Pastoral Resources

The gods had given me almost everything. But I let myself be lured into long spells of senseless and sensual ease...Tired of being on the heights, I deliberately went to the depths in search for new sensation. What the paradox was to me in the sphere of thought, perversity became to me in the sphere of passion. I grew careless of the lives of others. I took pleasure where it pleased me, and passed on. I forgot that every little action of the common day makes or unmakes character, and that therefore what one has done in the secret chamber, one has some day to cry aloud from the house-top. I ceased to be lord over myself. I was no longer the captain of my soul, and did not know it. I allowed pleasure to dominate me. I ended in horrible disgrace.

The early years of the 19th century were troubled times in the German confederation. Rumors of revolution and rioting had the federated government in panic. Klemens von Metternich, the chief statesman of the confederation, ordered thousands of young men drafted into the army to guard the borders and put down internal revolts. Across the countryside, young men in uniform tramped off to an unknown destiny.

In one German village stood a grand old stone-walled church with and ornately carved facade, beautiful stained glass, and a stately pipe-organ. The organ was famed throughout the region for its beautiful, rich tone. One day the aged caretaker of the church was interrupted during his chores by a knock on the great oak door of the sanctuary. He opened the door to find a young man in uniform on the steps.

“Sir, I have a favor to ask,” the young soldier began. “Would you please permit me to play the organ for one hour?”

“I’m sorry, young man,” the caretaker replied. “No one but our own organist is permitted to play the organ.”

“But sir, I’ve heard so much about the organ of this church, and I’ve walked so many miles just to see it, just to play it for a single hour!”

The aged man paused, then shook his head sadly.

“Please,” the soldier pleaded. “My commander gave me a 24-hour leave. In a few more days we move to another province where the fighting is expected to be heavy. This may be the last chance in my life to play the organ.”

The caretaker reluctantly nodded. He swung the door open and beckoned the soldier inside. Then he took a key from his pocket and held it out to the soldier. “The organ is locked,” he said. “Here is the key.”

The soldier took the key and unlocked the ornate cabinet of the organ. Then he began to play. A billow of majestic chords rolled from the great golden pipes of the organ. The caretaker stood transfixed as the glorious music washed over him, bringing tears to his eyes. He moved to one of the pews and sat down, as if entranced.

Within minutes, people from the village gathered at the church doorway and peered in. Removing their hats, the villagers stepped into the sanctuary and sat down to listen. Streams of beautiful music filled the sanctuary for one hour. Then the gifted fingers of the organist struck a final chord and lifted from the keyboard.

The young man closed and locked the keyboard cabinet. As he stood and turned, he was surprised to see that the church had nearly filled with parishioners who had laid aside their chores to listen to his music. Humbly receiving their compliments, the young soldier walked down the center aisle to return the key to the caretaker. “Thank you,” the young man whispered.

The old man rose to his feet and took the key. “Thank you,” he answered, grasping the young soldier’s gifted hands. “Young man, that was the most beautiful music these old ears have ever heard. What is your name?”

“My name is Felix,” replied the solder. “Felix Mendelssohn.”

The old caretaker’s eyes widened as he realize whose hands he grasped—the hands of the young man who, before he was 20 years old, had become one of the most celebrated composers on the European continent. The old man’s gaze followed the young soldier as he left the church and disappeared into the village street.

“To think,” the old man wondered aloud, “the master was here and I almost failed to give him the key!”

So it is with us. The Master is here. God is with us. His grace envelops us. If you give him the key to your heart, he can make unimaginably beautiful music in your life—music that will make the world stop, listen, and wonder. The Master is here and he is ready to transform us by his grace. He is ready to give us a new beginning. It is not only our duty but our joy to give him the key to all that we are and have.

I was regretting the past

And fearing the future...

Suddenly my Lord was speaking:

“MY NAME IS I AM.” He paused.

I waited. He continued,

“When you live in the past,

With its mistakes and regrets,

It is hard. I am not there.

My name is not I was.

“When you live in the future,

with its problems and fears,

it is hard. I am not there.

My name is not I will be.

“When you live in this moment,

It is not hard.

I am here.

My name is I am.”

In 1966, about a year before he died, the brilliant physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer said, “I am a complete failure!” This man had been the director of the Los Alamos Project, a research team that produced the atomic bomb, and he had also served as the head of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton. Yet, in looking back, he saw his achievements as meaningless. When asked about them, he replied, “They leave on the tongue only the taste of ashes.”

The number of people who commit suicide after experiencing the fame and fortune of worldly success is astonishing: Multimillionaire George Vanderbilt killed himself by jumping from a hotel window. Lester Hunt, twice governor of Wyoming before being elected to the U.S. Senate, ended his own life. Actress Marilyn Monroe, writer Ernest Hemingway, and athlete Tony Lazzeri represent a host of highly influential and popular people who became so disenchanted with earthly success that they took their own lives.

I do not come because my soul is free from sin

and pure and whole and worthy of Thy grace;

I do not speak to Thee because I've ever justly kept

Thy laws and dare to meet Thy face.

I know that sin and guilt combine

to reign o'er every thought of mine and turn from good to ill;

I know that when I try to be upright and just and true to Thee,

I am a sinner still.

I know that often when I strive to keep

a spark of love alive for Thee,

the powers within Leap up in unsubmissive might

and oft benumb my sense of right and pull me back to sin.

I know that though in doing good I spend my life,

I never could atone for all I've done;

But though my sins are black as night,

I dare to come before Thy sight because I trust Thy Son.

In Him alone my trust I place, come boldly to Thy throne of grace,

and there commune with Thee.

Salvation sure, O Lord, is mine,

and, all unworthy, I am Thine, for Jesus died for me.

- Martin Luther

Robert Oppenheimer was the man one man responsible for the development for the atomic bomb the United States used against Japan at the close of World War II. He was born in 1904 in New York City, and showed an early interest in science. He entered Harvard at 18 and graduated 3 years later with honors. He continued his studies in theoretical physics at various universities in Europe prior to teaching at the California Institute of Technology. He was considered one of the top tem theoretical physicists in the world, and specialized in the study of sub-atomic particles and gamma rays. From 1943 he began directing 4500 men and women at Los Alamos, New Mexico, whose sole purpose was to build an atomic bomb. Two years and two billion dollars later, they had successfully detonated the first atomic bomb.

When he saw what he had made, Robert Oppenheimer underwent a radical revaluation of his values; a value inversion. Upon seeing the first fireball and mushroom cloud, he quoted from the Bhagavad-Gita, “I am become death.” Two months later he resigned his position at Los Alamos and spent much of the remainder of his life trying to undo the damage, trying to get the genie of atomic weapons back in the bottle. There are certain individuals who, in a flash so to speak, like Oppenheimer, see that all they once valued is really of no lasting value at all. Their entire life has been turned on its head, everything is upside down. They see with painful clarity that the very things they prized most in life are in reality worthless baubles.

How many times have I heard a fellow Christian say, "Oh, you mean you teach a class of little kids? Oh, you poor thing. You are a glutton for punishment." My mental reaction to such a statement is, "YOU poor thing. If you have never tried it, you don't know the wealth of blessing your are missing."

Poor thing, indeed! There are few moments so precious as seeing the dancing eyes of a little child as he sees the big fish (made up of a bleach bottle) literally swallow up Jonah (a puppet), and then to see relief come and his whole body relax and settle against his chair when he sees that "God took care of Jonah and He will take care of me, too, if I obey Him." Or, the excited voice of a little one tugging at Mother or Daddy to "come to see the 10 lepers that Jesus made well."

Me a poor thing? When I hear from three rows back the loud whisper, "Mommy, that's my teacher." Or when I receive the most moving, most enjoyable, most blessing-filled hour of the week, no, I wouldn't trade all that for a comfortable chair in a quiet adult classroom. Who knows, that Bible class I teach may lead someone to heaven who otherwise might not have known the way.

Sorry friend, that poor thing isn't me!

I was two or three years old, sitting on the floor of my bedroom trying to get a shirt over my head and around my shoulders, and having an extraordinarily difficult time. I was grunting and sweating, and my mother just stood there and watched. Obviously, I now realize that her arms must have been rigidly at her side; every instinct in her had wanted to reach out and do it for me. Finally, a friend turned to her and said in exasperation, “Ida, why don’t you help that child?” My mother responded through gritted teeth, “I AM helping him.” - Harold Wilke

I am not what I might be, I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I wish to be, I am not what I hope to be. But I thank God I am not what I once was, and I can say with the great apostle, “By the grace of God I am what I am.”

A man stopped to watch a ball game between two young teams. As he walked toward the bleachers, he asked one of the players, "What is the score?" The young fellow replied, "We are behind 18 to nothing."

"Well," said the man, "I must say you don't look discouraged."

"Discouraged?" the player said with a puzzled look. "Why should we be discouraged? We haven't had our turn to bat yet."

The army of Israel faced a giant, but a young man named David thought, "I have not had my turn," and he won!

The twelve disciples saw 5,000 hungry people and said, "Send the crowds away, so they can buy some food." But Jesus thought, "I have not had my turn yet!"

The angry mob had Pilate seal the tomb where Jesus was buried, but God knew, "I have not had my turn yet!"

The church is ready to "go to bat" and, like others, who have placed their trust in God, we will win!

Remember these words of Jesus: "I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" (Mat_16:18).

Two or three years before the death of that eminent servant of Christ, the Rev. John Newton, an aged friend and brother in the ministry called on him at breakfast. Family prayer followed, and the portion of Scripture for the day was read to him. In it occurred the verse, "By the grace of God, I am what I am" (1Co 15:10). After the reading of this text, he uttered this affective soliloquy: "I am not what I ought to be-ah! how imperfect and deficient! I am not what I wish to be. I abhor what is evil, and I would cleave to what is good. I am not what I hope to be. Soon, soon, shall I put off mortality, and, with mortality, all sin and imperfection. Yet though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say I am not what I once was-a slave to sin and Satan; I can heartily join with the apostle and acknowledge, 'By the grace of God, I am what I am.' "

I am your church. Make of me what you will, I shall reflect you as clearly as a mirror. If outwardly my appearance is pleasing and inviting, it is because you made me so. If within my spiritual atmosphere is kindly, yet earnest; reverent, yet friendly; worshipful, yet sincere; sympathetic, yet strong; divine, yet humanly expressed; it is but the manifestation of the spirit of those who constitute my membership.

But if you should, by chance, find me a bit cold and dull, I beg of you not to condemn me, for I show forth the only kind of life I shall receive from you. I have no life or spirit apart from you.

Of this may you always be assured: I will respond instantly to your every wish practically expressed, for I am the reflected image of your own soul. Make of me what you will.

I asked God for strength that I might achieve.

I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked God for health that I might do greater things.

I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy.

I was given poverty that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.

I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.

I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for—

but everything I had hoped for…

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am among all men most richly blessed.

I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me - Acts 27:35.

“I believe”—but, do I? Am I sure?

Can I trust my trusting to endure?

Can I hope that my belief will last?

Will my hand forever hold Him fast?

Am I certain I am saved from sin?

Do I feel His presence here within?

Do I hear Him tell me that He cares?

Do I see the answers to my prayers?

Do no fears my confidence assail?

Do I know my faith will never fail?

“I believe”—ay, do I! I believe

He will never fail me, never leave;

I believe He holds me, and I know

His strong hand will never let me go;

Seeing, hearing, feeling—what are these?

Given or withheld as He shall please.

I believe in Him and what He saith;

I have faith in Him, not in my faith

That may fail, tomorrow or today;

Trust may weaken, feeling pass away,

Thoughts grow weary, anxious or depressed;

I believe in God—and here I rest.

- Annie Johnson Flint

D. L. Moody often told this experience:

“Mr. Moody, what do you do with that?” “I do not do anything with it.” “How do you understand it?” “I do not understand it.” “How do you explain it.” “I do not explain it.” “What do you do with it?” “I do not do anything with it.” “You do not believe it, do you?” “Oh, yes, I believe it.” “Well, you don’t accept anything you can’t understand, do you?” “Yes, I certainly do. There are lots of things I do not understand, but I believe them. I do not know anything about higher mathematics, but I believe in them. I do not understand astronomy, but I believe in astronomy...A man told me a while ago he would not believe a thing he had never seen, and I asked him if he had ever seen his own brain? Did you ever notice that the things at which men cavil most are the very things on which Christ has set His seal?”

"Oh," said a woman to a minister, "do you belong to us?" "Well," said the minister, "who are 'us'? I belong to Christ." Then, seeing that this explanation still did not satisfy her, he continued, "I like the Augustinian creed: 'A whole Christ for my salvation, the whole Bible for my study, the whole Church for my fellowship, and the whole world for my parish, that I may be a true Christian and not a sectarian.' "

To please his father a freshman went out for track. He had no athletic ability, though the father had been a good miler in his day. His first race was a two-man race in which he ran against the school miler. He was badly beaten.

Not wanting to disappoint his father, the boy wrote home as follows: “You will be happy to know that I ran against Bill Williams, the best miler in school. He came in next to last, while I came in second.”

Edward Everett Hale, the distinguished poet and former Chaplain of the U.S. Senate, eloquently captured the essence of every American’s duty: “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, that I ought to do. And what I ought to do, by the grace of God, I shall do.”

The great 19th-century naturalist and Harvard professor Louis Agassiz was once approached by the emissary of a learned society and invited to address its members. Agassiz declined the invitation, saying that lectures of this kind took up too much time that should be devoted to research and writing. The man persisted, saying that the society was prepared to pay handsomely for the lecture.

“That’s no inducement to me,” Agassiz replied, “I can’t afford to waste my time making money.”

I cannot do without Thee

I cannot stand alone;

I have no strength or goodness

Nor wisdom of my own.

But Thou, beloved Savior

Art all in all to me

And perfect strength in weakness

Is theirs who lean on Thee.

1. God’s Love Is Incarnational - God entered into our world and demonstrated love in a way we could visualize - understand. We must go where young people are and where they live out their lives. This in itself will demonstrate to our young people our love for them.

2. God’s Love Is Patient - We must not make impatient demands but allow young people to grow at their own pace.

3. God’s Love Is Kind - We must be gentle and sensitive to the needs and hurts of young people. We must allow them to be teenagers and not demand that they be something else.

4. God’s Love Is Not Jealous - Our supreme concern must be for our young people’s growth and not that they just attend our youth program or our activities.

5. God’s Love Does Not Brag and Is Not Arrogant - We must not spend our energies building up ourselves, but remember that servanthood is making the other person successful.

6. God’s Love Does Not Act Unbecomingly - We are not to try to act like teenagers. Teens do not want leaders who act like them, but leaders who act like leaders.

7. God’s Love Does Not Seek Its Own - Our desire must be to put others first. If we cannot do this then we cannot expect our young people to do it either.

8. God’s Love Is Not Provoked - At times this becomes a great difficulty, but we must learn as the Apostle Paul in II Corinthians 2. He stated that in every disappointment he learned to use that situation to reaffirm love for the person who disappoints him.

9. God’s Love Does Not Take Into Account a Wrong Suffered - Jesus suffered much wrong and rejection and we, too, must be willing to experience that same suffering.

10. God’s Love Rejoices With the Truth - Our young people will easily see our values by what we get most excited about.

11. God’s Love Bears and Believes All Things - We must expect the best and see people as God sees people - for the potential they can become with Christ’s help.

12. God’s Love Hopes All Things - We need to memorize Philippians 4:8 and recite it daily to ourselves.

13. God’s Love Endures All Things - Many heartaches will come our way, and the desire to give up and quit will often pass through our minds. But God’s love for us endures even our shortcomings. How can we do any less?

The work of Japanese painter Hokusai spanned many years before his death in 1849 at age 89. But toward the end of his life, the artist dismissed as nothing all the work he had done before age 50. It was only after he reached 70 that he felt he was turning out anything worthy of note. On his deathbed Hokusai lamented, “If heaven had granted me five more years, I could have become a real painter.”

One time when Michigan State was playing UCLA in football, the score was tied at 14 with only seconds to play. Duffy Daugherty, Michigan State’s coach, sent in placekicker Dave Kaiser who booted a field goal that won the game.

When the kicker returned to the bench, Daugherty said, “nice going, but you didn’t watch the ball after you kicked it.”

“That’s right, Coach,” Kaiser replied. “I was watching the referee instead to see how he’d signal it. I forgot my contact lenses, and I couldn’t see the goal posts.”

A little church was having a homecoming service to which ex-members, who had moved away, were invited. One of the former members had become a millionaire. When asked to speak, the wealthy man recounted his childhood experience. He had earned his first silver dollar which he had decided to keep forever. "But when a visiting missionary preached about the urgent need for funds in his mission work, and the offering basket was passed, a great struggle took place within me. As a result," the wealthy man said, "I put my treasured silver dollar in the basket. I am convinced that the reason God has blessed me richly is that when I was a boy I gave God everything I possessed."

The congregation was spellbound by the multi-millionaire's tremendous statement until an elderly little man seated in the front row rose and said, "Brother, I dare you to do it again."

A young woman who won a coveted award smiled when her mother said, "I was praying you would get it." "Well, thank you," she replied, "but I earned this by my own hard work." Some people feel so sure of their self-sufficiency that they resent any implication that they owe God a word of thanks for the good things that come their way. Such an attitude could be justified only if a person were able to say, "I brought myself into the world, I endowed myself with all my talents and abilities, I raised myself, taught myself all I know, and control my present and future."

On a Western Airlines flight to San Francisco, fried chicken tycoon Col. Harland Sanders, 89, had made himself agreeable to staff and fellow passengers, then dropped his chin to his narrow black tie and closed his eyes. Somewhere in the back of the plane a child had been shrieking for some time. One stewardess told another helplessly, “I’ve tried candy, books and games, but nothing seems to make any difference.”

“I’ve got to speak to that child,” said the colonel. He rose to his feet and, with the aid of his cane, made his way back. The staff watched and shrugged, as if to say, “What can he do?”

When the colonel came back, not long afterward, his charm had produced a minor miracle. There was only the sound of chatter, newspapers and china. The stewardess came up to him and said, “Thank you for helping us, Colonel.”

“I didn’t do it for you,” he replied. “I did it for the child.”

And he closed his eyes again and settled down.

There is a story involving Yogi Berra, the well-known catcher for the New York Yankees, and Hank Aaron, who at that time was the chief power hitter for the Milwaukee Braves. The teams were playing in the World Series, and as usual Yogi was keeping up his ceaseless chatter, intended to pep up his teammates on the one hand, and distract the Milwaukee batters on the other. As Aaron came to the plate, Yogi tried to distract him by saying, “Henry, you’re holding the bat wrong. You’re supposed to hold it so you can read the trademark.” Aaron didn’t say anything, but when the next pitch came he hit it into the left-field bleachers. After rounding the bases and tagging up at home plate, Aaron looked at Yogi Berra and said, “I didn’t come up here to read.”

Uncle Oscar was apprehensive about his first airplane ride. His friends, eager to hear how it went, asked if he enjoyed the flight. “Well,” commented Uncle Oscar, “it wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be, but I’ll tell you this. I never did put all my weight down!”

I recently saw the story of a high school values clarification class conducted by a teacher in Teneck, New Jersey. A girl in the class had found a purse containing $1,000 and returned it to its owner. The teacher asked for the class’s reaction. Every single one of her fellow students concluded the girl had been “foolish.” Most of the students contended that if someone is careless, they should be punished. When the teacher was asked what he said to the students, he responded, “Well, of course, I didn’t say anything. If I come from the position of what is right and what is wrong, then I’m not their counselor. I can’t impose my views.” It’s no wonder that J. Allen Smith, considered a father of many modern education reforms, concluded in the end, “The trouble with us reformers is that we’ve made reform a crusade against all standards. Well, we’ve smashed them all, and now neither we nor anybody else have anything left.”

In Germany, they first came for the Communists and I did not speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me and by that time, there was no one left to speak up. - Martin Niemoller

After President Calvin Coolidge issued his famous “I do not choose to run” statement, he was besieged by reporters seeking a more detailed statement.

One, more persistent than his fellows, badgered Mr. Coolidge. “Exactly why don’t you want to be President again?” he asked.

Coolidge looked him squarely in the eye. “Because,” he replied, “there’s no chance for advancement.”

Several years ago a man and his wife were found frozen to death in their car. A blizzard had dumped tons of snow in the area, burying their vehicle. Before she died, the woman scribbled a note on a piece of paper and stuffed it in the glove compartment. The note read: “I don’t want to die this way.” Tragically, less than six feet from their icy grave was a stranded bus, whose festive passengers remained warm throughout the night.

A mother once sent her son on an errand to a place he'd never been. He was a little fellow, but he didn't want to show he was afraid. That's human nature. The younger we are, the more we hate to lose face. Humility often comes with age. As this youngster got ready to leave the house, he stopped at the door, turned to his mother, and said, "It's so far, and I don't know the way. I'm not afraid, you know, but could you come along with me for a little bit of the way?" The mother understood how disturbed the little one was. "Of course," she said. "Mother will come with you all the way." The little fellow put his hand in hers and went out in full confidence that everything would be all right.

When I first became a member of the church, my circle was very big... for it included all who, like myself, had believed. I was happy in the thought that my brethren were many. But, having a keen and observant mind, I soon learned that many of my brethren were erring. I could not tolerate any people within my circle but those who, like myself, were right on all points of doctrine and practice. Too, some made mistakes and sinned. What could I do? I had to do something! I drew my circle again... leaving the publicans and sinners outside, excluding the Pharisees in all their pride, with myself and the righteous and humble within. I heard ugly rumors about some brethren. I saw then that some of them were worldly-minded; their thoughts were constantly on things of a worldly nature. So duty bound, to save my reputation, I drew my circle again...leaving those reputable spiritually-minded within. I realized in time that only my family and myself remained in the circle. I had a good family, but to my surprise, my family finally disagreed with me. I was always right. A man must be steadfast. I have never been a factious man! So in strong determination, I drew my circle again...leaving me quite alone.

During his reign, King Frederick William III of Prussia found himself in trouble. Wars had been costly, and in trying to build the nation, he was seriously short of finances. He couldn’t disappoint his people, and to capitulate to the enemy was unthinkable. After careful reflection, he decided to ask the women of Prussia to bring their jewelry of gold and silver to be melted down for their country. For each ornament received, he determined to exchange a decoration of bronze or iron as a symbol of his gratitude. Each decoration would be inscribed, “I gave gold for iron, 18l3. The response was overwhelming. Even more important, these women prized their gifts from the king more highly than their former jewelry. The reason, of course, is clear. The decorations were proof that they had sacrificed for their king. Indeed, it became unfashionable to wear jewelry, and thus was established the Order of the Iron Cross. Members wore no ornaments except a cross of iron for all to see. When Christians come to their King, they too exchange the flourishes of their former life for a cross.

Lynn Jost

The first date Jim (Elliot) asked me for was to a missionary meeting at Moody Church in Chicago, late in April. Not surprising that he would choose an event like this rather than a concert or dinner out. The speaker was one of the daughters of the famous missionary to Africa C.T. Studd. She told of her father’s last hours. He lay on his cot, gazing around the little hut and at his few possessions. “I wish I had something to leave to each of you,” he said to the handful of people present, “but I gave it all to Jesus long ago.”

I place no value on anything I have or may possess, except in relation to the kingdom of God. If anything will advance the interests of the kingdom, it shall be given away or kept, only as by giving or keeping it I shall most promote the glory of Him to whom I owe all my hopes in time or eternity.

"Giving thanks for all things..." (Eph 5:20).

For all the gifts that Thou dost send,

For every kind and loyal friend,

For prompt supply of all my need,

For all that is good in word or deed,

For gift of health along life's way,

For strength to work from day to day-

I give Thee humble thanks.

For ready hands to help and cheer,

For listening ears Thy voice to hear,

For yielded tongue Thy love to talk,

For willing feet, Thy paths to walk,

For open eyes Thy Word to read,

For loving heart, Thy will to heed-

I give Thee humble thanks.

For Christ who came from heaven above,

For the cross and His redeeming love,

For His mighty power to seek and save,

For His glorious triumph o'er the grave.

For the lovely mansions in the sky,

For His blessed coming bye and bye-

I give Thee humble thanks.

Bruce Larson, in his book Believe and Belong tells how he helped people struggling to surrender their lives to Christ:

For many years I worked in New York City and counseled at my office any number of people who were wrestling with this yes-or-no decision. Often I would suggest they walk with me from my office down to the RCA Building on Fifth Avenue. In the entrance of that building is a gigantic statue of Atlas, a beautifully proportioned man who, with all his muscles straining, is holding the world upon his shoulders. There he is, the most powerfully built man in the world, and he can barely stand up under this burden. 'Now that's one way to live,' I would point out to my companion, 'trying to carry the world on your shoulders. But now come across the street with me.'

"On the other side of Fifth Avenue is Saint Patrick's Cathedral, and there behind the high altar is a little shrine of the boy Jesus, perhaps eight or nine years old, and with no effort he is holding the world in one hand. My point was illustrated graphically.

"We have a choice. We can carry the world on our shoulders, or we can say, 'I give up, Lord; here's my life. I give you my world, the whole world.' "

The boxer Muhammad Ali was known as “the champ,” arguably the most famous athlete of his generation. He was on top, and his entourage of trainers and various helpers shared the adulation with him. But the party ended, leaving many of Ali’s loyal followers disillusioned—and in some cases, destitute. Ali himself, now halting in speech and uncertain in movement, says, “I had the world, and it wasn’t nothin’.”

An estimated 1.5 million people are living today after bouts with breast cancer. Every time I forget to feel grateful to be among them, I hear the voice of an eight-year-old named Christina, who had cancer of the nervous system. When asked what she wanted for her birthday, she thought long and hard and finally said, “I don’t know. I have two sticker books and a Cabbage Patch doll. I have everything!” The kid is right.

Albert Einstein once attended a dinner at which he received an award. Although Einstein was not scheduled to speak, the audience clamored for the great scientist. Einstein stood and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I am very sorry, but I have nothing to say.” Einstein sat down, but rose a few seconds later and added, “In case I do have something to say, I’ll come back.”

I humbly bless his gracious Providence,

who gave me his Treasure in an Earthen Vessel,

and trained me up on the School of Affliction,

and taught me the Cross of Christ so soon;

that I might be rather Theologus Crucis, as Luther speaketh,

than Theologus Gloriae;

and a Cross-bearer, than a Cross-maker or Imposer.

“Doc, you’ve got to help me!” came the frantic call to the psychiatrist. “They guy next door thinks he’s in an opera. He sings day and night at the top of his lungs. It’s driving me crazy!”

“Send him to me,” said the shrink.

A week later, the caller phoned again, sounding much calmer, “Doctor, I don’t know how you did it, but he’s not singing anymore. Did you cure his delusion?”

“Not exactly,” the psychiatrist replied. “I just gave him a much smaller part.”

‘Twas He who taught me thus to pray

And I know He has answered prayer,

But it has been in such a way

As almost drove me to despair.

“I love you. Period.” Or it could be extended to say, “I love you in spite of ...” or, “I love you anyhow...” or “I love you for no good reason.”

Now how do you think your ego could handle that? Do you really want to be loved for no good reason? Isn’t that what unconditional love is? More often than not, the statement, “I love you,” is responded to with the question, “Why?” And when you ask for a “why” are you not asking for some condition? It sounds like, “Please love me unconditionally, but tell me why.” That’s the double bind.

“You don’t love me!” How many times have your kids laid that one on you? Someday when my children are old enough to understand the logic motivation a mother, I’ll tell them:

I loved you enough to bug you about where you were going and what time you would get home.

I loved you enough to let you discover your friend was a creep.

I loved you enough to stand over you for two hours while you cleaned your bedroom, a job that would have taken me 15 minutes.

I loved you enough to ignore what every other mother did or said.

I loved you enough to let you stumble, fall, hurt and fail.

I loved you enough to accept you for what you are, not what I wanted you to be.

Most of all, I loved you enough to say no when you hated me for it.

Some mothers don’t know when their job is finished. They figure the longer the kids hang around, the better parents they are.

I see children as kites. You spend a lifetime trying to get them off the ground. You run with them until you’re both breathless...they crash...you add a longer tail. You patch and comfort, adjust and teach—and assure them that someday they will fly.

Finally they are airborne, but they need more string, and you keep letting it out. With each twist of the ball of twine, the kite becomes more distant. You know it won’t be long before that beautiful creature will snap the lifeline that bound you together and soar—free and alone. Only then do you know you did your job.

I met God in the morning,

When my day was at its best

And His presence came like sunrise,

Like a glory in my breast.

All day long the Presence lingered;

All day long He stayed with me;

And we sailed in perfect calmness

O’er a very troubled sea.

Other ships were blown and battered,

Other ships were sore distressed,

But the winds that seemed to drive them

Brought to us a peace and rest.

Then I thought of other mornings,

With a keen remorse of mind.

When I too had loosed the moorings

With the Presence left behind.

So, I think I know the secret,

Learned from many a troubled way;

You must seek Him in the morning

If you want Him through the day.

Quite often, when people are encouraged to put aside whatever is preventing them from attending services regularly, they will say: "Well, I really should be there, but I think God understands!"

God has gone on record in Heb 10:25 as saying, "Not forsaking the assembling...." He does not understand why some of His people willfully hold to habits of forsaking the assembly! God does understand that we need to meet to praise Him and study His Word. God understands that others need the encouragement of our presence, we are a family that He put together. He does understand group fellowship, the power of people meeting together for mutual strengthening.

But do we understand those things? Many times we do not-and that is why so many allow Satan to bring one little excuse after another into their lives until they are separated from our God and His assembly.

Let us pray that God will help us to understand the need, the purpose and the power of attendance to Bible classes and worship services whenever the doors are open. And let us pray for the courage to do our part in making the gathering of the saints a time of love, praise, and spiritual growth! It is a matter of spiritual life and death, really, not only for us, but also for others whom we are influencing. Think about it!

I’ll tell you honestly, there’s nothing I want more than to succeed at home. It’s a desire I hear reverberating in the following poem, also written by Edgar Guest.

I must be fit for a child to follow,

scorning the places where loose men wallow;

knowing how much he shall learn from me,

I must be fair as I’d have him be.

I must come home to him day by day,

clean as the morning I went away.

I must be fit for a child’s glad greeting;

his are eyes that there is no cheating.

He must behold me in every test,

not at my worst but my very best;

he must be proud when my life is done

to have men know that he is my son.

Out of the life, I shall never take

Things of silver and gold I make

All that I cherish and hoard away

When I leave these things on earth must stay.

Though I lailed for a painting rare

To hang on my wall, I must leave it there

Though I call it mine and boast its worth

I must give it up when I quit this earth

All that I gather and all that I keep

I must leave behind when I fall asleep

And I wonder often, what will I own

In that other life when I pass along.

What shall He find and what shall He see

In the soul that answers the call for me?

Will the Great Judge find when my task is through

That my soul has gathered some riches, too?

Or at the last it will be mine to find

That all I had worked for was left behind.

A mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice and justice demanded death.

“But I don’t ask for justice,” the mother explained. “I plead for mercy.”

“But your son does not deserve mercy,” Napoleon replied.

“Sir,” the woman cried, “it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for.”

“Well, then,” the emperor said, “I will have mercy.” And he spared the woman’s son.

We should retain memories related to the Lord’s goodness and help to our families. These objects then serve to remind us and teach our children, they become family eben-ezers. The word “Eben-ezer” is first used in I Samuel 4:1 and refers to a city 25 miles northwest of Jerusalem and 10 mile east of the seacoast. In the context of the Philistine War raging at this time, this city was a logical battle site.

But at Eben-ezer a tragedy occurred regarding the Ark of the Covenant. “And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Eben-ezer unto Ashdod” (5:1-2). God was gracious and allowed the Ark to return (7:1-2) after punishing the Philistines through the Ark (cf. 5-6). Samuel then took the “stone” and set it near Mizpeh 6 miles north of Jerusalem. This large rock became a “war memorial” in a special sense—a reminder of Jehovah’s power in battle.

Does your family need physical reminders pointing to times when “the LORD hath helped us”? Are you searching for ways to pass on to your children or those in your sphere of influence a stability which comes from confidence in God’s providential care? We would be wise to set up, as Samuel did, family Eben-ezers to remind us of God’s race, power, and love in the battles of life. If nothing else, let the words of the favorite old hymn be such a reminder each time we sing it.

I saw God today-

As a tearful child found comfort in your arms.

I saw God today-

As an old man's face was lit with hope by the grasp of your hand.

I saw God today-

As a smile etched the lips of the stranger you greeted on the street.

I saw God today-

As you stopped in the midst of a busy schedule to listen to a burdened soul.

I saw God today-

As I spent the day with you, my friend, and

Though the hours have flown and night draws near,

Today will linger on, with memories so dear,

For as we shared each hour's array,

I met God through you today.

Two pals are sitting in a pub watching the eleven-o’clock news. A report comes on about a man threatening to jump from the 20th floor of a downtown building. One friend turns to the other and says, “I’ll bet you ten bucks the guy doesn’t jump.”

“It’s a bet,” agrees his buddy.

A few minutes later, the man on the ledge jumps, so the loser hands his pal a $10 bill. “I can’t take your money,” his friend admits. “I saw him jump earlier on the six-o’clock news.”

“Me, too,” say the other buddy. “But I didn’t think he’d do it again!”

Every day a man used to walk by a jewelry store, stop and set his watch by the big clock in the window. One day the jeweler happened to be standing in his doorway. He greeted the man in a friendly way and said; “I see you set your watch by my clock. What kind of work do you do that demands such correct time each day?” “I’m the watchman at the plant down the street,” said the man. “My job is to blow the five o’clock whistle.” The jeweler was startled. “But...you can’t do that,” he blurted out. “I set my clock by your whistle!”

I shall meet tomorrow bravely,

I am stronger now,

The disappointments that befell me

Strengthened me somehow.

The dawn shall find my face uplifted,

Serene, in the sun,

And with Him my problems sifted,

One by one.

There’s an old story about a man who tried to save the city of Sodom from destruction by warning the citizens. But the people ignored him. One day someone asked, “Why bother everyone? You can’t change them.”

“Maybe I can’t,” the man replied, “but I still shout and scream to prevent them from changing me!”

Lot was a righteous man (2 Peter 2:7) who should have done some screaming. The record of his life reminds us of how our sense of moral indignation can be dulled by the world. Lot chose to dwell in cities where there was great wickedness (Gen. 13:12,13). When Sodom was invaded by hostile kings, he was captured. Even after Abraham rescued Lot, he was still drawn back to that wicked city (Gen. 19:1). And the last chapter of his story is an account of heartache and shame (Gen. 19). What a contrast—this nephew and his uncle! Abraham trusted God, prayed for the righteous, and lived a moral life. But Lot was “oppressed with the filthy conduct of the wicked” (2 Peter 2:7). Although the sin of his day bothered him, he apparently said little about it.

When a liberal preacher declared that the story of Jonah and the whale was a myth, reporters asked Mr. Moody his opinion of the question.

His reply, contained in four words, was telegraphed far and wide: “I stand by Jonah.”

In his book I Surrender, Patrick Morley writes that the church’s integrity problem is in the misconception “that we can add Christ to our lives, but not subtract sin. It is a change in belief without a change in behavior.” He goes on to say, “It is revival without reformation, without repentance.”

Jerry Bridges illustrated how gracious a person can be when his words are controlled by Christ. In his book The Pursuit of Holiness, Bridges wrote,

“Henry Clay Trumbull was, among other things, a great personal evangelist. One day he found himself seated on a train next to a young man who was drinking quite heavily. Each time the young man opened his bottle, he offered a drink to Mr. Trumbull, who declined with thanks. Finally the young man said to Mr. Trumbull, ‘You must think I’m a pretty rough fellow.’ Mr. Trumbull’s gracious reply, ‘I think you’re a very generous-hearted fellow,’ opened the way for an earnest conversation with the young man about his need to commit himself to Christ.” - D.C.E.

Last night I took a journey

to a land across the sea,

I did not go by boat or plane,

I traveled on my knees.

I saw many people there in deep sin,

and I did not want to send my prayers in.

But Jesus said I should go and see,

how many I could win.

I said, "Jesus, I cannot go and work

with such as these."

He answered quickly, "Yes, you can by traveling on your knees."

He said, "You pray, I will meet the need.

You call and I will hear."

So I knelt in prayer and felt at ease

as I traveled on my knees.

I said, "Yes, Lord. I know I can do the job,

and my desire is to please.

I will heed Your call,"

and I traveled on my knees.

In the spring of 1883 two young men graduated from medical school. The two differed from one another in both appearance and ambition. Ben was short and stocky. Will was tall and thin. Ben dreamed of practicing medicine on the East Coast. will wanted to work in a rural community. Ben begged his friend to go to New York where they could both make a fortune. Will refused. His friend called him foolish for wanting to practice medicine in the Midwest. “But,” will said, “I want first of all to be a great surgeon...the very best, if I have the ability.” Years later the wealthy and powerful came from around the world to be treated by Will at his clinic...the Mayo Clinic.

A woman seeking counsel from Dr. George W. Crane, the psychologist, confided that she hated her husband, and intended to divorce him. “I want to hurt him all I can,” she declared firmly.

“Well, in that case,” said Dr. Crane, “I advise you to start showering him with compliments. When you have become indispensable to him, when he thinks you love him devotedly, then start the divorce action. That is the way to hurt him.

“Some months later the wife returned to report that all was going well. She had followed the suggested course.

“Good,” said Dr. Crane. “Now’s the time to file for divorce.”

“Divorce!” the woman said indignantly. “Never. I love my husband dearly!”

If you really know God as your loving heavenly Father, you consider companionship with Him your greatest treasure. I've heard of a father who had to be away from home about seven months. On his return he took his family to a shopping center. Handing some money to his little girl, he said, "Lydia, take this money and buy anything you want." The child's eyes filled with tears as she clung more tightly to his hand. "What's the matter, Honey?" he asked. "I don't want money, Daddy," she said. "I want you!"

A number of years ago the Douglas Aircraft company was competing with Boeing to sell Eastern Airlines its first big jets. War hero Eddie Rickenbacker, the head of Eastern Airlines, reportedly told Donald Douglas that the specifications and claims made by Douglas’s company for the DC-8 were close to Boeing’s on everything except noise suppression. Rickenbacker then gave Douglas one last chance to out-promise Boeing on this feature. After consulting with his engineers, Douglas reported that he didn’t feel he could make that promise. Rickenbacker replied, “I know you can’t, I just wanted to see if you were still honest.”

A school teacher lost her life savings in a business scheme that had been elaborately explained by a swindler. When her investment disappeared and her dream was shattered, she went to the Better Business Bureau. “Why on earth didn’t you come to us first?” the official asked. “Didn’t you know about the Better Business Bureau?” “Oh, yes,” said the lady sadly. “I’ve always known about you. But I didn’t come because I was afraid you’d tell me not to do it.” The folly of human nature is that even though we know where the answers lie—God’s Word—we don’t turn there for fear of what it will say.

and you formed a humanities club

and discussed my hunger.

Thank you.

I was imprisoned

and you crept off quietly

to your chapel in the cellar

and prayed for my release.

I was naked

and in your mind

you debated the morality of

my appearance.

I was sick

and you knelt

and thanked God

for your health.

I was homeless

and you preached to me

about the spiritual shelter

of the love of God.

I was lonely

and you left me alone

to pray for me.

Christian,

you seem so holy;

so close to God.

But I am still very hungry,

and lonely,

and cold...

One man challenged another to an all-day wood chopping contest.

The challenger worked very hard, stopping only for a brief lunch break. The other man had a leisurely lunch and took several breaks during the day. At the end of the day, the challenger was surprised and annoyed to find that the other fellow had chopped substantially more wood than he had.

“I don’t get it,” he said. “Every time I checked, you were taking a rest, yet you chopped more wood than I did.”

“But you didn’t notice,” said the winning woodsman, “that I was sharpening my ax when I sat down to rest.”