Youth Thoughts

Hope Generation

Bogus Bills

19 Nov 2008 at 6:00am

Photo: Marcin Krawczyk

Emmanuel Ninger's reputation as a counterfeiter is legendary. Known as "Jim the Penman" (named after a character in a play then running on Broadway), he drew, by hand, $50 and $100 Legal Tender Notes. Relying on his naked eye, he worked for weeks at a time on each note, using pen, pencil and brush with colored inks. Thus he gained a reputation as an extraordinary artist. In fact, his counterfeit notes circulated among the wealthy as works of art.

Prior to his capture, Ninger had been cranking out cash for two decades. Then on March 28, 1896, The New York Times reported that the Secret Service found $244.25 of "good and bad money" in Ninger's home. Because of his clumsy, farmer-like hands, Secret Service agents did not believe Ninger to be the culprit they were hunting. He simply didn't match the physical profile that forgers were supposed to fit. Even after Ninger confessed, they didn't believe him.

Now, Ninger's story has reached mythic proportions. During the raid, three oil paintings were discovered. Experts estimate that it took Ninger as long to create one counterfeit bill as it did to paint one painting. After his arrest, Ninger's paintings sold for more that $5,000 each. In other words, he could have earned more from his artwork than he did for his forgery. According to legend people were so impressed by Ninger's artistic skill that when they found one of his bills, rather than report it to law enforcement they'd framed the bogus banknote.

The New York Times reports nothing about legitimate artwork from Ninger. The article simply describes his actions as "being engaged for 20 years in counterfeiting large denominations with pen and pencil."

Tell-Tale Evidence

Ninger's reign as King Counterfeiter came to an end when he entered the Cortlandt Street saloon and bought a glass of Rhine wine with a $50 bill. Picking up the bill from the wet counter, the bartender noticed some of the ink on his fingers. The bartender called police and Ninger was caught while boarding the Cortlandt Street Ferry. During the trial, Ninger's lawyer requested a dismissal—though he had no legal basis for such a plea. The judge refused the request. Ninger was convicted and served his time before disappearing into anonymity.

Here's a case of a man with a rare talent that, if used properly, could have benefited society in significant ways. Instead, he employed his gifts illegitimately.

Similarly, you have unique talents. God has gifted you in ways unlike any other person on the planet. Perhaps you can sing. Maybe you can rebuild a carburetor. Or you might be the best nanny in the state. I don't know what your gifts are, but I know you have special talent on loan from God. And He expects you to use your talents to bless others.

And know that someday you will receive your reward—a mansion on a street of gold. Real gold.

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By Karl Haffner. Portions reprinted with persmission from the North Pacific Union Conference Gleaner, September 2006. Copyright © 2008 by GraceNotes. All rights reserved. Use of this material is subject to usage guidelines.

Euthanasia

12 Nov 2008 at 6:00am

Photo: Kenn Kiser

We kill animals to put them out of pain; why is it different for humans?

Pastor Steve Answers:

One of the basic Christian beliefs is that human beings are made in the image of God (see Genesis 1:26). Entire books have been written about what that means. How about a few summary sentences?

To be made "in the image of God" means we have some abilities that are like God's abilities. For instance, we can create a number of things, and we have brains that can reason and choose. And of all creatures on this planet, we're the ones in charge.

Psalm 8:5, 6, puts it this way: "You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet" (see also Hebrews 2:7, 8).

While some environmentalists might choose to save a squirrel or a pine tree rather than a human being, Christians put people higher on the scale (even though they value all of creation as a gift from God for which they are accountable). That's one reason that taking the life of a person is different from taking the life of an animal (see Genesis 9:6).

But what if the person is in pain? Shouldn't we give Dr. Kevorkian a call? How about euthanasia? (It's pronounced "youth-in-Asia" but is not to be confused with young people on another continent. The word actually means "merciful killing.")

Medical technology has progressed to the point that we can keep human beings "alive" on machines for years after their hearts have stopped beating or their brains have stopped being active. Does this mean they're really alive? On the other hand, who wants to be the one to "pull the plug"?

Here's one more thing that separates people from animals. Paul wrote about his "thorn in the flesh" (see 2 Corinthians 12:7-10). We aren't certain exactly what this painful irritation was. Paul considered it a messenger from Satan that tormented him. He prayed for God to remove it.

Instead of freeing Paul from it, God gave him grace so the "thorn in the flesh" reminded Paul that in spite of all God does through people, we're still in need of a supernatural God.

The same could be true for us. In fact, when people see what we've done in spite of how weak we are, it shows how strong God is. God can take the horrendous reality of our sin-sick world and the pain we experience in it, and turn it into something that shows how good He is. And sometimes it's the one in pain who discovers this first.

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By Steve Case. Reprinted with permission from Insight Magazine Online. Copyright © 2008 by GraceNotes. All rights reserved. Use of this material is subject to usage guidelines. Scripture taken from the NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®.

My Jeremiah Complex

5 Nov 2008 at 6:00am

Photo: Craig Jewell

I think it's taken me forever to arrive at a place in my life where I don't feel completely lost. High school and college were a safe and predictable place. There were people ready to help me make the next step within my cushioned little world. But, something drastically changed the day after receiving that college diploma. Nobody could make any more decisions for me. I was petrified!

My journey through life began the day after my college graduation. I had no idea what I was supposed to do next. Which path was I supposed to take? Why did all of them look good? Why did all of them look bad? Why was I so confused? Who was I supposed to be? How was I supposed to be successful, when all I felt was my head spinning?

It's been six years since that time and I can honestly say that I don't have it all figured out yet! I have made bad decisions that I thought were good. I have settled for the easy way out. I've challenged myself to do things that were somewhat uncomfortable for me. In the past six years, I've learned real life lessons that professors seemed to have forgotten to teach. But, through it all, there has been an encouraging voice in my head.

He Has Plans for Us

God speaks to me in many ways through His prophet Jeremiah (who happened to have been a very young person when called to serve God!). Jeremiah 29:11 is a powerful message to me. God says to Jeremiah, "I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." He has plans for us,too. For you and I! He has plans to give us the future we've been longing for. I've often struggled with that idea. That God would think of us. These are plans that won't destroy us. They'll give us a life worthy of living. With all of the earth-shattering things that are happening around us, He thinks of you and me.

As I continue to enjoy this journey called life, I am amazed at the way God navigates it. I am amazed at the hardships and successes. How patient He is with someone so stubborn (tough confession, I admit!). But, I know He has plans that I can't even begin to imagine.

As you journey through your life, just wait. Wait for God's next move. Why? Because He's got it figured out. He knows what He's doing. And revel in this "Jeremiah complex."

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By Alejandra Torres. Copyright © 2008 by GraceNotes. All rights reserved. Use of this material is subject to usage guidelines. Scripture taken from The Message/Remix ®.

Too Little, Too Late

29 Oct 2008 at 5:00am

Photo: Dawn M. Turner

"No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed" (Luke 8:16).

She was tired of tossing and turning. She'd tried counting sheep and unsuccessfully read some of her most boring scrolls, but nothing could help her fall into a deep restful sleep. Instead, whenever she closed her eyes she saw Jesus. She saw him bound and led away to ... to her husband Pilate. It can't be, she thought. Pilate cannot be responsible for what happens to this man, Jesus, that some say is the Messiah.

So Claudia called for her most trusted servant and sent a message to her husband who was desperately trying to find a solution about what to do with Jesus. The best idea he'd come up with was to offer to release either Jesus or a well-known criminal named Barabbas. Of course, he reasoned, the crowd would choose Jesus because he was innocent. That's when he got his wife's message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him" (Matthew 27:19).

More determined than ever, Pilate asked the crowd: "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?"

The crowd answered, "Barabbas."

"What shall I do with Jesus," he asked and the crowd screamed, "Crucify him!"

Pilate called for water and washed his hands in front of the crowd letting them know that he wasn't responsible for what happened from then on. They had made the decision. Claudia got her wish. Was it courage that encouraged her to send the message to her husband? Had she heard Jesus speak and believed him to be the Messiah? Did she wait too long to let her belief be known?

Don't wait too long to do the right thing. Be courageous and let your light shine.

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By Dee Reed. Copyright © 2008 by GraceNotes. All rights reserved. Use of this material is subject to usage guidelines. Scripture taken from the NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®.

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