Jan 1, 2012 ... We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,. For auld lang syne! And there's a hand my trusty
fiere,. And gie's a hand o thine,. And we'll tak a right guid-willie ...
2012 Proverbs 3:5-6
Pastor Mark Howdeshell January 1, 2012
Auld Lang Syne Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And auld lang syne? For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne, We'll tak a cup of kindness yet, For auld lang syne! And there's a hand my trusty fiere, And gie's a hand o thine, And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught, For auld lang syne For auld lang syne , my dear, For auld lang syne, We'll tak a cup of kindness yet, For auld lang syne! The song has become a tradition at New Years in English speaking countries around the world. It was sang/heard by millions of people last night and probably by many of you. Have you ever heard a good translation of what it’s actually saying? Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind ? Should old acquaintance be forgot, and the good old times ? CHORUS: For the good old times, my dear, for the good old times, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for the good old times. And surely you’ll buy your pint cup ! and surely I’ll buy mine ! And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet, for the good old times. CHORUS: For the good old times, my dear, for the good old times,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for the good old times. We two have run about the slopes, and picked the daisies fine ; But we’ve wandered many a weary foot, since the good old times. CHORUS: For the good old times, my dear, for the good old times, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for the good old times. We two have paddled in the stream, from morning sun till dine† ; But seas between us broad have roared since the good old times. CHORUS: For the good old times, my dear, for the good old times, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for the good old times. And there’s a hand my trusty friend ! And give us a hand o’ thine ! And we’ll join together to pull the load, for the good old times. CHORUS: For the good old times, my dear, for the good old times, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for the good old times.
That’s the translation for the full song, though we only normally sing a portion of it. But as it sings of the good old times, this morning I want to talk to you those good old times and the times to come in 2012. If I were to ask you the definition of insanity, what would you say? There may be a myriad of responses, but the dictionary will tell you that it is a clinically obsolete definition of mental illness, a legal term, or extreme foolishness. I define it as this. Doing the same thing the same way over and over………and expecting a different result. If we continue to do things the same way, we’re going to continue to get the same results. That being said, if you don’t like the way things are turning out in your life, family, work, or church, then be willing to CHANGE and do things differently! None of us like change, myself included. A big portion of my life changed during 2011, and it wasn’t nor isn’t easy. If you look around you this morning, we have far more empty seats than full ones. Maybe it’s time we changed here at FBC. I don’t mean change our beliefs, our focal point, or our mission. They are the absolute foundation of who we are. After that, everything else is subject to revision or change. After all, we don’t want to be insane! For those that say that it’s just Fairbanks…there is a church that is less than 3 years old. This time last year they were averaging 70 and looking for a bigger place to meet. This year, they are averaging 170 and are again looking for a bigger place to meet. I know of another church
that is less than 4 months old and meeting in a hotel conference room…they’re averaging over a 100. It’s not Fairbanks. As I say all this, I’m not going to stand up here and say that we’re all messed up and here’s the magic formula to fix it. I am going to tell you that we ALL need to be praying for God’s direction going into 2012…..and we need to be willing to do whatever He tells us to do…..even if it’s different than what we’re used to. And…….this principle stands true in our individual lives as well as our church.
Message Proverbs 3:5-6 5
6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 1. 3-Part Formula for Success a. Universal i. Self ii. Family iii. Job iv. Church b. Individual actions i. Spouse can’t do it for you ii. I can’t do it for you iii. You have to do it 2. Part 1—Trust in the Lord… a. Basic ingredient of faith i. Trust that He is who He says He is ii. Trust that He wants nothing but the best for you b. Basic ingredient of love i. Many claim they love the Lord ii. 1 Corinthians 13:7--It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. iii. If you love Him, you have to trust Him. c. Must be complete i. With ALL your heart ii. Can’t be when it feels good or sounds good to trust Him iii. Sell out completely to your trust in Him 3. Part 2—Lean not on your own understanding a. If we could do it all, we wouldn’t need Him b. There will be things that happen that we DON’T understand c. He wrote the plan for your life i. Since before you were born He knew your life’s mission ii. You were created to be a part of His plan iii. When things don’t make sense to us, we need to be leaning on Him
iv. When things make sense to us, we STILL need to be leaning on Him! 1. Harder part 2. Most vital part d. If we trust and lean in our own understanding and abilities, we’ll only get as far as we can take ourselves e. If we lean and trust in Him, there are no limitations 4. Part 3—Submit to Him a. Action part of trust i. Easy to talk trust ii. Must put trust into action iii. Do the hard things you don’t understand b. Sell out completely i. All your ways…. ii. Can’t trust with ½ heart, can’t submit only ½ your life iii. Can’t trust with 99% of your heart or life iv. Must be 100%! v. Any sliver not trusting or submitting to God is an opportunity for the enemy to weasel in 1. Granite mountain suddenly has a huge piece fall off 2. Likely cause: a small crack allowed water to intrude. After freezing and thawing, the crack grew until it eventually caused a break 3. Satan works the same way a. Glance at an attractive woman b. Start a conversation c. Sparks arouse d. You know the rest…marriage crumbles e. Started with a glance vi. Example of true/complete submission…
A television program preceding the 1988 Winter Olympics featured blind skiers being trained for slalom skiing, impossible as that sounds. Paired with sighted skiers, the blind skiers were taught on the flats how to make right and left turns. When that was mastered, they were taken to the slalom slope, where their sighted partners skied beside them shouting, "Left!" and "Right!" As they obeyed the commands, they were able to negotiate the course and cross the finish line, depending solely on the sighted skiers' word. It was either complete trust or catastrophe. What a vivid picture of the Christian life! In this world, we are in reality blind about what course to take. We must rely solely on the Word of the only One who is truly sighted--God Himself. His Word gives us the direction we need to finish the course. 5. RESULT: He will make your paths straight a. Blessings/happiness will abound when we’re on His path b. His plan will be fulfilled c. Won’t wander off His path and fall off the cliff d. Will experience the best there is to offer e. Not necessarily the easiest!
Conclusion As we start our 2012, let us remember the formula for success in our individual lives, as well as our church. We need to be willing to trust with our whole hearts, lean not in our own understanding, and submit fully to Him. The captain of the ship looked into the dark night and saw faint lights in the distance. Immediately he told his signalman to send a message" "Alter your course 10 degrees south." Promptly a return message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north." The captain was angered; his command had been ignored. So he sent a second message: "Alter your course 10 degrees south--I am the captain!" Soon another message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north--I am seaman third class Jones." Immediately the captain sent a third message, knowing the fear it would evoke: "Alter your course 10 degrees south--I am a battleship." Then the reply came "Alter your course 10 degrees north--I am a lighthouse." In the midst of our dark and foggy times, all sorts of voices are shouting orders into the night, telling us what to do, how to adjust our lives. Out of the darkness, one voice signals something quite opposite to the rest--something almost absurd. But the voice happens to be the Light of the World, and we ignore it at our our peril.
Proverbs 3:5-6 5
6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
