BBD 05.11.06 Time to Move On
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
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05.11.06
Time to Move On
The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter
went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very
hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance
and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four
corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds
of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds
of the air. And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." But Peter
said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean." And
a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed you must
not call common." This was done three times. And the object was taken up
into heaven again. - Acts 10:9-16.
Johnny Lechner is 29-years-old and he has been an undergraduate student at
the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater for 12 years. He had planned to
graduate this May but realized that he had never studied abroad. So he
withdrew his graduation application. Lechner said about this, "I realized
that if I went one more year, I could study abroad. That's one thing I
haven't done." He has completed 234 credit hours of studies and now
qualifies for Wisconsin's "slacker tax" which doubles the tuition rate for
students taking longer than usual to graduate. Lechner did not plan on being
a career student. No, that only occurred after he realized how much fun it
was in college. It has resulted in a minor celebrity status for him and
appearances on some network TV shows along with articles in newspapers. An
editor of the University's student newspaper (The Royal Purple), Michelle
Eigenberger, indicated that most students were tired of Lechner's continued
presence on campus and said, "It's getting old. For the sanity of the rest
of the campus, we want him to get out of here."
How do you know when it is time for a change in the way you have been doing
things or in your life situation? I think we can agree that Johnny Lechner
has had some hints. One, he has stayed eight years longer than most
undergraduates have and must be looking a little older than everyone else.
Two, he is now subject to the "slacker tax" with double tuition. Three, an
editor of the school newspaper says, ".we want him to get out of here."
Four, like Lechner, you receive only angry glares from the rest of the
student body.
The apostle Peter was somewhat stuck in his ways. He was a Jewish man
determined to lead a Jewish life following strict Jewish teachings. However,
things had changed and Peter was still stuck back in the old days. God began
to give him some hints. Peter fell into a trance and all these non-Jewish
things were being placed before him to eat. He kept refusing in this
vision/dream. Peter was determined to continue with the way things had
always been. Immediately after receiving this same vision three times a
delegation from the Gentile centurion, Cornelius, arrives requesting that
Peter come to Cornelius' home. Why? Because Cornelius had had a vision of an
angel telling him to contact Peter. After arriving at Cornelius' home Peter
was convinced to begin preaching Christ, however, before he could finish all
the Gentiles gathered there were saved. Peter was now convinced it was time
for a change and that salvation was for all people.
Sometimes it is very obvious that we need to change or move on to something
else. If a burning bush begins to speak to you, or a donkey starts talking,
or a blinding light from Heaven strikes you blind, or an angel shows up
telling you what God wants you to do - that is pretty obvious and direct. It
could be even more direct and obvious as in being thrown overboard and
swallowed by a big fish. Very direct. Very obvious.
Perhaps you have been receiving some hints about the way you have been doing
things or a need for a radical change in your life. What are you waiting
for? Something more direct and obvious?
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