“I Once Was Lost, But Now I’m Found..”

If you would have taken the time to Google news the word, “lost” you would have found several unusual & interesting things today. Several items of significance were found. Take the portrait of Queen Elizabeth 1 found in an attic lost for over 100 years. Or the wallet of a Georgia state woman, now deceased that was missing for over 60 years found on a ledge of a basement wall while renovating an old theatre. Then there was the man who was smuggling some Picasso prints that were found in his possession upon a search. If you are a Madonna fan you may be glad to know her first two songs & subsequent recordings were found & released. One item lost, but not yet found is a wax figure head of Sir Paul McCartney, lost on a train in England. I’m not sure I’ll be losing sleep over that one.

Far more important though, would be several lives saved today. An elderly gentleman was lost while hunting in Colorado Mountains & was found today after wandering for two nights. A 41 year old man was happy to be found after wandering around a day in the Great Swamp, a 7,000 acre refuge. How was he found? They honed in on his cell signal. The same for the five lost in a disabled boat in the Chesapeake Bay.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve lost plenty things in my life. Seems the older I get the more I have the “Bermuda Triangle” experiences, though I’m over 1100 miles from the closest point of said triangle. A ‘Eureka’ for those of us getting older is happening upon a treasured item we thought was lost for good. You know the other blue sock you were looking for. The car keys or your wallet!!

While we can laugh (to keep from crying) at our ‘senior moments’ & lapses in cognitive information retrieval, there are some things worth pure celebration. It occurs when a lost soul is found.

There is a story Jesus related about a man with two sons. Apparently, the man was wealthy & one son wanted in on it at an early age, not wanted to wait for his Dad to die to get his portion of the inheritance. The broken father relented & gave the ungrateful son his portion.

The boy, as one would predict, acted foolishly & immature & partied & squandered his newfound wealth. Left with nothing but impending starvation he ‘came to himself’ & crawled home.

His father’s reaction? He was waiting at the gate. No “I told you so” or “you worthless punk” etc. A hug, wet with tears of joy! A pure picture of redemption. Then the young man had his first REAL party. “This son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.” Luke 15:24. NLT

How about you? Are you lost right now? Can’t seem to find your way back home? Maybe you have someone dear to you who is wandering in ‘the far country.’ Love to join you in prayer.

There’s a wonderful story behind that old hymn, “Amazing Grace.” Google that sometime. I echo the thought, ‘I once was lost, but now am found.” Feel free to contact me.

www.myspace.com/davejacksonnewport.

Dave Jackson on facebook ASUN website www.bcmasunewport.org

Dave Jackson-Campus Minister djackson@absc.org

Cell: 870-217-9376

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