Examining Ourselves

In January 2000, leaders in Charlotte, North Carolina, invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a luncheon in his honor. Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with Parkinson’s disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, "We don’t expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you." So he agreed. After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, "I’m reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century." Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of each passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn’t find his ticket, so he reached in his other pocket. It wasn’t there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn’t find it. Then he looked in the seat by him. He couldn’t find it. The conductor said, ’Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry about it.’ Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket. The conductor rushed back and said, ’Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don’t worry I know who you are. No problem. You don’t need a ticket. I’m sure you bought one.’ Einstein looked at him and said, ’Young man, I too know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going.’"

Having said that Billy Graham continued, "See the suit I’m wearing? It’s a brand new suit. My wife, my children, and my grandchildren are telling me I’ve gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion. You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I’ll be buried. But when you hear I’m dead, I don’t want you to immediately remember the suit I’m wearing. I want you to remember this: I not only know who I am, I

also know where I’m going." Submitted by Bill Bates

1 Cor. 11:23-34

What do we find here about the Lord’s Supper that is negative? It is not to be taken by everyone but only

those who have been born again and are part of the Lord’s body. This is not a time for the conversions of sinners but a celebration for the believer.

To partake of this rightly we need to examine our hearts in the light of what Christ has done for us. There seems to be a danger noted here in partaking of this supper for the wrong reasons.

1. Why we should examine our hearts? May we take time to think on these things?

a. The directions are so we may partake in this service freely.

b. “ know this is a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.

c. “ take time to pray and approach in humbleness. Am I worthy to partake?

d. “ come knowing what this is all about.

e. “ come with confidence and joy. When our hearts are right we do not

come in fear or feeling doomed.

f. We come with a self search to be clean with God and those around us.

I Thirst by Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos

Is it possible that He who claimed to be living water... Is it possible that He who said, “Come unto Me and drink...” Is it possible that He who told the Samaritan woman that He had water she knew nothing about...

Is it possible that this Man could mouth the words, “I thirst?” And because He did, the incarnation message of Christmas is voiced in this human cry of Good Friday. Jesus the divine Creator of life is no subject to the creation and the creature’s basic needs. Yes, Jesus, the Son of God, actually needed water. For six hours He hung from a calloused cross on a hot barren hill beneath a darkened middle-eastern sky. He was bleeding profusely and losing vital body fluids. What is more, without sleep the night before, without food or drink, He had been tortured, teased and tried before a tribunal before the crucifixion had even begun. His lips were parched. His tongue swollen as He managed to blurt out His human thirst...A thirst that spoke of His total identification with all our needs, drives, hopes and sufferings. Jesus’ physical thirst only symbolized the deeper thirsts that every human being who has ever lived has felt: the thirst for companionship, the thirst for acceptance, the thirst for immortality the thirst for end to suffering and most important the thirst for relationship with God. the Psalmist said “As the deer pants for flowing streams, so thirsts my soul for Thee, O God.” A restlessness, a panting, a thirst to end all thirsts, a thirst no water, no wine, no gall could ever quench. And for once Jesus knew that desire of all ages himself. As the bearer of all sin of all people of all time, Jesus knew the separation and desperation that all creation has known apart from God. And He cried, “I thirst.” He’s acquainted with our pain, our pressures, and our panic our plight apart from the Father. And because He’s been there, He knows how to quench our thirst.