Is Jesus the Only Way to God?

Rev. Robert D. Shofner

St. John's UCC Boonville

Jesus said at lot of audacious things. This is the guy who said you've got to lose your life to save it. He's the guy who said we've got to love our enemies. He said it's better to give than to receive. He said the meek shall inherit the earth. But, by far, the most controversial thing Jesus ever said is found in John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me."

In these days of deep ecumenism, many Christians are ashamed that Jesus ever said this. Many even doubt that He ever said it. They think it's bigoted, narrow-minded. How could Jesus make such a claim? And is it true? Yes, Jesus was telling the truth when He made this claim. And He said it, not out of arrogance, but out of great compassion. Why is it so controversial? It's controversial because it strikes at the heart of three great myths about Christianity. Let's look at these.

Myth #1 - All religions are basically the same. When you get down to the essentials, all religions teach, basically, the same thing, so it doesn't matter which one you believe. In other words, all spiritual paths lead to God. And yet with this one outlandish assertion, Jesus Christ boldly puts Christianity into a separate class by itself; because if the only real path to God is through Jesus Christ, then Christianity cannot be reconciled with any other religion. Acts 4:12 says, "Salvation is found in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." The uniqueness of Christianity is rooted in the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. Jesus is unlike any other religious leader who has ever walked this planet.

Other religious leaders say, "Follow me, and I will show you how to find the truth." Jesus said, "I am the truth." Other religious leaders say, "Follow me, and I will show you the way to eternal life." Jesus said, "I am the way to eternal life." Other religious leaders say, "Follow me, and I will show you how to become enlightened." Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world." Other religious leaders say, "Follow me, and I will show you many doors that lead to God." Jesus said, "I am the Door." Other religious leaders say, "Follow me, and I will show you how you can find spiritual nourishment." Jesus said, "I am the Bread of life." Jesus says, "I am, so follow me." See the difference?

All religions, other than Christianity, are based on the idea of people doing something through their struggling, through their striving, to somehow earn the good favor of God. All other religions are spelled "D O;” because they all teach that people have to do something to make themselves morally "okay" so they can please God. Christianity, on the other hand, is clear. You can never do enough to earn your way into heaven. So Christianity is spelled "D O N E." It's done. Jesus Christ has done what we could never do. He lived the perfect, sinless life; and He went to the cross to pay for the sins of the world. He last words on the cross … "It's done. It's paid for." And all that's left for us is to apply that to our lives; to receive God's free gifts of forgiveness, grace and mercy.

Titus 3:5 says, "He saved us. It was not because of any good works that we ourselves had done, but because of his own mercy that he saved us …"

There are other major differences as well. Christianity says there is one God, eternally existing in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Hinduism says everything is God; you're God, I'm God, this pulpit is God, the flowers are God. Islam denies that Jesus Christ is God. Buddha wasn't sure if God existed or not.

It would be illogical for God to come over to one side of the world and say, "Here's who I am. I am one God; I am a good God; I exist eternally in three Persons; here's how you come to me, through my grace and forgiveness." But then God goes to another part of the world says, "Oh, just forget about all that! I'm not one God, I'm millions of Gods. I'm not a personal God, I'm an impersonal God. And I'm not just a good God, I'm also a bad God. And you don't become reconciled through grace, you have to earn it." And then God goes to another part of the world and says, "Forget those two things. I'll tell you something different." It doesn't make any sense! God would be schizophrenic. And we'd all be in trouble if God were schizophrenic. What would make sense is that God would provide a path for us to follow in finding Him, and would tell us about that path in an absolutely extraordinary way, which God did … it's called Christmas. The incarnation; God becoming human that God might pay the penalty for our sin that we might spend eternity with Him.

So it does matter which path you follow in your spiritual journey. Jesus' words dispel the myth that all paths lead to God.

Myth #2 - it's related to the first myth - is this; all religions have equal claims on the truth. In other words, let's say, okay, Christianity is different from other religions. But, it's still one philosophy among many. It's only as valid as any other religious system. This myth has great appeal in the United States, because we live in a tolerant and pluralistic society. But some people erroneously assume that because the laws of our country protect every belief, therefore every belief must be equally true. The Supreme Court describes what we have in this country as a "market place" of ideas. In other words, truth and falsehood can grapple it out, so that in the end, truth will emerge. Freedom of speech; a free flow of different ideas. But it does not follow that since all religions are equally protected, all religions are equally true.

In this country where we can all believe whatever we want to believe, anybody is free to make the claim that they are the way and they are the truth and they are the life and no one comes to the Father but through them. And, through the centuries, people have made that claim. Jemima Wilkenson, born in 1752 in Rhode Island, was able to convince about 200 people that she was the daughter of God, that she was their ticket to heaven, the one and only way to the Father. What destroyed her little movement was that, in 1820, she told them not to bury her when she died, because on the third day she would come back from the dead. She died, so they propped her body up in a chair … and waited. After about a week, they all just slipped away. That was the end of that. She was proved to be a liar.

How do we know that Jesus was telling the truth? The reality is this; only Jesus backs up His claims with unique credentials that give Him unique credibility. Let's take a quick look at four.

First, Jesus can validate His claim to be the Son of God because Jesus is the only one, in the history of the world, to fulfill dozens of ancient prophecies, written hundreds of years prior to His birth. Now, some people might think that He just sort of maneuvered His life to intentionally fool people into thinking He was the Messiah. For instance, one of these prophecies said that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem humbly, riding a donkey. So, Jesus, trying to fool the people, told His disciples to make sure He got a donkey to ride on. But there's no way He could intentionally arrange to fulfill most of those prophecies. He couldn't arrange for His place of birth, His ancestry, the exact moment He would be born, how He would be put to death. It was impossible for any human being in history to fulfill all those prophecies. But Jesus Christ did. That's one way His claim to be the Son of God is validated.

Second, He validates His claim by His unprecedented character. As His followers spent more time with Him, got to know Him more and more, they increasingly marveled at His purity and His holiness and His integrity. No one was closer to Him than Peter and John, and this is what they said after spending three years with Him. John said, "In Him is no sin." Can you imagine somebody saying that about you? About me? Peter said, "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth."

Third, He validated His claim by performing miracles. He even challenged His followers in John 10:37, "Don't you even believe me unless I do miracles of God." In other words, "Anybody can claim to be a Son of God, but unless I do miracles, supernaturally, to show you, don't believe even me." And He did do miraculous things, and not in just some dark room where only one or two people could witness. He did them in broad daylight, in front of skeptics and cynics. Even His enemies admitted Jesus did the miraculous. It says in Acts 2:22, "Jesus of Nazareth was a man whose divine mission was clearly shown to you by the miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through him; you yourselves know this, for it took place here among you."

And fourth, in the most spectacular demonstration of His deity, Jesus Christ fulfilled His own prediction, and three days after He was put to death, He was resurrected from the dead; and He was encountered by more than 500 eye witnesses. Who else but the Son of God could do that?

Christianity is not just a philosophy; it is a reality. Jesus didn't just claim that He is the one and only way to God. He validated His credentials and firmly established His credibility.

Myth #3 says this: Christians are arrogant when they say that Jesus is the only way to heaven. I would agree with that if the truth is that there are many ways to get to heaven, and they were just saying, "Ours is the best." But that's not what they're saying. What Christianity says is this: The truth of the matter is someone has got to pay the penalty for the obvious wrong-doing that we've committed. Who is it going to be? Us, paying for all eternity? Or, is it going to be Jesus Christ, paying it for us as our substitute? He's the only one qualified by His sinlessness and by His divinity to be our substitute.

So the reality is this: it's not arrogance to act upon the evidence. Christians aren't being narrow-minded when they say there is only way to the Father.

An analogy. Several years ago our friends had a baby boy. This infant had jaundice, which is a disease of the liver that causes the skin and the whites of the eyes to turn yellow. It is potentially very serious. But it is also easy to cure. Since it was the early summer, the doctor told them to place their baby in the sunlight. The sunlight would stimulate the liver to function properly. Now, my friends could have responded by saying, "Wait a minute. That's just sounds too easy. Put him out in the sun? Come on! How about, instead, we just scrub him with soap and rinse his body with bleach? That will get the yellow out." And the doctor would respond, "No, you don't understand. There's only one way to cure jaundice." And the parents could have replied, "Wait a minute. We don't like this 'one way' thing. How about if we just ignore it and pretend everything's okay? If we sincerely believe we don't have to do anything, then, in the end, everything will work out." And the doctor would say, "Wait a minute! You're going to jeopardize the life of your son if you do that. There's only one way to cure jaundice. I imagine you're hesitant because it sounds too easy. But, look at my credentials. Look at my medical degree. I have cured countless babies of jaundice. Trust me based on my credentials."

Now, would anybody accuse those parents of being narrow minded if they trusted that doctor, a doctor with credibility and credentials, when he said there is only one way, one course of treatment, that would cure their little boy? No! It's not arrogance to act upon the evidence.

The truth of the matter is, we all have a terminal illness called "sin." And the reason those of us who are Christians cling to Jesus Christ is because He is the Great Physician. He is the only one who has the medication that can cure us. We can try to scrub away our sin by doing good works, but it's not going to work. We can try to ignore it and hope it all goes away, but it won't disappear. We can sincerely think there's another way of dealing with it … but we would be sincerely wrong. The truth of the matter is only the Great Physician offers the treatment that will erase the stain of our sin. And when we turn to Jesus Christ for that one way, that's not being narrow minded; we're acting in accordance with the evidence. We're not being arrogant.

Let's think about it this way. Two Country Clubs. One Country Club represents every other religious system in the world. The membership committee of the club says, "You want to come in? You want to join up? You have to pay for the membership if you want in. You have to achieve a certain level of spirituality. You have to accomplish a certain number of good deeds. And then, maybe, we'll let you in. But the truth of the matter is many of you are not going to make it. You're going to fall short. And the door is going to get slammed in your face."

Christianity is different. Christianity is like a Country Club with the doors wide open. The membership committee says, "You want in? Come on in! You don't have to buy your membership. Jesus Christ has already paid for it with His death on the cross. Joining our Country Club is not based on your qualifications; all you have to do is just accept the invitation of Jesus. The doors are open. It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor, black or white, what part of the country you're from, what your age is. It's all up to you. You decide if you want to join our Country Club. We're going to leave the doors open, because we really hope that you'll come in and experience what we've experienced in this place."

That is what Christianity says. Now, you tell me, which approach is snobbish? The Bible tells us, clearly, that as Christians we are to be anything but arrogant in what we believe. It says in 1^st Peter 3:15-16, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect …" All Christians should be able to tell people about the credibility and credentials of Jesus Christ, and why it is that He is their hope for eternal life. But then it says we are to respect people of all cultures and of all beliefs; we are to love them in true humility and service.

Definition of a Christian. A Christian is just a beggar telling other beggars where to find food. That's all we are; people who have found spiritual food through Jesus Christ. We just want to tell other people the Good News. And tell them with a sense of humility and respect.

Okay … Christianity is unique, and it can't be reconciled with any other religion. It backs up its claim to be the truth with credibility and credentials that no other religion has. And Christians are not being arrogant when they say Jesus is the only way to heaven, because it's not arrogance to act upon the evidence.

Now, all of that brings us to a commonly asked question. "Okay, if Jesus is the only way, what about the poor man or woman who never gets a chance to hear about Jesus. Are they going to go to hell? That doesn't seem fair."

God hasn't given us an explicit answer to that question, but God has left us enough clues that we can figure it out. We do know this:

First, God puts each person in the place where they might reach out to Him. This is an amazing thing. Look at the verses there, Acts 17:26-27, "From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. [Why?] God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us." So, if you are somewhere remote, or in some land that's never heard of Christ, God wanted you there because that is the place where you will, perhaps, reach out for him. And then it says, "Know what? God is not far from each one of us. God isn't making it hard for us to find Him."

The second thing we want to remember is that everyone has a moral standard written on their hearts, and all are guilty of violating it. [Romans 2:15; 3:10] We know that's true! Hasn't your conscience bothered you when you've done something wrong? Of course it has.

The third thing we know from the Bible is that everyone has enough information from observing creation to know that God exists, but people reject God anyway [Romans 1:20-21].

But, we also know from the Bible that every person who sincerely seeks God will find God [Jeremiah 29:13]. In fact, the Bible says it is the Holy Spirit that first seeks us, making it possible for us, in the first place, to seek God.

Now, all of this suggests that people, anywhere in the world, who respond to the understanding that they have, and who earnestly seek after the one, true God, are going to find the opportunity, in some way, to receive the eternal life that God has graciously provided through Jesus Christ, and Him alone.

There's something else. And that is God is scrupulously fair. Genesis 18:25 says, "Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" And God will. It is comforting to know that every human being who has ever lived is going to be uniquely and fairly judged by God. Take a look at Revelation 20:11-15. There will not be one individual ever born who has been fairly judged by God who will be able to shake his or her fist at God and say, "That was unfair." They may not like the verdict, but they will ultimately see that God is scrupulously fair.

No one will be excluded from heaven just because they haven't heard the name of Jesus Christ. The reason to be denied admittance is because they have told God their entire life that they can live just fine without Him, that they don't need Him. When they die, God will say to them, "Based on your own decision to live your life separate from Me, I'm going to honor the decision that you have made. I'm going to seal it right now. And you will live with that decision … for eternity. You will be separated from Me forever." Isn't that fair? God isn't going to violate our free will. God will honor the choice that you and I make.

So that helps us understand about the isolated person who's never heard the message of Jesus Christ. But we're not isolated. You've heard it now. You're accountable for it now. And the question is, what are you going to do with it?

My prayer for you, my hope for you, is that you make the right choice.

Let's pray.

Father, for those of us who have already taken that step of faith, and have received Your Son, Jesus Christ, as our forgiver and our leader, we are just so grateful that You've provided the way for us. And, Father, for those who for years have believed that Jesus is Your Son, but their lives haven't changed, because they've never acted on that belief, they've never received Him as their forgiver and leader, I pray, in this moment, that in their spirit, they would pray, "Lord Jesus, I receive what you did on the cross right now, and apply it to my life. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. I receive you as my new friend, that I might grow to know You in this world, and in the world to come."

We thank You for Your love, that You would not desire to see one of Your children perish, but rather have eternal life, through Your Son, in whose name we pray.

Three Crosses, Two Choices, One Savior

Pastor Ron Blake
Detroit First Church of the Nazarene
Northville, Michigan

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, the day we celebrate the triumphant Christ entering Jerusalem. What a difference a week makes! We will gather in our churches this Friday to celebrate what we call "Good Friday." A lady who was born in Russia, told me this morning that in her country it is called "Bad Friday."

Many of us ponder the words of Christ spoken from the cross. There seems to be a fascination with last words. Napoleon last words were "I die before my time, and my body will be given back to the earth. Such is the fate of him who has been called the great Napoleon. What an abyss between my deep misery and the eternal Kingdom of Christ." Voltaire's last words were "I am abandoned by God and man! I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six months life." Thomas Hobbes last words: "If I had the whole world, I would give it to live one day. I am about to take a leap into the dark." Christ on the cross as He is giving His last words, has control of his faculties and displays His love and compassion. His words show us that He understood that He was the atoning sacrifice for our sins. "Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." As He is dying a painful, cruel and lingering form of death, He offers a prayer of forgiveness!

It is this prayer that no doubt captures the heart of the penitent thief. Jesus reminds that forgiveness always has a cost. Though grace is free, forgiveness is always costly. Costly, but necessary. Who are you needing to forgive? If Jesus could offer forgiveness to His tormentors from the cross, you and I must be dispense forgiveness for the hurts and slights we have received at the hands of others. Three Crosses----The Savior in the middle, and a thief on either side. Two Decisions---- Am I going to receive Christ, realize my sin and ask His forgiveness, or am I going to curse Him and refuse the gift of eternal life?

Each of us will make one of these two decisions. One Savior----There are not many ways to be saved! We must all come to the cross in the middle and confess our sin and receive eternal life through Christ and Christ alone. What a Savior!!

The High Cost of Revival...?

Its that time of year again, Spring will soon be upon us. Many churches will have Spring Revival Services this time of year. As Holiness churches we are not strangers to Revival meetings. Evangelists will tell you that many pastors do not have Revivals any more. They will offer different reasons for this, lack of participation, financial difficulties, etc. As Bro. Mitchum shared with us last night at Faith Pointe Wesleyan, the most common excuse he hears from Pastors is that their congregations will reject good Holiness preaching. So many in this age of relativity want to do their own thing, even when it comes to Christianity. You can pretty much pick your flavor these days.Pastor Mitchum shared some of these thoughts in his message from John Chapter Three last night. "As a country we are headed down the wrong road, some would say a point of no return. We can expect this from leaders who profess no vistage of Christianity. But what about the Church? What excuse does She have?" We, especially those who call ourselves Holiness Churches, must point the way. This must start on an individual basis, then it will spread to the church. As C.T. Studd once said,

"Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell."


You can still come hear some great music by Allen Strange (Paoli Wesleyan) and some sound Bible based
Holiness preaching by Rev. C.R. Mitchum. Saturday at 7:00PM and Sunday at 10:30AM. If you need directions call 812-897-2063 or use the contact info listed on the left side of this page... God Bless...keith 1 Cor 13
.

Celebrating Palm Sunday

Mar. 26, 2010

Palm Sunday is the day Christians celebrate the Triump-

al Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem,

five days before He was crucified in that city.

Worshipers waved palm branches and spread their cloaks in the road to greet Him as He approached on a donkey. They shouted, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Critics urged Him to rebuke the noisy crowd. But Jesus said, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out!” (Luke 19:40).

The Wesleyan Church encourages you to observe Palm Sunday as a day to renew your worship and commitment to our triumphant Lord.

Church News

Our Indiana South Wesleyan District Superintendent, Dr. Mark S. F. Eckart will be with us in our 5:00PM service, Sunday March 28th, 2010. Dr. Mark will be sharing what is on his heart and giving us an update on what happening in our district.

• Anniversaries-Bill and May Johnson will be celebrating their 51st on March 28th.
• Birthdays-Don Ayscue and Kimberly Jackson on the 26th and Jim Walker, 27th.
• Annual Church Conference- Sunday April 11th, 2010 at 5:00PM.
  

The Passion...Courtesy of Gary Bratcher, Jr.

Changing Society, One Person at a Time

By Ronald D. Kelly | Released: Jan. 1, 2010 | In: Magazine

Wesleyan Life Magazine

During election years, Christians often believe their votes will somehow change their society. It is true that the choice of candidates can make a difference in legislation, but politics will never make a country “Christian.” I once heard author and speaker Cal Thomas say, “There will not be a change in America until there is a change in Americans.”

John Wesley, founder of Methodism and great social reformer, believed that the biblical, radical transformation of individual lives was the result of the work of Christ. Because he introduced one person after another to the claims of Jesus, English society was changed in a positive way.

Wesley did not set out to change his society. He set out to see people experience the same heart-warming spiritual experience he had. But as people experienced God’s love in their hearts through salvation and holiness, they were transformed; and as a result their society was transformed. Here are some action steps on how you can affect your culture.

1. Live a Life that Mirrors Christ

Make it your purpose to live a life that mirrors how Christ would live in your circumstances. Bob Woodson of the National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise said, “If you want people to come to Christ they have to see what He looks like.” Live a life that incorporates biblical principles. Ask God to make you aware of any blind spots that may hinder your witness and choose to deal with them immediately. Ask Him to help you through a difficult time so that people can see the difference. If you experience success in great ways, don’t change how you relate to those around you.

2. Take Responsibility for Others

Second, take responsibility for those around you. Talk about God in your routine conversations so that telling of His work in your life will seem as normal as talking about the weather. Be sensitive to opportunities for speaking a good word about Jesus. Cultivate relationships with non-Christian friends. Intentionally pray for the lost. Walk through your neighborhood, meet your neighbors and pray for them.

3. Offer Yourself for Service

Next, offer yourself for service to God. Often we are convinced that we have little ability to offer the Lord, but what He is looking for is our availability. My wife and I used to sing, “Little is Much When God is in It.” The song’s message conveys that God will bless what we give to Him in humble service.

4. Immerse Yourself in the Word

Then immerse yourself in the Word. Study God’s Word on a daily basis, praying for understanding and application. Ask your pastor for recommendations on what to read that will assist you in learning more about the Bible. Memorize simple verses that tell the gospel story. Continue to store the Word in your mind and heart so you can tell others about Christ.

5. Acquire Training

Finally, take training to equip yourself to be more effective in communicating your faith. A course in evangelism could help you increase your comfort level in communicating the gospel, help you stay on track while presenting the message, give clarity as to when to introduce Christ into a conversation, and give you opportunity to tell your own story. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, defined successful witnessing as “taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God.”

I heard a young man tell how one of his business associates asked if he was sure he would go to heaven if he died suddenly. The young man had no assurance, and before he left his co-worker’s office he had asked Christ into his heart. On the same day I heard him tell his story he also announced plans to enroll in seminary. One person made a difference, and one life was changed. Society can be changed—one person at a time. •

Ronald D. Kelly is General Editor for The Wesleyan Church, Indianapolis, Ind.

Bethany Bible College President Announced

The Board of Trustees of Bethany Bible College announces the election of Rev. Mark Gorveatte as the new president of Bethany Bible College, effective June 1, 2010. With a remarkable sense of unity and of God’s help and guidance, the 20-month presidential search is concluded among resounding affirmations from faculty, students, staff, alumni and friends of the college.

President-elect Gorveatte has served the past ten years as district superintendent of the West Michigan District of The Wesleyan Church. Prior to this appointment, Rev. Gorveatte and his wife, Sherry, have served for over 25 years in Wesleyan leadership and pastoral appointments in two districts of The Wesleyan Church. He is an alumnus of Bethany Bible College, Southern Wesleyan University, and the University of Alabama (Birmingham). He has previously served on the Boards of Trustees of Bethany Bible College and Indiana Wesleyan University.

“The unique mission that Bethany Bible College serves has never been more strategic for Kingdom advance. Her graduates have never been more needed as the harvest fields around us grow whiter. The opportunities before her are unparalleled. The challenge of leading her has never been greater,” stated Rev. Gorveatte, in accepting the election by the Bethany Board of Trustees.

He also stated that part of his vision is to “maximize Bethany's potential for offering life-impacting experiential learning to the emerging generation of ministry leaders and become a ‘high value’ option for ministerial education.”

Dr. Kerry Kind, General Director of Education & Ministry for The Wesleyan Church said of the election: “Rev. Gorveatte’s sense of God’s calling, his unique blend of leadership skills and experience, and his commitment to the church and to the mission of the college make him the perfect choice for the presidency at this time. We are grateful that God has seen fit to bring the college and Rev. Gorveatte together at this time.”

The announcement was made by Dr. H. C. Wilson, long-time chairman of the board of Bethany Bible College. The presidential search committee was ably chaired by Dr. Laurel Buckingham, vice-chairman of the board. Mark and Sherry Gorveatte are the parents of four children, one son currently serving with Global Partners in New Zealand, and two sons and a daughter still at home.

Remembering Terri

Randy Travis, Collin Raye to Headline Concert to Commemorate 5-Year Anniversary of the Death of Terri Schindler Schiavo
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
By Joe Schoffstall

Country music superstar Randy Travis. (Photo courtesy of Randy Travis.com)

(CNSNews.com) - Country music superstars Randy Travis and Collin Raye are headlining a concert April 11 in Indianapolis to commemorate the 5-year anniversary of Terri Schindler-Schiavo’s court-ordered death by dehydration and starvation.

The concert is sponsored by the Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation.

“Randy Travis attached his name onto a press release with some other celebrities during the time we were trying to save Terri’s life, so he was the first one we decided to reach out to and see if he would do the concert,” Bobby Schindler, brother of Terri Schiavo and spokesman for the foundation, told CNSNews.com.

Schindler said the concert’s goal is to encourage families who may be going through similar situations that he once endured. That’s how Collin Raye came to be involved.

“My sister Suzanne saw that Collin (Raye) has a granddaughter who has a terminal brain disorder, and he has been very involved in trying to find a cure. We thought if we contacted him he would understand what we were doing and try to help Terri. He was very receptive in wanting to help.”

On March 18, 2005, the feeding tube was removed from Terri Schiavo, a profoundly disabled woman whom a Florida judge ruled was in a "persistent vegetative state" (PVS), bringing to an end the seven-year legal battle waged by the woman's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, for her custody. She was officially pronounced dead on March 31, 2005. The case garnered national attention that led to a lengthy public debate.

Congress passed legislation in March of 2005 demanding the federal courts to launch a full-scale inquiry into the legal and medical questions surrounding Schiavo, who suffered a severe loss of oxygen to her brain when her heart temporarily stopped 15 years prior to her death.

Country music artist Collin Raye. (Photo courtesy of Operation Kids)

Schindler told CNSNews.com: “There are still other Terri's living in our country today. I've heard anywhere between tens to hundreds of thousands of people who have similar types of brain injuries and we must do what we can to protect these people.”

Schindler says that he is still troubled by how some media outlets “misinformed the general public about the situation Terri was going through.”

“There seems to be an existing prejudice against people like Terri today and these reports that I read about my sister -- I can't point out one particular outlet -- but I see it all the time.

“They referred to her as being in a coma, as being brain-dead, it simply was not true. Terri was not dying. They treated it as an end-of-life issue; she wasn't on machines; and they always referred to her as being on artificial life-support without pointing out the fact that artificial life-support today means simply food and water -- basic care.

“People are coming up to me because of what they read. They say, ‘Oh I thought Terri was brain dead, I thought that she was hooked up to all these machines, I thought she was dying’- it was the furthest from thing the truth,” he said.

He also said he did not want to paint a broad picture of all media outlets, but “a large portion of them is still reporting a lot of misinformation about Terri's case and her condition in particular.”

Schindler continued, “I just get really frustrated. I just watched an interview where someone was saying things about Terri’s case that was disingenuous. He was saying that this is a Republican issue and it wasn’t. Not one Democrat objected -- almost half of the Democrats in the House voted in favor of Terri’s bill. They always make these statements about Terri’s case on so many different levels that it’s just not true.”

Schindler also touched upon the current health-care debate by saying he believes if health-care legislation is passed, situations such as Terri's will only take a turn for the worse.

“We're deciding life and death situations on people's quality of life and it's getting worse- and I think- not to get into a long diatribe here- but if the government controls our health care we're going to see it getting worse,” he told CNSNews.com.

To Schindler, the main drive behind the concert is not only commemorating his sister, but helping and informing families who may be involved in similar situations.

“I'm more concerned now with raising awareness on the issue and helping our foundation continue to help other families, we're getting calls all the time. We've been involved in over 200 cases since we've established Terri's foundation”, Schindler said.

The Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Concert will be held on April 11, 2010 at the Murat Theatre in Indianapolis, Ind. National pro-life leaders will also be present at the event.

There Will be A Day

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,
that we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

(Chorus)
There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more
fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more,
we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long
You feel you’re walking on your own
But there has never been a step
Where you’ve walked out all alone

Troubled soul don’t lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that’s in store
Outweighs the hurt of life’s sting

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

(Chorus)

I can’t wait until that day where the very one I’ve lived for always will
wipe away the sorrow that I’ve faced
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery
this is why this is why I sing

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more
fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more,
we'll see Jesus face to face

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more
fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more,
we'll see Jesus face to face

There will be a day, he will wipe away the tears,
He will wipe away the tears,
He will wipe away the tears,
There will be a day.

Owning and Sharing Grief

by Rev. Mark Reed
First Wesleyan Church
Bicknell Indiana

It isn't easy for people to come to a counselor. I do what I can to break the ice and make them feel at ease but it can be an uphill battle - especially in the beginning. Once some small talk has been exchanged, I've found it useful to ask: what brings you here today? It is an invitation to talk about "the problem."

For some folks, talking about their problems is almost like breaking a taboo. Most people I counsel with have some religious background and amazingly, this is often a hindrance rather than a help. Many have gotten the idea that needing someone to talk to indicates they have somehow failed spiritually. As if, being spiritual means not needing others.

The other day I sat across from a person who shared a really terrible situation she is going through. The pain she was living with came through in her tone, her body language, her face... it was palatable, raw and honest. When she finished there was a second of silence as I absorbed the full import of what had been shared and in that heartbeat of silence she became ill at ease. It was like she suddenly caught herself doing something wrong and she quickly began to say things like, "Of course lots of people have it harder than I do," and "I know the Lord is with me in this" and "I hope you don't think less of me."

It makes me sad that we have come to believe that being a "good Christian" mean we go through terrible times without feeling anything. This dear lady was hurting and she deserved and needed validation but, in her mind, she was obviously ashamed of her pain. Like the situation wasn't bad enough, she had to feel remorse for feeling the effects of it! Mind you, she wasn't engaging in self-pity (and so what if she was). She wasn't being self-centered. She wasn't lashing out. She was merely exposing her heart, expressing her weakness and sharing her deep sadness.

I interrupted her attempts to marginalize her pain and said, "Let me tell you what I felt when you were just sharing." And I did just that. I honestly reflected the feelings I had experienced as she had shared her story and as I did she began to weep with relief. It wasn't hard to "get it." It didn't take any specialized training. This was not some technique. It was just being honest and human and open so she could see I wasn't judging her for feeling overwhelmed. This would not be the end point of our work, but it was the beginning point and without it, nothing much could be done.

I wonder how many people feel like that. How many wonder what it means to feel grief. How many are ashamed to feel the blows that life lands on them. How many feel guilty for being confused and in anguish and responsible for being vulnerable. And so we hide behind our "spiritual" clichés.

I don't believe following Christ distances us from suffering. In fact, quite the opposite.

If our religion denies the reality of suffering, its the wrong kind. And yet many use religion for that very end. No wonder Marx called "religion" an opiate! Such religion is for the cowardly or the calloused - not for those who follow the Son of Man.

I am well familiar with Paul's statement about our "light and momentary afflictions." I get it. In context, it is an important point and keeps us from an opposite danger. But I also note that Jesus never used his unique, eternal perspective to minimize suffering experienced by people around him. Death, disease, estranged relationships and so forth, were met with weeping not platitudes. Jesus emotionally acknowledged loss. (The one exception were the two brothers who wanted to embroil Jesus in an inheritance dispute - he wasted no tears or time on materialism or greed. Pay careful attention to what breaks your heart and severs relationships.)

Even on his way to resurrect Lazarus, he stopped to weep with his sisters. Not just a tear or two, he sobbed with them... so much so, that the people acknowledged the depth of his love for them by his weeping. (Given the cultural setting, that would take some crying!) Jesus could have avoided all that messy, exhausting emotional stuff; all he had to do was tell them he was on his way to resurrect their brother. But he did not. He wept.

Sidebar: I have heard some suggest that Jesus wasn't weeping over the loss of Lazarus at all, but over the unbelief of his sisters. Think about it. Jesus is weeping and sobbing and the people say, "Behold how much he loves them." Jesus, with tears still streaming down his checks says, "Love them? I'm crying in frustration and disappointment over them!?" Isn't that a nice picture? Appalling if you ask me!

No, he saw their tears as appropriate because he knew Death would not be silenced by the miracle. Calling Lazarus forth from the tomb was a temporary reprieve not a stay of sentence; eventually the grave clothes would have to be put back on (okay, not he "same" ones, but you see the point.) It was only a delay.

The Buddhist say all life is suffering. I am no Buddhist. There is much joy and celebration in life. There are high moments fit for laughter and mirth. But the reality is, this life brings suffering to us all sooner or later. Sooner for most. Like a splinter beneath a child's fingernail. Ouch! That hurts! The certainty that mother knows how to use tweezers to remove the splinter, does not stop the pain. It does, however, give the hurt child both a sense of direction and a motivation to hurry! So too, the pain of this moment can drive us to the Lord. Thank God however, we don't need to minimize our sorrow or apologize for our confusion. Rejoicing may come with the morning... but sorrow lasts for this present night and it can feel like it will never end. One day he will wipe every tear from our eye... but now the tears may flow unabated... without guilt.

We need to be careful religious beliefs aren't used to deny or marginalize honest responses to what Hamlet called "the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune." Denial is a phase of grief, but I don't think God intends that we use Him as an excuse to bunker down there. If you feel awkward around people who are suffering, beware taking the easy way out for yourself by offering them verses like Romans 8:28. (Some passages are best self-applied.)

When you are with those who suffer, dare to be with them in silence. Words mean much less than being fully present - attending. When they talk, quiet your thoughts so you can listen. To often we strive to formulate a "come back." We feel responsible for "knowing what to say." But simple answers can be an insult to the depth of what they are feeling. Give yourself permission to be silent. Try to understand what they are experiencing. Do not put yourself in their shoes... rather be willing to catch a glimpse of what is like for THEM to be in their shoes. And if tears come to your eyes in the process, let them come. Squelch any sense of self-consciousness - displace it with other-consciousness. Be slow to brush the tears away - feel them and own them. Thank God for them. He designed us this way.

We are broken people - all of us. We need connections with others but we are afraid and uncertain about how to make them. Don't hide behind your faith - rather look to Jesus for an example: Jesus wept and so should we all from time to time.

Finally, not only did Jesus weep with others but he wept for himself. Look at him in the Garden. No stoic there. No stiff upper lip arrogance. He asked his disciples to pray for Him. He wept before the Father. He was in agony and was without shame or pretense. Listening to some people, one can imagine they might scold Jesus for making such a big deal over his "light and momentary affliction."

I can hear them admonish, "Come on Jesus! This is the whole reason you came. You should be rejoicing right now instead of blubbering! Where's your faith? Don't you trust the Father?"

If Jesus wept and agonized over his trial, could we please stop with the nonsense about, "Just trust the Lord," as if that makes it all better. We can bother trust God AND feel the weight of sorrow without contradiction. Jesus did.

That's what I'm thinking tonight.

In Memorium of Ron Knirs and Henry Wire

• There Will Be A Day by Jeremy Camp

More Jeremy Camp music on iLike

In Memorium

BOONVILLE, Ind. — On March 6, 2010, our Lord and Savior called a beautiful angel home.

Ron, 72, of Boonville was born to the late Walter and Ruth Esther Knirs on January 2, 1938, in Bad Axe, Mich.

Ron served in the United States Navy on the USS Forrestal from 1957 to 1961 and retired after 37 years of employment as an electrician at Alcoa Warrick Operations.

He was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather.

Ron was a member of Boonville Wesleyan Church, where he loved to serve the Lord by teaching the Adult Sunday School Class and leading songs service. His life was a true testimony to everyone he knew.

He was a wonderful witness and prayer warrior even on the days when he was suffering the most.

Ron is survived by his best friend and loving wife of 48 years, Helen Teresa (Sights) Knirs; sons, Ron Jr. (Mary), Jeff Sr. (Shari); and daughter, Teresa (Jim) Walker; and grandchildren, Alicia, Andrew, Lindsey, Ron III, Jeff Jr., Justin and Katie. He is also survived by sisters, Donna McMullen of Bad Axe, Mich., Shirley Altmeyer of Henderson, Ky.; and brother, Bruce of Lum, Mich.; and many nieces and nephews.

Ron is preceded in death by a sister, Joyce Roth of Elkton, Mich., and brother, Walter Knirs of Boonville, Ind.

Visitation will be Friday, March 12, at Koehler Funeral Home-Boonville Chapel from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral service will be Saturday, March 13, at 10 a.m. at Boonville Wesleyan Church, with visitation from 9 a.m. until service time at the church.

Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Boonville with military rites by the Warrick County Veterans Memorial Services.

Memorial contributions in memory of Ron may be made to the American Cancer Society for Mesothelioma Research or Boonville Wesleyan Church.

Condolences and any special remembrance may be made online at www.koehlerfuneralhome.com.

Published in Courier Press on March 11, 2010 print

In Memorium

General Superintendent Emeritus Dies

Dr. J. D. Abbott, 1922 – 2010

Dr. J. D. Abbott, General Superintendent Emeritus of The Wesleyan Church, died Saturday, March 6, 2010, in Elkhart, Indiana, at the age of 87. Dr. Abbott was elected to the Board of General Superintendents at the 1968 merging conference of The Wesleyan Church, having previously served as General Superintendent of the precedent Pilgrim Holiness Church. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, at the Miller-Stewart Funeral Home, 1003 S. Main St., Middlebury, Indiana. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, at the Middlebury Church of the Brethren. Services will be conducted by Pastor Dan Petry, with Dr. Aron Willis, superintendent of the Indiana North District of The Wesleyan Church, giving the homily. Burial will be in Grace Lawn Cemetery, Middlebury, Indiana.

He was born Sept. 29, 1922, in Wyoming, Del., to John Wesley and Mary (Boggs) Abbott. On July 11, 1943, in Dover, Del., he married Gladys Kirkendall. She survives along with two sons, John D. Jr. (LeAnn) Abbott of Indianapolis and Kenneth W. (JoAnn) Abbott of Bristol; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Converted and sanctified in early childhood, Dr. Abbott became a member of the Pilgrim Holiness Church and graduated from the former Eastern Pilgrim College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Ordained by the Pittsburgh District Conference in 1944, he was a Wesleyan minister for over 50 years, pastoring churches in Chestertown, Maryland; Richeyville-Bentleyville, Pennsylvania; Warren, Pennsylvania; and Cambridge, Maryland.

As a leader in the Pittsburgh district he served as youth and Sunday school secretary, and was district secretary from 1945-1949. In 1953, he was elected district superintendent of the former Eastern district, and served for seven years.

Elected to General Church office in the Pilgrim Holiness Church in1960, Dr. Abbott was Secretary of General Sunday Schools and Youth; Executive Director of Pilgrim Pension Plan; and General Secretary-Treasurer. In 1966, he was elected General Superintendent of the denomination. At the merger of the former Wesleyan Methodist Church and the Pilgrim Holiness Church, he was elected as one of four General Superintendents and consequently served on the Board of General Superintendents of The Wesleyan Church for twenty years. In 1988, he was appointed General Superintendent Emeritus of the Church.

The current Board of General Superintendents, in expressing appreciation for Dr. Abbott’s service, said, “As a younger leader himself at the time, he gave the prime years of his life to shaping the young Church’s government and values, overseeing massive corporate restructuring, clarifying the Church’s theological identity, and shepherding it through times of great threat to its future, as well as tremendous opportunities for growth.”

He served on various boards, including Owosso College, Eastern Pilgrim College, the Christian Holiness Association, the National Association of Evangelicals, and the World Methodist Council.

J. D. Abbott’s honors included membership on the Delta Epsilon Chi (the honor society of the Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges), and was cited for “outstanding achievement” as a minister and granted the Alumni Achievement award by the EPC Alumni Association.

Get ‘Er Done!

By Stanley Parker

I love the story of the CEO who invited his top-level management team to his Ozark mountain estate for what they thought would be a leadership training weekend.

They were expecting to see graphs, statistics, and get a pep talk about production and sales. Instead, they were asked to put their notebooks down and grab shovels. “I want you to dig a ditch 2 feet wide and 10 inches deep around the perimeter of my home,” he told them. After speaking those words, he disappeared inside the home.

Shocked, not one person spoke for what seemed an eternity. Soon, their silence turned to questions. Then they started arguing about 8 or 9 inches being close enough to 10, and complaining about having risen to the top of the organization only to be forced to do manual labor. “He has enough money to pay for this to be done!” “I’d just as soon go back down the food-chain as to have to do this!” “I cannot believe I gave up my weekend for this!” The grumbling continued.

Finally, one of their colleagues, a newcomer to the corporation, spoke up and said, “Fellows, who cares why he told us to do this, let’s work together and just do it!”

With those words, the front door to the mountain estate opened and the CEO reappeared. “Gentlemen,” he said, as he grabbed the new team members hand, “I’d like you to meet your new Executive Vice-President.”

There are at least 3 things we can learn from this story:

1) When the Lord doesn’t explain something to us, it’s because we don’t need to know the details.

2) When the Lord doesn’t speak to us as we think He should, it’s because He’s working things out in His own way and timing.

3) When He tests us on one level, it’s because He’s getting ready to take us to the next. So be careful how and when you question Him.

Remember: “God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform… Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; the clouds you so much dread are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace; behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face. Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan His work in vain; God is His own interpreter, and He will make it plain.” (William Cowper, Scottish Psalter, 1615).

In Memorium

Two of our long time members went home to be with Jesus today. We will miss them greatly, but rejoice knowing they are in the presence of Jesus. Ron Knirs, Sr. served faithfully as board member, Sunday School teacher, song leader, maintenance man, among other duties. Henry Wire served and attended Boonville Wesleyan as long as his health allowed him to do so. His funeral was at Bradley's Tuesday March 9th. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families. Funeral arrangements are pending for Ron at Koehler Funeral Home in Boonville. The funeral will be held at Boonville Wesleyan Church on Saturday March 13. There will be a memorial service at the funeral home Friday night at 7:00PM.

Church News

• This past Wednesday the residents and staff of Woodmont Health Campus presented Pastor Ed Ames a check for Boonville Wesleyan Church in the amount of $500.00. This was a token of appreciation for our Wednesday Night Praise & Worship service which is held there. They had been saving for several months.
• Pastor Ames still needs your baby pictures!
• March 13 is the Lady's Encouragers Meeting, hosted by Thersa Bratcher and Robynn Yoder.
  

• March 7th at 5:00PM we will be having our Birthday Bash in the Fellowship Hall. See if you can match everyone up with their baby picture!
  
• Birthdays this month: Assistant Pastor Joe Wriston,Pastor Ed Ames, Chris Burris, Josh Johnson.
• Kathryn and Eugene Heidorn will be celebrating their 52nd Wedding Anniversary on March 15th of this year.