Weekly Reading: Joel 1:1-20

Key Verse: Joel 1:13-15

Theme: Return To The Lord - When locusts invade our life, we need to return to the Lord with humility.

Return #5

The story of Jesus is the greatest return of all. Jesus, although he was God, became a man. He lived with the same physical limitations we all have. He experienced pain, fatigue and hunger. He laughed and he cried. Although he was completely man, he was also God. He didn’t have to live within his physical limitations but he was humble, and did. He humbled himself so that eventually, he was crucified on a cross and was buried in a tomb, sealed by a large stone.

But we all know the answer to this story. Although Jesus was perfect, he humbled himself to be a sacrifice for our sin. He died and was buried. Three days later he return from the dead. For forty days, he visited with people and returned to heaven to be with his father. The story doesn’t end there. His next return will not be in humility but in glory.

Are you ready to meet him on that day?

Something To Ponder

• Why did Jesus humble himself?
• How is Jesus’ ministry on earth relate to the story we read in Joel?
• Are you ready for Jesus’ next return?

Weekly Reading: Joel 1:1-20

Key Verse: Joel 1:13-15

Theme: Return To The Lord - When locusts invade our life, we need to return to the Lord with humility.

Return #4

Roger Helle was born October 2, 1947, in Toledo, Ohio. Growing up in a broken home, with all the rejection and insecurities, he joined the Marine Corps at age 17. Roger served three (3) tours of duty in Vietnam, was wounded three times and decorated a number of times for bravery, yet nothing brought satisfaction.

On his third tour of duty in Vietnam in 1970, Roger was critically wounded. Several days later, in intensive care, with multiple wounds and burns, Roger heard the doctor tell his twin brother that he was going to die. Not yet 23 years old, Roger prayed and said, “God, if there really is a God, if You let me live, I’ll do anything You want!” God answered that prayer. Over 9 months later, following 27 operations and 4 plastic surgery operations on his face, Roger left the hospital and his promise behind.

The nightmares of Vietnam and “survivor’s guilt” for still being alive, tormented Roger every night for years. In 1974, Roger and Shirley surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ. Their marriage was healed and their lives began to go in a new direction. Shortly after this, they began to work with kids in their church in Omaha. Soon, a street ministry was established to try to reach kids on the streets. In November 1978, Roger resigned his position as the District Manager of Pinkerton Detective Agency, to start Teen Challenge of the Midlands in both Nebraska and Iowa.

For 25 years now, Roger and Shirley have been ministering to hurting people, from the streets of the Midwest, back to Vietnam, and now to the Tennessee/Georgia area. Roger has ministered across the country, in Europe and in Southeast Asia. From Vietnam veterans, to hurting kids off the street; from the Pentagon, to the National War College, in schools, churches, and civic groups, his message is one of hope and healing for life’s wounded, both physically and spiritually.

Something To Ponder

• What is the day of the Lord in v.15
• Have you ever made a promise to God when you were in trouble?
• How have you used your life experiences to serve God?

Weekly Reading: Joel 1:1-20

Key Verse: Joel 1:13-15

Theme: Return To The Lord - When locusts invade our life, we need to return to the Lord with humility.

Return #3

Vince Linchlyter grew up as a simple kid in Seattle who loved Johnny Cash. Today, he fronts the Christian rock band Jonah33 and tours all over the country. Yet in between those bookends of his life is the story of a teenage runaway strung out on drugs.

At age 13, his dad busted him for smoking pot. He left home on bad terms with his parents and got into the drug scene. Drinking and smoking pot turned into dropping acid and doing crank. Over the next six years, his life got worse and worse until his drug dealer threatened to kill him. He took off with a shotgun and a bunch of dope. He used the dope to stay awake for over two weeks. During that time, he turned suicidal and put the gun to his head three different times. He found out his parents moved to Arkansas, found their number and called them to tell them that he needed to come home.

When he got home, he fully expected an all-out fight with this parents - but there was none. What Vince didn’t know at the time is that his parents had become Christians since he had left. They wanted to show forgiveness to their prodigal son. “That was the first time I met Jesus, and I didn’t know it but I recognized it,” Vince says. “You know that difference that Jesus makes in people’s life? It was so bold that I was freaked out.”

Eventually he met the youth pastor at his parent’s church and arranged to talk to him at his home. “I told him, ‘All right, dude. You better throw some coffee on. We’re about to get down to some business. I got some questions.’ I went over to his house that night and from 6:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. I asked him every question in the book.” Deep inside, Vince wanted to believe in Jesus Christ because of the change he’d seen in his parents. However, he kept up his guard with the youth pastor. “I just wanted to see if it was true. I told myself that I was going over there to prove this guy to be a liar. Obviously I was terribly mistaken.” In the early morning hours, Vince gave in.

“I was 21 when I gave my life to Christ,” Vince says. “Looking back through all the stuff that He brought me out of, it’s absolutely amazing the depth of His love for me. It’s astounding.”

Something To Ponder

• What is the significance of sackcloth and fasting?
• How can we “wear” sackcloth today?
• How do you show others Jesus?

Weekly Reading:Joel 1:1-20

Key Verse: Joel 1:13-15

Theme: Return To The Lord - When locusts invade our life, we need to return to the Lord with humility.

Return #2

For Billy Graham’s oldest son, Franklin, expectations were great. Shortly after he was born, well-wishers sent letters urging him to “grow up fast” to follow in his father’s footsteps.

But growing up without a father at home much of his life, Franklin Graham chafed at the idea of being not only a Preacher’s Kid, but America’s Preacher’s Kid.

He had other plans. He would sometimes skip church to ride his dirt bike when his father was away from home. As he got older, he became a teen rebel who smoked and drank and fought. He led police on high-speed chases and was kicked out of LeTourneau College in Longview, Texas, after his father had used his influence to get him in.

On his 22nd birthday, Billy Graham confronted his son and told him to make a choice: Either accept or reject Jesus Christ. A resentful son
left shortly afterward on a tour of the Holy Land.

Two weeks later, smoking a cigarette in a hotel room in Jerusalem, the younger Graham picked up a Bible, got on his knees and experienced a religious conversion. “The rebel had found the cause.”

Today, he serves as President and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Under his leadership, Samaritan’s Purse has met the needs of poor, sick, and suffering people in more than 100 countries. As an evangelist for the Billy Graham
Evangelistic Association, he has led crusades around the world.

Something To Ponder

• Describe the four types of lucusts. (v4)
• What situation was Joel referring to?
• Have you found your “cause”?  What have you done about it?

Weekly Reading: Joel 1:1-20

Key Verse: Joel 1:13-15

Theme: Return To The Lord - When locusts invade our life, we need to return to the Lord with humility.

In honor of our theme this week, we bring you five great returns.

Return #1

The Martyrs Mirror, first published in 1660 by Thieleman J. van Braght, records the account of Dutch Anabaptist Dirk Willem’s capture, escape, recapture and death. Dirk was one of many fugitive Christians, called Anabaptists, arrested and imprisoned in the early years of the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century.

But Dirk Willems made good his escape from the prison tower. He tied together strips of cloth to make a rope, which he used to slide down the prison wall. But as he set out across the countryside, a guard spotted him and gave chase. In Dirk’s path of escape was an ice-covered pond. He took the risk and crossed the thin ice safely. But his pursuer broke through the ice into the frigid water.

Was this God’s rescue? Had God indeed delivered him from his enemies? For Dirk it was a call to help someone in need. He dared to believe Jesus’s teaching to love even one’s enemies. He turned back and rescued the guard-his enemy. Dirk was arrested again and placed in a more secure prison. He was later burned at the stake near his native village, Asperen, in 1569.

Something To Ponder

• Who was Joel?
• Who was this story written to?
• If you were in the same situation as Dirk, would you return to save your captor?

The Script

¹⁸ At the moment I have all I need-and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

²⁰ Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen. _{Philippians 4:18-20}

The Plot

As Paul illustrates, churches have supported the people who have ministered to them since the beginning. It isn’t something that we have to do, it is something we should want to do. We should adopt the attitude of not how much of our stuff we should give God, but how much of God’s stuff we should keep.

When you go to a doctor for your annual check-up, he or she will often begin to poke, prod, and press various places, all the while asking, “Does this hurt? How about this?” If you cry out in pain, one of two things has happened. Either the doctor has pushed too hard, without the right sensitivity. Or, more likely, there’s something wrong, and the doctor will say, “We’d better do some more tests. It’s not supposed to hurt there!”

So it is when pastors preach on financial responsibility, and certain members cry out in discomfort, criticizing the message and the messenger. Either the pastor has pushed too hard. Or perhaps there’s something wrong. In that case, I say, “My friend, we’re in need of the Great Physician because it’s not supposed to hurt there.”

The Walk Through

1. Who did the church at Philippi send to help Paul?
2. What do you suppose they sent to Paul?
3. Why is it important for us to support ministries today?

Ad Lib

If you give what you do not need, it isn’t giving. _{- Mother Teresa}

The Script

¹⁰ How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. ¹¹ Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. ¹² I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. ¹³ For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. ¹⁴ Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

¹⁵ As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. ¹⁶ Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. ¹⁷ I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness. _{Philippians 4:10-17}

The Plot

If you have read my DIPShtick blog, you may remember this story that I posted almost two years ago. I think it fits our theme today.

What is the difference between rich and poor people? That is an awesome perspective!

Take, for example, the story about the father of a very wealthy family who took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.

The two spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”

The son replied, “It was great, Dad.”

“Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked.

“Oh yea,” said the son.

“So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father.

The son answered, “I saw that we have one dog and they had four.”

The son continued, “We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.”

The father stood in amazement as the son continued by saying, “We have servants who serve us - but they serve others. We buy our food but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us and they have friends to protect them.”

The boy’s father was speechless. Then his son added, “Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are.”

Isn’t perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have instead of worrying about what we don’t have.

I guess it boils down to the fact that we need to appreciate every single thing we have - especially our friends!

Perhaps this will help us refresh our perspective and appreciation. Life is too short and friends are too few.

The Walk Through

1. What attitude did Paul take in life with regards to material things?
2. Did Paul value the gifts he received or the friends he had more?
3. Our story today says that friends are what makes our life rich. How rich are you?

Ad Lib

“Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.” _{- Benjamin Franklin}

The Script

⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. ⁹ Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me-everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. _{Philippians 4:6-9}

The Plot

As Paul was wrapping up his letter to the church in Philippi, he essentially told them, “Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but it won’t get you anywhere.” Instead, Paul says that we should forget about worrying and pray about everything! I have heard it as “pray without ceasing.” In fact, Paul gives us a three step plan on living a wonderful life.

1. Don’t worry - pray about everything and be happy!
2. Fix your thoughts on truth and excellence.
3. Put into practice all you have learned.

That sounds easy enough, doesn’t it?

The Walk Through

1. What did Paul say we should do instead of worry?
2. What does Paul say will happen if we follow his three steps?
3. What are some examples of ways you have lived Pauls three steps?

Ad Lib

Worry is wasting today’s time to clutter up tomorrow’s opportunities with yesterday’s troubles.