Episode Three: Two Oxford Guys

Undercover Boss, Jesus Style

One of my favorite television shows is Undercover Boss. I find it entertaining and often quite touching (I have to admit I usually have tears streaming down my face by the end of each episode. What can I say? I’m an emotional kind of guy!) The premise of the show, which intrigued me the first time I heard about it, is that a CEO or high official of a company goes incognito into his or her organization and works with individuals on the front lines to see how well the workers are doing and the company is running. It is always great to see the interaction that takes place between workers who think they are working with just an average, everyday person, when in reality, it is the CEO of the company. Because of the way the show is set up, we get to see workers deriding company executives (unwittingly right in front of the most important one!), or talking about how they love their company (in the presence of its head officer), or treating customers with patience or ridicule (while being unknowingly evaluated by someone who has the power to promote or fire them on the spot). In my opinion, it makes for great entertainment.

But in thinking about the show as a Christian, I have to admit the concept has already been tackled—2,000 years ago. . . by Jesus!

I’m thinking of a passage in which Jesus describes His return as King. Here is how He describes it:

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” (Matt. 25:31–40; NKJV)

Sounds like Undercover Boss to me. These people seemed to have no idea that the most important Person in the church organization was evaluating them by the way they were treating ordinary people in need (particularly those people associated with Jesus—His brethren).

With this in mind, I would like to delineate a few principles brought out by Jesus’ teaching that are illustrated by its modern television counterpart, Uncover Boss.

1. What you do matters.

In the television show, the workers are evaluated by how they perform their job and the way they treat others around them. Our Boss, or Lord, evaluates not just what we say but how we are living. What is interesting is it is not the big, showy things that are brought out by Jesus, but really just showing concern and compassion. Love seems to be big on His list of priorities. And just as on the show little, kind things done for others is what is ultimately esteemed and rewarded, for Christians too, our love is huge in the sight of God, even if it goes largely unnoticed in this world.

2. There will be a day of reckoning.

The climax of the show Undercover Boss is always when the Boss brings individual employees to corporate headquarters and sits in front of each employee that he or she has worked with. The employees are often shocked when they find out who they have really been working with. (It’s just great to see their reactions–joy, fear, bewilderment, panic, etc.) It is at this point when the boss can really disclose his or her opinion of the employee. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes not good.

In Jesus’ teaching, He too says there is a day of reckoning when people will be shocked to hear about who has been watching them and what He thinks about their lives. The righteous cared for people, particularly for those who associated with Jesus. They will be amazed to hear the Boss say how much He appreciated the way they treated Him. “When did we do those things for you?” they will ask.

Jesus will reply, “By caring for my people, You have shown your love for me.”

It is like a CEO saying, “I am so deeply connected with this company that the way you act in relation to it affects me personally.” So Jesus says, “I am so deeply connected with My church (His brethren) that the way you act in relation to it affects Me personally.” We need to be good representatives of our Boss; He is deeply affected by our behavior.

3. Overwhelming generosity is in store.

Probably what strikes a chord the most with me about Undercover Boss is the lavish generosity shown by the CEO’s. I love it when they give people who have very little money, who are struggling to make ends meet, a large sum of money, a huge promotion, or even a car or a house, in some cases. The worker, at this point, is usually completely overwhelmed that the boss would do something like this. It’s so unexpected. It’s so lavish. It’s so generous. To think of the highest company executive taking note of the needs of this unknown, everyday worker and meeting that person’s specific needs!

I find it moving, too, to think of how Jesus will one day do the same thing. He, the King of all kings, the highest and most exalted of all, will condescend to show His appreciation and generosity to average, everyday nobodies like us and give us more than we could ever dream,

“Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world!”

Do you feel unimportant, unappreciated? Well, remember our Boss is watching, and He is very much taking note of what we are doing (even the little things). I think it will be just as surprising and overwhelming to hear what He has to say as it is for the participants on Undercover Boss.

            

Book Review - Stranger on the Road to Emmaus

Good Tool for Understanding the Bible

Stranger on the Road to Emmaus

Overall Reaction

I really appreciate John Cross’s book. I am a pastor who cares very much about people reading and understanding the message of Scripture, and this book is a gift to the church (literally, it’s free on Kindle!). The author presents an overview of the Bible and how its message points to Jesus, using Jesus’ encounter with two disciples on the Road to Emmaus as a springboard for its contents. It is a very unassuming work, not trying to be anything amazing but seeking to give a simple, clear presentation of the Bible to anyone willing to read it with an open mind.

Good Things about this Book

1. It gives a chronological, well-organized overview of the Bible

The chapters cover main themes and are broken down into sub-themes in a way that makes sense and helps to fit the big picture together.

2. It does not get bogged down with a lot of theological debate

This is good for a book that is trying to give the overall message of Scripture. It is, on the whole, trying to let the Scripture speak for itself.

3. It is written on an understandable, non-technical level

This is very important for people who do not know much about the Bible or Christianity. The author does a great job of writing to everyday people (obviously, he picked this up well from ministering in another culture where the message had to be adapted).

4. It presents the story of the Bible

This idea is becoming more popular today (as seen in various Christian products using the word “story”), but it is helpful because it helps present a metanarrative by which to view life. It also keeps the Christian message from coming across as some mere abstract propositions. It shows that God has worked and is working in real life.

5. It presents the gospel (the good news of Jesus Christ)

This is the most important “good thing” about this book. It spells out why Jesus came and what He accomplished. It presents essential teaching on the gospel by giving the contextual basis for Jesus’ coming and work on the cross, which is much-needed in an increasingly biblically illiterate society. Not only does the author present the work of Jesus, he personally calls on the reader to place his or her faith in Christ, following the pattern of the first proclaimers of the gospel.

Uses for This Book

1. Personal reading as an introduction to the Bible

Perhaps you are not familiar with the overall teaching of the Bible and how everything fits together. This book gives the clothesline (as the author would say) on which to hang the truths of Scripture.

2. Group Bible study

This book is designed to be read as a group. I have the interactive edition, which contains a DVD with on-location in the Holy Land video footage, portions of John Cross’s live teaching with his use of visuals (really good), and some commentary from a man and woman (my least favorite part). There is also a DVD set available to be used with group study, which some will find very useful.

3. Giving away to unbelievers

It could be given to someone in order to explain Christian beliefs.  The Kindle version is free, making it even more accessible to be distributed widely.

The Golden Rule

Treating Others as We Would Want to be Treated

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Jesus, Matthew 7:7–12)

In looking at what Jesus says about how we should relate to others, we have observed

that we must be understanding, not critical. Secondly, we are to treat others as we would want to be treated. This is popularly known as the “Golden Rule.” The question, though, is whether it is popularly obeyed. In theory, we seem highly supportive of this principle, but in practice, we seem to have many reasons for not applying it.

            It is encouraging to note what Jesus says beforehand, for He reminds His listeners that they have a heavenly resource for accomplishing what seems impossible. When we think we could never love a person who treated us so badly or failed us so miserably, God is able to supply what we lack.

            A Christian woman named Corrie Ten Boom, who survived the WWII holocaust, tells the story of speaking to a group of people in Germany after the war about God’s forgiveness. She says that afterward:

People stood up in silence, in silence collected their wraps, in silence left the room.

And that’s when I saw him, working his way forward against the others.  One moment I saw the overcoat and the brown hat; the next, a blue uniform and a visored cap with its skull and crossbones.  It came back with a rush:  the huge room with its harsh overhead lights; the pathetic pile of dresses and shoes in the center of the floor; the shame of walking naked past this man.  I could see my sister’s frail form ahead of me, ribs sharp beneath the parchment skin. Betsie, how thin you were! 

The place was Ravensbruck, and the man who was making his way forward had been a guard— one of the most cruel guards. 

Now he was in front of me, hand thrust out:  “A fine message, Fraulein!  How good it is to know that, as you say, all our sins are at the bottom of the sea!” 

And I, who had spoken so glibly of forgiveness, fumbled in my pocketbook rather than take that hand.  He would not remember me, of course—how could he remember one prisoner among those thousands of women? 

But I remembered him and the leather crop swinging from his belt.  I was face-to-face with one of my captors, and my blood seemed to freeze. 

“You mentioned Ravensbruck in your talk,” he was saying.  “I was a guard

there.”  No, he did not remember me. 

“But since that time,” he went on, “I have become a Christian.  I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well, Fraulein.”  Again, the hand came out, “Will you forgive me?” 

And I stood there—I whose sins had again and again to be forgiven—and could

not forgive.  Betsie had died in that place—could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking? 

It could not have been many seconds that he stood there—hand held out—but to me it seemed hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do. 

For I had to do it—I knew that. . .I knew it not only as a commandment of God but as a daily experience.  Since the end of the war I had a home in Holland for victims of Nazi brutality.  Those who were able to forgive their former enemies were able also to return to the outside world and rebuild their lives, no matter what the physical scars.  Those who nursed their bitterness remained invalids.  It was as simple and as horrible as that. 

And still I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart.  But forgiveness is not an emotion—I knew that too.  Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.  “Jesus, help me!”  I prayed silently.  “I can lift my hand. I can do that much.  You supply the feeling.”

And so woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me.  And as I did, an incredible thing took place.  The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. 

And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes.  “I forgive you, brother!” I cried.  “With all my heart.”

For a long moment we grasped each other’s hands, the former guard and the former prisoner.  I had never known God’s love so intensely as I did then.  But even so, I realized it was not my love.  I had tried, and did not have the power.  It was the power of the Holy Spirit as recorded in Romans 5:5, “The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Ten Boom, 83–86)

            Ten Boom says that her ability to forgive and show love in this trying situation was not her own. Asking, seeking, and knocking at the throne room of heaven is our only hope of having the power to love as we are called to.

            So we can love others because we have a Father to help us, but we can also love others because we have a Father who demonstrates love to us. Jesus shows that even humans, which are “evil,” desire to give to their children, so a perfect Father will most certainly give good things to those who ask. Knowing the love and care of God should lead us to treat others with grace and kindness.

            Finally, treating others as we would want to be treated fulfills God’s will. The message of Law and the Prophets can be summed up in the idea of love. This is brought out in other places in the Scripture. Paul says, “ Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8). And James says, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors” (James 2:8, 9). Clearly, the Christian ethic is to be epitomized by love, and followers of Christ should stand out because of the love they possess and share, treating others as they would want to be treated.

Works Cited:

Corrie Ten Boom, Jamie Buckingham, Life Lessons From Corrie Ten Boom: Tramp for the Lord (Grand Rapids: Revell, 1974, 2004).

All Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version.  Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Remove the Plank from Your Own Eye

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces."

(Jesus, Matthew 7:1–6)

            As mentioned previously, tolerance is a prominent theme in our culture, and based on what Jesus says about not being judgmental at the beginning of this passage, many would be quick to conclude that Jesus would have us pass no judgment upon others. But His message is more nuanced than that, as seen when considering the whole of Jesus’ point.

            It has been said that before we criticize someone else, we should walk a mile in their shoes, to which someone added, “that way after we have criticized them we are a mile away from them and we have their shoes.” All humor aside, though, Jesus does make it clear that a first step for all people is to take the plank out of their own eye. It is far too easy for us to see what is wrong with others and fail to see our own faults, though to others they may be as plain as day. When we take an honest look at ourselves first, however, we can then approach others with the right attitude.

            I personally love to golf, and I know enough to possibly give some pointers to a new golfer. But it would be ridiculous for me to condescendingly criticize another golfer when it is obvious (for anyone who has played with me) that my game is nothing to boast about, to say the least. Recognizing my shortcomings allows me to help someone else with a sympathetic and relatable attitude. Jesus teaches that to relate to others in the correct way, we must always see ourselves for what we really are first, and this means coming to grips with our own weaknesses and failures.

            Once we sincerely deal with the plank in our own eye, though, there is no mistaking that there is certainly a place for taking the speck out of another person’s eye. Jesus teaches elsewhere that there are times when it is appropriate to correct another person, particularly someone who is also a follower of Christ. He states:

 “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.  But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses.  If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector (Matthew 18:15–17, NLT).

Obviously, followers of Christ are to take sin very seriously and have the responsibility

of pointing out issues that need to be dealt with. On the other hand, Jesus also teaches in the passage we are looking at here: “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” There are people who are not willing to listen and accept what we are saying, and even though our words may give valuable insight, it is not worth continuing discussion with those who have no concern for what is good and true. It is also interesting to note Jesus’ use of “dogs” and “swine” as analogies reveals that He makes certain judgments about the character of others, again reinforcing that there is a place for judgment.  

In summary, Jesus says that in relating to others, His followers must not have a critical attitude but should help others with a sense of their own weaknesses and shortcomings. This point is succinctly conveyed by the apostle Paul, who says, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness” (Gal. 6:1, ESV). 

Works Cited:

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version.  Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Judge Not

How Christ-Followers Are to Approach Relationships

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Jesus, Matthew 7:1–5)

Not Being Critical of Others

            This section of the sermon begins with one of the most well-known (and oft-quoted) verses in our culture: “Judge not, that you be not judged.”  This is a popular theme in a society greatly concerned with promoting tolerance. However, this verse is often taken out of context and must be seen in light of all Jesus is saying here.

            It is true, though, that Jesus is hitting on a principle that needs to be heard by many who are, indeed, intolerant and judgmental. It is ironic that Christians can be most known for having critical attitudes when Christ Himself taught the very opposite. In fact, it seems to be a tendency for religious people in general to fall into this mindset. A graphic example is seen in Luke Chapter 7:

Then one of the Pharisees asked Him [Jesus] to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” (Luke 7:36–39)

So we see that the Pharisee Simon (a religious person) has a very critical attitude toward this woman who was a known sinner. He even questions Jesus’ authority because of how He accepted this woman’s worship, but Jesus uses this situation to teach a judgmental, religious person an important lesson:

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

So he said, “Teacher, say it.”

“There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”

Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”

And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 7:40–48)

Some religious people (as we have seen earlier in this sermon) have a tendency to think they are better than others. Jesus here shows that this woman (because she recognized she was a sinner and sought forgiveness) loved Jesus more than the one who had been forgiven little (the one who thought he was better). In His sermon, Jesus teaches His followers that they must beware of a critical attitude, though they are pursuing a life of righteousness and it may be easy to look down on others. Sadly, it is true that even Christians can forget this. I remember hearing a sermon by a preacher who was so judgmental that he was actually snarling as he lambasted people for their sinfulness. On the other hand, it must be said that some Christians are wrongly accused of being judgmental simply because they uphold certain moral standards and desire others to do the same.

But it is not only religious people who have a tendency to be judgmental—all people have this tendency at times. One only needs to read blog posts and comments on the internet to see just how harsh, biased, and critical people can be. We must realize that being judgmental is not a set of beliefs, it is the attitude in which those beliefs are held. I have witnessed judgmental attitudes from certain Republicans, and I have witnessed the same from certain Democrats. I have observed judgmental attitudes from some devoutly religious people, and I have observed the same from some devoutly anti-religious people. The standard for Jesus’ followers, however, is not to have a proud, condescending attitude toward others.

Often, a critical mindset assumes something about others which we do not know (such as their motives). Perhaps the Pharisee Simon did not understand the woman’s motive for washing and kissing Jesus’ feet. There are many things that we do not know or see about others, and we must be careful not to jump to conclusions. The following story about the preacher Chuck Swindoll shows why:

At a pastor's conference in Spokane, Chuck Swindoll told of being at a California Christian camp. The first day there a man approached him and said how greatly he had looked forward to hearing Dr. Swindoll speak and his delight at now finally being able to realize that desire.

That evening Swindoll noticed the man sitting near the front. But only a few minutes into the message the man was sound asleep. Swindoll thought to himself that perhaps he was tired after a long day's drive and couldn't help himself. But the same thing happened the next few nights, and Dr. Swindoll found his exasperation with the man growing.

On the last night the man's wife came up and apologized for her husband's inattention to the messages. She then explained that he had recently been diagnosed as having terminal cancer and the medication he was taking to ease the pain made him extremely sleepy. But it had been one of his life-long ambitions to hear Dr. Swindoll speak before he died, and now he had fulfilled that goal.

So it is time to do an attitude check. No matter how loving and tolerant you may claim to be, what is your attitude toward others? Do you find yourself assuming bad things about certain people, or do you truly care about them and pray for them? Do you feel you are better than others, or do you see yourself in as much need of forgiveness as anyone else? Jesus wants followers who have great conviction but who hold this conviction with great concern for others.

Works Cited:

“Sleepy Man” (available at http://www.sermonsearch.com/sermon-illustrations/view/3615/ accessed November 2012; Internet).

All Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version.  Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Antidote to Materialism and Worry

The Antidote to Materialism and Worry

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Jesus, Matthew 6:33–34)

Jesus ends His teaching about seeking security in material things with a couple of concluding directives. The first is to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” This is the antidote to the materialism that so easily plagues our lives. Caring too much about this life reveals a lack of focus on heaven. The Scriptures, in contrast, teach Christians to set their minds on heaven, and speak of us pilgrims in this world, not permanent residents (cf. Col. 3:2; I Pet. 2:11). As one hymn-writer aptly put it:

This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through

My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue

The angels beckon me from heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore

Much of Christianity in America seems to lose sight of this perspective, probably because of the abundance of material wealth we enjoy all around us. But our stay in this world is temporary, and as Jesus has already shown, the truly wise long-term investment plan is to lay up treasures in heaven. If we seek God’s kingdom above all else, knowing Him and sharing His truth and love with others, then we have no need to worry about anything else. He’ll take of meeting our needs as we take care of seeking Him and His righteousness.

            Jesus’ second directive is “do not worry about tomorrow.” A common trait of people who struggle with anxiety is fortune-telling—that is, predicting what may happen and believing it to be true. Reneau Peurifoy writes, “Essentially, fortune-telling is the confusion of a possibility with a probability” (Peurifoy, 113). Perhaps you have caught yourself thinking, “I just know this is going to turn out bad,” or “I’ll never be able to do this.” Jesus addresses the tendency to get ahead of ourselves, when our focus should be on the present. His common sense argument is that “Each day has enough trouble of its own” for us to be concerned about (Matt. 6:34, NIV). Why worry about the future (which we cannot control) when there is enough to deal with in the present (which we can influence)? So seek God’s kingdom and righteousness above all else in the present, and do not worry (or begin fortune-telling) about the future.

            Ultimately, worry is just a form of meditating on the wrong things, and so the apostle Paul advises:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Phil. 4:6–9, NIV)

If we diligently work on keeping our hearts and minds in the right place, we can be freed from the materialism and anxiety that is so rampant in our culture.

Works Cited:

Albert E. Brumley, “This World Is Not My Home,” © 1936. Renewed 1964 Albert E. Brumley And Sons (Admin. by ClearBox Rights, LLC)

Reneau Z. Peurifoy, M.A., M.F.T., Anxiety, Phobias, and Panic (New York: Warner Books, 1988, 1992, 1995, 2005).

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version.  Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.