59 Sermon Illustrations on Decision

Abraham Lincoln ran for Congress in 1846, and he faced a formidable opponent: Peter Cartwright. Cartwright, a raw-boned, circuit-riding Methodist preach, was known throughout Illinois. During his sixty-five years of riding the circuit, he would baptize nearly ten thousand converts.

During the intense 1846 Congressional campaign, some of Cartwright's followers accused Lincoln of being an "infidel." In response, Lincoln decided to meet Cartwright on his own ground and attend one of his evangelistic rallies. Carl Sandburg, in "Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years," tells the story this way:

In due time Cartwright said, "All who desire to lead a new life, to give their hearts to God, and go to heaven, will stand," and a sprinkling of men, women, and children stood up. Then the preacher exhorted, "All who do not wish to go to hell will stand." All stood up - except Lincoln. Then said Cartwright in his gravest voice, "I observe that many responded to the first invitation to give their hearts to God and go to heaven. And I further observe that all of you save one indicated that you did not desire to go to hell. The sole exception is Mr. Lincoln, who did not respond to either invitation. May I inquire of you, Mr. Lincoln, where are you going?"

And Lincoln slowly rose and slowly spoke. "I came here as a respectful listener. I did not know that I was to be singled out by Brother Cartwright. I believe in treating religious matters with due solemnity. I admit that the questions propounded by Brother Cartwright are of great importance. I did not feel called upon to answer as the rest did. Brother Cartwright asks me directly where I am going. I desire to reply with equal directness: I am going to Congress."

He went.

First in sermon series on book of Romans.

1. Does God exist?

2. Bible assumes God's existence, does not try to prove it.

3. God makes himself known.

4. God is clearly known in creation.

5. Is it obvious?

6. Implications.

7. Emphasis in passage on wrath/judgment.

8. Belief as a decision of the will.

C.S. Lewis on Jesus Christ:

It is a very foolish thing when people say,

"I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept

His claim to be God."

That is the one thing we must not say.

A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not

be a great moral teacher.

He would either be a lunatic -on a level with the man who says he is a

poached egg - or else he would be the Devil of Hell.

You must make your choice.

Either this man was, and is, the Son of God:

or else a madman or something worse.

You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon;

or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God.

But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great

human teacher.

He has not left that open to us.

He did not intend to."

(C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity ).

#931

*

Dire straits forced a dramatic move on Isla del Gallo, Columbia. During Pizarros’ second expedition his troops mutinied. After claiming their leader was a “slaughterer,” the governor sent a ship and ordered that any man who wanted to leave that crazy venture should be allowed to go.

Pizarro was tall, well built, and quite handsome, but he must then have been gaunt, weather-beaten, and raggedly dressed. Normally taciturn, Pizarro became eloquent. He was convinced that a rich empire lay to the south. He therefore used his sword to draw a line in the black, pebbly sand and challenged his men to cross it and stay with him:

“Comrades and friends, THERE lies the part that represents death, hardship, hunger, nakedness, rains, and abandonment; this side represents comfort. Here you return to Panama to be poor; THERE, you may go on to Peru to be rich. CHOOSE WHICH BEST BECOMES YOU AS GOOD SPANIARDS!”

Only 13 men crossed the line. To their contemporaries they became “the 13 of glory”; the others sailed back to Panama “as if escaping from captivity by the Moors.”

D. L. Moody said that his “greatest mistake” occurred October 8, 1871. On that night his message was based on Pilate’s question, “What shall I do then with Jesus?” (Matthew 27:22) As he concluded, he said, “I wish you would seriously consider this subject, for next Sunday we will speak about the cross, and at that time I’ll inquire, ‘What will you do with Jesus?’” Ira Sankey then sang the closing hymn, which included the lines,

Today the Saviour calls;

For refuge fly;

The storm of justice falls,

And death is nigh.

Little did anyone know that these words would be the last ever heard in that huge hall. Even as they were being sung, the soloist’s voice was nearly drowned out by the sound of clanging bells in the street. That was the night of the great Chicago fire which almost destroyed the entire city. Among the hundreds who died were some who earlier had been in Moody’s audience. The evangelist was greatly distressed by this and lamented his tragic error in not asking men and women to receive the Lord that evening.

“Now, whenever I preach,” he said later, “I press for a definite decision. I would rather lose my right hand than give people even a day to decide for Christ, for I don’t know if I’ll ever see them again.” The gospel invitation is a “today only” offer!

________

Paul Lee Tan, “Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations.”

====================

Another version from the Frederickburg Collection:

During the early days of the ministry of Dwight L. Moody, the great evangelist launched a series of meetings in Chicago with promise of the largest crowds that he had ever addressed up to that time. He was speaking of the life of Christ, and on the first Sunday night, October 8, 1871, he took as his topic the trial before Pilate. As he came to the end of his message, he turned to Matthew 27:22, "What shall I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ?" He concluded, "I wish you would take this text home with you and turn it over in your minds during the week, and next Sabbath we will come to Calvary and the cross, and we will decide what to do with Jesus of Nazareth."

It may have been an artistic device. But speaking of it in later years, Moody called that conclusion to his morning's address the greatest mistake of his life. Even while Mr. Sankey was singing the final hymn...

Today the Savior calls;

For refuge fly;

The storm of justice falls,

And death is nigh

...the fire engines began to sound on the street on their way to their first contact with the great Chicago fire in which Moody's hall was laid in ashes, and in which it is estimated that over a thousand persons lost their lives. Moody never saw that congregation again, and some of those to whom he spoke on that night doubtlessly died.

Chances are you have seen the Hollywood movie TITANIC, which has been seen by more people around the world than any other movie in history. What most people do not know is that there was a godly Christian man on board the Titanic named John Harper....

John Harper was born to a pair of solid Christian parents on May 29, 1872. It was on the last Sunday of March 1886, when he was 13 years old, that he received Jesus as the Lord of his life. He began to preach about four years later at the ripe old age of 17 years old by going down to the streets of his village and pouring out his soul for men to be reconciled to God.

As John Harper's life unfolded, one thing was apparent - he was consumed by the word of God. When asked by various ministers what his doctrine consisted of, he was known to reply, "The Word of God!" Soon, John Harper started his own church in September of 1896 (now known as the Harper Memorial Church.) This church started with just 25 members, but had grown to over 500 members when he left 13 years later.

Ironically, John Harper almost drowned several times during his life. When he was two-and-a-half years of age, he almost drowned when he fell into a well but was resuscitated by his mother. At the age of 26, he was swept out to sea by a reverse current and barely survived, and at thirty-two he faced death on a leaking ship in the Mediterranean. Perhaps God used these experiences to prepare this servant for what he faced next....

It was the night of April 14, 1912. The RMS Titanic sailed swiftly on the bitterly cold ocean waters heading unknowingly into the pages of history. On board this luxurious ocean liner were many rich and famous people. At the time of the ship's launch, it was the world's largest man-made moveable object. At 11:40 p.m. on that fateful night, an iceberg scraped the ship's starboard side, showering the decks with ice and ripping open six watertight compartments. The sea poured in. On board the ship was John Harper and his much-beloved six-year-old daughter, Nana. According to documented reports, as soon as it was apparent that the ship was going to sink, Harper immediately took his daughter to a lifeboat. It is reasonable to assume that this widowed preacher could have easily gotten on board this boat to safety; however, it never seems to have crossed his mind. He bent down and kissed his precious little girl; looking into her eyes he told her that she would see him again someday.

The flares going off in the dark sky above reflected the tears on his face as he turned and headed toward the crowd of desperate humanity on the sinking ocean liner. As the rear of the huge ship began to lurch upwards, it was reported that Harper was seen making his way up the deck yelling, "Women, children and unsaved into the lifeboats!" It was only minutes later that the Titanic began to rumble deep within. Most people thought it was an explosion; actually the ship was literally breaking in half. At this point, many people jumped off the decks and into the icy, dark waters below. John Harper was one of these people.

That night 1,528 people went into the frigid waters. John Harper was seen swimming frantically to people in the water leading them to Jesus before the hypothermia became fatal. Mr. Harper swam up to one young man who had climbed up on a piece of debris. Harper asked him between breaths, "Are you saved?" The young man replied that he was not. Harper then tried to lead him to Christ only to have the young man who was near shock, reply no. John Harper then took off his life jacket and threw it to the man and said "Here then, you need this more than I do..." and swam away to other people. A few minutes later Harper swam back to the young man and succeeded in leading him to salvation. Of the 1,528 people that went into the water that night, six were rescued by the lifeboats. One of them was this young man on the debris.

Four years later, at a survivors meeting, this young man stood up and in tears recounted how that after John Harper had led him to Christ, Harper had tried to swim back to help other people, yet because of the intense cold, had grown too weak to swim. His last words before going under in the frigid waters were, "Believe on the Name of the Lord Jesus and you will be saved." [see also #13299]

Does Hollywood remember this man? No. Oh well, it doesn't matter. This servant of God did what he had to do. While other people were trying to buy their way onto the lifeboats and selfishly trying to save their own lives, John Harper gave up his life so that others could be saved.

________

Source: "The Titanic's Last Hero" by Moody Press, 1997

==================

Version from Christian History magazine at http://chi.gospelcom.net:

The clear April night sky was filled with sparkling stars as the largest and finest steamship in the world sped through the calm seas of the icy North Atlantic. Many of the passengers had gone to bed, but some still could be found in the lounges, enjoying the TITANIC’S luxury. No one was alarmed by the slight jar felt around 11:15, but many noticed when they no longer felt the vibrations of the engines.

Ignoring iceberg warnings, the TITANIC had been steaming full speed ahead. Suddenly she struck a large iceberg which ripped her side. Within fifteen minutes the captain realized the danger of the situation, and the wireless operator put out a call for assistance. Sailors made lifeboats ready and ordered women and children to get into them first (Christian culture had stamped the ideas of chivalry into men, making them willing to give up their lives for women and children as their protectors, something rarely seen in other cultures). There were 12 honeymooning couples on board the ship. Though all of the brides were saved, only one of the grooms survived.

The captain ordered the band to play to keep up the spirits of the passengers. It began playing a rag-time tune, but soon was playing hymns.

There were only twenty lifeboats on the huge ocean liner -- barely enough for 1/3 of the passengers and crew. Not all of them could be lowered. All 85 engineers continued to work to keep the ship afloat as long as possible. At the end many people knelt together in prayer until the waters covered them.

Throughout the mournful, evacuation, with loved ones being tearfully separated, the band continued to play. There is some dispute about what was played that night. Several people in the life boats heard “Nearer My God to Thee.”

One of the passengers traveling on the ship was evangelist John Harper. He put his six-year old daughter into a life boat and then ran through the ship warning others of the danger and talking to them about the eternal destiny of their souls. When he was finally forced to jump into the icy water, he clung to a piece of wreckage and asked another man “Are you saved?” When the man answered no, John said to him, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”

When the TITANIC sank early in the morning on this day, April 15, 1912, John Harper was among the 1,522 people who died. The band went down with the ship. The last hymn they played was “Autumn,” which concludes with the prayer

Hold me up in mighty waters

Keep my eyes on things above,

Righteousness, divine Atonement,

Peace, and everlasting Love.

________

Bibliography:

1. Adapted from an earlier Christian History Institute Story.

2. Adams, Moody. THE TITANIC’S LAST HERO. Moody Press, 1997.

===========================

A third version:

Reverend John Harper, a Baptist minister, traveled with his daughter Nina Harper and Miss Jessie Leitch from London enroute to Chicago. Rev. Harper was on his way to Chicago to begin a series of revival meetings at the Moody church located on West Chicago and La Salle Avenue. He had been at the church during November, December and January of 1911/12 and his success there resulted in his being recalled to conduct a second series of meetings.

On the evening of April 14th Rev. Harper and Miss Leitch were standing on deck admiring the sunset. “It will be beautiful in the morning,” remarked Rev. Harper before retiring for the night. After the collision, Rev. Harper awakened his daughter, picked her up and wrapped her in a blanket before carrying her up to a deck. There he kissed her goodbye and handed her to a crewman, who put her into lifeboat 11 with Miss Leitch. Rev. Harper went down with the ship.

Nina recalled that she was sitting on her aunt's lap when she saw the Titanic sink. She remembered watching the lights go out and hearing the screams of the drowning.

In New York, little Nan couldn't understand why her father did not come to her in this strange new land. “I left Papa on the big boat, and he told me to go with Aunt Jessie,” she said. “Now I want Papa.” But Papa never came, and Nan and Miss Leitch returned to England a week later.

Out of tragedy, however, God can still bring triumph. John Harper ended up in the water and as he tried to stay afloat he drifted toward a young man holding onto a plank. Harper asked, “Young man, are you saved?” The man said, “no.” A wave separated them. After a few minutes they drifted within speaking distance of each other, and again Harper called to him, “Have you made your peace with God?” The young man said, “not yet.” A wave overwhelmed John Harper and he was seen no more, but the words, “Are you saved?” kept ringing in the young man's ears.

Two weeks later a youth stood up in a Christian Endeavor meeting in New York, told his story and said, “I am John Harper's last convert.”

__________

Source: http://www.rmplc.co.uk/eduweb/sites/phind/html/jharper.html}, and Classic writings of Billy Graham

===========================

Fourth version, from Baptist Press, by Douglas W. Mize, April 13, 2012. (Hundredth anniversary was April 15, 2012)

It has been 100 years since Titanic, the greatest ship of its time, sank on its maiden voyage, killing more than 1,500 passengers. The “unsinkable ship” had done just that, and on the tragedy’s centennial we stand captivated by the story. Many movies, documentaries and books have familiarized us with some of the passengers, such as entrepreneur John Jacob Astor IV or the “Unsinkable” Molly Brown. Yet one of the supreme stories of the Titanic involves a heroic pastor and his passion to save lives and souls.

When pastor and preacher John Harper and six year old daughter boarded the Titanic it was for the privilege of preaching at one of the greatest churches in America, Moody Church in Chicago, named for its famous founder Dwight L. Moody. The church was anxiously awaiting his arrival not only because of the pending services, but to meet their next pastor, as Harper planned to accept their invitation. Harper was known as an engaging preacher and had pastored two churches in Glasgow and London. His preaching style was suited for an evangelist as testified by the words of another local pastor. “He was a great open-air preacher and could always command large and appreciative audiences. ... He could deal with all kinds of interrupters, his great and intelligent grasp of Bible truths enabling him to successfully combat all assailants.”

When the Titanic hit the iceberg, Harper successfully led his daughter to a lifeboat. Being a widower he may have been allowed to join her but instead forsook his own rescue, choosing to provide the masses with one more chance to know Christ. Harper ran person to person, passionately telling others about Christ. As the water began to submerge the “unsinkable” ship, Harper was heard shouting, “women, children, and the unsaved into the lifeboats.” Rebuffed by a certain man at the offer of salvation Harper gave him his own life vest, saying, “you need this more than I do.” Up until the last moment on the ship Harper pleaded with people to give their lives to Jesus.

The ship disappeared beneath the deep frigid waters leaving hundreds floundering in its wake with no realistic chance for rescue. Harper struggled through hyperthermia to swim to as many people as he could, still sharing the Gospel. Harper evidentially would lose his battle with hypothermia but not before giving many people one last glorious Gospel witness.

Four years after the tragedy at a Titanic survivor’s meeting in Ontario, Canada, one survivor recounted his interaction with Harper in the middle of the icy waters of the Atlantic. He testified he was clinging to ship debris when Harper swam up to him, twice challenging him with a biblical invitation to “believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” He rejected the offer once. Yet given the second chance and with miles of water beneath his feet, the man gave his life to Christ. Then as Harper succumbed to his watery grave, this new believer was rescued by a returning lifeboat. As he concluded his remarks at the Ontario meeting of survivors he simply stated, “I am the last convert of John Harper.”

When the Titanic set sail there were delineations of three classes of passengers. Yet immediately after the tragedy, the White Star Line in Liverpool, England placed a board outside its office with only two classes of passengers reading, KNOWN TO BE SAVED and KNOWN TO BE LOST. The owners of the Titanic had simply reaffirmed what John Harper already knew. There are people who know Christ and will spend eternity with God in heaven and many others who will not.

For us, 100 years after the Titanic, may we be as zealous as Harper was with every opportunity to share Christ with the perishing.

*

[see also HolwickID #13299 & #18347]

Once upon a time a mighty king condemned one of his lowly subjects to die. The wretch proposed, and the king agreed, to call off the execution if, within a year, the condemned could teach the king's horse to fly.

"Why postpone the inevitable?" a friend asked the wretch. "It's not inevitable," he replied, "the odds are four to one in my favor. Within a year: 1. The king might die. 2. I might die. 3. The horse might die. 4. I might teach the horse to fly.

Often difficult and seemingly impossible obstacles stand in our way. Let us offer some suggestions in dealing with these problems:

1. PRAY FOR GOD'S HELP AND WISDOM. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5).

2. LIST ALL POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS.

3. ASK OTHER PEOPLE - not to solve your problems, but to give their thoughts and ideas for your consideration. "Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out." (Prov. 20:5).

4. FIND SOMETHING IN YOUR SITUATION FOR WHICH TO BE THANKFUL. "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thess. 5:18).

5. ONCE YOU DECIDE ON A DIRECTION, GIVE IT YOUR BEST EFFORT.

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going." (Eccles. 9:10). They used to say that a man could never fly. "If God had meant for man to fly, He would have given him wings," people would comment. YOU NEVER KNOW, THE HORSE MIGHT FLY! --Jerrie Barber

Jack Stanton received a postcard the other day. What makes that remarkable is that this minister, professor and personal friend died in the summer of 2002.

The card is postmarked Oct. 20, 1949, at 9:30 p.m. It was sent to Jack at the Carpenter Street Baptist Church in Moberly, Missouri, where he had been serving as pastor, and came from evangelist Del Fehsenfeld of St. Louis to promote a meeting in California.

The postcard carries the titles of sermons Mr. Fehsenfeld would be preaching: “Are You Ready to Meet God?” “Will the Atomic Bomb End All?” and “Battle of Armageddon?”

An enterprising reporter tracked down the evangelist, now 90 years of age and living in Greenville, South Carolina. He got a kick out of this blast from the past.

Timing is not everything, but it's still much. The right timing meant Simon of Cyrene was chosen to carry our Lord's cross to Calvary. Luke 23:26 tells us Simon had just arrived in town. I envy that man!

Timing put Harry Truman in the White House when FDR died. A million grieving Americans gave thanks that Roosevelt had not died a year earlier when Henry Wallace was vice president.

As a 19-year-old, I joined a church near my college campus that was at the peak of its 50-year existence. The warmth of the fellowship and dedication of its leaders provided the ideal environment for this student who was just beginning to open up to spiritual things. Five years later the church began a decline that resulted in its demise in the 1980s. By the Lord's timing, I caught the wave at its crest.

At the same time, Joel Davis moved to town, into the same boarding house where I was staying. I invited him to church, we became roommates and soulmates, and he stood as best man in my wedding. That was more than 40 years ago and we still love and pray for each other.

History holds sad stories of people who received urgent news too late to do any good. The governor's reprieve arrived just after the switch was thrown. The crook confesses, but an innocent man has paid for his crime. The medicine arrives but the patient lies cold in the morgue. The secret message was decoded just after the terrorists did their dirty work.

Missionary Wade Akins led a man to Christ in a public restroom. Then, the fellow asked Wade to go home with him and share the same message with his elderly father. The old man heard the news, prayed to be saved, then chewed Wade out for not coming earlier while his wife was still living.

The Apostle Paul was languishing in Caesar's prison facing yet another trial with an uncertain outcome. To his friend Timothy, he wrote, “On your way here, run by Troy and bring the cloak which I left. While you're at it, bring the books, especially the parchments. Make every effort to get here before winter” (2 Timothy 4).

In Paul's last days, he wants his best friend, his overcoat and his books. That roughly computes to emotional warmth for his spirit, physical warmth for his body and intellectual stimulation for his mind. But he needed them when he needed them.

As Jesus was entering Jericho, a blind beggar had no way of knowing the Lord was on His way to the cross and that this would be his last opportunity to meet the Master. All he knew was that Jesus was the Messiah with a heart of compassion. “Jesus, Son of David,” he called, “have mercy on me!” That day Bartimaeus received his sight. His timing was perfect (Luke 18).

The Lord Jesus said, “We must work the works of Him who sent me as long as it is day. Night is coming when no man can work” (John 9:4).

Timing in our service for Christ is almost everything. There is a key verse in the Bible that calls on us to confess Jesus as Lord and be saved. That's Romans 10:9. In other places we are told that when Jesus returns, every eye will see Him, every knee shall bend before Him, and every tongue will confess Him as Lord. The timing is everything.

Confessing Him now requires faith and results in salvation. However, to look up at some future date and see the skies filled with zillions of angels and Jesus' glory emanating from every direction and then admit that Jesus is Who He claimed to be takes no faith at all. It's obvious, everybody will do it, and it changes nothing.

It's all in the timing. Confess Jesus as your Lord now. Let's get started today!

*

[Original illustration at this number was a duplicate of HolwickID #4619]

Some years ago in a

Massachusetts winter a brother and sister were walking on

the ice. He was 9 and she was 11. Suddenly the ice was quite thin,

they fell

through. . . and they screamed for help. A man saw them, came running,

dived

into this very cold water, and tried his best to help them both.

Seeing how

difficult it was, the 9 year old boy screamed out: "Never mind me. .

. save

Annette." That's exactly what the man did. He saved Annette and the

9 year

old boy drowned. Why would he yell out; "Never mind me. . . save

Annette."

Do you think he thought that through intellectually, and came to that

conclusion. . . that he would rather see his sister saved than

himself? No,

what he did at that point had to be by instinct. . and what he did at

that

point had to come from home. He had to have learned it from his

parents. . .

or perhaps at his church. . or perhaps from some dedicated school

teacher. . .

because it's not natural to anyone to say: "Never mind me. . . save

Annette."

He must have been told about the heroic standard of the sea: "Women

and

children first," and so he cried out: "Never mind me. . . save

Annette."

Sermon. . . Making Decisions by Ben Haden

It was during World War II that an Irish Monsignor was assigned to the Vatican. The Italians had caved in, Mussolini had been overthrown, and Nazi Germany had occupied Italy ... all of Rome was under the control of a German SS Colonel. The Monsignor was daily risking his own life, and risking the independent status of the Vatican by helping to hide Allied airmen who had been shot down, or Jews who, if found, would be exterminated.

Whereas the Pope defended him on the surface, it worried him that he had in the Vatican a man who was risking the entire Vatican and its status at that time. He took him to the basement of the Vatican, past the Swiss guards, and opened up a chamber that had been closed some years. He showed him the vast treasures of the Catholic Church. “There is a Raphael, Michelangelo,” he pointed out. “There are symbols of the Church vastly more valuable. All these treasures have been entrusted to me to guard and to protect for future generations. I would hope you’d keep that in mind rather than risk the Vatican and all who live here.”

“How do you see this? How many prisoners are actually involved?” the Pope asked.

“4,000,” the Monsignor replied.

“4,000?” The Pope was stunned.

“I’m hiding 4,000 of them in various houses throughout Rome. This is the way I see it ... when I was an altar boy, I knew an old priest. The old priest said, ‘Do what you know to be right [no matter what is involved].’ He taught me that. That’s the way I’ve lived; that’s my standard; that’s what I try to do. What, Holy Father, would you have me do?”

“I would have you make your own decision,” he said.

He made the decision. He continued to risk his life and the status of the Vatican by illegally hiding Allied men of war and Jews. Just before Rome fell, a German SS Colonel, who had tried his best to kill this Monsignor, summoned him to a private meeting. Dramatically they met in the middle of the Colosseum.

“Rome is about to fall,” the Nazi colonel said, “and I know I will probably die with Rome. But there’s a woman and two children I would like for you to hide as you have hidden all these prisoners during the war.”

“Who are they?” he asked.

“My wife, my son, and my daughter.”

The Monsignor, turned to him. “You have brutalized Rome,” he says. “They belong to your family. Do you think I would offer to aid them? I’ll [not do it].” He turned and walked out of the Colosseum.

The SS Colonel yelled over his shoulder, “So that’s what a Christian is! That’s the way you operate. You save Jews, you save the British, you save the Americans, you save the French ... but you don’t care about my daughter, my son, or my wife. I knew there was nothing to Christianity! You’re just like me. You’re under orders. You’re for your side, and against the other side.”

Unbeknown to the Nazi colonel, he got the ear of the Monsignor. Over his shoulder he had heard every word. In time, Rome did fall to the Allied army. The Colonel was seized and quizzed by the Americans. “Before you’re sentenced,” they said, “we want to know one thing. You obviously have a ring of operatives still operating in Rome.”

“What are you talking about?” the Colonel asked with obvious shock.

“You have operatives who have gotten your wife and your two children out of Italy into Switzerland completely safely, and overnight. You had to have operatives to do that. Who are they?”

A smile crossed his lips. He realized the Monsignor had saved his wife and children. “I have no operatives,” the Colonel said flatly. He was sentenced to life for brutalizing Rome.

________

Sermon: “Making Decisions” by Ben Haden

I feel that I would like to be like the heroes of the Alamo. When their intrepid leader explained that it would be impossible to hold the fort against the superior forces of the enemy, he said it was possible to surrender, to seek to escape, or to fight and finally die. Said he, "I have chosen to do the latter." And, making a mark on the floor with his sword, he asked that all who elected to stand with him in this decision come across to his side of that line.

All the able-bodied came across at once, while one who was sick of fever and too weak to cross cried to his comrades not to forsake him, but to lift his cot across the line, that he might die even though he could not fight.

William Moses Tidwell, "Pointed Illustrations."

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Another version from www.sermoncentral.com newsletter:

THE ALAMO

In American history, the Battle of the Alamo stands as a prime example of the kind of decisiveness Jesus calls for. In 1836 a band of fewer than 200 men defended the little mission in San Antonio, against General Santa Anna's 6,000 Mexican troops. For two weeks they held the Alamo against impossible odds. Then, on March 5, the night before what would surely be the final assault, William Barret Travis, the commander of the Texans, called a meeting of his men. Telling them he knew the enemy would break through the walls on the morrow, he drew his sword and cut a line in the sand. He invited those who wanted to stay and defend to the death to cross the line. Jim Bowie, who was sick on a pallet, asked to be carried across the line.

And so today Jesus has drawn a line in the sand and he asks you to cross it. Will you stand united with him?

Contributed by: Mike Jeffress

A young fellow heard a preacher in the other days and was greatly moved, and the preacher said: “When you have a religious impression, the time to act upon it is right then. The time when you hear God’s call in the which you ought to respond is right then.” And the young fellow walked down the aisle and publicly made his surrender to Christ saying: “It shall be right now that I take Christ as my Saviour.” He went back to the sawmill in the mountains where he worked, and the boys said that next morning he sang all the morning. Religion in the heart makes men sing.

About noon his body was caught somehow in the machinery and crushed and mangled so that a little while thereafter he went away into dusty death. When they got him out he faintly said: “Send for the preacher, that preacher in the church house at the foot of the mountains last night.”

The preacher fortunately was soon found. He hurried up the mountain to the mill, and he bent down by the side of the dying fellow and took his hand and said: “Charley, I have come. What would you like to say?” And with a smile on his face he faintly pressed the minister’s hand and said: “Wasn’t it a glorious thing that I settled it in time?”

Oh, my men, and women, my men and women, I beseech you in the great Saviour’s name, turn your boat upstream before it is too late! “Now is the accepted time. Now is the day of salvation.” Let it be your time, your day.

A fictional tale is told in management seminars about a young

manager who was to replace a retiring executive. The younger man

approached the older, venerated leader and asked, "Sir, I know of the

legend that you have become as a leader in this company. Could you

give me some advice as I try to fill your shoes?"

The older man pondered the question and responded: "Three words:

Make good decisions!"

"That is good advice," the young man replied as he wrote this

down. "And what is the key to making good decisions?"

"One word," the veteran executive replied, "Experience."

"And how do I get this?" the eager young man asked as he scribbled

"experience" on his paper.

"Two words," the retiring man answered, "Bad decisions."

The younger man looked surprised, and the older man asked, "Any

other questions?"

- William Richard Ezell, {Church Administration} May 1995, 11.

When Agesilaus, King of Sparta had crossed the Hellespont, he

marched through Thrace without asking leave of any of the barbarians.

He only desired to know of each people whether they would have him

pass as a friend or as an enemy. He sent some of his people to put the

same question to the King of Macedon, who answered, "I will consider

of it." "Let him consider," said he; "in the meantime, we march." The

king, surprised and awed by this spirit, desired him to pass as a

friend. --Plutarch

The founder of a national WEB devotional site asked the candidates in the 2000 election to send in their testimonies. Here is the testimony of George W. Bush, including the political coloring.

___________________________________

[initial portion missing?]

Actually, the seeds of my decision had been planted the year before, by the Reverend Billy Graham. He visited my family for a summer weekend in Maine. I saw him preach at the small summer church, St. Ann's by the Sea. We all had lunch on the patio overlooking the ocean. One evening my dad asked Billy to answer questions from a big group of family gathered for the weekend. He sat by the fire and talked. And what he said sparked a change in my heart. I don't remember the exact words. It was more the power of his example. The Lord was so clearly reflected in his gentle and loving demeanor.

The next day we walked and talked at Walker's Point, and I knew I was in the presence of a great man. He was like a magnet; I felt drawn to seek something different. He didn't lecture or admonish; he shared warmth and concern. Billy Graham didn't make you feel guilty; he made you feel loved. Over the course of that weekend, Reverend Graham planted a mustard seed in my soul, a seed that grew over the next year. He led me to the path, and I began walking. It was the beginning of a change in my life. I had a always been a "religious" person, had regularly attended church, even taught Sunday School and served as an altar boy. But that weekend my faith took on a new meaning. It was the beginning of a new walk where I would commit my heart to Jesus Christ.

I was humbled to learn that God sent His Son to die for a sinner like me. I was comforted to know that through the Son, I could find God's amazing grace, a grace that crosses every border, every barrier and is open to everyone. Through the love of Christ's life, I could understand the life-changing powers of faith. When I returned to Midland, I began reading the Bible regularly. Don Evans talked me into joining him and another friend, Don Jones, at a men's Community Bible study. The group had first assembled the year before, in Spring of 1984, at the beginning of the downturn in the energy industry. Midland was hurting. A lot of people were looking for comfort and strength and direction. A couple of men started the Bible study as a support group, and it grew. By the time I began attending, in the fall of 1985, almost 120 men would gather. We met in small discussion groups of ten or twelve, then joined the larger group for full meetings. Don Jones picked me up every week for the meetings. I remember looking forward to them. My interest in reading the Bible grew stronger and stronger, and the words became clearer and more meaningful. We studied Acts, the story of the Apostles building the Christian Church, and next year, the Gospel of Luke. The preparation for each meeting took several hours, reading the Scripture passages and thinking through responses to discussion questions. I took it seriously, with my usual touch of humor.

Laura and I were active members of the First Methodist Church of Midland, and we participated in many family programs, including James Dobson's Focus on the Family series on raising children. As I studied and learned, Scripture took on greater meaning, and gained confidence and understanding in my faith. I read the Bible regularly. Don Evans gave me the "one-year" Bible, a Bible divided into 365 daily readings, each one including a section from the New Testament, the Old Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. I read through that Bible every other year. During the years in between, I pick different chapters to study at different times.

I have also learned the power of prayer. I pray for guidance. I do not pray for earthly things, but for heavenly things, for wisdom and patience and understanding. My faith gives me focus and perspective. It teaches humility. But I also recognize that faith can be misinterpreted in the political process. Faith is an important part of my life. I believe it is important to live my faith, not flaunt it. America is a great country because of our religious freedoms.

It is important for any leader to respect the faith of others. That point was driven home when Laura and I visited Israel in 1998. We had traveled to Rome to spend Thanksgiving with our daughter, who was attending a school program there, and spent three days in Israel on the way home. It was an incredible experience. I remember waking up at the Jerusalem Hilton and opening the curtains and seeing the Old City before us, the Jerusalem stone glowing gold. We visited the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. And we went to the Sea of Galilee and stood atop the hill where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. It was an overwhelming feeling to stand in the spot where the most famous speech in the history of the world was delivered, the spot where Jesus outlined the character and conduct of a believer and gave his disciples and the world the beatitudes, the golden rule, and the Lord's Prayer.

Our delegation included four gentile governors-one Methodist, two Catholics, and a Mormon, and several Jewish-American friends.Someone suggested we read Scripture. I chose to read "Amazing Grace," my favorite hymn. Later that night we all gathered at a restaurant in Tel Aviv for dinner before we boarded our middle-of-night flight back to America. We talked about the wonderful experiences and thanked the guides and government officials who had introduced us to their country. And toward the end of the meal, one of our friends rose to share a story, to tell us how he, a gentile, and his friend, a Jew, had (unbeknownst to the rest of us) walked down to the Sea of Galilee, joined hands underwater, and prayed together, on bended knee. Then out of his mouth came a hymn he had known as a child, a hymn he hadn't thought about in years. He got every word right: Now is the time approaching, by prophets long foretold, when all shall dwell together, One Shepherd and one fold. Now Jew and gentile, meeting, from many a distant shore, around an altar kneeling, one common Lord.

Faith changes lives. I know, because faith has changed mine. I could not be governor if I did not believe in a divine plan that supersedes all human plans. Politics is a fickle business. Polls change. Today's friend is tomorrow's adversary. People lavish praise and attention. Many times it is genuine; sometimes it is not. Yet I build my life on a foundation that will not shift. My faith frees me. Frees me to put the problem of the moment in proper perspective. Frees me to make decisions that others might not like. Frees me to try to do the right thing, even though it may not poll well... The death penalty is a difficult issue for supporters as well as its opponents. I have a reverence for life; my faith teaches that life is a gift from our Creator. In a perfect world, life is given by God and only taken by God. I hope someday our society will respect life, the full spectrum of life, from the unborn to the elderly. I hope someday unborn children will be protected by law and welcomed in life. I support the death penalty because I believe, if administered swiftly and justly, capital punishment is a deterrent against future violence and will save other innocent lives. Some advocates of life will challenge why I oppose abortion yet support the death penalty. To me, it's the difference between innocence and guilt.

Today, two weeks after Jeb's inauguration, in my church in downtown Austin, Pastor Mark Craig, was telling me that my re-election was the first Governor to win back-to-back, four-year terms in the history of the State of Texas. It was a beginning, not an end.... People are starved for faithfulness. He talked of the need for honesty in government. He warned that leaders who cheat on their wives will cheat their country, will cheat their colleagues, will cheat themselves. Pastor Craig said that America is starved for honest leaders. He told the story of Moses, asked by God to lead his people to a land of milk and honey. Moses had a lot of reasons to shirk the task. As the Pastor told it, Moses' basic reaction was, "Sorry, God, I'm busy. I've got a family. I've got sheep to tend. I've got a life. "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt? The people won't believe me, he protested. I'm not a very good speaker. Oh, my Lord, send, I pray, some other person," Moses pleaded. But God did not, and Moses ultimately did His bidding, leading his people through forty years of wilderness and wandering, relying on God for strength and direction and inspiration." People are starved for leadership, "Pastor Craig said, "starved for leaders who have ethical and moral courage." "It is not enough to have an ethical compass to know right from wrong," he argued. "America needs leaders who have the moral courage to do what is right for the right reason. It's not always easy or convenient for leaders to step forward," he acknowledged. "Remember, even Moses had doubts."

"He was talking to you," my mother later said. The pastor was, of course, talking to all of us, challenging each one of us to make the most of our lives, to assume the mantle of leadership and responsibility wherever we find it. He was calling on us to use whatever power we have, in business, in politics, in our communities, and in our families, to do good for the right reason. And his sermon spoke directly to my heart and my life.

There was no magic moment of decision. After talking with my family during the Christmas holidays, then hearing this rousing sermon, to make most of every moment, during my inaugural church service, I gradually felt more comfortable with the prospect of a presidential campaign. My family would love me, my faith would sustain me, no matter what.

During the more than half century of my life, we have seen an unprecedented decay in our American culture, a decay that has eroded the foundations of our collective values and moral standards of conduct. Our sense of personal responsibility has declined dramatically, just as the role and responsibility of the federal government have increased. The changing culture blurred the sharp contrast between right and wrong and created a new standard of conduct: "If it feels good, do it." And "if you've got a problem, blame somebody else." "Individuals are not responsible for their actions," the new culture has said. "We are all victims of forces beyond our control." We have gone from a culture of sacrifice and saving to a culture obsessed with grabbing all the gusto. We went from accepting responsibility to assigning blame. As government did more and more, individuals were required to do less and less. The new culture said: "If people were poor, the government should feed them. If someone had no house, the government should provide one. If criminals are not responsible for their acts, then the answers are not prisons, but social programs.... "

For our culture to change, it must change one heart, one soul, and one conscience at a time. Government can spend money, but it cannot put hope in our hearts or a sense of purpose in our lives. But government should welcome the active involvement of people who are following a religious imperative to love their neighbors through after-school programs, child care, drug treatment, maternity group homes, and a range of other services. Supporting these men and women - the soldiers in the armies of compassion is the next bold step of welfare reform, because I know that changing hearts will change our entire society.

During the opening months of my presidential campaign, I have traveled our country and my heart has been warmed. My experiences have reinvigorated my faith in the greatness of Americans. They have reminded me that societies are renewed from the bottom up, not the top down. Everywhere I go, I see people of love and faith, taking time to help a neighbor in need... These people and thousands like them are the heart and soul and greatness of America. And I want to do my part. I am running for President because I believe America must seize this moment, America must lead. We must give our prosperity a greater purpose, a purpose of peace and freedom and hope. We are a great nation of good and loving people. And together, we have a charge to keep."

*

The sign "The Buck Stops Here" that was on President Truman's desk in his White House office was made in the Federal Reformatory at El Reno, Oklahoma. Fred M. Canfil, then United States Marshal for the Western District of Missouri and a friend of Mr. Truman, saw a similar sign while visiting the Reformatory and asked the Warden if a sign like it could be made for President Truman. The sign was made and mailed to President on October 2, 1945. Approximately 2-1/2" x 13" in size and mounted on walnut base, the painted glass sign has the words "I'm From Missouri" on the reverse side. It appeared at different times on his desk until late in his administration.

The saying "the buck stops here" derives from the slang expression "pass the buck" which means passing the responsibility on to someone else. The latter expression is said to have originated with the game of poker, in which a marker or counter, frequently in frontier days a knife with a buckhorn handle, was used to indicate the person whose turn it was to deal. If the player did not wish to deal he could pass the responsibility by passing the "buck," as the counter came to be called, to the next player.(1)

On more than one occasion President Truman referred to the desk sign in public statements. For example, in an address at the National War College on December 19, 1952, Mr. Truman said, "You know, it's easy for the Monday morning quarterback to say what the coach should have done, after the game is over. But when the decision is up before you -- and on my desk I have a motto which says 'The Buck Stops Here' -- the decision has to be made." In his farewell address to the American people given in January 1953, President Truman referred to this concept very specifically in asserting that, "The President -- whoever he is -- has to decide. He can't pass the buck to anybody. No one else can do the deciding for him. That's his job.

The sign has been displayed at the Library since 1957.

________

(1) Mitford M. Mathews, ed., A Dictionary of Americanisms on Historical Principles (Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1951), I, pages 198-199.

In the opening pages of the Bible we read the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Having been given all good things to enjoy, God makes it clear that there is one thing they are not to enjoy: the fruit from a certain tree. He says, "When you eat of it, you will surely die." In the Hebrew, it reads literally, "Dying, you shall die." God could not have made his intentions any clearer.

Albert Camus once said that death was philosophy's only problem. The apostle Paul said unequivocally, "If ... Christ has not been raised ... [And] if only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." As you may know, Saul (whose name was changed to Paul) was willing to put his life on the line for what he believed, and had committed himself to the eradication of what he then considered the "myth" of the gospel. His Damascus Road encounter is now proverbial, signifying a radical change.

Again, the easy way out is to make a sweeping generalization and, with the wave of a hand, dismiss the historical facts. But to this very day, on Mars Hill in Athens stands the message etched in stone that Paul delivered before a crowd whose philosophical bent was equally proverbial. The message Paul brought was literally and figuratively a message of life and death, founded upon the contention that God had raised Jesus from the dead. In turning our backs upon Him, death is not only a moment, it is a way of life. In knowing Him, life is not only temporary, it is eternal.

You know what the Bible says about Paul's address on Mars Hill in which he spoke to the Athenian philosophers and the common person? He said that among those who responded to his invitation to follow Jesus Christ was a man named Dionysius the Areopagite. Today if you go to Mars Hill, you will see that the street that runs right along the Areopagus and Mars Hill where Paul spoke, is called Dionysius Areopagatos. How incredible. Two thousand years after a sermon was preached, the man who made a commitment has his name memorialized right there.

Friend, the resurrection of Jesus carries its truth across time and may I ask you if you have made that commitment to trust Him? You may not get a street named after you but your name will be written in God's book of life. That is ineradicable.

_________________________

Copyright © 2002 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Reprinted with permission. "A Slice of Infinity" is a radio ministry of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.

*

In the ancient world there were no bottles, no recyclable cans. They would put liquids into animal skins that were tied together and used like canteens. Obviously, as time went on, the skins would become brittle, and they would eventually break, spilling out the liquid.

When Jesus told the parable of the wineskins, He said, "New wine must be poured into new wineskins." [Luke 5:38] New situations require new structures. You get a new job and you've got to learn new skills. New relationships require new ways of relating.

What are your wineskins? Maybe old ways of thinking? Or acting, talking, listening, responding in ways that worked well in the past, but now they just don't cut it.

It's a new year with the challenges of new wine -- Will you reach for the old wineskins or will you abandon them for new ones?

Even though I am not a prophet, I can predict three things that you will face this year: new problems, new pressures, new possibilities. And the new wineskins you'll need to face these challenges are: creativity, conviction, courage.

-- New problems will require creativity.

The bad news is you'll have more problems in 2002. The good news is they're not the same problems you had in 2001. You get a whole new set.

-- New problems require new solutions.

The old ways of thinking and relating, your old attitudes may not work. The Bible says, "The intelligent man is always open to new ideas. In fact, he looks for them."

Most people spend more time and energy trying to get around problems than they do solving them. Yet, you're made by the Creator. You're creative. The biggest block to your creativity is your attitude: "Your attitudes and thoughts must be constantly changing for the better. You must be a new and different person, holy and good." Eph. 4:23-24.

I heard about an old man -- 105 years old -- who was interviewed on The Today Show. The reporter asked, "In 105 years, I'll bet you've seen a lot of change." The man replied, "Yes, and I've been against every one of them."

This year [2002] you cannot have a hardening of the attitudes. You've got to keep going, growing, and developing. Attitudes are like diapers: every once in a while they need to be changed or the place starts to stink!

-- New pressures will require conviction.

Conviction is a willingness to stand up for what you believe.

Romans 12:2 "Don't let the world squeeze you in its mold, but let God remake you so your whole attitude of mind is changed." Have you decided what values you're going to base your life on this year? If you haven't, you need to decide what you're going to do. Write out what values are important to you.

One of the most popular songs in the 1980's was Boy George's Karma Chameleon, "I'm a man without conviction." What we need today are men and women of conviction, men and women who are not wishy-washy, men and women who say, "I don't care if everybody's doing it. It's not right, and I'm not going to get caught up in this materialistic binge. I'll do what's right and not let the world squeeze me into its mold."

-- New possibilities will require courage.

The year 2002 is going to be full of God's wonderful plans for you. I don't know a more exciting time to be alive. There are great possibilities! God wants to do great things in your life in this year, but it won't happen automatically. You've got to step out in faith. There's an element of risk.

Hosea 10:12 "Plow new ground for yourselves, plant righteousness, and reap the blessing your devotion to me will produce! It's time for you to turn to me, your Lord, and I will come and pour out blessings on you."

What are you planning to harvest this year? Three hundred sixty five days from today, how are you going to be any different? If you plan to have differences in your life a year from now, you've got to start cultivating now! You need to cultivate some new habits. You need to cultivate some new relationships. You need to cultivate some new activities. It just doesn't happen.

What do I want different in my family? What do I want different in my finances? What do I want different in my personal walk with Christ? What do I want different in my relationship to my children? You've got to start cultivating now. Whatever you sow you're going to reap. If you don't sow anything, you won't reap anything.

I dare you to do something different with your life this year! Get off the bench and get in the game. What could hold you back?

One of the biggest mistakes that Christians make -- even ministers -- is they think they can live their life off of a single commitment they made back in 1976. My spiritual birthday is Jan. 23, 1960. I'm 31 years old spiritually. The first 10 years of my spiritual life, I tried to live on the basis of that one decision. I thought it was enough to carry me the rest of my life. I wondered why I wasn't growing as a Christian -- why I wasn't developing; becoming all that God wanted me to be. I prayed, but I didn't see that many answers. In 1970, I discovered that the Christian life is a continual renewal and a deepening of the commitment -- not just a once-for-all decision -- but an ongoing commitment and daily renewal.

Romans 7:6 "Now you can really serve God; not in the old way mechanically obeying a set of rules, but in a new way." The new way is serving God through a relationship. Some of you are stuck in legalism. You thought that was pleasing to God. God says, "No. I want you to serve me in a new way. Love me and be loved by me."

God wants to do such great things through you in 2002. I don't know a better time to say, "Jesus Christ, I personally commit my life to you. I open it to you. I recommit it to you."

*

[Insight on the importance of decisions by a motivational speaker:]

Many people long for a better life. In fact, I think it is innate to humans to desire a better life. Wherever we are at we look beyond and dream of a better place. That is good, and that is not so good. It is good because the dream is alive and we can see, even if it is far off, a better situation for us, our families and our businesses and communities. So why is it not good? It is not good because it is not yet a reality! A dream is no good if it is only a dream. Sure a dream can make you feel good but long-term, if you don't pursue it and make it a reality, it will cause you frustration more than anything. But there is hope!

I'm talking about the day your life really changes. The day that your dream begins to become a reality, and not some pie-in-the-sky wish. This is the day life turns around for you, the day things begin to get better and you begin to fulfill your purpose, mission and destiny! When is this day?

It is the day you make a decision!

The key to changing your life is to make a decision, and then to act upon it. And once acted upon, to follow-through consistently until your dream becomes a reality.

So the decision is the key? Yes it is. Every dream begins as a thought. “I would love to have my own business, to be free to run my life and earn as much money as I want to and take as much vacation time as I want.” Good dream, isn't it? Probably a dream that most of us have. But there it is, a little electrical impulse bouncing around inside our head. Does that do us any good? Only if it becomes action! And it only becomes action if we make a decision.

Let's carry this example out. What are the decisions to be made here? Well there are a few I can think of. One would be to quit your job. [Holwick: even better - repent and accept Christ.] You can't go into business for yourself until you quit your job (or your current boss will be quite upset!). Decide to do it and schedule an appointment with him or her. Walk in and quit! Another decision is to go get your business license. Schedule the time, go get the papers, fill them out, pay the money and register with the state. Bingo, you're in business!

You must decide what you must do to make your dream a reality. Then you must act upon those decisions. If you do not act, your dream becomes a pipe dream, a non-reality.

When you have acted, you must follow through. Continue to follow your plan, day by day, carrying your dream to completion.

Here is a practical exercise to get you moving:

What is your dream? It could be in any area of life: Work, family, finances, health etc.

What is a decision you have to make to get yourself MOVING in the right direction? This should be action oriented not philosophical in nature. For example it should be “I am going to resign on March 1st,” not “I've decided that being in business for myself would be more fulfilling.” That is an idea, not a decision.

Next, pick a day you are going to do it. Pick a time. Be specific.

Next, do it!

Next, begin the process of continually following-through.

Next, enjoy yourself; you are pursuing your dream! It may be hard but it will also be the most fulfilling and rewarding time of your life!

“The history of free men is not written by chance, but by choice - their choice.” Dwight D. Eisenhower

Decide, Act, Follow-through. The day you do will be the day you change your life - for good!

*

Jesus’ saying in Mark 10 is a familiar one: “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” Children show us how to approach Jesus: with wide-eyed belief and unquestioning faith.

One animated film worth seeing again this Christmas reminds us of what it means to have faith like a child’s. Based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg, THE POLAR EXPRESS takes us on one boy’s journey from doubt to belief. On one level, the story can be interpreted as a retelling of THE MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, but for Christians, this film can also be seen as a tale about a return to untainted belief.

In the movie, a young boy struggles with his belief in Santa Claus. He lies in bed on Christmas Eve, hoping to hear the bells on Santa’s sleigh, but his doubt grows. Later, he is awakened by the loud and surprising arrival of a train in his front yard. Walking outside, the boy is greeted by a conductor, who asks, “Well, are you coming?” Boarding the train, we find, is the most important decision he makes.

Along with many other children, the boy travels to the North Pole, where Santa will present the first gift of Christmas. During the trip, the boy continues to struggle with doubt, at one point trying to wake himself up.

There are two messages from the movie that stand out. First, as the conductor later remarks to the boy, “It doesn’t matter where you’re going; what matters is deciding to get on.” Often we allow life’s disappointments to make us cynical. Or we expect to get something for our faith. But life usually doesn’t work out according to our plans. So yes, what’s important isn’t where we end up or what we get, but that we trust God enough to act on faith.

Second, the conductor also reminds us: “The most real things in the world are the things we can’t see.” That’s when we need the faith of a child to ask what Max Lucado calls the “fundamental question”: “Can I afford to believe in what I have never seen?”

Bill Broyles, the film’s screenwriter, notes: “We all go through that passage ... to that world of adulthood where that magic and wonder is gone — or maybe deeply buried.” As we enter the Christmas season, this is a good time to rekindle a sense of wonder and awe of our Creator and Savior. THE POLAR EXPRESS is a great holiday film with a story even the youngest child can understand — and a profound message about faith and belief that no adult can miss.

________

The original commentary first aired on November 10, 2004.

Copyright (c) 2006 Prison Fellowship Ministries. Reprinted with permission. "BreakPoint with Chuck Colson" is a radio ministry of Prison Fellowship Ministries.

How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him. — 1 Kings 18:21.

Choose you this day whom ye will serve. — Joshua 24:15.

The Lord does not only ask for discussion; He asks for decision, He does not ask us only to believe the truth but to obey the truth. He said to men not only “Believe on me,” but also “Follow me.” The Bible is the Book of decision. There are four great decisions. First, God decided to create man. Second, man decided to sin against his Creator. Third, God decided in love to redeem His sinful creatures. Fourth, man must decide to receive God’s redemption.

I’ll go to Thee, Lord, though my sin like mountains round me close;

I know Thy courts I’ll enter in, whatever may oppose.

I can but perish if I go–I am resolved to try;

For if I stay away I know I must forever die. — Wm. Jones. alt.

”But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15, NIV).

I have read that, “In the Canadian Rockies is a stream called Divide Creek. At a point in its course the creek divides around al large boulder. Waters which flow to the left of the boulder rush on into Kicking Horse River and finally into the Pacific Ocean. Waters which travel to the right go into the Bow River which courses into the Saskatchewan River, on into Lake Winnipeg, the Nelson River, Hudson Bay, and to the Atlantic Ocean And once the waters divide at the rock there is no turning back.”

Life is a series of choices. You and I are where we are today, doing what we’re doing, because of choices we made in the past — some were made years ago. I agree with Brian Tracy who says, “It is choice, not chance, that determines our destiny.

True, circumstances beyond our control, can play a major role in what happens to us, but we still have a choice in how we decide to handle and react to these circumstances.

And ultimately, as Joshua told the ancient Israelites, we are all called upon to make a choice as to what we are going to do about God. And, of course, not to make a choice, is our choice. This choice will determine our eternal destiny. And once we have made our final choice and come to the end of our journey here on earth, like the waters of Divide Creek, there’s no turning back. So we need to make sure we make our choice before that point of no turning back. That’s why we need to do it today as none of us has any guarantee of tomorrow

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you God that we do have a choice as to what we do about you and how we will spend eternity. Give me the wisdom to know what is the wisest choice I could make — especially about my eternal destiny — and the courage to make it. Today. Gratefully in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

When we tell stories from an unexpected point of view, adopt the contrarian perspective, or use a surprise ending, we can catch people familiar with the conventional.

In “The Writing on the Wall,” William Willimon ends a sermon on the topic of God’s judgment with a surprise:

“Some of you have heard me tell about my early ministry when I served a little church in rural Georgia. One Saturday we went to the funeral of a relative of somebody in my church. It was in a little country church not of my denomination. I grew up in a big downtown church. I had never been to a funeral like this one. They had the body out there. The casket was open, and the funeral consisted of a sermon by their preacher.

“The preacher pounded on the pulpit and looked over at the casket. He would say, ‘It’s too late for Joe. He might have wanted to get his life together. He might have wanted to spend more time with his family. He might have wanted to do that, but he’s dead now. It is too late for him, but it is not too late for you. There is still time for you. You still can decide. You still are alive. It is not too late for you. Today is the day of decision.’

“Then the preacher told how a Greyhound bus had run into a funeral procession once on the way to the cemetery, and that could happen today. He said, ‘You should decide today. Today is the day to get your life together. Too late for old Joe, but it’s not too late for you.’

“I was so angry at that preacher. On the way home, I told my wife, ‘Have you ever seen anything as manipulative and as insensitive to that poor family? I found it disgusting.’

“She said, ‘I’ve never heard anything like that. It was manipulative. It was insensitive. Worst of all, it was also true.’”

Willimon’s surprise ending jolts listeners out of their complacency. Those who’ve heard it all may seem to have stony hearts and minds. But “the finest edge,” said John Lyly, “is made with the blunt whetstone.” Preaching to the whetstones in our midst can sharpen our communication skills.

[see #3957 for original article on preaching with illustrations]

Then [Jesus] said, “I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 18:3 NLT)

Oswald J. Smith grew up in Embro, Ontario. In the winter of 1906 when Oswald was sixteen, the Toronto newspapers told of a great evangelistic crusade being conducted by Dr. R. A. Torrey.

Oswald and his younger brother Ernie asked their mother if they could go the ninety-four miles to Toronto to attend the meetings. Smith tells what happened:

The second to the last meeting came. We had made up our minds to

accept Christ that afternoon. We did not know that our mother

had written to Dr. Torrey asking him to pray that her sons might

be converted.

At the close of his message he gave the invitation. To my

amazement I was turned into a chunk of lead. Presently my

brother quietly nudged me, and that broke the spell. I sprang

out of my seat and took the momentous step.

Christ had entered and I was a new creature. That was January

28, 1906.

Oswald went on to found and pastor Canada's largest church, the People's Church of Toronto. Throughout his ministry, he wrote twelve hundred hymns, published thirty-five books in 128 languages, raised twenty-three million dollars for missions, and helped send out hundreds of missionaries.

From that first step in Toronto, Oswald J. Smith walked with the Lord for three days short of eighty more years.

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Adapted from THE ONE YEAR® BOOK OF CHRISTIAN HISTORY by E. Michael and Sharon Rusten, Tyndale House Publishers (2003), pp 56-7

*

[Original illustration at this number is Kerux sermon #364]

Sam Jones was talking to a man of weak faith. The doubter asked if Mr. Jones could not give him a demonstration of religion.

"None," was the reply. "You must get inside the fold, and the demonstration will come of itself. Humble yourself, have faith, and you shall know the truth."

"In other words, I must believe, accept it before it is proved, and believe it without proof?"

"Now, hold on right here. Out West they have a place for watering cattle. The cattle have to mount a platform to reach the trough. As they step on the platform their weight presses a lever, and this throws the water in the troughs. They have to get on the platform, through faith, and this act provides the water and leads them to it

"You are like a smart steer that slips around the barnyard and peeps into the trough without getting on the platform. He finds the trough dry, of course, for it needs his weight on the platform to force the water up. He turns away disgusted, and says there's no use getting on the platform, for there's no water in the trough. Another steer not so smart, but with more faith, steps on the platform, and the water springs into the trough, and he marches up and drinks.

"That's the way with religion. You've got to get on the platform. You can't even examine it intelligently until you are on the platform. If you slide around the back way you'll find the trough dry. But step on the platform and the water and faith come together, without any trouble -- certain and sure and abundant." -- Detroit Free Press

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By William Moses Tidwell, "Effective Illustrations."