This date in my history

On March 25th, 1988, I drove along a dusty country road where I had an unexpected life changing experience. I needed some sheet rock nails for a project I was working on, so I grabbed my two young sons and we jumped in the truck for the short three mile ride into town where we’d planned to hit the hardware store for some nails and the drug store for a couple bottles of pop. We never made it. A mile and half east of our farm, we ran into some loose sand on the road and were pulled into the ditch where our truck rolled over three times. On the first flip, I went through the driver’s door window and was thrown 65 feet. The truck continued slamming over and over, rolling towards the spot where I lay until, just before it rolled over me, it settled and stopped. My two sons, who were only 4 and 2 years old at the time, were not buckled into car seats or even wearing seat belts, yet miraculously they were uninjured and still on the floor of the truck. My four year old crawled through the only remaining opening of the crushed vehicle, a small outlet where the passenger door window had been, then helped his younger brother crawl out, and began the long walk home because they thought I was dead. I had crushed the 10th thoracic vertebrae in my back, my ribs on my left side were broken, and I was bleeding into my chest. Two hospitals later it was determined that I had torn the aorta in my heart and that I needed immediate open-heart surgery. I was placed in an air ambulance and flown 150 miles to a modernly equipped hospital for the operation. Something happened on the way to the hospital. As people were praying, God was listening. When I arrived, the trauma surgeon could not find any problems with my heart. She drained my chest, sewed me up and 11 days later I walked out of the hospital. I believe in miracles because I am one. Jesus saved me. If you are a believer He saved you too. Maybe not from an accident like this one, but He saved you from certain death just the same. Each of our rescues from the pit of hell is a tale even more worthy of re-telling. Do your family and friends know your salvation story? I’m thankful for my life, and I’ll tell you who I owe it to and who I’m living it for, it’s the One who saved me – Jesus.

Troubled Hearts

According to John’s gospel, just after the events that we think of as the “Palm Sunday triumphal entry,” some Greeks came to Philip asking for access to Jesus, saying, “We want to see Jesus!” I’ve often thought that in this short appeal, these obscure unnamed Greeks utter the most profound request ever made. It should be the cry of all our hearts – “We want to see Jesus!” Jesus speaks to them and all who are listening, (then and now) telling them a parable about a seed: “Unless a seed falls to the ground and dies, it remains to itself, alone. But if it dies, it will produce many seeds! Whoever loves his life will lose it, but the man who does not love his life in this world, will keep it for all eternity!” (John 12:23-26) It is interesting to me that this is what was on Jesus heart and mind immediately after the cheering crowds joyfully proclaimed him their Messiah and King. He knew what lay ahead. He knew the supreme sacrifice that was waiting to be fulfilled. He knew the cheering crowd would turn against Him and become a jeering mob blindly shouting, “Crucify!” just five days hence. And while Jesus had moved unflinchingly forward towards his goal - setting his face like a flint towards Jerusalem - the Son of Man now expressed emotions that we can easily relate to: “and now my heart is troubled…” (John 12:7) Jesus lets us into his humanity. He shows us that he knows how it feels to be emotionally overwhelmed. Those feelings would only grow stronger during his prayers in the garden of Gethsemane. Yet, His human emotions never deterred his obedience - his commitment to His father … and all of us.

How often have I, and probably each of us, allowed our “troubled hearts” to become the driving force in our behavior? Troubled hearts can come from a varitey of emotions as varied as humans themselves: fear, anger, hurt, betrayal, humiliation, frustration, insecurity, and pride, to name but a few. Jesus overcomes His emotions and pushes through them to obedience by keeping His goal in the forefront – His eye on the prize! After relating, “And now my heart is troubled, “He asks himself a question and then answers it. “What shall I Say? Father, save me from this hour? No! It was for this very reason that I came to this hour!” Father glorify Your name! (John 12:27-28) What an example of Spirit-led purpose-driven living! Emotions come as reactions to temporary circumstances. Sometimes they are extremely “troubling!” (Although, I dare say, none of us has ever faced imminent crucifixion!) Still, we daily face things that are indeed troubling. The Bible doesn’t discount these things. Jesus promises suffering, hardship and persecution. The Apostles confirm, both in their writings and with their experiences, that “all those who seek to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2Tim. 3:12) and that we should not be surprised at painful trials and suffering as though “something strange is happening to us.” (1Pet. 4:12) Rather, we should expect things that, in this world, are troubling! (John 16:33)

Our attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus. (Phil. 2:5) Jesus looked past the cross, through the empty tomb to a day when we would be united with Him forever. The Bible calls this reality “the joy set before Him.” For this joyful reason, (us!) He “endured the cross.” (Heb. 12:2) We were His motivation . . . and now He is ours! We need to look past our present troubling circumstance, which, according to Rom. 8:18 are “not even worth mentioning compared to the surpassing glory that will be revealed in us,” to that day when all will be made right and we will be with Him forever! Because He was faithful, we can be too. Because He endured, so can we. “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” (1Pet. 4:19)

My dear readers, my heart is troubled - it is troubled by numerous things going on right now in this world and the gathering dark clouds of potential trouble ahead. I am sure many of your hearts are as well. But what should we say? Father, save us from this hour? No! It was for this very hour that we were placed on this earth and into the body of Christ! Let’s not allow our emotions – anger, fear, or any other- to deter us from obedience. Let us commit ourselves to our faithful Creator and continue to do good! Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good!

O for a leader, like this!

Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775.


No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The questing before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.



Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free-- if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending--if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained--we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!
They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

If We Build It, He Will Come!

Those are the famous words from Kevin Costner’s character in “Field of Dreams.” They are also apparently the words of a Jewish Sanhedrin leader this week referring to the building of the Temple and the coming of the Messiah! Folks, something BIG is about to happen in Jerusalem! Next Monday evening, March 29th, several lambs will be sacrificed on the temple mount upon a specially built altar made of undressed stones. The ritual, known as the “Korban Pesach,” or “Passover sacrifice” which by Jewish law requires both a sanctified altar and an Officiating Priest, has not happened for nearly 2000 years! Think about that for a moment! Although the “daily sacrifice” was stopped in AD 70 when the Syrian regiment of the Roman army destroyed the temple, the annual Passover sacrifice on the ruins of the temple mount continued for almost another 100 years until it disappeared as the last remaining Jews were dispersed into the nations of the world. The Jewish ruling council known as the “Sanhedrin” went underground but they continued to meet for a while “in exile,” finally coming to an end in AD 425 with the last meeting taking place in the city of Tiberius on the shores of Galilee. From that day forward until 1948, Israel had no national, political, or religious infrastructure. But then Israel was reborn! In 1967 Jerusalem was recaptured, and in October of 2004, the Sanhedrin was re-constituted at a special meeting of over 100 representative rabbis in Tiberius, the very place where the original Sanhedrin had disbanded. Before the excited eyes of prophecy-watchers around the world, the Sanhedrin rose to life again with the election of its traditional 71 members - a major milestone on the road to the re-building of the temple!
The goals of the Sanhedrin are clear-cut: the reestablishment of the priesthood, including the office of High Priest, the re-building of the temple on the temple mount and the re-establishment of the Levitical sacrifices. This, of course, is highly controversial - even within the Jewish community where many secular Jews view these activities as unnecessary and provocative - not to mention extreme and even violent opposition coming from groups as diverse as the Arab Waaf, (the Islamic clergy who control the Mosque of Omar and the Al Aqsa Mosque located on the temple mount) to so-called “animal rights” groups who last year sued the Sanhedrin to block animal sacrifices. But the Sanhedrin has doggedly pushed forward, winning legal battles and obtaining all the necessary permits and permissions to carry out the “Korban Pesach” sacrifice, even sanctifying a “Kohen” (priest), a kosher butcher who will perform the ceremony. After fasting and prayer, they assembled on the shores of the Dead Sea to gather stones, unhewn and untouched by human hands. They carefully wrapped them in plastic to keep them ceremonially “clean” and moved them to an assembly site 12 miles northeast of the temple mount where they have been meticulously fabricated according to Jewish law into an altar which will be transported to Jerusalem for the ceremony next Monday at sundown. This Korban Pesach, the first in almost 2000 years, will include much ritual sanctification of the temple mount area. It might even include a public call for the re-building of the temple and could even hold a “surprise” ordination of the High Priest! If it happens, it will undoubtedly be watched with joy by devout Jews and with vitriolic anger by equally devout Muslims. It will certainly be watched with anxious anticipation by Bible-believing Christians who see prophecy coming to pass!

What does it all mean? No one can see all the implications and “fall-out” from an event like this. It could spark violence and even war- or maybe nothing at all on the “visible” front. But one thing is clear: we should all take note and realize just how close we are to the end of the age of grace, the era of the church, and to the beginning of the Great and Awesome Day of the Lord