On Thursday evening, the course outline was presented, and I was told that I was to be present at 8:00 a.m. the next morning, and I was to find my place at a table, where there would be a brown manila envelope with my name on it. I was to open the package and sort the contents into four piles: one was to be "Do Now" and included items of great urgency. The second was to be "Do Today" which included items of importance, but not "urgency" — I could fit them in. The third was to be "Do This Week" and included somewhat routine items that could wait awhile. The fourth was "Delegate or Eliminate" and these were items that I did not have to deal with personally.

I was well on my way through the task, when suddenly, a very distraught youth with a very bloody nose (fake) ran into the room and yelled, "There's a big fight in the yard!" We were told to outline how we would respond. Predictably, some reacted poorly, and the "situation" worsened. Some over-reacted and got themselves into awkward situations. The whole day continued in that vein. It was a very interesting and challenging experience in establishing priorities.

Thinking back to when I asked Jesus to become my Saviour and walk with me through life, likewise, I suddenly found that I had many new choices to make and priorities to establish, and very little experience in how to make them. I needed a lot of help, which was always there.

Matthew 6:33 – [Jesus said,] "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (KJV)

For example, when I wanted to become an administrator, I first had to prayerfully consider if this were where Jesus wanted me to go. Once I was assured that it was, there was much prioritizing and planning that we had to do.

John 6:45 – [Jesus said,] "It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." (KJV)

If you already know Jesus as your Saviour and Lord, ask for wisdom, and He will hear you and respond. If you do not yet know Jesus as your Saviour and Lord, would you please consider asking Him now? You will never regret it!

Prayer: Lord, help those who are seeking You to find You, and grant to those, who have already become Your servants, wisdom to continue to serve You. Amen.

This started me considering how incredibly useful and important trees really are. The maple tree, for example, which is represented as the central object in the Canadian national flag, can yield sap in the spring which can be boiled down into delicious and nourishing syrup for food and energy. The roots help stabilize the soil, and retain moisture for other plants and animals. The spreading boughs and broad leaves provide shade from the summer's sun, and places for birds and animals to build their nests. Judiciously culled, so as not to threaten the forests, the strong and beautiful wood is used for our floors and to build furniture for our homes. Fibre from the wood can be made into the paper I am writing on. All of the tree can be recycled to enrich the earth for future generations to enjoy.

Fruit and nut trees of many kinds provide us with healthy and nutritious foods. The jungles of the equatorial tropics produce ninety percent of our life-giving oxygen which all creatures need in order to survive. Trees are indeed essential to our very being!

Sitting here with my thoughts about trees, I checked my concordance and discovered that trees are referred to in the Bible more than 130 times.

Genesis 1:29 – And look! I have given you the seed-bearing plants throughout the earth, and all the fruit trees for your food. (TLB)

Revelation 22:2b – On each side of the river grew Trees of Life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month; the leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. (TLB)

So important are trees that they are written about in the first and last books of the Bible!

Then, my thoughts turned to the most important tree of all time. As far as I know, we have absolutely no idea which kind or species the tree was. It may have been a palm tree, a fig tree, an olive tree, an oak tree, or a cedar tree. But, from that unknown tree, the cross was made upon which our Lord was crucified! Why Jehovah chose that manner of death for His only Son, I cannot possibly imagine: I can only be eternally thankful!

Galatians 3:13 – Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"). (NKJV)

Had the cross of Christ been used before? Was it ever used again? We do not know. We know only that when it was used to end our Saviour's earthly life, history and eternity changed forever! Because of Christ's death on that unknown tree, my many sins have been forgiven, and my soul has faith in the promise of a never-ending relationship with Jesus Christ, His heavenly Father, the Holy Spirit, and an eternal home with God.

Prayer: Father God, we thank You for providing us with trees, especially the tree from which Christ's cross was made. Thank You, Father, that Your grace was so immense that that You sent Your only Son to die for all who believe in You, and for what You have done for all humankind. We pray that we may live, now and for evermore, with Your forgiveness for our sins, Your peace in our hearts, and Your promise of an eternal heavenly home. Amen.

One such programme was "What's My Line?" Contestants with unusual occupations were interviewed by four panellists. Only questions with a "Yes" or "No" answer were allowed. At the conclusion of the questioning, the panel attempted to guess the contestant's occupation. There were also "mystery guests", usually famous people who would disguise their voices, and the panellists had blindfolds while asking their questions. Again, at the end, they tried to guess who it was. Each contestant was awarded five dollars for every "No" answer. (Five dollars then would buy two steak dinners.) The games ended when ten "No" answers had been given, or the identity of the guest or their occupation had been guessed. It was great entertainment!

Another such programme was "Twenty Questions", hosted by Stuart Macpherson. Panellists were given only the clue of "animal", "vegetable", or "mineral". They had only twenty questions to try and solve the mystery. They were very good at it and often succeeded at solving the mystery.

One day, Jesus was walking with His disciples from Galilee towards the villages of Caesarea Philippi when He asked them:

Mark 8:27b-28 – "Who do the people think I am? What are they saying about me?" "Some of them think you are John the Baptist," the disciples replied, "and others say you are Elijah or some other ancient prophet come back to life again." (TLB)

Jesus then put the question directly to His disciples: "Who do you think I am?" Contemplating the scene, I can almost "see" the disciples, especially "doubting" Thomas, exchanging cautious glances, not wanting to say the wrong thing! Suddenly Peter affirms, "You are the Messiah." (verse 29)

Peter's revelation of his own personal faith was the same life-changing revelation that comes to every soul who is seeking to find a faith in God. It is the world-changing revelation which eventually led to the foundation of the Christ-centred Christian churches we have today! If you have not yet decided who Jesus is, for you, please ask God to tell you — and patiently await His reply.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we ask You to reveal Yourself to every soul who is searching for a personal Saviour. Reveal to them, as You revealed to everyone who has trusted You, that Jesus is the Messiah. Amen.

As I passed into my late teens, began to work, sought a significant other, and began to plan realistically for a practical and rewarding future, all such thoughts of swashbuckling faded and disappeared, along with all thoughts of my treasure chest.

Now, I am in my twilight years (some call it older age) and what would you think? I do have a treasure chest! It is covered in very dark green leather, which is badly showing the wear and tear of many years of service. It is trimmed with pure gold — yes gold! The edges and corners are badly worn from much use and being carried for many, many miles, over many, many years. But, inside, the priceless treasure is perfectly intact! It will never deteriorate, and can never grow old! The most amazing thing about this treasure is that the more of it I give away, the more there is to give! My treasure chest is my Holy Bible!

Inside is the invaluable Word of God — the most perfect treasure that any human being can ever have — and it is free for the taking! In every book of my Bible, there is a treasure which I can contemplate, use to better my own state in this present life, and share with others, to help them find the salvation life that is promised to us by Jehovah, the giver of all good gifts.

Psalm 119:18 – Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. (NKJV)

Psalm 49:1-3 – Listen, everyone! High and low, rich and poor, all around the world — listen to my words, for they are wise and filled with insight. (TLB)

Yes, inside my treasure chest is everything I need to know in order to live a peace-filled and productive life and to help others become aware of the love of God and the pathway to an eternal life with Him. What an incredible treasure!

Luke 12:34 – Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be. (TLB)

Do you have a treasure chest? If not, I pray that you will get one, open it, carefully and prayerfully read it every day, and begin to share in all of the treasures God has promised to every one of us.

Prayer: Holy and merciful God, thank You for sharing the greatest treasure in the whole universe — Your most gracious love — with all who seek to find it. Teach us how to use Your treasures wisely, and share them with all our friends. This we ask in and through the name of Christ, our Lord. Amen. Hallelujah!

There are many sets of "Commandments". As a hunter safety training instructor, I teach the "Ten Commandments of Hunter Safety" to every class, and strongly recommend compliance. Then, there are the "Safety Patrol Commandments" which we taught student Crossing Guards, when I was in education. There are many more sets of commandments. I wonder what a new set of "commandments" for God's Church might be like.

Perhaps something like these?

Thou shalt do more than belong: thou shalt participate.
Thou shalt do more than care: thou shalt help.
Thou shalt do more than believe: thou shalt practice.
Thou shalt be more than fair: thou shalt be generous.
Thou shalt do more than forgive: thou shalt accept and forget.
Thou shalt do more than teach: thou shalt inspire.
Thou shalt do more than give: thou shalt serve.
Thou shalt do more than live: thou shalt grow and mature.
Thou shalt be more than friendly: thou shalt be a friend.
Thou shalt do more than receive: thou shalt share with others.

1 John 3:24 – All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. By this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit he has given us. (NRSV)

Prayer: Loving, giving, and forgiving heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit, open our senses to hear, see, and feel the "commandments" that You have for each of us. Help us to love as You love us, by serving You in whatever way You would have us serve. Thank You for Your loving care and for the blessed promise of sharing eternity with You and Your angels. Amen.

Throughout my 45 years of teaching, I have found that positive feedback, or an earned compliment, usually brought a positive response: a bright smile, a happy "Thank You!" and even tears!

Whenever a student, no matter how young or old, had done particularly well on a test, or in developing a "project", or simply in answering a challenging question, I tried to provide some kind of positive feedback. I also tried to be positive whenever a student showed better effort and attention, even if the end result was not what it might have been. I was, of course, trying to move my students to do their best.

Paul, in his letter to the church at Corinth, is trying to do the same thing: to encourage them to do their best. That is the least, and the most, that we can do for our God and Saviour. We all have different abilities and different levels of similar abilities, but we can all try to do our very best, no matter what task we are given.

Everyone, I believe, needs to hear a sincere, genuine compliment every now and then. It gives us a good feeling about ourselves and our efforts to serve others and to do well. What could possibly be the best compliment of all?

Could there be any greater compliment than this, from our heavenly Father, when we meet Him face to face: "Well done, my good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:23 NLT)

Let us always remember that our Lord will do everything He can to help us receive that compliment. Are we ready to do the rest?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit, thank You for giving us the privilege of serving You and Your kingdom. Please show us what we can do, give us strength to try and do it, and forgive us when we fail. We are trying to serve You as You would be served. Thank You for all Your blessings, and for giving us a divine purpose for our lives. Through Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Once I was in school, when I arrived home, I was to change into "play clothes", then do any homework I had before dinner. Following dinner, dishes were washed and put away first; then there might be time for play.

When I got my first job at the T. Eaton Co. in Toronto, my boss said, "Rob, we will meet together each morning and plan our day: what we must do, what we should do, and what we will do if time permits — first things first."

When God decided to give the children of Israel directions for living, the first thing He said was: "I am the Lord thy God… thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:2-3 KJV) First things first.

Much later, Christ was teaching the people on a mountain and said:

Matthew 6:33 – Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (KJV)

Later in His ministry, He was challenged by one of the Pharisees, who demanded (for his own edification), "Master, which is the greatest (first) commandment in the law?" Christ responded:

Matthew 22:37-40 – Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. The second is like unto it; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (KJV)

What would the world, our world, be like, if everyone obeyed and did "first things first"?

There would be no war: only peace. There would be no poverty: for all would share. There would be no jealousy or hatred: for all would be content. There would be no "false gods" — wealth, prestige, and power — for all would worship the one true God. If only everyone would put first things first! Is this an idealistic vision? Yes. Is it possible? Yes, if God wills it to be. Is it likely to happen? No, as long as we let Satan replace God, and worldly pleasures replace heavenly treasures!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit, bless those whom You have called to serve You, so that we can learn to tell others of Your love for us and them, and encourage them to put "first things first" in their lives. Teach us how to better love and serve You, and to love and serve each other. In Jesus' sacred name, we pray. Amen. Hallelujah!