It's always

been interesting to me what people will do for the stuff! There has been

a lot of energy around this subject. There are even TV programs like "Want

to be a Millionaire?"

Does anyone

remember the old black and white TV show called "The Millionaire?"

If anyone reading this does not know what black and white TV was, you

probably won't be able to follow the rest of the article.

This TV show

always started with a scene from behind a large high back leather executive

chair. You saw a man with a dark suit and tie walk into the executive's

office. The man who was sitting in the executive chair was talking and

you never saw his face, only the back of his chair.

The next scene

was him holding out his long arm and giving the man in the dark suit a

check for one million dollars. He would always say "Michael, our

next millionaire."

The very popular

theme of the show was to see how the money affected the lives of ordinary

people. When the money was delivered to the individual, he or she was

told that there were only two stipulations about the money. First you

couldn't tell anyone where it came from and secondly, you had to spend

it. Usually the money so drastically changed their lives that it usually

brought much grief, not a blessing!

Just to test

your memory (you must be over 45 to answer the following questions):

1. What was

the name of the executive who gave the money each week?

2. What was

the name of the man in the dark suit who delivered the checks to the unsuspecting

individuals?

I am told that

it is the long-term memory that lasts, and the short term memory leaves

first. (If I could just remember the reason I am writing this article,

we could continue.)

The man behind

the executive chair was John Barres Fertipton and the man who always delivered

the check was Michael. I can't remember his last name. It might have been

Anthony. If anyone knows, please e-mail me.

Anyway this

theme of money seems to be the most important theme in people's

lives today. When this black-and-white TV program was on, you seriously

would have had a hard time spending that kind of money. By today's standards

you could do it within a few hours or days for sure.

Is money bad,

then? Certainly not; however; there is a real pitfall connected with it.

In fact, if you fall into this pit, it can affect your heart. If it affects

your heart, then it can be fatal. If it is fatal, then it's all over.

Not to say that it is all over for the believer in Christ, but He said

in His Word that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle

than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Strong words

about money.

We all go to

buy gas at our local gas stations, now called convenience stores. If you

go into the store to pay for gas or pick up a quart of oil, you may encounter

long lines of people all trying to get rich, taking their chances on the

numbers.

Money is great

stuff; it can build a church or fund a missionary for the cause of Christ.

It can support many charities and be used to eradicate disease or educate

someone who can't afford an education. The list is endless of what it

can do.

Some of the

strongest words in the Bible are about money. His Word says, " The

love of money is the root of all evil ." Wow, is this the same

stuff that can do all this good and yet can be the root of all evil? No,

not the money, but the love of it. Because the love of it can fill

a book of all the crime, and heartache it can and will cause a man or

a woman and his or her family.

Let me quickly

share here what can and will make you happy and you won't have to stand

in line at the convenience store hoping to score the right numbers. It

is the simple message with three points and these points are why people

are standing in line hoping to win. People think that when they win that

they will receive three things:

1. They will

be loved!

2. They will

be forgiven for the past!

3. They will

be "somebody" because they are now rich The opposite is true

on all fronts!

If they win

the lottery, their family and friends will all hate them. The past is

forever there and they are the same person they were before they bought

the ticket.

The only way

to accomplish the above three items is through the simple gospel message

that when one receives Christ he or she is "loved, forgiven for the

past, and are somebody." Long live the Gospel Message and it's free!!

The Rev.

Dr. Knox Herndon is pastor of His House Community Church (SBC). The Rev.

Greg Mausz is senior associate pastor. The Rev. Dr. Lydia Herndon is the

Sunday School superintendent, Bible study coordinator and teacher. The

church is just below Fayetteville, on Ga. Highway 85, a mile south of

Ga. Highway 16, just below the fire station. Visitors welcome. Church

office and prayer line 770-719-2365; e-mail [email protected]. The church's

new Web site is www.hishousecommunitychurch.com.

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