The clerk at a German gas station recently helped police arrested the man who stole his identity and used his credit card. The thief attempted to buy $90 worth of items at the gas station. When he handed the clerk a credit card, the clerk saw that the name on the card was his own. He locked the identity thief in the store and called police.

The clerk later said, "When I looked at the credit card, I saw it was my name." He said he had recently ordered the credit card, but it had never arrived. A police spokeswoman confirmed the arrest saying, "It was not a common name, so there was no chance of coincidence."

—Reuters, March 29, 2004, German Clerk Catches Thief with Own Stolen Card. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Rev. 2:17 NIV “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.”

A North American tire maker is taking corporate branding to a new level. The Dunlop Tire company has mailed 1,000 information packages to families named Dunlop across Canada.

The company is offering $16,000 to anyone willing to alter their family name and embrace the company's label. To win a portion of the money, a Dunlop must legally change their family name to "Dunlop-Tire." The Tire maker promises to reimburse the required legal fees of $125. If 50 people decided to accept the offer, each would receive $315. If only one person chooses to change their name, they would receive the entire $16,000.

A statement from the company said a poll of 2,000 Canadians found 37% of respondents would be willing to trade their family name for a corporate brand name, if the price was right. Lisa Dunlop from Toronto thought the idea was ridiculous. She said, "I guess anybody would do anything for a dollar, but I'm not one of them."

The Dunlop company admits the marketing plan is meant in fun, and conceded there is nothing to keep the winners from changing their name back after receiving the cash. In the business world, name recognition is everything. Companies will go to great lengths to publicize their identities. They want people to ask for their product by name.

In matters of the Spirit, there is only one name we need to know. During the first century, Peter and John were arrested and brought before the ruling council in Jerusalem. Given the opportunity to speak in their defense, Peter said there is only one name to know. "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12. The name they were talking about? Jesus.

—Reuters News Service, December 13, 2001. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

In his book, Preaching for Special Services, Scott Gibson, shows a unique way to discover eternal truth in our own names.

In preparing a sermon for the wedding of Marcy and Patrick, Scott chose thoughts about love from Romans 12:9-13. The verses describe a real love motivated by the Lord, who helps us to do good every day.

After choosing his verses, Scott looked up the names of the couple in a baby book. He found that Marcy meant from Mars and Patrick meant, "noble, gentle." The point Scott made at the wedding was that the love the Apostle Paul spoke of could not be expressed on our own. Instead, God's love is out of this world and is gentle in everyday relationships.

The Lord loves each of us, and uses many ways to communicate His truth to us. In Romans 1:20, Paul wrote, "From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They clearly see his invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing him." God loves you, and the evidence might be a close as your own name.

—Preaching For Special Services, pg. 37. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

For more information on Preaching for Special Services, go to http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/080109111X/fm082-20

David B. Smith Jr., owner of the Highland Lodge in Greensboro, Vermont has met a lot of people who share his name during his 63 years. Sometimes David gets mail directed to another David Smith, and other times he has sees his namesakes face to face. Smith says, “You’d expect someone who has your name to have something in common with you. So the question is, what? Where have you been? What have they been doing?”

The David Smiths who live in Vermont will soon have an opportunity to meet others who share their name. A local school recently got a new VISTA volunteer named David Smith. To welcome their new addition, the school decided to host a “David Smith Night.” They have invited all 57 David Smiths in the Vermont phone book to a corn roast and community potluck dinner. School Principal Owen Bradley says, “It may be a common name, but we want to show people how unique each one is.”

David C. Smith, a 42-year-old tree nursery worker from Johnson, Vermont says he plans to attend. Artist and carpenter David L. Smith from Marshfield will also attend the special evening.

Each of the David Smiths has an interesting story about having the common name. David E. Smith from Putney is a computer network manager. He often gets calls meant for a local contractor, asking about construction projects. Smith says, “I generally tell them no, but if you need a computer fixed, I’m your guy.” Another David C Smith from Norwich says he had never met another David Smith until he moved to Vermont 20 years ago. He met three other David Smith’s immediately after relocating.

David B. Smith is very excited about the upcoming meeting. He says, “I’m so excited. Although we share some things in common, we also look at life differently, and that’s going to be very interesting.” Smith adds, “I’m going to eat a lot of corn and listen to what other David Smiths have to say.”

—Associated Press, September 9, 2003, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Jesus Christ has an uncommon name—a name that is above every other name. The obedience and sacrifice of Jesus set Him apart for all time.

Philippians 2:6-11 NIV “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant. Being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”

Hormel Foods, which manufactures “Spam,” the canned-meat, filed two legal challenges to stop a computer software company from using the name “Spam” in their company name. The new company, SpamArrest specializes in blocking junk e-mail, also called “spam.”

SpamArrest filed papers to trademark the company name earlier this year. At that time, Hormel sent the company a warning to drop the word “Spam” from their name. SpamArrest insists their use of the word has nothing to do with the canned meat product produced by Hormel. Brain Cartmell, chief executive of SpamArrest says, “If you ask most people on the street, they’re going to say junk e-mail as opposed to meat as their first description of what spam is. I think they’re overstepping their bounds.”

Hormel acknowledges its brand name has taken on a new meaning. They outline what they consider acceptable uses of the word on a company website. Hormel says the company does not object when “spam” is used to describe unsolicited commercial e-mail, but objects when pictures of its product are associated with the e-mail term. Hormel officials have produced the canned meat product since 1937. They argue the company has a lot invested in the brand name and is concerned the public could confuse the canned meat product with the new technology company.

Those familiar with the case say Hormel has a 50-50 chance of winning the lawsuit which will be heard by the Trademark Trial and Appeals Court in Washington DC, sometime next year.

—Associated Press, Wednesday, July 30, 2003, Hormel Fights to Defend Spam Name, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

This news story really makes me want to yawn. I mean, who cares? My reaction to it is tainted by the fact that I have no emotional connection with the meat product and really could care less what people do with the name. But that’s the point, isn’t it? To one person a name is valuable to another it means nothing. Which also explains why I take such offense when I hear someone take the Lord’s name in vain. It is a precious name—a name above every name—a name that should not be used to curse.

Philippians 2:8-11 NIV “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—the death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The Kentucky High School Association first used the term, “the sweet sixteen.” The Illinois High School Association holds the trademark on “March Madness” for use in their high school basketball tournament. Those phrases, plus “elite eight” and “final four” are trademarked by the NCAA for use in college basketball.

--http://www.slate.com/id/2097357/ . Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

The right to use the names is important enough to the different organizations to take the issue to court. Christians are called by the name of Christ. It is a privilege of great value.

Acts 11:26 (NRSV) “and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians.’"

NAME

Police in Northampton, Massachusetts say the victim might be quick to forgive the woman who hit him with her car in a crosswalk, but they won’t. Reports says a woman was cited for running down a man named Lord Jesus Christ as he crossed a street recently. They say identification confirmed the legal name of the 50 year old man is Lord Jesus Christ, and he was within a marked crosswalk at the time of the accident.

The driver, 20 year-old Brittany Canterella, was cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Fortunately, the reports also says Lord Jesus Christ was taken to a local hospital and treated for minor facial injuries and then released.

Lord Jesus Christ (his real name) hit by Car, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37015837; May7, 2010; Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Even though men use the name legally, there is only one Lord Jesus.

Mark 13:5-6 (CEV) “Jesus answered: Watch out and don't let anyone fool you! (6) Many will come and claim to be me. They will use my name and fool many people.”

Douglas Allen Smith Jr, unemployed Oregon man gained some notoriety when he legally changed his name to correspond to television character-- Captain Awesome, which was inspired by Dr. Devon “captain Awesome” Woodcomb from the NBC TV series “Chuck..”Awesome also changed his official signature to a smiley face surrounded by arrows pointing inward at the symbol. Everyone did not readily accept the changes.

Lane County Judges agreed to the name change, but one judge questioned Awesome’s seriousness. Another judge whose name was also Douglas told Awesome that he already had a “perfectly honorable first name.”The state’s Motor vehicle Department had no problem with the name and signature changes, but Awesome’s bank refused to let him change his signature because they said the new signature was too easy to forge. When asked about why he changed his name, Awesome told a local paper, “I just thought it was really funny that Devon’s father always called him Captain Awesome because, ‘a poor nickname builds good character.’”

-- Oregon man Legally Changes Name to Captain Awesome,
http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpps/news/weird/oregon-man-legally-changes-name-to-captain-awesome-dpgonc-20101210-bb_11033105, December 10, 2010, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Taking the name of TV character might seem like a good idea, but I’d rather have the name Jesus has promised to those who overcome.

Revelation 3:12 (CEV) Everyone who wins the victory will be made into a pillar in the temple of my God, and they will stay there forever. I will write on each of them the name of my God and the name of his city. It is the new Jerusalem that my God will send down from heaven. I will also write on them my own new name.

In India, on the same day, 285 girls named Nakusa changed their names. Nakusa is the Hindi word for unwanted. Some girls wound up with the unfortunate name because their parents had wanted boys, in part because of the expense of marrying off female offspring. The spiteful practice leads to further discrimination as the girls grow up into adulthood.

One 15-year-old was excited about her new name, Ashmita, which means “very tough” or “rock hard.” The young teen said cheerfully, “Now in school, my classmates and friends will be calling me this new name, and that makes me very happy.”

--http://www.thedaily.com/page/2011/10/23/102311-news-boxes-briefs-1-2/ The Daily, October 23, 2011 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Can you imagine going through life feeling unwanted, and remembering it every time someone calls your name? These girls chose new names for themselves to get rid of that stigma. Jesus says he has a new name written for those of us who overcome in this world.

Revelation 2:17 (NASB) ~'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.'

Officials in one state in India recently noticed a big difference in the ration of boys to girls, and decided it was time to take action to change prevalent thinking that considers baby girls as unwanted or undesirable. The central district officially held a renaming ceremony giving 285 girls with names meaning, “unwanted,” new names. The young women wearing their best outfits, lined up to receive a certificate with a new name on it and a small bouquet of flowers. Some of girls chose to name themselves after movie stars, and others picked traditional names with happier meaning like prosperity, beautiful, or good. Shedding the names like “Nakusa” or “Nakushi” which means unwanted in the Hindi language helps the young women find new dignity and fight widespread discrimination than give India a skewed gender ratio favoring men over women.

To combat the negative image given to girls, the government has added incentives such as free meals and free education to encourage people to take care of their girls, and cash bonuses to familes with girls who graduate from high school. One 15-year-old girl explained how her life was changing after the renaming ceremony. Her grandfather originally gave her the name “Nakusa,” and chose the new name “Ashmita,” which means “very tough” or “rock hard.” She said, “Now in school, my classmates and friends will be calling me this new name, and that makes me very happy.”

-- 285 Indian girls shed ‘unwanted” names, http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2011-10-22/India-women-names/50869628/1 ; October 23, 2011 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Revelation 2:17 (CEV) “If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To everyone who wins the victory, I will give some of the hidden food. I will also give each one a white stone with a new name written on it. No one will know that name except the one who is given the stone.”

A Wisconsin man was legally granted a new name in October, and isn’t doing a good job of protecting it. Jeffrey Drew Wilschke new name is Beezow Doo-Doo Zopitty-Bop-Bop. Now, Madison, Wisconsin police say they recently arrested the 30-year-old for carrying a concealed weapon, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, and violation of his parole. Authorities apprehended Zoppitybop-Bop-Bop was after neighbors complained about “excessive drinking and drug use” in a local park. Police say in addition to the drugs, he was also carrying a knife.

Reporters who looked up the man’s Facebook page reported that when Zopppity-Bop-Bop is not in trouble with the law, he enjoys activities including “eating,” “standing.” “walking,” “thinking”, and “diamond.” On his way to jail, Zopppitybop-Bop-Bop allegedly told police officers that he would eventually, “get even with them.” Authorities say they could charges of threatening a peace officer to the man’s list of offenses.

--Beezow Doo-Doo Zoppitybop-Bop-Bop, 30 Arrested by Madison, Wisc, Police, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/06/beezow-doo-doo-zopittybop_n_1190410.html; January 9 ,2012 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Proverbs 3:35 (HCSB) The wise will inherit honor, but He holds up fools to dishonor.

An online survey of new parents has found that more than half say they regret the name the gave their child afterward. The survey found that from 1,000 respondents 54 percent said they wished they have given their child a different name. 26 percent of the parents said the name they selected had become too popular and almost half of the parents said the name they selected did not fit their child’s personality. A similar study conducted among parents in the United States found a much smaller percentage regretted their choice of names, but their reasoning was the same. A large number of US parents said they felt they name they picked had become too common.

Most parents said though they regretted the name choice, they would not change it again. Only a small number of parents had reported changing their children’s names later when they encountered too many children with similar names. Another baby naming website, Nameberry,com, offers new parents some advice on giving their children names. Founders Pamela Satran and Linda Rosenkrantz say parents should avoid names that make their look stylists, and rather focus on choosing a nema their child can live with their entire life.

--Baby Name Regret: More Than Half of parents Wish they’d Chosen a Different name, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/23/baby-name-regret_n_1296266.html ; February 23, 2012, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Philippians 2:9-10 (HCSB) (9) For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, (10) so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth—

Name

In Discipleship Uncomplicated, Warren Haynes writes, “Take a moment and consider that the God of the universe who put the stars in place, who determined the boundaries of the seas, who created gravity and every living thing not only knows your name—He calls you by name.” –Jim L. Wilson

Philippians 4:3 (HCSB)“Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life.”

The late Jim Fixx was one of the first advocates for running as a form of exercise and lifestyle. Recently discovered journals written by his father reveals something about the name, Fixx. Calvin was born Fix, only one x. He added the second x because, he told his children, a person’s name should be a noun, not a verb.

There are many people who are fixed on their names. I do not know about the verb/noun argument but the one thing you want to be sure of whatever your name. You want it to be written in the book of the lamb of God. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Philippians 4:3 (CSB) “Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life.”