THE INCOMPREHENSIBLE LOVE OF GOD

A different sermon is begun on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. 
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The sermons found on this blog are selected sermons preached by Rev. Wyrick during a ministry of over 50 years.  This syndicated columnist/minister thanks you for visiting.
GO TO NEIL’S OTHER BLOG ONE A DAY, YOUR SPIRITUAL VITAMINS and read the following brain teasers.  CLICK ON URL BELOW
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Romans 5:6-8

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 You want to know something? God has never used His version of “Thank God it’s Friday” to stop working with you and me.  We’ve certainly given Him enough reasons to give up on us but He just keeps on keeping on.  Loving us when we are ungodly, recalcitrant, backpedaling spheres of hope and hopelessness.

       The Apostle Paul, who wrote the scripture I just read, has such a wonderful way of hitting at the heart of things.  He describes the love of God in a way that leaves one breathless.  Think about it.  God didn’t say, “I tell you what, I will make a bargain with you.  You don’t have to be perfect, but if you will acquire at least a certain amount of goodness, then I will die for you.”  He didn’t continue on, “It isn’t that I expect you to be perfect, but there is a limit to my forgiveness, you know.  Requesting a litmus test of sorts doesn’t seem too much to ask...”   No, God didn’t say any of this.  No, as Paul puts it, spelling out the why, the what and the when “…at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.”  And sometimes we are, aren’t we?

       Oh, yes, we pass the humanity test with flying colors.  Ungodly actions and attitudes come easy.  The cross didn’t happen in a vacuum nor human indifference nor any of the other do’s and don’ts we allow to get out of whack.   And then, God, with heavenly understanding, says in so many words, “I forgive you anyway.  It may seem one whale of a sacrifice to have sacrificed my son for you, and it was, but I did it anyway.”

       Pure and simple, God works by different parameters, and that to our distinct advantage.  We humans lay down rules too often, rules such as “You be good to me and I will probably be good to you.  Otherwise, don’t hold your breath.”

       More scriptural proof of the pudding, “…while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

       Why is it so important to keep emphasizing the love of God?  Because “God IS love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.”  (William Willimon “Love Takes You a Long Way.”  Christian Century 5/3/89)

“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”  (John 3:16)  This king-sized sacrifice,  king-sized gift, can’t be emphasized too greatly.

The love of God?  It is so great we cannot grasp it.  Indeed, were we to turn the oceans into ink and the heavens above into parchment upon which to write, and turn every stalk on earth into a quill pen, and make every man a scribe by trade, we could not do justice to trying to explain the love of God.  (rewrite of piece by Chaldee Ode) 

  

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CLICK ON  www.go60.us   IT WILL TAKE YOU A NEW WEBSITE FOR SENIORS....click on "Voice" on the home page and then on the list of authors click on Neil Wyrick 

Recent articles Rev. Wyrick has written for this web site are:  REFLECTIONS

·         Many Kinds of Slavery - But Are They Not All Very Much The Same? (July 2012)

·         Here Comes Summer (July 2012)

·         Spring (May 2012)

·         Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow (April 2012)

·         Wayward and Windy (April 2012)

 

GO TO ONE A DAY YOUR SPIRUTAL VITAMINS...Neil's other blog...over 900 stories and comments...

click on the URL below

                        http://oneadayyourspiritualvitamins.blogspot.com/

 

++++++++++++++++++++

GO TO AMAZON.COM TO BUY NEIL WYRICK'S THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN...still receiving RAVE REVIEWS 8 years after it's publication.

 

        "Positive, powerful utterances...skillfully enhancing our understaning and appreciation of Lincoln...(Lt. Colonel C.A.Olsen (Ret.) Asbury College (Professor Ret.)

        "Wyrick has authored a wonderful examination of the spirituality of one of American history's most devoutly religious leaders...a pleasant and readable book that has a rich depth of information.  (Maynard Pittendreigh, Presbyterian Minister)

        "THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN is an extremely well written book...it is both scholarly and very readable.  I came away impressed at Mr. Wyrick's portrayal of that President with an altered and enlarged vision of the man. (William Hoffman, Award winning fiction writer, author of Blood and Guile, and Wild Thorn.)                                             

GO TO SPEAKER.NEIL TO SEE NEIL'S ONE MAN AWARD WINNING DRAMATIZATION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

. CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING

http://www.speakerneil.com/

 

FIGHT EM OR FEED EM (Continuation)

A different sermon is begun on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. 
If you want to share this blog with a friend go to the bottom of these comments and click on TELL A FRIEND
          The sermons found on this blog are selected sermons preached by Rev. Wyrick during a ministry of over 50 years.  This syndicated columnist/minister thanks you for visiting.
          GO TO NEIL’S OTHER BLOG ONE A DAY, YOUR SPIRITUAL VITAMINS and read the following brain teasers.  CLICK ON URL BELOW
http://oneadayyourspiritualvitamins.blogspot.com/

            John 14:27

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you.

Let not your heart be troubled,

neither let it be afraid.

“The future ain’t what it used to be,” said Yogi Bera. In his own way with words, he meant that whether things are bad or better, we are most often bothered when they are different than we thought they would be.

       Today we are winding up Afghanistan.  But wars and rumors of wars the list of anxiety moments is relentless... remember Y2K, not really that long ago?  Remember Vietnam, the Korean War, WWII?  Racial riots?  To our dear parents, or grand- or great grandparents it was the war to end all wars, World War I.  It is truly hard to picture a time when there has not been some kind of political, economic or social turmoil.  So don’t waste too much energy cursing evil.  Save a good part of your energy to bless the world with more grin and good and less groan and moan. 

Do some good, positive, Christ-centered picturing.  Think eternity.  Think salvation.  Think wonderment and awe about the Creator.  Think on whatever gifts God has given you and how you can be a light when dark days come.

None of us alone can save the world, but together, in the name of Jesus, we can work to convert more and more people to the blessings of His love.  And then, bless others by trying to practice this love.  In the 10^th chapter of Matthew, Jesus says, Go and proclaim the good news…  Repeat these words.  Believe these words.  They’ll do serious damage to any anxiety attacks you may have. 

As a Christian, you are in the Messiah business.  Therefore, teach those around you to be spiritually smart rather than just earthly muted.  Seek the gift of an unearthly courage.  Light your lamp and don’t hide it under a bushel.

       The day you accepted Christ you took off on a pilgrimage to find what is so aptly written in 2 Timothy 1:7 God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 

There are two kinds of people in this world.  Those who complain about what happened and those who make things happen.  Builders and wreckers, worriers and those who try to put silver linings on other people’s clouds.  Are you a professional worrier?  Want to get off this one way street to desperation and destruction?  Join hands with King David and repeat along with him, Submit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him…. (Psalm 37:5)

       Have you heard about the man who had a plane to catch at a very early hour and then having set his alarm, sat on the edge of his bed all night long to make sure it went off on time.  He earned his Ph.D. in anxiety.  He had worry down to a science.

       You shake your head.  Nobody is that foolish, you say?  Then remember some of the things you have worried about that got you down, wore you out . . . .  and finally never happened.

       Do you fear death?  Let me tell you of a lady who though a Christian still had feared death all her life.  There was too much of the unknown in it to fit her fashion.  After all, she’d never done it before.  Then came the day when she had not many breaths left of her life’s supply.  “Is this death?” she asked her doctor.  “Yes,” he answered honestly, for he was a close friend as well as her physician.  Then she turned to her husband and said, “My dearest, this is the hour I have for so many years dreaded.  This is the hour I have always shrunk from.”  And then with a serene smile beyond description, she said, “Husband, do you see that face?  Do you hear that music?  Christ is here.  I have never known such rapture of light and peace and joy.”

Whether living or going through the night to the throne of Grace, God is with us.  He is with us when twin towers are built and when they waver and fall to the ground in terrible pieces.  He is with us at dawn and dusk.  On the blackest night or when the brightest moon sweeps away the darkness, He is with us.

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CLICK ON  www.go60.us   IT WILL TAKE YOU A NEW WEBSITE FOR SENIORS....click on "Voice" on the home page and then on the list of authors click on Neil Wyrick 

Recent articles Rev. Wyrick has written for this web site are:  

·         Many Kinds of Slavery - But Are They Not All Very Much The Same? (July 2012)

·         Here Comes Summer (July 2012)

·         Spring (May 2012)

·         Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow (April 2012)

·         Wayward and Windy (April 2012)

       GO TO AMAZON.COM TO PURCHASE Neil's best selling book"THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN" that is still receiving rave reviews 8 years after it's publication.

       "Positive, powerful utterances...skillfully enhancing our understaning and appreciation of Lincoln...(Lt. Colonel C.A.Olsen (Ret.) Asbury College (Professor Ret.)

       "Wyrick has authored a wonderful examination of the spirituality of one of American history's most devoutly religious leaders...a pleasant and readable book that has a rich depth of information.  (Maynard Pittendreigh, Presbyterian Minister)

       "THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN is an extremely well written book...it is both scholarly and very readable.  I came away impressed at Mr. Wyrick's portrayal of that President with an altered and enlarged vision of the man. (William Hoffman, Award winning fiction writer, author of Blood and Guile, and Wild Thorn.)  

                           

GO TO SPEAKER.NEIL TO SEE NEIL'S ONE MAN AWARD WINNING DRAMATIZATION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

                  &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

       Click on the URL below to WATCH NEIL IN HIS WORLD FAMOUS ONE MAN DRAMATIZATIONS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, BEN FRANKLIN, CHARLES WESLEY AND MARTIN LUTHER

       CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING

       http://www.speakerneil.com/

       V. Neil Wyrick’s ninth book THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN and is available at

MAGNUS PRESS

       AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM’S Kindle

http://www.magnuspress.com/OurProducts2.html 

       25% off all books, buy 4 get 1 free and free shipping

       Phone Orders:  800-463-7818

THE CHURCH’S CALL TO ITS PEOPLE--DON'T BE THE DEATH OF ME (Continuation)

A different sermon is begun on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. 
          IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND THIS BLOG TO A FRIEND GO TO THE BOTTOM OF these comments AND CLICK ON THE ENVELOPE.
       The sermons found on this blog are selected sermons preached by Rev. Wyrick during a ministry of over 50 years.  This syndicated columnist/minister thanks you for visiting.
       To Visit neil's other blog One A Day Your Spiritual Vitamins click on the following  
 http://oneadayyourspiritualvitamins.blogspot.com/

Will your church shrink or grow?  As you will.  As you will.

You may not have a golden tongue but you can be a jewel to life.  The world’s watching. It never ceases to listen.  What are you giving it to hear?  Your pulpit is your personality. 

       If you are sour, you do your Saviors cause no good.  If you mouth is foul and those who hear you know you attend church you destroy its dignity by such representation.  If you practice prejudice, can’t be trusted with the truth, steal at the drop of an opportunity, then, your sermon is of the Devil and your honorarium is from Hell.

Do not tell me you cannot teach.  You teach every day.  You teach sacrifice or laziness or spiritual truths by what you do or leave undone.  Your class is everywhere.

In the 19^th chapter of John, the 38^th verse, there is the following quote “Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus, but secretly.”  That is the problem, now isn’t it?  The secret society called Christians.  Neither by word nor deed making anywhere near as big a mark on the community as it could and should.

Dr. Emil Brunner put his finger on the root of the problem when he said, “As the early church sought security in offices, sacrament and formal creed, it lost its revolutionary power…it ceased to be a new life…it became a mere cult society…”

Vance Havner tells of an experience in a small western town where he had gone to preach.  It seems that down in the lobby of the hotel where he stayed, was a poster listing all the local civic attractions: industry, schools, the library, the business section…and the churches.  He says that it just set him to wondering what that said about the churches, because back in early church history, Christians and their meeting place were never listed as community assets.  And why?  Because they were such a disturbance, a conscience…oh yes, they were not bland.

A young man speaking to this wrote,

I had walked life’s way with an easy tread,

Had followed where comforts and pleasure led,

Until one day in a quiet place

I met the Master face to face.

 

With station, and (fame) ran, and wealth for my goal,

Much thought for my body and none for my soul

I had entered to win in life’s big race,

When I met the Master face to face.

 

I met Him and knew Him and blushed to see,

That His eyes full of sorrow were fixed on me,

I faltered and fell at His feet that day,

While my castles melted and vanished away.

Melted and vanished and in their place,

Naught else did I see but the Master’s face.

 

And I cried aloud, “Oh, make me meet

To follow the steps of Thy wounded feet.”

My thought is now for the souls of men.

I have lost my life to find it again.

Ere since one day in a quiet place

I met the Master face to face.

 

Down through the years, I have been inspired by church members who have taken a stand and lost a bundle.  Men and women who have spoken out, and been called fanatics because of it.  Children who were more mature than their parents.  Lay men and lay women who have been ministers even though never officially ordained.  And it is such as these who have truly kept the church alive.

In THE LIFE OF SAMUEL JOHNSON Boswell relates how as a boy Johnson refused to go to the market place with his father, to sell books.  He was, for some boyish reason, ashamed.  Years later, he was shamed by the remembrance of this refusal so much that as an old man he stood all one day in the spot where his father’s bookstall had been…the rain came down in torrents but he never moved.

Why do some churches die?  Because it’s members, for some reason are ashamed and secretive and quiet about their faith, very very quiet.

 

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CLICK ON  www.go60.us   IT WILL TAKE YOU A NEW WEBSITE FOR SENIORS....click on "Voice" on the home page and then on the list of authors click on Neil Wyrick 

       Recent articles Rev. Wyrick has written for this web site are:  REFLECTIONS

       Many Kinds of Slavery - But Are They Not All Very     Much The Same? (July 2012)

       Here Comes Summer (July 2012)

       Spring (May 2012)

       Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow (April 2012)

       Wayward and Windy (April 2012)

       Click on the URL below to WATCH NEIL IN HIS WORLD FAMOUS ONE MAN DRAMATIZATIONS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, BEN FRANKLIN, CHARLES WESLEY AND MARTIN LUTHER

       http://www.speakerneil.com/

        DO YOU HAVE A HISTORY BUFF IN YOUR FAMILY?...Why not give THIS HIGHLY ACCLAIMED  BOOK

        To buy Neil's 9th book THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN or other of his books click on the following

http://www.magnuspress.com/

OR GO TO AMAZON.COM

 

       AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM and amazon.com Kindle

OTHER BOOKS BY REV. WYRICK

Poor Richard's Almanack for the 20th Century

Sixty Plus and Not Holding

Boundaries Unlimited

I Am

The ABC"s of Parenting and Grandparenting

Letters to America

http://www.magnuspress.com/OurProducts2.html 

       25% off all books, buy 4 get 1 free and free shipping

       Phone Orders:  800-463-7818

 

IF THIS BE MADNESS

A different sermon is begun on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. 

If you want to share this blog with a friend go to the bottom of these comments and click on TELL A FRIEND
The sermons found on this blog are selected sermons preached by Rev. Wyrick during a ministry of over 50 years.  This syndicated columnist/minister thanks you for visiting.

GO TO NEIL’S OTHER BLOG ONE A DAY, YOUR SPIRITUAL VITAMINS and read the following brain teasers.  CLICK ON URL BELOW

http://oneadayyourspiritualvitamins.blogspot.com/

In a biography I read many years ago a man tells of a time when he sat one morning as a little boy in church and felt the presence of Almighty God.    The feeling was so magnificent and vivid that he could hardly wait for the service to end so he could share it with others who worshipped with him.

       When the service was over, he rushed over to a group of adults and admittedly made a fumbling attempt to explain. 

       They politely ignored him. 

       One even made a quip about how church had been hard on him that morning. 

       And they went back to talking about business, what they had planned for the afternoon, and all the usual trivia that can be part and parcel of conversations. 

       At this moment, the little boy began to become disillusioned with religion.

It was not until many years later when he was a young man that he again returned to church.  His first Sunday back he again sensed the overwhelming Holy presence of his Creator.

       Again when the service was over, he sought out some adults to share the experience with. 

       Again he was politely but specifically ignored.

       Again, it seemed a subject somewhat embarrassing to them.  And he says he felt like shouting at them…”Look who’s here!  Your God.  You just finished worshipping Him. You just finished singing to His glory and praying to His power.  How can you be so embarrassed, so reluctant, so inarticulate about the very sense and source of your being?  Is it that worship is for you a nothing, and therefore you have nothing to say?”

When was the last time you had a religious experience? 

       Felt the presence of God’s hand in yours?  Felt God’s warm power and peace inside?  Felt God so real and near, you would like to have captured the moment and never let it go? 

Perhaps it was when you stood by a coffin and cried out, “God, help me and He did.”  Perhaps it was when you first fell in love and felt like shouting for all the world to hear, “God, thank you.”  Perhaps, it was when you were sick and afraid and you prayed, “God, don’t let me die., and God heard your prayer.        And today your hearing these words is proof He heard you.

From the cradle to the grave is a long journey.  It is also an education.  It is also a challenge.  It’s beginning is a miracle, it’s end a mystery. The man of faith says it is of God.

A young man went to his minister and told him of his life's ambitions. He said, “I plan to go to the University and become an architect.” 

“What then?”  asked his minister. 

“Well, I expect to become famous by designing magnificent public buildings.” 

“What then?” asked his minister. 

“I expect to marry and have family.” 

“What then” continued the reply.  “I expect to become wealthy and retire.” 

What then?’  “Oh, I see what you mean. I will then make my peace with God.”  “Why not do that in the first place?”

If this whole God thing, religion, spirit, soul, eternity, immortality all makes good sense…why not now go for the gusto?  And talk to others about this spiritual gusto? 

Do you know what the word worship means?  It means the assignment of worth to someone or something. 

Everyone worships, because everyone puts certain values on people, places or things.  It may be God in heaven or the Miami Hurricanes on the football field…but tell me what you value and how much and that is worship.

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CLICK ON  www.go60.us   IT WILL TAKE YOU A NEW WEBSITE FOR SENIORS....click on "Voice" on the home page and then on the list of authors click on Neil Wyrick 

Recent articles Rev. Wyrick has written for this web site are:  REFLECTIONS

·         Many Kinds of Slavery - But Are They Not All Very Much The Same? (July 2012)

·         Here Comes Summer (July 2012)

·         Spring (May 2012)

·         Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow (April 2012)

·         Wayward and Windy (April 2012)

GO TO ONE A DAY YOUR SPIRUTAL VITAMINS...Neil's other blog...over 900 stories and comments...

click on the URL below

                        http://oneadayyourspiritualvitamins.blogspot.com/

++++++++++++++++++++

GO TO AMAZON.COM TO BUY NEIL WYRICK'S THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN...still receiving RAVE REVIEWS 8 years after it's publication.

         "Positive, powerful utterances...skillfully enhancing our understaning and appreciation of Lincoln...(Lt. Colonel C.A.Olsen (Ret.) Asbury College (Professor Ret.)

        "Wyrick has authored a wonderful examination of the spirituality of one of American history's most devoutly religious leaders...a pleasant and readable book that has a rich depth of information.  (Maynard Pittendreigh, Presbyterian Minister)

        "THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN is an extremely well written book...it is both scholarly and very readable.  I came away impressed at Mr. Wyrick's portrayal of that President with an altered and enlarged vision of the man. (William Hoffman, Award winning fiction writer, author of Blood and Guile, and Wild Thorn.)                                              

GO TO SPEAKER.NEIL TO SEE NEIL'S ONE MAN AWARD WINNING DRAMATIZATION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

. CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING

http://www.speakerneil.com/

 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

BELOW...ON... ONE A DAY, YOUR SPIRITUAL VITAMINS BLOG....PAST POSTINGS

“WHICH IS BETTER TO BE?  A WINDOW OR A DOOR” ” “BE A RAINBOW SEARCHER AND FINDER” “IS YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION?

Click on the URL below to WATCH NEIL IN HIS WORLD FAMOUS ONE MAN DRAMATIZATIONS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, BEN FRANKLIN, CHARLES WESLEY AND MARTIN LUTHER

TO WATCH NEIL WYRICK IN HIS ONE MAN DRAMAS (Presented to millions all around the world) (Ben Franiklin, Martin Luther, Charles Wesley and Abraham Lincoln (this Lincoln film takes 11 seconds to download but is worth the wait)

 

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING

http://www.speakerneil.com/

          V. Neil Wyrick’s ninth book THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN and is available at

MAGNUS PRESS

          AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM’S Kindle

            http://www.magnuspress.com/OurProducts2.html 

25% Phone Orders:  800-463-7818