Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s Supreme leader towered over his father who was just a little over 5 feet tall; however, he appears to be a wee little man when he stands beside his idol Dennis Rodman. Even though he’s small in stature, Kim caught the world’s attention earlier this week when there was an earthquake near a nuclear test site.
While the focus of the world was on the terrorism of Iran and the mindless madness of the Middle East, North Korea tested a hydrogen bomb under the cloak of darkness. These claims have been met with suspicion from the rest of world because the seismic wave left by the explosion was smaller than what occurs when a real thermonuclear weapon is detonated.
The narcissistic Supreme Leader of North Korea has a heart that’s as shriveled as his ego is big. He could learn an essential lesson by considering the example of Zacchaeus (Luke 19), the wee little man who encountered the King of kings and Lord of lords.
As a tax collector, Zacchaeus had some authority, and He was rather rich. Like Kim Jong-un, Zacchaeus had run rough shod over people, and he had enriched himself at their expense.
The life of this miserable tax collector began to change when he realized something: The wealth of the world can fill your pockets, but it will leave your heart empty. When he began to examine the life of Jesus, the embezzling heart of Zacchaeus was embellished by the love of God.
The proof of his new found faith was seen in his statement to Jesus: “I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord! And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much!”
Jesus joyfully responded: “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”
Even though Zacchaeus was a wee little man in the eyes of his peers, he became a prized possession in the eyes and heart of God. Hopefully, Kim Jong-un will learn this lesson someday.
Blueprints and road maps are useful and necessary tools to get you from where you are to where you’re going. I have the same opinion of the book of James. It’s a book of divine directives, that will help you negotiate the challenging hairpin curves of life.
Selfie on a Stick is a company that sells a stick-like Bluetooth device that allows a person to take a self-portrait. Sales figures from is company have shown a 3,000% growth in sales in November alone, and Nordstrom stocked their shelves with the Selfie on a Stick three times and completely sold out.
Of the many gifts that were given on Christmas day, the greatest was not the one that was under the tree. It was the One who was born in the manger and would later hang on the tree–the cross of Calvary.
Yesterday was the first day of 2016, and it’s the day that many people announce their resolutions for the coming year. I you read this blog yesterday, you know that I encouraged you to “join me in making at least this one resolution for 2016: I will be a disciple who glorifies the Father by abiding in Christ.”
Even though it paled in comparison to the 897 million searches in November that focused on the terrorist’s attacks in Paris, I still find it interesting that the top story in July was the story of Cecil the lion and the 32 million searches for information regarding the death of this King of the jungle. While some people saw the circumstances of Cecil’s death as being tragic, the death of another lion has been triumphant.
Life would be boringly bland if it were not for our emotions. I’m thankful that I can scan the horizon of humanity and see faces of innocence framed in smiles that run from ear to ear. What would a party be if a child never had the gift of joy when he unwrapped a toy?
If the Independent, London’s daily newspaper, is correct Pope Francis may inspire a new version of the Bible: The Bible According to Jiminy Cricket and Pinocchio.
What remains of Christmas? Is the shredded paper in the curbside container all that’s left? Is it the December delights that have been boxed-up with your dazzling array of decorations and stored neatly away until the arrival of Holiday Season 2016?
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