Finishing well is a difficult task to accomplish. For many, their lives are filled with activity and adventure to the end. That was the case for many of the characters in the Bible as they approached the conclusion of their lives.

The final words of key people in history are considered essential to know and to follow. As followers of Jesus Christ, we study His words and seek to follow His teachings daily. With Easter just being celebrated, it would be beneficial to examine again the final words of Christ before He ascended to heaven.

Decisions! I heard on the radio yesterday that we make 35,000 decisions daily! This would mean we are confronted with multiple choices each day. From getting out of bed and brushing your teeth, to multi-million-dollar deals, decisions are made at every juncture of our day. How are you at making decisions?

O B E D I E N C E is a song we taught our children when they were young. It was a catchy tune and easy to remember as the kids grew up. The song also was useful to teach a principle that we all must learn. "Obedience is the very best thing to show that you believe...."

How do we care for those less fortunate than we are? Is there a time when we have looked at someone and then ignored their plight and walked away? The Israelites were to be a people that demonstrated compassion and assisted the needy.

We are challenged today to be holy people in the church just as Israel was called to be a holy nation. This will create tension and misunderstanding as the matters of holiness and purity are debated. A careful, biblical response may not be enough for some, as godliness is contested. Decisions to consistently stand for holiness will have to be made.

Believers are commanded to pray for those who rule over them and to be subject to those rulers so that God can be glorified. This week pray for your city, county, state, and federal leaders. "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God" (Romans 13:1).

Families often have special meals and occasions they uniquely celebrate together. In our family we would celebrate birthdays by having the individual select the meal of their choice for that day. Other special occasions were holidays and events that took place within our family circle that highlighted a major achievement.

It is almost every parent's dream to have their children grow up and be obedient and lead lives that are useful and productive. From a very young age, children are trained and educated to grow to maturity with values, standards, and ethics gleaned from their families and culture.

We have so many memories of special times with our children and how the Lord protected and guided us through the years. One special time was when we went to the Adirondack mountains on a summer trip and watched the black bears roam for food. Seeing families leave their cars and get within a few feet of those wild animals was quite stunning.