In the parable Jesus told,
A grown-up sheep that strayed away
From the ninety and nine in the fold.
And why for the sheep should we seek
And earnestly hope and pray?
Because there is danger when sheep go wrong;
They lead the lambs astray.
Lambs will follow the sheep, you know,
Wherever the sheep may stray.
When sheep go wrong, it won’t take long
Til the lambs are as wrong as they.
And so with the sheep we earnestly plead
For the sake of the lambs today,
For when sheep are lost, what a terrible cost
The lambs will have to pay!
-C. C. Miller
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Study the Scriptures
"As I think about your schedules and the pressures you face at this time in your lives, I can understand why scripture study can so easily be neglected. You have many demands pulling at you. In some cases, just maintaining your social life is a full-time occupation. But I plead with you to make time for immersing yourselves in the scriptures. Couple scripture study with your prayers. Half an hour ...each morning privately studying, pondering, and communicating with your Heavenly Father can make an amazing difference in your lives. It will give increased success in your daily activities. It will bring increased alertness to your minds. It will give you comfort and rock-steady assurance when the storms of life descend upon you."-Elder Ballard
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Heavenly Father and family are inseparably connected. When we understand the many dimensions of this connection, we can begin to comprehend more completely how personal and individual are Heavenly Father’s love for and relationship to each of us. Understanding how He feels about us gives us the power to love Him more purely and fully. Personally feeling the reality, love, and power of that relationship is the source of the deepest and sweetest emotions and desires that can come to a man or woman in mortality. These deep emotions of love can motivate us and give us power in times of difficulty and trial to draw closer to our Father. - Elder Quentin L. Cook
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Let us begin now, this very night, to emulate Christ. Cast off forever will be the old self and with it defeat, despair, doubt, and disbelief. To a newness of life we come--a life of faith, hope courage, and joy. No task looms too large; no responsibility too heavy; no duty is a burden. All things become possible. - Thomas S. Monson
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What It Means To Know Christ
A man passed away and was resurrected and waiting in a room to be interviewed. Another man was ahead of him. The door opened the man entered, the door closed. The man on the outside could hear the conversation on the other side of the door. The interviewer began: "I want you to tell me what you know about Jesus Christ."
"Well, He was born of a virgin in Bethlehem. He lived 33 years, spending the last three in His ministry organizing His church, choosing His apostles to direct it, and giving the gospel to direct our lives."
The interviewer stopped him and said; "Yes, yes, that's all true, but I want you to tell me what you know about Jesus Christ."
"Well, He was tortured and crucified that we might have eternal life. Three days later, He was resurrected that we might return to our Heavenly Father".
"Yes, yes, that is true, but I want you to tell me what you know about Jesus Christ."
The man a little perplexed, again began:
"Well, He restored the gospel in its fulness to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith, restored His church, gave us temples wherein we might do work to save our dead. He gave us family prayer and family home evening where we might unite with our families. He gave us the Priesthood to heal the sick and perform personal ordinances for our salvation and exaltation."
The interviewer again stopped him and said: "All of what you have said to me is true. Please pass through this door."
The entry door opened and the second man entered. As he approached the interviewer he fell upon his knees and cried,
"My Lord, My God!"
- Author Unknown
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What God Has Promised
God hath not promised
Skies always blue
Flower-strewn pathways
All our lives through.
God hath not promised
Sun without rain
Joy without sorrow
Peace without pain.
But God hath promise
Strength for the day
Rest for the labor
Light for the way;
Grace for the trials
Help from above
Unfailing sympathy
Undying love.
- Annie Johnson Flint
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A Letter From Father in Heaven
My Dear Children:
How well I remember the day you left my side and ventured forth on your mission to earth. That day I clothed your spirit with love and tenderly sent you off to school. My thoughts are with you now and always.
Oh, how I love you! I know the grief and pain as well as the joy and happiness you experience. I know your school is full of ugliness and temptations as well as beauty, but remember, all that I have is yours, if you come back to see me.
Each of you went into your new adventure with talent buried inside you. Bring forth these talents. Develop them and share them. Give what is yours to give with all your hearts. Covet not one another's gifts.
You, my children of Zion, have many blessings that my other children do not have. You share my Holy Priesthood. You may go to the temple to learn eternal truths.
You bear your children with the knowledge that they shall be yours forever - if you live worthy to come back to me. But remember, "Where much is given, much is expected!"
There are many among you who hunger for food and need care. Give of yourselves until you are drained of strength and give more.
There are many among you who hunger for food and thirst for my word.
Go forth with your humble spirits. Give my message in their homes. Pour out my good tidings. Restore faith where it has been lost. Give them my spoken words.
And also, my beloved children in Zion, let charity and love be your constant companions. Come to me often in prayer. Be humble and faithful. Be diligent in my work, and my kingdom shall be yours forever. I love you and miss you so very much, and, oh, how I am looking forward to your return again to me and your mother.
With all my love,
Your Father in Heaven
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Giving
"Go spread to the needy, sweet charity bread,
For giving is living," the angel said:
"O must I be giving and giving again?"
My peevish wilful answer ran.
"Oh, no," said the angel, piercing me through,
"Just give till the Lord stops giving to you."
-Unknown
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Thy mind, O man! if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens... — Joseph Smith
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The Lord does not ask our ability or inability, but only about our availability,and if we prove our dependability, the Lord will take care of our capability.
- Neal A. Maxwell
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Every noble impulse, every unselfish expression of love, every brave suffering for the right, every surrender of self to something higher than self, every loyalty to an ideal, every unselfish devotion to principle, every helpfulness to humanity, every act of self-control, every fine courage of the soul, undefeated by pretence of policy, but by being, doing, and living of good for the very good's sake, that is spirituality. The spiritual road has Christ as it's ideal. - David O. McKay
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But come what may, anything that befalls us here in mortality is but for a small moment, and if we are true and faithful,God will eventually exalt us on high. All our losses and sufferings will be made up to us in the resurrection." - Bruce R. McConkie
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Trust in God. Hold on in His love. Know that one day the dawn will break brightly and all shadows of mortality will flee. – Jeffrey R. Holland
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Pray for your careless and disobedient children - they will return
The Prophet Joseph Smith declared — and he never taught a more comforting doctrine — that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father’s heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God.”
(Orson F. Whitney, in Conference Report, Apr. 1929, 110)
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Excerpts from "Learning to Draw on the Powers of Heaven"
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One Solitary Life
He was born in an obscure village
The child of a peasant woman
He grew up in another obscure village
Where he worked in a carpenter shop
Until he was thirty
He never wrote a book
He never held an office
He never went to college
He never visited a big city
He never travelled more than two hundred miles
From the place where he was born
He did none of the things
Usually associated with greatness
He had no credentials but himself
He was only thirty three
His friends ran away
One of them denied him
He was turned over to his enemies
And went through the mockery of a trial
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves
While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing
The only property he had on earth
When he was dead
He was laid in a borrowed grave
Through the pity of a friend
Nineteen centuries have come and gone
And today Jesus is the central figure of the human race
And the leader of mankind's progress
All the armies that have ever marched
All the navies that have ever sailed
All the parliaments that have ever sat
All the kings that ever reigned put together
Have not affected the life of mankind on earth
As powerfully as that one solitary life.
by James Allan Francis
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Push: Obedience and Faith
A man was sleeping one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock out in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all His might.
So, this the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sunup to sundown, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might! Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.
Since the man was showing discouragement, the adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into his weary mind: "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time and it hasn't moved." Thus, he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man.
Satan said, "Why kill yourself over this? You tried. Quit wasting your time and move on. " That's what the weary man planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of prayer and to take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.
"Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in Your Service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet,after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"
The Lord responded compassionately, "My child, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed."
"But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back shiny and brown; your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. True, you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient, to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. That you have done.
Now I, my child, will move the rock."
At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves the mountains.
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The Repentance of Lord George
Lord George had led an evil life. He had been a drunkard, a gambler, and a cheat in business, and his face reflected the life he had led. It was a very evil face.
One day he fell in love with a simple country girl to whom he proposed marriage. Jenny Mere told him that she could never marry a man whose face was so repulsive and so evil-looking; and also that when she did marry, she wanted a man with a saintlike face, which was the mirror of true love.
Following a custom of the day, Lord George went down to Mr. Aeneas in Bond Street, London. Aeneas made waxen masks for people, and his skill was so art-perfect that the person’s identity was completely hidden. As proof of his skill, it is said that many spendthrift debtors, equipped with his masks, could pass among their creditors unrecognized. Aeneas went to his storeroom, selected a mask, heated it over a lamp, fixed it to Lord George’s face; and when Lord George looked in the glass, he had the face of a saint who loved dearly. So altered was his appearance that Jenny Mere was soon wooed and won.
He bought a little cottage in the country, almost hidden in an arbor of roses, with a tiny garden spot. From then on his entire life changed. He became interested in nature; he found ‘sermons in stones, books in brooks, and good in everything.’ Formerly he was blasé and life had no interest for him; now, he was engrossed in kindliness, and the world around him.
He was not content with starting life anew, but tried to make amends for the past. Through a confidential solicitor he restored his ill-gotten gains to those whom he had cheated. Each day brought new refinements to his character, more beautiful thoughts to his soul.
By accident, his former companions discovered his identity. They visited him in his garden, and urged him to return to his old evil life. When he refused, he was attacked, and the mask was torn from his face.
He hung his head. Here was the end of all; here was the end of his newfound life and his love dream. As he stood with bowed head, with the mask at his feet on the grass, his wife rushed across the garden and threw herself on her knees in front of him. When she looked up at him, what do you suppose she found? Lo! Line for line, feature for feature, the face was the same as that of the mask. Lines of beauty—regular features. - Unknown
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Absolute Truth
God, our Heavenly Father--Elohim--lives. That is an absolute truth. All four billion of the children of men on the earth might be ignorant of him and his attributes and his powers, but he still lives. All the people on the earth might deny him and disbelieve, but he lives in spite of them. They may have their own opinions, but he still lives, and his form, powers, and attributes do not change according to men's opinions. In short, opinion alone has no power in the matter of an absolute truth. He still lives. And Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Almighty, the Creator, the Master of the only true way of life--the gospel of Jesus Christ. The intellectual may rationalize him out of existence and the unbeliever may scoff, but Christ still lives and guides the destinies of his people. That is an absolute truth; there is no gainsaying.
The watchmaker in Switzerland, with materials at hand, made the watch that was found in the sand in a California desert. The people who found the watch had never been to Switzerland, nor seen the watchmaker, nor seen the watch made. The watchmaker still existed, no matter the extent of their ignorance or experience. If the watch had a tongue, it might even lie and say, "There is no watchmaker." That would not alter the truth.
- Spencer W. Kimball, address given at Brigham Young University on September 6, 1977.
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I believe in Christ as I believe in the noon-day sun; not because I see it, but by it I can see everything else. - C. S. Lewis
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The Gift
The gasp
from the crowd was
audible
And a few smiles even
vanished
As the mallet drove the first
spike
Through the torn
and bleeding
hand.
With haste and little care
the other monstrous nails
were blasted through
His flesh
And he was lifted, silent, naked
blood-covered and agonizing
Amid the jeers, the applause, the lust
of the ones He loved
so dearly.
Dark clouds boiled, winds tore
at the rocky summit
As the people slapped and mocked
and spit
And taught their children -
Yet in silence He endured,weeping
not in pain but pity
For these He loved
had
still
so awfully far to go.
Eyes closed, He
spoke often
with His Father, who stood
Very near, of Gethsemane
and the torment which left His blood
to stain the ground
Atoning for this so great
a sin
and all others, past and
yet to come.
Anguish-filled hours dragged
slowly by
as He hung
trembling because
of pain
and suffering
both body
and spirit
Till the Father in perfect
love
and understanding
withdrew.
Now alone and
totally so
The Son cried out
in agony of
spirit,
shrinking -
My God, My God
Why hast thou
forsaken me?
And then a time
only moments perhaps
but longer than all
Eternity
when the Son, lonely still
and in silence
Partook of the bitter cup
and finished His sacrifice
for the children
of men.
Father, the glory be
Thine
I have given the gift
Thou sent me forth
to give -
My love for them is now perfect
That theirs may one day be.
It is finished!
Into Thy hands, as always
I commend
my spirit.
- by Blaine M. Yorgason
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The Power
I gave you... the power to choose.
With this gift I placed you even above my angels. . . for angels are not free to choose sin. I gave you complete control over your destiny. I told you to determine, for yourself, your own nature in accordance with your own free will. You [have] the power to choose to degenerate into the lowest forms of life, but you also [have]...the power to be reborn into the higher forms, which are divine.
I have never withdrawn your great power, the power to choose.
What have you done with this tremendous force? Look at yourself. Think of the choices you have made in your life and recall, now, those bitter moments when you would fall to your knees if only you had the opportunity to choose again.
What is past is past... Use wisely, your power of choice.
Choose to love. . . rather than hate.
Choose to laugh. . . rather than cry.
Choose to create. . . rather than destroy.
Choose to persevere. . . rather than quit.
Choose to praise. . . rather than gossip.
Choose to heal. . . rather than wound.
Choose to give. . . rather than steal.
Choose to act. . . rather than procrastinate.
Choose to grow. . . rather than rot.
Choose to pray. . . rather than curse.
Choose to live. . . rather than die.
Know that your misfortunes were not my will, for all power was vested in you, and the accumulation of deeds and thoughts which [have brought you to this point in life are] your doing, not mine.
You are more than a human being, you are a human becoming. You are capable of great wonders. Your potential is unlimited.
Never demean yourself again!
Never settle for the crumbs of life!
Never hide your talents, from this day hence!
You have been born again... but just as before, you can choose failure and despair or success and happiness. The choice is yours. The choice is exclusively yours. I can only watch, as before... in pride... or sorrow.
This day you have been notified.
- excerpts from "The God Memorandum" in "The Greatest Miracle in the World" by Og Mandino
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THOUGHTS
"Turn to the Lord. Exercise all of the faith you have in Him. Let Him share your burden. Allow His grace to lighten your load." - Donald L. Hallstrom
"I testify that God’s grace is sufficient. Jesus’ grace is sufficient. It is enough. It is all we need. Oh, young people, don’t quit. Keep trying. Don’t look for escapes and excuses. Look for the Lord and His perfect strength. Don’t search for someone to blame. Search for someone to help you. Seek Christ, and, as you do, I promise you will feel the enabling power we call His amazing grace." - Brad Wilcox
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From Ken's Journal: A while back, as I was trying to figure out why it is, that when I have what seems to be a fairly strong testimony of the Lord and His restored gospel, I seem to at times give in easily to my weaknesses and temptations. While pondering this, I created a scenario of a three-level sphere representing the make-up and spiritual nature of human beings, as shown below:
The Spiritual Core
The core of our being is spiritual. It is the spirit created for us by Heavenly Father. It is righteous by nature, and seeks only righteousness. It yearns to return to its heavenly home, to live with Father. It is the house of our love and the source of our strength. It has the power to influence completely the other levels of our being.
The spiritual core is where our heart of hearts resides, where all the deepest inner desires of our hearts are formulated and kept. When we allow it to, it can provide a force of strength as powerful as the sun to guide our choices in life.
The Inner Human Self
The inner human self is a function of our eartly bodies. It can be influenced by the spiritual core, or it can ignore it and even block the core's righteous influence. Yet, the inner self has no influence on the actual make-up of the core.
The inner self is where our ego, emotions, psyche and passions reside. These elements are either influenced by or ignore the promptings and power of the spiritual core. When we allow the inner self to be influenced by the core and become aligned with it, the strength of righteousness in our entire being is multiplied greatly, and has a definite impact on the outer human self. When the elements of our inner self cloud over or block our spiritual core by not aligning themselves with its promptings through right choices, our entire being becomes confused and is weakened considerably.
The Outer Human Self
The outer human self is greatly impacted by what lies beneath it. It can present itself as being happy, sad, confused, confident, righteous or evil. The strength of its appearance, as well as its ability to convince others of its status, depends on how the lower levels are aligned. This level is what we project to others of who we are, what we are like, etc. It is also what we see in ourselves, or try to make ourselves believe that we are.
Some people are more adept than others in molding this level into appearances that may or may not be a true representation of what lies beneath. Some people's outer level may be as clear as glass, reflecting exactly what can be found in the other levels. When this type of person has allowed their inner self to be completely influenced by their spiritual core, the outer self presents a whole person that shines and radiates the spirit of the Lord.
Unifying the Three Levels
Some people, though not many, have been successful in unifying the three levels of their being, and it is evident. Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, and many other church leaders have successfully emulated this kind of spiritually-influenced unifying of the three levels of the human being.
When the inner self is in conflict with or is blocking the influence of the spiritual core, it usually is demonstrated on the outer level, to one degree or another. Sometimes we try to align our outer self with the spiritual core, even though there exists conflict in between. We may even deny that any conflict exists, or try to ignore it. But until we improve the alignment of the three levels, we can never truly, sucessfully have an outer self that reflects the strength, power and love of the spiritual core.
Throughout life, we can choose to be influenced within the area of two extremes: to be totally righteous or totally evil. The spiritual core can eventually consume and control the other levels in goodness, or it can eventually depart the being and leave an empty hole, allowing the influences of evil to completely take over.
Recognizing that our core is spiritual, and that we have the ability to choose to allow that core to influence and control our entire being, is a method of understanding our potential and true nature. It can give us strength to make right choices, and puts us on the path toward becoming who we really want to become.
I gain comfort and strength realizing that, in the core of my being, I really am righteous and desire only righteousness.
- Ken R. Young
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The Parable of the Push-ups and the Donuts
There was a boy by the name of Steve who was struggling in school in Utah. Brother Christianson taught seminary at this particular school. He had an open-door policy and would take in any student that had been thrown out of another class as long as they would abide by his rules. Steve had been kicked out of his sixth period and no other teacher wanted him, so he went into Brother Christianson's class. Steve was told that he could not be late, so he arrived just seconds before the bell rang and he would sit in the very back of the room. He would also be the first to leave after the class was over.
One day, Brother Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. After class, Bro. Christianson pulled Steve aside and said, "You think you're pretty tough, don't you?"
Steve's answer was, "Yeah, I do."
Then Brother Christianson asked, "How many push-ups can you do?"
Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."
"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Brother Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"
Steve replied, "I don't know... I've never done 300 at a time."
"Do you think you could?" Again asked Brother Christianson.
"Well, I can try," said Steve.
"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I need you to do 300 in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," Brother Christianson said.
Steve said, "Well... I think I can... yeah, I can do it."
Brother Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday."
Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, Brother Christianson pulled out a big box of donuts. Now these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited-it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend.
Bro. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want a donut?"
Cynthia said, "Yes."
Bro. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"
Steve said, "Sure," and jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten.
Then Steve again sat in his desk. Bro. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk. Bro. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe do you want a donut?"
Joe said, "Yes."
Bro. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?" Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their donut. And down the second aisle, till Bro. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was captain of the football team and center of the basketball team. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship. When Bro. Christianson asked, "Scott do you want a donut?" Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own pushups?"
Bro. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."
Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."
Bro. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked "Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"
Steve started to do ten pushups. Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!"
Bro. Christianson said, "Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk.
Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow. Bro. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry.
Bro. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"
Jenny said, "No."
Then Bro. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?" Steve did ten, Jenny got a donut.
By now, the students were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve was also having to really put forth a lot of effort to get these pushups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved. Bro. Christianson asked Robert to watch Steve to make sure he did ten pushups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. So Robert began to watch Steve closely. Bro. Christianson started down the fourth row.
During his class, however, some students had wandered in and sat along the heaters located on the sides of the room. When Bro. Christianson realized this; he did a quick count and saw 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.
Bro. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.
Steve asked Bro. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"
Bro. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your pushups.. You can do them any way that you want." And Bro. Christianson went on.
A few moments later, Jason came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!"
Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come in."
Bro. Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten pushups for him."
Steve said, "Yes, let him come in."
Bro. Christianson said, "Okay, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?"
"Yes."
"Steve, will you do ten pushups so that Jason can have a donut?" Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.
Bro. Christianson finished the fourth row, then started among those seated on the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each pushup in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. Sweat was dropping off of his face and, by this time, there was not a dry eye in the room.
The very last two girls in the room were cheerleaders and very popular. Bro. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut? Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."
Bro. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?"
Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda..
Then Bro. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?" Susan, with tears flowing down her face, asked, "Bro. Christianson, can I help him?"
Bro. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, he has to do it alone, Steve, would you do ten pushups so Susan can have a donut?"
As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.
Brother Christianson turned to the room and said.
"And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, plead to the Father, "Into thy hands I commend my spirit." With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, he collapsed on the cross and died - even for those that didn't want His gift. And just like some of those in this room, many choose not to accept the gift that was provided for them.
The Bridge
There was once a bridge which spanned a large river. During most of the day the bridge sat with its length running up and down the river paralleled with the banks, allowing ships to pass through freely on both sides of the bridge.____________________________
CARRY YOUR CROSS
Jesus leads the man to a room full of crosses. Some are big and others are small. The man is instructed to put down his cross and then go select a new cross. The only stipulation was once he made his selection he could never complain or exchange his cross again. He searches for hours on end. The big crosses were just as he assumed very large and very heavy. He knew there was no way he could ever carry those crosses. The smaller crosses were shockingly painful. Some had stickers that constantly stuck you in the shoulder or back reminding you of the beams you were bearing. Others were oddly shaped and rubbed the neck raw. Finally the man came upon a cross that was perfect for him. Not too big but not too little. There were no sharp prodding objects and it rested perfectly on his shoulder so it would not irritate him as he carried it. The man cried out, “Here it is Lord.” Jesus asked the man, “Are you sure? Remember there are no trades or exchanges and no more complaining about your cross.” The man replied, “I am sure. This is the perfect cross for me.” To which Jesus replied, ‘My child, that is the cross you carried in with you today.” _______________________ The Vision of Sir Launfal The story is told of a young knight who rode out into the world in search of the Holy Grail (the cup which the Master supposedly drank from at the Last Supper). He had dedicated his life to the quest. He was young, handsome, and strong, clothed in bright and shining armor, mounted on a gallant white charger. As he crossed the drawbridge riding out into the world, a beggar (who was a leper) put up his hand to him, begging alms. The young knight reached into his pouch, took out a gold coin and flung it to the beggar as he rode on, but he really did not give the beggar very much because no one would accept even a gold coin from a leper.
The young man searched for the cup; of course he didn’t find it, although he spent his life in the quest. He did, however, learn a lot, and at the close of his life he was returning to his castle, no longer young. He is now shrunken with age. His armor is no longer bright; his mount is no longer a charger but just a tired old gray horse. As he was about to cross the drawbridge into the castle, once again a beggar put up his hand begging for alms. This time Sir Launfal stopped, got down from his horse, reached into his knapsack and took out the only thing he had—a crust of bread. He then dipped his cup into the stream and gave the crust of bread and one cup of cold water to the beggar.
The wooden cup from which the beggar drank turned into the Holy Grail for which he had searched, and the beggar turned into a Christ and said a very interesting thing. He said:
“Not what we give, but what we share.
For the gift without the giver is bare;
Who gives himself with his alms feeds three,
Himself, his hungering neighbor, and me.”
(“The Vision of Sir Launfal,” James R. Lowell.)
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