tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437964542052755799.post9145751046805527543..comments2024-02-13T08:49:07.287-04:00Comments on 'Thought & Humor!': UNC In Yankee Land!Professor Howdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189934292678757335noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437964542052755799.post-13679370881521719032008-12-05T09:58:00.000-04:002008-12-05T09:58:00.000-04:00What are you looking at? Where are the anchors in...What are you looking at? Where are the anchors in your life? In these<BR/>uncertain times, I imagine for many of us these questions are more than<BR/>rhetorical or philosophical; they are truly heartfelt. <BR/><BR/>Recently I was struck by this announcement in John’s gospel: “The next day<BR/>John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who<BR/>takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29). John says, “Look, the<BR/>Lamb of God.” My question to you is, what are you looking at? John<BR/>emphatically directs our focus: “Look at Jesus.” In fact, he makes this<BR/>declaration fifteen times in his gospel. This word is translated in the<BR/>King James Version as Behold. Fifteen times he exhorts his readers<BR/>to look at Jesus. Will you behold? This is astonishing. This is amazing.<BR/>Look at Jesus.<BR/><BR/>My favorite hymnwriter is Charles Wesley and one of my favorite of his<BR/>hymns is called, “Jesus! The Name High Over All.” In the final verse of<BR/>his hymn, he sings, <BR/><BR/>Happy, if with my latest breath<BR/>I may but gasp His Name,<BR/>Preach Him to all and cry in death,<BR/>“Behold, behold the Lamb!”<BR/><BR/>Now an account of John’s death tells us that that is exactly what<BR/>happened. As John lay dying, he uttered those words, “Behold the Lamb,”<BR/>and then went to be with the Lord. John is telling us to look at<BR/>Jesus--for our hope, for our provision, for our very lives. <BR/><BR/>In his gospel he invites us to behold Jesus through the lens of seven<BR/>signs or miracles. That is, John deliberately chooses seven out of the<BR/>many miracles that Jesus performed in order to give us a particular<BR/>perspective of who this Jesus is. And the fourth miracle that he records<BR/>is Jesus’s feeding of the five thousand. Jesus himself beholds the<BR/>crowd--he looks attentively at their need--and he responds with compassion<BR/>and provision. We encounter a dramatic miracle: Jesus multiplies fives<BR/>loaves and two fish to feed five thousand people. Then John tells us,<BR/>“When they had all had enough to eat, [Jesus] said to his disciples,<BR/>‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’ So they<BR/>gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley<BR/>loaves left over by those who had eaten” (6:12-13). What a picture of<BR/>amazing abundance: the Son of God demonstrating the abundance of God to a<BR/>hungry people. <BR/><BR/>Perhaps as you look at our world today you wonder if God is still at work<BR/>in such a way. I want to encourage you that He is, for in my work and<BR/>ministry I have seen his provision. Having been involved in Bible<BR/>smuggling in China, I was intrigued to learn of a man named Chris who had<BR/>gone out from the UK to do the same. Every three seconds someone in China<BR/>becomes a Christian, but there’s a real lack of the Word of God there. <BR/>This is what happened to Chris: he and his team stood at the pickup point<BR/>in China where they were to meet their contact, who would utter a<BR/>password, and they would deliver their Bibles. They arrived with only<BR/>minutes to spare, but the contact didn’t show up. Knowing they were being<BR/>watched, the team started walking towards the edge of town as though<BR/>leaving. Hot and tired, they stopped at a nearby park for a drink of<BR/>water, rest, and prayer. It was hard to understand why after all the<BR/>difficulties God had brought them through that something had gone so<BR/>wrong. They had looked to Him for provision and direction, and yet their<BR/>mission had seemingly failed.<BR/><BR/>Soon the team became aware of three very ragged and dirty men under a tree<BR/>behind them. Chris felt the Lord leading him to go over with some water. <BR/>When he offered it, one of the men suddenly spoke the password very<BR/>clearly in English. The rest of the team hurried over in amazement and<BR/>pieced together the men’s story from the little Chinese that they knew. <BR/>Two years earlier, God had given a word to these Chinese men in one of<BR/>their services that they should plan for this trip. He would lead them to<BR/>this park, on this date, and have Bibles ready for them, which would be<BR/>brought by white men from far away. Since they were all poor farmers, it<BR/>had taken a long time for them to save the money for food and shoes for<BR/>the trip. The men had walked for two and a half months, mostly at night<BR/>to keep from being arrested. Coming from the far north of China near<BR/>Mongolia, they had climbed a range of snowcapped mountains, traveled<BR/>through the desert, and crossed several rivers without a compass or any<BR/>knowledge of the country. All they could explain was that God had shown<BR/>them where to go. <BR/><BR/>How did they know the password? How could they speak it in English when<BR/>they knew no English? How did they survive the heat and the snow without<BR/>protective clothing? It could only be God. <BR/><BR/>When the men saw the Bibles, they cried and praised the Lord for a long<BR/>time. They had brought cloth bags with them to carry the Bibles home, and<BR/>inside each one was a small watermelon that they had carried all those<BR/>miles as a gift of appreciation. Even though they had been without food<BR/>for several days, they didn’t eat a single watermelon. The team exchanged<BR/>clothes with them and Chris explained what an honor it was to put on those<BR/>dirty rags. The shoes were completely worn out, but the team chose to go<BR/>barefoot and give up their own shoes, which fit the others perfectly. <BR/>Apparently God had chosen each group member based in part on their shoe<BR/>size. Many tears were shed as the team prayed for the Chinese and sent<BR/>them back home with food and money for their journey. <BR/><BR/>Jesus is the God of abundance. He is the one within whom this provision,<BR/>this abundance, is located. Look to him, behold him, and you will be<BR/>amazed. <BR/><BR/>Amy Orr-Ewing is training director at Ravi Zacharias International<BR/>Ministries in the United Kingdom.<BR/><BR/>-------------------------------------------------------------------<BR/> 2008 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM)<BR/>"A Slice of Infinity" is aimed at reaching into the culture with words of<BR/>challenge, words of truth, and words of hope. If you know of others who<BR/>would enjoy receiving "A Slice of Infinity" in their email box each day,<BR/>tell them they can sign up on our website at<BR/>http://www.rzim.org/slice/slice.php. If they do not have access to the<BR/>World Wide Web, please call 1-877-88SLICE (1-877-887-5423).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437964542052755799.post-59302244793621835842007-05-09T23:33:00.000-03:002007-05-09T23:33:00.000-03:00I went on a roller coaster - it was scaryI went wi...I went on a roller coaster - it was scary<BR/>I went with my brother's wife: Terry<BR/>I screamed so loud - I started to hyperventilate<BR/><BR/>The people behind me were holding their ears<BR/>While my eyes filled with tears.<BR/>Went we went on the second lap<BR/>I lost my favorite cap.<BR/><BR/>I'll never go on one again in my life<BR/>With my brother's wife...<BR/><BR/>Ellie & Amber (6th Grade - LMS)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437964542052755799.post-91839956970237659982007-05-09T23:28:00.000-03:002007-05-09T23:28:00.000-03:00One UNC student to another: 1st: Let's play a game...One UNC student to another:<BR/> <BR/>1st: Let's play a game.<BR/>2nd: O.K.<BR/>1st: I'm thinking of a number - any number - between 1 and 3.<BR/>2nd: 4?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437964542052755799.post-66697310578075314012007-05-09T19:00:00.000-03:002007-05-09T19:00:00.000-03:00Or maybe UNC...Or maybe UNC...Professor Howdyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189934292678757335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437964542052755799.post-11383442869797459742007-05-09T18:58:00.000-03:002007-05-09T18:58:00.000-03:00Howdy,I'm not sure how or who signed me up to rece...Howdy,<BR/><BR/>I'm not sure how or who signed me up to receive your newsletter, but I LOVE IT!!!!!<BR/>There should be more people out there like you that share information like this. <BR/>Does your newsletter come out weekly? <BR/>I would love to continue to receive these and am going to sign up all of my friends.<BR/><BR/>Sandy (hesston.edu)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437964542052755799.post-48140683948119243782007-05-09T18:57:00.000-03:002007-05-09T18:57:00.000-03:00Hey!I'm not sure how you got my addressm but I lov...Hey!<BR/><BR/>I'm not sure how you got my addressm but I love your Humor!! I'm an<BR/>English teacher in China, and loving your stuff! I noticed the soli deo<BR/>gloria... EVEN BETTER!! Anyway, thanks for making me laugh and have a<BR/>good one!<BR/><BR/>Oh, and could you add Luther College to the good list and the HORRIBLE, less<BR/>dignifiedWartburg Knights to the list of EVIL mongalars? thanks-- all in<BR/>Christian love, right :-) <BR/>koryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437964542052755799.post-16871762915032112562007-05-09T18:55:00.000-03:002007-05-09T18:55:00.000-03:00Dear Howdy, Greeting from Sabah (Malaysia) of Born...Dear Howdy,<BR/> <BR/>Greeting from Sabah (Malaysia) of Borneo Island...remember Pulau Tiga<BR/>(Island), where the first TV series "Survivor" was filmed...<BR/> <BR/>I don't remember how I got into your mailing list, but hey, this is great stuff.<BR/>Keep it coming. Could you also send this to my brother-in-law, K. G. He is<BR/>from New York but now residing in this part of the world for the past 12 years or so.<BR/> <BR/>John JAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437964542052755799.post-20940625475678893772007-05-09T18:54:00.000-03:002007-05-09T18:54:00.000-03:00Hello Prof Howdy! Your blogs are witty and insigh...Hello Prof Howdy! <BR/> <BR/>Your blogs are witty and insightful. They brighten my day.<BR/> <BR/>Thanks!<BR/> <BR/>Cali girl :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437964542052755799.post-6478101685642616602007-05-09T18:51:00.000-03:002007-05-09T18:51:00.000-03:00Help stamp out and eradicate superfluous redundanc...Help stamp out and eradicate superfluous redundancy.Professor Howdyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189934292678757335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437964542052755799.post-66626956068060612682007-05-09T18:39:00.000-03:002007-05-09T18:39:00.000-03:00There was a UNC grad driving down the road behind ...There was a UNC grad driving down the road behind an 18<BR/>wheeler, at every stoplight the trucker would get out of the<BR/>cab, run back and bang on the trailer door. After seeing this<BR/>at several intersections in a row the motorist followed him<BR/>until he pulled into a parking lot.<BR/> <BR/>When they both had come to a stop the truck driver once again<BR/>jumped out and started banging on the trailer door. The<BR/>motorist went up to him and said, "I don't mean to be nosy<BR/>but why do you keep banging on that door?"<BR/> <BR/>To which the trucker replied, "Sorry, can't talk now, I have<BR/>20 tons of canaries and a 10 ton limit, so i have to keep<BR/>half of them flying at all times."Professor Howdyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189934292678757335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437964542052755799.post-65884256510783776932007-05-09T18:32:00.000-03:002007-05-09T18:32:00.000-03:00A detective who spent his entire career in plaincl...A detective who spent his entire career in plain<BR/>clothes quit the police force and bought a farm.<BR/> <BR/>"What kind of crops do you plan to grow?"<BR/>the police chief asked the farmer-to-be.<BR/> <BR/>"Carrots and potatoes," the man replied.<BR/> <BR/>"Why carrots and potatoes?" asked the chief.<BR/> <BR/>"Because," answered the ex-detective, . . .<BR/>"I'm very fond of undercover crops."Professor Howdyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189934292678757335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437964542052755799.post-41225144150411389752007-05-09T18:14:00.000-03:002007-05-09T18:14:00.000-03:00I suppose that your friends from Yale won't like t...I suppose that your friends from Yale won't like that :)<BR/><BR/>A sweet kissLiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10845054514107417854noreply@blogger.com