Unusual ideas about science

The following ideas about science were gleaned from essays, exams, and
classroom discussions. Most were from 5th and 6th graders.

* Q: What is one horsepower?
A: One horsepower is the amount of energy it takes to drag a horse 500
feet in one second.

* The law of gravity says no fair jumping up without coming back down.

* When people run around and around in circles we say they are crazy. When
planets do it we say they are orbiting.

* South America has cold summers and hot winters, but somehow they still
manage.

* Most books now say our sun is a star. But it still knows how to change
back into a sun in the daytime.

* Water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees. There are 180
degrees between freezing and boiling because there are 180 degrees between
north and south.

* Vacuums are nothings. We only mention them to let them know we know
they're there.

* Some oxygen molecules help fires burn while others help make water, so
sometimes it's brother against brother.

* Some people can tell what time it is by looking at the sun. But I have
never been able to make out the numbers.

* We say the cause of perfume disappearing is evaporation. Evaporation
gets blamed for a lot of things people forget to put the top on.

* To most people solutions mean finding the answers. But to chemists
solutions are things that are still all mixed up.

* I am not sure how clouds get formed. But the clouds know how to do it,
and that is the important thing.

* Water vapor gets together in a cloud. When it is big enough to be called
a drop, it does.

* Isotherms and isobars are even more important than their names sound.

* It is so hot in some places that the people there have to live in other
places.

* Genetics explain why you look like your father and if you don't why you
should.

Oh, the wisdom of children! I especially like that last one. I would
say that, in a similar way, the Bible explains why those of you who are
Christians look like your Father, and if you don't why you should!

That's our goal, isn't it? To learn to love as He first loved us. To
have the kind of patience that He has shown with us through the years. To
grow in the wisdom to make right choices, as He is perfectly wise. To be
holy, just as He is holy.

"Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is
perfect." (Matthew 5:48).

Here's a personal question to cause you some reflection: When people
look at you, do they see the family resemblance?

Alan Smith

The Rescuers

When our children were young we watched a lot of Disney movies with them, as I'm sure that you having children did likewise. One of my daughter's favorites (and mine too) was "The Rescuers." This was the animated movie where "Bernard and Miss Bianca" (the heroes) were sent by the mouse version of the United Nations to rescue Penny, a little orphan girl who had been kidnaped by "Miss Medusa" (the villain). My favorite character was "Evenrude, the outboard dragonfly."

I know that this opening paragraph relates to a cute little movie, but it also serves to provide me with a lead-in to our lesson topic for today. I'm going to combine that paragraph with a phrase that we've all heard used several times in the past few months. That phrase is: "rescue mission." See, that's what Bernard and Miss Bianca were sent out on - a "rescue mission" to save a person from peril who could not save herself. Let's see if we can enlarge on this thought for a few moments.

Within a relatively short period of time we've seen "rescue missions" sent out to rescue a 17 year old girl who was attempting to sail solo around the world and her boat had become disabled. She was found and rescued. We've had a couple of "mine rescues" attempted, one with good results and one that didn't.

The one that went badly was the one in Australia in which all of the trapped miners perished. The good one is the one in Chile wherein all of the miners were successfully saved by the "rescue mission." We'll come back to these Chilean miners in a moment, but first, let me tell you about the greatest "rescue mission" ever sent out and I see this lesson as being appropriate to the holiday season that's upon us right now.

Approximately 2000 years ago God, the Father and Creator of all mankind, launched the greatest, most beneficial, "rescue mission" ever. He sent His "only begotten Son" to the earth to save the eternal souls of everyone on earth. And this was not a spur of the moment endeavor on His part. Because He created man "in His own image," meaning that man differed from all the rest of creation in that he has a soul, has an intellect and a conscience and thus is capable of making choices, God knew that man would make poor choices and in doing so, would put his soul in grave danger of being eternally lost.

From the very beginning of time, from the creation of man, God had a plan for rescuing man from the poor choices made in his life. Probably the poorest of man's choices is to "follow the pleasures of sin for a season." (Heb. 11:25) Those doing so are in the clutches of Satan, having been, shall we say, "soul-napped." And, God knew that man cannot "rescue" himself from that dire situation. Is not capable of saving his own soul, therefore a "Rescuer" IE: a "Savior" was needed.

So, about 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ was sent to earth by His Father for the sole purpose of rescuing all the souls of mankind from sure and certain death. Those souls that had become trapped in Satan's mine and were/are incapable of rescuing themselves. In Matt. 1:21 we see an angel telling Joseph exactly what I just said, only in different terms. The angel said, "thou shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins." There is no doubt as to who our "rescuer," our "Savior" is. Parabolically speaking, who our "rescue capsule" is - Jesus Christ.

Okay, let's go back to the Chilean miners again for another illustration. Their "rescue mission" consisted of a "rescue capsule" sent down to where they were trapped. All they had to do was get into the capsule and be raised to the surface. To their salvation from a certain death in the location where they were trapped.

Let's use that "rescue capsule" as an analogy of how our souls are rescued from their trapped location. For our souls to be rescued, they have to get into the "capsule." Here's my analogy: the "blood of Christ" is our "rescue capsule." The mechanism that we must "get into" in order to be rescued, be saved. There are numerous scriptures that tell us this, but these three are sufficient to make this point: Romans 5:9, Ephesians 1:7 and Ephesians 2:13.

And, here again, we can make use of the Chilean miners and their situation to make a lesson point. What if some of the miners refused to "get into" the "rescue capsule?" It's almost beyond our capability to imagine that scenario, isn't it? Think about it - they couldn't save themselves. A plan was perfected, that when launched, would provide an avenue of rescue for them. "At just the right time," the rescue effort was sent forth that would bring them out of their peril.

We would consider any of the miners insane if they didn't choose to participate in this rescue effort, wouldn't we? We'd probably conclude that they had some sort of "death wish" if they refused to get in the capsule. Well, I ask you, isn't this the same principle to be seen when people refuse to accept God's "Rescuer" and choose rather to stay in the "mine?" Certainly it is.

God has a perfect plan, designed from the very beginning of time, for the rescue of man's soul. He launched His perfect plan by sending His Son to earth as the perfect sacrifice to initiate the "rescue mission." Again, parabolically speaking, He sent down the "rescue capsule" and all we have to do to be "rescued" is to get in it. Hard to imagine not doing so, isn't it?

Maybe some don't like this particular method of rescue. Maybe they prefer a different one that doesn't require them to leave their place of entrapment. Perhaps they believe that if they wait a while longer another form of rescue will come. If any of those reasons are subscribed to, I have sad news for them. There will not be another "rescue mission" sent for them. If they reject this one and refuse to "get into" the "rescue capsule" they will perish ETERNALLY. God said that He only sent out one "rescue mission" and if we don't take advantage of that one "....there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins." (Heb. 10:26)

In summation, we (mankind) are the "miners" trapped in our own "mine" to wit: a lost condition in which we cannot save ourselves. It was for this very reason that God sent us His "rescue mission." If we "get into" the "rescue capsule" we'll be like the Chilean miners - we'll be "rescued" (saved). If we ignore the "capsule" we'll be like the Australian miners - forever lost.

Ron Covey

Johann Gottfried von Herder

"Say oh wise man how you have come to such knowledge? Because I was never ashamed to confess my ignorance and ask others."

Johann Gottfried von Herder, German philosopher, theologian, and poet (1744-1803)

A two-ton vehicle spinning out of control

 

If you don't have to get out in it, it's absolutely beautiful.  The
weather service had issued a winter storm warning, and this time they
were right on target.  Early this morning rain began falling, though
the surface temperatures were subfreezing.  As a result a layer of
ice, perhaps a quarter of an inch thick, has coated everything -
trees, shrubs, blades of grass and driveways.

That last item in the list is where things can get tricky.  My driving
today has been seriously curtailed, but I had to get out and take a
few photos of the winter wonderland.  Just a step or two on the
asphalt told me to use extreme caution.  Even if I'm standing still,
I'll start sliding if there's any slope at all.  A person has no
control under such circumstances.

Driving is where danger can really occur.  A two-ton vehicle spinning
out of control on an icy road is a completely unsettling experience.
Even if you're driving carefully, there's always the other fellow who
doesn't adjust for the slick conditions.  Each of us probably has a
story or two on this subject.

Ice is not the only slippery thing to be found.  Walking through a
creek presents hazardous circumstances, as moss-covered rocks hide
underneath the water.  In the woods one has to beware of muddy slopes
or wet leaves.  In the mountains keeping one's footing is vital.  A
mere slip of the foot can be disastrous.

The Bible speaks of slippery places.  These are not places a good
person wants to be.

Asaph, the author of Psalm 73, wrote about his frustration while
observing the prosperity of wicked people.  Did it do no good to serve
the Lord? he wondered.  "Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain," he
wrote in Psalm 73:13.  He had stated at the beginning of the psalm,
"But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly
slipped" (Psalm 73:2).

Then something happened to change his outlook: "... I went into the
sanctuary of God; then I understood their end.  Surely You set them in
slippery places; you cast them down to destruction" (Psalm 73:17,18).
Those who thought they were well established would find it impossible
to keep their footing, Asaph learned.  Though the path of sin may seem
easy now, up ahead will be a slick spot that will take the sinner
down.

David also used this image of slipping.  "The mouth of the righteous
speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of justice.  The law of his God is
in his heart; none of his steps shall slide" (Psalm 37:30,31).  To
maintain traction and control of one's steps, it's always wise to walk
in God's paths.

Human nature, however, has not changed very much.  There are those who
will object, "I know how to drive in wintry conditions.  Don't be
lecturing me about safety on icy roads!"  Others will affirm their
ability to direct their own life; they don't need (they think) God's
help in navigation.

Paul's warning in 1 Corinthians 10:12 is timeless: "Therefore let him
who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."  A car spinning out of
control is terrifying.  How do you think a life spinning out of
control will feel?  Walk in the sure paths of God and you'll never
have to worry about such a scenario.

Timothy D. Hall

Henry Drummond

"You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love."

Henry Drummond, Scottish preacher, writer, and lecturer (1851-1897)

 

strange dreams

It was a week before Christmas and at our house, the party was in full
swing. The whole family was there and boy can we celebrate. I was in the
living room "discussing" politics with my brother-in-law; we could just
about straighten out the county if given a chance. Part of the crowd was in
the kitchen finishing up the Christmas feast. The older kids and grandma
Melody were playing a board game, the younger kids were running wildly
through the house pretending to be pirates or some such, while in the
background Teresa Brewer belted out "rocking around the Christmas tree!" We
all were munching on the snacks set artfully around at convenient places
through the house. Yep, we know how to throw a party!

About that time the doorbell rings and the grandkids rush to the door in
mass to see who it is, hollering, laughing, pushing and shoving all the way!
They suddenly get quiet and I hear one of them holler, "Grandpa there's some
weird guy here in a dress and he wants to talk to you! So, I grudgingly
leave off saving the country and head to the door.

The kids are right, he is kind of weird looking, like he was someone heading
to a Christmas pageant, long hair, a short beard and wearing a robe. I say,
"Can I help you?" (I figure he either wants a contribution or wants
directions). He says, 'Didn't you hear the trumpet?" I replied, "Well it's
kind of hard to hear anything with all the noise this mob makes. What are
you talking about?"

He looked down and kind of shakes his head and then said, "The Trumpet of
the Lord, didn't you hear it? It's time to go!" It takes a minute for this
to register and I think this guy is some kind of religious nut and tell him,
"I'm sorry, but I can't talk to you right now, we have the whole family here
celebrating Christmas and I need to get back to them." He replied, "We know
that's why God chose this time of year, there are so many people gathered
together singing hymns and praising God, he thought more people would be
ready." In my mind I replay those words, "Singing hymns, praising God," as
Teresa belts out one more time, "deck the halls and let's be jolly."

Then I happen to notice what's happening outside. I get a chill down my
spine as I see folks floating upwards towards a cloud with someone at the
center with a bright glow around them. I holler for the wife and tell her to
get everyone together; we have to get out side right now.

As we try to get everyone attention, someone at the game table hollers,
"Wait until we finish this game!" The grandkids scream, "We don't want to,
we're watching Frosty the Snowman on Television." Someone in the kitchen
calls out, "I can't come, I have to finish basting the turkey, and the
potatoes are boiling."

In the mean time the fellow at the door is standing there listening,
observing this mass confusion. Again he looks down, with kind of a sad
expression on his face shakes his head and turns as if to go. He stops, cups
his hand to his mouth and calls our, "OK Lucifer, here is another house
that's yours. They aren't ready either."

About this time, I wake up in a cold sweat and lay there replaying this
dream in my mind and wonder if we; or our world are ready if Jesus comes
back at Christmas? Would we welcome him or complain because we have some
really nice gifts we don't want to miss out on. Are we more interested in
being jolly or praising God? Are you "Dreaming of a white Christmas," or of
celebrating with God?

I know it's a strange dream, but what if it really happened!

Russ Lawson

Colonel Harlan Sanders

"There's no reason to be the richest man in the cemetery. You can't do any business from there."

Colonel Harlan Sanders, American entrepreneur (1890-1980)

 

Glory to God in the Highest

 

   "And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'" (Luke 2:14).

            As the angel appeared to the shepherds and announced the birth of the Messiah, suddenly the heavens burst forth with an angelic chorus praising God. Their praise stated three facts: (1) the birth of Jesus gave glory to God; (2) the birth of Jesus gives peace to men; and, (3) the birth of Jesus demonstrates God's good will towards mankind.

            As great and powerful as angels are, to learn of their resounding praise of God for giving His only begotten Son for the purpose of going to Calvary that mankind might be saved, can only emphasize the superior love and greatness of both God and His beloved Son (1John 4:9).             

            While these words teach us many things, at the top of the list is the fact that nothing glorifies God more than the salvation of a soul!  And remembering the words of the apostle Paul, "Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages" (Ephesians 3:21), it stands to reason that one cannot glorify God outside of His church; and if a person cannot glorify God, that person is not saved.

            But note the next phrase: "On earth, peace…" These words were not true till Jesus came to earth. Since the day that the cherubim, with fiery swords, drove man out of the Garden of Eden, wars have raged from one end of the earth to the other. There has been no true peace on earth, even in the consciences of men, until this babe was born in Bethlehem, and eventually was crucified and resurrected from the dead.  Let me ask you: Where do you expect to find peace if not in the Gospel of Jesus Christ? IF it is a "truth" that money brings peace, then it would be axiomatic that everyone who had money would also have peace – but we know that isn't the case. You cannot find peace in the law, in good moral behavior, or even in altruism. You can only find peace in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In all the Scriptures, only JESUS is called "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). Only Jesus provides peace between the Forgiver, and the forgiven. This is what the angels meant when they sang "Peace on earth."

            The angels ended their praise with, "Good will toward men."  No greater proof of kindness and love between the Creator and the created could possibly be demonstrated than when the Creator gave His only begotten Son to die for the created.  Don't be discouraged; be assured that God does have "good will toward man."  "As I live saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that he should turn unto Me and live" (Ezekiel 33:11).

            "Glory to God in the Highest"  --  "Peace on Earth"  --  "Good will toward man." All this, but you cannot glorify God apart from Jesus Christ; you cannot have genuine peace apart from Jesus Christ; and you cannot accept God's good will toward you apart from Jesus Christ. God is "in Christ" reconciling the world to Himself (2Corinthians 5:19). Have you been baptized "into Christ?" (Galatians 3:27).        --Toby Miller

Be courteous to all, but intimate with few

"Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation."

George Washington, Commander in chief of the Continental Army and first President of the United States (1732-1799)

 

Phillips Brooks, American theologian

"I do not pray for a lighter load, but for a stronger back"

Phillips Brooks, American theologian and author (1835-1893)

Lord Halifax

"Anger is seldom without argument, but seldom with a good one."

Lord Halifax, British politician (1881-1959)

 

The risk of a wrong decision is preferable to the terror of indecision

"The risk of a wrong decision is preferable to the terror of indecision."

Maimonides, Spanish philosopher (1135-1204)

 

George MacDonald

"To be trusted in a greater compliment than being loved."

George MacDonald, Scottish author, poet, and theologian (1824-1905)

 

Babes shall rule over them

Our editorial lesson last week centered around children and, if you recall, we looked at several examples of their sayings and their ways. Today, I'd like to continue on with some more thoughts about children with a look at them from a little different viewpoint. Children are one of my favorite subjects for editorial purposes, probably because they are just about my favorite people on earth.

I'll even go out on a limb here and opine that they are probably your favorites too. Think about it, who doesn't look at babies and smile? Who doesn't enjoy getting hugs from little kids? At the risk of being evicted from the he-man club, I'll admit that I love babies and little kids and I'm not ashamed of it. Furthermore, with the exception of a few derange-minded people, I believe everyone else feels the same way about children.

Have you ever wondered why children have such an effect on us? There's probably several answers that could be given to that question, but I have several opinions as to why they do and in just a moment I'll share those opinions with you. But first, I'd like you to consider something else.

Have you ever thought about the use of the word "children" as we see it used in the Bible? When you think about it and take note, it's used all the time, isn't it? Here's a few examples: Christians are called "children of God" (Mt. 5:9). Or, they're referred to as "children of the Father in heaven" (Mt. 5:45). In Matt. 12:38 we find them called, "children of the Kingdom." Christians are also called "children of light" (Jn. 12:36), "children of the Highest" (Lk. 6:35) and "children of the Living God" (Rom. 9:26). Go back to the Old Testament and see what God called His chosen people - the "children of Israel" (Ex. 1).

The point I'm making here about the use of the word "children" in God's Word is that's it's not an accidental or incidental usage of the word. It's there because it is God's design for it to be there. And this brings us to my first opinion that I said earlier that we'd get back to. It's my humble opinion that the reason God used this word so much is simply because the qualities and characteristics of children are the same qualities and characteristics of those faithful and obedient to His Son and His Gospel.

Well, you might ask, what are the qualities and characteristics of children that would relate to Christ and to God and His usage of the word? The Q's and C's that I see are that children have purity of heart. They're guileless, if you will. Babies aren't born, they don't come into life on earth, with any preconceived hatreds or prejudices. These are things that are learned. That have to be acquired. Children come to us innocent. Their character, their souls are pure and clean. Could this have been what Christ meant when He said, "...of such is the Kingdom of heaven?"

Now, on to my second opinion and this is directed towards why babies and children have the effect on us that they do. When we look at that pure and innocent little baby/child, we're looking at someone who has yet to be covered with the earthly layers of fear, distrust, prejudice and all the other layers that we adults get coated with. I like to think that when a little baby looks at us and smiles, perhaps it's that they just might be seeing through those "grown-up" layers and seeing the purity that we once had. I know that's pretty deep thinking, but still I'd like to think that's the case.

There's a passage in Isaiah regarding children that I found interesting. And I think that all of us that have kids, have had kids or know someone who has kids, can attest to in sort of a humorous vein. In Isa. 3:4 we find this little phrase; ".... and babes shall rule over them." I ask you, have you ever seen a house anywhere having a baby in it where that baby didn't "rule?" I mean, that baby determines when they go to bed, when they get up, where they go and how they go. Just about everything about that household is determined by the baby. And you know what else? It doesn't take long for that baby to realize who the "ruler" is either.

Here's another of my thoughts and opinions: remember in Ex. 23 when Moses wanted to "see" God and was told that no one "can see God and live?" Don't you think that a lot of people would like to see God? Wouldn't you like to see God? I would. No, we can't see Him face to face, but you know what? We can see the "essence" of God. We can see the "essence" of God by two ways and here's how.

First, by looking at Jesus because He told His disciples in John 14:9 "he that hath seen me hath seen the Father." Think about this - Jesus was just like a little baby His whole life. He never lost His purity nor His innocence and was the only person on this earth to never lose those qualities. (1Pet. 2:22) Christ was the "essence" of God throughout His whole time here on earth and we can certainly see that.

And that takes us to the second way of "seeing God." Keeping in mind the 1^st way, we can see God by looking at the nearest thing to God we have now on earth - a baby. A little child. I say that based upon something Solomon tells us in Eccl. 12:7. It's there that we find out that our souls come from God thus, a baby's soul is the closest thing to God's "essence" we have to look at on earth. There's some fitting words to this thought I'd like to share with you and you might be surprised by who said them. "Children are the most wholesome part of the race, the sweetest, for they are freshest from the hand of God." (Pres. Herbert Hoover)

I'm going to close today's editorial with one more little story involving children that speaks to our thoughts regarding God and children. Remember what David said, (".... out of the mouths of babes..." Psa. 8:2) as you read this:

A couple had just had a baby boy and were already the parents of a four year old girl. Shortly after he was brought home, the little girl began asking if she could be alone with the baby. Well, the parents were somewhat concerned, as most would be, about the daughter feeling a little jealous, might shake him or hit him or something like that. But, she had shown no signs of jealousy and had treated the baby with only kindness and love. She kept asking to be left alone with the baby and finally the parents decided that they would allow it.

When they told her it was alright, she very happily went to the baby's room and after going in, closed the door almost all the way, but left it open just a crack. The parents tiptoed to the door and peeked in through the crack and listened. They saw the little girl go up to the baby, put her face near the baby's head and said, "Baby, tell me what God feels like. I'm starting to forget."

I think we can all learn a lot from that little girl. We should help each other "see God" and remember Him, lest we forget.

Ron Covey

Bad floral arrangement

A man opened a new business and his best friend sent him a floral arrangement. The friend dropped by a few days later and was sorry to see the flowers had a card that read, "Rest In Peace." He called the florist to complain, and the florist said, "It could be worse. Somewhere in this city is an arrangement in a cemetery that reads, "Congratulations On Your New Location." Spiritually speaking, the same message could be sent to those who have died to sin and been buried with Christ in baptism. Romans 6:3-4 reminds us that baptism plays a vital role in changing our spiritual location! That passage reads, "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." A simple and unbiased reading of this passage makes clear that baptism is a burial that blesses!

Baptism blesses first of all because it is "into Jesus Christ." Spiritually speaking, there are and always will be only two spheres of spiritual existence: either "in Christ" or "in the world." The difference in these two spiritual locations in writing is a matter of only a few letters, but the difference in reality is incalculable. Salvation is "in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 2:10); eternal life is "in His (God's) Son" (I John 5:11); every spiritual blessing is located "in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3); and for those who are "in Christ" there is now "no condemnation" (Romans 8:1). The list could go on and on, but those who are "in Christ" are in a sphere of comprehensive and superlative spiritual provisions! Contrast that to those who are not in Christ: "without Christ .... having no hope and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12).

Baptism blesses again because it is "into His (Christ's) death." That is, baptism gives us access to the benefits of Christ's death! A bank may have millions of dollars in its vault. But all that money helps an individual not one bit unless he/she can access it. Baptism buries us into Christ's death, thereby giving us access to all the things Jesus died to accomplish for us (forgiveness, salvation, sanctification, etc.).

Baptism blesses yet again because after burial into Christ's death we are raised to walk in "newness of life." Baptism is a tomb where we bury the old man of sin. But it is also a womb from which God raises us to "newness of life." While debates about baptism continue among believers in Christ, the Bible clearly portrays baptism as a burial that blesses!

Dan Gulley

 

Thomas Carlyle

"Let each become all that he was created capable of being."

Thomas Carlyle, Scottish writer, historian, and teacher (1795-1881)

 

19 to 16 field goal

Last weekend, Buffalo Bills receiver Steve Johnson dropped an easy
game-winning pass in overtime against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Having
separated himself from his defender, Johnson was wide open for a 40-yard
pass, but he dropped it in the end zone.

In the next possession, the Steelers kicked a field goal to win 19-16.

Johnson was inconsolable after the game. "How would you feel?" Johnson
asked. "All of a sudden, when the biggest play needs to be made, you don't
make it. You feel bad. I'm devastated right now. . I had the game in my
hands and then dropped it. I'll never get over it."

Johnson was so despondent after the game, he sent out a "tweet" on Twitter
where he blamed God for making him drop the would-be touchdown pass:

"I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO
LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! I'LL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO."

Steve Johnson later admitted that he spoke rashly and foolishly in blaming
God for his mistake. He retracted his statements. *

Observe some parallels from Johnson's experiences to our own.

We've ALL dropped the ball! "For ALL have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Therefore we have essentially "lost the game"
of life, for "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).

We can't blame God! "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by
God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and
enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin,
when it is full-grown, brings forth death" (James 1:13-15).

But, we can still "win" the victory through Christ. God sent Jesus His Son
to die on the cross to pay the price for our sins. When we submit our lives
in trusting obedience to His will, His sacrifice is sufficient to cover our
sins (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2)

Those who are victorious are those who: place their faith and trust in Jesus
(Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess
Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) in the name
of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).

Yes, each of us has "dropped the ball," but because of Jesus, we can STILL
triumph over sin. We can share in HIS victory -IF- we will trust and obey
Him today!

Won't YOU?

David A. Sargent

Trophimus in the Bible

                        What do Marilyn Monroe, Eddie Murphy, author Dave Pelzer, Olympic athlete Reese Hoffa, Cher, and Dr. Ruth Westheimer have in common?  All of them spent time growing up in foster care.  There have been a great many famous foster parents, too.  My parents were involved in foster care for several years during my childhood.  Several good brethren today continue to provide a home, if temporarily, to those whose own homes are strained or broken.
      There is a man in Acts, an Ephesian, whose time upon the inspired stage is brief.  His name, Trophimus, literally means "foster child."  Though there is no particular significance attached to his name, it is one of the more interesting names in the New Testament. It seems that adoption was very common in the Greco-Roman life.  Ryrie says, "Childless couples could often adopt a son who then became their heir. Even if the adopted son had living biological parents, they had no more claim over him after the adoption had taken place. Often parents were willing to let their sons be adopted by another family if it meant a better lot in life" (Basic Theology, 306; see rules of adoption in Women's Life in Greece and Rome, Lefkowtitz and Fant, 99-100).  A foster child would have been essentially the same as an adoptee in that society,
     It is not far-fetched to think that Trophimus was converted through Paul's efforts (cf. Acts 20:4; Easton considers him to have literally been a foster child).  Paul once called Timothy his "true child in the faith" (1 Tim. 1:2) and his influence over many others, among them Titus, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, Jesus Justus, Clement, may have had a paternal flair.  Once, he told the Thessalonians that he was as gentle as a "nursing mother" caring for her own children (1 Th. 2:7; the word for "nurse" there is in the same word family as Trophimus).
      Trophimus was certainly nurtured and tutored in discipleship under Paul's capable guidance.  The Ephesian was with Paul when he was arrested in Jerusalem, mistakenly assumed to have entered the temple with Paul (Acts 21:29).  Trophimus had come to Jerusalem on Paul's last recorded visit to that city (Acts 20:4).  At the end of Paul's life, Trophimus was unable to accompany the apostle due to illness (2 Tim. 4:20).  Some have supposed that he was one of the brothers who accompanied Titus in delivering the second epistle to Corinth in 2 Corinthians 8:16-24 (cf. Elwell and Comfort, 1275).  "Legend suggests that Trophimus was ultimately beheaded by the order of Nero" (ibid.).
      That is all we know of Trophimus, but we know he was in the sphere of Paul's influence.  Paul adopted him, as he no doubt did others.  What an example Paul provides for us of the power of mentoring and influence.  Leadership training, church growth, and elder, preacher, deacon, or other working enlisting is a valuable, but too seldom practiced, work.  We need to foster our own Timothys, Tituses, and Trophimuses.  Who are you helping grow in the service of the Lord?

 

-Neal Pollard

Amos Bronson Alcott

"To be ignorant of one's ignorance is the malady of the ignorant."

Amos Bronson Alcott, American teacher, writer, philosopher, and reformer (1799-1888)

Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus"

What does a performance of Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" have in common
with a kitten playing a piano or a child biting the finger of his
brother?  If you've watched at least a few YouTube videos, you
probably know the answer: Each of the above are examples of videos
that have gone viral.

"Viral" comes from the physical phenomenon we all dread.  There are
over 2,000 species of viruses that have been discovered, and many
(such as the rhinovirus) commonly infect the human body.  Once inside,
they can multiply at an extraordinary rate and cause serious symptoms.
Many who will read this have already received a flu vaccine, hoping to
fight off at least one strain of virus this fall.

Then there are the computer viruses.  You can't infect your computer
by sneezing on it; these are man-made mini-programs that will make
your computer "sick".  You catch these through seemingly innocent
emails and web sites.  Companies that help protect our laptops and
desktops from viruses make billions of dollars each year.

The videos mentioned above, however, are things people enjoy watching.
The performance of Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" at a Philadelphia
Macy's store just over a month ago has already been watched over 5.5
million times.  That event was a planned (though seemingly
spontaneous) performance.  Many others of the viral videos were more
accidental.  Someone happened to take a video of an otherwise ordinary
event, uploaded the video, and the rest is history.

There was another viral event that occurred hundreds of years ago, and
the effects were predominantly beneficial.  It all started with Jesus ...

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature," Jesus
commanded His apostles before leaving the earth (Mark 16:16).  The
message was new, but it was good news (the literal meaning of the word
"gospel").  When people heard the message of salvation, many "gladly
received" it (Acts 2:41) and dedicated themselves to following Jesus
Christ, no matter what.

The viral spread of this message was not without resistance.  Many
chose not to believe Jesus is the Son of God, and worked militantly to
suppress Christianity.  But despite all efforts the word of God
flourished.  When Paul wrote about how the gospel had been "...
preached to every creature under heaven" in Colossians 1:23, he may
have affirmed the fulfillment (in his generation) of the charge Jesus
had given His followers.

How can such a phenomenon be explained?  Those who live for Jesus
quickly learn the truth of His claim: "I have come that they may have
life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).  They
discover that, even in adversity, placing their lives in the hands of
the Almighty God produces a "peace that surpasses all understanding"
(Philippians 4:6).

This is one "virus" you don't need to fear!  In fact, wouldn't it be
wonderful if more of us could become carriers of this virus, infecting
others with the remarkable attitudes and actions produced by the
gospel of Jesus Christ?  After all, which is more deserving of sending
to our friends: a video showing how dance has evolved over time, or a
message that will rescue their souls from destruction?

Timothy D. Hall.

 

Jonathan Swift

"We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another."

Jonathan Swift, Irish author and satirist (1667-1745)

 

STEVE JOHNSON BLAMES GOD

                              

             Wide receiver Steve Johnson of the Buffalo Bills has been incredibly good this year.  Even though he is young and inexperienced, he has emerged as one of the top receivers in the league.  Last Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers was an incredibly close game.  It went into overtime and both teams had multiple chances to win.  On the Buffalo Bills' last drive, their quarterback threw a deep pass to Steve Johnson in the end-zone.  This pass was the epitome of perfection.  Johnson had no one close to him and it was placed perfectly in his hands.  All Johnson had to do was catch the ball and the Bills would have made an astonishing comeback win against a very good Steelers team.  Instead, he missed it.  Johnson dropped the pass and the Steelers ended up winning the game.

            Wide receivers drop passes all the time.  Not all are as significant as this one, but it happens.  This is just a part of the game.  Most fans and players could have moved on from this, especially since the Bills are not a good team this year, but the comments Johnson said on his twitter account have struck a nerve with many people.  This is what he said, "I praise you 24/7!!!!!! And this is how you do me!!!!!  You expect me to learn from this???  How???!!!  I'll never forget this!!  Ever!!! Thx tho...."

            Again, wide receivers drop passes all the time, but I have never heard anyone else actually blame God for it.  He even seems to throw a little sarcasm at the end as well.  There are many factors Johnson could have blamed the dropped catch on.  He could have blamed it on the lights, lack of practice, and even himself.  Instead the blame was thrown on God.

            It is too bad that Johnson reacted in this way, but thankfully he has since retracted this statement.  The problem is, people do this every single day.  People throughout the world go through terrible difficulties and many of these same people conclude that it is God's fault.

            Often in Scripture we see people suffering.  One of the most devastating accounts is of Job.  Job lost 1000 oxen, 500 donkeys, 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 1000 oxen, and all his sons and daughters (10 total) in one day (Job 1:13-19).  Not long after this he also lost his health and had sores and boils all over his body (Job 2:7).  To top it off, even his own wife turned against him and told him to "Curse God and die!" (Job 2:9).  However, no matter what Job went through, not once did he curse or blame God (Job 1:22; 2:10).

            Suffering happens to people all over the world.  Job was a very faithful man and he still suffered greatly.  People seem to be under the mindset that if they are faithful and praise God, then bad will not happen.  God has never promised this.  We are just people.  God is supreme, all-knowing, all-powerful, and almighty.  Do we really ever have the right to blame God for anything?  Does praising God automatically mean He will give us blessings?  Too many people blame God for their misfortune, but God should never be blamed.  We must keep in mind God's words in Isaiah 55:9, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thought than your thoughts."  We simply do not know why many types of suffering happen, but one thing is for certain, we should never blame God, nor do we have the right to do so.

 

--   Brett Petrillo

 

Parker and Bryan, Old Quebec

Longfellow memorialized them in his sad poem, Evangeline. 

This is the forest primeval; but where are the hearts that beneath it
Leaped like roe, when he hears in the wooodland the voice of the huntsman?
Where is the thatch-roofed village, the home of Acadian farmers,
Men whose lives glided on like rivers that water the woodlands,
Darkened by shadows of earth, but reflecting an image of heaven?
Waste are those pleasant farms, and the farmers for ever departed!
Scattered like dust and leaves, when the mighty blasts of October
Seize them, and whirl them aloft, and sprinkle them far o'er the ocean
Nought but tradition remains of the beautiful village of Grand Pre."

(Parker and Bryan, Old Quebec.  London: McMillan, 1903. pp. 203-204)
These Frenchmen who inhabited the British owned peninsula now known as Nova Scotia did not want to be under the dominion of the British Empire.  After years of rebellion against them, in 1755 King George sent imperial soldiers to cities like Grand Pre to expel them from their lands and homes.  Apparently, the soldiers found the task very unpleasant.  Those who pledged their allegiance to the crown could stay.  Many escaped deportation and the "oath of subjection," fleeing to Quebec.  This French city had encouraged the Acadians rebellion, but now refused to take them in and care for them.  According to the archives of Nova Scotia, the Acadians who fled for refuge to Quebec were met with neglect and inhospitality.  A chronicler wrote,
    In vain they asked that the promises they had received should be kept, and they pleaded the sacrifices they had made for France. All was useless. The former  necessity for their services had passed away. They were looked upon as a troublesome people, and if they received assistance they were made to feel that it was only granted out of pity. They were almost reduced to die of famine. The little food they obtained, its bad quality, their natural want of cleanliness, their grief, and their idleness    caused the death of many. They were forced to eat boiled leather during the greater part of the winter, and to wait for spring in the hope that their condition would be bettered. On     this point they were deceived (ibid.).
They were forced to scavenge for food in the gutter and their lowered living standards left them vulnerable to a smallpox epidemic that wiped out entire families.
When we read of how Quebec treated those Acadians who fled to them for help, we are reminded of man's inhumanity to man--even his own kinsmen.  But, we are also reminded of the blessing we have in coming to Jesus.  After pointing out the impossibility of God lying, he speaks of those of us "who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us" (Heb. 6:18).  This is a sure and steadfast hope (Heb. 6:19). God desires for us to be assured about the safety He provides (Heb. 6:17). Indeed, it anchors the soul.
When we flee from our sin to come to God, He will not reject, neglect, or deflect us. He will not disown us.  What He promises, He will abundantly provide.  That is true and trustworthy.

 

Neal Pollard

William Shenstone

Anger is a great force. If you control it, it can be transmuted into a power which can move the whole world."

William Shenstone, English poet and one of the earliest practitioners of landscape gardening (1714-1763)

 

Howard Thurman

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

Howard Thurman, American theologian and civil rights leader (1899-1981)

 

Exodus 19:18

We had heard the evening before that fires were burning in the woods surrounding my mother's house in Southeastern Kentucky, but it seemed that all was under control. When I learned the next morning how close those fires had come and how shaken she was, I cleared my schedule and rushed over. My sister also went, prepared to spend a couple of days.

 

Thankfully none of my mother's property was damaged, though forty feet from her house the woods were scorched. Dedicated and caring firefighters went the extra mile to make sure she was never in imminent danger.

 

As I drove away that afternoon, I saw smoke rising from many spots on Pine Mountain. Though I could not see the flames, I knew they were there and that they were consuming whatever lay in their path. We take for granted those who fight fires until it threatens us or those we love.

 

Incidents like these help us understand the reaction of the people of Israel as they gathered to hear God pronounce laws for their new nation. Exodus 19:18 describes the scene: "Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly."

 

The Israelites reacted as any of us probably would: "... when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, 'You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die" (Exodus 20:18,19).

 

The fears of the people were legitimate. As Moses later warned the people against turning from God to serve idols, he reminded them of God's powerful wrath: "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God'" (Deuteronomy 4:24).

 

There are many views of God, depending on whom you consult. Some see Him as a kindly old grandfather who would never speak a cross word. Others view Him as a stern "hanging judge" who doesn't have time to consider the details of our case. Some argue that God isn't even around anymore; He has wondered off to attend to other business.

 

Shouldn't our view of God be formed by what He has revealed about Himself?

 

An inspired author, writing hundreds of years after that encounter at Mt. Sinai, reminded his readers of the fact that "our God is a consuming fire", recalling details of the burning mountain (Hebrews 12:29). But we can have a different perspective of God, he wrote. "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels ... to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel" (Hebrews 12:22,24).

 

There is good reason to tremble at the thought of the wrathful God. But those who come to God through His Son Jesus Christ don't have to be terrified. They can see through the ascending smoke that God is their heavenly Father. How will you choose to approach God?

 

Timothy D. Hall

Howard Dean

"From a religious point of view, if God had thought homosexuality is a sin, he would not have created gay people."

Howard Dean, American politician (1948- )

 

José Saramago

"Some people spend their entire lives reading but never get beyond reading the words on the page, they don't understand that the words are merely stepping stones placed across a fast-flowing river, and the reason they're there is so that we can reach the farther shore, it's the other side that matters."

José Saramago, Portugese novelist (1922-2010)

 

The church is growing weaker

 

In a recent article, Tom Wacaster said a lady asked him, "How long do you think God is going to wait before He renders judgment upon this nation?"  He replied, "I am convinced that He is already bringing judgment upon the United States; unfortunately, the multitude of our political and religious leaders cannot see that it has already begun."

            Tragically, at the precise moment in our nation's history when this society needs the Lord's church so desperately, the church steadily grows weaker.  This is because in many areas it seems the church has lost sight of its eternal purpose. Many congregations seems to think that the mission of the church is to administer to their own physical needs, as well as the physical needs of those around us.  Have we lost sight of what constitutes Biblical authority? More importantly, do we even care?  Churches panic at the decreasing membership so they offer cheap meals to get people to come on Wednesdays; offer "giveaways,"  "drawings," "door-prizes,"  "aerobic and pottery classes,"  "Fun Daze,"  "Super Sundays,"  and just about anything else to try and entice people into some sort of an association with the church.

    It appears that most programs in the church today are designed, not to improve the spiritual man, but to address the needs/desires of the physical man.  The result is a path to self destruction. As churches turn their attention to the worldly needs/desires of its members, they will eventually lose their identity and fellowship with the One who is not of this world.   The Bible will become less important, evangelism will go by the wayside, and the congregation will be reduced to nothing more than some kind of social institution topped with religious syrup.  As we abandon God's Word,  we are abandoning God. In other words, "Stay Hungry." (Matt. 5:6) – Toby Miller

dancing under the gallows

                    "We didn't know it, but we were dancing under the gallows."

                                    (Words spoken by a Nazi "death camp" survivor)

I found the above statement, spoken by a woman who survived the Nazi death camps of WW2 to be fascinating. As I thought about those words I was reminded of a famous sermon preached by Jonathon Edwards ("Sinners in the hand of an angry God") way back in 1741 in Enfield, Conn. And, no, I wasn't present in the audience at the time. I've only read it and it's certainly one that fits the old "fire and brimstone" category. But, more about this later.....

I've mentioned this before, and I believe it to be true of most writers, that I find it interesting as to what inspires me to write the things, the lessons, that I do. I don't know how to explain it, but I see or hear something and before long, thoughts start congregating in my head and I see a way of connecting them into a spiritual lesson. I have no idea how this works and sometimes I'm not sure that the thoughts in my head successfully transfers to my fingers but, I try and I'm going to try again today.

What kicked my thoughts into gear for this lesson is a simple thing. I saw an ad for an art school the other day and immediately recalled two things related to art that I had seen before and, as previously stated, the editorial juices began flowing. I'll start this lesson by the use of two little stories about some artists.

Our first story is about a failed artist. I guess you could call him a "wanta-be" artist, but never made the grade. He wanted to be an artist so bad that he applied to the famous "Academy of Fine Art" in Vienna, Austria TWICE and failed the entrance exam both times. The reason given was, that he lacked academic skills. I just wonder what history might have been had he possessed the necessary skills to enroll.

The second story is relative to our beginning "dancing under the gallows" statement spoken by the death camp survivor. I heard it spoken while watching the story of a 106 year old woman named Alice Herz-Sommer, who is the oldest living death camp survivor. She lives in London, England and still plays classical music on her piano. It's because of her musical artistry that she survived the German prison camps. Very briefly, here is her story:

When Germany invaded her native country of Poland, she and several million others were imprisoned in concentration camps. Because she was a professional musician, a concert pianist, she was assigned to a camp housing other artists. It seemed that the main purpose for this particular camp was to provide entertainment for the Germans so they were allowed to continue playing, dancing, singing.....whatever their individual talents consisted of and their audience was their German captors.

However, they were not to stay at this camp for the duration of the war, they were transferred to the infamous Auschwitz death camp and, here again, because they were "artists," and could entertain, not all of them were put to death. It was while here at Auschwitz that the statement was made by another of the women artists, a friend of Alice's, that they were "dancing under the gallows." What a tremendous statement that is. What a great picture it paints in our minds.

Now I'm going to try and connect these two stories with the earlier mentioned sermon, "Sinners in the hand of an angry God." The scriptural basis for this sermon was a phrase found in Deut. 32:35 "....their foot shall slide in due time..." The entire sermon is a picture of the "divine justice" of God. It's the most graphic picture of the situation of sinners and evil-doers that I've ever read. Allow me to try and present you a very brief overview of this picture.

The picture is of an evil-doer hanging by a mere thread over the "fiery pits of hell" with an angry God, a "God of wrath" holding His mighty sword in His hand aimed at this thread. The sermon is designed to show how precarious a situation the unrepentant sinners/evil-doers are always in with the idea that death in that condition can bring about the slash of the sword and the parting of the thread. The sermon goes on to say that "it's only the hand of arbitrary mercy and God's mere will that holds it (the sword) back."

What a picture of the predicament a person can find themselves in. Here's a thought question: Do you think that man really sees himself in that precarious of a condition? In my opinion, I don't think so. I think that many people think that God is a "God of love" (2Cor. 13:11) and He certainly is that but, He is also a "God of wrath" (Psa. 78:31) but, above all else, He is a "just God." (Isa. 45:21)

The aim of the sermon is to show that mortal man's eternal life hangs in a precarious position, by a slender thread over the fires of hell, and that there is only one possible way of appeasing the "divine wrath" of the "just God." In the words of the sermon, the one and only deliverance from this terrible situation "is contained in the covenant of grace, the promises given in Christ." That it is only the being "in Christ" that provides salvation from the eternal fires of hell.

And think about this, there will come a time in everyone's life that the "thread" will be parted. That the "silver cord will be loosed." If that parting occurs while a person is an unrepentant sinner, an evil-doer, there will be only one place to drop. There's a verse that also speaks to the precarious position man needs to see himself in and that's found in 1Pet. 4:18 and it reads there: "And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear."

Let's see if I can bring this all together in a comprehensible closing. In my mind I see the survivors of the Nazi concentration camps as representative of the "righteous" of the world, in that, percentage-wise, few will be saved. I see them as "scarcely" saved from the hell of the death camps.

That the Nazi's represent the sinners and evil-doers of the world and history shows us that their "foot did slide in due time." That there is a place prepared "for the devil and his angels (Mt. 25:41)" and the architect of those death camps and his henchmen certainly fit in that category of evil-doers.

I see one other connection, one other picture here. I see a lot of people "dancing under the gallows" in a manner suggesting that they are not really aware of their actual situation. Not really aware of the precariousness of their lives.

And this brings us back to the little story about our first artist. It may not have seemed like our two artist stories had any connection, but in a real and horrible way, they do. Our "failed artist." The one that lacked academic skills and could not pass the test to get into the famous art school was none other than "the architect" of those Nazi concentration/death camps  -  Adolf Hitler.

Ron Covey

　

　

　

　

Lucretia Mott

"We too often bind ourselves by authorities rather than by the truth."

Lucretia Mott, American abolitionist and reformer (1793-1880)

 

Jesus loves me this I know, for the bible tells me so

Facebook is an interesting concept, so much so that they recently made a
movie about it. There are hundreds of thousands of people who are now
"Facebook addicts." I have several friends and relatives who admit that they
are addicted to this new media of information and interaction. I check the
site almost everyday simply to see what is happening in the lives of our
family and friend, though I rarely write anything.

This week as I was scanning the entries I noticed a post from my niece Becky
from Arizona that said simply, "If you're reading this, I love you." That
message has stayed with me all week, bouncing around in my brain, bringing
me countless applications to life.

Because of my writings I get notes occasionally from people who feel that no
one cares or no one loves them. As I thought about that simple post I
wondered how many people in our world need to hear those words. How many
people were feeling lost and alone and unloved!

As I thought about those words it came to me that God had written them in
the original "face to face book," the Bible from the beginning of time,
that's is the theme of the book, "If you're reading this, I love you! That
is the message of God seen through the life and death of Jesus. That's why
John declares that "God so loved the world that he gave his only son." This
is the message of Romans 5:8 where the Apostle Paul wrote: "But God showed
his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still
sinners." (NLT)

So if you have ever felt unloved and if you are reading this, know you are
loved! I could say that I love you, but you are loved by not just some
mortal man or woman, but by the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, our
God!

The old hymn proclaims, "Jesus loves me this I know, for the bible tells me
so." Do you believe it?

Russ Lawson

Bram Stoker

"How blessed are some people, whose lives have no fears, no dreads; to whom sleep is a blessing that comes nightly, and brings nothing but sweet dreams."

Bram Stoker, Irish novelist and short story writer best known for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula (1847-1912)

 

Archiving beloved family photos

"Preserving The Image"

 

Pop quiz!! If you suddenly realized your house was on fire, what would you most want to save? That's a question most of us don't want to consider, but many would say "My family photos or videos". Many things can be replaced with the insurance settlement: furniture, appliances, dishes, etc. But how do you replace those treasured pictures of your ancestors?

 

We may never have to deal with a fire, but have you looked at those old photos lately? Fire is not the only threat they face. Images fade with time, and exposure to sunlight (even inside most picture frames) only hastens that process. Time is a slower method of loss than fire, but just as certain.

 

For the past four or five years I've been working (off and on) on archiving our beloved family photos. Our children were raised during the age of film and we have a good many albums of our precious little ones. Using a scanner and a computer, I've slowly gone through the albums and digitized each snapshot. I've then made copies of those digital images so if my copies are destroyed someone else will have them. Digital images are more likely to survive the ravages of time.

 

I can't begin to estimate the number of hours I've spent archiving photos from my own and my mother's collection. The assurance I have, though, of my grandchildren being able to enjoy these family keepsakes makes it all worthwhile.

 

A passage in the Bible that has been powerful in my life is 2 Corinthians 3:18: "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." To do that passage justice would require more room than I devote for these devotionals. Let me quickly summarize, however, what Paul means.

 

The "mirror" of which Paul speaks refers to the word of God. James makes that clear in James 1:23,24. The only way I can truly "see" myself as God sees me is to come to the Bible and hear what He has said. It's also the only reliable source of information about Jesus, the Savior of mankind. I must come to this Book often to really see Jesus.

 

The more I present myself before this Book, according to Paul, the more I'll be "transformed into the same image". What "image" does Paul mean? The image of the glory of the Lord. God's word can create change in my life. It can transform me from the weak and vile person that I may be into one who is more like Jesus Christ!

 

Does an old book really have such power to transform? If it's God's word, yes! "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). The Bible is much more than words-on-a-page. It lives!

 

Attaining the image of Christ in my life should be my number one goal. And preserving that image in the face of life's temptations and struggles is equally vital. When His image fills my life, I know God is pleased with me.

 

Timothy D. Hall

six things the LORD hates

I AM NO political activist, and I was in no small way annoyed and worn out by the political phone calls and ads...  

 

Yet, there was an amendment on the Colorado ballot that did have my undivided attention.  It was simply called "Amendment 62," an amendment to our state constitution recognizing the independent "personhood" of the unborn child.  By an overwhelming 7 to 3 ratio, our state's voters denied that amendment.

 

There are many reasons to recognize the personhood of the unborn child.  The child has its own unique DNA, fingerprints, blood type, many times is even of a different gender, and is distinctly identified as a human being.  The child develops early and rapidly, having blood vessels form in the third week after conception, eyes and the beginning of esophagus, gallbladder, liver, lungs, pancreas, pharynx, stomach and trachea form in the fourth week. The face of the child begins to look human by week five, and the heart begins beating around the same time. The brain of the child can sense smell by day 35.  The beginning of the toes are evident by day 42.  Consider that all of these developments are occurring before or around the time a woman discovers she is pregnant (cf.http://sfuhl.org/).  The most compelling reason requires a belief both in God and scripture, which not only gives us our moral bearing regarding life and love of children but also gives us God's view of the unborn child.

 

The Bible tells us that God knew the unborn child even before He formed the child in the womb (Isa. 44:1-2; Jer. 1:4-5).  It further states the love and relationship God has with the unborn child (Ps. 22:9-10; 139:13-16).  In Luke 1:39-44, Elizabeth recognizes the personhood both of the unborn child in her own womb and that in Mary's womb.  If Mary had been pro-choice and had sought to exercise that choice to abort (and why would a pro-choice Christian deny her that "right"?), the world's only Savior would not have been born.

 

The greater concern here is the collective callus on the heart of a nation.  For just short of four full decades, we have legally sanctioned the killing of unborn children.  With the practice now entering a third generation of legal and societal acceptance, I am very concerned about the conscience of an entire culture.

 

There is an incredible website out there called www.physiciansforlife.org, a voice for medical professionals against the horrific practice of abortion.  On the site, they say, "How ironic that the 'love' generation should spawn such a culturally accepted abomination as abortion."  The site is filled with studies and data about the health risks and problems for the mother who makes this choice as well as an endless amount of statistics and research on the matter.

 

Our task is great.  It begins with our valuing all human life and the eternal implication residing in every person.  This deserves our prayers and our concern.  If we will be more aggressive in teaching the gospel to the lost, we stand a better chance to reach the heart of a nation hardened by years of choosing evil rather than good on this matter.  May God grant our nation a softened heart and may He bless us all, including those unborn who simply want to live.  Neal Pollard /

 

16 These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood."  Proverbs 6:16-17

 

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Ryan O'Rourke

"Opinions are like noses: Everybody has one...you pick yours and I'll pick mine."

Ryan O'Rourke, Irish-American evangelist and missionary to the Republic of Ireland (1978- )

 

November 2nd

In two days it will be November 2^nd, the day for which we've all been waiting, lo these many months - election day! In two days it will all be over. No more TV ads blaring a bunch of innuendos about the character of some politician's opponent. Is it just me or does this latest election cycle seem to be more vitriolic in nature than the others have been? Without giving away my age, I've seen many elections come and go and they just seem to get worse in mud-slinging and character assassination with each one.

I don't editorialize on politics in the sense that I promote one candidate over another, but I do use "politics" and "politicians" in general to teach lessons. And, I have to admit that they do provide some great (as in appropriate) illustrations, usually in the negative sense. Today's editorial will be of the nature of offering some advice to all politicians everywhere, but especially those already elected and those seeking to be elected to a seat in the federal government realm of politics. It will also provide advice to us as we make our decisions on who to vote for.

I ran across this "advice" quite a few years ago and in fact cited it once in an editorial "way back when." I remembered it and dug it out from the catacombs, dusted the cobwebs off of it, reread it and decided that it would be something we might need to consider again as we see "the day" approaching. If I'm successful with my presentation, you'll see this lesson apply to both "the day," (Nov. 2^nd) and "the day" of the Lord, (date unknown).

The "advice" which I'm about to cite to you was written by a minister (name unk.) back in the year 1916. I just wish that my editorials were read by some of our elected officials because, if they were, they might recognize the wisdom voiced by the words of that unnamed minister and act accordingly. He entitled his wise words "The Ten Cannots." Read them with me here and see if you don't agree with him and find his insight very applicable to today.

            You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

            You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.

            You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

            You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.

            You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.

            You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.

            You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

            You cannot establish security on borrowed money.

            You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's

            initiative and independence.

            You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they

            could and should do for themselves.

I don't know about you, but I see each and everyone of these "cannots" being violated by our current class of politicians and it worries me. I'm particularly concerned by "cannot #7," the inciting of "class hatred" that seems to be rearing its ugly head lately and it reminds me of another "cannot." One spoken by Jesus and reiterated by Abraham Lincoln: "And if a kingdom/house be divided against itself, that kingdom/house cannot stand." (Mark 3:24-25)

I said that this lesson would also apply to "the day" coming which is of much more importance than this or any other "election day." I suppose we could refer to it as our "election day" as it will be the day in which Christ returns and takes the "elect of God" home with Him to Heaven. (Ref. Col. 3:12 and 1 Thess. 1:4) And, when you think about it, this will be the most important day in the life of everyone who ever lived on this earth, both of the "elect" and the "non-elect."

Since we're looking at "cannots" lets look at a few that pertain to the importance of which "party" we're in on "that day." Obviously, if the "elect" get to go home with Christ and be with God forever in Heaven, then the "non-elect" are relegated to another location. I don't think that we have to spend any time or space in this editorial surmising where that "forever" location will be so rather, let me provide you with some Biblical "cannots" that help illustrate the difference in the two "parties" and their designated eternal destinations.

I think that by knowing these "cannots" you can make the proper decision as to the election of the party in which you want to belong. And, I have to tell you that, you have to make a choice because Christ says "No man can serve two masters... that you cannot serve God and mammon." (Matt. 6:24) You see, by not choosing God as your "master" (His "party"), by default puts you into Satan's "party", the "non-elect party."

How about a little further look into the platform, so to speak, of God's "party." In defining how one becomes a member of "God's elect," His "party" we see in John 3:5 Christ laying out the basic membership requirement: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Then, in another place (Luke 14:27) we find Him saying this: "And whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple."

Ok, we've discussed the eligibility requirements for being in God's "party," IE: first being "in," or a "disciple" of His Son, but we need to also understand that should we decide to, shall we say, "switch parties" we also switch eternal destinations. In John 15 Christ likened Himself as "the true vine" and His disciples as "branches." He goes on to say that should we switch party allegiance we'd be like a lopped-off limb because, as said there in John, a "...branch cannot bear fruit of itself." It has to stay connected to "the vine" in order to be viable.

The "vine," as used by Christ to represent Himself, is what we call a metaphor. In closing our thoughts today, I'd like to portray this last point of the lesson about staying true to "God's party" and understanding the consequences of leaving it by using one more metaphor, that of a "ship." I see this metaphor as relative to the "party" of God. I think that you'll easily see the connection.

                    "Except ye abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved." (Acts 27:31)

Ron Covey

Dan Rather

"The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called 'truth.'"

Dan Rather, American journalist (1931- )