It's kinda funny that a whole week has gone by for me to draw a story from, but what I am going to write this bulletin about today is something that happened Sunday afternoon. It was a noteworthy event and leads into a nice, simple point, I think.

As it turns out, Dave Dugas and I help Bill count the collection. As you probably know, Bill is the deacon in charge of the treasury. To keep anyone from acusing him as he counts the money every week, Dave and I give him a hand doing it. In fact, Bill turned the tables a bit on us because if we are not careful we end up doing all the counting and Bill does all the watching! Not that we mind, in fact we enjoy each other's company and it makes the tedious task go by that much faster (and more accurate, as there are three of us counting and so it's less likely to be wrong.)

Now, I have helped the treasurer count the money when I was attending in Colorado, so it's not like I haven't done this before. I have seen some interesting things, such as people forgetting to sign checks, or writing them in pencil. I have even had someone put the wrong check in the plate, and we ended up with a check for a diaper service. But last week was the first time I ever saw a blank check.

Yes, you read that right. Someone put in a blank check. No, it wasn't signed, and no you don't need to know who it came from. Just take my word for it that someone put such a document in the collection. Most likely it was a mistake, as I seriously doubt it was written in invisible ink and just happened to disappear before we looked at it, or any other strange scenario. Probably someone tore out two from their checkbook and didn't notice it. But we spotted it, with our three pairs of eyes.

I think that blank check makes a good point, though, in that you could easily say all of us are blank checks for God to draw on. I mean, a check by itself means nothing. It has no value of its own. Even when it's filled out, for either a pittance or even a hugh amount, it still has no value until it is signed - authorized - by one who endorses it. And even then, it's not enough to have a legal signature on it. I might give you a check, from my bank with the proper numbers and such, and sign it, having filled it out for a trillion dollars. That check is still not good for anything because I don't have a trillion dollars. I might just as well have left it blank. In fact, it would have been better if I had, because I could use it for a true amount instead of wasting it on a balance that I simply will never have. And that's like us. We can be wasted!

Of ourselves, we have no value of our own. That doesn't mean we are worthless! But we can surely be misused. We can give our lives over to someone who claims to speak for God, but if they usurp him, they are a forger! If we give our lives over to someone or something that happens real, but has no true value, then what good was that? We might be a follower of Luther, or Buddha, or Confusius. What place do they have with God? None! Better we should have kept ourselves pure and ready to be put to use by God, who truly has the whole world in his hands and signs his name upon our hearts.

In other words, when we are endorsed by God, we have his seal upon us. No matter what the amount that God would have us do, we should always remember that it is his light, his goodness, his value that we reflect. Our righteousness comes from our obedience to his words from the heart. Anyone else who tries to use us is simply, well, just a "no account!"

Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Luke 3:7-8 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Hebrews 8:8-12 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Matthew 27:9-10 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.

Luke 12:6-7 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.