March 21st 2016
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. – John 14:1-4
THOUGHTS ON: the Space Shuttle Columbia, a basketball sneaker, a house in Grassmere, Pa, my neighbor Joe’s Jeep bumper sticker, movie credits, and a tattoo.
If you are sitting there scratching your head and wondering what the common thread is among the above five seemingly unrelated references, I’m sure you are not alone. Also let me assure you I have not lost what little mind I have left—-yet. All of the above have one thing in common: the Bible.
In the front of my Bible I write thoughts on sermons, Sunday School lessons, things on the radio, scripture references, etc. Written there also are the above references.
While watching the news coverage of the Columbia Space shuttle tragedy I learned that astronaut Rick Hubbard signed his autograph with Proverbs 3: 5-6. An Illinois basketball player in the 2005 NCAA Tournament had Isaiah 41: 10 on his sneakers. On the way to the Brass Pelican Restaurant I noticed a house in Grassmere with Isaiah 40:31 next to the front door. One day while following my neighbor Joe, I saw Proverbs 21: 19 on a bumper sticker on his Jeep, (warning this is sarcastically dark humor). Jeremiah 33: 3 was found at the end of movie credits and used by Rev Leonard less than a week later. Finally and much more recently a substitute trainer at the school had Romans 1: 16 tattooed on his forearm.
Look these verses up and ponder why they were important to these people; did they bring comfort? Peace? Answered prayer? Do they remind the people of God’s commitment to them or their commitment to God? Did they simply touch the heart and stay there? What verses would you choose for your sneakers, autograph, or tattoo?
What are yours you ask? I have several but my favorite scripture by far is John 14:1-4, read, understood and taken to my heart in April of 2001.
– Brad Johnson
