HOTEL LIFE

A friend of mine was telling me about the renovations at the church he attends. The foyer was designed as a hotel foyer instead of the traditional church foyer. The reason for this design was explained by this “we are just passing through this place and are here for just a short time”.
How appropriate for Christians!
In Matthew 24:35 we read “The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away.”
We walk a short walk while on this earth and this place we call home we need to call our hotel, a place where we are just staying for a short while.
In Luke 12:16-31 Jesus tells us the parable of the man who tears down his barns to build larger barns only to find that “your soul shall be required of you” (verse 20). This is a familiar parable to us, but later Jesus explains why we don’t worry about accumulating for the future, that God will take care of us.
In Luke 12:23 we read that” Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.”
Just like a hotel room, we spend the night, enjoy the breakfast bar and journey on. We leave the furniture behind, the silverware, the sheets, the cable t.v., the pool, the building and just leave with what we brought.
Our walk with Christ is so similar. We walk with Jesus daily, enjoy the blessings each day and leave this life with what we brought with us.
The best way to end this week’s thought is to let Jesus do the talking:
“But rather seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Luke 12:31

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
This scripture (John 8:32) has been played out this week in the events in Iraq. When the people of Iraq learned the truth about Saddam and why the U.S.A were there, well, the scenes on t.v. are telling the story. People wanting to be free don't fight the liberator.
Another story of how truth will change things is the article in the New York Times by Eason Jordan concerning CNN's conduct while reporting information from Iraq before the war (Times site requires registration). It has started a fire storm among many people about reporting, fairness and objectivity of reporters.
It is always that way. The truth will make you free. Sometimes learning the truth is not easy. As these two examples have shown. Truth will enlighten or humble, rejoicing or repentant, happy or sad. When the truth is told there should be 100% winners, but often there are losers, people who cannot or willnot hear the true
Jesus faced just that type of person. Many rejoiced at the freedom that His truth gave them, while others plotted to deny the truth and get rid of the teller of truth.
"But now you seek to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth which I have heard beside God;" John 8: 40.
" And because I tell you the truth, you do not believe Me." John 8:45
Telling the truth is hard. Just watch a little child struggle to tell the truth. Truth telling is not a human trait, but a learned one. It is easier to tell the truth, no matter how hard the consequences are, than to not tell the truth and deal with the consquences later, but humans still opt to hold back the truth.
Jesus told the ultimate truth, that He will set you free. That by His death and resurrection you will be free. Free from sin. Free from the death that sin brings to all people. Free from the curse of death that haunts men and women of all time.
Free from the question "when I die, what is next?"
People in Iraq are dancing in the streets with their new found freedom, while others are cursing and plotting to take it away, to stop the advance of freedom.
Where do you stand in the march of spiritual freedom?

"For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness" Romans 1:18

“a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;” writes the preacher in Ecclesiastes 3:4. And now is a good time to laugh.
Sent, via e-mail from my father-in-law, and off obviously the internet the following situations:
The police of a certain city were trying to talk a distraught man out of a house, where he had barricaded himself. After firing tear gas into the house (10 canisters) the police discovered the man was standing beside them, shouting out to give himself up.
A would be bank robber uses his finger and thumb to simulate a gun in a holdup. Usually you put your hand in your coat pocket. He did.
After his house burned down due to a faulty fire alarm system short, the man exclaimed, “This is worse than last year, when someone stole my newly installed security system!”
On the phone with 911, “My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart!”
“Is this her first child?” asked the 911 operator.
“No!” replied the anxious husband, “this is her husband!”

Laughter is great. It sure beats crying. Maybe sometimes it is best to laugh about it instead of crying about it. Just recently, researchers are stating that talking about problems just doesn’t help. That people who just get on with their lives cope better. But then others say no, no, we must have counselors and talk about it. Who knows?
Anyway, a good joke is worth the time to listen to and enjoy. I do find it interesting, using my electronic Bible, and searching for laugh, laughing, and laughter, that many of the uses of the word is used in a negative sense. Like you laughter will turn into tears, etc. There are not a lot of returns on the search for laughter.
But joy, wow! There are a lot of verses on joy and happiness.
And there is the real message today.
Laughter is fleeting, a moment in the sun that comes and goes. But happiness and joy are deeper. Down in the bones of the soul.
“And may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
Verse after verse about joy, you read how Christians counted it all joy in situation after situation. Only deep faith and trust in God will allow a person in any circumstance be that joyful.
Laughter can turn to sorrow in a heart beat, but joy will be there always.
“ But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy” (Galatians 5:22)
Laugh today, enjoy the day, remember, joy is here to stay.