Not Mine, But His

And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:32-36 ESV). Just the other day I saw two very young children in the doctor’s office. They had a play area with a Lego table in it for the children to play while their parents waited. These two were brothers, one only about two years old. A two-year-old’s vocabulary is somewhat limited, although you may be assured it will contain the word “mine.” This was illustrated very clearly when the older of the two reached across the table and picked up one of the blocks to build with and he grabbed it back saying, “No, mine!” Not untypical for a two-year-old! Of course it is just part of the growing up process. How like this toddler we are, if God doesn't help us get out of the selfish rut, which is inborn into humanity. As adults….who doesn't want things done "their way"- the right way, of course! Who doesn't want pleasures and luxuries of the flesh for themselves? Who wants to be the one who always serves, never to receive: to give, never to get? If we are honest, I believe we all do. It is only through God's power that we are able to put self aside and reap the benefits of - "not my will, but yours, Oh God." Truly there is a deep delight in putting self aside to give and serve others as God calls us to do. The great satisfaction one receives is a reward to our souls when we are obedient to follow God's plan of putting others first, and I believe great will be our reward in heaven. In the Garden of Gethsemane many years ago Jesus said to his Heavenly Father, "Yet I want your will, not mine." What difficult words those must have been for him to say, but what rewards for humanity. Giving up "self" doesn't come easy, and it seems to be a continuous battle. But we may stand on God's Word, knowing this is His plan for us. Live your life God's way, and with His help…for surely it is the best! Use the days ahead to examine your level of surrender to God’s will. He may have been calling you to do something very simple and you have been resisting. Yield to the voice of God in your life! You won’t be sorry.

The Bridge

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17 ESV). While going through some of my old notes in preparation for a speaking engagement I came across the following story. It has been used many times to illustrate the love of God shown to us through Jesus’ death. However, I thought it might be a nice reminder. There was once a bridge, which spanned a large river. During most of the day the bridge sat with its length running up and down the river; parallel with the banks, allowing ships to pass freely by on both sides of the bridge. But at certain times each day, a train would come by and the bridge would be turned sideways across the river, allowing a train to cross it. A switchman sat in a small shack on one side of the river where he operated the controls to turn the bridge and lock it into place as the train crossed. One evening as the switchman was waiting for the last train of the day; he looked off into the distance through the dimming twilight and caught sight of the train lights. He stepped to the controls and waited until the train was within a specified distance, when he was to turn the bridge. He turned the bridge into position, but, to his horror, he found the locking control on the far side of the bridge did NOT work. If the bridge were not securely "locked" it would wobble back and forth at the ends when the train came onto it, causing the train to jump the track and crash into the river. Worse still, this was a passenger train with many people aboard. Instinctively, he ran across the bridge to the other side of the river where there was a "manual lock" he could apply to hold the bridge tracks in place. He would have to hold the lever firmly as the train crossed. He could hear the rumble of the train now, as he took hold of the lever and leaned backward to apply his full weight to the lever, locking the bridge. He kept applying the pressure to keep the mechanism locked. Many lives depended on this man doing the right thing. Then, coming across the bridge from the direction of his control shack, he heard a sound that made his blood run cold. "Daddy, where are you?" His four-year-old son was crossing the bridge to look for him. His first impulse was to cry out to the child, "Run! Run!" But the train was too close; the tiny legs would never make it across the bridge in time. The man almost left his lever to run and grab his son and carry him to safety. But he realized that he could not get back to the lever in time. Either the people on the train or his son must die. He had only a moment to make his decision. The train sped safely and swiftly on its way, and no one aboard was even aware of the tiny broken body thrown mercilessly into the river by the onrushing train. Nor were they aware of the pitiful figure of the sobbing man, still clinging tightly to the locking lever long after the train had passed. They didn't see him walking home more slowly than he had ever walked; to tell his wife how their son had brutally died -- that others may live. If you can imagine the emotions which went this man's heart, you can begin to understand the feelings of our Father in Heaven when He sacrificed His Son to bridge the gap between us and eternal life. Is it any wonder that He caused the earth to tremble and the skies to darken when His Son died? How do you think God feels as we speed along thru life, without giving a thought to what He did for us by sending His son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins so we could have eternal life? That really is grace!

Preparing the Way

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 40:1-5 ESV). Tomorrow will be Good Friday. Once again we come to a time of preparation for the celebration of Easter. The more I began to think about the act of preparation the more I was drawn to our reading this morning. Over the years, I have heard this Bible verse many times. I have always visualized a stone-paved road. These roads were somewhat different than our highways of today. There was no pavement, but still the roadway fulfilled its purpose of allowing people to travel. The roadbed still had to be prepared. It needed to be graded and packed. Some material had to be laid as a cushion for the pavement stones. It still required preparation to be useful. Advances in travel have been amazing, especially since the development of the airplane. We can now jet anywhere in the world in a short period of time. Yet it takes many people a long time to build new highways and bridges and airplanes, to carefully prepare them so they are useful to other people. We are constantly preparing for something. We prepare out homes for guests by cleaning and cooking and taking out the trash. We prepare ourselves for the day’s activities by combing our hair and finding clean clothes. We prepare for meetings and vacations and the IRS. Preparation for daily life takes a lot of time. It’s hard work. I wonder if we work as hard to prepare the way for our Lord? Do we prepare our hearts for him? And after we say he is in our hearts, do our lives show his presence through worship, prayer, and service to others? Are we becoming the people God wants us to be? Today’s reading calls us to be "prepared" for Jesus when he comes into our hearts, we are to recognize him and imitate him. We follow his lead and further his mission here on earth. Just like a highway project, it takes a lot of time and effort to prepare a way for the Lord. And, like our paved freeways, our preparation for God is not a one-time project, but one of on-going maintenance. During this Lenten season, let’s think about the "preparation" we do in our lives and make sure we are preparing for the right things, the things that will matter to us eternally. Are you preparing “the way”? Here are just a few suggestions. First, pray in repentance and humility. Make sure that you have settled all your broken relationships with others. Even when it is impossible to contact them and restore the relationship, confess your anger and hurt before God and release them from all debt to you. Second, begin the day with personal worship. Even if it is no more than listening to a Christian tape or CD on the way to work, or while you begin your home chores, put the music of worship into your life each day. Third, consciously make an effort to minister kindness and grace to someone. Use a smile or a kind word to lift someone’s spirit to the Lord each day. Prepare the way!

I'll Cover You

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV). During the bloody combat in Mogadishu, Somalia, depicted in the film Black Hawk Down, Army Sergeant Christopher Reid lost a leg and part of an arm. General Gordon Sullivan, in his book Hope is Not a Method, recounted his visit with Reid in the hospital. "Chris told me his story in a strong, unwavering voice. He did not have to be there that cold, winter morning, but he wanted to be with his squad, with his friends, one more time. He then looked into my eyes and with great determination said, 'You know, sir, knowing what I know now, I would do it again.'" As we continue our Passion Week devotionals, I am drawn back to the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness (cf. Matthew 4:1-11). Like Sergeant Reid, Jesus didn't have to be there, but "he wanted to be with his squad, with his friends." Also like Reid, Jesus made a sacrifice on behalf of his comrades. It doesn't take a great theologian to recognize that the wilderness Jesus entered and his confrontation with Satan represent the world in which every one of us lives. Our spiritual situation is comparable to the plight of soldiers trapped behind enemy lines. The firefight is fierce. "Succumb to your addictions!" says the Evil One. Enjoy excessive obsession with food, alcohol, drugs, nicotine, sex, or pleasure. "If it feels good, do it!" Or, as he put it to Jesus, "Tell these stones to become loaves of bread." There aren’t any of us who don't have some severe wounds from that attack. Maybe it's small arms' fire but it's jut as deadly as any other attack. There are also the heavy artillery rounds that lead you to challenge the presence and care of God. "Go ahead, ask God to prove Himself by making a miracle happen in your life!" says the Evil One. "What loving God would let you lose in the stock market or not let you get the promotion you deserve? If He's so powerful, let Him prove it by taking your wife's cancer away?" There are scores of incoming shells like that every day. "Jump off the temple spire, Jesus, see if your Father's promises are really true." And, as if those aren't enough assaults on our being, there are still the shattering grenades of the superiority syndrome. "Do whatever it takes to get to the top of the heap! Slander others with gossip, you know you're better than they are anyway. Maneuver and manipulate your way around the fools and losers of this world. It only takes a little creative financing sometimes to pass up the rest of the pack." The Evil One summarized it well in his offer to Jesus: "I'll give you all the kingdoms of this world and their glory if you'll worship me!" For years, military leaders have known that the strongest commitment a soldier has in combat is not to any high ideal, democracy, his country, or the flag. Instead, the primary reason he's willing to risk his life is for the sake of his comrades. "I'll cover you," the soldier assures his friend. And by that he means he will risk his very life for his fellow soldier's safety. Come what may, he will not desert his friend. If necessary, he will go to hell and back to rescue him. Jesus didn't have to come into our wilderness. He didn't have to face the full assault of the evil one. Yet he did, solely because of his personal commitment to rescue each one of us. "We have a chief priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses," says the writer to the Hebrews. "He was tempted in every way that we are, but he didn't sin. So we can go confidently to the throne of God's kindness to receive mercy and find grace, which will help us at the right time." If we take it seriously and listen carefully to its messages, Lent is a time of stark reality about our messed up and besieged lives. But it is also a time when we see the full implications of Jesus' willingness to risk everything to rescue us from the assaults that can destroy us. Praise God that our Rescuer and our Friend, Jesus Christ, has come into our wilderness! He came because of a personal commitment to you and me. He takes on the full assault of the enemy for us. "He was wounded for our rebellious acts. He was crushed for our sins. He was punished so that we could have peace, and we received healing from his wounds." "I'll cover you," he assures us - "so we can go confidently to the throne of God!"

Ashes and Crosses

Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, “Bring near the executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand.” And behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his weapon for slaughter in his hand, and with them was a man clothed in linen, with a writing case at his waist. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar. Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist. And the Lord said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.” And to the others he said in my hearing, “Pass through the city after him, and strike. Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity.” (Ezekiel 9:1-5 ESV). When we began the Lenten Season I mentioned some history of Ash Wednesday. That day marks the beginning of Lent, the 40-day period of fasting and abstinence. It is also known as the 'Day of Ashes'. So called because on that day at church many believers will have their foreheads marked with ashes in the shape of a cross. The name 'Day of Ashes' comes from "Dies Cinerum" in the Roman Missal and is found in the earliest existing copies of the Gregorian Sacramentary. The concept originated by the Roman Catholics somewhere in the 6th century. Though the exact origin of the day is not clear, the custom of marking the head with ashes on this Day is said to have originated during the papacy of Gregory the Great (590-604). In the Old Testament ashes were found to have used for two purposes: as a sign of humility and mortality; and as a sign of sorrow and repentance for sin. The modern Christian use of ashes in the liturgy of Ash Wednesday has also been taken from this Old Testament biblical custom. Putting a 'cross' mark on the forehead was in imitation of the spiritual mark or seal that is put on a Christian in baptism. This is when the newly born Christian is delivered from slavery to sin and the devil, and made a slave of righteousness and Christ (Romans 6:3-18). This can also be held as an adoption of the way 'righteousness' is described in the book of Revelation, where we come to know about the servants of God. The reference to the sealing of the servants of God for their protection in Revelation is an allusion to our reading this morning, where Ezekiel also sees a sealing of the servants of God for their protection. As we close this Easter week, use today as a reminder of the incredible gift that has been made possible in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on our behalf. The closer we get to Easter, the more we ought to be humbled by the thought of His gift of eternal life. Confess your sin and enjoy full fellowship with His Holy Spirit! Take His cross upon you and receive His rest.

Perseverance tot he End

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. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:10-14 ESV). The following story came to me in an email from a friend. Its author is unknown. Whether it is a true story or not, it illustrates a truth that we would all do well in applying to our lives. God calls us to endurance in our lives. The pistol sounded and the runners surged forward from the starting line. At the head of the mob were a number of runners giving it their all, trying to stay near the front of the pack, arms pumping and heads swiveling in an attempt to see who was passing them. Others were not so concerned with making a good start as with just finishing, so they began the course with no sense of urgency, content to trot along the course at an easy pace. Somewhere in the middle was Sarah. Sarah was serious about the race. She had been well trained; taking full advantage of the benefit of a wise coach whom had run this course himself. He knew the ins and outs of this path, and saw to it that Sarah knew them, too. What's more, Sarah's coach had won the race, not merely been a participant. But he seemed to receive greater joy from helping Sarah than from his victory of long ago. Her coach had often reminded her, "It's a long-distance race, not a sprint. Many will start of with a burst, and fizzle out early, with no strength left to finish. You, Sarah, must pace yourself." Though Sarah felt twinges of despair as she watched the early leaders tear off, she maintained her moderate stride, saving up energy for when she would need it most. A few miles down the road, Sarah heard snickering over her left shoulder. She turned to see a runner wearing every running accessory she could think of, from special sunglasses to the latest technological marvel in footwear. "Nice shoes," he barked, looking at Sarah and giggling smugly. Briefly Sarah glanced down at her shoes, then at his, and was tempted to discouragement, as hers were not nearly as flashy. Then the words of her coach came to her. "Your shoes are fine, Sarah. It's your endurance that needs work. Keep training. Don't quit." After another half mile, the well-dressed but poorly trained runner fell back. Sarah thought to herself that while he wouldn't win, he looked very stylish. She continued at her moderate pace. Parts of the course were straight road with unchanging scenery for miles. Sarah found these areas more difficult than uphill stretches or sharp turns. It was during these stretches that Sarah most wanted to quit. "Keep your mind on winning the race, Sarah," her coach had said. "I am teaching you everything you need to win. Don't let your feelings overcome the facts." She listened to her coach, not the growing desire to give up, and continued. Before long, she passed many runners who had abandoned the race, sitting by the side of the road, heads down. She recognized some of them as the sprinters who had tried early to stay out front. Her coach was right. They weren't prepared for this kind of race. Their coaches, if they had any, weren't as knowledgeable or experienced as hers. Some of the defeated called to her as she ran by, telling her she would never make it. No one could reach the finish line, they said, offering themselves as living proof. Sarah pressed on. Her trust in her coach's words had grown more and more solid throughout the race. He had been right about everything, and Sarah wished she had been this trusting at the outset. Such trust would have spared her a great deal of anxiety. The last mile was before her now, and in front of her was one runner. Sarah's strength was sapped, even though she had done all she had been taught. She didn't have the leg strength left to pass the runner. Sarah felt her hopes slipping away. She had almost despaired when she looked up and saw her coach, standing just beyond the finish line. She felt her legs, almost without her consent, move faster than she thought they were able to. It was almost as if she was getting pushed from behind. She marveled as the tape broke across her chest. Her agony had paid off. She had won. But in all actuality, it was not her agony that had given her the victory. She had trained hard, putting in many miles leading up to this moment. She had sweated and ached and disciplined herself, but she could see that it was not all the hard work that had brought her to this point. It was her coach, and his wisdom and sacrifice that had given Sarah the victory. There were other runners who had trained harder, but no other runners relied on her coach and his wisdom as completely as Sarah had. The coach was, in a sense, running the race through Sarah, and she, at race's end, had finally reached this conclusion: the victory was his. At the awards ceremony, Sarah placed the medal around the neck of her coach and urged him onto the winner's platform. As all eyes were focused on her coach, Sarah did not feel envy, but an indescribable joy. It was the most fitting thing she had ever done. The glory was in the appropriate place, away from her, and on the true source of her victory.

Chasing Bubbles

I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted. I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. (Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 ESV). A dog and bubbles make a very amusing combination. I have seen the hilarious dance created when a bottle of bubbles and a dog are put together. You may have seen the same thing. The bubbles are blown and as they drift on the breeze, the dog will run after them only to be disappointed when they burst before their eyes. They never seem to tire of chasing them though. How like many people this scene is as they chase after happiness in all the wrong things. Our reading today comes from a man who chased plenty of them. King Solomon, the ancient Jewish King, said this, "I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind." We might say the bubbles. Solomon probably lived life with more gusto than anybody you ever knew did. He was the richest man of his time. He built an incredible temple with his name on it. Roads and buildings everywhere that he was responsible for. He had the best of entertainment. He had more women than you could possibly imagine, and he studied the greatest ideas of his time, and repeatedly he would say in this book, "It was all chasing after the wind". Chasing bubbles, maybe you know the feeling. You see something or someone that looks promising as a goal and it would give you personal happiness or personal fulfillment, right? And you pounce on it with everything you got, and, puff, its gone. It leaves you sniffing and wondering why you're still empty looking for the next bubble to come along. How long is it going to be before we realize that what we really want isn't any of life's bubbles, any of the things that earth has to offer? In Ecclesiastes 3:11, Solomon reached the conclusion. He said, "God has placed eternity in our hearts". There is an eternal hole in our heart. It's so big only someone as eternal as God can fill it. We've been trying to get earth stuff and earth people to fill a God hole in our heart. We're hungry for something eternal. Right now you might be aggressively pursuing a position or a possession or a person with everything you've got. But when you get it, you will discover what you always discover -- it's a bubble that bursts. That is why Solomon concludes after his life search in Ecclesiastes 12:1, "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth". There's only one pursuit worth everything you got - a personal relationship with your Creator. Life lived for what matters to Him. The Bible says, speaking of Jesus Christ, "He is our peace". How soon are you going to give up chasing the wind? The bubbles? Looking for love and peace in life in things that disappear as soon as you got them? Trust in Jesus today!

Cathedral Windows

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. (Romans 12:3-5, ESV). In his book God and Other Famous Liberals, Forrest Church writes: ... when it comes to God, many, if not most, believers insist on the absolute truth of their opinions. Their logic is as follows: If A (my belief) is correct, not-A (everyone else's) has to be wrong ... How much better it would be if we thought of the world as a cathedral with thousands of different windows through which the light of God or truth shines. Some are abstract, some representational. Each tells a story of love and death, hope and faith, truth and meaning. Some people think that the light shines only through their own window. Fundamentalists of the right, sure that their window is the only one through which the light shines, may go so far as to incite their fellow worshipers to throw stones through other people's windows. Atheists, fundamentalists of the left, observe the bewildering variety of windows and lapse into skepticism, concluding that there is no light. But the windows are not the light, only where the light shines through. There is one light (one truth, one God), but it reflected through a myriad of windows, each distinct, each different. Those who have worshipped at one window throughout their lifetime almost always see the refracted light more clearly and understand its meaning more deeply than do those who flit from window to window, believing that differences don't really matter. In religion, the discipline that comes from devotion cannot be replaced by sophistication. But in a pluralistic world, the best we can still hope for is the development of deep commitments to our own faith, while somehow remaining able to acknowledge that those who believe differently may, in their own distinctive ways, be just as close to God or truth as we are. Then we may live as neighbors in the cathedral of the world. What a wonderful image: the cathedral windows of our lives with the light of God shining through each one to light our individual ways! Our world is a kaleidoscope of races and cultures, each one being an equal player in the great window of God's world! The Apostle Paul was very clear about that truth in our reading today. We are all parts of the one body, different and unique. We are all essential to the overall health of the body. How tragic when we fail to understand that there can be a basic fundamental connection between every believer regardless of the colors and shapes that our belief system requires to make this wonderful image of God’s light in the world. When we come together around the truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, crucified and risen on the third day for our sins, much of the rest may be debated. Faith in Christ is the essential foundation that the Church was founded when Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter. That same foundation ought to be enough for us as well!

A Blue Ribbon

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (John 13:34 ESV). I read about a teacher in New York who decided to honor each of her seniors in high school by telling them the difference they each made. Using a process developed by Helice Bridges of Del Mar, California, she called each student to the front of the class, one at a time. First she told them how the student made a difference to her and the class. Then she presented each of them with a blue ribbon imprinted with gold letters, which read, "Who I Am Makes a Difference." Afterwards the teacher decided to do a class project to see what kind of impact recognition would have on a community. She gave each of the students three more ribbons and instructed them to go out and spread this acknowledgment ceremony. Then they were to follow up on the results, see who honored whom and report back to the class in about a week. One of the boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby company and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a blue ribbon and put it on his shirt. Then he gave him two extra ribbons, and said, "We're doing a class project on recognition, and we'd like you to go out, find somebody to honor, give them a blue ribbon, then give them the extra blue ribbon so they can acknowledge a third person to keep this acknowledgment ceremony going. Then please report back to me and tell me what happened." Later that day the junior executive went in to see his boss, who had been noted, by the way, as being kind of a grouchy fellow. He sat his boss down and he told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius. The boss seemed very surprised. The junior executive asked him if he would accept the gift of the blue ribbon and would he give him permission to put it on him. His surprised boss said, "Well, sure." The junior executive took the blue ribbon and placed it right on his boss's jacket above his heart. As he gave him the last extra ribbon, he said, "Would you do me a favor? Would you take this extra ribbon and pass it on by honoring somebody else? The young boy who first gave me the ribbons is doing a project in school and we want to keep this recognition ceremony going and find out how it affects people." That night the boss came home to his 14-year-old son and sat him down. He said, "The most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my office and one of the junior executives came in and told me he admired me and gave me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine. He thinks I'm a creative genius. Then he put this blue ribbon that says 'Who I Am Makes A Difference' on my jacket above my heart. He gave me an extra ribbon and asked me to find somebody else to honor. As I was driving home tonight, I started thinking about whom I would honor with this ribbon and I thought about you. I want to honor you. "My days are really hectic and when I come home I don't pay a lot of attention to you. Sometimes I scream at you for not getting good enough grades in school and for your bedroom being a mess, but somehow tonight, I just wanted to sit here and, well, just let you know that you do make a difference to me. Besides your mother, you are the most important person in my life. You're a great kid and I love you!" The startled boy started to sob and sob, and he couldn't stop crying. His whole body shook. He looked up at his father and said through his tears, "I was planning on committing suicide tomorrow, Dad, because I didn't think you loved me. Now I don't need to." Is there anyone you need to give a “blue ribbon” to?

Club Feb

And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” (Luke 4:17-19 ESV). I recently read some old notes from Penelope Patsuris, a writer for Forbes Magazine, who wrote an article listing the top five prisons in the United States. The first few paragraphs of the article caught my eye: “Martha Stewart was convicted on Friday of all four charges against her, including perjury and obstruction of justice. She could be sentenced to five years in prison on each count according to the law, but that's unlikely. Still, she may very well have to do time. Shares of her eponymous company Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia were halted briefly, then resumed trading. If the appeals process fails to work in her favor, we suggest she take a page from her pal Samuel Waksal's playbook. After his conviction, the former ImClone Systems chief executive requested to serve his seven-year sentence at federal prison camp Eglin in Florida. That joint was considered so cushy that the term ‘Club Fed’ was coined to describe it, and we recently ranked it as one of five best places to go to prison.” I thought it was very humorous that there would be a ranking of “the best prisons” at all! Then I began to think about how easy it is to become accustomed to situations we find ourselves and lower our expectations. Prison is prison regardless of how “cushy” the accommodations. I don’t want to go to any of them! Yet in our spiritual lives we may have settled for our own Club Fed. Jesus’ declaration in our reading this morning clearly points us to the reason for his coming. His finished work brings freedom to anyone who places their faith in him. There are many different prisons in life. There are those created by others, whether physical or emotional. Jesus has come to set us free from each of those. The first step toward freedom is trusting him with the direction and purpose of our lives. However, a second step is equally important. We must also trust him in the midst of the journey. So often I have seen the destruction that fear of the future brings into our lives. Not knowing about tomorrow is difficult. However, knowing the one who holds tomorrow makes it a lot easier to deal with! Be set free today. Trust in Him!

Kevin's Story

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:1-3 ESV) Kevin’s story is an inspiration to all who read it. He believes God lives under his bed. At least that’s the impression you would get from listening to his night prayers. Stopping outside his bedroom door you could hear him. “Are You there, God?” he says. “ Where are You? Oh, I see. Under the bed.” Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement to his family. Kevin does live in a very different world than most people. He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during his birth. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult. He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them. I can’t help but wonder if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life? Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, returning to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed. The only variation in the entire scheme are laundry days, when He hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child. He does not seem dissatisfied. He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work. He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather the dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores. Saturdays are his favorite days. That's the day his dad takes him to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. Kevin shouts as he claps his hands. His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights. I don't think Kevin knows anything exists outside his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips. He doesn't know what it means to be discontent. His life is simple. He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. He recognizes no differences in people, treating each person as an equal and a friend. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be. His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it. He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax. He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure. He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue. Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God. Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an "educated" person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion. How about you? Is God your closest companion? Become as a child and renew your relationship with God today!

Wild Bill

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” (Luke 4:14-19 ESV). His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He is brilliant. Kinda esoteric and very, very bright. He became a Christian while attending college. Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, conservative church. They want to develop a ministry to the students, but are not sure how to go about it. One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat. The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now people are looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. Bill gets closer, closer, and closer to the pulpit and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet. Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship, trust me, this had never happened in this church! By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick. About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill. Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, a three-piece suit, and a pocket watch. The deacon is a godly man, very elegant, very dignified, and very courtly. He walks with a cane and as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to themselves, you can't blame him for what he's going to do. How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor? It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church is very silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing. The people are thinking, the minister can't even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do. Then they watch, as this elderly deacon drops his cane on the floor. With great difficulty he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill to worship with him so he won't be alone. Everyone chokes up with emotion. The minister gains control and says: "What I'm about to preach, you won't remember. What you just saw, you will never forget." What might you have done? This story, though not substantiated, ought to cause us to think of those around us who we may have shunned. Jesus came to set them free. He came to seek and to save them. Are you a part of that process, or are you a part of the hindrance to it?

How Rich Are You?

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19 ESV). I read an interesting story the other day. It seems that one day a father and his rich family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose to show him how poor people can be. They spent a day and a night on the farm of a very poor family. When they got back from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" "Very good Dad!" "Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked. "Yeah!" "And what did you learn?" The son answered, "I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden; they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden; they have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard; they have a whole horizon." When the little boy was finished, his father was speechless. His son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how 'poor' we are!" What a wonderful perspective that little boy had developed! Isn't it true that it all depends on the way you look at things? If you have love, friends, family, health, good humor and a positive attitude towards life, you've got everything! You can't buy any of these things. You may have all the material possessions you can imagine, and provisions for the future; but if you are poor of spirit, you have nothing! In contrast, there is the story of John G. Wendel and his sisters who were some of the most miserly people of all time. Although they had received a huge inheritance from their parents, they spent very little of it and did all they could to keep their wealth for themselves. John was able to influence five of his six sisters never to marry, and they lived in the same house in New York City for 50 years. When the last sister died in 1931, her estate was valued at more than $100 million. Her only dress was one that she had made herself, and she had worn it for 25 years. The Wendels had such a compulsion to hold on to their possessions that they lived like paupers. How rich are you? If you are very much like me, your first inclination is to answer that question based on how much you have left at the end of the month! Take a little time and reevaluate your attitude toward your possessions and those around you who have needs. Lay a good foundation for the future!

Inspired to Continue

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV). There are many stories that inspire me to continue. It is as if each one recharges my battery. Tenacity is one of the most important character traits for any of else to develop. Without it we may never know real victory. Here are some of my favorites:  "Johnny Fulton was run over by a car at the age of three. He suffered crushed hips, broken ribs, a fractured skull, and compound fractures in his legs. It did not look as if he would live. But he would not give up. In fact, he later ran the half-mile in less than two minutes.  "Walt Davis was totally paralyzed by polio when he was nine years old, but he did not give up. He became the Olympic high jump champion in 1952.  "Shelly Mann was paralyzed by polio when she was five years old, but she would not give up. She eventually claimed eight different swimming records for the U.S. and won a gold medal at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.  "Lou Gehrig was such a clumsy ball player that the boys in his neighborhood would not let him play on their team. But he was committed. He did not give up. Eventually, his name was entered into baseball's Hall of Fame.  "Woodrow Wilson could not read until he was ten years old. But he was a committed person. He became the twenty-eighth President of the United States." There are many, many more that inspire us. Each of these stories has one common theme running through them. In each case, the people with handicaps were so determined to keep going in the face of their adverse situation that ultimately they were victorious. No matter what handicaps you and I may have, God has a place for us within his body, the Church, and a work for us to do. Nobody ever said it would be easy. What Jesus did for us wasn't easy either. So whatever it is that God has for you to do, never give up for God never calls any of us to do anything that, with his help, cannot be done. Our reading this morning comes from the hand of the Apostle Paul. He was a man who knew a great deal about adversity. The litany of his persecutions was lengthy, beatings, stonings, shipwrecked, and more. Yet, when it was all done, he was confident that he had won the victory. History has proven him correct. His influence is still felt all over the world! Don’t quit!

Still, Small Voice

But we know these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. (1 Corinthians 2:10-12 ESV). Once again I have received a story that is too good not to pass on. This little story reminds us to listen to that small quiet voice from within; you never know where it will lead you. I don’t know its origin, but it does have a wonderful lesson in it. As a teacher of origami (the ancient Japanese art of paper folding) at the LaFarge Lifelong Learning Institute in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Art Beaudry was asked to represent the school at an exhibit at a large mall in Milwaukee. He decided to take along a couple hundred folded paper cranes to pass out to people who stopped at his booth. Before that day, something strange happened, a voice told him to find a piece of gold foil paper and make a gold origami crane. The voice was so insistent that Art actually found himself rummaging through his collection of origami papers at home until he found one flat, shiny piece of gold foil. "Why am I doing this?" he asked himself. Art had never worked with the shiny gold paper; it didn't fold as easily or neatly as the crisp multicolored papers. But that little voice kept nudging. Art tried to ignore the voice. "Why gold foil anyway? Paper is much easier to work with," he grumbled. The voice continued. "Do it! And give it to a special person." By now Art was getting a little cranky. "What special person?" he asked the voice. "You'll know which one," the voice said. That evening Art carefully folded and shaped the unforgiving gold foil until it became as graceful and delicate as a real crane about to take flight. He packed the exquisite crane in the box along with about 200 other colorful paper cranes he'd made over the previous few weeks. The next day at the mall, dozens upon dozens of people stopped by Art's booth to ask questions about origami. He demonstrated the art. He folded, unfolded and refolded. He explained the intricate details, the need for sharp creases. Then, suddenly, there was a woman standing in front of Art. Was this that special person? Art had never seen her before, and she hadn't said a word as she watched him carefully fold a pink piece of paper into a crane with pointed, graceful wings. Art glanced up at her face, and before he realized it, he found himself reaching for the "gold-foil crane" he'd labored over the night before. Carefully he picked up the gold crane, and gently placed it in the woman's hand. Art said: "I don't know why, but a voice told me to give you that golden crane. The crane is the ancient symbol of peace," Art said simply. The woman didn't say a word as she slowly cupped her hand around the fragile bird as if it were alive. When Art looked at her face, he saw tears filling her eyes. Finally, the woman took a deep breath and said, "My husband died three weeks ago. This is the first time I've been out. Today ...." She wiped her eyes with her free hand, still gently cradling the golden crane with the other. Then she said very quietly, as tears streamed down her face. "Today would have been our 'golden' wedding anniversary." Then the lady said in a clear voice, "Thank you so much for this beautiful gift. Now I know that my husband is at peace. Don't you see? The voice you heard, it was the voice of God, and this beautiful crane is a gift from Him. It's the most wonderful 50th wedding anniversary gift I could have received. Thank you for listening to Holy Spirit within your heart." Are you listening? God may be speaking to you!

His Enduring Love

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1-4 ESV). The psalm of our reading this morning is a litany of the faithful enduring love of our God. The writer begins with a simple declaration that God is unique in His character and then lists many of the mighty acts He has performed proving His love. I have found that we often need the encouragement of such reminders. Recently I read a story about an attempted suicide. It took place a few years ago as a woman was standing on top of a fifty-four story building in New York City, ready to jump to her death. The police suicide squad took her threats extremely seriously. She didn't look the type, in her expensive dress and with her distinguished appearance, but regardless of her appearance, every attempt to convince her to get down from the ledge ended in failure. One of the police officers called his pastor to come to the scene and pray for the woman. His pastor came, and after appraising the situation, asked the police captain if he might try to get close enough to talk with the woman. The captain shrugged and said, "Sure, what have we got to lose?" The pastor started walking toward the woman, but she screamed as before, "Don't come any closer or I'll jump!" He took a step backward and called out to her, I'm sorry that you believe no one loves you." This got her attention and also the attention of the suicide squad - it was such an unusual thing to say, "Your children and grandchildren must not love you. Apparently they never give you any attention," he continued. With this, the woman took a step toward the pastor and said, "My grandchildren do love me. My whole family does. My grandchildren are wonderful. I have eight grandchildren." The pastor took a step toward the woman and said, "Well then, you must be very poor, or you wouldn't want to take your own life." The woman, who was obviously overweight, said, "Do I look like I go without meals? We live in a very nice apartment in Central Park. The pastor then took another step and was only three feet from her. "Then why do you want to kill yourself? I don't understand." The woman thought for a moment and said, "You know, I don't really remember." This true story ended with the pastor escorting the woman off the ledge and she showed him pictures of her grandchildren. She eventually became a volunteer on the city's suicide hotline. The pastor helped her get her eyes off herself and onto the many ways that God had blessed her. She learned that thankful people are happy people. Perhaps you need a reminder this morning. God loves you. And His love endures forever!

The Right Way

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:18-25 ESV). I read the following brainteaser recently. See if you can solve it without looking to the end of this morning’s devotional for the answer. If none of the following statements are true, who can we conclude broke the vase? Liza: Alex broke the vase. Edwin: Liza will tell you who broke the vase. Sergio: Liza, Edwin, and I broke the vase. Luis: I did not break the vase. Fernie: Liza broke the vase, so Tom and April couldn't have. Alfonso: I broke the vase so Luis is innocent. There’s a story about a proud young man who came to Socrates asking for knowledge. He walked up to the muscular philosopher and said, “O great Socrates, I come to you for knowledge.” Socrates recognized a pompous numbskull when he saw one. He led the young man through the streets, to the sea, and chest deep into water. Then he asked, “What do you want?” “Knowledge, O wise Socrates,” said the young man with a smile. Socrates put his strong hands on the man’s shoulders and pushed him under. Thirty seconds later Socrates let him up. “What do you want?” he asked again. “Wisdom,” the young man sputtered, “O great and wise Socrates.” Socrates crunched him under again. Thirty seconds passed, thirty-five. Forty. Socrates let him up. The man was gasping. “What do you want, young man?” Between heavy, heaving breaths the fellow wheezed, “Knowledge, O wise and wonderful...” Socrates jammed him under again Forty seconds passed. Fifty. “What do you want?” “Air!” he screeched. “I need air!” “When you want knowledge as you have just wanted air, then you will have knowledge.” The cross seems so wrong when we compare it to the logic of our modern mind. Our reading this morning emphasizes the importance of faith. Don’t try to figure out God’s method. Accept it by faith and enjoy the freedom from sin death he has won for you in Christ! ANSWER: Luis broke the vase. If none of the statements above are true then he must have broken the vase. Luis: "I did NOT break the vase."

Birth and Death

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Mark 10:29-31 ESV). An article in the Washburn Law Journal has this to say about death, "A fundamental understanding of man's nature recognizes when brain death occurs, a human being no longer exists." This understanding of human nature is entirely materialistic. A human being is viewed as a bundle of chemicals and electrochemical activity. The complex mechanism of our bodies evolved from a single cell over the course of millions of years. When death occurs, we cease to exist. We are the products of chance. We are destined for extinction! We came from cosmic dust and when we die it is to cosmic dust we are destined to return. Our tombstones reflect this belief having only the dates of our birth and our death. And our world is filled with pessimism! The picture that Jesus paints is entirely different than this. In our reading this morning Jesus teaches that no sacrifice in this world could be too great compared to the reward waiting for us in heaven. The historic Christian faith presents a whole different picture of life after death than the world at large. This life is but a prelude to the life to come. Death does not end it all. In fact, those who follow God through Jesus Christ have a wonderful future life to which they may look forward. Death is a step out of this world into another world of eternal bliss. An unknown author offers the following poem, End of the Journey: Light after darkness, gain after loss; Strength after weakness, crown after cross; Sweet after bitter, hope after fears; Home after wandering, praise after tears; Sheaves after sowing, sun after rain; Sight after mystery, peace after pain; Joy after sorrow, calm after blast; Rest after weariness, sweet rest at last; Near after distant, gleam after gloom; Love after loneliness, life after tomb; After long agony, rapture of bliss; Right was the pathway, leading to this. One day when George MacDonald, the great Scottish preacher and writer, was talking with his son, the conversation turned to heaven and the prophets’ version of the end of all things. “It seems too good to be true,” the son said at one point. A smile crossed MacDonald’s whiskered face. “Nay,” he replied, “It is just so good it must be true!” There is no need for pessimism when Christ is your Savior! Death is not the end, only the beginning! Is that the life you are living? It can be, if you will place your trust in Him!

Bought With a Price

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV). Back in the 1800s, a young Englishman traveled to California in search of gold. After several months of prospecting, he struck it rich. On his way home, he stopped in New Orleans. Not long into his visit, he came upon a crowd of people all looking in the same direction. Approaching the crowd, he recognized that they had gathered for a slave auction. Slavery had been outlawed in England for years, so this young man's curiosity drew him to watch, as a person became someone else's property. He heard "Sold!" just as he joined the crowd. A middle-aged black man was taken away. Next a beautiful young black girl was pushed up onto the platform and made to walk around so everyone could see her. The miner heard vile jokes and comments that spoke of evil intentions from those around him. Men were laughing as their eyes remained fixed on this new item for sale The bidding began. Within a minute, the bids surpassed what most slave owners would pay for a black girl. As the bidding continued higher and higher, it was apparent that two men wanted her. In between their bids, they laughed about what they were going to do with her, and how the other one would miss out. The miner stood silent as anger welled up inside of him. Finally, one man bid a price that was beyond the reach of the other. The girl looked down. The auctioneer called out, "Going once! Going twice!" Just before the final call, the miner yelled out a price that was exactly twice the previous bid. An amount that exceeded the worth of any man. The crowd laughed, thinking that the miner was only joking, wishing that he could have the girl himself. The auctioneer motioned to the miner to come and show his money. The miner opened up the bag of gold he had brought for the trip. The auctioneer shook his head in disbelief as he waved the girl over to him. Walking along the street with the slave girl he had just purchased, the miner seemed to be looking for something in particular as they walked up one street and down another. Finally he stopped in front of some sort of store, though the slave girl did not know what type of store it was. She waited outside as the dirty-faced miner went inside and started talking to an elderly man. She couldn't make out what they were talking about. At one point the voices got louder, and she overheard the store clerk say, "But it's the law! It's the law!" Peering in, she saw the miner pull out his bag of gold and pour out what was left of it on the table. With what seemed like a look of disgust, the clerk picked up the gold and went in a back room. He came out with a piece of paper and both he and the miner signed it. The young girl looked away as the miner came out the door. Stretching out his hand, he said to the girl, "Here are you manumission papers. You are free." The girl did not look up at the miner who had just purchased her as a slave, then set her free. He tried again. "Here. These are papers that say you are free. Take them." "I hate you!" the girl said, refusing to look up. "Why do you make fun of me!" "No, listen," he pleaded. "These are your freedom papers. You are a free person." The girl looked at the papers, then looked at him, and looked at the papers once again. "You just bought me...and now, you're setting me free?" "That's why I bought you. I bought you to set you free." The beautiful young girl fell to her knees in front of the miner, tears streaming down her face. "You bought me to set me free! You bought me to set me free!" she said over and over. The miner said nothing. Clutching his muddy boots, the girl looked up at the miner and said, "All I want to do is to serve you because you bought me to set me free!" We were all slaves to sin and to death. But a Miner came to redeem us, to pay for our freedom. He bought us with His own blood, that we might be free. What is your relationship to Him?

Reality TV

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12 ESV). The first reality television episode was ten years ago. On the South China Sea the premise of Survivor was: to out will, out play, out last the rest of the group to become the ultimate survivor and win the one million dollar prize. Indeed, Richard Hatch and Kelly Wiglesworth had to outwit each other to become the victor. Rich claimed he played the game right, he was a leader and just a bit arrogant, and he was able to catch fish so the tribe could eat. On the other hand, Kelly wasn't in it for herself, she wasn't a loyal member of the Alliance and she had won 5 immunities; she was transparent. Though questionable, she admitted she was not political and that it was faith that helped her. In her final address she reflected, "Who am I, what am I about?" So the first Survivor episode on CBS was over and the 51 million viewers looked forward to Survivor II. Since then there have been many spin-offs of this show and it’s concept of entertainment. There are many expressions that can be incorporated into actually surviving. They can be listed: “may the best man win,” “what goes around comes around,” “you are what you eat,” “your environment determines who you are,” or “the one with the most toys wins in the end.” Survival, to out-will, out-play and out-last all the others. Is that what we are all about? If there is only one person that can win the prize, the fact is the rest of us are "losers," for someone will eventually outwit us. I have found great assurance in the fact that there is someone who can still make us into a somebody. God loves to interact and intervene in our lives to make us something special. There are many examples in the Scripture that show He cares for those who are victims of circumstances, violence, abuse, and hatred. These people may have felt like losers, but He called them His treasures. This is the promise of our reading this morning: But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. Just as we like to protect our treasures in safe enclosures, God loves to protect His treasures. We simply cannot survive without him. That's what true survival is: surviving with Him, being one of His treasures! This is the ultimate immunity. Are you able to survive with Him and are you one of His treasures? If not, then pray this morning asking God to open your heart and mind to the indwelling presence of His Son. You will then begin the journey on a path that leads to life. You won’t just be surviving. You will be winning!

Change

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. (Hebrews 13:7-9 ESV). There have been many opinions offered since the national election. No matter which party you voted with, there is a feeling of unrest in our country. I am prompted to think of how often this feeling of unrest has resulted in changes. Our recent history has been punctuated by cries to discard the past. This is true politically, economically, and socially. Legal battles have raged concerning the traditional use of language in our schools, our courts, and our legislature. Facing us is once again the decision whether to use “God” in the pledge or not. It is a result of a reexamination of our past. This reexamination has also resulted in some going in search of their roots. There is renewed interest in personal history as we search out our genealogies. For most, this quest has become a wonderful exercise in history. I wonder if we are learning from the past? I am afraid that most of the time I am forced to the conclusion that we are not learning from our past. In the last forty years the US population has increased 41%. But government spending on the various social issues is five times as much. Yet during the same thirty-year period, violent crimes have increased by 560%. Illegitimate births are up 419%. And teenage suicide has increased 200%. Not only so, the divorce rate has quadrupled. And now only 30% of the children in the US live with both of their biological parents. Interestingly enough, during this same period we have witnessed an incredible erosion of biblical faith in the public arena. The Ten Commandments are in less evidence. Public prayer, calling upon God for guidance and blessing, has been virtually silenced. Debates on moral values grounded in eternal truth are seldom heard. If we are interested in addressing political, economic, and social issues, it's time to search out our biblical heritage. After all, we are called to remember it. Our reading this morning is a clear call to remember how we have been taught. The answer is not in discarding the heritage of our past, but in honest evaluation of our values. If the past is indeed founded on a faulty understanding of the person and presence of God, then change is necessary. However, if we are changing our direction away from dependence on God and His will for our lives, then the result will be certain disaster. These are days that demand our voice and our support. Don’t be caught silent in the face of a vocal minority seeking to alter the fabric of our faith.

Only the Lion

Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses. (Psalm 33:1-7 ESV). Just the other night, as Mary and I were driving west from church, I remarked at the beauty of the sunset. She simply answered that “it looked like a painting.” So much of God’s creation is like that. The beauty is undeniable. In his novel, "The Magician's Nephew," C.S. Lewis describes in stunning detail, the creation of the incredible mythical land of Narnia-- sung into existence by Aslan the Lion. Among the witnesses to the event was a character known as Uncle Andrew. Though Uncle Andrew witnessed the entire creation, he still refused to see it for what it was. Lewis' narrative is brilliant: "When the Lion had first begun singing, long ago when it was still quite dark, Uncle Andrew had realized that the noise was a song. And he had disliked the song very much. It made him think and feel things he did not want to think and feel. Then, when the sun rose and he saw that the singer was a lion ('only a lion,' as he said to himself) he tried his hardest to make himself believe that it wasn't singing and never had been singing-- only roaring as any lion might in a zoo in our own world. 'Of course it can't really have been singing,' he thought, 'I must have imagined it. I've been letting my nerves get out of order. Who ever heard of a lion singing?' And the longer and more beautifully the Lion sang, the harder Uncle Andrew tried to make himself believe that he could hear nothing but roaring. Now the trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed." That last sentence is very perceptive. It describes those who, though they see creation all around them, refuse to admit there's a Creator. Some even try as hard as they can to make themselves believe there isn't, with devastating results. In 1715 King Louis XIV of France died after a reign of 72 years. He had called himself “the Great,” and was the monarch who made the famous statement, “I am the state!” His court was the most magnificent in Europe, and his funeral was equally spectacular. As his body lay in state in a golden coffin, orders were given that the cathedral should be very dimly lit with only a special candle set above his coffin, to dramatize his greatness. At the memorial, thousands waited in hushed silence. Then Bishop Massilon began to speak; slowly reaching down, he snuffed out the candle and said, “Only God is great.” When you see God’s great creation do you hear the Lion singing? Bishop Massilon was right… only God is great!

Sin Is Stupid

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:1-7 ESV). Sin is not smart! Here are some actual crimes committed by actual criminals:  Two Kentucky men tried to pull off the front of a cash machine by running a chain from the machine to the bumper of their pickup truck. The front panel of the machine was so secure that instead they pulled off the bumper of their truck. Scared, they fled the scene and drove home, leaving the chain attached to the machine...with their bumper still attached to the chain...with their vehicle's license plate still attached to the bumper.  A man convicted of robbery in Texas worked out a deal to pay $9,600 in damages rather than serve a prison sentence. For payment he provided the court with a check--a stolen check with a forged signature. He got 10 years.  A man went into a drugstore, pulled a gun, announced a robbery, and pulled a Hefty trash-bag facemask over his head. Too late he realized that he'd forgotten to cut eyeholes in the mask. While sprinting blindly to the door, he fell down and was captured.  A man successfully broke into a bank after hours and stole--are you ready for this? --The bank's video camera...while it was recording...remotely. In other words, he got a camera only. The videotape of him stealing the camera was still in the recorder located elsewhere in the bank.  A man successfully broke into a bank's basement through a street level window, cutting himself up pretty badly in the process. He then realized that he couldn't get to the money from where he was, and he couldn't climb back out the window through which he had entered. On top of that he was bleeding from all his cuts. So he located a phone and dialed 911 for help.  A man walked into a convenience store, put a $20 bill on the counter, and asked for change. When the clerk opened the cash drawer, the man pulled a gun and demanded all the cash in the register, which the clerk promptly provided. The man grabbed the cash from the clerk and fled- leaving the $20 bill on the counter. The total amount of cash he got from the drawer? Fifteen dollars.  In San Francisco a man walked into a downtown Bank of America and wrote, "This is a stickup. Put all your many in this bag." While standing in line waiting to give his note to the teller, he began to worry that someone had seen him write the note and might call the police before he reached the teller window. So he left the Bank of America and crossed the street to Wells Fargo. After waiting a few minutes in line, he handed his note to the Wells Fargo teller. She read it and, guessing from his spelling errors that he was not the brightest bank robber in the world, told him that she could not accept his stickup note because it was written on a Bank of America deposit slip and that he would either have to fill out a Wells Fargo deposit slip or go back to Bank of America. Looking somewhat defeated, the man said okay and left the Wells Fargo Bank. The Wells Fargo teller then called the police, who arrested him a few minutes later as he was waiting in line back at the Bank of America. Sin is stupid. Seek the knowledge of God and follow Him. That’s the source of real wisdom!

The Odds

Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD.” (Jeremiah 1:4-8 ESV). Not long ago the lottery was valued at over $350 million! I must confess that from time to time I daydream about winning a sum of money that great! However, I also know the odds of winning are very high. In fact, usually the odds are published at over two million to one! I have been amused at the people who have won. The surprise and shock at seeing that they have actually won the lottery is always funny to me. I especially am amused when I hear them say, “I’ve never won anything before.” The truth is that they have already won at a “game” with much higher odds than the lottery! Ryan J. Sokol of the statistics department at Texas A&M University has calculated the odds of a specific individual being born. Dr. Sokol estimated the total number of fertile men and women in the world, calculated the number of different genetic possibilities a man might contribute, adjusted for the number of hours of female fertility each month, then factored in a long list of other considerations. The bottom line of Sokol’s lengthy report said, "The chance that you, meaning exactly you, would be born are I in I.3 times ten to the twenty-ninth power." That’s a lot of zeros behind the first two numbers. In fact, the number is written as 130,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 to one. You and I my friend, are two incredibly, amazingly, “lucky” people. We both won the genetic lottery! Compared with the odds against being born, the odds are very good that you will be elected president of the United States. You have already won a lottery more amazing than humankind could ever devise. You have already been awarded a prize far richer than anything the world has to give. You are alive. God chose you specifically; and, he also chose us to enjoy being alive! Stan Lec said, “The finger of God never leaves identical fingerprints.” No wonder God assured Jeremiah that he would be taken care of in our reading this morning. If God goes to so much thought and planning to create us, certainly He will take care of us. When Jesus encourage His disciples not to be afraid, He used an illustration of small birds. They were insignificant in the eyes of the people of His day. Yet, Jesus said they were so important to God that not one of them fell from the sky without God noticing and caring. How much more are we worth than that in God’s eyes? Infinitely more! Rest in the knowledge that God made you and cares for you. He won’t let you down!

The Power of Words

A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good. (Proverbs 16:27-29 ESV). As I was thinking about this morning’s devotional, an article that I came across sparked my interest. Tom Logdon, a columnist for The Des Moines Register, wrote it. It is an interesting bit of “history.” Louella Parsons was an unhappy Iowa housewife before she became the most feared woman in Hollywood. Louella Rose Oettinger was born in Freeport, Illinois. She grew up in Dixon, Illinois, wrote for the local newspaper and at 24 married John Parsons, who sold real estate and also worked as a reporter. They moved to Burlington. In Iowa, Parsons was lonely. She lacked domestic skills, hated small-town life and failed to fit into society. She became pregnant with her only child, Harriet, who was born in 1906. In Burlington, Parsons saw her first moving picture, "The Great Train Robbery." The next part of Parsons' life is best documented by George Eells in his 1973 book "Hedda and Louella" (Hedda Hopper being Parsons' chief rival). Parsons was divorced, then married Capt. Jack McCaffrey, a riverboat captain whom was born in LeClaire in 1873. By 1914, McCaffrey had disappeared from the scene, and Parsons was on the fast track, writing the nation's first movie column for the Chicago Record-Herald. She later landed in Los Angeles, working for William Randolph Hearst's news organization and marrying Dr. Harry Martin, a studio physician. Her column appeared in more than 400 newspapers. Parsons wielded power for 40 years, until the late 1960s. Her approval could make an actor's career; her disapproval could end it. She knew all the secrets. Parsons spent her last years in a Santa Monica nursing home, watching old movies on television and talking to the images of the stars whose lives she once ruled. She was famous for her gossip! So much has been written and said about the power of our speech. Solomon clearly emphasizes the need for us to refrain from gossip in our reading this morning. Chances are good that if you need to begin a sentence with “they said,” it is a good indication that you shouldn’t repeat it! Ellen Wheeler offers the following poem: Have you heard of the terrible family They, And the dreadful venomous things They say? Why, half the gossip under the sun, If you trace it back, you will find begun In that wretched House of They. The next time you are tempted to pass on some rumor or innuendo, think of the proverb in today’s reading. Don’t go down that harmful path! Your words are powerful. Use them for good, not evil.

Cast Your Cares Away

His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you. (Psalm 55:21-23 ESV). The following story came to me recently from an unknown source. However, it spoke volumes about the need so many of us have to “cast our cares away.” It was simply titled “The Worry Tree.” The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farmhouse had just finished a rough first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and now his ancient pickup truck refused to start. While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss. Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier. Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them up again." "Funny thing is," he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there ain't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before." Our heavenly Father is trustworthy. He does not desire that any of us should suffer from the needless worry and anxiety that we so often take on. Perhaps you should plant a “worry tree” outside your door too. Let God have all your cares. He knows what you need even before you do! He won’t let you down. A construction crew was building a new road through a rural area, knocking down trees as it progressed. A superintendent noticed that one tree had a nest of birds that couldn’t yet fly and he marked the tree so that it would not be cut down. Several weeks later the superintendent came back to the tree. He got into a bucket truck and was lifted up so that he could peer into the nest. The fledglings were gone. They had obviously learned to fly. The superintendent ordered the tree cut down. As the tree crashed to the ground, the nest fell clear and some of the material that the birds had gathered to make the nest was scattered about. Part of it was a scrap torn from a Sunday school pamphlet. On the scrap of paper were these words: “He careth for you.”

In the Center

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let those who fear the LORD say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. (Psalm 118:1-8 ESV). There are always some interesting statistics about the Bible. For example, did you know that the shortest chapter is Psalm 117 and the longest chapter is Psalm 119? In fact, when you begin to count the chapters before and after Psalm 118, which falls in the middle of these two chapters, you will find there are exactly 594 before and 594 after. Totaling those two, you reach a sum of 1188. And, interestingly enough, the exact center of the Bible is Psalm 118:8, which is highlighted above. And, that one verse has more to say about being in the “center” of God’s will than any other! I am often asked how to know God’s will for our lives. If we want God to guide us, our attitude needs to be right. Here are some practical guidelines as to how we can determine that we are making good decisions: 1. First, we must be willing to think. It is false holiness that claims inward impressions with no rational base and refuses to search the Scripture for direction and wisdom. God made us thinking beings, and he guides our minds as we think things out in his presence. 2. Second, we must be willing to think ahead and weigh the long-term consequences of our courses of action. Often we can only see what is wise and right, and what is foolish and wrong, as we dwell on the long-term issues. Remember that the law of the harvest simply states that “we get what we get because we went where we went.” 3. Third, we must be willing to take advice. It is a sign of conceit and immaturity to refuse to take others’ advice in major decisions. There are always people who know the Bible, human nature, and our own gifts and limitations better than we do, and even if we cannot finally accept their advice, nothing but good will come to us from carefully weighing what they say. 4. Fourth, we must be willing to be ruthlessly honest with ourselves. We must honestly question ourselves, asking why we feel a particular course of action will be right and make ourselves give reasons. 5. Fifth, we must be willing to wait. “Wait on the Lord” is a constant refrain in the Psalms and it is a necessary word, for the Lord often keeps us waiting. When in doubt, do nothing, but continue to wait on God. Get in the center of God’s will for your life today! Trust in Him and Him alone!

Let It Flow

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. (John 7:37-44 ESV). I have a friend who is a revivalist. His newsletter is titled “In the River.” In it he reports some of the wonderful ways God is calling people to his love and grace. Each time I read the reports, I am reminded how vital it is to let the water of God flow in our lives. However, I wonder if many people really understand what it means to “let the water flow.” Water is essential. It is the foundation of life. Biologists concur that without water, life couldn't be sustained. Just recently it has been discovered that there is ice on Mars. Some speculate that since there is water present on the planet, there may be, or have been life present. Water is just that important in our physical loves. The same is true in our spiritual lives. Without the Holy Spirit, the "living water" Jesus was referring to in John 7, we couldn't make it either. The Holy Spirit resides in every Christian. When our personal relationship with God began through Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit was one of the evidences of that new relationship. While many people have to worry about water conservation because of drought, no such shortage occurs with the Holy Spirit. Jesus said streams would flow from within us! The Holy Spirit resides within, providing a never-ending "well" of spiritual direction and insight. The Holy Spirit is not an extra blessing reserved for certain believers. He is there to help each of us live the Christian life more fully. How do we make that practical? By wanting Him to direct our lives. That is what Jesus was talking about in the Sermon on the Mount when He said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled". Are you going through a spiritually dry time right now? Then let Jesus unleash those rivers of living water from within you. It's the key to ending spiritual drought! Wade on out into the river of life and let it flow over you. Begin to act on your faith. Trust in His teachings. Give yourself to Him completely.

Just Below the Surface

It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. How great are your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep! The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this: that though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever; but you, O LORD, are on high forever. (Psalm 92:1-8 ESV). They're everywhere. Squiggling. Squirming. Munching. Bunching. Killing. Creating. Poisoning. Fertilizing. According to scientists at the University of Georgia, our little planet is teeming with 5 million trillion trillion (5 followed by 30 zeros) of them. These are bacteria, also known as procaryotes. They are single-celled organisms that may be seen only under a microscope. Most of the time we associate them with disease and illness. However, as William Whitman, a microbiologist, observed, "Because bacteria are essentially invisible, it's easy to forget their role is making air, purifying water, fertilizing the soil, and they are important in making food and vitamins." He also noted that 92 to 94 percent of all bacteria are in the soil subsurface. What are they doing down there below the surface? They're eating up junk and making the soil rich enough to support plants on the surface. Bacteria. They're invisible, present nearly everywhere on the planet, and for the most part work below the surface. God created them to play a key role in sustaining life on earth. It seems that the more I learn about details of nature like these, the more I appreciate the unfathomable power and wisdom of the One who created our complex world. With the psalmist I want to cry out, "How great are your works, O Lord, how profound your thoughts!" Our Lord is at work not only in the big and very visible aspects of the world, but in the invisible-to-the-eye ways as well. That's true not only in the world of nature but also in God's work in human lives. Most of God's work is done below the surface, deep within us, in the unseen decisions, interests, and motives of our lives. It is through His invisible Spirit that He gives us new spiritual life when He moves us to put faith in His Son. And He continues to work in us, sustaining our lives and making us more like Jesus. Without Him, without His work in our lives, we would be dead physically and spiritually. As we grow in our understanding of all that God has done and all that He continues to do, invisibly, just below the surface in our lives, we too should respond with the words, "How great are Your works, O Lord, how profound Your thoughts!"