Sacrificial Love

When we see it, it's usually not all that visible. That's because, whoever has it often times keeps it hidden from view. It is an act of love - a quiet love - and it's a joy to see.

Last night my wife and I met with a young couple in St. Louis. Five years ago, maybe, I met the guy, DJ, at a Christian music festival in Wisconsin. We became fast friends. Little did I know DJ was one of the artists performing there.

Anyway, I contacted DJ and told him my wife and I would be passing through town. We decided to meet. We tried once around supper time and missed but that's when the sacrificial love began to appear.

My friend said he and his wife would drive all the way out to our hotel. They did and we ended up chatting the evening away. The sacrifice was double on their part as DJ's wife had just finished work on a Friday night and came with her husband to meet two people she didn't even know.

My wife displayed similar sacrifice. We both had a long day and she was tired. Yet she came down to meet my friend and how wife.

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." - John 15:13

When my wife and I went downstairs to meet them, the first thing we did was to hug each other. We hugged when they left and we prayed together. What a wonderful evening!

Jesus sacrificed Himself for us. It would have been easier for Him to let us all die. We deserved it because we're guilty. But His sacrifice allowed us a way to escape death - the second death - and for that we are eternally grateful.

I am grateful for our young friends who ventured out on a Friday night just to see us. What a day, a glorious day, it has been.

The following song was written and performed by my friend DJ.

Fire - Dee Swan

Trust And Obey

We humans have a difficult time when it comes to trust. We start out trusting but then something happens and our trust goes right out the window.

When we drive down the road, for example, we trust that the on-coming traffic will stay on the other side of the centerline. When we come to a traffic light and it turns green we trust that the other traffic would come to a stop. Usually it does but we always look both ways. At least we should.

The slightest thing can engage our insecurity in our relationships too. We begin to doubt and question when our mind begins to wonder to places it shouldn't.

When we are threatened our trust factor goes way down. Seeing a brother or a sister standing there with a water balloon causes trust issues in us all. The economy, our government, our doctors the their prescribed treatment. Where does it end>

Trusting in God should be an easy thing to do. He never lies, His love never fails, His judgements are always just and His was are better than our ways. Yet we can never seem to fully trust Him. I blame Adam and Eve. They trusted in God until the devil cast some doubt into their minds.

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” - Genesis 3:1

Eve doubted. She did not trust or obey. We've had trust issues ever since.

Trust is now something that has to be earned. Faith, love and hope all depend on trust. When we do trust it is only after we have verified something with our own eyes. Trust in the Lord!

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust And Obey - Chelsea Moon

Not For Long

I think I'm done with football now. I wasn't really sure before with the whole kneeling during the National Anthem thing. But now that they're calling penalties for good, clean hits, we'd be better off watching Dancing With The Stars.

Back in the late 80's the Houston Oilers had a head coach named Jerry Glanville. Nobody liked him much but he sure was a funny guy. He once told an official that "this is the NFL. That's Not For Long if you keep making (bleep)-ing calls like that."

What has happened to the NFL? Well, I know exactly what's happened to it. It's gotten all warm and fuzzy, like a helicopter parent watching over a spoiled child. And the fans don't like it. The NFL is bending over backwards trying to please everybody and protect everybody. That doesn't please anyone. Especially God.

They are also driven by the almighty dollar. Take away their uniforms and we'd all be staring at a bunch of naked politicians. Everybody has an opinion. And whoever makes the most money, well, that's whose opinion matters most.

Don't hurt the quarterbacks. They make big plays and big plays sell tickets! It must be frustrating to be an NFL football player. It sure is frustrating being a fan. That's why I have opted out.

What does all this have to do with Jesus? Not much. Although the NFL teaches us several things that we should NOT do that God says we should.

"For the love of money is a root of all evil." - 1 Timothy 6:10

Speaking of Timothy, Tim Tebow took a knee on the field - to pray. He was chastised for it and is no longer playing football. The thing is, the NFL needs more players of Tim Tebow's character and faith. The NFL banned Tim from wearing Bible verses on his eye black. Sad.

Think about that for a moment. They ban someone from displaying their faith yet allow other players to express themselves during the national anthem, even though they are demeaning our service men and women and our police officers. Confusing.

And let's not even talk about the prideful "look at me" end zone celebrations.

The NFL needs to learn a lesson. By siding with "the world" and rejecting His children I am sure a big lesson will be coming soon.

So, have you looked up Isaiah 40:31 yet to see what words the NFL banned?

"but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:31

We need to remember that verse because you will never hear those encouraging words from the NFL - The No-Faith League.

End of rant.

I encourage you to turn off the football game and pick up the Bible. We should analyze how we spend our time. 1st John says we are to be in the world but not OF it. We are to be holy - set apart. I'm not saying that if we watch football we're not Christians. What I AM saying is that we will be judged by our works - held accountable for our actions.

If Jesus returned during a football game, what would He find us doing?

Jerry Glanville vs AFC Central
He Is Lord - MercyMe

Family

Family is a weird concept. We all were part of a family at some point in our lives. We had a mom and a dad. Maybe even a brother or a sister. We had no choice in choosing our family unless, as parents, we adopted a kid of two. Some families can't stand each other while others are so close that even death cannot separate them.

Some people long to have children and cannot conceive. Other people don't want kids and, when they find out they are pregnant, decided to kill their child before it's even born.

Whether we are part of a big family or we have none, we all want to feel the love that family brings. Basically, we all want to feel loved.

Did you know that there is a family waiting, often hidden, for each of us? We all can become children of God. There are no forms to fill out - adoption papers if you will. It is a simple desire that seals the deal.

We are not forced into God's family. It is our choice. God knows us and He knows which ones will be His. He waits patiently for His children. Is He waiting for you?

In the story of Abraham, he and his wife Sarah longed to have a family yet Sarah could not get pregnant. Yet God had promised Abraham a big family. Where was this promised family? Abraham was 100 years old. Yet God delivered, then Sarah delivered Isaac, a son. The beginning of a huge family so numerous they could not be counted.

If you are alone and long to be part of a big family, seek out God and ask Him to adopt you. He will. Then tell others what has happened to you and watch all of your brothers and sisters appear. Love is a wonderful thing.

"Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. 2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. 3 Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. 4 When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

6 Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” 7 And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” - Genesis 21:1-7

In a few days my wife and I will be visiting a childhood friend of mine. I hadn't seen this friend until a few years ago but when we met recently it was as if we'd known each other our entire lives. It was like we were brother and sister. Why? Because we ARE. In Christ.

The Robertsons - I Am Second

Swamp Thing

There are monsters that exists in our country, and other parts of the world. They fight to protect themselves and their ideals. That can be a good thing. The problem comes though when, in defending themselves and their way of life, they destroys others along the way. Do you know a swamp thing?

President Trump campaigned on a promise to "drain the swamp". He was elected to do that. It doesn't seem that it has been drained yet to me but he sure has stirred up the water. Many people are very angry.

If you lead a somewhat normal life you have probably encountered toxic people. These folks seem to think that everything is bad. They will find something nasty to say about everything. Toxic people complain about the little girl's lemonade stand on the street corner.

Washington DC is filled with toxic people. It is on display every day.

There is a Supreme Court nominee right now going through the confirmation process. The swamp creatures are digging up all sorts of dirt, real or fictitious, on this man. It's a sad thing t watch.

The problem with draining the swamp is it can't be done by just one man. It has to be done by everyone through voting. But is "draining the swamp" REALLY what's needed?

Jesus tells us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44). That sounds good but it is hard to do. OUR problem is that we are commanded to do it. It's not a request.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." - Matthew 5:43-38

Do you have enemies? Do you have people in your life who you don't like? We all do. Are we loving them? Do we have compassion for them? We should. Maybe instead of draining the swamp, we should simply clean it up. How do we do that? Through prayer and through our loving actions.

When it is time to vote this fall let us vote for those who represent the ideals of Christ. Are they Christians? Do they follow the teachings of Christ? Are they examples of someone who defends God's turf instead of their own?

If Washington DC was filled with people like that this nation, this world, would be a much better place in which to live. In my opinion.

Love Your Enemies

The Trigger

Do you have a trigger? Something that sets you off or brings a memory to mind? We all have them I think. What makes a trigger? How did it form? The answer is often buried deep within.

I have a friend whose trigger is a particular song. It reminds him of a sad event. Whenever he hears the song he turns it off, trying to suppress the bad memories.

My brother's step son has PTSD from Iraq. He saw too many bad things there. Sometimes he gets angry when those memories of war come rushing back - triggered by "something". A loud noise perhaps, some thunder, or a car backfiring.

I saw a tattoo this past weekend that was a trigger for me. I knew the tattoo from a youth group kid who had it. When I saw it I immediately thought of my young friend. She took her life a few years ago. The tattoo was a trigger for some sad memories.

But it also acted as a trigger for some good things as well. The memory of my friend reminded me how precious life is and how we need to watch out for one another. I reached out to two kids as a result of that tattoo reminder. They both know that I am thinking of them and prayer for them.

After Jesus was crucified, do you think Peter got "triggered" every time he heard a rooster crow. I think yes.

A friend's illness can be a trigger for us to pray more. A speeding ticket or an accident can trigger more attentive driving habits. The sight of a cop car can trigger us taking our foot off the gas.

Sometimes it's a smell or a taste. We hear that song that shakes us like my friend.

Is Jesus a trigger for you? Does reading His Word trigger emotions in you? Better behavior? Repentance?

The reality of Christ is the biggest trigger of all. When Jesus finally becomes real in your life, it triggers a whole series of events. Repentance, a humbling of our hearts, a servant attitude gtrows and we think about ourselves less and less.

That, my friends, is the beginning of things. The beginning of a new life, in Christ. We begin to see crosses everywhere. We begin speaking in Bible verses in our daily conversations. And we begin to love more unconditionally.

When we think of Jesus, that should trigger a desire in us to bow down and worship. To offer prayers of thanks for everything He has done. He died once for all . . . and all who believe will never taste of death. His promises draw us to our knees.

18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." - Isaiah 43:18-19

Hello Hurricane

Does it always seem like there's a hurricane going on in your head? Thoughts, emotions, to-do lists, all swirling around out of control? We wake up in the middle of the night, thinking, worrying. We should be sleeping! Why do we do that?

The cure is a simple one, found in Paul's letter to the church in Philippi.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7

Easier said than done, right? Even the Disciples had trouble "letting things go" during their boat ride with Jesus.

"35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” - Mark 4:35-40

Is Jesus asleep in the back of YOUR boat? When we get into a storm do we run to Him to save us from it? Or do we try to get through it by ourselves?

As I write this, Hurricane Florence is pummeling North Carolina. See that pier in the picture to the right? It didn't make it through the storm very well. It's just wood. It can't call on the name of The Lord. But we can.

Why are we so afraid? Do we still have no faith?

Jesus has already proven He can calm anything He wants to. Even the wind and the waves. He can calm the storm in our lives too. But we DO need to ask. And trust. How will our faith be tested today?

Hello Hurricane - Switchfoot

The Day After

There is a difference between how we feel the day of a major event like 9/11 and the day after. It is the difference between unbelief and reality, between captivity and freedom, between loneliness and love.

In the moment, we are not thinking rationally. We react. The day after, we think more than the day before. We begin to cope.

I remember exactly where I was on September 11, 2001. Exactly. Most people remember where they were and what they were doing. We tend not to remember the day after because it was part of the coping process. Part of who we are today.

9/11 changed a lot of things. The Sunday after 9/11 for example, church attendance soared. Why? Perhaps it was because we were seeking some kind of safety in the constancy of God.

The disciples, the day after Jesus was crucified, were scattered. Maybe they got together and talked about what had just happened. If Jesus truly WAS God, how could He die like that? They were afraid and in hiding. Eternal life is a tough sell when the one who promised it had just died.

God is our one constant through life. He is there at the beginning. He will be there at the end. And in between He walks with us, comforts us, teaches us and loves us. He is there the day before our biggest battle is even on the radar.

He is there as we transition from birth to life outside the womb. From a hospital bed to life eternal, He is there. In a broken relationship He is there. Through the unbelief, through the coping, helping us pick up pieces and put them back together.

What was it like, the day after? It is grabbing a hold of the pieces you have left and fitting them together as best as you can. Then we move on from there, forgetting that God is the glue that holds us together.

The day after 9/11 we all vowed to "never forget" and "always remember". However that is not our nature. We tend to cope and move on in our self-reliance. We will rebuild! We tend to leave behind the very God that helped us through just the day before.

God wants us to always remember Him. To always honor him. Not for just an hour on Sunday, but every hour of every day. There should be no "day after" in our love for Jesus. It should be every day.

Today is the day after 9/11. It is the first day of the rest of your life. Live it, not for yourself, but for God. That is how we can honor Him and remember Him. By living FOR Him.

"Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." - John 5:24

When Hope Fades

My wife and I watched the Packers game last night. We started out with high hopes but at the end of the first quarter the score was 7-0 Bears. We began to question our defense as the Chicago Bears marched right down the field with their opening drive.

As the second quarter started the Bears scored again. "What's going on here?" we asked ourselves. The Packers could do nothing.

And then it happened. Aaron Rodgers, our star quarterback, went down with a knee injury. Hope went right out the window as he was carted off the field. At the half the Packers were trailing 17-0. We went to bed. My wife fell asleep. I continued to watch, just so I could tell my wife what the final score was in the morning.

Our hope was basically gone. The Packers looked dismal. We were picked by many to go to the Superbowl this year and then this happened. I'm sure Packers fans everywhere were devastated. But then . . . Aaron Rodgers! The Packers scored 21 points on the fourth quarter to win 24-23.

Faith and hope are just two words until you see them in action. When things seem their darkest, that's when the light shines brightest. Where there is faith, there is hope. They were both on display last night. The Packers faithful fans never gave up hope. No one left the stadium. They had faith in their Packers and in the end, they weren't disappointed.


Our faith in Jesus needs to be the same. Aaron Rodgers may be a very good quarterback in the clutch but he didn't save the whole world by sacrificing His life for His "fans."

We should ALWAYS have hope in Jesus. Even when things are at their darkest. Even when Jesus was hanging on the cross, believe it or not, there was still hope. The apostles scattered, they hide from the Jews until Jesus showed up and basically said "R-E-L-A-X". And do you remember this "play" in the boat?

"23Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. 24Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

26Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

27The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!” - Matthew 8:23-27

Rodgers to Cobb 75-Yard Touchdown

Time

None of us knows how much time we have left on this planet. Our time here could end tomorrow or 50 years from now. The main question we must ask ourselves is, if we only have a limited amount of time to live, how are we going to use the time we have?

A 17 year old kid was killed by a drunk driver near our house recently. In the same week a 92 year old woman near here went missing. She was eventually found, alive. The young die and the old live? We never know when it is our turn to go.

Each of us has a fixed amount of time in which to live. Me, I'm 65 years old. The average life expectancy for males in the United States is 78.74 years. That means, on average, I have a little over 13 years left. What am I going to do with that time?

My best friend has a lot on her plate. She has a full-time job, she's overseeing a construction job at her church, then, when she gets home at night, she and her husband are building a garage. PLUS, she ministers to several ladies in her church by donating her time. She's a busy lady! SPARE time is hard to come by.

We fill up our days with all kinds of things. We sit and watch TV, we take naps, we go for walks, we go shopping, we build tiny homes.  How will we be found spending our time when our TIME suddenly comes to an end?

There's an interesting question for you. What would YOU like to be found doing when you die? Me? I'd like to be found serving God. At the local food pantry perhaps. I'd like to be found loving others.

How about you? How would YOU answer that question?

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." - Matthew 6:33

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." - Colossians 3:17

"Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you." - Hosea 10:12

"Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time." - Colossians 4:5

Time. Spend it well. Live each day as if it were your last because, one day, you will be right.

Time - Pink Floyd

Look At My Scars

Oh, we are a prideful people. Just when we think we have this Jesus thing all figured out, God teaches us a lesson or two that shows us we still have a long way to go. Like the other day . . . at Dairy Queen.

That's where I met a new friend -  a guy in his upper 30's. He just wanted to talk with someone so I agreed. We ended up talking for two hours. As we talked I examined him. Slender build, 
short scraggly beard, a camo baseball cap worn backwards, and the word ISAIAH on his forearm.

He unloaded the story of his life, his recent car accident, which had left him near death. He spoke of prescribed pain killers from his doctor - opioids - which had then turned into an addiction. There were other things but that's enough to let you get a picture of my friend.

As we talked he kept referring to the Book of Isaiah. He has a Bible app on his phone and kept looking up passages like this one . . .

"6 Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake their ways
    and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
    and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord." - Isaiah 55:6-8

Then he began to speak about his son. You'll never guess what his son's name is. But then he said something that REALLY got my attention. And I mean REALLY! It turned my whole perspective around. It made me stop looking without and I began to look within.

I mentioned his car accident. My friend stood up from the booth where we were sitting and said, "Look at my scars," He pulled down a compression sock to reveal two LONG scars on his lower leg and another just like them on his upper thigh. Then, raising his tee shirt, he said "and my side".

24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” - John 20: 24-27

Is there something you are doubting today? Is your faith weak like Thomas, and me? What will it take for us to fully place our faith in Christ? Do we need to actually see the scars before we believe?

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” - John 20:28-29

If our faith is only strong when we "see a sign" we have much farther to go in our walk with the Lord. We ALL have scars. How will we use them? As an invitation to a pity party? Or to glorify God who saved us, who died for us, who resurrected us from the trouble we were in? Praise God no matter what might come your way. It is only right. HE bore the scars intended for us.

"By His Stripes we are healed." - Isaiah

Scars - I Am They
Why Jesus Kept His Scars - Matt Maher

Survival Guide

My wife and I have been watching this show on The Weather Channel called SOS: How To Survive. It's a fairly lame show about people who do really dumb things, get themselves into trouble and almost die. But then, through some freak turn of events, some miracle, they get rescued.

The host of the show, Creek Stewart, gives tips on surviving whatever conditions these people encountered. He tells all of us how we can survive in a world that seems as if it's out to get us. That's where you and I come in. We need to tell people. about Jesus as if their lives depended on it. Because it does.

Fact #1: Everyone is going to die. There's no escaping that. But some people will die twice. The "second death" as John describes for us in the Book of Revelation.

"But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." - Revelation 21:8

The unbelieving get to spend eternity separated from God in a fiery lake of burning sulfur. Nice. So, here are some tips on how to survive that.

There are four basic elements needed for survival. Water, Food, Air, Shelter.

Water - 13Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” - John 4:13-14

Food - “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry." - John 6:35

Air - "He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things." - Acts 17:25

Shelter - "For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock." - Psalm 27:5

To survive in this world we need a survival kit containing these four essential elements needed to sustain life. Our survival kit. Everything we need, all wrapped up in one. Jesus!

Our survival kit is all wrapped up in Jesus. He is the one who judges whether of not we live or die the second death. Our survival is based upon our belief in Him. That's it. If we believe He is the Son of God, if we repent our sins, turning from our wicked ways, we will be saved.

It is that simple yet, for some, it seems like to most difficult thing to do. Love them, pray for them. Surviving this world is easy IF we have our survival kit with containing the essentials of life - Jesus.

Breathe - Michael W. Smith

Legacy

One of the things in enjoy most about retirement is being able to do the things I want to do WHEN I want to do them. For example, the lawn could have been cut today but I wanted to visit friends and work on the tiny house. My schedule if flexible, even though my body is not.

A few days ago, for example, I got to watch part of the memorial service for John McCain. If I would have been working I would have missed it. I heard a speech by Grant Woods, one of McCain's Arizona friends. Contained within his words was an amazing story.

Senator John McCain was a prisoner of war during Vietnam. His plane had been shot down over Hanoi. He was captured and tortured as the North Vietnamese tried to get information. At one point he was left tied tightly in a chair after a grueling interrogation. His captors were going to leave him in that chair until morning - tightly tied and in pain.

At 10:00PM another guard came in. More torture? No. The guard loosed McCain's restraints and then left. He returned early in the morning and tightened them up again. "Why?" McCain wondered?

Several weeks later, as McCain was standing in the prison yard, the guard who had loosened his restraints walked over next to McCain. With his sandal he made the sign of the cross in the dirt. They both looked at it for a while and then the guard erased it.

Jesus tells us that we are to love our enemies. The Vietnamese guard was an exceptional example of that command. McCain's guard literally complying with the wishes of Jesus. Wow! May I be so graceful to someone I don't like.

It there an "enemy" in your life? Someone you don't get along with? Show them some grace and watch what happens. You may become as surprised as John McCain was in Vietnam. It may literally save your life.

This story begs the question of OUR legacy? How will others look at us when WE die? Grant Woods remembered that story about John McCain. He remembered not only is friends faith but the faith of an enemy. We should leave THAT kind of legacy.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." - Matthew 5:43-48

Legacy - Nichole Nordeman
Grant Woods Tribute To John McCain