I used to read two newspapers each day in my 20’s, but with the digital era doing away with our beloved “Daily News” I get most of my news from online sources or CNN. There is so much global information flying at us that it is easy to get numb to all of the wars, conflicts and trials taking place in our world. Once in a while, however, something comes along that stops us in our tracks. Last week was one of those times for me.

In February 2008, the body of Karissa Boudreau, a 12 year old girl from a small town near here, was found by a local river. As it turns out, her mom was guilty for her death. When asked this week why she killed her 12 year old daughter, she stated that she was afraid her boyfriend would leave her if she did not get rid of Karissa.

My first thought is of this tragic event and a life cut short. My second thought is “How many other Karissas are in my community?” My third thought is, “What would possess a mother to exchange her own daughter’s life for a fling?”

Another big story to hit the news in the past few months was of a former mega church, Pastor Ted Haggard, who broke his silence regarding the 2006 scandal that saw him removed from ministry. Haggard was on Oprah and Larry King (to name a few) to talk about his HBO documentary and what life is like now. My attention was not on Haggard’s life now, or if he should or should not be allowed back in the pulpit, but rather one question. What possessed him to trade his marriage, 14,000 member church, ministry, etc. for an improper series of relationships?

Matthew says in chapter 16;24-26 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.  What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?’”

My friend, we are faced daily with a chance to make a trade. On the table is God’s call for your life, but you are being offered many other things, all of which are far less valuable. I do not judge the people listed above. In fact, they need our prayers more than ever. But friends, we must choose daily the call of God over every temptation and offer that comes across our path.

We must choose life! Nothing is worth the exchange of our soul – NOTHING!

That’s the way I see it!

Pastor Mike Miller