Daily Devotional; formerly Chaplains Corner

[ampaterry]

Thank you, BlackEagle -

For today:

There are parts of scripture that are often taken wrong, and the meaning of them is completely missed due to that. God has a sense of humor; without it, he surely could not have created the duck billed platypus! Did you know that the first platypus that was brought out of Australia was thought to be a Joke? It had been stuffed, and the naturalists that saw it discounted it as a hoax! There was no WAY an animal could nurse it’s young, have a pouch, have a bill like a duck, and have poison injecting claws! Yes, God most certainly has a sense of humor.

Years ago, Vice President Cheney had a hunting accident in Texas. Immediately, a cartoon was published which showed a man laying with his feet sticking up in the air, and Cheney holding a smoking gun was saying “You just watch! The press will put a negative spin on this!” Now, if we are inclined to smile at that, is it because we think this tragedy was funny? Of course not! We laugh at the absurdity!

And that, I believe, is what the Scripture means when it portrays God as laughing at his enemies' troubles. His response doesn't stem from God’s enjoying anyone's pain; it reflects the absurdity of thinking that one can ultimately come out ahead if he tries to take advantage of either God or His people.

As I type this, a lot of barbarian terrorists are firing rockets into Israel from Gaza. They have plenty of money from the fact that they are financed by oil producing countries. They have no real civilization, they have no real technology, and they most certainly do not have any moral code whatsoever. What they have is LOTS of money, with which they purchase weapons from people low enough to sell to them. I firmly believe this laughter of God is about to be heard by these terrorists in Gaza - any minute now.

Psalm 59:8(KJV);
“But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.”

Psalm 2:2-4 (KJV);
“The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.”

God does NOT laugh at their pain, nor their suffering, nor their eventual defeat; he laughs at the utter ridiculousness of MAN coming against HIM!

May God bless each one of you -

[ampaterry]

Many people are not content with the work they are doing because the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence. They are dissatisfied even when their circumstances are favorable. Instead of being cheerful and conscientious as to the Lord, they yield to covetousness. As a result, they miss God's best for their lives and fail to see the blessings they already have. They should pay attention to the title of Erma Bombeck’s book; ‘The grass is always greener over the septic tank!’

An ancient Persian legend tells of a wealthy man by the name of Al Haffed who owned a large farm. One evening a visitor related to him tales of fabulous amounts of diamonds that could be found in other parts of the world, and of the great riches they could bring him. The vision of all this wealth made him feel poor by comparison. So instead of caring for his own prosperous farm, he sold it and set out to find these treasures. But the search proved to be fruitless. Finally, penniless and in despair, he committed suicide by jumping into the sea. Meanwhile, the man who had purchased his farm noticed one day the glint of an unusual stone in a shallow stream on the property. He reached into the water, and to his amazement he pulled out a huge diamond. Later when working in his garden, he uncovered many more valuable gems. Poor Al Haffed had spent his life traveling to distant lands seeking jewels when on the farm he had left behind were all the precious stones his heart could have ever desired.

This is not unlike the Alaska gold rush which I have studied; thousands of people left home and loved ones for the hoped for yellow gold of the north, and received a frozen grave for their reward. Not ONE of the original people who found gold there remained wealthy!

Psalm 63:5 (NRSV);
“My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips”

Philippians 4:11 (KJV);
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

May God bless each one of you with the ability to appreciate what you already have.

[Krogen]

Once again, a devotional hit home for me! There have been events this week where the Lord tapped me on the shoulder and pointed me somewhere.

Today's devotional is one more.

Krogen

[ampaterry]

Thank you, Krogen!

I am sorry for my lack of presence over the last 30 hours or so -
Hughes is giving me FITS on the internet with slow connections/no connections, and has held my E-mail hostage since Friday -
But I get in here when they allow it -

For today:

It was back in the early '60s that Admiral Rickover wrote these few lines to those who are at the helm:

Responsibility is a unique concept. It can only reside in a single individual. You may share it with others, but your portion is not diminished. You may delegate it, but it is still with you. If responsibility is rightfully yours, no evasion or ignorance or passing the blame can shift the burden to someone else. Unless you can point your finger at the one who is responsible when something goes wrong, then you never had anyone really responsible.

Tough words, but true. Rickover never was one to concern himself with tact. Maybe his grit is needed more than we realize. Big projects and meaningful achievements get done not by dreamers but by doers, not by armchair generals who watch and frown from a distance but by brave troops in the trenches, not by fat fans in the bleachers but by lean, committed players on the field, not by those who stay neutral and play it safe but by those who get off the fence of indecision, even though their decisions are occasionally unpopular, and sometimes even – (dare we admit it?) WRONG!

Luke 12:48 (KJV);
“But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more."

Romans 14:12 (KJV); “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

James 1:23-25 (KJV);
“For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

Get off of the sidelines, and join the battle! Take responsibility for the introduction of your friends and family to Jesus Christ!

[BlackEagle]

As far as God laughing at those who try to deny Him, He must be rolling on the floor over this greenhouse fiasco. I think future generations will either laugh at us or curse us roundly for the stupidity we have exhibited. As you say, Psalm 2 says it so well.

I like Erma Bombeck, although I don't have any of her books. She wrote another one--If life is a bowl of cherries, why am I always in the pits? Someone said you can tell those for whom life is a bed of roses--they are always complaining about the thorns. The problem with being unhappy with where you are is not the place, but the "you". People frequently ask which is better? The US or the UK. My answer: both have their good points and their bad points; I just choose to emphasise the good points. Paul had it pretty well pegged:
Philippians 4:11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Admiral Rickover is the complete opposite from the current occupant of the White House, who always looks for someone to blame. Part of our assurance as Christians is knowing we have God's comission/authority behind us.

Joshua 1:9--Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage. Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for I the Lord thy God am with thee, whithersoever thou goest.

Matthew 28:18-20: And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Paul had the same sense of God's commission, and Elijah there on the mountain in 1 Kings 19, and so many others.

To those who carry out God's commands faithfully, He says "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord". God rewards the doers.

Thanks for being faithful in this, Terry.

[ampaterry]

Thank you, BlackEagle!
It is VERY difficult to get these posted right now; my hughes connection is highly intermittent since Friday evening. Customer support India division gave up and kicked it upstairs. They are supposed to call me.
E-mail is completely gone - hughes AND Hotmail. The connection is too poor and intermittent to sign in to the mail servers.
But as long as I can get a connection to hold for a couple minutes, I will continue -

For today:

Luke 15:4-6 (KJV); “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.”

'Twas a sheep, not a lamb, that strayed away,
In the parable Jesus told;
A grown-up sheep that had gone astray
From the ninety and nine in the fold.
Out on the hillside, out in the cold,
'Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd sought;
And back to the flock, safe into the fold,
'Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd brought.
And why for the sheep should we earnestly long,
And as fervently hope and pray?
Because there is danger, if they go wrong,
They will lead the lambs astray.
And so with the sheep we tenderly plead,
For the sake of the lambs today;
If the sheep are lost, what terrible cost
Some lambs will have to pay!

Matt 18:3-7 (KJV); “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!”

No man is an island, and that holds DOUBLY true for the Christian. Your every move is watched and scrutinized by the world AND by the 'babes in Christ'.
Make sure you don't give one a reason to criticize or the other a reason to stumble - -

May God bless you, guys!

[BlackEagle]

1 Cor. 8 says the same. Verse 13 kind of sumarises it:
Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

Is there any other place you could go to access the internet? Our public libraries over here sport computers with internet access, free of charge. You just need to have a library card. If you have a laptop, can you take it to a Starbucks or somewhere like that...get a cup of coffee and connect via wi-fi?

At any rate, I'll be praying for your internet connection. God works with technology as much as with people, health, and weather and anything else.

Thanks for hanging in there, Terry.

[ampaterry]

Yes, our library does have computers for public use, and there are some places that have Y-fi.
But the nearest spot is about 12 miles from here, which makes it a real pain -

I got a call from the next level of support, who were kind enough to screw my computer up to the point that my anti-virus software will not run until it can connect and upgrade - which it cannot do right now. They concluded that it was on my end (I would bet it is NOT) and are sending a tech out to look at it.

I may say to heck with it and upgrade to the new satellite -

[ampaterry]

I could not get yesterday to post, but it is working again this AM - sort of.
I have a new satellite system on order, and when it is installed these troubles will be GONE, because it is ALL new, from satellite to computer, due to a new satellite Hughes launched that is higher speed and not compatible with the old equipment!

For today:

When I broke my leg some years ago, the VA put me in a zero weight cast for many weeks until the bones had knit back together. It seemed forever that I got around in that wheelchair, or swung that leg above the ground when I used my crutches. Finally, at a check up months after the accident, the doctor told me I could put my full weight on that foot. I was so happy! I stood up from the wheelchair, put that foot forward, and stepped onto it! An instant later, I was leaning on the table with the doctor and Judy both supporting me. The muscles of my leg, so long unused, had grown weak and unable to support my weight.
That's precisely what happens to a church when its leaders don't pray -- its ministry becomes powerless and ineffective. E.M. Bounds emphasized the need for a ministry of prayer within the church when he wrote, "It may be laid down as an axiom, that God needs, first of all, leaders in the church who will be first in prayer, men with whom prayer is habitual and characteristic, men who know the primacy of prayer. But even more than a habit of prayer, and more than prayer being characteristic of them, church leaders are to be men whose lives are made and molded by prayer, whose heart and life are made up of prayer. These are the men -- the only men -- God can use in the furtherance of His kingdom and the implanting of His message in the hearts of men."

Colossians 4:2 (KJV);
“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV);
“Pray without ceasing.”

1 Tim 2:8 (KJV);
“I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”

Without prayer, we are weak and powerless, because our only strength is our own, and the flesh is weak. Prayer is a conduit from our weak selves to the power of God himself! Do NOT neglect it!

May God bless each one of you!

[tcox4freedom]

Here's another one that seem apropos-

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (ASV)

14 if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

-

[ampaterry]

I have been praying that one often, Tim, particularly for the last fifteen days -

[Krogen]

Glad you're getting reconnected, Terry. I joke about the phone system out here in the sticks. It works quite well when you pull tight on the string and talk right into the tin can. . . ;-)

I find these days, prayer for me is more of a chat with God. Like He's right beside me and when a thought pops into my head, I share it. It used to be a twice-daily routine. Now it's more ad hoc. It feels better to be in regular communication, but I admit, I'm still struggling with no answer, delayed answers or simply the answer is "no." I know this is all according to His plan and schedule, so I'll be patient. As you point out, though, regular prayer is the right thing.

Krogen

[BlackEagle]

I believe that praying God's Words back to Him is one of the more effective ways of praying, but like you, Krogen, I do like to have an ongoing conversation with Him. It's an application of Philippians 4:6-7.

Psalm 34 is appropriate in many ways these days...
I like verse 4:
Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

As I delight myself in the Lord, He brings my desires into line with His desires--He gives me His desires. Then as I ask Him, He answers.

But I still find what you find; Some "yes", some "no", some "wait".

[ampaterry]

“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me 'to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God - - -' ”

So begins the declaration made by George Washington to establish the day of Thanksgiving which we celebrate today. Notice the distinct lack, in the presidency and in both houses of congress, of objection to this obvious 'violation' of the 'separation of church and state'. This may be attributed to the fact that the colonists had not been educated in an Atheistic school system, and the ACLU had not been formed yet.

Our forefathers KNEW that their existence was due to the providence of God. They knew that the early colonists who arrived in 1620 had given thanks for their survival the following season, 1621, and held a grand feast to celebrate God's blessings on them. This was repeated each year at various times in the harvest season, but was not formalized until Washington made the first declaration. The date was set in 1941 to the present fourth Thursday in November, following a period of moving it around for marketing reasons, which brought many protests from the citizens of our nation.

Sometimes folks have a hard time keeping themselves in a continual attitude of thankfulness to God. We should work on this, and try to attain it. But on this day, at the very least, let us follow this passage from Psalms:

Psalm 95:1-6 (KJV); O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

May God bless each one of you with the ability to realize you have much to be thankful for.

For instance; my wife has always been into horses, working part-time jobs when she was 13 to pay for the upkeep on a horse. I joined her in this interest by buying a double registered palomino quarter horse who was two years old. A few years ago she fell in the horse lot and could not get up again; her aged body just couldn't go on. I called the vet to come and put her down, and he was out on another call and could not get out here in less than four hours. I looked at her shivvering on the cold winter ground and knew I could not make her go through more hours of torment. I got my 1911, aimed between her eyes and prayed for god to guide the shot so she would not suffer. The horrible shot rang out, and she died instantly.
My immediate reaction was sorrow at my loss and anger that she was gone.

Then I realized that I had been blessed to spend thirty years of my life with this wonderful animal.

The same has been true of several different dogs that were MINE.
I miss them all, I grieve for each, but my mind is filled with so many wonderful memories of them that each is still a blessing to me.

I am thankful, Lord -

[tcox4freedom]

Wow Terry,
You are far braver than I. I've had to take several beloved dogs and a cat (the only cat I've ever loved), to the vet to be put down. I've also had to have horses put down. But, I just don't think I could take my 45 to them.

We have an old guy now; that has been with us for almost 20yrs. He is very, very special! He's more like an old lovable hound dog & a member of the family than anything else. I swear if we had room, he'd stay in the house. (A friend of ours has a huge home with an "attached" barn; where some of his horses actually have their stalls as part of the house.)

I would love to have something like that for our special guy! He's the most intelligent & level headed horse I've ever had the pleasure to be around. We don't ride him anymore because he's arthritic. In the next couple of years we'll probably take him to a retirement farm. We have done this with several special horses. There they get to live out the rest of their days in huge wide open pastures. When they get to weak, sick or old, they are humanely put down & buried in their own grave.


-

[BlackEagle]

Thanks, Terry;
Another thing to be thankful for...your internet seems to be working better now.

[ampaterry]

Thanks, guys - it IS better, now that I have a new system scheduled to be installed this weekend! Kinda like how your car runs perfectly when you decide to trade it in on a new one.

Tim, it is one of the most difficult things I have ever done in my life.
But there comes a time when it HAS to be done, and some times circumstances force that action on the owner. I had covered her with a blanket, and a pillow under her head, but she was shaking from the cold ground under her and groaning in pain. I could not make her go through hours of that waiting for the vet.
And God strengthened me, and guided the bullet.
I am positive that I released her from age and pain, and allowed her to go to a place of endless green hills of knee high grass and bubbling cool streams, where she waits for me -
When the army of God rides into Armageddon, one of those white horses will be a palomino, and the dude on her back will be me.

For today:

A reporter asked the late President Herbert Hoover, "Mr. President, how do you handle criticism? Do you ever get agitated or tense?"
"No," President Hoover said, seemingly surprised at the question, "of course not."
"But," the reporter went on, "when I was a boy you were one of the most popular men in the world. Then, for a while you became one of the most unpopular, with nearly everyone against you. Didn't any of this meanness and criticism every get under your skin?"
"No, I knew when I went into politics what I might expect, so when it came I wasn't disappointed or upset," he said. He lowered his familiar bushy eyebrows and looked directly into the reporter's eyes. "Besides, I have 'peace at the center,' you know," he added.

Inner peace comes from looking to God, our source. Peace is the gift of Jesus Christ. Jesus, before leaving His disciples, said:

John 14:27 (KJV);
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

How about you? Do you get upset at what people say to you, or about you? Are you upset by what other people think? If we find ourselves in that state, we need to take this verse to heart, and make sure that each one of us has ‘peace at the center’. Once we have that, we can handle anything the world throws at us!

Knowing you NEED peace is not the same as HAVING peace though, is it? To find it, you have to know were to look for it! The source of Peace is the knowledge of Jesus Christ. GIIC! That stands for God Is In Control. When you enter into a relationship with Jesus, and study about his teachings, and talk with him every day, you will come to the place where you KNOW this to be true; GIIC. With that simple knowledge comes peace – the peace that surpasses all understanding.

May God grant each one of us that kind of peace.

[ampaterry]

This is from the book In Search of Excellence.
Dick Walton of a very successful company called Wal-Mart says, "It's terribly important for everyone to get involved. Our best ideas come from clerks and stockboys." Walton stories have become legends. According to The Wall Street Journal: "Mr. Walton couldn't sleep a few weeks back. He got up and bought four dozen donuts at an all night bakery. At 2:30 a.m., he took them to a distribution center and chatted for a while with workers from the shipping docks. As a result he discovered that two more shower stalls were needed at that location." Again, the astonishing point is not the story per se: any small business person could relate a host of similar tales. The surprising news is that a top executive still exhibits such a bone- deep form of concern for his people in a $2 billion enterprise.

Romans 12:10-11 (KJV);
“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;”

Romans 12:16-18 (KJV);
“Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”

Romans 13:8 (KJV);
“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”

The point of the story, and of those verses, is that we should care for each other. I still cannot grasp how God, an omnipotent being, could care anything about us; but I am glad he does, and I will pattern my life after that of Jesus Christ, and do my very best to care for all people, just as he does.

May God bless each one of you, guys -

[BlackEagle]

Thanks, Terry;

Thankful to hear the internet connection is behaving. I sometimes pray that the technology will not get in the way of the message.

I decided long ago that the only judgement of my life that really matters is God's; what others think may or may not be important. Others' complaints may be insights on things I need to change in me, or just spurious.

But I can be a little like Peter who got his eyes off Christ when he was walking on the water and started to sink. If I loose sight of Christ, and pay attention to those around me I start to react to others' comments. I start to sink in waves of self pity.

I like Philippians 4:6-7.

[BlackEagle]

Heh, Heh;
By the time I had finished the last comment about yesterday's, you had put in today's devotional.

I am thankful to God for the caring I see in this forum.

We should care for each other, and for those not in the same "rank" as we are. Jesus did what you are talking about when he told the disciples to "Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not."

Ephesians 6 touches on that.

Thanks again, Terry.

[ampaterry]

Thank you, BlackEagle -
I, too, find this forum very encouraging.
It is pretty easy to conclude that a conservative Christian is a rare thing, then we find a forum like this and it is GREAT!

For today:

Bruce Larson, in his book, Wind and Fire, points out some interesting facts about Sandhill cranes: "These large birds, who fly great distances across continents, have three remarkable qualities. First, they rotate leadership. No one bird stays out in front all the time. Second, they choose leaders who can handle turbulence. And then, all during the time one bird is leading, the rest are honking their affirmation.

Now I don’t know if Mr. Larson was aware of it or not, but Sandhill Cranes are not the only creatures that do this. Anyone that has ever studied the huge flying V’s of the Canadian Geese has noticed the same thing! The point goose will drop back, and is replaced by another, who has been riding in his slipstream. And – no matter how high they are above you, you can hear all the followers honking encouragement to the one in front!

That idea should not end with the animal kingdom! What a great model it makes for the Church, as well. The Church sure needs leaders who can handle turbulence and who are aware that they cannot handle it all, all the time, but must spread some of that leadership around! But most of all, we need a church where we are all honking encouragement."

1 Thessalonians 5:11-14 (KJV);
“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”

Go to Church and get involved there! Maybe you can lead a song – maybe you can lead a Bible study – maybe you can lead a youth group – maybe you can lead the congregation in a prayer – but even if you don’t feel you can do any of those things, go to church anyway; Everyone can at least HONK!

May God bless each one of you -

[IShootBack]

Originally Posted by ampaterry

...That idea should not end with the animal kingdom! What a great model it makes for the Church, as well. The Church sure needs leaders who can handle turbulence and who are aware that they cannot handle it all, all the time, but must spread some of that leadership around! But most of all, we need a church where we are all honking encouragement."

1 Thessalonians 5:11-14 (KJV);
“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”

Go to Church and get involved there! Maybe you can lead a song – maybe you can lead a Bible study – maybe you can lead a youth group – maybe you can lead the congregation in a prayer – but even if you don’t feel you can do any of those things, go to church anyway; Everyone can at least HONK!

May God bless each one of you -

Thanks for the great lesson today.

We do this at our church by having one men's ministry. Men can and do get involved in other ministries, but we have one dedicated men's group. This dedicated group of men (around 100) are involved in every one of the 150 or so ministries we do each month. Sometimes it's setting up, sometimes it's performing security, sometimes teaching or leading a group out street witnessing, sometimes working with our kids, and some men's job is to honk...

This group of men believes the Great Commission is a way of life. Every man is invited to join, but honestly, most men are not willing to be accountable or submissive to leadership or to Jesus.

[BlackEagle]

I think of Exodus 17 where Aaron and Hur held Moses' hands up so he could pray for Israel during a crucial battle.
Paul kept asking the churches to whom he was writing to pray for him.

HONK!! er, I mean, Amen.

[ampaterry]

Thank you, guys, for the honks. They are most encouraging!

For today, I want to relate a story told by a preacher who pastored a church which was once visited by the well known D. L. Moody. The fame of Moody was far and wide and when it was announced that the well-known evangelist was coming, thousands came to hear.
One evening a little boy came alone to the door of the large church. The usher at the door stopped the small dirty ragged boy and told him that he should go home and be in bed. When the boy explained that he wanted to see Mr. Moody the usher refused to let him come in. The little boy, downcast and disappointed, walked to the side of the building and began to cry.

Just then a carriage came to the church entrance and Moody got out. He heard the crying and saw the little boy leaning against the wall. Moody walked over to him and asked his trouble.
The boy looked up and explained how he wanted to hear Mr. Moody but wasn't allowed inside.
Moody smiled and said, "Do you really want to hear Mr. Moody?"
"Yes, Sir!" was the reply.
"Well, I know how to get you in, but you have to do exactly what I tell you to."
The little boy said, "I will."
So, putting his coattails in the hands of the boy, Moody told him to hold on to them and not let loose until he told him to. Moody entered the building and walked to the platform. Reaching the pulpit, he said, "Well done. I told you that if you would only hold on you would get in. Now, my boy, you sit there." Moody put him on the chair reserved for himself and for the evening the boy listened to the great preacher.

The minister who told the story said, "I know the story is true for it happened in my church. Yes, I know it's true because I was that little boy. I heard the great D. L. Moody preach, but little did I know when I clung to his coattails that someday I would become the minister of that same church."

Matt 19:14 (KJV);
“But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

Moody knew something that Jesus knew, but that many of us forget. The children are the leaders of tomorrow! If we desire continuity of our faith, we must open many doors to the young, in spite of the voices around us that will discourage it, because they are ‘not old enough’. A young person is going to follow someone – let’s make sure it is the right example they follow.

May God bless each one of you -

[ampaterry]

One day in Alaska we were driving our old car out in the wilds when it suddenly died, and I could see smoke curling from under the hood. I jumped out, opened the hood, and was trying to make some sense out of the haze of smoke that covered everything inside, when an arm reached past me from behind and a hand holding a pair of lineman’s pliers reached into the maze and deftly clipped one wire. Immediately the smoking stopped. I turned around and thanked this stranger for keeping our car from burning up.
“Well,” he said, “It’s not fixed yet; hold on a minute!” With that, he went to his truck, returned with a four foot length of wire which he used to replace shorted and burned wire with. I tried it, and it started perfectly. I thanked him, he got in his truck and drove away with a smile – obviously not wanting any more than the thank you he had already received.
I was reminded of that story when I read this from Living Faithfully by J. Allen Blair. He told of a man who was struggling to get to Grand Central Station in New York City. The wind blew fiercely, and the rain beat down on him as he lugged his two heavy suitcases toward the terminal. Occasionally he would pause to rest and regain his strength before trudging on against the elements.
At one point he was almost ready to collapse, when a man suddenly appeared by his side, took the suitcases, and said in a strangely familiar voice, "We're going the same way. You look as if you could use some help."
When they had reached the shelter of the station, the weary traveler, the renowned educator Booker T. Washington, asked the man, "Please, sir, what is your name?"
The man replied, "The name, my friend, is Roosevelt. Teddy Roosevelt."

Luke 22:25-26 (KJV);
“And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.”

I have often wondered just who that man was that helped us that day out in the wilds of Alaska – certainly a benefactor - or perhaps not a man at all.

I will talk to you again tomorrow - and may God RICHLY bless you.