ON THE PHONE AGAIN

Making the best use of the time, Ephesians 5:16a (ESV)

      Some days really make you wonder why you ever got out of bed. Such was the Sunday morning when Randy started to hear ringing. He was trying to lead a time of singing when from some where in the pulpit came a loud ringing. It was a phone. “Can you answer that!” Stella hollered out from the second row. “I’m expecting a call from a friend.” With a roll of his eyeballs, Randy answered the phone and turned it over to Stella.

     About five minutes later, Randy started hearing ringing again. This time it was coming from the chalkboard behind him. “Alright,” Randy called out, “Who left a phone on the chalkboard?” “It’s mine.” Stella called out, “Can you answer it for me, it might be an important call.” Even though he wasn’t thrilled with the interruption, Randy answered the phone and than turned it over to Stella.

     A couple of minutes later, as the pianist was getting ready to play another song, the piano started to play on it’s own. The pianist let out a shriek and fainted and Stella jumped up and said “Can somebody answer my musical phone? I think I left it in the piano.” As somebody assisted the passed out pianist, Randy managed to find the phone in the piano and turn it over to Stella once again.

     Ten minutes later as the congregation was getting ready to pray something started beeping. Somebody thought it was the fire alarm and as they started to evacuate the building Stella jumped up and hollered to Randy, “That’s not the fire alarm, it’s my other phone. Will somebody help me find it?”

     After a frantic search, Randy finally found the phone in the baptistry but this time he wasn’t giving it to Stella. Without answering, he shut it off and tuned to Stella, and said to her, “I think we need to have a talk about all of these phones.

     “What’s wrong?” Stella innocently asked, “Don’t you like their colors? Or is it because there isn’t enough for you to talk too.” “That’s not it at all!” Randy said as he tapped his fingers on the pulpit “Oh, I know.” Stella spoke again, “You’re jealous because no one ever calls you.”

     “Stella!” Randy said with a raised voice, “What!” Stella asked. “Besides being a major interruption,” Randy started to tell her, “You’re spending to much time on the phone. There are other things that you should be doing with your time.” “There is?” Stella questioned and before Randy could say another word, She answered her self, “You’re right, I should be watching my favorite TV show right now.” And with that Stella gathered her phones and left.

      Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:15-16(ESV)

     Wise king Solomon made the following observation. There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven ... A time to be silent and a time to speak. - Ecclesiastes 3:1,7b (NAS) Like Stella we often don't know the difference between when to be quiet and when to talk, when to do this and when to do that. We fail to make the best of our time - we waste it.

     How do we waste time?

• By not really being efficient
• By watching meaningless television shows
• In the evenings at home just doing nothing
• By what we read
• By unprofitable activity on weekends
• Spending to much time in bed
• Procrastinating
• Etc...

      Time is the gift of God and we are to make the best use of it that we can. We can sit and twiddle away hours and engage in activity and conversation that is of little, if any, value or worth; or we can use time wisely, keeping our thoughts and hands busy...

• In our profession and work, contributing to the good of society.
• In our worship, and service for Christ
• In meeting needs
• To witness and share Christ.
• To pray
• Etc..

     The amount of time we have is limited. We do not know how much we have left we may have seconds, we may have decades. What ever we have Psalms 90:12 says Teach us how short our lives really are so that we may be wise. (NCV)

      Here's something to ponder

• Are you wasting your time?
• How might you use your time more wisely?

LAZY AFTERNOON

"Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." - Matthew 4:19b (NAS)

      It was a beautiful afternoon and Harold didn’t feel like doing much of anything except getting in his dad’s way. “Why don’t you go find Barney and go fishing.” His dad finally told him “But,” Harold started complaining, “I don’t have a fishing rod anymore.” “Than here’s some money,” his dad said as he handed him thirty dollars, “Go buy yourself one!.”

      An hour later Harold was knocking on Barney’s door “Let’s go fishing” He said as soon as Barney opened the door. “I thought you broke your fishing rod.” Barney replied “I got a new one” Harold said as he showed off his new rod to Barney. “And this time, I’m not going to break it over my sister’s head.” “I wondered how you broke it” Barney laughed when he heard that.

     “I’ve even got some real bait this time” Harold told Barney “You do?” Barney questioned, “What kind of bait?” “ Mrs Miller gave me a bunch of frogs,” Harold replied, “And I heard the fish are really biting on them.” “What was she doing with frogs?” Barney asked but before Harold could reply Louie walked up to the door and said “She got them from her Daughters for her birthday”

     “Louie!” Harold hollered “Would you like to go fishing with us?” “No thanks.” Louie quickly replied, “The last time I went down to the fishing hole to fish I almost drowned when a big one pulled me in, besides, I already did some fishing today.” “Why didn’t you come and get us?” Harold asked. “I didn’t think you would have wanted to go fishing for men” Louie replied

     “Fishing for men?” Harold complained, “That sounds like something form Sunday school class last week.” “That’s right.” Louie exclaimed, “Does that mean you payed attention this time?” “Actually,” Barney piped in, “He slept through class, I filled him in later. So, have you had any luck yet?” “No” Louie said sadly.

     “Maybe some of our frogs will help you with your fishing.” Harold said cheerfully “No thanks” Louie replied, “What I would really like are some Bible tracts from Randy I think they will work better than frogs.”

     “Can I go with you?” Barney asked “Sure” Louie told him and than turned and asked Harold if he wanted to go to. “No thanks,” Harold told him, “These frogs won’t last that long. Besides, I’m getting hungry for a big fish dinner.” “When aren’t you hungry” Barney laughed and away everyone went to do some fishing, some for men, and one for supper

      Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said* to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

Matthew 4:18-20 (NAS)

     Follow and Fish, Follow and fish, Follow and Fish, Jesus said come follow Me and I will make you fishers of men. Following Jesus is a must for all, but even more so for those who would call themselves Christian.

• John 12:26 - "If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. (NAS)
• Matthew 16:24 - Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. (NAS)

     What is the way to become an efficient preacher? "Young man," says one, "go to college." "Young man," says Christ, "follow me, and I will make you a fisher of men." How is a person to be useful? "Attend a training-class," says one. Quite right; but there is a surer answer than that - Follow Jesus, and he will make you fishers of men. The great training-school for Christian workers has Christ at its head; and he is at its head, not only as a tutor, but as a leader: we are not only to learn of him in study, but to follow him in action. "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." The direction is very distinct and plain, and I believe that it is exclusive, so that no man can become a fisherman by any other process. This process may appear to be very simple; but assuredly it is most efficient. The Lord Jesus Christ, who knew all about fishing for men, was himself the Dictator of the rule, "Follow me, if you want to be fishers of men. If you would be useful, keep in my track." - Spurgeon's Collected Sermons (Met. Tabern. Pul.)

     Every spring thousands hit the lakes to fish - along with following we need to be fishing for men.

• James 5:20 - Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. (NIV)
• 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 - So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God-- even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. (NIV)
• Proverbs 11:30b - He who wins souls is wise. (NIV)

     Of course, I've never seen a fishermen catch a fish sitting in his easy chair in front of the TV. to catch fish he goes to the fish and works to allure them. Fishing for men is not much different. Borrowing from Spurgeon again -

• A fisherman must be acquainted with the sea - he must know the locality in which he has to work.
• A fisherman must also know how to allure fish.
• The fisherman must be a man who can wait with patience.
• A fisherman is one who must run hazards.
• The fisherman must be one who has learned both how to persevere and how to expect

     1 Corinthians 9:19-23 - I am free and belong to no one. But I make myself a slave to all people to win as many as I can. To the Jews I became like a Jew to win the Jews. I myself am not ruled by the law. But to those who are ruled by the law I became like a person who is ruled by the law. I did this to win those who are ruled by the law. To those who are without the law I became like a person who is without the law. I did this to win those people who are without the law. (But really, I am not without God’s law—I am ruled by Christ’s law.) To those who are weak, I became weak so I could win the weak. I have become all things to all people so I could save some of them in any way possible. I do all this because of the Good News and so I can share in its blessings. (NCV)

      Here's Something to Ponder

• Are you following Jesus?
• Are you fishing for men?

A HAY RIDE INVITE

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have - Hebrews 13:16a (ESV)

      It was a beautiful afternoon as Helen Gray and Tracy McDonald strolled through the park. “Won’t it be nice when spring finally gets here?” Helen asked Tracy. “I can’t wait.” Tracy told Helen, “I love helping my Dad drive the tractors around in the field.” “Will you get to drive the tractor this weekend?” Helen asked as they turned to walk back towards the picnic area.

     “No, my Dad is going to.” Tracy responded, “I want to stay on the hay wagon with the rest of the kids.” “It sure is nice of your dad to offer to host a hay ride.” Helen told Tracy, “It will be a good way for the people of the church to get to know the two of you better, and for you to know them.”

     “We’ve been here for months.” Tracy said, “And there are still lots of kids I haven’t met yet. I know I saw that orange haired boy standing over there in church last Sunday but I have know idea who he is.” “I’ve have no idea either.” Helen told Tracy, “I’ve never seen him before.” “It sounds like he’s crying” Tracy said, “Maybe we should go see if he’s okay.”

     As the two of them walked over to Joel, Helen called out to him to see if he was okay and ask why he was crying. “I’m not crying. Coooool kids don’t cry.” Joel cried out, “I got something in my eye.” “Can I look at your eye?” Helen asked as she walked over to him. “NO!” Joel shouted at her, “Go Away! I can do it myself!”

     “Why aren’t you with your friends?” Tracy asked “Because, I...I...I...I... Don’t have any friend.” Joel said and started to cry some more. “You don’t!” Tracy said a little surprised, “Would you like to make some? You could come to a hay ride next Saturday afternoon. It will be a lot of fun and you might make some friends.”

     “That would be a great idea.” Helen piped in, “There is going to be lots of kids there and games to play and food to eat, and” “FOOD! Did you say FOOD?” Joel interrupted. “So, you like food,” Helen responded. “Maybe you’ll like my Grandson Harold Peterson!” “I think I already met him.” Joel said, “By the way, I’m Joel Brady and I’m a coooool dude.”

     For the next hour, Helen and Tracy shared a little more about themselves, learned more about what a “dude” was and told Joel how he could get to the hay ride. When Joel left he was no longer crying and was definitely thinking about going to the hay ride.

     Then Jesus said to the man who had invited him, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite only your friends, your family, your other relatives, and your rich neighbors. At another time they will invite you to eat with them, and you will be repaid. Instead, when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.

Luke 14:12-13 (NCV)

     As Christian's we have much to share with the world and the Bible reminds us that we are to be a sharing people:

• Isaiah 58:7 - Share your food with the hungry and bring poor, homeless people into your own homes. When you see someone who has no clothes, give him yours, and don’t refuse to help your own relatives. (NCV)
• 1 Timothy 6:18 - Tell the rich people to do good, to be rich in doing good deeds, to be generous and ready to share. (NCV)
• Hebrews 13:16 - Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (ESV)

     Many time people will go out of their way to host an event such as a hay ride so as to be able to invite, to share with, people who are not christian in a way that creates opportunities to share even more.

• Galatians 6:10a - When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. (NCV)
• Colossians 4:5-6 - Be wise in the way you act with people who are not believers, making the most of every opportunity. When you talk, you should always be kind and pleasant so you will be able to answer everyone in the way you should. (NCV)

     The ultimate goal for sharing with others, I think, should be to create opportunity to be a witness for Christ, to lift up Christ so He may draw others to Himself.

      Here's Something to Ponder

• How do you share what you have?
• What purpose do you have in sharing with others?

BEING COOL IS COOL

For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Galatians 1:10a (NAS)

      There was a new kid in town and Harold was following him in hopes of finding out who he was. As Harold climbed over fences and hid behind trees, you could hear him muttering to himself “This is sure hard work trying to follow that kid with the orange hair. He just keeps going and going and going. I wonder if I’ll ever catch up to him.”

      After following him for more than two hours, the orange haired kid stopped moving. “Finally,” Harold said, “Maybe now I can catch him.” As Harold snuck up behind him, he heard the kids says something about what a coooool day it was. As Harold stood hiding behind a tree only a few feet away, he suddenly sneezed.”

“Who are you my man?” came a voice from the orange haired kid. Shaking and scared from being caught, Harold squeaked out his name and asked the orange haired kid his name. “Everybody knows who I am.” came the response, “ I am Joel Brady, and I’m the coolest dude, around my man.”

      “I saw you at our church on last Sunday. Are you a Christian?” Harold decided to ask. “A Christian?” scoffed Joel, “Who needs to be a Christian when your as coooool as I am. Do you have a light my man?” “A what?” Harold asked “A light, my man. It’s time to go and have a drag.” Joel told him

     “I still don’t know what you’re talking about.” Harold told him. “The kind of light I want is a match so I can light up my cigarette to smoke.” Joel said with a grunt. “What!” Harold shouted in surptise, “You shouldn’t be smoking.” “All coooool kids smoke.” Joel responded, “ If you don’t smoke than you’re not coooool.”

     “You’re not coooool” Harold snapped back. “You’re just a loser. The only coooool people are those who know Jesus and have given their lives to Him. Smoking doesn’t make you coooool, it makes you stink, turns your teeth yellow, fills up your lungs with bad stuff and it could even kill you. If you really want to know how to be coooool you need to read your Bible.”

     “Read a Bible to find out how to be coooool?” Joel scoffed back, “I can find out from my friends how to be coooool.” “Friends?” Harold laughed, “I bet you don’t even have any.” and with those words Harold stuck his nose in the air and walked away. “Friends! I don’t need friends. I’m so coooool,” Joel hollered at Harold and than he started to cry

      When one goes to the dictionary to find out what "cool" means you find that it means to be - very good, excellent, all right, fashionable, hip. Like Harold and Joel, we each have different ideas on what it takes to be coooool and those ideas are often based on who we want to impress with our coooool-ness.

     There are in the world those who are people pleasers those who would want to be cool in the eye of those around them.

• John 12:42-43 - But many believed in Jesus, even many of the leaders. But because of the Pharisees, they did not say they believed in him for fear they would be put out of the synagogue. They loved praise from people more than praise from God. (NCV)
• Acts 12:1-3 - About that time King Herod cruelly attacked some who belonged to the church, and he killed James, John’s brother, with the sword. When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the days of Unleavened Bread. (HCSB)

     There are those who are here to please God those who would be cool in the eyes of God like the apostle Paul

• 1 Thessalonians 2:3-4 - Our appeal does not come from lies or wrong reasons, nor were we trying to trick you. But we speak the Good News because God tested us and trusted us to do it. When we speak, we are not trying to please people, but God, who tests our hearts. (NCV)

      The same apostle tells us to be a God pleaser rather than a man pleaser. To do what it takes to please God

• Ephesians 6:5-6 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. (NAS)
• Colossians 3:22-23 - Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, (NAS)
• 1 Thessalonians 4:1 - Brothers and sisters, we taught you how to live in a way that will please God, and you are living that way. Now we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live that way even more. (NCV)
• Hebrews 13:16 - Do not forget to do good to others, and share with them, because such sacrifices please God. (NCV)

     Here's Something to Ponder

• Do you want to be coooool in the eye’s of people or in the eyes of God.
• What are you doing to be cooool

THAT WEIRD LOOKING KID

Do not judge according to appearance... John 7:24a (NAS)

      It was Monday morning and Mindy and Stella had gotten together at the park to talk. As they strolled over to the swings sets, Stella caught a glimpse of someone on the far side of the park and froze. Grabbing Mindy’s arm she whispered “Do you see him?”

      Slowly Mindy turned her head to see who Stella was talking about but she didn’t see anyone. “You must be seeing things again.” she told Stella, “There’s no one there.” “But I’m sure I saw him.” Stella told Mindy, “And he looked just as weird as when I saw him yesterday at church.”

      “Yesterday at church?” Mindy thought out loud. “You’re not talking about that weird looking kid that sat in the back are you?” “I sure am.” Stella told her. “I always thought Harold was weird but that kid was really weird. Did you see what color his hair was?” “You’re right, Stella.” Mindy told her, “He is weirder than you brother, not even Harold would dye his hair orange.” 

      “Are you talking about me?” came a familiar voice. It was Harold who had snuck up behind the girls and was listening to their conversation. “Hi, Harold, Bye Harold.” came his sister’s reply. “We’re talking about that weird kid in church on Sunday.” Mindy told Harold. “You mean the weird one with orange hair and sunglasses?” Harold asked.

      So, you saw him too?” Mindy asked Harold. “Of course I did,” Harold told her, “How could you not see him?” “Did you find out who he was?” Mindy asked. “No,” Harold told her, “He left too quickly after church.” As Harold and Mindy started talking about how weird the kid was, Stella started waving and pointing “There he is, There he is.”

      As everyone turned to look, Stella yelled out “Hey, what’s your name?” When the weird kid heard Stella he quickly disappeared. “Who does he think he is?” Stella said with anger in her voice, “No boy walks away from me without telling me his name.” “I’ll go see if I can catch him.” Harold said and took of following him.

      “Are you going to follow him too?” Mindy asked Stella. “Are you crazy?” Stella replied, “I don’t want to be any where around him.” “But,” Mindy replied, “I thought you wanted to know his name.” “I do,” Stella answered, “It’s Harold I don’t want to be around.”

      How do we see the people around us? Suppose someone comes into your church meeting wearing nice clothes and a gold ring. At the same time a poor person comes in wearing old, dirty clothes. You show special attention to the one wearing nice clothes and say, “Please, sit here in this good seat.“ But you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,“ or, “Sit on the floor by my feet.“ What are you doing? You are making some people more important than others, and with evil thoughts you are deciding that one person is better. - James 2:2-4 (NCV)

      Many time in the Bible we are cautioned about judging others.

• James 4:12 - God is the only Lawmaker and Judge. He is the only One who can save and destroy. So it is not right for you to judge your neighbor. (NCV)
• John 7:24 - "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." (NAS)
• Matthew 7:1-2 - "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. (ESV)
• Romans 2:1 - Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. (ESV)

      Samuel was a prophet in the Old Testament who looked at someone and thought he looked good enough to be king but he forgot to look at the person the way God does. Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.” But Samuel asked, “How can I do that? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” “Take a heifer with you,” the Lord replied, “and say that you have come to make a sacrifice to the Lord. Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you which of his sons to anoint for me.” So Samuel did as the Lord instructed. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town came trembling to meet him. “What’s wrong?” they asked. “Do you come in peace?” “Yes,” Samuel replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice, too. When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”- 1 Samuel 16:1-6 (NLT)

      I found this poem in my Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations by C. R. Hembree.

I dreamed death came the other night:

And heaven's gates swung wide.

With kindly grace an angel

Ushered me inside.

And there, to my astonishment,

Stood folks I'd known on earth.

Some I'd judged and labeled

Unfit or of little worth.

Indignant words rose to my lips,

But never were set free;

For every face showed stunned surprise...

No one expected me!

      Here's Something to Ponder

• In what way would you like to be judged?
• How are you seeing those around yourself?

IF YOU WERE THERE

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8

     It was a beautiful Easter morning as Helen Grey welcomed a room full of kids to her Sunday school class. "Does anybody know why today is such a special day?" she asked.

     "It's Easter today." Bernadette answered to which Stella added, "And the Easter Bunny hides a bunch of eggs for us to find when we get home from church." And Harold who's always hungry chirped in, "And he brings us baskets full of candy to eat." Not to be left out, Mindy and Cindy wanted to know if that meant they were going to look for Easter eggs for class.

     "You are right, Bernadette." Helen told her, "Today is called Easter, and a lot of the things that you kids mentioned are done on Easter, but that's not what Easter is all about. Easter is also called Resurrection Sunday. It's not about a bunny hiding eggs and giving candy to kids but about Jesus dying on a cross, being buried in a tomb, and than rising from the dead. Our story this morning will start just a couple days before the Passover."

     As Helen went on to explain that the Passover was a special holiday that the Jews celebrated every year, in remembrance of how God passed over the Israelites while they were in Egypt and killed all the first born of the Egyptians so they could be set free, Harold started making funny faces. "HAROLD!" Helen called out he sat up straight and stared forward with a blank expression on his face.

     "Now the Passover was just a couple days away," Helen continued, "and the chief priests and the scribes got together to plan a way to get Jesus and kill him. At the same time Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of Jesus' disciples. Now Judas went and talked to the chief priests and scribes about how he could help them by betraying Jesus. Than Judas agreed to lead them to Jesus when he was alone, and they payed him thirty pieces of silver."

     "Judas, you scoundrel!" Harold shouted as he jumped up out of his chair and soon everyone was looking at him. "Oops!" Harold said and sat back down and started staring at the ceiling.

     "As we continue our story," Helen continued, "the day of the passover arrived, and Jesus sent Peter and John to prepare a place for them to eat the Passover meal. "Where do You want us to prepare it?" they asked Jesus, and Jesus told them, that when they had entered the city, a man would meet them who was carrying a pitcher of water; and they were to follow him into the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"' "And he will show you a large, furnished upper room; prepare it there." And that is exactly what happened."

"Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with His twelve disciples. As they were eating, He told them that one of them would betray Him. Being deeply grieved, each one of the disciples began ask Him if it was him. In response Jesus said that, "He who dips his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born." After Jesus said that Judas, who was betraying Him, said, "Surely it is not I?" As they continued to eat, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

     As Helen continued to tell the story, Harold started snoring and soon he was snoring so loud that Helen had to stop. Suddenly Harold let out one loud snore and woke up but when he did everything had changed. "Where am I?" Harold said as he looked around, "This doesn't look like my Sunday School classroom. It looks more like a garden path." "Barney! Stella! Where are you? What kind of joke is this?" He called out but all he heard in response was some singing. "I hear you guys and I'm coming to get you," Harold yelled out as he started down the path, but before he got too far he was run into and knocked down.

     "Barney, there you are." Harold said as he stood back up. "Barney who?" said the one who knocked him down. "I'm Judas. Now out of my way, I have a job to do," and he ran off. "Judas? Judas?" Harold started to puzzle but than he heard more voices coming down the path and thought he would try and sneak up on them to find out what was going on..

     As He snuck up behind them Harold heard someone say, "You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, 'I Will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.' "But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee" "That's weird," Harold thought to himself, "that almost sounds like Jesus. I better follow them and see who it really is."

     Soon the voice spoke again "Peter, Peter," it said, "truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." "Peter?" Harold whispered, "Simon Peter? Deny Jesus? I would never do such a thing. Hey, they're moving; I'd better follow," and with that he crept along behind them in the shadows.

     As they neared a garden Harold heard that voice again, "Peter, James, John," it called out, "Will you please come with me into the garden to watch with me? My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death." After saying that Harold was sure that it was Jesus who was talking especially when he hear Him start to pray.

     Feeling a little braver now that he was sure it was Jesus and the disciples, Harold went to ask Peter a question but when he got to them they were sleeping. "How can anybody fall asleep on Jesus?" Harold started to say but quit when he remembered that he was always falling asleep in church.

     When he heard Jesus coming back he chickened out and went and hid in a bush where he stayed until he heard a familiar voice. "OH NO! It's Judas and a bunch of soldiers," he said. "What's that scoundrel doing here? And why is he kissing Jesus? And why are they taking Jesus away?" Harold's head began to spin and he became scared. "I think they see me, I've got to get out of here." He screamed and took off running only to trip over a root and fall flat on his face.

     When Harold stood back up everything had again changed and instead of being in a garden he found himself in the middle of a busy street with his teacher directly in front of him. "Hey, boy, get out of the way," she yelled at him. "Teacher?" Harold asked. "Where am I?" " You're in Jerusalem and as for the teacher Jesus," she pointed, "He's on trial up there."

     As Harold tried to comprehend what he had been told a girl that looked just lie his sister came up to him and asked him if he knew Jesus. "I don't think so." Harold told her and turned away to look for his teacher but there was another girl asking him if he was following Jesus. "NO!" Harold shouted and why do you look like Bernadette? "Who's Bernadette?" came a familiar voice, and when Harold turned to see who was talking he saw his best friend Barney or at least he thought it was Barney or was it Judas or, he was getting confused. "Hey," The boy said, "Do you believe Jesus is who He says He is?" "I don't think so,"Harold responded. "They took Him away so He couldn't be," and as Harold muttered those words he heard a rooster crow and started crying, "NO!! Jesus, why did I do it?"

     After Harold had been crying for sometime, a man tapped him on the shoulder and asked him if he was alright. "They took Jesus, and... and I denied Him just like he told Peter he would do" Harold responded with out looking up. "I wouldn't worry too much about that," that man told him, "they're probably just going to kill Him."

     "Kill Him!?" Harold shouted as he looked up and found that he was talking to someone that looked just like his Grandpa. "Yeah," the man replied, "I've been following the trial really closely and I thought He might have been the Messiah, but..." "But what?" Harold wanted to know.

     "Well," the man continued, "from what I've learned, after they arrested Jesus, they took him to Caiaphas, the high priest. There all the scribes and chief priests tries to find some legal reason to have Him killed. They even tried to use false witnesses against Him, but none of their stories agreed. Finally they asked Him if He was the Christ, The Son of God, and He told them He was. Poor man, why did He say He was the Christ. Anyways, after that they began mocking Him, hitting Him, why they even blindfolded Him to see if He could guess who was hitting him. After that, they sent him to Pilate. I guess Pilate couldn't get anywhere with Him so he sent Him to Herod. Than, just a little while ago Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate in a purple robe with a crown of thorns on His head. Funny person this Jesus, He seemed so peaceful and calm through it all."

     As Harold listened all he could do is shake his head in disbelief. "Look, boy," the man interrupted himself, "Pilate is going to give a speech." Soon the crowd started yelling 'Barabbas' over and over again. "I can't hear him," Harold told the man. "What's he saying? And who's Barabbas?"

     "I'll tell you." said the man, "Pilate said he wants to let Jesus go but the people want him to release the murderer Barabbas instead. I think he's going to do it." As he continued to tell Harold what was happening the crowd quit yelling for Barabbas and started chanting, "Crucify Him... Crucify Him...."

     "No!" Harold cried out in response, "They can't crucify Him, He's Jesus," but his words fell on deaf ears. Soon he saw a beat up man trying to carry a cross down the street by him. As the man approached he could see it was Jesus, and he was falling down because he was so weak. Than somebody came up behind him and shoved him out into the street and told him to carry the cross for him. As Harold picked up the cross he turned to Jesus and said "You can stop them, I know you can." but Jesus never responded.

     Soon they came to a hill and he was pushed away as some soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross. "No! No!" Harold cried, " I can't watch." As he turned away another soldier asked him if he wanted to gamble with them for Jesus' robe, but Harold just turned away and cried.

     Several hours later he noticed it was getting dark, very dark, and as time passed he heard Jesus cry out from the cross, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." "Jesus? Is that you?" Harold called out. Than he heard Jesus cry out again, "My God, My God, Why have you forsaken Me? AAAHHH!!" and with those words the ground began to shake. "Jesus," Harold called out, "Jesus don't die. No, Jesus, don't die. No, Jesus don't die, don't die," Harold started to back away in fear and tripped over a rock and fell out of his chair and onto the floor. "Harold! Harold!" Helen yelled at him, "You've been sleeping in class again." "But I wasn't sleeping," Harold protested, "I was there! I saw them crucify Jesus. "You were sleeping, Harold." His sister Stella told him, "There is no way you could have been there and saw Jesus die."

     "Ahem!" Helen injected, "Shall we continue?" Quietly Harold and Stella shook their heads yes and sat quietly back in their seats. "Now when the evening had come," Helen went on to tell the class, "There was a disciple of Jesus named Joseph. He was a rich man from Arimatheae and he went to Pilate and asked him for Jesus' body. After Pilate made sure the Jesus was dead, he gave it to him and Joseph took the body and wrapped it in cloth, and laid it in his tomb which he had made out of rock. Than a large stone was rolled in front of the door and the priests had guards put at the tomb."

     As Helen moved the story forward to the first day of the week Harold blew some pepper at his sister and Stella started sneezing uncontrollably. When she finally sneezed her last sneeze, she looked around her and found that everyone had disappeared, in fact, her classroom had even disappeared. "This can't be happening to me." she thought. "Things like this only happen to Harold. He must be behind this."

     As Stella started wondering about trying to figure out where she was and what had happened she heard two familiar voices. "Hup two, Hup two" they kept saying, "Hup two, Hup two." As she headed towards the voices she heard the one which sounded like Barney say "This is kind of silly watching a grave. What do they think this man is going to do, walk away?" "Yeah," replied the other voice, "I've never seen a dead man walk yet."

     As Stella got ready to yell at her brother, or at least the one she thought was her brother a bright light started to shine all around her. Than the ground began to shake and as she came into a clearing she saw a huge stone start rolling away from the entrance to a tomb, and, and, a body came out and , and "It's Jesus!" she exclaimed, "He's Alice!". Upon hearing that the soldiers hightailed it out of there knocking Stella down in the process.

     As Stella rolled over onto her back she found herself looking up at her Grandma. "Are you okay little girl?" the woman asked as she reached out to Stella up." "Huh?" Stella mumbled as she brushed herself off, "What happened Grandma Grey? where am I? And why are you dressed funny?"

     "Grandma Grey?" the woman said with a puzzled look, "No, I Mary Magdalene. I've come to anoint Jesus' body with these spices. I just hope the guards can roll the stone away. Why don't you come with me, little girl, and help me and... " She stops abruptly and looks up. "The stone, it's moved! we can go, Let's go! The next thing she knew, Stella was being drug along into the tomb but when they entered it, the body was gone and an angel was sitting in there and told them that Jesus was risen and that they should go tell the disciples.

     Not sure what she should believe, the woman started crying "Where oh where did they take the body?" she sobbed. "Why don't you ask that man over there?" Stella said trying not to cry herself. "Why are you crying?" the man said as he walked over to them. "The body is gone." the woman said "Can you tell me where it is?" but instead of telling her where the body was he simply said "Mary."

     "M M Master" came the woman's reply and she fell down before Him. Than Stella realized who the man was, it was Jesus. "Don't touch me yet, He said, "For I have not yet ascended to My Father, but go to My disciples and tell them I ascend unto My Father and your Father and to My God and your God."

     Excited now, the woman tugged at Stella's shirt "Let's go," she said, "Let's go tell the disciples." As they took off to find them Stella tripped over a rock and fell out of her chair. "Mary, Mary, wait for me." Stella called out as she stood herself back up but now she was back in her classroom and everyone was staring at her. With her face turning bright red, she quietly sat back in her chair as Helen finished her story.

     "Afterward," Helen went on, "He appeared to the elven as they sat to eat and chewed them out for their unbelief and harness of heart because they didn't believe those that had seen Him after he had risen. And He told them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved but he that doesn't believe will be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe. In my name they will be able to cast out devils and they shall speak in tongues, they'll be bit by snakes or drink poison and it will not hurt them, they will lay their hands on the sick and they will be healed. So after the Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up to heaven in a cloud and sat down on the right hand of God."

     As the class ended Bernadette came over to Stella and asked her what happened when she sneezed and why she was calling for Mary. "I was there!" Stella replied, "I was at the tomb, I saw Jesus rise from the grave, I saw Mary Magdalene!! Bernadette, Jesus really is ALIVE!"

     Here's Something to Ponder

• How would you have responded had you been at the crucifixion
• What would it have been like to see Jesus rise from the grave

REMEMBERING JESUS

I am amazed that you are ... believing something different... Galatians 1:6

      Randy, like many a preacher, was having trouble trying to put a title on his sermon for next Sunday and needed to take a break. Since the grass was getting long he thought he’d go do some mowing and headed outside to the churches shed but he never got inside. “Randy! Randy! Come quickly!” he heard some one shout, “We need your help. Hurry! Hurry!”

      As Randy turned to see who was calling him for help, Bernadette ran into him almost knocking him down. “What’s wrong Bernadette?” he asked. “It’s Harold!” Bernadette replied. When Randy heard that his heart sank for all he could think of was Harold had died while in the hospital.

      “Harold’s out of the hospital but his got Amnissieas.” Bernadette said as she tugged on his arm. “He’s home but he can’t remember anything.” “Harold? Amnesia? What do you need my help for?” Randy had to ask. “Because Harold can’t remember who Jesus is.” Bernadette answered. “Let’s go.” said Randy and away they went.

      When Randy and Bernadette made it to the Peterson’s backyard they found Harold mumbling something about trying to remember who Jesus was. “Harold,” Bernadette hollered, “I brought Randy to help you remember who Jesus is.” “Who’s Randy?” Harold asked, “Do I know him?”

      “Randy is the preacher at our church. He knows all about Jesus and you do know him.” Bernadette told Harold. “You helped chase a bird out of the church just before you got hit and lost your memory.” Upon hearing that, Harold started to remember. “I think I know you.” he said to Randy, “But I can’t remember anything about Jesus.”

      For the next couple of hours Bernadette and Randy tried to help Harold remember who Jesus is. They told him about His birth and growing up as a child. They told him about all the things he did while He was on earth and how Jesus eventually died on the cross for the every bodies sins.

      As the evening sun started to set, Harold finally told them he was starting to remember but needed more time to figure everything out and Randy had finally figured out his sermon title. He was going to call it Remembering Jesus. “All too often,” Randy thought, “The people in the church were like the Galatians 1:6 that quickly deserted Him who called them by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel and needed to be reminded about Jesus.

      God, by his grace through Christ, called you to become his people. So I am amazed that you are turning away so quickly and believing something different than the Good News. Really, there is no other Good News. But some people are confusing you; they want to change the Good News of Christ. We preached to you the Good News. So if we ourselves, or even an angel from heaven, should preach to you something different, we should be judged guilty! I said this before, and now I say it again: You have already accepted the Good News. If anyone is preaching something different to you, he should be judged guilty!

Galatians 1:6-9 (NCV)

      Forgetting the good news of Jesus and the ways of God is a common problem It appears to happen in the Pupperville Church and when you look through the Bible you find that it was a problem than too.

• Psalms 106:12-15 - Then the people believed what the Lord said, and they sang praises to him. But they quickly forgot what he had done; they did not wait for his advice. They became greedy for food in the desert, and they tested God there. So he gave them what they wanted, but he also sent a terrible disease among them. (NCV)

• Galatians 4:8-9 - In the past you did not know God. You were slaves to gods that were not real. But now you know the true God. Really, it is God who knows you. So why do you turn back to those weak and useless rules you followed before? Do you want to be slaves to those things again? (NCV)
• Hebrews 5:12-14 - You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. (NLT)

      Bernadette and the rest of Harold's friends need to get the preacher to tell Harold about the ggod news of Jesus, but why? Should we not all have the knowledge to share the good news of Jesus and God's ways? After all, we do have the Bible readily available to learn from and check things out to make sure what is know is correct..

• Romans 15:4 - For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (NAS)
• Acts 17:10-12 - That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men. (NLT)

      Of course, we could know the Bible inside out and never tell anyone the good news but we are suppose too.

• Mark 16:15 - Jesus said to his followers, “Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone. (NCV)
• 2 Timothy 4:2 - Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. (NLT)
• Romans 10:13-14 - Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. But how shall they ask him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? (TLB)

      Here's Something to Ponder

• Are you learning or ignoring the good news of Jesus
• Are you looking for ways to share that good news