For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. - I Corinthians 15:3-4 (ESV)

You've probably heard or seen that somewhere, right? Most of us probably don't remember a time when our national motto (adopted in 1956) wasn't printed on all of our coins and paper currency. Our national motto encapsulates the beliefs and ideals which we want to guide our Nation.

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. - Hebrews 7:1 –3 (ESV)

I admit it. I'm a sucker for the 'new and improved'. You throw tech into something and I'm likely to give it a second look. Put a touchscreen on it and there is a good chance it's on my 'buy list'. There is just something about the shiny, glassy screen that draws me to it like a bug to a zapper.

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. - 1 Peter 5:1 –4 (ESV)

When I was in seminary, we had chapel a couple times a week. There we would hear from professors, ministry leaders, and alumni. The books of choice to speak to seminary students were the pastoral epistles. That seems appropRiate as Paul addresses young pastors. If there were favorite chapters that were taught, they were 2 Timothy 3-4 . We were regularly charged to know and trust God's inherent Word and we were told to preach that Word boldly. All of that was helpful in forming us and our commitments, but we heard these passages so often that a classmate and I made an agreement, that if for some weird reason we were called on to come back and speak, we would choose other places to preach.

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. - Hebrews 6:19 –20 (ESV)

I don't have sea legs. I seem to get seasick fairly easily. I've only gone deep sea fishing a few times, but the last time I did more feeding the fish than catching them. I guess I'll have to give up my dream of being the star of 'The Deadliest Catch'!

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. - Hebrews 7:25 –26 (ESV)

Nothing lasts forever. To say it another way, nothing is constant in this world but change. These are truths that we know but don't like to admit to ourselves. Most of us are creatures of habit. We live in and even thrive in the routine. But when things change we can become unsettled and anxious.

Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. - Hebrews 6:9 –12 (ESV)

How do you get someone to move forward in life? Leaders, mentors, and parents often are working on a delicate balance of help, encouragement, and punishment. If you help and encourage all the time you risk never showing the danger and difficulty in error and the growth that failure brings. However if you punish and chide all the time, you risk discouragement and bitterness from those under your care. How you figure out the balance is part of the delicate art of leadership.