SCRIP-BITS

Psalm 92:12.   The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
 
Oh Friends, oh Friends, the ole fella went to se Bubba (Joel Osteen) at the ACC, Air Canada Centre last night. That’s the money making machine at the corner of Bay and Lakeshore, the home of the Maple Leaf’s Ice Hockey Team.
 
I know that some of you don’t like Bubba, find him too simplistic and smiley smiley, but I like him, and he’s been a great inspiration of mine over the years. I was first introduced to him by my mother, and when I found amongst her stuff, a little devotional booklet he’d written called ’30 Thoughts for Victorious Living,’ it became the last part of our daily prayer time, after I began reading prayers for her over the phone.
 
Now I don’t remember how we came to call him Bubba, maybe it was because of his Texas connection, but what’s really amusing is that some days neither of us could remember his right name, because we seldom used it. However from the moment we said ‘Bubba,’ we both knew exactly whom we were talking about.
 
Yeh Mols sugar, your Sonny Boy went to see Bubba last night, on the eve of what would have been your 86th birthday, and I know you’re up there smiling with joy for that. But I promised to uphold your good name, and I’m trying my best.
 
Anyway Friends, Joel was his usual bright, upbeat, smiling self, teaching his message of positive, upbeat Christianity, despite all the problems we face. And you already know I consider that the true way to celebrate all that Christ has done for us.
 
Just look at Jesus nuh; we would never be called on to face more ridicule and suffering than He faced, but even in His most bitter time, He was still positive and encouraging, because He knew that He had a job to do despite all the trials and tribulations. 
 
The same thing applies to us my fellow believers. And as I’ve said so often, Christians should be the happiest, most joyful cheerful and optimistic people on God’s great earth, especially when we have all that Jesus died to provide for us; cleansing, healing, forgiveness of sins, salvation and eternal life, just to mention a few.
 
Joel’s mother, Jodie was there, and she shared a few thoughts on how she was miraculously saved from cancer some 20 years ago. And we can’t forget the real power behind the throne, his wife Victoria. She also shared a positive uplifting message.
 
And as I’ve seen from their interaction, and as Joel always says, it’s Victoria who has buoyed him up over the years, giving him the unstinting support and encouragement to do what he’s doing. As she said, they don’t always agree, but they agree to disagree respectfully.
 
But sadly my brethren, that principle, of respect and support, which is absolutely necessary to sound and growing relationships, is lacking in too many marriages and relationships today. We get angry and curse each other, spouting a whole lot of negative invective, and right there the respect that’s so badly needed disappears, causing so many relationships to founder on the rocks.
 
But Friends, please hear these words, believe and implement them in your own lives: ‘Behind every successful person, man, woman or child, is a sensible, understanding and encouraging person or group of persons.’
 
None of us can make it without the help and encouragement of others, who believe in and have faith in us. So please my brethren, let’s start seriously helping and encouraging each other nuh, whether it be our spouse, friend, child, co-worker or even a total stranger, since service is well pleasing to God.
 
‘Let brotherly LOVE continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.’ (Heb.13:1-2) Yes Friends, we never know whom we are helping, so let’s just help with LOVE, as Jesus did, for our God champions widows, orphans and strangers.
 
So fellow believers, if you see something in anyone that’s worth raising up, encouraging, please do so. Look for the positive things in people, for we all have some, and focus on those, instead of concentrating on the few negative aspects, as we tend to do.
 
You’ll notice that Jesus, God Almighty, never put down anybody, regardless of how abominable their sins might have been. But we, sinful, worthless creations that we are, are always quick to judge, ridicule and put down others, even though we don’t have a clue about why they are the way they are.
 
That brings me back to Bubba, where people are quick to criticize him, but thousands of people delight in him, as shown by the sold out crowd at the ACC last night, and the many who stood up and renewed their relation

ship with God. 
 
The fellow is only doing what he’s been anointed to do, in the manner he sees fit. But too many of us equate success with negativity, a lot of it stemming from pride and envy. And when you get right down to it Bubba’s only reiterating what the Good Book says, a very good example of that being our Bit. ‘The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.’
 
Now does that mean we should walk bowed down, miserable and unhappy? Absolutely not! Remember Jesus’ words: ‘The thief cometh not, but for (except) to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.’ (John 10:10) He certainly doesn’t want or expect His followers to be dead, downcast and downbeat!
 
Now listen to the psalmist as he continues after our Bit. ‘Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat (plump) and flourishing (green); To show that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.’ (Ps.92:13-15)
 
And all God’s true believers said a loud and grateful: ‘Praise the Lord! Amen!’
 
Oh my people, it doesn’t make sense to talk about all our God’s done, doing and plans to do for us, then walk around as though we’re living in the pit of despair. That’s why so many people consider us Christians hypocrites of the highest order! And in many instances they are quite right.
 
Our attitudes toward each other, the way we walk and talk and live our lives should be an enticement to the unbeliever to want what we have, to draw him into the body of Christ, not like it too often is, driving them away from the greatest gift and blessing ever bestowed on mankind – Jesus Christ.
 
So as of today my people, RIGHT NOW, let’s stop putting others down, especially when we don’t know anything about their circumstances. We’ve become so judgemental and prideful, like the Pharisees of old, that we’re doing more harm than good to Christ and His church.
 
We’re never going to like everybody and everything about them, but that’s no reason to be judgemental and condemn them. Remember that all of us have sinned and come short of God’s glory, (Rom.3:23) so we have no right to judge others.
 
And in any case, what was God’s reaction to our sinfulness eh? He opened His abundant storehouse of unconditional LOVE, and though it broke His heart, sent His only Son Jesus Christ to redeem us, by sacrificing His holy and innocent life on the cross at Calvary for a bunch of no-good, ungrateful sinners.
 
Now if He, the righteous judge, can do that, why can’t we forgive and stop judging others eh?
 
Oh Friends, that’s our ‘ponderation’ for today. And please do it seriously, for the way we live our earthly lives, will dictate our heavenly rewards and eternal destiny. Much LOVE!
 
…come the judgement day…will our words and deeds on earth, help or hinder us…now is the time to clean up our act.