Thanks for checking out this short message. You might be thinking that I am talking about the wonderful World War II movie with Frank Sinatra and my favorite actress, Donna Reed. But I'm not. No, this has nothing to do with Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, or Pearl Harbor. Although I wish some of the brave men who died in that attack got a chance to read what you are about to read.

Forgive the title of this message. While it is entirely appropriate, I think most people would have passed by it if I entitled it "BORN AGAIN!" But please, now that you are here, give me two minutes of your time to explain why I feel the title is legit!

Lets start over quickly, OK? BORN AGAIN--there, hold on- here we go.

The reactions to this term are countless and include everything from clueless apathy to extreme activism. But what does it mean to you personally? If you will, again, take a couple of minutes with me to read this, it just might be the two most important minutes you will ever spend.

Maybe you've realized by now that there is more to life than the physical things we can see, hear, touch, and taste. You may have even had some experiences you might term "spiritual". And that's because we are body, soul, and spirit. Unfortunately, we were all born spiritually dead, disconnected from our source of origin.

So, how did we get disconnected? It happened when Adam and Eve unplugged themselves from God by doing something He had warned would bring death. The rest is history. No, it's not a "fairy tale" or story to scare young children into becoming "good boy's and girls", it is history. From that day forward, not one human being has been born without the malady of sin.

I don't even have to see you to know the look on your face when I mention that word. I understand the aversion most people have to the term "sin". I had it myself until I learned what it really meant. It wasn't my stealing, drinking, or immorality that made me a sinner. They were just the symptoms of the problem. You see, sin by its simplest definition means "missing God's mark." And what exactly is His mark? The Bible tells us; "For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT). Anything that takes us out of God's plan is sin. And, unfortunately, we were all out of the plan because of Adam and Eve.

That's why Jesus came and died. He was the only human being to ever walk the planet who had NO sin. And He had NO sin because He was born of God, not of man. Mary asked the angel, "But how can I have a baby? I am a virgin." The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby born to you will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:34-35 NLT).

When you accept the sacrifice of God's one and only Son, you are connected to God Himself. That's what Jesus meant when He said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6 NKJV).That's being born again. The first time you were born, it was a natural birth through your parents. The second time, it's a spiritual one. Jesus described it this way; "The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven. So don't be surprised at my statement that you must be born again" (John 3:5-7 NLT).

   Feeling a little disconnected from life lately? Perhaps what you need is to be born again. If so, just pray this simple prayer:

 Father, I recognize that I am lost, off course--that I have sinned. I know that I cannot save myself. I want to accept the gifts of eternal life and forgiveness that are in Christ Jesus. I believe that He died for my sins, was laid in a tomb, and rose again from the dead to give me new life. Please grant me that life now. In Jesus' precious Name I pray. Amen!

Now, wasn't it worth the two minutes from Here to Eternity, to be able to live forever?

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life." (John 6:47 NKJV)

So what happens now Joe, you might be asking? That's easy. Contact us here at New Kid Ministries, and we'll be happy to give you a complimentary Bible and some literature to help you get started in your new adventure with Christ. Email us or write to us and we will get these items to you of course, free of charge, and without obligation. God Bless You and I pray the two minutes this took will change your life forever, even into eternity!

                                         Rev. Joe Hildebrandt Sr

 Special thanks to Bob Coy