Frank's Bible Blog

The Homeless and the Aged: How Will You Serve in 2014?

Galatians 5:13b “But do not use your freedom to indulge in sinful nature, rather, serve one another in love.”

Last Sunday—the Sunday before Christmas—our family had the privilege of working with our church to serve the homeless of downtown Dallas. In the pre-dawn hours the homeless began to line up on one side of a parking lot, while others mingled around hot coffee on the other side where the weekly outdoor church service and breakfast would be held. The line, I learned, was to get clothes. One shirt and one pair of pants per person. My assignment was to enforce that “one and one” rule. Most people were very respectful of the rule, but then there was one guy who tried to leave with his arms full of clothes. We got him to put a couple things back that clearly would not fit him, but he begged us to let him keep the rest. “Construction workers threw everything I owned over the bridge,” he said. Apparently he had been making his “home” at a nearby construction site. We let him keep the extra clothes.

As the sun rose the church service began. I stood on the side and watched as people began to take their seats on cold metal chairs. One woman caught my attention. As soon as she sat down she started to cry. I slipped into the seat beside her. “Is there something I can pray with you about” I asked. “Yes,” she sobbed. She then began to tell me how child protective services recently took her three children. “All I want to do is tuck them in bed at night” she cried. “I’ve been real good lately. I stopped doing drugs. I don’t know why I lost them” she said. I shared the gospel with her and she told me that she had accepted Christ as Savior several months ago but had stopped going to church because she felt she wasn’t good enough.

Fast forward three days—Christmas Day—and our family found ourselves out early once again, this time to sing Christmas carols at a nursing home during their breakfast hour. We try to do something like this every Christmas that we are in town as one way to model service to our now-teenage children.

That brings us to my quiet time this morning. I read the familiar Galatians 5 passage about the fruit of the Spirit, but what really struck me were the verses leading up to them, particularly verse 13. It seems that many people struggle living by the Spirit because they don’t practice serving others. As I read this verse what came to my mind were the faces of the homeless man who lost his possessions, the woman who lost her children, and the elderly men and women who I talked with in that nursing home. I thanked the Lord for these opportunities to serve them with my family. These service opportunities were different from my normal “ministry” and it helped remind me of the importance of serving others and living by the Spirit, not just at Christmas but all year long.

So what about you? As you think about the upcoming year, how are you planning to serve others in love? You may find that it is much easier to live in the Spirit when you are walking in service to others.

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P.S. Yes, it’s been a long time since I’ve written a Bible blog! 2013 has been a very busy year for me and our ministry, MaxPoint Missions, with trips to East Africa and assisting with work literally all over the world. In case you haven’t kept up, I would encourage you to visit our website at www.maxpoint.org to see what is going on these days and to sign up for our periodical eNewsletter.

Special Christmas Blessing from Bukabwa's Children

Merry Christmas!

As you gather with family and friends to celebrate the birth of our Lord, I have a very special treat to share with you today. It is a video of Christmas coming to the once-forsaken children of Bukabwa, Tanzania. Some of my blogs have featured stories from my work in Bukabwa and other places in Tanzania over the past two years as I have coordinated a partnership between an American church near Dallas, TX and an indigenous Tanzanian denomination. The children of Bukabwa have no toys, no books and most are not able to attend school (too far). But God's love was demonstrated to this village as this Christmas 200 children received children's Bibles and "Hope Packs" filled with toys, candy and hand-written notes from generous Americans. Their parents also received something special--a Bible of their own. So turn up the volume on your computer and check out this video--but grab the Kleenex first!

P.S.--the man in the video on the bicycle is Pastor Samuel, who leads the church that we planted there. His wish was to have a bicycle that he could use to travel across this expansive village to share Christ with its 6,000 residents. Now he has one! For more on my work in Africa, and more Bukabwa videos, please visit my ministry website at www.maxpoint.org.

Merry Christmas!

--Frank Banfill

P.S.S. For those of you getting this post via email, if you do not see the video below you can view it at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

 

 

Psalm 35--When the Boomerang Doesn't Come Back

There is a large decorative boomerang that sits in my office. On the back is a sticker that says "guaranteed to return." I picked it up during a trip to Australia several years ago. Even though it says "guaranteed to return" I have never thrown it, for fear that it won't return. I've seen boomerangs thrown and know that for them to work, they have to be thrown a certain way. I don't want to take the chance that I'll throw it and it will just keep on going...and going. Life is often like a boomerang. When we do good for others we usually see that good returned to us--the boomerang that comes back. But what happens when we throw out our best efforts to help others and those efforts never come back? Or worse, what if they come back as something completely different--something very unpleasant? Do you pick up the "boomerang" and throw it again, or do you allow the hurt and fear of rejection to keep the "boomerang" in hand? David struggled with this in Psalm 35. "They repay me evil for good and leave my soul forlorn," he said in verse 12. When others were hurting, he felt their pain. He prayed for them and mourned for them (vv13-14) but when he stumbled "they gathered in glee" and slandered him "without ceasing" (v15). He threw out the boomerang of compassion and care but it returned as evil and maliciousness. What did David do about this? He took it to the Lord. He asked the Lord to contend for him (v23) and vindicate him (v24). It was not for him to change others. David realized that only God could do that. So David kept on being David. He kept on doing what he knew to do and that was to give God "thanks in the great assembly" and praise him before everyone (v18). David would continue to speak of God's righteousness and praises (v28). He would continue throwing the boomerang and leave the outcome to the Lord. That's a good lesson for us today. Keep throwing our boomerang and trust God for the return.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 20-- Leaders with Praying Followers

We often talk about praying for our leaders, whether they are political officials, church leaders, or our boss at work. We need to pray for those who lead us, but what if we are in some kind of leadership role? Do we have people praying for us? If so, what are they praying? The kind of leader you are influences the types of prayers that followers can pray for you. A great example of this is Psalm 20, written by David while he was king of Israel. Although David penned this psalm and set it to music, it really was the prayer of the people he led concerning him. This psalm is how David's followers prayed for him. Notice a couple specific things in this prayer that reflect on David's leadership. They prayed that God would remember the offerings and sacrifices that David had brought to the Lord (v3). They had seen David's example when it came to sacrificing for the Lord. They knew he was someone who brought his best to the Lord. They prayed that God would give David his heart's desire and fulfill all of his plans (v4). They knew their leader's heart sought after God's heart and that he pursued God's plans above his own. They also knew David was a man of prayer (v5) and that he prayed the kinds of prayers that they would want answered. Thanks to David's example, the people had learned to put their trust in the Lord, not in their armies, military weapons, or anything else (v7). They had all of those things--but they knew ultimately that only God could deliver. They also knew that David was a leader responsive to their needs and concerns (v9). This chapter, then, begs the question, "What kind of leaders are we?" Are we the kind of leaders that exemplify godly sacrifices? Are our hearts set on things above and not on the earth? Do we seek God's direction first rather than planning first and asking Him to bless our plans later? Are we mature in our praying? Do we encourage others to grow in their faith? Are we cognizant of the needs and concerns of those we are leading? Maybe there is even a more basic question--do we desire and seek the prayers of others that we might be great leaders? These are some great questions for every leader to ponder.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 67-- Why Do You Want God's Blessings?

"God bless me today."

"God bless my family."

"God bless my church."

"God bless America."

Why do you want God to bless you, your family, your church or your nation? That may seem like a silly question at first glance. "Who wouldn't want God's blessings?" you ask.

But think again.

Do you want God's blessings so that you can have a better life? Do you want God's blessings so that you can accumulate more things? Do you want God's blessings so that you can boast of more people attending your church, ministry or programs? Do you want God's blessings so that you can experience prosperity in your nation?

Or do you want God's blessings so that you can be a blessing? Do you want God's blessing so that you have a message to take to those who don't know Him? Do you want God's blessings so that you can reflect God's glory into a world that desperately needs Him? Do you want God's blessings so that you can better accomplish His agenda?

Why do you want God's blessings?

The psalmist makes it clear in Psalm 67 that he wanted God's blessings so that God's "ways may be known on earth, your salvation among the nations" (v2). The psalmist craved God shining His face upon him so that all the peoples of the world would praise the Lord (v3). The psalmist desired God's favor so that those gripped in sin's prison would be set free and have a new song to sing (v4). The psalmist prayed for blessings so that "all the ends of the earth will fear Him" (v7).

Why do you want God's blessings?

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 35--When the Boomerang Doesn't Come Back

There is a large decorative boomerang that sits in my office. On the back is a sticker that says "guaranteed to return." I picked it up during a trip to Australia several years ago. Even though it says "guaranteed to return" I have never thrown it, for fear that it won't return. I've seen boomerangs thrown and know that for them to work, they have to be thrown a certain way. I don't want to take the chance that I'll throw it and it will just keep on going...and going. Life is often like a boomerang. When we do good for others we usually see that good returned to us--the boomerang that comes back. But what happens when we throw out our best efforts to help others and those efforts never come back? Or worse, what if they come back as something completely different--something very unpleasant? Do you pick up the "boomerang" and throw it again, or do you allow the hurt and fear of rejection to keep the "boomerang" in hand? David struggled with this in Psalm 35. "They repay me evil for good and leave my soul forlorn," he said in verse 12. When others were hurting, he felt their pain. He prayed for them and mourned for them (vv13-14) but when he stumbled "they gathered in glee" and slandered him "without ceasing" (v15). He threw out the boomerang of compassion and care but it returned as evil and maliciousness. What did David do about this? He took it to the Lord. He asked the Lord to contend for him (v23) and vindicate him (v24). It was not for him to change others. David realized that only God could do that. So David kept on being David. He kept on doing what he knew to do and that was to give God "thanks in the great assembly" and praise him before everyone (v18). David would continue to speak of God's righteousness and praises (v28). He would continue throwing the boomerang and leave the outcome to the Lord. That's a good lesson for us today. Keep throwing our boomerang and trust God for the return.

_________________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Haggai 1-- How to Stop Spinning Your Wheels

It seemed like a good idea at the time. A buddy and I were on a fishing trip when we decided to drive down a dirt road running alongside a river. We were looking for a good fishing spot. We were a good ways along when we drove through a dip in the road with water in it. Well, the truck we were riding in got stuck in the mud. The more my friend pushed the accelerator, the more the wheels spun. We got out and tried to push it, but before we knew it we were both covered in mud. We were going no where! We finally gave up and called a tow truck. Haggai 1 describes a time in the life of Israel when they were spinning their wheels, figuratively. They had returned to Israel after 70 years of Babylonian captivity with the primary objective of rebuilding the temple. Opposition from non-Jews stopped the project, and it laid dormant for years. The people went on with their business and basically forgot about what should have been their top priority. God said that "Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house, therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit" (vv9-10). They were sowing seeds but reaping little fruit. They were working hard but never seemed to be able to get ahead. They were trying and trying but coming up short. They were spinning their wheels! God said it was because their priorities were wrong. They had placed themselves and their comfort above honoring God, and God withheld His blessings from their lives. Do you feel like you are just spinning your wheels? Do you feel like no matter what you do, you can never get anywhere in life? Maybe it is because your priorities are wrong. Instead of falling deeper into the mud, take a step back and prayerfully evaluate how you spend your time, money, and other resources. Look at your attitude and the goals that you have. Consider what you are passionate about and the things that drive you to do what you do. Are you seeking God first in all of these things? Let's fix our priorities and stop spinning our wheels.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Ezra 2-- You're Never Too Old

Hap is a friend of mine and an incredible example that you are never too old to tackle new projects for the Lord. Hap had a colorful life and career. He was a highly decorated military veteran wounded three times in action who worked his way up the ranks to Lt. Colonel. He also worked with some high profile people like J.C. Penney (yes, the man who started the department stores) and others. But his life didn't really start until he was in his 60s--you see, that is when he trusted Christ as his savior. He and his dear wife began taking trips and witnessing behind the "iron curtain" when Eastern Europe was locked in communism and Christian witnessing was outlawed. After the curtain fell, they continued their trips, now as recruiters helping ordinary people go on short-term missions trips. Well into his 80s, Hap was going strong traveling to several countries each year, meeting new people, and impacting everyone he came in contact with. Now 90, Hap continues to display a "can do" attitude even though his body is slowing down. In Ezra 2 we meet a group of people who also had a "can do" attitude, many of whom were 70+ years of age. Numbering nearly 50,000 people, these were the Jews who left the comforts of what had been Babylon to start a new life in Judah where they would rebuild cities and the temple. These were risk takers not satisfied with the status quo. God had moved their hearts to service (chapter 1 verse 5) and now they were putting it all on the line to follow Him and accomplish His purpose. Not only that, but once they got to the land they "offered freely for the house of God...according to their ability" (vv68-69). They sacrificially gave so that the temple could be rebuilt. Hap and these 50,000 Jews are reminders to us that you are never too old to start something new, take risks, or impact others for the Lord.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Psalm 20-- Leaders with Praying Followers

We often talk about praying for our leaders, whether they are political officials, church leaders, or our boss at work. We need to pray for those who lead us, but what if we are in some kind of leadership role? Do we have people praying for us? If so, what are they praying? The kind of leader you are influences the types of prayers that followers can pray for you. A great example of this is Psalm 20, written by David while he was king of Israel. Although David penned this psalm and set it to music, it really was the prayer of the people he led concerning him. This psalm is how David's followers prayed for him. Notice a couple specific things in this prayer that reflect on David's leadership. They prayed that God would remember the offerings and sacrifices that David had brought to the Lord (v3). They had seen David's example when it came to sacrificing for the Lord. They knew he was someone who brought his best to the Lord. They prayed that God would give David his heart's desire and fulfill all of his plans (v4). They knew their leader's heart sought after God's heart and that he pursued God's plans above his own. They also knew David was a man of prayer (v5) and that he prayed the kinds of prayers that they would want answered. Thanks to David's example, the people had learned to put their trust in the Lord, not in their armies, military weapons, or anything else (v7). They had all of those things--but they knew ultimately that only God could deliver. They also knew that David was a leader responsive to their needs and concerns (v9). This chapter, then, begs the question, "What kind of leaders are we?" Are we the kind of leaders that exemplify godly sacrifices? Are our hearts set on things above and not on the earth? Do we seek God's direction first rather than planning first and asking Him to bless our plans later? Are we mature in our praying? Do we encourage others to grow in their faith? Are we cognizant of the needs and concerns of those we are leading? Maybe there is even a more basic question--do we desire and seek the prayers of others that we might be great leaders? These are some great questions for every leader to ponder.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 28-- The Desperate Tale of Two Brothers

Emotionally hurt with his world crashed down around him, we find Esau in Genesis 28 desperate to recover his father's favor. Earlier he exchanged his birthright for some stew, then he lost his father's blessing. It seemed that his brother Jacob got everything that should have been his. So when Jacob goes off to find a wife who wasn't from the area, Esau decides he needs to do that as well. He already had two wives from Canaan (much to his parents displeasure) but thinks that if he finds one from his extended family it will bring him back into his father's graces (vv8-9). While Esau (a grown man) is desperately trying to recover from his emotional pain, his brother has his first real encounter with God. Jacob had grown up hearing about God. He knew many things about God. But he didn't know God for himself. Then along a roadside as he journeyed to find a wife, God spoke to him (vv10-15). This was a turning point in Jacob's life. Jacob vows that if God would be faithful to him, Jacob would serve the Lord and put Him first (vv20-21), even in his possessions (v22). Jacob had caused a lot of grief, he was a conniver and a liar. But something started to change in his life as he met God on that dusty road. His focus started shifting from himself to the Lord and others. He went on to become a great man of God whose 12 sons would become the 12 tribes of Israel and the Jewish nation. Where are you at in your life today? Are you like Esau, desperate to recover from your emotional pain? Desperate to find someone who will love and accept you? Or maybe you are like Jacob prior to this chapter. You know all about God but haven't made a personal commitment to Him. Maybe you have done some terrible things, caused a lot of grief, lied to a lot of people. Whether it is the emotional pain of an Esau or the guilt of a Jacob, Jesus Christ is waiting to forgive you, heal your emotional scars, and lead you into an abundant life. If you have never done so, today ask God to forgive your sin, acknowledge that Christ's death, burial and resurrection is sufficient to pay for your sin, and commit your life to the Lord right now. God will make you into a new creation and give you a purpose and peace that you have never known before.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 26-- When Good Work Ethic Causes Trouble

Have you ever had a job where your co-workers were jealous because you did so much better than them? Maybe you always went the extra mile but they did the least amount necessary. One person I know started a new job where he did service calls for a company. Under the union contract, employees were supposed to complete five calls per shift. This guy found that he could usually complete more than that in a typical day. It didn't take long, however, before he started getting heat from his co-workers. If he could do more in a day, then they would be expected to do more--and they didn't like that. It seems that there always are people around us trying to pull us down because our getting ahead makes them look bad. Such was the case for Isaac in Genesis 26. There was a famine in the area, so Isaac relocated his family to Gerar, the same place where his father had spent time. He worked hard and God richly blessed his efforts (vv12-13). Soon he became so prosperous that everyone around him was jealous. They tried to make life difficult for him (v15) and eventually kicked him out of the area. Isaac sought peace with those around him, even giving up wells that rightfully were his in order to avoid strained relations (vv18-22). He had plenty and was able to dig more wells. There are some things worth fighting for, but to Isaac, this wasn't one of them. He did his "thing" and didn't get deterred by those who were jealous of him. Now, before we leave this chapter, there are two negatives that we need to notice. First is that Isaac lied about Rebekah being his wife when they arrived in Gerar. Rather than being honest and trusting God to take care of him, he tried to devise a plan to protect himself. As we saw in the last chapter, he was looking out for his own interests and not that of others. Nor was he thinking about long-term ramifications. The second negative is that son Esau marries not one but two pagan women, causing Isaac and Rebekah great grief (vv34-35). Esau is another example of being self-focused, and he is the product of a dysfunctional family (see chapter 25). So here is the take away from this chapter: do what is right in both your business and family affairs, and leave the outcome to God. Some people give great attention to their work but let their family suffer. Others are lazy and have a poor work ethic. Don't let either be true of you.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 25-- Are You the Next Reality TV Show?

It could have been a reality TV show. We'll call it "Isaac's Family." It is the true story that begins to unfold in Genesis 25 as Isaac and Rebekah start their family. It took them 20 years before they could have children, but once twins Esau and Jacob were born I doubt there was ever a dull moment. There were some interesting family dynamics that we notice as we open the window and look in on this family. First, these kids were "fighting" before they even came out of the womb (v22) with each destined by God to father a nation or people group. They may have been twins, but these boys were dramatically different. They looked different (v25), had different interests (v27), different personalities, and they approached life differently. Jacob was a thinker--he planned, thought things through, and even schemed. Esau lived for the moment. He was rugged, tough, and self-focused. The first sign of trouble we see is that Isaac and Rebekah played favorites (v28) with Isaac loving Esau and Rebekah loving Jacob. Then we see how short-sited Esau was because he was willing to throw away his future--his birthright--for some stew. Jacob is far from innocent as he took advantage of his brother. This was a pretty dysfunctional family (it gets worse as the story goes on!). What was the bottom line that caused all of this? Each family member looked only at his or her own interests  and not the interests of the whole family. They also didn't consider the long-term ramifications of their decisions and the impact those decisions would have on others. The more members of your family there are who look only to their own interests, the more dysfunctional your family will be. It is that simple! Don't become fodder for a reality show--consider others before yourself.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 13-- Keeping a 20 Foot Long Nose in Perspective

Mount Rushmore is amazing! I vividly remember my first visit. We drove around a curve in the road and there it was--larger than life! For our international readers who may not be aware of it, Mount Rushmore is where the heads of four U.S. presidents are "engraved" (blasted is a better word) into the side of a mountain. Each head is massive--60 feet tall. Their noses are 20 feet long. It took 14 years and the removal of 800 million pounds of stone to complete the project. I imagine it would have been easy when working on, say Lincoln's beard, to get so caught up with the small details that workers would lose sight of the bigger picture. But they didn't. They had to make sure that each smaller detail was proportionate to the whole. It is important, not only in constructing monuments but also in life, that we keep things in perspective. Sometimes that means making small sacrifices in order to accomplish something bigger. Abraham in Genesis 13 is a good example of this. When the livestock and possessions of both Abraham and his nephew Lot grew to the point that they couldn't stay in the same area (vv6-7), Abraham dealt head-on with the situation. He offered a solution rather than allow strife between members of his family and between their employees. He allowed Lot to choose any of the land that he wanted and Abraham would move his enterprise the opposite direction. It is interesting that although Lot chose what looked like the best land, his move almost cost him his life. He moved toward the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (v10). Abraham took the less-desired land but in the end, got it all. "Look from the place where you are," God said to Abraham, "for all the land that you see I give to you and your descendants forever" (vv14-15). Abraham made a temporary sacrifice for the sake of others but God rewarded him many times over. I have seen this over and over again in my life. When I kept perspective of God's bigger picture and willingly made sacrifices to achieve His will, God blessed far beyond anything I could have imagined. I wonder how many people there are who will never experience all the incredible things that God has for them in this life because they lose perspective or fail to make the necessary sacrifices. Let's do what's right, even if it is inconvenient, and leave the outcome to God.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Ecclesiastes 11-- Whose the Center of Your Universe?

Unfortunately we see it all the time. From athletes to Hollywood celebrities to the guy next door, we live amidst people whose worlds only revolve around themselves. They know little to nothing about generosity. Then there are the politicians who say we need to look out for each other and stop being so greedy--but when their own finances are revealed we discover that they made millions but only gave away a couple thousand dollars. We each have a fundamental choice that we must make. Are we going to live for ourselves exclusively or are we going to live for God and others? It is one thing to talk about being our brother's keeper; it is quite another thing to do it. This is the focus of Ecclesiastes 11 where we are told that we need to be generous to others (vv1-8) and not make excuses for not giving. Solomon, who spent years acquiring things for himself, finally realizes the shallowness of stuff and the importance of helping others. God does reward us when we give (v1) but that reward is not always immediate. Solomon also encourages us to give when we have the opportunity to do so and not delay (v2) because we do not know what might come in the future that would keep us from being able to give. Self-focused living is not only about what we do with our money and possessions, but whether or not we allow God to direct us. "Walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes," Solomon says, "but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment" (v9). When we live for ourselves we only end up bringing grief upon ourselves (v10). So today you have a choice. Who are you going to make the center of your universe?
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Nehemiah 10-- The Midnight Ride and Revival

In The Tipping Point, author Malcolm Gladwell shows how little things, done in the right way, can make a big difference. One example he uses is Paul Revere's midnight ride which was effective in rallying fighters against the British in colonial America. The reason this event was so successful and people actually responded to Revere, rather than dismissing him as a crazed lunatic, had to do with a couple of key factors: who and when. Paul Revere was the right person to make that ride because he had a good reputation and was known in those parts. In other words, when Paul spoke people listened. The second factor was that the ride took place at midnight--which would have really gotten people's attention and heightened their sense of urgency. When we look at the history of great revivals we see these two factors playing an important role. In Nehemiah 10, we see the climax of a great revival that was started in chapter 9 when the Jewish people were exposed to God's word (the when). Nehemiah, as the political leader, accompanied by religious leaders and other well respected people (the who) made a solemn covenant to God. Then "everyone who had knowledge and understanding joined with their brethren, their nobles, and entered into...an oath...to do all the commandments of the Lord" (v29). That covenant involved no intermarrying with pagans, keeping God's commands about the Sabbath and sacrifices, tithing, and caring for God's house. The people demonstrated true repentance--they changed their sinful ways both in what they did (sins of commission) and what they didn't do but should have done (sins of omission). You may not consider yourself to be a Nehemiah or a Paul Revere when it comes to leadership, but you do have those around you whom you influence. If revival grips your life then that could be the spark that leads to revival in others. You could be the who that God uses to initiate a great awakening in your family, work, church and even your community.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Nehemiah 5-- The Hen and the Hog

You have probably heard the story of the hen and the hog that were walking past a church. The church's marquee announced a breakfast they were having that Sunday. "We should provide their breakfast," said the hen, "there's nothing like bacon and eggs on a Sunday morning." The hog turned to the hen and replied "for you, that would mean a minor inconvenience but for me it is a total commitment."  A lot of us are like that hen--we are willing to be slightly inconvenienced once in a while but like the hog, we won't make a total commitment. We don't want to go too far when it comes to making sacrifices. Serving Christ, however, is a commitment that often requires sacrifices. Nehemiah 5 is a great story of someone committed to pleasing God and doing the right thing, even though it cost him in the short term. Notice five sacrifices that Nehemiah made. First, he sacrificed a pay raise when he became governor (v14-15a). Second, he sacrificed power (v15b). Next, he sacrificed personal comfort (v16a) as he stayed engaged in the building project. Fourth, Nehemiah gave up investment opportunities (v16b). Finally, he gave much of his own income to feed and care for others (vv17-18). All that Nehemiah asked was that God would remember him for all that good that he had done for others (v19). I believe that God certainly did remember him--just like God remembers us and blesses us for doing what is right. So, which will it be for you today? A slight inconvenience or a total commitment?

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

1 Corinthians 16-- Strategic Planning

What makes a great leader great? I'm sure if you asked 10 people you would get a variety of answers. There are many things that go into great leadership but one of the foremost is planning. Great leaders have a clear vision and a plan for where they want to lead their people. They also do a great job at communicating that plan to their team. Strategic planning is simply having a vision for where you want to go and then establishing the priorities and steps necessary to get there. In 1 Corinthians 16 we get some insight into strategic planning from one of the early church's greatest leaders--the Apostle Paul. Notice six principles that went into his strategic plan. First, there was proper preparation (vv1-4). Paul discusses a collection the Corinthians were taking for needy believers in Jerusalem and exhorts them to have everything done and in place before he arrives. This would allow him and the church to maximize their time together. Second, remain flexible in your planning (vv5-7). If they are not careful, leaders can become slaves to their plans. Plans are a means to an end, not the end in themselves. Paul stayed flexible when it came to the amount of time he would spend in Corinth.  Third, capitalize on your opportunities (vv8-9). Paul saw enormous opportunities where he was at in Ephesus and wanted to do all he could to capture them. Fourth, be realistic (v9). Yes there were enormous opportunities but Paul also realized their was much opposition. He didn't sugar-coat the reality of the difficulties he would have to go through to accomplish his plans. Fifth, fully utilize your team (vv10-20). In these few verses we see how Timothy, Apollos, Stephanas, Fortunatus, Achaicus, Aquilla, and Priscilla all had roles to play in this plan. Finally, maintain the proper attitude. (vv13-14). This means having courage, faith, determination, attentiveness, and most of all, love. If you want to be a great leader, then learn from one of the best and apply Paul's six principles to your strategic planning.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

1 Corinthians 13-- The World's Most Misunderstood Word

It is the subject of fairy tales and fast-moving music videos. Scores of books have been written about it and it is the basis for many Hollywood productions. People laugh about it, cry about it, and even get angry over it. It unites as well as divides. It is amazing how something can be the focus of so much attention yet have so little known about what it really is. It is love. The Bible has much to say about love because it is fundamental to life. It is the fundamental reason Jesus died. It should be the fundamental reason why we live. It should permeate our attitude, actions and approach to all that we undertake. I Corinthians 13 has probably the clearest explanation of what true love--God's love (agape)--is all about. While the chapter lists several attributes of genuine love, you can sum it all up into two things. Love focuses on other people (vv4-5) and love embraces the positive (vv6-7). In addition to defining love, this chapter is a eye-opener to the stunning reality that we can do many good things in the name of Christ but not do it with love (vv1-3). No matter what it is, if we do it without love, it has no lasting benefit to us. Genuine love must be the driving force behind everything that we do and think.

Let me challenge you today to take the 1 Cor. 13 love test. Ask the question "why" for everything thing that do you over the next week. Why are you teaching that Sunday School class? Why do you tithe? Why do you work? Why do you make the family's meals? Why do you take the kids to soccer practice? Why do you attend church? If you cannot honestly answer that you are doing it out of love then it is time to refocus your life. Focus on the positive things in life and in others. Focus on the specialness of the people you are serving. Focus on the person and nature of God and on how much He has already done for you. Then, what used to be "tasks" that interrupted your day are transformed into expressions of love that bring fullness and meaning to your day. If we will embrace this concept, it will absolutely revolutionize our lives and the lives of those we touch.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

3 John-- Hospitality and Hostility

I used to travel extensively as an itinerant evangelist. I was young and single and would often be gone for 30 days at a time. During those travel days, as I worked with churches, schools, prisons and anywhere else where people would listen to me, I was richly blessed by the hospitality of many people. Often a family would let me stay at their home while I was ministering at their church. Others would take me to dinner or fill up my car with gas. Many times I had just enough gas money to make it to the church where I was speaking. If they weren't generous, I wouldn't make it home. But I was never stranded--God's people always came through for me. During those years, I came to really appreciate 3 John. You see, 3 John encourages God's people to show hospitality to those who are traveling for the sake of the gospel (vv5-8). It also gives us an example of someone who did the opposite. A man named Diotrephes loved to "have the preeminence among them" (v9). This church member was self-serving, hurtful with his words, and hostile towards those who were traveling for Christ's sake (v10). The sad thing is that I'm afraid too many churches--maybe even most--have at least one Diotrephes in their congregation. Even sadder, there have been many church splits, church disbandings, and ministers forced out of churches thanks to modern day Diotrephes. May it never be said of you or me that we acted like Diotrephes. Instead, let us respond with love and selflessness towards others in our churches and let's do what we can to support those who tirelessly travel to proclaim Christ.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

John 13-- How Will I know?

One of Whitney Houston's hit 80s pop songs, How Will I know, centers on a girl wondering how she would know if the guy she likes really loves her. One line says "How will I know--don't trust your feelings." How will I know is a good question to ask in all our relationships, especially our relationship with Christ. It's not how will I know if Christ loves me, but how will I know if I really love Him. How will I know if I really love others? In John 13:35 Jesus said that everyone will know that we are His disciples if we have love one for another. But what does that look like? How will I know if I'm meeting that standard? In the same chapter Jesus gave a wonderful example of how we can know. He humbly served His disciples by washing their feet (vv1-17). Remember, in those days they wore sandals and walked on dirt roads, so washing someone's feet was not the most pleasant experience. In fact, people of status never did that--they had servants to do it for them. But Jesus didn't consign service to others. Rather, He modeled it for us. How will you know if you really love Him? It will be demonstrated in numerous ways each day as you humbly set aside your personal agenda, pride, and status to truly serve others.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

1 Timothy 5-- Making Everyday Special

One Christmas Day, our family decided to visit a nursing home to find residents who had no family to visit them. Our goal was to try and brighten someone's day. While that was just our family trying to do something small for someone else, 1 Timothy 5 gives instructions on making a difference in people's lives all year long. The church is instructed on how it is to care for widows, as well as other people in the congregation. Verses 1-2 summarize how we are to treat everyone--like members of our own family. The chapter goes on to say that the church should care for those who are really in need--older widow women who have no family and can't take care of themselves. Also addressed here are those who lead the church. They are to receive "double honor" from their flock. Most of all, we should show no partiality in how we treat people within the church (v20). Let's do what we can to bless those with whom we worship each week.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Luke 21-- Looks Can Be Deceiving

On a trip to Fairbanks, Alaska, our family visited a gold mine and learned how the area used to be mined. We were also shown how to pan for gold and even given a bag of dirt to try for ourselves. When I first poured the dirt into the pan, all I saw was dirt and rocks--nothing resembling gold. At first glance, it looked worthless. But as I separated out the rocks and then panned out the dirt, I was pleasantly surprised by what was left. Sure enough, there was gold in that dirt (o.k.--some gold flakes worth about $4!). But the point is that I had to sift through the visible to get to the important things. This is what Jesus taught in Luke 21 where He commented on a widow woman's offering then gave a discourse on end-time events. In both cases, He said that we need to look beyond the obvious to read what is really happening. The widow woman's measly offering of pennies was of more value than the huge sums given by the wealthy because it was given sacrificially. There was more happening than met the eye. The same is true with global events. We should learn to not always pass judgment by what we first see in others or in what is happening around us, but rather try to discern if there is something deeper. As we do, we may just find a gold nugget!
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

2 Corinthians 9-- Standing on the Inside

The story is told of a mother who was trying to get her young son to sit down. Several times she told him to sit and each time he defiantly responded "no!" She started to take away his favorite toy when he decided to sit. "Thank you," said the mom, "for finally sitting." The child responded , "well, I may be sitting on the outside but I'm standing on the inside!" The boy had outwardly obeyed (finally) but inwardly was mad about it. The same is true for some people when it comes to giving, which is discussed here in chapter 9. They may give because they feel obligated to do so, or to look good before others, but not with a sincere heart. God, however, loves a cheerful giver (v7) who willingly responds to the needs and opportunities to give as God leads him or her. That cheerful giving starts a beautiful grace cycle. We give, those who receive our gifts joyously praise God, and then they pray for us with deep affection. We are then enriched by God even more as He not only meets our needs but enables us to give more. The whole process brings glory to God and demonstrates our obedience to Christ (vv10-15). So, don't "stand on the inside" next time God gives you the opportunity to launch the grace cycle of giving. Cheerfully give out of gratitude for all the things God has done for you.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

2 Corinthians 8-- The Total Workout

You've seen the infomercials for exercise machines that claim to give you a "total workout."  They are designed to work all of the major muscle groups to help you achieve all-around fitness. When it comes to life, we need to attain "all-around fitness" and a key factor in that is our giving. You may not have thought about it, but 2 Corinthians 8 says that in addition to faith, speech, knowledge, diligence and love we need to excel in giving if we are to be a complete person (v7). Notice three other truths about giving from this passage. First, everybody has something to give (v14). You may think that you can't give, but there is something you can give that will meet the needs of others. You just need to prayerfully find what it is and sacrificially give it. Second, giving puts love into action (v24). Giving is what backs up the words "I love you." Next, know that giving comes easy when you are sold-out to the Lord (v5). Really, this is the bottom line. If you have surrendered all that you are and have to Christ, then giving of your time, talents and possessions is no big deal. Finally, churches and church leaders have a responsibility to properly administer the gifts that are received (vv16-24). Giving may not strengthen your biceps, but it will help you be a better, more complete person.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.