evangelion

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

fire

Dear Friend,

Fire is both a tool and a danger. Fire can keep us safe and warm, and help us prepare food. Fire can also destroy us.

In the Bible, fire represents divine judgment. Punitive? Yes, you can find that in the text, but it seems less of a divine punishment and more of a predictable consequence of bad choices. If you mix fuel, heat, and oxygen without proper constraints and boundaries, destruction is what you will get.

In scripture, I am very fascinated by fire when it does not consume the fuel source. For instance, God appeared to Moses in a burning bush.

“And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.” (Exodus 3:2, ESV)

The fire wasn’t the miracle. The miracle was that the bush was on fire and yet wasn’t consumed by the fire. Elsewhere in scripture, to be in the fire but to be protected from the fire speaks to us of God’s divine protection.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:2, ESV)

“And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.” (Daniel 3:27, ESV)

So, in the sense that fire represents judgment, the covenantal example and promise is that God’s presence among his people will protect them. They will go through fire but will not be consumed by the fire. The burning bush stands as a sign pointing us toward the reality of pending judgment and the promise of divine protection. Think of Moses before Pharoah and each of the ten plagues. The Jewish people were divinely protected from the plagues. Then, through the Red Sea, that which destroyed Pharoah’s armies was salvation for those who followed Moses across dry land. Israel is the burning bush that was not consumed. God is present among his people, and this means salvation for his people and destruction for God’s enemies.

All of this points us toward Jesus. Moses is a type of Jesus, leading us out of our slavery to sin (Egypt) through the waters of baptism (Red Sea) to Sinai (the outpouring of the Holy Spirit) and toward the promised land (the fulfillment of all God has purposed).

John introduced Jesus as the one who would baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire:

““I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11, ESV)

When the Spirit came at Pentecost, he came as fire upon the believers, yet they were not consumed by the fire.

“And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:3–4, ESV)

When the fire comes upon a fuel source and doesn’t consume it, this is a sign of God’s presence to bring salvation to his people and destruction to his enemies. But who are his enemies? With Israel, this was clearly about the other rival nations among whom Israel was God’s elect. If they blessed Israel, they would be blessed. But if they didn’t bless Israel, the fire upon Israel would destroy them. Though Israel would walk through the fire herself, ultimately, she would not be burned. Israel will endure. God will keep his promises to his people.

But who are God’s enemies now? Are we to apply this biblical imagery to peoples and nations, expecting the fire of God to consume our enemies? Should this imagery become the propaganda of nation states to invoke God’s judgment against other peoples and nations? No.

With Jesus, we find out that the concept “enemies” gets redefined. Those we thought were our enemies are actually our neighbors. Those we considered our enemies are the ones we are called to love. When Jesus leads us out of our slavery to sin through the waters of baptism, into the empowering work of the Spirit and toward the fulfillment of his purpose in all things, his enemies are certainly destroyed by that which saves his people. But his enemies are not other people.

In his death and resurrection, Jesus defeats all the powers of the devil and the kingdom of darkness.

The fire of God upon a believer is a sign of 1) God’s presence among his people, 2) God’s salvation, and 3) God’s victory over darkness. As always, the miracle is that we are not consumed.

I believe this is a fire worth “catching.”

-alan smith

moon

As our earth hurdles through the universe on its elliptical orbit around the sun, spinning on its axis, with the moon dancing around and around, we humans discover that there is a great rhythm and predictability within creation. Evening moves toward morning and back to evening again. The seasons come one by one in turn. Our view of the moon shifts ever so slightly with each passing day from full moon to full moon again as each month whirls by. It is a beautiful rhythm. It is a wondrous dance, magnificent in its predictability, comforting in its order, beautiful in its constancy.

But within this grand predictability, there is much that is not. On the grand Newtonian scale, all is patterned and ordered. At the smallest scale, all is less certain, more random, free. The moon is predictable but the wind blows where it wills.

Freedom within constraint. Improvisation within structure. Spontaneity within order. This is the nature of reality.

I think good leadership leads into the overlap of these seemingly incongruent dynamics, understanding that they are not actually incongruent at all. They are complementary. They are the dissonance and resolution of every song. They are the push and pull of every dance. They are the minutely charted parts played by every instrument that create the space for Charlie Parker to soar upon the wind of improvised melody.

I want to lead like that. I hope my leadership can influence predictable rhythms and sensible harmonies that make sense of the winds of the spontaneous. I hope that within contexts that are completely predictable, there remains the wonder of you never know what might happen. I hope that with each choreographed dance of the moon, the wind still blows

-alan smith

save

By the words "to save" we understand the whole of the great work of salvation, from the first holy desire onward to complete sanctification.

The words are multum in parro: indeed, here is all mercy in one word. Christ is not only "mighty to save" those who repent, but he is able to make men repent. He will carry those to heaven who believe; but he is, moreover, mighty to give men new hearts and to work faith in them. He is mighty to make the man who hates holiness love it, and to constrain the despiser of his name to bend the knee before him.

Nay, this is not all the meaning, for the divine power is equally seen in the after-work.

The life of a believer is a series of miracles wrought by "the Mighty God." The bush burns, but is not consumed. He is mighty to keep his people holy after he has made them so, and to preserve them in his fear and love until he consummates their spiritual existence in heaven. Christ's might doth not lie in making a believer and then leaving him to shift for himself; but he who begins the good work carries it on; he who imparts the first germ of life in the dead soul, prolongs the divine existence, and strengthens it until it bursts asunder every bond of sin, and the soul leaps from earth, perfected in glory.

Believer, here is encouragement. Art thou praying for some beloved one? Oh, give not up thy prayers, for Christ is "mighty to save." You are powerless to reclaim the rebel, but your Lord is Almighty. Lay hold on that mighty arm, and rouse it to put forth its strength.

Does your own case trouble you? Fear not, for his strength is sufficient for you. Whether to begin with others, or to carry on the work in you, Jesus is "mighty to save;" the best proof of which lies in the fact that he has saved you.

What a thousand mercies that you have not found him mighty to destroy!

with thanks from Charles

you

“…so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love…” (Eph 3:17)

Paul is writing to the Ephesian church, giving them a little window into how he has been praying for them. The entire prayer is powerful and much could be said about every word and phrase. But lately, I’ve been chewing on verse 17.

He’s writing to believers. My first instinct is to correct Paul’s theology. Why would an apostolic prayer include a request for Jesus to indwell them by faith? Isn’t that, in fact, how someone becomes a believer? By faith? Isn’t that the result of faith? That Jesus would indwell them? Why would Paul ask God to do what is already done?

Of course, it’s true: Jesus already lives, by the Spirit, in the hearts of these believers. So why would Paul pray this? Because there’s more. More of the reality of Jesus’ presence and power is available than they are currently experiencing.

The next part of the verse brings clarification to what Paul means: to be rooted and grounded in God’s love. He is praying that God’s love for us would more fully become our foundation. We were designed to find our identity and security in the Father’s love for us. Like a tree planted by the water, our vitality and stability increases as our roots plunge deeper into the soil of God’s love for us. The winds blow and the storms rage, and yet we cannot be moved from our source.

If God’s love isn’t our ground and source, then fear will be.

This is the fundamental difference between the orphan heart and the identity of sonship. We are either rooted and grounded in God’s love for us, or we are anchored in fear. We fear not being enough, thus we see ourselves as orphans. We fear not having enough, thus we operate from a place of lack and poverty.

Paul’s prayer still echoes through eternity for you. May the roots of your being stretch deeper into this one experience and truth:

Your heavenly Father loves you.

Sunday, January 27, 2019

mess

I recently heard the following story:

“My daughter Michelle is the commander of a Coast Guard Cutter. When she gave my husband Bob a tour of her ship, he was impressed by the neatness of all decks.

“However, when Bob went to Michelle's house with her, he couldn't believe the disorganization. ‘Why is everything in its place on your ship,’ he asked, ‘but your house is such a mess?’

“‘My house,’ Michelle said, ‘does not take 30-degree rolls.’”

I found the story quite humorous, but it made me wonder. How often do others notice that things are just fine in our workplace, but not at home? Things may be “in its place” at work (and elsewhere), but at home things are “a mess.” One of the saddest passages in the Bible is found in I Samuel 8:1-3:

“Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel…But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.”

Here was Samuel – a great prophet, one of the greatest men in the Bible, arguably one of the godliest men in all of history, but his sons didn’t follow after his example. Some commentators have speculated that it was at least partly due to the fact that Samuel traveled around Israel fulfilling his responsibilities as a prophet (I Sam. 7:15-16), neglecting his family in the process.

It’s a problem that everyone who works struggles with, but especially preachers because we often view our work as being done “for God” so we feel justified in pouring more of our time and effort into our work. But there is always the danger -- the temptation – that we may be neglecting things at home.

Early in my ministry, my wife used to complain, “You always have time for anybody else who comes to you with a problem, but you can’t find time for me.” There were times she was right. I felt compelled to make sure that everything was in order at “work”, but I sometimes allowed things at home to be a “mess.” I’m sure there were many times my children felt the same way. I would like to think that I’ve learned from my mistakes and have a better balance now.

My message today comes with an encouragement for all of you who work to make an assessment of your own. Are you more interested in keeping things in order at work than you are at home?

May God help each of us as we strive to fulfill our God-given responsibilities to our spouses and children.

sinking

"Beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." — Matthew 14:30

Sinking times are praying times with the Lord's servants.

Peter neglected prayer at starting upon his venturous journey, but when he began to sink his danger made him a suppliant, and his cry though late was not too late.

In our hours of bodily pain and mental anguish, we find ourselves as naturally driven to prayer as the wreck is driven upon the shore by the waves. The fox hies to its hole for protection; the bird flies to the wood for shelter; and even so the tried believer hastens to the mercy seat for safety.

Heaven's great harbour of refuge is All-prayer; thousands of weather-beaten vessels have found a haven there, and the moment a storm comes on, it is wise for us to make for it with all sail.

Short prayers are long enough.

There were but three words in the petition which Peter gasped out, but they were sufficient for his purpose. Not length but strength is desirable. A sense of need is a mighty teacher of brevity. If our prayers had less of the tail feathers of pride and more wing they would be all the better.

Verbiage is to devotion as chaff to the wheat.

Precious things lie in small compass, and all that is real prayer in many a long address might have been uttered in a petition as short as that of Peter.

Our extremities are the Lord's opportunities.

Immediately a keen sense of danger forces an anxious cry from us the ear of Jesus hears, and with him ear and heart go together, and the hand does not long linger. At the last moment we appeal to our Master, but his swift hand makes up for our delays by instant and effectual action.

Are we nearly engulfed by the boisterous waters of affliction?

Let us then lift up our souls unto our Saviour, and we may rest assured that he will not suffer us to perish.

When we can do nothing Jesus can do all things; let us enlist his powerful aid upon our side, and all will be well.

-charles spurgeon

mighty

By the words "to save" we understand the whole of the great work of salvation, from the first holy desire onward to complete sanctification.

Nay, this is not all the meaning, for the divine power is equally seen in the after-work.

What a thousand mercies that you have not found him mighty to destroy!

-charles spurgeon

...cup

Christian! here is all thou canst require.

To make thee happy thou wantest something that shall satisfy thee; and is not this enough?

If thou canst pour this promise into thy cup, wilt thou not say, with David, "My cup runneth over; I have more than heart can wish"?

When this is fulfilled, "I am thy God", art thou not possessor of all things?

Desire is insatiable as death, but he who filleth all in all can fill it.

The capacity of our wishes who can measure? but the immeasurable wealth of God can more than overflow it. I ask thee if thou art not complete when God is thine? Dost thou want anything but God? Is not his all-sufficiency enough to satisfy thee if all else should fail? But thou wantest more than quiet satisfaction; thou desirest rapturous delight.

Come, soul, here is music fit for heaven in this thy portion, for God is the Maker of Heaven.

Not all the music blown from sweet instruments, or drawn from living strings, can yield such melody as this sweet promise, "I will be their God." Here is a deep sea of bliss, a shoreless ocean of delight; come, bathe thy spirit in it; swim an age, and thou shalt find no shore; dive throughout eternity, and thou shalt find no bottom. "I will be their God." If this do not make thine eyes sparkle, and thy heart beat high with bliss, then assuredly thy soul is not in a healthy state.

But thou wantest more than present delights-thou cravest something concerning which thou mayest exercise hope; and what more canst thou hope for than the fulfilment of this great promise, "I will be their God"? This is the masterpiece of all the promises; its enjoyment makes a heaven below, and will make a heaven above. Dwell in the light of thy Lord, and let thy soul be always ravished with his love. Get out the marrow and fatness which this portion yields thee. Live up to thy privileges, and rejoice with unspeakable joy.

Friday, January 11, 2019

echoes

In his book Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, author Charles Swindoll shares the following:

" A young boy lived with his grandfather on the top of a mountain in the Swiss Alps. Often, just to hear the sound of his own voice echoing back to him, he would go outside, cup his hands around his mouth, and shout, "HELLO!" Up from the canyons the reply reverberated, "HELLO... HELLO... hello... hello..." Then he would call out, "I LOVE YOU... I LOVE YOU... I love you... I love you..."

" One day the boy seriously misbehaved and his grandfather disciplined him severely. Reacting violently, the child shook his fist and screamed, "I HATE YOU!" To his surprise, the rocks and boulders across the mountainside responded in kind: "I HATE YOU... I HATE YOU... I HATE YOU... I hate you... I hate you..."

" And so it is in life. We get in return exactly what we give. It all comes back. If we wish for a marriage that is gracious, loving, and supportive, the feelings must be reciprocal. For a friendship to exist, the relationship must be a two-way street

" If you want others to judge and condemn you, you start it. If you want them to be understanding, broad-minded, and loving--then begin by being that way yourself. Jesus best exemplied the law of echoes when He said,

"Treat men exactly as you would like them to treat you...Don't judge other people and you will not be judged yourselves. Don't condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive others and people will forgive you. Give and men will give to you... For whatever measure you use with other people, they will use in their dealings with you" (Luke 6:31, 37-38, PHILLIPS).

" Today, remember that our deeds and words serve as echoes to those around us. May our lives echo the love and grace of our loving God.

duty

In 1805 Admiral Lord Nelson sailed his Intrepid British Fleet to engage the French and Spaniards at the Battle of Trafalgar.

At the start of the fight, Nelson ran up a signal on his flagship "Victory" which said, "England expects every man to do his duty." And as he later that same day lay dying on the deck of "Victory", wounded by a sharpshooter from an enemy ship, he said, "Thank God, I have done my duty."

Here was a man with a tremendous sense of responsibility and accountability to his nation. He expected all the men under his command to have that same feeling.

For believers everywhere there is an even more encompassing call to duty found in Solomon's words, "Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

We are in a great battle today for the hearts and minds of people. Are we doing our duty?

dishonesty

The president of a large international construction company was once asked why his company did not work in countries where bribes and graft were a way of life.

He responded, "We never build in those countries, no matter how profitable the project may appear, because we can't afford to. If my employees know we are acting dishonestly, they will eventually become thieves. Their dishonesty will ultimately cost us more than we could ever earn on a project."

Dishonesty can be disguised in many ways, from telling "white lies" to elaborate govenment cover-ups. As leaders and members of society, we are to hold a higher standard, setting an example of honesty in our personal and professional lives. Solomon in his wisdom speaks strongly concerning dishonesty:

"For the crooked man is an abomination to the Lord; but He is intimate with the upright" (Proverbs 3:32).

"The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death" (Proverbs 21:6).

"He who profits illicitly troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live" (Proverbs 15:27).

As God's children, let's strive each day to flee from dishonesty in its various shapes and forms.

direction

Dr. Billy Graham tells of a time early in his ministry when he arrived in a small town to preach at the First Baptist Church.

Wanting to mail a letter, he asked a young boy where the post office was. When the boy had told him, Dr. Graham thanked him and said, "If you'll come to the Baptist church this evening, you can hear me telling everyone how to get to Heaven"

"I don't think I'll be there," the boy said. "You don't even know your way to the post office!"

For the believer, it's reassuring to know that Jesus did know the way to Heaven when he said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

No one goes to the Father except by me." (John 14:6)

He had been there and would provide the way to the Father by His death on a cross and His resurrection from the dead. So if you want to know how to get to Heaven, stick with the One who has been there, visited us here on earth, and then proved to us the way back by resurrecting from the dead.

difficulty

One of the world's greatest pianists was told he could never become competent on the piano because the middle fingers of his hands were too short. In spite of this handicap, for decades Ignace Ian Paderewski stunned the world with his amazing talents.

Paderewski had started his piano lessons at age six, and even when his teacher discouraged him, he refused to give up. He also became one of Poland's most beloved sons, who was largely responsible for that nation again becoming independent at the end of World War I.

Difficulty never stopped this amazing man.

Difficulties can bring out the best in us.

James reminds us "Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life" (James 1, The Message).

determined

Among other qualities of personal character, what makes a man great is his determination to keep going.

Most sports buffs know that from 1960 to 1966, the record for the most stolen bases was held by the incredible Maury Wills.

In 1962, he set the club record for the Dodgers: 104 stolen bases in one season.

But Maury Wills set another record in those years. A record probably obscured by his other accomplishments. A rather dubious record, for in 1965, a year in which he again held high honors for the most stolen bases he also took top billing for the most times caught stealing in a single season.

He was thrown out thirty-one times that year. But...he got back up, and that's why we remember him.

Proverbs 24:16 tells us "For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises agan."

Today, remember that just because you fall down, it doesn't mean you have to stay there.

Pick yourself up and allow God to use you to be the wonderful creation He made you to be.

details

Several years ago Vice President Dan Quayle was on the campaign trail in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois for then-Representative Lynn Martin.

Organizers of the political rally got schoolchildren excused from school for the motorcade parade for the Vice President. They encouraged the youngsters to wave and cheer when the motorcade came by, and they did.

They indeed did wave and heartily cheered. The only trouble was the first motorcade to come by was a funeral!

Details make a difference.

Jesus paid attention to details. In the push of the crowd, Jesus asked His disciples "who touched me?" They said how could they tell with such a large crowd pushing against them? The smallest of details never got past Jesus.

For you today, don't take for granted the small details of your life. If you don't, mistakes can be made.

defection

I was reading recently that Yale University had celebrated its 287th anniversary. The article recounted how the school was started in Killingworth, Connecticut by Congregationalists who were dissatisfied with the growing liberalism at nearby Harvard University. Some 40-plus years later, the school moved to New Haven, Connecticut and was renamed Yale in honor of Elihu Yale.

Both Harvard and Yale were schools founded by Christians to offer education for ministry. It is amazing how these schools, once founded on Christian principles, have defected from the Christian faith and Biblical authority.

Jude's call must be answered in all areas today, when he said "Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3).

We must earnestly speak out and up for our faith. If we don't, churches, schools, and institutions can lose their focus and faith.

darkness

Back when electricity was first being introduced to a little Scottish village, almost everybody in a particular church switched from the propane lanterns to electricity just as soon as it could be hooked up.

However, the oldest couple in the congregation couldn't get their electricity because they were waiting for the poles to go up and the wire to be strung. So they continued to use their propane lanterns.

The day finally came when the electricity was brought into their home. Everyone came for the festive event. The old man waited for it to get extra dark; then he told his wife to go turn on the switch.

When she did, the light filled the room, and everyone rejoiced. The old man grinned from ear to ear, picked up a propane lamp and said, "It sure makes lighting my lamps easier." And with that he lit a lamp, and his wife turned off the electricity.

Sometimes we're just like that. We can't see the light for our need to hang on to the darkness of our past. We have eyes that grope in a fog that never lifts.

However, Jesus Christ comes to us at the darkest parts of our lives, wanting to chase away our darkness with His light. John tells us that "In him (Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness..." (John 1:4:5a).

Unfortunately, too many people today choose to hold on to the their darkness, rather than be illuminated by the love of Christ.

content

Former pro quarterback Kenny Stabler once said, "In the NFL, there are 25 guys who can throw better than I can. But I can make guys win." I guess that's what it comes down to, isn't it? Being able to win. In the NFL, as in life, content is more valuable than form.

There was once a district manager of a chain of retail stores whose managers were rewarded financially for outstanding sales performance. He recently made the comment, "A number of managers try to score points with me by having the most tidy store—as if that will make up for lack of profit."

People have a tendency to value form over content. Most real estate professionals will tell you that on a percentage basis, a new coat of paint will increase a home's selling price far more than new plumbing will.

This is a trap we must refuse to be caught in. In the Old Testament, we are reminded that God's priorities are different than ours. God said to Samuel...

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).

We may sometimes allow ourselves to be satisfied with good form—a handsome family, a nice car, a pretty house, a good job, a respectable religious affiliation, a dignified manner of worship—but God reminds us that the content of our lives is much more important than surface level appearances. Samuel said...

"To obey is better than sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22).

Our ongoing challenge is to strive to improve the content of our lives, rather than merely settling for good form. It means that we should make it our aim—in our family, in our career, in our relationship with God—to live life from the inside out.

conscience

In their book Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, Dr. Paul Brand and Philip Yancey write:

"Amputees often experience some sensation of a phantom limb. Somewhere, locked in their brains, a memory lingers of the nonexistent hand or leg. Invisible toes curl, imaginary hands grasp things, a 'leg' feels so sturdy a patient may try to stand on it.

For a few, the experience includes pain.

Doctors watch helplessly, for the part of the body screaming for attention does not exist.

One such patient was my medical school administrator, Mr. Barwick, who had a serious and painful circulation problem in his leg but refused to allow the recommended amputation. As the pain grew worse, Barwick grew bitter. "I hate it! I hate it!" he would mutter about the leg. At last he relented and told the doctor, "I can't stand it anymore. I'm through with that leg. Take it off," Surgery was scheduled immediately. Before the operation, however, Barwick asked the doctor, "What do you do with legs after they're removed?"

"We may take a biopsy or explore them a bit, but afterwards we incinerate them," the doctor replied.

Barwick proceeded with a bizarre request: "I would like you to preserve my leg in a pickling jar. I will install it on my mantle shelf. Then, as I sit in my armchair, I will taunt that leg, 'Hah! You can't hurt me anymore!'"

Ultimately, he got his wish. But the despised leg had the last laugh. Barwick suffered phantom limb pain of the worst degree. The wound healed, but he could feel the torturous pressure of the swelling as the muscles cramped, and he had no prospect of relief. He had hated his leg with such intensity that the pain had unaccountably lodged permanently in his brain."

Phantom limb pain provides great insight into the human conscience. Christians can be obsessed by the memory of some sin committed years ago. It never leaves them, crippling ministries, devotional lives, and relationships with other people.They live in fear someone will discover their past, so they work overtime proving to God they're truly repentant and erecting barriers against the enveloping, loving grace of God.

Unless we experience the truth of 1 John 3:19-20 that "God is greater than our conscience," we can become as pitiful as poor Mr. Barwick, shaking a fist in fury at the pickled leg on the mantle.

common

"I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." (1 Corinthians 1:10 NIV)

Dr. George Truett once told the story about an old gentleman visiting a well-known art gallery one day, gazing earnestly at a picture of Christ on the Cross. Involuntarily, the man was so moved that he sighed quietly, "Bless Him! I love Him!"

A stranger standing nearby overheard the old man. Taking the old gentleman by the hand, the stranger said, "Brother, I love Him, too." Then a third and a fourth person joined them and soon there was a small crowd standing before the picture and worshiping Him who they adored.

They were drawn together by their common love of the crucified Saviour.

No matter our differences of opinions or religious heritages, we all can find a common ground at the foot of the Cross of our Saviour.