NO WONDER THEY CALL HIM THE SAVIOR

Saturday, April 11, 2009

The thoughts in this post are borrowed and edited from Max Lucado's book, No Wonder TheyCall Him The Savior. This is my favorite of all of Max's books.

"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise" Luke 23:43.

The only thing more outlandish than the request was that it was granted. He who deserved hell got heaven. What, for goodness' sake was Jesus trying to teach us? What was he trying to prove by pardoning this strong-arm, who in all probability had never said grace, much less done anything to deserve it. Jesus chose him to show us what he thinks of the human race. We are valuable in his sight.

We say that you are valuable if you can slam-dunk a basketball or snag a pop fly. You are valuable if your are pretty, if you can produce, if your name has a "Dr." in front or Ph.D on the end of it. You are valuable if you have a six-figure salary and drive a foreign car.

Jesus' love for us does not depend on any of this. Not at all. In the eyes of the King, you have value simply because you are. Period.

I smile because I don't deserve his love. None of us do. And it makes me smile to think that there is a grinning ex-con walking the golden streets who knows more about grace than a thousand theologians. No one else would have given him a prayer. But in the end that is all that he had. And in the end, that is all it took.

NO WONDER THEY CALL HIM THE SAVIOR.

TELL ME ANOTHER STORY

We begged for stories when we were children.

As adults, stories still enlighten us about the world around us.

Today, film has taken the art of storytelling to a whole new level.

C. S. Lewis said, "I've loved stories since I was a boy."

J.R.R. Tolkien said, "The Christian story is the greatest story of them all. Because it's the Real Story. The historical event that fulfills the tales and shows us what they mean...not just a verbal invention." Lewis asked, "Are you trying to tell me that in the story of Christ all the other stories have somehow come true?"

The story of Christ and His passion revolutionized Lewis"s life. It has transformed countless others throughout history. And it continues to impact people today.

Maybe it's the story that you've been looking for your whole life.

MUST THE YOUNG DIE TOO?

Friday, April 10, 2009

BOOK REVIEW--RECLAIMING OUR CHILDREN: EXPOSING THE NETS THAT SNARE THEM

Children are murdering each other at school; children are murdering their parents and committing suicide in record numbers.

Who cares?

Robby Dixon cares. Dixon, author of Reclaiming Our Children: Exposing the Nets That Snare Them, spent nearly eleven years studying the intricacies of the Federal Prison System, uncovering the distinction between the true criminal element and the victims of negative influences, who might otherwise have made better choices.

Robby G. Dixon cares. I care. And if you do not already care, you will once you read this informative and touching book.

Dixon offers no apologies for writing from a Christian perspective. God is at the center of his life and he believes that parents must teach children about a God who created them and loves them. He believes that it is from the home and parents that children learn their self-worth.

It is impossible to ignore the increase in troubled behavior among our nation’s youth. And young people are paying the price with incarceration. Dixon dissects the societal reasons for this distressing behavior. He provides viable, preventative methods to empower parents, children and young adults to avoid the traps that often lead to crime.He educates and informs, leaving the reader with a set of tools to keep young people on the right track. In my opinion, one of the most important things he gives is a sense of hope that young people can get on the right track and stay there.

This small (125 pages) but powerful book may be purchased from Robby G. Dixon at http://www.reclaimingourchildren.com/

A DARK DAY, A BRIGHT LIGHT

This weekend is special to those who profess faith in Christ. It
represents one of the darkest moments in human history and yet
provides the brightest light for all mankind. When we think of the
sacrifice God made for us, our hearts should be deeply moved. Too
often, this is not the case. It seems that we fail to understand the
price that was paid for each of us and the life available through the
sacrifice made.

It is sad that so few people outside the Christian community are not
touched by the passion of Christ. Wickedness pounded Him fiercely in
the scourging, the crown of thorns, the nails piercing His sacred
hands, and hanging between two thieves crying out to His father,
"Forgive them, for they know not what they do." I cannot understand
how that does not bring every person to their knees with gratitude for
such love.

It is my prayer that those who honor Him during this Easter weekend
will honor Him every day of the year by receiving the sufficiency of
His death and the forgiveness He offers at this very moment. I pray
that all of us will allow His life to be expressed through us. Christ
in us is truly the hope of glorifying and magnifying God as the
wonderful Father that He is.

We need far more than the recognition of a holiday. We need to receive
what God has offered and submit to His purpose in our lives. May the
Jesus who died and was raised come alive in the hearts of all who have
not yet believed and may those of us who believe become living
demonstrations of the power of His death and resurrection.

(These words were written by James Robison. Please read them carefully and prayerfully.)

IF YOU NEED HELP, ASK FOR IT

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Need help? Ask for it!

A wise plumber ran an ad: "We fix leaks, stoppages, and your husband's repairs."

It took me years to learn this. "If you don't know how, find someone who does."

Need advice about something? It doesn't cost a nickel to ask.

You may not like what you get, but your will never offend anyone by asking for an opinion.

Seek the advice of an expert. An expert is someone who knows something you don't.

READING IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

I read many books. And it always makes me a little sad when someone tells me they do not read at all. However, I have never thought that reading was good for my health. But evidently it is.

Researchers at the University of Sussex have determined that the very best way to relieve stress, both physical and mental, is to read a good book.

The researchers found that stress levels and heart rate showed a 68 percent reduction in measurable stress after reading from a book. After achieving a high stress level through exercise and mental tests, just six minutes of reading slowed the heart rate and decreased other measures of physical stress in the muscles. Reading reduced stress to levels even lower than the baseline before the high stress was reached.

Are you ready to read a good book? I can recommend some good ones.