A few years ago one of the funniest and exciting comedies was released entitled “The Princess Bride”. Westley, a poor stable boy, searches for TRUE LOVE. Blonde haired Buttercup was kidnapped and taken by evil Prince Humperdinck to be his Princess Bride. But through many perilous hardships Westley finds and save his true love.

The world hungers for true love. An old song says, “Love makes the world go around”. It certainly does. But what is TRUE LOVE? The common Greek word for love is “Eros”. It is not found in the New Testament. It refers to a sexual, selfish, appetitive love. “Philos” is another Greek word for love. It refers to esteem and affection. We are familiar with Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love. The Apostle Paul used a word for God’s love – Agape. Agape is a self-giving love. It involves concerned commitment.

The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon showed the world how much some people hate freedom. Some don’t like free trade, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom to petition the government or freedom of religion. They believe an elite group should dictate to the masses how life should be lived.

Someone once said, “War is hell.” Yes, war is spawned and instigated in hell. God’s love is giving mankind freedom to choose evil or good, righteousness or unrighteousness, heaven or hell. God’s love in allowing humankind to choose it’s own course (including partnering with evil unto the most hideous consequences) is neither indifferently passive nor aggressively active when horrible things happen. God has always been and is and always will be redemptive. He provided the way for reconciliation – the Cross of His Son Jesus Christ.

Perhaps the experts are too prone to categorize the youth generation into a neat stereotypical box. I have never been fond of labels personally, possibly because I never seemed to fit into the prescribed order of things. In the past youth “experts” have described the “baby boomer generation”, the “busters”, “generation x”, and the “y generation” population. The new generation of youth has so many “sub-culture” types, that many youth workers realize that one blanket statement could not begin to describe this generation.

When interviewed most teens seemed to share a common sense of searching as in previous generations. Acceptance seemed to be a common desire.

Marsha confessed that she was not in the Christmas Spirit. Perhaps it was the empty nest syndrome and the fact that none of her children could make it home for Christmas. James was far from home and lonely on a tour of duty in Iraq. How could he experience the spirit of Christmas in a strange and stressful country?

What about you, are you in the Christmas Spirit? I have good news for you. Regardless of where you are and how stressful your circumstances, you can experience the Spirit of Christmas. The same spirit that brought Mary joy, wonder, and the miracle of the Christ is available to bless your life today with the Spirit of Christmas.

I must confess – as a child, I was afraid of the dark. I was especially afraid of things that go bump in the dark. A light in my bedroom would comfort me but my dad thought that it was unnecessary. At the time, we had a coal burning stove and occasionally I would have to go down the long dark path to the coal shed to fill the coal bucket in the middle of the night. I out ran the shadows and imaginary monsters in record time on my way back to the house. I still have a long scar on one arm from tripping over a hobgoblin. Surprisingly, I had no fear when my dad went with me and no monsters ever showed up.

I am on a quest for the perfect pillow. My philosophy is that the kind of pillow one uses determines, to a large degree, the quality of rest one has. So, I have been on a quest for the perfect pillow.

I have tried numerous pillows on my quest. I know how Goldilocks must have felt at the three bear’s home. “This one is too hard. This one is too soft! And this one is just right!” My wife likes a gigantic pillow about 18 inches thick. But it leaves me with a stiff neck. A “down” filled pillow feels good initially, but collapses in the middle before the night is done. I have tried a bone shaped pillow, a foam filled pillow, an air filled pillow, and a wedge shaped pillow. But my quest for the perfect pillow continues.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. Sadly, the traditional observance of Memorial Day has diminished over the years. Many Americans have forgotten the meaning Memorial Day. At many cemeteries the graves of the fallen are ignored and neglected. May we honor and remember those who gave their life to combat the enemies of the freedoms we so enjoy and value in America.

As I visit some of the Civil War battle sites and read about the staggering numbers of casualties in the various battles waged by those who cherished liberty, I stand astonished by the vast numbers and sacrifices made by so many. Inspired by the poem “In Flanders Field”, Moina Michael wrote:

It was a rainy fall afternoon when we walked through fallen leaves up the hill of the cemetery to stand by the graves of my two teenage brothers and a cousin, the fallen victims of a young drunk driver. Standing in the cold rain with tears coursing down our cheeks, I was asked the question I’ve been asked a multitude of times by broken, hurting people – “How can I ever forgive the individuals who have perpetrated such horrible hurts?” Many are consumed by the resulting rage and pain of wrongs done to them but others choose not to be.

A young, single mother struggles to make ends meet. Two of her three children have severe medical problems. Nine year old, Evon is undergoing her second round of cancer treatments. Sometimes this mother feels so alone and tired, but she perseveres. What gives her the strength to carry on?

A young father grieves the death of his wife who died in the World Trade Center on the tragic day of September 11th. How can he go on without his beloved wife?

A young man runs for his life and hides in caves in the wilderness. The king has tried to kill him and has put out a “contract” on his life. How will God’s promises and plans ever be fulfilled in his life?

As a child, my friends and I would play army and other war games. Perhaps we thought that there was glory in fighting and dying. The Roman poet, Horace, expressed it this way, “Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori (Sweet and fitting it is to die for one’s country).” I think Horace was wrong. I’ve stood by the graves of too many friends and family members. The dying, grief, and suffering was not glorious. I think it was General Douglas McArthur who said, “War is hell!”

The tongue can produce terrible evil or tremendous good. The tongue can lash and libel or the tongue can liberate and express love. Recently two talk show hosts were fired because of their constant abusive tongue. Terrorists are fomenting mayhem and death through their rhetoric of hate. The Word of God tells us, “But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire and the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a world of wickedness corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself” (James 3:1-12 NLT).

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.

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.

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.

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.