Men in Ministry Be Curious!!

Trying New Foods

Exploring New Horizons

This past Christmas, I bought my lovely granddaughter the 70th anniversary copy of Curious George. It contains all the Curious George stories ever written. As my son-in law-read the book to her, my daughter listened and said, "I remember that story!"

Curious George was curious about everything. When my daughter told me about remembering the Curious George stories, I thought how I needed to be curious about God. God made us to be curious. A definition of curious: marked by desire to investigate and learn. The next thing to think about is, who are the most curious people on the planet? The little children would be right in that category. Little children want to get into everything: they are always asking questions and pointing at objects and people. They have a God-given desire to investigate and learn. God put that in us. He made us very good. Genesis 1:31 says: "God saw all that He had made, and it was very good."

Men in mInistry, Jesus said we had to be like little children to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3: " And He said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." "Never enter the kingdom of heaven": not that we will have a hard time getting in, but we will never get in!

God wants us-I would say, He requires us-to be curious: curious about Him, His Word, the mission He has given us, the mission He has for me today. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find. Seek: to go in search of, or to try to discover. It is clear that our mission on earth is to stay curious, keep seeking, never give up the quest to know God.

Men in Ministry, be like little children. Not everything little children do is desirable for us. But think of those characteristics of little children that are desirable. Children were drawn to Jesus; they did not argue who would be first, and children are not absorbed in everything in the world. Small children are basically unpretentious: they are themselves, they have not yet learned to pretend they are someone they are not, they are not deceitful; little children have innocence about them. We also must remember that they also have all the potential for evil inherent in human nature; it just has not yet been drawn out of them by the world.

How do we become like little children, with that purity so that we can enter the kingdom of God? Be curious about God: praying and studying His Word. Have the desire to know Jesus, just like the little children who ran to Him and wanted to be held by Him. The blood of Jesus covers the believer, so that when God looks at us, He sees His Son. We must be dependent on God, like little children, for Him to bring us to the place of innocence and purity.

Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. I all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

 Glad Tidings Men in Ministry International

Why Candy Canes at Christmas

A candy maker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would remind people of the true meaning of Christmas; so he made the candy cane to incorporate several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ. He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy, white candy to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus.  He made it hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church, and the firmness of the promises of God.

The candy maker then shaped his cane into the form of a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to the earth as Savior. It could also represent the staff of the "Good Shepherd" with which He reaches down to reclaim the fallen lambs who, like sheep, have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candy maker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life.

As much as society wants to deny Jesus, all year long.  They go out of their way to deny Him during Christmas. They want to call Christmas the holiday season. Anyone can walk around San Francisco and try to find a picture or any mention of Jesus. We are the light of the world for Jesus, He ascended into Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father, some of His last words to His disciples were Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. How are we doing?

Take responsibility for obeying the command. Stand up and be counted. Jesus forgets our sin the Bible tells us He remembers them no more. Confess the sin of disobedience, He forgives me, now let me turn from my wicked ways and start new. Holy Spirit shows me who I should witness the love of Jesus. Holy Spirit let me listen for you leadership and not get in front of you. Holy Spirit gives me the words to say when you bring me to that person. Holy Spirit once I speak the truth let their heart be open to your presence.

Jesus gave it all so that we could spend eternity with Him. He told us the world would hate us they hated Him first. So let the person think what they want to think when I tell them Jesus loves them.

John 3:16-17: For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His son to condemn the world but to save the world through Him.

 Think of Jesus when you see the Candy Cane, He is everywhere this time of year.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! 

Glad Tidings Men in Ministry International

Twas the Night Before Jesus Came

Author Unknown

'Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house

Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.

Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care

In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed.
 Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
 And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
 Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter.
 I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
 Away to the window I flew like a flash,
 Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear 
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here. 
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray 
I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY!

The light of His face made me cover my head
 It was Jesus! returning just like He had said.
 And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
 I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which He held in His hand
 Was written the name of every saved man.
 He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
 When He said "it's not here" my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love
 He gathered to take to His Father above.
 With those who were ready He rose without a sound.
 While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
 I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
 I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
 Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;


The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
 There's only one life and when comes the last call
 We'll find that the Bible was true after all!

Glad Tidings Men in Ministry International