And that's No Exaggeration!

Hyperbole is extreme exaggeration to make a point or to create a strong effect. For example, I might say to my wife, “Your purse weighs a ton,” or to my friend, “I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse.”

“Hyperbole” derives from the Greek word translated “excess.” Paul used it more excessively than any other New Testament writer, speaking of Christ’s ‘exceeding’ greatness, or the ‘exceeding’ riches of grace, or His ‘exceeding’ power. He told the Corinthians that even though their suffering seemed ‘excessive,’ it was producing an ‘exceeding’ weight of glory (Eph. 1:9; 2:7; 2 Cor. 4:7;4:17).

Paul could not speak spiritual truth without sounding hyperbolic. How else could he emphasize the superlative worth of Christ. Listen to the excessive language of John: “[Even] if every one of the things Jesus did were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written” (John 21:25). In other words, you just can't say enough about Jesus. And that's no exaggeration!

A Linderella Story

No doubt some of you would be surprised if I didn't comment on the Jeremy Lin phenomenon. For those of you who don’t read newspapers or watch TV news, you might have missed this. But Jeremy Lin's is the story of an underdog basketball player who jumped out of obscurity to take the NBA by storm and become a record-smashing star of the New York Knicks.  And, he is a born again believer.

The fact that he credits God for his success is drawing comparisons to quarterback Tim Tebow who, as we all know, “wears his religion on his sleeve.” Now, Lin has taken the “wearing it on your sleeve” thing quite literally, sporting a wristband that reads "In Jesus Name I Play." 

What is the significance of this?  First, it looks to me like God has raised up these young men to be like Daniel's friends (the ones thrown in the fiery furnace): they are taking heat for declaring their faith in Jesus; and in so doing, challenging the rest of us to be more bold.  And second, by their message, they have transcended the game of wins and losses for the greater gain of winning the hearts of the lost (who are seeing two strong and powerful, yet sensitive, young men unashamed to tell you they love Jesus).

There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe

"There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe" is a popular nursery rhyme: “she had so many children she didn’t know what to do.” Well, Leonie Herrera, the founder, director, and ‘mother’ of The King’s Children’s Home in Belmopan, Belize is not old, and though her 6-bedroom house is a “tight fit,” she does know what to do with her 42 children. She knows what to do because she is a woman of faith!

Leonie began taking in children while she was still employed full time for the United Nations in Belize. But as more children were sent to her by the State’s child protective services, she quit her job and established The King’s Children’s Home. Today Leonie is making plans to move her children to a new home on several acres outside the city. The estimated cost? $700,000! That’s faith!

Jesus told His disciples “I chose you; I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name” (John 15:16). Leonie knows God chose her and appointed her to The King’s Children’s Home. And she knows what to do because she knows Jesus! She knows she can ask for whatever she needs—In Jesus’ name. When you know Jesus, you know what to ask for: because you love me, my Father will love you, and I will love you, and I will reveal myself to each one of you (Jn 14:21). Do you know Jesus that well? Do you have “$700,000 faith?”

To see a little of what Altha and I saw on our visit to The King's Children's Home, go to http://www.kingschildrenshome.org/ where you will be able to watch a video interview with Leonie and testimony by a young man who grew up in her home.