Worst Winner Ever

The most extreme act of a “loser” I've ever witnessed. The scoreboard at the end even makes it worse! (he wasn’t celebrating a win, but a point!) The song that has been added in the video is perfect!

Even though I've never done a dance like that in that arena, I know there are times when, in my heart, I arrogantly strut as if I have accomplished some great task. In reality, any boasting that wells up in me should be completely consumed by the cross of Jesus Christ.

Now, on a lighter note and to be a little honest, I’ll admit, there’s been a time or two maybe when I felt like doing such a dance (in my heart) after a good sermon (which doesn’t come around often Lol!):)!!

“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14)

In the Cross,
Robert

The Heart of Stone

From the creative mind and imagination of Tim Andrews, animator and cartoonist. This short film made for the 2008 Ignite Film Festival. It took home the award for Best Animation. Some of his other notable works include The Great Feast, a cartoon retelling of The Parable of the Great Banquet from the book of Luke.

My oldest daughter Megan loved this video!!

Robert

Stethoscope

I ran across this great sermon series promo a few weeks back. It comes from the creative minds at Southern Hills Church of Christ, Abilene, Texas. Man finds a stethoscope with unusual powers. He discovers what soundtrack is playing inside him.

Honestly, what song do you think is playing inside of you and I?

For Christ,
Robert Prater

What Would Jesus Do?

Last week my wife and I I watched a television program on ABC called “What Would You Do”. Reporter John Quinones and the producers of the show set up various scenarios (based on actual events that have happened), recreating the circumstances with actors and hidden cameras. The idea is to discover what would people do, how do they react in these various situations.

Honestly, it is just very hard to watch these types of programs and see the callous disregard most people in this country now seem to have for people. Everyone is so busy with their own life, or too worried about being “politically correct” or “unoffensive” to either stand up for truth, righteousness, or even basic human dignity.

One of the first scenarios involved “hazing”. Hazing is a deplorable activity practiced by many fraternities, sororities, and similar kinds of “societies” which have secret initiations. The idea is for the person attempting to join the group to prove how far they will go to be “in the group”. Many of these hazing incidents are sexual in nature, humiliating, involve alcohol, etc. Sadly it proves that as Americans we have become desensitized to the idea of humiliating others and in particular women. It’s somehow “funny” or “entertaining” to watch other people being tortured, forced to do things, etc.

To me, however, the saddest and most moving story and one that provides a sad commentary on our culture was when the show set up the scenario of a well dressed woman “fainting” on a busy sidewalk. On average, some one responded to her need within six seconds. However, when that person was changed to a homeless man…it took over ten minutes for any person to respond. Most people hurried by. When the man was holding a beer, it was over forty minutes before even one person attempted to help.
I’m sure there could be many arguments and ideas brought to the fore to explain the lack of compassion or caring we as individuals seem to collectively now hold.

However, the most emotionally moving part of this story was when an extraordinary, small, African-American, crippled walking with a arm kane, and policed told abc she is sometimes homeless herself stopped to help. She pleads for help for someone to call the man an ambulance. 26 more people walk by ignoring her. She even gave the man a name, called him "Billy." She brought tears to my ears.

My question is this…how many of those people who ignored or even assisted in those “hazing” incidents claim to be followers of Jesus? Go to worship on Sunday?
What about the folks who couldn't’t be bothered to stop and see if a homeless man needed to go to the hospital?

In the parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus gave us an example of how we are supposed to react when we see another human being…regardless of who they are or their status in life...who has been hurt, or is being harassed, wrongly accused, or mistreated. As Christians we are the ones who are called by our Lord to make every effort to help those in need, stand up for those who are oppressed or abused, be a voice for the ignored or voiceless.

If we see an injustice being done, do we simply walk by or do we stop and say “Hey! What your doing isn’t funny, it’s wrong and dangerous”. Do we at least attempt to call in an authority such as the police if it would be dangerous to intervene in the situation on our own?

And what of the homeless person, lying helpless in the street? Do we ignore them, or do we at least check to make sure they are okay? Do we ask them their name and try to help them by calling 911 if they are ill, or at least treating them like a human being and showing compassion by acknowledging their existence? I know I'm guilty so many times in my life of showing such indifference and apathy toward such.

What would you do if faced with one of those situations? What would Jesus do, is truly the question we should be asking. Sadly it is something that has been downgraded to nothing more than a quip, a wrist band, or a joke. It should, however, always be the first question we ask ourselves if we have truly asked Him to be the Lord of our life…and then we act on the answer.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is now law.” (Gal. 5:22-23)

Would do you think?

Robert Prater

Familiar Faces

Someone recently sent this pic along with the words below. If you click on this pic it will enlarge for you to see it properly. Enjoy

There are more than 100 world known personalities on this painting. If you can name a minimum of 25, you may consider yourself a cultivated person

Good luck.

Robert

Having a Heart of Forgiveness (2)

Forgiveness is truly one of the most difficult things God commands His people to do. How many people have difficulty forgiving when they’ve been wronged or hurt? When there is no forgiveness, there can be no fellowship like God intended Christians to enjoy (Eph. 4:31-32). Worse, when there is no forgiveness, the work of the Lord is hindered and souls are at stake. (Matt. 6:12ff) Oh, how Christians need to be willing to have a heart that truly forgives!

Biblically speaking, forgiveness involves two parties. There is to be an acknowledgement of sin for true forgiveness to take place. (cf. Psalm 51:3, 16-17) However, it is also Biblical and right to say that the will to forgive must be present, even when sin is not acknowledged. Our Lord showed a will to forgive even while His enemies nailed Him to the cross (Luke 23:34), but true forgiveness (the condition in which the relationship between Jesus and His executioners was finally mended) did not take place until their sin was acknowledged (cf. Acts 2:36-38).

Kindness – Even if sin is not acknowledged, Christians are to have the will to forgive, and this will expresses itself in kindness. God’s kindness is seen in the fact that while we were sinners, Christ died for us (Eph. 2:7; Rom. 5:8). God didn’t wait to be kind until you and I acknowledged our sin before Him. He showed kindness when He blessed us with His only Son (John 3:16). When Christians have been wronged, we are not to wait until sin is acknowledged to be kind. Kindness is evidence of a heart that knows true forgiveness!

Tenderheartedness – Not only is the forgiving heart kind, but it is tender and sympathetic to the needs of others. Especially is this true when forgiveness must take place. It is humbling to forgive, but it is more humbling to ask for forgiveness from someone we’ve wronged. When someone asks for forgiveness, they are making themselves extremely vulnerable, and a tender heart is needed to respond properly. What a blessing when Christians truly possess a tender heart.

Covering of sin – Paul concludes these two verses by telling Christians to forgive, “even as God in Christ forgave you.” But how does God forgive? God forgives completely, freely, and quickly. Most of all, He promises NOT to dwell on our forgiven sins: “I will remember them no more” (Heb. 8:12). Thus, when Christians possess a forgiving heart, they will choose not to dwell on sin. Forgiveness “covers up” sin so that what has been forgiven is not continually brought back to our remembrance (Psalm 32:1-2). A heart that truly forgives will not go about mentioning the offense in the presence of others, nor will it continually bring up that offense before the offender. If God chooses not dwell on our past sins, how much more should we choose to cover those offenses that have been forgiven?

I wonder truly how many pews in the Lord’s church are often filled with bitter, angry people who stubbornly declare, “I’ll never forgive…” or, “I’ll forgive, but I’ll never forget.” All the while the words of Jesus clamor for our attention: “By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, that you love one another” (John 13:34-35). One writer has so beautifully said, “An unforgiving heart is worse than any cancer because it eats away our very souls.” Conversely, a forgiving heart is better than any balm of healing because it restores in kindness and tenderness with a will to cover a multitude of sins.” Brethren, let’s pray for more forgiving hearts in the church of Jesus Christ!

God bless,

Robert

Having a Heart of Forgiveness (1)

What does it really mean to forgive? Forgiveness may be one of the least understood topics in Scripture, and yet God says our willingness to forgive others will have a direct impact on where we spend eternity (cf. Matt. 6:12-15). It’s one thing to talk about forgiveness, but really practicing it is a humbling, maturing, difficult experience. When we are hurt by someone else, how difficult it can be to truly forgive!

What happens to Christian fellowship when the will to forgive is not present? Paul answers this question in Ephesians 4:31-32. He first lists six evidences of a failure to forgive, and then he shows how true blessings result from a will to forgive.

1. Bitterness – Someone has well said that hurt is what others do to you, but bitterness is what you do to yourself. People who lack the will to forgive frequently revisit past hurts. These people are miserable, dwelling on the wrongs of others sometimes to the point that they actually begin to enjoy the misfortunes of other people! Christians had better be careful of taking frequent “mental trips” to revisit their pain – that’s likely evidence of an unforgiving heart.

2. Wrath – The Greek word translated “wrath” in Ephesians 4:31 carries the idea of a seething desire for revenge. This person may seem calm on the surface, but inside they are like a pressure cooker about to explode. When we are full of this kind of rage, it is impossible to truly forgive someone else; worse yet, it is impossible for God to forgive us! (Mark 11:25-26; cf. James 1:19-20)

3. Anger – “Anger” differs from wrath because it involves a sudden outburst of rage. Rather than a heart that tries to hold rage inside, anger seeks every opportunity to show itself. Like a lightning bolt out of a cloud, the angry man unleashes his fury upon everyone he thinks has wronged him. Christians beware: our tempers might well keep us from heaven.

4. Clamor – This word describes a brawling, argumentative, adversarial spirit. One who is full of clamor will seek every opportunity to air their grievances with offending parties and anyone else in the vicinity. Loving confrontation when we have been wronged is commanded (Matt. 18:15ff), but clamor is a contentious attitude that confronts others solely for the purpose of “getting even” or “winning.”

5. Evil Speaking – When an unforgiving heart is present, so often is the desire to speak evil of others. Some people really seem to enjoy taking every opportunity to say unkind and ungodly things about those who have wronged them. One common temptation when we’ve been hurt is to gather a circle of friends around us and to “justify” ourselves while condemning those who have done wrong. Jesus said that we will give an account for every idle word we speak (Matt. 12:36), just as we will give account for having a heart that refuses to forgive.

6. Malice – The Greek word behind “malice” indicates one who possesses a “bad heart.” One who is full of malice harbors a general feeling of ill will toward the one who has wronged him. How can we claim to be followers of the One who said, “Father, forgive them,” when our every thought and wish is for our enemies to get exactly what they deserve? Woe to those who will stand before God with unforgiving hearts!

Robert