Memory Enhancements

A Mayo Clinic report states: "Ginkgo biloba has been used medicinally for thousands of years. Today, it is one of the top selling herbs in the United States. Although not definitive, there is promising early evidence favoring the use of ginkgo for memory enhancement in healthy subjects, altitude (mountain) sickness, symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and reduction of chemotherapy-induced end-organ vascular damage."

While Ginkgo biloba may be known as one of the oldest memory enhancers, it can not be compared to the One that was present when the worlds were framed.

But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. John 14:26

The Holy Spirit was sent not only to remind the disciples of the teachings of Christ, but to empower them to witness to those both near and far. Peter experienced and demonstrated this power on the Day of Pentecost when he justified the behavior of the 120 who had been filled with the Holy Ghost.

This same promise has been extended to us today. Acts 2:39 states it this way; "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call."

I had a great ending for this post, but...... I can't seem to remember how it goes. Guess I should grab some Ginko on the way to my prayer closet. (smile)

Gone Fishing

Bright and early this morning I was awakened by the creaking of my bedroom door. Peeping in ever so quietly, was my Golden Boy. He wanted to know when I was going to get up and when we were going fishing. Oh how I wish I had the energy of an eight year old boy. Long story short, we got up and went fishing. Sad to say, we didn't catch anything. Maybe next time we should do our casting from the other side of the pond.

3Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.4But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.5Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.6And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. John 21:3-6

Hungry and exhausted the disciples could have easily blown off the advice of the man on the shore. They had no idea that the man was the One that controlled the sea and all that it contained. It was only after he revealed his identity to Peter, that they understood why they hauled in more fish than their boats could hold.

Oftentimes our circumstances are less than ideal. Sometimes there is little or nothing to show for our labors. The feeling of failure fosters the idea of throwing in the towel or in Peter's case, the net.

But rest assured, Jesus will show up in our times of difficulty. It is up to us to be looking for him. We may not recognize his hand at work, but his voice will reveal his identity to us. So, we must ever be listening for his guidance and be willing to follow his directions.

Back to the Future?

I am a bit of a sci-fi fan, but I don't care for the ones about aliens and such. The ones I most enjoy are the ones that are likely to become reality in the future. Take flying to the moon for instance; it is a reality now, but a hundred years ago it was considered a sci-fi idea.

And what does that have to do with today's post. Very little, except the fact that things are constantly changing, yet they stay the same. It is simple really. Just take a look at what this ancient king had to say about life.

8 All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. 9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:8,9 NIV

Solomon received wisdom from God because he asked for it. He received favor from God because he asked for wisdom instead or riches or fame. He had the three most coveted things of men everywhere; wealth, wisdom, and women. Yet in all of his majesty, he was not satisfied.

9 Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. 10 Whatever exists has already been named, and what man is has been known; no man can contend with one who is stronger than he. 11 The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone? 12 For who knows what is good for a man in life, during the few and meaningless days he passes through like a shadow? Who can tell him what will happen under the sun after he is gone. Ecclesiastes 6:9-12 NIV

God is the only one that knows every aspect of the past, present, and future. Our lives are held in His grasp. A Christian's past has been covered by the blood of Jesus, his present is being shaped by the Holy Spirit, and his future is determined by the choices that he makes.

12 Although a wicked man commits a hundred crimes and still lives a long time, I know that it will go better with God-fearing men, who are reverent before God. 13 Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow. Ecclesiastes 8:12,13

In the end, it will be truth that will stand the test of time. Truth that can not be refuted or changed. The living Truth within the Christian gives him both strength and hope eternal. Outside of the Truth, there is no life.

10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd. Ecclesiastes 12:10,11

Like an Olive Tree

History tells us that all of the trees in and around Jerusalem were cut down when the Romans conquered the city in 70 AD. Yet there are olive trees there today. They could even be off-shoots of the trees that were growing in the days that Jesus walked the Earth. It has been said that olive trees can regenerate from their roots. This means they can be cut completely down and sometime later sprout, flourish, and bear fruit again.

"For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease. Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant. But a man dies and is laid low; man breathes his last, and where is he? As waters fail from a lake and a river wastes away and dries up, so a man lies down and rises not again; till the heavens are no more he will not awake or be roused out of his sleep." Job 14:7-12 ESV

As long as there is breath in a man, there is hope. Hope for salvation. Hope for regeneration. Hope for an eternal life with Jesus Christ. We must never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit. He searches the depths of man’s soul. He is the one who pricks the conscience of man. He is the one who draws man to the Father. He is the one understands the non-verbal communications of man.

God created man in His image. He put within man a place that can only be filled with Him. Many search the world over for something to satisfy. Drugs, alcohol, sex, and plastic surgery are a few things that have been sought to stop the gnawing of emptiness. Oftentimes a person will have to hit rock bottom before they realize that Jesus is the answer to their woes. But some only need to witness a life that is vibrant with the love of Jesus.

Our mandate is to go and tell. To that I add; and live well. So what if you have been battered and cut down? Let the Holy Spirit water you soul today and you will begin to sprout again. As long as you have breath, there is hope.

No Time for Sitting Still

"Sad will be the day for any man when he becomes absolutely contented with the thought he is thinking and the deeds he is doing; when there is not forever beating at the door of his soul some great desire to do something larger which he knows he was made and meant to do , because he is a child of God." Phillip Brooks

"It is just as true that sad will be the day when we of the church become contented with the deeds we perform for God. There needs to beat on the door of the heart of each one of us the great desire which the Lord has expressed that His truth be declared quickly to the whole world."
Louis K. Dickson

Passive Christianity is subtle, invasive, and deadly. The best counter agent is to be actively engaged in the Truth, the Life, and the Way.

Prepare to Serve

It seems like I have had too many irons in the fire to post as much as I would like. But video posting is so easy that I really have no excuse. Ahhh, but I don't frequent blogs that consist primarily of video posts. Time consuming.... so, I won't be upset if you don't hang around and view today's video. Without further ado, here is a clip of some Sunday morning preaching delivered by yours truly.

Stay on the Wheel

The Book of Jeremiah is a weighty presentation of prophecy concerning the nation of Israel. As such, it is often overlooked by the casual Bible reader. My intent is not so much to deal with the prophecy, but rather a few simple observations found in Jeremiah 18:1-6.

The Lord commanded Jeremiah to go down to the potter's house. There He would speak to the prophet and use the activities of the potter to illustrate His message. 1) We often need to be in a certain place to comprehend the fullness of what God is speaking to us.

Jeremiah obeyed. 2) Obedience is essential to receiving all that God has for us.

There he found the potter doing what exactly what a potter does. 3) God is a God of order. He speaks within the confines of order and never confusion.

Verse four states that the vessel of clay was marred. It had never left the potter's control, yet it became flawed. 4) One can be right in the Master's hand and still sustain hurt/damage.5) As the vessel is repaired, it may be changed in appearance and/or function/purpose.6) As long as the vessel remains in the potter's hands it will be fashioned as he sees fit. 7) God has control of every situation and the power to shape us in every circumstance.

We may tire of going round and round in circles, but we must stay on the wheel. The pressures of this life may bruise or nick us, but we must remain pliable to the Master's touch. Even the heat of the kiln will serve to strengthen us if we stay as long as the Potter deems necessary.