Our Wax Museum

Have you ever been to a wax museum where you walk up to an exhibit, press a button and listen to a brief history of the person?  Well my 8-year-old just finished a class project in which she was a 'figure' in a wax museum.  On Wednesday I went to our elementary school cafeteria, found my daughter's exhibit, pressed the airplane 'button' and she, as Jackie Cochran, came to life.  'Jackie' recounted her life experiences: learning to fly, founding a cosmetics company, friendships with Amelia Earhart, Chuck Yeager and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and an extraordinary career in aviation.  If you are like me, Jackie Cochran was not someone I was familiar with.  The easiest description is that she was the female Chuck Yeager, as she was the first woman to break the sound barrier and she set more altitude and speed records than any pilot, male or female.  (I obviously learned a lot while helping her with this project.)

A wax museum is filled with extraordinary people.  Maybe that's not quite right.  A wax museum is filled with ordinary people who have become famous (or infamous) for what they did in life.  What if we knew that we would one day be featured in a wax museum?  Would we do things the same or differently? Would we sit back and say, "No one would ever press the button to hear my story" or would we stretch ourselves to see what we could accomplish?  Well, it's not a wax museum, but each of us will be featured in a similar way at the judgment seat of Christ.

II Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Thankfully, as a follower of Christ, we will be seen through the lens of Jesus.

Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

I John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 

A Vision of Easter

What a beautiful Easter Sunday!  It's warm, sunny and I am stuffed after a wonderful lunch at my parents' home.  In a few months I might have a vague memory of that, but I feel sure that I will remember our church service today.   Pastor Jeff began his sermon with, "You'll never meet a person that doesn't have a past, littered with mistakes and failures, wishing for a do-over."  Yes, he was speaking to every person in the room.  Then instead of the resurrection story, he read the story of the woman who was caught in adultery and brought by the Pharisees to Jesus, asking if she should be stoned (John 8:2-11).  Did your thoughts, like mine, skip to He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone?  Wait, our Pastor wanted us to think some more...

John 8:6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

What would I write?  Nothing of consequence I'm sure.  I'd be avoiding answering their question and I'd probably be drawing something in the sand like I do at the beach.  But, what did Jesus write?  It was important enough that He stooped down twice to write with his finger.  Our Pastor had an interesting suggestion.  Was Jesus writing down the sins of the accusers?  (Psalm 44:21b For He knows the secrets of the heart.)  Hmmm.

Remember He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone?  Well, Jesus was the only one without sin.  He chose not to cast the stone - at any of us because Jesus Sees What We Can Become and Tells Us What We Need to Do.  He said, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.  Finally, Our Response Tells Jesus Something:  He is the boss of your life, you do what He says in His Word and you are not ashamed of Him.  How?  Admit you are a sinner, Believe that Jesus is Lord, raised from death, and Confess Him as Lord.  

Romans 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

The altar call was given and at least a dozen people came forward to be baptized immediately.  After one song, we were witnesses to each one being baptized on Easter morning, a repeated vision of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ!  There were four services this weekend and Pastor Jeff sent an awesome tweet just after 1 p.m.
@JcrookJwc: 54 trusted Jesus and were Baptized on Easter Weekend @bpbc Praise The Risen Lord Jesus!!

The Happiest Place on Earth

I spent 5 days this week at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA.  I was traveling for work, and took the kids since it was Spring Break.  (It's not like I could actually leave them home with an opportunity like that!)  Going to a Disney park is like being immersed in color, noise, excitement and thrills.  It's really a bit overwhelming, but you go, go, go because you spent so much, much, much!  I rode tea cups, cars, boats, carousels, Ferris wheels, log flumes, and roller coasters.  I saw Disney cartoons, The Muppets in 3D and an Aladdin musical.  But, the most unique thing about the visit was that we were there for the 50th Anniversary re-opening of the "It's a Small World" ride on Thursday, April 10th.  The park spent 3 months refurbishing the ride and with the brilliant colors, it was a magnificent 9 minute cruise.

You know the song and I found it to be true many times as I would talk to others while waiting for rides.  I would often ask where they lived and would tell them I was from GA (as if the southern drawl didn't come shining through!).  Many had connections to GA.  "Oh, we were in Savannah on St. Patrick's Day visiting family." or "My brother lives in Alpharetta.  He married a girl from Newnan." Even one of the Disney film crew members at the ride told us his brother lived in Woodstock.  We were 2,000 miles away and still found connections to home.

Disneyland is referred to as The Happiest Place on Earth, and for a few days it can be just that.  However, like all things on earth, the 'happy' fades, the boredom sets in and the thrill vanishes.  And after 5 days, we were ready for home.  So, where is the happiest place on earth?

Proverbs 16:20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.

Ah, it's wherever you are - as long as you put your trust in God.

A Loss or a Gain

On Friday, one of my good friends was released from her job.  It was heartbreaking for me because I've worked closely with her for 10 years.  I mourn what it means for me - a loss of the camaraderie, the wisdom, and more. (I believe I'm having a pity party here.)  However, I'm am hanging on to her outlook that God has a plan and she's ready for it.  Her attitude is phenomenal and I have no doubt that great things are coming her way.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

At this moment, all I can see is the loss for her, for me and for those who worked with her.  But God can see the future, the hope, the peace and the gain that we both believe He will bring her way.