JAIL BREAK

     It was a great day, a great day to be fishing. Once again the guys from the church in Pupperville were gathered at the fishing dock at the park having a meeting of the minds while trying to catch some fish. Apparently news had gotten back to Randy by way of Daisy who had talked to April who had been talking to Barney about how church was boring and people were leaving as a result.

     As the guys discussed different ideas on how to keep church from becoming boring, Bill Peterson let out a holler. “I Got a bite!” he yelled. After fighting with it for nearly fifteen minutes, John McDonald finally reached down with the net and hauled him in. As Bill picked him up Robert Grey grabbed a camera and took take a picture of him with the fish.

     As soon as the picture was taken they gathered around the camera to see the pic and that's when they saw him. “Isn't that Bud in the picture?” Tim Henderson asked, “You know, the guy that shot Harold?” “Can't be” Bill said, “He's in jail.” “You're tight though.” Robert said, “It sure looks like him. By the way, Bill. You better get that fish back in the water before the police catch you an put you in jail for having too big of a fish.”

     As Bill slowly set the fish back in the water he heard a loud whistle and looked up to see a police officer running toward him. It was Sergeant Halfway and as he approached, the guys could here him hollering “Jail Break, Jail Break, Bud escaped.” “It was him!” Tim hollered. “We just saw him over that way.” Pointing to a tree.

     “We need to catch him.” Sergeant Halfway said and all the guys but Bill threw down their fishing poles and said “Lets go.” and took off with the Sergeant.” Bill decided to stay behind because he wasn't sure if he could handle coming face to face with Bud but he soon found out for Bud came sneaking around the fishing pure and with his fishing rod in hand, Bill cast it Bud's way and caught him.

     “I didn't do it, I didn't do it.” Bud yelled as Bill reeled him in. “Didn't what?” Bill Snapped at him “Break out of jail or shoot Harold?” “Neither one!” Bud said shaking in fear. “ You’re not going to convince me.” Bill said, “My own daughter saw you shoot Harold.” “No she didn’t.” Bud snapped back, “She only saw me aim the gun and pull the trigger. Someone else shot Harold.”

     “Try again!” Bill said “Nobodies going to believe you. Where did Sergeant Halfway go?” “You can't let them get me.” Bud cried out. “I'm innocent. The devil made me do it. He’s the one they need to put in jail.” As he said those words, he heard the police whistle and tried to get away but it was too late. Bill had reeled him in close enough and dropped the fishing net over him.

     A minute later, Sergeant Halfway hauled cuffed him and hauled him away. “No! I'm innocent” Bud cried out again. “The devil is the one you want.” I' don't think so.” Sergeant Halfway said “And you should be thankful Bill here didn't try to shoot you after what you did to his son.” “Great.” Bud said to himself “I sure picked the wrong person to try and save me.”

     It's not uncommon to find people in the news who do something stupid and then try to blame someone else, Often time they'll even try to blame the victim. Even in Bible times we find those who want to pass the blame. Take for instance...

     Adam & Eve - Now the serpent was the shrewdest of all the creatures the LORD God had made. "Really?" he asked the woman. "Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?" "Of course we may eat it," the woman told him. "It's only the fruit from the tree at the center of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God says we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die." "You won't die!" the serpent hissed. "God knows that your eyes will be opened when you eat it. You will become just like God, knowing everything, both good and evil." The woman was convinced. The fruit looked so fresh and delicious, and it would make her so wise! So she ate some of the fruit. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. Then he ate it, too. At that moment, their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they strung fig leaves together around their hips to cover themselves. Toward evening they heard the LORD God walking about in the garden, so they hid themselves among the trees. The LORD God called to Adam, "Where are you?" He replied, "I heard you, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked." "Who told you that you were naked?" the LORD God asked. "Have you eaten the fruit I commanded you not to eat?" "Yes," Adam admitted, "but it was the woman you gave me who brought me the fruit, and I ate it." Then the LORD God asked the woman, "How could you do such a thing?" "The serpent tricked me," she replied. "That's why I ate it." - Genesis 3:1-13 (NLT)

      And what about Aaron - Aaron said to the people, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, sons, and daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.“ So all the people took their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from the people and formed it with a tool and made a statue of a calf. Then the people said, “Israel, these are your gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!“ When Aaron saw all this, he built an altar before the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a special feast to honor the LORD.“ The people got up early the next morning and offered whole burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. They sat down to eat and drink, and then they got up and sinned sexually. … When Moses came close to the camp, he saw the gold calf and the dancing, and he became very angry. He threw down the stone tablets that he was carrying and broke them at the bottom of the mountain. Then he took the calf that the people had made and melted it in the fire. He ground it into powder. Then he threw the powder into the water and forced the Israelites to drink it. Moses said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you? Why did you cause them to do such a terrible sin?“ Aaron answered, “Don’t be angry, master. You know that these people are always ready to do wrong. The people said to me, ’Moses led us out of Egypt, but we don’t know what has happened to him. Make us gods who will lead us.’ So I told the people, ’Take off your gold jewelry.’ When they gave me the gold, I threw it into the fire and out came this calf!“ - Exodus 32:2-24 (NCV)

     Even King Saul tried to pass the blame. - Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to appoint you king over Israel. Now listen to his message. This is what the LORD All-Powerful says: ’When the Israelites came out of Egypt, the Amalekites tried to stop them from going to Canaan. So I will punish them. Now go, attack the Amalekites and destroy everything they own as an offering to the LORD. Don’t let anything live. Put to death men and women, children and small babies, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’ “ So Saul called the army together at Telaim. There were two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men from Judah. … Saul and the army let Agag live, along with the best sheep, fat cattle, and lambs. They let every good animal live, because they did not want to destroy them. But when they found an animal that was weak or useless, they killed it. … When Samuel came to Saul, Saul said, “May the LORD bless you! I have obeyed the LORD’S commands. But Samuel said, “Then why do I hear cattle mooing and sheep bleating?“ Saul answered, “The soldiers took them from the Amalekites. They saved the best sheep and cattle to offer as sacrifices to the LORD your God, but we destroyed all the other animals.“ - 1 Samuel 15:1-35 (NCV)

     Here are somethings to remember when it comes to passing the blame

• 2 Chronicles 19:7 Now then, let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the LORD our God, or partiality or taking bribes." (ESV)
• Colossians 3:25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. (ESV)
• 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (ESV)

     There's more that could be said but I think you can get the point – Adam, Eve, Aaron & Saul all did.

 

     Here's Something To Ponder

• In what ways have you tried to pass blame to someone or something else?
• Why would you want to pass blame when you know God sees all?

B - O - R - I - N - G

     Summer was in full swing in Pupperville. The skies were clear, the temperatures were soring into the 90's and well, I suppose you could say it was the lazy days of summer. No one felt like doing anything but hang around at the beach and, well, be lazy, lazy and boring. I just so happened that those two ideas were on Barney's mind the other day when he met up with April Zaspella.

     “Hi.” April said, “Is that you Barney? You sound sort of depressed.” “Yeah, it's me.” Barney said “But I'm not depressed, just bored because I have nothing to do.” “Nothing to do?” April questioned, “I thought Harold was back.” “He is” Barney said, “But he doesn't want to do anything, but be lazy.” “Oh.” April said disappointedly, “I thought he had changed.”

     “Well, yeah, he has changed.” Barney said, “But I’m not sure I like the new Harold.” What do you mean?” April asked. “For starters,” Barney went on to say, “I'm finding that he is no longer a challenge. There was a time when he kept his room so messy you could get lost in there for days. Now he keeps his room spotless.”

     “I could get lost in there even if it was clean.” April said with a giggle. “That's because your blind.” Barney said. “So, what does Harold do all day?” April asked. “He just sits and studies the Bible.” Barney told her, “And that reminds me, Even church has been boring because of Harold?” “Ah” April said, “I know I've been out of town for a few weeks but how is Harold making church boring?”

     “By being good.” Barney said. “But you're suppose to be good in church.” April protested. “I know.” Barney sighed, “But with Harold you always expected some kind of trouble to happen and now it doesn't happen. People are even starting to quit coming to church as a result.” “What?!” April exclaimed, “You mean people were only coming to church to see what kind of trouble Harold would cause in church.”

     “Well,” Barney said hesitantly, You have to admit, things got rather exciting when he was his old self.” “But all those distractions messed everybody up and kept them from worshiping.” April protested. “I suppose.” Barney said, “If that’s why they were there.” “Is that why you go to church?” April asked when she heard that. “Well,” Barney said, “It's like this. I need to get going. Bye.”

     And God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. "You shall have no other gods before me. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Exodus 20:1-6 (ESV)

     God gave a simple command – worship Me and Me only. “God wanted no one, no thing, to take His place and yet this command is broke over and over and over. One god/goddess was Diana. Also called Artemis. Let's find out what happens around her.

     And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. … And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, … many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. … About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship." When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's companions in travel. ... Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.

Acts 19:1-41 (ESV)

     Eventually, we read that the crowd was calmed down and dispersed. They worshiped a false god/goddess and yet, while there is much to learn from these verse I found it interesting that once they had gathered together, they had no idea why they were there. One might also ask the question when we gather at church... So why do we?

• Hebrews 10:25 - Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (NIV)
• 1 Timothy 4:13 - Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. (NIV)
• Acts 2:41-42 - Then those people who accepted what Peter said were baptized. About three thousand people were added to the number of believers that day. They spent their time learning the apostles’ teaching, sharing, breaking bread, and praying together. (NCV)
• Ephesians 5:19 - Speak to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord. (NCV)

     When we comet together do we do these things? When we come together are we like the Psalmist who says I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD." Psalm 122:1 (NLT)

      Here's Something To Ponder

• Why do you gather together?
• Do you come with gladness or boredom as a goal?

NO GOD IN SPAIN

      It was Monday morning and Bernadette Henderson was taking a stroll through the park enjoying the sounds of the morning birds. About halfway through the park, she saw someone she thought she knew from church sitting on a bench and decided to go over to her and say hi. As she neared the bench she was able to tell that it was none other than April Zaspella.

     “Hi, April!” Bernadette called out, “Mind if I set beside you?” “I'd love the company, Bernadette.” April said with a smile. “How did you know it was me?” Bernadette asked as she sat down, “I thought you couldn't see?” “I can't” April replied, “But I can hear and I know your voice from church.”

     “What brings you to the park?” Bernadette asked. “I'm just meditating on yesterday's sermon and thinking up a poem to help me remember it.” “Oh.” Bernadette injected. “How did you like the sermon yesterday?” April asked. “It was alright.” Bernadette answered, But I couldn't understand why Randy kept telling us God doesn’t want his name used in Spain.”

     “What did you say?” April asked thinking she heard wrong. “Is said I couldn't understand why Randy kept telling us God doesn’t want his name used in Spain.” “I don't remember Randy saying that.” April said. “Of course he did.” Bernadette insisted, “He said his sermon was bout the third commandment - Don’t use God’s name in Spain.” “Oh boy!” April said shaking her head.

     “I keep asking myself 'Isn’t God’s name good enough to use in Spain?'” Bernadette said. “Yes Bernadette.” April giggled, “It is good enough. In fact It’s good enough to be used everywhere.” “Then why can’t they use it in Spain?” Bernadette asked, “Is God afraid they'll us His name the wrong way?”

     “Well...” April said, “That’s close to what the third commandment says - don’t use God’s name in vain.” When Bernadette heard that she started shouting, “Vain!? Vain?! I thought Randy said Spain!” “Nope.” April giggled, “He said vain.” “Oh great.” Bernadette said slapping her forehead, “Do you know what that means?”

     “Of course I do.” April said with a smile. “Now I'm going to have to crawl up on our roof.” “What?!” April exclaimed, “What does your roof have to do with it?” “Where else would I find a vane.” Bernadette snorted, “I just hope nobody put God’s name on our weather vane. I wouldn’t want to be breaking the third commandment.”

     “What are we going to do with you?” April asked shacking her head. “How about holding the ladder for me.” Bernadette answered, “That way I won't fall.” “No,” April answered, “I think I'll just stay here and work on my poem.” “Suit yourself.” Bernadette said as she stood up to go, “I just hope I don't fall.”

     Bernadette, she'll mix things up and still not come far from the truth for it is not only those in Spain but everywhere that need to use God's name correctly.

     After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself. And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and intended to fight against Jerusalem, he planned with his officers 2 Chronicles 32:1-3a (ESV)

     Hezekiah was one of the good kings of Judah and had done much to return the people back to God. Now Sennacherib king of Assyria was planning to make war against Jerusalem. Hezekiah started prepping fro war. Let's see what happens.

     He planned with his officers and his mighty men to stop the water of the springs that were outside the city; and they helped him. A great many people were gathered, and they stopped all the springs and the brook that flowed through the land, saying, "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?" He set to work resolutely and built up all the wall that was broken down and raised towers upon it, and outside it he built another wall, and he strengthened the Millo in the city of David. He also made weapons and shields in abundance. And he set combat commanders over the people and gathered them together to him in the square at the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles." And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

     After this, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, who was besieging Lachish with all his forces, sent his servants to Jerusalem to Hezekiah king of Judah and to all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem, saying, "Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, 'On what are you trusting, that you endure the siege in Jerusalem? Is not Hezekiah misleading you, that he may give you over to die by famine and by thirst, when he tells you, "The LORD our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria"? Has not this same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, "Before one altar you shall worship, and on it you shall burn your sacrifices"? Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands at all able to deliver their lands out of my hand? Who among all the gods of those nations that my fathers devoted to destruction was able to deliver his people from my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my hand? Now, therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you in this fashion, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand!' " And his servants said still more against the Lord GOD and against his servant Hezekiah. And he wrote letters to cast contempt on the LORD, the God of Israel and to speak against him, saying, "Like the gods of the nations of the lands who have not delivered their people from my hands, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver his people from my hand." And they shouted it with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, in order that they might take the city. And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands.

2 Chronicles 32:3-19 (ESV)

     Hezekiah cuts off the outside water supply, strengthens the city, makes weapons and encourages the people and then Sennacherib starts the war …. with a war of words doing his best to discourage the people treating God as some worthless idol

     Exodus 20:7 says You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. (ESV) So, what does it mean by “vain” use of God's name? To treat God's name vain is to make it: empty, false, worthless. It is to profane or misuse it. We need to give God's name respect, honor and glory.

     Here's Something To Ponder

• How often do you treat God's name in vain as in OMG, etc?
• Does it bother you when other's treat God's name in vain?

WILL YOU FORGIVE ME?

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. - Matthew 6:12 (ESV)

      A silent room is suddenly filled with a Bump! Crash! Bang! Followed by a young lady's scared voice calling out “Who's There?” After what seems like eons of time a faint sound of a meow echoes back. “”Is that you, Misty?” the young lady's voice asks to which comes a loud meow and a cat brushing up against her leg.

     “Oh, Misty, you need to stop scaring me like that. You know I can't see.” the young lady said as she bent over and picked up her cat. Soon the cat was snuggling up to her neck and purring loudly. “Oh, alright,” the young lady said as she petted the cat, “I forgive you.. Now lets see if we can figure out what kind of mess you made.”

     Grabbing her walking cane the young lady started making her way around the room swinging her cane back in forth trying to find what ever her cat had knocked over. As she did so the door bell rang and since her parents at work and she was expecting her Sunday school teacher to come over she decided she had better answer the door.

     As she headed to the door she suddenly found what her cat had knocked over and the room was filled with another bump, crash, bang as she tripped and fell to the floor. Hearing the commotion, Daisy Smith – who happened to be her Sunday School teacher – burst through the door to see if her student was okay and if she needed medical attention.

     “I'll be alright.” the young lady told Daisy, “But I could use a hand getting up.” What happened? Daisy asked. “Oh, that cat made a mess on the floor and as I was coming to answer the door I found the mess the cat made.” Looking around at the mess Daisy said she would help clean it up and soon the room was back in order.

     “Thank you, Daisy” the young lady said, “By the way,” she continued, “I never full introduced myself the other day. I'm April Zaspella” “I already know that.” Daisy giggled, “Even though we never got to talk the other day, you did have a name sticker on and you wrote your name on the poem you left behind in the classroom.”

     “Is that why you're here?” April asked “Yes.” Daisy told her, “I've read it through and I must say, the poem is well written but the content seemed disturbing.” “I love poetry.” April told Daisy “But ever since the accident that left me blind, I've been struggling with forgiveness and I guess it just showed up in my poem.”

     “That's why I came to talk to you today.” Daisy said as she put her arm around her. “I've already had to help Louie with the same problem after his parents were killed on the mission field and I think I may be able to help you.” “I hope so.” April responded, “It's awful not knowing if I can forgive or if God can forgive me.” “Let's start by praying.” Daisy said and than they prayed and talked the afternoon away.

     How many of us have ever needed forgiveness? How many of us have ever struggled with forgiving someone else? Unless we are perfect 100%, and the Bible reminds us that we are not, we are going to need forgiveness, from those around us and from God but there's more. As part of the model prayer Jesus included these words “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” - Matthew 6:12 (ESV)

     Seeking forgiveness is something we are prompted to do in both the Old and New testament.

• Isaiah 55:7 - Let the wicked one abandon his way, and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, so He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will freely forgive. (HCSB)
• 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (HCSB)

     While forgiveness is something we all need and God is willing to give, we also need to forgive. In teaching us the model prayer, Jesus has us praying to be forgiven in the same way we forgive others. St. Augustine called this request "the terrible petition" because he realized that if we pray "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" with an unforgiving heart, we are actually asking God not to forgive us." When you get to this part in the Model prayer you are in effect saying, "Lord if there is someone whom I haven’t forgiven then don’t forgive me." Charles Spurgeon stated, "Unless you have forgiven others, you read your own death-warrant when you repeat the Lord's Prayer."

     Jesus summed up this idea of forgiving to be forgiven in the following story from Matthew 18:21-35 - Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.' So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart." (ESV)

     While Jesus was hanging on the cross, after being unjustly tried convicted and flogged He said "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34a (ESV) How many of us could do such a thing? How many of us can follow Jesus example as well as His teaching. How many of us are truly ready to pray “Forgive me as I forgive.”?

      Here's Something To Ponder

• Are there those whom you need to forgive so God can forgive you?
• Of what do you need to be forgiven?