“14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,  16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,  17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you,  being rooted and grounded in love,  18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints  what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge;  that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly  above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,  21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations,  forever and ever. Amen.

    — Ephesians 3:14-21 [NKJV]

   How does it make you feel when someone tells you, “Hey – I’ve been praying for you!”?  Don’t you feel that, either #1 “Great!  I sure could use prayer!”, or #2 “Wow!  What’s WRONG with me that I needed prayer?”.

   And even though we are challenged to pray for others, our natures tend to cause us to pray mainly for…ourselves and for our needs.

   Like the little boy who prayed, “Lord, I’m not praying for anything for myself, just a new bike for my BROTHER that we BOTH can ride.”

   Our text shows a neat thing.  Paul is praying for the CHURCH!

   First, he prays for the PURPOSE of the church.  Notice verse 14:  “For this reason” (or “cause”).  What reasons?

   * Being the objects of the Father’s affection (Chapter 1, especially verses 3-4)

   * Being the objects of the Son’s work (Chapter 2, especially verses 20-22)

   * Being the objects of the eternal mystery (Chapter 3, especially verses 10-11)

   * Being the object of the eternal work which may cause temporary struggles (Chapter 3, especially verse 13).

   Chapters 1-3 is the doctrinal section section of this book.  Paul wants to be sure that doctrine is carefully applied.  So what does he do?  He PRAYS for the church!

   Second, for the rest of the chapter Paul prays for the PRACTICE of the church, as seen in verses 14-19.  What do you suppose guides that practice?  First all all Paul looks at the SUFFICIENCY of the Father (verses 14-15).  This leads me to a question:  have you ever heard of – or even voiced the phrase – “the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man”.  Such  folks who hold to such a teaching have no need for personal redemption, for the cross, for the blood of the Lamb.  There would be no need for redemption under that thinking because, think of that, no Savior would be needed if EVERYONE is born a child of God.  Hmmm.  

   But there is another extreme:  there is the elimination of God’s existence!  And if we were really honest with ourselves, that is what the world is trying to do on a massive scale today.

   What is the Biblical balance?   For one, God IS in charge!  Matthew 5:45 says, “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”   Let me ask you a question here:  have you ever heard a weatherman apologize for being wrong?  You bet – all the time!  Why?  Because “Mother Nature” and “Jack Frost”, despite his nipping at your nose, are NOT in charge.  Our Father is!

   Furthermore, God is the Author of life – and He wants…WORSHIP!  Have you read Psalm 139:13-18 lately?  Please do, and when you do, note especially verse 14,  “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.”  And  remember the psalmist’s plea in verses 23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  Do I fully fathom the depth of the Father’s hunger for my worship?  Do you?

   That reminds me of the marvelous, amazing story of the admiral of the boat directing it into harbor.  He hears a voice over his radio, “Commander of the ship –   turn 90 degrees starboard”.  The Admiral says to himself, “you’re nuts, I’m going the way I want.  I’ve gone this way many times.”  So he refuses to answer, and continues as he is going.  Soon a voice returns, “Commander of the ship – turn 90 degrees starboard, now!”.  The Admiral says to himself, “this guy has been smoking some whacky weed – there is no way I am going to obey a mysterious voice.”   It wasn’t long that the voice came back…”you must turn now!”.  Finally, the Admiral had enough.”You don’t understand.  I am the ADMIRAL OF THIS SHIP!!!”  And the voice says, “And I am the KEEPER OF THE LIGHTHOUSE!”

   The Lord hungers for His worship, for He alone is worthy of both our eternal as well as our daily worship and trust.

   The second guide of the practice is the STRENGTH of the Holy Spirit (verse 16).   Notice that the Holy Spirit’s “practice” is “according to the riches of His glory”.  I once heard the story – really! – of some missionaries who sought to enter Fort Knox, the holder of our nation’s gold.  They went up to the door – really!  They sought entrance to share with the overseers of Fort Knox about the love of God in Christ.  Of course, those keepers would not let them in.  On the other hand, the believer in Christ can go into God’s storehouse at any time!

   The STRENGTH of the Spirit is also seen in the “inner man”, the location of the REAL me.  Colossians 3 would be a good cross reference for learning about the working of the Holy Spirit in the “inner man”.  

Romans 6:6 is helpful as well:  “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.”  The fruit of all this is that the Lord Himself will be on display in our lives!

   And third, our prayer is enhanced in a most practical way by the SETTLEMENT of the Son!  Verse 17 says in part, “that Christ may dwell in your hearts”.  WAIT A MINUTE!  I thought He already did!   Let me think through this salvation thing!  Jesus – the King of kings and Lord of lords – left Heaven’s glory, God becoming man, and ultimately died on the cross for my sin.  I have trusted that truth for my salvation.  He only is my HOPE!  So why does Christ have to further “dwell in my heart”?  What is the function of His “dwell”-ing in my heart?  The word “dwell” is a RICH word.  It means “to settle down;  abide; make His permanent home” .  WHAT?  Yes, it means to be HOME AT LAST!  

   How does that work?  Simply put, the believer goes through the day with Christ WITH you!    I’m reminded of the pastor who came a parishioner’s home to have lunch there after church one Sunday.  The father of the home asked the pastor to “return thanks for the food”.  He gave a simple prayer, and then all began to eat.  However, the little boy belted out, “PASTOR, YOU DON’T PRAY LONG WHEN YOU’RE HUNGRY, DO YOU?”  

   But the believer dwelling in Christ means that he is surrounded by God’s grace.  He is also filled with “the fullness of Christ.”  (Verse 19).  This means that he is “flooded” with His presence!  See 1:23.  Wow!  All that while in prayer!

   So brethren – how should we end our prayers?  Do we say, “Yahoo!  I’m done!”.  For many of us we say, “Phew!  I’m finished!”.  But our servant leader the apostle Paul says we should close our prayer in praise.  “PRAISE”? (Verses 20-21)  Yes, indeed!  Look at verse 21, as this brings us back to reality:  “to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”  This is HIS program.  We are to pray, AND we are to give praise!

   There is a TRUE story from back in the late 1800’s, early 1900’s of the tightrope walker who set up a tightrope across Niagara Falls.  Before he began his “walk” across the Falls, he asked his crowd, “Who believes that I am able to cross the Falls walking only on this tightrope?”  Most everyone raised his or her hand.  Then he followed it up with another question:  “well then, who believes that I can cross the Falls on this tightrope with a person on my shoulders?”.  Once again, most of the crowd agreed, including everyone in the front row of onlookers.  He then went up to one of those who raised his hand  “yes” and asked, “well then, will you allow me to put you on my shoulders – if you really believe I can do it?”.  

   The Lord’s program is the same!  It is the proving that He is Who He says He is, working through the program He is building – His church!  And finally, the Lord’s program is amazingly to bring glory to Christ through His church.  

DID YOU KNOW THAT JESUS IS BRINGING GLORY TO HIMSELF 

THROUGH YOUR CHURCH?

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So, God granted him what he requested (1 Chronicles 4:10).

Jabez’s prayer is misunderstood by many people. They think prayer is a way to obtain what we want. But it is not correct. God doesn’t exist for our pleasure, nor does He exist to do our bidding. When my heart is aligned with God’s, my prayers won’t be about my desires, but about His purposes.

Jabez understood that God wanted to bless him. God wants to bless you too, but there are things you must do to receive those blessings. You must hearken diligently to the will of God. You must walk in the ways of God. You must do the things God has commanded you to do.

If, like Israel, you ignore the voice of God, walk in your own ways, and disobey His commandments, you put yourself outside the place of blessing. But if you will just listen to His voice, if you will walk in His ways, if you will observe to do the things that He has commanded, then the blessings will be yours.

“Father, help us to truly understand the purpose of prayer, and may we not seek to use it as a means to gratify our own desires. We pray that we will walk in Your ways, and that we will observe the things that You have commanded so that we might know Your blessings upon our life. In Jesus’ name, amen.” — Dan Shock

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Our churches are filled with many who have grown up in the church, attending Sunday School, attending church events, giving tithes and offerings, maybe even taking leadership roles. Yet, they have never accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. Nor they repented and they have never asked Him into their hearts or lives. They attend, but have not known Him as Lord, nor understood His mission and the hope, peace, grace, love and forgiveness that He brings. Marty Stubblefield

— o —

“Christianity is in its very essence a resurrection religion,” wrote John R. W. Stott. “The concept of resurrection lies at its heart. If you remove it, Christianity is destroyed!”

In his commentary on Luke, Colly Caldwell offers this observation regarding Jesus’ resurrection. “This singular event establishing His divinity forms the unique aspect of Christianity which rises about all other world religions.” The remains of all other religious founders remain buried. But the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth is empty.

— o —

Sexually transmitted infections in the US surged to a record high in 2020.

— o —

Some 80% of the people who live in Tampa do not have or attend a local church.

— o —

Hebrews-13v8

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Why does a $50 bill look so small at the mall and so large in church? Ken Whitten

DO SMALL THINGS WITH GREAT LOVE. MOTHER THERESSA

Reaching your goals and dreams takes more than just doing what is expected of you, as good and as hard as that may be. Exceeding your dreams and goals is about doing what is expected and then some. It’s about taking personal responsibility for it. It’s about owning it. Marty Stubblefield

Good things become bad things when they take the place of the best thing. Ken Witten

The enemy wants us to wallow in our own sin. Cindy Heiberg

Making disciples is the key to the great commission, Max Wilkins

I’m a success today because I had a friend who believed in me, and I didn’t have the heart to let him down. Abraham Lincoln

If you wonder why you have a yearning in your heart, it is because God calls people to do His work. Neither machines, computers, or technology of any kind can accomplish what God wants you to do. Dwight Short

People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents. Andrew Carnegie

Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God. Leo Buscaglia

“To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory..”

— Ephesians 3:8-13 [NKJV]

We have little apparent problem with “grace” – as we learned in Bible School the alliteration, “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense”. But “Radical” Grace? What do you think when you hear the word “radical”? Webster defines it this way: “favoring extreme change.”

How about some examples:

* Visions of Pearl Harbor, followed by the youth of the world raising their arms in obeisance to Hitler. That’s radical.

* When the Japanese emperor was on horseback riding down the streets of Tokyo, and all bowed in worship so as not to see his face. That’s radical.

* When John Carlos and Tommy Hines at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico on the champions stand raise their gloved fists in what became known as the “Black power salute”. That’s radical.

* When Patty Hearst, daughter and heir to one of the richest men in America, gets kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army (“SLA”) and after becomes one with their movement. That’s radical.

But to join that same word with one of the most precious terms of the Christian faith – GRACE – you say that’s UNTHINKABLE!

Wouldn’t you like to learn how your faith can be a display of RADICAL GRACE? Our text today will teach us!

First, let’s look at the “personal view”. Did you notice the first part of verse 8: “to me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was give.” The personal view says “an unworthy subject gives endless riches to unworthy subjects.”

Throughout Scripture Paul shares his testimony which could be summarized with these words: “I am an unworthy subject.” 1 Timothy 1:15 says in part, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am CHIEF”. In Acts 26, in sharing his testimony before King Agrippa, Paul said, “I persecuted Christians…I cast my vote for their death.” Paul thought he was zealous against the Church. He learned on the road to Damascus that he was truly zealous against the Lord Jesus Himself! The Savior once said, “He that is not with Me is against Me.” The Lord told Paul personally, “I Am Jesus Whom you are persecuting.” Yet in the midst of all this, the Savior offers to Paul GRACE: “I will send you to the Gentiles, to turn their darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God…that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance with other Christians.

Paul was extended Radical GRACE, the willingness to see Jesus as others see Him. Radical GRACE extended needs RADICAL help. We need to pray for that help – for us and for others!

Secondly, let’s look at the “eternal view”, as seen in verses 9-11.

The mystery is now revealed (and, no, the butler did NOT do it), although hidden from before creation (verse 9). Just what things ARE hidden?

* The creation! “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1)

* BEFORE Gen. 1:1, the Savior’s arrival was well planned!

* BEFORE Gen. 1:1, the cross was well planned!

* BEFORE Gen. 1:1, the church was well planned!

This is RADICAL GRACE – not an after thought to sin but prepared love for sinners!

Verse 10 has an astounding thought – “such wisdom was hidden from eternal beings and is revealed not through them but through the church!”. “Wow!”, heaven shouts!

Why? Because the angels were there:

At the creation!

t the creation!

At the gar

At the garden!

At the fall!

At history!

At the treatment of God’s Son Whom they always worshipped!

At the cross, and at the resurrection!

But now to see changed lives enjoy by redemption that which they enjoy by creation!

AND the church is its only messenger. “Wow” again!

The eternal view includes the reality that such an eternal purpose is accomplished thru only One object, if you will, God’s Son (verse 11).

People can object to many things: family (our consistencies or even the lack), and even the church and its frailties.

But they cannot object to Christ and the reality of salvation. He alone is the heart of salvation.

Is it possible to have an eternal view in today’s world? Let’s look at the example of a football player named Danny Wuerffel. While playing for the University of Florida, he set school and conference records as his school’s quarterback. In his senior year, he helped lead his team to win the school’s first national football championship. And to highlight his year, he won the auspicious “Heisman Trophy” as the collegiate’s best football player. He spent years as a professional football player, but even through the rigors of football he also was involved in the “Desire Street Ministries”, a non-profit group which was used, per its history, “to help impoverished neighborhoods through spiritual and community development.” But having done all those amazing things, what was his foundation in life? Listen to his words: “I’m playing to an audience of One,” he says, pointing skyward. “As long as I can look up and feel I did my best, then I won’t worry about what other people think.” Is that our testimony?

Finally, there is the “practical view”, as displayed in verses 12-13.

Now, in Christ, we have courage and a dynamic approach to Christ! AND outward circumstances should not cause us to lose heart but realize they are for our glory! What is that? That is RADICAL GRACE!!!

Let’s close with perhaps the most amazing story in the life of Corrie ten Boom, who, with her family, for Jesus sake would hide many Jews from the Nazis during World War 2. However, she and her family were eventually captured by their enemies. She would spend the rest of the war in a concentration camp – where the atrocities of war resulted in many of her family members to be executed at the camp, in particular her favorite sister.

After being released at the end of the war, Corrie continued her testimony for Christ by speaking at many conferences, giving testimony of God’s RADICAL GRACE and protection. At the end of one of her presentations, a German gentleman came up to her with tears in his eyes. These are his words: “I was a jailer responsible for the death of your family. I have come to Christ in faith. I seek your forgiveness for what I did in my unbelief. To think that, as you say, He has washed my sins away!” He reached out his hands for a handshake of fellowship and forgiveness. There was little hesitation. Corrie told him, “Jesus gave me your forgiveness.” They were one in faith in Christ.

That is RADICAL GRACE! Is it on display in our lives?

There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. – Genesis 12:8

Certainly, you have seen them. They were invented about fifty years ago by Sidney Allen “Al” Heenan, who was named inventor of the year for his contribution to automobile safety. They are now standard installations of all major roads and highways. White reflectors are placed along white traffic lines; yellow reflectors are placed along yellow traffic lines. Red reflectors tell drivers they are going the wrong way up a one-way ramp or that they should not enter. Blue reflectors mark fire hydrants. There is one of those in front of my house.

The Bible has many markers. Abraham built an alter and so did Isaac. They were markers to identify significant events in God’s journey through spiritual history. In our lives there are spiritual markers that denote our spiritual journey through life. They are things, events, that remind us of significant events, truths, seasons or decisions in our lives.

Spiritual markers are reminders. Reminders of life altering events, or major decision taken at various points in our lives. They are markers of God’s activity. Like Noah building an altar after the flood (Gen 6-8). Or feasts that remind us of specific events that have spiritual significance, like Passover for the Israelites. They mark His ongoing activity in our lives in different ways. We notice that we leave the experience a stronger or different person for the better. We may not always feel stronger immediately after the event or season, but with the passing of time we look back and say: “Hey, look how God used that in my life.” Even if it is the worst experience of our life, with time, we look back and see that God made it something beautiful in or lives.

As we remember the events and circumstances around our spiritual markers, our own faith is bolstered and strengthened. You know it is a significant spiritual marker if you find that you share it often, this normally indicates that it had significant impact on you. One such example is in 1 Sam 7:1-12 where Samuel put up a stone to remind the people that “God has helped us” against our enemies.

Spiritual milestones are those acts where we take a step in the process of spiritual formation, steps we take as we are being transformed to the image of Jesus Christ. As we grow spiritually we begin learning to discern God’s voice.

What are the spiritual markers in your life?

Lord help me to identify the spiritual markers in my life and in so doing develop spiritual memory in my walk with You. As I remember these events help them to strengthen my faith and keep me consistently on the path. Also help me to share with others, so that they too may benefit from my walk with You. Thank You Father that you are constantly working in my life and that these markers are reminders to me that I belong to You and my future is secure in You.

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

We have a decision to make…

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 NIV

Living for Jesus is challenging,

but accepting Him as Lord and Savior is imperative…

and is as simple as ABC:

A – Acknowledge that you have sinned: “Sin” means “missing the mark.” For all have sinned and fall short of the glory (Romans 3:23).

B – Believe in Jesus: Believing in Jesus is more than just knowing that He exists. It is placing total trust and faith in Jesus. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved (Acts 16:31).

C – Confess Jesus as Lord: Confessing Christ means accepting His plan for your life. If you say with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and if you believe in your heart that God raised Christ from death, you will be saved (Romans 10:9).

“Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive you as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for forgiving me of my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me the kind of person that you want me to be. In Your name I pray. Amen”

If you’ve prayed this and it resonates, reach out to others who are following Jesus, and talk through it, pray through it. It will be the greatest decision of your life.

Marty Stubblefield

— o —

You won’t find the solution to your problems by looking at other people or yourself. Direct your thoughts away from the problem and put them on God; away from your own weaknesses and onto His strength. You need to remember that God loves you and is in control of the circumstances that surround your life. Dan Shock

2 Timothy 1v7

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

A god is anything you look to for good in your life, anything you count on, bank on, or trust in for you for your well-being. It is the thing you grasp or hold on to make life work. Ken Whitten

When fighting a “culture war,” should we be passivists or activists? The answer is yes. Jim Denison

How do we get to the end of our lives with minimal regrets? We choose well. We set aside lesser pursuits to seek meaning in our lives. And we do it every single day.” Joshua Becker

With your eyes closed, answer this, “If you were to die today, what is the one project you would be most disappointed that you weren’t able to complete?” The Minimalist

There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow men. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self. Ernest Hemingway

Giving money and power to the government is like giving whiskey and care keys to teenage boys. P.J. O’rourke

The man who will use his skill and constructive imagination to see how much he can give for a dollar, instead of how little he can give for a dollar, is bound to succeed. Henry Ford

Problems are only opportunities in work clothes. Henry J. Kaiser

Fear is the enemy. Fear is of the enemy. Fear is the opposite of faith. Fear makes us think, “What if I don’t…” Marty Stubblefield

The really unhappy person is the one who leaves undone what they can do, and starts doing what they don’t understand; no wonder they come to grief. Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

There are three faithful friends – an old wife, an old dog, and ready money. Ben Franklin

If you don’t know, the thing to do is not to get scared, but to learn. Ann Rand

May 23, 2022

I read with great interest Brother Grant’s article this week about his heart. I’m not sure why that many servants of the Lord have similar experiences.

Sometime around four summers ago I had noticed that when I went for walks, well, not all of me moved with my feet! I would go for regular morning walks from my pastor’s study to the local post office, about 1/2 mile away. It was a good walk, a good opportunity to get outdoors. Also it was a GREAT opportunity to meet people at the post office!

I had the privilege in my last charge to serve the Lord there for precisely on the spot 10 years! I knew I would like this assignment (assigned by God, of course!).

Our community was only 5 miles from nearby Hamilton, New York, home of Colgate University. Not known to you? Colgate sports is area famous! Its football team is in what’s known as “Division 3”. But its hockey team is Division 1 all the way! It competes with collegiate teams from all over the country – many of which have the misfortune of traveling to central New York in the midst of one of our classic snow storms. The Colgate Patriots hockey teams have played in the “frozen four” many years, having finished 2nd in the NATION in 1990. What fun! And the Colgate football played in its own Division 3 finals at least once, the year it went 16-0. We went to the home playoff games – and yes, now those blizzards were OUTSIDE where there was no arena to protect either the fans nor the players from the white stuff.

Our little town of Earlville, New York…WAIT! How small is it? The population varies yearly, although many of Colgate’s professors live in Earlville because the property taxes are MUCH lower than in their beloved Hamilton. Years ago there were signs at each of the entrances to the village reading, “Earlville – Smalltown USA”.

We looked forward to the culture that our area provides. One of the features of our community is the “Earlville Opera House”. Why even one of the summers we lived in Earlville guess who played at the opera house? You bet! Peter Yarrow of “Peter, Paul, and Mary” fame. We could not park in front of our house – the streets were SO packed!

OH, the post office! In my first weeks as the pastor of the local Baptist church, I learned fast that there were two places to meet people in the village. The first was the Huff Brau tavern…AND RESTAURANT! (Except that often one had to pay for one’s meal at the bar, even though such meal had been enjoyed in the restaurant). I got to know the bartender real well. (That wasn’t worded too good was it? But you know what I mean!).

And then there was the post office! It was probably during that first week when I walked in, went to the church’s mail box and retrieved our mail, turned around to head out the door, when…in walked Doc Jerry. He was the retired overseer of the former mastitis laboratory which used to be housed across from the Opera House. Its building is now home to the Quincy Square Museum, a wonderful establishment which includes local history such as the old conestoga wagons which were built in the factory at the end of West Main Street and right near the train station – which location made for easy shipping throughout the world!

Back to Doc Jerry – he looked SO familiar, even though I had never met him before! When we sat down to compare notes, I learned that his younger brother was the founder of the office supply store in nearby Norwich, at which store where my wife was then working for Doc Jerry’s nephew who had bought the business from his parents! Small world, eh? And it was earlier this year when Doc called to let me know that his wife had died, and would I officiate her service. Did Doc ever come to church? No – well, except for the reception when I retired. Amazing lesson here – real ministry occurs NOT within the 4 walls of the church. Just sayin’.

Oh, back to the walks! It was on those walks to the post office when I noticed I was often “running out of breath”, needing to pause to “catch my breath”. One day four years ago my primary care doctor said while using his beloved stethoscope, “something doesn’t sound right”. The long story shortened…I ended up in an area hospital where they performed a nuclear stress test and an echocardiogram.

The results were read by a zillion year old (well, actually around 75 years old – not to offend anyone of that age!) retired heart surgeon. About 45 minutes after he began reviewing my tests results, he called me into his office. 3 insights: Number One “Where’s your wife? She ought to be here.” [she’s at a local store – you said the tests would take 3 hours instead of 1 1/2 hours). Number Two: “Your situation is urgent”. (I’m thinking “‘urgent’? Get me into the nearby hospital NOW”.) Number Three: “I’m surprised you’re still alive”.

“Yessiree! They will roll me right into the hospital, no suitcase needed!”. The old geezer (please accept my apologies) rolls me over to the receptionist’s station and says, “set up an appointment with the head surgeon.”

“Urgent”, the test evaluator said.

“I can get you in before the surgeon in two weeks,” the receptionist said.

“Urgent,” he said.

“For a consult,” she said!

Two weeks later, both my wife and I were in the surgeon’s office to view the latest, up-to-the-date defibrillator/pacemaker! And two weeks later (a full month after “URGENT”), I was wheeled into the operating room to receive my new addition to my body parts.

And I, too, looked up at the ceiling (see the Hon. John Grant’s story)! Looking up at the ceiling was all I was allowed to do for 24 hours!

“The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9a).

Jeremiah, my name sake, would ask the same question in his wonderful prophesy.

Do you ever read verse 10?

“I, the Lord, search the heart. I test the mind. Even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”

Both the lost and the found are the recipients of THIS spiritual defibrillator! The Lord searches the heart, just as my defibrillator/pacemaker searches mine and says, “speed up!” Or “slow down!”. And if one day I need a real jolt – I haven’t had one yet – my defibrillator can supposedly bring me back to life! But our Heavenly Father searches for those who love Him through trust in the purchase, not of a defibrillator, but of the blood of the Lamb slain at Calvary!

I, too, looked up at the ceiling and marveled. Unlike the temporary medical healing that the surgical staff of that hospital could give me, my Heavenly Father has given me an eternal healing of my heart! I belong to Him – and by faith, He to me!

BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE! About a year ago, we had a new neighbor and his family move into the apartment on the other side of ours. Pretty soon I noticed a most regular yet IRREGULAR occurrence: an alarm would go off every morning at 7:07am. Same time every day. Same sound every day. At first, I was SURE it was coming from my new neighbor’s side of the building! But after many days of persistent alarm sounds, I began to wonder – is it coming from my watch? Is it coming from my computer? Is it coming from my wife’s laptop computer? FROM WHERE WAS IT COMING??? Even when I was in the hospital last December enjoying the joys and fruit of Covid Pneumonia, my 7:07 alarm followed me. Every day without fail.

One morning earlier this year my wife and I were in the kitchen shortly after 7 am when, at precisely 7:07am my daily alarm roared out. My wife said, “JEREMY! The alarm is coming from your defibrillator!”

So I sent a text message to my cardiologist’s office. Within minutes, I received a phone call from that office: “GET IN HERE NOW!”.

“The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. Who can know it?”

It seems that one of the two probes connecting my defibrillator to my heart – the probe in particular connecting the pacemaker part of the defibrillator to my heart – well (in the physician’s terms)…it had disintegrated! It was no longer functional, and the alarm – for the past year, mind you! – was telling me that there was something wrong with my new fancy schmancy machine!

“I the Lord test the heart…”

The surgeon’s office disconnected the alarm. Then I met with the surgeon himself who said, “we have a choice, and I think we’re making the right choice – although we’ll know pretty soon whether or not it is the right one.” Now THAT was comforting! He decided to “jack up” the usage of the defibrillator. Then, in two years when the defibrillator’s battery needs to be changed (“you mean, it’s not permanent?”), we’ll decide whether or not the second probe (“wire”) is needed.”

“I test the mind. Even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”

Isn’t it amazing that the Lord in His wisdom uses “the heart” as an illustration of how HE operates? Now for sure, “the heart” in Scripture is rarely a physical organ. It refers more to the inner emotions, the guiding directive between man and his Creator.

So Brother Grant, thanks for sharing! It is a pleasure to be a member of the “Staring Up At The Ceiling In The Hospital” Club.

For it is in that stare where the Good Lord knows He has His child where he can hear His tender voice.

For the child has no where else to go!

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

It was a dumb thing to do, but I did it anyway. For more than a week I had felt, tired, dizzy and light-headed.

My bride told me to go to the doctor, but I didn’t have the time in my schedule (first dumb thing). Then, a week went by and I was in my office and the office started spinning around and I thought I was going to pass out. I knew I needed medical help, so I did my second dumb thing. I drove to the Urgent Care facility. They took me right in and said my blood pressure was 180 and my heart was missing beats. They wouldn’t let me drive and dispatched me directly to the emergency room.

For three days I was prodded, poked, photographed and otherwise submitted to unpleasantries. Finally, my cardiologist reported that my heart was in good shape, but he was calling in “the electrician.” The “what” I asked, and he told me I was going to get a pacemaker to regulate my heart. I did and I am home, and my heart is performing beautifully. My watch is no longer telling me that I have a slow heartbeat.

I am still learning about this marvelous device. Someone said it can be programed to open my garage door and turn on the TV when I walk into the room. I also heard that if I fall asleep in church, it will record the sermon and later that night if I can’t get to sleep that night, I can replay the sermon and see if it will put me to sleep again! But we will see.

Being in the hospital was a spiritual experience. I spent more time laying on my back than Michelangelo and when you are on your back, all you can do is look up and I did. I thought….. God, is this the beginning of the end? Is it a life changer? Then …. God, why did you let me survive this attack when others don’t?

For me it was a great time of spiritual revival and helped me get my priorities in order. It helped me realize what really is important in my life. I was too busy to get medical help and my procrastination could have been fatal. I asked myself …… Am I too busy with the matters of this world to spend time with God?

What is my mind fixed on? Conquering the next financial deal? My next vacation? The Bible tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Hebrews 12:2.

Do you need a heart attack to make you lie down and look up, focusing on the vertical rather than your horizontal matters? Think about it. Stop and pause the world around you and take time to look up.

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Our churches are filled with many who have grown up in the church, attending Sunday School, attending church events, giving tithes and offerings, maybe even taking leadership roles. Yet, they have never accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. Have never asked Him into their hearts or lives. They attend but have not known Him as Lord, nor understood His mission and the hope, peace, grace, love and forgiveness that He brings. Marty Stubblefield

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Note these 5 things that the Scriptures can do for you:

1. The Bible shows you what is right.

Right is not determined by culture, custom, or human creed. An accepted popular practice is not necessarily right. And human legislation enacted by a government doesn’t make something right.

2. The Bible shows you what is wrong.

While the Bible is not a list of “thou shalt nots,” it does offer some specific warnings about what is wrong. Wrong attitudes, wrong actions, wrong associations do not change with the times. If God says it’s wrong, then it’s still wrong today.

3. The Bible helps you get right.

When we’re on the wrong path religiously, morally, or ethically, we need to get on the right path. The Bible, when properly applied, will direct you in the right way in every area of your life.

4. The Bible helps you stay right.

The Bible provides the inspiration, encouragement, and motivation to keep on keeping on. To stay the course. And remain faithful regardless of Satan’s carnal enticements.

5. And the Bible equips you for every righteous work.

What is righteous work in God’s eyes? The Bible defines it. Both collectively in His church. And individually in our personal lives. The Bible furnishes us with just what we need to be successful spiritually.

Make 2022 a year of Biblical renewal. Get into the Word. Read it. Study it. Meditate on it. Live it.

D. L. Moody was right when he proclaimed, “The Bible was not given for our information, but for our transformation.”

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

My soul belongs to the Lord and my body and my honor to my country. Oleksandr Usyk – Heavyweight champion after joining a Ukrainian defense battalion

If you don’t understand the resurrection, then your faith is meaningless. Cindy Heiberg

Mission is the reason the church exists. Max Wilkins

There are three billion people in the world who have never heard of Jesus and 57,000 die each day. Andy Ivey

Christians have the responsibility to go tell others about Jesus. Bishop Sharma Lewis

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others. Cicero

I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well. Alexander the Great

Our First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religion are more imperiled than at any time in American history. Jim Denison

The ladder of success is never crowded at the top. Napoleon Hill

Reason and judgment are the qualities of a leader. Tacticus

If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door. Milton Berle

If a man does his best, what else is there? George S. Patton

Anybody can run the first half of a race, but it takes a true competitor complete in the second half of the race. David Kempston

“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—  2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation  of the grace of God which was given to me for you,  3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery  (as I have briefly written already,  4 by which, when you read, you may understand  my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),  5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:  6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body,  and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,  7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.”

Ephesians 3:1-7 (NKJV)

   A number of years ago in my first pastoral charge there was a family which, like me, were (and still are!) avid Miami Dolphins fans (what else?). 

One Sunday night I inadvertently revealed the end of a mystery without intending too.  My neighbor Bill, the Dolphin fan, had taped that afternoon’s Miami/Philadelphia game, which game I had watched live.  He called me to say, “Hey!  After the kids get home from Youth Group, do you want to watch the Dolphin game with me?”.  Of course, knowing that they had already lost the game, I replied with a slight moan, “no, not really”.  Oops!  I spoiled Bill’s viewing of the game because HE didn’t know who had won or lost! I revealed the mystery to him.

   The book of Ephesians reveals a “mystery”.   Unlike our novels [or my Miami game score], the Biblical view of a “mystery” is “that which being outside the range of unassisted natural apprehension, can be made known only by divine revelation”.  Neat, huh?  It can only be revealed when God wants it to be made known.  AND it can only be made known to those enabled by His Holy Spirit.

   Verses 5-7 above reveal the time frame of the mystery.  Up until the book of Acts, there were few Gentiles “saved”, that is, part of God’s family through faith in Jesus the Savior.  The early church was made up mainly of converted Jews – those who recognized Jesus as their Messiah and Savior!   Now, Paul is revealing a new thing!  He is sharing the MYSTERY that Gentiles were now a part of God’s economy – a revelation which at that time was…HUGE!

   We’re interested today in looking at the servant of the mystery, the one whom God uses.  Let’s look at his description:

   First, he was a PRISONER (verse 1).  There are various identifications of a “prisoner”.  He could be a “violator of the law”.  When I worked for the local police department, I used to take school children on tours of the police headquarters building.  They looked forward to two things:  blowing the siren on the squad car AND going into the jail!  (Don’t ask me why about the second desire!).  Maybe it was my old nature, but when they got inside the jail cell, I would SLAM the door shut and hold it tight.  The little urchins would SCREAM!  Now THAT was fun!  The result was that they never wanted to be in a jail cell again!  Many a youth was saved from being a “violator of the law” by the slamming of a jail cell. 

   But the Bible also talks about the “prisoner of sin”.  Christian author Chuck Swindoll told the story of a young man who was put in jail.  Throughout this ordeal, the man experienced many variations of treatment:  from being sent to jail, to being abused in jail, and finally being released from jail.  While he was in jail, he came to know Jesus as Savior through its prison ministry.  And then?  Pastor Swindoll tells how the man wanted to go BACK to the jail – not as a prisoner, but as one set free who could be used to aid others to be set free from being a “prisoner of sin”!

   And the prisoner to which Paul was referring was himself.  Yet in jail he called himself a “prisoner of the Lord”!  Though in jail in Rome, he states he was not Rome’s prisoner but rather God’s prisoner.  In all circumstances, Paul was God’s prisoner, so that he could be used for God.  The circumstances made no difference, only the power of God and the submission to that power.  

   Now perhaps we can understand Romans 8:35-36:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

   Paul writes that he was not only a prisoner; he was an INSTRUMENT (verse 2). 

   An “instrument” is a tool which left by itself is of no value.   For Christmas one year my wife gave me a wonderful vice for my workbench.  I immediately attached it and dreamed about all the good that I could do with this new instrument of help.  However, over the course of time, you know what happened!  Like many tables, the workbench got covered with STUFF:  tools not put away, unfinished projects, and the like.  The “instrument” designed to be a big help was now…USELESS!

   Paul was conscious that he was simply an instrument, a vessel through whom God could work on behalf of others.  Here are two verses which describe being God’s instrument:

Romans 6:13:  “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”

Romans 12:1:   “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

   The servant of the mystery of God is also a “READER” (verses 3-4).  Note in verse 4 Paul writes “WHEN you read” not “IF you read”.  Nor was this an incident of the past, as “when you read a long time ago”, but rather “WHEN YOU READ” in the very near future.  Paul fully expected that what he wrote to be diligently, deliberately, routinely, habitually, and daily READ.  

   Paul was a reader, taught of Gamaliel (Acts 5:34; 22:3).  Paul learned to be a student of God’s Word even when he wasn’t a Christian.  How much more should we be!

   Can you imagine God giving His Word and no one reading it?  

   Can you imagine God’s riches available to us WHEN we read God’s Word?

   Finally, the servant of the mystery of God is a CARETAKER (verses 5-7).  He is a caretaker of the “effective  working of His [God’s] power”.  

   In today’s business world we have what are known as “efficiency experts” (known by many titles).  They come in to a business as an outsider, and objectively (for the right fee!) tell what is working and what is not working in that business.  After he leaves, the company often takes his advice and makes changes, even though often the company was doing ok before.

   The key here is that God has called us to be caretakers of the gospel of grace.  And when used, it will be effective!  Listen carefully:

Romans 1:16:  “[the gospel of Christ] is the power of God unto salvation”

Romans 10:17:  “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”

Hebrews 4:12:  “the word of God is LIVING and POWERFUL…”

   If we use it, if we are a proper caretaker of the Word, then the Spirit of God will use it through us!

   Like Paul, we are to be vessels connected richly and regularly with the Word of God.  We are to be an INSTRUMENT, a READER, a CARETAKER.

   But all that means nothing if we first are not a PRISONER OF CHRIST!

By faith we belong to Jesus by the power of the cross…

By surrender, we belong to Jesus as His prisoner for His glory!

Have you said with John the Baptist (John 3:30):

“HE must increase, but I must decrease” !!!

Everyone, of every nation, the entire earth, and all its creatures, come here and listen! The Lord is angry with all nations; His wrath is on all their armies. He will totally destroy them, He will give them over to slaughter.

Isaiah 34:1-2

Isaiah prophesied to the entire earth and said God was really mad. The world then was an evil place. But look at it now and God must be really mad. Look around!!!!

The war in Northern Europe is torturing, killing and raping civilian women and children. It’s barbarism unknown since Nazi Germany. Look around even closer to home. We have allowed the Devil to subvert our land. It began with a campaign of whispers. As he whispered to Eve “Do as you please.” To the young, he has whispered that the Bible is a myth. He is telling our youth that man created God, rather than the other way around. He is whispering what is bad is good and what is good is “square.” He is suggesting when we look for help, we pray “Our Father, which art in Washington.”

He has educated authors in how to make lurid literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. First in theaters and now at home on TV, we are saturated with dirtier movies and vulgar sitcoms contrary to traditional and Christian values. We openly peddle narcotics and allow massive illegal drugs to walk across our borders. We are consumed as a nation with alcohol and those who don’t escape reality with alcohol do it with pills. Families are at war with themselves and even our churches are at war within. And with the lure of higher ratings, the media is memorizing our youth with filth. Our schools refine intelligence, but neglect to discipline emotions. Schools now have drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors at the schoolhouse door.

Our prisons are overflowing, which judges promote pornography. We have evicted God from the courthouse and the schoolhouse and soon from the houses of Congress. Our churches have been subverted, often preaching feel-good sermons substituting psychology for religion. We have made the symbol of Easter an egg and of Christmas, a bottle.

We take from those who have and give to those who want, killing the incentive of the ambitious. States promote gambling as the way to get rich, rather that encouraging self-initiative and work. Patriotism is out of vogue and immoral conduct is okay if that’s what someone wants to do. Christian ethics has given way a post-modern country where right is whatever you can get away with. A major university recently announced that students can live together in campus housing regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

Marriage is old fashioned, and swinging is more fun and what you see on TV is the way things ought to be. The sanctity of life is out, and aborting babies is in, in the name of reproductive rights. Boys want to be girls and vice versa. And the Senate confirms someone who can’t define what a woman is to serve on the highest court in the land. The Ten Commandments have become the Ten Suggestions.

What is God saying to the nation and is He as angry as he was? I am sure that His wrath is on our nation and rightfully so. Who would have ever thought that we would ever be where we are? God is love. He created human beings for an incredible purpose—to welcome us into His family as His children! He loves all human beings greatly.

When will our nation get right with God and please Him as our creator? How long will He allow us to wander before His wrath is upon us? It could be coming soon.

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Let’s be reminded of where our help and our strength come from. He is our God, our refuge, our strength, our ever-present-help.

“God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging.” – Psalm 46:1-3 NIV

Ever-present. I love that thought. Knowing that He is ever-present calms me and strengthens me, reminding me that I am never alone. I have nothing to fear. Let’s praise Jesus for the strength and freedom that He provides and for the grace and hope He gives. Let’s be reminded that He is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear. Let’s Praise God for being ever-present.

And now this is my prayer for all of us and for the world around us:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13 NIV

Read the short prayer again… and overflow with hope… being reminded of who this ever-present God truly is. Marty Stubblefield

— o —

This old lady handed her bank card to the teller and said “I would like to withdraw $10”. The teller told her “for withdrawals less than $100, please use the ATM.” The old lady wanted to know why… The teller returned her bank card and irritably told her “these are the rules, please leave if there is no further matter. There is a line of customers behind you”. The old lady remained silent for a few seconds and handed her card back to the teller and said “please help me withdraw all the money I have.” The teller was astonished when she checked the account balance. She nodded her head, leaned down and respectfully told her “you have $300,000 in your account, but the bank doesn’t have that much cash currently. Could you make an appointment and come back again tomorrow? The old lady then asked how much she could withdraw immediately. The teller told her any amount up to $3000. “Well please let me have $3000 now.” The teller kindly handed $3000 very friendly and with a smile to her. The old lady put $10 in her purse and asked the teller to deposit $2990 back into her account. The moral of this story is…. Don’t be difficult with old people, they spent a lifetime learning the skill.

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

The Bible is a book of commands and consequences. Bob Sprinkle

Biblical rest requires a release. Kelly Knouse

The Bible needs to be within us not for information, but for transformation. Cindy Heiberg

Forty percent of all pastors are considering walking away from the pastorate. Max Wilkins

You don’t need to be on social media to make a difference in the world. The Minimalist

The spirit of man is more important than mere physical strength, and the spiritual fiber of a nation than its wealth. Dwight D. Eisenhower

“Virtue is to the soul, what health is to the body,” wrote the French Essayist François de La Rochefoucauld

Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught. Oscar Wilde

Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer.” Ed Cunningham

Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first. Mark Twain

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our day. Psalm 90:14

Freedom in America is not guaranteed, it is only rented for as long as we are willing to fight to defend every person’s freedom or we will have none at all. Dwight Short

“In Whom the whole building being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in Whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

Ephesians 2:21-22 (NKJV)

Today we will be introduced to 3 master picture framers – 2 are human and, I’ll let you know ahead of time, One is the Lord!

My Dad was born in 1905, so while his Dad served in the military, he was too young to serve in World War 1. So when no one was looking (so he thought), he went around town and took down many of the World War 1 posters which were put up to encourage young men to join the war effort. Not realizing their potential “antique paper” value, he simply wrapped them in Christmas paper – where they stayed for decades!

Years later, Dad passed down that wrapping to me. I found one in particular which edges were not tattered from time. I went to Framer #1, who we can call “Jerry”, and presented the 1916 Navy poster “I Want YOU in the Navy”. I had to admit to Jerry that Dad possessed it by stealing it! Master Framer Jerry backed up the poster with acid free matting, then framed the matting with a “red, white, and blue” patriotic theme – a frame which still hangs in our current home. Yes, for a fee, this 106 year old poster has been “fitly framed” and able to be displayed.

Our text today talks about such a framer (verse 21). Let’s see how God – the true Master Framer – does His work!

First, HE HAS A PURCHASE, as seen in verses 11-13. These verses say that we who were once Gentiles in the flesh were purchased, brought near to God by the blood of Christ! I remember after I was first saved, my Dad said to me, “According to what you tell me, the Bible says that I am not a Christian. Does that make me an heathen’?” I explained to him that technically, an “heathen” is a a non-Jew, one who could not nor did not share in the privileges of the Jewish relationship (by works) with God.

Look at the description:

(1) “Uncircumcised” – no privileges of belonging to God

(2) Without Christ

(3) Aliens (“strangers”). That makes you want to ask, “are thhere ‘aliens’ in the Bible?” The answer is YES! They are the non-Jews!

(4) No hope

(5) Without God

The Bible has much to say about God’s care for the heathen (the non-Jew). At least 145 times He refers to them! Look at Leviticus 25:44 where He says that Gentiles/non-Jews will be servants to the Jews. And how about Isaiah 49:5,6, quoted in Luke 2 by Simeon, saying that the Messiah will be a light to the…GENTILES!

What does a slave need? FREEDOM! And he can only get it by a PURCHASE!

We should be familiar with Hebrews 9:22-28. The purchase price is ONLY the blood of Christ!

What is YOUR purchase price? Say it with me: THE BLOOD OF CHRIST!

Second, our Master Framer offers PEACE – WITH GOD! (As seen in verses 14-18).

Note the extensive use of the word “PEACE” in our texts: He IS our peace (verse 14). He MADE peace (verse 15). He BROUGHT the feud (enmity) to an end (verse 16). And He PREACHED peace (verse 17).

What does this mean? First, true peace comes only from God! Some of us remember WAY BACK in the 1980’s when the Nobel PEACE Prize was awarded to United States President Jimmy Carter. He reconciled President Sadat of Egypt with President Begin of Israel at Camp David. They signed a treaty. They declared peace. READY? Is there peace today between Jews and Arabs? NO! Why not? Because the peace is on paper, and NOT in their hearts.

Romans 5:1 says, “therefore having been justified by faith, we have PEACE WITH GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ”.

And second, true peace works to please God, not to earn God’s favor (verse 15). See also Galatians 2:16, 20-3:3. The point is clear: my works SHOW my faith, NOT a need to appease God’s wrath.

Third, our Master Planner provides a PLACE OF GLORY (verses 19-22).

Note that He provides an inhabited place (verse 19): the “household of God”. I remember the parsonage of my first charge as pastor. It hadn’t been lived in for 6 years, and a pastor hadn’t lived in it for 11. In those in-between years, it had been rented out, and unfortunately during that time it was “trashed”. From the time we moved in to the time we put the final coat of paint on the last refinished room was a period of…FIFTEEN YEARS! Now it was most fit to be an inhabited place, just like the Master Planner provides!

He also provides a secure place (verse 20), “built on the foundation of God…the chief cornerstone.” And Who is that “cornerstone”? Jesus Christ Himself!

He provides an holy place (verse 21): “a holy temple in the Lord”, reflecting God’s glory.

And He provides a growing place (verse 22), “a dwelling place of God in the Spirit”, to be like Christ, fit for His presence.

Well, to wrap this up, I promised you 3 framers. The third framer is now with the Lord. Stanley Hartwell was one of our trustees at my first charge. I had the opportunity to hire him to help re-model the parsonage from an early 1900’s building to a late 1900’s parsonage. He was doing great until…he came to a certain door frame. His object here was to “fitly frame” [GET IT, FITLY FRAME???]the doorway between the dining room side of the door (which is square) and the old living room side of the door (which is several inches off square). The dining room was easy – and looked nice. On the living room side he had to do what is called “cheating” – reframing it so it LOOKS square. He indeed was a master framer!

The point is this: perhaps you are “off square” today – you have lost sight of the Master Planner’s work (His purchase, peace, and place). And perhaps you are in need of the Master Framer’s touch, which is perfect from the start!

Come Home to God’s peace!

Come Home to the Master Planner!

Come Home to the One Who will remind you how His design

has always been to “fitly frame” your life together!

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16

As a young boy, I grew up chasing fire engines and visiting burned out buildings. My dad, long before they were mandatory, installed automatic fire sprinklers. They saved many buildings from destruction by fire. We visited many sites and watched buildings burn to the ground and then took many photographs, which he used as a sales tool. He would show the photos and sometimes movies to potential customers and say, “This could be your building.”

Convincing businesses to install them was not an easy sell, so my dad came up with an ingenious plan. He went to insurance companies and got them to agree to give a “sprinkler credit” as a premium deduction. Then he hit the road selling and proposed that he would install sprinkler systems and customers would pay him annually whatever their insurance savings were until the system was paid for in full and then they would continue to get the fire insurance deduction. So, essentially their sprinkler system paid for itself and was essentially free.

It makes me think of another “free” offer, the salvation through Christ. The free offer of the Gospel is the offer of salvation in Jesus Christ to all people. We all like to get things for free, no cost, no charge and no payment. I know I do, especially when those things have some value, and even more when they are of great value.

Paul wanted to preach the gospel to the whole world, or as many people as he could reach. And in the words he wrote in his letters that now form part of the New Testament, he has preached to the whole world.

There is no greater gift we can receive for free than to receive the knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ which leads us to eternal life in Him and with Him. It does not have to cost you a penny for the free gift from God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Have you received that gift? It is there for you, just for your asking.

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

The “pursuit of happiness” is famously enshrined in the United States Declaration of Independence. Not that anybody was waiting for Thomas Jefferson’s permission to seek happiness for themselves. We all naturally want to do it. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

As long as it’s the right kind of happiness. Otherwise, it’s just a distraction.

See, somewhere along the way (or maybe it’s always been like this), it appears we human beings confused the pursuit of happiness with the pursuit of self. As a result, we think we’ll be happiest if we focus on ourselves, spend our resources on ourselves, and meet our own needs and desires—sometimes even at the expense of others. We see this all around us.

All you have to do is watch young children playing and observe how they monopolize their favorite toys, and you’ll know how human it is to be selfish. Nobody has to teach a child not to share.

Now, most of us aren’t absolutely selfish in our pursuit of happiness. We include our loved ones. Maybe a few other people too. But it’s a pretty small list, with “ME” at the top.

Serving ourselves comes naturally for most of us—it always has. But when we try to satisfy our desire for happiness in the pursuit of self, we fall short of the truest, most-lasting forms of happiness. The pursuit of selfish desires may offer some pleasure in the short run, but in the long term, the happiness is never lasting. Misplaced, the pursuit of happiness can become the distraction that keeps us from more meaningful pursuits.

The pursuit of self and the pursuit of lasting happiness are not the same. In fact, at times, they run completely opposite routes.

At the end of your life, would you be prouder of having spent years working and saving to buy a second home, or in doing what you can to help the poor or suffering in your community? Would you find more pride in having spent most of your spare time with sports shows and video games, or in doing the creative work that you were uniquely suited for?

The best, most direct pathway to lasting happiness and fulfillment is to look not only at your own interests but also to the interests of others.

When we begin living our lives for the sake of others, our lives immediately take on greater value. We no longer live for the benefit of one or a few; we begin living for the benefit of many. The Minimalist

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Bills that would legalize infanticide have been introduced in Maryland and in California.

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“A man’s mind is like a garden,” wrote Dee Bowman in That’s Life. “The soil, the seed for sowing, and the seasons have been provided by a gracious and benevolent Creator,” Dee Observed. “But the man must plant the seed, nourish it, cultivate it, and weed it. It’s hard work to care for a good garden. Even then when the harvest comes, a man has no right to say, ‘Look what I did!’”

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

The old mission idea was from the West to the rest. Now it is from everywhere to everyone. Max Wilkins

Jesus’ Word is for all and not just for me. Andy Ivey

Don’t focus on the resurrection of Jesus until you focus on the price. He paid to forgive the sins of all humanity, both past, present and future. Bishop Sharma Lewis

You are the possessor of a great and wonderful power. This power when properly applied, will bring confidence instead of timidity, calmness instead of confusion, poise instead of restlessness, and peace of mind instead of heartache. J. Martin Kohe

Any fool can criticize, complain, and condemn—and most fools do. But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving. Dale Carnegie

In sports, justice is meted out at the sound of a whistle; when you hear a trumpet in the sky, I hope you have your answer ready for the Great Umpire…It’s Jesus! Dwight Short

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln

The darker the night, the brighter the stars, The deeper the grief, the closer is God! Fyodor Dostoevsky

Never ruin an apology with an excuse. Benjamin Franklin

Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm. Winston Churchill

If you are too busy doing your own agenda, even good things, to spend time alone with God, then you are just too busy!!!!! Kelly Knouse

In the race of life, we see Jesus. Don’t stop until you are finished. Keep your eyes on the future. Daniel Henderson

If you want God to use you, then you must be fully accountable to Him. Jo Mo Cousins