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Following in the footsteps of the Acts of the
Apostles, written by St. Luke, Shepherd's Cross Christian Helps Ministry
exists by the grace of God to further the first century Apostolic tradition
serving in the Great Commission. |
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Bought At A Price 1 Corinthians 6:20
Picking up the receiver I announced, “Hello, this is Rick, you have reached the emergency apartment after-hours line.” “How may I help?” Identifying herself as a police dispatcher answering my query she announced, “We just received a phone call from someone identifying themselves as being a tenant from your apartment complex. The caller reported that a few minutes ago they saw, what they described as a white male walking through your apartment complex possible carrying what they believe to be a dead body.” Continuing, she added, “Currently all of our officers are busy answering other calls.” “Would you have possibly seen or heard anything like this from anyone?” Peering over at the wall clock I saw that it was after 1:00 a.m. I respectfully stated, “No, I haven’t.” Attempting to reassure her I continued, “I will go have a look outside.” “If I see or hear of something like this, I’ll call you right back.” Swiftly, exiting my apartment, I began strolling through the complex hallways looking for a person that would depict the image left by the police dispatcher’s description on the canvas of my mind. I quickly found a viable subject. Cautiously and respectfully I approached stating, “Good morning, I am the resident manager.” “What’s going on?” The man introduced himself as Marvin. “Peace,” “Hey, I’m just trying to find this chick’s pad, man,” “I met this chick at this happening bar, dude and after scarfing down some “gut wadding” pizza and having a few "bruskis” she and I decided to split.” “Dig.” responded this wants-to-be hippy. “She told me that she lived in these apartments over here.” “We were heading back to her pad, man and the next thing I knew she passed out.” The cool cat, neo-Good Samaritan continued, “I’m just trying to help her find her way back home.” “That’s all man.” I added. “I can dig it, Marvin.” In the past half hour, like a ship’s captain having lost his bearings at sea and without a lighthouse illuminating his path, Marvin had continued to wander through the apartment complex halls going back and forth, one floor upon another. The whole time he was carrying Alice over his left shoulder. Besides me, no one had stopped to inquire of Marvin as to what he was up to. “Marvin,” I began, “I have to tell you, I received a telephone call alleging that a man matching your description was scene walking thought the apartment building corridors in possession of a dead body.” “Can you dig the scene, Marvin?” “And here you are walking the halls of a large three story apartment complex quite a bit passed one a.m. having a woman hung over your shoulders like a sack of potatoes.” “What a bummer.” I can dig where you’re coming from man.” Marvin reassured me. I learned the so called “dead body” was not dead at all, rather an intoxicated female who Marvin identified as Alice. By this time, Alice stated to come out of her dream state. I asked Alice where she lived. Alice, it turned out, lived in an apartment complex just across the street from ours. Escorting the two off the property and pointing them in the direction of Alice’s apartment building they beat feet bugging out. Returning home as promised, I telephoned back the police dispatcher. I relayed this story in its entirety adding only the apartment number and complex address Alice had given to me. The police dispatcher thanked me saying, “That’s a relief.” “Now we don’t have to notify another family about the death of a loved one.” I answered, Yeah, I know what you mean. 1Peter 2:11-12 So, since Christ suffered in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same attitude, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin, in that he spends the rest of his time on earth concerned about the will of God and not human desires. For the time that has passed was sufficient for you to do what the non-Christians desire. You lived then in debauchery, evil desires, drunkenness, carousing, drinking bouts, and wanton idolatries. So they are astonished when you do not rush with them into the same flood of wickedness, and they vilify you. They will face a reckoning before Jesus Christ who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. Now it was for this very purpose that the gospel was preached to those who are now dead, so that though they were judged in the flesh by human standards they may live spiritually by God’s standards. 1Peter 4:1-6 And do this because we know the time that it is already the hour for us to awake from sleep, for our salvation is now nearer than when we became believers. The night has advanced toward dawn; the day is near. So then we must lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the weapons of light. Let us live decently as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in discord and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to arouse its desires. Romans 13:11-14 |
Shepherd's Cross Christian Helps Ministry