Do You Want To Live?

 

There is an old movie from the 1980's, Conan the Barbarian.
At one point in the movie Conan and his group of warriors are fighting and as
they face battle with overwhelming odds one asks the other, "What's the matter, do you want to live
forever". The thought expressed, being that there in no better way to
die than in battle or that life is not worth living without facing a challenge.
A great inspiring thought, but how close to reality?

While I was in the hospital for tests a while back and I was
asked a question I had never been asked

before. The doctor came in and talked
about the procedure I was going to have and asked, "Do you have a living
will?" I told him, "Yes, I do." He said, well I have to ask
this, "If something happens and your heart stops during this procedure, do
you want us to try and bring you back?" Now that will make you sit up and
take notice! I had to stop and think and ask a couple of questions to make sure
I understood. I then told him, "Yes, bring me back."

What
is it you want, what is really important to you? I'm reminded of a incident in
the life of Jesus as he left the city of Jericho
recorded in Mark 10:46 and
following. Notice what happened: "And so they
reached Jericho.
Later, as Jesus and his disciples left town, a great crowd was following. A
blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road as
Jesus was going by. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus from Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout out,
"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" "Be quiet!" some
of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, "Son of David,
have mercy on me!" When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, "Tell
him to come here." So they called the blind man. "Cheer up,"
they said. "Come on, he’s calling you!" Bartimaeus threw aside his
coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. 
"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked.
"Teacher," the blind man said, "I want to see!"

The
man, Bartimaeus, didn't have to ask questions for clarification, he didn't have
to stop and think about it, he knew exactly what he wanted and Jesus granted
his request.

What
is it YOU want more than anything? Most folks, when given time to think about
it would like to avoid death, they would say, "I want to live and if possible,
to live forever". Paul wrote in Romans
6:23. "For the wages of sin is
death; but the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

I
want to live and I know I have eternal life because of God's promises! John
wrote fabulous words of encouragement in 1 John 5:13. Notice what he says: "I write these things to you who
believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have
eternal life."

There's an old gospel song that says, "I know, I know,
there's no doubt about it, he's real in my heart and I'm going to shout
it". That's the feeling you have when you understand that you have life
with Christ! Do you want to live? Yes! Then go to the book and see what he
tells you that you must do! In fact read the whole chapter of Romans 6 for a
starter.

May our God bless you with success in your attempt to live
forever!

GRACIE'S HAIR

My wife helps teach in our church’s preschool in the class for 4 year
old children. She loves it and is

always being surprised by the observations
the children make. Little Gracie is in the class, and Gracie is always easy to
spot because she has a beautiful head of red hair.

This last week the children were sitting in a row watching an activity
going on. My wife was sitting behind the children and over heard when a little
4 year old boy leaned over to Gracie and ask, “Do you dye your hair?” Gracie
turned to him and said, “No, it’s all my own.”

 

The question is; what prompted the little guy to ask the question?
Obviously, Gracie’s hair is different from most of the other kids. It would
seem likely though that he knows someone who dyes their hair.

Often in our world today it’s hard to know what is real and what is
not real. People do a great job of disguising things as well as themselves.
Most of the time only the outside is changed, which only disguises what lies
underneath. Obviously many people do this, that’s why “plastic” surgeons make a
good living. That’s why cosmetic companies thrive and clothing companies work
hard to design the latest trendy clothing. We want to look good and feel good
about ourselves.

Sometimes we wonder what is real and what is not in the religious
world, don’t we? There are hundreds and hundreds of different kinds of
churches, (religious belief’s) in our world. How can we know what is real and
what is not. Most everybody in our county knows about Jim Jones and his
“church”. They know the meaning of the phrase, “drinking the cool aid” also.
Jim Jones was the church leader who convinced 918 of his followers to drink
cool aid with cyanide in it and kill themselves. We think about that and
wonder, “How could they not realize this was not God’s message for His church
today?” “How could they not know this was not real?”

If you look at the person next to you, can you tell if they dye their
hair? It’s a silly question I know, but unless it is a really bad dye job, you
may not be able to tell. However if you worked with hair on a daily basis you
most probably could tell immediately what is real or what was not.

There is a way to discover the truth though isn’t there… by study, by
exposure, but being instructed. In John 8:32 Jesus said, “and you
will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” In John 17:17
we read, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth,” (NIV)
“Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth”.
(NLT) You see, if you spend enough time with God’s Word, you will be able to
recognize what is real and what is not.

As you look at your life, is it real or is it fake? Do you dye your
spiritual life (change it on the outside) to make it look good to others, or is
it really you? Are you drinking the cool aid, just because someone gives it too
you, or are you able to tell what is real?

The Gift

I’ve written a couple of times
about our new rescued dog, Cassie, but something I don’t think I have mentioned
is that she was a gift to my wife. Our little dog Chewy
died this past summer and my wife has been grieving every since. Actually,
until we got our new furry kid I didn’t realize how much I missed her too.
Anyway, the search for a new dog began as a search for a special dog for my
wife for Valentines day. We got her a few days late, but the name which was
chosen for her is “Cassie Valentine”.

 

You probably have heard the saying
which goes, “it’s the gift that keeps on giving,” well
that’s Cassie. She has bonded with both of us, but especially my wife as she is
with her so much more. My wife can’t leave the room without a little black
shadow following her. She gets so excited when we give her canned dog food that
she prances around, rolls on her back and wags all over, (the dog, not my
wife). She returns the blessing of love, maybe because she understands the gift she has been given and remembers what it was like not to
have those who loved her and cared for her.

Our grandaughter has also received
a gift through this little fur ball. She has “suggested”
for the past six months that “you guys REALLY need a new dog”. What she was
really saying is that she wanted us to get a dog that she could play with.
However, blessings sometimes bless us in unexpected ways. Our 9 year old
grandaughter has begun hand sewing cloths for the dog. She has made her a coat
and Shaw and a neckerchief. They really look cute and she is proud of her
ability to make these little gifts for the dog. Gifts can be blessings which fill our needs, gives us something
we can’t give ourselves, or even that which causes us to share with others.

From another aspect though which we
understand is that this gift comes with responsibility.
Dog’s take care; they take time, and there is some expense with having a dog.
That’s not unlike the gift of being a Christian is it?
Someone reminded me again, that Dog spelled backwards is GOD, maybe that’s not
an accident that it’s that way.

I like this modern translation of Ephesians
2:8 that tells us, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And
you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.”
Often in the New Testament we read of the reaction of those who come into
contact with Jesus. They rejoiced, gave thanks and went and told others what
Jesus has done for them, because the gift he has given
them.

How are you doing with that? In Matthew 28:119-20 we read of Jesus saying, “Therefore
go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very
end of the age.” You see, this is our response to the gift!
It is the gift that keeps on giving and one for which we
must keep on rejoicing.

SECOND HAND DOGS

You may or may not have read the article I wrote about our
family rescuing an older dog from the local animal shelter. Some might call her
a “Second Hand Dog,” but that’s OK, we love things that have seen a little wear
and tear, maybe has some of the ‘new’ rubbed off. We did adopt her and she is
fitting in just fine with just minor adjustments as she figures out this new
home and strange people in her life.

We had to take her to the Veterinarian this week as she had
developed a cough. They warned us at the shelter this might happen; I guess
kennel cough is a common problem where there are large groups of dogs. She is
on antibiotics and has almost stopped coughing completely now.

The Vet said something that made an impression on me during
the exam. As many of us do when we go to the doctor we experience what they
call “White coat” anxiety. Our heart rate goes up; our blood pressure goes up,
etc. After examining her, the vet said, “I can see that she has chosen you for
her family?” I was confused by that statement, but the Vet continued: “When I
began the exam her, heart rate was high, she was afraid. You came over and
began to pet her and talk to her and as I listened her heart rate dropped. I
knew she had chosen to trust you and accept you.”

I don’t know about you, but I think that is such a cool
thing to be trusted and accepted as someone’s protector (even if it is a dog). It’s
great to be chosen as a protector, but what about the ones who choose to
protect and love us. We have come to love that little furry one, protect her
and provide for her. She gives us back something which is without price, her
love.

Isn’t that just like our God and our relationship? He chooses
us doesn’t he? Paul writes in Colossians
3:12, “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe
yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and
patience.” How do we respond to our God who has chosen us? The apostle
Peter adds in 1 Peter 1:5, “But
now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.”

I pray that you may be granted the peace, comfort and trust
that our little dog finds in us in your relationship with our God.