A Great Gift - Pt 1

It is God who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me—may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus. (2 Timothy 1:9-12; 15-18 ESV). There are so many common experiences that the Lord has used to teach me very uncommon principles of truth. When my oldest son was very little we lived in a parsonage that was located on the edge of the Davy Crockett National Forest. All we needed to do in order to take a very long walk in the woods was to cross the fence. One afternoon he and I decided to take such a walk. Not far into the woods we spotted a deer. Following it as quietly as possible we strayed further than I had intended and lost our way. The sun was beginning to set and we needed to return home as quickly as possible. Rather than wander in the woods trying to find some familiar marker, I knew that if I walked for a little while to the west we would soon come to a road. When we did come to the road I knew we were still a long way home. So, putting Kyle on my shoulders I stuck out my thumb to hitch a ride back to town the long way around. Several cars passed and Kyle asked why they didn’t stop to give us a ride. Before I could give an adequate response, he said, “I guess they don’t know who we are, do they dad?” I learned a marvelous lesson from that simple statement. All of us need others at some point in our lives. We all need a friend! This is certainly the point of Paul’s remarks to Timothy in his letter to the young pastor. The desire for friendship goes hand in hand with accepting the reality of God in life! One of the great gifts given to us is the opportunity to be known by someone. The reason the world has difficulty accepting that there is a God in this world is because they are alone. In a day and age where people evaluate each other by what they know, God has revealed to men and women the privilege of being known by someone! In the next few days we’ll look at the great gift God is offering to all of us through a relationship with Him. First, we can be known by God. In the throws of hardship, the one thing that Paul seizes upon more than anything else is that God knows him. In essence, Paul is saying, I’m am possibly in the worst time of my life but I am not ashamed, I am not defeated, because the reason for my existence isn’t my shameful situation, my own mind, my own strength, my difficulty, my own confusion and trouble, but God himself who has made himself known to me is my reason for living. It may be a particularly difficult time for you right now, but what God has given to us, the opportunity to know that He knows us, the gift of the Spirit; there is your strength! There is your hope! I encourage you today to know that God knows you. All the hair on your head is numbered; God is deeply passionate about you! Listen to Paul again: “…for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.” You are not alone. God is with you!

The House of Regret

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man. I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away. (Ecclesiastes 3:11-15 ESV). Sarah Winchester was rich. She had inherited twenty million dollars. Plus she had an additional income of one thousand dollars a day. That’s a lot of money any day, but it was immense in the late 1800s. Sarah was well known. She was the belle of New Haven, Connecticut. No social event was complete without her presence. No one hosted a party without inviting her. Sarah was powerful. Her name and money would open almost any door in America. Colleges wanted her donations. Politicians clamored for her support. Organizations sought her endorsement. Sarah was rich, well known, powerful, and miserable. Her only daughter had died at five weeks of age. Then her husband had passed away. She was left alone with her name, her money, her memories, and her regret. It was this regret that caused her to move west, to San Jose, California. Her yesterdays had imprisoned her todays, and she yearned for freedom. She bought an eight-room farmhouse plus one hundred sixty adjoining acres. She hired sixteen carpenters and put them to work. For the next thirty-eight years, craftsmen labored every day, twenty-four hours a day, to build a mansion. Observers were intrigued by the project. Sarah’s instructions were more than eccentric, they were eerie. The design had a macabre touch. Each window was to have thirteen panes, each wall thirteen panels, each closet thirteen hooks, and each chandelier thirteen globes. The floor plan was ghoulish. Corridors snaked randomly, some leading nowhere. One door opened to a blank wall, another to a fifty-foot drop. One set of stairs led to a ceiling that had no door. There were trap doors, secret passageways, and tunnels. This was no retirement home for Sarah’s future; it was a castle for her past. The making of this mysterious mansion only ended when Sarah died. The completed estate sprawled over six acres and had six kitchens, thirteen bathrooms, forty stairways, forty-seven fireplaces, fifty-two skylights, four hundred sixty-seven doors, ten thousand windows, one hundred sixty rooms, and a bell tower. Why did Sarah want such a castle? Didn’t she live alone? “Well, sort of,” those acquainted with her story might answer. “There were the visitors…” And the visitors came each night. Legend has it that every evening at midnight; a servant would pass through the secret labyrinth that led to the bell tower. He would ring the bell to summon the spirits. Sarah would then enter the “blue room,” a room reserved for her and her nocturnal guests. Together they would linger until 2:00 a.m., when the bell would be rung again. Sarah would return to her quarters; the ghosts would return to their graves. Who comprised this legion of phantoms? No one really knows. Some believe them to be Indians and soldiers killed on the U.S. frontier. Bullets from the most popular rifle in America, the Winchester, had killed them all. What had brought millions of dollars to Sarah Winchester had brought death to them. So she spent her remaining years in a castle of regret, providing a home for the dead. You can see this unusual place in San Jose, if you wish. You can tour its halls and see its remains. But to see what unresolved guilt can do to a human being, you don’t have to go to the Winchester mansion. Lives imprisoned by yesterday’s regret are all around us. Hearts haunted by failure live and work beside us. People plagued by pitfalls are just down the street, or just down the hall. Perhaps you are one of those lives today. There is, wrote the apostle Paul, a “worldly sorrow” that “brings death,” a guilt that kills, a sorrow that’s fatal, a venomous regret that’s deadly. If that’s the description of your life this morning, turn to the wisdom of Solomon and know that all things are beautiful in the hands of our eternal Father. He is the One who will make all things work together for our good as we love and follow Him. Lay your regret at His feet this morning. Take up His joy in a future secured by the work of grace in Jesus Christ.

You Never Know

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” (Matthew 25:14-30 ESV). It is easy to think of ourselves as insignificant. Jesus’ teachings in today’s parable shows us that no one is insignificant, nor anything that we may do. Sometimes the seemingly most insignificant things turn out to play pivotal roles later in our lives. The following story is a great illustration of that truth. His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to eke out a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death. The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved. "I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life." "No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel. "Is that your son?" the nobleman asked. "Yes," the farmer replied proudly. "I'll make you a deal. Let me take him and give him a good education. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll grow to a man you can be proud of." And that he did. In time, Farmer Fleming's son graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin. Years afterward, the nobleman's son was stricken with pneumonia. What saved him? Penicillin. The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son's name? Sir Winston Churchill. Whether you have much talent or little, nothing you do is insignificant. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it as unto the Lord!

Hold Please

There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. (1 Kings 19:9-15 ESV). I don’t know about you, but as for me, I find it very difficult to wait for anything. Perhaps it is our cultural experience that has brought us to such impatience. Perhaps my most difficult area is the telephone. Many of us have experienced the frustration we felt when we were placed on hold. You finally reach a real person, and before you can give your name or state your reason for calling you are quickly asked, "Hold, please!" Some companies have even implemented automated phone systems. You know the kind where computerized voice asks, "press 1 if this, press 2 if that." You listen patiently and your particular area of interest is not represented then finally the voice says, "Hold for an operator" followed by the message, "All of our operators are currently busy, Hold please for the next available operator." And, I roll my eyes and think, “please hurry!” I don’t like to wait. Perhaps you can identify. If so, then when we hear those words, "Hold, please" we instantly become frustrated. The question is what do you do when you hear these words, some decide to hang up only to be put on hold again, while others have learned to hold on. The feeling of frustration is no less frustrating when the person you are trying to reach is God. The Eternal One, who never sleeps nor slumbers, the Omnipresent One whom is everywhere at the same time. The One who is able to do all things. We become frustrated when we call on him in prayer and the return reply seems to be, “Hold, please.” On Mt. Carmel, Elijah had first hand knowledge that God hears and answers prayer and he can answer them quickly. Mohammad Ali once said that he was so quick that he could turn off the light and get in bed before the room got dark. That’s Quick. But My God can answer prayers quicker than that. My God can turn off the lights, dispatch angels to camp around my bedside and prepare my way for the next morning all before the room gets dark. That’s Quick. My God is quicker than fast and faster than quick! Elijah knew that too. Elijah knew beyond a shadow of doubt that God hears and answers prayers. In Chapter 18, Elijah enjoys great success in his prayer life. Every time he calls on God, he receives an answer quickly. However, in Chapter 19, we find Elijah on the run. Running for his life. While on the run Elijah prays, but God put Elijah on hold. Don’t fool yourself God can put you on hold.Sometimes you just have to hold on. I’ve had to learn that God may not come when you want Him but He is always on time. So what do you do when God has put you on hold? All you can do is Hold the Line. Because it is better to be on hold with the Lord then to be on your own. What do you do when God says, Hold Please? Don’t hang up; don’t decide to try back later. Later may be too late. Hold the line. Elijah held the line. First, Elijah felt the wind blowing strong, he thought that the Lord was on the line speaking through the wind, but the Lord was not in the wind, Elijah was still on hold. Then he heard the Earthquake, Elijah ran to check the line but he found out that God was not in the Earthquake. Next, Elijah saw the Fire he ran to check the line and found that he was still on hold. Finally, because Elijah was still holding on the prayer line, he heard a still small voice. If you hold the line God will answer. You can rest assured, you have confidence, and you can have certainty that the Lord will pick up the line. That’s the truth!

One More Chance

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises. The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us. There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after. (Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 ESV). Ecclesiastes is one of the most interesting books of the Bible. It was written by Solomon, one of the wisest men to ever live. As you can tell from reading the first few verses this morning, it begins very pessimistically. As you continue in the book, along with the writer, you realize that without a heavenly perspective in life, everything is meaningless. He comes to the conclusion that life is wonderful for those who live it “above the sun.” It is his way of saying that living selfishly can never bring satisfaction or blessing. Just after she was told she had incurable cancer, Erma Bombeck wrote a wonderful little piece titled, “If I Had My Life to Live Over.” In her usual style laced with humor and full of wisdom, there are some practical gems to be found in it:  I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.  I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.  I would have talked less and listened more.  I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained or the sofa faded.  I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.  I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.  I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.  I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.  I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.  I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.  Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.  When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."  There would have been more "I love you's." More "I'm sorry's."  But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute, look at it and really see it , live it and never give it back. Isn’t it nice that God has given us all one more chance today? Really, every new dawn is another chance at life when we begin it “above the sun.” Life is so much more than weary and tiresome living! Today, practice the discipline of carpe diem – SEIZE THE MOMENT!

The Balloon Man

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV). Everywhere he went the man carried brightly colored balloons. He enjoyed watching them float above his head. And it was easy to hold the string in his hand or wrap it around his wrist and take his colorful balloons wherever he went. The other people where he worked were accustomed to seeing them. They didn't mind; it brightened the office a little. Even at night the balloons would float above the man as he slept. One day he went to the fair and had a great time. At the fair he could blend into the atmosphere of the rides and lights and noise. Oh, sometimes people tried to buy his balloons, thinking he was a vendor, but of course he wouldn't sell even one. At one of the booths he filled in a ticket to see if he could win a free ocean cruise. Two weeks later a telegram came - he had won! The man started packing immediately. He was ready to go days before it was time to leave. On the morning of the big day, he called a taxi and had the driver take him to the dock very slowly. He had to go slowly because the balloons wouldn't all fit in the taxi and he had to hold some of them out the window. At the dock he unloaded his luggage, went aboard ship, and was welcomed by the officials who had planned his trip. They even had someone take his suitcases down to his cabin while he stayed on deck and enjoyed the activity. The ship was crowded. Many people were aboard just to say good-bye to friends. Confetti, horns, streamers - and lots of balloons. He felt right at home. Eventually the visitors left and the voyage was begun. It was great! Sailing on a big ocean liner was really refreshing. It also made him very hungry. Someone told the balloon man that the evening meal was in just one hour - a welcome relief! The balloon man, still clutching his balloons and refusing to part with even one, eagerly awaited the dinner bell of this luxury cruise. There was one problem, though. Whoever had designed the ship hadn't left enough room for a man with a handful of balloons to get down the passageway. You could do it if you released some of the balloons, but the balloon man just couldn't do that. He had seen some crackers and cheese on the upper deck earlier, so he went back and ate that instead. It was good. Maybe not as good as the chef's dinner but it was good enough. Besides, he had his balloons. That night the sunset was beautiful and it was exciting to walk along the deck. But it sure got cold quickly after that. Sea air not only makes you hungry; it makes you tired as well. He asked one of the ship's crew where his room was, and the crewman took him down a wide hall and opened the door of his cabin. It was beautiful. They had given him one of the classiest rooms on the ship. He could see that the interior decorating was the best. And the bed looked inviting. Unfortunately, the door to the cabin was so designed that he couldn't get all the balloons in without breaking some. He tried, but it just wouldn't work. Back on deck he found some blankets and a deck chair. He tied the balloons around his wrist and the arm of the chair and tried to sleep. The next morning he was still tired. All that day he ate crackers and cheese and that night he slept on deck again. The next morning the balloon man received an engraved invitation from the captain of the ship. He had been invited to sit at the captain's table and enjoy the specialty of the world famous chef. He would prepare it especially for the balloon man. All that day the man watched as the crew made preparations for the evening banquet, and at 8:00 p.m. the ship’s bell rang and the passengers began to go to the dining room. The man watched them go. Soon he could hear the murmur of voices, the sound of silverware and the clink of glasses. The aroma of the food became even more enticing. He stood at the end of the passage way for some time. Finally he walked to the back of the ship. He could still hear the dinner in progress. He knew that there was a special place reserved for him at the captain's table. Then he looked up at his balloons. It was hard to do, but slowly - very, very slowly (he hadn't unclenched his hand for years) - one at a time he uncurled his fingers. One by one the balloons began to drift away. As he watched, the wind caught them and blew them out of sight. The man turned and walked down the passageway. That night, as a guest at the captain's table, he enjoyed the finest meal and the best companionship he'd ever known. You have an “engraved” invitation too. It came written in the blood of God’s very own Son. Let go of whatever may be keeping you from enjoying the fullness of His love and grace today!

Foot in Mouth Disease - Pt 3

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1-5 ESV). Let’s review the last two days in our study of how to cure “foot-in-mouth” disease. First, we saw that we needed to check our attitude, and, second, we needed to stop making excuses for our failures. Today, the third and final step is to repent and learn from our mistakes. This is what Peter’s tears were about. After his denial of Jesus, the Scripture tell us that he went away and wept “bitterly.” He knew he had failed the moment he saw Jesus’ eyes. He could have turned away making excuses for his failure, but he didn’t. Within him he knew his only course of action was repentance. His later actions prove this truth. And, he would become a greater servant of God after having gone through this humbling experience. Some say that when you fall, God is through with you. If that were the case, God wouldn’t have used Noah who got drunk; Abraham who repeatedly lied and claimed his wife was his sister; Moses who smote the rock; or, even David who committed adultery and murder. Instead, God’s message to those who fail is this: "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delights in his way. Though he fall, he will not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with his hand" (Psalm 37:23,24). Here’s the question we must answer: will we let our failures make us bitter, or we will let them make us better? Will we keep beating ourselves up for the sins we’ve committed or will we trust the grace and mercy of God for His forgiveness and restoration? The Associated Press ran this story in October of 2000: “A pig recently traveled on a six-hour US Airways flight from Philadelphia to Seattle, and didn’t ride coach. Two passengers convinced the airline representative that the pig needed to fly with them as a ’therapeutic companion pet’ - like a seeing-eye dog - so the pig was permitted to sit with them in the first-class cabin of the plane. Passengers described the 300-pound pig as ’enormous, brown, angry, and honking.’ He was seated near the front of the plane, but the attendants reportedly had difficulty strapping him in: ’It became restless after takeoff and sauntered through the cabin.’ One passenger said, ’He kept rubbing his nose on people’s legs trying to get them to give him food and stroke him.’ Upon landing, things only got worse. The article reports, ’the pig panicked, running up and down through economy class squealing.’ Many passengers, also screaming, stood on their seats. It took four attendants to escort the pig out of the airplane, and he escaped upon reaching the terminal. (He was later re-captured.) When asked to comment on the story, US Airways spokesman David Castelveter said, ’We can confirm that the pig traveled, and we can confirm that it will never happen again.’” Take control of your attitudes; don’t make excuses for your failures; and, repent quickly, learning from your mistakes and determine they won’t happen again! That’s the cure for “foot-in-mouth” disease!

Foot in Mouth Disease - Pt 2

When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’” (Luke 14:15-24 ESV). Yesterday we saw that the first step toward curing our “foot-in-mouth” disease was to take control of our attitude. Today, we will see that the second insight for mending a situation we created by putting our foot in our mouth is to admit our wrongdoing. This is just another way of saying we not make excuses for our behavior. Remember the experience of Peter’s denial of Jesus in the courtyard after His arrest. Peter didn’t merely slink away into the night, he adamantly denied any knowledge or relationship of Jesus. And, this came after Jesus warned him it was likely to happen. Peter’s response to Jesus’ caution was that he would never do such a thing. He would rather die than leave Jesus! Well, we know what happened. Before we get too hard on Peter though remember the rest of the story. While we have no record in scripture of Peter actually apologizing to Christ for this episode of denial, we don’t find him trying to justify his denial either. We do find that when he thought about what he had said and done, he wept (Cf. Mark 14:72). This is no doubt an indication that he felt bad about himself and what he had done. He felt guilty for denying Christ and cursing. He wasn’t going to try to justify his actions. This is the second key principle to curing our own “foot-in-mouth” disease. In his book with Ken Blanchard, "Everyone’s A Coach", Don Shula tells of losing his temper near an open microphone during a televised game with the Los Angeles Rams. Millions of viewers were surprised and shocked by Shula’s explicit profanity. Letters soon arrived from all over the country, voicing the disappointment of many that had respected the coach for his integrity. Shula could have given excuses, but he didn’t. Everyone who included a return address received a personal apology. He closed each letter by stating, "I value your respect and will do my best to earn it again." There are two ways to gain respect. One is to act nobly. The other is when you fail to do so, to make no excuses. When you try to justify your foot in mouth disease you only tend to make matters worse. Admitting we are wrong is always difficult, but it is the doorway to freedom. Tomorrow we’ll see how to step through that door.

Foot in Mouth Disease - Pt 1

And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept. (Mark 14:66-72 ESV). Today we’re not going to look at the disease of cows and sheep. Instead, we’re going to look at the human variety of “foot-in-mouth” disease that’s been around for thousands of years. And, who better to use as an example than the apostle Peter. He was the one that has come to be known as “the disciple with the foot-shaped mouth.” However, before we’re too hard on him, we should remember that we’ve all said things we regret having said things we wish we could take back. Today’s scripture reveals the Apostle Peter suffering from a severe case of foot in mouth. He shamed himself greatly by the things he said. This familiar story is even more tragic when we remember Peter had boasted this would be the very last sin of which he would ever be guilty (Cf. Matthew 26:33). But we’re not here today to bash Simon Peter. We’re here to identify with him and learn from him. The story has a happy ending because Christ understood and forgave Peter just like He is willing to understand and forgive us. Peter was at his worst but Jesus made a new man out of him. After the Holy Spirit came into his life Peter became the primary spokesman for the early church. He preached the first sermon of the church and thousands were converted to Christ! How did this happen? How did Peter go from cursing to proclaiming the good news? Over the next few days we’ll see some practical ways to restore the bad relationships we have created with our words. The first thing we ought to do is to check our attitude. Peter’s primary problem was a bad attitude. He was fearful, disillusioned and defeated. They had arrested His Master Jesus, and Peter felt powerless to change the adverse circumstances around him. He lost all composure. He lost the courage that seemed to be a trademark of his swarthy fisherman personality. Ever had that happen to you? Sure you have. You’re only human. Things don’t always go according to plan. You expect victory but experience the defeat of financial setbacks, relational shipwrecks, and physical disabilities. The mistakes we make are sometimes the result of a bad attitude that we have allowed to develop. Unresolved issues leave us feeling frustrated, angry, or hurt. These attitudes are reflected most notably in our speech. As Jesus reminded us, "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34). Attitudes are important because actions follow attitudes. We’ll say fewer offensive and hurtful things to others and have less to repent over when our attitudes are corrected. Chuck Swindoll said, "The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people say or think or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, or home. The remarkable thing is that we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. Nor can we change the fact that people will act a certain way. We also cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you, we are in charge of our attitudes." The first step in curing our “foot-in-mouth” disease is to take control of our attitudes. Once again it seems we come to a clear principle that has been a fundamental part of my life: Never let past failures or future fears rob you of present joy! Learn from the past, trust your heavenly Father for your future and live in the present. I do know how difficult this principle is to consistently live, but I also know its practical truth. Take charge of your attitude today!

Selective Hearing

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. (John 12:1-7 ESV). Isn’t it odd how some people only hear part of what you say? Some people only hear what they want to hear and then there are others who hear you say one thing, and interpret it as something entirely different. I heard a story the other day about a hobo who walked up to the front door of a big farmhouse, and knocked on the door until the owner answered. The hobo said, “Sir, could I please have something to eat? I haven’t had a meal in days.” The well-to-do owner of the house said, “I have made my fortune in the world by never giving anything away for free. If you go around to the back of the house, you’ll fine a fresh gallon of paint and a clean brush. Paint my porch and I’ll give you a good meal.” The hobo headed off to the back of the house. About an hour later he knocked on the front door. The homeowner was surprised. “You’re finished already? That was quick! Come on in and sit down, and I’ll have the cook bring you a meal.” “Thank you, sir!” the hobo said. “I must tell you though, you really don’t know your cars. That’s not a Porch back there. It’s a BMW!" Sometimes people just don’t understand clearly, and that is the case with this morning’s Scripture passage. Judas didn’t understand why Mary was wasting the expensive perfume with the anointing of Jesus at Bethany. Jesus had to explain it to him. Jesus knows what lies ahead of him in the City of Jerusalem. Perhaps Mary knows too. So we are left with Mary at Jesus’ feet, anointing him with this perfume of nard and symbolically preparing Jesus for his burial. It is an extravagant gift! It is easy to stand in awe of Mary, the sister of Lazarus, who really gives us the model of faithful discipleship. When we examine Mary’s model for faithful discipleship, we can see that it was born out of a profound sense of thanksgiving. She was overwhelmingly thankful for what Jesus did for her brother Lazarus. She was so thankful that she gave all that she had in the expensive perfume as a token of her thanksgiving. It was Mary’s profound sense of thankfulness that caused her to throw the dinner party for Jesus. It was her profound sense of thankfulness that caused her to break open the expensive pint of perfume that was worth a year’s wages, and pour it over Jesus’ feet. It was her profound sense of thankfulness that moved her to wash Jesus’ feet with her hair. Her profound sense of thankfulness was at the very core of her relationship with Jesus. Recalling the Easter story is a wonderful reminder. He has given us the most extravagant gift anyone could imagine. Even though you may have nothing “valuable” to give Him, He asks only for your love and attention. Commit yourself to Him today. You will not be disappointed with His response!

What Is Truth?

Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. (John 18:28-38 ESV). What’s your ambition in life? Perhaps you don’t understand the question enough to really answer it. Maybe it would be a good idea to define the word ambition in order to help you answer the question. Webster’s 9th New Collegiate Dictionary defines it this way: “Ambition: an ardent desire for rank, fame or power; or the desire to achieve a particular end.” A very short boy wanted so badly to play basketball. He even told his dad that he wanted to become a pro when he was older. Knowing that his son would never be able to play the game, the dad asked the local coach if there was anything he could recommend to make the boy taller. “You might take him down to the museum and put him on the old torture stretch rack,” the coach said. Several weeks later the coach asked the father if putting the boy on the stretch rack had helped. “Well, it didn’t make him any taller, but he confessed to several things that I never knew he’d done.” Our world is full of ambitious people. We see them in the sports world, in entertainment, politics and business. People all around us are desiring to achieve a particular end; to move up in their company, to build a retirement, to save for college, or to get that first car or home. Pilate was a very ambitious man. He wanted more than anything to impress his Roman superiors and move to a higher position in the empire. The last thing he wanted was to deal with a Jew who thought he was a king, or worse, a god! So we find this ambitious Roman leader faced with Jesus and finally he asks the only question of Him that would truly satisfy his ambitions: What is truth? A great mathematician once said that he was not concerned about spiritual matters until he vividly saw life’s “two magnitudes the shortness of time and the vastness of eternity.” When this truth came home to him, he became a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ. If Pilate had considered these two realities, he would not have condemned Jesus to die on the cross. He knew that the Savior was innocent of the charged against Him. He even had an uneasy feeling that Jesus was not just an ordinary man. But his desire to keep his high government post was greater than his determination to do right. Actually, he obtained little earthly benefit from his decision. The church father Eusebius, quoting from Greek historians, said that Pilate fell out of favor with his superiors and committed suicide before AD 40—less than 10 years after his fateful decree. Since we have no indication that he ever repented of his sin and trusted Christ as his personal Savior, we must assume he died in a lost and hopeless condition. He had not reckoned with the “shortness of time and the vastness of eternity.” Ambition is not wrong. If you are willing to settle for anything less than eternal life, then you will end up like Pilate. He was a man frustrated with life and destined for failure. What is truth? Only Jesus is the truth.

Caiphas, The Way of Religion

First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people. The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. (John 18:13-14; 19-24 ESV).

What could have prompted a religious man like Caiphas to betray Jesus, to have passed the sentence of death upon him? There is no question that he was a devoted religious man. Yet, instead of preventing his betrayal, I am convinced that it was his religion that led him to betray Jesus. His reasoning was very simple. Caiphas thought: “I am religious. In fact, I am the head of all religion in Israel. Therefore I must be right. If I am right, then Jesus is wrong. He must be guilty of blasphemy and must be put to death.” How tragic that he had built his whole life around the wrong principles. His fatal flaw was that his source was wrong. His beliefs were secondhand. He had been trained and taught by Annas, his father-in-law. He had had his faith passed down to him like some special heirloom or memento. When he needed the truth, he simply didn’t know where to find it.

Several years ago a wonderful parable crossed my desk illustrating the truth of this tragedy. It is the story of a community settled on a plateau. It was in the midst of very fertile fields and at the foot of a mountain stream of crystal clear water. One day a young boy wandered up a path by the mountain stream. For several days he was not seen in the village. Finally he returned, excited and breathless with the news of a richer plateau higher up the mountain. This presented a serious problem. A group called “The Old Men Who Knew” governed the community. Every community has such a group of leaders. These men knew there was no better plateau than where they were. They told the boy to be silent lest he upset the whole community. But the boy could not be silent for he had seen the plateau with his own eyes. They old men who knew were left with no choice. They took the boy to village and stoned him to death. The years passed and the fields became barren. The community was going to have to seek a new home. Someone remembered the tale of the young boy years before. A group of young men were sent out and they found the richer plateau. The community moved out of necessity to the higher ground. More years passed, and one day another boy wandered up the mountain path. He returned to tell of a still richer plateau higher up the mountain. But there was one problem. The young men who had earlier moved the community had now become “The Old Men Who Knew.” They took the boy to the center of the village and stoned him to death.

Sometimes the most dangerous and painful thing a person can do is to try to stand apart from his past. Anything that keeps us from recognizing Jesus in our world is a tool in the hands of our enemy to keep us from our victory. In your family, in your church, or in your business you can only have freedom and victory if you will continue to walk in the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

Have you watched the mayflies hatching? They come to the water and bathe their bodies in the water, ridding them of anything that would prevent them from flying. They are very careful not to let their wings get into the water however. To do so would keep them from being able to fly at all. What a wonderful picture of the Christian life! Bathe yourself in the world around you, but never let your wings get wet! Then religion will not keep you from being a disciple of Christ.

He Is Risen!

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words. (Luke 24:1-8 ESV).

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 they happen, but for me, they are still mysteries.

Even though Easter has gone for this year, I thought it would be interesting to continue looking at that great mystery. 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, and so it was not until this morning that 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, in order to prepare his body. 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 almost 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. Logic and education has let us down. The mystery still remains. It is not logical. 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 that would gather here in the garden early this Easter morning.

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? Claim the grace 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.

A Good Word

A wise person has said, “The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.” I read about a businesswoman who ordered a fancy floral arrangement for the grand opening for her new outlet. She was furious when it arrived adorned with a ribbon, which read, "May You Rest In Peace." Apologizing profusely, the florist finally got her to calm down with the reminder that in some funeral home stood an arrangement bearing the words, "Good Luck In Your New Location."

There are many passages in the bible that encourage us to use our words positively, building others up.

 Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. (Proverbs 12:25, NLV).
 As surely as a wind from the north brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger! It is better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a contentious wife in a lovely home. Good news from far away is like cold water to the thirsty. (Proverbs 25:23-23, NLV).
 Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time! (Proverbs 15:4,23, NLV).

Gentle, encouraging words are so important both to speak and to hear. We need these words of encouragement because life is a struggle. Jesus said that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. But He also said that in order to follow Him, we have to deny ourselves and take up our cross every day. In other words, we have to be willing to give up everything, including if necessary our own lives, in order to follow Christ. We have to be willing to suffer and sacrifice. Jesus said that following Him is not something to be entered into lightly; he warned that we must first consider the cost of doing so. And that cost is our life - everything have, everything we are. That means sometimes struggling. Encouragement is important because it is so powerful. Mark Twain wrote, "I can live for two months on a good compliment." There is a lot of truth to that! How can we encourage one another? Here are three practical suggestions:

1. First, realize that encouragement can come in many forms. Encouraging words, or maybe just an understanding ear and a willingness to just listen are forms of encouragement. It may be an arm around the shoulder, a gift, a note, an act of service, or a word of appreciation. The number of ways in which we can encourage one another are as many and varied as we are as individuals. The main thing is to communicate your love and care.
2. Second, give your presence to others. Instead of assuming a position of superiority, encourage others as a fellow disciple, a fellow recipient of God’s love and grace. Encourage them, as someone who in due time may need encouragement from them.
3. And, third, deal with the truth. Don’t pretend that their circumstances are any different or better than they really are. Don't use empty platitudes. But remind them of the truth about God, and the truth about themselves. Help them gain an eternal perspective on their troubles. Point them to Christ. Remind them that God loves them, that He’s in control, and that He hasn’t abandoned them. Remind them that God never fails, that He’s always faithful. Remind them that He’s always good, even when it seems otherwise. And while you’re reminding them of all that, you’ll find that it will become a reminder to yourself also.

You have such awesome power in your speech. You hold the power of spiritual life and health. Your speech has the power to revive, to renew, to refresh the spirit, and to lift others out of depression. That’s what encouragement can do. Isn’t it a shame to have such awesome power and not use it?

Love and Marriage

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31 ESV).

Jesus often combined the relationship we have with God and that with others in His teachings. The more I understand about my relationship with God, the more I am able to understand my relationship with others. This is especially true when we consider our mates. So many people marry for the wrong reasons and then wonder why their lives are so full of grief and difficulty. I read the following story. Picture the scene: It is in the recreation room of a Californian retirement facility. Four ladies are playing bridge and chatting and keeping an eye on the flow of people in and out of the area. Soon an elderly gentleman wanders into the room. They all recognize him for a new comer and they all perk up. One of the ladies says, "Hello there. You're new here, aren't you?" He smiles and replies that he is, indeed. He had just moved in that morning. Another one of the ladies says, "Where did you live before you moved in?" He says, "I was just released from San Quentin, where I spent the last twenty years." A third lady perks up at this and say, "Oh, is that so? What were you in for?" He says, "I murdered my wife." The fourth lady sits up in her chair, smiles and say, "Oh, then you're single?"

Loneliness is just one of the many wrong reasons to marry. There are others, of course. Each of these drive us away from one another. Long, affirmative relationships begin with an understanding of the stages of a love relationship. In your marriage, they ought to be the same as with the Lord. There are three of these.

1. The first love stage is that wonderful, euphoric, stage when you are falling in love and you are looking at your lover with a glaze in your eyes. No matter what is said or done, you can’t seem to get enough of one another. If you are a Christian, undoubtedly you remember those first moments of your new life in Christ. You couldn’t pray enough, or read the Bible enough, or talk about Jesus enough to satisfy the hunger you felt for Him. That’s the “honeymoon” phase of a relationship.

2. But then there's the second stage of love, the wilderness. Your mate is not quite what you expected and marriage can be hard. In the same way, we discover that Christianity is not easy and everything is not full of rainbows. That is kind of a surprise. It’s sort of like the dad who said to his daughter's boy friend, "The man who marries my daughter will get a prize." On his first anniversary, he said, "Okay, I’m ready for my prize." The journey can be long and difficult. Most relationships end here.

3. The third stage is invincible love. It is not a time that is free from pain, because we will not be free from pain on this earth, but it is a time of confidence where you know the heart of your spouse. You know their heart toward you and that they want only the best for you. Even though they may not always make sense, you know that they love you. You are confident in them and in the fact that your love is here to stay. A lot of marriages never make it to the third stage and instead settle for picnics in the wilderness. Successful couples regard their spouses as friends, the kind of person they would want to have as a friend even if they weren't married to them," says Robert Lauer, co-author with his wife, Jeanette, of "Till Death Do Us Part. "There's a tendency," he says, "especially when children are young, to focus on children, or, when there are two careers in a marriage, to have people on different schedules, like two ships passing in the night. Long-term successful couples keep coming back to the fact that their main commitment is to being a couple."

The Practical Joke

Bill was a big, awkward, homely guy. He dressed oddly with ill-fitting clothes. There were several fellows who thought it smart to make fun of him. One day one fellow noticed a small tear in his shirt and gave it a small rip. Another worker in the factory added his bit, and before long there was quite a ribbon dangling. Bill went on about his work and as he passed too near a moving belt the shirt strip was sucked into the machinery. In a split second the sleeve and Bill was in trouble. Alarms were sounded, switches pulled, and trouble was avoided. The foreman, however, aware of what had happened, summoned the men and related this story:

"In my younger days I worked in a small factory. That's when I first met Mike. He was big and witty, was always making jokes, and playing little pranks. Mike was a leader. Then there was Pete who was a follower. He always went along with Mike. And then there was a man named Jake. He was a little older than the rest of us - quiet, harmless, apart. He always ate his lunch by himself. He wore the same patched trousers for three years straight. He never entered into the games we played at noon, wrestling, horseshoes and such. He appeared to be indifferent, always sitting quietly alone under a tree instead. Jake was a natural target for practical jokes. He might find a live frog in his dinner pail, or a dead rodent in his hat. But he always took it in good humor. Then one fall, when things were slack, Mike took off a few days to go hunting. Pete went along, of course. And they promised all of us that if they got anything they'd bring us each apiece. So we were all quite excited when we heard that they'd returned and that Mike had got a really big buck. We heard more than that. Pete could never keep anything to himself, and it leaked out that they had real whopper to play on Jake. Mike had cut up the critter and had made a nice package for each of us. And, for the laugh, for the joke of it, he had saved the ears, the tail, the hoofs - it would be so funny when Jake unwrapped them. Mike distributed his packages during the noon hour. We each got a nice piece, opened it, and thanked him. The biggest package of all he saved until last. It was for Jake. Pete was all but bursting; and Mike looked very smug. Like always, Jake sat by himself; he was on the far side of the big table. Mike pushed the package over to where he could reach it; and we all sat and waited. Jake was never one to say much. You might never know that he was around for all the talking he did. In three years he'd never said a hundred words. So we were all quite astounded with what happened next. He took the package firmly in his grip and rose slowly to his feet. He smiled broadly at Mike - and it was then that we noticed that his eyes were glistening. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down for a moment and then he got control of himself. 'I knew you wouldn't forget me,' he said gratefully; 'I knew you'd come through! You're big and you're playful, but I knew all along that you had a good heart.' He swallowed again, and then took in the rest of us. 'I know I haven't seemed too chummy with you men; but I never meant to be rude. You see, I've got nine kids at home - and a wife that's been an invalid - bedfast now for four years. She ain't ever going to get any better. And sometimes when she's real bad off, I have to sit up all night to take care of her. And most of my wages have had to go for doctors and medicine. The kids do all they can to help out, but at times it's been hard to keep food in their mouths. Maybe you think it's funny that I go off by myself to eat my dinner. Well, I guess I've been a little ashamed, because I don't always have anything between my sandwich. Or like today - maybe there's only a raw turnip in my pail. But I want you to know that this meat really means a lot to me. Maybe more than to anybody here because tonight my kids . . .' he wiped the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand, ‘ . . . tonight my kids will have a really . . .' He tugged at the string. We'd been watching Jake so intently we hadn't paid much notice to Mike and Pete. But we all noticed them now, because they both dove at once to try to grab the package. But they were too late. Jake had broken the wrapper and was already surveying his present. He examined each hoof, each ear, and then he held up the tail. It wiggled limply. It should have been so funny, but nobody laughed - nobody at all. But the hardest part was when Jake looked up and said 'Thank you' while trying to smile. Silently one by one each man moved forward carrying his package and quietly placed it in front of Jake for they had suddenly realized how little their own gift had really meant to them, until now…”

This was where the foreman left the story and the men. He didn't need to say anymore; but it was gratifying to notice that as each man ate his lunch that day, they shared part with Bill and one fellow even took off his shirt and gave it to him.

Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. (Ecclesiastes 5:19 ESV).

Just One Person

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (Colossians 1:9-12 ESV).

Dr. Frank Mayfield was touring Tewksbury Institute when, on his way out, he accidentally collided with an elderly floor maid. To cover the awkward moment Dr. Mayfield started asking questions, "How long have you worked here?" "I've worked here almost since the place opened," the maid replied. "What can you tell me about the history of this place?" he asked. "I don't think I can tell you anything, but I could show you something." With that, she took his hand and led him down to the basement under the oldest section of the building. She pointed to one of what looked like small prison cells; their iron bars rusted with age, and said, "That's the cage where they used to keep Annie." "Who's Annie?" the doctor asked. "Annie was a young girl who was brought in here because she was incorrigible - which means nobody could do anything with her. She'd bite and scream and throw her food at people. The doctors and nurses couldn't even examine her or anything. I’d see them trying with her spitting and scratching at them. I was only a few years younger than she was myself and I used to think, 'I sure would hate to be locked up in a cage like that.' I wanted to help her, but I didn't have any idea what I could do. I mean, if the doctors and nurses couldn't help her, what could someone like me do? "I didn't know what else to do, so I just baked her some brownies one night after work. The next day I brought them in. I walked carefully to her cage and said, 'Annie I baked these brownies just for you. I'll put them right here on the floor and you can come and get them if you want.' Then I got out of there just as fast as I could because I was afraid she might throw them at me. But she didn't. She actually took the brownies and ate them. "After that, she was just a little bit nicer to me when I was around. And sometimes I'd talk to her. Once, I even got her laughing. One of the nurses noticed this and she told the doctor. They asked me if I'd help them with Annie. I said I would if I could. So that's how it came about that every time they wanted to see Annie or examine her, I went into the cage first and explained and calmed her down and held her hand. Which is how they discovered that Annie was almost blind." After they'd been working with her for about a year - and it was tough sledding with Annie - the Perkins institute for the Blind opened its doors. They were able to help her and she went on to study and became a teacher herself. Annie came back to the Tewksbury Institute to visit, and to see what she could do to help out. At first, the Director didn't say anything and then he thought about a letter that he'd just received. A man had written to him about his daughter. She was absolutely unruly - almost like an animal. He'd been told she was blind and deaf as well as 'deranged' He was at his wit's end, but he didn't want to put her in an asylum. So he wrote here to ask if we knew of anyone - any teacher - who would come to his house and work with his daughter.

And that is how Annie Sullivan became the lifelong companion of Helen Keller. When Helen Keller received the Nobel Prize, she was asked who had the greatest impact on her life and she said, "Annie Sullivan." But Annie said, "No Helen. The woman who had the greatest influence on both our lives was a floor maid at the Tewksbury Institute." History is changed when one person asks, what can someone like me do? What CAN you do today?

A Cosmic Relic

About ten years ago a new star was discovered. You may have read some of the articles that detailed this “cosmic relic.” It is thought to be more than 12 billion years old. Michael S. Bessell, an astronomer at Australia’s Mount Stromlo Observatory, said the newly discovered star arose from the debris of a first-generation star, so it contains only a very small amount of heavy elements. “This really traces things back to the very early stages of the universe because stars are records of that time. This is an indicator of those times,” said Bessell, the star’s co-discoverer.

It is interesting and somewhat humorous that people have such a difficult time accepting the simple truths of Scripture concerning creation. To trace things back to the early stages of the universe, I have found that the following Scripture suffices:

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. (Genesis 1:1-5 ESV).

I do not intend to scoff at the validity of research, however I have found it true that many people find it easier to accept the more difficult explanations of creation rather than to simply declare “God did it!” The French Mathematician, Lecompte de Nouy, examined the laws of probability for a single molecule of high dissymmetry to be formed by the action of chance. De Nouy found that, on an average, the time needed to form one such molecule of our terrestrial globe would be about 10 to the 253 power billions of years. “But,” continued de Nouy ironically, “let us admit that no matter how small the chance it could happen, one molecule could be created by such astronomical odds of chance. However, one molecule is of no use. Hundreds of millions of identical ones are necessary. Thus we either admit the miracle or doubt the absolute truth of science.”

The age-old conflict between faith and science seems to be perpetuated in every generation. Perhaps I am much too simplistic in my views. I have come to believe that God did it and if there is ever a need for me to know how He did it, I will be told! The real truth for me is not in whether God created or not. That miracle is nothing compared to the miracle of grace He performed in my life personally. Because of what He has accomplished in me, I have found it easy to accept the greater truths that have no explanation in science. Science is a gift from God. We should never disparage the discipline of research and discovery. Where would we be if men and women of science had not followed their quest for more understanding? However, there must also be a balance between the unknowns of science and faith. After every star is discovered, after every new galaxy is explored, the truth will remain that God did it!

Time

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:11-12 ESV).

Time is the only non-renewable resource we have. Everything else we may need or desire can be produced or renewed. Yet there are so many people who do not take seriously their use of their time. The following story is a wonderful illustration of this truth:

A little boy and his parents were walking down the long and winding Time Street. They passed many stores along the way each selling unique items. The first store was Babes 'R us. In the showcase were millions of newborn babies. Beside it was The Growing Palace and next to that 3T's: The Terrible Teens. They also passed many different people who were in very strange places doing even stranger things. There was a group of men and women who were fully-grown but refused to come out of the 3T's store. One man kept going around and around in a revolving door and the crowd inside and outside the business could neither get out nor in. A quarter of the way down Time Street the little boy saw a man standing over a cross and weeping, "Gertrude, I can't go on without you". He had a ball and chain on his feet and would not remove them, even though he had the key and his friends beckoned him to use it. There was a woman who stood, very still, in the middle of the Street, looking back down to where the Street began. "I remember. It was so much better then," she kept on repeating. The little boy marveled at this but kept on moving. As the young man came out of the Let’s Go to Go Mall with a Degree, an executive job and a wife he noticed his parents were missing. Racing out to the Street he saw them entering Death's car which sped off down the street but he still trod on down the road. Soon the stores disappeared and there was a great wilderness but still he continued. Until he met a man called Father Time who strongly embraced him. "This is my street," he said. "I designed and built it to be of good use but many abuse it. They always like to stay in the past and not let go, wishing they were back there. But, that's not what my Street is for. It's for moving on, persevering, learning from your failures and slowly becoming wiser. You can not retrieve lost time neither can you make it stand still. It is a One Way Street filled with great joy and knowledge and success but it is also based on how you view the world. Do not lose heart my child. Each day is a new beginning for you. Forget the past and look forward to your future." And the young man trod on.

Though we cannot know what the future holds, we can commit ourselves to growing out of our “childish” ways and walking in maturity through faith in Christ. Don’t waste a single minute of your time in the past. Learn from it and move on to the future God has designed for you!

Everything and Nothing

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:34-38 ESV).

There is a possibility of having everything and yet gaining nothing. In our reading today, Jesus puts a clear perspective on material things versus eternal things. The following poem by an unknown author reminded me of this principle.

"We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints; we spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less common sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.
We spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom and lie too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.
We've conquered outer space, but not inner space; we've done larger things, but not better things; we've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; we've split the atom, but not our prejudice; we write more, but learn less; plan more, but accomplish less.
We've learned to rush, but not to wait; we have higher incomes, but lower morals; more food but less appeasement; more acquaintances, but fewer friends; more effort but less success.
We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication; we've become long on quantity, but short on quality.
These are the time of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships.
These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure and less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.
These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, and throwaway morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the show window, and nothing in the stockroom."

Do you need to take stock of what you REALLY have? Is anything worth more than your soul?

Foggy Low Places

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:5-10 ESV).

This is the time of the year when we might have some fog in low-lying areas. In fact, not long ago as I was driving I saw an unusual thing. When I left my neighborhood and entered the highway I looked down the road and saw the fog very distinctly ahead. It was unusual since it usually isn’t that distinctly separated from area to area. The most unusual thing about it was the anticipation of entering it. As I approached the fog bank I noticed it wasn’t nearly as thick from the inside of it as it appeared to be from the outside. There wasn’t enough contrast to really tell the difference. Then I was reminded of this passage of Scripture. How easy it is to lose sight of what is right and wrong from the inside of wrong. In “A View From The Zoo”, Gary Richmond, a former zookeeper, had this to say:

“Raccoons go through a glandular change at about 24 months. After that they often attack their owners. Since a 30-pound raccoon can be equal to a 100-pound dog in a scrap, I felt compelled to mention the change coming to a pet raccoon owned by a young friend of mine, Julie. She listened politely as I explained the coming danger. I’ll never forget her answer. “‘It will be different for me…’ And she smiled as she added, ‘Bandit wouldn’t hurt me. He just wouldn’t.’ “Three months later Julie underwent plastic surgery for facial lacerations sustained when her adult raccoon attacked her for no apparent reason. Bandit was released into the wild.”

Sin is deceptive. It often comes dressed in an adorable guise, and as we play with it, how easy it is to say, “It will be different for me.” The results are predictable. It will always lead to our destruction. There is a remedy for it though! The last two verses in our reading today make it very plain that forgiveness and restoration are available to us when we simply agree with God about our sin. He already knows what we have done. Agree with the truth of that and then you can be forgiven. Ask Him to restore you to the light and empower you to walk in His life and you will be surprised how clear your surroundings become!

Time

“O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” (Psalm 39:4-7 ESV).

One of my friends sent me the following email recently. Although I do not know the original author, I’m sure you will agree that it is a poignant reminder to all of us in our busy world.

I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible. How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word "refrigeration" mean nothing to you? How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched 'Jeopardy' on television? I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, "How about going to lunch in a half hour?" She would gasp and stammer, "I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast. It looks like rain." And my personal favorite, "It's Monday. "She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together. Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect! We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Stevie toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet. We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college. Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of "I'm going to," "I plan on," and "Someday, when things are settled down a bit." When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Rollerblades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord. My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.

Now, redeem the time. Number your days! Do something you WANT to, not something on your SHOULD DO list. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting? When you ask, "How are you?" do you hear the reply? When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred tasks running through your head? Ever told your child, "We'll do it tomorrow." And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say "Hi"? When you worry and hurry through your day, It is like an unopened gift, thrown away. Life is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over!

Take It Up Another Notch!

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24 ESV).

Recently I was watching one of the food channels and caught an old program of Emeril LaGassi. He is one of my favorite personality chefs. The name of the program was “Manly Man Tailgate Party.” I know that sounds really bad for those who may not be familiar with Emeril! This particular episode (a rerun) was in the parking lot of the Super Bowl. It was full of showmanship! Most notably he reminded me of his trademark outburst of “take it up another notch!” When he said that in that setting, it starting me thinking about some of the truly great people who never get the recognition that others seem to get.

For example, you've probably never heard of Frosty Westerling. For the last 50 years he's been winning football games in the shadows of obscurity. Lots of them. His name is in the record books alongside Eddie Robinson, Bear Bryant, Pop Warner, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Joe Paterno, Bobby Bowden and Tom Osborne as the only collegiate coaches to win at least 250 games. For over 30 years Frosty was the head football coach at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. During those 30 years his teams have compiled a 253-58-5 record, appeared in eight title games and won four national championships. In 2001 he led the Lutes to their first NCAA Division III title. You won't see Frosty Westerling on Sports Center. His team won't be on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Sparks Stadium, where the Lutes play their home games, seats just 4500 fans and is owned by the Puyallup School District. Despite coaching in a spotlight the equivalent of a key chain flashlight, you won't find a more dedicated coach anywhere in America. Not long ago, Frosty authored the book, "Make The Big Time Where You Are." In it he describes eating at a Waffle House. He ordered his eggs over-easy, his toast golden brown and his bacon crisp. When his food arrived, it came exactly how he ordered it. Frosty was so impressed by this attention to detail that he tipped not only the waitress, but the cook too, who accepted the money almost in disbelief.

We may never make the record books of this earth, but there is a book in which our names have been written if we are believers. That ought to spur us to excellence in whatever we find ourselves doing. This morning’s reading helps us understand that our true employer is the Lord. That fact makes wherever life has led you truly the "big time"! Reevaluate your attitude toward the things that you do. Refocus your motivation toward them. Realize that the Lord knows what you are doing and keeps the only record that truly counts! Go ahead... “Take it up another notch!”

Sunday's Coming - Part 5

For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:16-20 ESV).

The power of the resurrection transforms unbelief to belief, death to life, fear to courage, and despair into hope! The owner of a photographic 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! Happy Easter!

Sunday's Coming - Part 4

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:51-58 ESV).

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

But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” (Acts 2:14-21 ESV).

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 Tim. 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!