Personal Note to Readers

Hi, I have been lax posting here.  Forgive me.  I will continue and be more attentive to posting.

I remain very active on another page with encouraging Scripture posts, devotional study series, and my “HE Said, we said” (Bible and human quotes on subjects).   All, used to make and grow disciples in their faith as a Christ follower.

You will find me, and these posts on Facebook.  Please join me there.  The Facebook page is:
Disciple Making Leadership at:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Disciple-Making-Leadership/114867045252509#!/pages/Disciple-Making-Leadership/114867045252509

My personal page is Owen Mannin at:  https://www.facebook.com/owen.mannin

I welcome you here as a  friend, to better know one another and keep up with all that goes on in our world. 

Thank you for your patience, and continued encouragement to me as you read the posts on this blog.  My hope is to always give the Word of God and his will be revealed in the message I send. 

 

Thank you for joining me, here on this blog spot, …

or per a Facebook “Like” at Disciple Making Leadership as I lead in devotions and encouraging words to you as  we – together - become a living, active follower of Christ.

God bless,

Owen

Gawking, Balking, or Walking?

Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name.  But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.  —    John 2:23-25

During Jesus’ ministry, there were masses following Him and running to Him when they heard of his arrival in their town. 

· Some were curious, just gawkers – not unlike today’s highway rubber-neckers who star and gape mindlessly. 
· Others were balkers, those who dismissed the gospel, the good news or had disdain of Christ – not unlike today’s lost, unbelievers who dismiss the gospel or disdain Christ and his believers. 
· Lastly, there were those who were walking with, following Jesus, being disciples who received the good news with joy, chose the life to live by walking in the truth of His teachings – not unlike today’s Christ follower.

Today many don’t embrace Christ’s teachings, followers, or church.  They're honest with themselves, religion, and Christ; whether they’re gawking or balking, they will not be walking in Jesus.  

 

But, here is a question to ponder:

If you go to church are you walking with Christ, are you His disciple; or are you a church going gawker or balker? 

What are your thoughts on this?

Owen <><

To the Beat of the Drum

“Christ beats His drum, but He does not press men; Christ is served with volunteers.”
 - John Donne (English Lawyer, Poet, Clergyman; 1572-1613)

In Donne’s day, the call to service, military service, was accomplished by a formation of the king’s troops entering a public place, while beating the drum – the drum beat being the call into the king of England’s service.  

Those who were being inducted, drafted into military service, or in the language of the 1600's, were being “pressed” into service and were taken to serve that day – at the king’s will. 

 

The contrast we find with here is forced to serve, verses volunteer service.  We have many citizens who are patriots, yet, unwilling to be “pressed into service.” Jesus, the King of kings, beats the drum, as He calls followers.  He does not “press,” draft any into service, he waits on a faith response.  The issue of free will for followers of Jesus, Christians, is to submit and serve in God’s Kingdom, or reject Christ and not press into His service.  James writes, “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do” (Jas 2:18).  James teaches us that a born again follower only naturally, as a new creation, wants to serve, Christian’s are not pressed into service, but of one’s own free will presses self into service.

 

Blessings,

Owen

 

Followers of Christ – priests in God’s Kingdom – “sing a new song” and serve: 

“And they sang a new song:

 … with your blood you purchased men for God
 from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, …”

—Revelation 5:9-10 Lyrics from a song of the redeemed, those who serve.