Memories of Mom

"It doesn't matter whether my name is on the membership roll of the church -- the important thing is that my name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life!" --- Substance of Helen (Sedgwick) Harriger's response to her pastor who had told her he could not find her name on the membership roll of the church she had been attending and in which she had become actively involved.

If I detailed all the memories of my mother, it would take a long time and the content would make for a rather large book. So I shall try to keep it sweet, short and simple. Oh, by the way, the picture above is my mother holding me late in the summer of 1933 -- a few moons ago!

My earliest memory goes back to times before I went to school. My mother always had my well being at heart without fail. This involved not just my physical health but also my spiritual well being.

Mom had become a Christian at a very early age in her life and expressed her faith in Jesus Christ in a variety of ways. In her church she was a Sunday School teacher, involved in the ladies missionary group, and taught in annual Bible schools.

She made clear the difference between right and wrong to my sister (born about 6 years after me) and me when it came to our conduct. I remember distinctly one time she had me on her knee and we looked out the window at the neighbor just across the road working a field with his horses. The neighbor was a very profane man and could be heard cursing his horses or whatever -- he constantly was telling God to damn something or someone! Mom pointed out that we had to respect God and never to use His Name in a bad way such as the neighbor had been doing.

She was a disciplinarian -- a paddling was given out for certain offenses on my part and one time it was so serious that she turned me over her knee and used a scrub brush for emphasis -- I did not feel like sitting down for a while! The way things are now days the A.C.L.U. (Anti Christian Lovers of Ungodliness) would have encouraged me to sue my mother in court for child abuse!

Mom did a lot of reading and study and had a teacher's certificate qualifying her to teach in the public schools of our area. She did some substitute teaching occasionally. But her first love was to be a home maker for my dad, my sister and me.

She was an excellent cook and loved working in her kitchen. Her homemade bread along with her homemade butter earned her a noteworthy reputation in our community. But she also was first class when it came to the sweet stuff such as chocolate cake, cinnamon rolls, lemon sponge pie, etc. More than once I downed nearly a quart of our golden Guernsey milk with pieces of warm chocolate cake just out of the oven!

My mother was also a writer of letters (something I guess I inherited from her) and during WW II wrote to quite a number of military persons from our area on a regular basis. One of my dad's cousins was wounded in Sicily twice and one letter she wrote to him was done on shelf paper about 5 feet long or so and she wrote on both sides of it. He had a picture taken with the letter draped around his neck and hanging down over his chest. When I entered the military myself she was always faithful in writing letters to me and a few months later to Jean and me after our marriage and our move to North Carolina when I was stationed at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station.

In addition to her work in the home she did a lot outside. She had a fair sized garden each year, gathered the eggs from our chicken coop, and helped my dad milk the cows twice a day. Sometimes she engaged in an activity that I did not want to watch. Once in a while she would take a rooster or maybe a hen, tie its legs together, hang it on the clothes line, and then cut off its head with a butcher knife! Her roast chicken was impossible to beat -- it was a bit unpleasant at a certain point in reaching that desired goal!

Mom was always one to give encouragement and support throughout the family. She was the oldest of the six children born to Edward and Estella (Robb) Sedgwick. Her brothers and sisters thought very highly of her and often visited her when they could.

She was very excited the day I revealed to her that God had called me into the ministry. She and my dad made special arrangements to come visit us when we were in Kentucky serving a small church while in seminary. And they were able to come to my graduation from Asbury Seminary. After we returned to Pennsylvania they would visit our church services from time to time.

Perhaps her greatest contribution in life was her discipline of prayer. I do not believe I would be where I am today or would have been involved in God's work as I have been over many years had it not been for a praying mother (and a praying father too).

She came down with cancer and fought a good fight but the disease got the best of her in January of 1979. I remember in the hospital room in Franklin PA when the doctor told us she was gone, the first thought to come into my mind was this: "Not one cancer cell can touch her now -- she is in the presence of her Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ!" She did win the ultimate victory and to that, every obedient Christian can say, "Amen and Amen!"

Because of what Jesus did for us all on Calvary's cross, I have the assurance of seeing my mother again along with a host of other loved ones and friends -- a reunion that will never break up and located in the perfect trouble-free environment -- some of us refer to this blessed place as Heaven!

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. --- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-19

Mr. Obama's Righteous Indignation and Fraternizing with Prostitutes!!

Internet headlines speak of a Secret Service scandal which involved personnel drinking excessively (not H2O by the way) and partying with prostitues in Columbia before Mr. Obama arrived on his trip to that country. A later headline indicated that he was "angry" and an investigation would take place. It was further alleged that some military people were also involved in this incident! --- various internet sources

Mr. Obama has displayed what some would interpret as "righteous indignation" upon learning that some Secret Service personnel along with a few military people had a rather wild party at a 5 star hotel in Columbia before the arrival of the president in that nation! One headline used the word "angry" to describe the reaction of Mr. Obama and an indication of an impending "investigation."

The alleged party involved excessive drinking and the satisfying of that "gratification now without delay" lusting through able assistance given by prostitutes who likely made a good profit that would be on a comparable level of those who make excessive profits by their speculation and manipulation activity in the petroleum business!

Will we who underwite government expenses through our taxes be paying for this escapade as we did recently in the scandalous Las Vegas spree involving government people at a very high level?

Anyway, why should anyone -- whether it be Mr. Obama, the media watch dogs, or those in the U.S. Congress make any kind of issue of this incident, professed "righteous indignation" notwithstanding?

It is Mr. & Mrs. Obama, plus many members of the U. S. Congress, and a number of members of the U. S. Supreme Court that aggressively support the intentional mutilation and murder of thousands of unborn children each week in a nation that hypocritically claims to be the "land of the free, and the home of the brave!" Any effort made to save at least a few unborn from the horrendous fate that over 54 million have already suffered is stonewalled immediately by the aforementioned bunch of persons. It is interesting that this same crowd becomes extremely upset and hostile when confronted with graphic images that provide unmistakable evidence that this is an abomination of the first magnitude from the point of view of our Creator! But then, who pays much attention to the God Who put this mighty universe together by spoken command?

Second, it is the Obama connection with majority support in the U. S. Congress that opened the way for sodomites and lesbians to serve openly in the United States military. And of course throughout the nation there was been subtantial support from the citizens. The media along with the movie and TV industries have been very supportive and have provided the propaganda that this has been a good thing for the country. Again, the One Who gives "life, breath, and all things" (see book of Acts in New Testament) to all humans takes an entirely different point of view on this issue. But the leadership (both political and religious) has so influenced and corrupted the spirit of our republic that what God expects by way of obedience and moral responsibility is given a "thumbs down" response much the same as a blood-thirsty crowd would do in the ancient Roman Coliseum when they felt a defeated gladiator on the ground deserved to die rather than live!

Mr. Obama is certainly in no position to express his professed "righteous indigantion" over the drinking/prostitute party in Columbia by some persons who are a part of the U. S. government. He has far more serious moral issues on his home turf to tend to first as just noted. But we all know on basis of past experience how he will address those issues, do we not? That is, UNTIL Almighty God says plainly, "Enough is enough -- the shedding of innocent blood and blantant immorality will stop now!"

As mentioned on previous occasions, none of us will want to be living within the borders of the republic when God responds with the pouring out of His undiluted wrath. We hear of the disasters brought on by numerous tornadoes involving loss of human life and property distruction at this time of year especially. But that is a mole hill compared to a gigantic mountain when it comes to what God will do because we as a nation saw no need to take Him seriously nor were willing to fully repent and seek to be obedient to Him in all aspects of our behavior and relationships!

"As the thief is ashamed when he is found out, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they and their kings and their princes, and their priests and their prophets, Saying to a tree, 'You are my father,' and to a stone, 'You gave birth to me.' For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they will say, 'Arise and save us.' But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble; for according to the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah." --- Jeremiah 2:26-28

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. --- Galatians 6:7, 8

Looking at the Big Picture in the Limbaugh/Fluke Uproar!

A woman testifies in support of government funding of birth control items so that females can get this stuff free -- Rush Limbaugh responds by calling her certain very uncomplimentary names -- an avalanche of criticism is launched against Limbaugh -- some advertisers withdraw support -- many of the media again demonstrate that they most resemble sharks in bloody water where Limbaugh is the focus of attention, and so it goes! --- A variety of news sources on this "earth shaking" happening in the U.S.A!

It seems that nobody wants to or is willing to honestly face the big picture in the recent Limbaugh/Fluke controversy. Sandra Fluke in a sense was "campaigning" for government funding of birth control items -- that is, females wanting access to birth control items should be able to obtain the same under Obamacare at no cost to them, as the health plan seems to be commonly known.

As this became public, Rush Limbaugh reacted by calling Sandra a couple of rather derogatory names! A lot of public hostility was directed toward Rush because of his comments. Even President Obama called Sandra to console her -- one wonders just what all he may have said -- you know, something like, "Poor, poor Sandy -- did that mean old Rush say nasty things about you? You're a good girl -- just don't pay any attention to that hateful man -- he has said a lot of bad things about me too!"

The tragic fact in this is a neglect at looking far enough into the issue that the big picture of reality is very clearly revealed!

Our culture has lost its moral compass and no longer considers what our Creator says about life and responsibility.

One issue has to do with human sexuality and the proper way to express and experience it. God has drawn the boundaries explicitly and has shown what is acceptable sexual conduct and what is not.

The revelation given to us from God spells out what unacceptable sexual behavior is in all human relationships:

1. Sexual intimacy between two unmarried persons is an act of fornication and condemned by God. Nowhere is there ever a reference in the holy Scriptures that this is acceptable conduct in the sight of God.

2. Sexual intimacy between two persons, with at least one being married to a person other than the one with whom the act of sexual intimacy is taking place is considered to be adultery and condemned by God. In fact God used this immoral example as an illustration as to the unfaithfulness of His people, the ancient Israelites, engaging in the practices of worshipping false gods and goddesses. Some of these worship "rituals" involved such things as immoral sexual activity and sacrificing little children by throwing them alive into a fire!

3. Same gender sexual intimacy is not labeled as simply "sin" but as an abomination. What is the difference? As best the human mind can grasp the difference, we must conclude that an abomination is sin intensified many, many times over! The shedding of innocent blood is labeled by God as not a sin, but an abomination! The preceding example of sacrificing small children by throwing them into a raging fire as an act of worship to the ancient Canaanite god, Molech, would be an abomination. And so same gender sexual intimacy is not in the same class of sinful offenses such as fornication or adultery but something many times worse than these!

4. The Scriptures also mention the subject of sexual activity with animals. Common sense should tell every human being that this is stricly off limits, but obviously there are those who feel this can be very acceptable to those who desire to be involved in such activity. God labels it a "perversion" and soundly condemns it.

4. There are other sexual related offenses that take place within the human race in different ways such as sexual abuse of children and youth, rape, and a pornography industry that thrives on visual display of all manner sexual activity ranging from male/female intercourse to a wide variety of bizarre perversions!

God has set the boundary line of acceptable sexual expression and experience around a special couple -- a male and a female whom He has joined together in a significant covenant known as marriage. One can closely examine the holy Scriptures word by word and never find God approving conduct such as that described earlier. Only within the covenant of marriage does God grant His blessing when it comes to a man and a woman sharing the joy of their marriage within the context of sexual intimacy!

The very clear implication in the health care debate over government funding of birth control items so that females can obtain these without cost is that you can freely engage in your choice of sexual activity -- there are no moral restrictions -- do your own thing as your lusts dictate -- it's all OK since we make our own rules -- further, we must listen to the voice of the "Instant Gratification" god/goddess at all times, committing spiritual suicide in the process!

Any hope that the citizens of a republic known as the United States of America will seriously look at the BIG picture and consider the boundary lines as established by the Creator of the heavens and this lowly earth when it comes to human sexuality? Not likely -- the evidence is mounting day by day that we will experience what numerous cultures of the past learned the hard way -- when a defiant spirit dominates through time, then something called judgment at the hands of an angry God takes place! Ruins of nations which existed in the past testify that you cannot ignore the moral laws of God and get away with it -- it remains as written in Scripture, "God is not mocked..."

"You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. Nor shall you mate with any beast, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman stand before a beast to mate with it. It is perversion. Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you." --- Leviticus 18:22-24

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. --- 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10

Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. --- Revelation 22:14, 15

A Package of Benefits That Can't Be Beat!

The question is not so much what wages am I going to receive but what are the benefits while employed and after retirement? --- This is often what goes through a potential employee's mind when the possibility of being hired takes place.

A primary concern when it comes to employment is what benefits are offered by the employer. Labor unions are notorious when it comes to demands on this issue. For the "fruits" of such demands do a search sometime on the term, "Ruins of Detroit," and see a graphic illustration of what the auto workers' union has accomplished by way of devastation and excessive demands in contracts!

No matter how great the benefits appear to be in an employment situation, they cannot begin to compare to a benefits package of a very different kind that has been in existence for a very long time!

In secular employment the benefits include such items as a generous health care plan, vacation time, sick days available, insurance, and a retirement plan that in some cases will enable the employee to collect almost as much as he/she did before retirement took place. Again, check out what auto worker union members are getting in their retirement by way of income and benefits! And not only these but members of other unions in a number of cases have done quite well also. Federal workers do rather well when it comes to "benefits" not just in active employment but the retirement circumstances could even make a king envious!

Alas, I have digressed a bit, but only to stress that large numbers of people have been deceived into thinking that if they have a generous benefit package in employment and an even better one after they retire, then they are really on "easy street" and living in a "heaven on earth!"

But let's look at the Heavenly Benefits package that God offers to all people -- it is there, but critical decisions have to be made for it to become a reality in the experience of each human being.

1. Freedom From Condemnation: God took on human form, made a personal visit to the planet He created a long, long time ago, and ultimately bore the punishment upon Himself for the sins of each one of us human beings! Consequently Jesus, by His sacrificial death, made possible total forgiveness of our sins and reconciliation to God. Romans 5 stresses having peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Life Forever: Longevity in this life is what many persons desire -- rare is the person who wants to die "young" and usually when that is the case, it is because of a combination of problems and issues that an individual is unable to resolve. Those hefty "benefit" packages mentioned earlier cause most recipients to harbor a desire to live a long time so those benefits can be fully enjoyed. But life in this world is limited to a few decades at most and then comes the end. But by God's mercy it is possible to experience the assurance of life unending in another realm. The most well known verse in the Bible (John 3:16) specifically mentions the possibility of coming into possession of "everlasting life" through God's Son, Jesus Christ!

3. A Perfect Environment: Our human minds with severe limitations cannot begin to comprehend what Heaven is like. Jesus said He would prepare a place for His people (John 14) and a few details are made known. There is no death, no pain, no sorrow of any kind in that place. Here on earth the landscape is cluttered with drug stores, doctors' offices, dentists' offices, hospitals, and funeral homes -- every one of these has a negative picture attached to it -- some kind of affliction, pain, grief etc. In addition, there are the constant eruptions of conflicts and violence which result in loss of human life on a daily basis. Grief and pain are multiplied further by such activity. But imagine a place where every negative kind of human experience is entirely eliminated -- a place where perfect peace and love are the standards by which all human existence is experienced! The closing chapters of the book of The Revelation provide a description of that perfect environment in which God's people will exist forever.

Do you see that there is absolutely no comparison between the best of "benefit" packages offered to employees by companies and businesses in this world and that which God provides for His people through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ?

One would think that the vast majority of people would scramble and do what has to be done to insure that they had in their possession the "Heavenly Benefits Package" so that when their time comes to pass from time into eternity they not only know their destiny but precisely what their everlasting benefits are.

But no -- due to confusion and so much preoccupation with the earth-bound and time-bound benefits of their earthly existence the majority has neglected to check into what is involved in the "Heavenly Benefits Package!"

It is simple really -- first, one has to face the reality of being a sinner and countless times has sinned against God and one's fellow human beings! Second, one has to confess to God that he/she is guilty as charged and seek mercy and forgiveness -- a tough thing to do because of the vanity of human pride that can get in the way. Third, recognize that Jesus Christ paid the penalty for one's sins, give thanks for this, and receive Him into one's life as Savior and Lord in an act of faith. And fourth, express a commitment to seek His will and be obedient to Him each day as long as one lives in this present world.

Finally, it is good to give thanks that God has put together a package of "benefits" that makes the best of corportate packages look like putrid garbage in a paper bag by way of comparison!

He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. --- 1 John 5:10-13

Not at Conception, 24 Weeks, or at Birth, BUT from Eternity!

Debate on when a human is actually considered to be human rages on endlessly with each person who addresses the issue considering his/her word to be the "authority" as to the time we do "become" human.

Recently I got into an intense discussion with an individual over the issue of abortion. This person adamantly claimed that the child in the stages of formation in his/her mother's womb is not to be regarded as human until 24 weeks into the pregnancy. According to this person it is at that time that development has reached the point where pain can be experienced, etc. It appears that somewhere in the distant past scientific research has vainly attempted to arbitrarily set the time at 24 weeks as to when one graduates from being a simple mass of tissue and blood to that of becoming a full blown human being!

Others insist that one becomes human at the moment conception takes place with the uniting of a sperm and an egg cell which originate with a human male and a human female. Then there are those who radically insist that one is not human until birth has taken place and the new born individual is able to survive outside the womb through the process of breathing, eating, and drinking.

In order to avoid disturbing thoughts about the human aspect being applied to the unborn, abortion devotees employ the term "fetus." You know, this is so impersonal when making reference to that growing mass of blood and tissue inside the female! Instead of a living human being in the stages of formation, we are merely dealing with a thing, which can be treated as casually and indifferently as one would treat the contents of a garbage can!

The real issue in this, however, is how Almighty God views the unborn child. No question on this -- we each have a personal ID that spans the limitations of time and earth into the countless eons of eternity! Consider statements from God's special revelation to the members of the human race:

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; and I ordained you a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:4, 5).

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You. (Psalm 139:14-18).

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-6).

The above is more than enough to reveal a very clear picture as to God's view of humans and when they are considered to be human.

First, notice that God claims to be involved in the formation of each human -- "I formed you..." does not leave anything to the imagination -- the only exception are those who stumble in their blindness and refuse to acknowledge the reality of God's involvement when it comes to persons such as we.

Second, notice that our identity exists prior to conception in the womb. God knows us before this all takes place and further He has a plan for our lives -- "the days fashioned for me." But the plan was in place before the days came to pass!

Third, this marvelous plan is centered in God's own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ -- "..He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.." The plan and purpose God has for each human life existed prior to the creation of this mighty universe and the earth which is a minute particle of that universe! Since Jesus sacrificed His life on behalf of every human being, that means God has something special for each human being by way of purpose.

Since we are not fashioned to be robots, God has given us the power to choose how it will be with us in this world as we move steadily toward eternity and giving an account to Him when life has ended for us on this earth. We can choose to respond to His gift of eternal life given through His Son, or reject it -- which is the choice of the vast majority living in this world at the present time.

A lot of horrible things take place in this world on a 24/7 basis. But at the top of the list of horrible things taking place what can match the intentional mutilation and murder of an unborn child? It ultimately comes down to direct destruction and the nullifying of God's plan for that child in the stages of formation in its mother's womb!

A wise and thinking person would quickly conclude that when you interfere with what God wants to do by way of a deliberate plan -- that is, you demolish that plan, then you are in more trouble than the human mind is capable of comprehending! But in today's world -- wise and thinking people we have too few and foolish unthinking people we have flooding the earth.

A final "confession" on my part -- I get to wondering about this issue in a republic that claims all persons should have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our "trail of blood" has become a river from nearly 59 million victims (as of 12-01-27). I wonder if God is going to have those unrepentant persons, who were in one way or another involved in this "holocaust," see their victims in eternity in that paradise into which all those victims have entered -- and that while the persons responsible for the deaths of the unborn exist in indescribable torment -- Luke 16 in the New Testament would suggest such a possibility! Anyway, just wondering.

At this stage in time there is no real regret concerning this abomination expressed throughout the nation on the part of elected officials, beginning with the president. Not a few church leaders are rather silent too when it comes to facing the reality of the United States' version of "holocaust!" None of us will want to be within the borders of this republic when God chooses to make His response to this, the greatest of tragedies to take place in our nation's history!

"The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it." --- Jeremiah 18:7-10

Jesus Is More Than Just Another Slice of Pizza in the Box!

"There are many paths to the top of the mountain!" and "There are many ships that cross the ocean!" are ancient oft quoted statements that claim all religions are equal and no one superior to any other.

I and my family enjoy eating pizza. We have done our share in helping pizza establishments in our area stay in business over time. We have patronized different pizza outlets within a radius of about 10 miles. The common pizza we usually get is one with pepperoni. Once in a while Jean and I will take advantage of Pizza Hut's buffet where you can get a wide variety of stuff for one price and really pig out by choice!

Enough of our personal experiences with pizza and on to the subject at hand. Never has there been a time in which there has been more intense insistence that all religions are legitimate in the claims which each makes in addressing the issues of human life, responsibility, morality, death, and destiny.

It is as if one said that Jesus is just another slice of pizza in the box. I have noticed that when we get pizza in a box that there are some minor differences -- some pieces are a little larger than others and some may have more pepperoni on than others. So you can choose a bigger or smaller piece and if you are really into pepperoni, you pick the piece that has more on it than others.

There are those, including persons within the ranks of professing Christianity, who say that it is up to you to decide the "religion" with which you want to identify -- one is as good as another. And that, of course, includes Christianity. Just pick and choose and should you become dissatisfied, just come back to the religion box and choose another one!

There are still a few of us around who are quite radical on this issue. We maintain that true Christianity is distinctly separate from and far superior to all other religious expressions found in today's world. Another way of saying it is that only Christianity is the true faith and all the others, whether the devotees number but a few dozen or into the millions, are totally false!

The determining factor making the difference is none other than Jesus Christ Himself! While His uniqueness is mentioned repeatedly throughout the New Testament Scriptures, it is in the Gospel of John that His absolute claims concerning Himself are made known and the fact that either He is genuine or if not, then He qualifies as a first class candidate for admission to the nearest institution for those who are mentally deranged!

All the claims He made are very well summed up in two: first, the claim that He is the way, the truth and the life and that no one can come to the Father except through Him and second, the claim that He is the resurrection and the life and those who believe in Him will not die but will live. Critics will jump on that by saying that even Christians die, so Jesus is wrong. The fact is that Christians do not die -- it is a simple experience of moving out of their earthly bodies (described elsewhere in Scripture as a tent) and going into the presence of God. In some cases God has permitted some Christians to tarry a bit at that moment when they are leaving and speak some words of what they see -- past departed loved ones, angels, and even the Lord Jesus Himself! Those two claims of Jesus can be read at John 14 and John 11. But as you go through the Gospel of John, note every statement of Jesus which is preceded with the words, "I am...."

Christianity in its purest expression is uncompromising in stating that Jesus is God revealed in human form Who demonstrated the perfect life lived on earth. But the most significant act in His visit to the planet which He created a long time ago is seen in His sacrificial death on a Roman cross. His death was on behalf of every human born into this world as He paid the penalty for every sin committed by every human being (yes, even for those who follow the many false religions of this world) and made possible total forgiveness and acceptance in the presence of a holy God!

Three days after the crucifixion Jesus was resurrected from the dead and appeared to many people over a 40 day period. Some of His followers saw Him ascend back to Heaven and heard angels declare that this same Jesus Who had been taken from them would return in like manner at some point in the future. We are now a little over 2,000 years closer to His return than when that statement was first made!

No other religion outside of Christianity has anything that even begins to remotely resemble what the Christian faith is all about and the One in Whom it is centered -- a Savior Who paid the price of the sins of the entire human race through the sacrifice of Himself willingly ("No man takes my life from me -- I lay it down and I take it up again!" - also found in Gospel of John) and His subsequent victory in resurrection from the dead!

Becoming a Christian is, however, a conditional experience. We are called to repent of our sins -- that is, to abandon our sinful ways, and to receive Jesus into our lives by invitation with the intent that we seek to be obedient to Him for the rest of our lives here on earth. This results in being "born again" as mentioned in John 3 of the Gospel. It is a new and transformed life that results. One has moved from concentrating on self and the "What I want" way of life to what is it that Jesus wants of me -- how might I please Him each day that I live?

Again, no other religion in the world has anything that begins to compare to this -- it is only experienced in Jesus Christ and nowhere else!

One can be choosy when it comes to the pizza in the box -- you can pick a big slice, or a smaller slice -- one with lots of pepperoni or one with not so much, or even choose to remove all the pepperoni as certain members in our family choose to do. But when it comes to the religion issue -- be sure to choose the one that is centered in Jesus Christ and be assured of a place in His Kingdom forever -- choosing any other is a sure guarantee of ending up in a Devil's Hell! And that is not an opinion on my part, but what Jesus Himself said about the destiny of those who reject Him! Yes, Jesus is more than just another slice of pizza in the box -- He is Savior, Lord, and our soon returning King!

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." --- Jesus speaking in Matthew 7:21-27

Jerry Sandusky Forgiven?

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. --- Psalm 32:1, 2

By this time the name, Jerry Sandusky, is familiar to a major segment of our population. Not only is he the primary subject in a sex scandal centered in a very high profile educational institution known as Penn State University, but he is also the focus of ongoing investigation concerning his sexual activities with young boys. Sandusky is also the concentrated focus of mass media news outlets and a hoard of talk shows.

Expressions of outrage have taken many forms, with persons yielding to the temptation to be prosecutor, jury, judge, and delightfully, the executioner! To be sure the allegations against Sandusky, if proven to be true, are abominable to say the least. With a number of victims now on record as having been involved with Sandusky's aggressive homosexuality, it remains for all this to be thrashed out in proper court proceedings.

Notice, I said "aggressive homosexuality" which goes beyond being simply a "predator!" Those who are pushing a sodomite/lesbian agenda in our culture would not want it to be spread around that Sandusky is a sodomite! But what is the definition of a male being involved sexually with other males, no matter what the ages are? If you haven't read the definition lately, look it up for yourself and see what it says.

Is it possible for Jerry Sandusky to experience true forgiveness? There will be those who will adamantly insist that for him forgiveness is not possible, and that he should not be forgiven -- further, he should be consigned to the region of Hell where the temperature is at the highest level possible and the agony the most intense possible!

OK, be that as it may, what about God and being forgiven by Him? There is but one sin that the Bible reveals to be impossible for forgiveness -- it is described as the sin against the Holy Spirit of God which is unpardonable. But what is it? In context in which it is identified, there were those who said Jesus was casting out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of demons. So Jesus mentions this issue and while elaborating on the fact that if He is casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom has come unto them. A bit later Jesus says this: "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men." (Matthew 12:31).

It is the Holy Spirit Who convicts us of our sin, opens our eyes to see that Jesus Christ is the One Who took our sins upon Himself, paid the penalty of those sins by His sacrificial death on the cross, and through Him one can be totally forgiven of all sins upon the condition of repenting of those sins!

But to reject the promptings and conviction brought on by the Holy Spirit is to be guilty of rejecting the only possible way to be forgiven and entrance into God's Heaven when our earthly journey comes to its conclusion! The only other destination is a Hell which was originally designed for Satan and his angels.

Yes, Jerry Sandusky can experience forgiveness from a God Who loved us all so much that He gave His only begotten Son Who was sacrificed on a cross for the sins of the entire human race. But the condition for him is the same as for every sinner who desires to be forgiven of all transgressions -- remorse, regret, seeking forgiveness of those offended, and true repentance in seeking mercy from God. One MUST turn from all known sin and God will grant forgiveness with a miracle taking place -- that of the sinner being reconciled to and accepted by a holy God Who will not tolerate sin in any form!

Forgiveness is always a conditional experience -- if I want God to forgive me, then I must forgive others who have offended me. For those so very directly involved in the Sandusky tragedy, being willing to forgive him will perhaps be the most difficult action some have taken in their entire lives. And it may be that some will say they cannot and will not ever forgive him for such offenses as he allegedly was guilty of doing.

Two statements remind us of the critical nature of experiencing forgiveness:

1. When we pray the Lord's prayer, we come to that part of where we express the desire to be forgiven and we say, "Forgive us our trespasses..." Most agree that we are guilty of committing "trespasses." But then we go on and say, "...as we forgive those who trespass against us." Do you see an explicit condition here?

2. Jesus was extremely clear on this subject when He said, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14, 15).

The fall out in regard to the scandal involving Jerry Sandusky and other Penn State personalities will continue for some time. The trial will be extremely high profile with the mass media milking it for all it is worth. A big bunch of those in mass media work seem to take great delight in sensationalizing such happenings. This is a disaster of the first magnitude.

But the main issue the mass media will not at all discuss will be the issue of forgiveness. Forgiveness as it applies to Jerry Sandusky and all who have been impacted by his past behavior patterns.

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." --- Matthew 6:14, 15