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LORDSHIP

Monday, June 11th, 2001 convicted Oklahoma City Bomber, Timothy McVeigh was executed at a Federal Prison in Terre Haute, Indiana. McVeigh issued a final statement in which he identified himself with the words of 19th century British poet, William Henley. The closing words of Henley's poem, "Invictius" stand as a chilling epitaph to McVeigh's time on this planet.

"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul."

His words stand in contrast to the words of Israel's great king, David. David wrote in Psalm 25, "To thee O Lord, I lift up my soul….Make me know Your ways, O Lord. teach me Your paths, Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation. For you I wait all the day."

Every day we are given an important decision. Who will be the captain of our soul?

The gift of life and the ability to live each day should be treasured. One day each of us will face eternity and stand before our maker. Every person will answer the question, "Who is captain of your soul?" Will we cling to our right or surrender it, lifting our lives and soul to the God of heaven who made us, and longs to teach us and guide us in His perfect ways.

—http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010611/us/henley_bio_and_excerpt_2.html, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

The choice is yours today. Who is the captain of your soul?
 

LordSHIP

In preparation for Easter '05, Newsweek commissioned a poll that showed that 78% of Americans believe that Jesus rose from the dead and 81% say they are Christians.

—Newsweek, March 28, 2005, p. 43. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

They got it right with the first question, but wrong with the second one. When you ask someone if they believe if Jesus rose from the dead you've asked the single most important theological question you could ask. Kudos to Newsweek. But the answer to the second question is irrelevant. Identifying with a religion has no eternal consequences. The question they should have asked is "Have you confessed that Jesus is your Lord." Saying you are a Christian changes nothing. Submitting to the lordship of Jesus Christ changes everything.

Romans 10:9 NLT "For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

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LordSHIP

A recent article in Newsweek discusses the value of biblical archeology.

Of course, it discusses relics and the way the church has approached them as having supernatural powers, but it also showed how the discipline could shed light upon scriptural interpretation.

For instance, the article explains how a common street sign helps modern readers understand a key biblical phrase.

Upon seeing a signpost from Ancient Ephesus with the inscription "Caesar is the son of God," John Dominic Crossan, a professor emeritus of religious studies at De Paul University said, "When Paul applies that name to Jesus, it's not just a nice title. It's the title of Caesar.

That is known as high treason."

Paul knew that Caesar was not a god as the Romans believed, but that Jesus Christ was God. That's why he taught people to surrender to the lordship of Jesus Christ.

-Newsweek, August 30, 2004, p. 39. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

Romans 10:9 (KJV) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

In his book, What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures, Malcolm Gladwell writes, “The dogs that bite people are, in many cases, socially isolated because their owners are socially isolated, and they are vicious because they have owners who want a vicious dog. The junkyard German shepherd — which looks as if it would rip your throat out — and the German-shepherd guide dog are the same breed. But they are not the same dog, because they have owners with different intentions.”

- Kindle Loc. 5182-85. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson.

Jesus is our Master and we should reflect His character.

1 Corinthians 6:20 (NASB) “For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”