Too many have traversed the minefield of trial marriages. Multitudes of couples have been deceived and scarred by the experience. Scores have shed bitter tears resulting from trial marriages.

In a program called, “True Love Waits,” thousands of teens have signed public pledges that they will practice sexual abstinence until marriage.

Rush Limbaugh sent a cameraman out on the streets to report the public’s response to the program. People were asked, “Do you think teens should practice sexual abstinence?”

The first time I met Richard Wurmbrand was over 35 years ago at a Lutheran Church in Anoka, MN. Richard was sharing his testimony of being tortured for Christ and enduring years of imprisonment for his faith in Jesus. To this day I remember the angelic glow that radiated from his face as he shared how the Lord had sustained him through much suffering. Today Chuck Colson’s Prison Fellowship is offering reprinted copies of Richard Wurmbrand’s classic book Tortured For Christ.

Grey, dismal skies sometimes enshroud our souls. I don’t know about you but I feel so much better when the sun shines brightly. I’ve thought many times how nice it would be to live in the Sunshine State where the sun almost always shines. A weather forecaster predicted, “Today the sun will shine for four hours.” Of course he was wrong. The sun shines constantly – we just can’t always see it because of the clouds that obscure its view. But the sun is still there shining brightly.

Jeff was an unlikely candidate for God to ever use. Jeff’s mother was a prostitute. In many cultures, including America, he would in all probability have been aborted or euthanized. But Jeff mattered to God. Jeff’s father brought him into his home. As Jeff grew older, his half-brothers scorned and rejected him. They drove him away. Jeff found refuge in the rugged hill country. He loved the mountains.

Many who have been abused and rejected, as Jeff had been, become angry and bitter. Many suffer various emotional and psychological disorders. But Jeff became a mighty warrior for God. He had a heart for God. He proved, once again, that where darkness and devastation is great, the grace of God is greater still.

My grandson Seth is a rock hound. Wherever he goes he collects rocks. Little rocks, big rocks, colorful rocks, and plain rocks. Seth is only 4 years old so I doubt his choice in a rock has much to do with its geological or elemental make-up. He even gives names to his pet rocks.

I love the natural beauty of a rock garden and the uniqueness of a house made with field stones. I think God must love rocks – after all He made enough of them.

When the Son of God made his “triumphant entry” into Jerusalem, his followers gave him praise. “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.”

What is the sense of suffering in the world? Young lives are snuffed out by a drunk driver, grieving family members stand by the grave of their loved one and ask the age old question – why? Crying children and a brokenhearted wife sit in the cold and confusion of the after math of a broken marriage and a shattered family.

From the fall of man in the Garden of Eden up to the present time through tears we still ask, “Why do bad things happen, even to good people?” Many have become estranged in their relationship with God because of this one issue. But instead of asking why bad things happen, we would do better to ask, “How should we respond to suffering?” How does God respond to tragedy and suffering?

He was the son of a well digger. If you have ever lived in an arid land, you know how vital water is. In the old west, range wars were fought over water rights. Man or livestock could not live or thrive without adequate water. Years ago, well diggers were revered men. My grandfather once hired a well digger. Those that I’ve met seemed to have a certain mystique. Isaac’s father was a well digger. He knew where to find precious water and bring it up to quench the thirst of the parched and weary.

There is a secret place and a secret power unknown and untapped by most people today. Jesus lived and taught by this secret power. He revealed this secret and assures us, “But you, when you pray, go into your room and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:6 NKJV).

A recent survey revealed that over 90% of Americans say that they pray on a regular basis or at least occasionally.

Waite Cleaners does a booming business in the city near where I live. One can drop off their soiled and wrinkled clothing items and wait for clean, pressed, and fresh clothing to be returned. Most customers don’t actually wait at the business. They usually go home and wait calmly until its time to pick up their finished items or wait for them to be delivered. Yes, Waite Cleaners does a good job. But you have to wait. Someone once said that good things come to those who wait. There is a lot of truth in that.

More Americans than ever have climbed the ladder of success. For many people, though, life is getting better while they are feeling worse.

In the February 26th issue of the Centralia Sentinel, an editorial by Gregg Easterbrook, caught my attention. The title intrigued me – “Stress is the dirty secret of success”. Mr. Easterbrook made the following observation – “Americans are finding that merely possessing the good life does not ensure happiness. This may tell us there is a ‘revolution of satisfied expectations’ – that general prosperity brings with it an empty feeling. Here is another possible explanation of the progress paradox: That along with getting better at manufacturing cell phones, DVD players, and SUV’s society gets even better at manufacturing stress.”

The spiritual side of man has always reached toward the secret, mystical realities. History has shown us the rise in secret societies, secret rites, and so called “secret” knowledge – much of which emanates from pride and prejudice.

Rhonda Byrne’s book THE SECRET has sold over 6 million copies and was endorsed by Oprah Winfrey. Byrne claims to have discovered “The Secret” that you can be a god and through your mind create your own reality, which is really the age-old deception of Satan. In short, if you think positively – good things will happen to you; if you think negatively – bad things will happen.

Some teachers you never forget. We thought Nellie Phillips was ancient. It was scary because she taught my mother and now I was in her class. The fifth and sixth grades were in the same room on the top floor of the red brick school. Mrs. Phillips was not only the teacher but she was also the schoolmaster or principle of Longfellow Grade School. Mr. Phillips was a good teacher. She was always fair but a strict disciplinarian. If you got out line or didn’t obey the rules, she might rap your knuckles with a ruler or grab you by the ear, if need be, and march you to the hallway to be disciplined.

King Manasseh was one of the most wicked kings of Judah who ruled the southern division of Israel. Manasseh had a godly heritage. His father, King Hezekiah, was one of the most righteous and devoted kings of Judah. Manasseh began his reign when he was only 12 years old. For most of the next 55 years he led Judah in idolatry and wickedness. But in the story of Manasseh we find a surprising twist in his life.

First – Consider the CORRUPTNESS OF SIN. Manasseh became corrupt, sinful, and detestable to God.

To fulfill our destiny and delight in the shadow of God’s protection and presence not only requires faith and obedience but humility. Humility is our safeguard for the rewards of obedience.

In his book Under Cover, John Bevere teaches this great principle modeled by Jesus. Before Jesus went to the cross he taught and showed by example the need for humility. He taught us to have this attitude, “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which are commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done what was our duty to do’” (Luke 17).

Women especially value a big rock on their finger. There’s a song that says, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” But I want to draw our attention to a rock greater than diamonds.

I’ll always remember the day that I took my granddaughter to the park to play on the swings. But instead of swinging, she sifted through the dirt and rocks until she found the treasure she was looking for. She ran over to me with her dusty outstretched hand. She said, “Here, Papa, this rock is for you just because I love you.” She then handed me a small heart-shaped rock that she had found. I still have that rock in a medicine bottle sitting on my dresser.

On a cool, beautiful morning, I recently walked a stretch of old Route 66. Very few vehicles passed me as I walked along this now mostly deserted roadbed. Route 66, which passed through the heartland of America, was one a well-traveled route for thousands who drove it, perhaps seeking job opportunities during the 1930’s, or after WWII seeking the paradise of vacation land in California. Its roadsides were once filled with thriving motels, diners, service stations, and tourist attractions.

With the coming of the modern airlines and the interstate super-highways, Route 66 began to be bypassed, neglected and abandoned. Now it is “the road less traveled.” Few travel now except maybe via nostalgic memories, or by history bluffs, or by hikers and bikers.

The pilgrim fathers of America came to a bountiful land. The first winter was harsh and they were ill prepared to survive in the wilderness. Over half of them perished from the cold, hunger, or disease. With the help of some kind Native American Indians, they were taught to grow corn and squash and to hunt for wild game to make provision through the year. The next fall they celebrated with a feast to show their gratitude to their new friends and to offer thanks to God for their bountiful harvest.

Our founding fathers openly recognized God.

Christmas is about giving. God gave His greatest gift – the gift of His only begotten son. “That whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

The wise men from the east followed his star to Bethlehem. When they saw the young child with Mary, his mother, they fell down and worshipped him. Then they brought their treasures and opened them. The wise men presented unto the Lord gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11) The gold was fit for a king, the frankincense for our high priest of the new covenant, and the myrrh speaks of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross.

Bethany, IL is a small but lovely community with rolling hills. There’s a spacious hilltop cemetery just across the street from the church our son pastors. Every Memorial Day at the statute of a Civil War soldier the American Legion hosts a ceremony honoring veterans. My grandson Elijah was quite impressed with the whole ceremony. “I like the part where we salute the flag and the honor guard shoots at the soldier statute. But they haven’t hit it yet,” he said. I still chuckle when I see that Civil War soldier statute.

Grandpa Os had a fruit stand where he sold peaches, apples, and melons. He was an expert in testing the ripeness of a watermelon. He would thump it with his thumb. If a customer was not convinced, he would offer to plug the melon. He would cut out a triangular plug from the watermelon and have the customer taste how ride it was. I never knew him to plug an unripe watermelon. The thumping told him when it was ripe and good for eating.

Have you been thumped lately? God allows testing and difficult situations to develop our character and bring us closer to him.

We have seen the amazing power of nature in earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. But our little finite minds can only begin to imagine the power of our Creator or the ability of our infinite God in all things. God has revealed Himself in His Book – the Bible – to help us grasp the unfolding revelation of His power to do anything thought by man to be impossible. He created the immense and mighty universe and it has been hanging there for thousands of years on nothing but His sustaining power. God has been holding the world together in spite of the destructive powers of both Satan and man.

I’m not an aficionado of pudding but I do like the old-fashioned, homemade type. I don’t consider the instant box type as real pudding, but homemade rice pudding, tapioca, or custard pudding – now that’s delicious. A century or so ago many people considered plum pudding a delicacy. I’ve never eaten plum pudding but if anyone makes a good plum pudding I’d be glad to sample some of it.

There is an interesting quotation dating back to at least 1615 when Miguel de Cervantes published “Don Quixote”. In his comic novel he uses the phrase, “The proof of the pudding is the eating.”

It was the perfect storm. I watched in fascination as the meteorologist on the Weather Channel described the pattern of waves that swept the ocean floor. This powerful storm was not the giant Tsunami that wreaked havoc and swept thousands their death. This storm being shown on the Weather Channel swirled deep under the ocean surface and stirred up powerful ocean waves across the ocean floor, plowing up tons of sand. This storm never came to land.

I’m looking forward with great anticipation to see the new movie “The Passion of the Christ”. It has already generated controversy in some circles and brought attacks against Mel Gibson, the director. “The Passion of the Christ” depicts the last 12 hours of the life of Jesus Christ before his crucifixion. Gibson, an award winning actor and director, said that the idea to make the movie had been germinating for over 10 years.

Although he had been a successful actor and director for several years, Gibson said that his life had become unhinged, “I got to a bad place, a really desperate place”. Gibson had drifted away from his early Roman Catholic faith. A midlife crisis led him to reconsider his faith. He meditated on the Stations of the Cross, which Catholics use to mark the hours of Christ’s passion. “I got on me knees,” Gibson said, “I realized that His wounds could heal my wounds.”

I had a lot of holes in the seat of my pants as a toddler. My mother told me that every time I would wander on to the road my dog, a shepherd mix, would grab me by the seat of the pants and drag me back. One day he grabbed me in the nick of time, saving me from a speeding car.

We recently set our clocks back from daylight savings time to standard time. We all look for ways to save time. Many times I have heard the nurse say to someone’s loved one, “It’s time.” They would whisk them off to surgery as we began a prayer vigil. What feelings flood your emotions when you hear the words “It’s time?”