“I cried every night, lost all my friends and respect. Every day I think – why am I still here? I have nobody, I need someone.” These are the words of Amanda Todd, a beautiful fifteen year old girl from Port Coquitlim, British Columbia who sadly took her own life shortly after posting the words on a You Tube Video last month. She was the victim of cyber bullying. She was hounded relentlessly from school to school, losing her friends, respect and hope. Perhaps her words, “I have nobody. I need someone” are the most poignant, as they describe the broken-hearted cry of a lonely girl. I hope that, though she found no human help, in her last moments she made her peace with God. In a way, her cry represents millions of people today who cry out for help. The psalmist David expressed this cry well, when he wrote, “Hear my cry O God. When my heart is overwhelmed within me, lead me to the rock that is higher than I”. That rock is Christ. If you have a broken heart today, reach out to Him. He is not far away.

Two dogs, Baxter and Bailey, managed to get loose and run away from their home in Sandwich Massachusetts. Baxter was found about a half a mile from home, but there was no sign of Bailey. Then Bob Blackwell, the dogs’ owner, got an idea. He took Baxter back to the area where he had been found, and the dog led him through the woods straight to his brother Bailey, who had been trapped by his entangled leash – a great canine brotherly love story. The Bible has a brotherly love story too! It’s not about dogs, but people. When Jesus began his earthly ministry, one of the first disciples to follow Him was Andrew, who had heard that Jesus was the Messiah. And the first thing Andrew did was to find his own brother Peter – and we are told, “He brought him to Jesus.” The kindest thing one person can do for another is to introduce him or her to Jesus the Son of God, the Savior of the world.

Cyclist Lance Armstrong has been stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned for life from the sport by the International Cycling Union, saying “Lance Armstrong deserves to be forgotten in cycling.” This follows the US Anti-doping Agency’s report, which concluded that Armstrong had been involved in what it called “the most sophisticated professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen.” This sad story of deceit and cheating is a stark reminder that you can run (or in this case, cycle) but you cannot hide. Admittedly, many appear to not to get caught, but we need to remember that God has said, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Armstrong’s name will be erased from the record books. But in contrast, God has promised that all who acknowledge our wrong-doing and seek forgiveness will have their sins cast behind God’s back, never to be remembered against us forever.” It’s because of God’s amazing grace.

On December 4, 2007, a 19 year old soldier, serving in Iraq saw a grenade being thrown from a house top. Manning the machine gun in the turret of his Humvee, he tried to deflect the explosive, but it fell inside the vehicle. He had time to jump to safety, but instead threw his body over the grenade in a selfless act that saved the lives of four fellow soldiers. This extraordinary act of sacrifice helps us understand what Jesus did for us when He took the punishment for our sin on the old rugged cross. He died in our place. Paul wrote of this in the book of Romans, with these words, “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Those four soldiers whose lives were saved will never forget. Neither should we forget Christ’s death for us.

Michael Rogers saved a 16 year old girl who was attempting to commit suicide, and also helped a police officer trapped in the mud during the rescue. Rogers told the New Haven Register that he couldn’t bear to walk away with her death on his conscience. Two months later, his true identity was discovered – a fugitive in violation of a 2001 conviction on four child molestation charges – a strange story. We all have a conscience, but our consciences can be conditioned and selective, as in this case. Someone once said, “Your conscience is not your guide unless you have truth for your creed.” There is, ultimately, only one place where we can be sure of absolute truth – that is the inspired, never changing Word of God as found in the Bible. Jesus put it together for us when He said, ”You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” Please read the Bible. Believe it and obey it. The results will amaze you.

Leo Gaurente was cleaning out Maria Velosa’s late mother’s home when he found an envelope hidden away in a hope chest. It contained U.S. Savings bonds worth $114,000. The junk collector was nervous, realizing that he was going to change this woman’s life for the better. Velosa was shocked and overwhelmed at the discovery that belonged to her late mother. She said, “This is a gift from heaven Ma.” While this was a wonderful gift, the greatest treasure that one can have is the gift of eternal life, given to us because of Jesus. Paul the Apostle wrote, “The gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Our Savior took the punishment for our sins and paid our debt. This treasure too is found in a place often forgotten and neglected, like the attic. It is in the Bible, God’s inspired Word. It too, is a “gift from heaven”, and it really can change our lives. Why not discover this rich treasure for yourself.

We live in a world of text messaging, multiple email accounts, cell phones, hundreds of TV channels, and a smorgasboard of web information. Life can become very challenging. Mark Milke, a columnist with Troy Media, in his article “How to Live the good life in 2012” concludes that “this generation needs to ignore the frenetic present long enough to learn from the past or from some still small voice.” Good advice! And what could be more beneficial than listening to the voice of God. Jesus once said, “Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with Him, and He with me.” Did you know that when Jesus said that, He was referring to the door of our lives and indicating His desire to come in and forgive, to transform and give us peace and happiness? He is still knocking today. What is your response?

The fresco, or painting of Christ, was a little known piece of art by a minor Spanish artist. But now that it has been ruined by a botched restoration attempt it has become a global icon almost overnight. The truth is that nobody really knows what Christ looked like when he walked on this earth. So the destruction of a minor piece of art is of not great importance. But what is important and far more serious is the misrepresentation of Jesus that is widespread today. For example, some say He’s is not God, but just a good teacher. Some even attack His character and His morals, suggesting that He was having an affair with Mary Magdalene. This is sad. Jesus is the eternal One, the only son of God, and born of a virgin. By His death on Calvary’s cross, He became the Savior of the world, the only Savior: He said,” I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.”

Colin Weatherby, in Psychology Today writes, “Our powers of prediction are 30% more accurate when gauging the performance of others than our own.” Why is this? Because we base our judgment on hard evidence but our own failures we excuse as aberrations. In self-analysis, we are all guilty of having blind spots. Even more serious however, is a blind spot in regards to eternal matters pertaining to our spiritual welfare. Many of us have convinced ourselves that everything is relative; what’s wrong for some may be right for me, God is love, He won’t punish sins or as many believe, death ends it all. Serious blind spots indeed! Jesus said,” I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Someone wisely said, “There is none so blind as he who will not see.” That kind of stubbornness and head in the sand attitude can bring tragic results.

Will the real nurse please stand up? Because of confusion caused by casual dress, the Nova Scotia Nurses Union has adopted a uniform-black skirt or pants and a white top; so that all nurses will be easily identifiable. If you are a patient, this is very important. Sometimes there is confusion also in the area of Christianity. Is a Christian a person who does good deeds? One who attends church? Anyone who lives in a Christian country? The Bible makes it very clear. Jesus once said, “repent and believe the gospel.” A Christian is a person who has repented of his or her sins and trusted Jesus Christ alone to open the door to heaven….not becoming a perfect person, but a forgiven sinner. The new testament book of Acts puts it this way-“nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”