I have to admit, I'm not a fan of paying bills. Don't get me wrong, I pay them, but it's more as an unwilling participant than a fan. I never wake up saying "Yes! I get to pay more bills today." Nor do I say, Look honey! My paycheck has already been spent. Let's go celebrate." Rather, the checks get written, the books get balanced, and I praise God for providing us enough money this month to cover it all. It seems, at times, that the only check I'm ever on the receiving end of is a reality check, and I usually find those in the form of a past-due notice. Still, every once in a while I get to experience the eternal bliss of seeing the ever endeavored double zeros at the bottom of a final invoice. "Paid in full." I can't describe the amount of peace those words bring to my soul. I sometimes feel that they are my illusive Pegasus, and fabled Yeti. How awesome it was to see them at the bottom of my confirmation notice when the final installment was made on our car. I don't want to exaggerate the moment, but it was as if I had been freed after a horrific and lengthy incarceration. If you have ever purchased a new car, you might know what I mean. I have to wonder if John's readers felt the same way when they read his account of Jesus' death on the cross. He wrote, "When He had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit (John 19:30)." It is finished! John used the word 'tetelestai' (te-tell-es-tie), a common word used in business transactions in his day. No doubt that his Greek audience would have fully understood its meaning. The word was added to official documents to indicate that an account had been "Paid in full". In other words, the terms of agreement have been fulfilled, and the transaction was now finished. Jesus hung on the cross, the terms of His agreement with the Father have been fulfilled, and the transaction of payment for all man's sins is finished. Paid in full. I can't describe the amount of peace those words bring to my soul. It is no exaggeration to say that at that moment, all God's creation had been set free from a horrific and lengthy incarceration. Before that moment, freedom was our illusive Pegasus; leaving us nothing to look forward to beyond the balancing of our books at the judgment seat of God. It is finished, however, our freedom has just begun.

About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."

"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."

The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."

This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

The enemy constantly tries to remind us of our past, current and future sins. He is attempting to convince us that we are unclean and therefore unworthy to proclaim the Gospel of Christ. If we are not careful we fall into this trap of shame and regret and begin to keep Jesus to ourselves for fear of appearing to be a hypocrite. Satan finds great joy and victory in this mindset; if he can't change your eternity he certainly doesn't want you to influence anyone else's.

Jesus paid too high a price for us to be so easily be deceived and defeated. When the enemy comes, stand tall, raise your voice and tell him "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean," this is your promise from God. Claim it and proclaim whenever and wherever the enemy sneaks in.

In Him,

Pastor B

   When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon
Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more
than these?"
   "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
   Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
   Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly
love me?"
   He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
   Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." The third
time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love
me?"
   Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third
time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all
things; you know that I love you."
   Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth,
when you were younger you dressed yourself and went
where you wanted; but when you are old you will
stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress
you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus
said this to indicate the kind of death by which
Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him,
"Follow me!"

Have you fallen of your horse? There are many things in life that distract us and cause us to stop following after God. Peter had denied Jesus three times during his Jesus' trial. Peter had three opportunities to stand up for Jesus. Peter could have stuck up for his savior. But he didn't. Not that Jesus needed anybody to stand up for him. Jesus obviously could have taken care of things all by himself if he wanted to.

Fast forward to to John chapter 21. Jesus had been crucified, buried in a tomb, and had risen victoriously. Now Jesus, in his new resurrected body, was hanging out with Peter after a meal with the disciples. This has to be an awkward moment for Peter. Just the other day, he denied ever knowing Jesus. And now the two of them are alone with each other. (a cricket chirps) Jesus starts off the conversation: "Do you love me?" Three times Jesus asks this of Peter. In Peter's mind, he is probably remembering the three times that he denied Jesus. The third time, John (the author) tells us that Peter was hurt. It probably was one of those I was wrong and you are right moments. Those moments never feel good.

So now Jesus issues the challenge to Peter: "Get back in the saddle." Jesus tells Peter to look after the flock (the church). He then foretells the type of death Peter will undergo. And finally, Jesus says the same thing he told Peter years back when they first met: "Follow me."

So, again, I ask the question. Have you fallen of your horse? Have you stopped going to church? Stopped praying? Stopped reading the Word? Stopped telling others about Jesus? Have you gone back to that pet sin that keeps pulling you away from the straight and narrow? The answer is simple, yet challenging. Get back in the saddle. Peter knew that by getting back in the saddle, he would eventually die for his faith. Yet, he chose to follow. You may not have to die for your faith, but the road may still be challenging. Will you follow?

When I was six years old, I was invited to a birthday party by a neighbor kid who lived just down the street. He told me about all the cake and ice cream they were going to have; along with all the games and toys, and as he spoke my eyes began to bulge out from my little head. It was going to be the greatest party of all time, he said, and I wanted to go. I'm telling you, it was one of the most anticipated events of my six-year-old life, outside of Christmas and my own birthday of course. At six years old, all birthdays seem magical and the way he described this one to me I knew I had to be there. My mother and father went to the store and bought him a present. Then on the day of the party, they wrapped it up nicely, got me dressed, and sent me over to his house. They watched me walk down the street, and I was glad. After all, I'm a big boy now; I was 'invited' to a party. I can't have my parents walking me like I was a mere child. When I walked into the neighbor's house, I could hear all the neighborhood kids laughing and playing downstairs in the basement. Instantly I could feel the excitement overwhelming me. So I rushed down the stairs, and lo and behold, it was magical! There was food and candy everywhere, they had music, games, and the kids were all playing and having a good time. I was experiencing my first known moment of sensory overload. It was too much for my little brain to process. At least this is the way I remember it. Regardless, I was more than willing to battle my way through the bombardment of festive stimuli. Now, not wanting to be rude I found the boy of the hour as quickly as possible, wished him a happy birthday and gave him his present. Then all of a sudden, I heard another little boy laughing at the way I was dressed. Unfortunately, my little brain knew exactly how to process that bit of information. I was embarrassed, I didn't like it, and before I could turn and see who it was, all the little boys and girls began laughing at me, even the birthday boy. I remember thinking "Hay wait one minute, you can't laugh at me like that. This is a party! It's supposed to be magical, and I thought I was a big boy because I was invited". Those may not have been my exact thoughts, but that was the general feeling. The point is, at that moment, all my preconceived notions of the party disappeared, and the spectacular presentation of food and activity quickly faded away. What was left was a sad view on reality; this was just another day, and I was just another little boy, and this was just another room full of disappointment. So I did the only thing a six-year-old boy could do in that situation. I took some cake and went home with my little-boy heartbroken.

I'm reminded of that day whenever I read Solomon's description of Folly (Proverbs 9). She makes a tempting and seductive offer to all those who lack judgment (v. 16). She speaks to their desires and presents a feast of choice foods and wine until their little-boy and little-girl eyes are bulging out of their heads. She says "Let all who are simple come in here... Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious (vv 16-17)!" Folly will often tell us that this will be the greatest party of all time! Moreover, how satisfying it will be to our flesh. She is crafty and knows instinctively how to entice those who are weak. Her power is in our preconceived notions of how wonderful life will be if we dine with her. It is the sinful nature that hungers to eat at her table, and so, too often, people do. Unfortunately, similar to my party experience, the banquet is not what it seems. In addition, when the preconceived notions fail to come true, and the spectacular presentation of food and activities fade away, those who are found sitting at Folly's table get more than a sad look on reality. We are big boys and girls now, that much is true, and the results from our choices carry with it graver consequences than embarrassment. David refers to those feasting with Folly as "dead" and "in the depths of the grave (v 18)." Her invitation might say food, but hell and destruction is all you'll find on her menu. Now, Folly may be shrewd and lethal, but hers is not the only feast in town. For from her porch the lady Wisdom calls out to all those who might be seduced into Folly's presence. Her feast is also filled with choice foods and delicious wines, but unlike Folly, the lady Wisdom speaks to our spirit and not to our flesh. She says "Come, eat my food and drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake Folly and you will live; walk in the way of understanding (vv 5-6)." Now, we often read about the feasts of the Lord. It stands as a testimony of His provisions, as well as a reminder to His never ending favor towards man. Isaiah sings praise of it (Isaiah 25:6), Jesus compares heaven to it (Matthew 22:2, Luke 14:16), David finds strength in it (Psalm 23:5), and Wisdom offers life through it. It is the feast of the Lord that she sets before her guests, for she is the image of Christ. We read that the Lady Wisdom was before all creation (8:22-29), she was at God's side (8:30-31), she is found by all that seek her (8:17) and offers life to all that find her (8:35). With Wisdom comes the fear of the Lord, and the understanding she offers is knowledge of the Holy One (v 9:10). With Lady Wisdom our preconceived notions cannot disappoint, for it is written "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him (1 Corinthians 2:9)", and her presentation of the food and wine will never fade, for it is the body of Christ Himself (Matthew 26:26). In the end Folly's song will be nothing more than a dirge in comparison to the hymns we will be singing in the presence of Wisdom. The question that remains to be asked, and answered, is at whose table will you feast?