Easter Thoughts 2016

Folks,

It's now March 2016, closing in on Easter.  Recently some thoughts have been on my mind.

In Luke's Gospel, Chapter 22 (NASB), it is reported:

⁴³ Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. ⁴⁴ And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

I've read/heard this many times in my 75 years of life. Numerous commentators have offered their thoughts on it. Some say that Jesus was concerned about the agony which was to ensue in the next hours. I have always struggled with that interpretation.

I'd like to throw out some thoughts which came to me.  I think that Jesus was facing the greatest temptation of all. He knew that He was God incarnate. In Matthew's Gospel, Chapter 26 (NASB) it is reported:

⁵³ Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?” 

I think that Satan was tempting Jesus in the ultimate way.  I don't think the thought of pain which was to occur was a problem to Jesus.  I think Satan was talking to him as he had done earlier, look at Matt 4:

⁸ Again, the devil *took Him to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; ⁹ and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and
worship me.” ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”

Jesus was calling upon all of His abilities to resist that temptation.  All Jesus had to do was to "Say the word" and things would have been different.  More than 72000 angels would have appeared at His command. But that would have been against God's plan.  Jesus knew that and I think that was his struggle.  He had the power, but He had to suppress it.  So tempting, but He knew He had to submit to God's plan.  

Very basic... Very, Very basic...

One of the most if not the most recognized passage in the Christian Bible starts with John 3:16.

¹⁶ “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. ¹⁸ He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. ²¹ But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

One of the most difficult for people to understand is that since "the fall" of Adam and Eve, all mankind is under condemnation. It is very simple my friends, we are separated from God and will spend eternity "away" from him unless there is a sacrifice that is acceptable to God.

Food for thought, my friends...

With the recent Supreme Court ruling (or non-ruling) about the Defense of Marriage Act, I have been reading posts and giving it some thought.  When it comes down to the nitty-gritty,"Nothing has changed, our task is still Matt 28:18-20"¹⁸And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Thus it is very simple,  That scripture is what we should focus upon.  No need worrying about other things.  Jesus has given us this "Great Commandment".  Nothing else matters. Secular actions will come and go.  They may or may not coincide with the "Scriptures". But Jesus' command to us is very plain.

Blessings, friends.   

My Sister Carolyn

Carolyn was 9 years older than me. Without realizing it at the time, she was my first spiritual mentor. She contracted polio in 1946 and lived in an iron lung until her death in 1955 due to kidney failure.

Captain Max Dolcater wrote a biographical story about her...

Carolyn Story by Miles Sandin

In Captain Dolcator's story he mentions an audio tape of Carolyn...

Click here to listen to Carolyn's Church meeting presentation.

Notes: 

1. You will notice that her breathing is very measured, this is caused by the Iron Lung. She cannot stretch her sentences. You will also notice the ambient noise of the motor, etc of the Iron Lung.
2. "Marian" is one of her two nurses who helped her with everything.
3.  She uses the word "Effectual".  This is not an active word in my vocabulary.  Definition - "Able to produce a desired effect."
4. There are several "pauses" in her talk where she is waiting for assistance.
5. Near the end, there are some comments by our Dad about the recording.

These are some pictures of Carolyn:

Receiving her High School Diploma

 

 

Writing a letter for "The March of Dimes".

 

 

 

 

On the front porch of our house.  She is drawing or writing.

 

 

 

 

Carolyn and a young Miles.

 

 

The four Sandin kids, Carolyn, Bruce, Robert and Miles

 

Carolyn at Elizabeth City, NC. Our grandparent's summer place at Nixonton.

 

 

 

 



 

A Big, Big Change

Well Folks, a big change in my life! I have changed Churches! For a good while I have had concerns about the direction of The Church of the Brethren, The Shenandoah District and Beaver Creek Church of the Brethren in particular. Suffice it to say that organizational and theological differences became so great I felt that I needed to make a change.

This was not something I took lightly. I have only associated with two Churches in my entire life. I was raised attending the First Baptist Church of Clarendon in Arlington VA. When we moved to Bridgewater in 1967, I started to attend Evy Kaye's home Church, Beaver Creek Church of the Brethren.

Via Facebook, I had made contact with a man with whom I had worked at ComSonics.  As we chatted, it became obvious that he was a Christian.  I asked what Church he attended, and his reply was "Horizon Christian Fellowship Harrisonburg".  He told me about the service and gave me a couple of Internet links to peruse. The web site for the Harrisonburg Church was not yet active at that time.

I learned of "Horizon Christian Fellowship San Diego".  There was much information on its website.  I saw and read information about it's pastor "Mike MacIntosh".  For some reason, there was something familiar about that Church.  I contacted my niece Carol who lives in Sand Diego.  She responded that "Horizon" was the Church that she and her husband Mark were led to when the moved from Baltimore to San Diego.  She commented that the Pastor, Mike MacIntosh had been nurtured my Chuck Smith of The Calvary Chapel Church.  That gave me more leads to research.

I located "The Calvary Chapel Distinctives" written by Chuck Smith.  I downloaded the document, printed it out and studied it.  I also located a book entitled "For the Love of Mike: The Mike MacIntosh Story", downloaded it, printed it out and studied it.  It was interesting to me that the author, Sherwood Eliot Wirt was the founding editor of Billy Graham's "Decision" magazine. The foreword to the book was written by Billy Graham.  In it he writes "Mike is part of a new generation.  Unless our Lord degrees otherwise, he will be one of those chosen to carry the proclamation of the Gospel into the twenty-first century.  What an honor that will be!"

By then, I had decided that I needed to visit "Horizon Christian Fellowship Harrisonburg".  My friend Tony had told me about the service.  They gather around 10:00am.  There is fellowship, games for the kids (4 square, basketball etc), coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Then the music folks (usually 2 guitars, a drum, a keyboard and several vocalists begin praise music.

(Praise music... this was relatively new to me. When I was teaching our adult Sunday School Class at Beaver Creek, I had used a couple of Anne Graham Lotz' books. I subscribed to several of her newsletters.  One day I received notice that she was going to have a taping session for training materials at "The Thomas Road Baptist Church" in Lynchburg.  I filled out the application form and was accepted as a participant.  Interestingly  "The Thomas Road Baptist Church" is now on the campus of Liberty University.  The book for which the materials were being recorded was "The Magnificent Obsession" which is about Abraham.  There were sessions on Wednesday through Friday.  It was a wonderful experience.  To be able to interact with Anne and her staff was great.  Each day's sessions started with the singing of praise music.  I had never encountered this before.  Of course, I am not musically blessed and am probably an embarrassment to Evy Kaye when she hears me!)

"Horizon Christian Fellowship Harrisonburg" meets in The Cornerstone School facility just off Rt 11 North in Harrisonburg.  The facility has a large gymnasium/auditorium combination area.  A large curtain divides the area into halves.  On the stage side there are two large screens upon which are displayed song words, scripture texts, etc.  The musicians are in the center on a raised platform.  Seating is in fold up padded chairs arranged in 4 sections facing the lectern and musician area.

There are numerous opportunities for worship and involvement.  On Wednesday evening there are two age groups of youth activities in addition to an adult gathering.  There is a men's gathering on Friday morning (6:30am) at Greenberry's coffee shop in Harrisonburg.

The pastor is Ronnie Breen.  His roots are in Horizon Christian Fellowship San Diego. He and his wife Natalie have 4 children.  He had been the leader of YDI (Youth Development, Inc) located in Headwaters, VA.  He accepted the call to establish a Horizon Church in Harrisonburg.  This was done several years ago.

The website for the Church is now alive and contains much information. (http://horizonhburg.org/)  Each sermon audio is available to listen to.  The Church is active in many ministries...

http://www.gabrielhouseofmexico.com/
http://www.rockministry.us/
http://www.ydionline.org/
http://www.zionproject.org/

I am very pleased with my new Church home.  The sermons are expository (teaching) rather than preaching.  When I started attending, they had just finished up the Old testament book of Genesis.  We are now working on the Gospel of John, verse by verse.  My sister-in-law Eleanor Gene Miller introduced me to the writings and sermons of John MacArthur.  He writes and teaches in the expository fashion and it really satisfies my need for learning and worship.

My guess of the average attendance is 150-200.  The organization is pastor and elders.

Since the Church is relatively new, the congregation consists of folks who were searching for a new Church home in comparison to just growing up and attending where your ancestors attended.  I find that there is a vibrant interest in the Scriptures throughout the congregation.  Many people are very learned and conversant about them.

Prayer is emphasized, encouraged and practiced. Right now, time is set aside for folks to gather and pray for about 1/2 hour before the services on Wednesday and Sunday.Interesting happening... shortly after I started attending, at the conclusion of the Sunday morning service, Pastor Ronnie asked us to gather in small groups and pray. The folks I normally sit with were involved with the youth program, so I was basically by myself sitting in the front row on the side. I was beginning to pray when I felt an arm around my shoulder. I looked and there was a young boy and he asked my name. I responded "Miles, what is your name?" He replied "Ezra". I asked, "Ezra, how old are you?" He replied "Ten.". I replied "Ezra, I am 72, it is a pleasure to meet you". He said. "Miles, I'd like to pray for you", and he did. I then said a prayer for him. Wow! I mentioned this to the Pastor's father afterward and he said that there are other children who can and do this. In all my years, I had never encountered this.

There are special programs for youth during the Sunday Morning Worship time and on Wednesday evenings.  The youth have programs for the congregation.  The Christmas program was a special treat.

I have availed myself of all opportunities to meet and worship. One evening we went Christmas Caroling at a trailer park within walking distance of the Church.  Over 70 folks participated.  We went to many of the trailers and the residents were especially pleased that we came by.

Fellowship is encouraged and practiced.  An "All Church" square dance was held at a member's barn.  A formal dance was held for the youth at the school one Saturday evening. A Christmas carry-in dinner was held after Church on the Sunday before Christmas. 

The Church makes use of the YDI facilities in Highland county.  The Horizon youth along with youth from other areas just gathered for a weekend retreat.  The men will have a weekend retreat there soon. The women had a retreat this past fall.

In addition to its local activities, members have gone to India, Mexico, Belize etc.  In March, eleven folks are going to Nicaragua and four are going to India.

Jesus is the way! The only way!

(This is the text of the sermon I delivered on July 3, 2011 at Beaver Creek Church of The Brethren)

Gifts… Do you have gifts that you consider special?  I do!  Here are a few that are special to me…

 

1.    Mom's last Christmas gift to me (1962) … a manicure set (Mom died Feb 6, 1963 from the effects of breast cancer.)

 

2.    Evy Kaye's Christmas gift to me (1963) … Omega watch (I had been wearing my Timex that I bought during college)

 

3.    Randall's gift to me (maybe 1982)…  he made me a leather belt. I still wear it with my jeans! (He was at John Wayland Middle school)

 

4.    Miles Whitehurst Bible (We have a bunch of Bibles.  This one is very special to me.  It belonged to my Great Grandfather from whom my first name derives. Do you all have Bibles?  I mean each and every one of you!  I believe everyone should have their own Bible or Bibles. You need to be able to read at your leisure and underline what is important to you!)  

 

5.    God's very special gift to me… Jesus  (My family belonged to The First Baptist Church of Clarendon in Arlington VA. It was a physically big church.  My pastor was Dr. M. Jackson White.  One Sunday I was walking down a hall from Sunday School to Church by myself.  Dr. White stopped and confronted me.  As I remember it, he asked or stated “Miles, you know it’s time for you to make a public confession of your faith in Jesus and to become a member of the Church.” WOW! I don’t remember what I replied but it was probably something like “Oh, oh, oh… OK” and I hurried on my way.  I didn’t tell my parents or anybody about this.  That Sunday Evening after Baptist Training Union (one of my parents dropped me off) I of course attended the evening service.  There was always an alter call after each service, I went forward.  My parents didn’t know until the weekly bulletin was received in the mail.  I remember Mom asking me why I hadn’t told them of my intentions.  I don’t remember what I told her.)    

For some time now I have looked for a list of questions and answers that expressed what I felt and believed about my Christianity. I finally found what I was looking for in the back of my latest Bible. (NASB Study Bible - John Macarthur).  I was looking for short answers for the big questions like:

1. Is the Bible true; can we trust what it says? My quick answer… YES!
2. Who is God? Who is Jesus? Who is the Holy Spirit? What is the Trinity?
3. What are Justification, Sanctification and Glorification?
4. Just what is The Church? My answer… It can be the building, but the real answer is a gathering of people who profess and believe Jesus as their personal Savior!
5. What is Election and Predestination?
6. What are angels; fallen angels; demons? What do they do?  How many angels are there? How many “fell” with Lucifer?
7. What is heaven, what is hell, who is and will be in them?
8. Where will I spend eternity?
9. What happens when we die?
10. Do all religions worship the same god?
11. What is the Rapture?  What is the Tribulation? What is the Second Coming? What is the Millennial Reign? What is the Final Judgment? What is Eternity?

OK, relax I’m not going to talk about all of those!  There’s definitely not enough time. Evy Kaye told me I should be through by 11:15, so I set my Blackberry to ring in case I get on a roll!  In our Sunday School Class and in our Bible Study we have touched on many of those questions.  If you were given a test to discuss them, how would you do?  How many would you feel comfortable explain to someone’s teenage child?



To me, the first thing is to understand the significance of the Holy Scriptures, our Bible.  For within them we can find answers to all the rest of the questions.

For this first question, my answer is: I believe that the Bible is God's written revelation to man, and thus the 66 books of the Bible given to us by the Holy Spirit constitute the plenary Word of God (Is plenary in your vocabulary, it’s wasn’t in mine; I had to look it up.  It means - complete in every respect; inspired equally in all parts) (l Co 2:7-14; 2Pe 1:20, 21).

^{Now, turn to 1 CORINTHIANS 2:6-16.  This is The Apostle Paul writing to the Church (a body of believers) in Corinth which is in present day Greece.}

⁶ We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷ No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. ⁸ None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. ⁹ However, as it is written: “What no

eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him—  ¹⁰ these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. ¹¹ For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. ¹³ This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. ¹⁴ The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. ¹⁵ The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, ¹⁶ for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Let’s look carefully now…



 ⁸ None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Paul is saying that proof that the Jewish leaders do not understand God’s message is the fact that they crucified Jesus.  The New Testament had not yet been compiled.  The Old Testament points directly to Jesus’ arrival and mission.



 ¹³ This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. Paul is stating that what he and the disciples are preaching is from the Holy Spirit, not just what they think!¹⁴ The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. Paul says that only people who have received the Holy Spirit into their lives are able to understand the Scriptures.<sup>Now turn to 2 PETER 1:16-21. Peter is writing to the Churches in Asia Minor which includes present day Turkey.

16</sup> For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

¹⁸ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. Here Peter emphatically declares that what they are saying are not stories but rather eyewitness testimonies. Later in the evening of the “Last Supper”, they were in the “Garden of Gethsemane” and heard God’s voice at the “Transfiguration”.                         

 ¹⁹ We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. ²⁰ Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. ²¹ For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Here Peter is emphasizing further that what they say and write is inspired by the Holy Spirit.  I believe that this pertains to all of the Scriptures.  His words ”you will do well to pay attention to it”  is an admonition for us even though we may not yet fully understand them.  

Next, I believe that the Bible constitutes the only infallible rule of faith and practice (Mt 5:18; 24:35; Jn 10:35; l6:12-13; 17:17; 1Co 2:13; 2Ti 3:15-17; Heb 4:12; 2Pe 1:20, 21).

 Now turn to Matthew 5: 17-20

The Fulfillment of the Law

    ¹⁷ “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. ¹⁹ Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Here Jesus is clarifying his role. God & Jesus are to be obeyed!

john 16: 12-15

 ¹² “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. ¹³ But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. ¹⁵ All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will be available to Believers and through Him Only will we be able to discern The Truth.

Jesus is The Way, the Only Way.

Take a look at Romans 10:9-13

⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

 

That’s what happened to me when Dr. White encouraged me.  I went forward and declared to the congregation that I accepted Christ and believed in him.  I did it again when I was baptized a few weeks later.  I stand here now and declare that I accept Jesus is my personal Savior.

 

Now look at John 3:16-18

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

This is the most well know verse in the Bible.  John follows up in v18 the absolute truth about the saving grace available only through Jesus.

Now look back at John 14

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

 ¹ “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴ You know the way to the place where I am going.”

The middle of v3 describes “The Rapture”.  This is a most important concept.  When this occurs, all Christians will be removed from the earth in an instant.  The only people left will be those who have not accepted Jesus as their personal Savior.  At this point the Tribulation begins and the “End Times” clock starts ticking.  Major events will occur during the two 3 ½ year periods of the Tribulation.  It will literally be “Hell on Earth”.  This is not just Miles talking, this is what the Scriptures say.

We need to jump over to Matthew 24:36-44 for just a moment…

³⁶ “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son but only the Father. ³⁷ As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸ For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹ and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰ Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

   ⁴² “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ⁴³ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

An interesting thought… if as Jesus says, only God knows when the Rapture is going to occur, then Satan doesn’t know either.  Yet the scriptures say that the Ant-Christ will come to power right after the Rapture.  Does that mean that Satan always has someone ready to assume that role, all down through history? Think back trough history, who were the most evil people…

OK, back to John 14…

Jesus the Way to the Father

 ⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” ⁸ Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” ⁹ Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. ¹¹ Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. ¹² Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

In v6, Jesus says it all.  You cannot be any clearer than this!

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

    ¹⁵ “If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹ Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. ²⁰ On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. ²¹ Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”  ²² Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”  ²³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ²⁴ Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. ²⁵ “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. ²⁸ “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. ²⁹ I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. ³⁰ I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, ³¹ but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.  “Come now; let us leave.”

What is important to me?  What is important to you? 

At age 25, Evy Kaye and I were different then we are today.  Our wishes, wants and activities were very different.  We were not involved with The Church. We both had been raised in The Church; we both attended and graduated from Bridgewater College which is affiliated with the Church of the Brethren. During the summer of our 25^th year, we spent Saturdays and Sundays water skiing on the Susquehanna River above the Conowingo Dam.

After we moved to Bridgewater and became involved in the life of Beaver Creek, we have gradually changed.  Son Randall was born and our obligation to involve him in the life of the Church was very strong.

I was blessed to have two special folks in my life as spiritual mentors; Hiram Knopp with whom I worked for oh so many years and Evy Kaye’s sister Eleanor Gene.  With both I had so many wonderful talks about things spiritual.  E.G. passed away in December 1994.  She wanted me to have her library of books.  I had to build floor to ceiling book shelves in my office and in the basement to hold them all.  Most were religious books.  They are fascinating.  Some of the authors have become my favorites and I have added more to the collection.

Back in the spring of 2010, our Sunday School class was using the book “I Saw the Lord” by Anne Graham Lotz.  It was about Isaiah. I had signed up for her email list for periodic updates.

One day I received an announcement about a videotaping to be done at The Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg VA.  Now The Thomas Road Baptist Church is no longer on Thomas Road but is located on the campus of Liberty University.  It was to be a teaching and discussion of Anne’s new book “The Magnificent Obsession” which is about Abraham.  The CD would then be made part of the teaching materials.  It would be all day Thursday and Friday. 

I filled out the application and included a resume.  One of the questions involved something to the effect of how would people answer the question “How important do you think God is to Miles?” I decided to test this on son Randall.  I sent an email telling him what was going on and I was stunned by his answer… “The most important thing in your life”!  Wow, I must have changed and I hadn’t thought about it.  Age 25 to age 69 has involved some changes!

I was accepted into the group and it was marvelous to meet and talk with Anne and also her assistant Carole Inman.  Carole’s message was an intimate part of the text for the “I Saw The Lord” book.

I was indeed blessed by the experience.

Now turn to Matthew 28:16:20. I think this is what we as “The Church” should be working on…

The Great Commission

 ¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

This is what it’s all about.  This is what Jesus told his disciples to do!  I believe this extends to us too.  As a denomination we seem to be involved in things ridiculous.  Right now in Grand Rapids Michigan, do you know what they will be discussing… listen to this…

1.    Query: Language on Same Sex Covenantal Relationships.

2.    Query: Guidelines for Implementation of the Congregational Ethics Paper.

3.    Query: Guidance for Responding to the Changing of the Earth’s Climate.

4.    Query: Proper Decorum.

What in the world is going on? I don’t think Alexander Mack would believe what has happened to The Church of the Brethren.  I don’t think my father-in-law; Galen Miller would believe what is happening. I know I can’t believe what is happening.  I am thankful that Beaver Creek Church seems to still have a handle on what Christianity is all about.

I am going on the record saying “They are making it difficult for me to show much enthusiasm and support for the denomination!”  We can do better!

We need to be in prayer!  Prayer for the people of the world! Prayer for the people of our denomination! Prayer for the people of Beaver Creek Church!  Prayer for our families! Prayer for ourselves!  What should we pray for?... Pray that the Holy Spirit will come into lives, opening eyes and opening ears!

A few months ago, Louise Dunn, Faye Wampler and Evy Kaye started a Wednesday evening prayer session.  It runs from 6:30pm to 7:15pm.  We pray silently and we pray out loud.

A few days ago I received an email from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.  In it they told about the July 1953 edition of “Decision” magazine.  Included in it was a square 78 rpm plastic record.  On it was Billy’s special July 4^th message.  Please Listen to it! 

http://www.billygrahamlibrary.org/PGView.aspx?pid=37

How appropriate is it for today? 58 years ago… Wow.

Thank you.

Join with me now in prayer.