I rarely give my students passages to memorize. Instead we read and talk about the significant ideas contained in important passages. Sometimes I wonder if I am doing them a disservice not to require that they put them to heart. I remember hating to have to memorize. Yet decades later I find it to be rewarding when I can recall a passage and once again ponder the beauty and import of certain works. Memorized verses of Scripture, poetry and other works seem to be mental anchors around which I can tie new and challenging ideas. Today’s students have laptops and other electronic devices that instantly find and reproduce almost any literary content. Has memorization become a non-essential? With a small handheld device my wife can within a few seconds find factual answers to most anything that strikes our curiosity.

Yet I am uneasy about the mere reproduction of facts as opposed to thinking about things. A set of encyclopedias whether on paper or on an electronic screen is only information. Information is the stuff of thought. It is fodder for ideas. It is the inspiration for the creation of new concepts and new understandings. I must teach my students to love. Love is the foundation of all true education. It is that which builds character and prepares people for unselfish service, the only avenue to lasting happiness. Will it not enhance their journey to put 1 Corinthians 13 into their mental library? The Psalmist wrote, “Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.” When temptation comes they will not check their laptops. But they will certainly check the content of their characters. Something needs to be there.

I am sitting here looking at a list of doctrinal beliefs. It defines a certain kind of Christian. It sets him or her apart from other Christians who do not subscribe to this particular list. I’m not so sure Jesus ever intended there to be different kinds of Christians. Either you are or you are not. He had a criterion. In John 13:35 He clearly said, “People will know you are my disciples if you love one another.”

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus lists some characteristics Christians should exhibit - things like purity, humility, and hunger for righteousness. What I can’t find is Jesus’ list of theological tenets. I do realize if you are going to have an organization one needs parameters of membership. This is a fact of life one finds difficult to contend with. The problem is once you draw a circle to determine who is in you have automatically created those who are out. Isms create schisms. Perhaps this would not be so bad if it were not for human nature that then creates “them” and “us.” Of course “us” is the best group and “them” have deficits and are not quite as good as “us.” This is when love begins to suffer.

We need organization. Collectively we can accomplish so much more than we can if each of us is running our own little program. And so grows the problem out of our desire to accomplish much good. We can become so mentally attuned to tenets and theological purity that we then let slide Jesus’ criterion of loving. Some of the harshest people I have known are theological purists. To be a real Christian isn’t so much agreeing with each other as much as it is loving each other.

This is a very sad story. It’s a tale of a deteriorating mind. Mine. As I move about during the day interacting with students and others I see things that I can write about and perhaps turn into a devotional. Ten years ago I could remember them in the evening when I sat down to write to you. About five years ago I stopped remembering so I now carry a pen and small piece of paper and make a note. Tonight I have moved to a new low. I hold in my hand the note I made today and I have no clue what it means!

This afternoon a student reminded me that she had been in one of my classes this past summer. She’s Polish. So I greeted her in Polish. Forty-five years ago I was the pastor of a small church in Iowa with some Polish farmers as members. They taught me how to greet them. So how is it that I couldn’t remember the student’s presence in my class two months ago but I could remember how to greet her after forty-five years?

I am so thankful I have a heavenly Father who always remembers me. He is the Ancient of Days and has yet to forget anything. But wait. That might not be true. If He answered David’s prayer in Psalm 25:7, “Remember not the sins of my youth nor the transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness sake.” I do believe God loves to answer that prayer. God has a selective memory. He chooses to remember the few good things we have done and to forget the multitude of bad things. Why? Because according to Romans 8 we are His children and good Fathers are like that!

There I stood in the rain more than a half an hour from home trying unsuccessfully to open my locked car. It was then that I remembered one of the car keys, the one I had, only worked in the ignition and I had locked the car. Since I didn’t have my wallet with me, it was one of those days we all dread. I had no money to pay for help. So I did what any healthy, normal, red-blooded man would do. I called my wife. “Help,” I pleaded, “I’m stranded in the rain.”

“Put the key in the passenger’s side. It will work there. Twist it with some conviction.”

Totally drenched from the rain I went around to the other side and “Bingo” she was right. (She always is!) It was one of the best phone calls I ever made.

While driving home without my glasses which were useless they were so wet, I remembered a great text. “Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee.” Psalm 50:15

How fortunate I was to have such a knowledgeable resource. How blessed we are to claim Psalm 50 when thinking of our heavenly Father. Talk about knowledgeable resources. He’s the best. He knows everything and is anxious to hear our requests. In Acts 2 in a stirring sermon Peter said, “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Please note it doesn’t say some will be saved. It says everyone. Does that mean that Joe Blow, my drunken neighbor, could end up being my neighbor in heaven? Well, yes it does. The good part about that is he will no longer be my “drunken” neighbor. The best part is both of us sinners will be there.

This past weekend I watched my wife play the old word game Hangman with one of our granddaughters. I noticed the rules were a bit modified. Instead of having to guess all the letters before there was a head, body, two arms and two legs, one had to get fingers and toes. Now if I add up all the chances one could miss, I think that comes to twenty-six. Aren’t there twenty-six letters in the alphabet? Hello! This is a game you cannot lose. Humm? I think the modified rules were made up by a very biased grandma.

This brings me to my heavenly Father. He also has created a no-lose situation for us. We not only get twenty-six opportunities to win eternal life, we get endless opportunities which stay in play as long as we are mentally aware. Yes, God does accept deathbed confessions. But how foolish it is to wait that long when one could be enjoying the blessings of being in the Kingdom now. Why wait? The only reason I could think of is people haven’t figured out that a life in Christ is the richest life of all. I have come to the conclusion that He is as biased, or even more so, than a grandmother.

Heaven is rigged. Heaven is stacked in our favor. Upon request we can be adopted into the family. See Galatians 4 and Romans 8. That makes Jesus, our brother, be our mediator before our Father. Any court in this country would laugh at such preposterous advantage to the defendant. There really is only one conclusion one can derive from all this. God is extremely interested in and desirous of our company just as we were reluctant to see our granddaughter go home Sunday evening.

We have a family picture on the fridge. It’s been there about six years now and the computer ink has badly faded. Each of us is disappearing as the color slowly goes away. It’s very much like the two oldest people in the picture. Ever so slowly we are losing our color. Our hair is turning white; our skin is losing its vibrant elasticity. Fortunately it’s not that way with the children. It’s just the opposite. They are growing more and more colorful as each month passes. Their personalities are blooming. They are becoming ever so more vibrant. One of these days the two oldest people on the picture will completely fade away. But, not forever. Oh, no.

In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul is so very clear about our future. Verse 22 says, “Even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” He goes on to proclaim we will be so vibrant and so colorful and so alive and so growing that we will be as different in our new life as a tree is different from its seed. In the spring Maple seeds come helicoptering down to the grass. Those seeds certainly don’t look like the rich green tree that dropped them. Acorns are covering my lawn. I pick them up and fill my pocket with a dozen potential oaks. Just imagine trying to pick up just one oak tree.

As those seeds hold the potential for massive change so do we. I am fading from the picture on the fridge. I am fading from earth. Am I concerned? Not at all. It is exciting to know there is so much more waiting for us. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2 that God is going to shower us with kindness and blessing forever.

I have a good friend who is being baptized this weekend. It's an exciting
event when a person makes a conscious decision to make Jesus the Lord of
their life. To celebrate one of the pastors at the church invited us all to
her home for dinner. We gladly accepted. Then we found out my friend's
family also wanted to celebrate so he couldn't be at the pastor's home. So
I called and uninvited myself by saying, "The only reason we were coming was
to be with my friend."

Now just how stupid was that! As the words flowed from my mouth I realized
I was an idiot. "The only reason was ." That was amazingly insensitive.
It wasn't even true. I really enjoy the pastor's company. She is bright,
quick, witty and a joy to be around. But no, I had to say the "only" reason
I was coming was for my other friend. She was so kind. She should have
said, "You jerk. I'll never have you over again." She didn't. Graciously
she spoke about another time.

So how often does our mouth work without having our brain in gear? At
least on this occasion I heard myself. What I am guessing is I most likely
do it every day without realizing it. It is a lesson to me not to be so
quick to think other people are jerks when they say something stupid.
Looking in the mirror is a very good reason not to be harsh with others and
to give people the benefit of the doubt.

I haven't apologized yet but I am going to do so just as soon as I finish
writing this confession of my stupidity.

Have you ever had someone give you something you really didn't want or like?
You say "thank you" and then try to figure out what to do with it. You
can't take it to the church welfare center lest they see it there. Usually
it ends up on a shelf or in a drawer and if you are lucky you can regift it.
I've never been much of a regifter. Somehow it seems cheesy to give someone
something you don't like just to get rid of it. We have a table in our
department where we put things for our students to take if they want them.
I like that. The person who gets it wants it.

There is the gift of salvation. I have spent my life trying to regift it.
Don't get me wrong, it isn't that I don't like it or want it. Wow - quite
to the contrary! I love it. I want it. That's the point. I think it is
so great I want everyone to have it. Salvation is one of those wondrous
things you can regift and yet still have it. Better yet you can keep on
regifting because there is always more. There is an abundance for everyone.
It is like Bartholomew Cubbins many hats. As fast as he could take them off
another hat appeared.

Giving away salvation is not as easy as it sounds. There is a natural human
tendency to want to do things for ourselves. Part of "Pride of Ownership"
is having earned it. Sorry, this is one area where it is all gift. We
receive it because God loves us. It is a great thing to keep. It gets even
better if we regift it. Please see the end of Ephesians 2.

It was very quiet this morning when I went to the street for the morning
paper. It was quiet except for a family of cardinals. Mom and dad and
three adult-sized young ones were all over the yard while having a full
blown conversation. They were celebrating. This was not the first attempt
for this mom and dad. Earlier in the summer we were watching them raise
three only to have them taken by who knows what. The couple tried again.
Again they lost their babies. The third time was a charm. In the words of
Dora the Explorer, "They did it." What a happy lot they were this morning.

Loss is a part of life. We never really own anything. We just get to use
things for a while. It is the same with people. For a while we get to be
with them, we get to love them, but they will ultimately go away. Or if we
are fortunate we will be the first to go away. Emily Dickenson once wrote,
"Parting is all we know of heaven and all we need of hell."

However, I do not wish to dwell upon loss. I want to join my cardinal
family and rejoice at their persistence and ultimate success. Oh, that we
all should have such fortitude. I do not know if they suffered grief over
the loss of two families. What I do know is they kept trying and to great
success. This morning there were streaks of red throughout the yard as they
experienced life to its fullest. As we age some of us realize our strongest
times are history but ultimate strength is yet to come. It is so grand to
know Jesus. He makes all the difference.

Until 1800 ancient Egyptian writings were mostly untranslatable. Then the
Rosetta Stone was found. It held the carved inscription of a decree by
Ptolemy V in three languages. It was a light on the ancient world that
ultimately opened up the translation of ancient Egyptian texts.

Jesus was the Rosetta Stone that flooded the world with light about the true
nature of His Father. Prior to Jesus Satan was able to blame all manner of
evil on God. Through the centuries God's character was besmirched by man's
ignorance of who God really was. Men did horrible things to each other and
then claimed they were but following God's commands. God is portrayed as
vengeful, petty and easily offended. It was true that He was better than
the portrayal of the pagan gods around Israel, but the truth about Him was
shrouded by men's continual creating Him in their image.

When Jesus came that all changed. Jesus said, "When you saw me you saw the
Father. He and I are one." God's character was revealed to be that of a
merciful Father who longed to forgive and restore. He was a giving God who
sent rain upon the just and the unjust. He was a Father so committed to
returning us to Eden that He gave us Jesus as an atonement for our sins. No
longer did we have to fear speaking to Him. He bade us to come boldly
before His throne. We were adopted into the family and became sons and
daughters, princes and princesses of the King of the universe. We became
heirs of the Kingdom with Jesus Himself.

Just think of Revelation 3:21, "Blessed is he who overcomes for he shall
sit with me in my throne someday."

We spent the weekend at the home of friends in the Finger Lakes Region of
New York. They have a veranda with a million dollar view of one of the
lakes surrounded by lush verdant forest. Perhaps I have a touch of
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder because I was persistently annoyed by the top
of one dead tree that stuck up above a perfect layer of green. I wanted to
take a chain saw and go down the hillside and eliminate it. When I finally
mentioned it my host was horrified. "You can't," he exclaimed. "It's my
hawk stick!" He's an avid birdwatcher and apparently raptors love to sit
atop that one dead treetop giving both the hawk and my host great views.

It was amazing. Once I realized the dead tree had a valuable purpose I no
longer wanted to cut it down. It was useful. It provided something the
living trees did not. Solomon was right again. There is a purpose for
everything. Actually, it's a lesson I have discovered about people. Have
you ever met someone whom you deemed to be useless? I'm ashamed to mention
this because that is so wrong. But I have been guilty. It was only after I
knew more about the person that I realized they had a gift, they had
purpose, they had someone they loved and it was none of my business to make
such a judgment. There is no such thing as a useless person. Just because
I wasn't perceptive enough to discern their value was a judgment about me
and not them. I need to remind myself that I have come across individuals
who most likely thought I was useless.

In my side yard hangs a blue plastic swing with yellow ropes. It has been
there for fifteen years and is still in excellent condition. The only thing
it lacks is a child. It has served all our grands when they have come to
visit (which is never long enough). The first one to use it now has a
driver's license. If the swing had a memory I wonder if it misses her. I
do.

How grand to be a swing and carry children heavenward. When a child is tiny
they get very short rides upward. But as the months pass by we hear,
"Higher, Grandpa, higher." I'm not sure if I recall any of them ever asking
for me to stop. It is I that grew weary. I should not have. Why is it
that we rarely treasure moments until they are gone and irretrievable?

One of the joys of being a teacher is to take students higher and higher. I
want them to catch a vision of a better life. I want them to see that a
life of service is the richest life possible. It isn't as easy as it
sounds. The world is bombarding them with a message of materialism and
self-gratification. Fortunately, I have them as a captive audience for
thirty-six hours throughout the semester. That is a rare privilege with
golden opportunities to effect change. I seem to hear God say, "Higher,
take them higher." Not a class must go by without a passage from His word
and prayer.

I like our blue and yellow swing. Someday it will hear a delighted little
voice say, "Higher, push me higher.

In 1964 Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater said, ". extremism
in the defense of liberty is no vice!" It sparked a national debate among
both academics and the common man on the street. History has been filled
with the horrifying records of the fruit of extremism. Could it be that
there is a righteous time for extremism? Didn't Solomon say there was a
time for everything?

Since 9/11 the world has had an epiphany regarding the fruit of extremism.
The cover of a recent issue of Time magazine featured an Afghanistan woman
who had had her nose and ears cut off because she had fled from her abusive
in-laws. The extremism of a faith that condones such an atrocity jars us to
introspection. What kind of religion could sanction such inhumanity? How
is it that women, the last and crowning act of creation, can be so
brutalized? Surely only the ignorant could say all religions are the same.
This is darkness compared to Jesus the Light of the World who tells us our
identifying mark is our love for each other.

In that same 1964 speech Goldwater also wisely said, "Those who seek
absolute power, even though they seek it to do what they regard as good, are
simply demanding the right to enforce their own version of heaven on earth.
And let me remind you, they are the very ones who always create the most
hellish tyrannies." This is especially true when used by those with
religious motivations.

I can think of one occasion when extremism is most desirable. In Psalm
119:11 we read, "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin
against thee." To do no harm, to be no harm, to always act in love is our
goal.

For over fifteen years now we have lived less than twenty minutes away from
Walden Pond. Surely every American high school graduate knows (at least a
smidgeon) about Walden Pond, Thoreau and Concord. Thinking that it was time
to round out my education a bit I embarked upon reading Walden. Not bad.
Pretty good read. Now comes the embarrassing part. On page 177 Thoreau
wrote, "White Pond and Walden are great crystals on the surface of the
earth, Lakes of Light." The paragraph that continues is lovely. The
embarrassment is I cannot recall ever hearing of White Pond, let alone
knowing where it is; so much for being informed.

This brings me to my incredible ignorance of life about me. While I will
not make judgments about you, I am suspicious I am not that unusual. Most
of us think we are knowledgeable. We think we are fairly aware
and yet there are worlds of things right on our doorstep that warrant our
attention. I know my wife will not like me mentioning that there is another
complete world for creatures just in the walls of our home. While we sleep
they scurry about making sure to stay out of our way. Our yard has a host
of wild flowers that I never see. They come and go in the lower woods that
have become almost impassable because of an old ice storm.

In our own mind there are levels of consciousness that rarely rise to the
surface and yet billions of bits of data are constantly being processed. We
rarely think about driving while driving, yet we arrive safely home. And so
it is that all around us is a world of God and angels. They are there just
as White Pond is only twenty minutes from my house

In the midst of a grocery store transaction the checkout lady came out from
her position at the cash register and went to the pile of hand baskets that
had erratically piled up where you put your items on the belt. Ever so
carefully she fit each in another til she had them all nicely stacked and
perfectly positioned on the floor. Only then could she return to checking
out the customer in front of me. It was some variation of Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder.

Humans are wonderfully strange. Each of us is so distinctively unique. We
come in so many different sizes. I have a few very good friends who are
birdwatchers. One of them has means and will fly anywhere in the world to
add new sightings to his life list. Others are of more normal means and
enjoy new sightings for their personal yard list. Jesus tells us in Matthew
6 that His Father is a birdwatcher. Each species is so carefully designed
and equipped with survival skills. He must be pleased when we notice and
appreciate His craftsmanship.

He is also a people watcher. He knows that checkout lady well. He knows
what makes her need to have the baskets sitting just right and of course He
knows each of our idiosyncrasies. We all have them. They are the spice
that flavors us into such distinct packages. They give us personality and
make us beings of interest. It is no wonder God wants to save everyone.
Each is special. If you are forever lost there will never be another like
you to fill God's Kingdom. Your presence in heaven will enhance the
experience for everyone. You will make heaven whole.

I almost felt like I had to say, "Excuse me" as we drove between them. On a
very busy street with cars streaming both ways two people were holding an
animated conversation across the street from each other. I felt like it
was a typical conversation I have with God. Life is streaming between us.
I realize He is supposed to be inside and speak to me in a still small
voice, but reality is that life is full and loud and takes up our days. I
call to Him and I know He calls back but there is so much going on I fear
some days I don't hear. I know He hasn't gone anywhere. It's me.

Remember the night God spoke to a little boy named Samuel? "And the LORD
called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said,
"Here I am, for you did call me." Then Eli perceived that the LORD had
called the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and it shall
be, if He calls you, that you must say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant
hears.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the LORD came and
stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel answered,
"Speak, for your servant hears."

I love that story. Knowing that God doesn't play favorites means He calls
to us. We might not hear our name called in the middle of the night because
He is as diverse as we are diverse. He speaks to us via Scripture, sermons,
devotionals such as this, friends and sometimes those who are not are
friends. The important thing to remember is He wants to dialogue with you.

If the wind blows just right four times a day we can hear a deep throated
whistle blast from our downtown fire station. It has been this way for
decades back into the past century. Eight A.M. signals the beginning of the
workday. Noon signals lunch. Six P.M. signals the end of the workday and 9
P.M. reminds people to tend to stoves and lanterns before going to bed.
It's nice. It's a tie to a past that seems to be rushing away from us. The
sound of the blast from the firehouse almost makes one think if one went
down to the firehouse one would see firemen busy putting big fire horses up
for the night under the watchful eye of a Dalmatian.

People need to remember. We need to be reminded of our roots. It's a value
system grounded in hard work and simplicity. Our traditions tell us who we
are. We are not refugees in a sea of angst. We are travelers with purpose
and goals. We care about community and neighbors. The neighborhood school
isn't there merely for our children but for all children with dreams and
ambitions. The local little league baseball teams or the football or soccer
leagues get us out of our electronically sequestered lives and we see and
talk to real people just like ourselves.

Families need traditions and customs that tie each to each. Modernity fills
us with so many weekday responsibilities we must make efforts to make Friday
nights, Saturdays and Sundays special. Sitting around the table actually
looking at each other as we talk and eat, going to church, taking a weekend
jaunt together, these are the things our children will remember and cherish
after we are gone. These give us identity.

I, along with hundreds of millions of us, am cautiously breathing with more
ease now that the blown out well in the Gulf of Mexico appears to be plugged
abating a potential Revelationish plague. We are being reminded that now
that the flow has ceased there are still major remaining after effects. It's
just like stopping a sinful behavior. We stop. God forgives. But the
aftermath, the natural fruit, continues on. We can stop mistreating people
but instant harmonious relationships don't begin the next day. We can stop
smoking but healthy lungs don't miraculous fill our chests.

A teen once told me he was thrilled with the Gospel. Since he was young and
it took several years to destroy his young healthy body he was going to try
everything. When he was in his thirties he would give his life to Jesus, be
forgiven and thus will have had the best of both lifestyles. Really?
Should he live to his chosen reformation year he will have to deal with the
aftermath of broken relationships, addictions not so easily set aside, and
impaired abilities. Actually there is a larger issue. Who says an
unhealthy lifestyle that focuses on self-gratification at the expense of
others is something to be desired? Is there really a best to that?

The U. S. Army used to have a great slogan. "Be all that you can be."
Should he have attempted his divided life he could never be all that he
could have been. If you begin a journey with a cup half full you would
never be what or where you would have been had you begun the journey with a
full cup. The aftermath will always be there.

While it is true that birds of a feather do flock together it is also true
that flocking together alters our feathers. Our norms, our standards of
what is acceptable, our eating habits, our standards of beauty, our
vocabulary and our attitudes toward right and wrong merge into a social
network that in turn forms who we are. So much of what we are, who we are,
what we are becoming and who we are becoming are the fruit of our choices.
If we are an adult we can choose how to spend not only our spare time but
how we spend our work time by the choice of a career or work place.

It is so very important for us to understand the importance of our total
environment's impact on who we are. There is no such thing as watching a
movie, reading a book or being friends with someone without it altering our
personality and character. Things, events and people affect us even though
they might be removed from us by several degrees of separation. What
happens to your boss's wife affects him. He affects you and you affect your
children. Your children will most likely never meet your boss's wife but
she has changed their lives. The things we watch on the network evening
news change our lives.

We cannot over emphasize the importance of personal choice in each day's
activities. While there are so many things over which we have no control
there are hundreds of things that are up to us. This is where the influence
and the power of the Holy Spirit mean so much. We must claim the promise of
Jesus in John that He will always be with us via His Spirit.

Last semester I overhead two theology majors discussing the physical
features of the cross of Jesus. One had taken the position that Jesus'
nailed feet were only a foot above the ground while the other took the more
traditional view that His nailed feet were about eye level. Both of them
were quite passionate regarding their position. After one reads Ephesians 1
one can easily come to the conclusion that it does not matter. What matters
is "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and
every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is
to come: and hath put all things under his feet, . . ."

Using ancient Middle Eastern imagery Paul envisions Jesus' absolute dominion
over the entire universe by placing everything that is under His feet. Jesus
rules. Please note this is not a future tense but a present tense reign.
Best of all it is eternal. It will never be usurped. That is good news for
us. His lavish beneficence toward us means there will never be a time when
all our needs will not be fully provided.

When I use the word "needs" I am not speaking of the basic needs of
survival. I am referring to the entire needs pyramid. We will have all the
basics, all the security, all the love, all the self-esteem and all the
actualization possible for that specific moment in eternity. The next day
it will be increased as we increase in the likeness of Him. Please notice
verse 18 speaks of our increased understanding and the riches of His glory
being ours. This is heaven far beyond petting lions and playing with tigers.
This is big people's heaven.

There is no question about whether or not Paul believed in predestination.
Just read the first few verses of Ephesians 1. There you will read the
"Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in
him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without
blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of
children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his
will,." Please notice the tense. It is past.

If that was all we had of Scripture we would conclude our salvation is a
done deal. But there is more. There is also free will. God, in His
magnificent love for us, will not force His will upon us. It is His will to
save us. It is our choice to accept. It is His pleasure to see us
consent. And should we consent the blessings begin flowing our way. Please
note "all spiritual blessings in heavenly places" are ours. Once we consent
changes begin to occur. Our likes and dislikes are altered. Our passions
are diverted toward righteousness, right thinking and right doing.
Opportunities are opened for growth. We grow in understanding the mystery
of His wisdom.

Many of the so called "smart" people of this world just do not understand
what God's children understand. When they rely upon their own intellect, no
matter how vast, it is not enough to grasp what a small child with Jesus can
understand. This incredible world, though soiled with sin, is and can never
be the product of random chance. We are the fruit of His love. We are the
product of His design. Our task is not merely to reproduce and die. It is
instead to reproduce and live forever with the fruit of our love.