WEDNESDAY'S WORD- OPTIMISM - Sadell Bradley - 10/09/2024

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD OPTIMISM 10/09/2024   "Optimism is the madness of insisting that all is well when we are miserable." - Voltaire, French Philosopher 

Some of us grew up with actor Michael J. Fox. We watched him play Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties. We cheered as he traveled through time as Marty McFly in the Back to the Future movies. Later, we enjoyed his wit on Spin City, where he played Mike Flaherty, the Deputy Mayor of New York, alongside a hilarious cast of characters. We believed Michael J. Fox had lived a charmed life until in 1991, at age 30, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Parkinson's is a progressive disease of the nervous system marked by tremors, muscular rigidity, and slow, imprecise movements, chiefly affecting middle-aged and elderly people. Fox announced his diagnosis to the public in 1998 at age 37. We've watched him progress with grace through its stages. In the Bible, the word for this disease is palsy—paralysis accompanied by involuntary tremors. Jesus healed a man with this condition in Mark 2, when four friends cut through the roof to bring their companion to Him. Verse 5 says, "When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic (man with palsy), “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” This statement indicated that Jesus had both the power to forgive sins and to heal the man of his condition. Disease is one of the marks of sin being in the earth. Jesus claiming He could absolve and pardon sins for the Jewish leaders was a scandal and blasphemy. Who did He think he was, God?! He told the paralytic in verse 11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 12Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” God does miraculous things to demonstrate His power and to turn our attention toward Him. Jesus is all about redeeming hopeless circumstances. He doesn't share His glory. He works when we can't do anything about our situation. The faith of this man's friends to bring Him to Jesus, and his own faith to obey the command of God to arise and walk despite all evidence to the contrary—showed his belief, trust, expectation, and optimism. OPTIMISM is hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something. In philosophy, it is the belief that good must ultimately prevail over evil in the universe. So many trying things are happening all around us right now. It can be difficult to be positive and optimistic with such negative forces in the atmosphere. To feel trapped and unable to move, whether physically like this man, or emotionally, vocationally, spiritually, or in relationships brings all kinds of anguish. When Jesus performed the miracle, it evoked worship and praise from the man and all the witnesses. It is awe inspiring to see individuals who are facing particular hardships like Michael J. Fox persevere and overcome. Some are given grace to endure trials that would cause most of us to succumb to anxiety, hopelessness, and depression. Adversities turn into stepping stones as these individuals lift themselves into positive attitudes and triumphant dispositions. In one video clip, Michael J, Fox said, "I realized that with gratitude...optimism is sustainable. If you can find something to be grateful for, you can find something to look forward to...and you carry on." I love that! Optimism is not just fleeting in a particular moment...it's sustainable: able to be upheld, maintained and defended. Some of us struggle to ward off negativity and pessimism. Do you have sustainable optimism? One Scripture that reflects optimism is Psalm 27:13-14, here king David writes, 13I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. 14Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - READY - Sadell Bradley - 10/02/2024

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD READY 10/02/2024 "Read my letter to the old folks, and give my love to them, and tell my brothers to be always watching unto prayer, and when the good Ole Ship of Zion comes along, to be ready to step aboard. " — Harriett Tubman, American Activist CLICK HERE TO RSVP & PAY $25 FOR SATURDAY OCTOBER 5th MEN'S RETREAT       One of my favorite Gospel artists of all time is the Grammy, Stellar, and Dove award winning group Commissioned. The all-male Christian artists preceded Boyz to Men and other iterations of boy bands. They were known for stirring evangelistic songs like "Go Tell Somebody," "Running Back to You," and "Will You Be Ready?" The lyrics of the latter boldly ask, "Can't you see the signs of the times? Don't you know that the time is short? And soon the LORD, He will return, will you be punished, or get your reward? There will be no more time to get it right, when the LORD, when He cracks the sky. So just keep your hand in His hand, and be ready when Jesus comes!" Soloist Keith Staten's compelling plea urges us to: "Get your house, get it in order! In your life make Jesus first. Keep your lamps trimmed and burning bright, make a stand...stand up for what you know is right. Keep the love of Jesus always on your mind...and...be ready when Jesus comes." It was a strong altar-call song and many have received Jesus by considering the questions posed within it. Any of us with eyes to see can tell that the times we're in are different than others within our lifetime. This week we're seeing the fatal affects of climate change and natural disasters. Hundreds have died, are missing, and are attempting to recover from hurricane Helene. We feel helpless to do anything but stockpile groceries and necessary equipment as the ILA workers of the 3rd largest port in the US strike for better wages and not to be replaced by robots. Some are stockpiling because they believe items will run out, others because price gouging is probable, while inflation is still high. We grow in our concern about an impending war in which the US may have to become involved, as Iran has now inserted itself in the Middle Eastern conflict. As our elections are looming, strong responses from a lame-duck President may be unlikely. All we can do is view the debate of Vice Presidential hopefuls. If those are not enough signs of the last days... To be READY means in a suitable state for an activity, action, or situation; fully prepared; made suitable and available for immediate use; eager, inclined, or willing to do something. I remember running track and field in my youth. After months of preparation, I knelt at the start line as the announcer said... READY... SET...and then fired off the gun. If you did not have focus and patience, you could take off running at the wrong time and be disqualified. If you did not respond quickly, you could lose the race. Your body didn't just need to be ready, your spirit, mind, and emotions had to also be prepared. The song "Will You Be Ready?"  referenced Matthew 25:1-13, the parable of the Ten Virgins: 1“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6“At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ 7“All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ 9“But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ 10“But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’12“But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ 13“So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return. True Christ followers are called to live our lives in holiness, filled with the Spirit, and in anticipation and hopeful expectation of Christ's return. Half of the virgins were foolishly unprepared and tried to get the oil (consecration)  from the wise virgin's personal relationship with the LORD. The wise would not sell or give away what was most precious to them. They were anticipating the Bridegroom's arrival. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. Are you prepared if Jesus returned today? If your appointment with death was sooner than you thought would you be ready? There's an urban saying that fits perfectly. It's... "If you stay ready,  you don't have to get ready"

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - LAMENT - Sadell Bradley - 09/25/2024

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD LAMENT 9/25/2024 "Nothing heals us like letting people know our scariest parts: When people listen to you cry and lament, and look at you with love, it's like they are holding the baby of you." — Anne Lamott, American Author

We lament the speed of our society, and the lack of depth, and the nature of disposable information. —David Ogden Stiers, Actor LAMENT is a passionate expression of grief or sorrow; a song, piece of music, or poem expressing sorrow; or an expression of regret, or disappointment; a complaint. This Sunday, at 2PM in Washington Park Downtown, there will be a City-Wide Prayer and Prophetic Lament event. The last time we gathered in 2020, was to pray for the Country after the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Churches from all over came together for a time of lament, reflection, intercession, and worship.  We are facing perilous times, not just in the US but around the world. Nations are at war. Political tensions are high. People are struggling economically. Our children are not safe in schools. This is a time for the Church to repent for not being the kind of light we were meant to be in this dark world. We will direct our cares and attention to the only One who can do anything about what is going on—Jesus. Dr. Soon Chan Rah, in his book, Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times, writes: Laments are prayers of petition arising out of need. But lament is not simply the presentation of a list of complaints, nor merely the expression of sadness over difficult circumstances. Lament in the Bible is a liturgical response to the reality of suffering, and engages God in the context of pain and trouble. The hope of lament is that God would respond to human suffering, that is wholeheartedly communicated through lament. The Book of Lamentations, whom many believe was written by the prophet Jeremiah, was originally named ekah, meaning “Alas!”—an expression of shock or bewilderment at a tragic event. Jerusalem had been overtaken and placed in Babylonian exile/captivity. Lamentations, like the book of Job, explores the question of suffering. While Job tackles the suffering of the innocent, Lamentations focuses on the consequences of sin. The prophet writes in Lamentations 1:1-3: 1Jerusalem, once so full of people, is now deserted. She who was once great among the nations now sits alone like a widow. Once the queen of all the earth, she is now a slave. 2She sobs through the night; tears stream down her cheeks. Among all her lovers, there is no one left to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her and become her enemies. 3Judah has been led away into captivity, oppressed with cruel slavery. She lives among foreign nations and has no place of rest. Her enemies have chased her down, and she has nowhere to turn. In our modern context, we also experience the consequences of breaking God’s laws. Rampant crime and violence, greed, and obsession with self. The loss of purity, innocence, justice, and holiness. It is not just individual sins, but an atmosphere of godlessness about which we must intercede. To ask God to see us through to the other side; we must be honest about where we are now, and cry out to Him for mercy, grace, help, and intervention. If you're in Cincinnati this Sunday, September 29th at 2PM, join us at Washington Park, 1230 Elm Street, for Prayer & Prophetic Lament. Let not a libation of tears be the only offering at the shrine of Jesus; let us also rejoice with joy unspeakable. If we have need to lament our sin, how much more to rejoice at our pardon!—Charles Spurgeon, American Clergyman

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WEDNESDAY'S WORD - OVERCOMER - Sadell Bradley - 09/18/2024

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD OVERCOMER 9/18/2024 "Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles one has overcome." — Booker T. Washington   Do not be overcome by evil,  but overcome evil with good. —Romans 12:21 Charles Albert Tindley (1851-1933) was a pastor and musical composer. His song, "I'll Overcome Someday" is credited as the basis for the U.S. Civil Rights anthem "We Shall Overcome." He also wrote "Take Your Burden to the LORD (and Leave It There)." As a child we sang his song, "We'll Understand It Better By and By"— "By and by, when the morning comes, When the saints of God are gathered home, We will tell the story how we've overcome; We will understand it better by and by." It's about our eternal hope of overcoming despite many trials and perplexing circumstances in this life. An OVERCOMER is a person who has succeeded in dealing with a problem or difficulty; one who has defeated an opponent and prevailed. Charles Tindley's father was a slave. His mother was a free woman, but she died when he was very young. To maintain his freedom, Charles was taken in by her sister. As a youth he was hired out for any odd jobs that could be found. After the Civil War, he moved to Philadelphia, where he found employment as brick carrier. Charles married Daisy Henry at seventeen. They had eight children. Charles was the janitor of the church he would one day pastor. He passed his Methodist ordination with flying colors without any formal education. He learned to read by sounding out letters in candlelight. Charles A. Tindley grew his 130 member East Calvary Methodist Episcopal church to a multiracial congregation of 10,000 during the reconstruction era. After his death, the church was renamed Tindley Temple United Methodist Church. It is a former Jewish synagogue and an historic landmark in Philadelphia. Tindley was an overcomer! John the Revelator wrote to the Church in Philadelphia (not in Pennsylvania, but in Asia Minor, now Turkey), 7To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open. 8I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door, which no one can shut. For you have only a little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name. 9Look at those who belong to the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews but are liars instead. I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I love you. 10Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11I am coming soon. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name.13He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The Philadelphia church is known as The Open Door Church, or the church that waited patiently. For these overcomers, God promises an open door of blessing, vindication from their enemies, and affirmation of His love for them. He also assures them protection in the coming tribulation, possibly taking them home prior to it. God exhorts them to hold faithfully to their virtues, standards, grace, and faith despite any weakness they might have. In the natural at that time, pillars were erected to notable leaders in  places of worship; the LORD declares that those who overcome will become pillars in the spiritual house of God in Heaven. CLICK HERE TO RSVP & PAY $25 FOR THE OCTOBER 5th MEN'S RETREAT