Tuesday, May 25, 2010

A Good Soldier

2 Timothy 4:9-21
Paul’s last words inspire me. He’s got one foot in the grave...he’s dying, yet he knows the work is not finished. It’s only begun. He tells Timothy, “Come quick!” He's in no mood to coast even though his ministry is now confined to a prison cell. Even in prison he was still reading and writing...he wasn’t fighting with swords and knives...but with paper and pen. When most men would have been fighting for their life, he was fighting for the souls of men. His departure was at hand...and he was ready. He was eager.

Paul is amazing in these last hours of his life. He’s like Babe Ruth swinging for the fence. He’s Michael Jordan dunking on and waving his finger in the face of Dikembe Mutambo. He’s like Mother Theresa choosing to be faithful rather than successful. He’s Ronald Reagan writing notes to his family before Alzhiemer’s took away his mind. He’s Cy Young...nicknamed “Cyclone”... pitching like there’ll never be another game. He’s Walter Cronkite telling Americans one more time the way it is. He’s like Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat. He’s Jim Elliot willing to give his life for what he believes in. He’s Larry Bird, leaving it all on the court, scoring 60 points against Atlanta in 1985. He’s George Beverly Shea still singing “I’d Rather Have Jesus” at 101 years old. He’s Billy Graham still preaching, “The Bible says...” at 91 years old. He’s Dale Earnheardt on his last lap...in his last race at the Daytona 500. He’s George Foreman...too old to be in the ring, but still swinging for all he’s worth. Wow.

In 2 Timothy 4 Paul is a dying man, sure of what was ahead...and still preaching in prison. He was...True to Christ...True to the cross...True to the end!
He said, "Don't Waiver!" 4:1-5 Preach the Gospel...don't listen to the crowd...stay true to what matters most! Love God and listen to Him!
He said, "Don't Worry!" 4:6-8 "I'll be alright, see you in heaven" Paul didn't worry about dying...he had lived well. He was going to be with Jesus!
He said, "Don't Wait!" 4:9,13,21 Get here Quick! His message to Timothy...to believers and a message to all the lost..."don't wait!" Do what you need to do while you can. Come quickly.

Most everyone has read or heard about the midnight ride of Paul Revere in 1775 when he rode through the streets crying “The British are coming..”. But few have heard of Israel Bissel. After the Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, Bissel was ordered to raise the alarm in New Haven, Connecticut. He reached Worchester, Massachesetts, normally a day's ride, in two hours. There, according to tradition, his horse immediately dropped dead. Pausing only to find another horse, Bissel pressed on and by April 22 was in New Haven--but he didn't stop there! He rode on to New York, arriving April 24, and then stayed in the saddle until he reached Philadelphia the next day. Bissel rode for 126 hours almost nonstop....that’s 345 miles getting word to American military units to prepare for war. Pretty amazing ride for a man named Israel.

Paul’s ride was even more amazing. And now on his death-bed, he is concerned about one thing only. “Timothy, come quick...and don’t quit!” Don’t stop telling people about Jesus. Those are the famous last words of a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

TRUE




My latest book is "TRUE" about love, loyalty, and Lordship in marriage. If you're interested in getting a copy, email me at michael-mason@charter.net. They're $15. I am available to come to your church for a "TRUE" conference...If I can help you in that matter let me know. Thanks. Michael

2010 Preaching Engagements

Michael Mason - 2010 Preaching Engagements:

January 25 Muscle Shoals Baptist Assoc. Pastor's Conference, Moulton, Al.

February 6 TRUE Conference, Canaan Baptist, Hoover, Al.

February 12 Bailey Smith "Real Evangelism" Conf., Wheeler Grove Bap., Corinth, Miss.

February 26-27 TRUE Couple's Wknd. First Baptist, Winchester, Tenn.

March 1 Marvelous Monday, Black Creek Baptist, Boaz, Al.

March 7-10 (pm only) Revival Lakeview Baptist, Pembroke, Ky.

April 1 East Cullman Assoc. Senior Adult Revival, FBC Hanceville, Al.

April 11-14 Pleasant Hill Baptist (M-W) Decatur, Al. p.m. services only

April 17 TRUE Couple's Night, Riverchase United Methodist, Hoover, Al.

May 12 Walker County Assoc. Senior Adult Revival, Jasper, Al.

June 11-12 Riverchase UMC, Hoover,Al. TRUE Couples Wknd, Chattanooga, Tn.

June 28 Clearwater Baptist Revival, Athens, Tn.

July 25-28 (pm only)Springhill Baptist Revival, Cullman, Al.

August 4 East Gardendale Baptist, Awesome August, Gardendale, Al.

October 18-22 Guatemala Pastor's Conference, Chimaltanengo, Guatemala

November 7-10 First Baptist Revival, Winchester, Tn.

Rich People Problems

Luke 12:16-21

God called the man in Luke 12 a Fool. What would God say about you? Would he say you are a fool? Fools never change... so what was true about the fool in Luke 12 is still true today. Like ...A Fool is always seeking pleasure yet he never finds happiness...A Fool is always seeking satisfaction, yet he never finds peace...A Fool loves to lie in the lap of luxury yet he never finds true riches...A Fool can build a Million dollar house yet never have a home.

The Fool we find in Luke 12 is an old story about modern man:
....Fools believe Possessions are more important than people. This man might have said, “I’d give anything to have a bigger barn. He gave his life to having more, and in the end died with nothing that really mattered.
....Fools are marked by greed more than generosity. “I will store my crops and my goods.” He was simply stingy. My dad would say, "He was tighter than the bark on a tree."
....Fools think being ready to live is more important than being prepared to die. He never lived like he was dieing and in the end he died like he had been living. He died a lonely man.

The rich man in Luke 12 is remembered as a man who never had enough. He planned for time and not eternity. He thought his earthly goods were his own. He died unprepared to meet God.

When we read passages about “rich” people we automatically assume we are not one of them. After all most of us are broke or so in debt we’ll never get out. But we are rich. According to Shawn Wood in the Wasabi Gospel, “If your income is more than $35,000 per year, you are richer than 95% of the people on the planet.” ...We don’t feel rich because we are so in debt...and because we think rich people are those who are arrogant, stingy, wasteful and extravagant. Well, we are those people – and we are rich.

We have, what Andy Stanley calls, “rich people problems.” Problems like a broken dishwasher...when most of the world doesn’t have a dish. Problems like needing a new liner for the pool...when most of the world doesn’t have a pool. Problems like a central unit that needs repaired...when much of the world doesn’t even know what a central unit is. Problems like running out of bread and milk...when much of the world has never had the privilege of running out of bread and milk. Problems like needing a new pair of shoes... when much of the world has never had a pair of shoes. Problems like a broken remote for the TV...or needing new tires for the car...or having to wait too long at the drive-thru to get your not-so-happy-meal. Problems like deciding if you’re going to give a dime of every dollar you make to the church...when much of the world doesn’t have a dollar. ......We’re rich. Get used to the idea. And the problems we have are rich people problems. MM