PASSWORDS

This is the most downloaded message I have ever written. I think the reason is that computer hackers are doing internet searches for anything with "password" in the title, thinking they may stumble across something that would help them crack a password code. I have often chuckled at the thought of such a person accessing this article and discovering that it is about something of eternal value instead of a temporary benefit.

Some time ago, I forgot my password and I couldn't get into my new computer. I had just built it from scratch and was installing different passwords for different programs. Then I went away for a week. When I came back and flipped the switch, I got the familiar "password" request. I used several passwords I thought were correct to gain entry but I just couldn't get the right combination of user name and password. I spent hours trying every combination of words and numbers that I had used in the past, but to no avail. I was denied entrance every time.

It reminded me, poignantly, of the fruitless efforts of people trying to gain entrance to the presence of God without the right access code. The Bible indicates that there is only one key that fits the lock of heaven's door and His name is Jesus Christ. People will approach the entry portal, will try their various keys, metaphorically speaking, in whatever passes for a lock, and then be dumbfounded when they are denied entrance. Every key but the right key will be useless.

I was in a parking lot last year and someone I knew had parked their car blocking several of us from leaving the area. His car was one year older than mine, so on a whim I took my car key and inserted it into his ignition. It turned easily and the motor started. I moved his car 30 feet away and waited to see the look on his face when he came out. Well, heaven is not going to be like that! Jesus made a troubling statement for many people in the Gospel of John when he said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." And in the Book of Acts, the Apostle Peter states, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Talk about exclusivity.

In this politically correct age of non-discrimination and all inclusiveness, the words of the New Testament cut like hot iron through blades of grass. Over and over again we read that there will come a separation of nations and individuals, even among the closest of family members, as God judges his creation in the last days. Perhaps the most troubling phrase comes from the Book of Revelation and has caused many people to retool their theology to fit their circumstances, rather than throw themselves upon the altar of God and beg forgiveness. John writes that he saw the dead, small and great alike, standing before God for judgment. Then he states, "and anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire."

I tried to open a back door to a restaurant several years ago. The waitress couldn't get it opened either, but she assured me that if her key was jiggled "just right" the lock would open. I spent 20 minutes jiggling the key. My hands and fingers got tired of wiggling and jiggling and fiddling with the key. I could not open the door. We needed the right key to open that door.

As far as entry into God's heaven and accessibility to God the Creator is concerned, there is only one key, and his name is the Lord Jesus Christ! For God made Him, who knew no sin, to be made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Cor. 5:21).

Instead of making woefully weak and inadequate arguments about how narrow minded God is to insist on everyone coming to Him through Jesus Christ, I would recommend that you immediately take advantage of his open invitation to use his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to open the door of your heart, and His Heaven.

PUSH UPS

I don't know where this originated, but it illustrates a great truth.    Brian

 

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States.  Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his or her freshman year regardless of major. Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going on to seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, well liked, an imposing physical specimen. He was the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class. One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him.

"How many push-ups can you do?"

Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."

"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Dr. Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"

Steve replied, "I don't know . . . I've never done 300 at a time."

"Do you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson.

"Well, I can try," said Steve.

"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.

Steve said, "Well . . . I think I can . . . yeah, I can do it."

Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind."

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. Now these weren't the normal kinds of donuts; they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?"

Cynthia said, "Yes."

Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"

Steve said, "Sure," and jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.

Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do you want a donut?"

Joe said, "Yes."

Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?" Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle -- Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got a donut.

And down the second aisle, till Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship.

The professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"

Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own pushups?"

Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."

Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."

Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?" With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten pushups.

Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!"

Dr. Christianson said, "Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow. Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry.

Dr. Christianson asked, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"

Sternly, Jenny said, "No."

Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more pushups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?" Steve did ten, Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say "No" and there were all the uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these pushups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten pushups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely. Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row.

During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to wonder if Steve would be able to make it. Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.

Steve asked Dr. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"

Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your pushups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want." And Dr. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!" Jason didn't know what was going on.

Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come."

Professor Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten pushups for him?"

Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut"

Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?"

Jason, new to the room hardly knew what was going on.

"Yes," he said. "Give me a donut."

"Steve, will you do ten pushups so that Jason can have a donut?" Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each pushup in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. Sweat was profusely dropping off of his face and, by this time, there was no sound except his heavy breathing. There was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?"

Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."

Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?"

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda.

Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl. "Susan, do you want a donut?"

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?"

Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it alone. I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether he or she wants it or not.

"When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book. Steve, here, is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work.

Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes.

Steve, would you do ten pushups so Susan can have a donut?" As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said. "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, prayed to the Father, 'Into thy hands I commend My spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, he yielded up His life. "Like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten." Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile. "Well done, good and faithful servant" said the professor, adding, "Not all sermons are preached in words."

Turning to his class the professor said, "My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Who spared not the only Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all for the whole Church, now and forever.

"'Greater love hath no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Sure, one man can make a difference - read about this "one man."

Dear Brethren,

". . . I feel I should forward to you some of my experiences in giving out Service Testaments to the young men inducted into the Armed Forces in our country. The first induction was in 1941 when I gave 33 Testaments to boys going into service. This experience will never be forgotten. The streets were filled with hundreds of people, just crowds, and I was all alone; surely the Lord was with me. As I started giving the boys the Word, a man yelled out trying to intimidate me, saying (the) most vile things. I was being crushed in the crowd and no one would come to my rescue, except the Lord. He gave me strength to continue and finish the distribution. I left the crowd, went down the street, up through an alley to my grocery store. I cried.

In the next 2 years I gave out over 1,000 Testaments. On October 13, 1943, I gave my only son the 1,042nd Testament during the thick of the fight. By the end of the war he was made an assistant chaplain and returned to us safely, for which we give God the glory.

Over 25 years we have continued in this service, giving up to this date, between 9,000 and 10,000 copies of the Service Testament. About a year ago I noticed a man who was at the induction center nearly every time the boys left. He came to me and said, 'Mr. Groman, this would not be complete if you were not here giving out God's Word.' His arm was over my shoulder in an expression of encouragement and love. He is a devout Roman Catholic. In the early days they had the most prominent men in our community, including ministers, priests, etc. to talk to the boys before they left. Now a policeman and the draft board call them aside and give me an opportunity to say a few words. I tell them of the gift I have for them and the need of accepting the Christ of this Book. Recently a young man came to me and said, 'Thank you for the encouraging message.

On Tuesday morning of this week, August 9, after I gave out the Testaments, a man came to me and said, 'You gave me one in 1941.' Another man indicated that he had received his Testament in October, 1942. These were the fathers of two boys being inducted that day. 'On July 26 I gave 19 boys the Word of God at 5:45 in the morning as they were leaving. One of the fathers, a man who had known me for some time, opened his heart, and with tears rolling down his cheeks, told me that he had got his boy out of jail the previous night just to be inducted into the service on this particular morning. I had given his boy God's Word.

I thank God for that terrible experience the first time I made the distribution of Service Testaments. Through it, God gave me determination and without this suffering, I could not have endured through the years. Now, after 25 years in this humble service, without any display, we built up a standing in the community so high that I need the constant prayers of my brothers and the help of the Lord to live and to walk in such a manner that I will constantly honor Him."

Ted R. Groman, Tiffin, Ohio (December, 1966)

A JOURNEY OF COMFORT AND ASSURANCE

I have known Leon Burke for about 10 years. He is a hero in my book. I wanted to publish his story for some time because, although many have described "out of body heavenly" experiences, Leon focuses on an aspect I have not heard before, i.e., that Truth permeates heaven. In that our earthly existence is normally less than 100% Truth, this is worth considering. Thank you Leon for this insight.   (brian)

(as Experienced by Leon O. Burke, M.D.)

About 24 years ago an episode of auricular fibrillation  (irregular heart beats) of my heart resulted in a careful cardiac evaluation  by  an  excellent cardiologist. 

 

Several areas of arteriosclerotic plaques were found in my  coronary  arteries which were beginning to reduce their ability to supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle.  The muscle was not damaged and an appropriate regimen of medications and  life style modifications was started and carefully continued with good results.

Somewhat later, prolapse of the  mitral valve with  some leakage was noted.  I was carefully and frequently evaluated.  In the early l980’s it was found that one of the branches of the circumflex coronary artery had closed without my knowledge or any damage to the muscle and good collateral vessels had developed.  Gradually, the leakage of the mitral valve increased.  In time, my first cardiologist retired and my next one moved . 

Excellent evaluations and care continued under the direction of  cardiologist Joseph  A. Kozina, M. D. (a compassionate Christian with excellent judgement who provided excellent rapport). I was able to continue skiing until mid March of l997 when a “snowboarder” ran into me and caused many fractures of the right pelvis and hip joint socket which were nicely repaired by Steven A. Olson, M.D. and in time I could resume an active life style.

An evaluation by Dr. Kozina on 2 Feb. l999 revealed a continuing increase in the leakage of the mitral valve.  He felt that to prevent deterioration and probable irreparable damage to the heart it would be wise to schedule “open-heart” surgery for treatment of the mitral valve, possibly  the aortic valve and probable vein graft by-passes of areas of partial obstruction of several coronary arteries within the next six months.

I agreed and asked to be scheduled for the surgery  as soon as possible! I then consulted with cardiac Surgeon,  Robert H. Allen, M.D. also of Sacramento, CA. , who has the well-earned reputation of being one of the best cardiac surgeons in existence, and a surgery  date was scheduled for l8 May l999 at Mercy General Hospital of Sacramento, CA (where I had treated most of my surgical patients since l958) which has an outstandingly good reputation  and  excellent staff and personnel.

I felt that this surgery offered an excellent opportunity to correct a problem and avoid the decline and complications which would be expected to occur without surgical correction.  This opportunity has not been possible during the entire time of mankind on this planet until only  a few years ago and the rate of success has been increasing while the complication rate has fallen .

What a blessed opportunity!!

I  was surprised and very pleased that I never felt any fear of the surgery from the time of being advised of the need to schedule “Open - Heart” surgery throughout the preoperative period, surgery, and the convalescence even with a full knowledge of the possible complications. This  in spite of the fact that I tend to get a few “butterflies-in-the-stomach” when facing taking an academic test, etc.  I simply  had faith that we were doing the right thing in spite of the known potential for serious complications.

During the surgical procedure I had a very unusual experience.  I find that words are very inadequate to describe this event.  Usually I do not recall dreams and if I awaken following one it has usually faded from my recall and memory within a few seconds. However, this experience that seemed very real has persisted and without any change of clearness or loss of detail for these many months to the current time.

In the months prior to the surgery date I found myself doing an inventory of myself.  I have never had any identity problem .  I have always known who I am while pursuing the various goals of my life.  However, I felt I would like to search out that essence that makes me a separate and distinct individual separate from all of my accomplishments, achievements , titles  and those things added over a life-time that we and others tend to recognize as “who we are”.

So I carefully  mentally  removed and “set-aside” temporarily each of the things that had been added to make me as I am currently.  Eventually , over a long period of time I traced myself back to what seems to have been that initial thing that is my being. I think it was about the time that as an infant I realized that my parents and my environment were not an extension of myself or that we were all an undivided entity but that I was somehow separate and distinctly an entity though related to others and my  environment.  Perhaps that which I identified was my  soul or spirit.  I seem to have arrived at this point of my “inventory”  at about the time of my surgery date.

This experience seems to have occurred during the time that I was undergoing “open-heart” surgery.  I had  arrived in the surgery suite in an excellent state of mind, emotion and spirit. I had been surprisingly blessed  by a lack of any emotion of fear from the time of the decision to have the surgery throughout the pre-operative period.  I had considered that the possibility of surgical correction of my cardiac problems was a wonderful opportunity available only within the past few years. The mental and spiritual inventory that I had given myself was very beneficial. 


In this experience, while under anesthesia, I found myself alone in a somewhat “misty” place, which I seemed to have just entered.

Strangely, I found myself able to observe from two perspectives. I could see in one’s usual manner as one does in one’s  physical body. Yet, at the same time I could observe in an “overview” mode as one can view a large area and specific objects therein, as from a significant height. From this latter vantage point it appeared that I was a distinct entity,  but, perhaps,  I seemed to be a soft point of light (or  energy) with soft, yet distinct,  somewhat circular boundaries surrounding me and separating me from my new environment.  This place seemed to be boundless.  Somehow, I understood that I was to move in a specific direction, and steadily and effortlessly I did so.  However, I could not see any of my extremities as one does normally in one’s peripheral vision when walking in our natural physical bodies.  So, I suppose I was a spiritual entity at that time.

Soon, without hearing any words or seeing any word signs I realized that I was in a place where TRUTH IS ALL INCLUSIVE!!!  

I understood that ABSOLUTE TRUTH EXISTS AND THAT EVERYTHING SPIRITUAL, MORAL, OR PHYSICAL IS BASED UPON AND FUNCTIONS ONLY BECAUSE OF TRUTH. Truth is the only reality, now, in the past, and eternally in the future. There are no partial truths, although  it is possible that one may understand only a portion of truth.  I cannot find words adequate to express the JOY  I felt on learning this!!! How wonderful to be in a place where “all is truth and truth is complete” - a place where there are no more partial truths, distortions, “spins” or lies!!

What unimaginable comfort, joy  and assurance to realize that what I had sought existed in pure form and that all I had been taught, learned, experienced and believed of GOD, THE SUPREME BEING, THE TRINITY, and GOD”S moral standards and laws and HIS most intricate material physical creations of nature exist in pure TRUTH! This was not a cold , legalistic, TRUTH but a LOVING AND COMPASSIONATE “TRUTH”!!

I continued steadily on my course REJOICING! I arrived at a vast open space extending infinitely in all 360 degree directions. In the half of this where I stopped it appeared level,   but as I looked at where one would normally expect to find a horizon, there was none,  but instead there appeared something much like one sees looking at “the milky  way” from the earth. Elsewhere above were innumerable points of light of varied intensity like a “starry sky”.  Directly in front of me and occupying the entire other l80 degrees of the space was what seemed somewhat like a cloud illuminated from within.  At various locations over its surface, pastel colors of the spectrum moved about. My vision could not penetrate the surface. I heard no voice, nor saw any writing, but there was clear and distinct communication.  There was no visible  marking  of demarcation or limitation between me and the “misty” cloud-like area which I faced. 

I had a very strong desire to continue my course into the “hemisphere” occupied by the object before me. However,  it was communicated to me that I was not to cross the invisible line of limitation but was to remain where I had stopped.  I was somewhat disappointed that I was not to be allowed to continue, but I was aware that I was encountering “ALMIGHTY  GOD” whose presence I felt,  but who was hidden from me by the vast cloud-like object.  So I stopped moving and stayed where I was.  I felt surrounded by  love, fully accepted and inexpressibly comfortable and secure.  The nearest human experience to which I could liken it would be as that of an infant who has been fed, bathed and cuddled securely in the lap and arms  of a loving parent who caresses and  speaks softly and lovingly to it,  much like I had felt in my  family home.  Wordless communication continued and I was bathed in comforting love. I felt as if I could be content to remain there forever.  I knew that I was in GOD’S presence at this time but I did have a desire to cross the invisible boundary and be more fully  with HIM in the “great adventure” that I sensed to be within the area obscured by the illuminated “misty” cloud.

After what seemed to be a long time, I was directed (without audible words) that it was time to return to where I had previously been.  As I obediently  turned (somewhat reluctantly) to return  I recall asking that GOD’S  HOLY SPIRIT  might accompany me to guide me to see what I should do upon my return and to strengthen me and guide me as I tried to accomplish that which I am to do.  I felt reassured that GOD’S  presence would be available to help me recognize and do HIS  will.

My next conscious awareness was that I had returned to my point of departure and that I was aware that I was aware.  It was comforting to know that my brain was functioning.  Next I was aware that I could move my extremities.  Then I became aware of post-operative pain. So I knew that I was back, that all was well and that I could start my convalescence.

I hope always to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit  and aware of  where and  how I can use my earthly life to recognize and do GOD’S  will  while I exist in my body with its nicely functioning heart. 

 

I recently checked and found these references confirming my experience:

Psalm 139:17:  “The sum of Thy Word is TRUTH, and every one of Thy righteous ordinances is everlasting.”

John 1:14: “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and TRUTH.”

John 7:28:  “---He who sent Me is TRUE.”

John  8:32:  “You shall know the TRUTH,  and the TRUTH shall make you free.”

John 14:6:  Jesus said:  “I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

TIME & TESTIMONY

There are only two commodities possessed by a believer in Jesus Christ that are of any real value. They are your "time" and your "testimony."

As to "time," most of us who survive into the 21st century will have used 2.5 billion seconds by the time we celebrate our 80th birthday. As to our "testimony," we are what we are. A fish is not a bird, a plow horse is not a race horse, and people are either "in" Christ Jesus, i.e., "born again" as described in John's Gospel, or they are not.

People either have the Holy Spirit of God indwelling them as much as they are made of blood, bone, or muscle - or they do not possess the Holy Spirit of God. They know it, you know it, and so too does God know it. The great mystery regarding our "time and testimony" is that God allows us to make decisions on both issues that determine the quality of our life on earth and our personal eternal destiny.

Lets talk about your time. What makes your "time" on earth of any value? Without a testimony for Christ your time on earth is ultimately worthless, isn't it? If you live your full 2.5 billion seconds, find a wonderful spouse, raise a great family, obtain a magnificent education, and accumulate all of the material possessions that you could possibly wish for - all before you breathe your last breath on this earth - what have you accumulated in the Bank of Heaven?

Conversely, should you die having received Jesus Christ as your personal savior, but having accumulated none of those earthly treasures, then your life will have been a great success.

Life without a testimony for Jesus is a passing vapor, a meaningless event on the pages of history. But, let's assume that you do have a testimony for Jesus Christ. You have invited Him into your life, his Spirit indwells you, you start your mornings with His presence as an integral part of your life. You then have a certain portion of those 2.5 billion seconds left available for you to use each day. Specifically, you have 86,400 seconds each day and 31,536,000 seconds each year to accomplish something for God.

Of course, eating, sleeping, and other basic activities take a certain portion of that time, but each of us has some responsibility for the time remaining to us. What will we do with that time that will have eternal application? What does God want us to do with HIS Time that we are managing? Well, for those who have no testimony it is clear that they should use their time to reconcile themselves to God. For those whose testimony is weak, tarnished, and well nigh invisible they need to seek God's restoration to active duty. You see, we really have no guarantee for tomorrow despite our daydreaming about winning the lottery.

It is always sad to watch people fritter away their opportunities to serve Christ while waiting and waiting and waiting as their life slips away like sand between their fingers. But you do have a testimony, don't you? You have given yourself to Christ "hook, line, and sinker." You have entered his joy, you have received his peace, you know his rest, you reflect his attributes, don't you?

So what can you do with those 2 variables, your time and your testimony. First, you need to write your testimony on paper. Your testimony needs to be communicated to others. You may re-write your testimony 5 or 10 or 20 times before you are completely satisfied, but when you are finished you should have two pages of paper that contain your personal testimony.

Then, you need to speak your testimony. It needs to be told to others. At first you can speak to rocks and trees, but then you should look for people. You can start by telling other Christians how you invited Jesus Christ to become your Savior and how that decision has impacted your life. Next, ask God to send someone to cross your path who needs to hear your particular testimony.

Your story is important to people whom you have not even met yet. Christianity has been described as one beggar sharing his loaf of bread with another beggar. It's true. We have nothing of value other than Jesus Christ and our testimony of how he came into our life and indwells us. We have nothing of value to share other than that testimony. There is nothing another person needs more than our testimony. All of us have given $1.00 or a can of food or a bag of clothing to help the material needs of poor people.

But, it is our time and our testimony that they really need.

A LASTING MEMORIAL

Some years ago, my then 12-year-old son, who was just out of the hospital admiring his tender appendectomy stitches,  and I visited the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Covina, California. We walked the corridors of the mausoleum, looking at the brass plates identifying the persons whose remains were placed there. A brief statement identified them as teachers, civic leaders, actors, military men, devoted mothers or fathers.

They all had two things in common - they were born, and then they died.

As we wandered through the three-story building, my attention was caught by a very large brass plaque on a crypt honoring a woman whose life had been devoted to Christian missionary service in the Philippines. The words on her plaque were a clear testimony of her faith in Jesus Christ and urged the reader to place their faith and trust in the Savior. I was impressed with the lasting testimony this woman presented, even in her death.

We have a far greater opportunity to present a lasting testimony by placing scriptures in memory of people who die. I recently spoke at a church service being held to remember the passing of a faithful Christian servant and member of that church. During the service I explained the purpose of the Gideon Memorial Bible Program to the congregation, i.e., to provide scriptures in memory of people who have passed away, or to honor someone whose life has blessed ours. The pastor described the deceased church member and his blessing to the church. Then the congregation gave an offering to purchase and place scriptures in memory of this individual.

Like those folks at Forest Lawn, this man had two things in common with all mankind: he was born and he died. Isaiah 40:6-8 puts it clearly; ". . All flesh is grass . . the grass withers . . but the word of our God shall stand forever."

The opportunity to place scriptures that will endure the test of time is significant. With almost 2 billion Bibles and New Testaments placed around the world since 1908 by members of Gideons International, I am confident that the vast majority of those Bibles and New Testaments are still "on duty," as it were - ready, willing and able to impact the lives of men and women, boys and girls around the world. I recently picked up a Bible placed in a California hotel room in the 1960's. Inserted in the Bible was a business card from a Georgia architect; he wrote, "Jesus saved even me, how about you? Put all your Faith, Trust, & Hope in him and ask him" That Bible will continue to do service for Jesus as it is now sent to a jail, prison, or rescue mission. How many people did that one Bible impact during its 40 years of devoted and faithful service, "on duty" 24 hours each day?

Placing scriptures in memory of someone reminds me of that brass plaque at Forest Lawn. Even after death, a person's witness and testimony can continue on and reach the lost for Christ.

BIBLES FOR PEARL HARBOR – AND THE WORLD

I publish this article every couple of years for several reasons. First, because few people are alive now who have personal memory of the scope and magnitude of World War II and the impact of those years on the lives of multiplied millions of people around the globe, from North Pole to South Pole, from Hawaii to Gibraltar. 
 
Second, God's hand can be seen in many threads throughout the conflict, not the least of which is how scriptures would be placed into the hands of people in the military and the changed lives that would result. There is not space here to describe all of the personal stories that flowed from those times, but we will make the attempt in another series of articles dealing with the subject.

On November 7, 1948, the Gideons from Honolulu  (formed in 1938) placed 1,500 Bibles at the new Tripler General Hospital in Honolulu. A local Gideon named Charlie Pietsch made the following remarks at the time: "We need constantly to be reminded of the value of the finished work of Christ, His shed blood as the only remedy for sin, repentance and faith toward God and our Lord Jesus Christ, to know He lives and is coming again . . . Truly He came and will give us every satisfaction, peace, joy and true rest if we will but trust Him, go all out for Him, unconditionally surrender to all His claims, to obey Him, to love Him."

Today, we don't recognize the name of a Sunday School Teacher named "Kimball" - but, we do recognize the name of his convert, evangelist "D. L. Moody." And today, most of us don't recognize the name of a Gideon named Charles J. Pietsch, but he dramatically changed and impacted the Gideon ministry, and we all benefit from his efforts.

He was just another common laborer in the field. Like the original Gideon, he was one of the least likely to be the catalyst for an amazing victory. God chose to use a common man in a far outpost to mobilize His program of placing scriptures throughout the world.

Pietsch was stationed at Pearl Harbor in 1918 as a civilian in the United States Public Works Department. He had a desire to present "the Word of God to the men in the United States Navy," but he could not gain permission to board the ships to do so, although he was able to give scriptures to soldiers stationed at the Army Posts. For 20 years his dream to reach the sailors lay dormant. Then, in October 1940 he was called to Washington D.C. to discuss housing matters. En route he stopped at Gideon Headquarters in Chicago and told of his desire to place white Testaments into the hands of our sailors (white because their uniforms were white).

While in Washington, Pietsch stopped at the Navy Department and solicited their "official permission" to give a special edition of the New Testament to the Pacific Fleet. Permission was granted, and the Naval Chief of Chaplains was assigned to help work out the program. Chaplain Workman thought it would be appropriate for letters from the President of the United States, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Commandant of the Marines to be placed in the front of the proposed Testament. He asked Pietsch to see the President of the United States. A phone call to the White House secured an appointment for Mr. Pietsch to see the President. President Roosevelt promised to write such a letter "if re-elected" in November, 1940. 
 
After meeting with several publishers, Pietsch traveled to Philadelphia and met with National Bible Publishing Co. executives who were thrilled with the idea and printed up some dummy copies as samples. 
 
After the November elections, Pietsch traveled back to Washington, checked into the Mayflower Hotel, and found an invitation to attend a reception in honor of President Roosevelt's third election as President of the United States. Standing in the long reception line he slowly made his way to the President and reminded him of his promise to write "the letter." President Roosevelt told him to see his assistant, Steve Early, the next day. Mr. Early suggested that Gideon Pietsch compose several samples of such a letter and mail them back for review.

Charlie Pietsch returned to the Gideon headquarters which was then located in Chicago to give a status report of his adventures and then enplaned for Honolulu. He composed several copies of the requested "Presidents Letter" and sent them to Mr. Early. A written reply arrived in several weeks. Mr. Early stated that the program is such a worthy one "he did not believe a letter from the President would add anything to its value." I quote a part of Pietsch's reply to Mr. Early: "I did not care if a man were a bootblack, a barber or President of the United States, I expected him to keep his word. I sent a copy of this letter to the President." In a few weeks the President's letter found in all copies of our World War II military testaments was issued.

The first shipment of 10,000 Testaments reached Charles Pietsch in Honolulu in March, 1941. A dedication service was held at the Army and Navy Y.M.C.A. attended by 35 Chaplains of the Pacific Fleet. On Mothers Day and Easter Sunday (1941) these scriptures were distributed on board the ships by the Chaplains. By October, 1941, another 40,000 Testaments had arrived and been distributed. The Pacific Fleet had been "bibled."

On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, bombs fell on the ships at anchor in Pearl Harbor (Monday morning, December 8 Philippines time). From the bodies of many sailors were taken water soaked white Testaments with names and dates signed on the last page. Another shipment of 5,000 testaments reached the Philippines at the military base at Corregidor on the Bataan Peninsula on Saturday, December 6. One pastor told me of his days as a soldier on Corregidor and as a prisoner on the Bataan Peninsula where pages of the New Testaments were circulated by the prisoners, and where dead soldiers Testaments were passed among their surviving buddies.

M. A. Henderson, former Executive Director of Gideons International, recently provided the following information: "In February 1955, just five months after I joined the Chicago headquarters staff as a field representative, the mid-winter Cabinet meeting was held in Washington D.C. I learned that a Chaplain Borneman had survived the infamous Bataan 'death march' as well as three years as a prisoner in the Cabanatuan Prison. I personally contacted Chaplain Borneman (who was retired as a full colonel) in Washington D.C. in February 1995 and had an interesting 30 to 40 minute conversation with him. He verified that the Testaments arrived on that Saturday afternoon before the attack on Clark Field in the Philippines on Monday (Philippines time) and he personally was one of the ones who stood on the docks at Corregidor and passed out the Testaments to the soldiers as they were transferred to the Bataan Peninsula. He also told me that when the Americans were put in the prison following the death march, the Japanese would search them for such valuables as watches, pens, etc., but because most of them were Buddhist, they had no interest in the Gideon Testaments which a good many of these soldiers had in their possession. Chaplain Borneman then went on to tell me that he saw with his own eyes American soldiers fighting over the dead bodies of other soldiers to obtain one of the Testaments. Beyond that, he said that he knew of at least fifteen men who survived the three years in prison in the Philippines and who had been converted, but beyond that, had been called to the Gospel ministry."

Does God intervene and control history? Well, remember - it is "His Story" isn't it!

And now, as Paul Harvey tells it, for the rest of the story. One soldier floundering in the backwaters of the Philippines before 1941, General Douglas MacArthur, also found himself on Corregidor when the invasion of the Philippines began. He escaped from Corregidor and became a hero of World War II leading the war effort in the Pacific. After the armistice was signed, MacArthur was appointed peace time administrator of the country of Japan.
One of General MacArthur's early requests was for the Gideons to do in Japan what we were doing in the United States. And so, began the strange journey that would take a young Gideon named R. J. "Dick" Holzwarth and let him pick up the torch carried for a while by Charlie Pietsch. 
 
On June 22, 1950 Charles R. Carpenter, Chief of Air Force Chaplains, wrote W. W. Gothard, Executive Director of Gideons International, as follows: "I was very happy to have the opportunity of talking with Mr. Holzwarth . . . prior to his departure for his extended ministry in Japan." 
 
On August 17, 1950, Brother Holzwarth wrote, "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift, the Lord Jesus Christ. Today is 'G' day in Japan (G for Gideon). From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., we gave out the Word of God to 250 students of English at the YMCA . . . Mr. Igarashi, the man who has just become president of the Tokyo Gideons, gave the Gideon story in Japanese. 
 
Then he and two others who will become members of this Camp presented the Testaments. Tonight we are presenting 350 more. . . . Tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. I am leaving for Yokkaichi and then for Hokkaido."
This was the first distribution of scriptures by Gideons in Japan and the beginning of a world wide advance that now includes 175 countries. Time and space do not allow me to tell about the converts from Japan, such as Toshioki Kageyama (The Gideon Magazine, November, 1974) or Mike Kumai (The Gideon Magazine, June, 1985 and November, 1996), the churches that were built, the pastors who were ordained, or the missionaries who were sent - all because scriptures came to Japan.

In 1959 Dick celebrated as the One Millionth Bilingual Testament was placed in Japan and stated, "the Japanese must study English in junior high school. This is the Gideons opportunity to place bilingual testaments. Are school doors open in Buddhist Japan? There is no door! Christ took it off the hinges 14 years ago and the devil has never found it!"

In 1950, the Korean conflict erupted and again military Testaments were distributed. Other languages and other countries were soon added to the Gideon ministry and the march forward has never ended as the Gospel of Jesus Christ continues to reach the world.

There have been many unknown and unsung hero's in our ranks during the past 100 years. They include men and women who labored in the Lord's harvest field, often at great sacrifice and peril, whose toil has been only for the Master's "well done, thou good and faithful servant." Charles Pietsch was one of those men whose burden to reach lost sailors was pivotal in spreading the scriptures around the world.

The question before all of us today is not about what was done in the past, but what will be done in the future, and whether we will "submit our bodies a living sacrifice" so that God can use any one of us to do the task at hand. There are still spiritual battles to fight and a war to be won. Countries such as India and China are populated by 2 billion people, most of whom will never hear the name of Jesus as Savior. We cannot avoid and evade the responsibility (and opportunity) to reach such people with the Word of God. Today, let us take up the challenge and ask God to help each of us to be faithful in fulfilling our Lord's calling.