spring of 1981

In the spring of 1981, a young man was flown into the desolate north country
of Alaska to photograph the natural beauty and mysteries of the tundra. He
took along photo equipment, 500 rolls of film, several firearms, and 1400
pounds of provisions. As the months passed, the entries in his diary, which
at first detailed his wonder and fascination with the wildlife around him,
turned into a pathetic record of a nightmare.

In August he wrote, 'I think I should have used more foresight about
arranging my departure. I'll soon find out."" He waited and waited, but no
one came to his rescue.

In November he died in a nameless valley, by a nameless lake, 225 miles
northeast of Fairbanks. An investigation revealed that he had carefully
mapped out his venture, but had made no provision to be flown out of the
area. *

ALL of us need to make specific plans for OUR departure from this life.
If we don't, we can be left in a predicament worse than that young man!

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that
leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is
the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who
find it." - Matt 7:13-14

The Way to eternal life is through Jesus Christ, the Son of God: "I am the
way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me"
(John 14:6). Because of His great love for us, Jesus died on the cross for
our sins so that we might live with Him for an eternity (1 Thessalonians
5:10).

We accept the gift of eternal life - (Romans 6:23) by: placing our faith and
trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turning from our sins in repentance (Acts
17:30-31), confessing Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized
(immersed) into Christ so that our sins can be washed away (Acts 2:38;
22:16).

THEN... we are to "live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and
Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13-14).

Long ago, Moses bemoaned the sinful idolatry of the people of Israel and
where it would lead them, saying:

"Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this, That they would
consider their latter end!" - Deuteronomy 32:29

Have YOU considered your latter end? Have YOU planned your departure?

Trusting and obeying Christ is the only Way to be prepared...

Won't YOU?

David A. Sargent

The Carter Family

The scene is familiar in movies: A person is in a dangerous situation
and there is only one way out - and that door is closing.  The hero
seems to always slip through the closing doorway just in time.

Sometimes the door closes before we realize we should have gone
through it.  I was in such a situation recently - one I've been in on
other occasions.  While helping with a funeral I heard a relative of
the departed speaking about their accomplishments, travels and
relationships.  As I listened I thought, "I wish I had known that; I
would have talked with them more about it."  But now that door has
closed and there is no longer an opportunity.

Each time I have that experience I vow to spend more time with people.
I've learned through the years that each person has a story to tell.
If you ask the right questions and are patient enough to listen,
you'll almost always be fascinated with people you thought were merely
common.  I've found it to be especially so with the elderly.  The
world of their past was a far different world than I've known.  I need
to know what they've seen, endured and learned.

"Closing doors" also refers to sentiments and feelings that are often
unspoken.  Couples neglect to say "I love you" on a daily basis, and
later regret not saying it.  "If only I could go back and say what I
felt!"  But we can't go back.  Time machines are still a fantasy.  We
can only live in the present.

A.P. Carter is somewhat of a legend in the area I call home.  In 1927
he formed a band he called The Carter Family, one of the earliest
groups to be recorded in the genre known as Country Music.  He wrote
these lyrics for a song: "Wonderful things of folks are said, when
they have passed away; roses adorn their narrow bed, over the sleeping
face.  Give me the roses while I live, trying to cheer me on; useless
are flowers that you give, after the soul is gone."  Give me the roses
while I live!

God's word instructs us on this idea of taking time to build up one
another with our time and our words.  Paul, for example, wrote: "Let
no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for
necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers"
(Ephesians 4:29).  Using our words to impart grace - that's the point
Paul is striving to make.  Any of us can do it if we take time to do
so.

Paul was often imprisoned for his work on behalf of Christ.  The
ability to interact with others was greatly curtailed.  But listen to
Paul's description of one who sought him out: "The Lord grant mercy to
the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not
ashamed of my chain; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out
very zealously and found me" (2 Timothy 1:16,17).  Here was one who
took time to go to the isolated apostle.  Paul was "refreshed" simply
because one man took time to come be with him.

You and I know people who are imprisoned in other ways.  Some are
being held by the infirmities of age and cannot circulate as they once
did.  Others are cut off by cold relationships, rarely hearing words
of appreciation or encouragement.  We have the power to refresh their
spirits, just as Onesiphorus did for Paul.  But the door is closing,
even as I write.

Hurry! - before the door is closed and all opportunities are lost.

Timothy D. Hall

At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn't see who he was

Wow! The Fourth of July was a great holiday! So many people got together and
celebrated our "Independence day" in so many different ways. Melody and I
went to a pancake breakfast (fund raiser for the local football team) and
got to mix a little with the community. That night we went out and enjoyed
the Tehachapi fireworks display. But now what? There are no other major
holidays until September and many folks feel let down, like there is nothing
to look forward to now.

We can identify with that problem can't we? It seems to be human nature to
need something to look forward to in life. When we are young we can't wait
until that next birthday so we will be old enough to do something new. Then
we look forward to finishing school and then attending a university.
Somewhere in the midst of that comes finding that person who will be our
life mate, then finding a job and a house, then looking forward to children
and the list just goes on and on.

In thinking about this problem I thought about the early disciples. They had
been with Jesus for three years and were sure he was the Messiah. They
really didn't understand the nature of the Messiah and were looking forward
to the time he was going to kick out the Romans and make Israel a great
nation again. That didn't happen and their hopes were crushed as he died
upon the cross. They faced a huge let down in their lives. They gave up the
teaching and preaching and went back to their old jobs of being fishermen, a
tax collector and a doctor. They had counted so much on what they though the
Messiah would do and it didn't happen so they went back to fishing.

However, notice their reaction in John 21 to Christ's return: "(4) At dawn
Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn't see who he was.
(5) He called out, "Fellows, have you caught any fish?" "No," they
replied. (6) Then he said, "Throw out your net on the right hand side of
the boat, and you'll get some!" So they did, and they couldn't haul in the
net because there were so many fish in it. (7) Then the disciple Jesus
loved said to Peter, "It's the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the
Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the
water, and headed to shore." (NLT)

Having something to look forward to makes all of the difference in the world
doesn't it! What are you looking forward to in life, what is your motivation
for keeping on trying and not giving up? How do you combat "the let down"
times in your life? Let me encourage you not to give up hope, but look
forward to that time when we will all be with Jesus forever! Remember what
Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:3: "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God
raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation." And
I'll end with the words of the apostle Paul from 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17;
"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and
by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and
strengthen you in every good thing you do and say."

Russ Lawson

Dog days of summer: What does dog days of summer mean?

The summer is now officially in full swing (as of June 21st), and along with it comes the hot weather as we endure the 'dog days of summer.' The phrase has an interesting history: The ancient Romans coined the phrase, calling the hot sultry weather of early July through September "caniculares dies" or "days of the dogs" after the constellation of Canis Major, within which Sirius, the Dog Star, is found. As the hottest and most humid days of summer generally coincided with the period Sirius rose and set with the sun, the Romans believed that heat from Sirius was increasing the heat of the sun. OK..that is the official explanation. I always thought the 'dog days' were the hot, lazy days of summer when even the dogs refused to bark, chase cars, or even scratch the fleas that pestered them. Either way, the temperature gage tells me we are in for a long hot summer.

 

--Tom Wacaster

 

We're not loving, we're hating

 I passed her in the hall,
and she frowned as clear as could be,
I thought, "What utter gall
that she would so look at me,
I've always thought her haughty,
old Sister So N So,
She's mean and cold and naughty,
and snooty from head to toe."
But I didn't know the rest of the story,
as I looked her up and down,
I assumed she was full of vainglory
and that was the cause of her frown,
But at home was a non-Christian spouse,
 they had bills and much infirmity,
They were close to losing their house,
and they suffered so incredibly.
"He did a poor job on his class,
his song leading, his presiding over the table,
It's a surprise what the elders let pass,
someone so ill-equipped and unable.
He doesn't even want to serve,
he just likes all the notice and glory,
He soaks up the spotlight with such nerve,
yep, it's that same old sad story!"
"She's so prejudiced." "He doesn't like me."
"What is it she has so against me?"
"They're cliquish, self-righteous, persnickety,
a standoffish, uncouth family."
Why do we indulge in such conjecture,
assuming a bad motivation?
Guilty 'til proven innocent, in need of a lecture!
We are bloated with insinuation!
Let's err on the side of charity,
assume that they're trying their best,
Give up conjecture, seek verity,
and not put them to such an austere test.
For such harsh and judgmental rating
says more about us than of them,
It says we're not loving, we're hating,
when so quickly we rush to condemn.
Were we to put the very best construction
on the words, deeds, and hearts of another,
We'd avoid the broad path of destruction,
as we look for the best in our brother!

 

Neal Pollard  

The Wisdom of Fathers

                       
Dads, give yourself a point for every one of these you've actually said to your kids:

    Don't ask me, ask your mother.  Close the door -- were you raised in a barn?  You didn't beat me -- I let you win.  Big boys don't cry.  Don't worry, it's only blood.  Now you listen to ME, Buster!  I'll play catch after I read the paper.  Coffee will stunt your growth.  A little dirt never hurt anyone, just wipe it off.  Get your elbows off the table.  I told you, keep your eye on the ball.  Who said life was supposed to be fair?  Always say please and thank you -- that way, you get more.  If you forget, you'll be grounded till the end of the world. You call that a haircut?  "Hey" is for horses..  This will hurt me a lot more than it hurts you.  Turn off those lights -- do you think I'm made of money?   Don't give me any of your lip, young lady..  You call that noise "music"?  We're not lost -- I'm just not sure where we are.  No, we're not there yet.  Shake it off, it's only pain.  When I was your age, I treated MY father with respect.  As long as you live under my roof, you'll live by my rules.  I'll tell you why -- because I said so, that's why!  Do what I say, not what I do.  Sit up straight!  So you think you're smart , do you? What's so funny?  Wipe that smile off your face.  If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times.  C'mon, you throw like a girl.  You want something to do?  I'll give you something to do.  This is your last warning!  What are your intentions with my daughter?  I'd better get a good report, or you better head to Mexico.  I'm not sleeping, I was watching that channel.  What keeps those jeans of yours from falling off?  I'm not just talking to hear my own voice!  Don't believe everything you hear.  What do you think I am, a bank?  What part of NO don't you understand?  I don't care what other fathers are doing -- I'm not everybody else's father! You're not leaving my house dressed like that!  Hey, did you hear me talking to you? Don't use that tone with me!  Am I talking to a brick wall?  If I catch you doing that one more time, I'll....   Act your age.  Wipe your feet!  Don't make me stop the car!  What did I just get finished telling you?

    Some of the things we fathers say are downright embarrassing when we think about it.  But, in our finer moments, it is our intention to give advice that will shape our children into the people God wants them to be.  Though our children don't believe we can relate to anything that goes on in their lives, we can.  With what we have learned over the years by listening to others and the experience of making wrong decisions, we want to share with our children a wisdom that will keep them on the right path.

    "Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding; For I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law.  When I was my father's son, tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, he also taught me, and said to me:  'Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live.  Get wisdom!  Get understanding!  Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.'" (Prov. 4:1-5)

Alan Smith

NEWSWEEK, 11-13-00

A doctor phoned a patient and said, "I have some bad news and some good news.  The bad news is that you have only 24 hours left to live." The patient replied, "That is bad news.  What could be worse?" The doctor answered, "I've been trying to reach you since yesterday." God has been trying to reach mankind for ages with the bad news that death will be a reality for all until Jesus Christ destroys it at the end of time.  Each day tens of thousands of people discover that there is no trick or technology or technique known to man that can indefinitely hold death at bay.  Hebrews 9:27 makes a stark statement that many people choose to ignore or try to forget- '. . it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." In spite of our aversion to death in modem times, modem people just keep on dying.

Recent fighting between Israelis and Palestinians has resulted in nearly 200 deaths, forcefully reminding us that much of the death in our world is self-inflicted.  A terrorist attack on the US battleship COLE last month killed 17 sailors.  Daily in the good old USA, 1000's of unborn but very alive babies are violently killed in a process we have chosen to call a choice, a killing process about which millions in our culture have become very casual and comfortable.  Besides this, annually in the US there are around 20,000 murders.  In reference to the ongoing cycle of bloodshed in the conflict in the Middle East, Shimon Peres (former prime minister of Israel) recently made a short but gripping statement which represents a universal human longing- "We pray for a day without funerals." (NEWSWEEK, 11-13-00, p 29)

Mankind has dreamed of a day without funerals since Cain killed his brother Abel.  Can we dare think of such a day in a world where death dominates and cemeteries dot the landscape?  The gospel brings hope for an endless day without funerals!  Revelation 21:4 dares to tell us that in the end, when God finally dwells with His people in the New Jerusalem, that He 'will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Woody Allen once said, "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work.  I want to achieve it though not dying." The gospel says we will achieve immortality through Jesus' work of death, burial, and resurrection!  Thanks to Jesus, in Heaven there will be an endless day without funerals!

Dan Gulley