Remembering His Death

JFKToday marks the 50th anniversary of the death of President John F. Kennedy, the youngest man ever elected to the office and the youngest president to die. His tragic assassination has left a lasting mark on our nation. Those old enough to remember the event can recall where they were and what they were doing when they got the news that Kennedy had been shot.

I was six years old on November 22, 1963. I was sitting in a school room with my first grade classmates when our principle came into the room to tell his wife, our teacher, the horrible news. Mr. Westerfield was the strong, silent type. I knew that something was terribly wrong when I saw how upset he was. Only later would I better understand the magnitude of President Kennedy’s death and the consequences it brought to so many people.

I don’t remember where I was or what I was doing when I first heard that Jesus died. Since that time, I have gradually come to a better understanding of what his death meant, and how it still affects people to this very day.

“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”—Luke 22:19-20.

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Unclaimed Fortune

In May of this year, someone bought a winning lottery ticket at a suburban Tampa, Florida convenience store. However, no one has yet come forward to claim the $16 million prize. No one knows for sure why the person who bought the winning ticket has not shown up, but if the winner does not come forward by today, he or she will forfeit the money. Officials say that this would not be the first time that a huge lottery prize has gone unclaimed in the Sunshine State. A 2003 Florida lottery prize of $53 million was not claimed either.

Many people are lamenting the fact that such a huge fortune has not been claimed. The greater tragedy is that so many people fail to cash in on eternity in heaven, which God has offered them through Jesus!

“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”–Matthew 16:26.

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Misplaced Treasure

Confiscated Gold

Confiscated Gold

Officials in India are reporting that 24 bars of gold worth $1.2 million were left in a bathroom of a commercial jet airliner. An aircraft maintenance crew found the gold in two bags while the plane was stopped in Kolkata, India. The plane had just arrived from Bangkok, Thailand. However, the gold is believed to have come from the United Arab Emirates.

Jesus warned that earthly treasures are apt to fade away or be stolen (Matthew 6:19). I guess we had better add to the list that you might mistakenly leave them on an airplane!

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”—Matthew 6:20-21.

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Fact or Fiction?

Costco BiblesA Costco store in Southern California is catching heat for displaying some Bibles for sale that were labelled as fiction. This, of course, has upset some people who consider the Bible the final authority for all truth. Costco has issued an apology, saying that the labeling was a mistake made by a distributor.

While Costco seems to be truly sorry for what happened, the number of people in our culture who view the Bible as fiction seems to be growing. Will Bible-believers someday be in the minority in our country? As the future unfolds, it will be interesting to see what people will accept as truth, and what they will reject as fiction.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”—2 Timothy 3:16-17.

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Effective Prayer

Illinois tornadoI just watched a video of a tornado that touched down in Illinois recently. The twister was not that far away from the camera, and its fury was frightening to behold. Especially frightened was the man doing the filming. Although he did not stop recording the event, he began to pray. His first prayer was the Lord’s Prayer, the one Jesus taught us to pray. His second prayer was to Mary.

The first prayer was probably more effective, don’t you think?

“…I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”—John 16:23.

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Family Feud

Former Vice-President Dick Cheney’s daughters are having a public disagreement over one of the most divisive issues of the day—homosexual behavior. Liz, the older daughter, says that she supports “the traditional definition of marriage”. Younger sister Mary, however, is openly homosexual and even claims to be “married” to a woman.

Christians should know that Scripture clearly and consistently forbids homosexual behavior. One sister is right on this issue; the other is tragically wrong.

Jesus said that families would be divided over his teachings (Matthew 10:32-39). The Cheney feud is just another example of how this is true.

If your family is divided over Jesus, make sure you are on the right side.

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Something about that Name

Doris Lessing

Doris Lessing

Author Doris Lessing died at her home in London Sunday at the age of 94. The outspoken Lessing wrote dozens of novels, essays, short stories and poems. Her novel, The Golden Notebook, was her best-known work. Lessing won the 2007 Nobel Prize for her collective writings. It is reported that when Ms. Lessing approached her house and found journalists waiting at her door to inform her that she won the Nobel Prize, she replied, “Oh, C*****! I couldn’t care less.”

It’s funny how those who don’t even follow Christ will swear by his name or title. In doing so, they unwittingly acknowledge that he is Lord.

I’ve never heard anyone use the name of another religious leader in vain. Have you?

“…At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”—Philippians 2:10-11.

“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”—Exodus 20:7.

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Our Leader

Jesus statue“I do not fear an army of lions, if they are led by a lamb. I do fear an army of sheep, if they are led by a lion.”—Alexander the Great.

Our leader, Jesus, is called the Lion of Judah. He leads a group of sheep that is marching against the forces of evil. The church is indeed a mighty army to be reckoned with.

However, the Lion of Judah is also known as the Lamb of God, who offered himself as a sacrifice to pay for the sins of the world.

That’s quite a leader we have—both Lion and Lamb! Let’s follow him enthusiastically!

“Follow me.”—Jesus of Nazareth.

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Important Words

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln

Yesterday a Pennsylvania newspaper retracted an 1863 editorial which had some disparaging remarks about President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. The address, of course, has become known as one of the greatest speeches in human history. Its importance, however, was unnoticed by the Patriot & Union, now called the Patriot-News, of Harrisburg. The editorial dismissed the president’s words thusly: “We pass over the silly remarks of the President. For the credit of the nation we are willing that the veil of oblivion shall be dropped over them, and that they shall be no more repeated or thought of.”

Of course, they couldn’t have been more wrong, and now the newspaper says, “The Patriot-News regrets the error.”

Sadly, too many people make the mistake of dismissing the words of another great leader—the greatest of all leaders–Jesus.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”—Matthew 24:35.

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They Didn’t Know

clamScientists recently killed a 507-year-old clam named “Ming”. The clam was so named because it dated back to the Ming dynasty. Ming’s life finally came to an end when researchers opened up the clam to study it. The true age of the clam was not determined until it was examined after its death. Scientists expressed regret that they killed what is being called the oldest known creature.

The people who killed Jesus didn’t know what they had either.

“You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.”—Acts 3:15.

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