Moth Invasion!

it's ok to be ...

The Son

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock a the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you,and your love for art.' The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.'

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected. The man died a few months later.

There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform sat the painting The Son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of The Son. Who will bid for this picture?'

There was silence.

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'

But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'

Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!'

But still the auctioneer continued. 'The Son! The Son! Who'll take The Son?'

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the long time gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting.' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

''We have $10, who will bid $20?'

'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!' A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'

'What about the paintings?'

'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only The Son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took The Son gets everything!'

God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The Son, The Son, who'll take The Son?' Because, you see, whoever takes The Son gets everything.

(You're My) Best Friend

Would you take better care of yourself? Would you be kinder to yourself? Would you be more forgiving of your human imperfections? If you realized your best friend was yourself. Who is always with you everywhere? Who is on your side when others are unfair? And tell me, who will never let you down in any situation? Who will always see you get your share? And that's why I am a best friend to myself. And I take me up whenever I feel low. I make myself as happy as a best friend would. I'm as nice to me as anyone I know. Lyrics by Helen Reddy; Music by Ray Burton

I wish that I could say that I believed in these lyrics. I wish that I could say that I live these lyrics, that I AM these lyrics, or even that I am TRYING to live these lyrics. Unfortunately, I am my own worst enemy and I must rob myself of the company of me so much of the time. I don't even allow myself a glimpse in the mirror - how ghastly I believe I am.

Someday, possibly, I may be able to befriend myself - but for now I know it's not yet time...

Are You Ready for What's Next!?

Are You Ready for What's Next!?

Ok, so I Matter ... now what? Ok, so I'm found ... now what? Ok, so I've received the living water ... now what? Ok, so I am a new creation ... so, Now What!? Well, now we'll be exploring what it means to be loved by God, to be found valuable and worthy in God's sight; you ARE a new creation through Christ so now we'll look at what that means to BE a new creation in and through Christ. First we'll look at how we're Changed (Inside & Out) in Luke 5 and then move into and through Christ's mission and ours as we learn that we must Feed Them in Luke 9 and to care for The Least of These in Matthew 25. From there we'll Let Our Light Shine out from under a bushel as we look at Matthew 5. Finally we'll end this six-week sermon series by examining our call to be Sent in Luke and our Commission in Matthew 28. Are you ready? Really ready? Are YOU Ready for What's Next!?

High Freques

Godparents for Tanzania. Bringing hope through education to the youth of Tanzania.

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