A 320-year-old Stradivarius cello that had been missing for three weeks has been returned to the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra after it avoided becoming the world's most expensive CD rack.

The primary cellist for the Philharmonic accidentally left the instrument outside his home in April. Nearby video surveillance cameras revealed that a bicyclist had stolen it. Recently, 29 year-old nurse, Melanie Stevens, found the $3.5 million dollar instrument made by master craftsman Antonio Stradivari lying beside a trash bin about a mile from where it was stolen.

Stevens found the instrument inside its silver coated plastic case and put it in her car's trunk for two days. Then she asked her boyfriend, who is a cabinetmaker, to either repair the instrument or convert it into a unique CD holder. Stevens did not know the significance of the instrument until she saw a news report about it. She said, "I had the idea to possibly put a hinge on the front. He would install little shelves inside. It would be a very elaborate CD case. I know it sounds crazy."

The cello made in 1684 was one of about 60 made by Stradivari in his Cremona, Italy works. The Los Angeles Philharmonic bought it about 30 years ago. Robert Cauer, a Los Angeles-based instrument restoration specialist says the valuable instrument is damaged but repairable and should be back in service by this fall. Cauer added the prospect that the prized instrument could have been turned into a CD holder "is so abominable, I get sick when I hear it."

—Associated Press. Stolen 320-Year-Old Cello is Found, May 19, 2004, by Ryan Pearson, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Ephes. 2:10 (NIV) “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Bill Brophy became blind at the age of ten, and never finished high school. Without a diploma, Bill still found a job managing the cafeteria at Jefferson College in Hillsboro Missouri. This spring, after working at the school for 35 years, Bill graduated with a 4.0 grade average.

While working at the school, Bill discovered a computer program that would read aloud scanned pages. He says the technology made the libraries of the world available to him and sent him back to school. Though he is now 72 years old, Bill says he has no intention of retiring and sitting around. He plans to pursue a degree in behavioral science from Missouri Baptist University in hopes of becoming a counselor.

—World Magazine, Back To School, May 29, 2004, pg 13, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Philip. 3:14 (NIV) “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

In his book, Every Second Counts, Lance Armstrong writes, “Mortal illness, like most personal catastrophes, comes on suddenly. There’s no great sense of foreboding, no premonition, you just wake up one morning and something’s wrong in your lungs, or your liver, or your bones. But near-death cleared the decks, and what came after was a bring, sparkling awareness; time is limited, so I better wake up every morning fresh and know that I have just one chance to live this particular day right, and to string my days together into a life of action, and purpose.”

James 4:14 NASB “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”

For more information on “Every Second Counts” go to http://www.freshministry.org/books/armstrong.html

In his book, Out of the Whirlwind, Mark Tabb answers a question I’ve always asked, “Why did God allow so much evil to befall such a good man as Job?” Let me read what he wrote, “By allowing Satan to attack Job, God launched a counterattack against Satan. Satan accused God of buying people’s affections. God responded through the character of Job. When Job clung to the Lord in spite of his material losses and personal pain, in spite of his fear that God had turned against him, God’s point was made and Satan was silenced.”

The circumstances of Job’s life had more to do with spiritual battles that he knew nothing about. His life, regardless of the circumstances he lived in was the proof that God used to prove Satan he was wrong.

For more information on “Out of the Whirlwind” by Mark Tabb, go to http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/080542721X/fm082-20

In the book, The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren tells Dr. Hugh Moorhead’s story. In the late 1980s, Dr. Moorhead, a philosophy professor at Northeastern Illinois University, wrote to 250 of the best-known philosophers, scientists, writers, and intellectuals in the world. He asked each one, “What is the meaning of life?”

Dr. Moorhead published the responses in a book. Some of these thinkers offered their best guess, others admitted they made up a purpose for life, and a few honestly admitted they had no idea. A number of the intellectuals Dr. Moorhead questioned asked him to write back and tell them if he discovered the purpose of life!

Reflecting on Moorhead’s research, Warren writes, “Fortunately, there is an alternative to speculation about the meaning and purpose of life. It’s revelation. The easiest way to discover the purpose of an invention is to ask the creator of it. The same is true for discovering your life’s purpose: Ask God.”

—The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren, pg. 19-20. Zondervan 2002. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Ephesians 2:10 NIV “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do.”

For more information on The Purpose Driven Life, go to: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0310205719/fm082-20

Rick Warren’s runaway bestseller, The Purpose-Driven Life begins with the terse sentence, “It’s not about you.” Though the book has been on the top of the New York Times bestseller list as a “self-help book,” Warren clearly states, “This is not a self-help book.” Instead, he maintains that the only way to know what we are supposed to do with our lives is to ask our creator. He and He alone knows why He made us and what we are supposed to do with our lives.

Col. 1:16 NLT “Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see—kings, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities. Everything has been created through him and for him.”

For more information on The Purpose-Driven Life, go to http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0310205719/fm082-20

In his book, "Killing Yourself to Live" Chuck Klosterman chronicles his journey that covers over 6500 miles of former rock star's death beds. His premise is that dying is the only thing that guarantees a rock star will have a legacy that stretches beyond contemporary relevance. He recounts former rock stars virtues and vices, while relating his virtues and vices as well. Klosterman makes note of how these wealthy and successful stars continue to engage in activities that are destructive to their body and mind. The stars, hoping to find satisfaction, only delve deeper into depression and some ultimately kill themselves.

Often we will go through immense pain to find pleasure. And typically, on the other side of pain we only find more pain and no fulfillment. Instead of killing ourselves to live, the Lord desires us to die to self and live for Him. He is the well of living waters and the spring of life, nothing else will satisfy.

—"Killing Yourself to Live". Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Eric Herrstrom.

John 4.13-14 (NASB) "Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

In his best-selling book, "The Purpose-Driven Life®" Rick Warren writes, "You were put on earth to make a contribution. You weren't created just to consume resources—to eat, breathe, and take up space. God designed you to make a difference with your life. While many best-selling books offer advice on how to 'get' the most out of life, that's not the reason God made you. You were created to add to life on earth, not just take from it. God wants you to give something back."

Ephes. 2:10 (MsgB) "No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing."

Richard Wise, a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Union City, Indiana understands the purpose of worship. In an article that appeared on FoxNews.com, he is quoted as saying, "Sin is in life and sin is everywhere, we are all sinners. If you just leave church feeling good you are missing the whole point. The point is you need a purpose in life."

John Smith, a.k.a. "Winter," is a man on a mission. He plans to visit every company-owned Starbuck's in the world. The 32-year-old man has been on his quest for 7 years and has visited 4,122 stores in North America, 114 in Britain, and 53 in Japan. Though Winter is doing well, his quest will keep him busy for some time, because Starbuck's opens an average of ten new company-operated stores around the world each week.

Winter works just enough to fund his ongoing quest for coffee. He plans out a trip to visit a number of stores and then hits the road. He sleeps in his car, which he admits has no air-conditioning, and smells like stale coffee. On a recent swing through Oregon, Winter managed to call on a record 28 stores in one day.

Winter's quest began in Plano, Texas in 1997. When the topic of the chain's growth came up, Winter says an idea randomly popped into his mind. "What would it be like to visit every Starbuck's? Would I be the only one? Could I do something unique?" After attending a concert later that year, and visiting a few Starbuck's along the way, Winter was hooked.

Winter's self-imposed rules require him to drink coffee at each store, so he usually asks for half a cup. Though he sometimes gets tired of the taste of coffee, Winter says, Starbuck's is his life. He adds, "There's no way to be finished unless Starbuck's goes out of business or changes its name. Those are two scenarios under which I would essentially be done. But there's really no such thing. The best I can hope for is to keep up. I can't foresee myself stopping. It's too rewarding an experience."

—Time Inc., July 12, 2004. FORTUNE, Seeing the World on Ten Coffees a Day, by Daniel Roth, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Now that’s dedication! I enjoy a good cup of coffee as much as the next guy, but I would never devote my life to such a quest. It is one thing to be dedicated, but it is quite another to be dedicated to a worthy cause. Jesus requires total commitment. He wants us to radically pursue Him, like Winter is pursuing his coffee.

Matthew 10:37 (NIV) "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;”

Sometimes purpose emerges out of trials. 40-years-old Kirk Jones became the first person to go over Niagara Falls with only the clothes on his back and survive. When he jumped, he was depressed but the experience made him want to live.

Investigators believe the incident was an intentional act, and authorities are pursuing possible charges and fines against him.

In an ABC news interview, Jones contradicted statements by authorities saying he did not want to go on living when he climbed over a guardrail and jumped into the river. In the interview, Jones said, "I can tell you now after hitting the falls I feel that life is worth living." Jones parents agreed, saying the man had suffered from depression for years, but he had been intrigued with surviving a leap from Niagara Falls.

An expert on Suicidal behavior, Dr. Richard Seiden, says "A lot of times, people, when they've been spared, get this feeling that somehow it's been intended, that they have a mission or something." He says if Jones had had second thoughts, he would not be the first survivor to experience a change of heart.

Jones says going over the falls was like, "Being in a giant tunnel, going straight down surrounded by water." He says he "hit hard." The rushing water then turned him upside down and pushed him far enough out to climb onto a rock. In a note written to a fellow patient Jones said life had much to offer. He wrote, "When you are feeling down, just remember the power of Niagara."

—Associated Press, Niagara jumper; Stunt made me want to live, October 22, 2003, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

1 Peter 1:7 NASB “that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”

The recent success of Rick Warren's book, "The Purpose Driven Life", has exposed many Americans to Purpose Driven church programs, classes, and resources. All the focus on purpose lead researcher George Barna to ask Americans what they believe their life purpose is. The responses indicate Americans may have their priorities turned around.

The survey of 1003 adults found that 44 percent believed their top priority in life was to have a satisfying family life. However, women were more likely than men were to rank family as their top priority. Men ranked family as most important by a three-to-one margin over other choices. Families with children under 18 in the home and those with higher incomes also ranked family life higher.

The second most common priority named by 18 percent of adults, was understanding and carrying out the principles of their faith. In this regard, women were more likely than men to list this as a primary concern of their life. Adults aged 40 to 70 were much more likely than younger adults to prioritize faith.

Having good friends was named by at least one out of every ten adults as a priority, while less common priorities included earning a comfortable living, having significant influence, achieving success, and enjoying leisure showed up in the survey.

According to Barna, the data highlights some important concerns for religious leaders because it raises questions about the faith commitment of many adults. Barna said, "One must wonder if the struggles evident in so many marriages and parent-child relationships are connected to the fact that people are generally more interested in pursuing fulfilling family life than in understanding the principles for meaningful living that may help shape such a family experience."

—http://barna.org, What is A Purpose-Driven Life to Americans?, May 17, 2005. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Matthew 6:33 KJV "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

In his book, The Way of Holiness, Stephen Olford writes, “Nothing is more miserable than to know you are living a wasteful life. One day you are going to stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and if your life has been self-centered, worldly, manifesting those sexual, spiritual, and social sins we’ve been thinking about, you are going to see that whole life of yours burned up. You will have the unutterable shame of pressing the charred embers of a wasted life into His pierced hands and saying, ‘That’s all I have for You, Lord.’”

James 4:14 NASB “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”

For more information on The Way of Holiness, go to: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0891079777/fm082-20

All Susan ever wanted was a normal life. She planned to marry Derek and live happily ever after. On her wedding day, Susan’s life changed. She is hit by a strange meteorite and is transformed by the powerful element it contains, known as Quantonium. The energetic material turns Susan into a giant. She can no longer live in normal society, so the government takes her away to a special prison where they lock her up with other genetic mutants and monsters. When an alien shows up to reclaim the Quantonium, Susan and the other monsters defeat his robot drone and save San Francisco.

Though they have saved the planet, Susan and the other monsters are still outcasts. Susan is shunned by her family and by Derek, the man who should understand and want to help her. Through the experiences she has with the monsters, Susan begins to realize she has a unique purpose now, as a giant named Ginormica. Though she is conflicted by being different than everyone else, she begins to accept who she is for the first time. When the strange alien captures her to take the Quantonium by force, Susan is not relieved even though removing the element, returns to her normal size. With her friends in danger, the Earth at risk and a self-important alien named Galaxar threatening to kill everyone on the planet, Susan faces a dilemma. She can give up or do her best to use her abilities to try to stop the evil alien and save the day.

OPTION 1: Play clip from Monsters versus Aliens, Chapter 21 and 22, 1:17:40 to 1:19:35.

OPTION II. Describe scene and make application.

Susan and her friends are able to escape Galaxar’s confinement, but are now trapped in a spacecraft counting down to self-destruction. Susan was able to get outside the doors before they closed but now has to decide what to do. She takes pieces of a flying machine and straps them to her feet, using the devices as flying roller skates. Galaxar tries to destroy Susan using his robot drones, but Susan is able to escape. As she flies toward Galaxar, the voice of the computer makes a startling announcement. “Robot Bay has been destroyed.”Galaxar is annoyed, and commands, “Fire the phasoid cannon!” The dangerous ball of energy closes on Susan, but she is able to avoid it at the last minute. Carefully, she aims one of the flying devices on her feet, taking a bead on Galaxar. She flings it through the window, striking Galaxar and sending him flying backward while his ray gun to falls to the floor.

Susan swoops into the room as Galaxar exclaims, “Are you crazy? You could have killed me.” Without missing a beat Susan responds, “Now we understand each other.” Boldly she says,” Now, open the doors and let my friends go!” Galaxar asks, “Or what? You don’t actually think you’re a match for me do you?” He glances at the escape pod, and container filling over his head as the computer reports, “Quantonium has been successfully diverted to the Bridge. Escape capsule ready for transport.” Thinking he has won, Galaxar says, “Like I told you before, you should have defeated me when you had the Quantonium.” He taunts Susan adding, “Have fun exploding,” and begins to climb to the escape capsule.

Susan is shocked but quickly gains her composure and rushes to stop Galaxar before he can escape. They struggle and eventually fall to the floor. Susan tries to defeat the alien, but he manages to avoid most of her blows. Finally Susan overcomes Galaxar. She grabs the ray gun and demands, “Now , Open the doors!” Galaxar responds, “Even if I wanted too, I couldn’t. That’s what happens when you set the ship to self destruct.” Looking around he adds, “Now we’re all going to die and there’s nothing you can do about it.” He pauses, and with one final taunt adds, “Susan.” Puzzled, Susan thinks a minute and then says, “I wouldn’t be so sure.” She looks up, and adds, “And the name is Ginormica!” As the music swells, Susan fires the ray gun upward at the Quantonium container and fires. The container falls on her, restoring her identity and the purpose she now embraces.

APPLICATION: We are so often satisfied to live an ordinary life, and never seek to be more than average. The Lord has created each of us with a unique calling and purpose, which we can only embrace through His power within a relationship with Him. When Susan discovered who she really was, she couldn’t go back.

--Monsters versus Aliens, Chapters 21-22, 1:17:40 to 1:19:35. Copy write 2009 DreamWorks Animation LLC

Ephesians 2:10 (CEV) “God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That's why he sent Christ to make us what we are.”

A type of ultra-strong glass developed years ago has waiting a long time to find a useful application. The Corning Company developed what they call Gorilla glass in 1962. Though the product showed promise, the company could not find a viable commercial use for it. The formula sat in a laboratory until new products appeared that gave the idea new life. In 2008, several companies investigated the glass as a durable cover for cell phones and mobile devices.

Gorilla Glass is very hard to break, dent or scratch, and is two to three times stronger than other types of strengthened glass. The strength of the glass means Gorilla can be thinner than a dime and still remain strong which saves on weight and shipping costs on products that use it. Since the glass is durable, it makes an excellent cover for devices such as mobile phones and large screen LCD televisions. Some investors think Gorilla glass could be the Corning’s second largest business in just a few years. Duetsche Ban investment analyst Carter Shoop said, “There’s a wide range of views on how successful this product will be, but I think it’s safe to say that, in aggregate, people are becoming much more bullish. It’s a tremendous opportunity. We’ll have to see how consumers react.”

1962 glass could be Corning’s next bonanza seller, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100801/ap_on_hi_te/us_tec_glass_of_the_future; August, 1 2010, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

With time, Corning has found a use for its product, now they can take it off the shelf and it will be productive for its company. Finding a purpose is important for inventions, but more important for people. Do you know what your purpose in life is?

Ephesians 1:11 (CEV) God always does what he plans, and that's why he appointed Christ to choose us.

In the motion picture, Ironman 2 Tony Stark is a conflicted character. Stark is a brilliant and wealthy industrialist who inherited the company his father founded. His invention of a weaponized suit has revolutionized warfare, and ended many world problems. Despite his successes Stark is not complete because he does feel that he ever had his father’s heart. He remembers his father as cold and calculating, but he cannot recall a time when his father told him he loved him. Complicating matters is a riddle left in Tony’s heart when his father passed away. Though his father sent Tony to a boarding school, he told his son the whole future was riding on him.

A stark struggle with his legacy and destiny as his own invention threatens to poison him and end his life. As he stares death in the face, a friend of Tony’s father gives him some old motion picture film. On this forgotten piece of film, Tony discovers the clue to unlock the riddle in his heart, and create a destiny beyond anything he had imagined. The clue that changes Ironman’s destiny begins with a few words from his father.

Option 1: Show Clip from Ironman 2, and make application. Chapter 12, 1:15 to 1:15:54.

Sometimes the key to understanding what our lives are all about comes at odd moments. Tony Stark is watching outtakes, and old cuts from a film. He has seen the final version, but not the material on these reels. Tony is bored, and only halfway paying attention. On the screen his father enters the picture and turns around. Instead of starting his presentation once more, he looks directly into the camera, and addresses his son. “Tony,” he begins. Startled, his son looks up fixed on the screen. “You’re too young to understand this right now, so I thought I would put it on film for you.” Tony is intent on the screen as the camera pans over the model city of the future his father created years before. Tony’s father gestures over the small buildings, and continues. “I built this for you and someday you’ll realize it represents more than just people’s inventions. It represents my life’s work. This is the key to the future.”

As Tony watches, shots of the building, streets, and pavilions flash by. His father explains, “I’m limited by the technology of my time, but one day you’ll figure this out. And when you do, you will change the world.” Tony is now leaning forward on his chair. He can’t believe what he is hearing, and his mind racing as to what it means. The camera shifts to a close up as his father adds, “What is and always will be my greatest creation…. is you.” His father’s terse expression breaks into a slight smile, and Tony lips begin to tremble. Now Tony knows his father trusted him to fulfill the dreams he could not. The map of containing buildings, parks, and pavilions is a roadmap left for Tony to decode and use to change the future. Beyond Ironman, and his accomplishments, Tony can fulfill his destiny because he is now confident that father loved him and trusted him.

--Ironman 2, Chapter 12 1:15:00 to 1:15: 54, Copy write 2010, MVL Film Finance LLC.

Application: Even those we consider successful in life need to have the blessing of their father. Even more so, every human being needs to know they are loved by their Heavenly Father. We have all been created with a God given purpose that can change the world. What it takes is to hear the words of the Father, and glimpse his purpose for our lives.

Ephesians 2:10 (GW) “God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that he has prepared for us to do.”

Author Gary Barkalow describes a time in his life, when he was really struggling. Gary says he had left a job, a place, and community that he never expected he would leave. He says he knew why he needed to leave and what he wanted to do, but did not know how to get there. During this period of searching, Gary ran into an old friend at the hardware store. His friend Jeff is a commercial airline pilot, and told Gary a story that helped him.

Gary says Jeff explained one of the procedures that had to take place between the end of one flight and the beginning of the next. He writes, “While the Boeing 757 sat at the gate exiting its passengers and refueling and preparing for its next load, its navigational computer had to clear the past maps and errors and recalibrate for the new course. In order to do that, the plane had to sit completely still for ten minutes while it reestablished true north – otherwise its navigation would be dangerously off. This recalibration was an issue of orientation – to the geographic North Pole while factoring in the rotation of the earth. Gary says after his discussion with Jeff, he understood that his friend was a messenger from God that day. He says, “The point was that I needed to sit still with God for while so my heart could recalibrate to my true north, finding its orientation to the movement of God in my life.”

--Barkalow, Gary, It’s Your Call 2010, David C. Cook Publishers, pg 54. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Psalm 46:10 (GW) “Let go {of your concerns}! Then you will know that I am God. I rule the nations. I rule the earth.”

In the animated feature Mega Mind, the main character is a conflicted man. He faintly remembers his father’s admonitions. Though mega Mind knows he is destined for something, he is not sure what it is. Early in his life, Mega Mind fell in with the wrong crowd. His great intellectual power was used for evil, and he became a criminal genius. Mega Mind’s lifelong rival is Metro Man, a person who is his exact opposite. The two constantly battle for control of Metro City and her citizens. Most of the time Mega Mind’s grand plans have a fatal flaw, and Metro Man triumphs. Then one day, Mega Mind miraculously triumphs, destroying his rival and opening the door to his wildest dreams.

Achieving his goals puts Mega Mind in an interesting predicament. Though he has everything he wanted in life, Mega Mind is not satisfied. His life still feels meaningless and empty. He recognizes that he is always hungry and never satisfied because he still has not discovered his life purpose. Mega Mind then decides to create another rival to battle and help him continue to exercise his evil nature. Unfortunately, Mega Mind’s plan backfires, and his new Superhero is overcome by his new powers. Instead of seeking justice and peace, the new hero, Tighten, begins to oppress the city as and abuse his power.

Battling Tighten proves to be too difficult for Mega Mind. As he faces at the hands of a hero he created, Mega Mind finds an opportunity to discover his true purpose.

OPTION 1 Play clip form Mega Mind and make application. Chapter 12, 1:09:05 to 1:10:46

In desperation, Mega Mind goes to the home of TV newswoman Roxanne Ritchie. He asks her to take him to Metro Man’s hideout, hoping he can find something to help in the battle against Tighten. When Roxanne and Mega Mind arrive they find that Metro Man was not really destroyed. Metro Man felt trapped by the life he and Mega Mind Has created. He felt unfilled too, and used the opportunity to bow out of the super hero role and move toward his real calling, music. He explains how he faked his death, and tells Roxi and Mega Mind, “Metro Man was dead. Music Man was born.” Roxanne looks perplexed and asks, “ Music Man?” Metro man proudly points to his costume and says, “That way I could keep my logo.” Mega Mind and Roxanne still can’t grasp what metro Man is saying, so he explains further. Passionately he says, “I’m finally free to get in touch with my true power; weaving lyrical magic.” He picks up a guitar and sings a short song for them.

When he finishes, Roxanne exclaims, “You’re horrible!” Mega Mind looks at her and then says, “Granted, you have talent. But there’s a mad man out there destroying our---your city.” Roxanne is still not convinced. She asks, “How could you do this?” She begins throwing everything she can carry at him. AS the broken pieces fall off Metro Man, she says, “The people of the city relied on you and you deserted them.” She points at Mega Mind and adds, “You left us in the hands of him.”

Mega Mind says, “No offense.” Then he adds, “No, I’m with you.” He looks at Mega Man and says, “We need your help.” Metro Man painfully, responds, “I’m sorry, I really ma. I’m done.” Then as he looks at Mega Mind, he says, “You know little buddy.” Putting his hand on mega Mind’s shoulder, he continues, “There’s a yen for every yang. If there’s bad, good will rise up against it. It’s taken me a long time to find my calling.” He challenges mega Mind with a new thought. “Now it’s about time you find yours.”

As Mega Mind and Roxanne leave, Mega Mind considers what he has heard. Roxanne begins to formulate a new plan, she says, “Who needs him, we can beat Tighten ourselves.” As she speaks, Mega Mind stops her. “We can’t” he says softly. She looks at him, and asks, “So that’s it? You’re just giving up?” Mega Mind “I’m the bad guy. I don’t save the day. I don’t fly off into the sunset and I don’t get the girl.” Dejected, he adds, “I’m going home.”As Roxanne stands in silence, Mega Mind walks away as smokes rises from Metro City in the background.

APPLICATION: Each one of us has a unique purpose given to us by our Heavenly Father. We may achieve many things in life, but we will never be satisfied until we find the ultimate purpose God has built into us.

Ephesians 1:17-20 (CEV) (17) I ask the glorious Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will make you wise and let you understand what it means to know God. (18) My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and that you will understand the hope that was given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all of God's people. (19) I want you to know about the great and mighty power that God has for us followers. It is the same wonderful power he used (20) when he raised Christ from death and let him sit at his right side in heaven.

In Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, David Platt writes, “Our great need is to fall before an almighty Father day and night and to plead for him to show his radical power in and through us, enabling us to accomplish for his glory what we could never imagine in our own strength. And when we do this, we will discover that we were created for a purpose much greater than ourselves, the kind of purpose that can only be accomplished in the power of his Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 (CEV) Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.

Speaking to a group of students at Liberty University recently, Pastor and author Francis Chan challenged the group to live biblically and to stay culturally relevant. Reflecting on his college years, Chan said that time of his life was full of hypocrisy and was some of the worst of his life. He admitted the problem was not with the school, but with him. Chan earned a bachelor’s from The Master’s College and received a Master of Divinity from the Master’s Seminary. He said he found it difficult to be genuine because he lived “in a Christian Cultural bubble that failed at inspiring him to go deeper in his faith.” He said the experience led to a personal lack of peace.
Chan told the student he was having fun, and doing Christian things, and blending in. He said the problem was he learned the right words and learned how to fit it, but knew he was not all he could be. He encouraged the gathering saying, “You gotta work so hard to live biblically.” He encouraged the students to go beyond blending into the culture by studying the Bible and asking what each passage said, and their life should look in light of that passage. Writing on the website of Eternity Bible College, Chan added, “Too many people waste precious years of their lives chasing after the temporary and unfulfilling. Our mission goes beyond education to discipleship. At the core of all we do is discipleship.”

--Bestselling author Francis Chan makes first visit to Liberty;
http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=18495&mid=41858, November 14, 2011, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

1 Peter 2:2-3 (GW) “Desire God's pure word as newborn babies desire milk. Then you will grow in your salvation. (3) Certainly you have tasted that the Lord is good!”

An author claims that if famous author Jane Austen were alive today, she would more than a best-selling author. She would be an avid blogger, active on Facebook, and possibility even tweeting every day. Laurel Ann Nattress, editor of a collection of Austen-type novels says she has studied the famous writer’s life and found that Austen had a fascination with people. Nattress says she become interested in Austen’s work in school. She says she loved the era, the respect people had for one another, and how Austen’s time was so different from the modern world. Though she had problems with the language at first, she made reading Austen’s books every year.

Nattress says her research has given her a lot of insight into the mind of Austen. She said the author loved understanding how people ticked which is evident from her characterizations and plots. Since social networking provides an opportunity to delve into personalities, Nattress thinks that it would fascinate Austen. Nattress says she automatically associates anyone she meets with one of Austen’s characters. When asked what she thought a modern Austen would do besides maintaining a blog, Nattress said, “I think she would be a journalist because she loved the cutting edge of society. She loved talking about people, about human dynamics, about personal relationships.” Nattress added,” If she wasn’t a journalist I think she’d be a psychologist, because she was just to observant. I learn so much about life from Jane Austen.”

--Dear Reader, if Jane Austen lived today, she’d be an avid blogger, http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/11/10/idINIndia-60445520111110 ; November 10, 2011, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

We can learn a lot from the past, but we choose what we will do with those lessons.

3 John 1:11 (CEV) “Dear friend, don't copy the evil deeds of others! Follow the example of people who do kind deeds. They are God's children, but those who are always doing evil have never seen God.”

A dying man in the hospital read the story of the thief on the cross from a Bible his mother gave him. As a result, David Yon Mo repented and accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, recovered from his alcoholism and began preaching the Gospel in the streets.

Later he founded "Myanmar Young Crusaders" a detoxification center to rehabilitate the drunkards and drug-addicts in Myanmar. He died in 2003, but according to his motto "NEVER SAY DIE” he lives on through the work he did. After his conversion, he found a clear and compelling life purpose and poured out the rest of his life in pursuit of that purpose.

--Never Say Die by Douglas Hsu, ANM Publisher, VA. 2009. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Bawm Luk Lagwi

Ephesians 2:8-10 (HCSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— (9) not from works, so that no one can boast. (10) For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

Comedian Joan Rivers thought she had nothing left to live for. Her husband had committed suicide, her talk show had been cancelled, and her daughter wasn’t talking to her. At one point, she decided to commit suicide herself.

She didn’t, instead she started lecturing on suicide prevention. She tells people, “this is a horrible, dark moment, but it will change.”

The Psalmist tells us that no matter what today looks like, God is on his throne and we know the future is secure in Him. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Psalm 103:19 (NASB) The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all.

Did you know that King Richard III of England was originally buried in a roughly dug grave, without a coffin or burial shroud? The location of King Richard III's grave remained a mystery for centuries until archaeologists rediscovered his bones under a parking lot in Leicester, England, in 2012.

On March 26, 2015, he was reburied in a place more fitting for a king than his previous resting place. His new resting place will be sealed inside Leicester Cathedral, in a coffin built by a distant cousin.

It is interesting that all the things in our lives that we hold dear, even the distinction of being the King of England, really mean nothing. Richard III died in battle and was buried under a parking lot. Even status is meaningless. Everything is, except fearing God and keeping his commandments. --Jim L. Wilson & Ron Wood

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (HCSB) When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is: fear God and keep His commands, because this ?is for? all humanity. (14) For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

After Mark Lashey’s job moved him to Delaware, he had no desire to stay. He had been raised in the south and disliked being a long way from family. He loved being an accountant and Lashey also loved singing, so he and his wife formed a music group and traveled on weekends for about ten years. Lashey always thought music would be his ticket out of Delaware, but over the years he began to see that the Lord has different plans.

When he was home, he would run through his neighborhood. As he ran, he started to pray and God gave him a burden for the community. As Lashey prayed for the community, he began to love the people more. Eventually, he and his wife started a small Bible study group. Though it started small, it began to grow and became a small church. They rented space at a local school, and the church continued to grow. Lashey now pastors the church that grew from his morning jogs around the neighborhood. He says he knows God brought him and called him to Delaware, even though he resisted at first. Lashey added, ”Our community is very receptive to the Gospel. They are (spiritually) hungry. My heart is not to build a mega church. We’ve not been focused on building a church, we’re building the kingdom of God.”—Jim L. Wilson & Jim Sandell.

Singing accountant's dreams turn to Del., By Jim Burton,
http://bpnews.net/44350/singing-accountants-dreams-turn-to-del, Accessed March 9, 2015.

For a small Nepali church, the huge earthquake in April 2015 meant loss and heartache, but it has also provided a new sense of purpose. The church lead by Pastor Tamang was singing a worship song, when they were interrupted by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake. They grabbed hands and crouched against an inner wall. They rushed outside when their wall begin to crack. Nearby, another building collapsed, killing seven people.
The following Sunday, the church struggled through a worship service remembering those the community lost. In that service, Pastor Tamang’s heart was heavy as he reminded the church that if they had perished, they would have gone to be with the Lord. Sadly, he said that there were thousands who died who did not have the chance to hear the Good News before the quake took their lives. The pastor encouraged the small group when he said, “Our church may be small, but we can do important work for the Kingdom. Now is the time.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Nepal church, though tearful, starts singing again, By Susie Rain,
http://www.bpnews.net/44695/nepal-church-though-tearful-starts-singing-again, Accessed May 5, 2015.

Romans 8:28 (HCSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

Tom Brady, Superstar Quarterback of the New England Patriots seems to have it all. He has four Super Bowl wins, extreme wealth and a supermodel wife. This is ultimate success by most standards.

Yet despite all his success, fame and riches, he stated in a 60 Minutes interview, “there has to be more than this!”

When Tom Brady was asked what else there could be, his only response was, “I wish I knew. I wish I knew…”—Jim L. Wilson and Charlie Moulton

Romans 8:28 (HCSB)“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.”

While addressing an audience the late Martin Luther King said, “If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don’t want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. And every now and then I wonder what I want them to say. Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize—that isn’t important. I'd like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others. I'd like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity.” —Jim L. Wilson and Charlie Moulton

Isaiah 43:7 (HCSB) “everyone called by My name and created for My glory. I have formed him; indeed, I have made him.”

On August 7, 2016, Luke Aikins jumped from 25,000 feet above California's Simi Valley without a parachute, landing in a 100ft. x 100ft., two-tiered net. After the jump, he said “whenever people attempt to push the limits of what's considered humanly possible, they're invariably described as crazy, but to me, this jump is simply the next logical step in a lifetime of extreme challenges and I live for skydiving.” Though this was a daring jump that caught much media attention, what if he had missed the net? Aikins would have left behind his wife and baby boy for a silly stunt. What are you going to give the rest of your life to? —Jim L. Wilson and Anthony Riley

Ephesians 5:15–17 (HCSB) “Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— ¹⁶ making the most of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

In every generation, there is some bewilderment as to why things are the way they are, what the future holds, and what is our relationship to God. The Barna Research Group conducted a poll of American adults: “If you could ask God any question about your life, what is the single most important question you would ask Him?” The top three questions were: What is my purpose here? Will I have life after death? Why do bad things happen?” Do you find yourself asking these same questions? —Jim L. Wilson and Anthony Riley

Exodus 9:16 (HCSB)“However, I have let you live for this purpose: to show you My power and to make My name known in all the earth.”

In his YouTube video “Knowing Your Why?” (8 minutes into the clip) Comedian Michael Jr. says “That thing from your past, you never met your Dad before, or your divorce, whatever it is God didn’t cause it, but he will use it in preparation for whatever he has you to do, because somebody may need to hear your story.”—Jim L. Wilson

For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.