running so they’ll be in tip top triathlon shape, but they can’t quote a single verse of scripture, or they don’t know the difference between the young earth or old earth theories, and they don’t know if Hezekiah is a book in the Bible, a character in the Bible or the shoe shine guy in LAX.

Friends, atheists and Christians disagree on the most important issue in life. There is no more important question facing humanity than the question of God. They’re ready and willing and even wanting to talk, and we’re going to another Bible study. Don’t hide. Don’t be so cloistered in your safe Christian world that you never have anyone who challenges your faith. Get out there and form some relationships with those who think, believe and maybe even live differently from you.

Like I said earlier, it will be good for both of you.

A Unique Place in History

I taught this weekend on the second part of ACF’s Jesus: The Rock series. We dug a little deeper on the concept of Jesus being the Cornerstone, not just of history but also of our lives. That’s a lot to think about. Click the image to watch or listen.

Friday Fire Starters–Count Your Blessings

Friday Fire Starters are simple ways to kick-start your time with God. Here’s today’s suggestion:

Read Ephesians 1:3-9.

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.  For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love  he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will–  to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace  that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.  And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, Ephesians 1:3-9.

Think about and name the places in your life that you seek to find your identity and security in other than your status as an adopted son or daughter of Jesus.
Surrender those things, asking the Lord to replace them with himself as #1 in your life.
Worship him and praise him for who he claims you to be.

 

Why God is Never Shocked by Your Behavior

Besides the fact that God knows everything, God knows everything about you. In the same way a computer programmer or a video game creator knows every potential outcome of every keystroke or maneuver, God knows every one of your potential thoughts and actions. At first that may seem a little unsettling, as many of our potential thoughts and actions aren’t very appealing. But in reality, it’s actually great news. God knows all this about you and still loves you.

That’s exactly what the king and poet David was saying when he penned the beautiful 139th Psalm. In verses 13-16 he wrote, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

David confessed that nothing about his life escaped God’s knowledge, even before he was born. He understood that he was no cosmic accident. David knew that even before he was born, even from the moment of his conception, God had been forming him. God knew every day of David’s life and literally every breath David would breathe—exactly how many times his heart would beat in his lifetime—before he was ever born.

Now remember, David wasn’t perfect. He failed God in some spectacular ways. But was he afraid of God because God knew everything about him? Did he want to try to pull away from God so he wouldn’t let him down? No. In fact, David actually wanted more of God. He concluded his great prayer in Psalm 139 by saying: Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24). Instead of fleeing God’s scrutiny, David welcomed it. It’s like he was saying, “Look God, since I can’t hide from you, since you know my thoughts before I think them, I want you to fully know me! Be in the very core, the very essence of my being. If you’re going to know me, then know everything about me!”

How are you going to let down a God who not only made you, but also knows every single detail of your life? God knows more about you than you do. He’s a you expert! How are you going to surprise him or somehow do something that he didn’t expect? You can’t. Look in a mirror and know that God is fully aware of who you are, and that he has still chosen to be there with you. You couldn’t get away from him, even if you tried.

From Ten Things Jesus Never Said

Reflections on an Atheist/Christian Discussion

Last week I had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion between national and world atheist leaders and a few local Austin pastors. We met for nearly two hours in front of a packed audience of over 200. I would say that it was overall a very cordial and fruitful discussion.

For me, the most meaningful part of the event was what took place afterwards. I was approached by several atheists in the crowd who wanted to continue the conversation. There was no debating or arguing, just good, honest dialogue. In the hour-and-a-half I stayed after the event, email addresses and phone numbers were exchanged, a few follow-up appointments were set, and I think even a few friendships formed.

I asked a group of atheists what they would want me to say to the Christians I would stand in front of on Easter. Their response: Don’t hate us. These were not the chest thumping, in-your-face, Jesus-attacking stereotypes that we often think of when we hear about atheists today. These were people who are struggling with the concepts of faith, reason, eternity, secularism and religion. For the most part, they weren’t there to pick a fight.

Below are links to the audio, video and an editorial about the event. Check them out for yourself and let me know what you think. In the meantime, I hope to be having a beer with a new atheist friend of mine.

Click the image to watch the video

Click here to listen to the audio only

Click here to read an Austin-American Statesman editorial about the event

 

The Rock of Ages

This weekend, I had to chance to begin a new teaching series called Jesus–the Rock on Easter. It’s a multi-week look at the exclusive and unique nature of Jesus. The Easter message was called Rock of Ages and focused on why Christianity claims that Jesus is the only way to God. It’s a helpful talk for anyone wanting to understand the basic claims of the Christian faith.

Click the image to watch or listen.

Friday Fire Starters–Good Friday 2013

Friday Fire Starters are simple ways to kick start your time alone with God. Here’s today’s Good Friday suggestion.

Read Isaiah 53:3-7 out loud, very slowly and thoughtfully.

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:3-6

Note the phrases that jump out at you. Note the Our and We and Us references. Note the references to Jesus’ suffering–crushed, smitten, afflicted, etc.

Reflect on these words and phrases. Reflect on their connection to you and me. Consider the prophet Isaiah, 2700 years ago, seeing how Jesus’ death would matter to us on March 29, 2013.

Then, pour out your heart to God. Open wide your mouth and let the praises flow for what God has done for us. Thank him, bless him, honor him, love him and surrender to him on this Good Friday.