Hello There,

If Satan comes to the door, send Jesus to see what he wants.

WONDERFUL PEACE

FAR AWAY IN THE DEPTHS OF MY SPIRIT TONIGHT
ROLLS A MELODY SWEETER THAN PSALM:
IN CELESTIAL LIKE STRAINS IT UNCEASINGLY FALLS
O'ER MY SOUL LIKE AN INFINITE CALM.
Chorus:
PEACE! PEACE! WONDERFUL PEACE, 
COMING DOWN FROM THE FATHER ABOVE;
SWEEP OVER MY SPIRIT FOREVER I PRAY,
IN FATHOMLESS BILLOWS OF LOVE.

WHAT A TREASURE I HAVE IN THIS WONDERFUL PEACE,
BURIED DEEP IN THE HEART OF MY SOUL;
SO SECURE THAT NO POWER CAN MINE IT AWAY,
WHILE THE YEARS OF ETERNITY ROLL.

AND ME-THINKS WHEN I RISE TO THAT CITY OF PEACE,
WHERE THE AUTHOR OF PEACE I SHALL SEE,
THAT ONE STRAIN OF THE SONG THAT THE RANSOMED WILL SING,
IN THAT HEAVENLY KINGDOM SHALL BE:

"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with 
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, 
which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through 
Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:6,7

I HAVE A QUESTION-Why is it now that I know just about everything, nobody 
asks me?

MAY 3,1675-A law was enacted in Massachusetts requiring church doors to be 
locked during worship. Too many were leaving before the preacher got done. 
I can find no record that this law was ever repealed.

NOW THEY FIND ME-I had a pleasant surprise on Tuesday. An e-mail from a 
friend that reaches back to the early 1950s. He said he found me on the 
Internet. Dean and Carol Benton are still traveling for the Lord. He 
mentioned that they were on the way to Cincinnati. If the Bentons are ever 
in your area, go and greet them for me.

SOME URGENT PRAYER-For Vern (Sonny) Knibbs. He is barely clinging to life 
after a serious cancer relapse. For "Mitch" Branam who was injured at work. 
Facial cuts required plastic surgery. These two are believing with you.

RAMBLING THOUGHTS-Are what we deal in weekly. You get a hodge-podge today.

IRAQ-Is back in the headlines almost daily here. I refer you to my website. 
You will find that IRAQ??? is one of the early entries. If it were not for 
biblical insights, we would really be devoid of any knowledge about the 
middle-east. You will note that the piece I wrote is nearly six years old, 
but that is barely a drop in the ocean of eternal purpose. The sounds of war 
that seem to focus on Iraq need to stir our hearts to learn facts.

MOTHERS DAY-Next Sunday. See, I told you that you got a mixture today.

RHUBARB-When I say that word I am not talking about an argument in a 
ballgame. A good memory around this time of year is rhubarb. We had a large 
patch in one corner of the yard. Big, green leaves; sturdy, red stalks and 
SOUR. Dad would announce one day, "rhubarb's ready". We gathered and 
cleaned. Mom cooked up the sauce and baked pies. She even had a recipe for 
rhubarb custard with meringue. (Excuse the drool marks). I learned the hard 
way not to rinse dowh rhubarb with lots of milk.

IF YOU LIKE IT HOT-It appears that we will have it for you in a long summer 
in Texas. I am hearing all about La Nina and El Nino, but I guess that is 
right since today is Cinco de Mayo (whatever that is). Please don't write 
me-I know.

ALL OF THIS SCANDAL-In the religious world will not be solved by my 
simplistic insights. But, for what they are worth; you get them. What we 
have is the result when any person or organization presumes to exercise 
authority in the stead of God's written revelation in the Bible. The falls 
and disgraces of each of the religious "kingdoms" in history (recent or 
ancient) have followed deviations in matters of final and righteous judgment. 
It may be in a seedy motel or in palatial settings. It may be a prostitute 
and a wandering preacher or a group of educated leaders in fine apparel. The 
One God of the universe looks beyond the trappings and judges all by the same 
standard. The God who spoke from Mt. Sinai still has a voice.

LET'S LOOK AT-Luke 1:5-13 together. I want to talk to you about priesthood.

One of the basic issues in the Reformation was "The priesthood of the 
believer". We embrace this privilege with great joy. That sinful men can 
have audience directly with a holy God is a miracle of Calvary's cross. In 
the story of Zacharias and Elizabeth, we gain a glimpse into those areas that 
may be applied to our life as a priest. I will try to be succinct in my 
thinking. You may expand and extrapolate this study as you choose.

PERSONAL PURITY-Their credentials in the flesh are impeccable. So are their 
spiritual credentials. (Verses 5&6). In the era that we always note as being 
rather careless in spiritual matters, here is proof that the opposite could 
be true. No "lukewarm", condition exists here. (Revelation 3:16)

PASSIONATE PERFORMANCE-I believe that Zacharias was a faithful and joyous 
priest. He could be called upon twice a year to spend a week in the temple 
to fulfill his family vows. There were 24 families descended from Aaron who 
had this place of service. ( 1 Chronicles 24:1). This was a very special 
tour of duty-he was to actually work with the incense at the altar in the 
daily sacrifice. The entire nation (verse 10) would be waiting and watching 
for the smoke to ascend into God's presence. Many men his equals would never 
have such a joyous privilege.

PROVIDENTIAL PRESENCE-A right man, with a right heart, doing the right thing, 
in the right place at the right time and God will...."do exceeding abundantly 
above all that we ask or think." (Ephesians 3:20). God was about to change 
the course of human history, and Zacharias had a part. The only proper 
response-an awestruck silence.

PERSONAL NOTE-To the Bentons. On the map in my head, Austin is en route from 
Burlington, Iowa to Cincinnati, Ohio. One time, Dr. Wendell Kempton stopped 
in on the way from Harrisburg to Singapore. You'all bring whatever you like 
to eat best, and come.

His,

Ron Krantz