A Monument to Our Greatness

On May 1, 1931 the Empire State Building, in Central Manhattan, New York City, opened its doors for the first time. It was an engineer marvel with 102 stories stretching to 1,250 feet into the sky. It was to be the tallest building in the world for forty-one years! It is an office building with over 25,000 tenants, larger than many cities! On a clear day you can stand in the observation tower at its summit and see for nearly two hundred miles. It is an incredible building. There are others taller, of course, but the Empire State Building remains one of America’s most visited places. It could be said that it has become a monument to our greatness. There is another such monument spoken of in the Scripture:

At one time the whole world spoke a single language and used the same words. As the people migrated eastward, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there. They began to talk about construction projects. "Come," they said, "let's make great piles of burnt brick and collect natural asphalt to use as mortar. Let's build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies – a monument to our greatness! This will bring us together and keep us from scattering all over the world." (Genesis 11:1-4 NLV).

The story is told of a Rabbi and a New England minister as they were getting to know one another. Proudly, the minister exclaimed, "One of my ancestors signed the Declaration of Independence." "I understand your pride," responded the rabbi. "One of my ancestors signed the Ten Commandments."

Strange how easy it is to erect monuments to ourselves, isn’t it? All of these can be points of pride, which will lead to potential destruction. Corrie Ten Boom used to tell the story about a proud woodpecker that was tapping away at a dead tree when the sky unexpectedly turned black and the thunder began to roll. Undaunted, he went right on working. Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck the old tree, splintering it into hundreds of pieces. Startled but unhurt, the haughty bird flew off, screeching to his feathered friends, "Hey, everyone, look what I did!
Look what I did!" This old woodpecker reminds me of people who think more highly of themselves than they should. Usually they are so busy bragging about their achievements and their greatness that they fail to recognize God as the source of all their abilities. They are suffering from spiritual delusions of grandeur. Without the Lord no one amounts to anything, and in our own strength we cannot please Him. It is not wrong to take pride in our victories. The error is committed when we fail to recognize the ultimate source of our successes. Perhaps you have been building your monuments. Make the following confession today and begin building a monument to the grace of God:

Father, I know it's my pride that makes me independent of You. It's appealing to feel I am the master of my fate; I run my own life, I call my own shots; I go it alone. But that feeling is my basic dishonesty. I confess I can't go it alone. I have to get help from You and from other people, and I can't ultimately rely on myself. I know I am dependent on You for my very next breath. It is dishonest of me to pretend that I am anything but a man, small, weak and limited. It's not just a matter or pride being an unfortunate little trait and humility being an attractive little virtue, it's my inner psychological integrity that's at stake. When I am conceited, I am lying to myself about what I am. I am pretending to be God, and not man. My pride is the idolatrous worship of myself. Forgive me. Restore your Spirit within me and set me free to enjoy all Your blessings in their proper perspective. Bless me that I may bless others. Amen.

The Titanic

My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart, for they will give you a long and satisfying life. Never let loyalty and kindness get away from you! Wear them like a necklace; write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will gain a good reputation. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:1-6 NLV).

In 1912, the Titanic, a steamship in England's White Star Line, set out on its doomed maiden voyage, with 2,227 enthusiastic passengers and crewmembers on board for the history-making trip from Southampton, England, to New York City. Only 705 would survive the ship's collisions with a massive. Everyone believed the ship was unsinkable. They mistakenly put their trust in man’s ingenuity and promise. It cost them their lives! The "unsinkable" ocean liner was shipwrecked in the early hours of April 15, shortly after its fatal run-in with an iceberg. Here are some of the most interesting facts about the ship and its fateful journey:

• The Titanic was designed to hold 32 lifeboats, though only 20 were on board; White Star management was concerned that too many boats would sully the aesthetic beauty of the ship.
• Survivors were rescued by the Carpathia, which was 58 miles southeast of Titanic when it received the distress call.
• Titanic boasted electric elevators, a swimming pool, a squash court, a Turkish Bath, and a gymnasium with a mechanical horse and mechanical camel.
• The wreckage of Titanic was recovered in 1985, 12,500 feet down, about 350 miles southeast of Newfoundland, Canada.
• A first class parlor suite ticket on Titanic cost $4,350, which translates into $50,000 today.

Five of the known survivors of the disaster are still living. Their nightmare has been retold in countless books, articles, and films. Yet, all of their grief could have been avoided if there would have been more caution employed by the captain and crew that night.

Isn’t that true with many of us today? Tragically we do not heed the warnings of Scripture concerning our choices in life. Vance Havner, a Baptist evangelist, related the story of an elderly lady who was greatly disturbed by her many troubles both real and imaginary. Finally she was told in a kindly way by her family, "Grandma, we've done all we can do for you. You'll just have to trust God for the rest." A look of utter despair spread over her face as she replied, "Oh, dear, has it come to that?" Havner commented, "It always comes to that, so we might as well begin with that!"

There are always going to be icebergs in our path. However, it is not always inevitable that we strike them! Listen to the teaching of the Lord and trust in Him! “Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will gain a good reputation.”

Serenity

I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative – and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit – he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you. I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid. (John 14:25-27 NLV).

There are two kinds of peace that Jesus can bring to the believer. The first is Judicial Peace. This is that which the Apostle Paul referenced in Romans 5:1. It is the peace that we experience when we are redeemed. It is a declaration that the war between God and us is at an end. However, the second kind of peace is that which we so desperately need in our daily lives. It comes to us after we have been at peace with God. It is Experiential Peace. It is the peace that we can actually have in our day to day lives.

Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered. The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled. As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd. A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner. The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace? A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power. A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil. That’s the kind of peace that God wants to give to His children.

Perhaps the following prayer, which is an expansion of the “Serenity Prayer,” will be of help to you today as you seek the place of real peace in Christ today. Rest in His arms today!

God, Grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference;
living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is not as I would have it;
trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will;
so that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.

Secret Languages and Mystery Messages

This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and support of the truth. Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ appeared in the flesh and was shown to be righteous by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and was announced to the nations. He was believed on in the world and was taken up into heaven. (1 Timothy 3:14-16 NLV).

Moparopyop hopadop a lopitoptoplope lopamopbop. Translated that means “Mary had a little lamb” in the secret language of Opish. Have you ever thought of using a language all your own? How about Na, or Skimono Jive? If you speak a secret language, no one will understand a word you say until you tell them how it's done. Perhaps you remember using “Pig Latin” when you were young. I've used “Mary had a little lamb” for each of the following examples.

 Eggy-Peggy - This secret language is used mostly in England. Add “egg” before each vowel. Example: “Meggary heggad egga leggittle leggamb.”

 Gree - Add “gree” to the end of every word. Example: Marygree hadgree agree littlegree lambgree.

 Na - Add “na” to the end of every word. Example: Maryna hadna ana littlena lambna.

 Pig Latin - This is the most popular and well-known secret language. Move the first letter to the end of the word and add “ay” to it. Example: Arymay adhay aay ittlelay amblay.

 Skimono Jive - Add “sk” to the beginning of every word. Example: Skmary skhad ska sklittle sklamb.

While it is true that understanding the Scripture is sometimes difficult, the truth of God has not been hidden from us in a secret language or mystery code. He has given us all the knowledge we need for our every need in life. The key is in becoming lifetime students of God’s truth. Howard Hendricks shares this insight about the value of learning. “When I was a college student -- I worked in the college dining hall, and on my way to work at 5:30 every morning I walked past the home of one of my professors. Through a window I could see the light on at his desk, morning after morning. At night I stayed late at the library to take advantage of evening study hours, and returning home at 10:30 or 11 o'clock I would again see his desk light on. He was always pouring over his books. One day he invited me home for lunch, and after the meal I said to him, "Would you mind if I asked you a question?" "Of course not." "What keeps you studying? You never seem to stop." His answer, "Son, I would rather have my students drink from a running stream than a stagnant pool."

What is your life more like, a running stream or a stagnant pool? Having read this little devotional is certainly a step in the direction of being a student of the Scripture, but there is so much more. Commit yourself to a life of learning. It is not hidden from you!

Life's Lessons

"But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding? For it is hidden from the eyes of all humanity. Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it. But Destruction and Death say, 'We have heard a rumor of where wisdom can be found.' "God surely knows where it can be found, for he looks throughout the whole earth, under all the heavens. He made the winds blow and determined how much rain should fall. He made the laws of the rain and prepared a path for the lightning. Then, when he had done all this, he saw wisdom and measured it. He established it and examined it thoroughly. And this is what he says to all humanity: 'The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.'" (Job 28:20-28 NLV).

The following list is an interesting compilation of “life’s lessons.” As you read it, let the wisdom of God’s truth lead you today.

I've learned that I like my teacher because she cries when we sing "Silent Night". - Age 6
I've learned that our dog doesn't want to eat my broccoli either. - Age 7
I've learned that when I wave to people in the country, they stop what they are doing and wave back. - Age 9
I've learned that just when I get my room the way I like it, Mom makes me clean it up again. - Age 12
I've learned that if you want to cheer yourself up, you should try cheering someone else up. - Age 14
I've learned that although it's hard to admit it, I'm secretly glad my parents are strict with me. - Age 15
I've learned that silent company is often more healing than words of advice. - Age 24
I've learned that brushing my child's hair is one of life's great pleasures. - Age 26
I've learned that wherever I go, the world's worst drivers have followed me there. - Age 29
I've learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it. - Age 39
I've learned that there are people who love you dearly, but just don't know how to show it. - Age 42
I've learned that you can make someone's day by simply sending them a little note. - Age 44
I've learned that the greater a person's sense of guilt, the greater his or her need to cast blame on others. - Age 46
I've learned that children and grandparents are natural allies. - Age 47
I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. - Age 48
I've learned that singing "Amazing Grace" can lift my spirits for hours. - Age 49
I've learned that motel mattresses are better on the side away from the phone. - Age 50
I've learned that you can tell a lot about a man by the way he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. - Age 52
I've learned that keeping a vegetable garden is worth a medicine cabinet full of pills. - Age 52
I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you miss them terribly after they die. - Age 53
I've learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life. - Age 58
I've learned that if you want to do something positive for your children, work to improve your marriage. - Age 61
I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. - Age 62
I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back. - Age 64
I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you focus on your family, the needs of others, your work, meeting new people, and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you. - Age 65
I've learned that whenever I decide something with kindness, I usually make the right decision. - Age 66
I've learned that when I have a tough decision to make, all I have to do is remember what my Mom always said, "do your best and the reward will justify" - Age 67
I've learned that everyone can use a prayer. - Age 72
I've learned that it pays to believe in miracles. And to tell the truth, I've seen several. - Age 75
I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. - Age 82
I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch - holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. - Age 85
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. - Age 92

Then, when he had done all this, he saw wisdom and measured it. He established it and examined it thoroughly. And this is what he says to all humanity: 'The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.'"

The Great Weaver

You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. You both precede and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to know! I can never escape from your spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night – but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you. You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – and how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. (Psalms 139:1-16 NLV).

How many times have you gotten envelopes that had big letters on the outside saying something like “You are guaranteed to win 10 million dollars?” Of course, in little tiny print, it says, “if your lucky numbers are the ones chosen at random from the 17 billion others.” And if you’ve ripped the envelope open before you’ve read the small print, you’ll realize that the main purpose of this letter is not to inform you that you’re really rich, but to try to get you to buy magazines or some other product that you probably don’t want.

Have you noticed that the only time the world tells us we’re something special, is when they’re trying to sell us something? Are you somebody special? It would seem a godly humility to say, “Oh no, I’m just an ordinary person. Nothing special about me.” However, that’s not the teaching of Scripture. David’s song of praise today clearly says, “I am wonderful!” Has that shepherd boy turned king become arrogant? No, because David doesn’t say, “I’m wonderful because of what I have done!” He says, “I’m wonderful because God does really good work.”

In the first six verses, David talks of how intimately God knows us. We say we “know” someone if we can put their name together with their face But that’s not the kind of knowledge God has of you and me. He knows everything about us. He knows our habits. He knows and understands our thoughts. I don’t even always understand my own thoughts. Not only does God know us better than you know ourselves; He is always with us. This is the impact of verses seven through twelve. David reflects on the facts that God knows him intimately and that God is always with him. Then he moves into a reflection based on the fact that God has created him. And David is quick to say, he thinks God has done a fantastic job!

The world says, “You are simply a by-product of a natural reproductive process.” But the Bible says, “You are wonderful!” This is true because you were handmade by a Master Craftsman. Science can explain where babies come from, but it can’t explain why every birth feels like a miracle. It can’t explain why the wonder of it takes our breath away.

Maybe you think, “OK, I’m wonderful in the sense that all humans, all of God’s creatures, are wonderful. But that still doesn’t prove there’s anything unique about me. I still just ‘a regular person.’” But David’s not done. As we go on, I’m going to suggest some alternate translations. Poetry can be difficult to understand, and it’s even harder to translate, and there can be several ideas about what is the best way to translate it. One possible translation of verse fourteen is, “I am distinguished by your wondrous works.” Or more simply, you’re wonderful because you reflect your Creator in a way that is absolutely unique. When God hand-crafted you, he didn’t just say, OK, let’s make another one, this time with brown hair, or with blue eyes. You are one of a kind! David likens God’s work to that of a weaver. He picks the exact color and thickness of every strand, then He carefully puts them together to create a unique and beautiful creation. When your mother told you “They broke the mold when they made you,” she was partly right! There is no “mold.” There is only hand-crafting. And, that is by the Great Weaver!

You’re wonderful because a Master Craftsman created you. You’re wonderful because you uniquely reflect the character of the one who created you. You are wonderful because your life has a purpose. It’s okay to say, “I’m wonderful” – not out of pride in yourself, but because you were created by a Master Craftsman, because you uniquely reflect the character of God and because your life has a purpose. Celebrate today that wonderful work!

All Things Created Good

Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was excellent in every way. This all happened on the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31 NLV).

Let the godly sing with joy to the LORD, for it is fitting to praise him. Praise the LORD with melodies on the lyre; make music for him on the ten-stringed harp. Sing new songs of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp and sing with joy. For the word of the LORD holds true, and everything he does is worthy of our trust. He loves whatever is just and good, and his unfailing love fills the earth. The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. He gave the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. Let everyone in the world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him. For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command. The LORD shatters the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the LORD's plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. (Psalm 33:1-11 NLV).

While I have had some question about the truth that everything God has created is good (like snakes – I hate ‘em), the Scripture clearly teaches that all of creation is a part of God’s good plan. And, the more we understand the complexity of nature, the more this truth is proven.

As an example, look at the monarch butterfly. Like migratory birds, monarch butterflies have the ability to fly long distances, escaping winter cold and the absence of food. Decreasing day length and cooler temperatures tell monarchs that emerge in the early fall not to breed. Instead they begin the immense journey across North America, over unfamiliar terrain, funneling through Texas, to nine high mountain sites in fir forests of central Mexico. They arrive at the overwintering areas in November, remaining there until March of the following spring. Then they return to Texas and the southern United States to lay eggs on freshly sprouted milkweeds. By late spring, most have left the Gulf coastal states and are breeding further north. By the beginning of June they have reached the northern U.S. and Canada where they continue to breed all summer. Most interesting is the fact that they choose only the milkweed plant to lay their eggs on. The larvae when hatching will eat the plants and kill them, thus reducing the spread of this plant which is poisonous to cattle.

It is all a part of God’s natural plan for His creation. Just as David reminded us in the psalm today, all of God’s creation is intended to be good and has order within it. God created a plan for everything. I have found great comfort in that truth in my life. When I begin to think that life is unraveling and panic begins to creep into my psyche I only need to recall the truth of God’s plan for me. I only need to trust Him. A tiny girl was taking a long journey and in the course of the day her train was obliged to cross a number of rivers. The water seen in advance always awakened doubts and fears in the child. She did not understand how it could safely be crossed. As they drew near the river, however, a bridge appeared, and furnished the way over. Several times the same thing happened, and finally the child leaned back with a long breath of relief and confidence: "Somebody has put bridges for us all the way!" she said in trusting content. That is how we find it in life, God has built bridges for us all the way. When you see the butterflies, remember the goodness of God’s plan and trust in Him. He will not disappoint you.

He Is Risen!

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words. (Luke 24:1-8 NIV)

I grew up in Galveston where it was not uncommon for me to be on the beach. I still remember some of those “first things” from those days. While not life changing, I still remember the first time I held a seashell to my ear and heard the ocean in it. I know you can explain it to me today scientifically, but there is a mystery in that seashell and every shell that holds the ocean inside of it. Over the years, I have grown to love the mysteries of this world. Trees go to sleep in the winter, and grow new leaves in the spring. How do they know to do that? Flowers, with some illusive knowledge, know when and how to grow from seeds. Caterpillars withdraw into a cocoon and emerge as a butterfly. Babies, started from the meeting of two individual cells, know just how to divide into the individual parts and organs that make up a human body. At a specific point in development, a heartbeat begins in a still developing heart. How does it know to begin? And who knows what the signal is? But at a certain appointed time, labor begins, and a baby emerges into the world. Science can tell you how these things happen; but for me, they are still mysteries.

Our Scripture today finds us at the graveside of Jesus. It is early on Sunday morning. Jesus had been laid to rest on Friday afternoon. Saturday was the Sabbath, so it was not until that morning when the women who had followed Jesus and who also had prepared the necessary spices and ointments to embalm him were able to return to the tomb. Imagine their surprise to find the tomb open. Imagine their reaction to find his body was not there. Imagine their response to the two men standing by the tomb. “Why look for the living where the dead are laid?” they say. “Remember his teaching back in Galilee?” The women do remember his teaching. Jesus would suffer at the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and on the third day, he would rise again. I find their instantaneous belief interesting. Do you think they saw the mystery in the resurrection? Did they ask or wonder how it could be? Did they stop to puzzle the impossibilities? No, they just rejoiced in this wonderful, mysterious moment. They ran back to tell the disciples and everyone else what had happened. It is there that they meet with skepticism and question. It is impossible and unexplainable. It simply cannot be. The disciples called it a tale of nonsense, and so they didn’t believe it. It is the condition of our world at large. So many people refuse to believe what is not tangible, what cannot be explained. For so many years, our ability to reason anything out has been so emphasized that we have no trust of anything without a reasonable, logical, scientific explanation. This is compounded by reason’s failure to explain everything for us. The mystery still remains. The resurrection cannot be explained.

Reading further we can see what Peter did. He falls neither with the women who come back with this marvelous tale, nor with the disciples who do not believe what the women tell them. He must see for himself. He goes to the tomb. He steps inside and sees the emptiness within. I imagine he touches and fondles the linen wrappings. And then he returns home, wondering at what had happened. Can you imagine his footsteps as he makes his way back to the upper room? I see the events of the last days and years replaying in his head. He is remembering as the women were called to do, what Jesus had told them concerning events that would happen in Jerusalem. His heart wants to believe in the impossible. His sensibilities make him fearful to do so. It is in Peter that I see most of us.

And it seems to be with hesitancy that we believe in the resurrection as well. Yet we seem to let Easter slip in and out so quietly in our world. It seems that we let it be just another day. We don’t seem to proclaim it as loudly. Our revelry in its meaning appears subdued. Are we, also, wanting to believe in the impossible, but fearful to really do so, fearful to make a big deal about it? Yes we believe in the resurrection, but we proclaim it in quiet voices. Can you ponder the wonder of it all, this Easter morning? Perhaps like Peter, does your heart beat faster as you begin to complicate the implication of the resurrection?

My invitation to you this morning is simple. Claim the magic of the resurrection as your own. Don’t try to explain it. Don’t even try to understand it. Just believe it, and be awash in it. Happy Easter!

Sunday's Coming (Part 5)

People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:16-20 NIV).

The power of the resurrection transforms unbelief to belief, death to life, fear to courage, and despair into hope! The owner of a photography studio tells the story of a college boy who came in with a framed picture of his girl friend. He wanted the picture duplicated. Therefore it had to be removed from the frame. In doing this, the studio owner noticed the inscription on the back of the photograph. It was written by the girlfriend: "My dearest Tommy: I love you with all my heart - I love you more and more each day - I will love you forever and ever. I am yours for all eternity." It was signed "Dianne" and contained a P.S.: "If we should ever break up, I want this picture back."

The writer of Hebrews in our Scripture lesson this morning declares that God won’t change His mind! We have both a promise and an oath, unbreakable and binding. The proof of this truth is in the resurrection. Jesus has become the “anchor” of our souls. What a wonderful message from Easter! Many times in my life I have desperately needed that hope. A fog seems to settle in over my soul. Dark clouds gather, the storms howl, and troubles blow. Perhaps that’s where you are today, either from health problems, marital or family problems, financial problems, or the wearisome battle with loneliness, depression, or despair. If we look at those clouds, it is easy to feel defeated, to lose hope, to be afraid, and to walk further and further away from our city of hopes and dreams. However, if your faith is in the resurrected Christ, the sun still shines. Even after the rains, the rainbow still comes.

A true story is told about a distinguished man, the only white person buried in a Georgia cemetery reserved exclusively for blacks. He had lost his mother when he was just a baby. His father, who never married again, hired a black woman named Mandy to help raise his son. She was a Christian, and she took her task seriously. Seldom has a motherless boy received such warmhearted attention. One of his earliest memories was of Mandy bending tenderly over him in his upstairs bedroom each day and softly saying: "Wake up, God's mornin' is come." As the years passed, this devoted woman continued to serve as his substitute mother. The young man went away to college, but when he would come home each holiday and summer she would climb the stairs - more slowly now - and call him in the same loving way. One day after he had become a successful statesman, the sad message came: "Mandy is dead. Can you attend her funeral?" As he stood by her grave in the cemetery, he turned to his friends and said; "If I die before Jesus comes, I want to be buried here beside Mandy. I like to think that on resurrection day she'll speak to me again and say: "Wake up, my boy, God's Mornin' is come!" The sentiment expressed by this grateful man rings true… but it will be the Lord who will say to us: "Awake, my children, Morning is come!" And that's the hope of every Christian!

The message from the resurrection is that it is only Friday! On Sunday we are going home! Jesus is on His way back to gather us all to Himself. When your life seems to be just one big dark Friday, never forget that Sunday’s Coming! Let the power of the resurrection turn your despair to hope!

Sunday's Coming (Part 4)

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:51-58 NIV).

We have been looking at the power of the resurrection these past few mornings. The power of the resurrection will transform from unbelief to belief, from death to life and, third, the resurrection can also change us from fear to courage.

Sometime ago I heard an interesting bit of folk wisdom. Someone said, “Everyday this side of the dirt is a good day.” While that view does express a certain zest for life, it discounts the wonder of the promise of true life. Death has always held mankind captive in fear. Someone noted that our view of death is like a group of mourning caterpillars carrying a cocoon like a corpse. Above there is a beautiful butterfly inside the cocoon staring down in unbelief. Christians need to remember "that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8). Victor Hugo once wrote: “When I go down to the grave I can say, like so many others: I have finished my work, but I cannot say I have finished my life. My day's work will begin the next morning. My tomb is not a blind alley. It is a thoroughfare. It closes in the twilight to open in the dawn.” This is what we see in the disciples after Jesus showed Himself to them in resurrection glory.

They had all run except for John. When Jesus was arrested, tried, and crucified they were afraid. They had scattered throughout the streets of Jerusalem. Now they were together in one room. They were afraid of the Jews and what they might do to them. They were afraid that a scourge and a cross awaited them also. The door was locked; maybe even a chair propped up against the doorknob. The windows were probably covered. Occasionally someone would look out the peephole. There wasn’t much conversation, just a lot of despairing looks, shame and guilt as they stared down at the floor. The silence was only interrupted by the sound of knocking knees and shuffling feet! They were certainly not the most impressive group of people ever assembled. They were men who had broken under the pressure of fear. At that moment not many of us would have fared any better. And fewer people still would have put any confidence in their future. But all of that would change in an instant! When they saw the risen Christ their future which only moments ago looked dim and hopeless was now full of hope. At once a fire began to burn within them. It was a fire that they could not contain. It was a fire that burned out their fears. They no longer feared the Jewish leaders, the Romans, the threats, the persecutions, the swords. They no longer feared those who could only hurt the body. They no longer feared death! They had now seen and understood REAL life! The power of resurrection had transformed fear to courage! They began to sing, "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? How we thank God; who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord! How about you?

Sunday's Coming (Part 3)

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” (Acts 2:14-21 NIV).

Yesterday we saw that the power of the resurrection will transform us from unbelief to belief. Today, from the experience of Peter on the Day of Pentecost, we see the second transformation that may take place. The power of the resurrection will transform death to life.

The Scripture plainly declares that all men are sinners. Further, the penalty for our sins is eternal death, which is separation from God forever. It is impossible for a person to do enough good, or be good enough to earn eternal life. Therefore Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth in human flesh, and made the sacrifice necessary to atone for all sin. Salvation was and is only through Him. He paid a debt we could not pay, and by His resurrection He broke the power of death and made it possible to have life. This is the subject of Peter’s sermon in Acts, chapter two. Peter boldly declares, “And anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Mankind had a heavy burden of sin around his neck; all he had to look forward to was the agony of eternal death. But, thanks to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus that burden has been lifted and the debt has been paid. We can be set free by God’s grace. All we need to do is accept that work in faith.

A boy had been disobedient to his parents from his childhood. When he became a young man, he left home, scoffing at his godly mother who faithfully prayed that he would turn to Christ. He went off to sea without even saying goodbye to her. On his first voyage the ship encountered a wild storm. As he stood on deck, he cursed God. At that moment the ship lurched and he was thrown overboard. Quickly a lifeboat was lowered, and it reached him just as he was disappearing beneath the surface. The crewmen rescued him and returned him to the vessel. Everyone thought he was dead, but the ship's doctor kept on trying to revive him. Finally he opened his eyes, and his first words were, "Jesus has saved my soul!" After he was completely recovered, he told how in that horrible "leap" to the sea his sins had crowded
about him, dragging him down. But in that awful moment he remembered a text his mother had taught him years before: "This is a faithful saying, and worth of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief" (1 Timothy 1:15). He said, "As I was sinking, I cast myself into the outstretched arms of the Savior." You, too, may be transformed today! Cast yourself into His waiting arms. The power of the resurrection will transform death to life!

Sunday's Coming (Part 2)

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:19-25 NIV).

The resurrection is the most important event in the Christian faith. It is a transforming event. There are four areas of transformation that we will look at in the next few mornings. The first of these is the transformation from unbelief to belief. This is Thomas’ story. He was not with the others after the crucifixion and resurrection. Perhaps he just needed time to be alone, to think, to sort things out. Or, maybe he needed to be alone, just to forget, to forget it all and let his mind think on more pleasant thoughts. Whatever the reason, because he wasn’t with the other believers, he missed out on a real blessing and a great opportunity to have his faith strengthened and renewed. Like most people in that day he had two names. “Thomas" was his Aramaic name, and “didymus” was his Greek name. They both mean twin. We don’t know whether Thomas had a physical twin, but there are many in the Church today who are his spiritual twins. Many have not learned the lesson from Thomas and they choose like Thomas to be alone to work things out on the own rather than meeting with other believers and having their faith strengthened and renewed. Because he wasn’t there he had to endure yet one more week of doubts, fear, unbelief and suffering. The next week Thomas returned to the others. There he met the risen Lord. When Thomas saw Jesus his unbelief was turned into belief and he fell to his knees and cried, “My Lord and My God."

There is something about encountering a man raised from the dead. There is something about standing face to face with the risen Lord that causes a man to understand transformation from unbelief to belief. In the 1930’s a British lawyer named Frank Morrison set out to prove that the resurrection was a fable. As a lawyer he felt he was well qualified to weigh the evidence and come up with a verdict. However, as he researched he did not find things as he expected. The book is called “Who Moved the Stone?” His conclusion was that the resurrection overwhelming was supported by fact. He considered the fact that Jesus lived, the prophecies that were fulfilled in His birth and life, and the transformation of history afterward, and all of it transformed him from unbelief to belief. The resurrection of Jesus is powerful. It transformed Thomas and the other disciples. It transformed Frank Morrison. It has transformed me and millions of others. Has it transformed your life? Read the end of Thomas’ story and make it yours today!

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:26-29 NIV).

Sunday's Coming (Part 1)

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. (Luke 23:44-49 NIV).

In 1948 Harry S. Truman ran for re-election as the 33rd President of the United States. It was Truman’s first time to run for president. He became president when FDR died 83 days into his 4th term. Truman was running against Thomas Dewey and every public opinion poll predicted that Dewey would win by a landslide. Newsweek Magazine polled fifty top political experts throughout the country and they gave Dewey 366 electoral votes, more than 100 that he needed to win! The Ft. Lauderdale Daily News flatly announced that Dewey would get at least 62% of the vote. Life Magazine featured a full-page picture of Dewey with the caption, "The New President Travels by Ferryboat over the Broad Waters of San Francisco Bay.” The Kiplinger letter, already on the desks of leading businessmen, described the economic policies of the new Dewey administration. And, the Manchester Guardian’s final election report was titled, “Harry S. Truman – A Study of a Failure." The Chicago Tribune had already published as their headline, “Dewey Defeats Truman.” On election night while Dewey was in New York working on the final draft of his acceptance speech, Harry Truman was in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, taking a Turkish bath, eating a ham sandwich and drinking a glass of milk, watching and listening to the election returns. He later said, “At 6 O’clock I was defeated, I was defeated at 10 O’clock, at midnight I heard the report that I was 1,200,000 ahead but was still undoubtedly beaten.” Truman went to bed and was awakened at 4 AM by a secret service man who told him he was ahead by over 2,000,000, but the commentator continued to say he couldn’t see how Truman could be elected. Despite all the commentators, newspapers and all the polls that said he didn’t even have the remotest chance of winning, Harry S. Truman was still the elected choice of the people as their president. What looked like a sure defeat turned into a great victory.

The same was true of Christ’s victory at Calvary. When many viewed what transpired on that “Not So" Good Friday, 2,000 years ago, while Jesus hung on the cross and his opponents were planning their victory party, writing the headlines for the Jerusalem newspaper, "Jesus Defeated at Calvary" – Sunday was coming!

What on Friday looked to be a terrible defeat turned out to be the greatest victory of all time. The resurrection was the moment the world had been waiting for, and it was the thing that the world so desperately needed. The resurrection is why Jesus came to the earth and it is because of His resurrection that we who have faith in Him can look forward to His Second Coming. The resurrection is the most powerful event in all of human history. It has the power to transform our lives. Jesus was not resurrected from the dead for us to remain the same, for our lives to go on as usual. He came, He died, and He rose from the dead to transform us! In the next few mornings of this Easter Week, we’ll see a few of those ways He can transform us. Today, rejoice that the resurrection is a past event, already accomplished on our behalf. He is risen! No matter how many people tell you it’s just Friday, Sunday’s Coming!

Casey At The Bat

But I will call on God, and the LORD will rescue me. Morning, noon, and night I plead aloud in my distress, and the LORD hears my voice. He rescues me and keeps me safe from the battle waged against me, even though many still oppose me. God, who is king forever, will hear me and will humble them. Interlude For my enemies refuse to change their ways; they do not fear God. (Psalm 55:16-18 NLV).

A little over two hundred years ago on this month, Ernest Thayer previewed the classic poem “Casey at the Bat” for the first time. The story is well remembered. It is Saturday September 3, 1887. The Mudville Nine are playing a baseball game. It is the bottom of the ninth inning and the home team is losing 4 runs to 2 runs. The Mudville Nine need the power of their rightfielder's bat to win the game. Brian Kavanagh Casey, age 28 is a Mudville native. At the time of the game, Mudville's star rightfielder has a batting average of .504 with 200 runs scored and 99 home runs hit. But Casey is the fifth batter due up in the inning so it isn't even certain that he'll get to the plate. Especially after the shortstop Scooter Cooney, and firstbaseman Otis Barrows, make two quick outs. Casey's chances to perform heroics are fading dramatically.
But the third batter up is leftfielder Peter "Roughouse" Flynn and he hits a single. The next batter, thirdbaseman and dance bandleader James Elmer "Bobo" Blake, blasts a double. So, yes, mighty Casey will be coming to the plate. Centerville's pitcher, James Riley "Fireball" Snedeker, throws two pitches. Casey just looks at them, never moving his bat. Buttenheiser, the umpire, calls both pitches strikes. The count is nothing and two. Snedeker throws a third pitch and mighty Casey swings as the small hurling round orb crosses the plate. Casey takes his round bat and tries to hit the ball squarely. But he can't. Casey misses the ball and strikes out. The game is over, Mudville loses. The poem ends with the following stanza:

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;
But there is no joy in Mudville-- mighty Casey has struck out.

In the middle of the battle of life, we may often feel like the crowd at Mudville! But, for those who follow Christ, we will always have hope of our final victory. Vernon Grounds tells of an incident that happened while he was in seminary. Since the school had no gymnasium, he and his friends played basketball in a nearby public school. Nearby, an elderly janitor waited patiently until the seminarians finished playing. Invariably he sat there reading his Bible. One day he asked him what he was reading. The man answered, ‘The book of Revelation.’ Surprised, Vernon asked if he understood it. ‘Oh, yes,’ the man assured him. `I understand it.’ ‘What does it mean?’ Quietly the janitor answered, `It means that Jesus is gonna win.’” Grounds concludes, “That’s the best commentary I have ever heard on that book. Jesus is going to win. That’s the Biblical mind-set.” And, that’s the real basis of our hope.

The next time you start to believe that there can be no joy in your “Mudville” remember the words of David, “But I will call on God, and the LORD will rescue me. Morning, noon, and night I plead aloud in my distress, and the LORD hears my voice. He rescues me and keeps me safe.”

Superman

Praise the LORD! For he has heard my cry for mercy. The LORD is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. The LORD protects his people and gives victory to his anointed king. Save your people! Bless Israel, your special possession! Lead them like a shepherd, and carry them forever in your arms. (Psalm 28:6-9 NLV).

Look! Up in the sky!
It’s a bird!
It’s a plane!
No, it’s Superman!

In June of 1938 those words were first read as the first issue of Action Comics, featuring the superhero character of Superman was published. There were other claims given to the “Man of Steel.” He was able to “leap tall buildings in a single bound,” “to run faster than a speeding bullet,” and “more powerful than a locomotive.” Superman is probably the best-known superhero in the world. Superman comic books have been around for over 50 years, though his appearances in movies and television have probably done more to make him famous. Superman has various superhuman abilities that he uses to uphold good. He captures criminals, rescues people in danger, strives for justice, and has a strong sense of morals. In short, Superman “fights for Truth, Justice, and the American Way.” Superman wears a special costume while fighting crime, but he also has a life outside of being a superhero. As Clark Kent, he grew up in the town of Smallville, Kansas, and attended Metropolis University. Clark is a Pulitzer prize-winning newspaper reporter for the DAILY PLANET, and he strives to keep his Superman identity secret.

The entire world needs such a superhero; yet, many have failed to find the only real one. It is the Lord who has the strength to save us. In his beautiful book, I Shall Not Want, Robert Ketchum tells of a Sunday school teacher who asked her group of children if any of them could quote the entire twenty-third psalm. A golden-haired, four-and-a-half-year-old girl was among those who raised their hands. A bit skeptical, the teacher asked if she could really quote the entire psalm. The little girl came to the rostrum, faced the class, made a perky little bow, and said: "The Lord is my shepherd, that's all I want." She then bowed again and sat down. She may have overlooked a few verses, but that little girl captured David's heart in Psalm 23.

Many people never find the true strength for life simply because they do not place their trust in the Lord. The story is told of a Welsh woman who lived in a remote valley in Wales. She went to a great deal of trouble to have electrical power installed in her home. They noticed she didn't use very much electricity at all. In fact, her usage was minuscule. They sent a meter reader out to check on the matter. The man came to the door and said, "We've looked at the amount. Don't you use electricity?" "Oh yes" she said. "We turn it on every night to see how to light our lamps and then we switch it off again." This sounds like the way many Christians apply the power of God in their lives. You may find Him and all the strength necessary for all of your challenges if you will simply turn toward Him today. He’s the real “Superman!”

Morse Code

In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't make. Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. God sent John the Baptist to tell everyone about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was only a witness to the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was going to come into the world. But although the world was made through him, the world didn't recognize him when he came. Even in his own land and among his own people, he was not accepted. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan – this rebirth comes from God. So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. (John 1:1-14 NLV).

In 1844, Samuel Morse demonstrated to Congress the practicability of telegraphy by transmitting his famous message of “What hath God wrought?” over a wire from Washington to Baltimore. With that event modern telecommunications took a great stride forward and thousands of people were able to connect with one another in seconds. Morse code is a series of dots and dashes reproduced electronically and transmitted by wire from one station to another. It is almost a lost science today. Most people could not recognize the code nor read it. For example, do you know what the following code translates: … --- … ? It is the internationally recognized code for “help,” or “SOS.”

Here’s one more series of code: ---. --- -.. .--- --- …- --- -.-- --- ..-

That message may be the most important one you ever receive! It translates, “God loves you.” But what good is a message if you cannot understand it? This is the truth that John reminds us of in our text this morning. God knew we needed to know of His love in a way that would be unmistakable. So He sent Jesus, His only begotten Son to convey that message.

The land of Persia was once ruled by a wise and beloved Shah who cared greatly for his people and desired only what was best for them. One day he disguised himself as a poor man and went to visit the public baths. A furnace in the cellar heated the water for the baths, so the Shah made his way to the dark place to sit with the man who tended the fire. The two men shared the coarse food, and the Shah befriended him in his loneliness. Day after day the ruler went to visit the man. The worker became attached to this stranger because he "came where he was". One day the Shah revealed his true identity, and he expected the man to ask him for a gift. Instead, he looked long into his leader's face and with love and wonder in his voice said, "You left your palace and your glory to sit with me in this dark place, to eat my coarse food, and to care about what happens to me. On others you may bestow rich gifts, but to me you have given yourself!" As we think of what our Lord has done for us, we can echo that fire tender's sentiments. Oh, what a step our Lord took -- from heaven to earth, from the worship of angels to the mocking of cruel men, from glory to humiliation! And all of that so that we could understand the message that God loves us!

Message in a Bottle

Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us – they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, no one is likely to die for a good person, though someone might be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's judgment. For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God – all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God. (Romans 5:1-11 NLV).

It took about a year for Marissa Risman, age 9, to send a letter from Massachusetts to France. But don't blame the post office: the letter went 3,000 miles by sea! The year before Marissa and her third-grade classmates wrote letters that were put in bottles and thrown into the Atlantic Ocean. Marissa's bottle washed up on the French coast in February. A couple found it and gave it to the local school children. They wrote to Marissa, asking her to write back: "We are very excited to know you better." Says Marissa: "I forgot I even sent the letter!" God sent you such a message many centuries ago. The difference is that He hasn’t forgotten that it was sent. You’ve heard the saying “It's the thought that counts.” The Cross Company has turned that into their slogan: "It's Still the Thought That Counts. It's Just That Some Count More Than Others." In eternity past God thought of us. Indeed, He prepared for the temptation and fall of man. His only Son was marked out to be the Lamb of God. His sacrifice makes it possible for us to enjoy life instead of suffering death.

Many people have difficulty with the concept of grace. After hearing the gospel explained, people often say, "you mean there's nothing I can do to deserve it? That's too easy." It seems
natural for people to object to the idea that God's unmerited favor can be given so freely to unworthy sinners. Many find it difficult to trust a God who offers salvation as a free gift. Bible teacher G. Campbell Morgan told of a coal miner who came to him and said, "I would give anything to believe that God would forgive my sins, but I cannot believe that He will forgive them if I just ask Him. It is too cheap." Morgan said, "My dear friend, have you been working today?" "Yes, I was down in the mine." "How did you get out of the pit? Did you pay?" "Of course not. I just got into to cage and was pulled to the top." "Were you not afraid to entrust yourself to that cage? Was it not too cheap?" Morgan asked. "Oh no," said the miner, "it was cheap for me, but it cost the company a lot of money to sink the shaft." Suddenly the truth struck him. What had not cost him anything, salvation, had not come cheap to God. This miner had never thought of the great price that God paid to send His Son so He could rescue fallen humanity. Now he realized that all anyone had to do was to "get into the cage" by faith. That’s the message sent to you centuries ago. It is not “love in a bottle,” but love on a Cross! Read His message and believe it today!

Believe In Your Heart

Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is that the Jewish people might be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don't understand God's way of making people right with himself. Instead, they are clinging to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. They won't go along with God's way. For Christ has accomplished the whole purpose of the law. All who believe in him are made right with God. For Moses wrote that the law's way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. But the way of getting right with God through faith says, "You don't need to go to heaven" (to find Christ and bring him down to help you). And it says, "You don't need to go to the place of the dead" (to bring Christ back to life again). Salvation that comes from trusting Christ – which is the message we preach – is already within easy reach. In fact, the Scriptures say, "The message is close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart." For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, "Anyone who believes in him will not be disappointed.” (Romans 10:1-11 NLV).

Belief in Jesus is not just for the “then and there.” Faith is the ingredient that gives true zest to life. It does secure eternal life personally for us, but it also energizes us toward a positive lifestyle. The following are some simple suggestions to follow in your application of God’s salvation each day.

§ Believe in your heart that something wonderful is about to happen.
§ Love your life.
§ Believe in yourself and the potential God has placed within you.
§ Wake every morning with the awe of just being alive.
§ Discover each day the magnificent, awesome beauty God has created in our world.
§ Explore and embrace life in yourself and in everyone you see each day.
§ Amaze yourself and rouse those around you to the potential of each new day.
§ Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect; this is the essence of your humanity.
§ Let those who love you help you.
§ Trust enough to be able to take. Love enough to be able to give.
§ Look with hope to the horizon of today, for today is the special gift of God.
§ Let a little sun out as well as in. Let the joy of the Sprit of God within you permeate the world of those around you.
§ Create your own rainbows. Trust in the coming of Christ to set all things right. Know that the storms of life are only temporary.
§ Be open to all your possibilities.
§ Always believe in Miracles.

The presence of God is in your heart when you have exercised your faith, believing in Him. Trust in Him today!

The Rose

If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn't love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn't love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Love will last forever, but prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will all disappear. Now we know only a little, and even the gift of prophecy reveals little! But when the end comes, these special gifts will all disappear. It's like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now. There are three things that will endure – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:1-13 NLV).

John Blanchard stood up from the bench, straightened his Army uniform, and studied the crowd of people making their way through Grand Central Station. He looked for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he didn't, the girl with the rose. His interest in her had begun thirteen months before in a Florida library. Taking a book off the shelf he found himself intrigued, not with the words of the book, but with the notes penciled in the margin. The soft handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and insightful mind. In the front of the book, he discovered the previous owner's name, Miss Hollis Maynell. With time and effort he located her address. She lived in New York City. He wrote her a letter introducing himself and inviting her to correspond. The next day he was shipped overseas for service in World War II. During the next year and one-month the two grew to know each other through the mail. Each letter was a seed falling on a fertile heart. A romance was budding. Blanchard requested a photograph, but she refused. She felt that if he really cared, it wouldn't matter what she looked like. When the day finally came for him to return from Europe, they scheduled their first meeting - 7:00 PM at the Grand Central Station in New York. "You'll recognize me," she wrote, "by the red rose I'll be wearing on my lapel." So at 7:00 he was in the station looking for a girl whose heart he loved, but whose face he'd never seen. I'll let Mr. Blanchard tell you what happened: A young woman was coming toward me, her figure long and slim. Her blonde hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears; her eyes were blue as flowers. Her lips and chin had a gentle firmness, and in her pale green suit she was like springtime come alive. I started toward her, entirely forgetting to notice that she was not wearing a rose. As I moved, a small, provocative smile curved her lips. "Going my way, sailor?" she murmured. Almost uncontrollably, I made one step closer to her, and then I saw Hollis Maynell. She was standing almost directly behind the girl. A woman well past 40, she had graying hair tucked under a worn hat. She was more than plump, her thick-ankled feet thrust into low-heeled shoes. The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away. I felt as though I was split in two, so keen was my desire to follow her, and yet so deep was my longing for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned me and upheld my own. And there she stood. Her pale, plump face was gentle and sensible, her gray eyes had a warm and kindly twinkle. I did not hesitate. My fingers gripped the small worn blue leather copy of the book that was to identify me to her. This would not be love, but it would be something precious, something perhaps even better than love, a friendship for which I had been and must ever be grateful. I squared my shoulders and saluted and held out the book to the woman, even though while I spoke I felt choked by the bitterness of my disappointment. "I'm Lieutenant John Blanchard, and you must be Miss Maynell. I am so glad you could meet me; may I take you to dinner?" The woman's face broadened into a tolerant smile. "I don't know what this is about, son," she answered, "but the young lady in the green suit who just went by, she begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said if you were to ask me out to dinner, I should tell you that she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!" It's not difficult to understand and admire Miss Maynell's wisdom. The true nature of a heart is seen in its response to the unattractive. "Tell me whom you love," Houssaye wrote, "And I will tell you who you are."

The Finish Line

Diane Berke shared the following in the May-June 1998 edition of On Course:

A few years ago at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. They all turned around and went back. Every one of them. One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, "This will make it better." All nine linked arms and walked across the finish line together. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story. Why? Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What truly matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.

In our world of competition and success oriented self-esteem, it is difficult to imagine a lifestyle centered around love for others, especially when it may cause us to fail in the eyes of others. Yet, that is exactly the way of the Christian life. John knew this principle only to well and wrote it to the churches of Asia Minor from his exile on Patmos.

If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to eternal life. But a person who has no love is still dead. Anyone who hates another Christian is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don't have eternal life within them. We know what real love is because Christ gave up his life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters. But if anyone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help – how can God's love be in that person? Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions. It is by our actions that we know we are living in the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before the Lord, even if our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our conscience is clear, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive whatever we request because we obey him and do the things that please him. And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God's commandments live in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Holy Spirit lives in us. (1 John 3:14-24 NLV).

An ingenious teenager, tired of reading bedtime stories to his little sister, decided to record several of her favorite stories on tape. He told her, "Now you can hear your stories anytime you want. Isn't that great?" She looked at the machine for a moment and then replied, "No. It hasn't got a lap." We all need a lap. We all need the closeness of relationship. We all need to know we are loved. Who do you need to be a “lap” for today? Make a phone call, send an email, write a note to someone you know today and express your love and appreciation to them. Don’t do it because of anything they have done. Do it because of who they are – your brother in Christ! Do it “just because.”

Keep the Oak in Sight

As they were walking along someone said to Jesus, "I will follow you no matter where you go." But Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but I, the Son of Man, have no home of my own, not even a place to lay my head." He said to another person, "Come, be my disciple." The man agreed, but he said, "Lord, first let me return home and bury my father." Jesus replied, "Let those who are spiritually dead care for their own dead. Your duty is to go and preach the coming of the Kingdom of God." Another said, "Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family." But Jesus told him, "Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God." (Luke 9:57-62, NLV).

Not long ago, I read the story of multimillionaire Don Storms. Several years ago he was a very
successful television personality who was fired when new management came into his organization. He went through an agonizing period of depression and an "I just don't care anymore" attitude. But he was able to turn himself around and become incredibly successful in an entirely new field. How did he do it? "It was a sense of purpose," he says. "Having a goal and a new dream to strive toward." It was having this goal, making a success of his new business venture that enabled Storms to turn his life around. In the article he tells the secret to his success. He wrote that he was successful “because he kept his eye on the oak tree.” He went on to explain. "When I was growing up in the country," Storm said, "we used to plow the fields. We would never look down at the ground we were plowing. We'd look at the oak tree, shoot for that and plow a straighter furrow. If you look at the adversities, oh, there's a rock, or a tree stump, or a small ravine, you'll be wandering all over the place. But if you've got an oak tree in your sight and your heading right for it, you'll get past the rocks and stumps and accomplish you goal."

That’s the principle behind Jesus’ teachings on discipleship in our Scripture this morning. When you want to get to the other side of anything, you must have a clear goal in sight. If your goal is fuzzy and you're not sure where you want to go, you'll bump into every stone and stump in your path. If, however, you have that goal in front of you, firmly planted in your mind, it will act like a magnet and draw you straight to it.

What are your life goals today? What do you have your eyes set on in your life? William Barclay writes, “It's possible to be a follower of Jesus without being a disciple; to be a camp-follower without being a soldier of the king; to be a hanger-on in some great work without pulling one's weight. Once someone was talking to a great scholar about a younger man. He said, ‘So and so tells me that he was one of your students.’ The teacher answered devastatingly, ‘He may have attended my lectures, but he was not one of my students.’ There is a world of difference between attending lectures and being a student. It is one of the supreme handicaps of the Church that in the Church there are so many distant followers of Jesus and so few real disciples.”

Put your eye on the oak tree today!

How to Eat a Chocolate Bunny

It seems that there are opinions for just about everything you might imagine. Recently I came across an opinion poll concerning the proper way to eat a chocolate bunny! It seems, of the people surveyed 66% said you should start by eating the ears first. Then, 27% said that it didn’t matter where you started. A smaller percentage believed otherwise, 4% said start with the feet and 3% with the tail. I know that you are thinking now, “who cares?” But the survey illustrates a principle of Scripture.

But the fact is that Christ has been raised from the dead. He has become the first of a great harvest of those who will be raised to life again. So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, Adam, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man, Christ. If there is no resurrection, "Let's feast and get drunk, for tomorrow we die!" Don't be fooled by those who say such things, for "bad company corrupts good character." Come to your senses and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don't even know God. (1 Corinthians 15:21-22,31-34 NLV).

Everyone has advice to give. However, there is only one truly reliable source for us to consult when we are seeking the truth. The Scripture is the only place where we can go and know that its wisdom is eternal. Even though all of the world might be surveyed, only God’s opinion really counts. That is the only real truth. It is so simple to understand. And, yet, we have made it so difficult. The following humorous story serves as a reminder to us.

There was a nice little old lady who was slightly incontinent. She was planning a week's vacation in Florida at a particular campground, but she wanted to make sure of the accommodations first. Uppermost in her mind were toilet facilities, for having a problem with urinary control she was fearful others might know and she could not bring herself to write "toilet" in her letter. After considerable deliberation, she settled on "bathroom commode", but when she wrote that down it still sounded too suspicious, so she wrote the letter to the campground and referred to the bathroom commode as the "BC". "Does the campground have its own BC?" is what she actually wrote. The initials baffled the campground owner so he showed the letter around to several campers, but they could not decipher it either. Finally the owner figured she must be referring to the location of the local Baptist Church, so he sat down and wrote: "Dear Madam" I regret very much the delay in answering your letter, but I now take pleasure in informing you that a "BC" is located nine miles north of the campground and is capable of seating 250 people at one time. I admit it is quite a distance away if you are in the habit of going regularly, but no doubt you will be pleased to know that a great number of people take their lunches along and make a day of it. They usually arrive early and stay late. The last time my wife and I went was six years ago, and it was so crowded we had to stand up the whole time we were there. I would like to say it pains me very much not to be able to go more regularly but it is surely no lack of desire on my part. As we grow older it seems to be more of an effort, particularly in cold weather. If you do decide to come down to our campground, perhaps I could go with you the first time, sit with you and introduce you to all the other folks. Remember, this is a friendly community."

There is no misunderstanding or miscommunication when we are being guided by the truth of God through the Holy Spirit and the Scripture. It is the final word! It may tell you how to really eat a chocolate bunny, but it will tell you how to live life in joy and grace. Trust yourself to that wisdom and you will not be disappointed.

You Are My Sunshine

Are any among you suffering? They should keep on praying about it. And those who have reason to be thankful should continually sing praises to the Lord. (James 5:13-14 NLV).

Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling. They found out that the new baby was going to be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sang to his sister in Mommy's tummy. He was building a bond of love with his little sister before he even met her. The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen, an active member of the Panther Creek United Methodist Church in Morristown, Tennessee. In time, the labor pains came. Soon it was every five minutes, then every three, then every minute. But serious complications arose during delivery and Karen found herself in hours of labor. Finally, after a long struggle, Michael's little sister was born. But she was in very serious condition. With a siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushed the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee. The days inched by. The little girl got worse. The pediatric specialist regretfully had to tell the parents, "There is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst." Karen and her husband contacted a local cemetery about a burial plot. They had fixed up a special room in their home for the new baby but now they found themselves having to plan for a funeral. Michael, however, kept begging his parents to let him see his sister. "I want to sing to her," he kept saying. Week two in intensive care looked as if a funeral would come before the week was over. Michael kept nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in Intensive Care. Karen made up her mind, though. She would take Michael whether they liked it or not! If he didn't see his sister right then, he may never see her alive. She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into ICU. He looked like a walking laundry basket. But the head nurse recognized him as a child and bellowed, "Get that kid out of here now! No children are allowed. The mother rose up strong in Karen, and the usually mild-mannered lady glared steel-eyed right into the head nurse's face, her lips a firm line. "He is not leaving until he sings to his sister!" Karen towed Michael to his sister's bedside. He gazed at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. After a moment, he began to sing. In the pure-hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sang: "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray. Instantly the baby girl seemed to respond. The pulse rate began to calm down and become steady. "Keep on singing, Michael," encouraged Karen with tears in her eyes. "You never know, dear, how much I love you, Please don't take my sunshine away-" As Michael sang to his sister, the baby's ragged, strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten's purr. "Keep on singing, sweetheart!" "The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms..." Michael's little sister began to relax as rest, healing rest, seemed to sweep over her. "Keep on singing, Michael." Tears had now conquered the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glowed. "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Please don't, take my sunshine away..." The next, day, the very next day, the little girl was well enough to go home! Woman's Day Magazine called it "The Miracle of a Brother's Song." The medical staff just called it a miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God's love!

There are still miracles today. What miracle do you need? Begin by singing His praises and see what marvelous thing He has waiting for you!

God's Divine Plan

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust. Follow anything that makes you want to do right. Pursue faith and love and peace, and enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. Again I say, don't get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. The Lord's servants must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone. They must be able to teach effectively and be patient with difficult people. They should gently teach those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will believe the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the Devil's trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. (2 Timothy 2:22-26 NLV).

I am often asked what God’s divine plan for life might be? The answer is not as complicated as we might at first think. We must love God and others. One of the principle truths of Scripture is our responsibility to love one another. At a fund-raising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the school's students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all that attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question. "Everything God does is done with perfection. Yet, my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is God's plan reflected in my son?" The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued. "I believe," the father answered, "that when God brings a child like Shay into the world, an opportunity to realize the Divine Plan presents itself. And it comes in the way people treat that child." Then, he told the following story:

Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they will let me play?" Shay's father knew that most boys would not want him on their team. But the father understood that if his son were allowed to play it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging. Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance from his teammates. Getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said, "We are losing by six runs, and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him up to bat in the ninth inning." In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. At the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the outfield. Though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base. Shay was scheduled to be the next at-bat. Would the team actually let Shay bat at this juncture and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be able to make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly toward Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball to the pitcher. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could easily have thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have ended the game. Instead, the pitcher took the ball and threw it on a high arc to right field, far beyond reach of the first baseman. Everyone started yelling, "Shay, run to first. Run to first." Never in his life had Shay ever made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" By the time Shay was rounding first base, the right fielder had the ball. He could have thrown the ball to the second baseman for a tag. But the rightfielder understood what the pitcher's intentions had been, so he threw the ball high and far over the third baseman's head. Shay ran towards second base as the runners ahead of him circled the bases towards home. As Shay reached second base, the opposing shortstop ran to him, turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third!" As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams were screaming, "Shay! Run home!" Shay ran home, stepped on home plate and was cheered as the hero, for hitting a "grand slam" and winning the game for his team. "That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of the Divine Plan into this world."

How to Face Your Past

It always affects me the same. It’s the phone call that begins: “Donnie…” I suppose its because I know only people from my very distant past call my by that name! So many things come flooding back into my mind from those very early days. Isn’t a weird feeling to reflect back over your life? It’s like looking through a photo album. There are thousands of emotions and feelings caught up in each picture. Some are joyous and delightful. Yet, some pictures drag us back to a time of turmoil. Sometimes the turmoil may never have been resolved. Yet, dealing with out past effectively is one of the most important things we can learn to insure our happiness in the present. People have learned to deal with their past in several ways. Some simply ignore it. This is the individual who lives only for today without thought of yesterday and inevitably commits those same mistakes that brought them to where they are now. Others attempt to rewrite the past. They take their verbal pen in hand and create a whole new life that has little or no basis in truth. Still others merely live in the past. They are permanently attached to the “good, old days.” They’ve never moved on. The best way to deal with the past is to learn from it. This is what the apostle Paul meant when he wrote to the Roman Church:

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4 NIV).

There are four steps that I think may be of help to you in learning from your past.

1. First, begin with prayer. It does seem like a strange place to begin as you review the past, but it will keep you properly focused. Starting with who God is keeps us from going off the path.

What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since God did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? No! He is the one who has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for he is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? (Romans 8:31-35 NLT).

2. Second, reflect and give thanks. As you look back over your life, there may be plenty of things to mar the view. Bad decisions, failed opportunities and personal brokenness may litter the landscape. This is the primary reason that you take God with you when you look back.

3. Third, discover and confess your sin. Here’s the part where many of us get into trouble. After we have looked back, we forget to ask the question, “Now what?” This can be the greatest question you can ask yourself. You may have stumbled and tumbled all over the place, but what will prevent you from being victimized by your past is the questions: “Now what?” and “What am I going to do now?” What does God want us to do with it?

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. (1 John 1:9 NLT).

4. Fourth, commit yourself to a new direction in the future. In 1886 Daniel B. Tower, director of the music department at Chicago Bible Institute, was leading the music for evangelist D. L. Moody’s series of meetings in Brockton, MA. A young man rose to give a testimony and said, “I am not quite sure – but I am going to trust, and I’m going to obey.” From this quote came the hymn we know as “Trust and Obey”. Trust and obedience work hand-in-hand. Trust without obedience is empty bragging. Obedience without trust is legalism. I trust God with the things that have gone on before in my life. I trust Him to forgive and remove those things as far as the east is from the west. I trust when the Father said that the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, paid the penalty for my sins so that I could become part of His family. Then I may obey. Are you ready to face your past today? You can!

Fantastic Animal Facts

The following factoids are true.

 A chameleon can move its eyes in two directions at the same time.
 Dolphins sleep at night just below the surface of the water. They frequently rise to the surface for air.
 A cockroach can live for up to a week without a head.
 An albatross can sleep while it flies. It apparently dozes while cruising at 25 mph.
 Amazon ants (red ants found in the western U.S.) steal the larvae of other ants to keep as slaves. The slave ants build homes for and feed the Amazon ants, who cannot do anything but fight. They depend completely on their slaves for survival.
 The hummingbird is the only bird that can hover and fly straight up, down, or backward!
 A leech is a worm that feeds on blood. It will pierce its victim's skin, fill itself with three to four times its own body weight in blood, and will not feed again for months. Leeches were once used by doctors to drain “bad blood” from sick patients.
 Lovebirds are small parakeets who live in pairs. Male and female lovebirds look alike, but most other male birds have brighter colors than the females.
 Only female mosquitoes bite. Females need the protein from blood to produce their eggs.

While this information may be interesting, it is very easy to ask “so what?” Much of the information and knowledge we are given each day could fall into this category. It might help you to win a game show, but would it help to live a happier, more positive life? No, of course not! But there is knowledge that will do just that. Listen to the psalmist:

You have done many good things for me, LORD, just as you promised. I believe in your commands; now teach me good judgment and knowledge. I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word. (Psalm 119:65-67 NLV).

It is this knowledge that will give substance to our faith. Faith never need be merely blind belief. There is substance to our faith and we may find it in the study of the Scripture. Knowledge also stabilizes us during times of testing. How often have you asked the question “why” when faced with difficulty? There is often an answer to that question. It may only be found in the accuracy and dependability of the Scripture. Knowledge equips us to detect and confront error. How else may we know the correct choices to make in our lives? God gives us direction through the Scripture. Study is essential to eliminating as many errors as possible in our lives. Knowledge also makes us confident and consistent in our walk with God. There is a special sense of well being that comes from knowing the “right” way to do things. That comes from an understanding of the Scripture. Knowledge filters out our fears and superstitions. Knowledge empowers.

Rossini was once presented with a watch by the King of France of which he was justly proud. Several years after, showing it to a friend, he was told that though he had possessed it so long, he did not know its real value. "Impossible," said Rossini, whereupon the friend, taking the watch, touched a secret spring, at which an inner case flew open, disclosing a beautiful miniature painting of Rossini himself. This is how many of us live our lives. We have accepted and valued our traditions and history, but it we have not discovered the inner secret which gives us real joy. The portrait of Christ is still hidden. When the secret spring of knowledge is touched and the Face of Christ is recognized, the whole attitude of mind and theory of values is changed. It is characteristic also of much avowed discipleship. "Have I been so long a time with you, and have you not known Me, Philip?" said Christ to one who called himself a disciple and an intimate.