Proverbs 28:18 “Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall. ”

In the news this week, Bhutir, the exiled leader of Pakistan who is now running for Prime Minister again, was killed by an explosion. Also in the news this week, a train in Pennsylvania overturned and caught fire, however no one was injured. The news commentators called it a miracle.

The Lord is good, and is that not wonderful? In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, at one point the beavers try to explain Aslan, the lion (the Christ-figure in the books), with the following words “Safe? Of course He isn't safe, but He is good.” God's goodness overflows all boundaries in our lives. Even as we stumble and fall, His gentle arms are there surrounding us, encompassing us, acting like spiritual airbags.

We make choices daily. Some of our choices are good and some are bad. We often times do not know which until we see the consequences. Sometimes though, we consciously make choices that we know are not fully right. The crooked man, the person who does not take instruction, the stubborn one, will find that for some reason he faces problems beyond what he can handle. The person who turns to God and asks help, who understands their failures and who are honest about it will still have to go through the consequences, but they have God with them. They have His wonderful arms around them to comfort and protect.

Listening to my music, I heard these two songs in a row, compare them and see the difference:

Will I get better or stay the same? / I find I always move too slowly / Can't lift a finger / Can't change my mind / I never knew till someone told me that / If that's all you will be / You'll be a waste of time / You've dreamed a thousand dreams / None seem to stick in your mind

- Guster - “Two Points for Honesty”

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! / My sin, not in part but the whole, / Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, / Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! / It is well, with my soul, / It is well, with my soul, / It is well, it is well, with my soul.

- Horatio Spafford - “It is Well with my Soul”

The person of integrity, of honesty, and who tries his best to follow God, even if he falls short at times, has such hope that non Christ-followers can not understand it.
Just remember, there is hope through Christ our Lord (2 Thessalonians 2:16)

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

It is the little things that show love. It is that surprise note, it is a phone call when you least expect it. It is that surprise, that shock, that impetuous trip. It is that sunrise, that flock of birds that flies right over your head. Love is shown in the taste of the rain, in the quixotic flurry of snow. There is love in the moonlight shining through the gently swaying leaves of an oak. There is love in the quietness of your own home in that moment that time stands still and all is perfect.

It is the little things that show love. Love is the little child born long ago on a chilly night in a little stable, who's only visitors were sheep, donkeys, chickens, and a passing shepherd. Love was the little 12 year old child in the temple. Love was the passing advice of a strange man to two fishermen to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. Love was the healing of the deaf and the blind. Love was the smiling children finally allowed to see the great Rabbi. Love was the little boy sharing his lunch. Love was the waking of a young girl. Love was the gift of a widow's tithe. Love was letting demons go into pigs rather than directly being banished. Love was there in the nails and rough-hewn wood. Love was in the broken stone. Love was explaining of prophecy to two walking men. Love was the laying on of hands to a persecutor of the faith. Love was in the letters of encouragement to others. Love was in chains and manacles of prison. Love was in the fresh air and the warm wind of the sea. Love was in the green grass of Patmos. Love was in the service to widows and the feeding and care of orphans.

Love is in the little things: That little town, on that little night, in that little one.

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, love divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,
Love shall be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and to all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.

Matthew 4:21-22 “And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”

Last week, I read “Dune” and “Ender’s Game,” stories about young boys who are turned into fighting men, leaders, commanders, strategists, heroes, and saviors. These boys end up destroying and deceiving the enemy. They, in their respective ways, entirely annihilate their enemies. Both of these stories were very depressing when you think about what happens and what takes place, about the destruction of the characters.

I then decided to read through the New Testament gospels. I began with the book of Matthew. When I read these verses where Jesus calling the disciples, I felt the urge to just stand up, grab my jacket, put on my shoes and walk outside, and then keep walking. Just leave, go do something. God would take care of me. Then I started thinking about my job. I can’t leave my job. I have college debt to pay. I have my apartment costs to pay, I have things to leave behind now. I felt like the rich young man; I was the rich young man of chapter 19. I had things, I had responsibilities, I had given my word that I would be here in this apartment, that I would make the payments, I would be in this area and this was my new community. I felt horrible.

I am the father in this passage. I am certain that he would have dropped what he was doing and followed Christ as well, but he had responsibilities, he had work, he had taxes and debt, he had a wife, and he could not see a way to do what he wanted and what he felt was needed. The father watched his boys leave and follow a man that he himself wanted to follow, but he was not able to in his mind.

I felt horrible. I was letting my Lord down. I did not know if it was His leading or was it my own desire to emulate, but I felt that I was not being the best follower of Christ that I could. I then was reminded of His great love for me, His great mercies, and His tremendous love. Jesus is above all my feelings. Maybe Zebedee stayed for a reason. Maybe his not following with his sons was a good thing. Maybe it was partly because of his fishing and his staying behind to take care of things that the disciples and Jesus had food, had money to buy necessities or to pay tolls and taxes. Maybe it was because the father stayed behind that Jesus told John the son of Zebedee, the disciple whom Jesus loved to take care of Mary (John 19:26,27). If I let Him down, or not, He still loves me and He is still my Lord, my God, and my Savior.

Yet in all things, Christ is lord. In all instances, Christ is still my Saviour. That I needed to remember. Maybe my thoughts were wrong, Jesus still loves me and I know this because the Bible tells me so. The Bible is a depressing book when we compare ourselves to it. It opens up all sorts of comparisons, and we all fall well short of the mark. I am not an earnest Centurion, I am not any of the John’s. I am not a David or a Solomon. I am a Judas, I am a Jonah, I am a rich young idiot. Yet God still loves me.

Jesus, name above all names
Beautiful Savior, glorious Lord.
Emmanuel, God is with us.
Blessed Redeemer, living Word.

Colossians 4:17-18 “And say to Archippus, "See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord." I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.”

“Ministry,” a word that holds so many meanings to so many people. We are called to minister to the world around us (Romans 15:15-16). We are called to be ministers of the Gospel of Jesus' life and death and resurrection (2 Corinthians 3). We are called to be Ministers in all circumstances to all men (Ephesians 3). Notice that Paul, in a letter written to a specific church that was to be spread throughout and entire region, gives a stern reminder to one person. This one person was obviously not fulfilling the ministry he was entrusted with. I can see Paul giving this subtle reproof “I am still serving God to the best of my ability while I am in prison, maybe even going to die. I serve God the best I can, even if it is writing letters to encourage you to do better in your ministry. This is what I am able to do, this is my ministry for now. You have so much potential and a freedom that I do not have. Please use it! Please!”

Each of us is called to minister in the specific role that Christ has given us for whatever period of time we are in. This story comes directly from the website of the Northeast Region Campus Crusade for Christ.

DARTMOUTH COLLEGE -- This is the testimony from three student leaders at Dartmouth named Annie, Sarah, and Melanie.

Annie: An Shi was a stranger in our kayaking class. On the second day of class, I found myself beside her walking back to campus and we began to chat. A little way into the conversation, I suddenly had a realization that before the end of the conversation I would have asked her to Alpha (an introductory course on Christianity that was being held on campus). I watched the conversation naturally move to spiritual things, and then to Christianity, of which she had heard, and in which she was interested. As we were about to part ways, I was able to ask her to come to Alpha. And she accepted.

Sarah: I met An at Alpha, the night that Annie brought her. She could only stay for part of the first time, but kept on coming back. An is a quiet person, and often would just listen, but once she started asking questions, it was hard to stop her! She asked questions that got to heart issues. She asked me some tough questions about prayer and shared with me what her experience had been in the time we had spent praying. She told me that she had seen a light and had felt some sort of change. Throughout the rest of the term, we continued to meet. Her questions got me asking questions about my own faith, questions I would have never thought to ask otherwise.

Melanie: I met with An several times throughout the summer and each time, she questioned me about Christianity, my experiences, and my beliefs. I know that she also continued meeting with my friends (with Annie, Sarah, and another sophomore named Cam) and challenging them in the same way, so even while she was doing this and growing closer to God, she was causing all of us to grow closer together and closer to Him. It was an incredible experience - the five of us learning more about His beauty together.

Sarah: An was the first person I've seen come to faith. I will continue to pray for her and keep in touch with her. Please pray for her too.

What ministry have we been given? While I was a student, I dealt with the international students. I served the best I could. I helped with the exchange students and I helped run the tech booth at church. That was then. Now I can live my witness and be a witness to the (mostly) unsaved people I deal with every day. I can find a way to be involved in my (new) community. I can help with food drives and I can help feed people with less than myself. What can you do in your area? What opportunities do you have? What strengths (and what weaknesses) has God endowed you with to use for His glory?

In the harvest field there is work to do,
For the grain is ripe, and the reapers few;
And the Master’s voice bids the workers true.
Heed the call that He gives today.

Psalm 147:7-9 “Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre!
He covers the heavens with clouds; He prepares rain for the earth; He makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry.”

I woke up this morning and took a shower. A normal day like any other so far. I walked into the kitchen and turned on the coffee machine, grabbed some instant oatmeal, a bowl, and some water and prepared myself a big bowl of brown sugar oatmeal. I then reached into the fridge and pulled out the milk to go on my oatmeal, as well as to pour into my coffee. I put the milk back into the fridge, and wondered why I had not gotten more orange juice last time I was at a grocery store. I guess I will have to suffice with coffee.

While I was eating, I was struck with a thought. Here I am complaining to myself about my job, how much of my earnings seems to evaporate before I can find a bank, how I am just poor; instead I should be thanking God for all the blessings and riches He has showered me with. He pours richness into my life like I pour myself a second cup of coffee!

I have much to be thankful for. I have food in my fridge. I have a fridge! I have a pantry with food in it, I have coffee, sugar, and creamer. I have blankets and an air mattress upon which I can sleep. I have a couch, a coffee table – I have furniture! I have transportation to and from work and I have a job. I have an internet connection, I have a cell phone, I have a computer – I have communication! I have friends and family that I can talk to. I have people who love me!

I have so much and even though things may not be the way I would like them, God has still blessed me with what I have and I need to be thankful for it.

Let us focus on what we have been blessed with this week, instead of what problems face us. When we have some complaint on our tongue, first find something to be thankful for before voicing that complaint.

Whole-hearted thanksgiving to Thee I will bring
In praise of Thy marvelous deeds I will sing;
In Thee I will joy and exultingly cry,
Thy Name I will praise, O Jehovah, Most High.