We members of Acts 4:9 Church just finished the 2009 American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Jackson. Unfortunately, it was shortened due to rain -- monsoon-like rain!
Many events within the Relay were cancelled, including our project intended to not only benefit a local food bank, but also to awe people at the tonnage of food we would use to build a waterfall like the one pictured here in Cascades Falls Park in Jackson, MI. Tim and Lecia designed a grand design, and called the creation, "Hope Flows" (a double entendre). The plan was to use "thousands" of various cans of foods and soups...but unfortunately, it didn't happen. Oh well. The food still went to a local bank for the needy.
The one event that was not rained on was the luminaria remembrance service for family and friends who have died from cancer. Mike was assigned to lead this service, and wanted to bring the gospel since many on hand at our campsite would not be believers. These are his notes:
"HOPE FLOWS"
"We just read a list of names, names that are more than mere scratches of ink on a piece of paper. They represent people who were our mothers or fathers, brothers or sisters, sons or daughters, husbands or wives. And the one common denominator is that they are all people who once walked on this planet, and who are all dead or will one day die. The truth is that your name and my name will one day – eventually – be listed among those who once were alive, but who also are dead. The truth is the death toll among human beings is still 100%
The bible says we all have an appointment, a date, with death and after that we will stand before God in judgment. But there’s a problem. You and I have a sickness that is more lethal than cancer, heart disease; more lethal than HIV/AIDS, diabetes. We all suffer from a disease called sin, and it is killing us at a rate of 100% The bible tells us that the price tag, the penalty, for our sin is nothing cheaper than death itself.
But there’s an even bigger problem. If you and I are sinners suffering under this deadly disease called sin, and if we will all one day stand before God in judgment, then we are in big, big trouble because God is holy, and we stand to be rightly condemned by Him. Because of our sin, we stand to face a God-less eternity.
But that does not have to be the end of the story, because there is hope. True hope. Not hope that fades in a cure for cancer. Not in a cure for heart disease, diabetes, or HIV/AIDS. No, for our sin-sickness, there is only one hope, and that hope is found in none other than Jesus Christ. In Jesus Christ, you can receive forgiveness of your sin, freedom from its bondage, and cleared of your shame.
If you have trusted Jesus Christ for the salvation and care of your soul, then you know what it’s like to have hope, to be truly free.
But if you have NOT trusted in Jesus Christ, then why not?If you have NOT trusted in Jesus Christ, then you need to.If you have NOT trusted in Jesus Christ, then TODAY is the day of salvation!
If you want to know more about Jesus Christ and the forgiveness and freedom only He offers, then come see me. I’ll be glad to talk to you. I’ll wait for you. I’ll be right over here. I want to give you something to read.
Dear friends, do not let these 24 hours pass you by without remembering that we are here because death is a guarantee promised to all of us. Do not let these 24 hours pass you by without taking stock of your standing before God and of your certain mortality."
