Transformers...The Big Picture

By Chad McComas

There is a battle over the earth. Evil forces want to destroy the world and the people in it. Good forces want to protect the world and the people in it…to the point of being willing to give up its own life. People have a choice to partner up with the good forces or choose to not believe that the good forces are exactly that…good. Some fight the good while ignoring that there truly is a bad force.

No…this isn’t the Bible story, but the story line from the new film Transformers. Interesting name. A transformer is something that can take on another form from what it truly is. It can imitate something else. Much like a chameleon it blends in to not be seen, but can come to life when it needs to.

Transformers entertains with scene after scene of incredible stunts and imagery, but perhaps the best gift this film gives is to remind us of another story of good and evil that truly is “transforming.”

God gave earth the “power” to choose. Each person has the same choice. Each can choose to follow a good God that intents to rescue us from evil or each person can choose to ignore the good God and believe that there isn’t any evil. Believing there is not evil doesn’t make it true. Rather to believe there is no god just allows evil to have its way with us. In the end when evil wins, we lose.

The best thing we can do is be linked up with a good God who is determined to not hurt humans, but rescue them from the destructive plans of evil. As we link up and fight evil together we are all transformed. We become confident. We become passionate. We become a strong force that evil struggles to contain.
God tells us that we are “transformed by the renewing of our minds.” (See Romans 12:1,2) The word for transformed comes from the same word that is used for metamorphous. It’s the word we use for the process of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. It is “transformed.”

We are “transformed” from a sinful, weak, evil, conniving, race of people into a strong, loving, godly people of God. He has the “power source” called the Holy Spirit that He gives to each of His followers who chooses Him. That “power source” changes us from the inside out…from the heart.

Paul, one of Jesus’ followers said that we become a “new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The old has gone, the new has come. We are transformed.
How do we join the “transformed” team?

Jesus told us that His Father God wants us to be on His team. He tells us that “God loved us so much that He sent His Son to earth to save us.” (John 3:16,17) He went on to say that anyone who believes in Him will never perish. Rather each believer will be given eternal life. Each believer will be given the “power source” to become a different person. Each believer is transformed.
The movie ends when evil is destroyed.

The earth will be renewed (transformed) when evil is destroyed.

And we are told that God will live with us forever because He is determined to protect us from any evil coming here again.

Chad McComas writes from Medford, Oregon. He is the editor of The Christian Journal.

What's On The Other Side?

A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."
Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."

"You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"
The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining. As he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness. Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here. When the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing. I know my Master is there and that is enough."

What Kids Know About Angels

I only know the names of two angels. Hark and Harold. --Gregory, 5

I hear angels all the time in my dreams. And I'm sticking with that no matter how many people tell me I'm crazy. -- Molly, 8

Everybody’s got it all wrong. Angels don't wear halos anymore. I forget why, but scientists are working on it. -- Olive, 9

It's not easy to become an angel! First, you die. Then you go to heaven then there's still the flight training to go through. And then you got to agree to wear those angel clothes. -- Matthew, 9

Angels work for God and watch over kids when God has to go do something else. -- Mitchell, 7

My guardian angel helps me with math, but he's not much good for science. -- Henry, 8

Angels don't eat but they drink milk from holy cows. -- Jack, 6

Angels talk all the way while they're flying you up to heaven. The basic message is where you went wrong before you got dead. -- Daniel, 9

When an angel gets mad, he takes a deep breath and counts to ten. And when he lets out his breath, somewhere there's a tornado. -- Regan, 10

Angels have a lot to do and they keep very busy. If you lose a tooth, an angel comes in through your window and leaves money under your pillow. Then when it gets cold, angels go north for the winter. -- Sara, 6

Angels live in cloud houses made by God and his son, who's a very good carpenter. -- Jared, 8

All angels are girls because they gotta wear dresses and boys didn't go for it. -- Antonia, 9

My angel is my grandma who died last year. She got a big head start on helping me while she was still down here on earth. -- Katelyn, 9

Some of the angels are in charge of helping heal sick animals and pets. And if they don't make the animals get better, they help the kid get over it. -- Vicki, 8

What I don't get about angels is why, when someone is in love, they shoot arrows at them. -- Sarah, 7

Who I Am Makes A Difference

A teacher in New York decided to honor each of her seniors in High School by telling them the difference each of them had made. She called each student to the front of the class, one at a time.

First, she told each of them how they had made a difference to her, and the class. Then she presented each of them with a blue ribbon, imprinted with gold letters, which read, "Who I Am Makes a Difference."

Afterwards, the teacher decided to do a class project, to see what kind of impact recognition would have on a community. She gave each of the students three more blue ribbons, and instructed them to go out and spread this acknowledgment ceremony. Then they were to follow up on the results, see who honored whom, and report to the class in about a week.

One of the boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby company, and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a blue ribbon, and put it on his shirt.

Then he gave him two extra ribbons and said, "We're doing a class project on recognition, and we'd like for you to go out, find somebody to honor, give them a blue ribbon, then give them the extra blue ribbon so they report back to me and tell me what happened."

Later that day, the junior executive went in to see his boss, who had been noted, by the way, as being kind of a grouchy fellow. He sat his boss down, and he told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius. The boss seemed very surprised. The junior executive asked him if he would accept the gift of the blue ribbon, and would he give him permission to put it on him. His surprised boss said, "Well, sure."

The junior executive took the blue ribbon and placed it right on his boss's jacket, above his heart. As he gave him the last extra ribbon, he said, "Would you take this extra ribbon, and pass it on by honoring somebody else. The young boy who first gave me the ribbons is doing a project in school, and we want to keep this recognition ceremony going and find out how it affects people."

That night, the boss came home to his 14-year-old son, and sat him down. He said, "The most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my office, and one of the junior executives came in and told me he admired me, and gave me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine! He thinks I am a creative genius! Then he put a blue ribbon that says, "Who I Am Makes a Difference” on my jacket above my heart. He gave me an extra ribbon and asked me to find somebody else to honor. As I was driving home tonight, I started thinking about whom I would honor with this ribbon, and I thought about you. I want to honor you. My days are hectic and when I come home, I do not pay a lot of attention to you. Sometimes I scream at you for not getting good enough grades in school, and for your bedroom being a mess. Somehow, tonight, I just wanted to sit here and, well, just let you know that you do make a difference to me. Besides your mother, you are the most important person in my life. You're a great kid, and I love you!"

The startled boy started to sob and sob, and he could not stop crying His whole body shook. He looked up at his father and said through his tears, "Dad, earlier tonight I sat in my room and wrote a letter to you and Mom, explaining why I had took my life, and I asked you to forgive me. I was going to commit suicide tonight after you were asleep. I just did not think that you cared at all. The letter is upstairs. I don't think I need it after all."

His father walked upstairs and found a heartfelt letter full of anguish and pain.
The boss went back to work a changed man. He was no longer a grouch, but made sure to let all of his employees know that they made a difference. The junior executive helped several other young people with career planning, and never forgot to let them know that they made a difference in his life...one being the boss' son.

In addition, the young boy and his classmates learned a valuable lesson that honoring others does make a difference in life.

Sent in by Willa Johnson from Phoenix, Oregon.

We Can Live Life To The Full

By David Snyder

Jesus said, "I have come that you might have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10

I think we all realize that many Christians are not living life to the full. Why is it that many Christians never change that much after accepting Christ? If Jesus made the promise of a life “to the full” then what is wrong? What is it that many do not understand?

There is a truth the enemy wants to hide from every believer. It may be one of his greatest secrets. And even if we know what I am about to share, it is vital that we review these truths in order to defeat the enemy of our souls.

THE GREAT TRUTH
Adam’s one sin so affected his offspring that God had no choice but to bring a flood upon the earth to destroy all human beings. Even after the flood the sin factor remained in the bloodline of Noah and his family.
God had a solution. Jesus would come to earth and become the second Adam. Where the first Adam failed, Jesus lived in perfect obedience to God the Father. He eventually went to the cross and paid the price for the sins of each one of us.
But, something else had to take place to complete God’s plan. Mankind needed to be delivered from his ugly sin nature. The solution was incredible. The second Adam would adopt us into His family.

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be
blameless and holy in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:5

THE PROBLEM
Even though we know we are adopted into the second Adam, many Christians never really change that much after conversion. Why is this? Maybe we don’t understand all there is to this adoption we have in Christ. When a child is adopted into an earthly family that child comes with all the hang-ups inherited from his birth family. The moment he or she is officially adopted, the child has not really changed at that point. He has just changed families. It isn’t up the new parents to help the child understand what privileges and opportunities they now have available. The child must now choose to grow and mature in the new environment.

When we accept Christ we come with all the baggage we learned or inherited from our birth parents. We still have the sin nature of the first Adam. What has changed is the rights and privileges we now have in the family of the second Adam. We read all the scriptures about victory, being a new creation, the work of the Holy Spirit for us, etc. But, many times few things change. At least not for long.

The Bible promises us that we can take on the divine nature of our new Father. Everything promised is available to us if we are willing to fight for it. It does not come naturally. The old Adam nature will always strive to rob us of what the second Adam has provided for us. We are at war. The war continues every day. We know this when we read the first part of John 10:10. Many times we skip over this part to get to the good stuff. But it is vital. The verse says: “The thief comes only to rob, destroy, and to kill…” The old statement “let go and let God” is a lie of the enemy. We are the ones that must fight. We fight by guarding our hearts from negative thoughts, impure thoughts, fearful thoughts, doubts, and all the rest that can come to take away our joy and our victory.

We must fight for ourselves and for our families. Prayer and reading the Word are two great weapons we must use. Jesus came to give us life to the full. We can choose to live in the first Adam or the second Adam. We must never forget that we have all the rights a child in the family of the second Adam.

Let’s fight for what God offers us. We have rights. Let’s go after them. God will do His part. He is faithful! We can live life to the full. As Paul said: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

Dave Snyder writes from Milwaukie, Oregon.

The Exciting Journey Of Abundant Life

By Mark Swegar, Medford

It’s vacation time and too many people do vacations in a crazy, speeding, rushing, cursing kind of way. A family will travel 2000 miles to have “fun,” yet curse at each other and other drivers along the way. No one has any fun. Then, when they reach the destination the family is suppose to relax and enjoy the vacation. Too bad it wasn’t enjoyed each step of the way.

Christians need to relax now and enjoy the sights along the way of their Christian lives! Life in God is about the journey, not just the end destination. We must think long-term (Heaven), and short-term (Life now) at the same time. There are no quick fixes in the Christian experience. We must aim for a lasting relationship with God, not a religion to go. We need to seek bread-of-life, not fast-food. We need walk-in Maturity, not drive-thru McTurity.

Many people are very hard on themselves, thinking that until they arrive at maturity, they aren’t of any use to God. But that’s not even remotely true. Couples who have been married for 25 or 50 years have grown up into solid and mature relationships. But, if you ask them about the road to success, they say it came over years of practice. They would do it all over again. Why? Because they enjoyed the journey! Their goal was not just to have a high-level relationship, but to build it together, side by side, one brick at a time.

Most people are better grandparents than parents. There are three reasons for this. First, as Bill Cosby says, you’re dealing with a much older person now, who is worried about making it into Heaven! Second, it’s easier now, because when you get tired, or if your granddaughter fills her diaper, you can just hand her back to Mom or Dad, and let them deal with it. Plus you have more money than you did when your own children were young. Third, and perhaps most importantly, you have more experience and knowledge than you did twenty years ago. One of the problems with parenting is that by the time you are qualified, the children are grown and gone, and you wish that you knew then what you know now. You would be a much better parent now. Still, that doesn’t mean you weren’t a good parent then. Give yourself some credit… and some grace, and patience, and mercy!

When Jesus was a child, He obeyed His parents and cultivated a relationship with God The Father that would sustain Him for life. It did not happen in an instant. Rather: “he grew in stature and wisdom and favor with God.” Luke 2
Christ did not begin public ministry until age 30. It only lasted 3½ years! This was completely within God’s plan. It took three decades of preparation before Jesus Christ was ready for real ministry, yet look at the results. It took four decades of preparation for Moses, from age 40 to age 80, but look what an impact he had. The Apostle Paul was “in the desert” for 14 years before God released him to work the Gospel, and look at his resulting miracles.

Virtually everyone in the Bible with a powerful ministry took years or decades to be prepared. Think about it: Jesus entered ministry at age 30, and died at age 33. Do realize that His life was 90% Preparation, and 10% Ministry? The Lord and Savior of mankind spent 90% of his life just getting ready to do God’s work. So if we find ourselves being prepared until age 70 by the Lord, and then have only 7 years of ministry, we must realize that a 90/10 ratio puts us in some very elite company!

Even the world understands this principle. Thousands of athletes across the earth spend years, sometimes their entire lives, preparing for the Olympics, a once-in-four-years meet that lasts for only two weeks. Milers run for less than four minutes, sprinters race for less than ten seconds, and long jumpers stay aloft for fractions of one second.

The point is that most of us are in that 90% of life called Abundant Preparation. We must relax and enjoy the journey every step of the way. We are growing into an intimate fellowship with God the Father, through the Holy Spirit, just like Jesus did. His promise for Abundant Life is not just the 10% at the end. Abundant Life is also the 90% we walk through every day. It’s the imperfect, the mundane, the erroneous, the mistakes. It’s parenting with blunders, it’s slowly making a marriage stronger through time spent together, it’s building friendships, making memories, learning new things.

God isn’t just interested in the finished product. God is interested in US, right now, just the way we are today, mistakes and all. He is preparing us for much more to come later, but most of all, He loves us this very moment. Let’s let God be God. Let’s spend time in worship and communion with the Lord. He will prepare us, and in due season, we will bear much fruit. God Our Father is holding our hands, each and every step of the way, on this adventurous, preparatory, exciting journey called life – Abundant Life.

Mark Swegar writes from Medford, Oregon.

The Bell

The Bell
I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15)
I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt. 5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil.3:20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31-34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor.5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom.8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor.1:21-22)
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8: 28)
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16)
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected (Phil. 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven (Col. 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)
I belong to God
Do you know
who you are!?

The Angels Of Faith, Hope And Love

By Pam Farrel

I (Pam) unwrapped the gift the leadership team had given me for speaking. Three lovely boxes, tied with golden ribbon. Out of the boxes came three angels. They were fun, folksy, and fantastic reminders to me of all that it takes to make relationships work. Their names were etched into ribbons they held: Faith, Hope and Love.

Bill and I spend a large majority of our time helping people make relationships work. We have numerous books for married couples: Men are like Waffles, Women are like Spaghetti, Love, Honor and Forgive, Every Marriage is a Fixer Upper and Red Hot Monogamy are a few. We also speak for singles on our book, Single Men are like Waffles, Single Women are like Spaghetti. Some think that teaching people relationship skills requires a slant for married couples and a different slant for singles, but I don’t think that type of separation will capture the entire spectrum of what is important. Love is love, no matter what state of life you find yourself in. Married or single, we are all commanded to love.

Jesus said: “ By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35

The Bible tells us what love looks like: “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is seamless. Whether we are single or married, love is the trait that produces influence and draws people into our hearts and lives. It is certainly in our best interest to decorate our life with love because our relationship state could change very quickly. If I am single, Mr. Right might enter my life any day. There is no expiration date on the institution of marriage. If I am married, chances are (according to statistics), I will out-live my husband, and find myself flying solo once again. The average age for the American widow is 55! In fact, 55 percent of women over 65 in America are single. The Bible actually calls us to “be content in whatever circumstances” we find ourselves (Phil 4:11) because God has a plan for each of us at every age and stage of life. The key to making it happen is to let love flow. Love is what makes us attractive, winsome, and magnetic. Love draws people to us no matter what box we check on marital status at the DMV.

People who know how to love lavishly, heartily, fervently, faithfully, and artfully are ones other people want to be around. Some of us are called to be married and apply love there while others are called to be single and share love through that venue, but we are all called to love.

Being a loving person isn’t always easy, is it? We’ve probably all found ourselves praying something like this recently:

Dear Lord,
I pray for Wisdom to understand my man;
Love to forgive him;
And Patience for his moods.
Because, Lord, if I pray for Strength,
I'll beat him to death. AMEN

Okay—in reality I know, it is not funny if I really acted on it! It is a good thing that the women at that retreat gave me the three angels: Faith , Hope and Love. Now when I get frustrated with my spouse, my kids, my friends, I can look at the angels and remember, that others are probably getting frustrated with me too. What do Faith, Hope and Love teach me?

Faith: Look at the potential, the positive, the promise in a person—not the problem.

Hope: Look to God expectantly for Him to answer my prayer about relationships.

Love: Look for ways to keep extending all that is good, kind and true, not because a person deserves it, but just because it is right to be loving.

These angelic reminders cause me to pause each day to ask, “Am I being an angel of love?” In the Bible, angels are God’s messengers, and although you are not some cherubic creation dwelling in the heavenlies, you still can be a messenger of God’s love here on earth. Faith, Hope, Love—let’s all try it today.

Adapted from Pam Farrel’s newest book, Fantastic After 40. Check out www.SeasonedSisters.com Pam and Bill Farrel are international speakers , authors of more than 25 books including the best selling Men are like Waffles, Women are like Spaghetti. Order the new DVD on Men are like Waffles, Women are like Spaghetti, for your own marriage or for your small group or church: www.farrelcommunications.com

The Abundant Life

By Fred Wikoff

I was born during the depression. Why anyone would want to start a family during those bleak times is anybodies guess. Stories of hard times and just getting by flourished. My grandfather talked of working for ten cents an hour and being glad for it.

Even with President Roosevelt’s CCC work program money remained scarce for the working class, causing him to exclaim: “The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, it is whether we provide enough for those who have little.”

It wasn’t until the end of World War II that things finely turned around. Pent-up demand for everything from new cars to sugar and shoes propelled a booming economy. I can still remember the joy of having candy Easter eggs and fire works for the 4th of July after the lifting of rationing.

Of course those “luxuries” along with most everything imaginable are in great abundance in the United States today. Our cup has overflowed for so many years that our wealth is commonplace and embarrassing compared to a great part of the world. Even those living on food stamps and welfare are blessed when compared to many living in third world countries.

There was even a time, after the Second World War, when many countries looked upon our nation as a Christian nation, living under God, and richly blessed by Him because of it. We are still blessed abundantly, but sadly, instead of being seen as champions of the oppressed, we are now often feared because of our power to take even more to add to our abundance.

Our abundance belies other negative problems as well. “Once measured to have the happiest citizens in the developed world, the United States is now number 23, according to research compiled at the University of Leicester.” And along with our unhappiness, “alcoholism, suicide, and depression rates have soared.” (Mark Matousek in “Live Better With Less” in the 2007 May/June issue of AARP)

With such troubling data it should be obvious that great abundance does not insure happiness. This is by no means a new observation. Down through the years great abundance, and the mishandling of it, has bothered man to the point of searing his conscious.

Buddha said: “To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one’s own in the midst of abundance.”

Christ was even more emphatic: “Again I tell you, it is easer for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:24

Years later we find the great Dutch theologian, Erasmus still warning man about the temptations of abundance: “Great abundance of riches cannot be gathered and kept by any man without sin.”

The same can be said about abundance in any form. Abundance is merely an over sufficient supply of what is needed. What makes it so threatening is simply a matter of over indulgence, or keeping more than we need. When we do either, abundance becomes a sin.

Christ came to give us life and to give it abundantly. (See John 10:10) I believe he wants us to have a plentiful physical life as well as spiritual abundance. But, he wants us to use what we need and share the rest with others. Sharing our abundance is a vital part of the Christian life.

“Give to him who begs from you and do no refuse him who would borrow from you.” Matthew 5:42

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44

“Love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12

Christ’s entire earthly life was one of giving. Salvation is his supreme gift; giving us life in abundance so we can experience the joy of sharing it with others.

Like King David, “our cup overflows.” (See Psalms 23:5) It overflows with Christ’s continual love and presence in the form of the Holy Spirit: “He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:38

This is God’s plan of salvation. We are his channel for making His Son and this living water known to an unbelieving world. His ultimate purpose is that Christ may be revealed in us.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14

Fred Wikoff writes from Eugene, Oregon.

Strictly From A Mathematical Viewpoint

What Equals 100% in life?
Is it possible to give MORE than 100%?

Here's a little mathematical formula that will help us answer these questions.
If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 2122 23 24 25 26
Then:
H-A-R-D-W-O-R- K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%
and
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%
But,
A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%
BUT, look how far the love of God will take us
L-O-V-E- O-F -G-O-D
12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4 = 101%
Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that…
Hard work and Knowledge will get us close to 100%
Attitude will get us to 100%
But it's the Love of God that will put us over the top!

Sent in by Kathy Anderst from Medford, Oregon.

Appropriating Power

By Muriel Larson

Early in my Christian life the Lord showed me part of the tremendous power available when we apply Philippians 4:4-8 to our lives.

My husband was out of work, and we were making payments on a new house and car. Then I ran into a lawyer's car with that new car of ours! He sued us. We were broke and facing payments. I worried myself sick. One Sunday our pastor gave a God-sent benediction: "And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
"How can I find that peace?" I wondered.

At home I looked up the verse and found it in Philippians 4:7. The preceding verse said: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Kneeling by my bed, I first thanked God for the ways in which He had helped me in the past. Then I fervently prayed concerning the lawsuit.

As I trusted the Lord with my worries, His peace filled my heart. Then a God-given thought came to my mind: "Call the lawyer and explain your situation."

The lawyer listened and responded: "When I saw your new car, I didn't realize you were in such a bind. It was just a dent. Just send me $20 and I'll forget the lawsuit."

That day I learned two truths that have never failed to help me all through the trouble-filled years that followed.

First, I bring everything to the Lord, thanking Him for past answers.
Second, I believe He knows the answers to my problems and will guide me by His Spirit. Thus I learned to have peace in every situation.

Giving thanks is a vital part of peace. As I thank God for the ways He has helped us in the past, it strengthens my faith that He will continue to help in our present problems.

THE POWER OF REJOICING
Philippians 4:4 says to rejoice in the Lord always. When Paul and Silas sat in the Philippian jail in chains, with their beaten backs still bleeding, they rejoiced in the Lord. God sent an earthquake, and their chains flew open. When we rejoice in the Lord, it frees us from all kinds of things that keep us down. It releases us to experience Christ's joy and the fullness of the Spirit.

THE POWER OF UNSELFISHNESS
Philippians 4:5: "Let your gentleness be known to all. The Lord is near." The Greek word used here, "epieikes," translated as "gentleness," also means moderation, unselfishness and patience. When we are filled with the Spirit, we will have the same selfless, loving, and kind attitude toward others that Jesus had.

However, I have found that if someone hurts me and I retain anger about it, I lose my peace and rejoicing spirit until I forgive that person. For we grieve the Holy Spirit unless we do so. (See Ephesians 4:26-32)

"The Lord is near" gives us an excellent reason for living as true Christians in respect to others.

THE POWER OF RIGHT THINKING
Philippians 4:8 says to think good, uplifting, Christ-like thoughts. Rejecting negative, critical, angry, hateful, and judgmental thoughts, and choosing to follow our Lord's advice for good thinking, can deliver us from mental, emotional and physical problems we may have brought on ourselves because of wrong thinking.

THE POWER OF FAITH
Philippians 4:19 tells us that our God will supply all our needs according to his glorious riches in Christ. Believing this has the power to deliver us from fear, anxiety, and worry.

Philippians four holds the key to great deliverance if we follow it!
Edward Wilson, who died with Scott in the Antarctic, declared: "This I know is God's own truth, that pain and troubles and trials and sorrows and disappointments are either one thing or another. To all who love God they are love tokens from him. To all who do not love God and do not want to love him they are merely a nuisance. Every single pain that we feel is known to God because it is the most loving touch of his hand."

Dr. Muriel Larson writes from Greenville, South Carolina. MKLJOY@aol.com

Perspectives Of Abundance

By Patti Iverson

John 10:10 is the definitive Word on abundance. “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Is what the Lord God Himself considers abundance, what WE consider abundant? My dictionary calls it “ a plentiful or overflowing supply; a great number or quantity.” Yikes! That could be cattle, or dust, or even bugs. Ugh! Jesus just said “life abundantly.” A lot of my life I wouldn’t want to have in abundance. Too many awful things in abundance could kill a person. That just cannot be what our good Lord meant!

Charles Haddon Spurgeon had the right idea how to have life abundant: “Have your heart right with Christ, and He will visit you often, and so turn weekdays into Sundays, meals into sacraments, homes into temples and earth into Heaven.” Ahhhh! That’s what I want. Charles knew the difference between one possessing all he wants or one being possessed by God. Anyway, ya can’t have everything! Where would ya put it?

Perspective counts! I hated my abundant freckles as a kid. Mom said, “Patti, those are angel kisses.” Daddy said, “No, it’s because you walked behind a cow.” Like I said, perspective! A non-believer sees life as an end in itself, but a man of faith sees it only as a step to a far greater life. Big difference in perspective AND in abundance.

On a recent trip to Tennessee I was told to expect a bunch of hillbillies and their hillbilly haunts. Instead, I was assaulted by astounding beauty in nature, arts, and most of all, the glorious people. My perspective was totally different as I was going to see people I love. My relatives, Steve and Linda Pickel, own a big, fancy –schmancy - But “down home” Bed ‘n Breakfast, The Olde English Tudor Inn, of Gatlinburg, TN. It’s right next to Pigeon Forge and Sevierville where Dolly Parton grew up. (fyi: www.oldeenglishtudorinn.com 1-800-541-3798)

Everything, but everything, is in abundance there. Food, amusements, trees, skinny bears, music, chapels, crafts, and, -ta da! - Baptists! ‘Tis the Bible belt, to be sure. They were as plentiful and as enlightening as the darlin’ lightning bugs. See how I picked up “tawkin’ Suthern”, with the word, darlin’? The accent just drips with honey ‘n humor. Everybody was blessin’ everybody else’s hearts. I wasn’t sure whether it was an insult or a compliment. I love the Southern superstitions: Cats a’playin’ with their tails means bad weather hain’t fur off. Iffen a fly flies ‘round yore face continually, a stranger hopes tuh meet yo’. “Abode” is a wooden plank. A “bail” rings.

Walking into the Inn was like walking back in time to a kinder, gentler world. The place is steeped in elegant history with period pieces of comfy furniture, different collections of Seraphim angels, fine photography done by my artistic nephew, Royal Dalton figurines, priceless books & antiques, handcrafted wood furniture, bronzes, and much more. It is abundant in English style, with Southern hospitality. A feast for the eyes as well as the stomach when Steve makes his delectable ‘n delicious breakfasts for guests in the glassed in forest patio. Stuffed French toast, omelets, ham ‘n eggs, homemade biscuits and muffins all in abundance and served with love and fun as bears ‘n squirrels provide the show.

Everywhere in Tennessee you are surrounded by those Great Smoky Mountains. It’s not smog. Not fog. It’s just this bluish sort of haze that has a mystical quality. Mystical as in a divine visitation, not magic. Motorcyclists from all over the world gather to ride the beauteous mountain roads. The Inn is “biker friendly,” which doesn’t seem to fit, but it does-perfectly, like lightning bugs in a mason jar. Both were abundant, yet foreign to me. Soon as I learned and knew both bugs ‘n bikers, I grew to love them.

We all see things so differently. A poll by the United Nations asked, “Please tell us honestly your opinions regarding abundance vs. scarcity of food in the rest of the world.” Europeans did not understand what was meant by “scarcity.” Africans didn’t understand “abundance.” Americans did not understand the meaning of “the rest of the world.” The Chinese, puzzled, asked for an explanation of “opinion.” Meanwhile, in the Italian Parliament, they are still debating the meaning of “honestly.” Golly! Seems like none of us understand anything regarding abundance and everybody has a different perspective! It’s funny, but also sad.

Study up on this great world of ours and all that God has created just so you can have life and have it abundantly. It’s for “ever’ parson on ‘arth.” Whether we are in the Great Smoky Mountains, sprawling Los Angeles, nutsy New York, or even marvelous Medford, His abundant joys are waiting for us to discover. They’re there, right in front of our faces, or our hearts. Let’s not be so wrapped up in ourselves or our lives that we miss them.

And if you visit Tennessee, just tell ‘em Aunt Patti sent ya!

Patti Iverson writes from Medford, Oregon. randpi@charter.net

My Grace Is Sufficient For You

By Beverly Hill McKinney

The promise of 2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness” has a special meaning to me. I clung to this verse as I had to learn to depend on the Lord’s grace to get me through a terrible time six years ago.

When our daughter learned she was going to have twins, I was thrilled. I remember her excitement and I felt on top of the world. Our first grandchildren would be twins. We began buying things in two’s and I would excitedly tell every salesclerk I saw that I was going to have twin grandchildren.

Then our world came crashing down. In the sixth month, we got a sobbing phone call from our daughter. She wanted us to come right away. Arriving at her home we found her grief stricken. Had she lost the babies we wondered? She told us that the doctor had just called and had told her that one of her twins had a birth defect and would not survive after birth. I was stunned. My heart ached for her and I felt such hollowness and sorrow. The doctor would not guarantee that either twin would survive. Our joy which had been so short-lived now turned to sadness.

Throughout the pregnancy, I tried to encourage and uplift my daughter. It was hard as I was also in shock and realizing that no matter what I said one of her babies would not survive. What could I say that would help her through this difficult time? I learned to just let her talk and express her feelings of joy and sadness with me and to always be there for her.

At thirty-four weeks, she gave birth to the twins. James lived just eleven short minutes but Jacob, his twin brother, though only 4 lbs 3 oz. was healthy. We praised the Lord for Jacob’s good health, but were heart broken as I watched my daughter cry for her little son. I felt like we had sunshine among the shadows, but clung to the Lord and His promises.

Jacob stayed in the hospital for three weeks. Just one week after the births, we had the funeral for little James. Looking at his tiny white casket, my heart broke again with grief. As I held my daughter’s hand and tears poured down her cheeks, my heart was so burdened and crushed for her. At that time I hid 2 Corinthians 12:9 in my heart.

A few weeks after the funeral, I went to the cemetery to put flowers on James’ grave. He is buried in Slumberland, the section of the cemetery where all babies are interred. It is a quiet place with a large fountain in the middle. As I sat there and listened to the water splash in the fountain it seemed the Lord was right there with me. I looked out over those tiny headstones and was comforted as I imagined resurrection day when all those little graves would break open. It soothed my soul to realize this.

As I left the cemetery I glanced over my shoulder and saw a nearby church spire. A large cross sparkled in the afternoon sun. Immediately the comfort of the Holy Spirit fell on me as if I was wrapped in His loving arms. John 11:25 “I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” sprang into my mind. How that verse comforted me and I knew that, indeed, I could claim the promise once again that His grace is and always will be sufficient for me.

Beverly Hill McKinney writes from Rogue River, Oregon. bmckinnehill@yahoo.com

Matthew - Man Of Dramatic Decisions

By Sonia A. Randall

Matthew, the disciple who wrote the first Gospel, was a man who made two dramatic and life-changing decisions. The first was when he abandoned his Jewish heritage to become a tax collector for Herod Antipas and the Roman Empire. The Roman government was bitterly hated by the Jews and its tax collectors were hated even more. For a Jew to serve them willingly was tantamount to being a traitor to his family and his religious faith.

Matthew was a well-educated Jew and probably had some acquaintance with the Aramaic, Greek, and Latin languages to hold his position with the Romans. No doubt there would have been a good place for him in some Jewish organization as a scribe or record keeper. But,when he rejected that possibility to serve the Romans, he would never again be trusted by the Jewish community. It was a life-changing decision from which there was no turning back.

Being a customs agent had its attraction. The Romans had an effective method for collecting taxes. Collectors received no salary. The government would tell the agent to gather a certain amount and anything he could extract above that amount was his to keep. The potential for corruption was inherent in this very efficient system, but so was the possibility of great wealth. Was that what drew Matthew to such a career? Perhaps tax collecting, though lucrative, turned out to be a less satisfying career than Matthew had anticipated. Even though he had rejected his Jewish background, he was well versed in the Hebrew Scriptures and must have been quite curious about this Jesus whom people called the Messiah. At any rate, he didn't hesitate when Jesus called him. Rather, he immediately "got up and followed Him." Matthew 9.9

That very night Matthew gave a dinner to celebrate his new life with Christ. He invited the only people who would willingly associate with him -- his fellow tax collectors. This brought the condemnation of the Pharisees down on Jesus because he was associating with these disreputable people. But Christ wisely answered that it was only the sick who needed a physician, meaning that it was only sinners who needed the salvation he offered. (See Mark 2:14-17)

This dinner was a public affirmation of Matthew's second life-changing decision to renounce his former career and follow Christ. Once again it was a decision from which there was no turning back. The fishermen could go back to their fishing if they chose, but the Romans would never take Matthew back. Matthew's account of the teachings of Jesus was probably written 40 to 50 years after the Resurrection. The good news about the Messiah was spread by word of mouth for many years as long as there were eye-witnesses still alive. But when years went by and many of the witnesses died, there was concern about writing down all these marvelous things for future generations. The Gospel of Mark is generally considered to be the first written record of Jesus life and Matthew's Gospel contains nearly all of it. But Matthew records a great deal more including the entire Sermon on the Mount. He also cites some 50 Old Testament prophecies to prove that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah who fulfilled these prophecies.

Interestingly enough, Matthew is the only Gospel writer to record the parable of the man who found a treasure hid in a field and sold all that he had to acquire it. (See Matthew 13:44) It is easy to believe that this parable had special significance for Matthew since he had done precisely that.

There is no historical record of what Matthew did during his years of ministry. Some legends seem to indicate that he traveled to Egypt, Ethiopia, Persia (present-day Iran) and possibly India to spread the Good News. We have his Gospel as a testimony to his life-long love for his Savior and his desire to share it with his fellow Jews and the world.

His first life-changing decision separated him from his Jewish community, but his second decision brought him back to tell them how Jesus really was their Messiah and their Savior.

Sonia A. Randall writes from Corvallis, Oregon.

STEPing Into Love

By Pam Farrel

As we are writing this article, we are preparing for as milestone in our life as a couple. LifeWay Publishers is flying a team out to our home town of San Diego to film Bill and I to create a seven-week small group DVD driven marriage curriculum from our best selling book, Men are like Waffles, Women are like Spaghetti. We are incredibly humbled by this wonderful opportunity and extremely excited because it has been our goal as a couple to have our love be a light from the moment we said, "I Do."

However, when big break through moments like this happen, it causes one to stop, ponder and look back to what steps created the path to such an incredible blessing.

A major break-through stepping stone was making our 25th anniversary in a world with rising divorce rates. Before that, we choose to navigate midlife by tangibly supporting each other’s dreams. And of course, we spent many days just choosing to love each other in the very best way possible.

I remember kneeling together at the end of a hotel bed in Eugene, Oregon just prior to a meeting with Harvest House Publishers. Our prayer wasn’t so much for fame, success or even money (which on a small church pastor's salary would have been a legitimate prayer) but we prayed God would continue to make our lives a light so that some might come to know Jesus because of the love they could see in our relationship.

Even before we said "I Do" at the alter, we remember praying that God would help us live individual lives of integrity and date in a way that honored God. As far back as I can remember in our relationship, we made it a goal to use our time, talent, and treasure to somehow team with others to build marriages and families and lower divorce and distress. The filming marks the answer to decades of prayers each night before Bill and I drifted off to sleep.

Why do I bring this up? I wonder what your hopes, dreams and goals are as a couple? What types of goals does a couple need to actively set in order to maximize achievement without eliminating intimacy?

In our book, Men are like Waffles, Women are like Spaghetti, we share the key “steps” a couple needs in order to maintain a healthy love life. We have discovered it is helpful to write goals in four major life areas. We need to write goals that help us take another “STEP” forward. We need to develop:
Our Spiritual Life
Our Team
Our Energy
Our Productivity
Our Spiritual Life.

This area includes goals that build a closer walk with God. For example, a daily personal devotional time with God, Bible studies, church attendance, verses we'd like to memorize, and growth activities such as retreats, conferences, Christian radio, and books we'd like to read. When we are connected to God, our perspective is renewed, and our decision-making skills sharpen because we will be thinking more like Him.

Our Team.
Included in this section are goals that build into our significant relationships. Relationships like marriage, family, and close personal friends. One author recommends that we prioritize our lives by who will cry at our funeral. When we maintain healthy relationships, then we will have more emotional stability to tackle life. Our motivation for life will increase as our relationships are strengthened. This is where we divide home responsibilities so that the stuff of everyday life does not rob our desire for one another.

Our Energy.
To maintain a high level of energy we must manage the areas of life that are of importance to us as individuals. This includes our personal finances, emotional well-being, health, and social life. It will also include activities that are vital to us as individuals such as hobbies, sports, reading, leisure activities, crafts and areas of study.

Our Productivity.
This area includes goals in our career, education, and ministry (both public and personal). What type of work do we want to pursue? What position do we want to attain to in that field? What type of education do we need to fulfill these pursuits? Who are the people we want to personally influence for Christ? How do we want to use our gifts in our local church ministry?

Together we can take a S.T.E.P. forward into God’s will for our lives as a couple. Who knows what God will do with our STEPing out for Him?

Pam Farrel writes from El Cajon, California. farrelcommunications.com

What Is Life Without Whipped Cream?

By Beverly Hill McKinney

I admit it. I’m a lover of mocha coffee.

Near my home is a small coffee stand that has wonderful mocha. Quite often, I go there in the mornings to get my coffee for the day. Each time I drive up the girl at the window asks, “Whipped cream?”

I usually answer back, “Of course, what is life without whipped cream?”

I have frequently thought how much God wants to bless us with the whipped cream toppings of life, but we settle for less. Those are the special and unexpected blessings and pleasures the Lord would give us if we didn’t let the cares of life or our disobedience burden us down or when we choose not to serve Him in love.

I remember a vivid example that happened some years ago of how I missed out on one of those whipped-cream blessings. A member in one of our churches my husband pastored, invited me to a small gathering at her home. She was a friend with a woman who was a very well known Christian speaker and wanted me to meet her. At that time I had two small children and it had been an especially trying week. I told her I would think about it, but made no promises as something else might come up.

The day came and both children were squabbling. What a day! It had been a busy week and as I looked at the calendar I realized that it was the day I had been invited to her home. I thought to myself…Can I come up with some excuse so I don’t have to go? I am really tired.

As I looked around, I spotted the kitchen cabinet where I had found a roach the day before. Living out in the country I was familiar with the fact that the cupboard must be cleaned immediately to avoid further infestation. There was my excuse!

I became busy pulling out pans and carefully cleaning out the cupboard. The children “helped” me with the pots and pans and soon I had the cupboard sparking clean again. I had even forgotten about the meeting.

That evening the woman called and said how much they missed me. She said they had waited for me to arrive, but since I didn’t come they went ahead. The Lord blessed their gathering and they had a wonderful time of fellowship and worship.

I suddenly realized I had missed a chance to fellowship and worship my Lord and I felt immediate conviction that I had failed this woman and others in the community. I called and apologized and asked her forgiveness.

John writing as the father to “little children” in I John 3:18 states: “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” John is speaking here of divine love inspiring action.

How many whipped-cream blessings and opportunities do we miss because we don’t practice that divine love or our worldly nature says, “They won’t miss you.” Maybe the Lord lays someone on your heart, but you tell yourself, “I’ll pray for them later.”

I think of the times I sit in church before service and look at those around me. I may see some lady sitting alone and the Lord gives me a gentle nudge to go over and speak or pray with her. “But Lord,” I say. “I don’t even know her. I can’t just go over and ask her if she needs prayer or offer her a smile. She’ll think I am crazy.”

What I may not know is that woman may have a heavy burden that has brought her to our fellowship. She is sitting alone crying out to the Lord for someone to say a kind word to her or even pray for her immediate need.

How often I miss the whipped-cream blessings of life that the Lord can give me by not staying in close contact with Him and following His leading.

As Paul states in Ephesians 3:16: “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.”

Let’s open up our inner man to the Lord and be obedient to his Spirit, so He can show us through His love the whipped-cream blessings of life.

Beverly Hill McKinney writes from Rogue River, Oregon. bmckinnehill@yahoo.com

The Father's Blessing

By Randy Knapp

I would give everything I have for a father who loved me. I would pay any price to have a father who was proud of me. I could do anything for a father who believed in me. I could conquer the world for a father who said of me, “This is my son with whom I am well pleased.”

My father was a godly man, but he died when I was eleven, and his loss left an empty place in my heart. In many ways, I am still that eleven-year-old boy, but now I live in a 49-year-old body. Even now, I crave the touch of my father’s hand on my shoulder, and I yearn to hear the music of his voice as he pronounces those words of blessing over me.

The need for affirmation from the one we admire and respect is the most important factor that fuels our future. Without that blessing, men flounder.
I’ve heard it said of God that,

He will become a “father to the fatherless.” Psalm 68:5,

He is “the helper of the fatherless.” Psalm 10:18,

He will “defend the poor and fatherless.” Psalm 82:3,

“God sent [Jesus] . . . so that He could adopt us as His very own children.” Galatians 4:5

“His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:5

Almost every man I know bears a wound inflicted either by the presence or the absence of his father. We are wounded men searching for healing. One of our greatest fears is that we will inflict similar wounds on our own children. We understand that it is a blessing our children seek from us, but we fear we are unable to give it. We worry that we give a curse instead.

If God can foster a father/son relationship as our true heavenly Father, it will restore hope to our future. If He can show us how to be godly fathers, maybe we can receive our cherished blessing and pass it on to our children.

Jesus encourages us to remain optimistic. “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” John 11:11-13

In the two verses previous to those above, Jesus reassures worried fathers: “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.”

I’m confident that the yearning we feel is influenced by the Holy Spirit. I’m also confident that help is in our midst. Our fear of failure may make us cautious, but if we remain connected to God our reward is certain.

We search because we understand the stakes. In feeling the absence of the blessing, we confirm the reality of that which we seek. The blessing awaits. When we get it, we’ll be able to pass it on to our children.

God did not place us on this earth to live mediocre lives. He did not set us up so we would fail. God created us to gain from life its fullest measure, and to extend that blessing to those we love.

For those of us who fear our inadequacies as fathers, it is only poor eyesight that is to blame. Long ago the future was clearly laid out before us, and success is hidden only by a thin mist. God has blazed the trail before us in the record of the lives of men who have peopled history. Godly men have demonstrated how to bestow the blessing. Men who have turned their backs on God have shown us what to watch out for. God will show us what to do as we read about their examples.

Two disciples were confused and bewildered and walking together on the road to Emmaus. Recent events had turned their world upside down and they no longer had any confidence in the direction of their lives. They were well versed in the Scriptures, but they no longer knew what was true. They needed a guide to show them where they’d gone wrong. A man approached them walking along the road. After they had explained their confusion to Him, He smiled and began to lead them back through the Scriptures with which they were so familiar. With Him as their instructor, comprehension flooded their minds.

The understanding that will guide us into becoming the men and fathers we long to be isn’t far away. The Teacher waits patiently at the doors of our hearts to open a whole new world of fulfillment to our eyes. The Father’s reassuring hand of blessing is poised above our shoulders. The table is already set for the feast of celebration. The blessing is ours.

Our children long for the same blessing we crave. Let’s do whatever it takes to meet that need. Let’s become the fathers we wish we had.

Randy writes from Medford, Oregon knappsnest@msn.com

Hope In Christ Provides Abundant Life

By Barry N. Shaw

The world regards abundance as material wealth. But is this the abundance our Creator intends for us? One of the wisest kings had great wealth, but after all was said and done, the only thing that was meaningful to him was the Lord.
Solomon, Israel’s most affluent king, was flush with material possessions. “Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the [Euphrates] River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon’s subjects all his life.” 1 Kings 4:21

His daily provisions included 185 bushels of fine flour, 375 bushels of meal, 10 head of stall-fed cattle, 20 pasture-fed cattle, 100 sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl. (See 1 Kings 4:22, 23) Even though God commanded that a king must not acquire great numbers of horses (Deuteronomy 17:16) he had 4000 stalls for chariot horses and 12,000 horses. (1 Kings 4:26) The 12 district governors of Israel “each in his own month, supplied provisions for King Solomon and all who came to the king’s table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking.” 1 Kings 4:27

His palace was so ornate that it took 13 years to build. (1 Kings 7:1) The weight of gold that he received annually was about 25 tons. In today’s dollars that’s about $531,200,000. In 970 BC that bought a lot of bread. All of his household articles were pure gold. His throne was inlaid with ivory and overlaid with fine gold. King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all other kings of the earth. (1 Kings 10:23) Such abundance, or so he thought!

Solomon had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines, but his wives led him astray. As he grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Worldly abundance left Solomon empty, cynical and unfulfilled. In the end, this was what he had to say about worldly riches: “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them?” Ecclesiastes 5:10-11 “...the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep...As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind? All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.” Ecclesiastes 5:12, 16-17

But before he died, Solomon’s Godly gift of wisdom prevailed: “...here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14

Abundance is not worldly possessions. “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down,says the Lord.” Luke 21:6 It is eternal life that is true abundance and eternal life comes only through God’s Son Jesus Christ. John 14:6 “...the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:8

Paul wrote to Timothy: “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment...In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19

A man’s life consists in “the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” Ephesians 1:7, 8

By His grace, He has given us the riches that come from His making known to us the mystery of His will. He has plucked us out of a crowd and given us the gracious gift of faith and belief in Him. He has enabled us to see and hear Him! Through our union with the exalted Christ, we Christians are already beneficiaries of every spiritual blessing that belongs to and comes from the heavenly realm. (Ephesians 1:3) It is our hope in God and not material wealth that provides the ultimate in abundant life.

Barry N. Shaw writes from Applegate Valley, Oregon.

He Knows Me By Name

By DJ Note

“Only God knows when the fruit is ripe for the harvest.” - DJ Note

“Where can I find more tapes from this Boo-ye fella?” The tall, burly man stood before me holding a cassette tape in his very large hand.

“Boy-ya,” I pronounced the name correctly. “Pastor Rick Booye.”

“Where can I get tapes from this guy? This is incredible.” The man appeared to be on a serious mission.

“They can be ordered from the church. It’s a local number. I can give it to you if you like.”

“He’s local? Oh man! That’d be great. I can’t believe what’s happening to me. I want to get a Bible too—a big one. I mean the whole thing.”

His saucy enthusiasm peaked my interest. “How’d you come by the tape?” I spoke the question over my shoulder as he followed me to the Bible counter.

“Found it. But I don’t think it was by accident. Oh, man! Some unbelievable things have been happening to me.” His eyes leapt with all the gaiety of a child at Christmas.

He introduced himself as Chris, then proceeded to tell me how the tape had been left in the truck he was assigned that day at work. He listened to it while driving toward the Siskiyou summit reasoning that it was almost Christmas, so why not. “I didn’t know why, but I was compelled to play it. Man, the stuff this pastor was talking about got to me, so I just kept listening.”

The weather grew increasingly bad with fog so thick he couldn’t see the hood of his rig. He prayed for God to get him over the summit and for a sign that his prayer was heard. It was the plea of one who had nowhere else that black night to turn for safe passage.

“I can’t explain what I was feeling at that moment,” he told me, “but I caught sight of something out of the corner of my eye, a light, like a shooting star that seemed impossible through such dense fog.

Looking up he was amazed to see a sprinkling of stars through an opening in the fog overhead. At that precise moment, one of those stars shot brilliantly across the night sky opening over the top of his truck as though pointing the way. Call it a premonition, a comforting sensation, a spiritual intuition, but he knew someone was with him, watching, blanketing him in safety.

We stood at the Bible counter while Chris continued his story. The freshness of his newfound faith drew me in.

“All the time I’m listening to this Pastor talk about Jesus,” he continued, “and love, and belonging to God. Man, my heart was burning. I got to thinking about my life and knew I wasn’t right with God. I couldn’t turn it off. I just kept listening.”

A few weeks later, he was driving along a bad section of highway where the road snakes through the mountains. It was early morning, and raining, as he listened to Greg Laurie on the radio. Suddenly he had that feeling again, like God was right there talking to him. He kept thinking of the mistakes he’d made in his life and was beginning to see he needed to change. He needed God.

Chris was still unsure that God knew him, or even heard him. So he prayed, “God, if you’re there, show me you know me. Know me by name!”

He had only just finished his plea when, through the splattering of rain on his windshield, he spotted a scrolling marquee in the distance. Familiar letters flashed before him, C-h-r-i-s-t-o-p-h-e-r! Adrenaline grabbed his heart in a stab of shock as he drove past the answer to his prayer.

A smile covered the width of his face as he told me. “He knows my name! I mean that was no coincidence! My name! Running across that sign at the exact time I’m driving by! I’m telling ya, it was there.”

I have no doubt the trucker was telling the truth. And it was no mistake that God used me to direct him to the cassette tape’s origin. Or, that I later I discovered the tape was left by a friend of mine who works for the same trucking outfit. That’s the wisdom of God. Always working behind the scenes in answer to our prayers. Our questions aren’t too big for Him. Our doubts don’t rattle Him. He isn’t confused by our fears. In His wisdom He waits patiently for us to begin our search for Him. His timing is perfect. Our circumstances tailor made. And how wonderful to know that when He calls—He calls us by name.

DJ Note writes from Eagle Point, Oregon.

God Heard Mhy Prayer For My Daughter

By Amy Lytle Bielby

I am a mom of three beautiful girls. My oldest is in high school and her two younger sisters are in middle school. I started praying for godly Christian friends for my children before they even stated school. This story is about Broolynn, my oldest daughter, and her journey towards finding good friends.

The first friend Brooklynn made wasn’t a Christian, but at five years old she was a cutie. The next couple year they added another friend to their group. She was also not a Christian. They all played well together though, most of the time.

Then in the third grade a new friend entered the group. She was full of dirty looks, backbiting, and bad choices. The once cute little girls, Brooklynn was friends with, turned into hateful little monsters. Brooklynn and I were miserable. They constantly did mean things to hurt her. I continually prayed for her, but she couldn’t break free from them. My sweet little girl was turning into a sad, depressed and obsessive mess.

In the middle of her sixth-grade summer we moved to the valley. Full of hope for the new friend possibilities for my daughter, I never stopped praying. When school started it was hard on all my girls making new friends. Much to my dismay, the new friends Brooklynn made were ten times worse than her old friends. How is this possible? I’ve been praying will all my heart. Her new friends brought unbelievable new hurts to her. My daughter stated being as rude as they were. I just kept praying and redirecting her.

Soon her attitude started to change. She saw how miserable she was, but she didn’t know how to get away from the click she was in. She tried many times, but she went back to hanging out with them again when she had no one else to talk with. Kids can be so weird about letting new people into their group. I kept praying, communicating, and listening to her about making new friends. It’s so important to listen to our children with a nonjudgmental heart.

One more time Brooklynn’s so-called friends stabbed her in the back and turned it around to try to make it look like it was her fault. This time God gave her the strength to stand her ground. It was hard at first, but soon God provided friends for Brooklynn to hang with. As she was describing the variety of new people she would have lunch with, one stood out to me. She was a Christian going through a lot of the same things Brooklynn was going through. When I prayed I always asked God if there were others going through the same thing my daughter was for Him to bring them together. God did just that! He not only blessed my daughter with amazing friends, He also vindicated Brooklynn.

Some might feel twelve years is a long time to pray for a Christian friend for my daughter. But I often think of how long it might have been if I only started praying now. I’m learning that I’d better not put off praying tomorrow what I can pray about today.

Amy Lytle Bielby writes from Central Point, Oregon.

God Doesn't Explain

By D. M. Flynn

Bret was about a mile from home when he noticed the oncoming car. It was moving at an excessive rate of speed. He watched the vehicle cross the center lane and hurtle toward him. Bret tried to swerve, but his car wouldn’t respond. He gave the steering wheel a violent jerk to the right. The wheel came off in his hand. A scream formed in his throat, but he couldn’t make a sound. The menacing vehicle growled as it filled his windshield and opened wide to devour him. “No!”

Bret opened his eyes and looked around. A young man was setting a tray on the table beside him. “It’s alright, Bret,” he said quietly. “You’re safe now.”

Bret nodded as he recognized Tom, a patient care attendant in the acute rehabilitation unit of the hospital. Tom helped him sit up in bed, and then swung the table across his lap. “Was it the same nightmare?” Tom asked.

“Yes,” Bret said as he poured milk into his coffee. “It’s odd, though,” he said. “The teens are never walking on the shoulder of the road in the dream.”

“It doesn’t help to second guess yourself,” Tom said. “Eat your breakfast. I’ll be back to help you dress. You’re in group one therapy today.”

The rehabilitation gym operated much like a health club. Several patients worked out simultaneously and encouraged each other in their struggles. Marty and Vern were exercising in the far corner of the gym when Bret wheeled over to join them.

“Well, here comes the Saint,” Marty said from the rowing machine.

“Leave him alone,” Vern said.

“Guess you don’t have enough faith,” Marty said, “or God would have healed your legs by now.”

“Knock it off, Marty,” Vern said.

“Some God,” Marty snickered. “He couldn’t even get a drunk driver off the road.”

Vern opened his hands and let the weighted pulleys snatch the handles with a loud whack. He opened his mouth but, before he could speak, Bret placed his hand on Vern’s shoulder.

“Let him babble,” Bret said. “He reminds me of Job’s friends.”

“A real comforter,” Vern said. “He’s Bildad, Eliphaz, and Zophar rolled into one.”

Bret backed his wheelchair into the rickshaw, grasped the handles, and began his workout. Just then, Marty’s therapist approached the group. “Let’s try the parallel bars today,” she suggested, leading him to another area of the gym.

Vern resumed his workout. The swoosh – thud rhythm of his shoulder pulley complimented the push – release pattern of Bret’s rickshaw. After a few measures Vern said, “Are you and your wife still reading the Book of Job?”

“We finished it last night,” Bret said. “It was hard to read it, but I’m glad we did.”

“Why?”

“Reading it this soon after the accident — it became more personal,” Bret said.
Vern nodded. “I’ve always wondered why God never told Job about the wager,” he said.

“I used to wonder about that too,” Bret said. “But maybe God didn’t explain why Job suffered because Job already knew the answer. In the second chapter Job says, ‘Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?’”

“That’s hard for me to accept and my situation is temporary,” Vern said. “Hobbling on crutches all winter isn’t my idea of fun, but at least I know my fractures will heal. But you — what if you never walk again?”

“I’ve thought about that a lot,” Bret said. “But I’m like a millionaire who has lost ten thousand dollars in the stock market. I still have the love and support of my wife and our children. I have my job. I can work from a wheelchair as well as a desk chair. I have excellent medical care. I am still richly blessed.”

“You’re starting to sound like Job,” Vern said. “Near the end of the first chapter Job says, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.’ Do you really feel that way?”

“Well, I certainly didn’t right away,” Bret said. “But now? Yes, especially when I look at Marty. He has no family, no faith. He hugs his bitter memories and has no hope for the future.”

“He must have hurt you with his comment about your lack of faith,” Vern said.
Bret shrugged. “Job never asked God to heal him. He never asked God to raise his dead family, or bring back his servants, or restore his animals. I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I want to remain God’s servant. So, I’ve been praying for the strength to accept and to endure it.”

The two men stopped exercising and sat in silence for a moment. “Endurance, huh?” Vern said. “How many sets did you finish today?”

“Five,” Bret said, “one more than yesterday.”

“Me, too,” Vern said. “And tomorrow I’m going to beat you big time.”

“You’re on,” Bret said as they exchanged high fives.

Vern glanced at his watch. “I’m due at occupational therapy,” he said. “I’ll be working in the apartment in preparation for discharge.”

“Good luck,” Bret said.

“Thanks,” Vern said. He grabbed his crutches, hoisted himself from the chair, and lurched away. After a few steps, he stopped and turned back.

“Bret?” He hesitated before continuing. “Thanks.”

“For what?” Bret asked.

“I enjoyed our conversation.”

“Me, too,” Bret said. “To be continued?”

“To be continued,” Vern agreed.

D. M. Flynn writes from Brockport, New York.

Feeling Blest is Best

By Nancy Canwell

We recently marked the sixth anniversary of moving into our duplex. We originally planned on living here for only a few months. We’d been renting a spacious, remodeled house with a beautiful view of the Blue Mountains.
Unfortunately, the owners had to sell unexpectedly, and we had thirty days to find a new place. We found a newer, bright and cheery duplex, so we decided to rent it until we found a bigger house. And we’re still here.

The problem with our duplex is this: it’s small. Very small. Eight-hundred square feet small. When it looked like we’d be living here for a while, I knew I had a choice to make. I could complain and fuss about our circumstances, or I could accept the fact and make this house our home.

I decided to make the better choice. I didn’t want to someday look back on our time here and find that I’d wasted years that could have built good memories. So, we still have families over for dinner, even though we lack a formal dining room. We still put up a large Christmas tree and find places for every decoration. We still have family come for visits, spreading cousins in sleeping bags across the floor. Our daughter still had a dozen kids here for her last birthday party, filling our home with laughter.

It wasn’t easy—learning to be content in such a small place. I’ve struggled and felt sorry for myself at times.

What forever changed my view of this little place was my husband’s mission trip to Indonesia after the 2004 tsunami. He brought back dozens of pictures and video footage of people who’d lost their homes. Some pictures showed families standing on their house’s bare tile floors—the only thing left that hadn’t been swept away. Others had placed flags where they thought their homes had been, reclaiming only their land. Looking at the pictures, I felt guilty…. Our warm, cozy home looked pretty good in comparison.

I’m learning that I can find many things to be dissatisfied with in life: my job doesn’t pay enough; my car is an older model and not a new SUV; there’s little money left after paying the monthly bills; I may wish I had a boat like the neighbor’s….. The list could go on and on. The problem is, the more I complain the less I feel blest.

Paul gave us the key to contentment when he said in Philippians 4:12 and 13: “I have learned the secret of being content in every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Paul doesn’t say he’s thrilled about every situation, or happy about every outcome. But, he had learned to be content through the strength God gave him.

The choice is ours: complain, or be content. I’m choosing contentment. I don’t want to waste a single day complaining. I can’t get that day back.

Nancy Canwell writes from College Place, Washington.

Bonfire

By Bob Hansen

Long, long ago, I grew up next to my grandparent’s forty-acre farm. The area was sparsely populated, and so I enjoyed the advantages of living in the country. This included, on rare occasions, one of the highlights of my childhood—a bonfire.

This event was highly anticipated by all in the neighborhood. In fact, it was considered illegal to keep bonfires secret. (At a young age, I didn’t regularly read the newspaper, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they published the dates and location of all bonfires, as a service to the public.) Of course, we boys had our own lines of neighborhood communication to assure that no one missed the spectacle.

When the final, bonfire announcement came, no one was surprise. For we had all watched the pile of redundant combustibles grow over the months. We knew it was only a matter of time before the size of the pile and safe weather conditions came together in a cosmic confluence. When the presiding father agreed that the long-hoped-for day had arrived, the news quickly spread throughout the neighborhood.

Most fathers, including my own, understood the gravity of the event and allowed us boys time to prepare. We had to plan the best ways to take advantage of the awesome power that was about to be unleashed.

Over the years we experimented with melting various things in a bonfire. Our favorite, however, was glass. We would find some soup cans and then fill them with the collected shards (preferably colored glass fragments, or clear glass combined with other material meant to color the glass).

The trick was to place the soup can in just the right spot so that it is exposed to the maximum amount of heat. This was the point at which we applied higher mathematics. (The stuff we learned in school that we thought could never have practical application.)

In fact, the bonfire, as a whole, was an educational experience. We gained considerable knowledge about the liquefaction points of various materials as well as the characteristics of thermal currents and the heat conductivity of all the elements on the periodic chart. Of course, these days, children can learn the same things, along with all the necessities of life, from playing video games. That’s what my kids claim, anyway.

At this point in my column I planned to mention that the bonfire was an opportunity to display bravery by adding material to the roaring blaze while standing in close proximity to the fire. However, my wife thought that would promote dangerous activity, so I won’t mention it. But she did say it was okay to note the beauty of sparks as they swirl into the night sky (before safely extinguishing without causing a forest fire).

And, since she has been known to enjoy an occasional smore, I also have permission to mention that, as youngsters, we used the fire to make these treats as well as for roasting hotdogs.

A cautionary note here: The preceding events were preformed by professionals. Do not attempt to duplicate any of these episodes.

Now, back to my story. The thrill of the fire extended even into the following day. It wasn’t until then that the result of our glass-melting experiments could be determined. When the fire had safely cooled, we used a stick to fish around in the ashes looking for the tin cans. If they appeared to have been through a nuclear war we knew there was hope of success.

In my mind, I can clearly see the result of a triumphant attempt. Peeling away the brittle metal revealed a masterful work of art. The glass shards had mixed together in splendid swirls of beauty. Air bubbles buried within the glass triggered spectacular thoughts of what it must have been like in the bowels of that inferno. The unimaginable temperatures must have approached those on the sun’s surface. Wow!

As I think back on those events, now many years ago, they cause me to think of another fire, one in the future. I don’t claim to know all it means, but II Peter 3 refers to the heavens passing away with a loud noise and the elements melting and the earth being burnt up. Now that’s one big bonfire!

And, as it turns out, there’s a payoff with this fire too. It sounds even better than the melted glass with imbedded bubbles. According to the Bible, those who believe the promise can look forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
Wow!

Bob Hansen writes from Chehalis, Washington.

Being One = Maturity

By Mark Swegar

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious anointing on God’s priests, it is like the water of life - eternal life.” Psalm 133 (paraphrased)

In our church, we have several pastors, and we all enjoy performing weddings. The bride and groom are full of joy and anticipation, desiring to join their lives together in every possible way. They join their visions, checking accounts, cars, dreams and names as one. We declare over them, “What God has joined, let no man separate!” From then on, we see them as one. They usually share one last name, one house, one auto insurance policy, one bed, and so on. They are still two individuals, but they have become one in many ways.

The Lord has the same desire for His body. We are many members, but one body. We are one bride, eagerly awaiting the arm of her groom to lead her down the aisle. And how near the time is! But how far we still have to go. Being one (united) means that we hurt when another member hurts. We rejoice when they rejoice. We share their burdens and take on their needs as our own. We must love, which is to say that we must be patient, kind, forgiving and gentle, laying down our own desires in deference to others. In a word, we need maturity!

Paul told the saints at Colossae to “put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with one another, and forgiving each other. Whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you forgive. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” Colossians 3:12-14 To put on the perfect bond of unity means that we need to grow up. Little children serve only themselves, demanding that their comforts and pleasures be met. Parents - “grownups” - lay down their desires and sacrifice their comforts for their babies, sometimes 10 times a night, and 100 times a day. All the qualities of love and maturity are wrapped up in sacrifice. We must lay down our so-called rights. This is a normal part of growing up.

You know, many books and wise counsel may be able to prepare us for the changes of marriage, but no amount of books or advice can prepare us for the changes of having kids! With marriage, we theoretically have another grownup living with you, but with babies we learn sacrifice like we’ve never known it before! It changes our sleep schedule (into a joke), our social schedule, our shopping schedule, our very life. But the rewards make it all worthwhile.

In the body of Christ, there are many babies, but not many adults. This means there is little unity. Maturity and love go hand in hand. In fact, we cannot have unity without maturity in the body. Yet, here again we look at the value of the rewards of maturity: real worship in spirit and truth, increased flow of the Holy Spirit, times of refreshing, infillings of His glory, a witness to the world, and most of all, a redeeming of the time until the return of Christ! Jesus prayed that we would all be one, even as He and the Father are One, so that the world may believe and know that the Father sent Jesus. And He gave us the glory that the Father had given Him, so that we may be perfected in unity. (See John 17:21-23)

May we be perfected - that is, made mature and complete in unity. Jesus is coming for a mature bride. Are we willing to sacrifice? Are we willing to grow up? May the Spirit of Christ infuse us with all the zeal we need to let Him accomplish this task!

The Lord gifted the five-fold ministry to perfect us in unity. Look at the themes of unity and maturity as Paul writes to Ephesus: “Work to preserve the unity of the Spirit in bonds of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God; He is The Father of all, over all, through all, and in all. He has given each of us grace according to Christ's gift. He gave some as apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, some teachers, to equip all the saints for ministry, to build up the body of Christ until we all attain the unity of faith, and intimately know the Son of God, and become a mature man who has grown up into the fullness of Christ. Therefore, be like children no longer, but instead speak the truth in love, and grow up in every way into Christ the Head. From Him the whole body, with every joint supplying, grows up and builds up itself in love.” Ephesians 4:3-7, 11-16

Each of us has a vital part to play in the oneness of the body of Christ. We need to be diligent to grow up by the power of the Spirit. We do not want to be children any longer… we want to supply our part to the body, as mature adults in the Lord. So, Father, help us to grow up into Your fullness. Holy Spirit, fit us together. Lord Jesus, we are living stones, being built into Your temple. Complete the work, then come suddenly to your temple.

Mark Swegar writes from Medford, Oregon.

Battling The Weeds

By Stewart Whittemore

"But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred." Mark 4:8

My son-in-law, Jeff, is Supervisor of Parks here in our city of Grants Pass. He does a wonderful job caring for the condition and beauty of our parks. It takes much work to keep the grounds manicured and the flowers planted in good soil so that they will blossom in all their splendor.

The “parable of the sower” that Jesus gave us in Mark 4:1-9 teaches us how all seed need "good ground" to flourish. The seed represents the word of God and the soil is the condition of our hearts. Our hearts need to be in good condition in order to receive His word so it enables us to grow in faith and, therefore, produce a life that glorifies our Father in Heaven.

One day I asked Jeff why weeds were growing among the stones I laid over plastic on one side of my driveway. The ground was covered where I didn't want anything to grow. He told me weeds can root in just the dust that settles among the stones.

When I thought about his answer I realized it really doesn’t take much for sin to root into my heart if that heart is not fertile to receive the seed God wants to plant there. Like any beautiful garden (our lives) it takes constant care to keep the ground fertile (our hearts) to receive seed (God's word) and the weeds (sin) out.

Fortunately, Jesus sent us the "Helper" (John 14:16) to help us tend that "good ground.” It behooves us to continually submit to His counsel and receive His word from the Bible. It will flourish in our hearts and protect us from the temptations of this world that try to take root there.

As an example of that protection, in Matthew 4:4 Jesus said: "...It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"

Jesus used this quote from Deuteronomy 8:3 to counter Satan's temptation. It is a great lesson for us so that we will also use God's word to counter the temptations we experience in our lives. That is why it is so important for us to have God's word (seed) planted in our hearts (good ground) so that we can keep the weeds (sin) out and God's fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) growing in our lives.

Stewart Whittemore writes from Grants Pass, Oregon.

Are We Willing To Die For Others?

By Troy Pomeroy

Jesus said: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

Do we indeed love those around us enough to lay down our lives for them?

If it were possible to save someone else’s life, will we die for him/her? This kind of choice requires a sincere, deep love and great courage. Do we have it?

Can we make that choice for our spouse? Our children? No doubt a good majority of people might muster up the courage for that.

But, what about for a sibling? Maybe. How about close friends? Possibly, but not likely. Will we consider making that decision for another brother or sister in the Lord? How about for someone we don’t know?

As the relationship gets more and more removed from us, so does the likelihood that we can show the greatest love for someone if needed. Now the ultimate question becomes: Will we die to save the life of our enemy? Will we die to save the likes of Adolf Hitler, Saddam Huissein, or Osama Bin Laden? Will we make such a huge sacrifice for someone who has been against us as long as we can remember? If we are truly honest with ourselves, most of us would not be willing to go that far for an enemy.

Yet, the One who made the statement was Himself willing to fulfill it. When Jesus bore the weight of sin on the Cross, He gave His life for everyone who was ever born. The free gift of salvation was made available to His earthly family, His closest friends, His disciples and followers, but it was also made to His enemies. Even in the midst of their persecution and rejection, He implored the Father: “ forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34 It is His will that none should perish – not even His enemies.

Understanding this helps us in our daily relationship with people, as we begin to see people as Jesus does. He loved even His enemies enough to die for them. Fortunately, we are not required to actually die to show our love for others. Even if we are willing, our sacrifice is not be worthy enough. The salvation work has already been done.

But, we can die to self in our love for others. We can work out this love in practical ways each day. We can express forgiveness and kindness towards others. We can consider others more important than ourselves. In these little ways we can emulate the big example shown to us by our Master…laying down our lives.

Troy Pomeroy writes from Eagle Point, Oregon. pastortroy@epacenter.com

Alone In A Crowd

By Lynn Ludwick

Several hundred people had gathered in the cafeteria for the morning meal, various groups ranging from elementary school kids to seasoned seniors. My conference roommate was still arranging herself for the day, so I moseyed down the hill alone and joined a table of fellow writers. Two people I knew chatted with me briefly, then resumed their intense conversation. No problem.

But the other four people at the table also continued conversing, never pausing to greet me or even ask the usual, “Where are you from?” or “What are you writing?” I ate my meal in isolated silence. A memory surfaced of another time years ago, a banquet where I dined as an invisible guest at a table for eight. Isolated in a crowd.

Its not as though I’m a shy, reserved person. Quite the opposite. I possess the gift of gab and collect friends! And I’m like the old phone ad—I reach out and touch someone. Yet in settings such as those two meals, fingers of doubt claw their way deep into my heart and tag on ugly messages of worthlessness. “Nobody cares.” “You don’t matter.” “You just think you’re a friendly, likeable person.” Years ago I fought tears at the banquet. At the writers’ conference, however, I did battle, for I know those sticky notes speak lies.

While I munched my cheese omelet, I pondered loneliness. When I’m by myself it’s understandable—and relatively easy to remedy. A call to my sister, a visit with a friend sets my feet on solid ground once more. Or a granddaughter fix. Eleven-month old Renee recognizes me with an embracing smile that explodes sunbeams into my world.

Loneliness in a crowd of strangers is also understandable. But the challenge mounts when I’m surrounded by acquaintances. Either way, it appears everyone else is connected and I alone experience this misery. Common sense tells me a survey of the group would show otherwise, but at that moment my senses are anything but common or rational.

Perhaps the greatest agony is loneliness within a person’s family, especially within the walls of one’s own home, the place that should be a sheltering haven. Home and family are where we ought to be most affirmed.

A psychologist might suggest I quell the self-pity and tell myself, “I’m okay.” That isn’t self-aggrandizement or conceit, but truth. “And I pray that you…may have power…to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ…that you may be filled with the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-18 If God’s love extends to such a degree and He wants me to know that much about Him, I must be more than “okay”!

So the next time I’m lonely in a crowd I have a choice to wallow in self-pity and believe the lies that I’m a nobody/nothing, or to fling the feelings at the foot of the cross and ask Jesus for a hug. Then I’m all fixed, no more loneliness. Hardly! Such feelings of insecurity are usually deep rooted, sown with seeds of past rejections and difficult circumstances. Eradicating such weeds is akin to the art of gardening—a process of time and patience, but worth the effort.

As I crossed the cafeteria to the bussing station and set my tray on the slowly revolving rack, it hit me. For all my grand thoughts, I’d been focusing on the other person to be the initiator. In reality, I’m often guilty of neglecting others, engrossed in my own agenda and insensitive to those around me. “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4 I’m not the only one who is lonely in the crowd. That hug I received from Jesus? It’s my privilege to pass it on.

So maybe I don’t always reach out and touch someone. Maybe I’m expecting others to dial first. Hmm…

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” 1 John 3:1

Therefore, “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” 1 Peter 4:9

Lynn Ludwick writes from Medford, Oregon. Lynniegirl45@hotmail.com

All Things Become New

By Martin A. Recio

The ministry of Elijah was near its end. But in his ministry he had presented to the nation—and its king—the choice of serving the living God or Baal. His victory on Mount Carmel had brought new life to the seven thousand who had not bowed the knee to Baal. These, God had preserved to Himself by the election of grace. Only two things now remained to be done, the translation of Elijah and the passing of the prophet’s mantle. The old must pass away: and behold, all things must become new.

The Call to Glory
As it must come to all of us, the summons to glory came to the faithful servant. This was known not only to Elijah, but also to his successor, Elisha. It was known to those in “the school of the prophets.” They inquired; did Elisha not know that this day God would take his master? Yes, Elisha well knew the summons had come for the aged prophet, his master.

Elijah had told Elisha to tarry while he went some distance away. But Elisha knew that he must not tarry. The command to terry had been a test of his faithfulness to his coming office. His call to take up the prophet’s task came in a simple symbolic act. Elijah had cast over him his prophet’s mantle.
Elisha knew to what work he had been called. The Spirit of the living God had fallen on him. And when the mantle fell on his shoulders, he responded immediately, even though at first, he did no more than pour water over Elijah’s hands. Instinctively, he knew in the passing away of the old prophet, the Lord God would manifest his glory.

From that moment when he arose and went after Elijah, Elisha had been anointed to be a prophet. And the mantle, in the power of the Holy Spirit, was already his. He had left all to follow his mentor in the prophetic office; and until he was taken away, Elisha would stand fast by his side. Faithful was he who had called, and faithful was he who answered.

When they came to the river Jordan, Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up and struck the waters of the Jordan. The waters divided and they passed over dry shod. The aged prophet then turned to his successor. Now that he was leaving, what could he do for Elisha? The request was for a double portion of the Spirit that had been with the aged prophet.

The Translation of Elijah
It was a difficult thing to grant. It lay not within the power of an ordinary man. But Elijah had power with God. Should Elisha see all when his master was taken, then his wish would be granted.

Suddenly, Elijah was caught up in the whirlwind, on his way to glory. And the symbolic manifestation of the Lord of hosts was visible to Elisha. He had been fast by the side of his master, and had seen it all: the whirlwind, the radiant glory, and the heavenly hosts. And the old prophet’s mantle—the token of the prophetic office—fell on Elisha. And he saw his master no more.

The Lord God reigns. The aged prophet was carried away—but the prophet’s God remains forever. All who serve are only servants, taking up the task of those who have gone before. The Lord God reigns and our Savior reigns with him.

And so Elisha took up the mantle and stepped into the prophetic office of the Lord God of hosts. Back to the Jordan he went and stood on its banks. In the confidence of his commission, he cried out “Where is the God of Elijah?” He struck the waters with the mantle as his master had done. Again the waters of the Jordan parted, and Elisha crossed over to begin his ministry. And it was a ministry filled with glory and power.

The Lord God reigns. The waters of difficulty will part before the mantle of faith. The promise of our Savior will stand forever. We may move onward, prayerfully, but undaunted to whatever God may give us to do. For the old must pass away: and behold, all things are become new.

Martin A. Recio writes from Ashland, Oregon.

Abundance....If Only

By Willa Johnson

Who among us hasn’t thought at some time “if only?” I admit to being guilty. We could start with, if only the Israelites had listened to Moses. Before that, if only the people had not strayed from God, there might not have been a devastating flood that wiped out all but eight people. Even before that, if only Eve had not listened to the serpent. Just think, God made a perfect world. “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31 Yes, it was perfect in every way and Adam and Eve could have had an abundant life forever. But they messed up.

Down through the ages of mankind, we have continued to disobey and stray from God, whining about situations and circumstances over which we have no control. How many times has the weather been blamed for havoc? Yet, man cannot control it. He can only warn against what might happen so people can prepare. In the Midwest during the springtime, most homes are tuned into either the radio or television because warnings are given about a possible tornado or flood approaching. One becomes accustomed to the sound of the electronic unit and pays little attention until the beep of the warning is heard. Then, ears perk up and you listen intently. Your life may depend upon your response.

Many other if only situations have become a daily mantra. If only my spouse would treat me better; if only I had a better job; if only my co-workers would cooperate; if only I had more money; if only I had a better car; if only the gas didn’t cost so much; if only… The list is endless so what’s all this about God promising us an abundant life?

We do not stop to think or realize that God’s promises often contained some “ifs” within them. Reading through Deuteronomy 28 we learn of many conditions God gave to the Israelites. “If thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statues which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee.” (vs. 15) The following verses throughout the chapter relate the dire curses if the people disobey.

Just as God made promises to curse those who disobeyed, he also made a promise to bless those who obeyed as we read in II Chronicles 7:14. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
In the New Testament Jesus made promises such as in John 14:13-15. “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Another promise Jesus gave us is found in John 10:10b when he said: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

We must ask ourselves, “What am I doing that is causing me not to have the abundant life Christ promised?” And then, “What can I do to change my situation?” If we can truly say we can’t change the circumstances, then the only way to enjoy the abundant life in Christ is to turn everything over to him. Let him solve the problems that hinder our joy. Two of my favorite Bibles verses are found in Philippians 4:6, 7. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” There’s the answer!

Willa Johnson writes from Phoenix, Oregon.

God Desires Abundance For His People

By Chad McComas

Abundance and prosperity are words God uses in both the Old and New Testaments. He wants to bless His people with plenty.

Moses said: “The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways. Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will fear you. The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity--in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground--in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you.” Deuteronomy 28:9-15

David wrote of how God gave abundantly to His people: “You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance. Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor.” Psalm 68:9,10

Jeremiah writes God’s heart for His people even when they didn’t follow Him with all their heart. He was allowing them to go into captivity, but He still had a plan for them of abundance: "'Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.” Jeremiah 33:6,7

Ezekiel talked about the “abundant” waters. (See Ezekiel 31:5)

Malachi wrote God’s concern about how His people were robbing Him, but also His promise to bless them: “You are under a curse-the whole nation of you-because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.” Malachi 3:8-12

Jesus said: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 (NKJV)

Paul reminds us: “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17

The words in these verses literally mean: to jut over or exceed; by implication, to excel; cause to abound; superabundant (in quantity) or superior (in quality); by implication, excessive.

So, if God desires abundance for us…why don’t we experience it more?
I must put a word of caution in at this point. God is not a God of formulas. We desperately want to make Him one. We want to know that if we do “A” that we will get “B.” But when we are doing “A” and we are not getting “B” we get frustrated, angry, confused and discouraged.

God desires us to have abundance, but there are seasons of our lives that we will not have it. Perhaps it is a testing time, perhaps we need to wait, hold on, persevere, trust, learn peace. A quick look at Job’s story reminds us of God’s blessing, Satan’s curse and God’s blessing again.

But, having shared this warning, we must look back to God as a good Father who wants to bless His children abundantly. He has over and over.

And…He has not.

The difference being who the people trusted and who was in charge. When God’s people let Him be God…they were blessed. When God’s people took other gods and even took the place of God Himself in their own lives…they were not blessed.
Can it be that abundance in our lives today depends on us? God is capable. God is willing. Is He in charge of my life? Of yours?

Chad McComas writes from Medford, Oregon. He is the editor of The Christian Journal.