Articles by Randy Becton at Heartlight

The Happiness Test

info@hopeforlife.org (Randy Becton) — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0600

For the happy heart, life is a continual feast. (Proverbs 15:15 NLT)

Someone asked me to take Jeremy Daniels' happiness test. It begins this way:

"In most of ways, is your life close to the ideal?"

And we're to answer with one of the following:

A. Strongly agree

B. Agree

C. Slightly agree

D. Don't agree at all

Now follow up that first question with these questions.

"Are the conditions of your life excellent?"

"Are you satisfied with your life?"

"Have you gotten important things in life you wanted?"

Now take inventory on how you did! Do you look pretty happy? Is there room for a little happiness improvement?

Jeremy goes on to suggest the following ten ways he believes we can be happy:

Savor the moment.

Take control of your time.

Re-program your mind.

Leave time for love.

Act happy.

Don't vegetate.

Get moving.

Get rest.

Give priority to close relationships.

Take care of your soul.

I think that last one should have been number 1! Faith is always the key. Happiness has always been living our lives, aligning our will with the will of God, and tuning our soul to heaven's grace.

Aren't you ready for a little of God's real happiness?

Randy is a cancer survivor who has written with conviction and compassion about life's challenges.

Website: Hope for Life

Phone Call of Love

info@hopeforlife.org (Randy Becton) — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0600

A story recently touched my heart. It's a story of a mother who persisted in her love for a wayward daughter all the way to her death.

A precious Christian woman died recently. She has done a tremendous work publicly for the Kingdom of God. However, she carried on a private work of ministry that few people knew. Every night, for many years, she called one of her daughters. This child has been a long time prodigal. Although this daughter was raised in a loving Christian environment, she has had very little interest in God in her subsequent adult years. However, her mom kept calling, letting her know that no matter what, she still loved her.

Now, suddenly, the phone calls have ended. How do you suppose that daughter is feeling now? How she must miss those calls! But there is still someone calling to her ... and to you!

Do you realize that someone has been calling you everyday? It's a voice from heaven. Jesus Christ is calling to you: "Are you listening? Can you hear me? Do you have any idea how much I love you? Do you understand how badly I want to walk with you each day?"

Jesus loves you so much -- far more than a mother can love a daughter and far more than any human lover. Jesus says, "Here I am! I'm standing at your door and knocking. I'm hoping you will open that door and invite me to come in! ... Please return the love you once had for me!" (Revelation 3:20; Revelation 2:4, paraphrased and adapted)

On this day when so many are hoping to hear from a secret admirer or someone they hope returns their feelings of love, don't miss the most important call of your life! He's already demonstrated his love for you!

Randy is a cancer survivor who has written with conviction and compassion about life's challenges.

Website: Hope for Life

Amazing Grace

info@hopeforlife.org (Randy Becton) — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0600

It's hard to understand that there is nothing we can do to make God love us more, and there is nothing we can do that can really make God love us any less. Why is this true? Philip Yancey has some marvelous thoughts about grace in his new powerful book, What's So Amazing about Grace?

He tells about a minister friend of his who is battling with his fifteen year old daughter. This anguished father knows his daughter is using birth control. For several nights, she has not come home. Her parents have tried every form of discipline. Nothing has seemed to work.

One night, late, waiting for her, the father was so angry! "Yet," he said, "when my daughter came home early the next morning, I wanted nothing but to take her in my arms and love her. I was a helpless, love-sick father."

Does that ring a bell with you? ... a love-sick Father! That's what our Father is. He sent his Son Jesus, so we could understand that it is not our goodness that draws us close to him, but it is his love that transforms our lives. He welcomes us home at any time and he loves us with a fervent, steadfast love.

This is good news ... and amazing grace ... and what Jesus' coming to earth is all about!

He [Jesus] was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:10-14 NRS)

Randy is a cancer survivor who has written with conviction and compassion about life's challenges.

Website: Hope for Life

Giving Back

info@hopeforlife.org (Randy Becton) — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Ten Years Later!
We love and appreciate Randy Becton and Herald of Truth and HopeForLife.org. They offered Randy's content early on for us to use on Heartlight and then committed to follow up with all those who responded. On the anniversary of our tenth year, we would ask you to keep Randy in your prayers as he finds himself once again battling cancer. This article is from the earliest days of Heartlight. Thanks Randy! I don't know of anyone who has given back more than you! If you would like to send Randy a message, please send an email to us and we'll share your message with Randy.

The spirit of generosity is spreading like wildfire through a Northern California community. It all started because of Les Borcut. Les Borcut tinkers with old bicycles.

Les runs a one-man bicycle hospital. He's repaired more than two thousand bicycles and donated them to newly-arrived Russian immigrants. When word spread about his kindness, his community started dropping hundreds of old bikes on his doorstep! Now, there is a story behind this sympathy toward immigrants. Both of his grandfathers had fled persecution in Russia, crossed the Atlantic, and found a new life in America. And Les says, "Fixing bicycles is my way of giving back."

What a beautiful example for all of us who are Christian believers. We were delivered from the bondage of Satan, we were welcomed into a new life in Jesus Christ, and what we do now is we try to pass along God's steadfast love to other people. We give it to them, not because it is duty, but because we are grateful. Think about the doors that open when we love other people extravagantly in the name of Jesus Christ. Follow Les Borcut's example! It may not be bicycles, but give what you have, because you are grateful to God.

Paul said that he was sent to the lost "to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." (Acts 26:18 RSV)

Randy is a cancer survivor who has written with conviction and compassion about life's challenges.

Website: Hope for Life

A Titanic Truth

info@hopeforlife.org (Randy Becton) — Sun, 16 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0600

Do you remember the movie TITANIC? It is still one of the most popular movies of all time and has enjoyed a repeat run on the television movie circuit and DVD sales? Why? And what is the subtle message the movie conveys?

On the surface, the story seems very noble. A young man rescues a girl from abuse and death, then later sacrifices his life so she can survive the disaster. Rose says of her hero Jack, "He saved me in every way a person can be saved." But it carries a very subtle spiritual message, doesn’t it?

The receipts of this movie are well over a billion dollars and it still brings in significant dollars in DVD sales. The film TITANIC struck a nerve. Millions have seen the movie multiple times. After its original release, writer Terry Mattingly says: "TITANIC has a filled a hole in romance-starved movie-goers."

A major reason this movie has gripped our hearts is that the story points to a longing all of us have. We want to be loved. We want to be rescued from harm. We want to be raised above the pettiness of this world. We want to be saved in every way a person can be saved!

Only Jesus offers all of that and so much more. His love is with a passion we cannot even begin to understand. He gave his life so that each one of us can be saved. He went to the cross so that we might have real joy. His life was lost and reclaimed. In a time when disaster has crushed our bubble of invincibility, let's remember the only true and lasting source of love, rescue, and salvation. His name is Jesus!

... Jesus Christ from Nazareth, the man you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead. ... There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them. (Acts 4:10-12)

Randy is a cancer survivor who has written with conviction and compassion about life's challenges.

Website: Hope for Life

New Bodies and Close Calls

info@hopeforlife.org (Randy Becton) — Sat, 03 Jul 2004 00:00:00 -0500

It was another near miss! I'm no cat with nine lives, but my latest close call with death -- a wreck that totaled my car -- left me shaken to the bone. I am convinced that life is, at best, pretty fragile.

Certainly we don't think about death for long periods of time. On the other hand, we do think about our death fairly frequently, even if it is just for an instant before we put it away for our other thoughts. "It is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27)

The Dallas Morning News is the newspaper that in my opinion gives the most thorough coverage to religion in America. In the Saturday edition, right before Easter this year, I read that "Resurrection Day" is increasingly important to those who believe Jesus was raised from the dead by God. This day is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus as the Son of God, a day that proclaims that those who hope in him expect that new life will be given to them by means of a "resurrection body" unlike any body they can imagine.

When I read of the faith of the earliest Christians, I truly don't understand the strength of their witness or the courage of their daily faith without getting up close to the life of their resurrected Lord. The resurrected Jesus transformed their lives from fear-laden followers, who are almost defeated, to those so convinced that He is risen that they are glad to suffer disgrace for the honor of His name. (Acts 5)

Early Christians told their neighbors that their God was the one who raised Jesus from the dead -- and that all who trusted God's promises would go through a like experience. (Romans 4:17) All who give Jesus allegiance by identifying with his death and resurrection in baptism now live in a new creation.

Ever since I was a pre-teen, I've figured that everything important to our Christian faith is tied to the resurrection of Jesus from that grave. "Jesus is risen" is the foundation of pretty much all the rest of our faith. The evidence is ample to support our faith -- but it is still a proclamation of faith. I look forward to a transformed body at the day of redemption, knowing this will take place at the second coming of Jesus. (1 Corinthians 15: 51-54; 2 Corinthians 5:1) When I think of it, I yearn for it to happen soon. God's Holy Spirit lives in us as a "foretaste" of that day. I want better clothing in that immortal body.

Tell your family, even those who don't share your longing! Then maybe one day soon, they will come to share your hope.

There are many things I don't understand and several things that I truly doubt will happen the way some people think. However, I'm fully aware of this beat-up body that I carry around -- based on my Lord's promise -- will be replaced with a wonderful new one.

When the universe was created, God brought order out of chaos. I remember one writer saying that God is going to hold us "spellbound" when he culminates his work in the full transformation of all of his people into the same dimension as his Son. We will have "ring-side" seats so we won't miss any of the action. Praise His Name!

But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take these weak mortal bodies of ours and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same mighty power that he will use to conquer everything, everywhere. (Philippians 3:20-21)

Randy is a cancer survivor who has written with conviction and compassion about life's challenges.

Website: Hope for Life

The Four Hardest Words

info@hopeforlife.org (Randy Becton) — Wed, 31 Mar 2004 00:00:00 -0600

Tiger Woods wins more major tournaments each year than any other golfer in the world. And he only recently celebrated his 28th birthday. He was voted Player of the Year for the fifth successive time by his fellow golfers on the PGA tour

Tiger knows more about success as a golfer at this stage of his life than any golfer in history. Yet even with all this success, he faced the most stressful, nervous time in his adult life during a vacation to South Africa.

Greater than the stress of all those major tournaments was summoning the courage to say four words. Rehearsing the magic words "will you marry me?" felt so severely nervous to him because "you don't ever want to blow a special moment like that. If you hit a great putt and you know it's in, it's in. But even if you say it absolutely perfectly -- those four words -- you could still get denied."

When Woods told reporters that he faced the most nervous moments of his adult life when he asked Elin to become his wife, he was referring to the major fear of rejection, being told "no" by the love of your life, a person to whom you revealed your heart's deepest feelings.

Tiger was verbally committing his love for Elin with a promise to be her life companion -- the one with whom he would share everything life offers, the good and enriching times and the sad and tragic times. A commitment to stand together in building a family. Woods was offering all of himself to the woman he loved. Think for a moment about his vulnerable position: Elin could have said no. To repeat Woods' words, "You could still get denied."

I invite you to a document written about AD 80 by a man named John, one of the closest of Jesus' friends, maybe his best friend. He lived long enough to write a brief biography of Jesus. John tells early in his story that Jesus was God's son, and that his purpose in coming to earth was to show us what God is like. (John 1:18)

He adds that many of his own people rejected him, yet "to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." (John 1:12-13)

John tells us that Jesus is God in the flesh, inviting humans into a close relationship with God. There were those who said "yes" and those who said "no."

I wonder how Jesus felt about being accepted and rejected. John writes that Jesus gave his life for man's sins. Some would appreciate this sacrifice of love so much that they would follow Jesus to their dying day. But others would reject the story of love, giving it no place in their lives at all.

At worship each Sunday, I think about his sacrifice of love when the time comes to participate in communion. Why would the King of kings offer himself to a bunch of ungrateful people, including me? Why should he die for my sins when it's so likely I'll reject him?

I say this because of the large number of unbelievers in the world today. Jesus is the one human being, I believe, who knows the most about selfless living. He also knows the most about rejection.

As you think about his best friend, John, writing his biography, can you almost picture him weeping that his friend went through all of that suffering, humiliation and rejection, so that humans could know how much God the father loves them? I can. But what I think the most about is my life -- how I said "yes" to Jesus.

Tiger Woods got nervous about Elin's response to his proposal. Tiger, what is your answer to Jesus' question to you about receiving or rejecting God's love for you?

Randy is a cancer survivor who has written with conviction and compassion about life's challenges.

Website: Hope for Life