People don’t start out afraid of things. Fear creeps in after experiencing trauma. We have a built-in response called fright and flight. It is there to keep us safe in any situation. That response can trigger a greater amount of fear. Learning to control this response is an on-going task for us. And overcoming this response seems to be a very hard task. Lately, people in this country have found their lives to be uncertain. This is due to the loss of jobs, money, stability and trust in our country. The last political/presidential group promised the world and delivered nothing. They blamed the group before them for all the problems and created more trouble than it was worth. All of this began to destabilize this country. But I really think that was the plan all along. And I am not talking about the best laid plans of mice and men. I really believe this was God’s plan all along. It was about putting fear in the heart of man so he would listen. If you haven’t noticed, for the past 16 years, there has been disaster after disaster. They are growing in intensity. And most people just shrug them off as part of life. Let me tell you a story of courage. On the third day after Jesus was crucified, Mary Magdelan and Jesus’ mother went to the tomb to finish burying Jesus. They had to bury Him in a hurry before Passover started. The Religious leaders were still looking for the followers of Jesus and the tomb was guarded by the Romans. But they were going to give Jesus a proper burial. They didn’t care what anyone said or did. They were going to do what was right even if it cost them their lives. They weren’t afraid of doing right.

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I was not always willing to do things that were different. In some ways I still am not willing. I was afraid of getting out there on my own and failing. I always saw the possibility of things that could done and I was genuinely interested. What would happen more often than not, people would challenge me. Then I would do it on a dare. I tell you the truth that is the hard way to do things. I had a job by the time I was 13 years old. I kept it all through high school. I worked 6 days a week. In college, I carried 12 hours a semester and worked 40 hours a week. I was doing fine until the fraternity and girls get in the way. That is when it all went sideways. I became somewhat willing to go on an adventure. When I got out of the Air Force, I traveled the country. I wanted to see America. I did for almost a year. But things have a way of catching up to you. I came home to straighten out my life. Everybody was trying to help, but nothing seemed to work. I started praying asking God for help. He sent 2 men to invite me to join their business. I would listen to these men talking about their life in Christ. It interested me and I listened. After about 3 months of listening, I knew that I had to do something. One of the men invited me to his church. I went. It was strange to me. I just listen and look at all the people. The preacher stopped in the middle of his sermon and said hello, anybody out there. I didn’t know then but that was God talking to me. I turned to the pastor and I heard, what more do you want? I knew that I was at the right place and the right time. And that is how it has been. God talks to me and I listen. He said, if you are willing, I will do the rest. And so I have been willing to do what God says all my life.

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We are made up of three parts: body, soul and spirit. Our physical body is made from the dust of the earth. Our spirit is born of God. This is where we are the image and likeness of God. Then we have a soul, which is the life of God that brought together our body and spirit. With these three parts, we become a whole human being. Our body is made from the cursed earth and fights against God. Our spirit is our mind, will and intellect. It is immortal and looks like God. For us to become like God, we have to have faith, trusting and believing God. This is the only way for our spirit man to control our physical body. Faith has to be real to be effective. God gives each of us gifts. These gifts are part of our lives, whether or not we serve God. There are people in the church that look, talk and walk like Christians. They can quote the bible and do many good works in the church. But there is no faith. God calls them wolves in sheep’s clothing. They have no faith in God. Jesus talked to the disciples about this very problem. He said that many will come and say, Lord, Lord. Jesus will reply and say, depart from Me, for I never knew you. This is about belief and unbelief. You can only believe with your spirit or heart. It is time to check your heart for belief. Because once you die, it is all over but the crying. If you don’t believe on this side, you won’t make it into heaven. Faith in God is where you start and it can take you home. Believe and trust God with your life.

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There was a religious leader who came at night to see Jesus. He came at night so no one would see him. All thought, this man understood and knew that Jesus was real and spoke the truth, he didn’t want other people to know that he understood. This is such an indictment against man-kind. Knowing and understanding and not choosing the right way because other people might see also. Several thousands of years ago, God wrote His laws and commandments in the heart of man. He did it so man would understand and have an easier time following God. God made it convenient for man to do the right thing. But man, has refused to follow. It is unfortunate because God has so much to give man. Most of man-kind will not make it into heaven, because of his own choices. It isn’t easy, but it is always simple. Did you know that even disasters will not bring people to Jesus? It has to be a choice that each person must make. This choice has to be made each day of your life. God said in His word, that salvation isn’t in making the decision. It is in living the life until the end of our lives. Just as the wind blows from here to there, so we understand God’s plan and purpose for our lives. Make the choice each day of your life. And you will see and receive the reward God has planned in our lives.

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Everything has a cost. It has value because it has a cost assigned to it. Every man-made object was built with planned obsolescence. It means that at some point in time, it will be thrown away. Even though, it cost a fortune in the beginning. Technology is a good example of this. We had one of the first calculators. It cost over $300. Today, it is less than $10. But there are things that cost more than life itself. People want what they want. They will try to acquire things that aren’t worth the price paid. Drugs are one of those things. It has cost many a person their lives. What is the cost-benefit ratio to that? What is real and beneficial many times isn’t sort after. Because it is perceived to be either too costly or having no value. What value would you assigned to someone that saved your life? I know many people that are trying to save people from themselves. These people got into trouble with wrong choices. And they became trapped. Some people’s lives have taken a wrong turn and they are stuck. This is the story of man-kind. It repeats itself throughout the centuries. God understood that man could never remove himself from his own problems. So, God made a way. First, He had to redeem man from the cost of his problems. God’s solution was the death of His son, Jesus. Then He resurrected Jesus from the grave and gave Him the authority to bring the rest of the family home. Understand, no man can pay the cost of redemption. But it has been paid by Jesus. Now is the time to turn and face God and yourself, because you can’t pay the cost.

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When something breaks out and captures people’s imagination, people follow. There are multitude of new things out there at any given time. And depending on how exciting it is will depend on how popular it is. I can remember when the Twist by Chubby Checker came out. It became so popular that it spread across the country, not only to the young people but to older folks also. Everybody was doing the Twist. Chubby Checker became a one hit wonder. And the Twist died out as fast as it came. There have been many fads that have come and gone since then. It is funny how these things captured people’s imagination. It seems that people aren’t satisfied with the latest trend. It seems that people aren’t content at all. They are always searching for something that will satisfy their soul. There is nothing on this earth that will satisfy your soul. It is a fool’s errand. I played the game for 30 years of my life. Then I found the real reason I was here. Then I found what really did satisfy my soul. What I really wanted was someone who would love me unconditionally. I wanted real joy in life. But most of all, I wanted peace in my life. I found the peace of God that passes all understanding and I followed after. God is calling you home. Follow after Him and He will give you all that you are really looking for.

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Yesterday, we opened our home to our family. We celebrated Easter when the people who are dear to us. It was the first time we really relaxed since we lost our home in the flood. Our new house became home. Easter is many things to different people. It is a celebration of Jesus freeing us from the burden of sin. But not everyone joins in the celebration. As part of God’s family, Jesus opened the gates of heaven to welcome us home. I had a lot of people in my home, but when heaven was opened to the family there was millions of people. Just think if you had to cook for that family. It seemed that everyone enjoyed themselves. I am glad they came to celebrate with us. I just wish all my family in the world would came and celebrate with our older Brother Jesus and our Father, God. There is peace in knowing that you belong to God’s family. Of course, we are loved unconditionally by our Father and older Brother. And God is preparing a meal for us at the end of time. It is called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. But unfortunately, not everyone will be there. It time to plan ahead and to be home for that celebration. It begins with you turning and facing God and yourself.

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Early on the day after Passover, Mary Magdalene, John and Peter found that the stone that covered Jesus’ tomb was rolled away. Mary sat down and cried that Jesus’ body was stolen. Peter didn’t believe either. John enter the tomb, saw the shroud and believed that He had risen. Mary saw what she thought was the caretaker of the garden and ask if He knew what happened to Jesus. Jesus said to Mary, why do you weep? Who are you searching for? Mary then saw it was Jesus. He told her to go tell the disciples that He would met them in Galilee. Some believed, some didn’t. But they all went to Galilee. The disciple whole world had been turned upside down. Everything changed. The religious leaders were looking for the rest of the disciples to arrest them. There were Roman guards at the tomb when Jesus rose from the dead. They ran away. God wanted to prove to man that He loved them and provided a way home. Jesus’ work didn’t finish at the cross, it moved from earth to heaven. There is a part in the Lord’s prayer that says, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. With Jesus in heaven, God has moved into the final stage of his plan, bring His will to earth. On the third day, God began to fulfill His plan for mankind. Jesus rose from the dead and became the Lord of Lords and King of kings. Thus fulfilling God’s word and promise to us.

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Everyone knows the story of Jonah and the whale. Jonah disobeyed God and tried to run away. He took a ship to another land. On the way, a storm arose and Jonah went overboard. There a whale swallowed him. He spent 3 days in the belly of the whale. When he repented of his sin, the whale vomited him up on a beach. Then Jonah did what God wanted him to do. Some religious leaders were questioning want Jesus said was true. They wanted a sign from God. Jesus said that the only sign that the children of Israel would get was the sign of Jonah. It was spending 3 days in the belly of the earth or hell. Jesus was crucified and buried on the day before Passover. Passover, being a high holy day and a Sabbath day, couldn’t have any activity other than church services. They didn’t even have time to properly bury Him. So, they wrapped Him in a cloth and put Jesus in the tomb. They were going to come back after the Passover to finish His burial. So, for 3 day, Jesus descended into hell and took captivity captive. He took the keys of death and hell away from the devil. While the nation of Israel celebrated their freedom from Egyptian bondage, Jesus was hard at work freeing us from death and hell. And so Jesus fulfilled His prophesy about the sign of Jonah in the belly of the whale.

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Today we celebrate the death of Jesus. Not that He died, but what He did for us in His death. It was a road that Jesus had to choose for Himself. God didn’t make Him go to the cross. Jesus knew all along that He would have this option put before Him. But He didn’t choose it until He came to grips with it in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus went to the cross with joy, knowing that He would fulfill God’s plan not only for His life, but the lives of every human being. When is the last time you did anything as spectacular? Jesus said greater things shall you do, because I go to my Father. So, if we are going to do greater things than Jesus, what are they? He said that greater love has no man, than to lay down his life for another. He also said, I am crucified with Christ daily, and that I will pick up my cross and follow Him. Jesus also said, that I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes. It is a day to celebrate, not that Jesus died, but He set us free to serve God. And Jesus chose to walk down this path. What will you choose today? Will it lead to the saving of your household? Remember that there is no greater love than a man lay down his life for another.

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