<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.18904">
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT size=4>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Humor: Leading the Way</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">A new kind of plane was on its first flight. It
was full of reporters and journalists. A little while after takeoff, the
captain's voice was heard over the speakers. "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm
delighted to be your pilot for this plane's historic first flight. I can tell
you the flight is going well. Nevertheless, I have to tell you about a minor
inconvenience that has occurred. The passengers on the right side can, if they
look out their window, see that the closest engine is slightly vibrating. That
shouldn't worry you, because this plane is equipped with four engines and we are
flying along smoothly at an acceptable altitude. As long as you are looking out
the right side, you might as well look at the other engine on that side. You
will notice that it is glowing, or more precisely one should say, burning. That
shouldn't worry you either, since this plane is designed to fly with just two
engines if necessary, and we are maintaining an acceptable altitude and speed.
As long as we are looking out the plane, those of you on the left side shouldn't
worry if you look out your side of the plane and notice that one engine that is
supposed to be there is missing. It fell off about ten minutes ago. Let me tell
you that we are amazed that the plane is doing so well without it. However, I
will call your attention to something a little more serious. Along the center
aisle all the way down the plane a crack has appeared. Some of you are, I
suppose, able to look through the crack and may even notice the waves of the
Atlantic Ocean below. In fact, those of you with very good eyesight may be able
to notice a small lifeboat that was thrown from the plane. Well, ladies and
gentlemen, you will be happy to know that your captain is keeping an eye on the
progress of the plane from that lifeboat below."</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Sometimes we find ourselves in situations very
similar to that plane flight. Everything around us seems to be falling apart and
the person in charge seems to be as remote as the captain in the raft on the
ocean far below.</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">But the person in charge of our lives is not
remote. He is our Shepherd and he is leading the way. Leading us; giving us
eternal life; assuring us we will never perish; and, my friends, no one can
snatch you out of his hands.</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Lee Griess, Taking The Risk Out Of Dying, CSS
Publishing Company</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 5pt 0in">________________________________________</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">He Knows Our Names</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">There is an old story of a census taker who was
making his rounds in the lower East side of New York, who interviewed an Irish
woman bending over her washtub. “Lady, I am taking the census. What’s your name?
How many children have you?” She replied, “Well, let me see. My name is Mary.
And then there’s Marcia, and Duggie, and Amy, and Patrick, and...” “Never mind
the names,” he broke in, “just give me the numbers.” She straightened up, hands
on hips, and with a twinkle in her eye, said, “I’ll have ye know, sir, we ain’t
got into numberin’ them yet. We ain’t run out of names!” The image of God as the
Good Shepherd tells us that is the way it is with God. He knows us by
name.</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Donald B. Strobe, Collected Words, <A
href="http://www.sermons.com/"><FONT
color=#800080>www.Sermons.com</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">_____________________</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Sheep Know Their Shepherd</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">In her book The Preaching Life, Barbara Brown
Taylor tells of a conversation she had with a friend who grew up on a sheep farm
in the Midwest. According to him, sheep are not dumb at all. "It is the cattle
ranchers who are responsible for spreading that ugly rumor, and all because
sheep do not behave like cows. Cows are herded from the rear by hooting
cowboys with cracking whips, but that will not work with sheep at all. Stand
behind them making loud noises and all they will do is run around behind you,
because they prefer to be led. You push cows, her friend said, but you lead
sheep, and they will not go anywhere that someone else does not go first-namely,
their shepherd-who goes ahead of them to show them that everything is all
right."</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Sheep know their shepherd and their shepherd
knows them.</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">He went on to say that "it never ceased to
amaze him, growing up, that he could walk right through a sleeping flock without
disturbing a single one of them, while a stranger could not step foot in the
fold without causing pandemonium."</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Sheep & shepherds develop a language of
their own.</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Unknown Source</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">____________________</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">What Have You Heard?</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">A rabbi and his pupil were discussing God's
Word:</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Rabbi: Herschel, do you know the sacred
scriptures?</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Pupil: Yes, teacher, I have been studying
them.</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Rabbi: And, do you know the phrase, 'Thus have
I heard?'</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Pupil: Oh, yes, that is throughout the
scriptures.</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Rabbi: Herschel, what have you heard?</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Brett Blair, www.eSermons.com</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">_______________________________</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Stability Zones</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">In his book, Future Shock, Alvin Toffler
explains how, in this modern world of rapid change, confusion and over-choice,
we all need some kind of "stability zones" - regular habits, rituals, beliefs -
whatever it is that gives us a stable point of reference. It would be difficult
to deny the wisdom of Toffler's observation, or to miss its application to the
role of religious faith in our lives. The grace of God as revealed in Jesus, the
Christ, is surely our ultimate stability zone.</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Carl L. Jech, Channeling Grace, CSS Publishing
Company</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">____________________________</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><BR>What Is Unique About Christianity?</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The story of Jesus sitting and debating the Law
with rabbis reminds me of another debate that took place in a comparative
religions conference, the wise and the scholarly were in a spirited debate about
what is unique about Christianity. Someone suggested what set Christianity apart
from other religions was the concept of incarnation, the idea that God became
incarnate in human form. But someone quickly said, “Well, actually, other faiths
believe that God appears in human form.” Another suggestion was offered: what
about resurrection? The belief that death is not the final word. That the tomb
was found empty. Someone slowly shook his head. Other religions have accounts of
people returning from the dead.</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Then, as the story is told, C.S. Lewis walked
into the room, tweed jacket, pipe, armful of papers, a little early for his
presentation. He sat down and took in the conversation, which had by now evolved
into a fierce debate. Finally during a lull, he spoke saying, “what's all this
rumpus about?” Everyone turned in his direction. Trying to explain themselves
they said, “We're debating what's unique about Christianity.” “Oh, that's easy,”
answered Lewis…</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The conclusion to this illustration and for
many additional illustrations and sermons for Easter 4 can be accessed at <A
title=http://www.sermons.com/ href="http://www.sermons.com/"><FONT
color=#800080>www.Sermons.com</FONT></A>.</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>