A Man Who Lost His Job ~ Helping others overcome their failures

There was once a man who had an ambition to be a writer; he had succeeded in publishing a book and some magazine articles, but it seemed impossible to make a living for his family by relying on his pen.

Through the influence of a friend he secured a position as a weigher in the Boston customhouse. After two years he lost his job. He went home to his wife a failure. A college graduate thirty-seven years old who had lost his job paying only one hundred dollars a month and had no prospects at all for the future.

His wife greeted his dismal announcement with the words, "That's wonderful, now you are free to write your book, I believe in you!" Under the stimulus of her faith he wrote one of the greatest of all American novels, The Scarlet Letter.

COMMENTARY

Many people are not strong enough to turn defeat into victory unless they receive encouragement from others. It is amazing how many people in this world have become a great success when, not too long before that, they seemed to be total failures.

Mrs. Hawthorne could've been cold and condesending to her husband at that weak humbling moment if she chose to. He walked in with his head and heart down low and her belief in him and words of encouragment changed the whole scene.

"Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. Love me and I may be forced to love you." ~ William Arthur Ward

APPLICATION

Do you know someone who at this moment is feeling like a failure? Perhaps it's one of the many that are unemployed in today's tough economy. There are many that feel like giving up in these tough times. Give them words of encouragement. Let them know that you care about them and that you believe in them.

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Ephesians 4:29

Think of those in your family. In most families nowadays there is at least one person that is greatly struggling and feeling down. I challenge you to contact that person and give them a word of encouragement. Who knows what the outcome will be?

~ John Finley

The Two Natures of Man ~ How to overcome sin in your life

There once was an eskimo that owned about fifty dogs. Every week on Saturday he would bring them into town where the dogs would fight, and people would bet on them.
The eskimo who owned the dogs would also bet. His nephew noticed that his uncle would also always win his bets. At first he thought it was just because his uncles knew his dogs well but he saw that sometimes a dog that was beaten by another dog would win in a different match weeks later against the same dog and he was perplexed.
One day he went to him and said, "Uncle, how do you always know which dogs will win the fight?" "Well, nephew," responded the eskimo, "I will tell you, but you have to promise to keep it a secret ok?" " I will, the nephew said. "It's actually very simple, I only bet on the dogs I feed during the week."

COMMENTARY

The bible says we all have two natures. One is carnal (flesh) and one is spiritual. And the moral we can draw from this story is that which ever one we feed the most is the one that will win the battles life brings us. We are to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.

"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Romans 8:6

I believe this story helps to answer the question; "How does one overcome sin?" The answer, silly as it sounds, is that you are what you eat. What is it you allow in to yourself on a daily basis? The things you listen to, what you look at, where you go, the kind of friends you socialize with, and most importantly the thoughts you think, are all ways that you feed yourself. We are always feeding ourself and you have the choice as to which nature you are feeding.

For example, take a man who has cheated on his wife. He may say, "It just happened, the temptation came and I gave in." But in truth, it rarely just happens. This man most likely had many thoughts of infidelity prior to the act. He fed his carnal nature far more than his spiritual nature and when the temptation (battle) came his spiritual nature was unnourished and weak while his carnal nature was strong.

The sad thing is that many blame God when they end up giving into a sin or have been trying to overcome a sin that they have been struggling with for years. If this is you, look at your life. Are you doing things that feed the sin nature or are you avoiding those things? Truth is we all feed a little of both natures on a daily basis. Sometimes you just can't avoid it. The key is to always make sure you're spiritual nature is well fed.

If you are a parent I would also apply this story to how you are feeding your children. Are you feeding them with knowledge and wisdom that can help them to avoid the tempations they will face? Do they mostly get fed by what they see on tv, internet, movies and other friends? If so, then they will not be strong enough to win the battles and temptations that come their way.

APPLICATION

I suggest you take a good look at yourself for the past week. The places you have gone, the things you have seen, what you do online, the people you associate with and the thoughts you have thought.
Which nature are you feeding the most?

The bible says, "As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come."Proverbs 26:1-3

Some ways to feed the spiritual nature are: think good thoughts, prayer, read the Word, go to church, bible studies, avoid negative and sinful thoughts.

And you don't have to be a monk either. You can enjoy life and walk in the Spirit at the same time!

John Finley

False Power Always Fails ~ The difference between real and false power

Mussolini, presiding at a celebration in Rome while at the height of his power, cried out: “Since prehistoric times, one shout has come down on the waves of the centuries, ‘Woe to the weak!'"

Evidently Mussolini had not listened very attentively to the shouts of the past. Had he done so, from the spot where he stood he could have heard the dying groans of the Roman Empire. All about him were the relics of a civilization that was unable to perpetuate itself by force.

Perhaps Mussolini had never studied the history of Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon. Evidently he had never meditated on the downfall of Napoleon. In his ignorance of the past, he was blind to the fact that his own house was built on sand.

No nation has ever maintained itself permanently by force alone. If it does not go down before a combination of powers, it suffers inner disintegration because it loses the loyalty of its own people. Only when force is the expression of righteousness does it permanently endure.

COMMENTARY

I used to think that to have power meant you had to have great wealth and great authority. The scriptures beg to differ. Take Jesus for example. In the eyes of the affluent, the religious leaders and the Romans he wasn’t one to be esteemed. He didn’t possess any grand titles, he had no wealth, he wasn’t educated by some elite teacher of the day, and he didn’t even have his own home.

It is also ironic that Napoleon is mentioned in the story above because he once stated, “Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded great empires, but upon what did these creations of our genius depend? Upon force! Jesus alone founded his empire on love, and to this very day millions would die for him. I think I understand something of human nature, and I tell you that all these were men and I am a man. None else was like him. Jesus Christ was more than a man.”

I have always been a little perplexed in understanding Napoleon. Though he is notoriously remembered for being a brutal and violent man, I believe that he knew there was a greater power out there and a path more noble than the one he chose.

For example, one night, it has been written, that he was with many of his leaders on the ship "L'Orient" headed for Egypt. As the men sat on the deck, they engaged in a discussion of religion. The opinion was generally expressed that the belief in God was an ancient idea which had once served a valuable purpose but was no longer needed by intelligent people. Napoleon was silent as he listened to the conversation. As he arose to go to his room he pointed to the stars shining brilliantly in the darkness and said, "Messieurs, who made all that?"

Jesus, being fully man and fully God, had the power to do whatever he wanted. But he came to fulfill a mission. Part of His mission was to give the world an example of how we each should live. As the Romans brutally whipped him to the edge of death he could’ve stopped them at any moment, but He didn’t.

True power is not what the world says it is. To those who looked on as the bloody Jesus carried his cross, He looked weak and powerless. We know, however, that within Him was all the power in the universe.

So one sign of true power is to do the will of God regardless of how you look on the outside and even sometimes how you feel inside.

This last verse of a hymn by Charles Wesley demonstrates the power we have when we surrender to God:

All things are possible to God;
To Christ, the power of God in me;
Now shed Thy mighty Self abroad,
Let me no longer live, but Thee;
Give me this hour in Thee to prove
The sweet omnipotence of love.

APPLICATION

No longer look at those who have great wealth, high education, big titles, connections and worldly influence as ones that have true power. Ones that have true power may be blessed to have these things, but the ones who have true power have surrendered themselves to God and let Him reign through them. As John the Baptist said, “I must decrease that He may increase.” This holds true for you and me. Do all things in love. And as the bible says, "Don't be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good."

I, like many other Christians, used to become so angry at the corruption I see in our government, and the world's governments. I felt adamant that I should do something to expose what's really going on. I began to feel powerless believing that the wicked controlled the media and that they would continue to lie and get away with so much evil. I started to see conspiracies in so many events. I now believe that kind of thinking is a trap to avoid.

One day I came across a verse from the book of Proverbs that brought me peace. It says, "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever he wishes." (Proverbs 21:1). I realized that God is in control and I need not worry. God certainly does not condone the evil that is done by many of our leaders but He works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
“Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure: ~ Psalm 2:1-5

In conlusion I would like to say that the greatest and only undefeatable power in the universe is Love, not force.

J. Lawrence Finley

The Old Man and Abraham ~ Having patience with others

There is an old jewish legend regarding Abraham. It says that one day he was by his tent in the desert among his family and friends when and old man came upon them. The man was 100 years old and was using a cane to walk with.

As was the custom Abraham welcomed the man and offered to make him a meal and a place to sleep for the night. Abraham had made a nice meal with lamb for the old man. When they sat down to eat Abraham raised his plate to the heavens and thanked God for his provision. The old man, however, simply started to eat his meal.

This bothered Abraham and he motioned for the old man to stop eating. He asked him, "Don't you bless God for the provisions He gives you?" "I don't worship God," replied the old man, "I only worship fire." And he commenced eating for he was very hungry.

This outraged Abraham and he shouted at the man for his lack of reverance and faith towards his God. He made the old man get up and leave at once, sending him into the dark dangers of the desert night.

After the man left, Abraham sat in his tent feeling that his anger was just and righteous. Just then, the Lord appeared before him. "Where is the old man I sent you Abraham?" asked the Lord. "I made him leave because he didn't believe in you and fear your name" stated Abraham in a self-dignified manner. "Abraham, O Abraham" said the Lord. "I have striven patiently with this old man these past one hundred years, and you could not strive with him just one night?"

Upon hearing that Abraham put his head down low. He conscious was seared and he felt guilty. He looked up to reply to the Lord, but He was gone.

Abraham ran out of the tent and found the old man...he didn't make it too far yet. He aplologized to him and begged him to return. The old man obliged.

During their meal together Abraham explained to the old man all about the miracles and wonders God had done for him. The old man became a believer in God that night. At bedtime they both prayed to God together. The old man asked God to forgive him for all the bad things he had done, promised he would change his ways and that he would live his life in a manner that would please God.

The next morning Abraham went to the old man's tent to awake him for breakfast. But to his surprise, the old man had died during the night.


COMMENTARY

I love this story! It reminds me of the longsuffering and patience God has shown me. While this is a legend I could certainly see such an event happening.

How about you? Is there one or more people that you can think of that you have lost your patience with? Maybe you are one of those parents who has given up on and turned your back on one of your children. Or a child that has turned your back on one or both of your parents. Take heed to the story above and remember, or perhaps realize, the infinite amount of patience God has with you.

Remember also that Jesus said, Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy." Matt 5:7


APPLICATION

If this story has the same impact on you as it did me, you probably feel a little convicted about the lack of patience you have shown to one or more people. Did someone come to your mind immediately when you read this story? If so, you know what you need to do. Forgive them! Have patience with all people, knowing the amount of patience God has shown, and continues, to show you.

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matt 6:14,15

Others may not share your beliefs, morals or values but you are to be Christlike and have patience with them. Don't delay, contact that person today. You never know, it may be your last chance to make ammends and instill hope in them. When you are forgiving and patient to such a person they see the light in you and maybe it will be just enough to permeate the darkness they are in.

Patience is also a great virtue in regards to all of your relationships, your spouse, children, parents, co-workers, friends and strangers.

The next time you find yourself losing your patience with someone, take a deep breath, remember this story and God's patience with you. If you do, I promise you that your reaction will be a good one.

~ J. Lawrence Finley

"I Love You Anyways" ~ How to be loving at all times

Here is a heart warming story in which a man realizes how much his wife really loves him.
One day this man overcame his fear of rejection and decided to ask his boss for a raise in salary. It was Friday. He told his wife that morning what he was about to do. All day the man felt nervous and apprehensive. Late in the afternoon he summoned the courage to approach his employer. To his delight, the boss agreed to a raise.

The man arrived home to a beautiful table set with their best china. Candles were lighted. His wife had prepared a festive meal. Immediately he figured that someone from the office had tipped her off! Finding his wife in the kitchen, he told her the good news. They embraced and kissed, then sat down to a wonderful meal. Next to his plate the man found a beautiful lettered note. It read: "Congratulations, darling! I knew you'd get the raise! These things will tell you how much I love you."

While on his way to the kitchen to get dessert he noticed that a second card had fallen from her pocket. Picking it off the floor, he read: "Don't worry about not getting the raise! You deserve it anyway! These things will tell you how much I love you."

Total acceptance! Total love. Her love for him was not contingent upon his success at work. In fact, just the opposite. If he were to fail there, if he were to be rejected by his boss he'd be all the more accepted at home. She stood behind him no matter what; softening the blows, healing the wounds, believing in him, loving him. We can be rejected by almost anyone if we're loved by one. ~ Dr. Joeseph Harding

COMMENTARY

That truly is a heartwarming story. The wife's actions display the kind of love our heavenly Father has for us. It is a love that is unconditional. God loves us no matter what! When we succeed, when we fail. When we make the right choices and when we make the wrong choices. It matters not to God if you are talented, beautiful, smart, successful or any of the other myriad of so called essential qualities that many deem necessary to make one valuable or loveable.

In the dictionary loveable is defined as; of such a nature as to attract love, deserving love. God's love does not agree with that definition. For God loves all, even those that do not seem deserving of love. Yes He even loves those who are not of such a nature as to attract love. Do you?

We must strive to understand this love, receive it and share it with others. How is it that you love those that matter most to you? Do you only love them when they are loveable? When times are good? When they are treating you how you want to be treated? What about when times are bad, when they don't treat you right, or when they fail or make mistakes. If you only are loving when the other deserves it, it is not true love. It conveys the message that, "I will only love you when you meet my standards." True unconditional love is not like this. It loves in good times and in bad times. It loves you when you are strong and when you are weak.

The sad thing is that many feel that this is how God loves them. When they sin, make mistakes, or fail they feel as if they are no longer worthy of God's love and that He is turning away in anger. This couldn't be further from the truth! "Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when were dead in transgressions, it is by grace you have been saved." ~ (Ephesians 2:4-5). The best definition I have ever heard of God's grace is undeserved mercy. You see God accepts us as we are, even when we are at our bottoms or our lowest points He stands there with His arms of love just waiting for us. True love yearns for the other's best.

“Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained”
~ C.S. Lewis

APPLICATION

This story is about love and one of the best verses of Love can be found in 1 Corinthians 13. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

There are many definitions of love in those verses. Perhaps you are strong in some areas such as patience and kindness but you are easily angered and you keep a record of wrongs, always at the ready to bring up to your loved one when you feel they need it. I would suggest going through all these descriptions and find the areas you are weak in. Make it a conscious effort to better yourself in those areas even if it's just one at a time.

Always try to put yourself in the other's shoes. Ask yourself, "If I was them what would I want or need most at this moment?" Remember the golden rule, to treat others as you would want them to treat you. Don't wait for the other to do their part first either. Love is about initiating and giving. I remember a couple being interviewed on the news on Valentines Day. They had been married for over 50 years and were very happy. The reporter separated them and asked them both the same question; "What is the secret to a happy marriage?
The woman replied, "That's simple, I treat him like a king and he treats me like a queen." Then she went over to the husband and his reply was, "That's simple, I treat her like a queen and she treats me like a king." They had come to understand that it was their job to initiate, and not wait for the other. Many in relationships today will wait until they are treated how they want to be until they will treat the other the way they want to be treated. The best thing about doing this properly is that you reap what you sow and your love and kindness will come back to you, just be patient.

Be forgiving! Jesus taught us that we are to ask God to forgive us the same manner in which we forgive others. Are you comfortable to have God forgive you as you forgive others?

Sadly there are cases out there in which you cannot simply say, "I forgive you, all is well." Cases such as abuse, infidelity and other acts of wickedness. There may be times when separation and professional help is needed. Even in these cases we are commanded to love and to pray for the other person. Even if they become our enemies. Jesus said, "You have heard it said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven...If you love those who love you what reward will you get?" ~ Matthew 5:43-45

I want to close with the image of the greatest act of love this world has ever known, Jesus on the cross. He had been falsely accused, whipped to the edge of death, his bloody beaten body was then painfully nailed to a cross. And what does He say, as he looks at those that did all this to him? " Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

When those that you love fail you or fail themselves learn to honestly say, "I love you anyways."

J. Lawrence Finley

A Child of the King ~ Knowing who you are in Christ

After King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette had been executed during the French Revolution, their son was placed in the custody of a brutal shoemaker named Simon, who tried to corrupt the boy’s morals. Again and again in the face of temptation the boy is said to have replied, “I cannot do that, for I am the son of a king.” Conscious of his royal lineage, he would not stoop to anything he considered wrong.

COMMENTARY

Though this story is great to tell to today’s youth it is beneficial for anyone of any age who calls themselves a Christian.

I have heard it said, “Too many people say our Father in heaven on Sunday and live the rest of the week as if they are orphans.” They forget they have a Father in Heaven who loves them.

The bible tells us to set our eyes and thoughts on what is eternal and not temporal. We, who believe in Christ, are all children of the King of kings! Knowing and believing in this truth on a daily basis will help you to overcome temptations, choose the right kind of friends to have, avoid places and circumstances you shouldn’t put yourself into and more.

Peter said, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” ~1Peter 2:9

Keep us faithful, keep us pure,
Keep us evermore Thine own!
Help, O help us to endure,
Fit us for Thy promised crown.


APPLICATION

When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself I am a child of the King of kings, I belong to a royal family and I will live this day in such a way that I will bring honor to my King. When faced with temptations remember what this French prince did and do the same. It doesn’t matter if you live in the ghetto or in a penthouse, if you are a believer in Christ you are a child of the King. Live so that others will see that nobility shine from your life!

J. Lawrence Finley

Rising Above ~ The greatest motivation of all

There was a teenager who played on a high school football team in Nebraska. Well, he really didn’t get to play in most games. He wasn’t that talented at all but he had a lot of spirit and the coach liked that. He was at every practice, tried his best and cheered his teammates on during their games. His father was also at every practice and every game in the bleachers.

One day, the young man had missed a practice. The coach, being worried, gave him a call after practice. He told his coach that his father had died the night before. The coach tried to console the young man and asked if there was anything he could do for him. The boy replied, “There is one thing coach, I want to start in the game next week.” This threw the coach back, he knew that the game was the State Championship game, but he figured he would let him start the first play and then take him out.

A week later this young man found himself in the huddle of the opening drive with his team. He insisted adamantly that the quarterback give him the ball. The quarterback was not supposed to give him the ball, but saw the tenacity in his eyes and decided he would take the risk.

The young man, with no talent, grabbed that ball and ran 50 yards! The coach and team were ecstatic and decided to keep him in. The young man went on to run for 4 touchdowns! He broke records that had been unbeaten for years, and of course, they won the championship.

After the game the coach called the young man aside and told him that he had seen many players over the years move it up a notch or two during big games, but nothing like that. The coach asked him how he did it. To this the young man replied, “Well coach, you know how my father used to come to every practice and game?” The coach said, “Yes.” The young man went on to say, “There was something you might not have noticed, did you ever see how I would put my arm around his back as we walked out?” The coach, thinking back, said, “Yeah, I kind of remember that, what about it?” The young man replied, “I did that because my father was blind, and tonight I felt like for the first time in my life, my father could see me play. I love him so much and wanted to do my best for him, that’s how I did it.”

COMMENTARY

I have never shared that story without a tear. My eyes are watery even now. It affects me so strongly because I grew up in New England with my mother and sisters, while my dad lived in Florida. I also played many sports. In the small town I grew up in most of the parents were still married. I was one of the very few that had parents that were divorced. I remember one night, just before Father’s Day, we had a Father and Son night for all the sports teams. It was in front of the whole school, I was the only one on my team without a dad. My coach decided he would walk with me so I wouldn’t feel so out of place. I’ll never forget his kindness, but I will also never forget sneaking into the woods nearby shortly afterwards and crying. It hurt not to be able to do my best in front of my father.

The point of this story is one of the most important messages of the whole bible. God truly loves us, enough to send His one and only begotten son to die for all of our sins. He did this because He wants us to love Him. He could have chosen to create us with no free will, but who would want to be loved by someone that has to love you?

I don’t regret the sufferings I endured as a child or as a man. The Lord strengthens us through our sufferings. We also get to understand him more and can choose to become more like him as we are partakers of His sufferings. “But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (1st Peter 4:13)

You see, many of the trials we go through, if we pay attention, are in our life because the Lord wants us to understand Him more. The more we know and understand Him the more we will love Him.

The young man in the story above was able to go above and beyond what he, or anyone else for that matter, thought he could do. He could do it because he was motivated by the greatest power in the universe, LOVE! I also believe that each one of us has the potential to soar to heights beyond what we can even dream of if we too are filled with and motivated by love.

Shall I not yield to that constraining power?
Shall I not say, O tide of love, flow in?
My God, Thy gentleness hath conquered me,
Life cannot be as it hath hither been.


APPLICATION

As Paul wrote, “Do everything in love.” (1Corinthians 16:14) Too many in the world today the word love is used loosely. Love has many poor definitions in today’s secular world.

Some of the most successful people in this world are ones that have at least one other person who truly loves and believes in them. You can never say you don’t have anyone who loves you because you always have the Lord. You have our heavenly Father, who just like the father in the parable of the prodigal son, is waiting for you to come home. Before you get there he will be running out to meet you, kiss you, hug you and welcome you back.

The bible says, “God is Love.” And with Love (God) on your side, who can be against you? We have so much true power in us, if we will but yield and obey.

Live each day as if you have a Father in heaven who is watching you. Not a mean God waiting for you to slip up. He's not like that at all!

Here is a good place to be reminded what true love is, not the love of this world:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

LOVE CONQUERS ALL!

J. Lawrence Finley

Phideas the Greek Sculptor ~ Being faithful even when others can't see you

One of the greatest sculptors of all time was the Greek sculptor Phideas. Once he was sculpting an enormous statue. He was spending many days working on the minutest details of the back of the head of a particular statue. The statue was to stand some forty feet tall but the back of the head would be up in the apex of the front of a building. No one would ever see the back of the head.

So when many more days continued to pass by the people started to mock Phideas. They told him how foolish he was to spend so much time on an area of his statue that nobody would ever see.
Finally a man approached Phideas and asked him, “Why on earth are you spending so much time on the back of the statue’s head, no one will ever see it?” To this Phideas replied, “God will see it.”

COMMENTARY

I believe in the original story his actual response was the Gods will see it, but the meaning is the same. How few are there today that hold the same attitude as Phideas. Many think that when they are away from their peers or those who can hold them accountable that they can do whatever they please. I too have been guilty of this. In reality it is to God, who sees and knows everything, that we shall stand accountable to.

I believe that God is so immensely pleased with us when we are faithful in those moments. He is always watching us, not as an angry God waiting to punish us, but as a loving Father waiting to bless us.
The bible talks about how David when he was just a boy killed a lion and a bear to protect his sheep. Most grown men would have run away and said, “Good luck sheep, I’m outta here!” I also believe that when the Lord saw these heroic actions of the boy David he knew he would make a great leader over His sheep, Israel.

What have you done in those instances in which you could do a brave or noble deed and nobody would know except God? What about in those moments of temptation when you could supposedly get away with a sin?

Keep us faithful, keep us pure,
Keep us evermore Thine own!
Help, O help us to endure,
Fit us for Thy promised crown.



APPLICATION

Always be faithful to God, especially in those moments when it seems as if no one will notice or care. Like Phideas you can say to yourself, God sees. I also recommend that you find someone or a select few to be accountable to.

It’s easy for many to put on a false exterior of faithfulness when they are around those they believe will care. But, many times, the toughest tests come when no one we know is around.

Yet we often may think to ourselves, “No one will have to know about this sinful act, I can easily get away with this.” Just remember, you may fool the whole world but you will never fool God. In his justice, the double-minded person will end up paying for their indiscretions one way or the other.

J. Lawrence Finley

Mudsplash ~We have all fallen short of the glory of God

One day a young man was heading out to his first day on the job as a waiter. It was a fine restaurant and all the waiters had to have a clean, well pressed white shirt.

As he headed out to the bus stop it was dark and raining. Just as he hit the curb a car came by and he was splashed. He felt a couple of drops hit his face. He thought he might have to go in and get another shirt but as he looked down at his shirt, in the darkness, he didn’t see any stains and proceeded to the bus stop.

As he came closer to the light at the bus stop he looked at his shirt again, he noticed a small spot or two, but thought they wouldn’t be noticeable.

Once he reached the bus stop and stood under the bright street light, he realized his shirt was filthy. It had several mud stains. He had to rush home and change.

COMMENTARY

The truth is that the majority of us who call ourselves Christians think were pretty clean overall. We do our best to treat others as we would have them treat us. We are honest at home and work. We may even attend church and help others.

But according to the Bible, however, we are all filthy compared to the purity and holiness of our God. When Isaiah, one of the greatest of all prophets, saw the Lord he said, “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” ~ Isaiah 6:5

Later Isaiah also said, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” ~ Isaiah 64:6

Regarding what level of righteousness we need to obtain to enter heaven Jesus said, “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” ~ Matthew 5:20

So what does it take to stand pure, clean and righteous in the light of our holy God? Like the old song says, nothing but the blood of Jesus! Paul tells us in the book of Romans, “…There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood…” (Romans 3:22-25). It is through our faith in Christ alone, that we are saved.

The sad thing is that so many people who call themselves Christians in the world today tend to look down on others who are not, as least in their minds, as worthy as them. The truth is that we are all as guilty as the righteous man or woman who devotes their life to the ministry of Christ as to the stubborn heathen who live a life of sin.

One day when the great preacher, Charles Spurgeon, was riding in his horse and buggy he noticed a criminal by the side of the road in the stocks. He asked his driver to pull over. He got out and asked his driver if he knew what the difference was between him and the criminal. The driver said, “You’re a holy man of God and he’s a lowly criminal. To this Sprurgeon replied, “No, the only difference between that man and me is the grace of God.”

Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness
My beauty are, my glorious dress;
Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,
With Joy shall I lift up my head

His spotless robe the same appears,
When ruined nature sinks in fears;
No age can change its glorious hue;
Its glory is forever new.

Count Zinzendorf

APPLICATION

Never treat others as though they are superior or inferior to you, and don’t let others treat you as though you are inferior or superior to them.

Be humble. Don’t look down on others if they have not obtained your level of righteousness. No matter whom you are or what you have done, if it wasn’t for your faith in Christ, standing under the light of God’s glory, you would also realize your great need to run back home and change your shirt. So put your faith in Christ and not in your works, this can greatly change the way you treat other people and the location of your eternal home.

J. Lawrence Finley

God does not show favortism

General Robert E. Lee was once riding through Virginia toward Richmond on a train filled with Confederate officers and soldiers when a woman who was poorly dressed came into the train at one of the stations and walked down the aisle looking for a seat. No one offered to give her one until General Lee, in the far end of the car, arose, and motioned to her to take his place. Immediately several of the soldiers jumped up and offered their seats to the General.

"No, gentlemen," said he. "If you could not rise out of ordinary courtesy to an unknown woman, you need not do so for me."

COMMENTARY

In the book of Acts, Peter said, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.” ~ (Acts 10:34-35)

In our world today it is very sad that so many are respected by the amount of money they have, the amount of power they have, the size of their home, the clothes they wear, the cars they drive etc. Which of these items can they bring to heaven?

An old Chinese proverb states, “Man is born with his hands clenched and dies with his hands wide open.”

James has great counsel on this too. He wrote, “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?...If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers…Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! (James 2:1-12)


His life while here, as well as birth,
Was but a check to pomp and mirth;
And all man’s greatness you may see
Condemned by His humility. ~ Henry Vaughan

APPLICATION

We have all heard it before, treat others as you would have them treat you. Also remember that Jesus said, “I tell you the truth whatever you do for one of the least of these my brothers of mine, you did for me. (Matthew 25:40). He also said, “….whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. “(Matthew 25:45).

God is not a respecter of persons, He shows no favoritism, neither should we. Whatever you sow, you shall reap, it may take a while but how you treat others will always come back to you. Treat the vagabond and the wealthy with the same common respect that is due to all of the children of God. You may be the only one to ever show kindness to a sad soul.

J. Lawrence Finley

The Zen Master ~ How to handle the ups and downs of life

Back in ancient China, in the days of the feudal wars, the armies would often come into the villages and force all the young and healthy men to join them and fight in the wars. Most of the men or boys taken would never return and many were killed in battle.

During those days there was a Zen master who was also a farmer. He had a lovely wife, two daughters and a son.
The Zen master also had a nosy neighbor. The neighbor had noticed that the Zen master's son had left and not come back for three days. He went to the Zen master and said, "It is so bad that your son has been gone so long, surely the armies have taken him or worse." To this the Zen master replied, "Could be good, could be bad." The neighbor thought to himself, "What could be good about his son being gone so long?" But he didn't say anything.

A few hours later the young son of the Zen master came home and he had four wild horses with him. He apologized to his father for being gone so long and said that some of the horses were very difficult to catch. The horses would tremendously help in the farming. The neighbor came running over and excitedly said to the Zen master, "It is great that your son is home safe now and the horses will help greatly!" "Could be good, could be bad" said the Zen master to his neighbor." He couldn't hold it in this time and asked, "What could possibly be bad about this?" Again, the Zen master just said, "Could be good, could be bad." The neighbor realized that the master was trying to teach him something but he didn't get it.

The next afternoon the Zen master's son was breaking the horses so that they would be fit for farming. As he was in the corral trying to tame one he fell off and broke his leg. The Zen master immediately went in and carried him to a safe place. The young man was moaning in pain. Just then the neighbor appeared and said, "This is horrible, you need your son to help in the farming and this could take months to heal." The Zen master looked at his son and then towards the neighbor and said, "Could be good, could be bad." This really drove the neighbor crazy! "What on earth," he thought, "could be good about his son breaking his leg?"

Early the next morning the neighbor awoke with the sounds of metal clashing, many horses and men shouting. It was the army! They were going through their village and forcibly taking all the young and healthy men. As the neighbor came upon the Zen master and his son he saw one of the generals talking to the Zen master. He heard him saying, "You are fortunate that your son has a broken leg or you probably never would have seen him again." The general turned and got on his horse and the army rode out like thunder. At that moment the Zen master looked at the neighbor and said, "See? Could be good, could be bad." The neighbor finally understood what the master was trying to teach him.

COMMENTARY


The actual story was much longer than this. It took the neighbor very long to figure out what the Zen master was trying to teach him. We see two lessons in this story. One is not to get too excited just because something at first appears to be good and also, not to get too worried just because something at first appears to be bad. I call it the "Could be good, could be bad" philopsophy. It is kind of a take life as it comes attitude and trust that all things, good or bad are ultimately in God's hands.

The hard part is not worrying too much. Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." ~John 14:27
Easier said than done. So what does it take to have this attitude? The answer is Faith. The bible says faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Evidence of things not seen? Sounds like a difficult phrase to comprehend doesn't it? How do we have faith when it looks so bad on the outside? We must come to believe that, as the scripture says, "God worketh all things together for good for those that love him ,and are called according to his purpose." ~ Romans 8:28

It is a sign of spiritual maturity and wisdom to come to this place. It is a serene, calm and steadfast trust that no matter what befalls you or the ones you love, you just know, somehow, that in time it will all be good. Even if that time is not until some point in eternity after you have passed on. Perhaps you cannot fathom what could be good about a tragic event that happened to you or one you love. Yet you must know that God is in control and put all your faith in Him, trusting that He knows the mysteries and intricasies beyond your comprehension.

These words were found on a cellar wall in Cologne after World War II:

"I believe in the sun
even when it is not shining;
I believe in Love
even when I feel it not;
I believe in God
even when He is silent."

"The author of this poem", said Liane Cordes, "had the kind of patience that is born of faith and courage. Despite the destruction, injustice, and fear that permeated those war years, the writer never lost faith that life, with all its apparent sorrows and seemingly senseless atrocities, was still worth living.

Can we, when faced with despair, bitterness, or grief, muster the same faith and courage? Can we still affirm, even if we do not understand or see the reasons for our misery and suffering, that there is a Higher Purpose in it, and that we shall ultimately receive the guidance and inspiration to help us overcome it?"

APPLICATION


Learn from the lessons in this story and stop letting people, events and outer circumstances control how you feel. Regardless of whether something presents itself to you as bad or good remain calm, always trusting that all is in God's control. Does this mean you are to be a dull, unenthusiastic person? Not at all! Rejoice at what is good, enjoy it and be grateful. And if bad, or even tragic news, comes your way, trust that it didn't take God by surprise and that He works all things together for good.

Do not live with worries, doubts and fears any longer. Look at them as unwelcome parasites not welcome in the mind or heart of a true believer. Learn from how you have overcome your hurts in the past. Remember also that much more than not, the things you worried about never came to pass.

"Some of your hurts you have cured,
And the sharpest you still have survived,
But what torments of grief you endured,
From evils which never arrived!" ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Start using this phrase in your life. "Could be good, could be bad." Regardless of the outcome, you can trust that all will be well in His time. Faith is the greatest weapon against fear. As George Mueller wisely said, "The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety."

"Trust the past to God's mercy, the present to God's love and the future to God's providence" ~ St. Augustine

J. Lawrence Finley

Boys walking in the snow ~ How to keep focus

One cold wintry day three boys were walking home from school. They came to a large open field that they would cut through as a short cut to get home. The snow was about one foot deep across the large field.

"I bet I can walk a straighter line than you two," said one of the boys. "No way," replied another. "You guys are on!" said the third. "Are there any rules?" asked the youngest. "The only rule is that none of us can look back" replied the oldest.

Then they all proceeded across the field trudging through the snow. Each one thought to himself, "This is easy, I will walk a perfectly straight line and beat them."

When the first boy reached the end of the field he confidently smiled and turned around to view his straight line. But his smile turned into a frown. To his dismay his path was extremely curvey and he couldn't understand it.

The second boy, upon his conclusion, had a similiar result. He turned around to see that he had zigged and zagged all through his trek. "That's not straight at all!" he said perplexingly.

When the third boy finished, he turned also, but he, however, was not disappointed. He was the obvious winner of the challenge. His path was perfectly straight.

The losing boys asked the victor how he did it. "It was simple," replied the winner, "Do you see this big oak tree here?" as he pointed to it. "I just stared at it the whole way and didn't go to the right or left of it, I just focused on the tree."

COMMENTARY

While this is a nice children’s story there are some valuable lessons that can be drawn from it. One obvious lesson is how we can walk on the narrow path if we have our focus where it should be. The other two boys show how many people may confidently think they are in the right path and walking on the straight and narrow, when in reality, they are not.

When I first heard this story I remember trying to visualize what my path would look like if I could see it spiritually. There would have been many curves and zigzags off the path, many times that I was stagnant and unmoving for long periods.There also were times when I would have fallen into a ditch and only God’s hand could get me out and yes, there would also be times when I went backwards.

The solution which we can draw from this story is that if we desire to walk in and stay on the narrow path that leads to life, then we need to have our focus on something all along the way.

The definition of the word focus is this: a central point of attention, attraction or activity. Therefore we need to find out what our central point of attention should be on, a final goal or prize that we should always be moving towards. We must also have within us an attraction that pulls us towards this goal. And lastly the activities of our life should also be always moving towards this central point.

Our central point of attention should be on Jesus Christ! “To the two questions", said T.W. Mann, “What is it that God has given to mankind? and, What is it that God requires in return? The New Testament returns one answer, the life of Christ.” It is somewhat obvious to say that our focus should always be on Christ. After all, we who are called Christians are to be Christ-like, and if you have not studied the life and teachings of Jesus, how can you emulate Him? We have all heard it said, “What would Jesus do?” Well, if you don’t know Jesus you will have a difficult time in ever being able to answer that question with certainty.

“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ…” ~ Philippians 3:7-10

Next there needs to be an attraction to our central point. This attraction that pulls us, sometimes inexplicably or unknowingly, is love. There is no greater power than love! It was love for God, that the boy David risked his life to battle the giant Goliath, that Abraham almost sacrificed his beloved son Isaac and that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would rather risk being burnt to death than serve or worship false gods. With love for God a man may be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause. Loving Christ is what enables the pilgrim to soldier on regardless of what comes his way or tries to take him off course.

Finally, we need for the activities of our life to be always moving to this central point. The thoughts we think, the places we go, the things we do, and what we give our attention to, should all be such that they are keeping us on the path that moves us closer to our goal. I must stress here that our thoughts are the most important of all the activities. ““Our life always expresses the result of our dominant thoughts.” ~ Soren Kierkegaard

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." ~ Colossians 3:1,2

Please note that this doesn’t mean that you are to become so heavenly minded that you are of no earthly use. God has not called us to lead a monastic, ascetic and lonely life. He desires for us to have a life of joy and to be cheerful, regardless of what happens in this world, for He has overcome the world!

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace”



APPLICATION

Try now to visualize your own path behind you. Take your time. Imagine that you have the ability to see your path in the spirit throughout your journey thus far. Have you kept a true, straight-forward course on the narrow path that leads to life? Are you spiritually where you should be now? If not, why? If you know the answer, do something about it! If you don’t know the answer, pray that the Lord will, as a loving shepherd, put his staff around your neck and pull you back where you belong.

Keep your eyes focused on the prize, Jesus Christ. When something is causing you to stray off the path, hastily remove it from your life. Let it be to you as one that may awaken in a jungle to find a snake coiled around his arm. He would do all in his power to quickly remove this dangerous threat to his well-being. And so should you use all your power to quickly remove any dangerous threat to your spiritual well-being. Too many Christians allow things in their lives in which they know are hindrances to their spiritual growth, but choose to nonchalantly say, “I’ll get to that eventually.”

Focus on the positives, not the negatives. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” ~ Philippians 4:8
When you focus on the negatives you will be drawn off the right path.

Learn from your past, but put it behind you and march on toward the goal you are focusing on. Kierkegaad, in agreement wrote “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”

“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 3:13,14

Do what you must to keep yourself focused throughout the day. On the doorposts of every observant-Jewish home is a Mezuzah. The Mezuzah is a reminder to them about the oneness of God. They are reminded of this everytime they pass by the door. Muslims are known for stopping everything when it is time for their daily prayers. Buddhist monks will shave their heads and beard to show their commitment to a holy life. The point I am trying to make is find ways throughout your day to help keep your focus where it should be. You may, for example set aside a specific time for prayer two to three times per day. You could carry a rock in your pocket that has the words Jesus Christ on it. The list could go on, but find what works for you.

Make time for solitude in your life. Jesus very often would go to an isolated place to pray. If He needed that, how much more you and me! We often need these peaceful times alone to help us to see where our focus has been vs. where it should be. The busy-ness of life can take away your focus if you let it. There are many that become too absorbed in their work, or with wholesome activities and hobbies. They may think there is nothing wrong with them spending so much time in these areas. But we must remember that we are not to let anything or anyone come before our Lord. It is in times of solitude, prayer and meditation, that we may see more clearly the status of our journey.

“The Noise of the moment scoffs at the music of eternity” ~ Unknown

I am going to conclude this with some verses from fourth chapter in the Book of Proverbs . I would recommend you read this whole chapter also. It is absolutely great in giving us guidance regarding how we are to walk in, and stay in, the path of righteousness.

“Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve from the right or the left; keep your feet from evil.” ~ Proverbs 4:25-27

J.Lawrence Finley

Roman General Regulus ~How important it is to keep your word

Regulus, a Roman general, was taken prisoner by the armies of Carthage. The leaders of the Carthaginians asked him to go back to Rome and tell his people that Carthage was ready to grant terms of peace. They made him promise by oath that he would return if conditions of peace were not accepted.

Regulus went to Rome and advised his friends to keep on fighting. He told them that Carthage was weakened by war and that Rome could finally win if she refused to give up.

Then he bade farewell to his wife and children and started back to the death which he knew the enraged Carthaginians would inflict upon him. Many of the Romans urged and pleaded with him not to go back. Some thought it was foolish.

Regulus would not even consider it. It was reported that he said, "I am a Roman, and a Roman must keep his word."

Not only was Regulus killed but he was brutally tortured to death. Some accounts say that they cut his eyelids off and tied him to a pole with his face directly looking at the sun until his eyes burned up. Then they had him slowly trampled to death by an elephant!

How amazing is this account? He knew he would endure a horrible death and could easily have avoided it, yet his word was more valuable to him than his own life.

As followers of Christ, we ought to have as much integrity as Regulus, a pagan, did. Can we not say: "I am a Christian and a Christian must keep his word"?

COMMENTARY


This is truly amazing story and one of the most extreme examples I have ever read about regarding one keeping their word at all costs. Almost any man would not have done what he did knowing what would happen. A greater illustration than this is our Lord keeping His word and fulfilling his mission on the cross.

I have always been an avid reader of history from ancient times to the not too distant past. I must say that it saddens me to see how untrusting we have become as a society compared to the past. In certain periods even the worst of enemies valued trust and a man's word exceedingly greater than we do today. In some of those periods and in various culture's a person's word and a handshake was even more binding and revered than many legal contracts today. The thought of either side not keeping their word would not even cross their minds whereas today that is often the first thought.

One does not have to go back too many years or to cultures far away to find the times when a man's word was his bond. I was fortunate enough to meet Mr. Richard DeVos, owner and founder of Amway, in person a couple of years ago. He was kind enough to give me his newest book and sign it for me. Mr. DeVos is one of the few billionaires in our world. In his book he has a chapter dedicated to the phrase, "I trust you." In this chapter he writes, "I've built all of my relationships on trust. All the buildings at Amway, from the earliest and smallest manufacturing plant to all the other structures in our mile long complex, we built with just a handshake; we had no contract."
Can you imagine doing that today? Difficult isn't it?

We are told in the Bible to let our yes mean yes and our no mean no. It is black or white. There are not to be gray areas when it comes to giving your word. We are instructed as Christians to be people of honor and integrity. "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches," the proverbs tell us. A great example of this proverb in action comes from General Robert E. Lee. He was a poor man after the Civil War. In that time of financial distress he was offered a $50,000 annual salary by an insurance company to become its president. All the company wanted was to use his name. Lee refused the offer, saying that if his name was so valuable, he must guard its integrity. I wonder to myself, "Where have these kind of men gone?"

"One of the greatest ways to show you honor God's word is to honor yours."

APPLICATION

We should always do our best to keep our word. Be careful not to make promises you may not be able to keep. Think before you give your word regarding anything, small or large. If you want the opportunity to be faithful over much, then start being faithful over the little things. If you make a commitment, stick to it and follow it through.

If you have made it a habit of breaking promises and you are not currently known as person of your word then start changing that today. It may take time to rebuild the trust where you have lost it but don't give up. If you have to say no, just say no. An honest no is far greater than a dishonest yes anyday. Start keeping your word and you will be amazed at how much you will be trusted with.

Do not over commit yourself either. Napoleon once said, "The best way to keep one's word is not to give it." There is, at times, some truth in that quote.

It is rare in the modern world of today for a man or woman to have the integrity and absolute adherence to their word as General Regulus or many others did in times past. And though it almost seems like the integrity and value of keeping ones word has diminished to only a few here and there out of so many, what is stopping you from being one of the few?

Many say it is part of the business world today to try to get something over the other guy, or to say whatever you have to say to get your share. Disregard that kind of thinking. Sophocles wisely said, "Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud." "We are here to please God and not to succeed at any cost. True success is living rightly and honestly, and whether you are rich or poor it doesn't matter. "Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse." ~ Proverbs 19:1

Lastly, I should also include that it is not necessary to honor your word when it was given for a bad cause. Some feel that they have to commit to something they said they would do even though it is bad and wrong. For example, King Herod, while intoxicated, made a promise to give the daughter of Herodias anything she requested. When she asked for the head of John the Baptist, he really didn't want to do it but he was more worried about how it would affect his reputation if he didn't keep his word. To keep your word when it comes to something that is obviously wrong is a poor choice of judgment. It would have been better for Herod to break his evil promise. "Nobody can aquire honor by doing what is wrong" ~ Thomas Jefferson

I was going to close this with the phrase that "a man's word is as good as his bond" but when I went to research it I found I was missing one crucial word. The proper quote is: "An honest man's word is as good as his bond." ~ Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
Let's be honest and keep our word.

John Finley

A HOUSE DIVIDED

I have a novel in my head now that I would like to write. It begins with an event that I will never forget.

Many years ago I had what I would call either a dream or a vision. The setting was dark and there was an overwhelming sense of despair and sadness that permeated the place. I walked into this large mansion, as I entered the foyer I noticed there were walls all around but no doors anywhere. I tried to find one but couldn't.

Soon I heard what sounded like a man crying upstairs. I walked up the enormous staircase and as I approached the top I noticed the same as below around me; no doors.

When I came to the top of the staircase the crying grew louder and there was a large room in which there was an opening to. Inside I saw an old man. His hair was brighter the whitest wool I have ever seen. He was on his knees and crying vehemently.

I slowly approached him apprehensively and asked him what was wrong. He told me, "I built this house for my family and they have all put up walls. It is filled with division and a house divided cannot stand." He again began to cry bitterly. "What can I do?" I asked, almost surprised I did. He told me, "I want you to go to all of them and show them the foolishness of their divisions and hatred. I have put understanding in you and you can teach them." I replied, "What can I do, I am insignificant in such matters, I am fearful and weak. The thought of going to them frightens me immensely. I don't like to cause any waves, and while I believe and understand what they are doing is wrong, it is not my business and I should just leave them be." "It is your business," he replied, "they are your family, they are your brothers and sisters and I am your father. Go now, do not fear for I will send my spirit to be with you."

Then I awoke. That was many years ago but the impression has not left me.

I have a book that I am just starting. It has to do with answering the call in that dream. The premise of the story is in my head now. It has to do with all types of divisions within our world; Christians/Muslims, Chinese/Japanese, Nazis/Jews, white supremacists/black people, Catholic/Protestants in Ireland, Tutsis/Hutus in Rwanda, Overweight unattractive woman/model types, rich/poor, Sunni-Shi'ite, Caste system in India, Hindu/Muslim, Mormons/Christians, bullies/scared kids, Jews/Arabs, atheists/believers, those with power that create wars and cause division for profit/innocent people they affect, etc.

It starts out with characters that represent the above around the world and shows what their hatred, racism and division causes. It will at times be violent and hard to stomach.

As these events are taking place a large asteroid is heading to the earth. The governments that know this decide to keep it a secret to avoid panic.

The wars and divisions grow and leaders from various faiths around the world are trying to find a solution to bringing peace in the world. Their conversations show the futility they have in bringing resolution, but also the wisdom in trying to bring about peace.

Then the asteroid hits. The earth is destroyed.

The character's souls are transported to various other realms and places. These are places of judgment and self-reflection. Each place is set up for them by a loving supreme being to show them the foolishness and wickedness of their poor thinking.

Sometimes they are there with those they hated, and other times they are not. Each are shown episodes of their life, almost like in Scrooge. They become overwhelmed with guilt. At times the souls of those they hated, tortured, raped or killed are with them as they watch. Verses from their own faiths will be told to them that contradict their wicked behavior.

One scene will have a Hutu in a room watching an Irish Catholic man's and Protestant man's foolish hatred in action during their lifetime. The Hutu will laugh and call them stupid stating that they both believe in and worship the same loving God yet they hate and kill each other. He will criticize them for being so un-Christ-like. As he is laughing at them a Tutsi man he hacked to death with a machete walks in...

In another story a woman who was a gorgeous model and viciously mean to unattractive overweight woman will find herself on a planet in which, what we call unattractive and overweight, is what is desired of all men. She will be the outcast and the one insulted because of her wretched appearance. She will try hard to look like the other women but will not be able to do it.

A man that was rich and greedy will go to a utopian paradise, perhaps one similar to what John Lennon imagined, in which there are no possessions and all have what they need and give freely to ensure that there is no greed and all needs are met. He learns how foolish it was to be greedy and in his visions of his past he will see many who suffered when he could of helped them.

A Chinese man and a Japanese man will be brought to the Nankin Massacre where the Japanese raped thousands of women and slaughtered over 300,000 Chinese. The Chinese man will argue to the angel that his people are a people of honor and that it is their duty to avenge the Japanese for the atrocities they committed. He will be given his wish and will be placed in a Japanese village as a general with a contingent of Chinese soldiers to do the same to the Japanese. As he sees it happening before his eyes he falls to his knees crying, realizing how wrong he was. Feeling he has brought about dishonor he puts his gun to his head and pulls the trigger..only to awaken beside the Japanese man he so hated and...

A man who was a white supremacist will find himself in a world in which the black people are superior and whites are looked down upon, similar to our 50's and 60's but in reverse. He awakens to find all of his hate-filled tatoos are gone. He will be beaten, insulted and persecuted for the color of his skin. Black people will be conversing at a country club while they are being served by white people. He is one of those on the staff. When the white people go out of the room the blacks will mock them as racist whites have done to the blacks. He will be secretly listening to them and hear them conversing word for word as he once did. He will try to explain to the whites at first that they are better and end up striving for equality and fairness.

An Arab and a Jew will awaken thirsty in a vast unknown desert. They both see the same mirage a great distance away. As they journey to the mirage from opposite directions they are shown what hatred and division caused in their lives. By the time they reach the mirage, and realize it was just a mirage, they are both so disgusted and ashamed by what they saw on their journey that they embrace with joy and forgiveness. As they let go there is a stool before them with one glass of ice cold water. When they both offer it to the other saying they are unworthy the scenery changes before their eyes and they are in a beautiful paradise with as much fresh cold water and every delicacy they can imagine. The angel appears and expresses his joy to them that they finally understand.

Each will be assigned an angel that will be with them, sometimes knowingly and sometimes not. The angel will ask them wise questions that will show them the foolishness of anger, hate and division.

In the end I approach the visionary mansion I saw in the beginning. This time however, it is colorful, bright and joyous. I see people on the grounds eating, drinking and laughing. I hear the sounds of happy children playing together. As I look closely I see those that once hated each other as the best and closest of friends. I see Sunni children playing with Shi'ite children, and all other types, that once would never be seen near each other embracing as brothers and sisters.

I walk in the house to find openings throughout the entire mansion. While there are openings and door frames there are no doors. Never again will there be doors or walls of division. People of all faiths, cultures and philosophies are walking through the mansion with smiles. Each one kindly greets me as I walk by.

Next I proceed up the stairs to the large master room in which I saw the old man crying. As I enter He is there with several other distinguished looking men and women. They are all angels. "We have been waiting for you John", the old man says. I am mesmerized by how perfect and strong he appears but consoled by the gentleness which he exudes regardless of the power he wields.

"I have something I want to say to you," says the supreme one, "Well done, I am very proud of you, we are all proud of you. You are my son and I am your father." I fall to my knees and can only cry. They all come around me and lift me up and carry me out to the grand party taking place in the seemingly infinite back yard. Trumpets are blaring and I hear an angel proclaim, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God!"

Immediately after that I awaken to find myself in the modern day streets of New York city. I walk through the streets hearing and seeing all sorts of division and hatred around me. As I approach the entrance to a subway I see a sign above the entrance that says, "Peace...Are you brave enough to do your part to bring it!"

That is the ending...potentially

The goal is to show the utter foolishness, stupidity and immaturity of division, and hatred whether it be for religious, social, economic, or even for one's appearance, while at the same time to showing the wisdom and supremacy of peace.

All the stories within will be brief but concise and each will expose what divisions cause in graphic detail.

What do you think of such a story?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Welcome! I am so grateful that you are here! I am an aspiring Christian writer and speaker. My primary goal is to share rare, beautiful and thought-provoking stories that impel my readers to become better people.

I endeavor to share hard-to-find stories that are rich in history, and have values and morals that adhere to Biblical standards. My stories come from various cultures, faiths and time periods. Some are contemporary, some are hundreds of years old and some come from ancient times.

I am working on a devotional book. It will be comprised of fifty-two chapters, one for each week of the year. I will share a story, write a commentary about it, add modern day applications and some Biblical passages to read and ponder for each story.

I attended Bethany Bible college and studied Theology/Church Ministries. I have served in various ministries. I spent a year as the Director of the Ranch with Centrum Ministries (a live-in men's discipleship ministry). I have served in men's ministries and children's ministries. I have also been on mission trips to Mexico and in the United States.

At a certain period in my life I drifted away from the Lord. I felt as if I was the only one truly stiving to live up to the Christian standards I was taught. I lived without compromise, I didn't go to the right or left, as best I knew. But I soon began to see that I couldn't find hardly any kindred spirits. Almost everyone I knew compromised here or there. Many would tell me you're overdoing it and being too religious. "You're too heavenly minded to be of any earthly use," I was told.

The Bible does tell us, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. I simply found the narrow road too difficult. I, like so many who bear the name Christian, decided I could create my own path that would give the outward illusion that I was a follower of Christ but would allow me to keep the sins I didn't want to let go of. Of course I would justify these sins by saying, "Everyone else does it," or even find scriptures I could twist to fit my own desires; a talent, Lucifer, is a master of, may I disturbingly add.

So I began to compromise, only a little at first, but in time I was no different from most of the unbelievers in the world. I can agree, sadly, with Paul in saying that I was, "the chief among sinners." I ashamedly can say that I have been so weak and given in to all manner of temptation. But praise be to God, who can work all things together for good, for in having tread through the mud, I understand and can relate to those who feel they are unworthy.

I would attend church at times during this period of hypocrisy. It was hard for me to even glance at a cross or any image of Jesus. I felt like a lover who had betrayed the one who faithfully and unconditionally loved him.

Though most put on their Sunday best and everyone seems to have it so together at church, once I became involved in ministry, I began to see that everyone had issues and struggles in their lives. Many of the families and couples that seemed perfect were, in fact, full of disorder and some on the brink of divorce or worse. Though it crushed my belief in the happiness and perfection of some, it consoled me to know that I wasn't alone in my struggles and inadequecies. This instilled in me a seed that I wanted to, someway or somehow, help others. A seed that God has kept alive and watered over the years.

Next, I came to a place in which I didn't want to just believe in what I was taught, I wanted to believe because I truly searched for the truth myself, with an open and unobjective approach. I delved into the study of the Bible, many other faiths, philosophies and belief systems. In my research and through much prayer I ended up once again, as a follower of Christ; but this time because I found the truth, not because I simply believed in what I was taught.

I found what I to believe, as truth, in many different sources. Some that many conservative Christians would say I could not and should not find truth from. To me truth is truth, no matter where it comes from. Whether it comes from Confucius, Lao Tzu,Ghandi, Abe Lincoln, Mark Twain, Hindu teachings, Muslim teachings, ancient Summerian texts, or the girl serving me at Starbucks I care not. As long as it adheres to the teachings and principles found in the Holy Bible, my standard, I will use it.


I have spent countless hours reading and studying religious books and historical books over the years. Most from the earliest times to the period between the 1500's to the early 1900's. In my opinion they wrote differently in the past compared to many of the contemporary Christian writers of today. It isn't so much in the words they used or the styles the wrote. To me it seemed they had more passion and devotion in thier writings. They also seemed to have more of a genuine care and a sincere love for those they were writing to. It didn't matter to them if their book would become a best-seller or bring them fame and fortune. What mattered to them most was that their works would truly help their readers to become enlightened and lead them to become better and happier people. Knowing they were proclaiming the Gospel, in their own artistic way, was something they could take pride in.

I must admit that sometimes when I hear the biography of a preacher, writer or speaker I am inwardly repeled when they appear to have such a life of perfection. Many grew up in strong and healthy Christian families, they attended church regularly and never seemed to get into any real trouble. I think to myself, "How can this man or woman relate to me?" "They did it right, I did it wrong." "Can they understand what it is like to commit a sin over and over again when you know you shouldn't?" "If I was to be honest with them would they judge me for my past or the hypocrisy in my life?" I am not saying it is just to think this way, only that I often do, right or wrong. With some of the wisdom I have obtained in knowing people, I understand that even the best have weaknesses and shortcomings to work on. I am not afraid to share what I have done, knowing that as I decrease the Lord my increase!

Sometimes it is difficult for the average Joe to take instruction from one they feel cannot relate to their life. In humility I can say; that almost anything you are struggling with, I can relate. I have found myself in places and in situations where I felt just like the prodigal son in the midst of his folly. I often asked myself, "What are you doing in this place or with these kinds of people? You are better than this, and you have a loving Father who is waiting for you to come home."

I have two of the most wonderful and beautiful daughters in the world! I have shared many of these stories with them as they have grown into the amazing young women they are today. They have seen me at my best and at my worst and our love is deep and unbreakable. I went through a divorce about ten years ago and I won custody of them. I know the struggles of being a single parent. We have had times of plenty and endured times of suffering. I know what it is like to look in the cupboard on Monday and see just one box of macaroni and cheese left and realize that I don't get paid until Friday. I also know how God always came through and provided for us, when I deserved it and when I didn't. He remains faithful even when we don't. Our God is awesome!

I have had times of financial prosperity and abundance. I have also had times when I lost everything, wound up homeless and had literally nothing but my health and a flicker of hope that God would redeem me yet again.

Two years ago my daughters came to me in tears saying, "Daddy we love you so much but we are not happy in Florida, we want to go live with mommy for a while in Las Vegas." It absolutely broke my heart. I knew I had the legal right to say no, but I didn't want to force them to stay with me. I sadly let them go.

I went through a period of deep depression after that. I kept their bedrooms exactly how they left them. I began to isolate myself and drink alcohol more and more to cover my pain. I would sit in their rooms, with a bottle of wine and cry my eyes out wishing they were with me. I would peep through my shut blinds and see and hear their old friends running, laughing and playing...without my daughters. It was a heart-wrenching time for me.

About a year and a half after they left, I was launching a business I ran successfully in my younger years. It was an auto-delivery company and I would transport cars up and down the east coast. I began to receive calls from my daughters asking me to move and be with them. They would call in tears and plead with me to move to Las Vegas to be with them. With the ecomomy and job market being the worst in the entire country it was at first, a tough decision to make.

Finally I a question came to me that compelled me to move as soon as I could. The question was, "Would I risk sturggling financially and being with my daughters, or succeed with my business, and not be with them?" The anwer was simple and I am now residing in Las Vegas..with my beautiful daughters. And yes I am struggling, trying to find good paying employment. At just 17 years old I worked for a company in which I would drive around and sell frozen food products door to door. I am actually making about what I made all those years ago!

I believe that we can learn from all that we go through in our lives, the good, the bad and the ugly. In losing my girls it helped me understand how God, our loving Father feels when His deeply loved children wander away from Him. I will never forget those times I cried until tears would not come out anymore. I wondered if I fell short in being a good and loving father to them. I always provided for them, went to their games, practices, plays. Even though I worked full-time I was very hands on and active in their lives unlike many parents these days. I tried to instill in them good values and morals. I loved them with my whole heart...but they left me!? It wasn't that they didn't love me either, they just wanted to try something different. How much that is like what I did to God!

Regarding my calling to serve my Lord and my God I have been like Jonah. I have always known that I have a gift from the Lord and that I am called to preach his Word. I have run from this for too many years. I chose not to serve or get involved in the some of the churches I attended because I believed that if you are going to serve the Lord in a ministry, you must be living a pure and holy life. Not that you must be perfect, for there is none perfect but Christ, but that you must be living up to the standards you profess as best you can. I also know that you can allow room for mistakes and sins that will come out here and there. I am not close to perfect and have a lifetime to continue working on my shortcomings. I am just a fellow pilgrim like you battling his way through life trying to make a positive impact on those who may come across my path.

If anyone actually reads this far thank you for your interest and taking the time to hear a little of my story. It is my hope and my prayer that the stories I write, along with the commentaries and applications may bless your life!

~J. Lawrence Finley ~ "A Follower of Christ"