(NOTE: Attached to the bottom of this message is the Video, "What is Love" that was shown earlier in the service as an example of unconditional love.")

Jesus Christ is resurrected from the dead!/// Here’s a story for those who feel lost and  alone, and not sure which way to turn … ~ it’s time to find your way home, a place of belonging, a place of comfort…

Billy Graham tells the story of a police officer on night duty in a city in northern England. As he walked the streets, he heard a quivering sob. Shining his flashlight into the darkness, he saw a little boy in the shadows sitting on a doorstep with tears running down his cheeks. The child said, “I’m lost. Please take me home.” “I’ll be glad to take you home. Where do you live?” the officer replied. But the little boy was so tired and so scared that he couldn’t remember his address. The policeman began naming street after street, trying to help the boy remember where he lived. He named the shops and the hotels in the area but the little boy could give him no clue. Then he remembered that at the center of the town stood a church with a large white cross that towered high above the rest of the city. The policeman pointed to the cross and said, “Do you live anywhere near that place?” The little boy’s face immediately brightened up. He said, “Yes, sir. Take me to the cross and I can find my way home.” 

 Pooh Bear, Sally’s childhood pal… When I first got to know Pooh Bear, Pooh Bear had a growler that has since broken ~ turn Pooh upside down and you could hear the low growl, only to me it did not sound like a growl, it was more like a moo… And every now and then I’d make fun of the bear that sounded like a cow.  Maybe I was jealous.  Then something happened to change my mind….

Year’s later Sally and I discovered the television program, Antiques Road Show ~  people bring household treasures to be evaluated by experts.  One of the occasional recurring items was stuffed animals.  I learned vintage stuffed bears made by Steiff were collectible.  I got to thinking Sally had a stuffed bear tucked somewhere in the back of our closet ~ I got out Sally’s bear and looked for the signature markings ~ is it a Steiff bear?  Sure enough, the stitched nose, the padded feet, the stuffing...  , even the over-alls have protected the fur.  I also learned  Bears with growlers are more rare and make the bears more desirable. Suddenly I saw Pooh Bear in a new light!  Pooh Bear is a Steiff Bear, and a desirable bear, and a valuable bear.  Instantly I no longer heard a moo ~ I heard a growl (want to hear it?).  Just like that, Pooh Bear was moved from the back of the closet to a prominent place on a shelf.  I had no idea the true nature of Pooh Bear! 

What changed?  It wasn’t Pooh Bear ~ Pooh Bear was the same from the beginning … what changed was me, my knowledge, my appreciation, my attitude… 

Two ways to attain salvation: I’m better than you vs. I’m a sinner saved by grace.

I’m better than you mentality: to the environmentalist that lives to save the planet, as long as I am a better recycler than you then I have meaning. The materialist: as long as I make more money than you.  The pleasure seeker: I know how to party and have more fun than you. The Sportsman: as long as my team wins… The power hungry: as long as I stay on top… The religious person: you are a worse sinner than me!

BTW, salvation is NOT exclusively a Christian idea.  EVERYONE seeks salvation, Christian or not.  Everyone wants purpose and meaning.  Everyone wants a sense of rightness, a sense of acceptance, knowledge of forgiveness. The world may use different terms, but they want Salvation/ peace.  Take a look at the last word of Luke 7:50: PEACE….  We’ve been talking about the diamond of faith this past month ~ four angles of faith, four stories: the confident centurion, the helpless widow, the questioning faith of John the Baptist, and now a forgiven prostitute.  The final word in this chapter is the blessing of peace from Jesus Christ ~ this is the desire of every human being on earth: PEACE.  True and lasting peace is only found in Christ ~ that is what distinguishes Christians and non-Christians: the Christian knows peace only comes through Christ, his love, his saving work on the cross, I’m a sinner saved by Grace.  Some seek peace/ salvation through gaining more, attaining more, being better than others.  True peace only comes through Christ! 

Faith is for sinners.  You’ve heard it said that we can never be good enough to save ourselves.  What is also true: You cannot be bad enough for the love of God to exclude you from salvation.  

Many people have found great encouragement in the words of Prov. 3:5-6:  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”   Sounds so simple! For many, faith comes with struggle. 

The bible is sprinkled with examples of doubting faith.  Sarah doubted when she laughed at the news she would have a child in her old age.  Gideon insisted upon a sign from God he was to lead the people against the enemy.  Thomas doubted the resurrection of Christ pronouncing he must see and touch Jesus himself before he would believe. In today’s scripture, John the Baptist questioned if Jesus was who he said he was.  God does not want cookie cutter Christians where everyone thinks alike, sounds alike, and looks alike!  Questions mean you are thinking. Struggling means you are searching.  God honors the process of coming to him with fears, doubts, questions.