Heroes Stand For Truth!

Hey Heroes!

Remember earlier today we discovered that our mission of the day was that HEROES STAND FOR TRUTH!? Well I know someone who stood for truth! Back a little while after Jesus had died on the cross for the sins of thw world and came back to life and went up to heaven, there was a man named Saul. He was just another religious person who followed all the rules and just did what he thought was the truth. Him and his friends weren't very nice to the people who believed in Jesus. He was sending them to jail and threatening to kill them! He continued doing this until one day...

He was walking along the road to another town with some of his buddies. Probably just another peaceful day, kinda warm, sunny, a few clouds. Just talking with his friends about the next town and how there were a bunch of people there who believed in Jesus. "Hmm. How many people did you say there were that believed Jesus is the Messiah?" "I'm not sure of the exact numbers, but they have been teaching and a lot of other people have started believing." "What should we do to them this time?" and Saul's probably about to say something very mean when at the moment he opens his mouth there is this thundering flash of light in front of him! He puts up his arms and closes his eyes to protect them from the bright light, but it's no use, it's too bright! It startled him so much he actually fell over! Then he hears this booming voice come from nowhere and say "Saul, Saul, why are you hurting me? Why are you doing these things? Why? It's me, Jesus." When the voice stops and Saul stops shivering in fear, he opens his eyes. *dramatic pause*

--What do you think he saw? Well, he actually couldn't see anything! He had been blinded! He couldn't see the ground, he couldn't walk properly. It's a good thing he had some friends with him. They led him to the city and took him to a house. Day after day passed and he could see anything! He didn't eat anything or drink anything. One day this guy comes and said that God had set Saul apart to bring His message of love and Jesus to the people all over the world. Saul was healed and opened his eyes to the real truth!

From that point on Saul changed his name to Paul and went around from city to city as God had told him to. He went and told everyone the truth about Jesus! With God's help he even wrote some letter's to new churches and he wrote part of the Bible! God inspired him to write about God's love and in chapter 8 of Romans he wrote that 'there is nothing that can separate us from God's love' nothing. Not life or death. Not angels or demons! Not powerful people, not hieght, depth, present, past, future. Nothing in all of existance! God's love for us is so great and perfect that He does everything it takes for us to be in His love and know this truth.

But you know, not everyone liked listening to Paul talk about God and the truth. People kicked him out of the city, people even disliked him so much that they'd throw rocks at him! They threw him in jail and tried to kill him on a number of occaisions. Paul wasn't safe. While he was in Rome he was staying with a bunch of soldiers for his safety. Paul was a hero for standing for truth even when times were hard. So was his nephew.

Although we don't know his name, a time that he was really brave was written down in the Bible. You see, there was a large group of people who didn't like Paul. Maybe one of them was thinking something like this: 'We don't like Paul! He keeps saying that Jesus died for my sins! I have none! I do everything in the law! Every rule and regulation! How can he say I am a bad man!??!' There were actually a number of people who thought that they were good people and didn't need to be saved, but the Bible says that 'There is not a [good] man on earth who does what is right and never sins.' (Ec 7:20) These people were actually plotting to kill Paul. They were going to make up some lies and get the council to make Paul come to court again and then they'd kill him on the way! They were so angry at Paul that the forty of them said they would not eat or drink until he was dead!

Someone overheard these men though. --Do you know who? Actually it was a young boy, Paul's nephew! He had heard the whole thing! But what could one young man do about forty angry people planning to kill his uncle?!? He was probably really really afraid. You know? If he told anyone, they might come and kill him too! But he loved his uncle Paul! He had to do something! He couldn't stand there and let them tell lies and kill his uncle!

Not knowing what to do, he went to find Paul. Approaching the barracks where Paul was staying with all the soldiers, he's probably getting pretty scared again. I mena he's just a young man and this is a big building full of powerful men armed with weapons and shields. *hyperventalate* but he needs to tell his uncle!

I can imagine him approaching the front desk of the building asking where Paul was staying. 'excuse me,' he says sheepishly to no response. 'excuse me.' *cough* *gulp* 'Excuse me.' "Oh, I didn't see you there. Yes, what do you want?" the receptionist says in a grizzly voice. 'Umm. Do you know where my uncle is?' "Well, who is your uncle?" 'Umm. Paul. Paul of Tarsus.' "oh yes. He's just this way. Hey gary! Take this boy to Paul, okay?"

And so he is taken to Paul. As he's walking he sees out the doors of the hall people fighting each other and making noises and yelling!

Finally he sees his uncle Paul!

He runs over and tells him the whole story, quickly and in a rush pouring out all he had bottled up inside. Everything about the forty men and about them wanting to kill Paul and not eating and Everything! 'Calm down, calm down. We'll have to think this through. I can't just leave without a reason. I think you are going to have to tell someone else this story of yours.' "But uncle Paul! I came all this way and told you, can't you tell someone?" 'Why should they believe me? If they want me to be killed they won't listen.' A lightbulb lights up above Paul's head. 'Aha! This just might work. I think you are going to have to tell the commander. He has the power and could listen to you.' "but Paul!" 'Its your choice.'

Thinking over it, he realizes that he needs to speak up and save his uncle and so he sets out in the direction Paul had pointed him in. Probably hiding from everyone along the way.

He gets to this door with 'Commander' written on it and he starts shaking again. 'Who will listen to a little boy anyways? right?' "Did I hear someone at the door?" Taken aback by the sudden question and wondering why he had said that aloud, Paul's nephew had a choice. Answer and go in to speak to the commander, or run away. --Which do you think he did? Yep! Even though he was probably so scared that he couldn't move, he spoke up and said he had a message for the commander because it was the only way he could save his uncle.

In the same way, Jesus was pretty scared before his death too. Dying is pretty scary, you know, but it was the only way that God could bring all of us back to him. He saved us not because of the things we had done, but because of his mercy and love for us.

After being invited in, he slowly pushed the door open. Took a deep breath and told the commander everything. The commander's face hadn't changed at all. Perhaps he was thinking? Maybe he wasn't listening? Either way, what else could Paul's nephew do? He was told not to tell anyone about this. And he was dismissed. Walking away, he knew that he had done his part and that the rest was up to God.

You know God has written in the Bible that if you confess with your mouth that 'Jesus is lord' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved! Paul's nephew stood for the truth he knew and believed in and told the commander. No one will know if you don't tell them! On his own, he couldn't do much, but just by telling someone, he had the chance to save someone's life.

He probably went home with a weird feeling in his stomach. The next morning he woke up and went back to see Paul again.

He wasn't there!!!!!

Uh oh. What had happened? Standing outside Paul's room his nephew starts panicking! 'What if it's happened?! What if my uncle is dead now? What if...' *breaks down crying* "Hey, boy, what's the metter, don't cry. What's the problem?" Only managing to get out the words 'Paul' and 'gone' amidst a slur of sobbing and sniffling. The soldier tells Paul's nephew. --What do you think happened to Paul?

Guess what?! The commander had summoned 470 soldiers and horsemen to bring Paul to a safe city called Ceasarea!!! 470! So many people for just one man! Not only had the commander believed his nephew, but he must have been moved by his courage in the face of danger to come and tell him about it all and sent everyone he could to make sure Paul was safe!

God had saved Paul and was going to use him in many amazing ways because Paul always stood for the truth!

---God I thank you for how you use us, even though we are young and sometimes scared. I thank you for how just by using the words you give us and telling someone the truth about Jesus and all you have done for us through the cross, you can use us to save other people. Lord I pray that we would take to heart that everything we do for you, no matter how small can be used to change the world. We thank you and pray this in your name. Amen.



[That is a probably longer than average example of telling a Bible story. Imaginatively that story mostly comes from Acts 9 and Acts 23. I may have expanded a few too many details, but it's better I do that now rather than not expand enough later. I guess this way I have options?

Anyways, today was interesting. A final run through with EC. My costume is starting to come together. I got my bus pass. I start driving tomorrow. (scary) and ya. Softball was awesome! Great job OCBC!!!!!

Ttyl.

D.Fa]

[[PPS. This is a story telling, it is not only following the facts presented in the Biblical text, but also adding some imaginative descpriptive ideas to fill in the blanks of the stories. Please do not take this as heretical and do not take my word, read the Bible. Okay? Thanks!]]