Psalm 122:
1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together.
4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the Name of the LORD.
5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
7 Peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy palaces.
8 For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.
9 Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.
Comment: As headlines cry, "Israel Under Attack!" - it's good to refresh our minds with God's perspective on current events. We may be caught unaware by news reports; but know that our God, who knows the end from the beginning, is never surprised by late breaking news headlines.
Bible prophecy will be fulfilled, God's promises concerning Jerusalem, both the judgments against her sinfulness and the overweening glory He intended for "her" from the beginning, will come to pass.
Jerusalem is a focal point in God's plan and purpose. He chose it. He calls it Zion. He also refers to it as the "city of David." It plays an integral part in His redemptive plan - toward Israel and toward all mankind. What's more, the earthly city is representative of the heavenly city, New Jerusalem. (See Revelation 21:1-3.)
Psalm 48:
1 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness.
2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
3 God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
...
8 As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.
9 We have thought of Thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of Thy temple.
10 According to Thy Name, O God, so is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth: Thy right hand is full of righteousness.
11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of Thy judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, and go around her: tell the towers thereof.
13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our Guide even unto death.
For further study...
Isaiah 24:23; 62:1-4; 66:10-20; Jeremiah 3:17; Joel 2:32; 3:16-17; Zechariah 2:7-13; 8:20-22; 12:10.
Showing posts with label Comment on News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Comment on News. Show all posts
Friday, July 11, 2014
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Japan's Distress...
"Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." (Isaiah 45:22)
The 9.0 earthquake centered off the coast of Northern Japan, the resulting tsunami, the aftershocks, and the crisis at the nuclear facility in Fukushima Dai-ichi continue to focus the world's attention on the sufferings of the Japanese nation and people. New cities and towns are etched on our minds; Sendai, Misawa, Miyako, Kamaishi, Otsuchi, Minami Samriku, and Ofunato; these are just a few of the places where the Japanese people have shown the world how to face disaster with dignity and noble-hearted courage.
We have seen them react to each new situation bravely, with heroism. We have watched them help each other and lift one another's burdens. We've seen them que up in an orderly manner to receive whatever rations (gas, food, medical supplies,) are available. Their children have borne up in the face of geiger counter checks, strange faces, dire circumstances, and having to be rescued from the ruins. One photo showed a small child with his family, huddled on salvaged, makeshift benches outside what was once their home, cooking on a grill and exposed to the elements. Another saw a little girl, perhaps two years old, being carried by rescue workers. Her family was nowhere to be seen. Yet another photo showed three teenagers rescuing a grandmother "piggy-back." Then, there are the 50 or so men who have laid their lives on the line to try to bring the nuclear situation under control. I find myself saluting the precious Japanese people and praying God's mercy and grace will be granted to them in a measure far exceeding that of their distress.
"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:1-2)
Friday, July 16, 2010
A Father's Impact . . .
At a coffee shop in Canada, I picked up a copy of the Toronto Star, which was there for customers to read while drinking their coffee. It was full of reports on the G-20 and G-8 conferences being held in Ontario. An article on an inside page caught my eye. The lead line spoke of "different dads" and "father issues."
It said most of the world leaders are themselves fathers and a couple of them have fathered twenty or more children! But coming from all walks of life, the fathers of all these leaders have affected (for good or for ill,) the lives of these who are now shaping our world.
While the Canadian Prime Minister was very close to his dad, others grew up without their father’s influence. For instance, Barack Obama, Sr. herded goats in Kenya during his youth. Though educated in Harvard as an economist, he returned to Kenya after his divorce from President Obama’s mother. His son saw him only one more time before he died in an auto accident in 1982. In his book, "Dreams From My Father," Mr. Obama speaks of how hard it was to grow up without his father; a man deemed highly intelligent yet profoundly flawed. He said, "My father was missing. Nothing my mother or grandparents told me could obviate than single, unassailable fact."
The first French President in modern times whose parents are living, Nicholas Sarkozy’s father, Pel, a Hungarian immigrant, (who says he loves women and high living,) came to France penniless. He started his own advertising agency, then left Nicholas’ mother. In succeeding years he’s had three more wives, more children and numerous affairs. From age 4, Nicholas never saw his father again until after he became President.
The father of South Africa’s President, Jacob Zuma, was a policeman who died at the end of World War II, while Jacob was just a child. He soon had to go to work to help his mother and family eke out a living, which prevented him from receiving a formal education.
The fathers of today's world leaders have held many occupations; some were highly esteemed and some would be considered menial. One was a Lutheran pastor, another a bank employee. Others include a cattle ranch hand, a dairy farmer, a glass manufacturing plant executive, a stock broker, a professor, a bus driver, and an accountant.
[Source: "Who’s Their Daddy?" Pg. IN-3, Toronto Star; Sunday, June 20, 2010.]
So, although some had good relationships with their fathers, others came to the present through negatives and deficiency. Some consider they’ve achieved earthly recognition despite circumstances and backgrounds. Others see limitations, (thrust upon them by the lack of a father’s guidance and/or by the difficulties they endured,) affecting their ability to lead effectively. While overcoming obstacles is always a possibility, it is also a challenge. For many, it is the crayon that colors everything else in life.
Over the years, I’ve heard Bro. Grisham teach that the best example a father can set before his children is to love God, love his wife, and love his children. The fathers I’ve observed who have modeled this wise advice are without exception, honorable men worthy of godly emulation. Children raised in such a setting have advantages beyond monetary measure. The example godly fathers set provides insight and perspective capable of holding their children steady throughout life’s ebb and flow.
Moses commanded, "Teach your children diligently; when you sit at home, when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (Deuteronomy 6:7 niv) Fathers who failed in this task handed their children over to idolatry and sure and certain judgment. Subsequent generations did not even know God. As judgment fell, the prophet spoke of the proverb, "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge." (Ezekiel 18:2) But this was not God’s plan. He wanted reconciliation and restoration. "Behold, I will sent you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." (Malachi 4:5-6)
In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul balances the ledger, "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4. See also Colossians 3:21.)
Fathers, you have an unction from the Holy One. Your children are your deposit into the future, your bid in making an impact on the world to come. The only contribution that will truly last is the one that affects and enhances eternity. Everything else is wood, hay and stubble.
~ mjkinnee
July 2010
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Audacious Hope
The week of January 20, 2009 - what an amazing week it was! Observing the inaugural events, one couldn’t help but note the overwhelming numbers and the cross-section of cultures, races and creeds that crowded into our nation’s capital. One photo showed a woman gazing adoringly toward the podium, hands clasped as though in earnest prayer. Many a face was streaked with tears as old and young alike stood in awe. The sheer power of a unified mass of people was evident and electric as throngs around the world pinned their hopes on a promise of change. In interviews, one man said it was “more like a coronation than an inauguration.” A woman described the festivities as “Mardi Gras, without the nudity.” Over and over, there were comments on the patience of the crowds with the cold, the long lines and the waiting. Goodwill hung in the air like an aura, infecting even the dour. The New York Times featured stories like; “Obama Takes Oath and Nation in Crisis Embraces the Moment” and, “A Portrait of Change: In First Family, a Nation’s Many Faces.”
Lean and earnest, clad in the traditional presidential black cashmere overcoat, a man of eloquence delivered a carefully crafted inaugural address that acknowledged the challenges and the need to face the future with a shared sense of responsibility. Everywhere you looked, the crowds seemed ready to buy into his hopefulness and promise of change to come.
Mankind longs to be the master of his own destiny, so he seeks for strong leadership that promises to move in the direction of his own leanings. Add to that the realization of long sought victory and the fulfillment of hopes long denied, and a potion more powerful than the most potent drug results. For hope is an emotional thing, enduring in the face of formidable odds.
Paul said, “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?” (Romans 8:24) The wise man said, “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12) Realized hope is a generating force – with the power to foster both great good and unimaginable evil.
But we are living in a day when the hopes of a vast cross-section of diverse opinions and ideologies have married the good and valid with the evil and unthinkable, making its weakness visible. (See Daniel 2:41-43.) As iron and clay cannot be mixed or mingled, so two cannot “walk together, except they be agreed.” (Amos 3:3) The problem is one side has to give in to the other. Elementary science says when you mix cold and hot water; cold water does not become warmer, hot water cools down. (Note God’s opinion of lukewarmness – Revelation 3:15-16.) Because such combinations make a weak foundation, King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is alive in today’s headlines.
“…Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar…” (Romans 3:4) and, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34) The world is tottering because it’s founded on flawed hope, which cannot succeed. Man’s broad way panders to the unthinkable for political advantage.
God’s way is straight and narrow. The solid foundation, built on the Rock declares, “The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:24-26)
The old hymn declares, “On Christ, the solid Rock I stand – all other ground is sinking sand.” The hope of the believer is founded on His Word and His promise. God’s Word cannot fail. It is the nail fastened in a sure place! This hope is the anchor for the soul of man. It’s sure and steadfast. It’s a good hope... a blessed hope... a lively hope... a glorious hope... an audacious hope... a hope that maketh not ashamed. “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” (I John 3:3) Blessed is every man, woman, boy and girl who puts all their hope in the Lord!
~ mjkinnee
Lean and earnest, clad in the traditional presidential black cashmere overcoat, a man of eloquence delivered a carefully crafted inaugural address that acknowledged the challenges and the need to face the future with a shared sense of responsibility. Everywhere you looked, the crowds seemed ready to buy into his hopefulness and promise of change to come.
Mankind longs to be the master of his own destiny, so he seeks for strong leadership that promises to move in the direction of his own leanings. Add to that the realization of long sought victory and the fulfillment of hopes long denied, and a potion more powerful than the most potent drug results. For hope is an emotional thing, enduring in the face of formidable odds.
Paul said, “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?” (Romans 8:24) The wise man said, “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12) Realized hope is a generating force – with the power to foster both great good and unimaginable evil.
But we are living in a day when the hopes of a vast cross-section of diverse opinions and ideologies have married the good and valid with the evil and unthinkable, making its weakness visible. (See Daniel 2:41-43.) As iron and clay cannot be mixed or mingled, so two cannot “walk together, except they be agreed.” (Amos 3:3) The problem is one side has to give in to the other. Elementary science says when you mix cold and hot water; cold water does not become warmer, hot water cools down. (Note God’s opinion of lukewarmness – Revelation 3:15-16.) Because such combinations make a weak foundation, King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is alive in today’s headlines.
“…Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar…” (Romans 3:4) and, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34) The world is tottering because it’s founded on flawed hope, which cannot succeed. Man’s broad way panders to the unthinkable for political advantage.
God’s way is straight and narrow. The solid foundation, built on the Rock declares, “The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:24-26)
The old hymn declares, “On Christ, the solid Rock I stand – all other ground is sinking sand.” The hope of the believer is founded on His Word and His promise. God’s Word cannot fail. It is the nail fastened in a sure place! This hope is the anchor for the soul of man. It’s sure and steadfast. It’s a good hope... a blessed hope... a lively hope... a glorious hope... an audacious hope... a hope that maketh not ashamed. “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” (I John 3:3) Blessed is every man, woman, boy and girl who puts all their hope in the Lord!
~ mjkinnee
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Incendiary Remarks
Washington Post Political Cartoon
This cartoon is highly offensive to Pentecostals everywhere. It brought quick letters of protest to the Post and has garnered a generally negative response by people of faith everywhere. I've heard that a number of letters have been directed to the editor. But in checking the Washington Post website this morning, I found these letters of protest had not been posted. Instead, only e-mailed comments supporting Mr. Oliphant were on display. But as I thought on all these things, the following Scriptures came to mind...
September 9, 2008
Incendiary remarks stir up strife and focus negative attention on people of faith and obedience.
Incendiary remarks stir up strife and focus negative attention on people of faith and obedience.
See link:
This cartoon is highly offensive to Pentecostals everywhere. It brought quick letters of protest to the Post and has garnered a generally negative response by people of faith everywhere. I've heard that a number of letters have been directed to the editor. But in checking the Washington Post website this morning, I found these letters of protest had not been posted. Instead, only e-mailed comments supporting Mr. Oliphant were on display. But as I thought on all these things, the following Scriptures came to mind...
- "But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used." (Hebrews 10:32-33)
- "Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be [treated] as reprobates. For we can do nothing against the truth but for the truth." (II Corinthians 13:7-8)
- "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets." (Luke 6:22-23)
- "So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them which trouble you." (II Thessalonians 1:4-6)
- "For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lust, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: who shall give account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead." (I Peter 4:3-5)
- "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit and glory of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified." (I Peter 4:12-14)
- "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good..." (Genesis 50:20)
- "In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (I Thessalonians 5:18)
- "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7)
I am not a fatalist, nor am I passive. But we need to exercise caution, to take heed that our response to persecution of any sort is measured and seasoned with the very Spirit of the One they mock and deride. We dare not retaliate in kind or bring railing accusation. This would put us squarely in the place where angels fear to tread.
We proclaim that our trust is in the Lord Jesus. We declare He is God all by Himself. Building on these two premises - my conclusion is... He is well able to defend Himself.
In this cartoon, Mr. Oliphant has not lampooned an individual, (as he may think,) he has mocked the Spirit of God. In matters public and private, wherever and whenever great wrong has been done, God has declared, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay."
I submit to you today, that even though Mr. Oliphant's cartoon is egregious and offensive, and even though it focuses negative attention upon Pentecostals as whole, it just may be that what Mr. Oliphant intended as mockery and ridicule will turn again and bring great good! Whatever the outcome, God is well able to take care of mockers and we can trust Him to protect His church and prosper the truth.
Therefore, if men are going to call us into question as was done in the book of Acts, let us respond with an Acts-inspired holy boldness!
- "And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto Thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy Word, By stretching forth Thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the Name of Thy Holy Child Jesus."' (Acts 4:29-30)
- "But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets." (Acts 24:14)
We are the people of the Name. We claim to be thoroughly Apostolic in belief, practice and teaching. That means we take our cues from the patterns set forth in the book of Acts...
We pray for holy boldness; we rejoice when counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name's sake; we fight not against flesh and blood but against rulers and principalities, against spiritual wickedness in high places; the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty to the pulling down of strongholds; our minds and our thoughts have been renewed and transformed by the very power Mr. Oliphant mocks; we are clothed in the whole armor of God.
Our method of counterattack is not one of railing accusation, it is the Lord who raises the standard against the onslaught. When His Name, His glory, His Spirit comes into the fray - He will defend and make it abundantly clear not only Who He is, but also the difficulty inherent in "kicking against the pricks."
I feel more than a little sorry for this man - he must not know Jesus. If he did he would not treat the Holy Spirit of God with such disdain, nor would he presume to put words in the mouth of the Almighty. As it is, if he does not seek and find a place of repentance, it might be wise not to be anywhere in the vicinity of Mr. Oliphant.
Then again, who knows? At the moment it is almost the unthinkable considering his track record, but Mr. Pat Oliphant just might be about to have a Damascus Road experience. It wouldn't be the first time an enemy of Christ was transformed into a bold defender of the Truth. Just think, even now the Lord may be preparing some presently unknown Ananias to show him what he ought to do...
Is anything too hard for God?
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Shared Sorrow...
A "Hmm..." moment regarding recent disasters around the globe.
China doesn’t want workers, just money and machinery. Politicians assure everyone that they are doing everything they can; complete with photo-ops, hugs and televised speeches, but the magnitude of the earthquake and the sheer quantities of victims stagger the mind and belie the words. Exhausted relief workers sit by the sides of roads trying to catch their breath before heading on into more carnage. People, too afraid to sleep in buildings, choose to sleep on the ground out in the open as the earth continues to rumble beneath their feet. The media is filled with images of parents weeping over their dead children. For many, it’s their only child, (due to governmental birth control regulations). Mothers Day just past, the photos are a striking reminder that life is fragile and tragedy can transform a normal day into continual temblors of grief. Face after face, each one different, yet each one sharing a common denominator, sorrow. So many faces, so much distress, it numbs the mind... and the numbers keep climbing.
The rulers of Myanmar (Burma) claim they don’t need help. Ask the Burmese people whether they need help as thousands swell the cyclone’s toll. Yet with frustrated hand-wringing and "for shaming," the world sits on the sidelines, plane and boatloads of help at the ready, waiting for permission to enter, while millions huddle in misery out in the open or in temporary shelters, enduring heat and the stench of dead bodies all across the landscape. Disease opens her mouth to swallow the residue. Under pouring rain and sodden skies, with the threat of a second cyclone looming, they sit exposed and defenseless, an unwilling sacrifice to implacable gods. Their leaders spirit away the trickle of relief they allow into the country, while doling out rotten rice to a fraction of those who so desperately need nourishing food. Words from long ago echo across time, "Is it nothing to you, all ye who pass by?"
Throughout, there have been reports of bravery, courage and selflessness. It is right and proper that such be recognized, but when and wherever these stories are told, you can be sure there is an even greater number of unsung heroes. And in their lives and actions the world sees the truth of the words, "Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for a friend."
Thus it is that in the midst of horrendous suffering and chaos, the gold in the human spirit gleams brightest. Spurred on by inner strength beyond their own, they plunge forward into the unknown intent on saving, helping, rescuing, doing what they can to bring hope and light into troublesome times and events. It was this spirit that sent the NY firemen into the World Trade Towers. It was this spirit that sent one lone man in his own boat into the flood waters of Katrina's aftermath to rescue hundreds who were stranded on rooftops and upper floors. It was this spirit that urged the good Samaritan to forget about his own safety and minister to the needs of the wounded man laying by the side of the road. We are not given his name, just his nationality. But he not only ministered on the spot, he also put himself out to take the wounded man to further help and provided for the man’s continued care when duty called him on. That Samaritan’s actions became an illustrated sermon in answer to the question, "Who is my neighbor?"
"Love your neighbor as yourself" – strong words, convicting words, words to remember, but not only in times of tragedy. The hardest part of loving your neighbor as yourself is constancy – becoming the illustrated sermon throughout your life. One thing is sure. Those who make a practice of caring and sharing in the lives of others and who consider others’ needs ahead of their own are legitimate heroes in anyone’s book. When it comes to character – the man or woman, boy or girl who fleshes out this commandment day in and day out far surpasses the shallow, self-centered attention grabbers of this world. And in the end, when we all give an account, this kind of gold, where’re it may be found, can stand the closest of inspections.
China doesn’t want workers, just money and machinery. Politicians assure everyone that they are doing everything they can; complete with photo-ops, hugs and televised speeches, but the magnitude of the earthquake and the sheer quantities of victims stagger the mind and belie the words. Exhausted relief workers sit by the sides of roads trying to catch their breath before heading on into more carnage. People, too afraid to sleep in buildings, choose to sleep on the ground out in the open as the earth continues to rumble beneath their feet. The media is filled with images of parents weeping over their dead children. For many, it’s their only child, (due to governmental birth control regulations). Mothers Day just past, the photos are a striking reminder that life is fragile and tragedy can transform a normal day into continual temblors of grief. Face after face, each one different, yet each one sharing a common denominator, sorrow. So many faces, so much distress, it numbs the mind... and the numbers keep climbing.
The rulers of Myanmar (Burma) claim they don’t need help. Ask the Burmese people whether they need help as thousands swell the cyclone’s toll. Yet with frustrated hand-wringing and "for shaming," the world sits on the sidelines, plane and boatloads of help at the ready, waiting for permission to enter, while millions huddle in misery out in the open or in temporary shelters, enduring heat and the stench of dead bodies all across the landscape. Disease opens her mouth to swallow the residue. Under pouring rain and sodden skies, with the threat of a second cyclone looming, they sit exposed and defenseless, an unwilling sacrifice to implacable gods. Their leaders spirit away the trickle of relief they allow into the country, while doling out rotten rice to a fraction of those who so desperately need nourishing food. Words from long ago echo across time, "Is it nothing to you, all ye who pass by?"
Throughout, there have been reports of bravery, courage and selflessness. It is right and proper that such be recognized, but when and wherever these stories are told, you can be sure there is an even greater number of unsung heroes. And in their lives and actions the world sees the truth of the words, "Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for a friend."
Thus it is that in the midst of horrendous suffering and chaos, the gold in the human spirit gleams brightest. Spurred on by inner strength beyond their own, they plunge forward into the unknown intent on saving, helping, rescuing, doing what they can to bring hope and light into troublesome times and events. It was this spirit that sent the NY firemen into the World Trade Towers. It was this spirit that sent one lone man in his own boat into the flood waters of Katrina's aftermath to rescue hundreds who were stranded on rooftops and upper floors. It was this spirit that urged the good Samaritan to forget about his own safety and minister to the needs of the wounded man laying by the side of the road. We are not given his name, just his nationality. But he not only ministered on the spot, he also put himself out to take the wounded man to further help and provided for the man’s continued care when duty called him on. That Samaritan’s actions became an illustrated sermon in answer to the question, "Who is my neighbor?"
"Love your neighbor as yourself" – strong words, convicting words, words to remember, but not only in times of tragedy. The hardest part of loving your neighbor as yourself is constancy – becoming the illustrated sermon throughout your life. One thing is sure. Those who make a practice of caring and sharing in the lives of others and who consider others’ needs ahead of their own are legitimate heroes in anyone’s book. When it comes to character – the man or woman, boy or girl who fleshes out this commandment day in and day out far surpasses the shallow, self-centered attention grabbers of this world. And in the end, when we all give an account, this kind of gold, where’re it may be found, can stand the closest of inspections.
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