And now, The Rest of the Story

A little knowledge can be dangerous, or at the very least leave us without enough information to get the full picture. Famous broadcaster, Paul Harvey, had a radio program which regularly aired, and it was widely listened to. The Rest of the Story was the name. He would discover interesting people or situations from history and tell about them. His lead-ins were engaging, and folks would listen intently to the stories he shared.

His hook, the way he presented his topics, generated interest and kept has his audience on the edge of their seat waiting for the punchline. Paul Harvey had a reputation for his one-of-a-kind topics, and they never disappointed. Generally, he chronicled the famous and those not so much. He wove tales of individuals who had made a difference in society, one way or another. The story itself was engaging, but the ending of his tales often took your breath away.

Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. (verses 24,25)

While the intro or teaser was interesting, the listener soon discovered there was much more to the story. Very much like this story of Apollos. He was smart and well versed in Scriptures, ...he had been instructed in the way of the Lord. But he did not know of the rest of the story...the part about Jesus. 

Priscilla and Aquila could tell he was smart and loved the Lord, but as Christians they also recognized that he was missing a vital part of a believer's life. 

He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. (verse 26)

Once Priscilla and Aquila took Apollos under their wings and taught him about Jesus, Apollos was ready to do the same. He understood how important the missing piece of his teachings were, he was now equipped to share the rest of the story with all he encountered. Is there someone you know who needs to hear about Jesus? About the Rest of the Story?



Acts 18:24-26

The Final Destination

The Book of Daniel reminds me of the famous broadcaster Paul Harvey, and his popular radio program, The Rest of the Story. As Daniel interprets the king's dreams, we will come to realize there is more to the story. Life is going to be rough for a time. We must face the consequences of our sin.

Verse 44 is about the rest of the story: "But throughout the history of these kingdoms, the God of heaven will be building a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will this kingdom ever fall under the domination of another. In the end it will crush the other kingdoms and finish them off and come through it all standing strong and eternal. It will be like the stone cut from the mountain by the invisible hand that crushed the iron, the bronze, the ceramic, the silver, and the gold." (Daniel 2:44)

 
Reading this, I am reminded how God is in control, not world leaders. God is in control, not the nightly newscasters. God is in control, not me. Whoa, talk about Good News? I have trouble planning a healthy diet and following through, I struggle to stay within a budget, and I often fail to serve others as part of my Christian walk. I must submit to God my inadequacies and allow Him to work in my heart.

The book of Daniel began my Bible study journey. This inaugural practice, led by my teenage daughter will always hold fond memories for me. I was challenged and comforted by the study. This book points out the benefits of following God without compromise, and lifts up the importance for regular prayer. The text above which is in bold (by this writer) points to The Kingdom of God, our final destination.

Daniel 2:31-44