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Saturday, April 18, 2009

Luigi Tarisio

One morning the body of Luigi Tarisio was found in the bleak home where he had died. Also discovered there were 246 rare violins, which Tarision had stored in the attic. The most exquisite violin lay in the bottom drawer of a wobbly old dresser. Obviously, Tarisio had loved violins, but by hoarding them he had robbed others of their music. What a loss the world suffers if even one Christian keeps the gospel to himself!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

"Error! Error!"

Errors in print can be embarrassing. Our newspaper published an obituary that listed the deceased person’s birth as Aug. 28, 2009 and her death as April 10, 2009. The obituary described her as “a longtime Colorado Springs resident.” Will Rogers was right, we can’t believe everything we read in the paper.

In the 1970s a publisher I worked for printed 10,000 books stating that “Meshech is Hebrew for typesetter omission.” The error crept into the books because a proofreader had flagged a typesetter omission after the words “Hebrew for” by writing “typesetter omission” on the galley. The typesetter was supposed to correct the error by inserting what he had failed to see in the manuscript, namely “Moscow.” The sentence should have read: “Meshech is Hebrew for Moscow.” (See Ezekiel 39:1.)

That error was costly. The printer had to throw away 10,000 books. Eat the cost, and start over.

Another time, a memory verse in an adult Sunday school manual suffered a typesetting error that eluded the proofreaders. Instead of stating, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain,” it read, “Now godliness with contentment is great pain.” (See 1 Timothy 6:6.)

Writers, proofreaders, and editors cringe when errors occur in print. The damage is done and cannot be corrected until the next revision.

My wife Gloria is usually the first person to catch an error in my blog. She sounds an alert from her computer desk, “Error! Error!” I don’t welcome the alert, but it helps to keep me humble. Fortunately, I can correct errors promptly.

Have you noticed a growing tendency to call sin an error or a mistake? Those designations are far too gentle. Sin is an offense, an evil assault on God’s will for us. It is rebellion, crookedness, and wickedness. But God can forgive our sin and cast it far from His sight. The prophet Micah declared: “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because he delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:18, 19). The apostle John wrote: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

We will never be free from sin until we reach Heaven, but while we live on earth we are never free to sin. Let’s abhor sin, and endeavor to obey God.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Always Alongside

A sign in my office reads, “Walking is good for the sole.” So why do I wear out so many pairs of walking shoes?
I began a daily walking regimen in 1987 in order to strengthen my back muscles while gaining a good cardio-vascular workout.

The walking habit is still going strong, but now Molly, Rosie, and Sadie walk alongside me. They are my Maltese, toy poodle, and coton companions.

One day, as two of Jesus’ disciples were walking to the village of Emmaus, they talked about Jesus’ recent crucifixion and resurrection. Suddenly, a stranger caught up with them and walked alongside them. The stranger asked what they were talking about, and then he explained he recent events in light of Old Testament prophecies.

The stranger’s pedestrian Bible study was so intriguing that upon reaching their destination the two disciples invited the stranger to stay with them. He accepted the invitation, and when He broke bread with them, they recognized Him. Then He disappeared from their sight, leaving the two disciples to reflect on the heartwarming fellowship they had experienced during the walk.

Jesus promised to be with believers always (Matthew 28:20). We do not walk alone on life’s journey. Jesus is alongside to brighten the path.

Jim Dyet © The Anchor, Haven Ministries