OPPORTUNITY IS KNOCKING

Bishop Roger Popplewell
Area Presbyter of Central/Southern Indiana

Luke 14:16-17  
Then said he unto him, ‘A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his
servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.’

In the days before modern harbors, a ship had to wait for the flood tides before it could enter port.  The term for this situation in Latin was ob portu, that is, “a ship standing off port, waiting for the moment when it could ride the tide into the harbor to deliver its cargo.”  The English word opportunity is derived from this original word.  The captain and crew were ready and waiting for that one moment, for they knew that if they missed their opportunity, they would have to wait for another tide to come in. 

Shakespeare turned this background of the exact meaning of opportunity into one of his most famous passages from Julius Caesar (Act 4, Scene 3) –
‘There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; omitted, all the voyages of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries.  On such a full sea are we now afloat; and we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.’

Opportunity is knocking!  The tide is right for entering into the ports of our communities.  They are in need of the ‘cargo’ that we have, that is, the message of hope and peace in Jesus Christ.

God had been dealing with me about reaching out to our community (Jamestown, IN).  I talked to the local church about what I had envisioned and they were behind it one hundred percent.  We put a packet together with a letter that let the community know that we were here to be of service to them.  The packet contained a small gift, the times of our services, and various ways in which we could minister to them.  We prayed over these packets that God would bless the homes that received them.  On August 9, we divided into five teams for the five sections of the town we had already mapped out.  We passed out over 450 of these packets.  One week later, we had visitors come to a Sunday service.  Because of our effort, there was one saved in a Sunday evening service.

The tide is right; supper has been prepared.  We must seize the moment, or we may, as Shakespeare said, “Take the tide while it serves us or be bound in the shallows and in miseries.”

- Some thoughts credited to Today’s Church by Billy Sunday

CATCH THE VISION

Bishop Roger Popplewell
Area Presbyter of Central/Southern Indiana

Psalm 34:8
“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”

From 1923 to 1955, Robert Woodruff served as President of the Coca-Cola Company.  During that time, his vision was that every American service man around the world would be able to enjoy a Coca-Cola for five cents.  What a goal!  But it was nothing compared to his greater vision; that everyone in the world would have the opportunity to taste Coca-Cola during his lifetime. 

I have found nothing beneficial or life sustaining in Coca-Cola, but Mr. Woodruff wanted everyone to try it anyway.  The children of God have been given a drink of Living Water that provides life and it is provided more abundantly.  As we look around at a lifeless and dying world, we should react with the same compassion that Christ had when He looked upon the multitude and felt the need to feed them.  Surely, we want to share what we have with others.  A.W. Tozer stated, “We’re just beggars telling other beggars where we found bread.”

The Commission of Christ still stands – go into all the world with the message that Jesus Saves!  Peter proclaims, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). 

Peter also states, “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3).  Jesus continues the challenge to us, “Freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). 

Just as Robert Woodruff had a goal, so should we.  Could ours be to get everyone we come in contact with to taste the Water that gives life?  He is a cool drink to a thirsty soul.  Catch the vision!

(By the way, I remember when you could buy a Coke for five cents, but the Water of Life is free.)

ATTITUDE DETERMINES YOUR ALTITUDE

Bishop Roger Popplewell
Area Presbyter of Central/Southern Indiana

 1 TIMOTHY 6:12 - “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life...”

A story is told of General Creighton Abrams  and his platoon during WWII.  They found themselves in what seemed to be a hopeless situation. They were completely surrounded by the enemy.  Some were willing to surrender.  General Abrams called his men together and encouraged them with these words, "for the first time in this war we can attack the enemy in whichever direction we choose."  With this in mind, they chose to fight and came out victorious.  Their attitude determined their altitude.

Our attitude affects our way of acting and thinking.  It can also determine whether we will win or lose.  In the world we live in, we find ourselves surrounded by the enemy on every side.  The situation may seem hopeless at times.  The enemy says you can't make it, but the Captain of our Salvation says, "You are more than a conqueror (a winner) through Him (Jesus) that loves you” (Rom. 8:37).  Whose report are you going to believe?  

The old hymns ring out, I'm on the Battlefield for My Lord and Keep on the Firing Line. Christ told us that when we see the world in the shape it is today, surrounded on every side by evil, "Look up, lift up your head for your redemption draweth nigh" (Luke 21:28). 

TOGETHER IN THE SPIRIT

Bishop GlenDale Queener
Area Presbyter of Central/Southern Indiana

Coming together for designated worship services is a time for coming "together in the Spirit". We can
only do this as our minds are completely on our Lord and we agree to worship Him in Spirit and in
truth. This requires leaving behind our worries and to focus only upon Him. Recently, we have been
trying to sell our Indianapolis home to relocate to our home in Louisville, Kentucky. We have worried over our home in Indy not selling until the Lord directed us to look to Him, not the realtors. God has everything in His hands and directs our lives as He chooses. We simply need to give Him free reign!! Worries can separate us and keep faith from working in our lives. In fact, worry is the opposite of faith.

Psalms 37:1a tell us to "Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way."

Many people leave the waiting room too quickly. Romans 5:2,3 reminds us, "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God; And not only so, but we glory in the tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience." Paul, in writing to the Hebrews, reminds us, "For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise" (Hebrews 10:36)
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No matter the condition we are in (our needs physically, emotionally, mentally, and materially), we must come together in Spirit and worship our Lord. He requires honest, sincere worship regardless of our needs. We must stay focused upon Him. Matthew 6:33 states "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (material, physical, emotional, and mental needs) shall be added unto you." What a promise!

As we come together for scheduled services, revivals, and conventions --- let's remember to "lay aside every weight (worries in life) and sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1). Let’s praise Him with all our hearts knowing He cares and will take care of all our tomorrows. Let’s be together in the Spirit!

Unity In Leadership

Bishop GlenDale Queener
Area Presbyter of Central/Southern Indiana

Christ is the Master example of leadership for each of us.  We have only to follow Him as our example.  During the time of temptation, Jesus said, "It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4).

God calls individuals into leadership as they obey Him and follow in His love.   When calling to of His disciples, Jesus said, "follow me and I will make you fishers of men"  (Matt. 4:19).  This is the ultimate call from the Master - to be fishers of men; soul winners!   A well known statement says,  "give me a fish and I eat for a day, TEACH me to fish and I can eat for a lifetime."  Leaders are called not only to fish but to teach others to fish by their example.  Leaders must be examples in all areas and realize that soul winning (being fishers of men) is the goal.  The disciples immediately followed Jesus, the master example.     

By example, Jesus began to teach the disciples the work that needed to be done.  One of the greatest examples of Jesus' teachings is found within the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).   Matthew  6:33 challenges us, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you".  The Spirit of Unity in leadership occurs as leaders and laymen follow Jesus in Word and deed.

In the closing of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches that a wise man builds his house on the rock - "And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock" (Matt. 7:25).  Jesus is our SURE ROCK that we must build our lives upon!  We will only have the "Unity in Leadership" as we rely upon this Rock - JESUS, our ultimate leader.

“Unity for a New Year - 2007”

Many people will be making “New Year’s Resolutions” only to break all of them within the first few months of 2007.  Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”  What a wonderful promise from our Lord!  So many focus their ‘New Year’s Resolutions” on themselves because we live in a “me-me generation”.  Jesus tells us clearly to seek Him first.  Of course, it is good to seek good health, i.e. lose weight (the number one New Year’s resolution made by Americans).  But, what about losing weights that keep us from growing spiritually - and adding a healthy spiritual diet such as the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (Gal. 5:22, 23)? 

Formulas for successful living are presented throughout the Word of God.  The fifth chapter of Matthew (Sermon on the Mount) tells us who is blessed.  Jesus tells us we are the “light of the world” and “the salt of the earth” - and then reminds us in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.”  

A Spirit of Unity will be nurtured among us as we remember to “seek Him” first in 2007.  Wise men still seek Him!  We need to seek Him until we can truly say, “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”  (Gal.2:20)