Life - Line Devotionals

You may contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.

You may contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.

You may contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.

You may contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.

MUSIC FROM HELL

If rock music was used against you as a weapon, would you want to have it in your church?

© 2002 / Leslie A Turvey laturvey@becon.org

“For thirty years we have suffered intense persecution, and now freedom is bringing another great harm to our churches. This damage is coming from the Christians in America who are sending rock music and evangelists accompanied by rock bands...We call this music from hell.”

This excerpt, from a message by Peter Peters and Vasilij Ryzhuk of Russia, is to Christians in America (April 15, 1992). The writers had been imprisoned for several years for Christ's sake. They wrote, “We were not allowed to have Christian music, but rock music was used as a weapon against us day and night to destroy our souls. We could only resist with much prayer and fasting.”

Until recently I might have questioned the validity of their letter, but having read Richard Wurmbrand’s “Tortured For Christ,” I’m convinced it is true. Pastor Wurmbrand chronicles fourteen years of imprisonment and torture in Communist prisons in post-war Rumania. His crime? He, and of thousands of others, dared to publicly witness about their fervent belief and faith in Jesus Christ.

Peters and Ryzhuk’s letter continues, “Rock music has nothing in common with ministry or service to God....It is true that rock music attracts people to the church, but not to Godly living.”

Having come from a generation when the worship of God was entered into with great solemnity, and having been to churches where bands were part of the service, I’ve heard it all.

In my day the organist played softly, except when the congregation or choir was singing. Even then the volume was contained to that which was necessary for vocal accompaniment.

Eventually other musical instruments -- violins, guitars, trumpets, drums -- were introduced into worship services. Then came electronics. The bands brought amplifiers, and more amplifiers, and huge speaker boxes, until the din became almost unbearable. One has to wonder where the worship of the eternal God ends, and the worship of the band and its equipment begins.

The letter from Russia continues, “Even the unbelievers recognize it is unholy music, and they cannot understand how American Christians can be so much like the world.” The writers, speaking for their Russian brethren state, “We are embarrassed by this image of Christianity.”

Christians in America are soft. We dress in our best, shake hands with our fellow church-goers, sing a few hymns, listen to an easy-to-swallow sermon, and return home to a sumptuous meal. By the time the table is cleared most Christians cannot recall what the fancy-robed minister had to say. Compare our easy Christianity with that of post-war Rumania. Pastor Wurmbrand wrote:

“Christianity has become dramatic for us. When you free Christians win a soul for Christ, you win a member of a quietly living Church. But when we win a man, we know that he may well have to go to prison, that his children may become orphans. The joy of having brought somebody to Christ is always mixed with this feeling that there is a price that must be paid.”

It’s true that the breakup of communist Russia has given Christianity somewhat more freedom. But it seems we are imprisoning them again with the rock music from hell. Perhaps we should re-evaluate our musical preferences.

Peters and Ryzhuk wrote, “We urge you to join with us, and we advise you to remove rock music from America, and certainly do not bring it to our country. Do not desecrate our teenagers with it.... We need spiritual bread. Please give us true bread, not false cakes.”

Rock music in the churches (A letter from Russia)

A Message from the Christians in Russia to the Christians in America:

Unregistered Union of Churches, Moscow, Russia

For thirty years we have suffered intense persecution, and now freedom is bringing another great harm to our churches. This damage is coming from the Christians in America who are sending rock music and evangelists accompanied by rock bands.

We call this music from hell. We urge all Americans to stop giving money for the organization of such concerts in Russia. We want only traditional Christian music in our churches. This is the unanimous decision of all our leaders.

Letter to readers, sent February 19, 2003

It is not usual for a columnist to defend his writing to the readers. However, the most recent article, “Music From Hell,” brought such a flood of emails telling me how wrong I was, I feel it’s important to respond, even to those who may have disagreed but not written.

Nearly all who wrote told their version of the background of music in Christian worship, and nearly all referred to that glorious oratorio, “The Messiah,” by Handel. Yet all, in their misguided zeal, missed the entire point of “Music From Hell.” So, to put everyone on track, I offer the following:

Despite all the words about Christian rock music, the one thing the writers have failed to do is to walk a mile in Peters and Ryzhuk’s shoes. It’s easy, in the safety of our comfortable pews, to miss the message of those who need to go underground to worship our God. As I quoted Richard Wurmbrand in the Life Lines article, “Christianity has become dramatic for us. When you free Christians win a soul for Christ, you win a member of a quietly living Church. But when we win a man, we know that he may well have to go to prison, that his children may become orphans. The joy of having brought somebody to Christ is always mixed with this feeling that there is a price that must be paid.”

The entire article was based on the plight of Christians against whom rock music was used for brainwashing, and who do not have the luxury of any sort of music, perhaps not even vocal, in their worship. That’s why I prefaced the article by asking, “If rock music was used against you as a weapon, would you want to have it in your church?”

You may contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.

ONE FAMILY’S UNDERSTANDING OF THE BIBLE

It’s time to forget what you’ve been told the bible says and read it from a fresh point of view.

© 1995 / Leslie A Turvey laturvey@becon.org

Imagine a family marooned on a deserted island. The have no religious background, but they speak and read English. They have a few books which they’ve read and re-read.

One day some boxes float ashore from a shipwreck. One contains a book: it’s opening sentence is, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The only other thing is a gold necklace with a man on a cross.

Every day they read their new book. They learn about Adam and Eve and the penalty for their sin. They read of the flood and God’s promise to never destroy earth that way again.

They read a lot of food laws in Leviticus and Deuteronomy, and although they don’t understand them all they recall a time when the family got sick after eating some shellfish. Grandpa died. Could there be any connection? they wonder.

They read that Israel flourished as a nation when the people obeyed God, and floundered when they didn’t.

They read of David and Solomon and Job and Jonah.

They read about Jesus who lived so close to God he could heal the sick and make the blind to see. Could Jesus make Grandma’s eyes better if he were on their island?

The family knows the strength it takes to hew down trees and haul them to the job site. They climb the high hills of their island. They swim, they fish, they hunt. They can relate to the rugged carpenter who overturned the tables and drove the money changers out of the temple without any resistance. What muscles he must have had!

The read about Jesus’ death on a cross, and decide the man on the necklace is somebody else. Jesus was brawny: the man on the necklace is weak and scrawny.

When the family closes the book at the end of Revelation do they believe Grandpa is in heaven? Or hell? Nothing in the book gives them either idea. But they understand that one day Grandpa will be resurrected, and be taught the same things they’ve learned.

Where do we get our ideas about God and the bible? From men and women who’ve decided this means that, and that means something else. But our marooned family takes God’s word at face value.

Nobody can make his own decisions about what God says, they read. So they believe the bible from cover to cover. They don’t just believe in God, they believe God. Why don’t we?

It’s time to forget what we’ve been told the bible says, and read it from a fresh point of view as though we were the family marooned on the island.

You may contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.

ORCHIDS & ONIONS

Life Lines readers tell it like it is. Some send me orchids; others send onions. The column “Blending In -- Standing Out” brought me some of both. I offer the pertinent parts of their emails without comment, except to say thank you for writing.

Copyright April 20, 2003 / Leslie A Turvey laturvey@becon.org

I have seen some true Christians who looked like real wild people....one thing that blows my mind is the Christian Motorcycle groups. They look like Hell's Angels and instead they are great witnesses! (Nola E)

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Shalom Brother Leslie: I am a Messianic Believer. As this is a ministry to serve the Jewish people and help them to meet Mashiach Yeshua, we are taught to minister to them in words that don't offend them or turn them away, such as Jesus Christ....We pray in Hebrew to show them that they don't need to stop being Jews as soon as they accept the L-rd, but rather in accepting HIM, it is a bonus to their Judaism....I do write G-d , as to not offend those I am ministering to. (Norma N)

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I love your e-mails....[However] one of the ten commandments is that we are not to call Him by a false name....A Teutonic deity of healing is named jesus and that is where that translation came in, while our Savior's name is Yehoshuah (meaning Salvation of Yahweh). Yeshua is a shorted form of it removing the Creators Name.....The Creators name is not 'god.' God is none other than the name of a false deity, spoken of only in Isaiah 65:11 His name is Yahweh (Yah ha Weh).

I do not call Him by His name to stand out. I call Him by His Hebrew name because I love Him....In the future, though, do not insult those who consider His Name Holy....Thank you, and yes, Shalom. (Trent)

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Yes and no. We should stand out.

When the crowd dresses immodestly, we should stand out. When their apparel proclaims their rebellion, we should be different. So often, the "crowd" dresses in a way intended to shock.

The Christian "shock" dressing you describe is at heart, I think, blending in with the crowd....Yet we are called to modesty....dressing in a way that shows submission to God and respect to others, rather than seeking to draw attention to myself.

I would encourage students to carry their Bible on top, for the right reasons. They should not be ashamed of Christ. Their attitude towards others, and especially when someone speaks to them about it, should convey an attitude of acceptance, rather than of self-righteousness.

It isn't wrong to be different. We should just be different for the right reasons. If our heart reason is right, we'll be different in the right sort of way. (Rev Jon Gleason)

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In regards to your article, I must say well done my brother. Truly this is a good article, worthy of praise and respect.

I am inclined to agree with you on the bumper stickers, Christian t-shirts, and accessories. No longer is it to spread the gospel of Christ Jesus, whom we serve, but it is to say, “I’m a better Christian than you.” You will get no argument out of me for I wholeheartedly agree.

However, I [disagree] when you speak of those who use “Jehovah” or “Yahweh” when they speak of God. I don’t think most people do this to stand out. Rather I think they do this as a sign of respect to the Living God....These people are placing a distinction between the Living God and the generic term of god in the English language, which at best is only an abstract concept....Perhaps taking God’s name in the original Hebrew is a step in the right direction. (Jimmy B)

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What you wrote was in judgement of others who, for their own reason, want to raise a flag, proclaiming their love for Jesus, not necessarily a banner of “Holier than thou.”

As for Jesus blending in with the crowd, it appears from the writings of the events around Jesus' life, He stood out to the point that the rulers of the Jewish faith wanted Him dead....He was noticed to be sure, and known by those who had not yet seen Him, but knew of His reputation. His love, His compassion, His healing power, His authority, and the only ones who complained were the ones who truly believed they were holier than anyone else.

My thought is, if you love Jesus then let it be known. If you are not able to speak in words from your lips, then a word on a piece of clothing is not at all wrong. (Robert E)

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I do not agree with your view on this subject. I do wear Christian t-shirts occasionally, and I do not do so to draw attention to myself. I simply like the shirts and what they say about God. You also never know when what that t-shirt says may witness to someone who sees it. (Tammy)

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This short article is VERY good! I would like to use it in a future edition of "Making A Difference" if you don't mind. (David Holt)

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...some innocent babies don't have the wisdom and knowledge in honoring God as supreme being, and so they do it the only way they know how, for the time being anyway. And all things that comes from the heart of a man, I believe the Lord honors. If their heart is in the right place God is there. (Shirley L)

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Shalom Bro. Turvey. I am one of those people that use the terms G-d, HaShem, Adonai and so forth, but it certainly isn't in some kind of competition to be holier than others. With me, it is simply respect for my Father and Creator....I refer to my Father in Heaven as HaShem, Adonai, Elohim, or on occasion, G-d. The hyphen is to separate the G-d of Isra'el from the many other gods of this earth, and to show respect for His Name as my Father. (Rav Lynn Boleware)

You may contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.

OTHER RIGHT ANSWER

If your livelihood depended on discovering the second right answer you’d spend a lot of time in research. Yet Christians trust their eternal life to their denominational text-book answers.

© 1994 / Leslie A Turvey laturvey@becon.org

What’s two two’s? A mathematician will say four. A thinking person’s answer may be twenty-two.

Half of eight? Could be zero, or three, or the letter E.

Scrunch a piece of chalk on a blackboard and kindergarten kids will tell you it’s a squashed bug, a shining star, the sawed-off end of a log. And who’s to say they’re wrong?

In most of life’s experiences there’s more than one right answer. But school has taught us to look for only one, the one in the text book.

Ask who invented the airplane and you’ll be told it was the Wright brothers. That’s the text-book answer.

But long before the Wrights’ flight Otto Lilienthal made two thousand flights in a hang glider, a type of airplane. Others had even discovered how to fly in motor-powered craft. But the Wright brothers discovered how to control a powered aircraft. Without control mankind was destined to fly where the winds carried him.

So, although the text-book answer seems correct, it would also be correct to answer Otto Lilienthal, or to name others who flew before the Wrights.

Looking past the one right answer to the second, third, or fourth is how man progresses. Otherwise we’d still be drawing stick pictures on cave walls.

Educator Neil Postman remarked, “Children enter school as question marks and leave as periods.” How unfortunately true. It’s easier to tell kids to memorize the text book than it is for teachers to help them learn to think for themselves.

Christians are like that. They find it easier to accept the fashionable answers rather than searching the bible for themselves.

Such was not the case in Berea. The Bereans searched the scriptures to see whether Paul and Silas were teaching the truth (Acts 17:10-11).

A church notice board in Ourtown announced “The Truth About Pentecost.” I went in to listen. After the closing hymn the people likely never gave the sermon a second thought. But had they been like the Bereans they would have discovered their minister had no clue about his topic. Instead they accepted his word as text-book gospel.

If your livelihood depended on discovering the second or third of fourth right answers you’d spend a lot of time in research. If you needed an operation you’d want a surgeon who could think for himself in the operating room, rather than one who knew only what the text book said.

Yet millions of Christians trust their eternal life to their denominational text-book answers, rather than going to the scriptures for the second – God’s – right answers.

A terrifying thought, especially if you believe the text-book concept of going to hell.

You may contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.

OUR FATHER...

What is a father? It’s more than just biological. It’s more than being a pal to your son or daughter. Some Christians don’t fully understand what it means to say God is their father.

© 1994 / Leslie A Turvey laturvey@becon.org

Our father which art in heaven.

With these words Jesus Christ began to teach his disciples how to pray.

But what is a father? Is it simply a male human who has impregnated a female? It takes more than that to be a father.

We’re not discussing the legality of marriage here, although it is important. But we must accept the fact some men who have fathered children outside the bond of marriage are better fathers than many whose legal wives have given them sons and daughters.

Bruce Lockerbie wrote, “To any father who really cares about his children, nothing is of greater importance than their training in discipline, their instruction in principles. Together these make up their character....”

Ricardo Montalblan knew the truth of Lockerbie’s words. In a letter to his son Montalblan wrote, “As long as you live in this house you will follow the rules.”

Montalblan was not a dictator: he was a father, and accepted the obligation to perform the role of a father.

He added he is not his son’s pal. Montalblan wrote, “I am you father. This is a hundred times more than what a pal is.”

Continuing, he wrote, “I am also your friend.” He recognized this as an essential part of fatherhood.

When a person acknowledges God as his father he is obliged to accept God’s fatherly role. He accepts the admonition, “As long as you live in this house you will follow the rules.”

What rules? The ten commandments? Yes, but there’s more than that. God’s rules are called the law.

Just as Ricardo Montalblan’s son was required to follow the house rules – the law – we are obliged to follow God’s law. If we don’t we will follow the law of another god, a god who is not our father, not our friend. It’s an either-or decision.

Montalblan concluded his letter, “This will be hard for you to understand until you have a son of your own. Until then, trust me.”

New testament Christians find the need to follow God’s law difficult to understand, believing it was nailed to the cross. But why would God, who never changes (Malachi 3:6), make a set of rules then destroy them, especially when they are perfect and to be desired more than gold (Psalm 19:7-10)?

He didn’t! God’s law is for our benefit, physically, mentally, spiritually. And if we accept his role as our father we are obliged to obey him because he is our father, and our friend.

Our father in heaven, I am your son. Your laws – your rules – are mine to follow for my own good. Thank you for giving them.

You may contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.

OUR REMOTE CONTROLLED LIFE

Copyright 2003 / Leslie A Turvey laturvey@becon.org

Click. Click. Click. It seems we press a button for everything, without getting out of our chair. Aren't you glad God doesn't do the same thing?

“Grandpa. Tell us the story about how you had to get up and cross the room to change channels.”

Ain’t life tough! Today we have remote controls for everything. We can change channels, adjust the volume, and even watch two programs at once without ever getting off the couch.

Our stereos work the same way. With multiple CD players we can select our choice of music in whatever order from the comfort of our La-Z-Boy recliner.

Mom recently bought a new air conditioner. Too warm? Click a button while she sits in her rocker. Too cool? Click another button.

We have remote controlled door locks, remote controlled alarm systems, and remote controlled starters so the car’s interior can be warming up while we sip our second cup of coffee. And when we arrive home after a hard day at the office, a remote control sets a motor in operation to open the garage door for us. Oh yes, it also turns on the light so we won’t trip over Junior’s remote controlled model car.

Then for summer comfort while we lay in bed, there’s an electric fan with a choice of speeds, oscillation or not, tilt up or down, and switch on or off. Yep! All controlled by a little gadget you hold in your hand.

People who study nonsense for a living -- generally funded by you and me through a government agency -- have determined television remotes are the most often misplaced item in the average home. The most common place to find them? In the refrigerator, likely exchanged for a cold beer at commercial time.

But where do all our remote controlled gizmos get us? Like a song from the sixties says, “Another day older, and deeper in debt.” To this we might add flabbier and lazier, with weak muscles and aching backs.

If we see anything we don’t like on the telly we can switch it off -- remotely, of course. Wouldn’t it be neat if God had a remote control so when he saw something in our life that he doesn’t like, he could switch it off? That would be great: he could stop us each time we are tempted to sin. But would you want him to?

God wants us to be healthy, but he won’t zap us with some heavenly remote to force us to eat only nourishing meat (Leviticus 11:1-23; Deuteronomy 14:3-21), or to prevent us from overloading our plates, or to stop us before we take a second martini at lunch (Ephesians 5:18). If he could zap us remotely we would soon learn to hate him for interfering in our lives.

God gave us brains to think with, and to make our own decisions, but our decisions haven't always been wise. In fact, many have been downright sinful, so we deserve to die eternally in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). Thankfully God doesn't want that for us (2 Peter 3:9), so he sent Jesus Christ to serve the penalty for our sins (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Even in this life there are penalties for our sins, but does God care if we end up in jail for doing wrong? Not really. That’s just part of our learning process, if we need to learn the hard way. Of course, he’d rather have us learn to do the right thing, but he won't click a remote to stop us from breaking the law. That would stop our learning process.

Saul persecuted Christians. God didn’t have a remote control to stop him. Instead, taught him a powerful lesson through an experience he never forgot (Acts 9:1-20).

I suppose God could have changed Daniel’s channel from prayer to something else, but he didn’t. Danny Boy was tossed into the lion’s den for doing the right thing (Daniel 6:10-23). Through Daniel’s experience God left a lesson for us all: man can punish us for doing what's right, but God’s power is greater than man’s.

God allowed Daniel to be put in a life-threatening situation, but he sent an angel to close the lions’ mouths, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the angel sat a while to chat with him.

So, maybe we live a remote controlled life, but the next time you click to something you shouldn't watch on television, be thankful God doesn't click it to something more wholesome. He'd rather you do that yourself.

You may contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.

OUR WAR AGAINST TERRORISM

War? What war? If the west is at war against terrorism, we are losing miserably.

Copyright 2004 / Leslie A Turvey laturvey@becon.org

Following the events of 9/11 the militant terrorists vowed America will never sleep soundly again. That prophecy comes true every night, and we are to blame.

CNN broadcasts the terrorist threat level day and night. Whenever there’s a whisper of a possible terrorist attack, our media blares it into our living rooms. Who can sleep soundly when the bedtime news leaves us wondering whether we will become victims? We wonder whether it’s safe to fly, or whether a deranged individual will crash us into another building.

A Life Lines reader asked how I would build a bridge of peace between us and radical terrorists who are brainwashed to kill anyone who doesn’t do what they want. My answer? I honestly don’t know. The best we can do is pray for them.

Terrorism is not a 21st century phenomenon. It’s gone on for centuries. Only a few hundred years ago the Romish religion terrorized Christians: recant or die. Magnificent tools of torture separated limbs from their bodies, eyes from their sockets, and tongues from their mouths. And history books show sketches of Christians hanging from trees because they refused to bow to the ungodliness of Rome.

In more recent years it was over-zealous Christians who designed the dunking stool. Anyone accused of being a witch was tied to a chair and dunked into a pond. If the person drowned she was innocent; if she lived she was guilty, and was burned at the stake. Who could sleep soundly wondering whether a neighbour might harbour a grudge, and begin a personal witch hunt?

All terrorists have one thing in common: they believe they are right. Perhaps they have been brainwashed into believing so, or they have talked themselves into their belief. They are the few, but they don’t let the masses sleep soundly.

Special interest groups have their own form of terrorism. Those who choose an “alternate lifestyle” terrorize electoral campaigns by threats of voting against candidates who refuse them their so-called rights.

A few atheists moved an entire country to ban prayer and bible reading from the educational system, leading to the conundrum of why our children can’t read a bible in school, but can read a bible in prison. The legislators bowed to their terrorism saying, “Oh my! We mustn’t offend the atheists! They might sweep us out of our high-paying positions!”

Computer hackers have their own form of terrorism, and Christians bow to them by flooding the ‘net with warnings of terrible viruses and such, unaware most of them are hoaxes. How do the hackers get their jollies? They know people will forward their garbage without checking the hoax sites first.

There is no war being waged against terrorism, but there could be. All we need do is get out of God’s way and let him fight it for us. It would mean standing up to the sexual deviates and abortionists and atheists and telling them we, as a nation, will no longer bow to their ungodly demands, but are returning to God’s way of life. New Testament churches would need to turn to the laws of God, and live by his message in Deuteronomy 28.

Turn there and read God’s promise, “If you listen to me, and observe all my commandments, I will make you the most important nation on earth. You will be safe wherever you are, in the city or on the farm. Your children will make you happy; your crops will be bountiful; and your cattle and sheep will be healthy and prolific. Your gross national product will be astounding.”

God continues, “You won’t need to fight your enemies, the terrorists. I will cause them to be overcome while you watch. They’ll attack you from one direction, and flee from you seven ways.”

God’s promise of blessings and protection continues for several verses. But…

…beginning in verse 15 you can read what happens when a nation refuses to obey God and his laws. Read the rest of the chapter and compare it with the six o’clock news. Then ask yourself whether Pogo’s statement is true: “We have met the enemy, and they are us.”

There’s no war being waged against terrorism. Instead we do obeisance to the terrorists whenever we think they’ve issued a threat. But my God says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).”

Why won’t we do it?

You may contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.

OUT WITH THE OLD

Clean out your mental filing cabinet. Get rid of the simmering attitudes and replace them with a real zest for life.

© 1997 / Leslie A Turvey laturvey@becon.org

I just did something really courageous.

No, I didn’t dash into a blazing building to rescue a baby, or brave frigid flood-waters to save someone’s life. I did something even more than that. I cleaned out my filing cabinet!

I went through every file and sent half the contents to the blue box.

Stuff had accumulated more than twenty years. I wonder why I ever kept it. Obviously I thought I might use it some day.

I sweated at the very idea of doing the job. As my trembling fingers opened the first file the sweat began trickling down my face.

A letter dated March 14, 1978. Out it went. Another from 1983. Trash it. One I wrote and never sent: don’t know why. But there’s no sense keeping it any longer. By now the trickle was a torrent.

File by file I pressed on, bravely purging this and that until I was drenched. At last the heroic deed was done.

Yet, in several files there was still stuff I just didn’t have the heart to let go. Back it went until, maybe twenty years from now, I go through the same process again.

We all have a filing cabinet called our mind. There’s a lot of old stuff filed away that we don’t need, but we keep it in case we might use it some day.

In the “A” file there might be Anger. Maybe a driver cut you off on the expressway. Just wait ‘til I see him again. He’ll get a taste of his own medicine!

Dump it. That kind of angry thinking just clutters your files, and makes it more difficult to think clearly when the traffic is heavy.

In the “B” file there’s a Bad Attitude. I’m right and he’s wrong. That’s all there is to it. One day he’ll come around to my way of thinking.

Trash it. Which is better, to be right and lose a friend, or to accept the fact there may be a side of the story you don’t yet understand?

“C”. Callousness There might be even more in the “I” file under Indifference, and “U”, Uncaring, and “H” for Hardheartedness.

Get rid of it, and replace it with Care and Concern for others.

Under “G” you may find a lot of Guilt. Why file that away for the next twenty years? If what has been done has been forgiven, then forgive yourself. If it hasn’t been forgiven then get it straightened out with the person you’ve wronged.

Let’s look in the “F” file. Is there Faintheartedness? Or Weakness in the file marked “W”? When it’s time to stand up for what is right, do you back into the shadows hoping not to be seen? Pray for strength, and purge the weakness of spirit.

Continue through your files, getting rid of everything you don’t need. Don’t keep any of it. When you look through what’s left you’ll find files filled with Daring, Courage, and Gallantry. There’ll be Enthusiasm and Peace and Valor. The “L” file will be filled with Love and Laughter.

Search the “J” file for Joy, and look under “R” for Radiance, to radiate that joy to others.

Look for Mercy and Kindness and Solitude: everyone needs some time for himself.

You’ll find Tranquility under “T”, and Quiet under “Q”. You’ll find less of Me and more of You as you sometimes Yield to the desires of other.

If there’s any Pessimism or Negativism left, scuttle it. And search the “X” file for eXcitement.

Look carefully and you’ll discover you’ve tidied up all your mental files from “A” to “Y”, and that you’re left with a real Zest for life.

You may contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.

Special Prayer Request

© 2006/11/25 / Leslie A Turvey laturvey@becon.org

Hello Life Lines readers. I have never before used this column for prayer requests, but today I am making a one-time exception as it is so near to me. It is also important to all true Christians, as I believe Richard’s situation may be among the beginnings of Christian persecutions in what we call the free world (Matthew 23:33-34; Luke 21:12).

Please pray for my friend and your Christian brother, Richard Markland of Covington, Ohio. Richard was accused, and has been declared guilty of raping his eight-year-old granddaughter. He is presently in Miami County jail awaiting his January 2nd sentencing. Since his alleged victim was under the age of ten, Richard could face ten years to life in the state prison.

Richard is well-known for his on-line denunciation of man’s governmental and judicial system. Could his incarceration be the system’s way to silence him?

Please also pray for his aging parents, Paul and Treva Markland. They have suffered greatly though the lingering death of Richard’s wife, Linda, by cancer, as well as through the months of accusation and incarceration of their son.

Only three people know whether the charge against Richard is just: Richard, his accuser, and God. Please pray that God will determine the outcome of January 2nd’s sentencing, as well as for Richard’s parents’ future. Also, please pray for his granddaughter, who may have been coached in her accusations.

You may contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.

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