What a way to live!

One night in April, 2000, little Joy, age 4, really had to go to the bathroom so her Mommy pulled over on the wrong side of the unnamed country road in Texas. The little girl threw open the passenger side door that was facing the road, jumped out, and stepped into Heaven, hit and instantly killed by a pickup truck driving without lights. The truck did not stop. Joy’s family was, as anyone can imagine, inconsolable in their grief. Then, two days later her father, Grover Norwood, learned that the truck had been found. It belonged to an old friend. What would this Christian man do?

He drove to the man’s home, opened his arms, and hugged him while they both wept! Later, he went to the grand jury hearing where he asked that his friend not be indicted, as he had suffered enough! Then, Grover headed up a group from two local churches, one African-American where his friend attended, one white where he attended, and built a new home for the man who had killed his little girl. It’s a true story, told on a new DVD called, “The Heart of Texas.”

Some people hold Christianity as a nice ideal that they neatly separate from day to day life. It’s fine to sing about loving their neighbor in church and to ‘love’ some needy person far away by contributing to the missions fund. But, to let the commands of Jesus speak to their Monday morning choices? Well, that’s just impractical. It’s what leads to some mocking Christians for hypocrisy! Grover Norwood made some very tough choices because he lived his faith. He forgave fully. Some call him a fool. I think he’s an incredibly wise man!

Remember the WWJD craze of the last decade? That, if you have forgotten, stands for What Would Jesus Do? Some made fun of the whole thing as simplistic, but it’s not a bad idea. Like many good ideas, it turned superficial with bracelets and jingles. The concept, however, is a Biblical one. The main mission of every disciple is to be the hands of Jesus in his world. We need to study the Scripture, integrate our faith into life, and live as Christ would live – loving wholly, forgiving completely, rejecting superficiality, embracing God’s reality!

The Word is not just an ideal! It is our life, the very source of God’s wisdom about how to conduct ourselves in this world. "You must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work." (2 Timothy 3:14-17, NLT)

My Dad called an integrated faith - ‘practical Christian living.’ What a way to live.

Here’s a prayer of David. Let’s make it ours.

"My theme song is God’s love and justice, and I’m singing it right to you, God.
I’m finding my way down the road of right living, but how long before you show up?
I’m doing the very best I can, and I’m doing it at home, where it counts.

I refuse to take a second look at corrupting people and degrading things.
I reject made-in-Canaan gods, stay clear of contamination.
The crooked in heart keep their distance; I refuse to shake hands with those who plan evil.
I put a gag on the gossip who bad-mouths his neighbor; I can’t stand arrogance. But I have my eye on salt-of-the-earth people— they’re the ones I want working with me;
Men and women on the straight and narrow— these are the ones I want at my side."

(Psalm 101:1-6, The Message)
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There is a candle
In ev'ry soul
Some brightly burning,
Some dark and cold.
There is a Spirit
Who brings a fire,
Ignites a candle
And makes His home.

Frustrated brother,
See how he's tried to
Light his own candle
Some other way.
See how your sister,
She's been robbed and lied to,
She holds a candle without a flame.

So carry your candle,
Run to the darkness,
Seek out the hopeless,
Confused and torn.
Hold out your candle
For all to see it.
Take your candle
And go light your world.

We are a fam'ly
Whose hearts are blazing.
So let's raise our candles
And light up the sky.
Praying to our Father
In the name of Jesus,
"Make us a beacon in darkest times!"

Go Light Your World
Rice, Chris© 1995 BMG Songs, Inc. (Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)
CCLI License No. 810055

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Jerry D. Scott - Sr. Pastor

WASHINGTON ASSEMBLY of GOD
33 Brass Castle Road - Washington, NJ 07882