Foundations, Builders & Storms

In the book of Matthew Jesus tells us about, among other things, two buildings. One is built upon the sand and the other upon the rock. But have you ever noticed that the focus of Jesus’ illustration is not only on the foundation? For that matter, neither is it only focused upon the storms. The focus is also upon the builders.

One builder is wise and the other foolish. The wise builder is the one who hears and does. The foolish builder is the one who hears and does not.

Biblical scholar, William Barclay, makes a good point concerning the difference between doing and not doing.

"knowledge only becomes relevant when it is translated into action. Knowledge must become action; theory must become practice; theology must become life. There are thousands of people who listen to the teachings of Jesus Christ every Sunday, and who have a very good knowledge of what Jesus taught, and who yet make little or no deliberate attempt to put it into practice. If we are to be in any sense followers of Jesus we must hear and do.”

"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. But 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:" (Matthew 7:24-26)

There are at least two ways to interpret the storms. The storm can be symbolic of the “Storms of Life” (i.e. difficulties, challenges, conflicts, tragedies, and spiritual warfare). On the other hand, as in the OT (and also in Jewish writings), the storm can represent “The Judgment of God.” Such is the case in Ezekiel.

“… because these evil prophets deceive my people…It’s as if the people have built a flimsy wall, and these prophets are trying to reinforce it by covering it with whitewash! Tell these white-washers that their wall will soon fall down. A heavy rainstorm will undermine it; great hailstones and mighty winds will knock it down. …I will sweep away your whitewashed wall with a storm…" (Ezekiel 13:10-13)

You might take issue with the idea of a storm representing the judgment of God. You may say that this amounts to no more than attempting to scare people into the kingdom of God. I’m not so sure that fear is such a bad thing.

Let’s imagine you are asleep in your house and your neighbor is aware that a devastating storm is upon you. And that neighbor comes a-pounding upon your door and frightens you. You awake with a start. You’re angry to be awakened from your peaceful slumber. You decide to go to the door and give that neighbor a piece of your mind. When you open the door he insists, with some sense of urgency, that you leave, right away. You say that you’re not going anywhere because you do not believe. But as the neighbor tells you the extent of the destruction that is coming your way, fear sets in. You are convinced. You rush out to safety, just before both you and your house are swept away. You might agree that your neighbor motivated you by fear but you just might also thank that neighbor, profusely, for scaring you to safety and saving your life

Foundations, Builders and Storms. The bottom line is, if the house is not built upon the proper foundation, when the storm comes, it will fall. So it is with a life that has been built upon a poor foundation. It will fail. The necessary tool by which this house must be built is faith. The foundation upon which it must be laid is the rock. And the end result of building by faith upon the rock is salvation. There is only one salvation and it is only secure when it is founded upon the rock. It is a scary thing to be told that there is a devastating storm a-comin'. God promises that the life founded upon the rock, no matter what storms may come, it will stand. If you are a wise builder, you will build your house upon the solid foundation.

Additionally, it is very encouraging to realize that this foundation is so solid that it can be referred to by no name, other than Rock. Perhaps Jesus' illustration in Matthew is what Edward Mote had in mind in 1834 when he penned the words, "On Christ the Solid Rock, I stand. All other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand."

One final thing. Frankly, when we consider the times in which we live (i.e. disastrous oil spill; disastrous economy, disastrous unemployment; disastrous spiritual condition of the country), it is all the more urgent that men, women and children build, by faith, upon The Rock.

I am reminded of the timeless words to the song written by Ruth Caye Jones. "In times like these, you need a Savior. In times like these, you need an anchor. Be very sure. Be very sure. Your anchor holds, and grips the solid rock. This Rock is Jesus."

May you be encouraged throughout the month of July by this rock solid reminder from the heart and mind of Victor.

Say It Again

Concerning the Internet: It has opened up a world of opportunity for every single person who feels they have something to say. There are blogs and sites for every imaginable subject under the sun. And, in the case of science and religion, everything in the universe. Now, everyone wants to be a philosopher offering their commentary and opinion on everything in the cosmos. I suppose in saying this, I am pointing a boney little finger right back at myself, as well. Oh well. Confession is good for the soul.

Here is what I am leading up to. Sometimes, we don’t need to say anything, other than what has already been said. In my studies, I often run across some very good quotes. I frequently discover that a thing cannot be stated any better than it has already been stated. This is probably why there have been so many books published containing significant quotes by famous people (e.g. Quotable Quotations by Lloyd Cory; “Tale of the Tardy Oxcart” by Chuck Swindoll; “Who Said That” by George Sweeting). So, with this in mind, here are a few quotes that have resonated with me over the years.

“Christianity demands a level of caring that transcends human inclinations.” Erwin W. Lutzer

“Being part of an agenda beyond ourselves liberates us to complement each other rather than compete with each other” Joseph Stowell

“You have not been saved to sit back and wait, you’ve been saved to serve in faith.” V. L. Stanley

“You cannot step twice into the same river, for other waters are continually flowing on.” Heraclitus

“The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent vice of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.” Winston Churchill

“Capital as such is not evil; it is its wrong use that is evil.” Mohandas Gandhi

“They that know God will be humble, and they that know themselves, cannot be proud.” John Favel

“We have grasped the mystery of the atom and rejected the Sermon on the Mount…Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.” Omar Bradley

“A smile is the universal welcome.” Max Eastman

“Love and a cough cannot be hid.” George Herbert

“In the beginning God made a man and a woman and set them on earth. Then the man and woman looked at each other and burst out laughing.” African Myth

“We are not saved by continuing in the faith, but rather we continue in the faith because we are saved.” V.L. Stanley

“Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children. Now I have six children—and no theories.” Lord Rochester

“Little pots soon boil over.” Anonymous

“Always take hold of things by the smooth handle.” Thomas Jefferson

“Life is an onion and one cries while peeling it.” French Proverb

“It is not how many years we live, but rather what we do with them.” Evangeline Cory Booth

“To teach is to learn twice.” Joseph Joubert

“Words are loaded pistols.” Jean-Paul Sartre

“We have a head on us for the same reason a pin has: to keep us from going too far.” George Sweeting

“If you would master temptation, you must first let Christ master you.” Anonymous

“By perseverance the snail reached the ark.” Charles Hadon Spurgeon

“To catch even a glimpse of understanding concerning God’s love serves to cast out fear, so that our serving is done out of genuine thanksgiving and humble adoration, rather than personal guilt and morbid fear.” V.L. Stanley

Perhaps you noticed that, interspersed among these quotes, were a few that have been credited to “Yours Truly.” What can I say? Like I said, everyone wants to be a philosopher.

Philosophically and spiritually yours, From the Heart and Mind of Victor.

Discouragment

It’s funny how your day can be going along just swimmingly and, then…it happens. Someone or something happens that causes you to feel discouraged. Though they may never admit it, even the most positive personalities, eventually, meet up with discouragement.

Frankly, discouragement is a real Joy-Killer. He can ruin the rest of you day; your week; your month. And, if he is not overcome, he will link up with his bosom buddy, depression. Once discouragement and depression link up, watch out! They will take you on a trip. The terrible thing is this trip leads to a destination called despair.

Now, you’re in trouble! You’ve got discouragement, walking hand in hand with depression, both leading you to despair. Sounds pretty bleak, huh? Unfortunately, that’s not the end of it. Once you reach despair you are quickly introduced to “the twins,” Helplessness and Hopelessness. I assure you, they are bad company, indeed. If things did not look bleak before, now, they appear devastating.

My dear friend, you cannot remain here, in this place, in the company of these seedy characters. They mean to destroy you. They desire to control your life. They will cause you to give up. And, in the worst case scenario, they will cause you to think that your life is not worth living.

In the Old Testament “Yā’ash” is a verb found six times meaning "despair," in the sense of "be deprived of hope." In the New Testament “exaporeō” is a rare verb found only in 2 Cor. 1:8; 4:8 with the meaning "despair" in the sense of "give up hope for living." The archbishop of Calcutta tells us that there were times when even Mother Teresa felt abandoned by God. It's a rare person who doesn't get discouraged. It can happen to the best of us.

Therefore, allow me to lead you to encouragement. Someone has said, “Anyone can overcome depression. The first step is to simply realize that there is hope.” Another anonymous source once said, “Hope is the feeling that you will succeed tomorrow in what you failed at today.”

Here are a couple of suggestions for overcoming discouragement. Saturate your mind and emotions with God’s truth about how He really sees you and who you really are in Christ. Replace your negative self-image with a positive self-image. Do this by understanding how God views you, loves you and transforms you, in Christ.

~How God views you: You are the apple of your Father’s eye (Ps. 17:8)

~How God Loves you: You are not able to be separated from God’s love (Rom. 8:38-39)

~How God forgave you: You are free of shame and condemnation; without blame before God (Rom 8:1; Eph. 1:4)

~How God Transforms you: You are being changed and conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:28-29)

The best place I know for the believer to go for encouragement is the Word of God. So, stay in the Word and be encouraged in the Lord.

“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God” (Psalms 42:5-6)

“Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” (Psalms 55:22)

Just a few words of encouragement from the heart and mind of Victor.

Resurrection Day

A friend sent me a little story that kind of touched me. I don’t know whether it touched me because it reminded me of the recent home-going of my earthly father or because it reminded me of the imminent return of my Heavenly Father.

This “Pine Tree Crosses For Easter” story was written by some unknown author. If you’ve never read it before, I hope that you are blessed by it. If you have read it before, read it again. Either way, I hope that you are blessed by it.

Last Spring on a Sunday afternoon we took one of our "nowhere" drives thru the country. My husband was quietly driving along some back roads. I was occupied in the front passenger seat watching out the window as the scenery went by.
I noticed out of the corner of my eye that my husband was straining to look out my window. This startled me, since his eyes should be on the road in front of him. I asked him what he was looking at out the windows, and he quietly replied, "Nothing. " He could have said he was looking for pine tree crosses for Easter. His eyes went back to the road in front of him.
After a few minutes, I looked over at my husband and noticed a tear running down his cheek. I asked him what was wrong. This time he told me, "I was just thinking about Pop and a story he had once told me." Of course, because it had to do with his Pop I wanted to know the story, so I asked him to share Pop's story with me.

He said, "When I was about 8 years old, Pop and I were out fishing and that's when he told me that the pine trees know when it is Easter."
I had no idea what he meant by that, so I pressed him for more information.
He continued on... "The Pine trees start their new growth in the weeks before Easter -- if you look at the tops of the Pine trees two weeks before Easter, you will see the yellow shoots. As the days get closer to Easter Sunday, the tallest shoot will branch off and form pine tree crosses for Easter. By the time Easter Sunday comes around, you will see that most of the Pine trees will have small yellow crosses on all of the tallest pine shoots."

I turned to look out the window and I couldn't believe my eyes. It was a week before Easter, and you could see all of the pine trees with the tall yellow shoots stretching to Heaven.

The tallest ones shone in the sunlight like rows of tiny golden crosses.

Just a remeinder that nothing could keep Christ from going to the cross to die for our sins. Just a reminder of the celebration of Resurrection Sunday. Just a reminder that he went away to prepare a place for us. Just a reminder that nothing will stop him from coming back again. Just a reminder that He loves us so much...

Just a reminder that these thoughts are from the heart and mind of Victor.

Real Faith

Faith is essential to the Christian life. And since you might be snowed in or simply enjoying a leisurely moment, I decided to drop you some words and thoughts on the subject. This is actually an installment of our current sermon series entitled, “Real Faith.”

Hebrews 11:1-3 (NKJV) 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

From the first speck of light that penetrated the darkness and divided the sky, to the creation of birds of the air, animals of the land and fish of the sea. From the creation of man and woman to walk in a garden paradise and praise their creator, to the consequences of giving-in to temptation and yielding to sin. From the blood of the innocent crying out for righteous justice, to the blood of Jesus calling out to the souls of sinners. And from the advance of the church against the very gates of hell to the glory that we shall know when we see him face to face. All of these things, past, present, and future are understood by faith. Not just any faith but real Christian faith in the God of Christianity.

The Christian faith is assuring, insuring, and enduring. So assuring that the blind hymnist, Fanny Crosby, (in 1873), was able to pen the words, “Blessed assurance, Jesus in mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine.” So Insuring that William Williams (in 1774) was able to compose the words, “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak but thou are mighty, Hold me with Thy powerful hand. Bread of heaven…feed me till I want no more. So Enduring that Charles Wesley (in 1740) was able to write, “Jesus, Lover of My Soul, let me to thy bosom fly. Hide me O my Savior hide, Till the storm of life is past. While the nearer waters roll, whole the tempest still is high! Safe into the haven guide. Oh receive my soul at last! Faith is spiritual life in action. And one thing is for certain, it takes faith to successfully navigate the rigors of life. Faith in chance or fate is risky business. But faith that is assuring, insuring and enduring is founded upon the Savior.

Frankly, the Definition of Faith is not easily derived. We have often taken Hebrews 11:1 to be a formal definition of faith. Writes Leon Morris: “More likely, this is an observation concerning the nature of faith. The writer is bringing our attention to significant features of faith.” One observation is that the “is” in the phrase, “Now faith is…” indicates to us that Faith is a present and continuing reality. It tells us there are realities for which we have no physical evidence. Nevertheless, by faith, we know they exist. It tells us that Faith is a living thing. It tells us that Faith is a way of life. It tells us that Faith extends beyond what we learn from our senses, which is a good thing because our senses can yield uncertainty. They can fool us because they operate by feeling and, thus, are not fully reliable.

Another observation is that “Faith is the substance…” Substance is also translated surety, confidence, and assurance. The word in the Greek is Hypostasis. The literal translation is: “that which stands under.” It is the substructure; it is the foundation underneath the structure.

On Michigan Ave in Chicago stands the 24th-tallest building in the world. The John Hancock building. Built in the 1960s it contains some of the highest residential units in the world. It is characterized by the distinctive X-shaped external bracing. It was an architectural icon of its day. The Building design eliminated the need for inner support beams. The design allows 5 to 8 inches of sway in 60mph wind. It can withstand 132mph winds. There is enough steel in the frame to make 33,000 cars. The frame, alone, weighs 46,000 tons. Its four corner columns weigh up to 100 tons each. It contains over 1,250 miles of wiring and enough aluminum to cover 12 football fields. It contains enough glass to produce a single 5ft foot thick sheet of glass 13 miles long. The building itself weights 384 million pounds. But the only reason it can stand is because of its’ foundation. Its’ lakeside location required caissons (water tight structures) to be sunk 190ft into the ground in order to reach a foundation of bedrock.

Faith is the hypostasis, it is the bedrock, of all that the Christian believes and hopes for. The foundation of our faith is the Word of God. Our faith has to grow to a state where it simply takes God at His word. The goal is for our faith to develop to the point that we wholeheartedly trust and obey. Forthrightly, obedience to God’s word is, in and of itself, an act of faith. Remember, Faith never grows in a disobedient heart. “True Bible faith is confident obedience to God's Word, in spite of circumstances and consequences.”—Warren Weirsbe

A third observation is the phrase “word of God.” It’s usage in Hebrews 11 is not the same usage of “word” as in the gospel of John 1:1-3. John reveals to us that the Word of God is Jesus the Christ. The Greek word used is Logos. He further reveals that, everything that was made, was made through him and, apart from him, nothing could have been made. But in Hebrews the Greek word is rhema. Rhema refers to the utterance by which God summoned into existence all things that previously had no existence. Again quoting Leon Morris:

“Belief in the existence of the world is not faith, nor is it faith when men hold that the world was made out of some preexisting ‘stuff.’ But when we understand that it was the Word of God that produced all things, that is faith.”

Observe that the writer of Hebrews states that faith is the evidence of things not seen. It reminds us that, just as the eye is the organ that enables physical sight, which enables us to see the visible, faith is the organ that enables spiritual sight enabling God’s people to see the invisible. The point is, in creation, the visible things did not originate from visible things. The visible things originated from the invisible words of the invisible God. “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalms 33:6; 9). The bottom line is the writer wants his readers to know that this world, this solar system, this universe is God’s doing. We did not see it come into existence but by faith we believe it.

A major and significant example of faith is the testimonies of the elders of old. The author of Hebrews uses for his next object lesson the example of the “elders.” This is a reference to the heroes of the Old Testament. Though they did not physically see the object of their hope they, nevertheless, saw it very clearly through the eyes of faith. The writer does not compile his list of heroes in order to stress a theme of biblical heroes. To the contrary, the writer places his emphasis on faith and the biblical heroes are the examples of it. Their testimony is offered as proof that things that are outwardly unseen are visible through the eyes of faith.

“…There were many men who had nothing but the promises of God to rest upon, without any visible evidence that these promises would ever be fulfilled; yet so much did these promises mean to them that they regulated the whole course of their lives...”—F. F. Bruce

These heroes in Hebrews 11 were true living examples of faith. Yet, I can’t help but to think that, if you and I had made up the list, most likely, none of these names would have made the list, nor would yours or mine. This is because the list is made up of Lovers and Liars; Destroyers and Deceivers; the Affluent and Adulterer; the Helpless and the Homeless and the Prideful and the Prostitute. It is hard for us to accept that God would use sinners such as us. What the names on the list have in common is not their failure but their faith. Not faith in themselves; not faith in another person; not faith in just any god but faith in the living God, Creator of the universe, captain of souls. What a reassuring thought, that the creator of the universe cares about the souls of men and uses sinners such as I.

So, remember, faith is spiritual life in action. Therefore, my encouragement to you is, as your soul navigates the rigors of life, may it be by a faith that is learning to trust and obey. May it be by a faith that seeks to please Him. May it be by a faith that is evidenced both by creation and the testimonies of men and women of faith from times past. More importantly, may it be by a faith that has come to know that reward in the future is secured by the invisible God, creator of the universe and captain of souls.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6).

One final thing you should know. As imperfect as you are, by faith, your name has already been added to the list of heroes. Not in the book of Hebrews, but in the heart and mind of Jesus.

Just a few faithful words, from the faithful heart and mind of Victor

Baptism 101 Abbreviated

Have you ever been baptized?

Perhaps you’ve never given it much thought. I must tell you that one of my greatest joys as a pastor is to baptize believers. Not only do I find it thrilling but I also consider it an honor and a privilege.

Recently I made a decision to move the baptisms at our church to Sunday mornings. Now, they are part of our morning worship services. The response to this has been very positive. But you may be wondering why I feel so passionate about baptism. For that matter, if you haven’t been baptized, you may be wondering what the big deal is surrounding it. Well, I’ve decided to take the liberty to give you a crash course on baptism. Call it baptism 101, abbreviated.

The first most important lesson is baptism does not save. Baptism doesn’t make you a believer — it is a testimony to the fact that you are already a believer. Again, baptism does not “save” you, only your faith in Christ does that. Baptism is like a wedding ring —it’s the outward symbol of the commitment you’ve already made in your heart.

So, what’s the significance of baptism? The scriptures tell us that…

…It Illustrates Christ’s Burial and Resurrection in the life of a committed Christian.
Colossians 2:12 (NLT) 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

…It Illustrates Your New Life As A Christian.
Romans 6:4 (NLT) 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Let me sum it up this way. Baptism is an expression. It is a celebration of your new life in Christ. It is also a chance for your brothers and sisters in Christ to celebrate with you, as you honor your commitment to a new life in Christ. Baptism is not the act of salvation, but it is an expression of your faith. It is an opportunity for you to express publicly what you have already confessed privately.

Therefore, believers ought to get baptized…

…In Order To Follow the Example Set by Christ.
Mark 1:9 (NLT) 9 One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River.

…In Order To Follow the Commandment of Christ.
Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT) 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

…In Order To Follow the Example of Obedience to Christ, as Practiced by 1st Century Christians.
Acts 18:8 (NLT) 8 ...Many others in Corinth also heard Paul, became believers, and were baptized.

The Bible teaches us that Christ is the way, the truth and the life; and walking with God means living out that truth in your personal life, daily. Your baptism is simply an acknowledgement that the desire of your heart is to walk with God faithfully and live for Him passionately. Placing your faith in Christ is the launching point for your spiritual journey. Baptism is a public acknowledgement that your journey is already under way.

You may also find it interesting to know that Jesus isn’t simply interested in guaranteeing you a spot in heaven. He wants you to fulfill the purpose for which you were created. You were created in his image in order to give him the highest praise. Even more, He is interested in a personal relationship with you. In fact, He wants to be your friend.

“For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” Romans 5:10-11 (NLT)

So, if you are already on that spiritual journey and, in light of what you’ve read, if you want to be baptized, I’d be thrilled to do the honors.

Baptism 101,...abbreviated. From the heart and mind of Victor

A Letter From God

Ever wonder what God would say if he wrote a personal letter to you?

Years ago, Dr. Larry D. Stephens made an attempt to respond to this question in a book entitled “Please Let Me Know You, God.” His letter is God’s response to a believer who has suffered some pain, hurt, injustice, or has experienced tragedy in their life (this would include most of us). As a result, many believers have a tendency to question God and ask “why,” only to be met by seeming silence. Others have allowed this to cause them to pull away from their relationship with God or allow it to cause their faith to waver. The fact is, God is not deaf, nor is he blind, and he cares deeply for his children.

With this in mind, perhaps this letter from God will resonate with many of you:
My dear child, it has been a long time since I’ve heard from you. You haven’t’ let me hold you in my arms lately.
You may not understand this, but I really do get lonely when you are away from Me. I miss you very much. I miss being able to encourage you and help you with your problems. I miss sharing your joys and your sorrows. I miss the talks we used to have. It seems you come around only when you celebrate holidays or when you really get into a bind. Or when you get angry with Me or think I’m been unfair.
I understand how you feel. I know it’s difficult for you to trust Me, given all the things people say about Me these days. I also realize how hard it is for you to understand all the pain and suffering you’ve had to endure in your life. And there’s so much injustice in the world.
Believe Me, I understand.
And I want you to know how much I love you.
Every since you were born, I have loved you. You never saw Me, yet I taught you to walk. I provided your first nourishment. I was so proud of you when you took your first steps, when you spoke your first words.
My plan was for you to receive my love through your parents when you were little. Maybe your parents didn’t follow My wishes. Perhaps you didn’t receive the love I intended you to have. Perhaps the pain you’ve suffered in the past few years has caused you to lose sight of Me.
Even so, I have continued to love you. Year by year, I have drawn you to Me with gentle cords of love. I gave up My son for you so that we could be together, now and forever.
I will never cease to love you. I will never let go of you. I will never leave you or forsake you.
You may find this hard to believe, after all you have been through, but it is true.
You can learn to trust Me.
You can experience my love.
You can experience my presence with you in a real and intimate way.
My dear child, come a little closer. Let me show you the tenderness of this Father’s heart. Please let me love you.

Of course, this is not really a letter from God. This is Dr. Stephen’s creative attempt to articulate God’s sentiments. But do not be disheartened because God has, indeed, written a personal letter to you. In fact, he has written you so many letters that they form a book.

During this year of 2010, why don’t you make it a point to read it on a regular basis. Because time and time again and page after page you will find just how much he really loves you.

"The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)

Just a thought From the Heart and Mind of Victor.