Exloring Life Eternal

An article on the importance of love:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2000/006/3.29.html

I think the above news is particularly relevant about the importance of loving all peoples, in deed & word. Do not despise the day of small things.

Peace,
Mert

RE: August 31, 2005

Someone who does not know me & only recently met my wife urged me to quit the ministry of sharing the need to pray because of my lack of insurance & benefits. I have insurance, thank you very much. My Boss has my life insured for centuries, even eternity. As far as benefits, let's just say that my retirement plan is beyond imagination!! The friend also urged me to seek deliverance ... from the very thing [a need for sleep] which God has used repeatedly to keep me dependant upon & resting in His grace.

It was not an easy moment, but God has provided a means for strength in times of immense opposition & discouragement. As the dishes were washed, our Father & i had a heart to heart. While our hosts were away, the house was cleaned up, cleaner than when we had come. A tree was freed of some pests. During our time there, the driveway was freed of weeds. The yard/garden was cleaned of some thistles. The old oven was out & a new oven was in & working, in answer to prayer!! The fridge was also taken out & a new one brought in. The frige had been a puzzle for the moving team to bring in, but the Lord gave us wisdom how to bring it in.

That evening I took my wife to a hotel since we had to leave to make room for the family & their plans. At the hotel, we asked for the lowest priced room: 1 bed, 1 night, non-smoking. They couldn't meet the request with non-smoking (a must for a good night's sleep), so they took $20-30 off of a hotel-room that had a hot-tub that was $20 more than a regular room.

Apparently, there were few hotel rooms available: 100,000 people were going to be crowded into a stadium this coming weekend. The desk clerk told me that they could take in few comforts with them: no food, water, umbrellas, etc. Instead they would have to pay top dollar for basic things we usually take for granted in the outside world. The fellow at the desk said that it was all because of 9/11, "But, if we have to have these things for security, it is worth it." He grinned, "But they are gonna feel they like they are in hell."

Why, what is the reason for all this, I had asked, "What is the game?"

"No mercy."

I have a better game: Happy are those who are merciful, for they will receive mercy!! So when he said that that was how those folks were going to feel, I burst out, "I am so glad I'm going to heaven instead!!" The odd thing about all this is that the people are choosing to go there. They are not being persecuted & forced to suffer. They are not going to hear good news, but to watch a bunch of guys beat up on each other.

This weekend is a time called, "Escapade." My wife "Lydia" has noted as I took her too & from work each day & evening: The girls hardly wear any clothes & they all dress "like a bunch of cheap girls." The streets are lined with folks until late at night. For many, it is a time when they can break free from parents, from restraint, from authority, and rebel. Some 130+ years ago, the University of Michigan was founded on a basis of free-thinking (i.e. not tethered by any authority, most especially not the Bible.)

Now, there are lots of thistles in the area, literally. There are witch gatherings regularly. There are security hastles. There are morality problems. There are wealth problems in this state. There are wars & rumors of wars. etc. Hmmm ... Is there a connection between these things?

In the midst of all this, as I visited my wife at work, a fellow offered me a candy in exchange for $ on the way into get a bite to eat with my wife. I cheerfully said, "I don't have any cash," because I don't carry any as a general rule. He looked at me, as though he wanted what I have, and gave me some candy anyways. I tried to refuse, but he would not let me. So I took it, gave the treat to my wife & used the restroom while she waited on other customers. There, I found 2 small copper coins, picked them up & knew just who to give them to. I washed my hands, went out, & my "Lydia" had a snack ready for me. Off I headed. The Lord provided another gift to return to the man, exactly the same kind as he had given me. I reached in my pocket & was able to return to the man not only a candy stick, but also $0.12. (Surely, the apostle's are worth more than a penny each! But if you asked them for their 2 cents worth, I'm sure they would have overflowed with words about Jesus & His goodness to us.)

That evening, I was able to get 2 Azaleas for us for around $1.50 total + some for others!! But God's grace, my "Lydia" had the money for this month's food, we had $ for rent, & a pleasant evening. As I walked with the Lord in the cool of the evening, I saw 3 little stinkers leaving the area.

What a blessing!

It was indeed a refreshing day!! Today is the day of the Lord's salvation.

Will we look up, look around, & see the goodness of our God?

Following is a story that may be sweet & sentimental, as Jason A. suggested. But I think it accurately portrays God's call on all of our lives each day:

====
These lines were the saccharine portion:

-
When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. ... an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, ...
... "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world."
-

I would only recommend editing the story in these ways to give proper honor to the Lord:

+
When not resisted with by evil & rebellion, everything God does is executed with perfection. ... an call to return to our original design is given, ...
... "the boys from both teams welcomed a bit of real love and kindness into this world."
+
Mert H.
mertaka@everybody.org
====

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question.

...

"When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?" The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. "I believe, that when a child like Shay comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes, in the way other people treat that child."

Then he told the following story: Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball.

Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?"

Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging. Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play.

The boy looked around for guidance and, getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning.. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth ! inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the outfield.

Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible 'cause Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be able to make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.

As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher took the ball and turned and threw the ball on a high arc to right field, far beyond the reach of the first baseman.

Everyone started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!"

Never in his life had Shay ever made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!"

By the time Shay rounded first base, the right fielder had the ball.

He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions and intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward second base as the runners ahead of him deliriously circled the bases toward home.

Shay reached second base, the opposing shortstop ran to him, turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third!"

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams were screaming, "Shay, run home!"

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the "grand slam" and won the game for his team.

"That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world."