In the sixties, Jackie DeShannon sang, �What the world needs now is love, sweet love. That�s the only thing that there�s just too little of.� As our lustful appetites have changed, so have our tunes. The seventies brought Stephen Still saying, �If you can�t be with the one you love, love the one you�re with.� The nineties rocked with Tina Turner�s question: �What�s love got to do with it?� We didn�t want a heart that could be broken. Today, society thirsts for money, power, and prestige. Up with self-gratification. Down with love.

Our human soul has a God-shaped hole that nothing fits except the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 10:19). That�s why the new generation is still singing the Rolling Stones anthem: �I can�t get no satisfaction. And I try, and I try, and I try�� Fulfillment is an impossible goal unless we obey the idolatry rule etched in stone and refuse to allow anything to be more important than pleasing God (Exodus 20:3). People are seeking but not finding because they knock on the wrong doors (Luke 11:9). Jesus is the only way to the life that can�t get any better (John 14:6).

Love is the one thing required to make life worthwhile. It is the bond of perfection, more important than faith or hope (1 Corinthians 13:13-14). Our two greatest commandments are to love � first God, then our neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39). An unloving Christian is a contradiction of terms. We improve our character by putting on compassion, kindness, and gentleness (Colossians 3:12). Roman guards, the curse of death, and the gates of hell couldn�t shackle the life of Christ (Revelation 1:18). On the cross, self-gratification came down and love was raised to its greatest height (John 12:32).
Frank Ball � 2003

As she slipped the ring on her finger, the diamond's sparkle caught her eye. Every facet of the flawless stone was perfectly cut. She reached out, turning her hand toward the light, and tried to imagine what people would say. At first with hesitation, then with confidence, she gave the ring back to the jeweler. "Thank you, but it won't work," she said. "My friends might be impressed, but I would still know it's a cubic zirconia fake."

We live in a world of imitations where a "certificate of authenticity" is needed to prove something is genuine. Because no one knows what another person is thinking (1 Corinthians 2:11), people can put on an act that keeps others from seeing their hurts, weaknesses, and inadequacies. They hide in hypocrisy, thinking they will be perceived as the person they want to be.

From a distance, imitations look real. Close up, the truth is more apparent. We fear what others might think, so we avoid letting anyone close enough to see the way we really are. Afraid we might be hurt again, we push away the potential friends that could quench our thirst for love. We smile as if everything is fine while on the inside we're dying.

We don't have to fear rejection from the One who counts the most. While we were sinners, God loved us to death (Romans 5:8). When we put our trust in him, there's no reason to fear how others might react (Psalm 56:11). As we allow his light to fill the shadows of our heart, we can open the windows of our soul for everyone to see (Matthew 5:14). Everything about God who lives within us is authentic.

Frank Ball, writer, speaker, and author of Eyewitness: The Life of Christ Told in One Story

email: [email protected]

For information about the North Texas Christian Writers Conference

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First-time author, Ronie Kendig has been contracted by Abingdon Press for her espionage thriller, Dead Reckoning, scheduled for release March 2010. Deal negotiated by agent extraordinaire, Steve Laube.
The story blurb:

Dead Reckoning...
Underwater archeologist Shiloh Blake is consumed with passion for the water and angry at the injustices of life. Her first large-scale dig traps her in the middle of an international meltdown and forces her to flee for her life. When she spots a man trailing her, she questions who he is and how he's always one step ahead of her.

Former Green Beret Reece Jaxon now serves his country as a covert operative. His mission is entangled by the beguiling Shiloh Blake as he hunts down the source to a dead drop in the Arabian Sea.

The only way to prevent a nuclear disaster is to join forces with Reece. But will Shiloh violate her vow to never become a spy like her father? Will they put aside their differences to end this nightmare?

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Donald R. Davis

�When will the warriors from Tikopea Island come again?� Everyone on Santa Cruz Island was asking the question. Rukoi, the chief�s younger brother led nightly discussions. �I don�t like it! We should get ready.�

Rukoi�s younger brother, usually full of ideas, spoke up first, �Yes! We will never drive them off our shores. We must do something! I think we should move to the south coast. That way, when the Tikopea men come in their war canoes they won�t find anyone to kill. Maybe they will just shove off and go to another island.�

�You may be right,� Tinaku answered. �But what if the people from Utupua Island come? Don�t you think we can win that fight?� Tinaku, Rukoi�s uncle, was often right, and wanted everyone to say so.
�Yes,� Fatuta broke in. �But what if the people from the Duff Islands come? We are only one island. They are eleven. How could we fight them off? Could they come in this weather?�

Everyone began looking at the winds. Tevai went to the beach to check on the tide and wave action. When he came back everyone was eager to hear what the Paramount Chief had to say.

Tevai stood tall, stretched out his right hand and gave his decision, �My brothers and friends, the wind and waves are favorable for the people to come from the direction of Anuta Island. But who knows about their friends out on Tikopea? Maybe they are planning to come at the same time. We must do something to get ready. They will come soon if they come at all.�

The conference continued for two days. Hearing the well-founded fears of the people, Chief Tevai summed it up. �We will try to make peace.� The only sound was a sharp inhale of breath through clenched teeth. They knew what that meant.

The women heard about this decision soon enough, and began to weep, wail, and moan, especially the women of the chief�s clan. Chief Tevai�s first wife tried to comfort Samoka, his youngest wife, the mother of little Katulik. Samoka could not be comforted. People kept saying, �She is weeping her heart out.� Her husband, the Chief had selected her son, Katulik, to be the one to make peace.

�The time is right. We must act,� declared Tevai. �The enemy will be coming very soon, whoever they are. Katulik! Come! I have some talk!�

Katulik was a brave five-year-old boy. Already the Council of Chiefs had begun training him to become a sub-chief some day. Being the youngest son, he would never rank among the chiefs, and certainly never become the Paramount Chief like his father.

Tevai explained to Katulik how he would be very important in making peace with the enemy warriors. �First,� Tevai told him, �here are bird-of-Paradise feathers that you are to wear. Stick them in your kinky black hair like this. You must wrap this red bark cloth around your waist and tie it up good. Later I will get some red, yellow, and black coloring and paint your body and face. You will look really wonderful. Katulik, do you understand this?�

�I understand,� Katulik answered hesitatingly. �I will wear the feathers and the red covering. Then you will put paint on me. Is that all, Father?�

�Good! Real soon we will get you ready,� Tevai assured him. �Maybe tomorrow.�

Tevai didn�t have the heart to tell Katulik the rest. �That can wait until the day,� he told himself. Restlessly Tevai and the others walked the beach every day studying the wind and waves, and looking out over the ocean as far as they could see. The Chief dispatched three young men, �You three! Keep a sharp watch from the highest point of the island.�

Three evenings later, everyone heard the watchers shout, �Lights at sea! They are coming!� Aboard the great fighting canoes there were small fires. They cooked fish as they caught them. The trip between islands took two days in the best conditions, so they wanted to eat and build up their strength.

The Chiefs� Council assembled quickly. Tevai told them, �We are ready. Stand by with all weapons. Be ready to fight if our peace offer is rejected.�

Before sunrise, Tevai woke Katulik and took him out to the beach. Clearly he instructed him, �I want you to stand right on this point of land. Here, let�s get these feathers in your hair. Now, let me wrap this red garment around you.�

Tevai finished preparing his son. He gave him his last instructions, �I want you to stand right here and watch those canoes as they approach. I want you to act very friendly to them. Shout to them like friends. Do not fear. You can help us make peace. I will go over there and hide so they won�t be afraid of me.�

Father Tevai was gone, and Katulik stood there facing the sea. Soon he saw the great canoes coming. They sailed in until they were close to the reef where the breakers were really rough. They lowered the sails and put oars in the water.

Katulik saw them clearly. They had stopped. They weren�t moving. Aboard the sea-going canoes the men were holding a conference. Canoes crowded close together so everyone could get in on the chatter.
�Yes! I see him. I see the peace child. So what will we do?� The deep voice was that of a barrel-chested warrior with the face paint of a Paramount Chief. Quickly the men reached a consensus saying, �We will accept peace.� They strung their bows and laid their arrows and spears handy. Picking up the oars, they rowed furiously through the pounding surf. Reaching the inner quiet water, two men in each canoe kept rowing while one steered. The remainder sat quietly in their places.

As they approached the beach, they could hear Katulik greeting them in a friendly manner. He kept calling out, �Good morning! I have come for peace.� Closer and closer they came. The deep voice rang out again, �Now!� The archers quickly stood and released a volley of arrows right at Katulik. Then some threw their spears to be sure that he was dead.

Everyone grabbed an oar and helped beach the canoes. They jumped out on the sand as the Santa Cruz men and women met them with glad cries, �The invaders have accepted our peace sacrifice.�

Now there would be a time of peace between them.

E-mail Don at [email protected]

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Barbara Wohr

I kicked the dog, had words with a lady and more than once yelled at the baby.
My friend said, "You didn't? You didn't!"
I lied to the postman about the books and gave my husband dirty looks.
My friend said, "You didn't? You didn't!"
I left no tip for the waitress and said that she was so ungracious.
My friend said, "You didn't? You didn't!"
Lord, I feel so sorry for all these sins. Please forgive those I regret.
Did I do something you can't forget?
My God said, "You didn't child. You didn't."

Visit her website at www.geocities.com/gramwrites2/gramspage

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