In this day and age it seems that people gravitate to reading blogs that are written on topics too many to list here. I recently felt a strong desire to share the love of Jesus Christ as His love has affected me and my life as a Community Chaplain. I pray that in the weeks, months and God willing many years in the future I will be able to share his word through my daily life experiences. I will blog at least once a week, can’t promise a specific day of the week but expect to hear what the Holy Spirit has empowered me to write.
I thought to myself…. since this is my first blog, what would be a good start and I came up with “Credibility”. Why credibility? Belief in Jesus Christ, that he died on the cross for the sins of mankind. He was resurrected after three days appearing to many in the flesh and then ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of God. The Gospel, which is the Good News of Jesus Christ and the promises of God all told in the 66 books of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. History, actual events, prophecy proven without doubt through the testimonies of people who were there. The word of God, the inspiration of scripture means God Breathed and that’s Credibility. As a chaplain I have to live what I believe and that is being a person of faith, hope and love. So, what I do mostly is “Ministry of the Moment.” With these three values, FAITH, HOPE and LOVE.
In the Book of Acts it tells us about Apostle Philip and the Ethiopian meeting on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. Acts Chapter 7:26-35
“26.Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip. “Go south to the road-the desert road- that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27. So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”) This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship. 28. And on his way home was sitting on his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” 30. Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet.” Do you understand what you are reading/” Philip asked. 31. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32. This is the passage of scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” 34. The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35. Then Philip began with that very passage of scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. “
This scripture goes on to tell us that the eunuch was baptized by Philip. Chaplains are much like Philip in that our ministry is a “Ministry of the Moment. “ Chaplains may meet a person one time only, but may have a moment to bring the Gospel into their lives expressing Faith, Hope and Love. God bless you.
