Have you ever driven by somebody’s house and seen something they had put at the end of the driveway to throw away and thought that would be something you’d like to have?  Or maybe you’re a garage sale pro.  Isn’t it amazing how many things some people want to get rid of, and how many others see a treasure in that item?

What’s even more amazing is how that happens in so many people’s lives.  They do things to mess up their lives, and they end up thinking they’ve become no better than garbage.  In fact, some people have even ended their own lives because they’ve lost all hope in themselves.  But the good news is that there is a potential treasure in every life.  It doesn’t matter how much we have fouled things up or wrecked our own lives with sin, God can turn any life around and make something wonderful out of what was once worthless…including you!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:32 — 16.7MB)

Have you noticed that people just don’t write letters anymore?  Even e-mail has been traded for texting and Facebook and Twitter.  We still get junk mail from every direction.  But it’s a rare occasion to get an old fashioned letter in you mailbox.  And you definitely don’t see letters like the one Paul wrote to the Christian church in Rome.

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CHAPTER FOURTEEN – A Strong and Healthy Body

A virus can actually use your own cells to reproduce.  It will infiltrate the cellular structure in your body, reproduce inside a cell, and then destroy the cell as it releases itself after multiplying.  So it not only grows in number, but it wreaks havoc with your cells to do so.

The same thing can happen in the church.  Wicked people can move in, start causing division and wreck a church.  So it’s wise to be very careful about how people in your church deal with things like disagreements, gossip, etc.

After all we are supposed to be one body.  And we don’t want our body weakened because people weaseled their way into church and started causing problems.

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CHAPTER THIRTEEN – Rebel Without a Cause

Don’t judge me!  How often have you heard those words.  But the interesting things is that as Christians we are called to judge.  Of course we are to be good judges and fair judges.  Because we are also called to be judged by others.  But we are called to be able to discern between right and wrong and to do what is right and avoid what is wrong and tell others to follow suit.  We aren’t to be oblivious of the world or to ignore other peoples behavior.  Instead we must live as holy examples for others to see and recognize as followers of Jesus.

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In the right hands a wrench can build an engine, a pen can write an epic, and a paintbrush can create a masterpiece.  But when it comes down to it, all those things are inanimate tools.  But what if the tool had a life of it’s own.  What if the brush could cooperate with the artist and help create a unique work of art together?  What if the Artist could put the brush in motion, and let go, and watch the paintbrush go on creating?

I know that sounds weird.  But we have a Master who wants to do amazing things with us, and we are not inanimate objects.  We are living, breathing, thinking, beings, with a will and creativity and desire.  So the real question is, how can you cooperate with the Master to create something beautiful with what he has made you to do?

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What’s life all about?  The things you do?  The places you go?  The people you know?

Or is it who you are?

Or does it go even deeper than that?

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If you could transform into anything, what would it be?

If you could transform into anyone, who would it be?

If you could transform your own life into something new, how would it be?

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Jesus is alive!  I don’t know about you, but I think that’s the best news ever.  And it’s crazy to think that the King of all creation ever had to die in the first place.  What kind of God would die for a bunch of wicked, rebellious, peons?  He certainly didn’t have to die.  He could wipe us all out with a snap of his fingers and completely get rid of the mess we’ve made of things.  But he hasn’t.  He sacrificed himself to give us the hope of finding a brand new life in him.  What an amazing gift.  He must really love us!  And we can count on him and all the promises he made because he is alive.  Praise the Lord!

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CHAPTER ELEVEN – Why Does a Dog Wag Its Tail?

I love it when a plan comes together.  And one of the really cool things about God is that he has a great plan.

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CHAPTER TEN – Rock On

What is your life built on?  Do you base your beliefs on anything solid, or is it just the way you feel?  Would you like to be sure about who you are and where you’re going in life, and what the purpose of all this is?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:02 — 25.6MB)