Good news Bad news

Galatians 1:3-5  (ESV)

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

I read a story that has good news and bad news.

Although that expression is often a fact of life for many of us, for Stacie Crimm it was a definite reality.

The bad news was Crimm had been told she couldn't have children.

That is why at the age of 41 she was surprised to find out she was pregnant with the child she had always wanted. You see there was bad news and good news ...

and bad news.

That came when, a few months into her pregnancy, Crimm was told she had cancer of the neck and head. For her there was a choice. Either she could have the treatment that would save her life and end her unborn child's life, or she could try to carry her child and forfeit her chance for a long life.

She opted to forego the treatment and give her child a chance for life.

Stacie Crimm died on September 11th. Before she did, from a hospital bed, she had the opportunity of holding her tiny, baby girl -- Dottie Mae.

No matter what you may or may not have done in this lady's place, the truth is this: one person died so another might live.

This, of course, is the story of our Savior. As St. Paul said, we have grace and peace because -- according to God's will and promise -- Jesus gave Himself as the ransom price to save us from our sins and deliver us from a whole wealth of worldly evils.

Sacrificing your child for someone else is probably not what you would have done, but it is the course our Lord took so that we might be saved.

Now I don't know as Dottie Mae grows up how she will feel about that which her mother has done. I pray that as you grow in your faith that you may become ever more appreciative of the gift of life, which is yours because Jesus Christ died so you might live.

Dear Lord, today we want to show our "appreciation" and "thanksgiving" for what You have done for each one of us.  Help us take the time to share Your great love with those that are in our path today. In the Name, of Jesus, Amen.

Do you have a loving church?

Matthew 5:16 (ESV)

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

We who live comfortably in countries of peace and wealth could learn a lot from the believers who live in poor countries. Take, for example, a church named Lilly of the Valley Church, located in Desamparados, one of San Jose's poorest areas in Costa Rica.

Their pastor, Rowe, is willing to give almost everything, even his own salary, to support the growing number of missionaries from his church. Even though they could benefit from obtaining a much nicer building, their first goal is to support their missionaries working in Africa. 80% of their income goes towards preparing new missionaries and supporting those who are already in the field.

How could they survive like this, especially with a congregation of 100 members in 2004? Simply put, they live on faith. Their pastor can only conclude: "First we support the missionary work, then we live on what's left over, with what remains. Some months there's a surplus, other months there isn't. But God is always faithful to supply all our needs."

Is it any wonder their church is growing? They live according to the church of Philadelphia in the book of Revelation: "I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." (Rev 3:8)

The Philadelphian church, unlike most of the other churches in the book of Revelation, is quite different. They are aware that they have no strength in themselves, that their strength comes from the Lord: "For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2Cor 12:10b) This is why their deeds are effective. Just like the Lilly of the Valley Church, they depend solely on their Father. The Word from our Father is so precious to them that they follow it above anything else, even over their own desires. No way would they ever deny Jesus. He is too real to them. He is truly their everything!

It's no wonder that Jesus has placed before them an open door that no one can shut. They are the true witnesses of the Most High who put God above anything else. Their testimony is void of pretense but filled with compassion. They realize that the One they love is way above anything else. Their testimony touches the hearts of those who hear them, for their words are not just words. Instead, they are accompanied by compassionate actions.

No wonder those who oppose them eventually will: "…fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you." (Rev 3:9b) No one is able to deny that fact, as God's love has totally changed their heart, so much that they can't help but love others through word and action. No strings attached! They live the love of Christ as He lives in them.

Not only that, they ". . . Have kept my command to endure patiently . . . " (Rev 3:10b) Nothing can faze them. Trials and adversity are part of life, and they realize these are opportunities to experience Jesus even more fully. They know He will see them through.

They truly shine far and wide as they reflect our Father's light around them, without any strings attached!

A loving church is possible, but not without sacrifice. Are we willing to go there?

Dear Lord, help our church be a loving church. Help the things we do and our attitudes show Your love to the community around us.  In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

May we never forget.

Psalm 103:1-5 (ESV)

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,

    and all that is within me,

    bless his holy name!

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,

    and forget not all his benefits,

3 who forgives all your iniquity,

    who heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit,

    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

5 who satisfies you with good

    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Leslie H. Sabo Sr. Died in 1977.

He died without knowing the whole story of his son's death. That's not surprising. There were very few people who knew how Army Specialist Leslie Sabo, Jr. Spent his last moments on May 10, 1970.

This is Sabo's story: He was serving with the 101st Airborne Division in Cambodia when his unit was ambushed by a superior North Vietnamese force. Sabo charged one group of soldiers and killed some. Then he turned on another group and made them fall back. It was during that second charge that an enemy grenade landed at his feet. Sabo picked it up and threw it back, and then he used his own body as a shield to protect a wounded friend. Sabo's last charge was against an enemy emplacement. He threw a grenade, which put them out of commission.

That grenade also took Sabo's life.

It was a brave thing that Specialist Sabo did. Too bad his actions were forgotten for over 40 years.

Indeed, it was entirely by accident that a reporter came across Sabo's story, shared it and set the wheels in motion which, on May 16th, granted a posthumous Medal of Honor to the fallen soldier.

You know, it's a sad thing when people forget the sacrifices of those who died to grant them freedom.

It's sad when a nation forgets its soldiers.

It's sad when individuals forget their Savior.

You see, 2,000 years ago, Jesus of Nazareth led a charge against the forces that had dominated and subjugated this world. It was a one-Man charge: a mission which was sure to end in the death of the Person making it.

Knowing what was demanded, what was necessary if sinners were to be forgiven and the lost were to be saved, Jesus made that charge.

Read His story, and you will see He did not hesitate; He did not complain, and He did not try to save Himself. Jesus gave His all, so we might be freed from the tyranny of sin and the devil, from the overwhelming power of death.

Dear Jesus, we thank You for having given up Your life so we might be forgiven and saved.  Help us never forget.  In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Are we willing to reach out to the hopeless ones?

Matthew 7:16 (ESV)

You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?

Have you ever thought whether or not you are making a difference in this world? Do you find yourself often discouraged and at times shocked about your lack of zeal? Has this question ever haunted the recesses of your mind: "Do people see Christ in me?"

The answer is simple and is summarized in our Bible verse today: You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?

But what if fruit is not forthcoming?

Then we should meditate on these very words Jesus pronounced: "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." (1 John 3:18)

As long as we remain in only an intellectual understanding of Christ, we will never be satisfied. Words are nice, but they are worthless when compared to genuine love. The ones who shine for Christ are not those who talk about God (Pharisees talked about God a lot and see what they did to His Son!), but are those who follow the footsteps of Jesus and love like He does. After all, Christianity can all be summed up in the word "love". If love is non-existent in us, we don't know Jesus personally!

Only if we decide to start loving others unselfishly will we begin to have a purpose in life, and this is a consequence of knowing Jesus intimately. People will notice that we have encountered the One named love (Jesus). "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

During World War II the Nazis turned Russian prisoners into slave workers. Their living conditions were atrocious and they barely received any food. None of them could last very long. If they made it through an entire year, they were the lucky ones. Hopeless and discouraged, these slaves often tried to escape. And why not? They were going to die anyway!

The Nazis threatened severe punishments to anyone who offered aid to these slaves. What would we do if we lived in Jersey, for example, and we encountered such a fugitive?

Would we denounce him?

No, we are not that kind of people!

Maybe we would give him some well-meant advice?

But that wouldn't really be of any help to him, would it!

Would we consider sheltering him?

Louisa Gould did. She sheltered Feodor Burriy, known also as "Bill", for a period of two years! Imagine the drain on her food resources! Already she was living with very little. Still, she couldn't help but reach out to this hopeless man.

In May 1944 she and her family were denounced. Her brother survived the cruelties of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, but Louisa perished in the gas chambers of Ravensbruck in February 1945.

And what of Bill? Thanks to this caring family, he was able to escape.

Would they have done differently if they had known they would end up in a concentration camp? Not if they were motivated by genuine love, for genuine love does not make exceptions! Genuine love would have still helped that poor slave worker with no hesitation whatsoever.

Louise and her family were not the only ones who helped fugitive slaves. On March 1966, the USSR presented gold watches to twenty of the Jersey islanders for their compassion towards these Russian slave workers.

If we had lived in Jersey during World War II, would we have been amongst the recipients of those gold watches?

The problem is, love can never be genuine if it doesn't come directly from God: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." (John 15:1-2, NIV2) We have to be willing to be open vessels for the glory of God. We must depend solely on the One who is our gardener. After all, He is the only One who can help us become "even more fruitful".

Through Him, once we know Him intimately, we won't be able to resist the inner urge to "Do everything in love." (1 Corinthians 16:14, NIV2)

Only then will we do as follows: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31, NIV2)

So are we willing to reach out to the hopeless ones?

Dear Lord, soften our hearts so that we will see those that are hopeless around us.  Help us to reach out to them and be the encouragement and help that they need. In The Name of Jesus, Amen. 

God's loving arms

Romans 8:38-39  (ESV)

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Here is a story I read the other day about a family and their son Josh which is a great example of God’s great love for each of His children.

"I'm a surgeon in the Gold Coast, Australia," said the voice at the other end of the phone. "Your son is just being wheeled into surgery for a major abdominal operation following a surfing accident. I think it best that you and your wife come immediately."

Such words spoken in the middle of the night would be terrifying to any parent. It was 5:40 a.m., Good Friday. Our son, Josh, had been surfing with three friends in Australia for the preceding two months. Earlier that day, toward the end of a ride, the pointed end of the board had stuck into the sand and the blunt end dug into his stomach region, with all the force of the wave behind him. In great agony, he'd managed to crawl back on his board and swim to the lifeguards for help.

The hospital had diagnosed severe abdominal injury, along with the possibility of a broken back. With the likelihood of a ruptured intestine and the resulting leak of toxins into the body, surgery wasn't an option.

What can parents do upon receiving such news on the other side of the world, but to get on their knees? I thought of God's love and never-failing presence, especially comforting when feeling helpless.

Paul's encouragement to the people of the church at Rome came to mind:

Romans 8:38-39  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When Josh learned of his parents' pending arrival, he was amazed at our dedication to him, that we would fly halfway around the world to be at his bedside.

On that Easter day, as I flew over the Pacific on the way to my son, I thought of our heavenly Father and the great lengths that He would go to, to be with us, holding back nothing, not even His only Son. My "sacrifice" was so small compared to His.

Just as I didn't question my trip to Australia to bring my son home, so too, does the Father not question what it takes to bring each of us home, into an everlasting relationship with Him.

"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you," is God's great promise to us. (Hebrews 13:5)

Dear Lord, thank You for reaching out to us with open arms, with a love that we often fail to see. Thank You that you are always there for us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

A noble act

Romans 5:7-8 (ESV)

7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Melissa Villneff is a practical woman.

She tried to make friends with the young men in her neighborhood by inviting them into her house and feeding them. But Melissa also kept a shotgun around to protect her home. Practical.

Well, those young men paid far more attention to the shotgun than they did Melissa's kindness.

Four of the men broke into her home and beat Melissa's son. They broke his jaw and cut his head. Put him in the hospital. Even so, Terrance Villneff didn't give his mother's shotgun to the intruders. While her brother was being beaten, his sister, having recognized the intruders, began to take pictures.

Outraged at her audacity the criminals turned their AK-47 on the girl. They were going to murder her; they would have murdered her if it had not been for her grandfather, 62-year-old decorated Vietnam Veteran John Villneff. He stepped between his granddaughter and the rifle.

John knew what he was doing; he knew what would happen.

John Villneff died giving his life for a person he felt was righteous: his granddaughter. It was a noble act.

Still, there is a difference between what John Villneff did and what Jesus has done. John Villneff died to save his beloved granddaughter. I think many of us would have done the same. At least I'd like to think we would.

But Jesus is different. Jesus died to save John Villneff, and John's grandson, Terrance, and John's daughter, Melissa, and John's granddaughter, too. But there's more...

Jesus also died to save those four murderers.

Yes, it's true. Jesus died to save every sinner in this world.. He died to bring forgiveness to the worst of us and the best of us. He died so all men might be saved and be brought into the light and life given by the Redeemer's blood.

And for that we, along with the other chiefs of sinners, must give thanks.

Dear Lord, we thank You that while we were yet sinners You died on the cruel cross for our sins. Help us share that great news to those that are in our path today. In the name of Jesus, Amen. 

We can live an abundant life

John 10:17-18 (ESV)

17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

The story goes William "Kyle" Carpenter was a dead man.

It's true. Carpenter was declared "dead" by the officials at an Afghan field hospital and at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Although he was revived by the medical teams, he should have breathed his last because of the wounds he sustained on November 21, 2010.

It was on that day that Carpenter and another Marine were stationed on the roof of a building during a firefight with the Taliban in Afghanistan's Helmand Province. Manning his machine gun, Carpenter saw an enemy hand grenade land near their position.

Rather than running away from the grenade, Carpenter ran toward it and used his body to shield his comrade. The blast collapsed one of his lungs, destroyed his jaw, cost him an eye, and shattered his body in a horrible manner. His injuries kept him in the hospital for almost two-and-a-half years.

Still, it should be noted this once-dead man is now leading a most exceptional life.

Carpenter says, "The enemy killed me. I came back, ran a marathon, completed a mud run, and jumped from a plane."

He didn't mention the fact he has also thrown out the opening pitch at a Padres baseball game, and he has also stopped by the White House where the president has bestowed on him the Medal of Honor, the highest military award America can bestow.

His story reminds us of our Savior who sacrificed Himself so that those who believe on Him would be forgiven and saved. Rather than running from death and saving Himself, Jesus dedicated Himself to the cause of offering His life so we might live.

Now, because of the risen Redeemer's gracious and selfless sacrifice, believers are freed from sin's condemnation and are given new lives -- lives that are filled with blessing and hope. Looking past His resurrection, Jesus shared the purpose of His work when He said  "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

Dear Lord, we thank You that we can live an abundant life because of what You did for each of us. Help us share that good news today. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.