Loving Yourself

By: Steve Self


“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”  1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)

I’ve heard many sermons and Sunday school lessons on the love listed above; as a matter of fact I’ve preached some of the sermons and taught some of the Sunday school classes on these verses. The love Paul describes here is called agape love. It’s an unconditional, covenantal, unchangeable, decisive love, it is an action we are commanded to do. This love is not emotional nor does it change with circumstances, it’s always the same. Most of the time this passage is talked about, it’s in the context of how to love others. But as I was counseling a person who was depressed and down, God showed me a new angle of this verse. He showed me that we are supposed to love ourselves with this type of love too.

When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He talked about the commandment to love the Lord with all you have, but then He went on to talk about the 2nd one being just like it. He tells us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. If we are taught to love our neighbors as ourselves, and we are taught that we are to love our neighbors with agape love, then we need to also need to read this passage in reverse and love ourselves as we love our neighbors.

We are our own worst critics, sometimes we are too critical. We make a mistake or sin, we repent, and then we still feel guilty. The guilt is not coming from God, it comes from our accuser and we need to realize that. One huge step in attaining a biblical view of self-worth is to apply this scripture to your own view of yourself. People always tell me “Steve, I can love others like I am supposed to, but I just can’t love myself like that.” They are right, it is much harder to accept what God has said about you and truly believe it. Much less carry out an action plan to live in to God’s will for our view of our self.  

No matter what is in your past, no matter what you have done, no matter what you are struggling with right now, you can practice regarding your self-worth by following the scripture above. I’m not saying you can use this scripture and go about your life and freely sin and not care about it. That is a flagrant misuse of God’s grace. But what I am saying, is that Satan can attack you and tell you that you are worthless or that you are not smart enough or not good looking enough, but now you know how to protect yourself from believing the lie. Arm yourself with God’s word which is sharper than any double-edged sword, put this weapon into your arsenal and watch God do wonders in your life. You are a precious child of God, one He loves very much. Would God lie to you? Of course not! So don’t think He would start lying to you with this teaching. He loves you and He wants you to love yourself. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you make this change in your views and in your life.  With this love, God accepted Jesus as our sacrifice so we could be with Him.  With this same love, Jesus came to earth and lived through terrible suffering to be our sacrifice.  Even if you were the only person ever to be born, Jesus would have still died for you.  Remember, when you hate yourself, you are hating God’s creation. A creation He formed lovingly with His own hands. God loves you, so love yourself.

Thanks Living

"The King will reply, '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)

When someone does something nice for you, what do you do? You say, "Thank you," don't you? Sometimes that just doesn't seem to be enough. Has someone ever done something for you that was so nice that you wanted to do more than just say, "Thank You." I have. When that happens, I sometimes send them a "Thank You" card. Everyone enjoys receiving a "Thank You" card.

Another way you can show your thanks when someone does something really nice for you is by doing something nice for them in return. For example, if someone invites you to spend the night and you have a really good time, you should return their kindess by inviting them to come and spend the night with you.

It is always important to show our appreciation when someone does something for us, isn't it?

Well, I don't know anyone who has done more for us than God has. God provides food when we are hungry and water when we are thirsty. He heals us when we are sick and he comforts us when we are sad. The Bible tells us that he is an ever-present helper in times of trouble.

Because of all God has done for us, we say, "Thank you." But somehow that doesn't seem to be enough. We could write him a "Thank You" card, but I don't think the Post Office could deliver it, do you? I have a good idea, why don't we do something nice for him in return? But how?

Jesus told us how to do it. Jesus, said, "Whatever you do for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you do it for me." That means when we feed someone who is hungry, it is the same as doing it for Jesus. When we visit someone who is sick, it is the same as doing it for Jesus. When we give clothes to those who are in need, it is the same as doing it for Jesus.

There is a very special name for this way of saying, "Thank you." I call it "thanks living."  "Thanks living" is when we show our thanks by the way we live. "Thanks living" is when we look at the many ways God has blessed us, and we thank him by being a blessing to others.

Let's pray and ask God to help us to offer our thanksgiving by "thanks living."

Our Father, we come into your presence with thanksgiving. Help us to turn our thanksgiving into "thanks living." Amen.

 Guidance from God

Exodus 20:1-17

How many of you have ever seen a gyroscope? A gyroscope is a very interesting object and I have brought one to show you this morning. If you have ever played with a gyroscope, you know that they can do all sorts of interesting tricks. They can balance on string, on your finger, or on the tip of a pencil. I can remember spending many hours playing with a gyroscope when I was a child. In fact, I thought the gyroscope was a toy!

A gyroscope is not a toy! It is actually a very important piece of scientific equipment. For example, an airplane uses gyroscopes in its compass and autopilot system to keep it flying in the right direction. The Russian's Mir space station uses gyroscopes to help keep it in the right position. The Space Shuttle uses gyroscopes to help keep it pointed in the right direction. Gyroscopes are even used to keep track of the movements of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Just as airplanes, space shuttles, space stations, and space telescopes need help from the gyroscope to keep them pointed in the right direction, you and I need help in keeping our life pointed in the right direction. God has given us just the right guidance system needed to keep our life headed in the right direction. It is called the Ten Commandments.

(Hold up the poster, if you made one, and read the Ten Commandments to the children.)

Now that God has given us the guidance system we need to keep our life on the right course, it is up to us to put that guidance system into operation in our daily life.

Heavenly Father, help us to follow the guidance that you have given to us to make sure that our life is headed in the right direction. Amen.

 Water from a Rock!

The LORD answered Moses, "Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. Exodus 17:5-6 (NIV)

How many of you have ever played the game Rock, Paper, Scissors? People all over the world play that game. Not just children either -- even adults play the game. Did you know that there is an international tournament each year and players from all over the world come together to compete in Rock, Paper, Scissors? Yes, Rock, Paper, Scissors is a very popular game.

As you probably know, each player holds one fist in front of him and hits it with his other fist three times. Then, on the fourth time, the player's top hand forms either a rock, paper, or scissors. (Demonstrate each as you say the words.) This is how you know who wins: a rock smashes scissors, paper covers a rock, and scissors cut paper.

Let's play! You can all play against me and you can keep track of how many times you win. Ready? One, two, three, go. Okay, I made a rock. If you made paper, you win. If you made scissors, I win. If you made a rock, we tied. (Play the Rock, Paper, Scissors for a few minutes.)

The great thing about Rock, Paper, Scissors is that any one of them can be a winner. I have a real rock, paper, and scissors this morning. If you are going to write a letter, a rock or scissors wouldn't be much help, but a piece of paper would, wouldn't it? If you wanted to cut a piece of paper, a rock or paper wouldn't help, but a pair of scissors would. If you were really thirsty and needed a drink of water, a piece of paper or a pair of scissors wouldn't be much help, but a rock might be exactly what you need.

What? Some of you are looking at me like you think I'm crazy! Don't you think a rock would help you if you needed a drink of water? Well, in our Bible story today, that is exactly what happened. Our Bible story today is called, "Water from a Rock."

Moses was the leader of the people of Israel. He was leading them from Egypt to a land that God would give to them. They were wandering through the desert and people were thirsty. They began to grumble and complain to Moses. "We are dying," they said, "our children are dying, our cattle are dying. Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die out here in the desert?"

Moses went to his tent and fell on his knees before God. "What should I do?" Moses prayed. "There is no water in the desert. The people are thirsty and they are ready to kill me."

God answered Moses and said to him, "Take your shepherd's staff and walk ahead of the people. I will meet you by the rock at Mount Sinai. When you come to the rock, strike it with your staff and water will flow from the rock. The people will be have plenty of water to drink."

Moses did exactly what God told him to do and guess what happened? He got water from a rock!

So, what should you and I do when we face an impossible situation? We should ask God for his help, and then trust in him. Sometimes we may not understand the way God is leading, but we just have to trust him. After all, who would have thought you could get water from a rock?

Dear Father, when we face impossible situations, help us to remember that we serve a God who can get water from a rock. Amen.

France to extend state of emergency
Overall unrest appears lower across country; 284 cars burned overnight

PARIS - The French Cabinet approved a bill Monday to extend the country’s state of emergency for three months, while youths set schools ablaze and waged other scattered arson attacks across France.

Though the unrest is abating, the bill, if approved by parliament as expected, would allow a 12-day state of emergency to be prolonged until mid-February if needed. The emergency measures empower regions to impose curfews on minors, conduct house searches and take other steps to prevent unrest.

“It is a measure of protection and precaution,” President Jacques Chirac said.

Chirac stressed that the measure was “temporary” and that regional officials would use it “only where it is strictly necessary.” About 40 French towns, including France’s third-largest city, Lyon, have used the measure to put curfews for minors into effect.

Overnight, the number of car-torchings — a barometer of the unrest — dropped sharply, with youths setting fire to 284 vehicles, compared to 374 the previous night, police said Monday. There were no clashes between police and rioters.

“The lull is confirmed,” national police spokesman Patrick Hamon said. A week ago, 1,400 cars were incinerated in a single night.

18 nights of riots
The 18 nights of arson attacks and riots — set off by the accidental electrocution deaths of two teens who thought police were chasing them — began in Paris’ poor suburbs, where many immigrants from North and West Africa live with their French-born children in high-rise housing projects.

France’s worst unrest since the 1968 student-worker protests is forcing the country to confront decades of simmering anger over racial discrimination, crowded housing and unemployment.

In scattered attacks overnight Sunday-Monday, vandals in the southern city of Toulouse rammed a car into a primary school before setting the building on fire.

In northern France, arsonists set fire to a sports center in the suburb of Faches-Thumesnil and a school in the town of Halluin, the North regional government said.

A gas canister exploded inside a burning garbage can in the Alpine city of Grenoble, injuring two police officers, the national police said. Three officers were injured elsewhere.

From Sunday to Monday, 115 people were taken into custody, police said. Since the beginning of the unrest, 2,767 people have been arrested.

Helping cities recover
Violence has decreased steadily since France declared a state of emergency Wednesday. The measure, unless extended, is set to end next Sunday.

Government spokesman Jean-Francois Cope said the bill approved by the Cabinet on Monday would leave open the possibility of ending the emergency measures before three months are up, if order is restored.

Officials already are turning their attention to helping riot-hit towns recover: European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso proposed Sunday that the European Union give $58 million to France, and said it could make up to $1.17 billion available in longer-term support for suburban jobs and social cohesion.

Later Monday, Chirac was to make a televised statement about the violence — his third public comment since the unrest began, the Elysee Palace said. His comments Monday to the Cabinet were reported to journalists by Cope, the spokesman.

Within the next few days, France is expected to start deporting foreigners implicated in the violence, a plan by law-and-order Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy that has raised concerns among human rights groups, and questions among other ministers.

Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said he agreed that illegal immigrants could be sent home, but not foreigners with permission to live in France.

“A French person who carried out a crime or a misdemeanor in France cannot be treated in one way while a foreigner with papers in order is treated in another,” he told Europe-1 radio. “It’s not possible.”

Winter storm watch starts at noon today; 4 to 8 inches of snow predicted

By Susanne Nadeau

Herald Staff Writer

Snow predicted for Sunday in Grand Forks fizzled out, but forecasters said it's a sure thing today.

Saturday night, snow did fall, but it fell more heavily west of Grand Forks, with anywhere from 1 to 5 inches accumulating in places.

In Leeds, N.D., 5 inches of the fluffy white stuff fell, but it didn't stay long.

According to a dispatcher at the Lake Region Law Enforcement Center, the small amount of snow that fell overnight in Ramsey County and Benson County "burned off during the day" Sunday.

In Pierce County, a dispatcher said a slight "dusting" of snow hit the area, but roads were clear Sunday night.

In Grand Forks, a little less than half an inch of moisture fell, but it just didn't stick, according to meteorologist Vince Godon of the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Grand Forks.

"Anything that hit the ground pretty much melted," he said. Godon said a combination of warmer-than-average ground and not enough moisture kept the area devoid of snow.

"When it snows hard enough, it can overcome those warm ground temperatures," he said.

Winter storm watch

There's an 80 percent chance of snow today, with a winter storm watch going into effect about noon. The watch will continue through Tuesday afternoon, Godon said.

"It covers most of eastern North Dakota and a lot of Minnesota," he added.

Godon said the expected snow is part of a system moving from Montana.

"Northeast Montana already has a blizzard warning," he said Sunday night.

Temperatures are predicted to be cooler all week, matching normal November readings, according to Godon.

Four to 8 inches

It is likely snow will accumulate today, provided the storm system moves through as predicted. Anywhere from 4 to 8 inches are predicted to fall by Tuesday afternoon.

"Really, the big change comes when you can keep some (snow) on the ground," Godon said. "Temps will change - the highs and lows - when there is snow on the ground. Once that happens, you are never going to get those record highs anymore."

So, the snow might just be here to stay, after today's storm.

"It's looking pretty good because we're already cooler," Godon said.

Tropical Depression Forms in Caribbean; May Become Storm Today

Nov. 14 (Bloomberg) -- The 27th tropical depression of the Atlantic storm season formed over the Caribbean Sea and may become a tropical storm later today, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

With strengthening forecast, the depression may become a storm today, the center said. It would then be called Tropical Storm Gamma, the 24th named storm of the June 1-Nov. 30 season, breaking a record set last month by Hurricane Beta. The system is 4 mph short of the 39-mph threshold for a tropical storm.

The depression, with maximum sustained winds of 35 miles (55 kilometers) an hour, was about 150 miles west of St. Lucia just before 5 a.m. local time, the center said in an online advisory. The system was moving toward the west-northwest at near 10 mph, and forecast to keep that motion away from the Windward Islands.

The center's 5-day ``probability cone'' forecast shows the latest system heading northwest and then west across the Caribbean, south of Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica on a path toward central America, where countries including Guatemala and El Salvador were devastated by floods and landslides brought on by Hurricane Stan in early October.

More than 1,500 people were killed or missing in the wake of Hurricane Stan in Guatemala alone, with dozens of deaths in El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua and Honduras, where floods and landslides destroyed infrastructure and washed away homes.

The latest storm would be named Gamma: the storms are named in alphabetical order, and after reaching Wilma last month, forecasters turned to the letters of the Greek alphabet.

Elizabeth II is target for al-Qaida

London, Nov. 14 (Guardian News Service): The second-in-command of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network has made Queen Elizabeth II a target for terrorist attacks, British security sources confirmed yesterday (November 13).

Previously unseen footage from a video message, parts of which were broadcast on the al-Jazeera satellite channel in September, shows Ayman al-Zawahiri calling the Queen "one of the severest threats to Islam". MI5 (British counter intelligence) alerted Buckingham Palace to the threat after studying a full version of the video and advised the Queen to take extra precautions.

In the video, al-Zawahiri says the Queen is responsible for the UK's "crusader laws" and is an enemy of Muslims. He also warns the country's Islamic leaders not to "work for the pleasure of Elizabeth, the head of the Church of England". Those who followed her, he said, were saying: "We are British citizens, subject to Britain's crusader laws, and we are proud of our submission ... to Elizabeth, head of the Church of England".

Al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian, is an adviser to Bin Laden and, according to the FBI, is thought to be in Afghanistan. He has been indicted for his alleged role in the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya and is on the FBI's most-wanted list, with a $25m reward for information leading to arrest or conviction.

The Preacher's Donkey

A man bought a donkey from a preacher. The preacher told the man that this donkey had been trained in a very unique way, (being the donkey of a preacher). The only way to make the donkey go, was to say, "Hallelujah!" The only way to make the donkey stop, was to say, "Amen!"

The man was pleased with his purchase and immediately got on the animal to try out the preacher's instructions. "Hallelujah!" shouted the man. The donkey began to trot. "Amen!" shouted the man. The donkey stopped immediately. "This is great!" said the man. With a "Hallelujah," he rode off very proud of his new purchase.

The man traveled for a long time through some mountains. Soon he was heading toward a cliff. He could not remember the word to make the donkey stop. "Stop," said the man. "Halt!" he cried. The donkey just kept going. "Oh, no... Bible!....Church!...Please Stop!!" shouted the man. The donkey just began to trot faster. He was getting closer and closer to the cliff edge. Finally, in desperation, the man said a prayer. "Please, dear Lord. Please make this donkey stop before I go off the end of this mountain, In Jesus name, AMEN."

The donkey came to an abrupt stop just one step from the edge of the cliff.

"HALLELUJAH!", shouted the man.



Depression

A businessman was in a great deal of trouble. His business was failing, he had put everything he had into the business, he owed everybody-- it was so bad he was even contemplating suicide. As a last resort he went to a priest and poured out his story of tears and woe.

When he had finished, the priest said, "Here's what I want you to do: Put a beach chair and your Bible in your car and drive down to the beach. Take the beach chair and the Bible to the water's edge, sit down in the beach chair, and put the Bible in your lap. Open the Bible; the wind will rifle the pages, but finally the open Bible will come to rest on a page. Look down at the page and read the first thing you see. That will be your answer, that will tell you what to do."

A year later the businessman went back to the priest and brought his wife and children with him. The man was in a new custom-tailored suit, his wife in a mink coat, the children shining. The businessman pulled an envelope stuffed with money out of his pocket, gave it to the priest as a donation in thanks for his advice.

The priest recognized the benefactor, and was curious. "You did as I suggested?" he asked.

"Absolutely," replied the businessman.

"You went to the beach?"

"Absolutely."

"You sat in a beach chair with the Bible in your lap?"

"Absolutely."

"You let the pages rifle until they stopped?"

"Absolutely."

"And what were the first words you saw?"

"Chapter 11."

The Christmas Story

Terri asked her Sunday School class to draw pictures of their favorite Bible stories. She was puzzled by Kyle's picture, which showed four people on an airplane, so she asked him which story it was meant to represent. "The flight to Egypt," said Kyle. "I see. And that must be Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus," Ms. Terri said. "But who's the fourth person?"

"Oh, that's Pontius - the Pilot.



No meat on Friday

When Ole quit farming, he discovered that he was the only Lutheran in his new little town of Catholics. That was okay, but the neighbors had a problem with his barbequing beef every Friday. Since they couldn't eat meat on Friday, the tempting aroma was getting the best of them. Hoping they could do something to stop this, the neighbors got together and went over to talk to Ole. "Ole," they said, "since you are the only Lutheran in this whole town and there's not a Lutheran church for many miles, we think you should join our church and become a Catholic." Ole thought about it for a minute and decided they were probably right. Ole talked to the priest, and they arranged it.

The big day came and the priest had Ole kneel. He put his hand on Ole's head and said, "Ole, you were born a Lutheran, you were raised a Lutheran, and now," he said as he sprinkled some incense over Ole's head, "now you are a Catholic!"

Ole was happy and the neighbors were happy. But the following Friday evening at suppertime, there was again the aroma of grilled beef coming from Ole's yard. The neighbors went to talk to him about this and as they approached the fence, they heard Ole saying to the steak: "You were born a beef, you were raised a beef", and as he sprinkled salt over the meat he said, "and NOW you are a FISH!"

 Dinner on the Ground

    "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.'" Exodus 16:12 (NIV)

Do you like chicken nuggets? I do! I went by "The Chicken Shack" this morning and picked up a box of chicken nuggets. Would you like to share them with me? Look, they not only gave me some chicken nuggets, they even gave me some hot biscuits and honey! Mmmm, Mmmm! It doesn't get much better than this, does it?

Wouldn't it be great if every evening at dinner time, you could open your front door and walk out into the yard and pick up boxes full of chicken nuggets? All the chicken nuggets you could eat! And what if every morning you could open the front door and walk out into the yard and pick up boxes full of the hot biscuits with honey for breakfast? That would be great, wouldn't it?

Did you know that something almost exactly like that happened in the Bible? God's people, the Israelites, had been held as prisoners in Egypt for many years. When they were finally free and left Egypt, they were looking for the land that God had promised them. After they had been wandering around lost in the desert for a couple of months, the people started to grumble and complain against their leaders, Moses and Aaron.

They said, "We had it better when we were in Egypt. At least we had plenty to eat. You have brought us out here in the desert to starve us to death!"

God heard the people complaining and he told Moses that in the evening he would send quail to cover the camp so that the people would have meat to eat. Then, in the morning, after the dew was gone, there would be bread on the ground for all to eat. All they had to do was go out and pick it up and eat it.

Why did God do this for those grumblers and complainers? He did it so that they would know that he loved them and cared for them and that he would take care of them.

Sometimes you and I grumble and complain, don't we? We forget that God loves us and that he provides us with all that we need. Instead of grumbling and complaining, we should be saying, "Thank you!"

Dear Lord, we all grumble and complain at times. When we do, help us to remember that every thing we have comes from you. Amen.

The Oldest Trick in the Book

 "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."  Genesis 3: 5  [NKJV]

How many of you have ever eaten Cracker Jacks?  Cracker Jacks have been around for a long time.  I used to eat them when I was a boy so you know they have been around for a long time.  Do you think I ate Cracker Jacks because I liked them?  Well, the taste pretty good, but that isn't why I ate them.   I ate them because of what it says right here on the box.  "A prize inside!"  I wanted that prize!  You know, after I got the prize, I was always disappointed because the prize was some cheap little toy that wasn't worth anything.  You could say, the prize wasn't what it was "cracked up to be!"  But I kept on buying those Cracker Jacks and hoping that some day I would get a really great prize.  I never did.

I wonder if the prizes are any better now than they were when I was a boy?  Let's open this box and see.  I may have to have some of you help me eat some of these Cracker Jacks so I can get to that prize.  Look at that prize!  Why, it is just a little piece of paper.  What a disappointment.  I can't believe that after all these years people are still falling for that trick.

I don't guess I should be surprised.  After all, it is the oldest trick in the Book.  It is the same trick that Satan used on Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  Satan went to Eve and said to her, "If you will eat of that tree over there, you will be like God.  You will be as wise as He is."  So, Eve ate the fruit and gave some to Adam, and it sure wasn't like Satan promised.  In fact, they lost their place in that beautiful garden.  That is one of Satan's very best tricks and he still uses it today.  He will promise us great things if we will just do what he wants us to do, but the prize is never what he promised.  In fact, it may just end up costing us our place in God's kingdom.

Dear Lord, help us to remember that Satan will use every trick he knows to get us to do what he wants us to do.  Help us to remember that nothing he promises can compare to what we have in You.   Amen.

  A Thankful Heart

By: Jennilyn E. Mauler


So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Colossians 2:6-7)

Have you ever been overflowing with thankfulness?  It's an interesting concept.  But, we are to be that way, overflowing with thankfulness. Now, you may be asking, ok Jen, why should I be thankful?  I mean, look at my life, what have I to be thankful for?  

I have a very good answer to that.

When you were dead in your sins and in the un-circumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ.  He forgave ALL our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:13-14)

Makes you pretty thankful, huh?  Think about it.  We use to be dead, ugly, and disgusting before God.  But, God, in His mercy, sends His Son.  And then, He dies for us!  So we can be seen as pure and holy in God's sight.  

Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle!  Do not taste!  Do not touch!"? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. (Colossians 2:20-22)

As I was reading this, it hit me.  Why is it so hard to be thankful sometimes?  Maybe it's hard to be thankful, because we weigh things on the world's scale, and not God's.  How can we be thankful to God, when our lives are full of worldly things?  Now, I am not saying we cannot be thankful.  It is just harder when we are using what the world sees as right.  

I will leave you today with this verse.  Think about it.  Pray about it.  Ask that God will reveal areas in your life that are not focused on him. Ask him to set your eyes on things above.  He will show you, trust me.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)

  Speed of Light

By: Tony B. Rhoda

"You are the light of the world." (Matthew 5:14)

As Christians we are called to be the light of the world. We're supposed to be examples to the people around us who are not saved. It is our job to show this dying place a love from a Savior that will erase their deepest, darkest secrets and give them hope for a future. The only way to show the love of Christ is to act like He would.

The other day I was cruising down the highway in the city when a van past me by. I glanced down at my speedometer and I was going around 65 miles an hour. So this guy was hauling. After he passed me, a speed limit sign showed 45 miles an hour. "Wow, he's just asking for a ticket." I snickered as he continued to pass.

After he passed through, I was amazed to see that it was a van for the handicapped, and on the back it said, "We take pride in driving safe, see you at the next stop light." I couldn't believe what I just saw. Here was a guy already breaking the law and then to be speeding displaying that type of sign on the rear of his van, was just beyond my comprehension. Now, I don't know about you, but I started to think differently of how this person was. Sure he says one thing about driving safe, but then the next second he's speeding down the highway.

Of course it didn't take me long to realize that if I knew he was going faster than 65 there was a problem, because not only was he speeding, but so was I. Now I don't have a "drive safe" sticker on the back of my truck, but what I do have is a bumper billboard for the tailgate of my truck. I have two Christian bumper stickers and a sexy little gold plastic fish attached. So, when people see my truck, they know that a Christian is inside it, but, when they see me flying down the highway drag racing a handicapped van, people will start to wonder what kind of Christian I am.

When you claim Jesus as your Savior you also claim His name. You become a walking billboard for Christ. Everyone that passes by you knows there is something about you that sets you apart from the crowd. Knowing this, we have to strive to be as good a Christian as possible, because through our actions, we give people reasons to believe in us or to think that it's all a phony. I mean if you can't tell the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian then what's the use? Use this week to set yourself apart from the rest of the world and let your little light shine. You would be amazed at how fast light can travel. God Bless and Keep the Faith!

Page Four of Archeology Proves Bible History Accurate

A Recent Find

The contribution of archaeology to the Bible record is far from over. In August this year, an incredible find was unearthed in the Old City of Jerusalem. The event did not make national news. It should have!

Workers repairing a sewage-pipe break uncovered the Pool of Siloam in Old Jerusalem. This pool was a major gathering site for the Jews. The Pool of Siloam is central to the account of the miracle of Christ healing a man blind from birth (John 9:1-7). Christ put clay on the man’s eyes and then told him to wash at the Pool of Siloam. Obeying Christ by washing in the pool completed the miracle (verse 11). This created an incredible stir among the Jewish elite of Christ’s day (verses 14-41). Why? Jesus Christ had made the clay with His own spit on the Sabbath day. The Jews considered this act a breaking of the Sabbath command. Jealous and insecure, the Pharisees declared that Christ was not of God for healing the blind man on the Sabbath (verse 16). A study of the whole chapter makes plain that the entire incident was used by God to show the Pharisees how blind they were to God and what God was doing on this Earth. Of course, they failed to learn that lesson.

Why is all this important today? Here is what the Los Angeles Times reported about this incredible archaeological find: “‘Scholars have said that there wasn’t a Pool of Siloam and that John was using a religious conceit’ to illustrate a point, said New Testament scholar James H. Charlesworth of the Princeton Theological Seminary. ‘Now, we have found the Pool of Siloam … exactly where John said it was.’ A Gospel that was thought to be ‘pure theology is now shown to be grounded in history,’ he said” (August 9). Do we get it? The scholars are wrong—again. The Bible is accurate—always!

Unfortunately, this archaeological event received very little attention. What if it had? Think about what this find tells us. It not only establishes the historical accuracy of John’s Gospel, it reinforces the historicity of Jesus Christ.  God is very real and very powerful. Our modern scholars have their part in making many men, women and children as spiritually blind as the Pharisees of Christ’s day.

It’s time for all people to seriously question Bible critics. It is time for all Bible critics to stop pointing their finger at God—to quit casting doubt on the Bible record and start learning the true knowledge that will solve all humanity’s problems.