I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life

                        "I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk

                             in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)

The combination of three things serve as the basis for my editorial lesson today. One of them is an old, familiar church hymn, another is an historical event and the third is a statement by Jesus seen in the above cited verse of John 8:12. Stay with me here and I'll do my best to link these three together in an understandable way.

First, let's talk a minute about the old hymn. I say "old" because it was written by P.P. Bliss, who wrote many of the hymns found in our songbooks, and he died in a train accident in 1876. This particular hymn he entitled "Let The Lower Lights Be Burning."

Like many of you may do from time to time, I notice a phrase from one of our hymns and wonder just what it means. What is the writer speaking about when he pens a song that refers to "the lower lights? I was curious so I did a little research and found out that this phrase relates to a historical event on Lake Erie at the port of Cleveland, Ohio.

Let me just tell you the circumstances of the event and that will explain both what the "lower lights" are and by knowing that, we can tie them into the statement by Christ that He is "the light of the world."

It was reported that the event happened on a dark, stormy night as a passenger ship was trying to make it into the harbor. The waves on the lake were said to be like "mountains" and no stars could be seen. There was a pilot steering the ship and he knew that in order to safely navigate into the harbor he had to keep two lower lights lined up with the main beacon.

The ship's Captain, watching from the pilot house, could see only one light shining from the lighthouse. He asked the pilot, "Are you sure this is Cleveland?" The pilot replied, "Quite sure, sir." The Captain then asked, "Where are the lower lights?" The pilot said, "They've gone out, sir." The next questions from the Captain was, "Can you make the harbor?" The pilot's answer to that was very terse and carries a great analogy to our lesson. He said, "We must or we perish, sir."

Without being able to see the "lower lights" the pilot turned the wheel and the result was not good. They missed the safe channel into the harbor, crashed onto the rocks and many souls perished that night. I used the term "souls" because the phrase "souls on board" is an old seafaring term relating to the number of passengers on board the ship. It's since been adopted by the FAA and the airlines to indicate the number of passengers on an airplane.

Okay, let's see if we can't tie this old song and some of it's words to the ship wreck at Cleveland harbor with Jesus and His words. First off, Jesus said "I am the Light of the world....." In our little analogy today, Jesus would be the "main beacon." The light from the lighthouse that John 1:9 tells us is "the true Light." The "Light" that "lighteth every man that cometh into the world."

Now that we know and understand Who, and What, the "main Light" is, we can understand just who and what the "lower lights" are. To make a long story short, we, Christians, are the "lower lights." We're not the "main Light." Not the "Lighthouse." We're the "lower lights," the ones who reflect the "main Light."

There are several scriptures that tell us that Christians serve as "lights" in the world. Here's just a few for you to look at: in Eph. 5:8 and 1 Thess. 5:5 we read that followers of Christ are "children of light." And when we read a little further down the page in Eph. 5 we see that it is Christ who gives us our light (vs. 14).

You've probably never thought of it in this way, but we can even see in The Scriptures that John the Baptist was also a "lower light." Look at what it says in John 1:6-9 where, speaking of John the Baptist, that he was "not that Light" but was a "witness of that Light." Aren't we tasked with the same thing? To bear "witness" of the "True Light?" (The answer is yes.)

Now that I think about it, the Apostle Paul and Barnabas were also "lower lights." If you open your Bible to Acts 13:47 you'll read where Paul tells those at Antioch of Pisidia that he had been sent to be a "light of the Gentiles."

I hope that you've taken notice of my using the lower case (l) when referring to John, Paul, Barnabas and us and the upper case (L) when referring to Christ, "the true Light." I do that because that's the way it reads in The Bible and this is very fitting to our discussion of the "lights" and "Light" of our lesson, don't you think?

Here's a couple more scriptural references regarding Christians being the "lower lights" and then we'll wrap up our lesson today. I particularly like something Jesus told His disciples recorded in the 12^th chapter of Luke. He's giving them a teaching on their duties in this chapter and in the 35^th verse He tells them: "Let your loins be girded about and your lights burning." As if saying, always be dressed as disciples and have your light shining.

My second and last reference passage comes from Phil. 2:15 where Paul is saying that Christians are to always be faithful to God and Christ, even though we live in a "crooked and perverse nation among whom ye shine as lights in the world." That is our mission on this earth. To provide "light" or as Paul puts it in 2Cor. 4:4 "the light of the glorious gospel of Christ" to our part of the world.

In closing my thoughts today, I'd just like to remind you of one more thing. We've seen that, as Christians, if we "walk (live) in the light" (of Christ) as we live our lives here on earth "for a season" then I want you to know that in heaven we'll "walk" in His light eternally because Jesus, "the Lamb" is "the light thereof." (Rev. 21:23-24)

And here's some closing words from our song: "But to us He gives the keeping, Of the lights along the shore." The gospel is left in our hands. We are to be the "light of that glorious gospel." Our "lights" are to always be shining. Or as the song says: "Trim your feeble lamp, my brother! Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed, trying now to make the harbor, in the darkness may be lost."

If we let our lights go out, like the "lower lights" by the Cleveland harbor, souls won't be able to see the "true Light" and be saved. If we only learn one thing from this lesson today, let it be - keep our feeble lamps trimmed and burning.

Ron Covey

Musical biofeedback

The musicians are assembled on the stage. One is standing with two concrete
blocks tied to his arms. Another is wearing a helmet fitted with wires
which
are attached to her scalp. The third is pinching two electrically-charged
pennies which are connected by wires to a computer. Sounds that some
identify
as "music" begin to be heard.

This strange sight actually took place in Berlin, Germany earlier this
month,
according to an article today on Yahoo News. The "musicians" are among
those
who are exploring new ways to produce music using their bodies as
instruments.
The concrete blocks produce stress on one's muscles (of course) which in
turn
produces sounds. Marco Donnarumma has learned how to move his muscles in
ways
that produce rhythms. The helmet similarly detects brain waves that change
according to moods; those waves are reprogrammed into musical sounds.

"Musical biofeedback" is the term given to this strange way of producing
music.
The music cannot normally be heard, but with amplification and technical
assistance those sounds are now audible.

I found some videos on YouTube which featured the work of Donnarumma. If
his
work is representative of others in this genre, I believe I'll stick with
bluegrass, smooth jazz or classical. The sounds are intriguing, but they're
not
what I consider music.

For most of the years of my life I've been using my physical body as a
musical
instrument, and I don't need computers or concrete blocks to make it happen.
All I need is a song in my heart, vocal cords in my throat and a tongue to
articulate the sounds that come forth. In fact, this is the way God has
shown
me to offer praise music to Him.

Some are astonished when they visit the church I serve and see no pianos,
organs
or other mechanical instruments. "Don't you believe in music?" they
sometimes
ask. Oh, yes, we believe in music. But instead of using instruments people
have made, we use God-made instruments. And the sound can be wonderful!

Paul wrote to Christians in Ephesus long ago with this instruction: "And do
not
be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and
making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19).

That phrase "making melody" translates a Greek word that was often used to
speak
of one who "plucked" the strings of an instrument (such as a harp). But the
instrument Paul had in mind is specified - "in your heart". In fact,
singing is
the music specified for Christians throughout the New Testament (though
instruments were used in God's previous covenant with Israel).

This is actually a delightful arrangement, for it means I can offer music of
praise anywhere, anytime. James observed that fact, too: "Is anyone among
you
suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms" (James
5:13). Thus, I take my musical instruments with me everywhere I go. When
the
mood hits, I employ my heart and my voice in singing praises to God!

Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in
spirit
and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you'd like to discuss these
ideas further.

Timothy D. Hall

WORRY: WASTED ENERGY

I have concluded that worry is wasted energy. Taking Gary to register for
his fall classes last Thursday, we left at a time when Houston was
experiencing a series of severe thunderstorms. Our 5:50 AM flight from
Denver to Houston left the ground closer to eight o'clock. That meant that
our hour connection time had long since evaporated and United was good
enough to book us seats on the next flight to Mobile, Alabama. Since it's
approximate 84 miles between each gate at Houston, it took us a while to get
over to the gate for our connecting flight. When we got there, the Customer
Service desk was about 84 miles long! Gary and I pitied them as we walked
to B84, only to find out our new flight was canceled. That kicked off over
two hours of phone time with United's Customer helpline. Bad weather caused
massive delays, cancellations, and out of place planes and crews. We needed
to get Gary to College Bound and the clock seemed to be sprinting. We
checked everything--Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, Atlanta, Birmingham,
Huntsville, Jackson, Meridian, Gulfport, and Montgomery (our final
destination). Nothing was there! We were on award tickets, which further
complicated what seats were available. I have not always been patient in
such circumstances, but I strove to handle each phone call or face to face
with service or gate agents with a smile and sympathy. When it seemed we'd
have to take up residence in Houston, a sweet lady at B17 (which is
approximately 484 miles from B84) found two seats on our original connection
flight. It had been sitting at the gate all this time (over at A12; you can
do the math). So, with just three hours of delay, Gary and I boarded the
plane and even got much better seats. I was able to visit with a religious
man reeling from a recent, unwanted divorce and Gary was able to talk about
the church to a "really pretty" young woman. Everything with the weekend
worked out just fine (I will tell you later about the nearly three hour
delay while the ground crew changed a tire on the connection back to
Denver).

What's the point of this meandering musing? What would worry have done in
this case? Gotten us to our destination faster? Resolved the situation at
all? Yet, too often, these kinds of stressful situations bring out our
worst. We lose our temper. We rail at others, and usually our victims are
as powerless as we are. We blow out our Christian lights. I pray that I
have been sufficiently reminded of the futility of worry for the next time
an opportunity arises. Instead, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known
to God" (Phil. 4:6). Jesus calls worry futile (cf. Lk. 12:25; Mt. 6:25-34).
Let us trust that He knows best!

Neal Pollard

Jeneba Tarmoh and Allyson Felix

Many would dream of participating in the Olympic games. Very few would
forfeit their opportunity to participate so that others could...

Jeneba Tarmoh and Allyson Felix have been training partners in preparation
for sprinting events in the 2012 Olympics in London, England. At the recent
U.S. Olympic Trials, the training partners had to compete against one
another for the opportunity to be a part of the U.S. Olympic Team that will
compete in the 2012 Olympics.

After running the first two rounds of the 100-meter, Tarmoh and Felix met
again for the 100-meter finals. When they crossed the finish line,
officials determined that they had tied for third; it was literally a "photo
finish." That's extremely significant because only the top three runners go
on to compete in the Olympics.

At first, Tarmoh told the officials that she would run in a run-off with
Felix for the spot on the Olympic team. However, after further deliberation
and prayer, she decided not to run. She wrote the USATF organization the
following note: "I Jeneba Tarmoh have decided to decline my 3rd place
position in the 100m dash to Allyson Felix. I understand that with this
decision I am no longer running the 100m dash in the Olympic Games and will
be an alternate for the event."

When she called Felix, Tarmoh said, she told her training partner, "Allyson,
my heart is not in it. I don't want to do a runoff or a coin flip. You just
take it and I just wish you luck in the 100, the 200, the 4 x 100, and 4 x
400. You trained hard for it." *

The whole scenario of events involving Tarmoh and Felix can help us to
appreciate something that affects each and every one of us.

There is One who became "disqualified" so that you and I could have eternal
life!

Sin disqualifies US from entering into eternal life in heaven and dooms us
to destruction (see Revelation 21:8; Matthew 25:46). That's terrible news
because "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

But the GOOD News (the Gospel) is that because of His great love for us --
His heart was in it -- Jesus, the Son of God, bore our sins in His body on
the cross so that we can have forgiveness and eternal life (John 3:16;
Ephesians 1:7).

"God made Him who had no sin [Jesus] to be sin for us, so that WE might
become the righteousness of God IN HIM." - 2 Corinthians 5:21

Jesus became "disqualified" because of OUR sin so that through His
righteousness we might be "qualified" to enter eternal life!

To accept His offer of forgiveness and eternal life, one must place his
faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts
17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized
(immersed) into Christ to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ (Acts
2:38; Galatians 3:26-27).

Won't YOU accept His offer?

David A. Sargent

BREAKING NEWS! BREAKING NEWS!

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

"BREAKING NEWS! #BREAKING NEWS!" "You'll be shocked to hear this." So went the words spoken on television by a well-known news host on her show a few days ago. I immediately thought "What could be happening now?" "What tragedy has occurred or what national threat is coming at us?" I wasn't exactly breathless, but I did want to hear what this "breaking news" consisted of.

Then, after about a 3 minute commercial, came the "breaking news." Another Hollywood marriage is ending in divorce. I was stunned! Almost shocked and chagrined by this astonishing announcement. I mean, who could have imagined that the marriage of another "Hollywood couple" would end in a divorce?

Well, speaking of "break" - give me one. Have we as a society deteriorated to the point that the divorce of two people who are paid lots of money for pretending to be someone else is considered "breaking news?" That two people from the Hollywood entertainment industry and culture have ended their 5 year old marriage in which they have a 6 year old child (you do the math) and this is deserving of being headline news" I repeat - GIMME A BREAK!

And I'm not really sure where to assign blame here for this situation. Is it the media's fault for arousing interest in these types of events and making the public think this is important - OR - is it the public's fascination with such events that causes the media to report them in the manner that they do? You decide for yourself.

Now I didn't go out of my way to follow this "breaking" story, but I did hear enough reported as to what was the primary cause for the break up. It was reported that there was a difference in their respective "religious" beliefs. If this reporting is true I think we can use this event to develop a short, spiritual lesson today.

I think that it can perhaps help us to better understand the principle of something the apostle Paul said in 2Cor. 6:14 about being "unequally yoked." By looking at our ill-fated Hollywood couple I think we'll be able to see a good example of how the "unequal yoking" is not a good basis for success in partnerships or other close or intimate endeavors. How disastrous it can be for two people to be "yoked" together even if both sides of the "yoke" is a false doctrine.

Again, I think we can use this marriage breakup as a prime example of the principle being pointed out by Paul in 2Cor. the 6^th chapter. The basic precept or principle seen there is; that two opposing ways of thinking, which directs conduct, is detrimental to the union or partnership.

If we take what Paul says and combine it with the recent, earth-shattering news regarding our failed Hollywood marriage, I think we can draw a spiritual lesson from this combination. At least I'm going to give it a try.

My aim in this lesson is to define the precept given us in 2 Cor. 6:14-18 and it, basically, is this: that a Christian shouldn't place themselves in a close and intimate relationship with those who don't share the same spiritual goals that a Christian has.

Just as "unequal yokings" are a bad prescription for success in social or business affairs, this same principle of "unequal yoking" is a poor prescription for Christian unity and affairs of the soul.

Perhaps it would help with our lesson thoughts today to look at some scriptures that speak to being "equally yoked." That teach us what "equal yoking" is. The first one that comes to mind is something Paul said in Phil. 2:2: "Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."

The apostle Paul actually touched on this subject quite a lot in his epistles and in Rom. 15:5 we find him again saying that Christians should be "like-minded." In his prayer closing 2 Corinthians he prays that they would "be of one mind." Be "equally yoked" he could be saying.

We earlier read Paul's presentation of the principle of being "unequally yoked" in 2 Cor. 6, but he also covered it in Gal. 5:17 using different words but having the same meaning. In this passage he provides us a good picture of what being "unequally yoked" is in a spiritual sense. Please read that verse as I paraphrase it here: he says that the "flesh" (the world or the carnal) is opposed to the "Spirit." That they are "contrary" to each other. Because of this opposition, this contrariness, things that should be done "cannot be done." In other words, this "yoking" will not allow success for the Christian.

One more thought just came to me regarding our aforementioned Hollywood couple. I think the reason so many people are fascinated by the affairs and activities of celebrities and entertainers is that they look at their seemingly glamorous, exciting lives and then they vicariously tie their lives to theirs. That's just my opinion and you are certainly entitled to yours.

But, thinking of this, I recalled a quotation I once read given by a 90 year old newspaper reporter offering lessons he'd learned during his career. One of these was: "Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about."

We know what a Christian's journey is about and that is where we should center our thoughts.

In closing, here's one more little thought on marriage. Someone once opined that Adam and Eve must have had a great marriage. She didn't have to hear about what a great cook his mother was and he didn't have to hear about how many other men she could have married.

Ron Covey

Nastia Liukin won 5 medals at the Olympics in Bejing, China

American Nastia Liukin won 5 medals at the Olympics in Bejing, China, in
2008.

She announced her comeback a year ago to try to become the first Olympic
champion to return to the games since Nadia Comaneci in 1980. She spent
months getting herself into shape to compete in this year's U.S. Olympic
Trials in order to make the team to compete at the 2012 Olympic Games in
London.

But Liukin won't be traveling to London to compete in this year's games.
She failed to make the team.

In her bars routine last Sunday, she flung herself into the air to perform a
move she'd completed thousands of times in her life, but this time when she
reached out to catch the bar, it wasn't there. She fell face-first onto the
mat, and she knew her hopes of making a second Olympic team were officially
gone.

But with the encouragement of her father and coach, Valeri, she picked
herself up, caked herself at the powder bowl one more time, and completed
her routine.

"Getting up after a fall is never easy," said the 22-year-old Liukin. "It's
always very tough. It shows your true character if your are able to get up
and that's something I've been taught since I was 8-years-old."

Liukin received a standing ovation as she exited the arena to make way for
the next American Olympian hopefuls. *

We've ALL fallen. "For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
(Romans 3:23). Our sin disqualifies us from entering into heaven, and it
dooms us to eternal destruction.

But God says to us, "Arise!"

Because of His great love for us, God sent His Son Jesus into the world to
live among us and then to die on the cross for our sins so that we might
have forgiveness and eternal life (John 3:16; Ephesians 1:7).

So even though each of us has fallen (sinned), God wants us to know that we
can have forgiveness and life because of what JESUS has done for us. Even
though we have been disqualified because of our sin, God qualifies us
through Christ to enter into eternal life!

To accept His offer of salvation and life, we must Arise... place our faith
and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts
17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38).

"And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your
sins, calling on the name of the Lord." - Acts 22:16

Won't YOU?

David A. Sargent

The Patriot The Patriot

One of my favorite movies is "The Patriot" staring Mel Gibson. Whether you
like Mel Gibson or not is immaterial to the movie. It is a stirring
portrayal of he struggle of our forefathers during the Revolutionary War,
our war for freedom against Britain's unfair taxes and control over their
colonies in the new world of the Americas.

Many people were not in favor of this "revolt" against Britain. It was their
home nation, they had friends and family there, and many had been born
there. If fact the main character played by Gibson was against the
revolution, until forced by the evil and violence of those in power to make
a choice to stand for the right and freedom.

One of the themes running through the movie was the use of the simple
phrase, "Stay the course." This was saying, "Don't forget your purpose,"
"Don't be dissuaded of the urgency or importance of your convictions". It
was a way of saying, "Don't be discouraged by what is going on around you,
simply stay the course (or stay on course)."

It's interesting also that Gibson stared in the movie Braveheart. It was the
story of William Wallace and the fight of the Scotts against the British
trying to subjugate them. The message was similar in that movie, "Stay the
course," "don't loose sight of what is important."

Both movies asked the question of the viewers (I believe), concerning "what
is really important to you". For what would you be willing to die? And the
answer comes ringing back in both movies: "My freedom, the freedom of my
family and the freedom of my nation is that important!"

This 4th of July, is our celebration of our nations Independence from the
cruel and unfair demands put upon our ancestors by the British ruling
powers. Although we are no longer under the control of that nation, we are
under the control of a government in our own nation which has (for the most
part), lost all connection with us, its people. They have also lost all
connection with the principles upon which our nation was founded of being
"one nation under God".

We are (it seems to me), still fighting the same battle which has been
fought through the years. The battle to hold on to our freedom! The freedom
to worship and live the way we as individuals want, freedom from persecution
or restrictions regarding our beliefs by the government which is suppose to
protect our freedoms.

I know at times it seems as if we cannot win against the powers which govern
our country, but know that God is still in control. Know that there are
millions of people in our nation who will stand along side of you and be
counted for righteousness.

I do not know what the future will bring. I do not know how we will be
called to stand and make a difference, but I challenge you to be ready to do
whatever it takes to maintain your (and my) freedom. Stay the course! "Then
I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go
for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" (Isaiah 6:8)

Russ Lawson

Ferdinand de Lesseps

Before 1869 when traveling by ship, the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea
seemed "worlds apart." However, by land, the two seas were only about 100
miles apart.

Brett Petrillo reports that in 1832, a man by the name of Ferdinand de
Lesseps was sailing to Egypt when people in his crew became very sick.
Everyone on the ship was quarantined. While in quarantine, Ferdinand de
Lesseps was sent books by a friend.

These books, combined with his current situation and the tough reality of
sailing, sparked an idea. Ferdinand de Lesseps decided to make a canal
in-between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. *

In 1854, de Lesseps, the former French consul to Cairo, secured an agreement
with the Ottoman governor of Egypt to build a canal 100 miles across the
Isthmus of Suez, connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas. An international
team of engineers drew up a construction plan, and in 1856 the Suez Canal
Company was formed. Construction began in April 1859. At first digging was
done by hand with picks and shovels utilized by forced laborers, but later
European workers with dredgers and steam shovels arrived. On November 17,
1869, the Suez Canal was opened to navigation. The canal dramatically
reduced the danger and sailing time between the two seas and opened up a
whole new world of opportunities.

In one respect, man is not far from God "for in Him we live and move and
have our being" (Acts 17:28). Yet when it comes to a relationship between
the Holy God and sinful man, we are "worlds apart." It is SIN that
separates man from God (Isaiah 59:1-2).
But God loves us so much that He sent His Son to provide a way of
reconciliation between man and God (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). Jesus had to
die on the cross for our sins in order to reconcile man to God (Ephesians
1:7). Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

We access the Way to reconciliation to God and to eternal life by: placing
our faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance
(Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).

Our sins cause us to be "worlds apart" from God. But God's love provided a
Channel by which we may be reconciled to Him and receive the gift of eternal
life.

Jesus provided the "New and Living Way" to God by shedding His blood so that
our sins can be washed away (Hebrews 10:19-20).

Won't YOU accept His offer of reconciliation and life on His terms?

David A. Sargent