Core Value #5 and The Rest of the Story

Dear Crosswalkers,

This Sunday we will look at Core Value #5 for a life that really matters – SHARING THE GOOD NEWS.  Author Kevin Harney tells the following story in his book Seismic Shifts:

It was a battle. A wrestling match. A test of wills. Every day, at exactly the same time, Margaret would go to the bathroom cabinet, open it, and take out a huge bottle of Castor oil. Then she would head to the kitchen to get a tablespoon. At the sound of the drawer opening and the silverware rattling, Patches, her Yorkshire terrier, would run and hide—sometimes under the bed, at other times in the bathtub or behind Margaret’s recliner. Patches knew what was coming.  Someone had convinced Margaret that her beloved dog would have strong teeth, a beautiful coat, and a long life if she gave him a spoonful of Castor oil every day. So, as an act of love every 24 hours, she cornered Patches, pinned him down, pried open his mouth, and—as he whimpered, squirmed, and fought her with all his strength—poured a tablespoon of Castor oil down his little doggie throat.  Then one day, in the middle of their battle royal, with one sideways kick, Patches sent the dreaded bottle of Castor oil flying across the kitchen floor. It was a momentary victory for the canine, as Margaret let him go so she could run to the pantry and grab a towel to clean up the mess.  When Margaret got back, she was utterly shocked. There was Patches licking up the spilled Castor oil with a look of satisfaction only a dog can make.  Margaret began to laugh uncontrollably.  In one moment, it all made sense.  Patches liked Castor oil.  He just hated being pinned down and having it poured down his throat.

Do you agree with me that this has an application to faith sharing?  The message is wonderful; the methods often leave something to be desired.  Good news was meant for sharing, but we all feel intimidated about the methods of sharing that good news.  This Lord’s Day we will see why faith sharing is such a central core value for living a life that honors the Lord!

Thank you so much for your prayers last week regarding Pastor Oseme of Haiti.  He was kidnapped and threatened with death if a ransom wasn’t paid.  When we learned of his release, I let you know, and we praise God for answering our prayers.  Here is the rest of the story:

It turns out Pastor Oseme was with another, more prominent pastor, and that more prominent pastor was the one targeted by the kidnappers.  Pastor Oseme was included in the kidnapping simply because these fellow pastors were travelling together.  Interestingly, the ransom for the prominent pastor was $7,500 and for Oseme it was only $1,500.  For having a smaller church and less prominence his ransom price was significantly discounted!  It makes me reflect on how we value life.  Of course the biblical world view says that all life is of infinite value because we are created by God and we have eternal souls!  Back to our story, the bottom line is that both families paid the ransom and secured the release of the pastors (I was told that the kidnappers settled for $6,000 for the prominent pastor because that was all that could be raised.  I guess he wasn’t as prominent as they thought!).  In a perfect world the kidnappers would have repented or at least been captured.  So while this wasn’t the perfectly ideal outcome, I believe that given the extremely unsettled situation in Haiti in the earthquake’s aftermath, this was a wonderful result.  If Pastor Oseme was my son, I would be rejoicing.   Dallas Elder, the Executive Pastor of Grace Covenant, extends his heartfelt thanks for our prayers!    See you Sunday!

Love in Jesus, Pastor John