The Readers Digest ran an article in the May edition, “Are You Normal or Nuts.” This particular article looks at several examples of normal. Whoopi Goldberg once said that “‘Normal’ is nothing more than a cycle on a washing machine.” Webster’s Dictionary defines normal as: “Conforming, adhering to, or constituting a usual or typical pattern, level, or type.” Well, that sure sounds easy; we just act like everyone else. Now a “Nut”, the dictionary describes as, “any difficult person, endeavor, or problem”. Oh no! I could fit into either of those, I could be normal or nuts, I often fit them both. Seems like it would depend on who might be looking at us at any given time whether we were normal or nuts. Ok, now, which side of the fence can we have the most fun on?

            The dictionary says that conforming or going along with things would be considered normal. Romans 12:2 tell us not to be conformed to the ways of this world. We are to be transformed by a renewing of our mind so that we can prove that which is good, acceptable, and the perfect Will of God. This verse would lead me to believe that a child of God could easily fail to be considered normal by definition. Christians do many things in their walk with God that leaves them labeled a nut.

            Christians believe in a God that we can’t see or touch, yet we know He is real. Everything is furnished to us through the cross and is obtained through faith, not by works. God often tests our actions so that we see that we are meeting the specifications that transform us to a Christ like life.

            Our faith often leads us into situations where we get looked at like we are a nut. The more we test our faith, the more people give you that “are you for real look.” God answered a prayer this week by providing available financing for the purchase of the building where we are holding church. Here is where our faith gets tested: we had 7 days the raise $5600 for the down payment and closing cost in order to get this deal. Ok, call it an endeavor and I’ll be a nut, and yes I believe God will make it happen. Mark 11:24 says, “In prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours”. Go ahead call me a nut; I believe God will send the money. Kristen and I even went to the church, planted flowers, installed shelves for the food pantry, and made a list of what we needed to start repairing next week when we close on the building.

            Normal or Nuts; good question, for me I’ll just conform to His ways. He sent His Son to save us and He paid the price with His life; what’s $5600?

            The greatest battle that we will ever fight will be with our own selves. Alexander the Great conquered the world but had no self-control. This man who led his army to victory could not conquer himself. Only one leader possessed both leadership and true self-esteem, Jesus. I Peter 2:21-22 says, “For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow His steps: (22) Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.” We are called to act Christ like with no excuses for circumstances. The writer, Peter, tells us that Jesus has already suffered on our behalf and that we should reproduce Christ in our lives. Christ lived a sin free life, the only human to live without sin. Jesus also never spoke as a hypocrite or spoke falsely about anyone.

            There are a lot of us that forfeit our self-esteem and settle for less rather than to deal with people problems. Oh sure, there isn’t a one of us that at some time or another been hurt by what someone has said to or about us. We must always be careful what we say so that we do not speak falsely of someone and fall into the gossip trap. Here is a good example of how things are not always the way they look. A church deacon’s old pickup truck once broke down in front of a bar. The deacon being late for a meeting caught a ride with another fellow and left the truck until the next day. Well the local busybody saw that pickup truck in front of the bar and spread all over town how that deacon spent the night at the bar. Well a couple days later on his way home the deacon drove by that busybody’s house, parked, got out, and began to walk toward home. The busybody called out saying “you can’t leave the truck there, what will people think?” The deacon just smiled and kept on walking. Another example from the New Testament gives yet another example of things that could be seen not as they really should be seen. Paul advised Timothy to drink a little less water and a little more wine for his stomach’s sake. (I Timothy 5:23) The scripture doesn’t say, apparently Timothy had some sort of stomach problem. Gossip could easily turn this medicinal situation into a real mess.

            Matthew 5:11 tells us that you are blessed are you who are persecuted and falsely accused for Jesus sake. If you are standing up for Jesus, it doesn’t matter what others say about you. As we enter into the last day’s church era, there will be more gossip and false sayings. (II Timothy 3:3) Jesus never spoke as a hypocrite nor did he speak falsely of anyone, only followers of Satan would lower their self-esteem through gossip. In the book of I Peter, chapter 4, there is a description of a fiery trial, verse 14 says, “If you are reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are you; for the Spirit of Glory and of God rests upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.” The lost of this world reproaches God while His followers are glorified. Walk in the Glory of God and you have won the greatest battle.

            Sometimes it seems difficult to find something encouraging as we stumble through life. Negative appears to out run Positive or at best negative happenings get the most attention. Good grief, no wonder there are so many depressed people around us, they’re marred up most of the time celebrating negative. Here is a little story about a middle age women who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and given just three months to live. She called her pastor to her bed side in order to make her funeral arrangements; the favorite hymn and the way that she would like the funeral service conducted. She called to the pastor as he was about to leave; just one other thing she said: “I want a fork in my right hand in the casket.” The very puzzled pastor asked, why? The lady then told the pastor: “When I was a little girl my grandmother when clearing the table would remind me to keep my fork. I always knew that some good desert was coming. The fork in my hand will remind people when they see me in the casket; not to feel bad, but to know that the best is yet to come.”

            We get ourselves so entangled in the negative things that are happening around us that the future only looks bleak. The Israelites found themselves that way when they left Egypt. God took them out of a land of “not enough” with a promise of the best is yet to come. They were depending on Pharaoh for their needs and not relying on God. God is the source of all our needs. Remember Elijah, the fellow that was living by the brook, living of the meat the ravens brought. He forgot the source of his needs; God stopped the ravens and dried up the brook. God brings us from “not enough” to the desert of “just enough so we can begin to appreciate what we are struggling for. Quite often there is more complaining when we have just enough. The Bible says in Philippians 4:19 that God will supply all our needs. Like the Israelites, God will bring us from “not enough” to “just enough” to the Promised Land of “more than enough”. God’s goal is for us to have abundance while we are here on this earth.

            Not only does God look after our physical bodies, He has promised us eternal life with him. John 3:16 says: “For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Time is a gift, sometimes not enough, often just enough, and always with the promise of something better. Jesus didn’t come to this world to condemn it but to save it. (John 3:17) God owns the land on both sides, here on earth and in Heaven. Dwelling in negative only leaves you of this world.

             Yes the best is yet to come. Revelation 21:1-7 tells about the land of more than enough. It tells of a new heaven and a new earth, a Holy City, the New Jerusalem. God will dwell with men and men with Him. There will be no more pain and crying for the old things are passed away. Cherish the time you have and the memories. Believe in Jesus, as your Savior. The best is yet to come.

            There was a lot that changed from the Old Testament to the New Testament; Most notable the short life of Jesus and the introduction of the Holy Spirit. With the New Testament God is entering into a new covenant with the world; His son is sent to the earth to become Savior to a lost world. This promised king was born of a virgin, (Luke 1:26-35) and spent His entire life going about His Father’s business here on earth as a man. There isn’t a lot recorded about Jesus early life although the 180,000 words in the New Testament boil down to one thing: Jesus was there. Jesus was about thirty when His ministry really began. (Luke 3:23) The baptizing of Jesus by John the Baptist set His ministry in motion. Jesus took a group of twelve uneducated and seemingly inadequate men and started the greatest ministry ever.

            Jesus Christ is not just a name but a title: “Christ” indicating Him as the promised Messiah or king. Andrew, Peter’s brother was the first to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. (John 1:41) Jesus continued preaching and working miracles through out His ministry. The more Jesus preached the madder the Jewish religious leaders got, they did not see Him as the promised Messiah and saw Him as a trouble maker. Finally one high priest became so irritated with Jesus’ teaching that he asks, “Let this man die for the people.” (John 11:50) Jesus was arrested brought before the Roman authority, Pilate, and was sentenced to death by crucifixion. Jesus put up no fight as His kingdom was not of this world. (John 18:36) Jesus was stripped, whipped, nailed to a cross, and had a Roman spear thrust into His side. He hung on that cross wearing a crown of thorns and died for the sin of all mankind who would believe in Him. (Luke 27:24-50)

There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit.

Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak....

"I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright.

I stopped the lad and asked, "What do you have there, son?"

"Just some old birds," came the reply.

"What are you going to do with them?" I asked.

"Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered. "I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time.."

"But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do then?"

"Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy. "They like birds. I'll take 'em to them."

The pastor was silent for a moment. "How much do you want for those birds, son?"

"Huh?? !!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister. They're just plain old field

birds. They don't sing. They ain't even pretty!"

"How much?" the pastor asked again. The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, "$10?"

The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone. The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free. Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story:

One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. "Yes, sir, I just caught a world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!"

"What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked.

Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other.

I'm really gonna have fun!"

"And what will you do when you are done with them?" Jesus asked.

"Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly.

"How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked.

"Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don't want those people!!"

"How much? He asked again.

Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your blood, tears and your life."

Jesus said, "DONE!" Then He paid the price.

            Not one time did Jesus use supernatural powers to save himself from the suffering that he endured that day. Jesus hung on that cross with every one of our sins nailed with Him to that cross and died. He was sent by the Father as a man so that He could experience first hand what man would face.

            The Bible says in Matthew 28:1-10 that on the first day of the week that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and found it empty. Jesus had risen from the grave; He was alive just like He had said that He would be. He had paid the price and changed everything. Man would now have ever lasting life and the cost is already marked “Paid in Full”. Have you given yourself to the One who has set you free or are you still in the devils trap as play toy for Satan? Make this the day that changed everything and give your life to Jesus. Ask, He will set you free.