What does the future hold? Sometimes the future seems bleak - the list of possible disasters keeps getting longer. There is the threat of third world powers having nuclear or biological weapons. With the dissolution of the Soviet block there are nuclear weapons out there. What if some should end up on the black market? It could make the World Trade Center bombing look small.

And what about the environment? The hole in the ozone layer is bigger than ever and huge chunks of ice are breaking off of Antarctica. If the trend of warming continues the polar ice caps will melt and the oceans levels will rise and coastal areas will be flooded. But look on the bright side. Cayce Beach will be a lot closer than Myrtle Beach.

And what about overpopulation? The human race continues to grow. With advances in medicine people are living longer and having children longer. What happens when there are too many of us for this planet to feed? What will happen when there are too many of us for the water or air supply?

And if we survive all that there is the inevitable comet or asteroid. Scientists tell us that sooner or later a comet or asteroid a few miles in diameter will hit the earth. The end result will be giant tectonic disruption: earthquakes and volcanoes, and years of darkness and cold caused by the debris cloud.

You know the newest scare is that they say the world will end in Dec. of 2012. Back in about 500 AD the Mayans made a calendar that ends in 2012. Some people say that this will be the end of the world. The future could indeed be bleak!

Like us Jesus' disciples thought about the future. They wondered about this Kingdom Jesus was always speaking of. They pictured a wonderful future. A future where peace and justice reign. A kingdom where God and the law of his love is in charge. A world with no poverty, or war, or prejudice, or sickness or death. Where the lion will lay down with the lamb. Where all the nations will flock to seek guidance from God. Where implements of war are recast in instruments of agriculture.

Jesus knew they were thinking about the future so he told them about it. One of the disciples remarked at the size and the majesty of the temple. It must be eternal. Its glory should last forever. Jesus took this opportunity to teach them. He said, "Not one stone will be left on top of another; they will all be thrown down."

The disciples were stunned. Later they asked Jesus about it. Jesus warned them about false prophets and would be Messiahs. He told them that wars would continue to be waged. Famines and disasters would continue to take place. And this was just the beginning; the birth pains.

In the face of the reality of our world Jesus' words do not seem to offer much hope. In fact at first glance they seem dismal. At first glance they didn't seem to offer the disciples much hope either. They wanted to hear that the Temple would stand forever. They wanted to hear that the Messiah would establish a new kingdom with the Temple of God at its center. They wanted to hear that the Messiah would stop all wars and injustice.

"The future holds wars and rumors of wars, injustice and famine." That is not what we want to hear. We want to hear that there will be a new world order. We dream of a world where nation does not rise up against nation. A world where we beat our swords into plowshares and our spears into pruning hooks. We want to trade bread not bullets with the nations of the world. A world where all the Berlin Walls of hatred that divide people are torn down. We want a world where people can prosper in peace and with justice, free from pain and death.

But all those dreams, as inspired and beautiful as they are, seem doomed. They are a ship of hope that seems bound to be sunk by an enemy missile. No matter how earnestly we seek justice and peace there is always someone who kills it in its infancy. "There will be wars and rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes in various places, and these are but the birth pains."

Wait a minuet. These are the birth pains! Something is being born out of all these wars and evil. A birth: that is hopeful isn't it? It is the beginning of something! It is true that people will kill each other over Lord only knows what. But this is a sign to us that something new is about to be born.

I pointed out before all the evils that we may face in the future. But our hope is that Christ will overcome all evil. As Christians we believe that Christ will return and he will cast all that is evil in the lake of fire and utterly destroy it. And when he does that the cause of all evil will be destroyed. And we can finally beat our swords into plowshares. And there will be a new world order, in fact there will be a new heaven and a new earth, and the Prince of Peace will rule.

It is significant that Jesus made these predictions of the future in response to the question, "What will be the signs of the age to come?" Christ talked about this evil in the context of his return, so we need to view evil in the context of Christ's second coming. You see evil is a sign of the age to come. Oh this evil or that evil will not signal the end. But the activity of human mistreating and killing human is an evidence of evil. And we know that Christ has vowed himself to destroy all evil. He even gave his life for that cause! But he also arose, and he is coming again to finish the job.

Evil is nothing new. We will have it with us until the end. The human race in its sinfulness cannot stop it. It is as inevitable as sin itself.

But we Christians have a unique perspective. The world looks at how evil humans can be to each other and they feel hopeless. But we have a hope. His name is Jesus. And as surely as nation will rise up against nation, he will come again to end it all.

In light of this hope we can continue to dream of a new world order. We can honestly and truthfully envision a war to end all wars. And we can lift up our voices in singing "Let there be peace on earth." And because of the blessed hope of Christ's return we can also say that peace can begin with me.

And we can spread that hope. A hope and the assurance that one day we will all dwell as one family under God our Father. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

Mark 13:1-8

When I was 17 we visited New York. Among the sights we saw was the World Trade Center. The Family took a vacation in New York in the 90's. And among the other things we saw, like the statue of Liberty and the Art Museum, we went to the World Trade Center. Of course you couldn't go to New York without seeing it. I am not just talking about its importance as a tourist site. But you couldn't go the New York without seeing it towering over the skyline.

It was even more impressive close up. At a distance the buildings looked rather slender. It wasn't until you got right on top of them that you could see their true size. Each floor was more than an acre in area. Both buildings had 110 floors. They were made of 200,000 tons of steel and 425,000 cubic yards of concrete. It even had its own zip code!

And the bigger they are the harder they fall. We all remember the horrific events of Sept 11th. The World Trade Center, which had once survived a terrorist bombing, finally was destroyed. But the Twin Towers were more than just two huge and tall buildings. They were a symbol of American economic and technological might. It was that very symbolism which made them a target. And so when they fell it more than just the destruction of a steel and concrete structure.

Jesus' Disciples must have had much the same feeling as they stood next to the temple in Jerusalem. Herod's temple covered 35 acres and was made of marble and cedar some of it overlaid in gold. At Jesus' time it had been under construction for 50 years and it would take another 33 years to complete. It must have been impressive. Especially to a fisherman from Galilee.

In addition it was the house of God. In the center of the Temple was the Holy of Holies. Once a year the high priest entered there. In that place the glory of God dwelt.

The Temple was not just an impressive building it was a religious icon. No wonder Jesus' disciples remarked at the impressive stone work. "Look teacher at these large stones and these huge buildings. I guess they will stand forever."

Jesus' response to them must have been shocking. "Not one stone will be left on another." How could that be? They were so huge, who would go to the trouble of toppling every one. What natural force could possibly move one much less all of them. And what spiritual force could touch the very house of God!

It seemed impossible but about 40 years after Jesus words it came to pass. After a brief uprising the Romans sacked Jerusalem and burned the temple. Of course stones don't burn, but large portions of the temple were wood and large portions were overlaid with gold and gold melts easily. Some say that as the temple burned the gold melted and ran between the stones. The Romans methodically took what was left of the temple apart to get at the gold. So truly not one stone was left upon another.

Can you imagine how devastating this was for the Jewish people. The very house of God being demolished. This great temple made of huge stones, totally destroyed. It was more than a building that was destroyed. It was their world that came tumbling down.

Jesus' prophesy, that not one stone would be left on another, was still ringing in the disciple's ears when they arrived at the Mount of Olives. From the Mount of Olives Jesus and the disciples had a picturesque view of Jerusalem and the temple. Against this backdrop the disciples came to Jesus privately seeking some understanding. Perhaps they wanted some comfort in the aftermath of these disturbing words. Maybe if they knew when it would happen that would help them prepare. So they asked, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign when these things are all to be accomplished?" (Mark 13:4)

But Jesus' words are hardly words of comfort. First he tells them that many will be led astray. In times of chaos and disaster one hopes to keep a cool head but Jesus says that many will not. Then he says there will be wars and disasters and famines. But none of these things are a sign of the end.

So far Jesus' words offer no comfort. Then he says, "this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs." (vs. 8) Something is being born! There is hope. Towers and temples will fall, wars will rage, the earth will quake, people will starve, and even the faithful will be led astray, but there is hope!

I can't hear Jesus words about the temple and wars without thinking of our present circumstances. Perhaps the fall of the World Trade Center was not as devastating psychologically or spiritually as the destruction of the temple. But it certainly comes closer than anything I've ever seen. And since that day wars and rumors of wars have taken a place of prominence in all our lives. We all know someone who is over there or who is separated from family through other kinds of service.

And Jesus' disciple ask themselves and their Lord, "When will it all come falling down?" We're not just talking about buildings and nations. We're really talking about the things in our lives. What do we do when marriages fail, when dreams die, when jobs are lost, when loved ones disappoint us when health fails. What do we do when it all comes falling down.

And Jesus tells us that these things will happen. It will all come falling down sooner or later. No one lives a life without pain and grief. Things will happen that causes our worlds to fall apart and come tumbling down.

Jesus tells us that when it does come falling down that is not the end. In fact it is the beginning! It is painful but it is the pain of birth. Something better is coming that will make all the pain of this age pale in comparison.

When it all comes falling down, then hope. Have hope in the goodness of God. Put your faith in the power of the Almighty. Put your confidence in the truth that God will make a new beginning.

1 Samuel 1:4-20

Hannah was barren! The Bible says that the Lord had closed her womb. Being without a child was bad enough in a day and age when a woman's worth as often measured in how many offspring she could produce. To make matters worse her husband's other wife had bore several children. This rival of hers would pick on her continually. I can almost hear her, "I wonder what awful thing you did to cause the Lord to make you barren. Sometimes I wonder why my husband even bothered to marry you. Even his cows contribute more to this family than you!"

Apparently this torture went on for years. It got even worse when they went to the temple each year to offer sacrifices. The temple: the place where God's name dwelt, the symbol of God's life giving power in the midst of God's people. This symbol of life was a bitter reminder of the deadness of Hannah's womb and her rival took care to rub salt into that emotional wound. After all hadn't God's first commandment been to "be fruitful and multiply" Hannah's husband tried to console her, but it helped little.

So year after year she would pray to the God who had opened Sarah's womb so that she could bear Isaac, but year after year nothing happened. This particular time as she was praying, as she probably had a thousand times before, trying to make a deal with God as people will when they are desperate, Eli the priest saw her. Eli thought she was drunk and chastised her. But she explained to Eli that she was greatly troubled and was pouring out her heart to the Lord. At that Eli blessed her saying, �Go in Peace. The God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him.�(vs. 17) And Hannah conceived and bore a Son who would be Samuel, a great prophet and the last of the judges of Israel.

When I hear this passage I can't help but think of the couples I have known who have had trouble having children. Melissa and I have been blessed with two healthy children. But we have known several couples our age who have either been unable to conceive or who have suffered miscarriage after miscarriage. Many of them are faithful people like Hannah. They too go to the temple regularly and pray unceasingly for a child. And they, like Hannah, are constantly tormented by nurseries that are never played in and diaper pails that never see a dirty diaper and monitors that never broadcast a cry or a coo.

They are no less faithful than Hannah. They too would gladly give their child to the Lord as she did. They have already in their hearts dedicated their unborn and unconceived children to God. Some have already surrendered children, stillborn and unborn, to heaven.

Why aren't their pleas answered as Hannah's were!? Why can't they go home from the temple and conceive and bear a son or daughter? God opened the womb of Sarah and Hannah and even brought forth a son from a virgin? Can't the God of the miracle of life give a child to a good Christian couple who yearns to love a child and raise it in a Christian home?

First, let me say that sometimes their prayers are answered in the way Hannah's were. By a miracle of God barren wombs become fruitful. But sometimes God's answer comes in other ways. And to understand it we must look at the bigger picture. There is more going on in the first chapter of 1 Samuel than just the torment of one childless woman as great as that torment is. The name of the book "1st Samuel" ought to give you a hint to that fact.

The Story of Hannah is the opening of a new chapter in Israel's history. Samuel comes on the scene at a time when Israel is spiritually barren. Later in 1 Samuel, we are told that the word of the Lord was scarce and visions were not widespread. It is not that God was not speaking, but the people were not listening. And God had big plans for this child of Hannah's.

Samuel was to play a special role in the creating a new day in Israel. He would hear the word of the Lord and proclaim to the people the way that God would have them go. He would be the one to anoint Saul and David as the first earthly Kings over Israel. In a way Hannah's barrenness emphasized the fact that Samuel was a special child. But it also demonstrates that through Samuel, God was bringing life to a spiritual lifeless time and hope to a people that had lost touch with hope.

There is something that all this brings to light in my heart. It is the specialness of all our children. I think my family showed this to me. As a baby I was critically ill several times. I have shared with you the stories of how in a Catholic hospital the nuns carried on a prayer vigil for me when I was six months old and there was little hope.

My parents would tell that story and give God the glory for my life. And as a result I had a sense that God had something special in store for me. Maybe that is one of the ways that God prepared me to hear my call to ministry. But whether a child is born through special circumstances or survives and illness through a miracle, they are all special.

All the children here in this church have been destined by God for great things. God already has plans for them to play important parts in the master plan for the universe. They may not be 21st century Billy Grahams and Mother Teresas, but if they submit to God they will be used in important ways. Each of these children is a gift from God and the plight of Hannah and all those couples who haven't had children yet should teach us that. And just as God had a plan for Samuel, God has a plan for them and like Hannah we should dedicate our children to God in prayer and by our words and example.

Like Hannah we must dedicate our children to God. It will be their choice to follow Jesus or not, but we must pave the way for them. That is why I am so happy to see this church take children�s ministries so seriously. It is through Sunday School, Bible School, children�s fellowship, children�s choir and other ministries to and with children that they learn the faith and are prepared for that day when they are encountered with the opportunity to choose Christ. And not just these children here today but the other children in our community too. We must dedicate them to Christ and reach out to them. Like Samuel these are the ones who will hear and proclaim God�s word to us in the future.

Another important thing to note too is that God's answer to our plight doesn't always come the way we expect. In the case of Hannah it did come the way she had hoped. But for many couples it doesn't. Sometimes they end up parenting children in other ways. They become role models for children in their community. Or they adopt children and make them their own.

And they have a unique perspective that some of us don't Because of their struggle they see the specialness of each child that some of us overlook. And they also realize that each child, whether they come to us through birth or adoption, is not our own. They are God's and we had better acknowledge that and honor that.

But there is a bigger picture. Just as each of the children here is a special gift that rightly belongs to God, so each of us is a special gift that rightly belongs to God. Just as God had a special plan for Samuel and each of these children, so He has a special plan for each of us. And just as each of these children is really God's and we should dedicate them to God, so each of us rightly belongs to God.

The problem is, we don't always see that. We think we belong to ourselves. But like Samuel, God has a plan to use each of us to bring God's word to a land where it is rare and God's vision to a people who just don't seem to get it. Hannah acknowledged Samuel as a gift from God and dedicated him to God. In the same way, acknowledge yourself as a gift from God and dedicate yourself to Him.