The Flawed Preacher

02/11/2023

16/10/2023

The Little Boy in the Candy Shop

One day, a little boy having no money, entered a candy shop and just stared at a big candy jar full of candies on display.
After a while, the candy shop owner noticed the little boy, approached him, and said, “Do you want some of the candy?” But the little boy did not respond.
Again, the candy shop owner asked the little boy, “Do you want some of the candy?” But the little boy still did not respond.
So, the candy shop owner goes ahead, dips his hand into the jar, scoops a handful of candies, and gives it to the boy who immediately opens both his hands.
The owner dropped them onto the boy's hands who said, “Thank you!” and started running out of the store.
The candy shop owner ran after the boy saying, “Whoa! Wait a minute! Why were you not responding to me earlier?”
The little boy said, “Because I know how big my hands were and how big your hands were! Your hands were much bigger which meant that you would get a lot more candies out of that jar!”

When we pray, most of the time we limit God’s work in our lives by not waiting.
Most of the time we think that God can only do so much.
But all the time God is saying, “Hey, I’ve got these big hands! I could do so much more! You just wait!”

Just like the little boy, let’s pray and learn to wait.

Conversations with John and Lisa Bevere Ep. 231 as told by Arden Bevere
Flawed Preacher
is a Virtue

10/03/2023

The 23rd Psalm (Japanese translation)

The Lord is my Pace-setter, I shall not rush;
He makes me stop and rest for quiet intervals.

He provides me with images of stillness, which restore my serenity;
He leads me in ways of efficiency through calmness of mind, and His guidance is peace.

Even though I have a great many things to accomplish each day,
I will not fret, for His presence is here.
His timelessness, His all-importance, will keep me in balance.

He prepares refreshments and renewal in the midst of my activity,
by anointing my mind with His oils of tranquility.
My cup of joyous energy overflows.

Surely harmony and effectiveness shall be the fruits of my hours,
For I shall walk in the pace of my Lord, and dwell in His house forever.

Note: Effects of rain sounds on our mental health: relaxes the mind, improves sleep quality, helps decrease stress and anxiety levels, heightens concentration, and inspires creativity.

13/02/2023

LEARN TO GIVE WHEN YOU HAVE SO LITTLE

The book Purpose Driven Life has sold more than 35 million copies worldwide. A best-selling book like that means millions of dollars in royalty fees to the author.

And what do you do with those millions? Pastor Rick and his wife Kay made the decision to tithe 90 percent of the proceeds and live on 10 percent. The decision was simply consistent with the way they’d been living. Pastor Rick noted, “Luke 16:11-12 says whoever can be trusted with little, can also be trusted with much. But whoever is dishonest with very little, will be dishonest with much. Who will trust you with the true riches if you have not been trustworthy with handling worldly wealth?”

Learning how to give is just as important as learning how to receive.
Being in a position to give money, whether you have a lot or very little, to help someone in need, to contribute to your church, a charitable organization, or another needy cause will open you up to receive blessings in your life.

These blessings may not be returned as money. Blessings could be good health, a loving family, the knowledge that you have helped someone in need, and the delight of watching your church spread money to help others. Simply realizing your money was used to further a charitable cause can be a blessing enough.

Pastor Rick said people sometimes ask him why did God choose him to be the author of the best-selling hardback book in American history? He answered that it was because God knew what he will do with the money. God knew he could trust him. Let's not forget that God prospers us NOT to raise our standard of living BUT to raise our standard of giving.
And for those who say that they will also give if they have a lot more money? Pastor Rick’s answer to you is, “No you would not because you’re not giving money when you are poor.”

Sometimes you have little but manage to give what you can.
Don’t overlook such seemingly small acts of kindness.
No gift is ever too small.
When you share what you have, a blessing comes back to you.
And those who have even less than you and receive your gift see only your generous spirit.

Again. Happy Valentines! And give.

From The Answer and The Generosity Bet

31/01/2023

DID JESUS EXERCISE?

Many Christians believe that exercise is of very little value. They base their opinion, in part, on what the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 4:8.

However, biblical times were vastly different from today with regard to people’s need for additional “bodily exercise.” When Jesus walked the earth, most people walked from three to ten miles a day in the course of their daily lives and work (that is 5 to 16 kilometers)! The people did not need to engage in additional exercise. The extra exercise was usually only done in the Roman Empire to increase muscle size and strength for participation in spectator sports. Certainly, Paul valued physical health; he simply believed that getting bodily exercise for the purpose of engaging in sports was not as profitable as using one’s time and energy to develop spiritual strength.

When Jesus was approximately four or five years old, He walked with His family from Egypt to Nazareth, a distance of more than four hundred miles (400 miles is equal to 643 kilometers; approximately from Manila to Catarman, Northern Samar). His ministry was marked by frequent travels to various parts of Israel, many of the trips being ones from the Galilee region to Jerusalem, a distance of about 120 miles (120 miles is equal to 194 kilometers; approximately from Manila to Manaog, Pangasinan).

Evangelist Arthur Blessit (Christian Preacher known for carrying a cross through every nation of the world) once calculated that the total miles Jesus walked during the three years of His public ministry were 3,125 miles. He added this mileage to the mileage from Egypt to Nazareth, as well as the miles Jesus walked from Galilee to Jerusalem, and he came up with a total of 21,595 miles that Jesus likely walked during His life (21,595 miles is equal to 34,753 kilometers).

In the case of exercise, we need to do what Jesus did: Get ample exercise daily. As an active walker, Jesus certainly was engaged in aerobic exercise. For most people, the most beneficial exercise is walking, which is how Jesus got His exercise on this earth.

The greatest admonition for exercise is this: Start.

The second greatest admonition is this: Exercise regularly.

And the third greatest admonition is this: Keep exercising.

From What Would Jesus Eat? By Don Colbert, M.D.

06/12/2022

The Story of Jonah & the Fish

One day, a young girl stood in a corner sharing her faith while a small crowd gathered around her.
In the crowd was a man who considered himself an intellectual atheist.
Her words started to annoy him and he decided to make her look silly.
Atheist: Young lady, do you believe that all the story in the Bible is true?
Girl: Yes sir, I do believe in the Bible. I believe every word of it.
Atheist: Then you must believe in the story of Jonah - that a man was swallowed by a fish and survived to tell the story.
Girl: Yes sir, I do believe the story of Jonah.
Atheist: Then can you please explain to me how is that possible?
Girl: No sir, I can’t explain it. But when I get to heaven, I will ask Jonah myself.
Atheist: Hah! Then what if he ended up in hell instead?
Girl: Well…maybe you could ask him?

The real message of Jonah is not about the fish.
It is the story of a man given a job to do by God and refused to do it.
But God did not give up on Jonah, just as he doesn’t give up on anyone who loves Him.
After God got his attention, Jonah obeyed and a massive renewal in Nineveh took place.

The real message of the story is that God gives everyone second chances.

17/11/2022

The Original Prince of Peace Portrait

In 1998, at age four, Akiane started to have intense dreams and visions of heaven.
She started to draw everything she saw and experienced.
There were two angelic beings she vividly remembers from her dreams:
The first, whom she was able to draw easily, turned out to be her guardian angel.
But the other, much as she wanted to, she could not draw from memory.
At age eight, she felt that she had to try and paint the other being.
She searched for months for the right face to help her paint the image but found no one.
Frustrated, she fervently prayed and asked for divine assistance.
The next day, a friend introduced an acquaintance whose facial features she felt might inspire Akiane for her artwork.
Akiane was speechless. Not only the person closely resembled the face in her dreams but he also happens to be a carpenter.
She started painting and after 40 grueling hours, the portrait now known as Prince of Peace was finished.
It was according to Akiane, the face of Jesus as she saw him.
It was her Gift to the world.
The face symbolizes Peace, Love, and Hope for everyone who believes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B86y4XRCHg : How Jesus Saved His Own Portrait: The True Story of Akiane Kramaric’s Lost Masterpiece.

16/11/2022

Finally.