The Grand Finale

Here is a display of some of my shell craft that I made for Camp Washington, for them to sell to help them in special needs in their camping programs. The currect director supplies me with the shells, and I design and make the crafts!

I am speaking here at Camp Washington at a youth camp in the month of May to some 50 campers and leaders,. It was a special opportunity for me to share my testimony of God's faithful leading in my life over the past some eighty years! They listened with such interest, that you could have heard a pin drop - well, maybe not a pin, but there was absolute attention. It was quite a nostalgic moment for me, as I was a Camp Director for twelve years in this very place.

The Great Finale!

During these days there is a great fervor and hype in the world of sports, as to who will be the final champion in the World Cup Finals. Billions of dollars have already been spent, and are being spent, in the preparations for, and current activities, not to mention the world wide travelling back and forth of players and spectators to that great country of Brazil.
However, unless something out of the ordinary happens, the determining day will come, when one team and one nation,  will be the winner of the World Soccer Cup! Have you ever wondered if the Scriptures address anything similar to this situation the world is in today?
In a letter written by the Apostel Paul to the Corinthians, Paul tells us something very interesting about  final results of  sports.  It mentions “the running of a race”.  From this we can glean truths valuable for all other sports as well, including soccer, or ball games, etc. Here the Apostle reminds the Church at Corinth, that in the sport of running a race, all runners take part, but only one will win the prize.  Isn’t that the same in what is happening over in Brazil today?
What’s more, the Apostle mentions that, the ones competing in the games, discipline themselves regularly by  exercising strenuously.  They do this that they might achieve a crown, which is only temporary. Then the Apostle goes on to remind the believers there at Corinth in the following manner: “Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Athletes excercis self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly , not do I box as though beating the air, but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.” (1 Cor. 9:24-26))
Dear friends of all ages, so enthusiastic these days in the World Cup Soccer Games, we just want to remind you that the Scriptures in no way are contrary to sports, but they do remind us that the final results of the winner is of short duration – it is not lasting; it is perisable.
During these days, the Media, in speaking of famous players of world soccer games, use the PAST TENSE, mentioning names of players who were once famous, but are only names in history now.  That glory is past, it was not lasting.
Would it not be much better, friends,  to give more attention to the Eternal Gospel which we can receive without money, without price, because the price has been paid for each and every one of us. However, even though the price has been paid, there remains this one fundamental truth: God created man in His image, giving him a will to make his own decisions.  A human being is not like an animal who is controlled by instinct. Even as birds and insects are governed by instinct, which is a form of law in them which guides them to immigrate from one place to another. However, we as human beings are created in the image of our Heavenly Father, who are responsible for his or her own decisions.  In God’s Word we read so clearly that the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, is to be proclaimed to all mankind, and that he who believes is saved, and he who does not believe is condemned already.
Dear friends, regardless of age, there is nothing more unpleasant in this world than to live day after day WITHOUT Christ as Savior and Lord.  Also, there is no greater JOY, even during times of suffering, then to be IN Christ Jesus, our Lord!
Do not forget, since Christ died and arose again for all mankind, the truth remains: those who believe are saved, and those who do not believe are  condemned.  Repent from your sin, and put your faith in the Son of God as your only Savior.
Then you will not have run in vain! You will receive the imperishable crown! Believe and run!