Perspective

I can get upset that my window gets condensation on it, that I have to wipe it every morning, and that the condensation blocks my view...

Or I can thank the Lord that I have a window,

And that He paints a beautiful picture for me

every day!

Spiritual Vacuuming

This is a devotion from a few years ago that I had saved in my bible. I pulled it out recently when we had to deal with some books that had come into our home and did not fit the Phil. 4:8 guideline that we try to go by. I love the vacuum cleaner analogy! I have asked for Susanne's permission to post the devotion here and I am thankful that she has allowed me to do so. ~ D

Dawn,
Yes, you have my permission to use the devotion House of Holiness. Please note the following with the devotion: © 2005 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.
Blessings, Susanne Scheppmann

September 29, 2005

"House of Holiness"

Susanne Scheppmann

Co-Editor of Online Devotions,

Proverbs 31 Speaker Team Member

Key Verse: Psalm 93:5,

"Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O Lord." (NIV)

Devotion: My husband, Mark, likes a clean house. Fortunately, for me, he also enjoys vacuuming. We joke that our vacuum covers more miles per week than a NASCAR racer. The noise of suction vibrates throughout our home on a daily basis, picking up small particles of food, dirt, dog hair and who knows what else.

Now here is the weird part, most of the time I do not notice or can't see what the vacuum collects off my floor, until I empty the vacuum bag. Shock washes over me each time I replace the dusty bag of dirt. I realize all that appalling stuff snuck into my carpet uninvited.

While my home stays clean from sundry floor dirt, keeping my home in a state of godly holiness requires daily diligence also. Psalm 93:5 describes God's house as, "holiness adorns your house for endless days." I believe our own homes should reflect holiness also, because God commands us, ". . . be holy, because I am holy. . . (Leviticus 11:44, NIV)." In addition, in the Old Testament the priests in God's house were told, "You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean. . . (Leviticus 10:10, NIV)."

Although, these verses apply within the Old Testament laws, we are called to be holy priests today. Twice in 1 Peter we are told we are a "holy priesthood." So, I must ask myself, What is common or unholy in my home? What has snuck into my life that God considers appalling in His sight?

The way I determine if something needs to be removed from my home-life is by asking the following type of questions:

Would my favorite outfit be modest enough to wear to the door to invite Him into my home?

† If Jesus were sitting with me, would I read this book?

† Could I invite Jesus to watch my favorite afternoon television show and watch it guilt free?

† Would I want to share my popcorn with Him as I watched the latest video released?

Even though our answers might differ to what we believe is appropriate for our own homes, we must be diligent to seek God's heart on what spiritual housekeeping He desires in our lives. For myself, a good guideline is found in Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things (NASB)." These words from the Apostle Paul help me to determine what needs to stay and what needs to go in my home.

An example of this type of decision applied recently in my own life. I had watched a movie on TV that I enjoyed, so much I decided to purchase it. However, when I began to watch the movie, the vulgarity of the language shocked me. I realized the network television had edited the profanity from the movie. It was not honorable, right, pure, or of good repute. I discarded the movie into the trash. Unknowingly, I had brought "spiritual dirt" into my home.

Just as I clean my grimy floors frequently, I battle to keep my home godly. Now if you will excuse me, I hear my husband running the vacuum. I believe I will go run a spiritual vacuum throughout the house, because I often bring home bits and pieces of things that God would not find pleasing to His eyes. How about you? Do you need to run a "spiritual vacuum" throughout your home?

My Prayer for Today:

Lord God, reveal to me anything in my home that would not be pleasing to You. Help me to discard books, movies, or any other type of entertainment that I would not be proud to share with You.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

History Photo

See how many faces you recognize from history! (click to enlarge)

If Cars were like Computers!

According to Snopes this is not true, but it's still funny & I thought I'd share it with you! ~D

At a recent computer exposition, Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated: "If General Motors had kept up with the technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon."

In response to Bill's comments, GM issued a press release stating: "If General Motors had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics:

1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash twice a day.

2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.

3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull over to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason, you would simply accept this.

4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.

5. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive -- but would run on only five percent of the roads.

6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single "General Protection Fault" warning light.

7. The airbag system would ask "Are you sure?" before deploying.

8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.

9. Every time GM introduced a new car, car buyers would have to learn to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.

10. You'd have to press the "Start" button to turn the engine off.

1930s Wife -- Take the Test!

97 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Superior Take the test!

This was hilarious! I thought I'd fail because of putting my cold feet on Andrew's, but alas, I did okay!!! HA!

Ministry Appreciation Month!

Did you know?
- Those in ministry and their families often deal with loneliness, criticism, and financial burdens. They also live with the stress of trying to please the God who called them to ministry while meeting the expectations of their congregations.

- Christianity Today shared that 17% of pastors are experiencing burn out and another 40% are headed for burnout.

- Time magazine reported that 80% of pastors' wives feel unaccepted or unappreciated by their husband's congregation.

- According to Focus on the Family, 4 out of 5 pastors feel their families are negatively impacted by unrealistic expectations.

~~
Since I have three brother-in-laws who are pastors, this issue is close to my heart. You don't have to spend a whole lot of money on your minister -- just let him know that you appreciate him and his work. Pray for him and let him know that you're praying for him. And maybe send him a card to encourage him and his wife! Click here for free ministry appreciate e-cards that you can send.

Something to Ponder...

John Wesley's Holy Club Questions

These are 22 questions the members of John Wesley's Holy Club asked themselves every day in their private devotions over 200 years ago.

1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?

2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?

3. Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?

4. Can I be trusted?

5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?

6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?

7. Did the Bible live in me today?

8. Do I give it time to speak to me everyday?

9. Am I enjoying prayer?

10. When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?

11. Do I pray about the money I spend?

12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?

13. Do I disobey God in anything?

14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?

15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?

16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?

17. How do I spend my spare time?

18. Am I proud?

19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?

20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?

21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?

22. Is Christ real to me?

My Paper Route

I have a paper route. No it's not my kids' route. It's mine! Why? Well, here's the story...I love walking for exercise but like a lot of people, I was finding it difficult to get out there and actually walk. Life has a way of getting in the way of whatever you want to do...especially exercise...then I saw an ad looking for a paper delivery person -- and the route was the route that I usually take when I walk! So, after consulting with my hubby, I called the number and went in to meet the woman who later became my rep! That was over 7 years ago!! LOL It's been a fun job -- most times anyway. I've met my neighbours and gotten to know quite a few of them. Most of them are nice, happy people and there are alot who are sad, lonely and some who are downright miserable. I've met them too. There are some who think that they are better than I am because I'm just a lowly paper carrier! And their attitudes are very evident! HA! I think I'm pretty smart -- I mean, I get paid to WALK!

The worst part of the job? Delivering in the lousy weather. Lousy weather to me is icy weather. Trudging through the snow isn't easy either, but it's great exercise and I remind myself of that. Really hot weather isn't easy either -- on some streets there aren't very many spots of shade and that makes it difficult. The other negative aspects of the job is that I need to deliver my papers when they need to be delivered -- however, it forces me to take my walk so that's good! Sometimes it's inconvenient to deliver them -- when we've got other plans or finding a replacement during holiday time. But most times it works out.

I have fallen as least once per year while delivering papers! The worst time was when I broke into a jog and slipped on some wet leaves. I was bruised all along my leg for a few weeks! Then I've slipped on ice and I've tripped in the summer too! It always feels like everyone is watching when I go down -- and sometimes I am being watched! Once while I was talking to the mailman I slid down. Embarrassing!

I've had people stop their cars beside me to chat -- sometimes scaring the daylights out of me because I'm deep into my thinking or praying! Once our mail truck slowed down beside me to let me know how fast I was walking (he clocked me on his odometer!).

The best part of the job? Getting to know the people on my route. I have made some good friends from this job -- I have had some good chats with some neighbours and I always get waves when I'm walking down the street! It's funny but now I wave to everyone who passes by because I've been told various times that "I waved at you, but you didn't wave back!" Oops!

Sometimes getting to know people so well has it's drawbacks -- like this past spring when a single man on my route passed away unexpectedly. He died while on vacation. It really hit me hard. It's not that I was great friends with this man, it was just that we spoke to each other on a regular basis and he had become a part of my life. And then he was gone. A few times after he died I accidently delivered papers to his empty house! Routine is sometimes hard to break.

Last winter I got my first Christmas gift from one of my customers! That was a nice surprise. They gave me a nice card along with some chocolates (that turned out to be gluten-free -- yah! they didn't know that I can't eat gluten) and a Tim Horton's gift card! They didn't know that I love gifts, but this one was really appreciated!

Once I had a customer come out and give me mittens to wear -- I usually don't bother with mittens because it's awkward to grab the papers with mittens, plus when I walk I warm up so much that I'm sweating by the time that I'm done. But the gesture was very thoughtful.

There are certain times that I've learned I shouldn't deliver my papers -- like around the late morning on Saturdays. Why? Because it will end up taking me hours (instead of 1 hour) to deliver them -- because of all of the people that will come & chat with me!! Of course I like chatting, but I also like to get the papers delivered so I can get on with my other activities!

My pedometer gets a good workout when I deliver my papers. I get around 7,000 aerobic steps each time! (I aim for at least 10,000 steps per day, so on paper day it's very easy to get my steps in.) My route is about 4 km long.

Lately I've been an in-style walker -- my kids bought me an MP3 player for Mother's Day! So now I get to listen to some great music while I walk along. Don't worry -- I still stop to chat with the people -- they wouldn't let me get by without that!

Want to get paid for exercising? Sign up for a paper route! The other benefits? Get to know your neighbours, get a tan, get some thinking/praying time -- share your love of God with your neighbours! And you get to keep the extra samples or coupons that come with your papers! I'm still using up the 75cents off per loaf of bread coupons that we got a while back!! Whoo-hoo! ~ D



I'm taking a blog break for the month of August! Stay tuned for more book reviews (I hope!) come September!

Shenandoah Series by Michael Phillips

Last summer I participated in a book reading program at our local library in which you read books during the summer and review them for the library and win prizes. It was fun because I love reading, but also because I won a free book. BUT, our library doesn't have the program this year so I thought I'd review the books that I've read here, on my blog instead.

The series that I just finished is written by Michael Phillips and is called The Shenandoah Series. There are four books in this series and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed all four of them. In fact, they kept me wanting to read more and I was tense when I finished a book and had to wait for the library to get the next book for me!

The story is set in the 1800s in the Southern United States, just after Lincoln pronounced the Emancipation Proclamation, making the black slaves free. This story has a unique twist in that it is about two unlikely friends -- both around the same age, both orphaned by marauders who went around killing families -- one friend is black, the other is white. Now this may not seem unlikely to you (it wasn't to me) -- the fact that a white would/could be friends with a black person -- but in those days, in that time (and perhaps still now, I sure hope not though), blacks were not seen as persons and it was not accepted that whites would have anything to do with blacks. I cannot fathom that myself, having grown up in a basically multicultural society and having black friends myself. But I have heard that in the Southern States, even now, this sort of racism exists.

Anyway, without giving the story away, I would highly recommend this series. I did find that the first few chapters of the first book (Angels Watching Over Me) went slowly and I got frustrated at the author. But once I made it through those chapters, I was hooked! Let me know what you think!


Here are some excerpts that stuck with me:

That's the trouble with people of all colors -- they judge folks by what they see, which is usually only on the outside. But it's what's inside that counts. That's what makes a person who he or she really is. And sometimes it takes a little work to dig down inside and see what someone's made of, what kind of stuff their character has in it. That's just about one of the most important things in life -- learning how to do that, learning how to find out what people are made of.

...right then the words I'm sorry were too hard for me to say. They ought to be such easy words for people to say to each other, but for some reason they're not. People seem to choke on the two words that would make the world such a kindlier and happier place.

That's the way life is -- you learn thing slowly, especially things about yourself. Sometimes it takes a lot of years before some of the best things in life sink in. If you're trying to get rid of it, self-centeredness seems to gradually fall off you through the years. It's probably not because it gets easier when you get older, but that it gets easier because you've been practicing so long at it.

I think what might make forgiveness so hard for some folks is that they expect other people to be perfect. They especially never want anyone to do or say anything that might hurt them. But when it comes to looking inside themselves, they don't expect their own actions and words and attitudes to be perfect. And they make all kinds of excuses for themselves when they aren't. At least that's the conclusion I've come to from trying to figure myself out. I can be so cantankerously mean-tempered when I'm looking at somebody else, and so sweet and forgiving and understanding when looking at myself. Doesn't make much sense, does it? It seems like we'd want to treat everyone else the same as we do ourselves.

Growth is one of those things you can't see up close. You have to stand back to see how something or someone has changed as time has passed. ...What an amazing thing it was. God had been so good to us!

Yah PIZZA PIZZA!

This is my pizza that I had recently! Yummy! Below is a copy of the email that I received from Pizza Pizza:

Dear Pizza Pizza Customer:

You had expressed an interest in our Gluten-Free pizza crust, and I'm pleased to announce that we now offer Gluten-Free crust chain-wide in all of our traditional Pizza Pizza restaurants.

Before fully launching, we initially tested this product, and the results of our tests allowed us to further refine our processes before going chain-wide.

I've attached below the press release that was recently issued that provides a little more information.

We appreciate and thank you for your past patronage, and hope to serve you again in the future.

Best regards,
Andrew Martin
Customer Care Specialist

Hot & Fresh Off the Press

Gluten-free pizza makes its debut in Pizza Pizza traditional restaurants

Responding to the dietary needs and trends expressed by consumers, Pizza Pizza will now offer gluten-free pizza at all of its traditional restaurants. The wide-scale introduction of gluten-free pizza by Pizza Pizza follows the favorable results of a recent pilot test of the product in select GTA restaurants.

“The pilot results exceeded our expectations,” said Pizza Pizza’s Chief Marketing Officer, Pat Finelli. “One of our objectives in offering this menu option is to provide a dietary alternative for people that are unable to eat gluten products. The reaction we received from market testing was extremely positive, especially from those with celiac disease. Consumers that had been unable to enjoy pizza were thanking us for introducing this new menu offering and allowing them to enjoy pizza once again.”

Gluten intolerance, or celiac disease, affects an estimated 1 in 133 Canadians, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Celiac Association. It is an inherited immune disease in which the lining of the small intestine is damaged by gluten, a protein found in such grains as wheat, barley and rye. The only therapy for celiac disease is a gluten-free diet.

Pizza Pizza is the first major player in the quick-service restaurant industry to provide a gluten-free crust, which uses rice and potato-based flour as the main ingredient. By choosing the light and crispy rice-based dough – along with toppings from our gluten-free list – consumers can enjoy a delicious gluten-free meal made especially for them. Currently, Pizza Pizza’s gluten-free crusts are available in the 12-inch medium format, the company’s most popular pizza size.

In making the gluten-free crust, Pizza Pizza has implemented a series of procedures and controls to prevent product cross-contamination. Mr. Brian S. Payne, Director, Commissary and Supply Chain Management for Pizza Pizza, says it is no different than handling any other allergen. In addition to having specific utensils for the product, the company has sent all franchisees an updated training guide containing new product information, educational material about celiac disease, as well as cooking and sanitizing procedures.

The gluten-free crust is another in a series of health-conscious innovations by Pizza Pizza. In recent years, the cutting-edge company has introduced whole-wheat multigrain dough, a source of Omega 3’s and fiber, partly skimmed mozzarella cheese and sodium-reduced sauces and cheese to its menu offerings. Pizza Pizza was one of the first in the industry to remove industrially-added trans-fats from its entire menu.

“The introduction of this new gluten-free menu offering is a natural extension of our initiatives in striving to provide our customers with a variety of healthy options that respond to their individual needs,” said Finelli. “We know that a significant segment of the population is gluten sensitive or intolerant, and offering this new menu option is a way of bringing pizza back into their lives and routine.”

For a complete list of allergens and menu options at Pizza Pizza, please visit www.pizzapizza.ca.

Signs of Spring

take a trip through our "signs of spring" with me!
the view from my kitchen window has become greener and the thermometer has been showing higher temps

my begonia is growing away -- it will be put outside to grow all summer

once the threat of frost is gone

my raspberry plants are growing

my herbs are sprouting yet again!

we're taking more "rubber boot" walks

(these are my friend, Susanne's, three boys

-- I "borrow" them once in a while!)the deer are coming closer again

"mr. & mrs. mallard" are visiting for another year!

(and eggs are hatching -- maybe a baby duck?)

our chickens are enjoying roaming around our yard again

my vinca is blooming!

my rhubarb is growing and we've been enjoying rhubarb cobbler and muffins...
(okay, my family has been enjoying them -- they're not gluten-free so I haven't had any...but I do enjoy making them!)

everything is blooming!

including the weeds...

and the best of all?

clean laundry drying outside on the clothesline!
THANK YOU, LORD, FOR SPRING!

I AM

This song has really touched me lately -- I've been going through a bit of a tough time and a friend pointed this song out to me. I've owned the CD for a while but it hasn't been until now that this song has hit me. It's so comforting that, when life doesn't seem to make any sense, God has our times in His hands and HE KNOWS!

I dedicate this to my friend, K. I miss you already. ((( hugs ))) ~ D

I Believe!

One of my favourite songs from one of my favourite artists! With spring all around us and a long winter finally over, how CAN we say there is no God?! Enjoy! ~ D

Donuts

I received this in an email the other day and thought that it was worth posting. Good thinking stuff!

"DON'T LEAVE IT ON THE DESK"

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 their freshman year, regardless of his or her 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 onto seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now 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. No, 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?"

"Sure!" Steve 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 push-ups for every person before they got their donut.

Walking down the second aisle, 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.

When the professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"

Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own push-ups?"

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 push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"

With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups.

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, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"

Sternly, Jenny said, "No."

Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more push-ups 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 these uneaten donuts on the desks.

Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these push-ups 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 push-ups 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 worry 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 push-ups 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 Christi anson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push-ups 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 push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?"

Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, 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 push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?"

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda.

Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "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 they want 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 push-ups so Susan can have a donut?"

As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, 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, plead 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. And 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. He spared not only His Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid."

I Will Bow to You

This is one of my favourite songs! Enjoy! It's sung by Bob Fitts.