What Will You Do With Your Freedom?

Paul and Silas were unjustly beaten and imprisoned (Acts 16:22-24) for casting out a fortune telling demon (Acts 16:18-19).    That night in jail as they were singing hymns and praying there was an earthquake and their shackles were loosed and the doors opened!  (Acts 16:25-26)  When the jailer woke he saw the doors open he pulled out his sword to kill himself, but Paul stopped him (Acts 16:27-29).  When the jailer asked them what he must do to be saved (Acts 16:30)...

...they said,  "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you  and your household." Acts 16:31

There are a lot of incredible things that happen in this story. 

• A fortune telling demon.
• A demon being cast out.
• Paul and Silas singing and praying after being beaten and thrown in jail.
• An earthquake that opened the doors and unfastened their chains.

If the story had stopped there it would be an amazing story, but something else happened.  Paul intervened and saved the jailer.  Paul and Silas were free!  Yet they did not use their newly acquired freedom to save themselves!  Instead, they called out.  And because of this the jailer and his whole family were saved that night.  Maybe I am alone in this... but if I was falsely imprisoned and then the doors opened and my chains fell off, and the jailer was about to kill himself I would think that it was working out perfectly and I would be able to get away unnoticed!  A great reminder that we should make the most of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:16) and always be ready to share our faith (1 Peter 3:15).  What will you do with your freedom?

Samuel's Ear

I had only heard one verse of this hymn before, but it's other verses are just as good.  The call of Samuel in 1 Samuel 3:1-21 is such  an interesting story.  It's amazing to me how the Lord spoke to Samuel.  I've been thinking a lot lately about God's calling, and hearing His voice.  What a great prayer... that we would be attentive to His voice.

“Hushed was the evening hymn,”

Written by J. D. Burns

Hushed was the evening hymn,
The temple courts were dark,
The lamp was burning dim
Before the sacred ark,
When suddenly a voice Divine
Rang through the silence of the shrine.

Old Eli, meek and mild,
The priest of Israel, slept,
His watch the temple child,
The little Levite, kept;
And what from Eli's sense was sealed
The Lord to Hannah's son revealed.

Oh, give me Samuel's ear,
The open ear, O Lord!
Alive and quick to hear
Each whisper of Thy Word:
Like him to answer at Thy call,
And to obey Thee first of all.

Oh, give me Samuel's heart,
A lowly heart that waits
Where in Thy house Thou art,
Or watches at Thy gates;
By day and night a heart that still
Moves at the breathing of Thy will.

Oh, give me Samuel's mind,
A sweet unmurmuring faith,
Obedient and resigned
To Thee in life and death,
That I may read with childlike eyes
Truths that are hidden from the wise.

Interview with Dulé Hill from Psych: Commitment

Psych is one of my  all time favorite shows.  I watched an interview with Dulé Hill (Who plays Gus* on the show) and here are some highlights from the interview (Which you can watch here).

Before Psych, when his acting career was still in it's infancy Hill was dropped by his agency.  Two months later he was picked up by the show West Wing.  Between getting dropped and being picked up for a show he was low on cash and at a crossroads.  He was forced to evaluate his life.  Quit and move home?  Or Stick it out and keep trying?  Here is some of what he said: 

• What are you trying to do Dulé?

• Either I am going to be a actor or I am going to spend the rest of my life trying.

• There is power in commitment.

• If you make a fall back plan you are going to fall back.

• Set your sights on your goal. 

• Maximize the opportunities you've been given. 

• Life isn't a sprint or a marathon... it's a relay.  So, run your leg of the race well.

Hill referenced and thanked God multiple times throughout the interview.  He also referenced scripture (James 1:7-8), talked about how God provides and opens doors.  Very cool to see someone in Hollywood who is a Christian openly discussing his life and faith.

*There is a running gag on the show where Shawn introduces Burton Guster (Gus) by a different name each time.  You can see most of them here...