Hearthstone - February 2001

Contents
xxx	Volume 16, No. 2	February 2001
Description of a Christian Hugs 'N Tugs by Wendy Greiner Lefko Broken Best of LifeLine by Rev. Larry W. Greiner True Commitment Contentment Listening Too! Possessions Think About This!	AFRAID? OF WHAT? In 1931 Jack Vinson, a missionary in Kiangsu Province in Mainland China was confronted by a bandit who threatened: "I am going to kill you. Aren't you afraid?" Jack Vinson replied simply, "Kill me, if you wish. I will go straight to God." The courage of Jack Vinson inspired his friend E. H. Hamilton to write the following poem: Afraid? Of what? To feel the spirit's glad release? To pass from pain to perfect peace. The strife and strain of life to cease? Afraid — of that? Afraid? Of what? Afraid to see the Savior's face The glory gleam from wounds of grace? Afraid — of that? Afraid? Of what? A flash, a crash, a pierced heart; Darkness, light, O Heaven's art! A wound of His a counterpart! Afraid — of that? Afraid? Of what? To do by death what life could not — Baptize with blood a stony plot, Till souls shall blossom from the spot? Afraid — of that?

DESCRIPTION OF A CHRISTIAN
	A Christian feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen. He talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see, expects to go to Heaven on virtue of Another, empties himself in order that he might be full, admits he is wrong so he can be declared right, goes down in order to get up. He is strongest when he is weakest, richest when he is poorest and happiest when he feels worst. He dies so he can live, forsakes in order to have, gives away so he can keep, sees the invisible, hears the inaudible and knows that which passeth knowledge. —A.W.Tozer Back to Contents

OUR WALK MUST SQUARE WITH OUR TALK

HUGS 'N TUGS
By Wendy Greiner Lefko
	Even though our youngest daughter is only two-years old, there have been many times when she has had to determine right from wrong, safe from dangerous, scary from funny, and so on. She has had to make choices not only for what she can and cannot do, but also for how she perceives things to be. And more times than not, when she finds herself having to decipher good from bad in my presence, I find her automatically turning her thoughtful or mischievous gaze (as the case may be) to me. Her questioning eyes will be fixed on mine, searching for a reaction from me to help her determine whether the choice she is making is a good one or a big mistake. For example, if she sees something on TV and she doesn’t know what to make of it, she will turn to me to see if I react with humor, surprise, or sadness. If I talk to a stranger in the store and they turn to direct their speech towards her, she tightens her grip on my hand and checks my face to see if this person is "ok". On occasion, when she falls and gets back to her feet, she lifts her face to see if I look worried or reassuring that she’s just fine. But the funniest times are when she knows full well she is doing something she shouldn’t and I have caught her in action. She will immediately cover her eyes. I suppose she figures if she can’t see me I can’t see her! Other times when she realizes she had been "found out," she smiles with glee. With the evidence of her crime clutched tightly in hand, she runs as fast as her little feet can take her. She knows she’ll be caught, but she can’t resist the thrill of the chase! What strikes me most in all these situations is the look in her eyes as she searches my face to help her determine what is right or wrong, good or bad. She looks to me to help her decipher the choices she needs to make, and what to think of the ones she had already made. She looks at the world through my eyes. What a lesson for me in my relationship with my Heavenly Father! Do I look at the world through His eyes? When I make crucial decisions in my life, do I turn to see His face to determine which direction I should go? Do I seek His reaction when I make choices that could be good or not so good for me? I need as much guidance from Him in my every day life as my toddler daughter needs from me to walk a safe and righteous path. I pray I never cease to seek my Father’s will and approval in every area of my life. "Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always" (Psalm 105:4). Back to Contents

I've never seen anyone happy who makes somebody else miserable.

Opportunity may knock only once, but temptation leans on the doorbell.

BROKEN
	Some of us will never forget an instance in Sacramento, California when an unconverted Japanese man was present at our communion service. We had barely replaced the bread and cup upon the table before this unregenerate man rose to his feet in great emotion and burst out in prayer as follows: "O God, I all broke up to pieces. I, a poor sinner. For long time, for one whole year, I fight You hard —but here I see Your people show how Jesus He die for sinners. O God, I can fight no more—I all break down. I take Jesus; He be my Savior now!" That very day, at his earnest request, he was baptized as owning his personal faith in Christ. —Dr. H. A. Ironside in Sailing With Paul Back to Contents

BEST OF LIFELINE
By Rev. Larry W. Greiner
	In 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison’s Landing in Virginia, the Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land. During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier lying severely wounded on the battlefield. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life to bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and pulled him to safety. When the Captain reached his own lines, he discovered that the soldier was a Confederate, but he was dead. Lighting a lantern, the Captain caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son! The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out, and without telling his father had enlisted in the Confederate Army. The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted. The Captain had asked to have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge. But since the soldier was a Confederate the request was denied. However, out of respect for the father a single musician would be allowed to play, and the Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of his dead son's uniform. The wish was granted, and the haunting melody we now know as "Taps," used at military funerals, was born. When Jesus died it’s as if for that moment in time He had to become part of the other side, the enemy of God. Scripture says, "He became sin for us." Sin is the enemy of God, so as Jesus died for us He was in essence wearing the enemy’s uniform. The heavenly Father had to turn His back on His only son. Out of His infinite love for you and me, Jesus was willing to die on the enemy’s side. We must remember, too, that God the Father chose to send His Son to the other side out of that same love for us. How can we not love Him for such a sacrifice? How can we not give Him our all? "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (Hebrews 9:28). Back to Contents

Triumph: Umph added to try.

TRUE COMMITMENT
	A missionary society wrote to David Livingstone and asked, "Have you found a good road to where you are? If so, we want to know how to send other men to join you." Livingstone wrote back, "If you have men who will come only if they know there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all." Back to Contents

CONTENTMENT
	Leaning on his fence one day, a devout Quaker was watching a new neighbor move in next door. After all kinds of modern appliances, electronic gadgets, plush furniture, and costly wall hangings had been carried in, the onlooker called over, "If you find you're lacking anything, neighbor, let me know and I'll show you how to live without it." Back to Contents

LISTENING, TOO!
	It was at the close of a Lord's Day, and Dr. H. A. Ironside had been busy in the King's business. Five times he had spoken. On the way home — how human it all was —a simple question of Mrs. Ironside was turned aside with irritation. The Holy Spirit quickly convicted this man of God. Contritely he asked his wife's forgiveness with, "Forgive me. I am quite tired. Remember, I have preached five times today." And then came the answer: "Yes, dear, I know; but remember, I have had to listen to you five times today!" —Moody Monthly Back to Contents

POSSESSIONS
	In the lifetime of Jesus we do not hear Him speak of: "My house," "My land," "My farm," "My books," "My business," or "My money." We do, however, hear Him speak of: "My Father" (Matthew 10:33), "My friends" (John 15:14), "My disciples" (John 15:8), "My church" (Matthew 16:18), "My name" (Matthew 18:20) "My words" (Mark 8:38), "My sheep" (John 10:27), "My joy" (John 17:13). It is significant that our Example thought more of spiritual possessions than of material ones. Back to Contents

THINK ABOUT THIS
	The torn garments of our world can be rewoven only through the expert invisible mending of the greatest Tailor of all time, Jesus Christ." —Bonnie Zandt Back to Contents

KEEP YOUR LIGHT SHINING, AND GOD WILL PUT IT WHERE IT WILL BE SEEN.

AFRAID? OF WHAT?

By Wendy Greiner Lefko

By Rev. Larry W. Greiner