Topic(s): Forgiveness, Jesus

In 1992, Congressional records revealed that 296 of the 440 members and delegates overdrew their House accounts in varying amounts. During the 39-month period that was under investigation, 200 representatives had overdrawn their accounts by more than a month’s salary (the bank’s stated limit) at least once. Sixty-six of the worse offenders wrote about 20,000 bad checks with a face value of $10,846,856. This political folly came to be known as “Rubbergate” and had congressional representatives pleading for voter grace and sympathy. This whole scandal revolved around the issue of insufficient funds. When our Savior died on the cross, His last word was tetelestai (John 19:30). Its root meaning is that of completion. In the market place, it was used as a receipt that one had “paid in full.” Jesus communicated volumes with His last word. He not only “completed” all that the Father had assigned Him, but He “paid in full” our debt of sin. Although Congress may write bad checks, God’s payment for salvation will never be returned because of “insufficient funds.”

Works cited: Newsweek, March 23, 1992, p. 24-31; A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, Arndt & Gingrich, p. 810-811

“...full of grace and truth” —John 1:14

Young Couples Beware

Topic(s): Wisdom

Before you whip out that plastic, remember, most people don’t handle these little debt detonators very well. The fact is, nearly 75 percent of Americans who use credit cards make only the minimum payment each month. At that rate (minimum payments) you could spend the next thirty years paying back a $3,000 credit card debt and give the financial institution $8,000 worth of interest. It’s the principle of compound interest in reverse. —Working Well, Sept. 1995, p. 4

“And not many days after the younger son ...wasted his substance...and when he had spent all...began to be in want”—Luke 15:13,14

Note from Our Missionary’s Wife

Topic(s): Blessings

Dear Ones, We have been living in a 3 bedroom house with 2 (and sometimes 3) other Indonesian households these past two months. I have really had time to reflect on the American lifestyle and what we consider necessities and conveniences for the housewife. I have also really grown to appreciate more the role of the wife of an Indonesian Gospel preacher. She is certainly a precious person. Her morning usually begins between 5 and 5:30 am. She opens the house-doors and windows to signify she is up. In this hot, tropical climate she wants the morning breeze, if any, to refresh her house. (There is no A/C and most have no fans for that matter.) This also says she welcomes callers. (There is no phone for most of them.) She sweeps and mops the entire house. (There is no carpeting or vacuum cleaners.) She readies herself and gets to the pasar [market] to get the freshest produce and fish for that day’s meals. (There is no refrigerator.) She either walks or uses public transport there and back. (There is no family car.) At the pasar she gets the latest news. (They cannot afford daily newspapers.) She quickly returns home to prepare breakfast and boil water for drinking. (There is no instant oatmeal or cans of juice or clean water from the tap.) The other family members have all had a cold mandi [a bath taken by pouring water over yourself with a dipper] during her absence and the small children await her return. (There is no water heater.) After breakfast clean-up, she washes the clothes and linens used the day before. (There is no washing machine.) If there is a baby, you can imagine the wash. (There are no disposable diapers.) She tries to decide if it is safe to hang the daily wash outdoors during the rainy season or again on the lines throughout the house. (They never heard of a clothes dryer!) When the clothes are dry, an iron is filled with hot coals to do the pressing. (There is no electricity.) They are then neatly hung on a nail in the bedroom. (There is no closet.) Now she is ready to prepare the food for the rest of the day. She begins by cleaning, pealing, and grinding the fresh spices by hand. (There is no electric blender.) Everything is done from “scratch.” (There are no boxes, packages or cans of...) Then she cooks the rice; she lights the kerosene cooker with a match. (There is no microwave oven or electric stove with an automatic starter.) Whoever is at home eats, and the remaining food is left in open bowls on the table with a dome-cover to keep off the flies. (There is no Tupperware.) In the late afternoon, she again gives herself and children another mandi to wash away the day’s sweat and again sweeps and mops the house from the volcanic ash and “kid traffic” that has entered during the day. But during all of this, she still finds time to sing and read to her children, study the Bible with others, visit her neighbors, and study to teach Bible Class. How does she do it? She is not disturbed by modern conveniences. (There is no TV or radio!!) The above typifies most of the preachers’ wives we know. However, these past weeks we have had a fan, electricity, a gas stove, a refrigerator (only the freezer part works very well), and an indoor bathroom, but I have been living the rest of the story!! A life that most here would think was luxury. Are we Americans spoiled or what?? Continue to pray for the work here as we finish out the last two weeks. Love to all, Mel, Mom, Ibu —Melony Hatcher