Subscription Lists

This past Sunday morning in our study of God's Word we were encouraged & challenged with this statement..."WE HAVE GOOD NEWS AND WE NEED TO BE BOLD IN SHARING IT!" There are so many people held captive by the philosophy and the pleasures of this world and they desperately need to hear the Good News proclaimed to them clearly and boldly. And it is our Lord who has asked us to do this!

I read this story from Max Lucado in his book "On The Anvil"...I hope it encourages you this morning...

On Friday, May 7, my calendar reads 'Juan - lunch'. The lunch date never occured. Juan killed himself on Thursday, May 6.

Three weeks earlier Juan had spent a week in our house. He'd just been dumped by a girl. Dumped hard. Several times I saw him pull out a picture of them together, taken on New Year's Eve. She was in an evening gown, Juan was in a tux. "Boy, that was life in the big time, " he'd said longingly, sadly.

He had tried twice before to kill himself, but had failed. This time he didn't fail. What makes a fellow do it? I really wonder. What made him finally get the courage to do it? Juan had breathed the exhaust of his own car.

Two days eariler I had run into him at Swenson's Ice Cream Parlor. He was there with some friends. We laughed some. He seemed to be doing so well. (Where do we learn that pain is something we have to hide?)

What emotions do I feel?

Confusion. The black veil of hopeless death falls visciously. Why? How horrid it is to be governed by laws we don't understand.

Guilt. You see, we were originally scheduled to have lunch on May 6, but I had postponed it to May 7. I can't help but wonder, "What if I hadn't canceled?" But the guilt will pass. I know too well my own failures. The inability to forgive one's self is itself suicidal.

Clarity. How death clears the fog! The abrupt departure of life starkly reminds me of why we are here. Death causes all other preoccupations of life to tumble down the hill, leaving at the top this one priority: Jesus Christ rose from the dead and God has forgiven my failures.

When all we have to face is death and all we have to remember are memories, Jesus' victory and God's forgiveness will be the only things that matter.

Why am I writing this? It comforts me, for one thing. For another, I want you to know how terribly vital each person in the world is. I loved Juan. In a small way this is a tribute to him. He was a victim of despair. He wanted a life he couldn't have. He had a life he couldn't handle.

Juan was caught in a shouting match between the world on one side and a handful of us on the other. "Life isn't worth it!" screamed the world. "Yes it is," we yelled back. "No it isn't." "Yes it is!" And there was Juan in the middle, caught and confused. He'd look at us - then at the world. A puppy between two masters. Finally, we were outshouted. "You're right, it isn't worth it!" He despaired and jumped.

But we can't quit shouting. Many may ignore us, but many will hear. And if only one hears, isn't it worth it?"

.......Whew! Doesn't Max's story motivate you to be bolder in sharing the Good News with those around you; especially those you know and love well?

I really like what Rick Warren says in his book 'The Purpose Driven Life'..."What does God care about the most? The redemption of His people. He wants all His lost children found! That's the whole reason Jesus came to earth. The dearest thing to the heart of God is the death of His Son. The second dearest thing is when His children share that Good News with others. To be a friend of God, you must care about all the people around you whom God cares about. Friends of God tell their friends about God."

Folks...let's be friends of God this week and tell our friends about God!!

Hold on the words of 1 Corinthians 16:13..."Stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love."

"Point of Reference" from Fred Price

In His Glorious and Awesome Name Deut. 28:58