Bits and Nails

A few days ago I had the misfortune of drilling a philips drill bit 5/8 of an inch into my hand. If you want this unusual sensation but do not have a drill, just jab and twist a #2 pencil deep into your hand and you will get the idea. There was some good fortune, though. I had some germicide hand lotion with me, my friend had a very small band aid, and my hand did not bleed much. I did not know they make band aids that little, but it was a welcomed little aid. Back to work. Let the throbbing begin.

Since that accident, I was thinking about Jesus’ being nailed to the cross. Difficult to imagine the pain and agony. He had already been mercilessly and mockingly flogged with the destructive cat of nine tails whip. A number of people punished this way actually died from the flogging alone.

Perhaps you have read the medical doctor’s account of the suffering of Jesus during the crucifixion ordeal. It is quite graphic, explanatory, and stunning. Preachers and poets have written and spoken dramatically in an attempt to describe the awfulness of agony. Words fall far short of being able to truly describe the horror and pain that Jesus endured.

But, strangely, the physical suffering was not the worst part of the crucifixion. The mysterious act of Jesus’ bearing our sins in His body was the most tortuous part of suffering. The pure and holy lamb of God who had never sinned became sin. Dark, ugly, filthy, sewage sin. All sin. Every kind of sin. Yours. Mine. Everyone’s. No wonder He said, “…If there is another way, let this cup pass from me.” But there was no other way.

The crucifixion might be beyond comprehension, but it is not beyond our grasp nor our gratitude. What a gift!

(What kind of nails were they? Surprise---> They were FINISHING nails.)

Got Any Idea Where You Are Going?

One bright guy said that if you don't know where you are going, you will not know when you get there.

Speaking of knowing and going, I held a very expensive navigational device in my hands back in 1993. I was in church and was making a little God-point with an object lesson. At my request, a friend who works at an avionics company had brought the device to church. It was called a Global Positioning System. You might have a smaller version on the dashboard of your car. GPS systems are cheap and common now. But just think, 16 years ago most folks did not not know GPS existed nor what it was. So, it was quite exciting to hold that device up and tell the congregation that modern technology allowed devices to know where something is at all times---within 10 feet at that time. The big points of my object lesson were: 1. God knows where you are. 2. God knows where you are at all times. He knows exactly where you are---not just within 10 feet. 3. God will never miscalulate, nor fail. 4. He is not tracking you just to keep tabs nor to bomb you into smithereenies 5. God is not a machine or piece of equipment.

The research and technology required to make the device work costs tons of money. The foundation for the navigator goes all the way back to the 1940's and WWII. The system requires 24-32 satellites to function. You can buy a GPS for $100-$800 that pinpoints a location within 5-12 feet. A military GPS costing $20,000-$50,000 can pinpoint a location or target within 2 inches.

The reason you can buy a GPS device is because the Russians shot down KAL flight 007 back in 1983. The Russians declared that the flight had strayed into their territory. Consequently, President Ronald Reagan directed that the GPS be made available to civilians.

Got your Magellan or your Garmin nuvi? Got God? He is not a device but wants to be our best Friend and Guide. wreg

A Road Often Traveled

A Road Often Traveled

On that first Easter afternoon two despairing and disillusioned guys slogged along toward home, weighted down with a heart full of emptiness. And brokenness. It was the worst time of their lives. The place where they were going is geographically obscure to us today. A road to obscurity.

Only God truly knows where Emmaus was. Whether you have been to Jerusalem or not, you probably have been on the road to Emmaus. Perhaps you have traveled it more than once. A road of hurt and helplessness. Questions and fear. The Emmaus road is a place of walking, wandering, waiting, and wondering. And it is difficult to walk when your dreams are shattered.

The naive and unbelievably uninformed stranger who drew near them must have been from another world. How could he know so little about Jesus and the dramatic events that had recently smashed their hopes and their lives? Perhaps the stranger even irritated Cleopas & his unnamed friend at first. Surely they simply wanted to share their grief together, but not with a stranger. How could an uninformed and uninvolved stranger understand their suffering?

The stranger proceeded to open the word of God to the two in despair. The Emmaus explanation of scripture must have been one marvelous masterpiece. For the stranger was the Master Himself, their loving Lord, the Shepherd who had drawn near to the wandering, lost sheep.

Jesus had put a fire into the two disciples hearts, now the guest becomes the host, serves them bread, and opens their eyes. Suddenly the One they failed to recognize in their storm has become more distinct and recognizable than they had ever known.

Was it the scars the two saw when Jesus broke the bread that caused the wonderful revelation? Maybe that had something to do with it, but it was not the main catalyst. Fact is, Jesus had deliberately obscured Himself and now He deliberately opens their eyes and reveals Himself. When Thomas heard the voice of Jesus, he no longer had to see and touch the scars, but cried, "My lord and my God!" The two weary ones on the Emmaus road believed because of the words of Jesus and the touch of the Spirit of God.

May your road to Emmaus turn from obscurity and broken dreams into hope and wonderment. May your road to nowhere turn into a road to somewhere. And Someone. wreg

Who's A 10?

by wreg daniel

Being a nature lover and a great admirer of horses, I wanted to see Bo Derek ride that horse in the movie Bolero. Lo, and behold, I restrained myself & missed it. In case you are wondering, both Bo & Flicker were naked. (Musta been some horse!) Bo must be a lovely lady because she is one of the few folks who is calssified by some as a 10. Actually, nobody is really a 10. Especially spiritually. We all fall short. Big fall! Great shortness! Jesus said that apart from Him, we can do nothing. Sorta like a zero. (John 15). Know how you make a zero into a 10? Put the ONE in front of it! In Him we go from a 0 to a 10. How is that for a ride?