$30 later and stilll no Tut

This last weekend my parents and younger brother Jacob visited us in Fort Worth. While they were here, we planned on going to see King Tut and the Sixth Floor museum in Dallas. When they arrived on Friday morning via airplane, we immediately went to Dallas for the day. It was a great day. The sun was out, the weather was cool, and the traffic was slim. We were all excited to go see the King Tut at the Dallas Museum of Art. Once we arrived, here is how the tour evolved:

After walking through a mile long empty rope course to the ticket master our line was headed for the entrance of the great unknown. The guard at the end of the rope line held us in anticipation for the signal for entry into the exhibit. The entrance was quiet, unnerving, and even awkward as the doors mechanically shut behind us. We were trapped! But we were anxious for it. After a thirty second spiel over the time travel, a video was played that intricately painted an image of ancient tourism that was to take place for the next ninety minutes. Upon the conclusion of the video, a wall opened up and there before us was...the statue head of King Tut. Oh yeah, this was going to be a breath taking exhibit. The tour was mazed with artifacts and idols with ancient Egyptian craftsmanship. Beautifully laid gold and hand crafted wood. Nothing was more glamorous than the ancient artistry that laid before me. But I could feel it. I could sense it. They are building us up to the climatic ending to this exhibit. I can't wait til' the end! Turning more corners and reading more facts, I could see the eyes of the people as they were educating their minds for something grand. The room was so concentrated that even people who hate to read were reading. Tut's tomb had drawn us all to scholarship. Everybody was intrigued and interested. I knew it was coming soon. We were approaching the room of Tut's treasures that were laid in his tomb. Just a couple more turns and we're there! Tut's exquisite chair; the golden sarcophagus'; the jewelry; radiant weaponry; everything a young pagan worshipper could ever dream of in the after life, all right before my eyes. Then it happened. I turned the corner, and there he wasn't! In the middle of the room, where King Tut's coffin should be on display is replaced by a projected image of his coffin. The gasp was so strong. Maybe, only for me. Where was my thirty dollar King? Maybe, he's in the next room. I easingly built my hope back to its peak only to find the last room lead all of us to the exit and gift shop.

What can I say? What could I do? After 3,000 years King Tut ripped me off.

Help Stop the Thirst

The following statements are posted on the LoveAlliance.net. Each statement (on the website) is referenced with credible sources to accurately lead you to understand the crisis at hand.

For some time Chenille and I have been faced with the hard reality that spending money on ourselves is selfish (regardless your annual income) and not thinking of others who could actually use the money to live. I have posted the following from the Love Alliance to persuade you to act.

I have also posted some other sites on the link listing to the right -->

Also, check out the Duncans latest post on Advent Conspiracy -->

- Every 15 seconds someone dies of a waterborne illness. [ref.]
- Currently, over 1 Billion people in the world do not have access to an improved drinking water source. [ref.]Every person must drink water to live. For these billion people, ever day is a gamble as to whether the thing they need to live will actually kill them.
- Only 2.5% of the world’s water is fresh water. Currently less than 1% is ready for human consumption. 65% of that 1% available drinking water is used up by only 10 of the 191 nations of the world. [ref.]
- 41% of the world does not have access to adequate sanitation facilities, making the likelihood of water contamination and waterborne illness increase greatly. [ref.]Imagine the likelihood of disease in a place where they have no choice but to allow the sewage to run in the streets. Many of these places do not have a protected water source allowing their already questionable water to become even more contaminated.
- More than 50 Million people drink arsenic-poisoned water in China and south Asia. [ref.] The clean water epidemic is not just confined to Africa. This crisis is cross-cultural and cross continental.
- The amount of money North America spends on soda every year would solve the clean water crisis. [ref.]The clean water crisis is an easily solvable problem if we would all simply come together.
- $1 provides one year of clean water for an African. [ref.]What seems like such a colossal problem to help all of a sudden becomes easily helpable. The cost of one item on a fast food value menu can utterly change a person’s life for a whole year.

Leaping Like Calves

I was asked to preach at my church this Novemeber 22, 2008. When asked, I immediately accepted the privilage with enthusiasm and began to search the Scriptures as to what I would preach. Everytime the Lord allows me to speak His Word I find it a great challenge to preach something I have never reasearched in depth in order to make myself disciplined to study. Therefore, I have decided to preach over Malachi 4. Lately, I have read this short book numerous times and God is slowly revealing to me His awesome plan of salvation through Christ. In this process of sermon prep, I wanted to share with you what the Lord has taught me through His Word.

Reading chapter 4 of Malachi it seems that verse 4 is an abnormal insert to the context of the coming of the "sun of righteousness" (v2). Read:

"'Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.'" (v4)

However, this verse is opposite of abnormal. At a first glance, confusion settles in as to why there is the need to adhere to these laws when a Healer is on His way. But, then after consideration it makes perfect sense in light of the gospel of Jesus.

Understand with me:

Galatians 3:10 says,

"For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, 'Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.'"

Explanation: In corolation to Malachi, God wants His people who are waiting for the coming Healer, to remember the laws so that they may realize that they are incapable of obtaining perfection in the law. You say, "that's obsurd!" Yes, there is hope for the one who realizes they are insufficient in comparrison to God's laws. Continue to read as Galatians says,

"Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for 'The righteous shall live by faith.'"(3:11)

So, what is the purpose of the law?

"the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith." (3:24)

When men realize that they are sinful in comparison to a perfect law, then are they ready to praise a righteous Savior who is capable to fulfill all the law in His life. This person is Jesus.

All that was stated above concludes to the picture painted in the rest of Malachi 4. Before Jesus actually makes His way to the scence, John the Baptist must come (v5) and prepare the hearts of those who found themselves empty in light of the law.

Law-->Inability to fulfill Law-->Recognition that I am a sinner-->I need a Savior-->Jesus is capable to fulfill the law in His life-->Jesus dies for the sins of the world-->I recognize Him as Savior and worship Him.

I hope that this short meditation has shed some light on your understanding for the need of a Savior. All Scripture does and should through the inclinations of our hearts point to Jesus and our need of Him. If I fail at this, then I fail at the preaching of the gospel.

Greg