challenge

The Treasure of the Apostle Paul

/ Pavement Ends Ministry / Leave a comment

Indiana Jones is a popular movie character. He is an archaeologist/professor/adventurer whose life is in constant peril. Going from crisis to crisis he is always seeking some elusive archeological treasure.

The dangers that Jones faces are many. He has escaped from rolling boulders, fires, plane crashes, and booby traps. He has faced Nazis, snakes, rats, and his own fears. He always comes out alive and he never loses his hat.

Indiana Jones is a heroic character, but he is a fictitious character. I want to tell you about a real hero and adventurer. He had a treasure that he lived to share. His name was Paul the Apostle and his treasure was the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul also was constantly in danger. He spent much time in jail and escaped from one city in a basket. Five times he was beaten with a whip. Three times he was beaten with rods and once he was stoned and left for dead.

Three times Paul was shipwrecked and once he was snake-bit. As he traveled, he faced dangers from rivers and robbers and friends and enemies. He found trouble in the cities, trouble in the open countryside, and trouble among people who pretended to be his friends. He spent many sleepless nights, hungry, cold, and thirsty. From his letters, we know that he often longed for the warmth of a coat and the companionship of a friend.

Indiana Jones never lost his hat, but Paul never lost his faith. Paul ran a strong race and fought a good fight. He knew that he would be all right. He once said, “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Jones faced danger for dead treasure. Paul gave his life for incorruptible glory

The Indiana Jones movies are mildly entertaining but the stories of Paul are awe-inspiring. Indiana Jones is make-believe, but Paul is real. May we all be like Paul who said “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes–. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith”. (Romans 1:16-17)

Douglas & Deborah Huff

From Down Where the Pavement Ends

email-pavementendsministry@gmail.com

Bud’s Helper

/ Pavement Ends Ministry / Leave a comment

I want to tell you a story about my neighbor Bud and his great-grandson Logan. Bud is with the Lord now and Logan has grown into a fine young man. This story took place many years ago when Logan was a toddler maybe two or three years old.

Bud had a pasture right across the road from my house. The pasture fence was old, the cedar post were loose and the barbed wire was sagging. One day I sat on my front porch and watched as Bud and little Logan worked on this old fence.

As I watched, Bud would push the dirt around the post and then he and Logan would both take hold of a rod and pack the dirt down. Bud would then stretch the barbed wire as tight as he could and. nail it to the post. After he had driven the staple into the post he would then give the hammer to little Logan and let him “ finish” hammering it in. I would hear Bud say, “ has that got it?”. Logan would answer, “yea got it.” Then they would go to the next post.

From fence post to fence post, they went with Bud allowing Logan to “ help” him work on that pasture fence. Now, you and I both know that Bud did not need Logan’s help. No, he probably could have finished quicker and done a better job by himself. However, Bud was not working on a fence that day, he was working on a little boy. That fence and Bud are both gone now. But the lessons that Logan and I learned that day remain.

Jesus tells us in the Book of Matthew that we should take His yoke upon ourselves. When He says this, He means that He wants us to work by His side as He does the Father’s business. Jesus’ yoke is easy because He is the one carrying the load. When He allows us to walk with Him, it is not because He needs us but because He loves us and wants us by His side. Put your hand in His hand and you will find that He is working on you, making your soul fit for the Kingdom of God.

Douglas & Deborah Huff

From Down Where The Pavement Ends

Email- pavementendsministry@gmail.com

Get Up and Walk

/ Pavement Ends Ministry / Leave a comment

He had been coming to this pool for thirty-eight years. He was crippled, unable to move without someone helping him. The legend said that the first one in the pool after the water moved would be healed. Multitudes of sick people surrounded him. Because of his disability, someone else always got there first when the water was stirred

One day Jesus showed up and asked the crippled man, “Do you want to be made well.” Now some people might consider this to be a dumb question. After all, wasn’t it evident that this crippled man was there hoping for a miracle? However, we don’t know the whole story. But Jesus did. Maybe, the Lord knew that all the man needed to do to overcome his infirmity was to get up, take up his bed and walk.

Jesus is asking us today, “Do you want to be made well?” For as long as I can remember I have heard Christians talk about the need for revival. I and other pastors have dreamed of a great spiritual awakening. Congregations all over the world are wondering how they can keep their sick churches from dying. Meanwhile, we go into our buildings, pull the doors closed behind us, and hope for a supernatural movement to stir the waters.

Christians, it is time to stop waiting for a high-powered evangelist to bring revival. Get up, walk into your neighborhoods, and turn the world upside down with the Gospel. Pastors let’s stop preaching our puny little self-help sermonettes. Boldly preach the Word of God no matter who it offends.

When the people in the pews can no longer ignore their sins, there will soon be a great awakening. Congregations, you need to stop worrying about your church. Jesus said: “I will build My Church”! Your job is to go into the world and make disciples.

Do we want to be made well? If we do, then we have got to get up and walk. The Kingdom of God is at hand. We don’t have any time to waste. Let’s stop waiting for someone else to stir the water and go make a big splash ourselves.

Douglas & Deborah Huff

From Down Where The Pavement Ends

Listen People

/ Pavement Ends Ministry / Leave a comment

A religious leader approached Jesus and asked, “ Sir what is the first and greatest commandment?” Jesus answered, Listen! The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. “The second is to Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”

It is true and all Christians know it. All the commandments of God are contained in these words, “ Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.” I do not intend to take anything away from those commandments but I believe that we have missed the first commandment in this passage of scripture. You see the very first thing Jesus commanded us to do was to “ listen”.

Read the Bible and you will hear the voice of Jesus as he teaches the whole counsel of God. Listen to the wind in the trees and be reminded that the Holy Spirit reveals knowledge of the Holy One. Hear the laughter of a child and know that there is joy in heaven over the salvation of a lost soul. Hear the shuddering sobs of mourners and understand that Jesus weeps with the brokenhearted. Just listen and the evidence of God’s love will be heard all around.

So, rise early and listen as a new day begins. Hear the last call of the whippoorwill and the awakening coo of a dove. Listen as the raucous cawing of a crow instigates the chattering debate of squirrels. In the distance, a cow is lowing to be fed and closer by hummingbirds are quarreling over the feeder. Through all this noise you can’t help but love the Lord your God with all your heart. Especially when this cacophony of nature transforms into the symphony of creation. You see it’s just an old fashion love song that was written for you and me and it’s being sung in perfect harmony.

Douglas & Deborah Huff

Pavement Ends Ministry

The Man with No Name

/ Pavement Ends Ministry / Leave a comment

His name was, well we don’t know if he even had a name. He is known as Bartimaeus, but that just means that his father was a man named Timaeus. The Bible says he was a blind man who sat by the road begging. Sometimes a person would feel sorry for him and throw a cheap coin in his lap. But mostly the world saw him as a person with no sight, no usefulness, and no hope. He was not even worth a name, so they just called him the son of Timaeus.

However, even blind people can hear and this man with no name had heard that Jesus could give hope to the hopeless, sight to the blind, and would even use useless people. When he heard that Jesus was close, he began to shout as loud as he could “Jesus, Son of David have mercy on me!” The people around him considered him a nuisance so they told him to be quiet. But he wouldn’t. He continued to loudly beg for mercy. He knew the people would not help him, but because of his faith and persistence, Jesus did.

Jesus was surrounded by people who had names. These people were irritated because of the loud noise coming from a man who was blind. They wanted him to be quiet. Jesus wanted him to be healed. Jesus said to the blind man, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” When the man received his sight, he followed Jesus, because Jesus is the Way. Once this man was blind and had no name but now he sees and his name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Do you have a name that is written in Glory? Jesus Christ is nearby, call loudly to Him, and don’t stop crying out until He hears you. He will answer and show you great and mighty things. If you have faith and are persistent, you will see like you have never seen and you will have a name that Jesus will never forget.

Douglas & Deborah Huff

From Down Where The Pavement Ends

Email-pavementendsministry@gmail.com

Just Isaac

/ Pavement Ends Ministry / Leave a comment

He is most well known for being the son of Abraham and the father of Jacob. Some commentators have referred to him as a mediocre son of a great father and a mediocre father of a great son. I think this is unfair to Isaac. I believe he admirably fulfilled his place in history. He was not born to be an Abraham nor was he born to be a Jacob. He was just Isaac.

Everywhere you go you will find men with the spirit of Isaac. Most people unfairly consider them to be mediocre. For instance, you might see a man at the little league game in grimy clothes. His clothes are dirty because he came straight from work to watch his child or grandchild play. You might also see him in those grimy clothes at church on Wednesday night. He wants to be an example for his children and grandchildren so he also came there straight from work. He will probably never be great in the world’s eyes, but he loves his family, does his job, and worships Jesus. He will never be seen as a V.I.P. But neither was Isaac.

On Sunday a bi-vocational pastor will step into the pulpit to preach a message that God has given him. Many nights he has been up past midnight praying and laboring over the sermon. He pays the bills by working all day. He then rushes home, cleans up, and spends the evening visiting his small congregation. The members of his little church love him but the denominational leaders don’t know him. Although his sermons are better than most of the big-shot preachers, he will never be asked to preach to large crowds. He is just a simple man doing what God called him to do. Just like Isaac.

Throughout history, a handful of great men have done great things for God, and we all know their names. However, the Bible teaches that in Heaven the first shall be last and the last shall be first. By far the men who have done the most for the Kingdom of Heaven are the simple men whose names are not known. On earth, they never hear the applause of men, but in Heaven, a great cloud of witnesses will greet them with a standing ovation. With dirty hands and calloused knees, they are simple but faithful servants who do their jobs well. Just like Isaac.

Douglas & Deborah Huff

From Down Where the Pavement Ends

Old Walls and a Crumbling Society

/ Pavement Ends Ministry / Leave a comment

As I was hunting, I found the remains of an ancient rock wall. I could tell that it had once stretched along a ridge overlooking a small creek. Long ago these stones formed a strong barrier, but now they had been reclaimed by the earth.

Looking at these rocks, I wondered about their story. Whose calloused hands had gathered and stacked them? When was this wall built and for what purpose? What was happening in the world when these stones were being lifted into place? Was this the combined effort of a husband and wife building a life together, along with this rock wall?

These rocks can’t talk and their story is lost forever. But they have the power to speak to us about our crumbling society. You see, the strong old wall consisted of many rocks stacked together, but without proper maintenance, it fell apart. In the same way, our society is crumbling due to the lack of spiritual and moral maintenance.

God instituted three major types of building blocks for the construction of a healthy society. The first is family, which begins with the marriage of one man and one woman for life. The second is government, which to be effective must be simple and small. The third is the church, the Bride of Christ whose doctrine must come only from the Word of God.

Unfortunately, due to the lack of spiritual and moral maintenance, these building blocks have succumbed to a wicked world. The family is being destroyed by rampant divorce and the stupidity of same-sex marriage. The government has become large, uncontrollable, and insanely corrupt. Meanwhile, religious denominations are being led by people who listen to worldly opinions and not the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ is the only foundation stone for a civilized society. He created all things and in Him is the consistency of all things. He holds everything together. Without Him, nothing is built and nothing will last. So, let’s pray, and call out to Jesus because He is the only hope for this crumbling society.

Douglas & Deborah Huff

From Down Where the Pavement Ends

email-pavementendsministry@gmail.com

What Really Matters

/ Pavement Ends Ministry / Leave a comment

What Really Matters

I once heard a story of a man who had turned the basement of his home into his man cave. This was his place where he would chill out and do “man stuff”. In this man cave, he had a wide-screen television with a great sound system. The walls were hung with diplomas and certificates of achievements. His sports and hunting trophies were there. Sometimes he would go down, sit in his favorite chair and look fondly at all his stuff.

One day, while he was at work the area he lived in, was hit by a tremendous storm. Rain poured for hours. Streets and homes were flooded. He rushed home to find that for the most part, his home was ok. But when he opened the door to the basement, he saw that His man cave was filled with water. Everything was destroyed. All his stuff was gone.

While he stood looking and grieving over all his ruined possessions, he seemed to hear the voice of God speaking to him. God whispered in his ear saying, “Don’t worry about all this stuff, I was going to burn it all one day anyhow.” You see your stuff is just temporary and no matter how fond you are of it, it will not last. One day it will all rot, rust or burn.

The message is this, “don’t get too attached to your stuff because your stuff does not matter”. The Bible teaches that one day, “the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” The Bible also says that we should seek first the Kingdom of Heaven. The truth is there is no profit to be had in all the gold in the world. It is only the treasure that you lay up in Heaven that really matters.

Douglas Huff

From Down Where The Pavement Ends

Follow Jesus and See What He Will Make of You

/ Pavement Ends Ministry / 3 Comments

At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus asked two fishermen, Simon and Andrew to be His disciples. He called them by saying,” follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” These were two ordinary men who were destined to remain ordinary until they trusted Jesus. Then He made them into extraordinary men.

When most people consider what Jesus said to these men they usually focus on the words, “fishers of men”. However, you miss the point if you focus on those words. Jesus used these words because they were fishermen, and they understood the terminology. Jesus will always speak to us in ways that we can understand.

As we consider what Jesus said to these men I think that the most important words in this sentence are, “I will make you.” It is important to realize that Jesus has a plan and purpose specifically for each of us. You see, He made Simon and Andrew fishers of men. If you are a carpenter He might make you into a builder of men, or a welder may become a mender of broken men.

An old preacher used to say; “bloom where you are planted.” That is good, but I say that we should also use the tools that are handy. Whatever and wherever you are God is exceedingly and abundantly able to use you. He does not want you to be something that you are not. He just wants to make you the best at what you are.

In 1 Peter 4:10, we read; “Everyone should use whatever gift he has received to serve others.” God is calling out to you with a promise. He promises to make you into an extraordinary person. But you must be willing to trust Him with your life. You must choose to follow Him and let Him use your tools and your talents for His glory.

Douglas @Deborah Huff

From Down Where The Pavement Ends

Email- pavementendministry@gmail.com

The Faith of a Blue Jay

/ Pavement Ends Ministry / Leave a comment

It was a cold day in February. I sat at my breakfast table and watched a couple of blue jays build a nest in a tree in my yard. As I watched, it occurred to me that these birds were exercising great faith.

By building this nest they were saying, we believe that spring will come, the sun will shine, and worms will come from the ground. We also believe the eggs in this nest will hatch and the baby birds will grow to maturity and fly away. That is a lot of faith to be exercising on a chilly February morning.

Well, you may say that faith is not the right word to use here. That it was not faith being exercised by the blue jays. They built this nest because of the natural instinct ingrained in their DNA. However, these birds were sure of things they hoped for and certain of things they did not see. That is faith!

What is Christian faith anyway? Is it not the exercising of the God-given DNA we inherited when Jesus became our Savior? Hope enters our hearts when the Holy Spirit is our Guide and God is our King. This hope is not wishful thinking that something good might happen. It is a calm assurance that God has promised us a bright future.

The sun does not always shine. Some days are cold and dreary. Often our finances are strained and we struggle with sickness. But as God’s children we live by faith. And like the blue jays, our faith allows us to be sure of the things we hope for and certain of things we cannot see. It is through this faith that we have won God’s approval.

Douglas &Deborah Huff

From Down Where the Pavement Ends

Email-pavementendsministry@gmail.com