Say Something

Building One Another - Vol. 12, No.11
Dear Friend, If you “see something say something” is becoming a catchword in American society. While it refers to vigilance in an insecure world, the phrase has me thinking about the reticence of many Christians to “say something” about the Lord they follow. Nearly one hundred years ago, G. Campbell Morgan was to write: It has become very difficult for Christian people to talk of the things of Christ to each other.  They meet together in ordinary life, and they talk of everything except the deepest things of their spiritual life; and that not because they have not deep experience, not because they are unfamiliar with the things of God and His Kingdom, but because they never learned how to help each other in mutual converse concerning them.[1] I find it fascinating that Morgan was speaking of Christians speaking of their faith to other Christians, a supposedly safe environment, much less to those who are not followers of Jesus. When he refers to “ordinary life,” Morgan was speaking of the conversations we have on a daily basis and not of the specific setting of a Bible study where matters of faith are discussed. In the vast majority of cases, American Christians today do not speak about their faith in personal conversation even when given an obvious opportunity to do it.  One way for you to gain confidence in speaking of spiritual matters is to be a part of a face-to-face small group Bible study with other Christians. In daily life, when you realize you may appropriately  speak of the Lord you love, take courage and say something! “For we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard." Acts 4:20* [1]G. Campbell Morgan, The Acts Of The Apostles (New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1924), p. 92.
With joy - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2013 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV.
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Cherrapunji

Building One Another - Vol. 12, No.10
Dear Friend, Have you ever heard of Cherrapunji, India? The Guinness Book of World Records calls it the wettest place on earth. During the monsoon season Cherrapunji can receive nearly a yard of water a day. Imagine that! A Mr. Yule called attention to Cherrapunji in 1841 when he reported that during five successive days, thirty inches of water fell every twenty-four hours. [1] Amazing! Now consider this pivotal word from Jesus: "On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, 'Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink.' As the scripture has said, 'Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.' Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified." John 7:37-39* Jesus intends you to be a Cherrapunji of the Holy Spirit! "Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water." The Holy Spirit indwells, lives in those who trust in Jesus. As you open your life to the Spirit of God you will discover the Spirit’s desire is to fill you, surge through you, cascade out of you! This is not something you necessarily “feel” but rather know to be true because you trust the Lord who promises the Spirit to those who trust him by faith. Of course, when you resist the Spirit and engage in behaviors you know are not holy, the Spirit still indwells you, but the blessed influence on your life and actions is diminished. In that case, instead of being filled with the Spirit you have “quenched” the Spirit. Turn to the Lord who loves you, open yourself the filling of the marvelous Spirit of God, and be a Cherrapunji of the Spirit! [1] Axexander Frater Chasing the Monsoon (New York: Henry Holt and Company 1992) p. 254.
With joy - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2013 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV.
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Spring Snow

Building One Another - Vol. 12, No.9
Dear Friend, I awoke yesterday morning to a beautiful spring snowfall, the kind that coats every branch, every twig, and every surface. It created the kind of magical moment that gives snow a good name even when it messes with our schedules and our driving. It seems especially appropriate that it arrived on this the last Monday in the season known as Lent and in the week known as Holy Week. The prophet Isaiah offered this wonderful word, '“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”' Isaiah 1:18* As we walk this week take the time to dwell on the great moments in the life of Jesus:     the celebration of the Last Supper this Thursday,       Maundy Thursday;           the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday;                  the resurrection of Jesus on Easter morning. Then remember the promise that, “If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9 “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.” Romans 8:11
Hallelujah and Happy Easter! - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2013 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV.
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Friends

Building One Another -  Vol 12 No 8

March 12, 2013

Dear Friend,

Last week I received two email messages from friends who are each ninety-six years old.  I enjoy texting with friends who are in their thirties. That got me to thinking! How many people do I know who are at least twenty-five years older than I am? How many people do I know who are at least twenty-five years younger than I am?
Typically we hang out with people near our own ages.

 Perhaps that’s a carryover from our years in school where most of our friends were classmates and our own age. Perhaps it's because we are going through similar life situations with kids in school or empty nesters or in the middle of our work life or perhaps in our retirement years and so on.

 I certainly affirm having friends who are our own ages and with whom we share much in common. At the same time I have been immeasurably encouraged by friendships that cross the generations. Those older than us offer their wisdom, spirit, and love and those younger offer their wisdom, spirit, and love.

Ask yourself if you are in groups and activities that will allow you to meet and to grow real friendships with people across the spectrum of age and if not what are you going to do about it?

One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. Ps. 145:4* 

Make new friends but keep the old; one is silver and the other is gold  (The Girl Scouts). 

With joy - E. Stanley Ott
Copyright 2013 E. Stanley Ott
*Scripture from the NRSV

The Fritter Factor

Building One Another -  Vol 12 No 7

March 5, 2013

Dear Friend,

The verb “to fritter” means to reduce, waste or squander little by little. “She frittered away the afternoon.” “He frittered away his inheritance.” Think about the many ways contemporary life intrudes on whatever you are doing and the many ways you do things that fritter your time away.

Do you find yourself checking email every few minutes and if a shadow of an email message appears on your screen, do you shift to it immediately?

Do you find yourself checking Facebook “just briefly” several times a day?

Are you a texter involved in many mini-conversations that have no real end  and that may extend well past the time you are in bed?

While you may not personally engage in any of these particular behaviors, it is worth asking to what degree the “Fritter Factor” controls  your life. As Edward Bosworth said years ago, “What gets your attention gets you!” So what is getting your attention?

Since studies of efficiency and effectiveness would show we can be much more purposeful with our time if we choose to do so, will you continue to allow the Fritter Factor the control you give it?

Consider the words of the Apostle Paul, “This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13b-14*  May our Lord’s love and our Lord’s purposes be what gets your attention, and so get you! 

With joy - E. Stanley Ott
Copyright 2013 E. Stanley Ott
*Scripture from the NRSV

Seek

Building One Another - Vol. 12, No. 6
Dear Friend, You could think of the time between Ash Wednesday and Easter as something of a gloomy time, a time of “giving up” something, but I have always seen Lent as a time to take onsomething… to take on a fresh seeking of the Lord, to acknowledge that my spiritual life can feel run down just like everyday life and that I want to refresh my relationship with my Lord. For that reason, I have always found Lent to be a hopeful season.  Yes, it is a reflective time to consider the life of Jesus, however it is also a time to re-discover the passion and love our Lord has for us today. The very word Lent is a hopeful word. It comes from a Middle English word meaning springtime. We may not see spring yet, there is snow and ice everywhere, but spring is coming. Our God promised the Jews in Exile in Babylon, “When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me…” Jeremiah 29:13-14a.* Just as we know spring is on the way, so we know that when we seek, we will find the Lord. Be a seeker. Renew your own inner desire to know God more deeply and personally. Take on some specific spiritual discipline, some deliberate pattern by which you may seek the Lord during these few weeks of Lent.  For example, simply read a half-chapter a day of one of the four gospels and allow the ministry of Jesus to touch you personally. And/or keep a daily spiritual journal recording your own thoughts about your own experience of God and reflections about your Lord. May you seek and know more deeply the God who loves you this Lent.
With joy- E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2013 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV.
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Lent

Building One Another - Vol. 12, No. 4
Dear Friend, Lent is the season of the year that begins tomorrow with Ash Wednesday and culminates in the celebration of the resurrection on Easter Sunday. It is a great time to rekindle your faith. Here are two wonderful prayers to use during these days as a way of offering yourself to our loving Lord. John Wesley’s Covenant Prayer I am no longer my own, but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will;            put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed by you, or laid aside by you, exalted by you or brought low by you. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to your pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you are mine, and I am yours. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, Let it be ratified in heaven. Amen. Hannah Whitall Smith- The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life Lord, I am yours; I do yield myself up entirely to you, and I believe that you do take me. I leave myself with you. Work in me all the good pleasure of your will and I will only lie still in your hands and trust you.  Amen May these prayers - and your own prayers - encourage your heart and stir your devotion to our Lord!
With joy- E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2013 E. Stanley Ott
To view archived issues and to subscribe: www.buildingoneanother.org