Nothing But the Truth

HOPE:  noun the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best:  to give up hope a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen:  "he looked through her belongings in the hope of coming across some information" a particular instance of this feeling:  the hope of winning - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi; you're my only hope."  -- Princess Leia Organa An urgent message from a brave leader to a mysterious man. In  Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope , the Rebellion is at a pivotal point. They know the Galactic Empire has a super-powered weapon that can destroy worlds. They know if they cannot sabotage the Empire's plans for this Death Star, the Rebellion will die.  Princess Leia places her hope in an old man. To help change a universe. To help deliver victory to a rag-tag group of "scum." To help brin...

Opening Prayer :  Lord, help me to relax. Take from me the tension that makes peace impossible. Take from me the fears that do not allow me to venture. Take from me the worries that blind my sight. Take from me the distress that hides your joy. Help me to know that I am with you, that I am in your care, that I am in your love. Amen. Call to Worship : One: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, All: The author and perfecter of our faith, One: Who for the joy set before him endured the cross, All: Scorning its shame, he sat down at God's right hand. One: Let us consider him who endured such opposition from sinful people, All: So that we will not grow weary and lose heart. One: Let us worship God! Hymn                 Open My Eyes Prayer of Confession   God of mercy, you sent Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost. We confess that we have strayed from you and turned from your way. We are misled b...

S E E I N G A N D N O T S E E I N G John 9:1-41 “Steve Austin, astronaut. A man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world's first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before. Better...stronger...faster.” These words began the television show “The Six-Million Dollar Man.” This series ran from 1974 through 1978 and followed the adventures of a secret agent who was rebuilt with prosthetics and electronics after a plane crash. His two new legs allowed him to run up to 60mph and make tremendous jumps. His arm strength was comparable to a bulldozer. And he had an eye that could zoom and focus on objects at a great distance. The series became so popular that it spawned an endless supply of toys and other merchandise... everything from lunch boxes to bed sheets. I remember receiving a lot of the action figures as gifts: Steve Austin, a bad-guy named Maskatron, ...