This week I came across a listing of crimes committed by criminals who obviously hadn’t thought things through. Here are a few excerpts:

Two Kentucky men tried to pull off the front of a cash machine by running a chain from the machine to the bumper of their pickup truck.  The front panel of the ATM was so secure that instead they pulled the bumper off the truck. Scared, they fled the scene and drove home, leaving the chain attached to the machine—with their bumper still attached to the chain and their vehicle’s license plate still attached to the bumper.

A man went into a drugstore, pulled a gun, announced a robbery, and pulled a Hefty trash-bag over his head.  Too late he realized that he’d forgotten to cut eye holes in the mask. While sprinting blindly to the door, he fell down and was captured.

A man walked into a convenience store, put a $20 bill on the counter, and asked for change. When the clerk opened the cash register drawer, the man pulled a gun and demanded all the cash in the register, which the clerk promptly provided.  The man grabbed the stolen cash and fled—leaving his $20 bill on the counter. The cash in the drawer totaled $15.

And, last but not least, here’s my favorite:

In San Francisco a man walked into a downtown Bank of America and wrote, “This is a stickup. Put all your many in this bag.”  While standing in line waiting to give his note to the teller, he began to worry that someone had seen him write the note and might call the police before he reached the teller window—so he left the Bank of America and crossed the street to Wells Fargo. After waiting a few minutes in line, he handed his note to the Wells Fargo teller. She read it and guessing from his spelling errors that he was not the brightest bank robber in the world, told him that she could not accept his stickup note because it was written on a Bank of America deposit slip and that he would either have to fill out a Wells Fargo deposit slip or go back to the Bank of America. Looking somewhat defeated, the man said okay and left the Wells Fargo bank. The Wells Fargo teller then called the police, who arrested him a few minutes later as he was waiting in line back at the Bank of America.

If, like me, you pridefully chuckled at the antics of these clumsy crooks—then I would remind you that all of us are guilty of secret sins (thoughts and attitudes, actions and inactions that are not pleasing to God) and none of us get away with it. Matthew 6:18 says, “God sees what is done in secret.” Psalm 90:8 says, “Oh God You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence.” Romans 2:16 says that a day will come when God will, “…judge men’s secrets.” So, the clear teaching of Scripture is that there is no such thing as a secret sin. Sooner or later as Numbers 32:23 says, we can be sure that our sins will find us out!

Keep the SON in your eyes!

Hebrews 10:25 says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the day approaching.”

I have found that one of the best ways to obey the command that is inherent in this verse and encourage one another is to share testimonies of how we have seen God at work. In fact, I’d like to look at your reading of this article—as a way for us to “meet together” so I can do just that. Here are some encouraging ways I’ve seen God at work in our church as of late:

I was thrilled to share the hymn sing with you last week. God definitely used Bill Archer in planning a service that both exalted God and encouraged us all as we rejoiced in the truths of Scripture put to song.

I was moved by your response to the Price family’s grief. They were never without a Redland brother or sister who had lovingly come to stand beside them in this difficult time. Their refrigerator was literally filled to overflowing with food prepared to help them feed family and friends who had come for Stephen’s funeral.

God spoke to me this week as I gave former Redlander, Tom Howell, a tour of the ROC. Tom was so impressed with what has been done—and his perspective reminded me that yes—we are experiencing delays due to back-ordered electrical parts and installation of the goals—but we do have a beautiful facility that is almost done!

I got a real lift as I watched Brenda Egeland use her gifts and talents to set up our booth at the National Night Out in Olney. By my estimate, we distributed about 500 RBC mini-Frisbees and very well-worded brochures about our church.

I was particularly moved by something a stranger told me as I left that night. One of the volunteers at the veteran’s booth sought me out to tell me, “Pastor, I was so impressed by two of your young people. They were mature and graceful in their conversation with me. They definitely understand how to ‘share the reason for the hope that is in them with gentleness and respect.’” He was referring to Chelsea Tadasse and Michelle Helsel.

Speaking of youth—I thanked God as I watched our Minister of Students, Kevin Freeman in action that night. Kevin kept a throng of Olney teens busy playing a “RBC mini-Frisbee toss game” for hours—awarding the winner a coupon to RITA’S.  It was obvious that they enjoyed his company and I thanked God once again for bringing Kevin and Karen to us. I know He’ll use them in powerful ways to reach out to teens and their families.

Not to leave our children out—I was moved to hear Ashley tell how Joshua Callahan came up to her and gave her a brochure inviting her to Redland. He didn’t recognize my daughter-in-law—and proceeded to do a great job telling her about children’s ministry at Redland, including AWANA.

I could go on—but space won’t allow me to do so. I hope these words have encouraged you in this form of “meeting together.”

Keep the SON in your eyes!

There was once a man who owned a Great Dane—and this Great Dane was not only extremely large—he was also a very ferocious dog. Picture him in your mind as sort of a “mean Marmaduke.” He was a huge muscular animal with jaws of iron, a mouth full of sharp teeth—seemingly invincible. He was definitely not the kind of dog you would want jumping up in your lap.

One day the owner of this monster of a dog took him for a walk. Actually, I’m not sure who was walking who—but as they strolled through the neighborhood he saw another man across the street who was also walking his dog. However, unlike the Great Dane, this animal was little. He had short legs, a pug-like head, and no tail. He had no hair—and instead his squat body was covered with green leathery skin. In short, he was a very odd looking dog—and compared to the Great Dane he appeared to be very weak and powerless. The owner of the Great Dane was staring at this other little dog when the Great Dane—who had been looking the other way—suddenly turned his huge head and caught his first sight of this odd little dog. The Dane immediately strained against the leash until it snapped in two.  Then he charged across the street at top speed obviously intending to attack this odd-looking little

K-9. The owner of the Great Dane yelled to the man across the street, “LOOK OUT!  My dog is on the loose and he’s vicious! He will kill you and that little dog of yours! RUN for your life!” But, it was too late—the Great Date was already at top speed but when he leaped to attack, the odd little dog bared its teeth and simply opened his mouth unbelievably wide and swallowed the Great Dane whole. Then he began smacking his lips in satisfaction as if he had just enjoyed a great meal.

The owner of the late Great Dane was absolutely astonished by what he had just witnessed. And he said to the other man, “What kind of dog is that?! I’m a real expert on dogs and I have never seen a little dog that could do what your little dog just did!”  Then man replied, “Dog? What dog? This is not a dog.  Before he got his nose run over by a truck and his tail cut off by a train, this used to be an alligator!”

I share this little story to illustrate the fact that appearances can be deceiving. Sometimes things that we think are little or insignificant or weak—are actually VERY powerful. A great example of this principle is seen in the discipline of prayer. It seems to be a small thing—but as I told you Sunday, our almighty God exercises His unlimited power in response to our prayers. I’m reminded of the lyrics to one of the songs our Gospel Choir sings:

“Are you standing in need of a miracle today?

God is able to make a way from no way. He’s still able to carry you thru.’

If we let God’s power work deep within,

He’s able to do more than we could comprehend.

He alone can handle the challenges life brings. God is still doing great things.”

Are you facing a “Great Dane-sized problem?” Then pray—ask God for help. Remember what James 5:16 tells us.  “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

Keep the SON in your eyes!