Steak Knife Salvation

In a city synonymous with great steaks, one man is grateful for the steak knife that helped spare his life. Steve Wilder, of Omaha, Nebraska, used a steak knife to perform an at-home tracheotomy. He took this drastic measure because he thought he was going to die one night last week after awakening and being unable to breathe.

Wilder said he didn't call 911 because he didn't think help would arrive in time. So, the 55-year-old says, he got a steak knife from the kitchen and made a small hole in his throat, allowing air to gush in.

As someone who is about as squeamish as any human being can be, this story churns my stomach. I cannot imagine performing my own tracheotomy! However, in addition to being completely "grossed out," it also helps me to reflect on the value of life.

What some people have done in an effort to spare their own lives is astounding. The stories you have, no doubt, heard of men amputating trapped limbs with small, dull utility knives should further serve to illustrate just how far human beings will go to preserve life.

Mr. Wilder was saved from death by his own courage and determination to live. How far will you go to be saved from "the second death" (Revelation 2:11), that is, eternal condemnation and separation from God? The wonderful news is that God's grace has provided the sacrifice we needed, but could not ourselves supply (Titus 2:11) in Christ. God requires only our faith (Hebrews 11:6), loving obedience (John 14:15; Hebrews 5:9), and a humble attitude of self-sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2).

How important is your own life? God has instilled within man an innate desire to live -- both physically and spiritually. When a man loses his desire to live (physically), this indicates a problem...perhaps mental illness. And when a man does not possess a desire to save his own soul, this too indicates a problem...a spirit that needs to be awakened and revived!

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2, ESV

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Mark 16:16, ESV

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In The Shadow Of Lenin

Vladimir Lenin may be the most prominent individual in the rich history of Russia. Born in April of 1870, Lenin became a supreme leader of the Communist Revolution. He would go on to become the first head of the Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, and from 1922 the first de facto leader of the Soviet Union. He was the creator of Leninism, an extension of Marxist theory.

Is it apparent in Lenin's writing that he was not wholly set against religion. He certainly looked upon religion as a "crutch" for the feeble-minded. Consider a few of these statements from the pages of Lenin's own writings:

"Impotence of the exploited classes in their struggle against the exploiters ...
inevitably gives rise to the belief in a better life after death."

"Religion is opium for the people. Religion is a sort of spiritual booze, in which the slaves of capital drown their human image, their demand for a life more or less worthy of man."

Lenin agrees with Marx to the extent that due to the fact that religion has deep roots in capitalist oppression, it will not disappear until the people completely overcome their oppression. Lenin writes in The Attitude Of The Workers' Party To Religion:

"No educational book can eradicate religion from the minds of masses who are crushed by capitalist hard labour, and who are at the mercy or the blind destructive forces of capitalism, until those masses themselves learn to fight this root of religion, fight the rule of capital in all its forms, in a united, organised, planned and conscious way."

Lenin was convinced that religion would be obsolete just as soon as the capitalist system could be eradicated.

Looking back through history, we can see the results of such a way of thinking. Under Communist rule, the Soviet Union became one of the most Godless and immoral nations in the history of the world -- a struggle that affects modern-day Russia and most of the Baltic states to this day.

In the Summer of 2006, I had the privilege of traveling to Ukraine to participate in a mission campaign. Some of the images I captured on my digital camera are priceless to me. One such image is the photo you see at above, depicting two Ukrainian gospel preachers handing out literature to the townspeople in Svitlovodsk, Ukraine.

As we were handing out these tracts and invitations to a gospel meeting, I witnessed this scene and noted the significance: Here are two young men who grew up under Communist rule doing God's work in the shadow of the likeness of Vladimir Lenin! The poetic beauty of this scene was not lost on me, I can tell you that!

So while Lenin has long since passed over into eternity (1924), and while his fleshly tabernacle remains preserved and on display in Moscow, his soul and his ideology have gone the way of the world. Each of us -- from the most humble servant to the head of state -- will stand before God to give an account on that great day.

So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
2 Corinthians 5:9-10, ESV

Throughout the former Soviet empire, imposing bronze statues pay tribute to a man many former Soviets still love and admire. However, even the great Vladimir Lenin is not exempt from the great gathering of "all" spoken of in the Scripture above.

And since you and I will be there in the gathering of "all," should we not also "make it our aim to please him" (v. 9)?

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Better Buckle Up!!

A seat belt saved a driver, but not in the usual way. Steven Earp, a 48-year-old Eugene, Oregon man, was eating a fast-food sandwich Wednesday morning. Earp choked and blacked out. His 1997 Honda sedan hit a parked car.

After the wreck, Earp came to. Earp's revival was attributed to a "seat-belt-induced Heimlich maneuver." Witnesses told police Earp got out of his car, and they asked if he was okay.

"No, I'm not," he said, and collapsed again.

Paramedics revived him and took him to the hospital, where doctors determined he hadn't been injured.

Mr. Earp's life was spared because he was obeying the law. Now, a breakfast sandwich normally has nothing to do with a seat belt; but in this case, Earp and his loved ones must surely be glad it did.

Granted, there is not much of a connection here, but this story made me think of these words...

And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.
1 Kings 3:14, ESV

These words from the book of First Kings were the Lord's counsel to Solomon as he was in the early days of his kingship in Israel. Solomon himself echoed these words many times over in the book of Proverbs. One example of such is...

The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.
Proverbs 10:27, ESV

Like most proverbs, this conveys a statement that is generally true. Certainly, there are exceptions, but more often than not, "hard living" shows.

So, take a lesson from Steven Earp of Eugene, Oregon. It pays to do right!

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What Breaks When Brakes Break?

A motorist in Longview, Washington whose brakes were "acting strange" and wanted them checked drove through the front window of a tire store when the brakes failed as he was pulling into a parking spot. Thankfully, no one was injured, but the cost of repairs to the store will be in the neighborhood of $4,000 to $5,000.

The driver of the Cadillac DeVille was finally able to stop by throwing the transmission into park once the vehicle was inside the store. The car was towed to another shop for repair. The manager of the tire store recalled at least two other times this same incident had occurred -- both of which happened in the very same spot!

After reading this story, I was not able to determine how long this driver had been experiencing brake problems. If the brakes had begun to "act strange" in previous days, this is a case of procrastination. If the driver is like many drivers (including myself), sometimes it seems wise to drive around for a while to see if the problem will desist on its own. Let this be a reminder not to take any chances! This motorist was just a wee bit late, but look at the result.

What happens when we put off our obedience to the Lord -- either as one who has never been immersed into Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), or as an unfaithful child of God who has fallen back into sin? Every moment that passes is dangerous by reason of being in a lost condition. Every day we choose to delay our obedience brings us that much closer to the end of life, which would bring us to the end of all hope.

If you find yourself without Christ as your advocate before the judgment seat of the Almighty, what will you say? Will you say you were just about to get around to obeying the Lord, but time ran out? Do you think this plea will stand?

Perhaps we need to take another look at Jesus' parable about the wise and foolish virgins. There will be many on that day begging and desperately pleading for entry into the eternal kingdom who will hear the Lord say, "I do not know you." Will you?

Think about it!

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A Thousand "Thrones" Fit For A Thousand Kings

The Chinese are serious about their bathrooms. The city of Beijing recently opened a public restroom featuring 1,000 stalls spread out over 32,290 square feet and four floors.

"We are spreading toilet culture," said Lu Xiaoqing. "After they use the bathroom, they will be very, very happy."

Some of the urinals are uniquely shaped -- such as several crocodile heads, and several units that features a bust of the likeness of the virgin Mary. I'm not sure how or anyone else has any idea what Mary looked like, but I think it's safe to say that she never would have envisioned the day her supposed likeness was mounted on top of a toilet.

Officials have submitted paperwork to The Guinness Book Of World Records in an effort to be recognized as the largest public restroom in the world.

The first passage of Scripture to "pop" into my head as I read all about this "porcelain palace" was the first chapter of Ecclesiastes. In a book devoted almost entirely to declaring the vanity of "life under the sun," verses two through eleven (read them here) are especially applicable when we see useless, yet remarkably funny stories such as this.

All the work that went into constructing this facility and all the fanfare it receives will fade soon. As always, something bigger, better, more fancy, and more remarkable will come along soon enough.

The message is simple: In all our hustle and bustle and seemingly worthwhile pursuits in this life, remember what/Who is most important -- living for Christ and preparing oneself for judgment.

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