When The Lights Go Out

Dr. Harold J. Sala

Back in the days when circuses went from town to town, a prominent circus featured an act with Bengal tigers, those beautiful beasts that look like over-grown felines, whose powerful claws are capable of shredding an enemy in a few swipes.  As part of the tiger routine, a trainer would go into the cage with his whip and a small kitchen chair.  The snap of his whip would prod the tigers into a routine which was perfunctory yet dangerous.  Bengal tigers are ferocious, and natives who live where they roam in the wilds are always frightened of them.  And with good cause.

On one occasion the trainer went into the cage, the door locked behind him, and started his routine.  Then, unexpectedly and without warning, there was a  power shortage, a black-out, and the lights went out.  For approximately 30 seconds, says Tomas Butts in “Tigers in the Dark”, the trainer was locked in with the tigers.

When the lights came on, he finished his performance almost as though nothing unusual or unexpected had happened.  Afterwards he was asked how he felt when he knew that in the dark the tigers could see him, but he couldn't see them.  They knew where he was, but he didn't know where they were.  He admitted that at first he was gripped with a  chilling fear.  Then he remembered that while he knew the tigers could see him, they didn't know that he couldn't see them.  Score evened!  And he continued snapping his whip and talking to them just as he would have done had the lights been on.

What an experience!  There are times-perhaps not as dramatic but equally important-when the lights go out on you and you are left in the dark.  It happens when the doctor mentions the big C word -you have cancer!  Or you face an expected layoff, or a tragedy confronts you.  The light of your life is dimmed, if not snuffed out.

That's when you have no choice but to rely on what you know-not what you see.  Like what?  You know that God hasn't singled you out as a target of His wrath, that storms confront everyone.  You know God will honor the promises of His Word.  You also know that while the lights may have gone out on you, they haven't gone out on God.  He sees the whole situation very clearly though you don't.  If you are His child, you also know that nothing that happens to you is beyond the sovereign care of your Heavenly Father.

Vernon Grounds tells of an incident that took place on May 19, 1780 when a dark mist settled down on the New England coast, blotting out the sun, forcing the Governor's Council to light candles to see.  Fearing the darkness, one senator made a motion to adjourn.  But wise old Abraham Davenport rose to his feet and counseled otherwise.

  “It is either the Day of Judgment,” he began “or it is not.  If it is not, there is no need of adjourning.  If it is, I desire to be found doing my duty.  I move that candles be brought and that we proceed to business.”

That's what the tiger trainer did when the lights went out.  He kept on snapping his whip, talking to the animals as though nothing had happened.

An unknown poet put it,

Bring in the candles!  Keep to the task!
What more can judgment angels ask?
Bring in the candles!
Let us be found
Doing our duty's daily round.

So when the lights go out, carry on, never running, never yielding to fear, doing what you know God wants you to do; and then in His time, the lights will come on again.

Resource reading: Psalm 27

Dr. Harold Sala is heard on Guidelines each weekdays at 5 p.m. on WCIF.  Copyright 2003 Guidelines, Inc.  Used by permission.

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PSALM 95

Psalm 95 is the radio ministry of The National Christian Choir. hosted by Founder and Music Director, C. Harry Causey. It's fifty-five minutes of celebration, adoration, and inspiration brought to you every week. “Psalm 95" features the music of The Choir along with inspirational messages and teaching from the Word of God. The Choir consists of approximately 220 auditioned singers representing more than 100 churches. Membership in the choir is voluntary. Each choir member signs a simple statement of faith declaring personal acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Visitors are warmly welcomed as members faithfully gather Monday evenings for rehearsals, worship and prayer.

Psalm 95  is heard at 12:00 a.m. on Mondays on WCIF.

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Summer Tour Opportunity

Take a tour of the WCIF facilities and see what your voice looks like as well as learn more about radio and the ministry of WCIF . An activity for the entire family!

Call  WCIF  -  725-9243  to schedule a tour.
 

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Thanks for your Letters!

Palm Bay - Here I go again!!  Just want you to know - I've just returned from several wonderful weeks with my kids & grandkids and a couple great grand kids.  The visits are great, full of love and all - but I always am glad to get home to “my” Christian Radio!  Thank you. God Bless You.

Melbourne - Thank you so very much for uplifting my life each day.  God Bless you all.

E Mail - First of all let me tell you that I absolutely think your radio station is a direct gift from God for me!  I have been listening to it for the past 6 months faithfully and have learned more than I can ever tell you and more than I can ever say I am grateful for!  You are a lifesaver (literally) and I contributed to your Sharathon as a first time (but not the LAST) listener!  . . .  And again, let me just tell you, I don't know what I did before I listened (and learned) from W.C.I.F.!!!

E Mail - Hello, WCIF Staff!!  I have a question.  This evening (Friday April 30th) between 9pm-9:30pm, I was listening to WCIF while driving to Orlando.  The show featured two men speaking about a book one of them had written.  The book is about finding the right marriage partner (and being the right marriage partner)...covering dating, checklists, do's and don'ts, etc.  I did not catch the name of the book or the author.  Could you possibly tell me the name?  I want to purchase the book.  I believe it would help my fiancé and myself very much.  Thank you SO much!

(Editor’s note:  We’re always glad to supply any information we can.  Just ask.)

Palm Bay - I did a very silly thing the other day.  I mailed you an empty envelope!  I guess at 52.  I'm getting “sometimers”!  At any rate - a merry heart doeth good like a medicine.  W.C.I.F. is awesome and I'm proud to be a sponsor.

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Insight for Living (Weekdays 8:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.)
Chuck Swindoll
Job: A Man of Heroic Endurance continues throughout June.
June 7 - 9 - How to Handle Criticism with Class (Job 22 - 24)
June 14 - 16 -The Futility of Unscrewing the Inscrutable (Job 25 - 26)
June 17 - 21 - A Recommitment to Things That Matter (Job 27 - 28)
June 22 - 24 - The Passionate Testimony of an Innocent Man (Job 29 - 31)
June 25 - 29 - Another Long-Winded Monologue (Job 29 - 31)
June 30 - A Penetrating Reproof from the Almighty (Job 38:1 - 40:5)
 

Weekend edition of Insight for Living (Saturday at 8:00 p.m.)
June 5 & 12 - Dads, Front and Center (I Thess. 2:8-12)
June 19 - Why Are we So Blessed? (Psalm 67)
June 26 - What is My Response to God's Blessings (Matthew 25:14 - 30)


Hope For the Heart  (Weekdays 10 a.m.)
June Hunt
June 7-11 - Homosexuality: A Case of Mistaken Identity
June 14-18 - Wife Abuse: Assault on a Woman's Worth
June 21-25 - Grief: Living at Peace with Loss
June 28 - July 2 - Bonding with Teens

In Touch  (weekdays 2:00 & 9:00 p.m.)
Charles Stanley
June 2 & 3 - He Will Show You His Will
June 4 - The Touch That Transforms
June 7 - Molded By the Master
June 8 & 9 - What Is Involved
June 10 & 11 - The Learning Process
June 14 & 15 - The Measure Of Our Love
June 16 & 17 - When We Say Yes
June 18 - Do Fathers Really Matter?
June 21 & 22 - The Believer's Security System
June 23 & 24 - Failure - The First Step To Victory
June 25 - Dressed For The Battle
June 28 & 29 - The Good Shepherd
June 30 - The Ways of God

Back to the Bible  (Weekdays 8:00 p.m.)
Woodrow Kroll
June 1- 18 - Making Life Out of Lemons
June 21-30 - God Loves You even When...
 

Focus Radio Theater (Saturday, 6:30 p.m.) The final episode of Louisa May Alcott’s classic "Little Women" will air June 5.

June 12 is the start the series "Father Gilbert: The Play's the Thing." When Louis Gilbert turned in his detective’s badge to become a priest, he thought his days of solving difficult mysteries were over. Now, as the vicar of an ancient church in a small English village, Gilbert finds himself at the center of one strange mystery after another. And he brings to each one his unique combination of street-wise smarts and spiritual intuition.

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Happy Birthday

Each month we list our broadcasters that have birthdays that month. We
encourage you to remember these friends and their ministry with special
prayer on that day.


June 1
Billie Norczyk
WCIF Secretary
P.O. Box 366
Melbourne, FL 32902

June 11
Dan Hendley
The Bible and Life
Saturday, 6:00 p.m.
Covenant Presbyterian Church
720 Emerson Dr NE
Palm Bay, FL 32907

June 19
John MacArthur
Grace to You
Weekdays, 11:00 a.m.
P.O. Box 4000
Panorama City, CA 91412

June 28
Les Lamborn
Our Daily Bread
Weekdays, 7:00 a.m.
Radio Bible Class
P.O. Box 22. Grand Rapids, MI 49555

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June 5, Saturdays 8:30 a.m.
 

Something strange is happening in Ambrosia!

Shadowy characters. Strange earthquakes. A secret government weapon. And alien body snatchers? This is definitely not normal!

But that's all in a day's work for “The Last Chance Detectives”! These four savvy teens have solved some pretty tough cases before, and they're not about to let recent events stump them. Join us Saturday mornings at 8:30  as Jason Whittaker takes on a secret government case — and winds up with more trouble than he ever expected!

June 1 - Curt and Linda Smith in memory of his dad William Smith on his birthday

June 3 - Larry and Judy Robson in celebration of her sister Peggy Smith on her birthday

June 4 - Happy Birthday to James Prentice on his eighteenth   birthday on

June 5th from the John Prentice family

June 10 - Mr. and Mrs. Scott Zinn in honor of their son Matthew  on his birthday

June 13 - John Newton in honor of his wife Marty on her birthday

June 14 - Gayle Baker in memory of her husband Harvey

June 15 - Virginia Dunn in honor of her husband Joseph on their wedding anniversary and in honor of her children and their families

June 17 - Daniel and Staci Moles in gratitude to God  for His  blessing with the expected arrival of a daughter on June 18

 June 18 - Anonymous

June 19 - Bryan and Liz Hedleston in memory of his brother Biff on his birthday

June 20 - Corina Savela in honor of Father's Day

June 21 - Hank and Jeanette Gibbons in honor of their twenty-fourth wedding anniversary

June 22  - Bob and Rachel Bowling in honor of their forty-first wedding anniversary

June 24 - Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Derrick in honor of Steve and Sally Derrick's daughter and their granddaughter Brooke McKenon  Derrick on her first birthday

June 27 - Austin and Martha Ann Schuman in honor of their wedding anniversary

June 28 - Linda Smith in honor of her husband Curt on his birthday

June 29 - Brian and Debbie Blenis in honor of their son and daughter-in-law Rusty and Jenny Blenis on their second wedding anniversary

June 30 - Elaine Collier in memory of her husband Lester on his spiritual birthday

Thanks to our Day Sponsors who have underwritten the cost of a broadcast day. If you, your church or business would like information about being a Day Sponsor you can call WCIF at 725-9243 or 1-877-725-9243 (toll-free).   You can also reach us by e-mail at info@wcif.com.

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Sunday

June 20,  6:00 p.m.
 

The Power of a Father’s Love

A very special co-host (his own son, John) joins Bob Lepine in studio to provide a unique perspective on fathers and their offspring! You won’t want to miss heart warming tributes from several men (and women) about their own important, and sometimes challenging, relationship with “dad."

Crawford Loritts . . remembers the first time his father expressed his love verbally, and the impact the words had on him later as a grown man.

Paul Coleman . . . tells about the years of conflict between him and his dad and the eventual healing of that relationship.

Chris Tomlin . . . explains the influence and impact his father had on his career as a singer and guitar player.

Plus, listeners hear from Rebecca St. James, Sara Groves, and Joy Williams.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

JUNE  20