I'LL DO IT MY WAY

For freedom Christ has set us free; - Galatians 5:1a (ESV)

     Helen Grey was finding summer to be almost perfect except for the heat. Helen Grey was one of those people that preferred cooler weather, much cooler than the 90's that had been baking Pupperville for the last week. Despite the heat, Helen knew that the churches flower gardens needed to be taken care of and she had found the perfect help, or so she thought.

     As the Girls are Girls club pulled up in the parking lot on their bicycles Mindy Miller hollered out “I'm Not Helping!” “What do you mean you're not helping?” Helen called out to her, “You promised to help like the rest of your club.”

     “I don’t care.” Mindy hollered back, “I’m tired of doing things for other people. Including you and this church.” “Then why did you bother to show up?” Helen wanted to know. “To let you know that you are not my boss” Mindy answered, “And that from now on I am my own boss.”

     “Mindy!” Helen said in disgust, “You know I’ve never made you do anything. Not even volunteer to help here today.” “Well, ugh,” Mindy stammered, “From now on I will only do what I want to do. I’m going to be just like everybody else.” “Everybody else?” Helen questioned, “What are you talking about?”

     “Yeah,” Mindy said, “From now on I do what I want when I want to. Besides this is a free country and I shouldn’t have to obey anybody.” “Mindy!” Helen exclaimed in shock, “What's happened to you?” “Nothing!” Mindy replied. “Than why the change in attitude?” Helen Demanded to know. “You never behaved this rudely before.”

     “If you must know,” Mindy snorted, “Independence Day is this coming week and I thought I would declare mine as well.” “That's not a good idea.” Helen injected. “My parents didn’t think so either,” Mindy replied, “but I don’t care. I will do what ever I want when I want and they won’t be able to stop me. Besides, they’re letting me be independent.”

     “What?” Helen gasped, “They’re actually going along with this scheme of yours.” “Not that they have a choice,” Mindy laughed, “But yes.” “Well,” Helen said shaking her head, “Along with independence there comes responsibility. Are you ready for that?” “That’s what me parents said.” Mindy frowned, “But I don’t care I don’t want responsibility I want to be free.”

     “And of course, you can’t forget consequences.” Helen added. “Cons a what?” Mindy said a little puzzled, “Have you been talking to my parents because they said something about cons a what’s too and that I would have to learn them the hard way. Hey! I got an idea, maybe you could teach me what cons a whatever they are, are. Well, maybe later, my favorite show is on TV and I need to get going. Hope you girls have fun weeding the flowers.”

     Mindy wanted her independence. She wanted to be free. But just how free can she be? Should she be? Does she really want to be?

     So Israel took his journey with all that he had … and came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, Genesis 46:1-6 (ESV)

     Israel moves to the land of Egypt. Once there a prophecy is fulfilled that was given to Abraham in Genesis 15:13 where the LORD said to Abram, "Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. (ESV) At the end of those 400 years the people cry out, God hears their cry and sends help in the man called Moses. But just how free did the Israelite want to be? Let's follow the Israelites as they travel out of Egypt and towards the promise land.

• Exodus 14:10-12 - When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness." (ESV)
• Exodus 16:2-3 - And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, "Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger. (ESV) "
• Numbers 13:31-14:4 Then the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are." So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, "The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them." Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?" And they said to one another, "Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt." (ESV)

     God set the Israelites free but it seems that's not what they wanted. We are told Christ set us free (Galatians 5:1) but like Israel do we really want our freedom?

     John 8:31-34 - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They answered him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?" Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. (ESV) - NOT SLAVES? At the time this was said the Jews were under bondage to to Rome. They were not free nor were they free from sin. They were slaves. Romans 6:16 says Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? It's Independence Day week in the USA but how free are we?

     Here's Something To Ponder

• How Free can you truly be?
• To whom or what would you rather be enslaved?

WHEN NO-ONE SHOWED

Love never fails; 1 Corinthians 13:8a (NASB)

      It was looking to be a great Sunday morning for Randy Smith. He had been working real hard all week putting together his message, the final one in his series on what love is, and he was ready to give it all he had. Knowing his wife was going to be out of town for the weekend, along with Louie, he decided to get up early and head to the church.

     “Wow.” Randy thought as he pulled into the parking lot. “I can't remember the last time I was the church parking lot this bare on a Sunday.” After parking his car in his usual spot he headed for the main door but when he got there he found the door locked. “That's odd.” He thought to himself, “I would have thought that someone would have been here and opened that door already. Oh, well. Maybe I'm just a little too early.”

     After digging through an assortment of keys, Randy found the one for the door, unlocked it and opened it wide. Next, he took a quick stroll through the sanctuary to make sure it was clean, and went to get the bulletins to hand out and then he took up a spot in the foyer and waited for the everyone to start arriving.

     As he stood waiting, Randy thought of some of the greetings he would use. He liked to have one for the old guys like himself, a complimentary one for the ladies, some high fives for the teenagers and even some Donald Duck impressions for the little ones. He practiced these for what seemed like hours and until he started getting concerned that something was wrong. “I've know people to be late for church, and I've know people to miss church altogether” Randy began thinking to himself, “But not everyone, at the same time.”

     Finally, it was time for church to start and Randy headed for the front of the sanctuary. As he stepped up behind the pulpit has wondered if he should go ahead and start on time or wait just a few more minutes just in case someone would show up. He decided to wait but he stayed behind the pulpit looking at all the empty pews.

     “Where could they be?” Randy thought as he looked at where the McDonalds usually sat. “Maybe they had a problem on the farm. And where are those Petersons? Is Harold casing problems again? And the Greys are missing. I wonder if Robert forgot again. And where are the Millers and the Hendersons and....” over and over Randy kept going through the names of everyone in the congregation.

     Finally, Randy decided he had waited long enough and started the service. “Even though people may fail to show up,” he said, “Love will never fail. Let us read from 1 Corinthians 13.” Randy went on to complete the entire service on his own with no-one else in the building. When he was done he locked up and headed home.

     Feeling a little let down, because no-one showed up, Randy stopped to by himself a big donut at the donut shop. As he walked in Sergeant Halfway met him and told him he was looking forwarded to hearing his sermon tomorrow. “Tomorrow?” Randy questioned, “Why not today?” “Because I don't usually go to church on Saturday.” Halfway responded.

     Genesis 1:31 says And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (ESV) As we look around us we can see that the world is not the same as when God made it. It's not very good and all around us things are failing including us. What happened?

     Let us move forward to Genesis 6:5-7 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them." (ESV) To sum things up – man happened. And because God is Holy and Just, man's sin had to be dealt with.

     Genesis 6:13-22 And God said to Noah, "I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them." Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him. (ESV)

     God dealt with man and the world would never be the same. Things would wear out and run down things would fail but not all. God made some promises in all of this. And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, "I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease." Genesis 8:21-22 (ESV) And then the rainbow was born. This promise has not failed. Love never fails either.

      Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 (NASB)

     Love never fails because God is love – 1 John 4:16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (ESV)

      Here's Something To Ponder

• Do you let your love fail God, others or self? Is it really love?
• How many and in what ways has God's love not failed you?

ALL DUG UP

Love … endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:7 (ESV)

      It had been one of those weeks, or so Randy thought. Earlier in the week his wife had called to say the basement was flooding from all the rain and now his wife had called to say unexpected company had dropped in and asked if he would stop and get some milk and eggs on his way home. And since his wife didn't want store bought milk or eggs it meant driving 10 miles out of the way to the McDonald's farm.

      “It's been one of those weeks.” Randy said to John when he pulled into the farm. “You can say that again.” John said in agreement, “In fact, I'll say it for you. It's been one of those weeks.” “You too?” Randy asked. “ I have seen some strange happenings before.” John replied, “But I think this one might take the cake.”

     “Well,” Randy said, “The flooding was pretty bad. “Flood?!” John said, “I was talking about the antics of one Harold Peterson.” “Harold?!” Randy said in return, “Your not talking about his story of Giant June Bugs are you? He was using that as an excuse not to plant his garden.” “Well,” John said quietly, “His mom finally talked him into planting it.”

     “That’s good.” Randy said, “It's about time he did something.” “Try telling that to the town's folks.” John declared, “Harold decided he would try and use my big tractor to till up his garden area.” “But his garden isn't that big.” Randy injected. “Try telling him that.” John continued, “He put the plow down and dug up his entire yard, in fact he dug up most of the neighborhood. And that’s not the worst of it.”

     Hearing that, Randy was afraid to ask what Harold did but he asked anyway. “What more did he do?” “He sliced through the phone cable, the TV cable and the main power cable to the town.” What happened when he hit the power cable?” Randy asked. “A sonic boom” John replied, “The town's power went out, Harold went flying through the air and the tractor, well, I don’t want to talk about it now.”

     “Wow” Randy said, “And I thought the power outage was from the storm. You're right, that does take the cake.” I don't know how his parents put up with him.” John said, “If my Tracy had behaved like that I think I would have buried her in a deep hole and left her there.” “You wouldn't” Randy gasped in shock. “No, not really,” John assured him, “Besides she’s a good girl who only messes up once in a while.”

     “Like the time she helped lose Muffy?” John said nodding his head. “She helped with that?” John said in surprise, “Well, at least she’s not like Harold. He’s always causing some sort of trouble. Even when he’s being good he puts people into shock.” “Well,” John commented, “You do have to admire Martha’s love for Harold. Well, I better be on my way.”

     With that, Randy got back in his car and headed for home, and yes it was one of those weeks for when John started telling him of his troubles, Randy forgot to get the milk and eggs. He did however, get a great sermon illustration.

      Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob." … Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and directed him, "You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women. Arise, go to Paddan-aram to the house of Bethuel your mother's father, and take as your wife from there one of the daughters of Laban your mother's brother. Genesis 27:41,28:1-2 (ESV)

     Things were looking pretty rough for Jacob. He'd stolen his brother's birthright and blessing, his brother wanted to kill him and now, of all things, he was being sent away to get married. But, could Jacob find someone he could truly love. Let's join Jacob at a well in a field...

      Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east. As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep lying beside it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well's mouth was large, and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well. Jacob said to them, "My brothers, where do you come from?" They said, "We are from Haran." He said to them, "Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?" They said, "We know him." He said to them, "Is it well with him?" They said, "It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!" … Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel." Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me." So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her. Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed." So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast. But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her. And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?" Laban said, "It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years." Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.

Genesis 29:1-28 (ESV)

     Jacob makes a deal to work for Laban for 7 years to marry Rachel. He's tricked and ends up working 7 more years and all for Rachel His beautiful wife. Oh what Love endures. What are or would you put up with or do for loved ones? Do you endure?

• 1 Peter 2:19 - For God is pleased with you when, for the sake of your conscience, you patiently endure unfair treatment. (NLT)
• James 1:12 - God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (NLT)
• Matthew 10:22 - And everyone will hate you because of your allegiance to me. But those who endure to the end will be saved. (NLT)

     Why would you bear sorrow, persevere under trials, endure hatred. Love motivates for God, love motivates for others.

      Here's Something To Ponder

• Are you willing to endure the trials brought by the ones you should love?
• Do you make it hard for others to endure in their love for you?

HAROLD “NO HOPE”

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things... 1 Corinthians 13:7 (ESV)

      After hearing her husbands story about his run in with Bernadette and her story about Giant June bugs, Daisy felt inspired to write one of her poems. As she strolled through the park she kept muttering possible lines and rhymes to herself but once and a while she said things out loud and people would look at her funny. On one of those times she blurted out “Giant June Bugs” and someone she knew heard her.

     “Giant June Bugs!!!” Martha called out, “Not you too!!!” “Well, hi Martha.” Daisy said as she looked up, “Beautiful day for a stroll in the park.” “Were you just talking about Giant June Bugs?” Martha asked. “The ones that are the size of a moose?” Daisy asked in return. “I thought so.” Martha said, “You were talking about them.”

     “Well, yeah, I was just talking about them.” Daisy said, “I'm working on writing a poem about them.” “I take it you’ve been talking to Harold?” Martha sort of asked. “No.” Daisy said shaking her head, “I haven’t seen Harold for quite some time. I heard about Giant June Bugs from my husband who heard about them from Bernadette.”

     “From Bernadette?” Martha said in surprise. “Yeah,” Daisy replied. “Randy said She was convinced that they would come and destroy us if we planted a garden.” “So, she's the one behind all this!” Martha injected. “Actually no.” Daisy continued, “Randy said “Harold told her about them. I presume he was the one that made them up.”

     “Your probably right on that.” Martha said. “He has been using them to keep from planting our garden.” “But I thought Harold liked food.” Daisy said a bit puzzled. “He does.” Martha affirmed, “But have you ever known Harold to like work.” “Now that you mention it.” Daisy said shaking her head. “No!”

     “He’s been telling everybody that Giant June Bugs will come and attack us if he plants the garden.” Martha said, “I’m beginning to believe that child is a hopeless case. I keep hoping for the best and getting the, the, well what ever is worse than the worse.” “Sounds like our Harold.” Daisy laughed, “Have you ever thought of fighting fire with fire?”

     “But he hasn’t started any fires, at least not yet.” Martha said a bit puzzled as to what Martha meant. “Not a real fire!” Daisy laughed, “I mean, if he won’t plant because of Giant June Bugs maybe you could tell him about the Red Ringers that will come if he doesn’t plant the garden.” “What are Red Ringers?” Martha asked, still a bit puzzled.

     “Nothing,” Daisy said with a smile, “But with Harold’s imagination it just might get him planting.” “I get you now.” Martha grinned, “Maybe there’s hope yet. Well, I better get going. I've got some Red Ringer Rumors to spread.”

     Psalm 39:7 reads - And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. (ESV) This Psalm, this verse, was written by King David, who according to the Bible was a man after God's own heart. And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, 'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.' Acts 13:22 (ESV) Even though David was a man after God's own heart, he was still human and like us, he made mistakes. In 2 Samuel we read of some of those mistakes in a familiar story starting in the 11^th chapter.(ESV)

      In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, "Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. Then she returned to her house. And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, "I am pregnant." … David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. In the letter he wrote, "Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die." And as Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew there were valiant men. And the men of the city came out and fought with Joab, and some of the servants of David among the people fell. Uriah the Hittite also died. … When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented over her husband. And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. … And the LORD sent Nathan to David. … David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child who is born to you shall die." Then Nathan went to his house. And the LORD afflicted the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he became sick. David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, "Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm." But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" They said, "He is dead." Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, "What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food." He said, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, 'Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?' But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me."

     Love hopes all things. David loved his child, David loved God, David held on to hope in hoping that God would change His mind and spare the child. Hope can keep us going when things look impossible, hope can keep us looking for the best when nothing good can be seen

     Here's Something To Ponder

• Do you easily give up on others when things seem impossible?
• When other have hope in you do you let them down?

GIANT JUNE BUGS

Love bears all things, believes all things, - 1 Corinthians 13:7a (ESV)

      It was another beautiful spring day and this time Randy didn't need to work at the office. His sermon was finished and he now had time to get his garden planted. After spending most of the morning pushing a tiller through the black dirt, Randy decided it was time to take a break and have a tall cold glass of lemonade.

      As he stood looking over the freshly tilled dirt, Bernadette came running up to him breathing really hard. After giving her a couple minutes to catch her breath Randy asked her if he could help her. “What are you doing?” Bernadette asked almost as if she was scolding him. “Just standing here drinking some ice cold lemonade.” Randy answered, “Would you like some?”

      “You're not planting a garden, are you?” Bernadette asked, “Please tell me you're not.” “Of course I'm planting a garden, Bernadette,” Randy replied, “I do it every year. This year I'm panning on planting corn and potatoes and onions and carrots and beans and..” “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!” Bernadette screamed when she heard that cutting Randy off in mid sentence.

     “What's wrong, Bernadette?” Randy asked, “Are you okay?” “We're all doomed.” Bernadette muttered, “You planted a garden and now their going to come.” “Who's coming?” Randy asked. “The ... Giant ... June ... Bugs.” Bernadette said, “Their bigger than a moose.” “Did you see one?”, Randy asked, “Or are you making this up?”

     “I'm not making it up.” Bernadette pleaded, “It’s true. Harold told me all about them. He said he even saw one. He said they come every time you plant a garden and then, then, then, they destroy everything. We’re doomed. And it’s all your fault.” “Are you sure Harold isn’t making this up to get out of planting his own garden.” Randy asked almost positive Harold was.

     “Harold would never do that.” Bernadette pleaded, “He loves food too much. He said he heard all about them from his friend Bert.” “I didn't know Harold had any friends.” Randy injected, but Bernadette continued, “He said they came from outer space and there is nothing in the world that will stop them. He said they came back from the moon a the space shuttle.”

     “Space shuttle.” Randy said. “Now I know Harold is making this up. The space shuttle doesn’t even go to the moon.” “It doesn't?” Bernadette asked a bit puzzled. “Tell me” Randy said, “Do you believe everything you here?” “Of course not.” Bernadette cheerfully answered, “I only believe the believable stuff.” “Like space monsters?” Randy asked. “Yeah.” Bernadette answered.

     “If I don’t believe everything I could get in trouble.” Bernadette said after thinking about what she had just said yeah too. “One time my mom told me veggies were good for me. I didn’t believe that and I got in trouble so...” “I think you need to go practice some discernment to figure out who is telling the truth. And I need to get back to my garden.” “I'll try.” Bernadette said as she started to leave, “But I'm still keeping my eyes open for those Giant June Bugs.”

     1 Corinthians 13:7 tells us that love believes all things. If we are to experience and share God's love are we really suppose to believe everything? Are there times when we shouldn't believe things? In Matthew 24:23 Jesus says “if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it.” (ESV) Jesus talks of times when we are not to believe. When it comes to everyday life, there ends up being times when we should believe and we don't and times we shouldn't and we do like in this old Aesop fable.

     There was once a young Shepherd Boy who tended his sheep at the foot of a mountain near a dark forest. It was rather lonely for him all day, so he thought upon a plan by which he could get a little company and some excitement. He rushed down towards the village calling out “Wolf, Wolf,” and the villagers came out to meet him, and some of them stopped with him for a considerable time. This pleased the boy so much that a few days afterwards he tried the same trick, and again the villagers came to his help. But shortly after this a Wolf actually did come out from the forest, and began to worry the sheep, and the boy of course cried out “Wolf, Wolf,” still louder than before. But this time the villagers, who had been fooled twice before, thought the boy was again deceiving them, and nobody stirred to come to his help. So the Wolf made a good meal off the boy’s flock, and when the boy complained, the wise man of the village said: “A liar will not be believed, even when he speaks the truth.”

     While the focus of this story tends to be the boy who cried wolf, I tell it because of those who refused to believe the boy after they had been lied to several times. In a way, they failed to show love, they failed to over look the wrong, they failed to forgive.

     In the Greek, the word translated believe has the idea of thinking something to be true, to place confidence in, to trust someone. To be able to do that when we have been lied to we need to be able to forgive.

• Luke 17:3-4 - Be on your guard. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and comes back to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” (HCSB)
• Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ. (NCV)

     When someone becomes untrustworthy, unbelievable, yes, they may need to change but we need to be willing to believe, and trust if we are to love and that may mean putting the past aside.

      Here's Something To Ponder

• What are you willing to believe even when it is unbelievable?
• How do you react when others fail to believe you when you are telling the truth?

BEAR, BARE OR BEAR

Love bears all things, 1 Corinthians 13:7a (ESV)

      It was a beautiful spring day and Randy thought he would sit outside while studying for his next sermon on love. As he leaned back against a tree a gentle breeze blew across his face bringing the scent of blossoms and fresh cut grass. As he sat there taking in the scents of spring, he picked up his Bible and started reading, unfortunately the sounds of spring kept side tracking him.

     The first sounds he heard were the birds. “What beautiful sounds they make.” he thought and then there were the frogs which got him thinking about his younger years when he used to catch them and then there was the loud RRROOOAAARRR!!! of a bear.

     “All right, Harold!” Randy called out, “There are no bears around here. Come out with your hands up.” “I’m not Harold!” Bernadette stated as she came out from behind the tree Randy was leaning against. “Bernadette!?” said in surprise, “What are you doing here?” “I thought you could use some help with your sermon.” Bernadette answered.

     “Well,” Randy said, “You might be able to help me. Bye the way, what was that loud roar all about?” “You mean you don’t know.” Bernadette asked a bit puzzled, “I was pretending to be a bear. I thought it would help you with your sermon. “How will pretending to be a bear help me?” asked scratching is head.

     “I don’t know.” Bernadette said putting her hands on her hips, “All I know is I heard you were going to talk about a bear for your next sermon.” Randy scratched his head some more trying to remember saying he was going to talk a bout a bear. “If you talk about “Teddy bears” I can help you out a lot.” said, “I’ve got thirteen of them. My favorite is the pink one with yellow pok-a-dots.”

     “Well, I’m not talking about teddy bears.” Randy said. “How about Panda bears?” Bernadette asked, “There pretty cute. Or maybe some polar bears or black bears or brown bears or maybe even a Big Ferocious Grizzly Bear.” “I am not talking about bears.” Randy interrupted almost shouting, “I’m talking about love and how it bares all things.”

     “A love bear, how cute.” Bernadette chirped when she heard that, but before she could carry on Randy let out a big RRRROOOOAAAARRRR!!!! himself which caused her to scream “AAAUUUGGGHH!!! A bear. Help!!! Help!!! .......” “Calm down, Bernadette” Randy laughed. “Calm down?” Bernadette quipped, “I heard a bear. You’ve got to protect me.”

     “Protect you? Hmm.” Randy thought out loud, “I think you just helped me with my sermon.” “What?!” Bernadette screamed, “ I’m being attacked by a bear and all you can think about is your sermon.” “Calm down Bernadette.” Randy said again, “ There is no bear but if there was I would protect you. As for my sermon, It's not about bears but about how love bears all things.”

     “Love bears things?” Bernadette asked trying to figure out what the meant. After a few minutes her eyes got big and she blurted out, “I'm not going to help you with that. I'm not going to bare myself, I'm keeping my clothes on.” and with those words she left on the run as Randy called after here to no avail “Not that kind of bare.”

     Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Psalm 100:1-3 (ESV)

     What do you know about sheep? – They're black, white, fluffy, dumb and needful of a shepherd? Throughout the Bible people are often represented by sheep. There are many stories in the Bible that teach us lessons using sheep to represent us and some of these stories about sheep well help us with our bear. Let's look at some familiar stories involving sheep.

     And David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth." But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. - 1 Samuel 17:32-35 (ESV)

     Did you see the sheep in this story? David, in trying to convince Saul he could handle Goliath tells of tacking care of his sheep, of rescuing them from bears and lions.

      “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. - Luke 15:4-5 (ESV)

     Did you see the sheep in this story? It was lost and needed to be found and it was.

      So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, - John 10:7-14 (ESV)

     Did you see the sheep in this story? Did you see how the good shepherd take scare of them? Did you see that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are the sheep?

     1 Corinthians 13 :7 tells us that love bears all things. The word for bear in the original language has the idea of holding up, or covering up as in a roof which is meant to protect. This is what love does.

     Try these verses out

• 1 Peter 4:8 - Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. (NASB)
• Romans 15:1 - We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. (ESV)
• Galatians 6:2 - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (ESV)

     Here's Something To Ponder

• In what ways have you been protected by love?
• In what ways are you letting your love protect others?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY?

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. - 1 Corinthians 13:6 (NIV)

      It could have been do to the fact that Robert had quietly slipped inside the church without making a sound. It could have been do to the fact that Randy was deeply involved in his study for his next sermon on Love and wasn't expecting it. Which ever it was, when Robert popped through the offices door and hollered SURPRISE, Randy was totally surprised.

     “Woe!” Randy hollered throwing his hands in the air and then Robert started singing “Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you. Happy....” “Robert?” Randy interrupted, “Who are you singing happy birthday to?” “Like, you don't know.” Robert said with a smile, “How humble.” “I really don't know.” Randy ensured him.

     “I'll give you a hint then.” Robert said and started to sing again. “Happy birthday dear Robert, Happy...” “Stop! Stop! Stop.” Randy interrupted. “What’s wrong?” Robert asked stopping his singing, “Don’t you like surprises?” “Do you like surprises?” Randy answered with a question of his own. “Of course I do.” Robert replied. “Why?” “Because I have a surprise for you.” Randy told Robert, “Today is not my birthday.”

     “WHAT!!??” Robert shouted “It's got to be!” “Nope” Randy chirped, “It’s not my birthday. My birthday isn’t till next month.” Hearing that, Robert stood silent for several minutes thinking then proclaimed, “I know, you don’t want anybody to know you are turning 40 today.” “Robert!” Randy said next, “It’s not my birthday and I’m not turning 40.”

     “Does that mean there won't be any party?” Robert asked “No party.” randy said shaking his head. “Then what should I do with all this cake and ice cream?” Robert asked next. “I suppose you could feed it to your grandson Harold.” Randy told him, “I'm sure he wouldn't mind.” “And what about all of the party favors I bought?” Robert asked, “I don't want them to go to waste.” “I'm sure the church nursery could find a use for them.” Randy told him

     The next thing Randy knew, there was a monkey trying to climb onto his head. “Where did this monkey come from?” he asked. “Oh, “Robert laughed, “He's the singing monkey that came with the package.... that reminds me, I have a big birthday package here for you too.” When Randy heard that he perked up, “You have a big package for me?” He asked.

     “It was suppose to be your present but I better save it.” Robert said shaking his head, “I can’t believe I got your birthdays all mixed up.” Who's birthday's?” Randy asked, a little puzzled by Robert's statement. “Why, yours .... and .... Bills.” Robert started to answer. “Oops.” he said stopping himself, “I think I’m in the wrong spot. All this stuff belongs at Bills surprise party. I better be going.”

     I could ask if you like surprises but I'll leave the surprises to another day. I could ask if you like birthdays but not this time. But I could ask if you like to party, to celebrate, to rejoice when something wonderful happens.

     Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable: - Luke 15:1-3 (ESV) Jesus was far from what the Pharisees expected. They didn't think anyone who was religious or godly, as they thought they were and Jesus claimed, should have anything to do with IRS agents and sinners and yet that is where Jesus was found. They grumbled and complained. And Jesus answered them three times over with stories of rejoicing

      "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

      "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

     And he said, "There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants." ' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.

Luke 15:4-32 (ESV)

     Love rejoices with the truth – what is right and good. The Bible talks of rejoicing when it says:

• Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! - Psalm 32:11 (ESV)
• Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. - Philippians 4:4 (ESV)
• Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. - Romans 12:15 (ESV)

     A problem I see today is more people would rather rejoice in what is not true and right and run from what is true but that is not what love is all about.

     Here's Something To Ponder

• Do you rejoice in that which is true and right?
• Do you cringe at the truth?