by Perry Taylor, Florence, Alabama

Our Vacation Bible School this year was centered on the theme, "What Did Jesus Do? — A Walk with Him." That is always a pertinent question to consider. We have the Gospels to inform us what He did while He was here. Thank God for them!

The continuous need is to be reminded of how He lived and how we should live as well. The name "Christian" symbolizes the goal and responsibility of being "Christ-like." He also told his early disciples and 21st-century disciples to follow Him. For example, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matt. 16:24). The word "daily" is included in Luke’s account (9:23).

A second question goes with the first one. "What would Jesus do?" Remember WWJD? If He were in my place, what would He do with His time and money and energies? What kind of television shows would He watch? What kind of clothes would He wear? What kind of books would He read? Would His life resemble my life?

Jesus would definitely put the kingdom or church first if He were here (Matt. 6:33). He would be at the hospitals and nursing homes showing compassion. He would be helping the poor and visiting the jails or prisons. He would be sharing his love with as many people as possible, because He did that when He was here.

A third question should also be asked. "What will Jesus do?" He has also told us the answer in Matthew 25:31-46. He will divide us up into two groups: those on His right and those on His left. The right ones include those who have helped others like Jesus did. Those on the left did not help the less fortunate: the hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, jailed, and strangers. Jesus even said, "inasmuch as you did it (or did it not) to one of the least of these, you did it (or did it not) to me." Are we in the "did it not" category?

If we are going to walk like Jesus, we need to find answers to these three questions: "What did Jesus do, what would Jesus do, and what will Jesus do?"

The answer to the latter should give us motivation to work on the first two. Also, our love for Him should cause to want to be like Him "daily."

by J. Randal Matheny

"What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life-- ... we proclaim to you also" (1 John 1:1, 3a, NASU).

We touched him, John writes.

Most writers want to talk about how Jesus has touched them. John writes to say "WE touched HIM." Literally. With our hands. The living, breathing, walking, resurrected Son of God, Son of Man.

It's a doctrinal statement. Some were saying Christ had not come in the flesh (1 John 4:1-2). John makes it clear the Lord was no ghost, phantom, or figment of imagination. The gospel is based on facts. Hard facts. Divine-human facts. John refuses to let anyone retell or re-interpret the story and twist the facts.

The facts mean salvation, grace, strength; they were divinely interpreted and explained, with truths, commands, principles, examples.

Those same facts still stand today to explain the meaning of the coming of the Son of God.

The faith is always a truth matter.

It's a personal statement. John must have marveled to think that he had actually touched the Son of God, when in the OT the Jews believed that one would die if God appeared. Uzzah died when he touched the ark, just the ark, mind you. John is amazed that they had "touched [the Lord] with our hands."

We today are not eyewitnesses as was John and the other apostles. But is it not as marvelous that Jesus accompanies us to every part when we do and preach his word? Is it not just as amazing that his Spirit abides within us?

The faith is always a heart matter.

It's a resurrection statement. To startled and frightened disciples, Jesus appears and tells them, "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have" (Luke 24:39).

"Touch me." The same word as 1 John 4:2, "we touched him."

This flesh-and-blood Savior promised to return to claim his own and carry them to eternal abodes.

The faith is always a hope matter.

Truth. Heart. Hope. John binds them all together in one wonderful statement. He touched the Christ, and as a result was left with indelible prints on his soul.

Have you touched the Christ lately?

by Emmett Smith

"Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?" (Psalm 2:2 ESV).

The second psalm predicted the evil one's plot against Christ. Interestingly, the plotters' emotional state is described as rage.

There's a lot of rage these days, too! How often do you hear some news talking head or read some article in which someone is described as being outraged? I know I've noticed it a lot in the last few years. Today, just as nearly 2000 years ago, people want to "burst their bonds apart, and cast away their cords from us" (v. 3). They don't take kindly to being told they're doing wrong!

It's nothing new. The Sodomites took umbrage at Lot telling them they would be wrong to forcibly gang rape his visitors. They were outraged! They said, "This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them" (Genesis 19:9 ESV).

Unfortunately, there are lots of Sodomites these days who are waging a strategic battle to coerce acceptance of their immoral and unhealthy lifestyle. And they express outrage at the least disagreement with their statements. The same goes for the animal rights activists, as well as many others. Judging by the majority of news accounts, these people are in a state of perpetual outrage.

That shouldn't surprise us. A brief reference to the Revelation of John explains the source of all this rage. "Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!" (Revelation 12:12 ESV). The devil's great wrath was the ultimate source of the rage that was directed against Christ. And it's undoubtedly the source of the "outrage" mentioned so often in the news accounts.

However, let's not forget the last three verses of this Psalm. George Bush, Tony Blair, Vladimir Putin, Jaques Chirac, et al. would be well advised to heed these words! The King is certainly angered by rebellion. But all the outrage, all the rebellion, will surely come to naught. Let's make sure we choose the right side!

"Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him" (Psalm 2:12 ESV).

by Michael E. Brooks

"From there he arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but he could not be hidden" (Mark 7:24).

That is not exactly headline material. Jesus could not hide! Well, of course not. Not with news of his miracles being broadcast all over Palestine. And the authority of his teachings. And the controversies he created in confrontations with the leaders of the Jews. This was Jesus, the incarnate Son of God. Of course people took note of him. But it is not only our Lord who is noticeable. All of us have trouble hiding, at least at times.

On Friday, March 14, 2003, I was in a van in Bangladesh on the way from Khulna to Dhaka. Halfway there we found ourselves in a huge traffic jam, waiting at a ferry ghat (landing) for the next crossing. There were several lanes of vehicles jammed together, with no way to move. Cars, trucks, buses, and other vehicles were almost scraping each other. The ghat was on a flood plain, with no trees and only a few small sheds around it. Nowhere to go, no place to hide.

What made this a rather tense experience is that this was less than one week before the U.S. would launch its attack on Iraq. Bangladesh is an Islamic nation. Over 85% of its population are Muslims. They are highly sympathetic towards Iraq or any other Muslim nation, which is, or might be, under attack by "infidels." Anti-war, anti-U.S. sentiment was especially high at the time. Would that translate into hostility towards Americans who happened to be there? No one really knew. But I could not help wondering. Nowhere to go, no place to hide!

There is a more significant application of this dilemma however. No matter how well we might conceal ourselves from threats of a physical nature, there is One who is always watching. One who always sees us. There is never any way to hide from God. The Psalmist dealt with this at length:

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in hell, behold you are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me" (Psa. 139:7-10).

There are times when we would like to hide, even or especially from God. Times when we are troubled with guilt and shame (Gen. 3:8-10). Times when we desire to yield to temptation (John 13:26-30). Or simply times when we lack the desire to be close to God, or when we may feel smothered by his presence. But there is nowhere that God is not, nowhere He does not see. Nowhere to hide. But is that really a problem? The Psalmist found the answer:

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psa. 139:23-24).

The way to deal with our exposure before God is to invite it, and open ourselves to its benefits. God is not watching us just to judge or condemn. He is watching to protect and help. He is our loving Father, who "is not willing that any should perish" (2 Pet. 3:9).

There is no reason for us to hide from him. So embrace his watchful care. Seek his help. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom. 8:31).

by Warren Baldwin

A college roommate of mine for two years, Richard Hill, is a farmer in Illinois. Thanks to the Internet, we keep in touch with brief notes. And he sends me some of his farming humor. Today I share some of his humor with you: Top Ten Reasons Why Farm Pickups Aren't Stolen.

10. The thief cannot find the right screwdriver among the 25 in the glove box.

11. Grain dust blowing from dash vents causes uncontrolled sneezing fits.

12. Poor visibility caused by accumulation of caps, gloves and foam coffee cups.

13. Corn growing in dirt on floorboards is wrapped up in the steering wheel and pedals.

14. Chains rattling in tool box causes thief to wonder if the pickup is haunted.

15. Gas gauge does not work so the thief thinks the tank is empty.

16. Holes in muffler and bald tires cause unwanted attention from law enforcement officials.

17. Cab jammed with muddy boots, tool box full of livestock medicines, greasy coveralls, and empty seed corn bags leaves no room for passengers.

18. The tailgate is held on with bailing wire; it could fall down and spill stolen goods onto the roadway.

And the #1 reason why farm trucks are not stolen is: The thief can't operate a manual transmission.

I spent some years on a farm. On several farms, actually. We had a small farm, and my brothers and I would also work for different farmers, particularly during the haying season. So, I have some familiarity with those farm trucks. I can understand why they aren't stolen!

But there is something a thief doesn't understand about those farm trucks. Or something that even if the thief did understand he wouldn't do anything about: Many of those old farm trucks are still dependable. That is why the farmer has them around. Oh, I know there are other reasons for them to be around, too. Such as, who would want to buy it if you tried to sell it?

But I know from some of the old equipment we kept around for the farming or construction, that if you give it a little TLC now and then, the old things would work, whether they were farm trucks, chain saws, or old milking machines. Tighten the screws, change the oil, stick some bubble gum in the right place, and you have an almost-new machine. Well, you know what I mean.

I wonder how many other things of importance would still click right on if we gave them a little TLC?

I'm thinking of our marriages. I'm thinking of our connection with our parents or our children. I'm thinking of the folks at church. I'm even thinking of faith.

A little attention. Some kind words. Taking someone out to lunch. A prayer of thanks for blessings received. None of these actions or expressions are a major overhaul: they are just common courtesies and decencies. But that keeps old farm trucks running, and it just might keep the major relationships in our lives running as well.

"A word aptly spoken is like an apple of gold in a setting of silver" (Proverbs 25:11).