“So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”¹

We are never too old to serve the Lord. Caleb, forty-five years earlier, was one of the twelve spies Moses sent to spy out the Promised Land and one of the two who came back with a glowing report. At age eighty-five he still wants to serve the Lord.

Admittedly, folks lived much older back then but no matter how old we are (except for extenuating circumstances), we are never too old to serve the Lord—even if all we can do is pray.

According to Today in the Word, “Cervantes completed Don Quixote when he was nearing 70. Clara Barton, at 59, founded the American Red Cross. Goethe finished the dramatic poem ‘Faust’ at 82. Verdi composed ‘Othello’ at 73, ‘Falstaff’ in his late seventies. Benjamin Disraeli became Prime Minister of England for the second time at 70.”

When it comes to achieving anything worthwhile (especially serving God), it is availability—not age-ability—that counts.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, I’m available, please make me usable and use me every day in some way to be a part of what you are doing in the world today. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Caleb (Joshua 14:10-12, NIV).

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Jerusalem: Easter Sunday. It is sunrise. Jesus is alive. He is risen. He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!

Click HERE to hear the magnificent “Hallelujah Chorus” from George Frederic Handel’s “Messiah” – sung by the MIT Chamber Chorus¹

Surely He [Jesus] has borne our griefs

And carried our sorrows;

Yet we esteemed Him stricken,

Smitten by God, and afflicted.

But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray;

We have turned, every one, to his own way;

And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all

(Isaiah 53:4-6, NKJV).

But the angel answered and said to the women [Mary Magdalene and the other Mary], “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you”

(Matthew 28:5-7, NKJV).

• • •

2000 years ago: “When they [the religious leaders] heard this [Peter and the disciples preaching about Jesus Christ], they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed them: ‘Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God” (Acts 5:33-39, NIV).

In a letter to the editor of the New Zealand Herald newspaper, Barrie McClymont, director of the ACTS International in New Zealand wrote:

“In 1988 I was visiting Universal Studios in Hollywood as a tourist when I witnessed a few hundred people in a nearby section protesting against the film ‘The Last Temptation of Christ.’ While I understood their purpose I felt that such a public protest was simply drawing attention to the film pointlessly.

“Sure enough the film died a natural death as a piece of nonsense. Most folk today cannot even recall its existence. Over my years I have watched a number of easily forgotten attempts to challenge Christianity with material like the ‘Da Vinci Code.’ These theories died in short order as will the current material.

“The sub-leader in Monday’s New Zealand Herald from the Sunday Telegraph correctly related the material to the G. K. Chesterton quote that ‘when a man stops believing in God, he doesn’t then believe in nothing, he believes in anything.’ The only reason the current Da Vinci Code gets wide attention [in New Zealand] is substantially related to the copyright debate and not to its veracity. These things die on their feet.”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, may all the kaffufle and ‘konfuzion’ caused by The Da Vanci Code book and movie by Dan Brown only cause millions of people worldwide to search for and find the truth about the real Jesus Christ. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Note: Be sure to read the article, “Jesus Christ: Is He God or Man?” at http://tinyurl.com/lu577

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“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”¹

Yesterday we talked about depression that has a physical cause. The cause can also be emotional. If so, complete honesty with yourself, a trusted friend (and/or a qualified counselor where needed), and God about your true feelings is the first and all-important step in overcoming this type of depression.

Questions such as the following can be helpful: Am I hurt or angry? Am I not forgiving someone? Are my needs for love and acceptance being met? Have I learned to recognize and express my feeling creatively? Have I resolved any impaired relationship or feelings of guilt? Am I using my abilities? Do I have a purpose for living with worthwhile work and meaningful goals? Have I accepted full responsibility for my life and my feelings?

Merely talking about problems or feelings is not helpful. We need to see, confess and resolve the feelings that are the root cause of the depression.

Is the cause mental; that is, in one’s negative thinking? Remember, when we feel down, we tend to dwell on self-defeating, negative thoughts. Practice exchanging these for positive affirmations such as, “Thank you God that you love and accept me as I am, and because you do, I love and accept myself too.” Concentrating on positive thoughts—even though you don’t feel like it—and doing something worthwhile to help get your thoughts off yourself is also helpful for overcoming depression.

Is the cause spiritual? Dr. Paul Tournier, world-renowned Swiss medical doctor and psychiatrist, states, “All my experience has taught me the limitations of medicine and psychology, because the supreme and universal need of man is to find God.”

Augustine (AD 354-430) aptly described man’s need for God this way: “You have made us for yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.”

Man finds total inner peace and wholeness only as he is in harmony with himself, others and God.

If you are depressed, talk to your doctor, a close friend, your pastor, or a competent counselor. Live a balanced life and remember, with competent help, faith, and persistence you can overcome depression. Above all, talk to God. He loves you and cares for you. Ask him to direct you to the help you need, to give you the courage to face the cause/s of your depression, and to help you grow through your pain.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, whatever unresolved issues I have in my life, please give me the courage to admit that I have a problem and need help. Deliver me from the sin of denial and lead me to the help I need—be they physical, emotional, mental or spiritual—to understand and overcome my problems. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Philippians 4:8 (NIV).

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“Don’t sin by nursing your grudge. Don’t let the sun go down with you still angry—get over it quickly.”¹

Yesterday we talked about depression that has a physical cause and some where the cause has its roots in emotional issues.

Furthermore, considerable depression is caused by repression of negative feelings such as anger. Dr. Theodore Isaac Ruben, eminent psychiatrist and author of The Angry Book, reminds us that when we deny our true feelings and smile when we feel like snarling, the suppressed anger can lead to anxiety, depression, insomnia, psychosomatic illness, alcoholism, frigidity, impotence, and downright misery.

Anger turned in on ourselves can drive us down into a spiral of depression. No wonder the Bible advises, “Don’t sin by nursing your grudge. Don’t let the sun go down with you still angry-get over it quickly.”

Depression can also be caused by a denial of emotions. This is why the healthy reaction to adverse situations is to accept our feelings and express them creatively-verbally or through writing.

Mental causes. Faulty thinking is another cause of depression. Many counselors believe that feelings follow thoughts. That is, negative feelings follow negative thoughts while positive feelings follow positive thoughts.

While we may not have control over many of life’s circumstances, we do have control of our thinking. By disciplining the mind, choosing positive thoughts, and doing something constructive can help change our moods.

This is why the Bible taught centuries ago, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”²

Spiritual Causes. Man is much more than a physical and emotional being with a need for food, rest, exercise, and loving relationships. He is also a spiritual being with a need for a relationship with God. An impaired relationship with Him or anybody else can cause depression. Unresolved guilt, failing to forgive all who have ever hurt us, rejecting God’s call to follow him, or resisting his will can also cause miserable depression.

To overcome depression, no matter what its origin, we obviously need to discover and resolve its cause or causes.

Is the cause physical? A thorough medical examination can help answer this question. A balanced diet, proper nutrition and hormone balance, adequate rest, and regular exercise are all crucial to overcoming depression, worry and anxiety. In some cases where there is a chemical deficiency or imbalance in the brain, a doctor may see the need to prescribe anti-depressant drugs.

To be concluded ….

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, when and if I am depressed or anxious, please lead me to the help I need to face and resolve the causes whatever they are. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Ephesians 4:26 (TLB).
2. Philippians 4:8 (NIV).

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“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”¹

When his father had a sudden heart attack and died, Jack Lawson was devastated. He withdrew from friends and family, was unable to sleep at night, and just couldn’t stop crying. It took him a good six months to resolve the resulting depression, but afterwards he said he felt “better put-together than before.”

Depression is something many of us grapple with at some time or another. As Dr. Frederick Flach, professor of psychiatry at Cornell University, explained, depression is a normal reaction to many of life’s situations, such as the loss of a loved one, a valued object, or job, or experiencing divorce.

Depression is only destructive if we fail to deal with and resolve it. When we work through it, our life, like Jack Lawson’s, can be enriched. Until resolved, however, its symptoms can be very painful and include a loss of self-esteem, appetite or libido. It can induce indecisiveness, alcoholism, sleeplessness, irritability, bad temper, tearfulness, dejection, procrastination, apathy, headaches, backaches, chronic fatigue, nausea, digestive upsets, and many other ills.

Its causes can be many and complex. They can be physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. There are no simple answers, but once we understand and treat the cause or causes, we can resolve and get on top of our depression.

Physical Causes. For several years Joan was plagued by fatigue and depression. A thorough medical examination showed that she had low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). After a short time on a suitable diet she was back to her old, bright self.

Physical exhaustion, burnout, an unbalanced diet, too much refined sugar, lack of exercise, a chemical deficiency in the brain, or hormonal changes can make people vulnerable to depression too. The latter is especially true for women during their menstrual cycle or pregnancy, immediately following the birth of a child, or during menopause.

Emotional Causes. Some depression is the result of normal mood swings that most healthy people experience at some time. Other depression can have its roots in painful childhood experiences such as physical or sexual abuse, neglect, or from a feeling of not being fully loved. Lack of purpose without meaningful work and worthwhile goals, not using one’s abilities, too few friends and loneliness, unmet needs, and unfulfilled dreams, can all cause or increase depression as well.

To be continued ….

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, whenever I am feeling down too much for too long, please help me to admit and face my problem realistically, and seek your help and that of a trusted friend, pastor or counselor wherever needed, and to find the help needed to treat the causes. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Psalm 43:5 (NIV).

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"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline" (2 Timothy1:7, niv).

As we have been discussing this week true love has many characteristics, another of which is as follows:

Love is romance. I read about one woman who had been married for 25 years. She was in her front yard when the newlywed man from across the street arrived home from work. His wife rushed out the door to greet him and they stood embracing for a long time.

The observing woman got the message. When her husband came home that evening she did likewise. The rewards of all such romantic gestures are well worth the effort. And men, don't forget that our ladies love a rose from time to time and other "little things" that make them feel loved and important. A good tip for keeping romance alive, as one person suggested, is to have an affair—with your wife!

Love is also a commitment. Love that lasts is a commitment of one imperfect person to another imperfect person. It means that no matter what, I am committed to you and to your growth. I will be what you need me to be—not necessarily what you want me to be. If you need me to be loving and affectionate, I will be loving and affectionate. Or, if for your growth you need me to be lovingly tough and firm, I will be lovingly tough and firm. Within the bounds of my own imperfections I will always strive to do and be what is best for your growth.

This kind of commitment means that one will not try to manipulate the other person to get his or her own way, but will at all times maintain gut-level, open and honest communication. It isn't easy, but it is the way of love.

Love is spiritual. Love is not only physical and emotional, it is also spiritual. For instance, sociologist Steven Nock of the University of Virginia, studied the link between religion (the spiritual) and the family. He concluded that couples who attend church regularly are 42 percent more likely to be still married for the first time than couples who don't go to church.

However, it's more than just going to church that makes a marriage happy. It's commitment that makes the difference. Those truly committed to their spiritual faith are 23 percent more likely to have a "very happy" marriage than couples who don't go to church.

The point is when we respond to God's love, he gives us "a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline"—all essential for cultivating loving relationships. So, if you don't attend church regularly, why not start this week. Find a church where love, friendship, and affection are expressed. This, too, can help to greatly enrich your love life.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to realize that among the many requirements for lasting loving relationships is a commitment, not only to my partner, but also a deep commitment to you. Help me always to live in harmony with your will and keep you in the center of my life and relationships. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

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"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise…. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit … always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ" (Ephesians 5:15, 18, 20-21, niv).

In continuing our three-part series on "The Art of Staying in Love" we need to understand that much negative behavior in adults as well as children is caused by not feeling adequately loved. This may have its roots in present relationships or from unmet childhood needs. Either way, when people are acting negatively or yelling, they are hurting and, in a way, however clumsily, are yelling for help. If we can see this and take the time to understand the real cause behind their behavior instead of taking it personally and yelling back, we can go a long way in strengthening our love relationships. Admittedly, this isn't easy but we do need to work at it.

Love is also accepting responsibility. Most of us bring the excess baggage of unresolved issues from the past into our close relationships. For example, the man who didn't get along with his mother and is still angry at her will inevitably take out his hostility on his wife and family. Or the woman who felt mistreated by her father or some other significant male and is distrustful of men will take out her hurt and anger on her husband, and so on.

If we desire to stay and grow in love, it is imperative that each of us accepts responsibility for resolving our inner conflicts that cause dissension in our present relationships. We were not responsible for our upbringing but we are now totally responsible for what we do about resolving any negative effects our past had on us.

Love is more than sex. Love is much more than a physical relationship. It is also an emotional relationship. The man who ignores the emotional needs of his wife and expects to receive a warm response in bed is inviting frustration. Women are not machines to be turned on at will. Sex starts in the kitchen at six, not in the bedroom at nine, ten, or eleven—or even later. A long-lasting physical relationship is the result of an ongoing healthy, long-lasting emotional relationship.

On the other hand, the wife who no longer shows any interest in her husband's life outside the home feels totally shocked when she discovers that one of the younger women at the office has. Many men (and women too) who get involved in extra-marital activity, don't do it so much for sexual reasons but for companionship—someone who will listen to them and make them feel important and appreciated.

To be concluded …

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be understanding of and always sensitive to the needs of my partner and my children (if you have any). Help me always in all ways to be 'as Jesus' to them and they, seeing Jesus in me, will want the same for themselves. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

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"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" (Ephesians 5:25, niv).

What is more exciting and exhilarating than falling in love? Is there anything?

Sadly, though, many of us have learned that it's just as easy to fall out of love as it was to fall into it. And while finding love and affection is one of our greatest personal needs, why is it that so many fail to stay in love?

Falling in love can be the start of a loving relationship, but lasting relationships don't just happen; they grow. In many ways nurturing a relationship is like tending a garden. Neglect it and it dies. Constant care and cultivation—including the following suggestions—are needed to keep love alive and growing.

Love is being there. One of the chief ingredients of love is to give another person your presence. Without presence, as Dr. David Augsburger says, love receives an invitation to die.

Presence is not only spending physical time with another person but also giving him or her your undivided attention when you are with them. It includes being sensitive to his/her feelings and aware of his/her needs. It means not only hearing with your ears but, much more so, hearing with your heart.

For instance, recently I visited with a friend who spent the entire time talking about his interests and concerns. I tried to share some of my interests, too, but felt as if my words fell on deaf ears. There was no experiencing of mutual presence—the basis for all meaningful relationships including friendships.

Love is understanding. Most behavior is caused or motivated. Once we understand this, we can be much more accepting and loving. For example, one father I know was having difficulty with one of his two children. One was the "perfect" child, the other constantly rebelling.

"Is one of your children a favorite?" I asked the father. With a tinge of embarrassment he admitted the "good" child was. "Do you think this could be the cause of your difficult son's negative behavior?" I asked again. The answer was obvious.

To be continued …

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to have an understanding heart and be sensitive to the needs of my partner, my children and/or my friends. Help me to listen with my heart, be understanding and accepting, and always be present for those I love. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

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1. IMPORTANT MESSAGE RE SPOOFING

2. FEDERAL MARRIAGE AMENDMENT

3. FOR U.S. CITIZENS … be sure to register to vote

1. IMPORTANT MESSAGE RE SPOOFING

PLEASE NOTE: Your Daily or Weekend Encounter may be a target for deceptive emails.

As part of ACTS' efforts to protect our subscribers, we are notifying you of important information that we received suggesting that your Encounter subscription may be a target for deceptive emails, otherwise known as "spoofing" or "phishing." These emails are designed to appear as if they were sent from a trusted online company or organization that you have had contact with, such as ACTS, ACTS International, Daily Encounter, and/or Weekend Encounter.

Very often the email message that appears to come from Daily or Weekend Encounter or from ACTS has an attachment with a virus. So be aware of any such email messages as we never send any of our Daily, Weekend, or Prayer Encounter messages with attachments to our subscribers. NEVER!

What You Can Do To Protect Yourself:

1. Never provide personal or financial information in response to an email request: ACTS will never ask you to supply any personal or financial information.

2. Look out for suspicious-looking emails: If you find an email that you suspect may be fraudulent, don't even open it. Just delete it.

3. Do not download any attachments that appear to come from ACTS, Daily Encounter or Weekend Encounter: ACTS will never send you an email attachment, or ask you to download any attachment for any reason.

As you may already know, spoof (deceptive email) is becoming an increasingly common problem impacting large online companies, organizations and their customers and/or subscribers. So just be aware and follow the above instructions and you will be protected.

Because of the work we do in publishing the gospel and Christian message, we can expect to be attacked and misused more and more.

Also, make sure you have good anti-virus software installed on your computer and always keep it up to date.

2. FEDERAL MARRIAGE AMENDMENT

Debate on the Federal Marriage Amendment has begun. However, if you or your friends have not yet signed the Stand for Marriage petition, it is not too late. We must continue to rally support, especially while the debate is under way.

To sign the Stand for Marriage petition:

http://www.cfra.info/31/petition.asp?RID=4297939

3. FOR U.S. CITIZENS …

Each election year, Christians are offered the opportunity to make their voices heard. When the Christian votes, he or she is allowed the chance to set the moral tone for the future of local, state, and national leadership. It is critical that Christians fulfill their biblical obligation and take advantage of their right to vote.

Join the MillionVotes Campaign!

A team of one million registered Christian voters could change our nation this year! That's why the Center for Reclaiming America has launched MillionVotes.com, an effort to identify and equip one million registered Christian voters who will pray and vote in this year's election.

To register go to:

http://www.millionvotes.com/143/petition.asp?PID=5849461

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