A Stranger

The stranger entered the church and took a seat near the front of the church. At first, people only noticed that his clothes did not measure up to those of the rest of the congregation, but then finally someone began to count and realized that he had chosen Mrs. Oddbody's pew.

No one had sat in Mrs. Oddbody's pew in years. No one except Mrs. Oddbody, of course. No one else dared. Neighbors whispered to one another, daring to speculate about what Mrs. Oddbody would do when she made her grand entrance.

They would not have long to wait for soon Mrs. Oddbody arrived at the back of the church and began her trek down the aisle without a clue as to what awaited her. As she neared the front of the church, she began to count as she always did. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. When she got to eight, she saw someone sitting there, so she began to count again only to come up with the same conclusion.

She inched forward to where the stranger could see her, hoping he would understand and beat a hasty retreat. The stranger looked at her and smiled, but she did not return his smile.

When it was obvious he had found his final resting place, as far as this service was concerned; she let out an indignant “Excuse me” and pushed past him into the pew.

As the service began, the stranger could not help but notice she was more concerned with him occupying part of her pew than she was getting anything from the service.

They came to a point in the service where the pastor invited everyone to come to the altar and pray. The stranger arose and went forward. There was no need for him to hurry, because this did not seem to be a part of anyone else's exercise program that morning.

He fell to his knees and began in earnest prayer. He prayed for quite some time until it seemed like someone had tapped him on the shoulder. Someone had. He rose up only to be asked by a man if he could return to his seat so the pastor could get on with the sermon.

He complied and arose to return to his seat. As he arrived back at row eight, he noticed that the lady had scooted over to occupy the aisle seat once occupied by him. This time she smiled a triumphant smile.

He said, “Excuse me” as he moved past her into the pew. She had hoped that her sitting forward in the pew would discourage him from trying this, but her hopes were soon dashed. As he sat down he turned as to return her smile and he found out her smile had already gotten tired and had been replaced by a bad case of persimmons.

The service continued and concluded at the expected hour in order to keep the congregation there as long as the pastor. Besides, this pastor had heard what happened to his predecessor. He once ran into the kickoff of a big football game and nothing hurts a congregation more than a pastor who runs into the kickoff. Of course, no pastor has done such a dastardly thing twice without being sent to a cannibalistic country as a missionary.

Before the lady could leave, the stranger turned to her and reached out his hand to shake hers. Taken by surprise the stranger had managed to clasp her hand before she could pull it away.

As His nail-scarred hand took hers, it was as if scales fell from her eyes and for the first time she realized who this stranger was. Her tears did not flow, they gushed. He embraced her as they began to talk and after a few moments they headed toward the altar to pray. No one had noticed any of this as they were all too busy beating a hasty retreat.

The next Sunday people were immersed in typical pre-service conversation when a hush fell over the crowd as Mrs. Oddbody arrived. Not only was she accompanied by the stranger, but she had stopped by the orphanage and picked up a carload of boys which she instructed into the pew ahead of her. Anyone could have heard a hymnal drop as Mrs. Oddbody looked up and everyone could see the glow on her face. She looked twenty years younger.

After Mrs. Oddbody and all the boys were seated, the stranger turned away and went to take a seat next to the man who had tapped Him on the shoulder the week before. The puffed-up man had no idea he was about to make a newfound friend.

Just as Jesus planned to do with this church, why not begin today to change the people whose hearts are not near to God.

Matthew 5:44 Jesus says, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

( By Steve Demaree )

More love, more power

One of the best compositions by Jeff Deyo...Excellent music and even more lovely are the words...

Come in as you are

I shook my head in disbelief.
This couldn't be the right place.
After all, I couldn't possibly be welcome here.
I had been given an invitation several times,

by several different people,
and I had finally decided to see what this place was all about.
But, this just couldn't be the right place.
Quickly, I glanced down at the invitation
that I clutched in my hand.
I scanned past the words,

"Come as you are. No jacket required"

and found the location.
Yes, I was at the right place.
I peered through the window again and saw
a room of people whose faces seemed to glow with joy.
All were neatly dressed, adorned in fine garments
and appeared strangely clean

as they dined at this exquisite restaurant.
Ashamed, I looked down at my own tattered
and torn clothing, covered in stains.
I was dirty, in fact, filthy.
A foul smell seemed to consume me and

I couldn't shake the grime that clung to my body.

As I turned around to leave,
the words from the invitation seemed to leap out at me...

"Come as you are. No jacket required."

I decided to give it a shot.
Mustering up every bit of courage I could find,

I opened the door to this restaurant

and walked up to a man standing behind a podium.
"Your name, sir?" he asked me with a smile.
"Jimmy D. Brown," I mumbled without looking up.
I thrust my hands deep into my pockets,
hoping to conceal their stains.
He didn't seem to notice the filth

that I was covered in and he continued,
"Very good, sir.

A table is reserved in your name.

Would you like to be seated?"
I couldn't believe what I heard!
A grin broke out on my face and I said, "Yes, of course!"

He led me to a table, and sure enough,

there was a place-card with my name written on it

in a deep, dark red.
As I browsed over a menu,
I saw many delightful items listed.

There were things like,
"peace," "joy," "blessings," "confidence,"

"assurance," "hope," "love," "faith," and "mercy."
I realized that this was no ordinary restaurant!
I flipped the menu back to the front

in order to see where I was at...
"God's Grace," was the name of this place.

The man returned and said, "I recommend the
'Special of the Day'.
With it you are entitled to heaping portions

of everything on this menu.
You've got to be kidding! I thought to myself.
You mean, I can have ALL of this?!
"What is the 'Special of the Day'?"
I asked with excitement ringing in my voice.

Salvation," was his reply.
"I'll take it," I practically cried out.
Then, as quickly as I made that statement,

the joy left my body.
A sick painful ache jerked through my stomach

and tears filled my eyes.
Between my sobs I said...
"Mister, look at me. I'm dirty and nasty.
I am unclean and unworthy of such things.
I'd love to have all of this, but, but, I just can't afford it."

Undaunted, the man smiled again.
"Sir, your check has already been taken care of
by that Gentleman over there,"
he said as he pointed to the front of the room.

"His name is Jesus."

Turning, I saw a man whose very presence
seemed to light the room.
He was almost too much to look at.
I found myself walking towards Him
and in a shaking voice I whispered,
"Sir, I'll wash the dishes or sweep the floors
or take out the trash.
I'll do anything I can do to repay You for all this."
He opened His arms and said with a smile,

Son, all of this is yours if you just come unto me.
Ask me to clean you up and I will.
Ask me to allow you to feast at my table
and you will eat.
Remember, the table is reserved in your name.
All you must do is accept this gift that I offer you."

Astonished, I fell at his feet and said,
"Please, Jesus. Please clean up my life.
Please change me and sit me at your table
and give me this new life."
Immediately, I heard the words,

"It is finished."

I looked down and white robes adorned my body.
Something strange and wonderful had happened.
I felt new, like a weight had been lifted
and I found myself seated at His table.

"The 'Special of the Day' has been served,"

The Lord said to me.

"Salvation is yours."

We sat and talked for a great while
and I so enjoyed the time that I spent with Him.
He told me, me of all people,
that He would like for me to come back
as often as I liked for another helping from God's Grace.
He made it clear that He wanted me

to spend as much time with Him as possible.
As it drew near time for me to go back
outside into the "real world,"
He whispered to me softly,

"And Lo, I am with you always."

And then, He said something to me

that I will never forget.
He said...

"My child, do you see these empty tables?"

Yes, Lord. I see them. What do they mean?"
I replied.

These are reserved tables...
but the individuals whose names

are on each place-card

have not accepted their invitation yet.
Would you be so kind as to hand out these invitations
to those who have not joined us as yet?" Jesus asked.

"Of course," I said with excitement as I picked up the invitations.

"Go therefore into all nations."

He said as I turned to leave..

I walked into God's Grace dirty and hungry.
Stained in sin.
My righteousness as filthy rags.
And Jesus cleaned me up.

I walked out a brand new man...

robed in white,
His righteousness.

And so, I'll keep my promise to my Lord.
I'll go. I'll spread the Word.
I'll share the Gospel... I'll hand out the invitations.

And I'll start with you.
Have you been to God's Grace?
There's a table reserved in your name,

and here's your invitation...

"Come as you are. No jacket required."

One solitary life

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village where He worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a house. He never went to college. He never visited a big city. He never traveled more than two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He did none of those things one usually associated with greatness. He had no credentials but himself…

He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied him. He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing, the only piece of property he had on earth. When he was dead, he was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race and the leader of mankind’s progress. All the armies that have ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned put together have not affected the life on earth of mankind as powerfully as that one solitary life.

( by Dr. James Allen Francis,
taken from turnbacktogod.com)