Who should die?

This past week we were summoned to a meeting at the Board of Education for what was to be a "Pandemic training." I have to admit, the e-mail didn't spark much interest and I only attended because the subject line said "mandatory." The presenter spoke about the possibility of a pandemic flu that may strike the world due to an increase of the bird flu. From the way she spoke, such a possibility appeared to be imminent. It was not a matter of if it would happen, she said, but when.

We were told that we were now at Level 1 of this crisis, which is educating personnel on what to expect when the flu hits. A video was shown, instructing us on how to prevent the spread of germs by sneezing into our sleeves (instead of on the person nearby, or into our hands and then shaking someone's hand), and of course, by hand washing. Then we were given the comforting news that a vaccine was being developed, but most likely it would not be ready in time, however there were sufficient antibiotics available.

I came away from the meeting feeling just mildly concerned. After all, the Bible does speak of pestilences coming upon the face of the earth and one fourth of the earth will die (Revelations 6:8). Could this be it? My concern increased that evening when Yahoo carried a news item on the pandemic flu. But what really lit my fire was this section of the report: a task force comprising personnel from prestigious universities, the military and government agencies has decided to draft a policy for doctors and hospitals, outlining who should be allowed to die in the event of a pandemic flu. Heading the list was the elderly, followed by those who had been in car crashes or who suffered burns, then those suffering from chronic diseases and last of all, the mentally ill, including Alzheimer's patients.

"Emotionally difficult", "battlefield decision", "minefield" and other terms were used to describe the compiling of such a policy. But how about a policy that demonstrates "love", "compassion" and "doing unto others as you would have them do unto you?" I understand that in the event of a global catastrophe many people will die, but why should anyone assume the "Godlike" authority of determining who lives or who dies?

This ethical dilemma is not a new one. It has affected single families many times over, and will continue to do so. But when this decision has to be made on a global basis, one wonders if we are not standing on the verge of the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. In the event of such a crisis presenting itself, I am prepared to die if need be so that my children and grandchildren may live, but that is my decision. And that's the way I think it ought to be. Not some faceless person in some part of the world deciding that I should die because they may or may not have enough medication for someone else. Jesus said, "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12).

The Greatest Teacher

They called Him "Rabbi", "Teacher" and "Master", names which seem to adequately fit one of the roles Jesus performed while on earth. But how did He, the Son of God, come to be called by these names?

Luke's gospel gives us a view into the life of Jesus when He was a child. While He and his parents were in Jerusalem for the passover feast, they missed Him and later found Him in the temple "sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions" (2:46).

This scene set the stage for Jesus' ministry. The Bible gives accounts of a lot of miracles that He performed, but most of the time we see Him teaching. Mark 12:35 and Luke 19:47 show Him teaching daily in the temple. In John 7:14 He is teaching during the feast of tabernacles.

However the temple was not His only classroom. The streets, a fishing boat, people's homes, the shores of Galillee and the famous Mount of Olives all became His platform. And He taught not only in the day, but in the night as well. Remember Nicodemus? A ruler of the Jews? He came to Jesus by night, and Jesus didn't turn him away(John 3:2).

He taught them the three Rs.

He taught them how to read the Scriptures. "What is written in the law? how readest thou?(Matthew 10:26). "Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him,(12:3) And He read the Scriptures to them often. "And He came to Nazareth where he had been brought up: and as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read(Luke 4:16).

He taught them the right things. "Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself"(Matthew 20:19). "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them:for this is the law and the prophets"(5:46).

And, yes, he taught them 'rithmetic. "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" (Luke 14:28). "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?(Matthew 16:26).

Jesus' teachings were different from those taught in schools, however they never grew redundant or obsolete. They are relevant now as they were two thousand years ago. If we would only follow them, we would gain a diploma that would put us in good stead not only in this life, but in the life to come.

Speak the truth

As the election campaign heats up, political commentators and the public in general are watching every move and listening to every word that comes from the lips of the political candidates. This week there was a bit of a furor as Senator Barack Obama spoke some things which his opponents did not hesitate to brand as "demeaning" and "elitist" among others. This brought to mind some of the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ which many times inflamed the ire of his listeners, chief of whom were the religious leaders of His day.

Listen to some of Jesus' words: "... Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye" (Luke 6:42). "Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?" (Matthew 23:17) and "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness" (v27).

Strong words indeed. But Jesus was not running for office. He was not trying to win the popular vote. He had simply come to "seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). He didn't care whether they liked Him or not. But He did care that they would mend their ways and seek after God with their whole hearts, and if using strong language would help them do that, then that's what He would do.

The Bible tells us that even some of Jesus' disciples left Him after they heard His words. And those who had the power to do so eventually brought charges against Jesus and had Him crucified. But many were convicted by His words, and continue to be convicted, and are saved.

As Christians we are called to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, and even though we may not want to hurt people's feelings, we must speak "the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15). We cannot sugar-coat the truth or compromise the word of God in our day to day interaction with others. Even Paul asked the question, "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?"(Galatians 4:16).

Let us not be as politicians who strive to say the right thing in order to be popular, but rather let us witness truthfully, and by so doing we will save others from the fires of hell. God bless.

Hosanna!

It's Easter time again, and for many that conjures up images of Easter bonnets, new dresses and Easter eggs. But for us Christians, Easter means a lot more. We think of the triumphant resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Mary Magdalene and the other women coming to the tomb and finding it empty, Peter and John running to the tomb and also finding it empty, and Jesus appearing to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

Yes, it's a happy time, a glorious time, a time of hope that follows a period of excruciating pain for Our Lord. Just three days earlier He was crucified, betrayed by one of His friends(Matthew 26:48). That marks the beginning of sorrows. Then comes more sorrow as Peter, a member of His inner circle, denies knowing Jesus Christ(vv 69-74). But the most excruciating pain comes when Jesus is forsaken by God, His Father on the cross as the crushing weight of the world's sins are thrust upon Him and He cries out "Eli, lama sabacthani, that is to say, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27: 46)

But three days later, Jesus shakes off the grave clothes and rises in victory from the tomb. The stone that has held His body is rolled away, and nothing stands in the way of His triumph. The weight of sin and death are off Him, signifying that we, who are in Him, can be rid of the weights that have buried us for so long. Drugs, alcohol, sickness, financial burdens, failing relationships, whatever might be in that stone can be removed through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Yes, Easter is the most significant day in the Christian calendar. We have only to look around us to see that this is a time of new beginnings. Tender green leaves are sprouting from those dead, dry tree branches. Flowers are blooming everywhere, birds are singing, and the air is invigorating. Everything in nature salutes this time of year. And so it is for us. We, too, can salute our new beginning with praises to the One who has given us a new birth. Let us rejoice for our victory is won. Hosanna to the King!

Get Into Heaven

This week I saw something on television that made my jaw drop in amazement. The reporter and his guest were talking about a website that is offering to get people into heaven for the sum of twelve dollars and ninety-seven cents. Yes, that's right, $12.97. Hilarious, isn't it? The host laughed and said, "They sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, how do they expect to get people into heaven for $12.97?" While I commended him for having some knowledge of the Bible, this was no laughing matter. Try ludicrous, absurd, ridiculous, but certainly not hilarious.

While I do not expect anyone in his/her right mind to take the claim of that website seriously, let me point out what one of my favorite books in the Bible, Isiah, says: "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat without money and without price(55:1)". "Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you-the sure mercies of David"(v3).

Here we have it from God Himself. He invites us to come to Him without money and our "soul shall live." We do not have to pay one dime. It's free. Salvation is free. Jesus paid the price for us all when He took our sins upon Him and allowed Himself to be crucified on the cross of Calvary. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:" (John 11:25).

And again He says, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14: 2-3). He's talking about heaven, y'all. His Father's house. Where the mansions are. The streets of gold. The pearly gates. The place where there is no sorrow or weeping or death. The land of milk and honey. The place with a free entrance through the blood of Jesus Christ. Halleluiah!

Do you want to go? Then keep your money in your pocket. Run to Jesus. He'll let you in-without money and without price. God bless.

Like A Little Child Part 2

I feel led by the Holy Spirit to continue this blog about becoming like a little child. Last week I spoke about children being passionate, exuberant and excited. This week I want to touch on two other characteristics that make children perfect candidates for heaven.

I work with children in schools who are developmentally delayed, and there is this one little boy who always slips his hand in mine whenever I go to get him. One day I thought, he trusts me. He really does. Most children, if they have not been abused or mistreated, are trusting. They trust their parents or other adults in their lives to keep their promises.

What about us? Are we trusting of our heavenly Father to keep His promises? I know I have doubted Him a few times. I am still working on being as trusting as a little child. In 2 Samuel 22:3 David says, "The God of my rock: in him will I trust: he is my sheild, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour ..."

For many Christians, like myself, trusting God means the difference between walking in victory or walking in defeat. For when we do not trust God, we make decisions that may jeopardize God's plans for our lives. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5).

Children are sincere. They do not hesitate to show you how they feel about you. If they like you, you will know it, and if they don't like you, well, it can be a painful experience. One of my granddaughters makes me feel guilty at times. Whenever she sees me, she runs to me, hugs me and will not let go. It matters little whether I'm busy or not. Sometimes I push her away with, "Not now, sweetie," or "Granny is busy." And yet the next time she sees me, she repeats the same action. She shows me love whether I'm willing to receive it or not.

Are we sincere in the way we treat others-our family members, friends, co-workers- and God. Do we say we love them, but attach conditions to that love? Do we only love God when things are going our way, but turn our backs on Him when things get rough? Job said, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him" (Job 13:15). Job had every reason to turn his back on God. Even his wife urged him to do just that. But he said unto her, "Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?(Job 2:10).

This childlike faith does not come about by mere wishful thinking, but is developed through a life of prayer, Bible study and fellowship with other believers. That's the only we can grow in faith. Many times I have had to beg God's forgiveness for not trusting Him. I looked on my circumstances instead of looking to Him. But with the help of the Holy Spirit, I am learning to trust in God's promises even when things don't look very promising. And you can, too.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you that you loved us while we were yet sinners, and that You continue to love us even when we don't deserve it. Help us by your Holy Spirit to love and trust You with that childlike faith, for we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

Like A Little Child

Whenever I look at my grandchildren I am reminded of how different we adults are. These children are full of exuberance, passion and purpose in everything they do. They have a healthy curiousity that leads them to touch, examine- did I say touch? and probe each new object they come across. They greet me in the morning with bright smiles, hugs and cheery good-mornings, while I'm thinking, What's so good about this morning?

But what did Jesus say? "...Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). Little children have the passion and excitement for life that many of us adults have lost. We have allowed the challenges of life to wear us down, to erase our smiles, to silence our song. Many of us don't even have the energy to fulfill our activities of daily living, making us one of the many depression and anxiety sufferers in the United States today.

What can we do to recapture this joie de vivre, this passion for life? Psalm 118: 24 says, "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." What is there to rejoice about, you might say? We live in a world of turmoil and uncertainty that seems to be getting more turbulent daily. However the apostle Paul said, " Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, Rejoice" (Philippians 4:4). In 1 Thessalonians 5:16 he says, "Rejoice evermore."

The apostle Paul was not a man who enjoyed the good things of life. After he became converted, he spent most of his life being flogged, stoned, left for dead and thrown into prison. In fact, he wrote the book of Philippians from his prison cell, and later, just before his martyrdom, he wrote to his spiritual son, Timothy, "Persecutions, afflictions, which come unto me at Antioch at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured; but out of them all the Lord delivered me" (11 Timothy 3:11).

Can we have the attitude of this beloved servant of God? Can we endure all things for the sake of Christ, who endured so much for us? Can we praise Him even when our world is collapsing around us? Can we rejoice when we don't see anything to rejoice about? As difficult as it may seem, it is what God expects of us. Listen to what Jesus said: "In the world you shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Joy is the believer's heritage. When we come to Christ we enter into a new dimension of peace and joy, notwithstanding our present circumstances. If we had been sour, disagreeable and hard to get along with, we should become just the opposite, because we now walk in love and Jesus is love. If we used to worry when our dog caught fleas, we should become lighthearted because Jesus "is our glory and the lifter up of our heads". If we couldn't find peace in our homes, we should have peace because He is our peace.

So if you are a believer and find yourself tormented by depression or worry, turn it over to Jesus and watch Him take it all away. If you are not a believer, why not give your life to Jesus and be amazed at the transformation He will work in you? God bless.

Grace and Mercy

It’s amazing how we can read the scriptures many times over and then one day something jumps out at us that we never noticed before. This happened to me one night as I was reading Psalm 90. This Psalm was written by Moses, appealing to God on behalf of the children of Israel.

For those of you who may not know it, God had sent Moses to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt where they had been in bondage for four hundred years. After many trials, Pharoah, the ruler, finally agreed to let the people leave Egypt. However, no sooner had they been freed, they began to rebel and complain. Their journey into the promised land which should have lasted a few days took forty years to complete. During that time God became so angry at their rebellion, he threatened to wipe them out, and would have had not Moses interceded for them. They were bitten by snakes, and many other troubles overcame them.

The children of Israel suffered the wrath of God. Hence the reason Moses wrote this Psalm. In verse 7 he writes, “For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.” Again in verse 9 he says, “For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.”

I read these verses over and over, then I thought, we are no longer under wrath, but under grace. When Jesus gave His life for us on the cross, He got rid of the curse that we had been under since Adam fell. When Jesus died, He restored us to a right relationship with God, the Father. When Jesus shed His precious blood for us on the cross, we obtained “grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Timothy 1:2).

“But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6). “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). Had Moses lived in Jesus’ day he would never have written that Psalm the way he did, for he would have realized that God hath dispensed with His wrath and bestowed grace and mercy on His people.

And there’s the operative word- His. Those of us who belong to Him through Jesus Christ are assured of His grace, but those outside of Christ are still exposed to His wrath. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). So that’s the key to escaping God’s wrath-accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and you will not perish. God bless.

Falling Angels

I watched with sadness as the aging pastor pleaded guilty in a court of law to lying and other indiscretions. In recent times many negative stories about pastors have hit the media, sending shockwaves through the body of Christ. Why is all of this happening? As in everything, the word of God holds the answers.

"For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us; what shall the end be of them that obey mot the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" (1 Peter 4:17-18).

Why is God judging His house?

"Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"(2 Thessalonians 2:3). That day refers to the coming of Christ in glory to receive His church. A church that is to be "holy and without blemish" Ephesians 5:27.

Is that what we are seeing in the body of Christ today? Are we showing the world the way to holiness, or are we simply bending over backwards to accommodate the world so we can have large congregations. Churches today are larger than they have ever been, yet sin and lawlessness still abound, and in some cases, emanate from the top.

What can the righteous do when we observe these things?

"But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Peter 15-16). It does not matter what we see our leaders doing. We are called to be holy, because one day each of us has to give an account to God for the way we have lived our lives.

Also, we are to "forsake not the assembling of ourselves together" as the Bible has commanded us. Many people use what they see in the media as an excuse for not going to church, however we do need that Christian fellowship, as well as the covering of a godly pastor.

"A just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again ..." We have to remember that man will always disappoint us. There are many stories of men in the Bible who fell. Great men of God like David and Solomon succumbed to temptation. Even Peter, who walked with Jesus Christ, fell when he denied the Lord. But God forgave them, therefore we, too, must forgive and not be judgmental.

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Galatians 6:1). I want to emphasize "in the spirit of meekness". Not in a holier than thou attitude, but meekly, lovingly, knowing that we, too, can be in the same position if we are not careful and seek God's presence daily.

So let's pray for our falling and fallen angels that God in His mercy will restore them to a position of grace. Let's pray for those who are standing firm that they may not fall. And let's pray for ourselves that we may remain faithful to God's call on our lives, so that when we stand before Him we may hear the words "Well done thou good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21).

Let's do some gardening

There was a time when I used to be an avid gardener. I could hardly wait for spring to begin digging, planting and fertilizing. Now that I live in an area where the seasons are more distinct, I find myself not knowing what to plant and when to plant it. Therefore, whenever I go walking through my neighborhood I look at gardens in the hope of picking up some inspiration. Occasionally I see a garden that leaves me ogling with pleasure. Then I walk another block and I see another garden that makes me shake my head.

Two gardens. Two gardeners.

Which makes me think of Adam in the garden of Eden. God placed Adam, the first man, in the garden of Eden, and gave him charge over it to till and fertilize it and take care of the animals. However, Adam gave in to temptation, and as a result the perfect garden was messed up. Thorns and thistles grew up among the shrubbery, broken branches hung from the trees, dead leaves and stems remained unpruned. Chaos and neglect replaced order and caring.

Then along came Jesus.

God placed Him in a garden as well. The Garden of Gethsemane. Here, in a moment of agony, Jesus shed His blood through His sweat and began the task of restoring the damage that Adam had done. It was in the garden of Gethsemane that Jesus prayed,"O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" (Matthew 26:39)KJV. Jesus didn't give in to the temptation of the flesh as Adam had done, but instead He gave his flesh willingly to be tortured and crucified.



What are you doing with your garden today? Have you given in to sin and temptation and allowed your garden to become untidy and neglected? Has the job become too overwhelming for you? Have you thrown up your hands in despair, or are you persevering in faith, pulling up those weeds, pruning those dead leaves and tilling the soil? If you are not, then you need to ask Jesus to come into your life. He will restore your garden and equip you with the necessary tools to keep your garden in good order. Why not ask Him today?

Keep Christ in Christmas

Listening to the evening news is not my usual pastime. Sometimes I feel guilty when others speak of current events and I realize I’m as ignorant as if I lived on the moon. So occasionally I force myself to listen. One evening last week I was taking my unpleasant dose, when I groaned, “Not again.”

The news item had to do with a nativity scene in Paulding County that had provoked the ire of someone, and as a result the county was facing legal action. Several citizens of the county interviewed said they saw nothing wrong with the scene. One elderly lady said, “Without Christ there would be no Christmas.” But what got my attention was when the mayor spoke up in agreement with what the others had said. He took a bold stand for what he believed in.
Many public officials are afraid to do that for fear of the consequences.

This season, as we celebrate the birth of Christ, the Savior of the world, let us remember how boldly He confronted the naysayers of His day. He was not afraid to tell it like it was, and neither should we. God bless.

Gifts of Love

We are now in the month of December, and that means that Christmas preparations are underway in all parts of the world where the season is celebrated. One of the ways we celebrate is by giving gifts. For many here in America that means spending a lot of money, maybe even going into debt. Financial analysts say that the average American spends nine hundred dollars on gifts at Christmas. That’s more than a week’s wages for a lot of people. Add to that food and other goodies plus decorations, and the seasonal outlay can be rather large.

Is gift-giving really necessary? Do we have to give gifts every year? True, the wise men brought gifts to Jesus when they found Him, which may or may not have been at Christmas time. But nowhere in the Bible does it say that people brought gifts to Jesus every year, neither did He give gifts to anyone. Sure He gave- of Himself. He spent time with people, teaching and healing. When He did give material things, He gave them food because they were hungry.

I am not saying we should all be cheapskates and not give gifts. I think giving is wonderful. I love to give, and I am also guilty of getting caught up in the shopping frenzy, making sure I have just the right gift. And yes, in previous years, I have gone into debt doing so. But now, I’m beginning to look more at the reason for the season, and if it is to celebrate or remind us of our Savior who came into the world as God’s gift to us, then I think at Christmas time we should give back to Him.

Let’s give to those who can’t afford to give back to us. The beggar on the street corner, the young woman raising her children alone, the elderly person in a nursing home who doesn’t have anyone to visit him/her, those in prison, and I’m sure you can think of others. Better still, ask your family members to join you in giving to these less fortunate members of out society. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40 NIV). Then you will receive bountifully from the One who has everything in His power to give. God bless.

Give Thanks

When I first planned to write this blog, the last thing on my mind was giving thanks. My mind was so cluttered with grief, questions, doubts, fears and even anger at the sudden passing of my beloved daughter-in-law just three weeks ago. I wore my grief like a cloak every moment of the day and even when I went to sleep. How could someone so young, beautiful and vibrant be dead? I had lived long enough, had come across death many times to know that death is a reality. One we hate to talk or think about, much less face. But here we were, face to face with death in all its cruelty and meanness.

Even though, or maybe because I am a Christian, I believe that death is an enemy. It is no friend-not something to be embraced-as some people think. And I base my belief on the fact that Jesus, when He walked this earth, ran death out of town every time He met it. Even on the cross He raised all the righteous dead who were in paradise, and they appeared to many! (Matthew 27: 52-53) However, death is an enemy that has been conquered by Jesus Christ. "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesu Christ" (1 Corinthians 15 55-57).

So for those of us who die in Christ, death is a glorious thing, because we have conquered it, and we go to meet our Lord. But for those who die outside of Christ, the sting of death is present because after death is judgement. So I ask the question again, why did a thirty-six-year-old beautiful wife and mother die so suddenly? For answers I look to the cross of Jesus Christ. He was only thirty-three when He died. But He had finished the work that God had appointed Him to do here on earth. I believe Lisa had finished the work God called her to do.

While attending the University of the West Indies, Lisa became a member of Campus Crusade for Christ, telling others about the Lord, but gave it up when she married my son. She threw herself into helping her husband in his business and raising their three children. However, she continued to work for the Lord, and just the night before she died, Lisa prayed with one of her friends whom she had been counseling. Even after her death, she continues to work for Him, leading us through her testimony to greater faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Just eleven days before she died, Lisa began writing a journal. Here’s an excerpt of what she wrote:

"Begin with the end in mind,” somebody once said.
What shall my "end" on this earth be? And is there really an end? Death is the end, but after death is judgement and to_be_absent from this body_is to be present with you, Jesus. So my question should be - what is my purpose for this phase of life — this human phase, this short capsule of time before I pass from death to life and enter eternity?

To lead as many as I can to the place He is preparing for us. We can't miss out! At the end of this phase I want to hear Jesus say, "Well done, thou, good and faithful servant. You have picked up your cross, you abode in me, you loved me with all your heart and you loved others and loved yourself. You told others the Truth, that I am the Way, the Truth and the Life and that no one gets to Our Father, but through me; that their sins are forgiven them - all their sins were nailed with me on the cross and they now qualify to enter heaven for all eternity — because of me".
Jesus, I want you to be proud of me. This is my end on this earth, not to please men, but to please God.

Yet there is the-tug of war in my soul. For I still want the typical, human end - wealth, honour, a nice home for my family, money to pay all my bills comfortably, good cars that I can afford and maintain, well behaved and educated children, a romantic marriage, success and recognition in the local community. Alas, Lord Jesus, I am overwhelmed at the thought of it all. Where do I put myself? Time is short.
But then I hear You say "Delight yourself in me and I will give you the desires of your heart." "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.'' And "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, then you shall ask what you will and it shall be given."..... "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be given to you as well. Cast all your cares on me because I care for you".

Lisa had come to the place where the most important thing in life to her was to do the will of the Lord and to prepare herself and others to be with Him. She had come to realize that all her dreams-the typical human end as she put it-took second place to being all that God wanted her to be. As for me, whenever I think of her, I thank God for the ten short years that I knew her. She was more than a daughter-in-law. She was a friend, a counselor, a bearer of hope.

At the news of her death my faith took a beating, but now, the more I reflect on how she lived and how she died, I have renewed faith in Jesus Christ. I realize that He is with us in our joys and our sorrows, in our fears and our cares, in our todays and our tomorrows. Yes, I do have something to be thankful for. I’m thankful for the love of Jesus.

Home Remedies

I've decided to give out a few home remedies this week. With the flu season approaching, some of you may appreciate this one. Pound a piece of ginger root, pour a cup of boiling water over it, and let stand until cool. You may then sweeten with honey for the cold, or gargle for a sore throat. For insomnia, a pinch of nutmeg in a cup of warm milk taken half hour before bedtime has been found to be helpful. And how about this one for high blood pressure. Add 5-8 drops of apple cider vinegar to a cup of hot water, sweeten with honey and drink early in the morning. It's supposed to reduce cholesterol as well. I remember my mother doing this one with very good results. Boil 5-6 leaves of olive in a cup of water and drink three times a day.

I have only tried the first one and it worked very well for me. Hope it does for you too. However, some people are skeptical of home remedies. If they don't have to go any further than their pantry to get it, they won't put much faith in it. That's pretty much the way Naaman must have felt when the prophet Elisha told him to go and dip in the river Jordan seven times in order to be cured of his leprosy. Naaman felt that the waters of his homeland were far superior to those of Israel, and therefore he refused to do it. But one of his servants came to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it?" 11 Kings 5:13.

And therein lay the problem. In Naaman's mind, the prophet's simple home remedy could never work. Centuries later, our Lord Jesus Christ used a simple home remedy to open a blind man's eyes. Today there are many who doubt that believing in Him would give them eternal life. Why so simple? Why not pay huge sums of money to have your body frozen so you can later be brought back to life? Or, perform some mighty works in order to get into heaven. No. The Bible says God has chosen the simple things of this world to confound the wise. "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

That's all it takes. You don't even have to go to Israel and dip in the Jordan river seven times. Just stay right where you are and give your heart to Jesus, and watch Him do the rest. The home remedies given above are not medical advice by any means, and may not work for everyone. You may still have to go to the doctor to check on your blood pressure, cholesterol or whatever, but you can trust the spiritual advice. "...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:31.

Crossing the Red Sea

I was watching a documentary this week about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. The narrator said that the Israelites walked on dry land through the Red Sea, but no one has since been able to locate the exact spot where this phenomeon took place, or give any explanation for how it could have happened. We can only conclude that the hand of God wrought this miracle through Moses.

This set me thinking about my own life and the times God helped me out of some difficulty. When I looked back, I realized that I couldn't always pinpoint when or where it happened. All I know is that it did, by the grace of God.

So it is with salvation. Some people are able to give the exact date and time when they came to believe in Jesus Christ. With others, like myself, it's a process. I woke up one morning and realized that I was not the same person I used to be. Things that used to interest me no longer do. "All things have been made new." I had crossed the Red Sea and left Pharoah and his armies behind.

If you are in a difficult situation today, or struggling to find your place in Jesus Christ, take heart. Wait on Him. He will part that Red Sea and He'll bring you over to the other side.

Let Us Pray

One of the things I like about traveling is that it affords me the opportunity to read. Nothing like a good book to help you forget you are thirty-something thousand feet in the air with nothing holding you up. After reading the back cover, I chose This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti as my traveling companion, thinking if it did not accomplish the aforementioned goal, it would at least put me to sleep. By the time I’d read the first page, I was very much awake, and knew I was in for quite a ride.

The story tells about a small town which was being overtaken by the powers of darkness, and goes on to show how demons and angels battle it out to gain control. Now the Bible tells us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers and the rulers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). However, what is amazing is the role that the prayers of the believer play in determining who wins the battle, something Peretti shows in startling detail.

He also shows why it sometimes appears that God is silent, or that our prayers are not being answered. The solution? Keep on praying, keep on believing, keep on serving. God’s angels are standing by, waiting on the right time to do God’s bidding. The protagonist of the story, a young praying pastor, with the help of other praying souls, was able to defeat the powers of darkness and restore peace to the town.

Whether you are a believer or unbeliever, this book will help you pass the time on a rainy afternoon, or while you’re airborne on your way to some exciting destination. But it will do more than that. It will fascinate, educate or even scare you, but most of all it will increase your faith in the omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent God. Shall we pray?

Our Father and our God, we thank you for the weapon of prayer and the Name of Jesus with which we can defeat the enemy. Help us, Lord, to not become complacent and take this weapon for granted, but instead to use it without ceasing on behalf of ourselves and others, for we ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen

The Exchange Factor

Some of you may remember the movie Sleeping with the Enemy which was made popular some years ago. I recall feeling traumatized by the fact that this woman was living with a husband who planned to murder her. But as in most movies, his plan did not succeed.

I thought of this movie as I read the story, for the umpteenth time, about the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot. How could Our Lord, who sees and knows all things, eat, sleep, talk and walk with Judas day after day, knowing his intentions? Jesus knew He came to this earth to die, no question about that. He knew he would be hanged on a Roman cross like a common criminal because that was His Father’s plan of redemption. And Jesus bore His cross willingly. But to be betrayed by a close friend in that manner seemed to be adding salt to the wounds.

And yet, many of us humans also bear our cross every day. In fact, Jesus said in Matthew 10:38, “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” And again in Matthew 16:24 He says: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

I believe that as long as we are following Jesus, we will have a cross to bear. It may be a marriage, a child, a job, our finances, our health. The list can go on and on. The Christian life is not an easy one, but while we are bearing that cross, if we would keep our eyes on Jesus, He will one day take it from us, just as His Father took His. And God didn’t just relieve Jesus of the cross, He gave Him a crown. He crowned Him King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We too will eventually exchange our cross for a crown if we keep on following Jesus.

Make God Happy

When we read the four gospels we can't help being struck by the amount of work Our Lord did during the three short years of His ministry. He Himself said in Matthew 20: 26-28: "Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Our Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, left the splendor of his home in heaven and came down to earth to serve sinful man.

With that thought blowing through my mind, I began praying that God would show me opportunities for service. Last week He answered my prayer in an astounding way. I mentioned to a friend that I needed help getting into my attic to clean my air condition filter. Helpful person that she is, she said she would come and do it for me. Before she went into the attic, we sat down and chatted about our love for God and what He was doing in our lives. Then she said, "I want to serve Him. I want Him to know how much I love Him." My interest grew because I'd been thinking the same thing. She continued, "I want to gather a team of women to visit the sick in the nursing homes, especially the ones who have no one to visit them."

I immediately said, "Count me in." We chatted some more, then she went into the attic. It turned out that my filter was perfectly fine, did not need cleaning. I laughed and said to my friend, "You didn't come here to help me with my filter. You came to bring a word from the Lord."

Isn't it amazing the way God answers prayer? Just ask Him to show you where the harvest is, or where the field is that needs to be sowed, and He'll lead you to it. Then when you stand before Him, you'll hear the words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

ASK FOR HELP

The story of Barak and the prophetess Deborah in the book of Judges fills me with some amusement, as well as food for thought. Deborah was judge over Israel at a time when they had been sold into the hands of Jabin, king of Canaan. The commander of Jabin's army was a man named Sisera who cruelly oppressed the Israelites.

Deborah sent for Barak and told him that the Lord had commanded him to take ten thousand men and go up against Sisera, and the Lord will deliver him into Barak's hands. Barak's response? "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go." Now I could just picture Barak telling his buddies, "I'm going to fight Sisera, and Deborah is going with me." Their hoots of laughter would most likely ring out across the Kishon River. Then they would sober up and ask, "You're kidding, right?" But Barak's serious face would show he wasn't kidding.

Why would a man abandon his male ego and risk ridicule from his friends to ask a woman for help? I believe it could be one of two things: Deborah was a woman of power. As a judge, she settled disputes and people looked up to her. As a prophetess, her word could be trusted. But the other reason could be that Barak knew the anointing of the Lord was upon her, and he needed that if he was to succeed. But to ask a woman for help still seemed a bit cowardly. Nevertheless, the story goes on to say that Deborah accompanied Barak, and they defeated Sisera.

I think we could all, men and women, learn something from Barak. When we face tough issues, we should not be too proud to ask for help. And if it means asking someone who we might consider beneath us in station, let's do it. However, sometimes we might not find anyone we can ask. But Jesus is always there. He is the Christ, the anointed One. All power and wisdom reside in Him. We do not have to face our battles alone. We can say like Barak did: "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go." It's the only sensible decision to make.

Forgiven

Some of the things I hear on the news never cease to amaze me. This week a case was brought before the court against a mother who gave false information about where she lived in order to get her kids into schools in another city. The prosecutor asked that the woman be sent to jail for one year because of this. However the woman pointed out that while she and the kids did not live at that address, her family did, and they would be able to provide after school care for her kids when necessary.

My heart filled with compassion for the woman, and I could see no earthly reason for such harsh punishment. Had the prosecutor ever lied in his life? How many criminals are walking about scot free because they and their attorneys lied? What happened to mercy, understanding and forgiveness? Our court system is based on the laws of the Bible, and I think that prosecutors should consider this before bringing certain cases before the court. I thought about Jesus and the compassion He felt for mankind. He forgave sinners and commanded us to forgive.

I'm not saying that everyone who lies should not face the consequences. What I'm saying is that each case should be judged on its own merit. I'm happy to say that the jury found the woman not guilty on all counts and she was set free. After the hearing the D.A. said his office never intended for her to be sent to jail. So why tie up the court's time with matters that could be settled otherwise? Do taxpayers have time or money to waste? Not with gas prices at over $3.00 a gallon. Are we being told the truth about the reason for those hight prices? Hmm.