Your computer monitor and television sets have a Contrast knob. The Contrast sightly alters the image to help adjust the best picture. Jesus is a big contrast. He is both God and man (who can get your mind around that?). When entering Jerusalem as the King, He rode a lowly donkey. He was a man of striking contrasts all through the Bible.

Someone has written of Jesus, “He who is the Bread of Life began His ministry hungering. He who is the Water of Life ended His ministry by thirsting. Christ hungered as a man, yet fed the hungry as God. He was weary, yet He is our rest. He paid tribute, yet He is the king. He was called a devil, but He cast out demons. He prayed, yet He hears prayer. He wept, and He dries our tears. He was sold for 30 pieces of silver, yet He redeems sinners. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, yet He is the Good Shepherd. He gave His life, and by dying He destroyed death.”

Jesus, through whom all things were created, became a human baby. He emptied Himself of all the glory of heaven, to be born into a world of sorrow and pain, so He could redeem that lost world to an eternity in heaven with Him.

Today is the opening day of the DeKalb County Free Fall Fair. I’ve never been to the fair that it didn’t cost me something. I usually go through several quarters at the mouse game, buy a big walleye sandwich or bowl of chili, and bring home a bag of fair donuts. When I was a kid I saved my money for weeks to spend at the fair. Actually, I learned one of life’s greatest lessons as a teenager when some fast-talking Carnie swindled me out of my entire savings on day one!

So, what do they mean “Free” Fall Fair? It means someone else paid the entrance fee for you to get you there. It reminds me that salvation is a “free” gift, but that free isn’t free; someone had to pay the penalty for my sin. Jesus did that when He went to the cross on your behalf.

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a price to pay once we get in. Although I have been saved when I accepted Christ, and shall be ultimately saved when I get to heaven, I am also being saved day by day as I break free from the strongholds of sin in my life.

Last Monday I was outside spending time with my 4-year old granddaughter, Ruby. I was observing the plastic playhouse and slide when I noticed a small stick laying on it. However, the stick was laying on the side of the slick, plastic wall. I wondered how it got caught on the side, so I touched it. And the thing began to move and crawl around. So, Ruby and I had a little fun time admiring nature.

How can something that appeared to be so dead, actually be alive? But, what a great illustration of God’s grace at work in human lives. We are dead in our sins, and cannot possibly please God. But, through Jesus Christ and His death on the cross, we can actually be spiritually alive with Him. Walking, leaping and praising God.

Paul said, “But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness” (Romans 8:10). Who wouldn’t want that in your life?

One of the Republican candidates proposes that if he were elected, he would deport every illegal alien and require them to properly apply before coming back. This was a great idea 25 years ago. By now, however, that is a daunting task, would rip apart families all over the nation, and would create a major policing nightmare (11.7 million reside here). Its an idea that gets backing from protectionists who do not want to share the American dream with any other immigrant, but keep it for ourselves. We, who built our economy on the backs of African slave labor and stole land from the native Americans, don’t want the same opportunities for others. Perhaps a bit hypocritical.

Immigration is surely a major problem in America that desperately needs fixed. But, is this the best deal? No one’s right and no one’s wrong, but I’d like your opinion. What do you think of this plan?

When the Wright Brothers flew the first airplane, it was a breakthrough that changed the world. But breakthroughs like that only come after much research and development.

The Wright Brothers spent much time researching before they made that monumental flight. They spent a lot of time researching birds, to try to discover how they flew and maneuvered in the air. They also researched the newly invented aluminum engine. To make that plane fly, they needed to produce enough power, yet minimize the weight. They also spent a lot of time researching the North Carolina winds to determine which location was most productive.

They were not specialists in any of those areas. Their specialty was to use that information wisely to develop a controllable flying machine that worked. They needed to resource knowledge that was already out there. People who can help other people have to have resources. In helping people deal with life problems, I often refer to books, video series, and referrals to professional counselors. And, drawing on years of personal experience is a great resource itself.

The greatest resource anyone can tap into is the Holy Spirit, because He can give us wisdom to know where to look. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5).

There is a dangerous place to be when driving: in someone’s else’s blind spot. A blind spot is that place where you are out of the other driver’s view. I once was driving at Interstate speed and attempted to pull out of my lane to pass the slower-moving car ahead of me. However, there was another car pulling out to pass me. He was in my blind spot and we nearly collided. If he was filled with road rage, it was probably justified. I thought I was driving safely, but he thought otherwise.

Could there be blind spots in your life? Could there be areas where you think you’re doing a good job, but everyone around you knows better? Could there be blind spots in your marriage? Could there be blind spots with your finances? Could you have a few blind spots with your co-workers? The problem with blind spots is you can’t see them.

The only way to deal with your blind spots is to get input from others. If you listen, they’ll reveal to you what your blind spots are.

Jesus said, “How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Luke 6:42).