MERRY CHRISTMAS

and have a

HAPPY NEW YEAR

For all those who faithfully stand by us, as we serve Him through Mercy Ships, we want to thank you from the bottom of our heart. Christ is the reason for the season. You love and support gives us Christmas year round...just like God's love.

Christ makes the difference...dwelling in us and enabling us to be more than we once were. Paul - "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." Christ's birth was the beginning of the great gift ever offered; a process that shall end for His creation. We are privileged to have a part in proclaiming the Good News. We hope you will take time to share Christ with someone this season.

This will be my last entry for 2009. God bless you all...

Not a HOSPITAL...A MANGER

Christmas should be a time of peace and tranquility, joy, and love. It should be a time of year looked forward to by young and old alike; a time that should last forever.

Each year, we, as civilized people, rush, push, and hawk the Christmas Season until we begin to wish we could just skip the whole thing and go right to the New Year. We have commercialized and exploited Christmas to the point that, instead of anticipating the coming of Christmas with joy and gladness, we dread the time. That is not the way it was planned IN THE BEGINNING.

The First Christmas had gifts too, but far more important then anyone could possibility give today. GOLD, FRANKINCENSE and MYRRH; gifts to a child; gifts to a Savior! Jesus, born in a manger would grow up to be the man who -- told stormy waters to be still; who told us that He was the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE; that if we believed in Him, we would gain ETERNAL LIFE. He didn't come into our world to RULE, but to SERVE. He came in as a CHILD, not a MAN. He was not born at a local HOSPITAL, but in a MANGER. This SEED of LIGHT, was planted in our world as a gift of LOVE. Many, down through history, have attempted to snuff the light out, only to meet face-to-face with God's love. His birth in a MANAGER and His DEATH on the CROSS began as it started; in a small country...where most would consider it to be THIRD WORLD. Without Christ at the CENTER of CHRISTMAS there would be no reason for EASTER. His birth is our ETERNAL REMINDER of LOVE; that He will never walked away from His CREATION even thou they walked away from Him.

So, when you rush around to try to find that last minute gift...remember; it wasn't planned that way IN THE BEGINNING. The GIFT of LOVE, for whatever we do during this season must have Christ at the CENTER.

BIG BROTHER, WHO ARE THOU?

In the society that George Orwell suggested in his 1984 book, everyone is under complete surveillance by the authorities, mainly by telescreens. The people are constantly reminded of this by the phrase "Big Brother is Watching You," which is the core "truth" of the propaganda system in this state. Big Brother's physical characteristics are intended to resemble Joseph Stalin, although in the film his moustacke more closely resembles Adolf Hitler's.

Collaborative surveillance between government and the private sector is not new. For three decades during the Cold War, for example, telegraph companies like Western Union, RCA Global and International Telephone and Telegraph gave the National Security Agency, or NSA, all cables that went to or from the United States. Operation Shamrock, which ran from 1945 to 1975, helped the NSA compile 75,000 files on individuals and organizations, many of them involved in peace movements and civil disobedience.

These days, the increasing amount of electronic data that is collected and stored, along with developments in software technology, make it easy for the government to sort through mounds of data quickly to profile individuals through their connections and activities. Although the Privacy Act of 1974 prohibits the government from keeping dossiers on Americans unless they are the specific target of an investigation, the government circumvents the legislation by piggybacking on private-sector data collection. Can it get worse? It certainly can when there is a system promoting sureillance.

A government proposal for a national ID card, for example, was shot down by civil liberties groups and Congress for being too intrusive and prone to abuse. And Congress voted to cancel funding for John Poindexter's Total Information Awareness, a national database that would have tracked citizens' private transactions such as Web surfing, bank deposits and withdrawals, doctor visits, travel itineraries and visa and passport applications. But this hasn't stopped the government from achieving the same ends by buying similar data from private aggregators like Acxiom, ChoicePoint, Abacus and LexisNexis. According to the ACLU, ChoicePoint's million-dollar contracts with the Justice Department, Drug Enforcement Administration and other federal agencies let authorities tap into its billions of records to track the interests, lifestyles and activities of Americans.

Since the Sept. 11 attacks, the Justice Department has asked for, and largely received, additional powers that allow it to perform an unprecedented amount of surveillance of American citizens and visitors. The USA Patriot Act, passed in haste after Sept. 11, started the ball rolling.

Certainly when you talk about security, many would simply state "it is a trade-off." It makes no sense to ask whether a particular security system is effective or not. The proper question to ask is whether the trade-off is worth it. Is the level of security gained worth the costs, whether in money, in liberties, in privacy or in convenience? When you combine security with an agressive government, most certainly that trade-off moves closer to the wrong side of the house, which can only lead to a George Orwell run nation. We are fast approaching just that kind of situation.

Casting Crowns

Casting Crowns

In the book of Revelation, the first thing the apostle John saw (after Christ spoke to him about the seven churches) was Almighty God sitting on a throne in heaven. Around the throne were twenty-four elders, each wearing a Golden Crown!

In the center of the circle of elders, close to the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes. Whenever these creatures give glory, honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, the twenty-four elders fall down and worship Him and cast their crowns at His feet.”

The idea of crowns is well documented in the Bible. Just as a soldier is given special medals and ribbons to commemorate bravery, skill, achievements, and service, one day believers will also receive different crowns. There is a Crown of Life (James 1:12,) a Crown of Glory (1Peter 5:4,) a Crown of Righteousness (2Timothy 4:8,) and a Crown of Rejoicing (1Thessalonians 2:19.)

Each believer only gets one crown, but there will be jewels or special markings in our crowns that will clearly show all the awards and honors we’ve received. Some believers think everyone will receive the same reward in heaven, and identical crowns, but that is not true. Christ’s followers are saved by grace through faith and obedience, but rewarded for works.

A good example of this is 1 Corinthians 3:8: “The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.” (NIV) Also, in the parable of the sower of seed in Mark 4:20, the good soil represents those who hear the word, receive it, and produce a crop, some yielding a hundred times, others sixty times, and still others thirty times the amount that was planted.

The Bible makes it clear that those who work hard, make great sacrifices, or keep themselves extra pure will be given special recognition in heaven. In Christ’s instructions to the church in Sardis, He said, “You have some in Sardis who have not soiled their garments with evil deeds. They shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.” (Revelations 3:4.) “Another reason we will cast our crowns at the LORD’s feet is to show that He deserves all the praise. Heaven is about the LORD, not us. He alone deserves the glory.

Casting our crowns at God’s feet is a good way to show that He deserves all the honor, praise, recognition, and thanks…another reason believers will give their crowns back to Almighty God is to show that we didn’t serve Him to get a reward. We served Him out of love. You see, in order to walk with Jesus for any length of time, you must come to the place where you serve Him out of love.” And believers will lay their crowns at Jesus’ feet by the example of the ancient custom of brides and grooms exchanging wedding gifts.

The question is, “What gift can we offer the One who has given us everything? Truth be told, it doesn’t take a lot of effort to say, “I praise you, Lord.” Like the widow in Mark 12, who put all her living into the temple treasury while the others only put in their surplus, sacrifice is the only way to truly impress Jesus. One of the best wedding gifts we can give Jesus is to befriend people who don’t know Him, invite them to a small group, and help them come to Christ.

The apostle Paul told the Thessalonians that they would be his crown of glory in heaven. “What gives us hope and joy, and what is our reward and crown? It is you! Yes, you will bring us much joy as we stand together before the Lord Jesus when He comes back again.” (1Thessalonians 2:19 TEV) How embarrassing it will be for those who have no wedding gift to lay at Christ’s feet in Heaven! For all eternity, they will regret that they failed to store up any treasure in heaven, as the Bible instructs.

1. Why is it important that we come to the place where we serve God out of Love and not just to avoid hell? Love is the greatest motivator in the universe. Believers who serve God so they won’t go to hell soon are distracted by the things of this world and gradually backslide. Fear is not strong enough to force us to serve God.
2. How do acts of sacrifice, like reaching out to lost souls, magnify our praise and make it more meaningful to God than verbal praise alone? In John 14:15, Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will obey what I command.” Talk is cheap. Acts of sacrifices that require us to set aside our own wants and desires are tangible proof that we love Jesus.
3. How does storing up treasure in heaven help keep us saved, and increase the likelihood that we will go to heaven? The things of this world distract us from heaven. In the parable of the sower, the cares of this world and the desire for wealth choked out the Word in some believers, and they backslid [Mark 4:19]. Those who store up treasure in heaven often have their mind on heavenly things—and this helps keep them saved.
4. What wedding gift are you preparing here on earth to present to Jesus at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb in heaven? Souls I have witnessed to and helped save, good deeds, fasting, prayers, etc.

TEOTWAWKI

TEOTWAWKI

On The Hal Lindsey Report (8-28-09) he offered a definition for the word TEOTWAWKI that I thought may be of some interest.

"The End Of The World As We Know It"

Needless to say, everyone is concerned, and rightfully so; about how our Nation and others presently function. This word doesn't just apply to the Christian arena. For example:

1. The Theater (The Omen, Rosemary's Baby, Dr. Strangelove, The Seventh Sign, End of Days, Mad Max, Armageddon, Deep Impact, Independence Day, and Waterworld, to just mention as few)...TEOTWAWKI has been a consistent Box Office Winner. The one theme that comes out -- that this event is scheduled to complete within our generation.
2. Israel feels that change coming; that they will soon welcoming the Messiah. The Jewish Sanhedrin, after 1,600 years, of being dormant, has now been re-established. Only the Sanhedrin can certify the Messiah; therefore, with the resurrection, Israel believes their time is short and the Messiah will soon return.
3. Islam is promoting a return of their messiah figure (known as the Mahdi), thus forcing the end of the world as we know it. If you read any paper or listen to any news group, Islam (primarily Iran) has stated from the very beginning that they want the end to come and it will have to be at a governmental level to complete the task.
4. Humanism/Secularism have developed an apocalyptic world view. As scientific knowledge increases at experiential levels; humanism looks to a apocalyptic atomic world war, thus with war between greed nations. With oil being the driving force, certainly this is highly possible. The concept of "one-world-government" is our only hope, according to them, with the United Nations the ruling party.
5. Other Radical Nations are on the increase, outside of Islam's influence; not to mention world-wide-climate-change that seem to change daily depending who you talk to. In the case of climate change, many state they are man-made, yet others view this change as a narrowing point in time where our planet will not support life. Before you only question the growth of Radical Nations or these crazies owl-lovers, our banking indurstry has one agenda - that of bring about a one-world-economic-system by down-grading national security as a cause for all the problems seen.
6. Our country, under our current President, continues to be part of this equation of change. Our nation, as we know it, is changing, and not for the better. Moral decline is increasing from the inside out. It is in every part of our society and is accepted as the norm.

All this to say...TEOTWAWKI is alive and well. We have ONE HOPE, and that is in Jesus Christ. You need to make certain that you are not Left-Behind. Christ is the answer to all these conditions. The only hope that TEOTWAWKI doesn't effect you is to accept His Grace, Mercy, and Love. Accept Christ Today and you will not have to worry about what tomorrow brings!

SCRAP YARD THEOLOGY

Once upon a time the Government had a VAST SCRAP YARD in the middle of a desert; the nearest town was 300 miles away!

Congress said, "Someone may steal from it at night;" so they created a night watchman position and hired a person for the job. Then Congress said, "How does the watchman do his job without instruction?" So they created a planning department and hired two people, one person to write the instructions, and one person to do time studies.Then Congress said, "How will we know the night watchman is doing the tasks correctly?" So they created a Quality Control department and hired two people (one to do the studies and one to write the reports).

Then Congress said, "How are these people going to get paid?" So they created the following positions, a Time Keeper, and a Payroll Officer and hired them. Then Congress said, "Who will be accountable for all of these people?" So they created an Administrative Section and hired three people, an Administrative Officer, Assistant Administrative Officer, and a Legal Secretary. Then Congress said, "We have had this command in operation for one Year and we are $18,000 over budget, we must cutback overall cost." So they laid off the Night Watchman.

NOW slowly let it sink in! And, NOW, we are turning the BANKING SYSTEM, HEALTH CARE, INSURANCE INDUSTRY and the AUTO INDUSTRY over to the same Government?

ONLY IN AMERICA!

EVER WONDERED WHY THE AMERICAN ECONOMY FELL OFF THE CLIFF?

John Smith...usually starts his day early. His alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN) typically rang off at 6 am. While his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA) starting perking automatically, he took time to shave with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG). He grabbed a clean dress shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA) from his closet, put on a pair of designer jeans (MADE IN SINGAPORE), and tied his tennis shoes (MADE IN KOREA).

After cooking his breakfast in an electric skillet (MADE IN INDIA) and drank his morning coffee (MADE IN COLUMBIA), he decided to sit quietly for a few minutes with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO) to try to balance some remaining funds left in his check book; before going out to look for a job.

After readjusting his watch (MADE IN TAIWAN) and trying to tune his radio (MADE IN INDIA) back to his favorite station, but for some reason, this morning, he could only get foreign stations to come in clear; so he gave up! After getting into his car (MADE IN KOREA), he noticed he needed to stop and get some gas (from Saudi Arabia). He continued the rest of the day searching for a good paying AMERICAN JOB; going from one hopeful location to the next. Frustrated, at the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day, he returned home to check on his Computer (MADE IN MALAYSIA) in hopes of finding employment through some local advertisements.

John soon decided to relax for a while, so he put on some sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL), poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN SOUTH AFRICA), and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA). The nightly news was on, talking about the economy, and how hard it was to find a job these days. He wondered to himself...looking for a job shouldn't be this hard - in AMERICA.

JOHN, LIKE MANY OF US, ARE HOPING WE CAN GET HELP FROM OUR PRESIDENT; WHO BY THE WAY WAS MADE IN KENYA.

MAKES YOU STOP AND THINK DOESN'T IT!

An Easter Prayer - 2009

O God, who for our redemption gave your only begotten Son to death on the Cross, and by his glorious resurrection has delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant that we who celebrate with joy the day of our Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit. Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection, empowered and transformed by your grace in and among us.

O Lord, so stir up in your church, indeed in each of us, that Spirit of adoption and reconciliation that is made possible by your grace revealed in Jesus the Christ, that we being renewed in both body and mind, may worship and serve you in sincerity and truth. We pray this in the name of the same Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen

(Adapted from The Book of Common Prayer)

Remember - He died for you, even if you where to only person on Earth...He still would have died!

Cotonou, Benin - 2009

Mercy Ships Volunteers Screen 2,500 People During Benin Screening Day

Mercy Ships held its general screening day on Thursday, February 19, in Cotonou, Benin. At the Hall des Arts, Mercy Ships volunteer nurses, doctors, and support staff screened 1,952 patients. The number was so large a second day of screening took place on Friday, and over 500 more patients were screened.

Over two hundred people were already waiting when Mercy Ships security arrived at 3:30 am on Thursday, and they continued to flow though the afternoon. Seeing that many patients in one day is challenging, even for Dr. Gary Parker, Chief Medical Officer and maxillo-facial surgeon with Mercy Ships, who has worked at nearly fifty screening days.

“We see these thousands of people,” Dr. Parker said. “Each one of these people is a fellow human being, and they all have their story, and they all have their hopes and dreams. We have to see them in such a way that respects them and their dignity as a fellow human being.”

Just-Start-Over

Did you ever get to a point in your life where you wished you could "just-start-over."

Certainly everyone gets to that point. Well, before you start over, think about items below.

• Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
• Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have sleep all you want.
• When you say, "I love you," mean it.
• Never laugh at any one's dreams.
• Love deeply and passionately; you might get hurt, but it's the only way to live life completely.
• Talk slow, but think quick.
• Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
• Call you Mom and Dad often.
• Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
• Remember the three R's - self respect; respect others; responsibility for all your actions.
• Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
• When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
• Smile when picking up the phone; the caller will hear it in your voice.
• Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
• Read more of the Bible and watch less television.
• Live a good, honorable life; then when you get older and think back, you'll get to enjoy it the second time.
• Trust in God, but lock you car.
• A loving atmosphere in your home is so important; do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious family.
• In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation not past.
• Read between the lines less to help your relationships.
• Share your knowledge; it's a way to achieve immortality.
• If you make a lot of money, put it to good use and help others while you can; that is wealth's greatest satisfaction.
• Remember, not getting what you want is sometimes a blessing.
• Remember, the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.
• Judge your success by what you give away and not what you can accumulate.
• And most important -- PRAY -- there's immeasurable power in it.

Our GOD is a GOD of the DO-OVER...trust Him and He will not let you down!

Salt and Light Of A Nation

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.

Edmund Burke

Our World Needs Salt and Light

Societal collapse has recurred throughout history and is an aspect of the human condition, which may await all human societies...

The British historian Arnold J. Toynbee, in his 12-volume magnum opus, A Study of History, theorized that all civilizations pass through several distinct stages: genesis, growth, time of troubles, universal state, and disintegration. Toynbee argues that the breakdown of civilizations is not caused by loss of control over the environment, over the human environment, or attacks from outside; rather, it comes from the deterioration of the "Creative Minority," which eventually ceases to be creative and degenerates into merely a "Dominant Minority" (who forces the majority to obey without meriting obedience). He argues that creative minorities deteriorate due to a worship of their "former self," by which they become prideful, and fail to adequately address the next challenge they face.

He argues that the ultimate sign a civilization has broken down is when the dominant minority forms a "Universal State," which stifles political creativity. He states:

First the Dominant Minority attempts to hold by force—against all right and reason—a position of inherited privilege, which it has ceased to merit; and then the Proletariat repays injustice with resentment, fear with hate, and violence with violence when it executes its acts of secession. Yet the whole movement ends in positive acts of creation—and this on the part of all the actors in the tragedy of disintegration. The Dominant Minority creates a universal state, the Internal Proletariat a universal church, and the External Proletariat a bevy of barbarian war-bands. Toynbee's use of the word 'church' through his books...referring to the collective spiritual bond of a common worship, or the same unity found in some kind of social order. There must be a structure in place to maintain order; what that structure is and how it works is yet to be determined!

HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT

(The answer is already known, if we want to use it)

Mt 5:13-16 -- You (we) are the salt of the earth..."But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Eph 5:11-17 -- "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them…But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shin in you. Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is."

John 3:19-21 -- "This is the verdicts: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

Scripture is clear -- if we, as Christians, disengage our society, society has no order and evil will triumph. If good men do nothing, we will have to live with the outcome. We must stop the ripping down of what God originally planned. It is time to stand up and be counted!

New Year 2008-2009

As we all look to another year, some things certainly come to mind as we consider what God has planned for all of us in the future.

THE PARADOX: We have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less. We buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We also laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We try to clean up the air, but worry little about polluting the souls. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but seem to accomplish nothing. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less with others. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and with small characters, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything that should come naturally. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. We live in a time when our thoughts and voice can transmitted around the world by the Internet, but we can't say "I am sorry" to those we love who are sitting right next to us.

REMEMBER, The Past is Gone, but the Future is New Every Morning: SO … spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, to say a kind word to someone who looks up to you because they are shorter, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give from your heart that doesn't cost a cent. Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. Remember, a kiss and a hug will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember, to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak about Him who gives everything to you, and take time to share those precious thoughts and blessings with those in need. Remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but who we share them with; so take each breath God has given and Praise Him; then go out and share His love with others.

Finally

LOVE IS ETERNAL AND THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT WILL LAST
We wish you a Happy New Year and God’s Blessing as you

Share His love during 2009

Trusting God When Money Seems Scarce

I came across this article recently. I claim know credit to how it is presented, but certainly wanted to pass it on as food for thought. Certainly we all find ourselves taking our eyes off of Christ and affixing them on our specific situation. We should not do this as stated within.

Money seems to be a common topic in many conversations in America today. Our economy is hurting and therefore many people are financially hurting as well.

As Christians we know that God is our source of security, not the economy. Nevertheless, many Christians have found that their finances have also been adversely affected as a byproduct of the negative economy. So how do we trust God in the midst of pay cuts, layoffs, rising bills, and declining home values in our own lives? How do we keep our faith strong in the midst of financial trouble? Here are a few ways God shows us in His Word to keep our faith strong.

Watch Your Focus
The biggest thing that has helped me in recent times of financial trouble is focusing on the right thing, which is not the circumstances, but rather God and what He’s doing in me. 2 Cor 4:18 says, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

I’ve come to realize that our circumstances are temporary, but our faith and trust in God is eternal. I’ve seen income both grow and shrink in my family over the past few years, and I’ve come to realize that I can’t bank on that income -- God is the only thing that really stays constant.

I’ve also realized that I haven’t really let my faith grow during previous times of financial trouble, as evidenced by the fact that I worry every time the income goes down again. This time, I’ve decided to focus on how our current situation can help me grow closer to God because that is all that really matters. After all, God knew this would happen and He knows when it will be over. And even though I don’t know when it will be over, whenever that is, I want to be stronger in faith and closer to God as a result of the situation.

Once we switch our focus to what really matters, then the temporary situation doesn’t seem all that bad because we realize it’s just money.

Have a Joyful Attitude

If we let our circumstances put us in a rotten mood, we are no fun to be around! When I recently found out about a large financial setback in my family, I turned into a huge sourpuss! I was sad and depressed, and I wanted to eat lots of ice cream. Not only was I not fun to be around, but I brought my husband down too. I was so sad that I didn’t even want to read my Bible because I didn’t want to feel better. I wanted to wallow in my sorrow (ever been there??)

But the morning after I learned of the setback, I decided I should read my Bible because pity parties get old after a while. The chapter I happened to be reading that day was Philippians 4, which was just what I needed. At the beginning of the chapter I read verse 4: “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice.” God might as well have come down from heaven and written that for me personally that day! That verse not only lifted my mood, but helped me apply these next few points.

Be Thankful!
No matter what we have, it’s so easy to complain about what we don’t have. If we would just stop focusing so much on what we don’t have, we can see the blessings of all that we do have, like family, friends, church, and even the physical things that God has previously blessed us with. Paul reminds us in Philippians that prayer with Thanksgiving is the key to eliminating our worry and anxiety. “Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace which transcends all understanding shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” Phil 4:6.

Don’t stop giving!
When we aren’t thankful for what we have, often times we’ll stop giving to our church and other charities when money is tight. In reality, generosity is what opens up our lives for God’s blessings. I once heard a pastor say that if God can get money through you, he’ll get it to you. As Christians, we are blessed to be a blessing, but if we hoard all the money we have because we’re afraid that we don’t have enough, then we aren’t a blessing.

Our church has recently been teaching on generosity and how difficult that is when we feel like we don’t have enough material resources. Our pastor showed us a website where you type in your income and it will show you how rich you are compared to the rest of the world: www.globalrichlist.com. The minimum wage in our area ranked in the 11th percentile of the richest people in the world. When we realize just how wealthy we are in comparison to the rest of the world, how can we hold back from giving to others?

Do What You Can and Trust God to do the Rest
Having faith that God will supply our needs is extremely important, but God never promised to supply our wants exactly when we want them. Just because God will provide during a time when money is scarce, doesn’t mean we should spend money the same way we did when money was plentiful.

Beyond believing for increase, there are practical things we can do as well. When money is tight in our family, we cut back on eating out and buying extra clothes and electronics that we don’t need. We get creative and find more inexpensive ways to have fun and enjoy life. If things get really tight you can cancel cable or magazine subscriptions or other monthly costs that aren’t necessary. These cutbacks will help the money you do have go further and maybe even give you more quality time to spend with your family. God is full of wisdom and He wants to give that wisdom to us (James 1:5), but we need to be sure to listen to God’s wisdom and heed what He says to improve our financial situation. God may provide a new job for you, but most likely He won’t drop it in your lap while you’re watching TV. We need to do the work of looking for jobs, sending out resumes, putting forth effort and on God’s end, He’ll give us favor, but we have to make the first step.

Don’t Make Excuses
God doesn’t make excuses, so you shouldn’t either. When told that God will provide for us, sometimes we respond with, “Yeah, but...” God will always trump our excuses (nothing beats “Yeah, but the cross”).

I was talking with a friend recently who had just found out she was going to be laid off. I reminded her that God had been there for her in the past and had never let her down and this wouldn’t be any different. She responded by saying “Yeah, but this is a big thing.” I responded (with sarcasm), “Oh yeah, you’re right. This is too big for God. He made the world in six days, but he won’t be able to provide for you in this situation.” Deep down she knows God is big enough for her situation, but she let her worry come out in her words.

Many Christians really do believe that their situation is too hard for God, or that He doesn’t want to help them. In Matthew 8:2-3 a man with leprosy asked Jesus to heal him if he was willing. He knew Jesus was able, but he wasn’t sure if he was willing. Jesus told him he was willing, and he healed the man. If Jesus wasn’t willing to help us with all our needs, He wouldn’t have died on the cross for us.

I don't share these principles to give you pat answers to life's problems. I have had to apply all these principles in my life recently due to a job layoff for me and a large pay cut for my husband. I know what it’s like to be concerned about the situation and to worry, but I’ve also learned that what God says in His word is truth. And His truth is more important than how I feel or what the circumstances say.

Paul said he learned how to be content whether he had plenty of money and resources, or whether money was in short supply. He learned that by relying on God’s strength (Phil 4:11-13). There will be times of excess and times of need in our lives and since we can’t take money and possessions with us when we go to heaven, the only thing we have to carry through this life and into the next is our faith in and relationship with God. Beyond that, remember that God promises to not only supply our every need, but to do so liberally (Phil 4:19).

http://www.crosswalk.com/root/finances/11596818/page0

Psalm 64

Oppressed by the Wicked, but Rejoicing in the Lord -- Hear my voice, O God, in my meditation; Preserve my life from fear of the enemy. Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked; From the rebellion of the workers of iniquity. Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, And bend their bows to shoot their arrows - bitter words, That they may shoot in secret at the blameless; Suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear. They encourage themselves in an evil matter; The talk of laying snares secretly; They say. "Who will see them?" They devise iniquities: "We have perfected a shrewed scheme." Both the inward thought and the heart of man are deep.

But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; Suddenly they shall be wounded. So He will make them stumble over their own tongue; All who see them shall flee away. All men shall fear, And shall declare the work of God; For they shall wisely consider His doing. The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and trust in Him. And all the upright in heart shall glory.

Our nation is at a turning point; 2008 will change the way we handle things in the future. Certainly prayer is the key to what happens and when, so continue to pray like your life depends on it...it does! At least while you are here on this earth!

Blue and Red States

I promised myself that I would never get involved to the point of judging those who rule over us, but we stand of the very edge of history within the Election of 2008. This election, unlike those in the past will shape our country's future history. Who will serve in the White House for the next four years is on the mind of every American.

We are not just a group of RED and BLUE states, we are Americans. Certainly, within the news, one side as an advantage over the other. Even in the local TV Programs we see it...SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE!

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/palin-hillary-open/656281/

If we allow things to go down this path, what will tomorrow bring? Character Asscination, many times hurts our country more than a gun. It is time to grow up as a nation and demand justice for all!

Too Fast for Filo!

Life can certainly come at us faster then we really expect. Many things in today's working world, not to mention family life, move at lighting speed, where just one decision can be life-changing. Many depend on their PDA to get them through one more day, but too many times we find ourselves press-down to the point where we can't seem to move forward. During these times, we need someone who can work and think outside the box; someone who looks at life "eternally" verses "just getting through the next hour." PDA's are great...but if we really want to have the ride-of-your-life...we need to look to Him, "the giver of all life." Only He can strap us in to meet the challenges of life. (Proverbs 3:5-6) Don't depend on a seatbelt or you may end up like Filo!

What Does it Take to Fill up your Tank?

Many of us are concerned about what it will take tomorrow to fill our gas tank, but did you ever stop to think what is required to fill up our Spiritual Tank. We are living in a Spiritual Energy Crisis. It is evident today that many of us are running on empty. I thought, wouldn't it be nice to see some type of a sign (like a bumper sticker) on each and every true Christian that might say: "Powered by Jesus!" Wouldn't that be neat? Shouldn't we be powered by Jesus?

Jesus Christ is the source of our power. What a vast difference it might make if every church member were one hundred percent powered by Jesus. That would be awesome. Not self-powered, but Jesus-powered. Far too many of us live on our own steam when there is available for our use the awesome almighty power of Jesus. Are you living with His Power?

I want you to look at 2 Peter 1:3. It says... "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." If your tank is dry and you feel like you need to stop and fill-up, try filling up with the only person who can truly fill you to the brim. It will not cost you $4.31/gallion; you are going to get the highest rated octane for the price of regular when you deal with Jesus!

What Makes You Click?

There is a connection between endurance, perseverance, and hope. The stronger our hope, the more resolute we endurance and maintain our relationship with Him. The longer we endure, the more we persevere through the tuff times, but without hope it’s difficult to hang tough. The more we know of Jesus, and what He had done for us, the greater will be our endurance, even when circumstances seem to be saying that everything is hopeless. “The hope of salvation” protects our thinking, our minds, so that we’re able to resist giving in to thoughts of hopelessness. So, hope is central to what we’re about as believers, not just something we lean on in challenging times.

For most, however, they have placed money at the center of happiness, thus requiring ever greater amounts to gain greater satisfaction. During times of hardship, lost of a job or some costly family situations, funds lessen; they are forced to seek other means of acquiring wealth. Under such statements as: "we are only trying to make it better for our family," or "we need to work based on the economy" everyone soon suffers because of missing parents who are now working 24/7 just to survive rising costs.

God is "a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, a God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing." Psalm 68:5, 6

If we can regain our connection between endurance, perseverance, and hope, thus placing God at the center and not money, we soon realize that money is not as important as our kids.

VietNam War Memorial_2008

Each year Americans remember the many who gave their lives for our country. This year, much like those before, we know several that road motor cycles to Washington "Rolling Thunder - Run to the Wall."

But whether you remember our fallen on a motor cycle or that time to pray for those lost and those still serving our country today, I would like to consider the concept of a "Memorial."

Throughout Scripture, God speaks volumes about remembering, thus placing a memorial for future generations. Different, but the same, the memorial concept is a remembrance of the past to help all of us make decisions in the future.

A spiritual memorial is simply any object, picture, or memory that can direct one's spirit towards the realization that God is good and faithful... When the Israelites crossed the Jordan River to enter the Promised Land in Joshua 4, Joshua called each of the tribes to gather a stone from the river and, using these 12 stones, they built a memorial to the faithfulness of God. Joshua declared, "…When your children ask in time to come, 'What do these stones mean to you?' then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off in front of the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever.'" (Joshua 4: 6-7) The first thing Joshua did when he entered the Promised Land was build a spiritual memorial to the faithfulness of God. He understood the transformative power of spiritual memorials. He understood that what some people might see as just a pile of rocks, others could be taught to see as a powerful testimony to God.

Another example of the transformative power of spiritual memorials comes out of the life of David in 1 Samuel 17. The young shepherd boy is thrust into a battle against a tremendous obstacle, the giant Goliath. As David considered the possibility of facing this giant in battle, he looked for hope in spiritual memorials of God's faithfulness to him in the past. When everyone around him, defeated and demoralized, trembled in fear of the giant, David chose to place his trust in God. David recalled occasions when God helped him defeat a lion and a bear while guarding his father's sheep.

These memories of God's faithfulness in the past provided David with the hope that God would be faithful in delivering him from the giant that he faced in this situation. So, armed with these spiritual memorials and a simple sling, David stepped into the valley and defeated the giant. David's act of faith infused hope and courage into the army of Israel. Suddenly, these men who'd been cowering in fear charged bravely across the battlefield to conquer the Philistines. Spiritual memorials not only serve as personal reminders to God's faithfulness, but at times they even bolster or ignite the faith of entire communities.

Spiritual memorials are all around us, but sometimes we just need to get people to see them with new eyes—to have a new experience with them.

National Day of Prayer

"The future continually demands reorganizing of our thinking. Strategic thinking can be summed up quite simply: What seems to be happening? What possibilities do we face? And what are we going to do about it? It is about maintaining an acute sensitivity to changing conditions, a willingness to think in a variety of ways, and avoidance to traps formed by what we already know and an ability to decide."

Change comes when we pray for change. The future is always demanding reorganization, but God remains unchanged. "If My people, who are called by My Name, will 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" (2 Chronicles 7:14). Change must begin with our relationship vertically if we want our horizontal relationships to be effected.

Benjamin Franklin spoke: In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection.- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, & they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance?

I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing governments by human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.

I therefore beg leave to move-that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that Service.

We all need to pray for our nation; simply working things out through Strategic Thinking will only lead to addition needs. God wants to correct each situation, but we need to allow Him to do so...NOW MORE THEN EVER BEFORE!