ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES
by Sally Bair
Whom Can We Believe?
I saw a wild turkey near my home town back when they started to return to the area after years of scarcity. My family didn’t believe I’d seen one.
It’s not fun to have our word doubted when we’re used to telling the truth. Nor is it fun being on the other end of the situation, wondering if we can trust someone’s word.
The Bible has much to say about Truth. The prophets of old lamented the absence of Truth among God’s people. Jesus espoused Truth among His followers. But even His disciples found it hard to always believe Him. Thomas refused to believe that Jesus had returned from the grave. How many of us are doubters like Thomas? How do we know when to trust someone’s word and when not to? We can’t even trust all Internet information.
When Jesus spoke to the people, He often began by saying, “Truly I say to you…” Can we really trust His word? When He was brought before Pontius Pilate to stand trial and spoke on behalf of Himself and His Father in heaven, Pilate said, “What is truth?” How ironic that Pilate did not recognize the Truth even though it stood right before him. Jesus said, “You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32) In His recorded prayer to the Father, He claimed God’s Word as Truth. Even David said, “His Truth shall be your shield and buckler” and “His Truth endures to all generations.”
Though we can’t always believe someone else’s word, we can always depend on God’s Word. He has proven himself to be true to His word. Yet many skeptics today choose not to believe it, and therefore cannot recognize Jesus as Truth. When many of Jesus’ followers left Him and He asked His disciples if they would leave too, Peter exclaimed, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (John 6:68-69)
God’s truth is absolute and eternal. It is a precious attribute of God, one which He wants us to use as a way of life. He desires His truth in our inner being.
Lord, through faith may we all come to believe wholeheartedly that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Saturday, May 16, 2009
GALLEY FARE
Here's another enticing excerpt from my WILLIWAW WINDS novel for pre-teens.
“Double check that everything is secure,” the skipper tells Freddy and Marv. “I don’t want anything heavy breaking loose.”
While they go below to tighten the lines and loose rigging, the skipper motors for the protection of Portage Bay. But he’s too cautious to get closer than a half mile out from the bay because of the reefs and shoals.
Patrick and I go down to the galley and fill our coffee mugs while we wait for Freddy and Marv. When they return, they put on a halfway happy face, but I can tell they’re worried. Every once in awhile someone tells a joke, but it bombs.
I jump when the anchor drops with a loud rattle.
“Sure hope Dad put out all the anchor cable,” Patrick says.
Anchored as we are, the boat sways as much as ever. It’s going to be a long night.
Before I decide to go to sleep, the skipper says, “Marv, go down and shut off the main engine. It’ll save fuel.”
We’re doomed if we run out of fuel. I toss and turn on my bunk.
This time it’s the skipper who nudges me. “You’re on for anchor watch, Jake.”
Again? It seems like I just got off.
“Make sure the anchor doesn’t drag on the bottom,” he tells me as I struggle off my bunk. “We don’t want to drift out to sea. It may be rough here, but it’s even rougher out there.”
At five in the morning it’s still dark—halfway through my watch. A crescent moon slides down toward the horizon. Funny how the stars calmly shine down on us while we fight to stay afloat. When I think the winds can’t be any stronger, a huge gust from nowhere pushes the boat tight against the anchor cable.
Pow! Like a gunshot the cable snaps. We’ve lost our anchor.
“Double check that everything is secure,” the skipper tells Freddy and Marv. “I don’t want anything heavy breaking loose.”
While they go below to tighten the lines and loose rigging, the skipper motors for the protection of Portage Bay. But he’s too cautious to get closer than a half mile out from the bay because of the reefs and shoals.
Patrick and I go down to the galley and fill our coffee mugs while we wait for Freddy and Marv. When they return, they put on a halfway happy face, but I can tell they’re worried. Every once in awhile someone tells a joke, but it bombs.
I jump when the anchor drops with a loud rattle.
“Sure hope Dad put out all the anchor cable,” Patrick says.
Anchored as we are, the boat sways as much as ever. It’s going to be a long night.
Before I decide to go to sleep, the skipper says, “Marv, go down and shut off the main engine. It’ll save fuel.”
We’re doomed if we run out of fuel. I toss and turn on my bunk.
This time it’s the skipper who nudges me. “You’re on for anchor watch, Jake.”
Again? It seems like I just got off.
“Make sure the anchor doesn’t drag on the bottom,” he tells me as I struggle off my bunk. “We don’t want to drift out to sea. It may be rough here, but it’s even rougher out there.”
At five in the morning it’s still dark—halfway through my watch. A crescent moon slides down toward the horizon. Funny how the stars calmly shine down on us while we fight to stay afloat. When I think the winds can’t be any stronger, a huge gust from nowhere pushes the boat tight against the anchor cable.
Pow! Like a gunshot the cable snaps. We’ve lost our anchor.
THE LOGBOOK
I'm working madly to finish editing my friend's book, "Victory Over Anxiety and Depression." Hopefully, he and his ministry partner will begin teaching a group of students at my house using this book as a study guide.
WILLIWAW WINDS is almost ready for publishing. I've been researching books and websites and articles, and have concluded that my best option may be to publish my book with a Print-On-Demand publishing company. Less time wasted trying to market it to traditional publishers, more control of the process, and more royalties are tempting reasons to do so. I'll keep you informed.
WILLIWAW WINDS is almost ready for publishing. I've been researching books and websites and articles, and have concluded that my best option may be to publish my book with a Print-On-Demand publishing company. Less time wasted trying to market it to traditional publishers, more control of the process, and more royalties are tempting reasons to do so. I'll keep you informed.
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