There is no vocabulary expressive enough to say what needs to be said about Jesus. It is astounding to me that the gospel records give only small details about his life, that they speak in such matter-of-fact language, and without any glowing reports of either His demeanor or His work.

It’s reached the point where I’m almost afraid to open the newspaper. Week after week, the headlines seem to stay the same. “Worst in History.” “Plummeting Further.” “No Hope on the Horizon.” And those are just about the Astros’ bullpen.

The current financial crisis has consumed America. It’s all the talk shows talk about. It’s the leading story on almost every newscast. It’s the new conversation-starter for strangers standing in line. If anything, it has revealed that we are one nation under the influence of the almighty dollar.

Of all the various areas of man’s cultural advancements over the past several generations, none has been more significant, more influential, or more embraced by the masses than the implements of communication.

Take the telephone, for example. A few short years ago only a few people had a telephone. What fascination when you heard two short rings and long. Now people carry phones around in their pocket or purse and talk to folks around the world. And the ring is more likely to be a symphonic strain or a rap rhythm than a bell ringing.

Jimmy Carter was the President. A first-class postage stamp cost fifteen cents. The Empire Strikes Back had just been released. It was June of 1980, the very first year of the Southside Lectures.

In the book of Jeremiah we find the prophet being commanded by the Lord in Ch. 36:2-3 to write down the words that God had spoken to him in a book that through the reading of those words the people might turn from their evil ways. Jeremiah did exactly what the Lord commanded him. This book, with its condemnation of Israel and Judah, eventually ended up being read in the presence of king Jehoiakim. After just a few pages had been read, the king became so infuriated he cut the book into pieces with a penknife and threw the pages into the fire. This account is found in Ch. 36:20-24.

I should have known how it was going to be by how it started. I dropped the shampoo in the shower. Then when I got through shaving and doing all the other stuff you do to get ready, I caught my foot in my pants and did a St. Vita’s Day dance all over the bathroom floor.

I have to take several pills every morning. I dropped the little plastic cup I had them in and they spilled all over the floor. Even after I found my glasses, I couldn’t locate them all.

When I was growing up, my family went camping every summer. For a city boy from Houston, that mostly meant a week without television and computer games. But I came to appreciate the simple sounds and sights of nature, the kind that didn’t need electricity or other manmade invention for their enjoyment. The stars shined brighter and in greater numbers than they did above the city lights. The crickets chirped and the frogs croaked without the interruption of a plane flying overhead or a car passing by.

I actually keep two journals–one is a day-by-day journal (as the name journal indicates), the other is what I call a “periodic journal,” in which I write some things about passages or spiritual meditations. May I share a few of the latter with you?

February 27, 2007–“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

Several years ago, my father-in-law bought a hunk of metal that at one time was a brand-spanking-new 1930 Model A. After much time and effort, he completed the restoration of that Model A to its original state. After all, that’s what restoration is...restoring something back to its original condition, using original parts, original upholstery, original paint colors, etc.

Can I know that I am saved? It appears to be a simple question, and one that I am sure many Christians would be quick to answer with an astounding, “YES!” But dig a little deeper, and ask how do you know that you’re saved?