Wind Tales

Let Go

2012-01-06T08:35:00.000-07:00

Let Go

To “let go” does not mean to stop caring.

It means I can’t do it for someone else.

To “let go” is not to cut myself off.

It’s the realization I can’t control another.

To “let go” is not to enable,

But to allow learning from natural consequences.

To “let go” is to admit powerlessness

Which means the outcome is not in my hands.

To “let go” is not to try to change or blame another,

It’s to make the most of myself.

To “let go” is not to care for, but to care about.

To “let go” is not to fix, but to be supportive.

To “let go” is not to judge

But to allow another to be a human being

To “let go” is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcome,

But to allow others to affect their destinies.

To “let go” is not to be protecting,

It’s to permit another to face reality.

To “let go” is not to deny, but to accept

To “let go” is not to nag, scold or argue,

But instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.

To “let go” is not criticize and regulate anybody,

But to try to become what I dream to be.

To “let go” is to not regret the past,

but to grow and live for the future.

To “let go” is to fear less and LOVE MORE.

Dark Night of the Soul

2011-12-25T15:38:00.000-07:00

Dark night of the Soul was coined in the 1500’s by St. John of The

Cross, to describe times of pain and abandonment. I keep thinking this

is not a Christmas eve sermon, but I think there are many tonight

who see the future as bleak. I think some tonight feel them have been

abandoned by God.

The time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to

her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a

manger,because there was no room for them in the inn.Luke 2:6,7

Some of the saddest words on earth are: “We don’t have room for you.”

Can you imagine how devastated Mary was when she heard the news

there is No Room in the Inn for you?

On Christmas Eve I also think on the Mothers of Ramah. Rememer

them? When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the

Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in

Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in

accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then

what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A

voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel

weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because

they are no more.”[g] The birth of Jesus brought them great loss,

for some!

Remember there are numerous broken hearts on Christmas eve. For

many battling the loss of a loved one the holiday season is a dark night

for the soul also. Not sure why, but during the holiday season is

highest rate of suicides, depression and domestic violence. For many

the ole Merle Haggard song is true if we can make it thru December. . .

Just like the birth of a child yes there are birth pangs but afterward

comes the joy of a baby. For some of you if you can make it through

the next week you will see the joy of a new year.

One dark period of my life, I have not forgotten is the calling to leave

a ministry I loved and be exiled toOklahoma! The place God was calling

us to was as hard as the red clay beneath this small Oklahoma town.

The hearts of the people were as black as the oil they drilled. They

were proud they had harbored the fugitive Pretty Boy Floyd and all

sorts of illegal activity down thru the years.

The church was very welcoming to us, we had a good Sunday. A couple

invited us back to their house for dinner. They had one child about the

age of our two kids, and Jennifer was carrying Jacob at the time.

After dinner the kids asked if they could play outside, the couple side

sure, but stay out of the back yard there is an abandoned swimming

pool.

I had to preach that night, so I needed to find a quiet place to

prepare. I left the house and maid my way to the minimart but it was a

bustle of activity. So I took a drive trying to gather my thoughts

trying to find a place where I could sit and work. Of all things I ended

up at a historic Cemetery of early Oklahoma pioneers. The historical

marker was fascinating, it chronicled many of their struggles but

made the point that for most of the pioneers they lost over half of

their children! Because of this they loved hymns like When we all get

to heaven. As I read this, I can not explain it, but the Holy Spirit, My

Instinct told me something as terribly wrong and to get back to the

house-Now!

As I turned to last corner before the house I could see their

whole driveway filled with emergency vehicles. I began to run and got

there just as they put my little Ashley in the ambulance with an oxygen

mask on. My wife was hysterical and all I could get from the throng is

she had fallen in the pool. I held my sobbing wife as we prepared to

leave in ambulance, and the story came out in sobs. They were

taking a nap and the Zach and the other boy came running in screaming

that Ashley had fallen into the pool. The adults attempted to go out

the back but the door was locked so they had to go around the front of

the house. They could not see Ashley the pool water was too murky,

mossy and gunky, but then they saw bubbles surface. Our guest

jumped into the muck and used his feet find Ashley. When he handed

Ashley to Jennifer she was not breathing. Jennifer seven months

pregnant fell on her knees getting her out of the pool, stayed on her

knees administrating CPR until Ashley started coughing up black nasty

water!!

The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the

goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little

child will lead them. Is 11:6 This messianic prophecy from Isaiah,

comes to mind when I think of this dark night. In a small way I

experienced how a Child can lead the sinful to repentance. By the time

we made to Children’s hospital in Tulsa, the whole congregation had

congregated in the Emergency room and were down on their knees

praying! Revival had broken out because of a threat to an innocent

child! The time we spent with the people of that town, we would

never again experience such sincere faith and prayers!

The Xrays confirmed there was a large amount of water in

Ashley’s lungs. The congregation brought food for us, prayed for us

and called our family. Took care of Zach as if he was their own child!

By the time the sun had risen the next morning their was a buzz in the

Er, the doctors and nurses Kept asking where did all the water go?

Why does she not have pneumonia from all the bacteria infected

water? The dark night had turned to Glorious day that lit up God! By

noon we were headed back north, by sundown exhausted, we pulled over

and found a motel. Ashley threw a fit because we would not let her

swim in the pool! A dark night had turned into laughter. A dark night

had brought us Christmas early!

Some of the saddest words on earth are: “We don’t have room

for you.” Jesus knew the sound of those words. He was still in Mary’s

womb when the innkeeper said, “We don’t have room for you.” … And

when he was hung on the cross, wasn’t the message one of utter

rejection? “We don’t have room for you in this world.” How dark those

times must have been for Jesus. Even today Jesus is given the same

treatment. He goes from heart to heart, asking if he might enter.…

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. Revelation 3:20

Every so often, he is welcomed. Someone throws open the door of

his or her heart and invites him to stay. And to that person Jesus gives

this great promise: … “In my father’s house are many rooms.” … What a

delightful promise he makes us! We make room for him in our hearts,

and he makes room for us in his house. I am not certain of the dark

night you are facing, but I am certain Jesus want to walk with you

though it together!

God want’s to take your darkness and brighten it with his Glory. God

want’s to turn you sadness into laughter. This Christmas would you

invite Jesus into your heart? If this is your decision come up front as

we stand to sing!

Drive into 2012

2011-12-20T09:18:00.000-07:00

Our 2006 Ford Freestar has reached the end of the road. It has over 160,000 miles, on the

odometer. I am not sure how many times it has gotten stuck in Elbert County roads.

Cannot begin to tell you the number of Drive thru mishaps have occurred over the five year

we have had the vehicle. Recent repair estimates made the tea leaves are clear, we need a

new car.

So I started to notice these End of the Year Car Adds push pull and drag into our lot and

we will give you $5000 for your car. What is the old saying if it’s too good to be true, it is.

I am not sure how the fleecing occurs, but I am certain if you have to tow a vehicle into a

used car dealership for a trade in, they will get the better end of the deal! Common sense

tells you that if your car is drivable, it is worth more than if it’s dead on arrival. Common

sense tells us all if we are able to control and drive our own life it is worth more, than

always being towed by the circumstances of life.

January I start a series I call D.R.I.V.E. The idea behind the series is if we develop a little

self-leadership and take control of our life then the coming year will bring glory to God!

The older I get the more I realize how easy it is too drift thru life with no purpose or

direction. Resolutions have been proven time and time again a failure, but driving in a

direction towards a goal is always beneficial. It has been said before; “aim for the moon

and land in the stars. That’s the idea behind driving our life in a godly direction for 2012.

Drive stands for. . .D.evotion to God, R.eadiness for lifelong learning, I.nvest in

key relationships, V.ision for the future, E.ating and excercising and S.erves. If we focus

the next 12 months in this general direction, I am certain we will grow more like Christ.

End of the year resolutions to make next year better by pushing, pulling and dragging self

into a new habit with no commitment, cost or change of character on your part is a farce.

But we see it every day, just take this supplement, no exercise required and lose thirty

pounds. Come into our free seminar and learn how to dump your debt without any change

in lifestyle on your part! Get six pack abs by simply putting the new slimming belt on! You

know the promises are false, and yet we often buy what the infomercials are selling!

Better off entering the New Year by taking control and driving into it! Better yet making a

commitment, change and paying the cost to allow God to control and drive you in the

coming year!

God never offers a fix your life in five easy steps, but a path towards righteousness.

Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. Proverbs 21:21

Please, join us for Januarys’ sermon series as we begin the drive into 2012

Merry Christmas!

2011-11-22T11:18:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite movies of all time is Back to Future with

Michael J Fox. The gist of the movies is The film tells the story of

Marty McFly, a teenager who is accidentally sent back in time from

1985 to 1955. He meets his future-parents in high school and

accidentally attracts his future mother's romantic interest. Marty

must repair the damage to history by causing his parents-to-be to fall

in love, and with the help of scientist Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown, he must

find a way to return to 1985. This movie has caused me to contemplate

if history were to change, what would the future be like?

Have you ever asked if Jesus had not been born; what would

today be like?

First, the value of mankind would be vastly different. Slavery of women only began to

change under the influence of Christian Missionaries. If you are a woman, without

Christ you may still have had no rights today. Doubt this, then look at many African

and Islam cultures where Christ influence is less. Instead of watching football this

Christmas would we be watching life and death cage fighting? A fifth

century monk is credited with ending, the gladiators.

Second , can you imagine what the world would be like without the following minds?

What would music have evolved to without the Christian minds of Handel, Vivaldi and

Bach? If that is a little too much ancient history, did you know a primary influence on

Rock and Roll is Gospel music?

How different would science be without the great minds of Keppler, Boyle, Pascal,

Pasteur, Newton, and numerous others.

How boring would the world be without these great writers, Chesterton, Augustine,

C.S. Lewis, Dostoevsky, and Dickens?

What I am most concerned about without Christ there would be no Santa Clause.

Because, Santa Clause was birthed from the life of Christian Saint Nicholas. There will

be some who will attempt to take Christ out of Christmas; do they really know what

they are asking for? C.S. Lewis Wrote they would be asking for “Always winter, but

never Christmas.” The best response to those who wish to take Christ out of Christmas

is to prayerfully wish them a Merry Christmas!

Be God’s

Roger Miller

Sorcery

2011-11-09T06:42:00.000-07:00

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For

the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these

are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh

are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities,

strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying,

drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I

have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the

kingdom of God. Galatians 5:16-21 NASB

In this list of sins there is one sin I want to talk about today and that is sorcery. You may

Ask what does sorcery have in common with these habitual sins? . I believe all these sins

put you into bondage that eventually destroys us! The truth that sets us free from these

sins is self-control I also believe sorcery is alive and well under a different name illegal

drug use.

When the word is spoken, image s of witches and wizards come to mind and of course

Halloween. Harry Potter and his adventures have put sorcery back in the news today.

Previous generations it was the show Bewitched! Galatians 5;19,20 Make clear that

Sorcery is a sin! So what is sorcery? Why is it a sin? What would it have to do with me?

Sorcery not a word that we hear every day! Sorcery: Magic; enchantment; witchcraft;

divination be the assistance of evil spirits, or the power of commanding evil spirits

(Webster's) Sorcery, therefore, is the reliance on black arts or other forms of

supernatural insight or ability, and not a reliance on God . Magic tricks, which generally

involve illusion but not substance, are not really under discussion here.

Sorcery at it’s heart is the giving up of one’s self control to be in bondage to anything

involving forces other than God! Voodoo, magic spells, witchcraft in any form, including

Tarot card reading, psychic readings, séances also represent sorcery. Astrological

readings also, including horoscopes, also involve reliance on forces other than God

What is the big deal?

Most normal people find my opposition to such practices to be a little weird. I have had

many say to me, “What's the harm?” after all, it’s just a "little fun", with horoscopes and

psychic readings? It really is a good question.

From beginning to end in the Bible God has made clear there is only one God. Exodus

34:14 says; Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a

jealous God.

Sorcery does represent a concern and a threat, and should not be taken as lightly as it is!

The Bible makes it clear that our trust and confidence is to be in God alone Sorcery,

therefore, is no light matter, and is to be thoroughly avoided!

But what’s under the surface to Sorcery ? The Greek word provides an additional

concept we should consider. Gal 5;20 we read earlier the : Greek word for sorcery is

pharmakeia (pharmacy). Thayers Lexicon says; the use or the administering of drugs;

poisoning; sorcery,magical arts" (Thayer's) How do drugs fit into sorcery? We must

consider the healing profession in the ancient world While we today would separate

the scientific study of medicine from the black arts practices of "witch doctors", that

distinction was not kept in the ancient world.

The same doctor who would perform surgeries or give out medicine would also make

incantations to various gods or use magic or other black arts to effect a cure. They

would also use drugs to fall into a catatonic state under the control of spirits for a vision

or formula for healing.

When Paul used the word Sorcery his audiences sees some one using drugs to come

under the power of the spirits. Maybe, this can begin to help you see how Sorcery is

related to illegal use of Drugs.

As is well known, many drugs are consumed not for medical benefit but for recreational

purposes. We must understand there is a place and time for doctor prescribed

medications, because God uses that for our healing. But the truth is most use of

marijuana, cocaine, heroin, PCP, methamphetamines, crystal methadone, LSD, ecstasy,

opium, and abuse of prescription medications are to get high not to heal. The drugs are

enjoyed for "highs" and the ability to escape from the problems of life.

With the use of the Greek Word Pharmica it links sorcery and drug use-as a way we

trust or enjoy powers and forces other than God!

Be God's

Roger

A Bloody Popsicle

2011-11-07T12:39:00.000-07:00

Sin and the destruction it brings, reminds me of the story of how Eskimos dealt with

wolves who killed their livestock. They would capture a rabbit or some other small game

and drain their blood. They would take a razor sharp double edged knife dip it into the

blood and then freeze it. By repeating this process numerous times, they would freeze

layer upon layer of animal blood around the deadly blade. In essence a blood popsicle

on a knife.

Then the villagers would take the knife to the outskirts of the village, where the wolves

had been active, and secure the blade on a stick. During the night, when a wolf would

come and smell the blood, he’d start licking and licking. As the wolf would lick away on

the bloodsicle, his tongue would become numb. So as his taste for blood would grow his

lust would cause him to lick faster and faster down and down to the razor sharp blade.

But by this time, because his tongue was so numb from the cold, he wouldn’t feel it as

the blade started slashing his tongue. In fact, what happens the taste of his own blood

would cause him to lick even faster.

By the time the wolf would figure out what was happening it was too late. His tongue

shredded and bleeding profusely, he’d wonder off and bleed to death! (Weird Craig
Groeschel)

Galatians 5:16-21 NASB says; But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out

the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit

against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do

the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,

idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions,

factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn

you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not

inherit the kingdom of God.

Every one of these sins are a bloody popsicle sin! So what is normal in our society? 90%

of children between 8 and 16 have viewed Pornography online. Pornography use to be a

problem that affected men predominantly, now 1/3 of adult web sites are visited by

women. In 2009, a total of 650,843 young people aged 10–24 years were treated

in emergency departments for nonfatal injuries sustained from assaults. Nearly three out

of four (74%) of Americans personally know someone who is or has been a victim of

domestic violence. Approximately 92% of U.S. adults who drink excessively report

binge drinking in the past 30 days.2 Although college students commonly binge drink,

70% of binge drinking episodes involve adults age 26 years and older. Some of the

results of excessive drinking are poverty, health problems from Heart issues to children

born with fetal alcohol Syndrome. Do you really want to be normal? Can you really say

you want to be In bondage to this sins?

Be God's

Roger Miller

Steps

2011-10-26T10:48:00.000-06:00

You shine faithfully upon my life, but you cannot and will not take the steps for me-it is I who must walk in your way and become the expression for our will. Celtic Daily Prayer Oct 18 Pg 527

Does the previous statement seem a little harsh? Does it almost seem heretical that God will not do for you what you should do?

It did to me as well until I remembered the creation of man. God gave man free will, telling him all steps were allowed except the eating of the forbidden fruit. We all know how that ended, but God did not take Adam’s choice of self-destruction away from them. We recently studied the story of the rich young ruler. Jesus (God in the Flesh) genuinely liked the young man, but allowed the man to walk away from salvation! On judgment day each of us will be rewarded or punished according to the steps we have
chosen.

That God allows man to walk his way, has a lot of consequences for each of us. A group of believers can help us grow, but they cannot make us grow! It means that for servants helping others, the ones being helped may reject the truth and hurt themselves! What it comes down to is God holds us accountable for the truth we teach and the steps we take-not what others do!

Paul said it this way; Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling Ph 2:12. Just know I am praying that we all have the courage to take the steps God has given this day!

Be God’s

Roger

Image

2011-10-04T12:54:00.003-06:00

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he
created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27
This is an easy verse to understand but the depth of it’s
meaning is as deep as the universe.

Consider just the depth of the Hebrew word for Image Selem
the most common definition in the Old Testament is to be
cut off as if in carving a block of wood into an idol.
2Kings 11:18 Idols). In modern spoken Hebrew, the related
noun sillum is a photograph. In the Psalms Image is used
as a mere facade or the semblance of a person. Ps 39:6 says;
Man is a mere phantom (Selem) as he goes to and fro: He
bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth,
not knowing who will get it.

There are also hints in the Old Testament that God and
man share this image. That this image is more than us
walking about as two legged memorials to our creator.
This is where many scholars go down rabbit trails of
theological thought, what that image means. For example,”
like God” means we are moral beings like God! That like
God, we cancreate and procreate and that we have an
inherent of goodness just like our creator.

Believe me the metaphor Image is simple, but it is like
still water that runs very deep!

Can it be? Can it be that all of us alike--the saints,
the sinners, the gifted, the less gifted, Christians,
Muslim terrorists, atheists--are in some limited way
"clones of God," who, to those who have eyes to see,
display God's Image? Fiction writer William Kent Krueger
in his novel Iron Lake says this of man; “A man was never
just a man. A man was endless possibility waiting to become.

The created world will be full of mysteries until the
day we go home. I am certain that until we see Jesus
we will have puzzles of image.

But one thing it must mean is we are an endless
possibility waiting to become! There is possibility
in man for great good and great evil! Great selfishness
and selflessness.

Our possibilities rightly used are to make us a
straight arrows pointing to our creator! How are you
going to utilize your possibility?

Be God’s
Roger Miller

Lost

2011-08-24T14:11:00.000-06:00

Have you ever lost something you were unable to recover? Just an old
yellowed and faded photo of a boy, just home from fishing! The house
behind is white and ramshackle. The boy is only five or seven with a
goofy grin holding a small catfish. He is wearing a olive drab hat
and is shirtless, wearing blue shoes encrusted with mud.

I can see my mother handing me the snapshot, but have been
unable to locate it. I have even dreams about what box, I may find it
in. I am beginning to worry the pic is a figment of my imagination.
If it was not developed by Kodak, it is kept in my thoughts as a Kodak
moment.

Maybe, that why I drove over a thousand miles in two days. Maybe
that’s what prompted a late night fishing trip. Maybe, that whoever we
meet, that is from the past generates excitement. Maybe, that is
how it is so awkward to say goodbye.

Frustrating as it is, there are some things lost in this life, we will
never be able to recover. The peace we had before we lost control.
The sin that will not go back in the Jeanie’s bottle. The sharp knife of
a short life! The relationship we did not nurture.

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Ps 90:12

Daniel 9:20-24

2011-07-29T10:30:00.003-06:00

DANIEL 8
THE MOST FASCINATING PROPECY IN THE BIBLE!
DANIEL CHAPTER 9:20-27
Roger Miller July 31 2011

Sadly; there are millions of people you who do not believe that the Bible is
literally the God’s revelation to man for his salvation. One reason to study
the whole book of Daniel, is it is one of the best evidences that the Bible is
the word of God. I am confident if the most hardened skeptic would only
study this one prophecy in Daniel 9 objectively he/she would agree this
pericope is from God!

Even though it is one of the best evidence of God’s hand in revelation, because
it is from God it is very difficult passage for man to understand. Edward J. Young
describes it as "one of the most difficult in all the OT, and the interpretations
which have been offered are almost legion. Stuart says that "it would require a
volume of considerable magnitude even to give a history of the ever-varying and
contradictory opinions that have been offered" With such a difficult passage
before us, we should ... Approach it with humility, and not dogmatically. Remember
your salvation is not dependent on your understanding of Daniel 9. I would also
urge us to not draw conclusions that would contradict clear teachings of
Scripture .

1. During a Time of Prayer Daniel 9:20-23

While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people
Israel and making my request to the LORD my God for his holy hill— 21 while I
was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to
me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me
and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and under-
standing. 23 As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have
come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the
message and understand the vision:

The nineteen verses that precede these verses make it clear that Daniel
had been studying the scroll of the prophet Jeremiah, specifically Jeremiah 25:11
Which says; This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these
nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years. As Daniel studies this
verse he realizes the seventy years is up and prays that God would keep his word
and send his people home.

Notice the basis of Daniels prayer was a plea for mercy, not for help, because he
knew that his people deserved God’s wrath and punishment. God sends his help, not because we deserve it, but because he wants to show great mercy. If God would
refuse to help us because of our sin, how could we complain? But when he sends
mercy instead of the punishment we deserve, how can we withhold our praise and
thanksgiving? Sometimes; we wrongly think idolatrous thoughts such as; God exists for my well being. Remember he is our creator, we were created for his pleasure.

Our prayers of help need to be grounded in mercy and putting God first!
Daniel receives more than he prayed for, isn’t that the way of our Heavenly Father? God will keep his word to send Israel home, but he sends the Angel Gabriel to answer his prayer and is given a victorious vision of God’s people over centuries! Truly God does not treat us as our sins deserve!

Gabriel was the angel provided explanation to Daniel regarding the vision of the ram and the goat (Dan 8:16), now proceeds to give details concerning what is to follow in the future of God’s people. Interestingly; The Hebrew and Greek words for angels originally mean messenger. These messengers in Scripture can be humans but most often are spiritual beings to help God’s Children. Listen to Hebrews 1:14; “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? “ What’s amazing about this is it implies our prayers as God’s children activate the angels of heaven into action! Keep Praying-Keep begging for God’s mercy!

2.THE VISION OF SEVENTY DANIEL 9:24

Seventy ‘sevens’[c] are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish[d]
transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in
everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the
most holy.

A. WEEKS?

If you have the NIV you will see right after the word Seventy-Sevens in quotes
with a textual note. If you have the KJV or the NASB it will read Seventy weeks.
So back to the NIV if you look at the note at the bottom of your bible it should
explain that . The word "weeks" in Hebrew is actually "sevens". So the best
translation would be to say; seventy Weeks. What does this mean? First, a week
means a unit of seven, just as a there are seven days in a week. Within the text it
means there are seventy units of seven or 490 days or units of time that Gabriel is
explaining to Daniel and us through the bible.

Most Bible student agree Daniel 9:4 likely refers to "weeks", but weeks of
what? 1)Possibility is that Weeks of days? Then it would be Prophecy 490
days into the future Few believe this to be the case, because it is a little
over a year and a half for all the prophecy to come true this is too little
time for all the prophecy to be fulfilled plus it fits no historical events.

Because every time frame of this passage has strengths and weaknesses, every
one to some extent interprets this passage figurative. The most widely held
belief is that each week represents a year, this means according to the Roman
calendar it would be 490 years. This is my view of the prophecy, and the
starting point I will use to flesh the passage out.

The weakness of this view is the Jews used a lunar calendar (360 days/yr), so
it would be 483 years according to our calendar. Many suggest this to be the
answer, but it is also not without difficulty. It’s problem is historical
landmarks are not where they should be. Some hold to the view The weeks are
years but not complete years. Those who hold to this teach it may just refer
to seventy complete periods of time. And each week may not be equivalent in
time (i.e.,one "week" may be longer than other "weeks") The weakness of this
is it seems to contradict the context of Gabriel’s giving exact periods of
time! Let me finish this point by saying: the time line is not as important
as what happens during the Seventy Sevens. But before we look into this, I
will give you the timeline we are going to work off of!

7 Weeks 49 Yrs 62 Weeks 434 YRS 31/2 3 1/2
l____________l_____________l__________t______________l_
Edict Jewish Jesus Min Christ Gospel
to Ezra Com restored begins is cut off taken to Gentiles
458 BC 409 BC 26 AD off 30 AD Gentiles 33 AD

Let’s fill in the details from the periscope of Daniel 9, to see what God has done.

1. Amazing Prophecy because it predicts when Israel Restored!

First, the Messiah would not come till Jerusalem would be Restored. Look at verse
25; “Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree[f] to restore
and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One,[g] the ruler, comes, there will
be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a
trench, but in times of trouble.

At least three possible decrees may serve as the start of the 70 "weeks"
1) The decree of Cyrus (539-538 BC) In the first year of Cyrus king of
Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the
LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation
throughout his realm and to put it in writing: “This is what Cyrus king of
Persia says: “‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of
the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in
Judah. 3 Anyone of his people among you—may his God be with him, and let
him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God
of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And the people of any place where
survivors may now be living are to provide him with silver and gold, with goods
and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in
Jerusalem.’” Ezra 1:1-4

If one starts here, then the 70 weeks could not be 490 literal years, for
that would place the end of the 70 weeks around 55 B.C. (much too early)
The appeal of using this decree as the starting point 1] It is the most well-
known decree regarding the restoration of Israel 2] It was given about the
time Daniel received his vision of the 70 weeks This decree is preferred by
many who do not hold to a literal 490 years such as(Young, Harkrider,
McGuiggan.)

2) The decree of Artaxerxes (458 BC) Now I decree that any of the Israelites
in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who wish to go to Jerusalem with
you, may go. 14 You are sent by the king and his seven advisers to inquire
about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in
your hand. Ezr 7:13-14

This decree was to allow Ezra to restore the Law and its worship. Starting
here, 490 Julian years or the calendar we use, the prophecy would end the 70
weeks around 33 A.D. But 490 lunar years end the 70 weeks around 26 A.D.
seven years too early.

3) The second decree of Artaxerxes (445-444 BC) - cf. I also said to him, “If
it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates,
so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? 8 And may I
have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so he will give me timber
to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city
wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of
my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. Neh 2:7,8

For Nehemiah to build the city and walls. If you Start here, with 490 lunar
years end the 70 weeks around 38 A.D. This would place the start of the 70th
week near the beginning of Jesus' public ministry (ca. 30 A.D.)There are
problems with the first 7 weeks ending around 396 B.C., which some contend is
too late for the restoration of the city.

Each starting date has its problems, but I lean towards decree ofArtaxerxes
in 458 B.C. as the start for this prophecy. More Importantly notice how out Heavenly Father treats his children, notice Israel is rebuilt in troubled times. God does not spoil his children, He is always faithful in his promises but requires us to work with him to bring about the Change our Heavenly Father wants.

2. Amazing Prophecy because it predicts when Israel’s Messiah would come!

Daniel 9:26,27 After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be cut off
and will have nothing.[h] The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the
city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until
the end, and desolations have been decreed. 27 He will confirm a covenant with
many for one ‘seven.’[i] In the middle of the ‘seven’[j] he will put an end to
sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him

According to this verse Jesus would come in another 62 weeks. And as we have
already pointed out 62 times seven means 434 years. Add 434 on to 408 B.C. and
what is the result? 26 AD. This is important because that is the exact year that
Jesus Christ was baptized and began his Ministry. Think of that Gabriel gives
Daniel a glimpse almost 500 years in the future. How would you like to guess what
is going to happen 434 years into the future! Yet God knew in advance every event;
that would lead to the first coming of Jesus!

Daniel and the deported Jews needed this prophecy to assure them God is still on
the Throne and he still has the whole world in hand! After the last book as written
in the New Testament, there was almost 500 years of silence from God. Those
saints needed this message, so they would know that it was God not man using the
Meade’s and Persians to rebuild Jerusalem, That it would be God, who would use
the Greeks to give us a worldwide trade language so all could understand God’s
revelation and the Romans so all would hear about Jesus! We need it because we
get blasé about Christ second coming. Look at this Prophecy and know God kept his word and sent Jesus the first time-Know That Jesus is coming soon! We must be
ready, each day his second coming draws closer!

3. Amazing Prophecy of What God would do in seven Years we need to return

to Verse 24 Seventy ‘sevens’[c] are decreed for your people and your holy city
to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring
in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the
most holy.

Understand Premilleniall dispensationalist place the last 7 years Just Prior to the
Second Coming of Christ because this is a prophecy to the Jews so the church age
does not count. For me this is poor scriptural interpretation, because there is no
indication in the text that God intends this split of thousands of years. Let’s zero
in on What Jesus Came to do!

A. To Finish Transgression
Those who insist this is a ends times message, make this a literal ending of all sin.
But if you would lay out five of the most accurate Bible Translations The KJV,
NASB, ESV, NIV and RSV you would find that scholars who have spend their whole
life on translating this passage, their emerges several possible interpretations and
the least favored is the literal ending of all sin. In fact the marginal reading in the
NASB has "restrain" for finish. The idea is that Messiah Jesus would provide a
restraining power and influence which would check the progress of sin (Barnes),
until his return when sin is done away for all eternity.

Most translations link the word transgression to God’s People and God’s City.
NLT gives maybe the best insight into the passage when it states; “and your holy
city to finish their rebellion.” Daniel 9:24 NLT.

Older commentaries on this passage interpret this as the cup of iniquity would be
filled to the brim when Israel would reject their messiah Jesus! (Butler Daniel
college Press) There would be not greater sin than rejecting the Messiah sent to
save you. Matt 23:32 in the Amplified puts it this way: “Fill up, then, the
measure of your fathers' sins to the brim [so [a]that nothing may be
wanting to a full measure.” It is scary and hard to understand that we can sin to
the point of no-return-but it also makes sense that if only heavens Savior can save
us and we reject him, then we have put a whole in our life raft. Do not reject
Jesus, instead cling to him and be saved!

B. Put an End to Sin

The phrase Put an end to sin – may mean to take away sin, bring sin to final
judgment or seal up sin. The sealing up sin would be similar to locking it in prison.
Sin is removed and caused to be ineffective. Every one of these meaning is
fulfilled on the Cross of Jesus Christ; listen to Paul in Romans 3:21-26 NLT But
now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the
requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses[a] and the
prophets long ago.We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus
Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet
God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this
through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For
God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God
when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This
sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish
those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them
in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his
righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be
right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

C. Atone for Wickedness

The words Gabriel uses would bring back memories to Daniel of the blood being
sprinkled on the mercy seat, depicting the people’s sins being covered (Lev. 16:15,
16), but that ritual on the Day of Atonement was only a temporary appeasement
(Rom. 3:25). The Redeemer’s death is a permanent removal, and the Lord is
justified in expiating the iniquities of the faithful because the Son’s blood was
shed.

Most religions require specific duties that must be performed to make a person
acceptable to a god. Christianity is unique in that no good deed that we do will make us right with God. No amount of human achievement or personal goodness will close the gap between God’s moral perfection and our imperfect daily performance. This is Why only God can atone for sin; Only the perfect Lamb of God-Jesus could pay for our sins! Have you trusted in what Jesus did for you on Calvary?

D. Bring Everlasting Righteousness
There are parts to righteousness, one is called imputed righteousness, there is
righteousness God declares we have, but we do not merit. So we are righteous in
God’s eyes not because of what we have done, but because we have the
righteousness of Christ thru faith! Second; we have what I call practicing
righteousness, there are works that are prompted by out of faith and love for
Jesus. This is what Ephesians 2:10 NLT means; For we are God’s masterpiece.
He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he
planned for us long ago.

One reason why the Jews were rejected as a nation is found in the fact that they
did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish
their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Romans 10:3 We are
no different than Israel we are not saved by our own works, but the righteous
works of Jesus Christ! Let us all say with faith out loud Romans 10:4 Christ is
the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who
believes.

E. Seal up Prophecy
I believe without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is the end, the fulfillment
of all OT prophecy and he will be the Amen at the second coming! This what Paul
was getting at in 2 Corinthians 1:20 when he writes For no matter how many
promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the
“Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. All of God’s promises of what the
Messiah would be like are fulfilled in Christ (“he is the divine Yes”). Jesus
was completely faithful in his ministry; he never sinned (1 Peter 3:18); he
faithfully died for us (Hebrews 2:9); and now he faithfully intercedes for us
(Romans 8:34; Hebrews 4:14-15). Because Jesus Christ is faithful, Paul
wanted to be faithful to Jesus, just as our obedience should be based on our
love for Jesus!

F. Anoint the Holy One
The anointing of the messiah or God’s Holy one occurs without a definite
article meaning it is not a place but a thing. Literally it should read the
anointing of Holiness of Holiness. Peter confirms this is fulfilled in Jesus
during the first Century when he preached to the centurion saying: You know what
has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that
John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit
and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under
the power of the devil, because God was with him. Acts 10:37,38.

CONCLUSION: Daniel 9 is the most amazing prophecy of scripture. It is
precise on when the Messiah would come and what he would do when he came.
One day, all of the prophecies that are about his second coming will come
true as well. That is why Jesus warns us in 25:13; Therefore keep watch, because
you do not know the day or the hour. Are you ready for Jesus to come back
right now? Have you accepted him as Lord and Savior? Have you put on the
righteousness of Christ? Galatians 3:26-29 tells us how; You are all sons of God
through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ
have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave
nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you
belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the
promise. You can know the fulfillment of Daniel 9 by coming in contact with the
blood of Jesus at baptism.

Cheap Poultry Weeder

2011-07-08T20:26:00.002-06:00

In my area on Craigslist their is people who are always redoing their deck, so they

are always looking for someone to cart off their scrap wood. So all the supplies

except the screws and Chicken wire were free. I began by removing all the nails and

cutting out all the bad wood for firewood.

I use a rototiler in my garden so I have 30" wide rows, so I made the width of the

frame 28" and my length was 10' long. So I cut 2 10' long 3x6's and screwed them

into 2 28" 3x6 and this is my bottom frame. Then I cut 8 3x6 30" long and screwed

them into the bottom frame. Then I cut two 10' 3x6 and then put a pilot screw so I

could level the boar as I anchored them to the sides. Then enclosed the ends with a

3x6 to fit. I then put chicken wire on the top and sides, leaving the bottom open so

the poultry can weed. The last step was I used the banisters from the deck for

handles to the weeder, so you can move the weeder about. Nesting boxes, doors

and wheels can be added later as the materials become available.

Roger

PRAYERFUL 4TH OF JULY

2011-06-21T11:07:00.003-06:00

We celebrate 4th of July to remember the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th1776. The signers of the Declaration of Independence boldly asserted that allare "created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain un-
alienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. “ This document declared we would no longer be subject to English rule but would be a free and independent people! But freedom is not free it has cost America Time, money and a whole lot of blood. It has taken a unique partnership, between God and man to make this a lasting republic.. We are not a sinless nation, but a noble nation that continues to grow toward leading the whole world to Unalienable rights for all.

I think 9/11 for a short period of time we were solidly united. Since then we have become divided and discouraged, in the direction of our country. 2012 we will elect the 45th president of this nation. This election will set the tone and direction of our future for this great nation. But what I hear from my neighbors and news broadcasters is cynicism and criticism for our elected leaders.

I personally believe the secret to having great leaders is having great followers. Whether we are talking about leadership of a nation or a church it requires great followers. Here is four steps we can all take to be better followers. 1. Stay Informed. As the flood of information rises, the amount of misinformation also increases. One of the downsides of the internet is we assume because it’s on the net it’s true-but the net requires no sourcing. News is now all about sound bites and cannot possibly cover a complex subject like America in Afghanistan. So it means we need to be readers and researchers to vote and express our political views. 2. Stay connected. Unless you are part of the voting process in our country, you will never be part of the solution. With any organization it takes followers who actively communicate with its leaders from voting to letters to make positive change. 3. Stay Sacrificial to be a good follower. Every movement of God that has been transformational, has required sacrifice. We will not balance our nations priorities and budget, unless every American is willing to sacrifice their pet pig! 4. Stay in prayer for you leaders. We are currently preaching through Daniel. One lesson that comes through loud and clear in this book is that God, not man, sets up and tears down nations. As a pastor I covet peoples prayers for me, for apart from Christ I can do nothing. But every Christian needs to pray for President Barack Obama to president of your local School Board, because it is in those prayers that the future of a people is changed!

The Bible clearly states: Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 1 Timothy 2:3,4 NLT That is why I am calling Elbert Christian Church to fast and pray for our leaders from sundown July 2 to Noon on July 3rd. We will also be having an extended time of prayer for our leaders during our worship time on July 3rd.

May America have a Prayerful 4th of July

Roger Miller

RECONCILE

2011-06-16T16:39:00.002-06:00

SNIPPETT
"Men don't reconcile, we just pretend it never happened and move on." CJ Box Cold Wind pg 114

SCRIPTURE
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5:23-26 ESV

SONG

Listen children to a story
That was written long ago
'Bout a kingdom on a mountain
And the valley folk below
On the mountain was a treasure
Buried deep beneath a stone
And the valley people swore they'd
Have it for their very own

Refrain}
Go ahead and hate your neighbor
Go ahead and cheat a friend
Do it in the name of heaven
You can justify it in the end
There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgment day
On the bloody morning after
One tin soldier rides away

So the people of the valley
Sent a message up the hill
Asking for the buried treasure
Tons of gold for which they'd kill
Came an answer from the kingdom
With our brothers we will share
All the secrets of our mountain
All the riches buried there

Now the valley cried with anger
Mount your horses draw your sword
And they killed the mountain people
So they won their just reward
Now they stood beside the treasure
On the mountain dark and red
Turned the stone and looked beneath it
Peace on earth was all it said

ARTIST: Coven
TITLE: One Tin Soldier
Lyrics and Chords

SENTENCE PRAYER

Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, go back into my memory as I sleep.
Every hurt that has ever been done to me. ...heal that hurt.
Every hurt that I have ever caused to another person. ...heal that hurt.
All the relationships that have been damaged in my whole life that I am not aware of. ... heal those relationships.
But Lord, if there is anything that I need to do. ...if I need to go to a person because he is still suffering from my hand, bring.to my awareness that person.
I choose to forgive, and I ask to be forgiven. Remove whatever bitterness may be in my heart, Lord, and fiIl the empty spaces with your Love. Thank You Jesus. Amen

Choosing Life

2011-06-13T09:26:00.003-06:00

Snippet
Psalms 23 Antithesis

The clock is my dictator, I shall not rest.
It makes me like down only when exhausted.
It leads me to deep depression.
It hounds my soul.
It leads me in circles of frenzy for activity's sake.
Even Though I run frantically from task to task,
I will never get it all done, for my ideal is with me.
Deadlines and and the need for approval, they drive me.
They demand my performance from me, beyond the limits of my schedule.
They Anoint my head with migranes.
My in-basket overflows.
Surel time pressure and fatigue shall follow me, all the days of my life.
And I will dwell in the bonds of frustration forever.

Scripture
Today I ask heaven and earth to be witnesses. I am offering you life or death, blessings or curses. Now, choose life! Then you and your children may live. To choose life is to love the Lord your God, obey him, and stay close to him.
Deuteronomy 30:19,20

Song
I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why

Don't know why I have to drive so fast
My car has nothing to prove
It's not new
But it'll do zero to sixty in five point two

I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why

Can't be late, I leave in plenty of time
Shakin' hands with the clock
I can't stop
I'm on a roll and I'm ready to rock

I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why

Oh, I hear a voice
That says I'm running behind
Better pick up my pace
It's a race and there ain't no room for someone in second place

I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why
I'm in a hurry and I don't know why Alabama

Sentence Prayer

Slow me down, Lord! Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting my mind.
Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time. Give me the calmness of the everlasting hills. Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of the streams. Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep.

Amen

COWBOY'S PRAYER

2011-06-03T13:55:00.002-06:00

O Lord, I've never lived where churches grow;

I've loved creations better as it stood

That day you finished it, so long ago,

And looked upon your work and called it good.

Just let me live my lifes as I've begun!

And give me work that's open to the sky;

Make me a parner of the wind and sun,

And I won't ask a life that's soft and high.

Make me as big and open as the plains;

As honest as the horse between my knees;

Clean as the wind that blows behind the rains;

Free as the hawk that circles down the breeze.

Just keep an eye on all that's done and said;

Just right me something when I turn aside;

And guide me on the long, dim trail ahead-

That Stretches upward towards the Great Divide.

Badger Clark

Oaks or Deer?

2011-05-19T19:05:00.008-06:00

The voice of the LORD twists the oaks[c] and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, Glory! Psalms 29:9 NIV

The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory. Psalms 29 KJV

Lori Parsons asked me, “why is there such a drastic difference in translating Psalms 29:9?” It is obvious there is a difference on how to translate the noun in this first phrase in verse nine. The ESV translates it as a “deer” agreeing with the KJV, and the NLT translates it as the “twisting of the oaks”.

I have the view that context is the most important tool in solving Bible difficulties. First take the time to read Psalms 29. Psalms 29 is a description of a thunder storm beginning over the Mediterranean. If you have been on or near water when a storm breaks out you know how frightening it is. Water is a natural carrier of sound, so a scary storm is intensified over water. There is nothing that humbles a proud man quicker than a storm on the sea.

Starting in verse five, the storm moves in land. Growing up in the Midwest, I have survived at least a half dozen tornadoes, and through those encounters it is clear there are situations I have no control over. Only God can control the storm. Verses five through Nine is a description of God using a storm to display His strength and man's weakness. In Verse Six and eight he uses the illustration of land formations skipping or moving. I remember when I was young boy, lightening striking a cottonwood in my front yard. When lightening hits the ground, I can testify the ground does shake! In verse five, He describes the destruction of the cedars. Verse eight he describes the Lord's voice as thunder and lightening.

Back to my opinion that context matters most in matters of biblical difficulties. Both the twisting of Oaks (NIV) and Hinds (deer) to calve fit the overall context. If you have ever helped a rancher or owned livestock you know animals calve at the coming of storm. Also, if you would study the ASV, KJV, and ESV you can see how deer birthing fits. However, all translations agree on the last Phrase of verse nine. . His voice strips bare the forests. Because there is an agreement that the Lord is stripping the forest bare-the immediate context that makes the most sense is the twisting of the oaks.

In the Commentary Treasury of Scripture Knowledge it lists the Hebrew as ayyaloth, which can mean both writhing in labor or twisting. In Syriac, a dialect of Middle Aramaic, it is clear it should be translated as twisting of oak. The NET Study Bible Environment sums it up well when it states; "the Hebrew imperfect verbal form is descriptive in function; the psalmist depicts the action as underway. tc Heb “the deer.” Preserving this reading, some translate the preceding verb, “causes [the deer] to give premature birth” (cf. NEB, NASB). But the Polel of חוּל/חִיל (khul/khil) means “give birth,” not “cause to give birth,” and the statement “the Lord’s shout gives birth to deer” is absurd. In light of the parallelism (note “forests” in the next line) and v. 5, it is preferable to emend אַיָּלוֹת (’ayyalot, “deer”) to אֵילוֹת (’elot, “large trees”) understanding the latter as an alternate form of the usual plural form אַיָּלִים (’ayyalim).

The good news is that neither translation changes the Message; God is large and in charge therefore it is imperative we worship the maker of the storm.

Be God's
Roger

WEEDS 1

2011-05-12T14:03:00.000-06:00

Weeds: Any Human coping Mechanism, willful sin or replacement of God in my life.

Heavenly Father, During today’s sermon bring to mind any way I have eaten the forbidden fruit. Jesus you are righteous, bring to my mind any unrighteousness in my life. Holy Spirit Convict me of any way I cope with life that leaves you out of the loop. I want to walk with you in the garden once again, so bring the issues out that I am hiding in shame and secretiveness. I confess you are the only perfect parent, may I rely on you to be the best parent I can be! Amen

Heavenly Father;

You love me and want what is best for me and my family, I repent of (Name of ways I have sinned by playing God). Forgive me and help me to trust you more! Help me not to manipulate, but use scripture to help myself and others grow. Help me to worry less and pray more! Help me to not be my children’s savior but point them to the True Savior Jesus Christ. Father in my family there is the sin of (out loud list the sins). Use me to begin to weed sin out my family and sow righteousness in. Amen

CEDAR

2011-05-04T06:57:00.000-06:00

My life is like a Cedar tree
Always signs of life but
Always struggling for survival
Always Searching for Water
In the Humid heat of Kansas
Always searching with my roots
To break through the sandstone to
Anchor a place in life
Always bending and swaying
With the wind trying to remain upright

Covenants 3

2011-04-29T05:28:00.005-06:00

Jesus teaching is clear that his Kingdom would be not be either a theocracy in Israel or a earthly kingdom, but he would rule in the hearts and lives of men and women who loved and obeyed his New Covenant. This is why I teach the New Testament is the only rule and practice for those who follow Jesus Today.

That is not say the Old Testament is Irrelevant, it is saying we should follow the examples left of the first century church and the teaching of the Apostles on how to apply the Old Testament to the lives of the follows of Christ. Today I want to explore the book of Acts and how the Old Covenant is applied.

The First observation, is the Apostles were faithful Jews and on the day of Pentecost, the church was birthed with other faithful Jews. These faithful, orthodox Jews within a generation moved from a law centered people to a grace centered people. From legalistic observance of Jewish feasts to a weekly observance of the Lord's Supper out of love for Jesus. From a mindset God's Mercy was only for Israel and by Acts 11 a mindset that God's forgiveness is for all mankind. Peter may have gone through the greatest transformation in the shortest period of time. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ Acts 11:6-8 NIV. In this one chapter he went from kosher food only, to ham. The next verse Says; The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ Acts 11:9. From a couple of events we know he struggle with the concept that all made by God were clean, but we know he believed because after these verses he went to a gentile home and led them to Christ.

All of this is to say it is evident that God was doing something new in the church of Acts. The most Jewish of them all said it best when he said in Chapter 28:20; "It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.” Then Paul goes on to explain the Hope of Israel was not the restoration of Israel but a relationship with the God man; Jesus! From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. Verse 23 Notice, that Jesus and his Kingdom is the center of Paul's teaching not a theocracy, Not the Old Covenant, or a combo of old and new. The only hope any man whether Jew or Gentile his is Jesus!

Paul says something startling a few verses later, that to me states clearly that the Old Covenant promises to the Jews is dead and it is by faith now that all men enter ino the presence of God. Listen to verses 27, 28 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’[a]
“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”

The remainder of our time I wish to spend in Acts 15 and the council in Jerusalem. Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them. Acts 15:1,4 NIV

It is virtually impossible for modern Christians to understand of what the Law of Moses meant to the ancient Jew. The law afected every area of their life in a very ritualistic and religious way. Down to the most private parts, a mark on the most intimate part of a man's body. From these first verses it is clear; some in the Jerualem church were convinced the gentile could only be saved if they kept the law of Moses. Paul and Barnabas sharpley disagreed, showing they did not teach adherence to the old Covenant and faith in Jesus alone. To Paul and Barnabas credit they included the whole church in the discussion so there may be unity on the question is there one or two active covenant for the believer.

Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.” The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” Acts 15:7-11

J.W. McGarvey in his commentary says; "The essential issue between Paul and the Pharisees had to the perpetuation of the Law of Moses in the church of God: And the Same issue has been in debate under different phases from that day to this.
Paul defeated the attempt to fasten circumcision on the church, but later Judaizers succeeded in perpetuating it under the form of infant sprinkling, that which the Pharisees failed to accomplish openly was thus accomplished under a thin disguise.
The Pharisees failed to consolidate the law and the Gospel, but their imitators have largely succeded in teaching men that the church of Christ originated in the family of Abraham, and that Jewish tribes and the Christians congregation constitutes one identical church.
The Roman Apostasy perpetuates the daily sacrifice and pompous ritual of the temple; religious zealots have slaughtered Canaanites in the persons of modern heretics; professed Christians go to war under the old battle cry of the "Sword of the Lord and Gideon" " The "Latter-day saints emulate Solomon in the multiplication of wives; and for all these corruptions authority is found in the laws and customs of ancient Israel.

The intelligent reader of the New Testament knows Scarcely which of these errors is furthest from the truth; and he feels bound to struggle with untiring energy and ceaseless vigilance to uproot them from the minds of men."

Verse 10 makes clear where all followers of Christ begin and end in our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. There is only one gate for all men to come in and find Salvation: Jesus!

The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 When they finished, James spoke up: “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simon[a] has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

16 “‘After this I will return
and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
and I will restore it,
17 that the remnant of men may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things’[b]
18 that have been known for ages. Acts 15:12-18

James offers us insight in how we should use the New Testament portion of the Bible to understand the Old Covenant. James helps us understand Amos 9:11,12 but uses the word prophets because numerous prophets predicted the inclusion of Gentile. What is James saying? That the house of David was literally going to be restored, by lineage of David, a nation, a temple, a return to sacrifices? He makes it clear it is fulfilled this day at the inclusion of the Gentiles. Meaning the house of David was to be a Spiritual house where both Jews and Gentile all were children of God united by the New agreement between God and Man Jesus for Man's remission of Sins! Not two Covenants one!

“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21 For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath." Acts 15:19-21

James’s judgment was that Gentile believers did not have to be circumcised, but they should stay away from food sacrificed to idols, from sexual immorality and from consuming blood. This does reflect the Mosaic laws teaching that the life is in the blood—Leviticus 17:14. But it goes all the way back to the promises God made with Noah. But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. Genesis 9:4. Sexual Immorality and the drinking of blood have been grievous to God under all covenants. So these were not concession for a portion of the law. This was instructions to Gentile Christians should abstain from these practices, by doing this they would please God and love their Jewish brothers. Once again the only acceptable blood sacrifice had already been given in Jesus Christ. This is one more reason I am adamant there is only one covenant man is currently under, the New Covenant; We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Be God's

Roger

One or Two Covenants? Part Two

2011-04-26T17:34:00.003-06:00

Back to the question; are there one or two covenants active for God's people? In my opinion I believe the bible, teaches that the New Covenant is in force for God's people today. Jesus becomes the surety of a better covenant. Hebrews 7:22 ASV I will now move to offer you several biblical reasons this is true. Understand in fairness that my prejudice is the Stone-Campbell movement and because of that a reliance on the New Testament Scriptures.

A study of Jesus teaching makes clear he did not come to reestablish a theocracy in Israel. Instead he emphasized he came to establish the Kingdom of God. Today, I want to view two passages from the gospels.

Listen to another parable: There was a land-owner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.
“The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
“But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone[h]; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’[i]?
“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.” Matthew 21:33-44

The main elements in this parable are (1) the landowner—God, (2) the vineyard—Israel, (3) the tenant farmers—the Jewish religious leaders, (4) the landowner’s servants—the prophets and priests who remained faithful to God and preached to Israel, (5) the son—Jesus (21:38), and (6) the other tenants—the Gentiles. Jesus was exposing the religious leaders’ murderous plot (21:45). (Life Application notes from life application Bible). A surface reading makes it clear the God is building a new Kingdom, that will include Jews and Gentiles who accept the stone the builders rejected. Several Chapters earlier he makes clear that this kingdom will be the church. (Matthew 16:18)

This Parable is rooted in multiple passages in the Old Testament. If you wish for further study see; 2 Chronicles 24, Psalms 80, Isaiah 5, and Jeremiah 2. When you study the Parable and the Old Testament Passages it is clear Israel has refused to heed the Prophets and is now rejecting the Son have demonstrated they are incapble of producing fruit. In fact Israel and the religious leaders in Jesus day were incapable of producing the life and conduct that the land owner desires. So the consequence is that the Land is given to New Tenants -Gentiles. That is a easy conclusion to jump to is this new kingdom will be just Gentiles-Read this parable carefully and you will find there is no direct statement who the new tenant will be. It does hint in the story it should be those who accept the son and produce fruit and both Jew and Gentile did both in the New Covenant.

Link this to Isaiah 5:5 Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed. Isaiah 5 predicted the removal of the hedge and the treading down of the vineyard - the house of Israel. The destruction of Jerusalem, which was accomplished by the Romans in AD 70 was a fulfillment of the parable which in turn was an exposition of Isaiah 5. The absence of a repentant heart in Israel made destruction a certainty, unlike in the days of Hezekiah in Isaiah 5 Hezekiah, on being presented with the judgement repented. The leaders in Jesus day did not. In fact they were given almost 40 years to repent and accept Jesus as their messiah. That is always entry into the New Covenant Thru Christ by Faith. (The New International Biblica Com Matthew-Robert Mounce ,http://www.biblestudymanuals.net/last_week_of_Jesus_life2.htm)

Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within[b] you.” Luke 17:20,21 NIV

The Pharisees asked when God’s Kingdom would come, not knowing that it had already arrived, in the life of Jesus. The Kingdom of God is not like an earthly kingdom with geographical boundaries, so it is not to be a country. Instead, the boundary of God's kingdom is found in every heart that bows it's will to the Lordship of Jesus Christ!

Jesus Makes three statements in these two verses that makes it clear; he did not have a view that Restoration of Israel or a theocracy was the will of God! The NLT of Verse 20 puts it this way. . .The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs or the King James says with observation. The word is paraterosos which is translated as signs to be observed. But the word is most often used to watch with hostility. It is as if Jesus is saying the kingdom of God will not be seen by those who oppose his teaching of the Kingdom of God. Those looking to conquer in his name or a earthly empire are blind because he is building a spiritual kingdom that transcends earthly boundaries. (The Gospel of Luke by Paul Butler College Press 1981)

Verse 21 in KJV says; Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! Jeus could not make it more plain the kingdom would not have political or geographical borders. A belief in a re-establishment of a national Israel betrays this! Christian Theocracy that seeks to evangelize with the power of a sword also betrays the intentions of Christ's teaching. Christ's rule is in the hearts of men and women everywhere not confined to one nation.

Lastly, When Jesus said the Kingdom is inside of us Donald Guthries writes;"The Kingdom of God refers to the spiritual rule of God in the hearts and lives of those in whom Christ’s redemptive work has subdued the power of evil and established the rule of faith and loving obedience to God’s commandments. The Kingdom, therefore, is not so much a domain with physical boundaries and institutions; rather, it is the rule of Christ in men’s hearts. “It is now generally agreed that it means not so much a domain, as a reign; not so much an area over which a king reigns, as the activity of reigning.” Donald Guthrie. New Testament Introduction. InterVarsity Press. 1981. (409)

Jesus teaching is clear that his Kingdom would be not be either a theocracy in Israel or a earthly kingdom, but he would rule in the hearts and lives of men and women who loved and obeyed his New Covenant. This is why I teach the New Testament is the only rule and practice for those who follow Jesus Today.

Be God's

Roger Miller

One or Two Covenants? Part One

2011-04-23T19:14:00.007-06:00

I recently had someone ask me if I really thought the Church was Israel? That he could not see one piece of scripture to support the Church was Israel. I believe a better way to ask the question is their one or two covenants in force, for God's people today?

A majority of Roman Catholicism and Reformation Theology has spent a large amount of time trying to harmonize the Old Testament and New Testament. This has ushered into the church false teaching and evil. Both Catholics and Protestants used this approach to justify wars, colonialism and national theocracies. Since the Mid 1800's another movement has evolved, the Premillennnialism dispensationalists, due to their prophecy speculation, keep both the Old and New Covenant alive and active. All of the above approaches, try to Meld both the Old and New together. It is the purpose of this paper to assert that their is only one active covenant with God's people, the New Testament!

When I talk of the Old Covenant, the Law, or the Mosaic law I am talking primarily about the Pentateuch which as given to Israel to create a national theocracy in the Land of Canaan. The first effort to make the church into a theocracy can be traced to the Constantine and the church leaders of his day. ( 306-337 A.D) This also led to the establishment of the Holy Roman Catholic Church and the Papacy. Almost a thousand years later when the Protestant reformation happened, most of the reformer kept a theocracy view.

This practice led to the false teaching of Elders or Pastors becoming the Levitical priesthood and Christians as mere spectators. The great commission became nothing more that establishing little Israels' all over the world. Those not practising the state religion were Canaanites, which must be punished by death.

This short paragraph is really just a glimpse of the evil this brought to God's people everywhere and continues to affect our practices today. Let me give you a few false assumptions that Theocrats make.
1. The Mosaic law supersedes the New Testament and the New Testament must be interpreted by the use of the O.T.
2. If you are God's chosen ones, then the area you live in must now be the new Zion.
3. The state is a direct representative of God Almighty, so any opposition to your government must be conquered by war or death.
4. The OT was spiritualized so Moses sprinkling blood on the People (Ex 24:3-8) became Holy Water sprinkled on the people. The Sabbath became Sunday and national laws were set up with punishments.
5. Material prosperity and military victory were signs of God's favor. This has become the seeds of the modern health and wealth gospel.
6. Your country became to Promised Land, even though Jesus denounced the concept that government should be a theocracy. "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” Matthew 22:21

The American Restoration Movement began in the early 1800's as a result of the Second Great Awakening. Because this movement was founded on America's frontier they were neither Protestant or Catholic. The early leaders were influenced by John Locke and several different reformers. This Big tent led them to find their doctrine in a a Pre-Constantine early Apostolic church. This led to three revolutionary teachings for their day; 1. The New Testament supersedes the Old Testament. 2. The New Testament provides the Official harmony of the Old Testament. How the Apostles handled the Mosaic Covenant became the practice of the Restoration movement. This led them to the saying;
3. "Where the Scriptures speak, we speak, we speak, and where they are silent, we are silent." What if the New Testament does not address an OT Issue then it is irrelevant to our salvation and we remain silent.

Back to the question; Is there one or two covenants active for God's people? I teach I believe biblically, that only the New Covenant is enforce for God's people today. Jesus become the surety of a better covenant. Hebrews 7:22 ASV I will now move to offer you several biblical reasons this is true. Understand in fairness that my prejudice is the Stone-Campbell movement and because of that a reliance on the New Testament Scriptures.

Be God's
Roger Miller

Light

2011-04-22T17:03:00.002-06:00

Snippet

I imagine the dead wakeing dazed into a shadowless light in which they know themselves altogether for the first time. It is a light that is merciless, until they can accept it's mercy. By it they are at once condemned and redeemed. It is hell until it is heaven. Seeing themselves in that light if they are willing they see how far they have failed the onl job they were given to love one another. It punishes them by their own judgement and yet in suffering that lights awful clarity and seeing themselves in it, they see it's forgiveness and beauty, and are consoled. I it they are loved compleatley even as they have been and so are changed into what they could not have been, but what they could have, if they could imagine it, they would have wished to be. That light can only come into this world as love. And love can only enter by suffering. Not enough light has reached us here living in the shadows. And yet it has never been entirely absent.
Wendell Berry A World lost

Scripture

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 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. John 3:20,21

Carry the Light by Twila Paris

In this world of darkness
We are given light
Hope for all the dying
How will they know
How will they know
That Jesus loves them
And He died to save them

Chorus
Carry the Light
Carry the Light
Go and tell the children
They are precious in His sight
Carry the Light
Carry the Light
Go and preach the gospel
'Til there is no more night
In the name of Jesus Christ
Carry the Light

Count them by the millions
Blinded slaves to sin
Inside they are dying
How will they know
How will they know
That Jesus loves them
And His heart is breaking

Ending
Go ye into all the world
Go ye into all the world
And carry the Light the Light
Carry the Light

1989 Ariose Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Mountain Spring Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

Sentence Prayer

Father You created me to be light, bringing out the God-colors in this world.
God is not a secret to be kept. I am to go public with this, as public as a city on a hill.

Jesus you made us to be light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine Jesus shine!

Holy Spirit you made us to keep an open house; to be generous with our lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God.

These generous blessings are from our Father in heaven. Amen

Prayer Based Matthew 5:14-16 Message

County Commissioners Prayer

2011-04-18T21:40:00.002-06:00

Almighty God You are a Just and Merciful God. Forgive us when we fail to be either Just or Merciful Thank you that we live in a nation founded on Judeo-Christian Values. Enable the procedings to provide Justice for the wronged To give mercy to the repentant Remind us all time and time again The words of our Lord and Savior The truth shall set you free. Amen

The Defender

2011-04-16T10:15:00.002-06:00

Just 21 Riding in to Coffeyville

Away from Marshall Heck

To beat anything Jesse James ever did

We Grabbed three fat bankers at the first

When the Shots came ringing out!

Daltons came riding in

And the defenders

Mowed them Down

Running out the back with the money in hand

I made it to my sorrel

I Felt a burning in my hip, as I bent to pick up Bob

Old Man Seaman blasted me out of the Saddle

When all was quiet there was 23 new holes in my suit

They wanted to hang old Em, but Doc Wells bravely Said no

Dalton Came riding in

The Defender Mowed Him Down

Judgement came and the sentence

Was life without Parole in Leavenworth

Defender Came riding in,

And Dalton raised to New Life

They handed me a pair of Scissors, learned to be a man of cloth

Found my knees in my four walls

And a New life, that set me free from the bars.

14 years Later and a shoulder that never healed

I was headed back to Kingfisher to see my lover and mother

Defender Came riding in,

And Dalton raised to

New Life

The beginnings were small a night clerk a tailor shop

There were talks on the hard trail I had ridden, they were even written down

I bought some property and my nightmare came alive in Hollywood

To me ” said Dalton, “the word ‘outlaw’ is a living coal of fire The past to me is a tragedy shrouded in bitter memories I was young and foolish, and association with men of adventurous proclivities eventually resulted in imprisonment And how many men can conceive what it means to languish in prison? But I learned much in my lonely cell I have learned to hope in a divinity, that a surplus of energy and determination will conquer every weakness. Emmitt Dalton The Washington Post, April 19, 1908: Aug. 27, 1936: Emmett is baptized at the Angelus Temple, Los Angeles.

Manitou Lake

2011-03-25T17:34:00.001-06:00

Today March 25th went on my first fishing trip of the year, to manitou lake in Woodland Park, Co. Caught one keeper a 14" rainbow trout on salmon eggs.

Manitou lake is part of Pike National forest, five miles north of Woodland Park on Highway 67. There is a $5.00 entrance fee or a $40 annual national park pass. There is picnic shelters, outhouse and hydrants. A Very easy trail around the lake with benches and docs to fish from. Trout creek flows from the lake overing flyfishing opportunity. With a bold view of the North side of Pikes Peak.

April

2011-03-24T11:48:00.001-06:00

“The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself.” John 10:11, The Message
God is on a cross. The creator of the universe is being executed. Spit and blood are caked to his cheeks, and his lips are cracked and swollen. Thorns rip his scalp. His lungs scream with pain. His legs knot with cramps . .And there is
no one to save him, for he is sacrificing himself. It is no normal six hours . . . it is no normal Friday. (Max Lucado)

Christians call this Friday; Good Friday because Jesus died paying for mankind sins. The Sunday after this spectacular sacrifice is what we call Easter. Resurrection Paul defines the importance of Easter when he says regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit[a] of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God[b] by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 1:3,4

Good Friday paid for our sins the great Sunday morning proved Jesus had the right to pay for our sins, and that he was the Son of God! How important is this? I passed on to you what was most important and what had also
been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. I Corinthians 15:3,4 NLT

April is our opportunity to celebrate Man’s redemption and the Son of God’s resurrection. Invite a friend or two, to the Easter Cantata or the Easter service. Take time to thank God for moving heaven and earth to save you. May April be a reminder it’s not about you but the one who died and rose again.

Be God’s

Roger Miller

CONVERSION

2011-03-21T10:30:00.003-06:00

Snippet

A beloved professor of mine spoke of Christian conversion as a verb that arrives in several tenses. We have been justified, we are being sanctified, and we will be glorified. That is to say, on the Cross, Christ became our sacrifice, and the work is finished for all. God has declared his children righteous because we are united to his Son. But Christ is also our moral influence, the message of the gospel is transformational, and the believer is continually being sanctified through the Holy Spirit. To the one who has been united with the Son, the daily indwelling of Christ is a gift and a sign of the message that is presently being worked within us. Furthermore, what a person will be in Christ through the process of sanctification and the promise of justification has not yet been fully revealed, but there are signs all around of the hope and glory that is to come in Christ Jesus . www.rzim.org Daily slice Jill Cartinni

SCRIPTURE

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation
2 Corinthians 5:16-18

SONG

Brandon Heath- I'm not who I was

I wish you could see me now
I wish you could see me now
I'm not who I was
I used to be mad at you
A little on the hurt side too
But I'm not who I was

I found my way around
to forgiving you
some time ago
But I never got to tell you so

I found us in a photograph
I saw me and I had to laugh
You know, I'm not who I was
you were thee, you were right above me
and I wonder if you ever loved me
Just for who I was

When the pain came back again
like a bitter friend
it was all I could do
to keep myself from blaming you

I reckon it's a funny thing
I figured out I can sing
now i'm not who I was
I write abou love and such
maybe 'cause I want it so much
I'm not who I was

I was thinking maybe I
I should let you know
I am not the same
but I never did forget your name
hello

Well the thing I find most amazing
is amazing grace
is the chance to give it out
maybe that's what love is all about

I wish you could see me now
I wish I could show you how
I'm not who I was

Sentence Prayer

My blessed Savior and Lord. I praise you for freely giving
me the Bread of life. Your replaced my darkness with your
light, my fear with your security, andmy despair with your
hope. Remind me every day, Father, that the Bread of Life
I have in Jesus comes to me by your grace and through
your love-and that it delights your generous heart when I
others where they can find and partake. Make me into an
eager ambassador of Jesus Christ. Turn my fear into boldness
so that heaven's streets may be filled with men and women
who love the Savior, in part because they first heard of His
grace and mercy from my lips.

In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Max Lucado Out live your life pg 40

GRAVESIDE

2011-03-14T20:35:00.002-06:00

SNIPPETT

Humanity gathered around a hole to pay homage.

The bitter gust of winter still in the air.

The bright unhindered hint of spring.

A gentle remindr of all that is trivial. Roger Miller

SCRIPTURE

For the Lord has chosen Zion,
He has desired it for his dwelling;
This is my resting place for ever and ever;
here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it-
I will bless her with abundant provisions;
her poor will I satisfy with food.
I will clothe her priests with salvation,
and her saints will ever sing for joy.
Psalms 132:13-16 NIV

SONG

Turn You Eyes upon Jesus. Lemmel

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!

Refrain

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Refrain

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SENTENCE PRAYER

Remind me to place my faith in you, Father.

Convict me to seek the hope of the trail home, Jesus.

Ease me into step with your love, Hoy Spirit

Amen

Roger Miller

Mockingbird

2011-03-13T06:13:00.002-06:00

Snippet

Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.
To Kill a Mockingbird Miss Maudie Atkinson to Scout, Chapter 10.

Scripture

But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
or the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
or let the fish of the sea inform you.
Which of all these does not know
that the hand of the LORD has done this?
In his hand is the life of every creature
and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:7-10

Song

Everybody have you heard
He's gonna buy me a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird don't sing
He's gonna buy me a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring won't shine
He's gonna surely break this heart of mine
And that's why I keep on tellin' everybody.....

Hear me now and understand
He's gonna find me some piece of mind
And if that piece of mind won't stay
I'm gonna find myself a better way
And if that better way ain't so
I'll ride with the tide and go with the flow
And that's why I keep on shoutin' in your ear.....

Everybody have you heard
She's gonna buy me a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird don't sing
She's gonna buy me a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring won't shine
Gonna surely break this heart of mine
And that's the reason why I keep on tellin' everybody...

Listen now and understand
She's gonna find me some piece of mind
And if that piece of mind won't stay
I'm gonna get myself a better way
I might rise above, I might go below
Ride with the tide and go with the flow
And that's the reason why I keep on shouting in your ear...
Mocking Bird By Rob Thomas

Sentence Prayer

Mockingbird Prayer
Father, may the music from my life be sweet in your ear.
May I not destroy your garden but walk in the cool evening out with you.
Bring out treasure in my hollowness.
May I sing for your In the just and unjust burdens of this life. Amen
Roger Miller

A.dore
Praise God for all the ways he created you unique

C.onfess
The times you have feared instead of having faith. The times you have hated instead of accepting.

T.hanks
Thank God for those in your life who have chosen to do hard work
Thank God for the honesty of a child
Thank God for the Boo Radley’s of our life.

S.upplication
Pray for the Tom Robinsons of this life.
Pray for the Bob Ewell’s of this life

DUST

2011-03-09T08:05:00.002-07:00

Snippet

I walked through the neatly laid stones, each row like another line in a massive book. My eyes strained to take in all of the information—name, age, rank, country—and perhaps also death itself, the fragility of life, the harsh reality of war. In that field of graves, a war memorial for men lost as prisoners of war, slaves laboring to construct the Burma-Siam railway, I felt as the psalmist: "laid low in the dust." Or like Job sitting among the dust and ashes of a great tragedy. Then one stone stopped my wandering and said what I could not. On an epitaph in the middle of the cemetery was written: "There shall be in that great earth, a richer dust concealed."(1)

It is helpful, I think, to be reminded that we are dust. It is crucial to take this reminder with us as we move through life—through successes, disappointments, surprises, distractions, tragedy. For Christians, it is also a truth to help us approach the vast and terrible events of Holy Week. The season of Lent, the forty days in which the church prepares to encounter the events of Easter, thankfully begins with the ashes of Ash Wednesday. On this day, foreheads are marked with a bold and ashen cross of dust, recalling both our history and our future, invoking repentance, inciting stares. Marked with the Cross, we are Christ's own: pilgrims on a journey that proclaims death and resurrection all at once. The journey through Lent into the light and darkness of Holy Week is for those made in dust who will return to dust, those willing to trace the breath that began all of life to the place where Christ breathed his last. It is a journey that expends everything within us.
Jill Carattini is managing editor of A Slice of Infinity at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia. Journey of Dust Wednesday, March 09, 2011 (1) This is a line from a poem of Rupert Brookes entitled "1914."

Scripture

for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations.
All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.
Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
Psalms 22:28-30 NIV

Song

Dust In The Wind
KANSAS

I close my eyes
Only for a moment and the moment's gone
All my dreams
Pass before my eyes a curiosity

Dust in the wind
All they are is dust in the wind

Same old song
Just a drop of water in an endless sea
All we do
Crumbles to the ground though we refuse to see

Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind

Now don't hang on
Nothing lasts forever but the Earth and Sky
It slips away
And all your money won't another minute buy

Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
Dust in the wind
Everything is dust in the wind
Everything is dust in the wind

Sentence Prayer

Father;
Your are the only eternal one, it will be your purpose that prevails.
May I take myself about as seriously as a speck of dust dancing in the sunlight.
Help me be serious about being a child of God that playfully seeks my role in your purposes.
Amen Roger Miller

Is Christian Doctrine compatible With Masonic Lodge Teaching?

2011-03-08T07:52:00.002-07:00

This question recently came into my world and would appreciate any feedback you may

have? This is an excerpt from a sermon by MacArthurTrue Worship, Part 3

John 4:20-24 January 10, 1982.

Now I thought about it this week, as to how I could illustrate to you unacceptable worship. And there are many illustrations that I could use but I ... I chose this one because I think it's important to the issue today.

In 1717 there was a group that began, for all intents and purposes, known as the Masonic Lodge, or the Masons. While they do not wish to be known as a religion they are, in fact, by definition clearly a religion. And they are, I think, a classic illustration of unacceptable worship.
The Iowa Quarterly Bulletin, way back in April of 1917, says this (and this is their own publication), quote: "Masonry is a Divinely appointed institution, designed to draw men nearer to God, to give them a clearer conception of their proper relationship to God as their Heavenly Father, to men as their brethren and the ultimate destiny of the human soul," end quote.
Now that is a religion. Anything that says it's a divinely appointed institution, designed to draw men nearer to God, to give them a clear conception of their proper relationship to God, to men and the ultimate destiny of their human soul—that's a religion. Masonry is a religion even though they don't want to admit it.

Now, do they worship God? They say they do. They say they worship God, they say they worship the true God in the true form, in the true manner, and with a true attitude.

Albert Pike, who has been called by fellow Masons one of the most distinguished Masons the Western World has ever produced, has written one of their very important books called Morals and Dogmas. It's so important that it appears in their edition of the Bible. They have their own Bible known as the Hertel's Bible. And this is what he has written: "Masonry reverences all the great reformers. It sees in Moses, the Lawgiver of the Jews, in Confucius and Zoraster, in Jesus of Nazareth, and in the Arabian Iconoclast, great teachers of morality, and eminent reformers, if no more, and allows every brother of the Order to assign to each such higher and even Divine Character as his Creed and Truth require. We do not undervalue the importance of any Truth. We utter no word that can be deemed irreverent by anyone of any faith. We do not tell the Moslem that it is only important for him to believe that there is but one God, and wholly unessential whether Mahomet was His prophet. We do not tell the Hebrew that the Messiah whom he expects was born in Bethlehem nearly two thousand years ago; and he is a heretic because he will not so believe. And as little do we tell the sincere Christian that Jesus of Nazareth was but a man like us, or His history but the unreal revival of an older legend. To do either is beyond our jurisdiction. Masonry, of no one age, belongs to all time; of no one religion, it finds its great truths in all. To every Mason, there is a God; One Supreme, Infinite in Goodness, Wisdom, Foresight, Justice, and Benevolence; Creator, Disposer, and Preserver of all things. How, or by what intermediates He creates and acts, and in what way He unfolds and manifests Himself, Masonry leaves to creeds and religions to inquire," end quote.

In other words, they say they believe in God but you can decide who He is, what He wants, and how to get to Him. And then they claim all these secret words and they are told that when they come into Masonry they're not allowed to speak certain words. And if you've known a Mason you may have known the fact that he would not reveal those words but I would like to reveal them this morning.

The most sacred word that is given to the Master Mason when he stands at the...what they call the "five points of fellowship," he stands with the one who is initiating him into the Master's class, stands toe to toe, knee to knee, chest to chest, cheek to cheek, and mouth to ear, and is whispered into his ear, “Mah-Hah-Bone.” And that sacred word is supposed to be the name of God.

In a different order of the Masons they have another word, the Knight's Templar, it is the word "Jah Bul On." And they say it is the Divine Trinity—Jah, from Jehovah; Bul, from Baal; and On, from the name of the Egyptian sun god.

Pike in his Morals and Dogmas further says, "To achieve salvation the Mason must first attain a solid conviction founded upon reason, that he has within himself a spiritual nature, a soul that is not to die when the body is dissolved, but is to continue to exist and advance toward perfection through all the ages of eternity, and to see more and more clearly, as it draws nearer unto God, the light of the Divine Presence," end quote.

That's hocus pocus meaning nothing, frankly. In the Mason's Bible it says: "In the opening of the lodge, the Great Architect of the Universe must be worshipped." That's what they say. The Great Architect of the Universe must be worshipped.

And then Pike says: "At the Masonic altar, the Christian, the Hebrew, the Moslem, the Brahmin, and the followers of Confucius and Zoroaster, can assemble as brethren and unite in prayer to the one God. The chaplain of the Masonic Lodge who prays as the voice of the lodge, does not pray in the name of the Carpenter of Nazareth or the name of Jehovah or the name of Allah. He prays to the Grand Artificer or the Great Architect of the Universe. Under that title men of all faiths may find each other his own deity. Failure to mention any deity by name is not denial but merely the practice of a gracious courtesy, so that each man for whom prayer is offered can hear the name of his own deity in the all inclusive title of Great Architect," end quote.

Well, I think you understand, that's enough…that's enough, frankly, to sicken anyone because that's a Satanic false religion. It says, “Yes, we believe in the true God,” but it reduces Him to a wrong form. It worships Him in a wrong manner and with a wrong heart attitude. It is unacceptable. And there are myriads of such unacceptable kinds of worship. And destiny is determined by that. You may think you're worshipping God, but you're not

WILDERNESS

2011-03-07T09:41:00.002-07:00

SNIPPET

The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to him."
Mark's record of the Spirit's compelling Jesus into the wilderness immediately following his baptism has always intrigued me. The original language is so forceful as to imply that the Spirit literally expelled Jesus into this land of wild beasts and satanic attack. It is even more striking when compared to Matthew and Luke's accounts which both suggest that Jesus was "led by the Spirit” into the wilderness.(1) Despite their gentler version, the force is still the same: the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tested—nay, tormented by the devil. Why would the Spirit compel Jesus into the land of testing?

To understand this question, we must go back to the exodus of Israel from their Egyptian oppressors. After 400 years of oppression and enslavement, God sent Moses to deliver the people and to lead them into the Promised Land. A great drama ensues between the gods of the Egyptians and the God of Israel. Ten plagues fall, the Red Sea is parted, and the Egyptian army is swallowed up by the raging waters. And then we read, "Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness and found no water....and the whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness" (Exodus 15:22; 16:2). Israel would spend the next forty years, the text tells us, wandering in that wilderness of lament and bitterness. A great beginning stalls in the deserts of Sinai.

Like Israel before him, Jesus's story as recorded by Mark begins with great drama. John the Baptist announces the Deliverer: Israel's exile was over, for the Messiah had come. The Deliverer is baptized by John and in front of the crowds declared the beloved Son of God. What a tremendous beginning to his earthly ministry. And yet, like Israel, Jesus begins that earthly ministry not with healings and miracles, or with fanfare and great teachings, but by being "immediately cast out into the wilderness." Jesus, many commentators have suggested, was re-enacting the great history of Israel in his own life and ministry. He was Israel's Messiah, their deliverer, just as Moses had been. Yet, like Israel, Jesus would be tested and his test had to precede entry into the Promised Land. But unlike Israel, Jesus would pass the test and his deliverance of his people would be his gift and offering to God for all eternity.

I am mindful during the days and weeks leading up to the forty days of Lent that before we can enjoy the promised land of resurrection life, we too must go through the wilderness. I do not go through a single day without hearing many stories about the wilderness spaces people dwell in through suffering, disappointment, doubt, or sin. Often, we want to rush through the wilderness to get to the other side. But maybe like Jesus, we too must travel through wilderness places. Like him, we will be compelled into that wilderness where there are deaths and deprivations. The wilderness is a place of testing trust. In the wilderness of unmet needs, what do we do? Who will we turn to? In what or in whom do we place our trust? When the Israelites faced lack of food and water, they wanted to return to the enslavement of Egypt; at least there they had food and drink. Jesus, on the other hand, took nothing with him into that desiccated place. He was hungry and enticed to turn stones into bread to meet his legitimate need. Instead, Jesus trusted solely in God's provision for his needs, in God's time and manner.

Often, we ask God "why" when we are compelled into the wilderness. We might grumble or complain in our lament, or try to hurry our way into the Promised Land by forcing our own way. Or else we might seek to return to Egypt to meet our needs in our time and through our own methods. But the journey of all Christ's followers is a journey through the wilderness towards the Cross. We cannot escape it, nor can we go around it. And yet, the wilderness, the Cross, and the ultimate resurrection of Jesus all demonstrate that no matter the wilderness we find ourselves in, God will bring us through to life on the other side. We will not be removed from the suffering of the wilderness, but with God's help we can be transformed by it.
Into the Wilderness Tuesday, March 01, 2011
Margaret Manning Printer Friendly Version

SCRIPTURE

One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him[e] like a dove. 11 And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”

The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, 13 where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him. Mark 1:9-14

SONG

Well the moon moved past Nebraska
And spilled laughter on them cold Dakota Hills
And angels danced on Jacob's stairs
Yeah, they danced on Jacob's stairs
There is this silence in the Badlands
And over Kansas the whole universe was stilled
By the whisper of a prayer
The whisper of a prayer
And the single hawk bursts into flight
And in the east the whole horizon is in flames
I feel thunder in the sky
I see the sky about to rain
And I hear the prairies calling out Your name
I can feel the earth tremble
Beneath the rumbling of the buffalo hooves
And the fury in the pheasant's wings
And there's fury in a pheasant's wings
It tells me the Lord is in His temple
And there is still a faith
That can make the mountains move
And a love that can make the heavens ring
And I've seen love make heaven ring
Where the sacred rivers meet
Beneath the shadow of the Keeper of the plains
I feel thunder in the sky
I see the sky about to rain
And I hear the prairies calling out Your name
From the place where morning gathers
You can look sometimes forever 'til you see
What time may never know
What time may never know
How the Lord takes by its corners this old world
And shakes us forward and shakes us free
To run wild with the hope
To run wild with the hope
The hope that this thirst will not last long
That it will soon drown in the song
Not sung in vain
And I feel thunder in the sky
I see the sky about to rain
And I hear the prairies calling out Your name

Rich Mullin's Calling out your Name

SENTENCE PRAYER

O; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
Lord God, you draw us by your beauty
and transform us by your holiness;
let our worship echo all creation’s praise
and declare your glory to the nations;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Morning Prayer on Saturday, 5 March 2011
http://daily.commonworship.com/daily.cgi?yesterday_mp=1

JESUS

2011-03-03T07:58:00.002-07:00

Snippet

One Solitary Life

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in an obscure village. He worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty, and then for three years he was an itinerant teacher.

He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never owned a home. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never travelled, except in his infancy, more than two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompanies greatness. He had no credentials but himself.

While he was still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied him. He was turned over to his enemies. He went through a mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. His executioners gambled for the only piece of property he had on earth, his seamless robe. When he was dead, he was taken down from the cross and laid in a borrowed grave through the courtesy of a friend.

Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone, and today he is the centerpiece of the human race and the leader of all human progress. I am well within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever were built, all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has this one solitary personality.
Dr James Allan Francis

SCRIPTURE

Who would have believed what we heard?
Who saw the Lord's power in this?
2 He grew up like a small plant before the LORD,
like a root growing in a dry land.
He had no special beauty or form to make us notice him;
there was nothing in his appearance to make us desire him.
3 He was hated and rejected by people.
He had much pain and suffering.
People would not even look at him.
He was hated, and we didn't even notice him.

4 But he took our suffering on him
and felt our pain for us.
We saw his suffering
and thought God was punishing him.
5 But he was wounded for the wrong we did;
he was crushed for the evil we did.
The punishment, which made us well, was given to him,
and we are healed because of his wounds.
6 We all have wandered away like sheep;
each of us has gone his own way.
But the LORD has put on him the punishment
for all the evil we have done.

7 He was beaten down and punished,
but he didn't say a word.
He was like a lamb being led to be killed.
He was quiet, as a sheep is quiet while its wool is being cut;
he never opened his mouth.
8 Men took him away roughly and unfairly.
He died without children to continue his family.
He was put to death;
he was punished for the sins of my people.
9 He was buried with wicked men,
and he died with the rich.
He had done nothing wrong,
and he had never lied.

10 But it was the Lord who decided
to crush him and make him suffer.
The Lord made his life a penalty offering,
but he will still see his descendants and live a long life.
He will complete the things the Lord wants him to do.
11 "After his soul suffers many things,
he will see life and be satisfied.
My good servant will make many people right with God;
he will carry away their sins.
12 For this reason I will make him a great man among people,
and he will share in all things with those who are strong.
He willingly gave his life
and was treated like a criminal.
But he carried away the sins of many people
and asked forgiveness for those who sinned." Isaiah 53 NCV

SONG

JESUS

They say You walked upon the water once
When you lived as all men do
Please teach me how to walk the way You did
Because I want to walk with You

Jesus
They say you taught a lame man how to dance
When he had never stood without a crutch
Well, here am I Lord, holding out my withered hands
And I'm just waiting to be touched

Jesus
Write me into Your story
Whisper it to me
And let me know I'm Yours

Jesus
They say You spoke and calmed an angry wave
That was tossed across a stormy sea
Please teach me how to listen, how to obey
'Cause there's a storm inside of me

Jesus
Write me into Your story
Whisper it to me
And let me know I'm Yours

Jesus
They drove the cold nails through Your tired hands
And rolled a stone to seal Your grave
Feels like the devil's rolled a stone onto my heart
Can You roll that stone away?

Jesus
Rich Mullins, Mitch McVicker, and Dana Waddel

SENTENCE PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner

Bucket List

2011-03-02T14:39:00.002-07:00

Snippet

When corporate mogul Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) and mechanic Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman) wind up in the same hospital room, the two terminally ill men bust out of the cancer ward with a plan to experience life to the fullest before they kick the bucket. Carter begins writing a "bucket list," or things to do before he "kicks the bucket" (i.e., dies). After hearing he has less than a year, Carter discards the list. Edward finds it the next morning and urges Carter to do everything on the list (and adds more things to do), and offers to finance the trip for the both of them. Carter agrees, despite the protests of his wife, Virginia (Beverly Todd).

The Quote from Edward Cole: We live, we die, and the wheels on the bus go round and round. Bucket List the Movie

Scripture

If only we knew the power of your anger!
Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.
Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalms 90:11,12

Song

Live Like you Were Dying Tim McGraw
He said: "I was in my early forties,
"With a lot of life before me,
"An' a moment came that stopped me on a dime.
"I spent most of the next days,
"Looking at the x-rays,
"An' talking 'bout the options an' talkin’ ‘bout sweet time."
I asked him when it sank in,
That this might really be the real end?
How’s it hit you when you get that kind of news?
Man whatcha do?

An' he said: "I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,
"I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.
"And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
"And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying."
An' he said: "Some day, I hope you get the chance,
"To live like you were dyin'."

He said "I was finally the husband,
"That most the time I wasn’t.
"An' I became a friend a friend would like to have.
"And all of a sudden goin' fishin’,
"Wasn’t such an imposition,
"And I went three times that year I lost my Dad.
"Well, I finally read the Good Book,
"And I took a good long hard look,
"At what I'd do if I could do it all again,
"And then:

"I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,
"I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.
"And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
"And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying."
An' he said: "Some day, I hope you get the chance,
"To live like you were dyin'."

Like tomorrow was a gift,
And you got eternity,
To think about what you’d do with it.
An' what did you do with it?
An' what can I do with it?
An' what would I do with it?

"Sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,
"I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.
"And then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
"And I watched Blue Eagle as it was flyin'."
An' he said: "Some day, I hope you get the chance,
"To live like you were dyin'."

"To live like you were dyin'."
"To live like you were dyin'."
"To live like you were dyin'."
"To live like you were dyin'."

Sentence Prayer

Father, remind us that we are your unique creations. With surrended hearts, we ask you to open our eyes to the work you desire to do through our lives-the work you have already prepared for to do. Help us to live each day wisely with etenity in mind, seeing ourselves as stewards of what you have entrusted to us. We ask this in your son's name. . . Amen

A. dore Praise God that His is Soveriegn and for the planning of your life.

C.onfess Confess the opporunities you have wasted. Confess your sloth to God.

T.hank Him for your unique expieriences-Gifts and pleasures you have had in life.

S.upplication Ask God for what you need to put on your bucket list, before your days are over.

Singlemindedness

2011-02-27T13:35:00.002-07:00

Snippet

It is a sad fact about loyalty that it invites. . .single-mindedness. Single-minded pursuit of a goal is sometimes delightfully romantic, even a real inspiration. But it is hardly something to advocate to engineers, whose impact on the safety of the public is so very significant. Irresponsibility, whether caused by selfishness or by magnificently unselfish loyalty, can have most unfortunate consequences.
Marcia Baron Group Dynamics to Launch Challenger Pg 59 Hard Call by John McCain

Scripture

Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than a fool bent on folly. Proverbs 17:12

Song

Hardway by DCTalk

Some people gotta learn the hardway
I guess I'm the kinda guy
That has to find out for myself
I had to learn the hardway, Father
I'm on my knees and I'm crying for help

Now I've been high and I've been low
I've been some places that you will not go
I never thought there would come the day
When I wished I never would've lived this way
But I've been searching for a long, long time
I thought the devil was a friend of mine
I turned my back on everything that was true
And wasted years that belong to you

(repeat chorus)

It took so long for me to see
That I'm a victim of nature and me
Left to myself I realize
I am the maker of my own demise

But you accept me every time and again
And never mention just how selfish I've been
Why must it always take me so long to see
That I have fallen but you will forgive me?

(repeat chorus 2x)

The warning signs are like flares in the night
Still I proceed my greed is in spite of the fire
I know that's bound to burn
Why is it that I always gotta learn...
The hardway, the hardway, I had to learn the hardway
The hardway, the hardway, I had to learn the hardway

Sentence Prayer

Dear Lord, I pray that you will not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. Please think of me according to Your mercy and for Your goodness' sake, O LORD. Lord I turn from all of those sins that I committed and I ask for Your help in washing the memory and thoughts of that sin completely from my mind. Please restore me to faithful obedience to Your Word, and fill me with Your Holy Spirit anew, so that I may keep Your commands all the days of my life."

GRACE

2011-02-26T13:12:00.001-07:00

Snippet

Man is born broken. He lives by mending. The grace of God is the glue.
Eugene O’Neill

Scripture

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace Ephesians 1:7 NIV

Song

Grace by U2
Songwriters: Mullen Larry; Hewson, Paul; Evans, Dave; Clayton, Adam;

Grace, she takes the blame
She covers the shame
Removes the stain
It could be her name

Grace...
It's a name for a girl
It's also a thought that, changed the world
And when she walks on the street
You can hear the strings
Grace finds goodness in everything

Grace, she's got the walk
Not on a ramp or on chalk
She's got the time to talk
She travels outside of karma, karma
She travels outside... of karma

When she goes to work, you can hear the strings
Grace finds beauty in everything

Grace...
She carries a world on her hips
No champagne flute for her lips
No twirls or skips between her fingertips
She carries a pearl in perfect condition

What once was hurt
What once was friction
What left a mark
No longer stings...
Because Grace makes beauty
Out of ugly things

Grace finds beauty in everything

Sentence Prayer

Dear Father in heaven, grant that we may stand in your grace. Grant that the light of your grace may come to us through your Word. Keep us firm in faith until the promised time when your redemption shall come to all the nations on earth. We are often anxious and ask ourselves if people can bear it. Will they learn to listen to your Word? Will they remain steadfast when hard times come? Will they turn to you alone, to you who know the hour and appoint the time when we may see the promised day? Let the might of your hand prevail over the whole world. You are the only power that can help us out of our great affliction, you our only Lord. Amen.
http://www.plough.com/topics/prayerfortheday.html

2011-02-09T15:32:00.001-07:00

Standing besides, a homeless man was a man whose face was white, I mean bleach white. Then I noticed he was also deeply scarred on his hands and face. He smiled at me and said, “ I guess your, wondering why my face is so White and where I got my scars.”
I sure was, “, well, it was this way when I was fifty I got in a terrible car accident. The scars are from the injuries of the accident. When I went to judgment, they asked me, how have you served your savior? That’s when my face turned white out of fear and shame. I Pleaded with them to give me more time. “All right,” they said, “well, give you seven more years.”

So I came back to my life. But my life was no more. My family was fearful of me. At work no one would look at me and only whisper behind my back. People would point, stare and snicker. My disfigurement was such a burden it broke my heart.

So I ran to a cave, I went in and kept going. I went in deeper and deeper. I must have walked for several days, although it was so dark I couldn’t tell day from night. I just wanted to get away from people; my body was so disfigured. I loved the darkness, because it hid my white face. The still, damp darkness allowed me time to think about how I would spend those seven years. But it was scary. I didn’t know what I’d meet down there, and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to find my way back. But I kept going, as far as I could go from my old life.

Finally I began to hear a rumbling sound, like mighty waters. You know what it was? It was tears of the whole world! I heard bitter tears of everyone’s fears, hurt, despair, disappointment, rage. Everyone’s. And I heard the sweet tears too-you know-when you realize love for the first time. When your safe after a terrible storm. Being baptized and feeling the forgiveness of Christ. The wrong of loved one, restored and forgiven- those tears of joy. Yes, I even felt the tears of the death of Christ and the tears at Christ’s resurrection. I must have been at the heart of the earth, because while I couldn’t hear any words, I heard all the tears and therefore experienced total communion. I was separated from my disfigurements as I spent time in Christ’s presence.

I don’t know how long I stayed there in that state of total communion-for days or maybe weeks. But I finally decided how I would spend my seven years. As St. Paul wrote I would; “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. I would go back to my old life and share in both the tears of Joy and sorrow..
1. Reconstructed from Tales of a Magic Monastery Theophane the Monk pg.27

BAPTISM

2011-02-03T09:10:00.001-07:00

Snippet

It seemed like I was under for a long, long time
And layer after layer of gunk was being removed
Nate Hardagee on His Baptism

Scripture

Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Romans 6:1-4 NLT

Song

Among the local taverns they'll be a slack in business
'Cause Jesse's drinkin' came before the groceries and the rent
Among the local women they'll be a slack in cheatin'
'Cause Jesse won't be be steppin' out again.

They baptized Jesse Taylor in Cedar Creek last Sunday
Jesus gained a soul and Satan lost a good right arm
They all cried "Hallelujah" as Jesse's head went under
'Cause this time he went under for the Lord.

The scars on Jesse's knuckles were more than just respected
The county courthouse records tell all there is to tell
The pockets of the gamblers will soon miss Jesse's money
And the black eye of the law will soon be well.

(Chorus)

From now on Nancy Taylor can proudly speak to neighbors
Tell how much Jesse took up with little Jim
Now Jimmy's got a daddy and Jesse's got a family
And Franklin County's got a lot more man.
All lyrics are property and copyright of their owners. All lyrics provided for educational purposes only

Sentence Prayer

Father Praise Your Awesome Power that Raised Jesus and me to New Life
Jesus Praise Your Compelling love that drove you to the Cross for my Forgiveness
Holy Spirit Praise your Holy of Holies place in my heart at my baptism
Forgive me when I have been unwilling to share this new life in word and deeds.
Thank you for the _________ who shared Jesus with Me
Thank you for the victory over sin and death
Thank you that I am a new person
Pray for those in need of a new life in Christ.
Amen

Write down all you memories of when you came to have a relationship to Christ
and were baptized. If you can set a spiritual birthday, when you celebrate your
new life in Christ!

BAPTISM

2011-02-03T09:06:00.003-07:00

Snippet

It seemed like I was under for a long, long time
And layer after layer of gunk was being removed
Nate Hardagee on His Baptism

Scripture

Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Romans 6:1-4 NLT

Song

Among the local taverns they'll be a slack in business
'Cause Jesse's drinkin' came before the groceries and the rent
Among the local women they'll be a slack in cheatin'
'Cause Jesse won't be be steppin' out again.

They baptized Jesse Taylor in Cedar Creek last Sunday
Jesus gained a soul and Satan lost a good right arm
They all cried "Hallelujah" as Jesse's head went under
'Cause this time he went under for the Lord.

The scars on Jesse's knuckles were more than just respected
The county courthouse records tell all there is to tell
The pockets of the gamblers will soon miss Jesse's money
And the black eye of the law will soon be well.

(Chorus)

From now on Nancy Taylor can proudly speak to neighbors
Tell how much Jesse took up with little Jim
Now Jimmy's got a daddy and Jesse's got a family
And Franklin County's got a lot more man.

Oak Ridge Boys
All lyrics are property and copyright of their owners. All lyrics provided for educational purposes only

Sentence Prayer

Father Praise Your Awesome Power that Raised Jesus and me to New Life
Jesus Praise Your Compelling love that drove you to the Cross for my Forgiveness
Holy Spirit Praise your Holy of Holies place in my heart at my baptism
Forgive me when I have been unwilling to share this new life in word and deeds.
Thank you for the _________ who shared Jesus with Me
Thank you for the victory over sin and death
Thank you that I am a new person
Pray for those in need of a new life in Christ.
Amen

Write down all you memories of when you came to have a relationship to Christ
and were baptized. If you can set a spiritual birthday, when you celebrate your
new life in Christ!

QUESTIONS

2011-02-02T18:51:00.002-07:00

Roger- This is kind of out of the blue, but we are having some issues in our church, and I was wondering what your take on the situation might be. I have always valued your insight.

A teacher at our church, L________, started a Sunday night bible study, Fresh Encounter, by Henry and Richard Blackaby. It was a very convicting study about spiritual revival within yourself and how it leads to revival among God's people. They are also the authors of Experiencing God, which we just completed in December. The pastor to our church was also doing the study, but two weeks into it, he showed up at the bible study and cancelled it abruptly, saying that he fundamentally disagreed with a statement in the study book. He had only made it to day 2, and went no further after he read this question: What are some ways God has used to draw you back to Himself when you departed from Him? Loss of Job/Income, Relationship Turmoil, Natural disaster, Health problems, Emotional pain, Other. He said that he did not believe God would cause us problems because we sin, and he would not condone a bible study that suggested it. He also continued by saying that he would not look at the rest of it, the same way he would not watch an R rated movie--because it doesn't matter how much good is in there, if there is a little bit of filth, it's not worth it. He said he could find nowhere in the New Testament that showed God disciplining people with the above things for sinning. Which, I agree, we are saved by grace, but I believe that although our sins are forgiven, we still have to deal with the consequences of our sin. And when we depart from relationship with God, I do believe He allows things to happen in our lives so that we will be drawn back to Him and rely on Him for everything, not ourselves. What would you say about this issue?

And there is more yet. He has also said that he forbids anyone in the church to continue with this bible study, and if we do we will be in direct disobedience to his authority as pastor of this church. As you probably know, I have issues with submissiveness anyway, so I cannot rely on my own thoughts on this. I have prayed and tried to seek God's will for me in this, but I believe my own mind is still skewing what I hear. What is your take on what is going on? Speaking from the point of view of a pastor, is this biblical, or is he abusing his power? Could this be an attack by Satan to attempt to split up our bible study or church?

The real loser in all this is L_____________. This is one of several times that he has yanked the rug out from under her teaching Sunday School and other classes. She is a very strong personality, very authoritative, can be somewhat legalistic, but has a very strong love for God and desire to grow in relationship with Him. I don't agree with everything she says, but she is a good teacher. I have trouble with the R rated movie metaphor, because I think it is our responsibility to research everything we are taught, and make sure it lines up with scripture. No human will ever be infallible, or perfect all the time. Like all people, Laurie has baggage, and can be unlovable at times, but she has also had an abusive past that makes her particularly prickly about authority. Which is her own battle, I admit. (i'm too softhearted at the best of times) But, she is planning on leaving the church, and it breaks my heart....I think she needs us just as much as we need her. I don't know what to do, and I know I cannot fix it, but I am just looking for some clarity in the madness. I don't want a church split.

Pastor has also been going through some rough times. A member of our congregation just died of lung cancer in December, she was only 45. Pastor became very close to the family during her year long struggle, and so I think he is also still grieving for that. This is also his first church that he has pastored, and he is not very good with conflict resolution, but he has pastored here for 9 years.

I feel like I am dumping a lot on you, but if you have any advice, or counsel for Cody and I during this, it would be greatly appreciated. I want to do the right thing, the "God" thing, not what I FEEL like doing!

Thanks for listening....

First; It sounds like what you are dealing with is a Pastor Lead Church and not a
Plurality of Elders in a church making a decisions. I have experienced the lethargy
of a plurality of elders, but one of the advantages that it is biblical is it offers a
balanceof different personalities. Plurality of Elders also puts several minds
together through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to solve complex problems. I
say this because in my twenty years in the ministry I have not had the type of sole
authority that this Pastor claims. Here is the verses I think point to a plurality
of elders.

Then he said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel Exodus 24:1

When he flees to one of these cities, he is to stand in the entrance of the city gate and state his case before the elders of that city. Then they are to admit him into their city and give him a place to live with them. Joshua 20:4

When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, he made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel, as the LORD had promised through Samuel. I Chronicles 11:3

Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. Acts 14:23

From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church Acts 20:17

Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 1 Timothy 4:14

The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. Titus 1:4-6

I am certain your Pastor Loves the Lord and His Church, he has a difficult task for sure.
But if your church does not have a healthy plurality of elders or leadership whatever the
name you use, you will not be able to make positive change without major conflict to the
point of splitting the church. Not sure it’s worth it-but you need to pray about it.

Second; I am not an expert on the modern Pentecostal movement to address this
completely. But I know there is a faction that believe Jesus death on the cross brought
complete redemptionnow, not when Christ Returns. Another words God is good and
Satan is bad. So all healing andprosperity comes from Jesus and all disease comes from
Satan. So if you are experiencing a lack of health, it is because you have a lack of faith in
what Jesus did on the cross. I am terriblyover simplifying this complex issue but it’s
how I perceive it. The problem is it is not Biblical- let me give you some scriptures that
support our redemption now-but complete creation restoration at the Second Coming.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that[i] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. Romans 8:18-21

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. Revelation 22:1-5

Now about Blackaby’s study and not taking the course-I can not give a blank endorsement.
Your Pastors statement “. He said he could find nowhere in the New Testament that showed God disciplining people with the above things for sinning.” I disagree with. Here is some Scriptures that should be considered. . .

Acts 5:1-11

You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun.”
Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord. Acts 13:10-12

Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner
will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:27-32

Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:9-11

And I could Go on –but I think you can see there is some serious weaknesses to this

view.Let’s close with a few side issues.

First the biblical example is that confrontation is to be done in Private not public.
He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they
invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. Acts 18:26

Second: Our attitude is to be the same as that of Jesus who submitted himself even
to the ungodly.

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:25-32

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ Ephesians 5:21

So for you and your friend you must submit to your Pastor and yet be able to speak boldly thetruth without anger or malice but in a kind and compassionate manner. If you consider
this an essential doctrine and you feel God gives you a green light you may have to leave.
But before that takes place-It is God’s will you make the effort-to love one another-Forgive
one another and accept one another as God’s Children.
I will pray for you in this difficult matter.

Be God's

Roger Miller

CR 9

2011-01-29T07:16:00.009-07:00

Snippet

I was born at the dead end of a dirt road that had no name and no number. You can go anywhere from nowhere." -Robert Schuller

"What’s mainly wrong with society today is that too many Dirt Roads have been paved.

There’s not a problem in America today, crime, drugs, education, divorce, delinquency that wouldn’t be remedied, if we just had more Dirt Roads, because Dirt Roads give character.

People that live at the end of Dirt Roads learn early on that life is a bumpy ride. That it can jar you right down to your teeth sometimes, but it’s worth it, if at the end is home…a loving spouse, happy kids and a dog.

We wouldn’t have near the trouble with our educational system if our kids got their exercise walking a Dirt Road with other kids, from whom they learn how to get along. There was less crime in our streets before they were paved. Criminals didn’t walk two dusty miles to rob or rape, if they knew they’d be welcomed by five barking dogs and a double barrel shotgun. And there were no drive by shootings.

Our values were better when our roads were worse! People did not worship their cars more than their kids, and motorists were more courteous, they didn’t tailgate by riding the bumper or the guy in front would choke you with dust & bust your windshield with rocks. Dirt Roads taught patience.

Dirt Roads were environmentally friendly, you didn’t hop in your car for a quart of milk you walked to the barn for your milk. For your mail, you walked to the mail box. What if it rained and the Dirt Road got washed out? That was the best part, then you stayed home and had some family time, roasted marshmallows and popped popcorn and pony rode on Daddy’s shoulders and learned how to make prettier quilts than anybody.

At the end of Dirt Roads, you soon learned that bad words tasted like soap. Most paved roads lead to trouble, Dirt Roads more likely lead to a fishing creek or a swimming hole. At the end of a Dirt Road, the only time we even locked our car was in August, because if we didn’t some neighbor would fill it with too much zucchini.

At the end of a Dirt Road, there was always extra springtime income, from when city dudes would get stuck, you’d have to hitch up a team and pull them out. Usually you got a dollar…always you got a new friend…at the end of a Dirt Road!" Paul Harvey

Scripture

God's Message yet again: "Go stand
at the crossroads and look around.
Ask for directions to the old road,
The tried-and-true road. Then take it.
Discover the right route for your souls.
But they said, 'Nothing doing.
We aren't going that way.'
Jeremiah 6:16 Message

Song
Country Roads

Almost heaven West Virgina blue rich mountain,tended to old river
Live is older than, older than the creek, younger than the mountians
Brolling like the breeze

Country roads take me home to the place I belong West Virginia
Mountain mama, take me home Country roads

All my memoires, I get around her, by this lady, stranged to blue water
Darking dusk see, paint in all this sky, mister taste the Moonshine,teardrods in my eyes

Country roads take me home to the place, I belong West Virginia
Mountain mama, take me home Country roads

I hear her voice in the morning are she calle's me,radio the minds me on my hold far away.Driving do

Country roads take me home to the place I belong West Virginia
Mountain mama, take me home Country roads

Country roads take me home to the place I belong West Virginia
Mountain mama, take me home Country roads
Take me home now Country roads.Take me home now Country roads

Sentence Prayer

Praise you Father for the pre-set roads you have sent me down. Praise you Jesus for the heaven road you have provided. Praise you Counselor for the path of Holiness you are compelling me down.

Forgive my lust for pavement, help me instead to accept life as it is. May I not seek ease but your strength to end my journey well.

Thank you for playful dogs. Thank you for the imprints, I leave behind. Thank you for the uphill struggle, so I can enjoy the level ground.

Father, I take the time to pray for those on a more difficult dirt road, than mine.
Amen Roger Miller

TV

2011-01-26T21:42:00.001-07:00

SNIPPET

T is for TV

See the nice TV

The TV is Warm

The TV is Funny

The TV is Sad

The TV Loves You

Do you know there are

Little Elves who live

Inside the TV

The Elves Can Dance

The Elves can Sing

The Elves can Tell Jokes

If you take Daddy's

Hammer and break open

The TV you will see

The funny little Elves

What Will you Name Them?

Scripture

AND YOU [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins

In which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God]. Ephesians 2:1,2Amp

Song

I bought a bourgeois house in the Hollywood hills
With a trunkload of hundred thousand dollar bills
Man came by to hook up my cable TV
We settled in for the night my baby and me
We switched 'round and 'round 'til half-past down
There was fifty-seven channels and nothin' on

Well now home entertainment was my baby's wish
So I hopped into town for a satellite dish
I tied it to the top of my Japanese car
I came home and I pointed it out into the stars
A message came back from the great beyond
There's fifty-seven channnels and nothin' on

Well we might' a made some friends with some billionaires
We might' a got all nice and friendly if we'd made it upstairs
All I got was a note that said "Bye-bye John
Our love is fifty-seven channels and nothin' on"

So I bought a .44 magnum it was solid steel cast
And in the blessed name of Elvis well I just let it blast
'Til my TV lay in pieces there at my feet
And they bsted me for disturbin' the almighty peace
Judge said "What you got in your defense son ?"
"Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on"
I can see by your eyes friend you're just about gone
Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on
Fifty-seven channels and nothin'...

57 Chanells and nothing on Bruce Springsteen

SENTENCE PRAYER

Be Careful Little Eyes

Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see.
Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see.
There's a Father up above, looking down in tender love,
So be careful little eyes, what you see.

Be careful little ears what you hear
Be careful little mouth what you say...
Be careful little hands, what you touch...
Be careful little feet, where you go...

Take the Old Sunday School Song and Make it into a prayer.

Who am I?

2011-01-26T16:37:00.001-07:00

Snippet

"Who am I?
This or the other?
Am I one person today, and tomorrow another?
Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,
And before myself a contemptible woebegone weakling?
Or is something within me still like a beaten army,
Fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?
Who am I? They mock me,
these lonely questions of mine.
Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am Thine."(2)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison (New York: Touchstone, 2001), 348.

Scripture

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. ¹¹ Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed. I Corinthians 15:9-11

Song: Who are you?

By the Who

Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?

I woke up in a Soho doorway
A policeman knew my name
He said "You can go sleep at home tonight
If you can get up and walk away"

I staggered back to the underground
And the breeze blew back my hair
I remember throwin' punches around
And preachin' from my chair

Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
'Cause I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)

I took the tube back out of town
Back to the Rollin' Pin
I felt a little like a dying clown
With a streak of Rin Tin Tin

I stretched back and I hiccoughed
And looked back on my busy day
Eleven hours in the Tin Pan
God, there's got to be another way

Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Oh, who are you(Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Oh Tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Oh Who the _____ are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)

Who are you?
who are who are who are you x11

Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?

I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
C'mon tell me who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Oh, I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)

I know there's a place you walked
Where love falls from the trees
My heart is like a broken cup
I only feel right on my knees

I spit out like a sewer hole
Yet still recieve your kiss
How can I measure up to anyone now
After such a love as this?

Well who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
tell me who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
oh, I really wanna know? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
tell, tell me who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)

C'mon, c'mon who? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Oh, Who the _______ are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Oh, tell me who are you (Who are you?, ooo?)

I really wanna to know
Oh, I really want to know
C'mon tell me who are you, you, you?
Who are you?

Sentence Prayer

Take my life and let be

Consecrated, Lord to thee.

Take my moments and days-

Let them flow in ceaseless praise. . .

Take my hands, and let them move

At the impulse of They love;

Take my feet, and let them be

Swift and beautiful for thee. . .

Take my voice and let me sing

Always, only, for my King;

Take my lips and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee. . .

Take my silver and gold-

Not a mite would I withhold.

Take my intellect and use

Every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it thine-

It shall no longer mine-

Take my heart-it is thine own,

It shall be they royal throne. . .

Take my love-my Lord, I pour

At they feet it treasure store.

Take myself-and I will be

Every, only, all for thee.

Frances Ridley Havergal Pocket book of prayers pg 357

Friends

2011-01-24T10:47:00.006-07:00

Snippet

You can trust us to stick to you, through thick and thin – to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours – closer than you keep it yourself. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word. We are your friends, Frodo." --Dominic Monaghan as Meriadoc Brandybuck in Lord of Rings

SCRIPTURE
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:

If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NIV

Song:
Lean On My By Newsboys
Here to tell the people that love's what we lack
In this family we gotta love like Christ
So precise in your life so take this advice
Brother to brother we need to learn to love each other
So lean on me when you're in trouble
I cast my cares on Christ 'cause He cares for me
So when you need a shoulder to cry on, just lean

[Props to my man speedy, 1, 2, 3]
(chorus)
Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long 'til
I'm gonna need somebody to lean on

Sometimes in our lives
We all have pain, we all have sorrows
But, if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow

(repeat chorus)

Please, swallow your pride
If I have things that you need to borrow
For, no one can fill those of your needs
If you won't let them show

(repeat chorus)

You just call on your brother when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have some problems that you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on

(repeat chorus)

Make it funky, make it funky
Make it funky, make it funky
Make it funky, make it funky
Cause I'm housin' this joint
Like a brother with an attitude
And comin' straight so you best give me latitude
Leanin' on my boys from the word get go
And bein' there for them cause the Lord said so
Many of us just don't know what to do
Well take it here and now from the boy named true
Don't dog a brother out when he stumbles and falls
Just be there to lean on y'all

Call me, call me, just call me,
Call me, call me, just call me, lean on me
Don't you know that I'll be there, you can lean on me
Don't you know that I'll be there, you can lean on me
Don't you know that I'll be there, you can lean on

Sentence Prayer
May God give for every storm a rainbow, for every tear a smile,
For every care a promise and a blessing in
Each trial. For every problem life sends, a
Faithful friend to share, for every sigh a sweet song
And an answer for each prayer.
Irish Blessing Pg 354 Pocket book of Prayers

A.dore God for making us friends through Jesus Christ. Tell him how you love your relationship with him.

C.onfess to God all the way you have been a lousy friend to him and others.

T.hank God for the friends he has placed in your life. Make a list and find something in each to thank God for.

S.uplication What friend are in need? What friend are hurting? what friendships need recincilliation? bring them before the throne of God.

Time

2011-01-21T11:41:00.002-07:00

Snippet

"Always after a defeat and a respite, the Shadow takes another shape and grows again."
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." The Lord of the Rings Gandalf and Frodo Baggins, Chapter 'The Shadow of the Past'.

Scripture

Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. ¹⁴ For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:13,14 NIV

Song

City on our Knees by Toby Mac

If you gotta start somewhere why not here
If you gotta start sometime why not now
If we gotta start somewhere I say here
If we gotta start sometime I say now
Through the fog there is hope in the distance
From cathedrals to third world missions
Love will fall to the earth like a crashing wave

Tonight's the night
For the sinners and the saints
Two worlds collide in a beautiful display
It's all love tonight
When we step across the line
We can sail across the sea
To a city with one king
A city on our knees
A city on our knees
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Tonight could last forever
We are one choice from together
Tonight could last forever
Ooh
Tonight could last forever
We are one choice from together
Family
We're family
Oh Tonight could last forever
We are one choice from together
You and me
Yea, you and me

Tonight's the night
For the sinners and the saints
Two worlds collide
In a glorious display
Cuz its all love tonight
When we step across the line
We can sail across the sea
To a city with one king
A city on our knees
A city on our knees
Oh oh oh
A city on our knees
A city on our knees
Oh oh oh
If we gotta start somewhere why not here
If we gotta start sometime why not now

Songwriter: Toby Mac

Sentence Prayer

Father, . help me to be someone who's ready to offer your bread of life to the spiritually hungry. Give me eyes to see them, a heart to see them, a heart to love them, hands to help them, and your words to feed them. Whether or not I am every sent out on a mission trip, help me to see myself as "On Mission" for you every day and every place you put me. Thank you for helping me to understand this essential purpose of my life. Amen

A.Dore God the Father for ruling the time and Opportunities given to you.

C.onfess the times you have wasted the time and opportunity either out of selfishness or laziness.

T.Hank God for all the Esther that have impacted you.

S.upplication Think of all the needs that have intersected your life and pray for them.

Martin Luther King JR

2011-01-18T08:58:00.001-07:00

Snippett

In his letter from a Birmingham jail, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. responded to fellow American clergy who were asking him to wait for a better time to pursue the cause of justice in the South. "Perhaps it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say, 'Wait,'" he wrote. "But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim; when you have seen hate-filled policemen curse, kick, brutalize and even kill with impunity your black brothers and sisters; when you see the vast majority of your twenty million Negro brothers smothering in an airtight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society....when you are forever fighting a degenerating sense of 'nobodiness'—then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait."(1) To call for those suffering to wait is to institutionalize our apathy.

Though at times unconsciously taken, our steps away from the center of the world's pain to a place where we can clear our heads and find perspective are invariably steps toward putting it out of our heads. Requesting time to think, we are requesting time itself to stop. We are asking those with urgent needs to pause for the sake of our own relief. We ask those affected by injustice and hunger, darkness and pain, racism and religious persecution to cover their faces in nobodiness while we step away from it all. But as Dr. King observed prophetically, "Justice too long delayed is justice denied.'"

Faces in the Crowd	Monday, January 17, 2011
Jill Carattini Todays's Slice Ravi Zacharis Web

Scripture

Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. ⁴² And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward." Matthew 10:41,42

Song

EBONY AND IVORY,
LIVE TOGETHER IN PERFECT HARMONY,
SIDE BY SIDE ON MY PIANO KEYBOARD,
OH, LORD, WHY DON'T WE?

WE ALL KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE THE SAME WHEREVER YOU GO,
THERE IS GOOD AND BAD IN EV'RYONE.
AND WE LEARN TO LIVE, WE LEARN TO GIVE EACH OTHER
WHAT WE NEED TO SURVIVE, TOGETHER ALIVE.

EBONY AND IVORY,
LIVE TOGETHER IN PERFECT HARMONY,
SIDE BY SIDE ON MY PIANO KEYBOARD,
OH, LORD, WHY DON'T WE?

EBONY, IVORY,
LIVING IN PERFECT HARMONY.
EBONY, IVORY.
OOH -
WE ALL KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE THE SAME WHEREVER YOU GO,
THERE IS GOOD AND BAD, MM-MM, IN EV'RYONE.
WE LEARN TO LIVE WHEN WE LEARN TO GIVE EACH OTHER
WHAT WE NEED TO SURVIVE, TOGETHER ALIVE.
EBONY AND IVORY,
LIVE TOGETHER IN PERFECT HARMONY,
SIDE BY SIDE ON MY PIANO KEYBOARD,
OH, LORD, WHY DON'T WE?
SIDE BY SIDE ON MY PIANO KEYBOARD,
OH, LORD, WHY DON'T WE-EE-EE-EE, WE?
EBONY, IVORY, LIVING IN PERFECT HARMONY
EBONY, IVORY, ARE LIVING IN PERFECT HARMONY.
(IVORY)
EBONY, IVORY,
(EBONY)
LIVING IN PERFECT HARMONY.
(IVORY)
EBONY, IVORY,
(EBONY)
LIVING IN PERFECT HARMONY.
(UH, UH, UH)
EBONY, IVORY,
(IVORY) (EBONY)
LIVING IN PERFECT HARMONY.
(UH, UH, UH)
EBONY, IVORY,
LIVING IN PERFECT HARMONY. Paul McCartney Song Writer

Sentence Prayer

To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing." Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

God, our world needs justice. We acknowledge that all true goodness must come from you. We must obey and act, but you give the convictions and courage and strength to bring about the true changes needed. Today we thank you for the life of Martin Luther King Jr. We ask for your blessing in the cause he championed, the drive for racial justice in America. We thank you for progress already achieved, and we ask you to help us finish the work. Today, bring a new spirit of peace in our nation. And may your Kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/prayerplainandsimple/2010/01/a-prayer-in-honor-of-rev-dr-martin-luther-king-jr.html#ixzz1BJqh5yBA

unity

2011-01-14T07:36:00.006-07:00

Snippet

Are we a bag of Marbles or a bag of grapes? A Bag Marbles rolls around and grates on one another, making lots of noise.

Or are we A bag of grapes that presses together, squishing, bleeding and intermingling?

Scripture

I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. John 17:20,21 NLT

Song

THE CIRCLE SONG

By Mark Vickstrom

CHORUS

We are all united here / in a circle God created

Help us make it through our lives / fulfill the promise in our hearts The cirlce is often tangled / its members confused and bewildered

But the bond is never broken / love flows endlessly

In a circle of God's love

We are all united here / in a circle God created

Help us make it through our lives / fulfill the promise in our hearts From those around us we gain strength / in times of need we are cared for

We can not be separated by distance, death or time / for unity exists within our hearts and souls and minds

We are all united here / in a circle God created

Help us make it through our lives / fulfill the promise in our hearts

The joys and sorrows we all share / will never tear us apart

They will keep us close together / we will be bound forever

In a circle of God's love

We are all united here / in a circle God created

Help us make it through our lives / fulfill the promise in our hearts

Sentence Prayer

Father; Help me to remember you desire Unity In the essentials. Jesus you died so man

could have liberty in matters of opinion, help me extend that freedom to others. Holy Spirit

the mark you leave on us is love; may we show Your love in all our actions today. Amen

A.dore Praise God for being three in One. Praise for God for the love found in His trinity.

C.onfess the times you have compromised the essentials to please man. Confess the acts you have committed that have taken away your Brother or Sisters freedom in Christ. Repent of the unloving actions in your life.

T.hank God for those in your life that have shown you the Love of Jesus.

S.uplication Pray for universal Church that it may be one. Pray for your local church, the places the unity of the trinity is threatened.

ACCEPTANCE

2011-01-12T07:57:00.001-07:00

Snippet

Let Go and Let God

Scripture

He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. Job 2:10

Song

When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree,
there will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see,
there will be an answer. let it be.

Let it be, let it be, .....

And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light, that shines on me,
shine until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, .....

Beetles

Sentence Prayer

Be Still and Know that I Am God. Lord Your Words lead us to the Calmness and greatness of your presence. www.sacredspace.ie

A.dore God for being Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

C.onfess the times and things you refuse to let go.

T.hanks for the issues God has handled in your life. Thanks for prophets like Mother Mary. Thanks for Good and Bad.

S.uplication Ask God for the strength to accept the unacceptable.

BLACKBIRDS

2011-01-11T13:27:00.001-07:00

Snippet

God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages.
Jacques Deval
Afin de vivre bel et bien.

Scripture

These are the birds you are to regard as unclean and not eat because they are unclean any kind of raven Leviticus 11:13,15 NIV

Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there."

So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.

I Kings 17:2-6 NIV

Song

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these broken wings and learn to fly

All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these sunken eyes and learn to see

All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to be free

Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly, into the light of the dark blue night

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these broken wings and learn to fly

All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise,

You were only waiting for this moment to arise,

You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Beatles

Sentence Prayer

Father: help me accept nourishment from what I perceive as unclean, knowing your path always leads to holiness. Amen Roger Miller

A.dore Praise God for creating both clean and unclean animals. (Leviticus) Praise God for creating the Norma and abnormal animal. Praise God for both light and darkness in life.

C.onfess To God the times you have refused to take what he has offered from the blackbird.

T.hank God for his provision. Thank God for the prophets of life. Thank God for his rest.

S.uplication Pray for all the disenfranchised. The Christians in Countries that are being persecuted. Those who are being mistreated for the color of the skin, their lifestyles and their Gender.

Paul McCartney wrote this song for African Americans in their struggle for Civil Rights.

God’s Hospitality

2011-01-10T09:00:00.001-07:00

Snippet

It has deep roots in the notion of God's every present hospitality in both nature

and other people, the idea that, properly understood, ever thing in creation

invites us to share in God's love. Dakota Kathleen Norris pg 202

Scripture

God appeared to Abraham at the Oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the

entrance of his tent. It was the hottest part of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing. He ran from his tent to greet them and bowed before them.

He said, "Master, if it please you, stop for a while with your servant. I'll get some water so you can wash your feet. Rest under this tree. I'll get some food to refresh you on your way, since your travels have brought you across my path."

They said, "Certainly. Go ahead."

Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. He said, "Hurry. Get three cups of our best flour; knead it and make bread."

Then Abraham ran to the cattle pen and picked out a nice plump calf and gave it to the servant who lost no time getting it ready. Then he got curds and milk, brought them with the calf that had been roasted, set the meal before the men, and stood there under the tree while they ate. Genesis 11:1-8 Message

Song

Green Green Grass of Home

The old home town looks the same,
As I step down from the train,
And there to meet me is my mama and my papa.
Down the road I look, and there comes Mary,
Hair of gold and lips like cherries.
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home.

The old house is still standing,
Though the paint is cracked and dry,
And there's the old oak tree that I used to play on.
Down the lane I walk with my sweet Mary,
Hair of gold and lips like cherries.
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home.

Yes, they'll all come to see me,
Arms reaching, smiling sweetly.
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home.

Then I awake and look around me,
At the four gray walls that surround me,
And I realize that I was only dreaming.
For there's a guard, and there's a sad old padre,
Arm in arm, we'll walk at daybreak.
Again, I'll touch the green, green grass of home.

Yes, they'll all come to see me
In the shade of the old oak tree,
As they lay me 'neath the green, green grass of home.

Sentence Prayer

Knowing that God loves me unconditionally I look honesty over the last day; it's

events and my feelings. Do I have something to be grateful for ? Then I give thanks.

Is there something I am sorry for? Then I ask for forgiveness.

Sometimes I wonder what I might say if I were to meet you in person Lord. I think I

might say. "Thank you Lord" For always being there for me. I know with certainty

there were times you carried me, Lord, when It was through your strength I got

through the dark times in my life. taken from http://sacredspace.ie/

dore Praise God for His Hospitality in nature and People
Praise Jesus for His Unconditional Love
Praise the Holy Spirit for making the Holy of Holies in your heart.

C.onfess the times you have not reflected God's hospitality

T.hank God for the things you have taken for granted such as the green Grass

S.uplication Pray for those who are dying because of a lack of hospitality: Children in a Childrens hospital, wounded Vets, Orphans, the elderly and inmates.

surrender

2011-01-07T22:23:00.001-07:00

Snippet

The readiness to relinquish everything is more a painful process than a mystical Zap. Brenan Manning A Glimpse of Jesus PG 77

Scripture

During that night he got up and gathered his two wives, his two slaves and his eleven children and crossed at the shallow part of the Jabbok River. After he sent them across the stream, he sent everything else across. So Jacob was left alone. Then a man wrestled with him until dawn. When the man saw that he could not win against Jacob, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that it was dislocated as they wrestled. Then the man said, "Let me go; it's almost dawn."

But Jacob answered, "I won't let you go until you bless me."

So the man asked him, "What's your name?"

"Jacob," he answered.

The man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob but Israel [He Struggles With God], because you have struggled with God and with men—and you have won."

Jacob said, "Please tell me your name."

The man answered, "Why do you ask for my name?" Then he blessed Jacob there. So Jacob named that place Peniel [Face of God], because he said, "I have seen God face to face, but my life was saved." The sun rose as he passed Penuel. He was limping because of his hip. (Therefore, even today the people of Israel do not eat the muscle of the thigh attached to the hip socket because God touched the socket of Jacob's hip at the muscle of the thigh.) Genesis 32:22-32 GNT

Songs

Hold Me Jesus Rich Mullins

Sometimes my life just don't make sense at all
When the mountains look so big
And my faith just seems so small

So hold me Jesus, I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

And I wake up in the night and feel the dark
It's so hot inside my soul
There must be blisters on my heart

So hold me Jesus, I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

Surrender don't come natural to me
I'd rather fight You for something I don't really want
Than to take what You give that I need
And I've beat my head against so many walls
I'm falling down, I'm falling on my knees

And this Salvation Army band is playing this hymn
And Your grace rings out so deep
It makes my resistance seem so thin
Oh, hold me Jesus, I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

Oh, hold me Jesus, I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

You've been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

Sentence Prayer

May all your Expectations

Be frustrated.

May all of your plans be thwarted.

May all of your desires

Be withered into nothingness.

That you may experience the powerlessness and

Poverty of a child and sing and dance

In the Love of God the Father,

The Son and the Spirit.

A.dore God's Power and your Weakness

C. onfess those items you have not yet surrendered

T.hank Jesus for holding you-For being our prince of peace

S. uplication pray for those going through a trial of surrender.

God the Father

2011-01-06T06:03:00.001-07:00

Snippet

God smiles when we love him supremely, Trust him completely, obey whole heartedly, and praise and thank him continually. Rick Warren Daily Inspiration for purpose driven life pg. 55

Scripture

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen

Matthew 6:9-13

Song

Awesome God by Rich Mullins

When He rolls up His sleeves
He ain't just putting on the ritz
(Our God is an awesome God)
There's thunder in His footsteps
And lightning in His fists
(Our God is an awesome God)
And the Lord wasn't joking
When He kicked 'em out of Eden
It wasn't for no reason
That He shed His blood
His return is very close
And so you better be believing that
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God

And when the sky was starless
In the void of the night
(Our God is an awesome God)
He spoke into the darkness
And created the light
(Our God is an awesome God)
Judgement and wrath He poured out on Sodom
Mercy and grace He gave us at the cross
I hope that we have not
Too quickly forgotten that
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from patience to wait heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God (Our God is an awesome God)
He reigns from heaven above (He reigns from heaven above) the
With wisdom, power, and love (With wisdom, power, and love)
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
Our God is an awesome God

Sentence Prayer

Father,

Give us Wisdom to Percieve you,

Intellect to understand you,

Diligence to seek you,

Patience to wait for you,

Eyes to behold you,

A hear to meditate on you

And a life to proclaim you,

Through the power of the Spirit

Of our Lord Jesus Christ Saint Benedict

Dore Spend a few minutes telling our Heavenly Father what we adore about his character.

c.
onfess Those areas we do not love him supremely

T. hanks Thank him for acts in our life He has proved to be an Awesome God.

S. upplication Take the sentence prayer and make it your own by inserting situation you are having a hard time seeking the Father, ETC.

Wisdom

2011-01-05T21:56:00.001-07:00

Snippet

We learn wisdom from failure much more than from success. We often discover what will do, by finding out what will not do; and probably he who never made a mistake never made a discovery. - Samuel Smiles

Scripture

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

Don't be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
Then you will have healing for your body
and strength for your bones. Pr 3:5-8 NLT

Song

Big Tent Revival
Two Sets Of Jones' lyrics

Songwriters: Wiggins, Steve

This here's a song about two sets of Jones'
Rothchild-Evelyn, Reuben and Sue
Just for discussion, through random selection
We've chosen two couples who haven't a clue
Rothchild was lucky to marry so wealthy
Evelyn bought him a house on the beach
Reuben and Sue, they had nothing but Jesus
And at night they would pray that he'd care for them each
CHORUS:
And the rain came down
It blew the four walls down
And the clouds, they rolled away
One set of Jones' was standing that day

Evelyn's daddy was proud of young Rothchild
He worked the late hours to be number one
But just newlyweds and their marriage got rocky
He's flying to Dallas, she's having a son
Reuben was holding a Gideon's Bible
he screamed, >It's a boy!< so that everyone heard
The guys at the factory took a collection
Again, God provided for bills he'd incurred

CHORUS
So what is the point of this story
What am I trying to say
Is your life built on the rock of Christ Jesus
Or a sandy foundation you've managed to lay

CHORUS
Needless to say, Evelyn left her husband
And sued him for every penny he had
I truly whish that those two would find Jesus
Before things get worse than they already have

Sentence Prayer

Father, keep before us the wisdom and love
you have revealed in your Son.
Help us to be like him in word and deed.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. AMEN

http://cathedralofsaintmatthew.com/LifeResources/Prayers/PrayersForGuidanceAndWisdom.htm

MONSTER

2011-01-02T23:36:00.001-07:00

SNIPPET

The marvelous thing is that He who came to destroy the works of the devil [1 John 3:8] will destroy them in me. G. Campell Morgan

SCRIPTURE

Am I saying that something good caused my death? Certainly not! It was sin that killed me by using something good. Now we can see how terrible and evil sin really is. ¹⁴We know that the Law is spiritual. But I am merely a human, and I have been sold as a slave to sin. ¹⁵In fact, I don't understand why I act the way I do. I don't do what I know is right. I do the things I hate. ¹⁶Although I don't do what I know is right, I agree that the Law is good. ¹⁷So I am not the one doing these evil things. The sin that lives in me is what does them.

¹⁸I know that my selfish desires won't let me do anything that is good. Even when I want to do right, I cannot. ¹⁹Instead of doing what I know is right, I do wrong. ²⁰And so, if I don't do what I know is right, I am no longer the one doing these evil things. The sin that lives in me is what does them. Romans 7:13-20 CEV

SONG

Monster By Skillet

The secret side of me, I never let you see
I keep it caged but I can't control it
So stay away from me, the beast is ugly
I feel the rage and I just can't hold it

It's scratching on the walls, in the closet, in the halls
It comes awake and I can't control it
Hiding under the bed, in my body, in my head
Why won't somebody come and save me from this, make it end?

I feel it deep within, it's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I hate what I've become, the nightmare's just begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster

I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster

My secret side I keep hid under lock and key
I keep it caged but I can't control it
'Cause if I let him out he'll tear me up, break me down
Why won't somebody come and save me from this, make it end?

I feel it deep within, it's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I hate what I've become, the nightmare's just begun
[| From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/s/skillet-lyrics/monster-lyrics.html |]
I must confess that I feel like a monster

I feel it deep within, it's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster

It's hiding in the dark, it's teeth are razor sharp
There's no escape for me, it wants my soul, it wants my heart
No one can hear me scream, maybe it's just a dream
Maybe it's inside of me, stop this monster

I feel it deep within, it's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I hate what I've become, the nightmare's just begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster

I feel it deep within, it's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I've gotta lose control, he something radical
I must confess that I feel like a monster

I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster

© EMI APRIL MUSIC CANADA LTD; LANDRUM PUBLISHING; NOODLES FOR EVERYONE; PHOTON MUSIC; WARNER-TAMERLANE PUBLISHING CORP

SENTENCE PRAYER

Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against thee
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved thee with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in thy will,
and walk in thy ways,
to the glory of thy Name. Amen

A.dore

Spend a few minutes meditating on God's Holiness and perfection and praise his holiness.

C.onfess

Confess your sin struggles and ask as specifically as possible for help.

T.hanks

Than God the Father for the gift of the son and the forgiveness he won for all mankind on the cross.

S.upplication

Think of the monster of sin inside you asking for Holy Spirit's power to overcome and Think of those who have done monstrous sins pray for them.

Beginnings

2011-01-01T11:07:00.001-07:00

Snippet

Perhaps there is something restorative about a new years walk, something hopeful in unread visions and new days, precisely because there is a coming New Day. Perhaps the hope promised in new mornings, the assurance of new mercies and new beginnings, is only a hint of the promise of a certain redemption, a new earth. In this higher dream, God is the dreamer, redeeming worlds, redeeming time; God's redemption is the great love that prevents us from being consumed. Unread Visions by Jill Carattini Daily Slice Friday December 31

Scripture

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD

Lamentations 3:21-26 NKJV

Song

Verge of a Miracle

Rich Mullins

Clung to a ball
That was hung in the sky
Hurled into orbit
There You are
Whether you fall down
Or whether you fly
Seems you can never get too far
Someone's waiting to put wings
Upon your flightless heart

You're on the verge of a miracle
Standing there
Oh you're on the verge of a miracle
Just waiting to be believed in
Open your eyes and see
You're on the verge of a miracle

Here in your room
Where nobody can see
Voices are loud
But seldom clear
But beneath the confusion
That's running so deep
There is a promise you must hear
The love that seems so far away
Is standing very near

You're on the verge of a miracle
Standing there
Oh you're on the verge of a miracle
Just waiting to be believed in
Open your eyes and see

When you've played out
Your last chance
And your directions
Have all been lost
When the roads that you look down
Are all dead ends
Look up
You could see if you'd just look up

You're on the verge of a miracle
Standing there
Oh you're on the verge of a miracle
Just waiting to be believed in
Open your eyes and see
You're on the verge of a miracle

Sentence Prayer

Lord our God,

Amid the uncertainties of our human life,

May we pause and draw strength from you,

Trusting in your faithful love.

We ask this through Jesus, you Son,your Lord
Amen
A Celtic Primer Pg 67
A.dore Spend five minutes and Praise God for all the ways he is your portion, Your Protector and Your sustainer.

C.onfess Ask God to forgive you for all the times in uncertainty you have doubted His mercy and goodness

T.hanks Thank Him for all the ways miracles of this past year.

S.upplication What is the Miracle you need in life? Spend some time sharing with God why this is important to you.

Pheasant Hunting on Christmas Week

2010-12-22T21:05:00.002-07:00

Monday December 20 I took a hunting trip to eastern Colorado; leaving before 4 A.M. and returned around 8 P.M. It is reminder of one the hardships of living in the Denver area for hunting and fishing a long drive anywhere productive. Those living in the front range area will be glad to hear, the 170 miles to Julesburg CO is more than worth it. In one huge field our team of 6 scared up 13 birds in one field and less than half was hens. We only hunted Colorado Department of Wildlife walk in hunting programs leased fields and found most of them above average in production. The only thing I ashamed to admit is although the birds were plentiful this groups shooting was poor.

At sunrise we entered a frosty field clouded by fog. The edges of the grass field did not yield any birds, in fact every flushed bird held very tight. I laughed very hard when one of the boys I brought along almost stepped on a bird, when the rooster flushed, the bug eyed youth did not get off a shot and I was so much in mirth I squeezed off a shot to find I still had the safety on. The whole day we never got a double flush and only one bird flushed on a field edge all day, even though there was bird sign everywhere. We chose Sedgwick and Phillips counties for the hunt for they had the most walk in fields.

But all the fields near 385 and 6 showed a lot of traffic and several of the fields where occupied on a Monday. We were also perplexed because some the state leased land you were more likely to bag a zebra in than a pheasant, the cover was sparse or non-existent. This is too say you best hunting will be your first field of the day and the best field are those most off the beaten path. For a successful hunt you will need to scout and mark the primo fields, so you have at least one quality field.

This hunt cemented in my mind that for the new hunter there is nothing better than pheasant hunting. First, my media addicted boys have a new obsession Pheasants not because of the massive amounts of fowl shot-but the fury of a flushing pheasant. Hunting pheasants where there are pheasants keeps the attention of young hunters. The other issue was it was great for reinforcing the lessons learned in hunter safety. Walking through a rough field with six other guys, helped them see the importance of knowing your field of fire. But the best experience was when a rooster flushed after a

hunter walked past him, all turned to see the noise, but they first checked to see if it was a hen or rooster, all yelled rooster, they checked each other's position and the one with the best shot downed a pheasant. It reinforced a lesson you always know what you are shooting at¸ before you shoot.

All in all we were all very appreciative at the end of the day for Colorado Department of Wildlife Walk in Program. We were also amazed at how many birds we saw. Lastly, the long successful day caused us all to pledge to do it again soon.

Mary

2010-12-22T13:33:00.002-07:00

Snippet

To each of us, Christ comes as he came to Mary herself, wanting to stretch us spiritually,physically, emotionally, and socially, taking away everything, even all we might have thought good or godly of ourselves: our good names, our good futures, our innocence.

Mary certainly had reasons to say "No" to the invitation that came to her on angel's wings. She was facing an assuring future: a husband to wed, a home to create, a good reputation. Saying "Yes" to God and the words of the angel Gabriel was to put all of this on the line, everything she had and might have once clung to with good reason. Could you do the equivalent?

Could you release security, love, reputation, or even your youth from your own determined grasp? Mary's risk was no less difficult than the most sacrificial act you could imagine of your own life. Saying "Yes" to the Christ child and to the knocking of his love will surely bring down the houses we have built, even the rooms that house the things we hold onto most fiercely. Yet this is precisely his invitation: "⁶For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). He comes with the ann-unciation of great sacrifice and pregnant impossibilities, and he assures us not to be afraid. Where meek and foolish souls give everything to receive him, they still find themselves the wisest.

The Gifts of Magi Slice of Today Monday, Dec 20,2010

Jill Cartinia

Scripture

During Elizabeth's sixth month of pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin. She was engaged to marry a man named Joseph from the family of David. Her name was Mary. The angel came to her and said, "Greetings!

The Lord has blessed you and is with you." But Mary was very startled by what the angel said and wondered what this greeting might mean. The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary; God has shown you his grace.

Listen! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of King David, his ancestor. He will rule over the people of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end."

Mary said to the angel, "How will this happen since I am a virgin?"

The angel said to Mary, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you. For this reason the baby will be holy and will be called the Son of God.

Now Elizabeth, your relative, is also pregnant with a son though she is very old. Everyone thought she could not have a baby, but she has been pregnant for six months.

God can do anything!"

Mary said, "I am the servant of the Lord. Let this happen to me as you say!" Luke 1:26-28 NCV

Song

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will calm a storm with His hand?
Did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby
You've kissed the face of God

Mary, did you know?
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding
Is the Great I Am

Oh Mary did you know?

Sentence Prayer

We hold before God:

Those whom life is very difficult;

Those who have difficult decisions to make, and

Who honestly do not know what is the right thing to do.

We hold before God:

Those who have difficult tasks to do and to face,

And who fear they may fail in them;

Those who have difficult temptations to face, and

Who know only too well that they may fail too

Them, if they try to meet them alone.

We hold before God:

Those who have difficult people to work with;

Those who have to suffer unjust treatment, unfair

Criticism, unappreciated work.

We hold before God:

Those who are sad because someone they loved has

Died;

And any who are disappointed in something for

Which they hoped very much.

William Barclay

Celtic Daily Prayer Pg 218

December

2010-12-18T20:10:00.001-07:00

Snippet

Just a minute - just a minute. Now, hold on, Mr. Potter. You're right when you say my father was no businessman. I know that. Why he ever started this cheap, penny-ante Building and Loan, I'll never know. But neither you nor anyone else can say anything against his character, because his whole life was - why, in the twenty-five years since he and Uncle Billy started this thing, he never once thought of himself. Isn't that right, Uncle Billy? He didn't save enough money to send Harry to school, let alone me. But he did help a few people get out of your slums, Mr. Potter, and what's wrong with that? Why - here, you're all businessmen here. Doesn't it make them better citizens? Doesn't it make them better customers? You - you said - what'd you say a minute ago? They had to wait and save their money before they even ought to think of a decent home. Wait? Wait for what? Until their children grow up and leave them? Until they're so old and broken down that they... Do you know how long it takes a working man to save five thousand dollars? Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you're talking about... they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn't think so. People were human beings to him. But to you, a warped, frustrated old man, they're cattle. Well, in my book he died a much richer man than you'll ever be.

It's a Wonderful Life 1946 George Bailey to Harry Potter

Scripture

And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream,

saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou

there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When

he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the

Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. Then Herod, when he saw

that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the

children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under,

according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled

that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard,

lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would

not be comforted, because they are not.But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the

Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and

his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's

life. Matthew 2:13-20 KJV

Song

If we make it through December
Merle Haggard

If we make it through December
Everythings gonna be all right I know
It's the coldest time of winter
And I shivver when I see the fallin snow

If we make it through December
I got plans of bein in a warmer town come summer time
Maybe even California
If we make it through December we'll be fine

I got laid off down at the factory
And there timings not the greatest in the world
Heaven knows I been workin' hard
I wanted Christmas to be right for daddy's girl
Now I don't mean to hate December
It's meant to be the happy time of year
And why my little girl don't understand
Why daddy can't afford no Christmas here

If we make it through December
Everythings gonna be alright I know
It's the coldest time of winter
And I shivver when I see the fallin' snow

If we make it through December
I got plans of bein' in a warmer town come summer time
Maybe even California
If we make it through December we'll be fine

Sentence Prayer

In the darkness of evening the eyes of my heart are awake to

you. In the quiet of the night I long to hear again intimations

of your love. In the Sufferings of the world and the struggles

of life I seek your graces of healing. At the heart of the

brokenness around me and in the hidden depths of my

own soul seek your touch of healing¸O God, for there

you reside. In the hidden depths of life, O God, There

you reside.

Amen Celtic Prayer

The Pocket book of prayers ed by Jim Palmer pg 121

A.doration: In this darkness of this World Praise the Father

For being the only light

C.onfess those times you have treated people life cattle. . .

Ask forgiveness when you have put making a buck above

loving others.

T.hank God for what you have-Think of those who have

less pray for their needs

S.upplication: Pray for those you know who are

struggling to make it through December financially,

spiritually, emotionally and morally

The Child

2010-12-17T17:12:00.001-07:00

Snippet

This is the irrational season
When love blooms bright and wild,
Had Mary been filled with reason
There'd have been no room for the child.

After Annunciation Madeleine L'Engle

Scripture

She gave birth to her first-born son. She dressed him in baby clothes and laid him on a bed of hay, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

Song

Boy Like Me / Man Like You

Rich Mullins and Beaker

You was a baby like I was once
You was cryin' in the early mornin'
You was born in a stable Lord
Reid Memorial is where I was born
They wrapped You in swaddling clothes
Me they dressed in baby blue

But I was twelve years old in the meeting house
Listening to the old men pray
And I was tryin' hard to figure out
What it was that they was tryin' to say
There You were in the temple
They said You weren't old enough
To know the things You knew

Well, did You grow up hungry?
Did You grow up fast?
Did the little girls giggle when You walked past?
Did You wonder what it was that made them laugh?
And did they tell You stories 'bout the saints of old?
Stories about their faith?
They say stories like that make a boy grow bold
Stories like that make a man walk straight

And You was a boy like I was once
But was You a boy like me
Well, I grew up around Indiana
You grew up around Galilee
And if I ever really do grow up
Lord I want to grow up and be just like You

Well, did You wrestle with a dog and lick his nose?
Did You play beneath the spray of a water hose?
Did You ever make angels in the winter snow?
And did they tell You stories 'bout the saints of old?
Stories about their faith?
They say stories like that make a boy grow bold
Stories like that make a man walk straight

Did You ever get scared playing hide and seek?
Did You try not to cry when You scraped Your knee?
Did You ever skip a rock across a quiet creek?
And did they tell You stories 'bout the saints of old?
Stories about their faith?
They say stories like that make a boy grow bold
Stories like that make a man walk straight

And I really may just grow up and be like You someday

Sentence Prayer

Jesus, help me to see as you were, so I may see me

as I am.

Help, me to see a normal child; that played,

loved and got upset.

So I see a Savior that Sympathizes with a struggling

sinner.

Open my eyes, Holy Spirit to see footprints in the water

and a empty pallet

So I May see a Holy God, to know better the

destruction of sin.

Amen.

Christmas Tree

2010-12-16T17:27:00.001-07:00

Snippet

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other Burton Hillis

Scripture

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD—

and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.

In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him,

and his resting place will be glorious. Isaiah 11:1-3,10 NIV 2010

song

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
Not only green when summer's here,
But also when 'tis cold and drear.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging!

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Much pleasure thou can'st give me;
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Much pleasure thou can'st give me;
How often has the Christmas tree
Afforded me the greatest glee!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Much pleasure thou can'st give me.

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy candles shine so brightly!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy candles shine so brightly!
From base to summit, gay and bright,
There's only splendor for the sight.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy candles shine so brightly!

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee!
Thou bidst us true and faithful be,
And trust in God unchangingly.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee! !"

Sentence Prayer

Christmas Tree Blessing

Holy Creator of Trees,

bless with your abundant grace

this our Christmas tree as a symbol of joy.

May its evergreen branches be a sign

of your never-fading promises.

May its colorful lights and ornaments call us

to decorate with love our home and our world.

May the gifts that surround this tree

be symbols of the gifts we have received

from the Tree of Christ's Cross.

Holy Christmas tree within our home,

may Joy and Peace come and nest

in your branches and in our hearts. Amen.

- Author Unkown

Snow

2010-12-15T07:16:00.004-07:00

Snippet

The future lies before you, like paths of pure white snow. Be careful how you tread it, for every step will show. unknown

Scripture

Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.[a]
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.
18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good things of the land
Isaiah 1:17-19 NIV

Song

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

Irving Berlin

Sentence Prayer

Father you send snow as one of the good and perfect gifts from above thank you. Jesus you are the redeemer who makes our sin stained lives as white as snow, thank Jesus you are the redeemer who makes our sin stained lives as white as snow, thank you. Holy Spirit you fall on my life as softly as the first snow falls.
Help me to not make or eat yellow snow today. Keep me as pure as the driven snow from your hand. Help me to see the gifts you send my way today-as simple and deep as the snow on the ground. Amen

cowboys funeral

2010-12-14T21:07:00.002-07:00

Jerry Smith’s Order of Service

Welcome Pastor Bill Ivey

Scripture Pastor Bill Ivey

Opening Prayer Pastor Bill Ivey

Old Rugged Cross

Cowboy’s Last Request Pastor Roger Miller

COWBOYS LAST REQUEST"
By Terry Ike Clanton 6-15-00 copyright 2000

Let me tell you folks
Who have gathered here today
That I'm a proud and thankful cowboy
Who has just passed away
I know it's hard
But, please don't cry
Fer I'm now ridin' Gods trails
High up in the sky
The hoss I'm ridin' now
Don't spook, buck or kick
Fer God stables perfect horses
And now I have my pick
Lord, please forgive me of all my sins
Fer I haven't been perfect
But I know that he who believes in You
Forever wins!
I have lived a good life
A cowboys dream come true
Thank You Lord,
Fer I'm now ready to ride into eternity
Me, my horse, and You.

Obituary
Gerald Wilber Smith, 73, of Gothenburg, Nebraska, died November 30, 2010 in
Gothenburg, NE. He was born November 29, 1937 in Ontario, Oregon, son of
J. Elton and Edith (Rettig) Smith. He grew up in Eastern Oregon and attended
schools in Durkee and Brogan and graduated from Ontario High.

Jerry served his country in the Army from Dec. 1960 to Nov. 1962.

Jerry married Judith Miller, March 1964 in Reno NV. Jerry and Judy lived and
worked on a ranch in Oregon. They moved to Nebraska in 1972 where Jerry
operated a Well Service for almost 25 years. Jerry enjoyed hunting, fishing,
and horses. Surviving are wife, Judy Smith of Gothenburg, NE; son, Brad
Smith of Citrus Heights, CA; son, Rick (Julie) Smith of Kearney, NE; daughter
-in-law Bev Smith of Hampton, NE; grandson, Ethan, granddaughter,
Courtney, brother, Jim Smith of Anchorage, AK, brother, Rod (Bobbi) Smith
of Eugene, OR; and numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews. Gerald was
preceded in death by son, David Smith, his parents and grandparents.

Message
One of the things about Jerry was his ability to tell stories and to laugh about it
-so I thought he might appreciate the following. . .
Cowboy Joe was telling his fellow cowboys back on the ranch about his
first visit to a big-city church.
"When I got there, they had me park my old truck in the corral," Joe
began.
"You mean the parking lot," interrupted Charlie, a worldly fellow.
"I walked up the trail to the door," Joe continued.
"The sidewalk to the door," Charlie corrected him.
"Inside the door, I was met by this dude," Joe went on.
"That would be the usher," Charlie explained.
"Well, the usher led me down the chute," Joe said.
"You mean the aisle," Charlie said.
"Then, he led me to a stall and told me to sit there," Joe continued.
"Pew," Charlie retorted.
"Yeah," recalled Joe. "That’s what that pretty lady said when I sat down
beside her."’

For those who love to hunt, fish, and the outdoors as Jerry did the reality of
God is unmistakable. I have been a pastor for awhile-where I connect with
God most often is in my creators creation. Catch a mess of fish and you notice
they are each uniquely designed for a purpose. Ever spent time around horses
or livestock you will discover each is unique as well. Every sunrise and sunset
is a unique masterpiece of our heavenly Father.

Maybe, that’s why when a person that worked with Jerry on the ranch always
insisted on discussing politics and religion, he kept after Jerry and kept after
Jerry for his opinions on the subject. . .finally exasperated Jerry says I am not
crooked enough to be a politician, and I do not go to church often enough to
discuss religion.

Thats the hang up for most of us. . .we know there is a creator-we are sure
there is a designer who is bigger and smarter than we are. . . we just can’t
stand the Pew of life. We see crooked politicians and Christians living like the
devil and it confuses us! But it’s also our own stench we have a hard time with,
our own sins our own failings, our own dreams that no matter how much work
and prayer that never came true. The son or daughter that died before their
time. The innocent baby that suffers for no apparent reason. The stench,
cruelty and hardness of life can either make us bitter or better in our walk
with God. The reality of God in a broken world either blinds us to his goodness
or breaks open the possibility of something better!

A bit of trivia for you this morning. . .who is the first hunter or trapper
mentioned in the good book? Genesis 3:21 The LORD God made garments of
skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. It is our heavenly father who was
the first sportsman. After man and women chose the stench of sin-he sacrificed
one of his beautiful creations to clothe man! Thousands of years later, our
heavenly father would sacrifice an even more precious gift to redeem man-his
only begotten son Jesus Christ was given on the Cross to pay for the stench of
sin,he was buried as all men are, but he rose from the dead to prove to all he
was the God Man!

Listen to John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and
only Son,[f] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have
eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn
the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in
him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned
already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only
Son.

One of the ways we know for certain that God loves us is the unique gift of
JerrySmith’s life. Yes we are sad he is gone-but we should see that when
our heavenlyfather created Jerry he broke the mold. Jerry’s life was full
he grew up in a uniqueway in a unique place eastern Oregon. He loved salty
stories and also loved to listen to old time gospel. He was a rodeo cowboy,
served in the army, drove truck everywhere, loved Judy and the boys, and
worked hard! He was as honestas the day is long! As you remember Jerry
every twinkle in your eye, every chuckle, and every tear is reminder that
God loved you so much he put Jerry in your life.

The memories of a person are reminders by the Holy Spirit-that one day
there will be no stench-there will be no death or suffering-that one day
there will be peace in the valley!

Jerry’s logic was sometimes hard to follow, but it was always consistent!
Several years ago Michael Martin Murphy wrote a song called Cowboy
Logic let me share a few verses from it. . .

There's a great American hero, we all look up to

When the times are hard and the chips are down,

he knows just what to do

Now a cowboy's got a set of rules that he lives by day to day

If you ask for his advice, he'll more than likely say

If it's a fence, mend it. If it's a dollar bill, spend it

Before if burns a hole down in them jeans

It it's a load, truck it. If it's a punch, duck it.

If she's a lady, treat her like a queen

That's cowboy logic, every cowboy's got it

It's in the way he lives his life and the songs he sings

That's cowboy logic, every cowboy's got it

He's got a simple solution to just about anything

If it's a job, do it. Put your back in to it.

'Cause a little bit of dirt's gonna wash off in the rain

If it's a horse, ride it. If it hurts, hide it.

Dust yourself off and get back on again.

That's cowboy logic, every cowboy's got it

It's in the way he lives his life and the songs he sings

Over the years there has been hundreds of snippit’s written about
a Cowboy’s logic. Let me give you five that fit Jerry

If it’s broke, fix it. A cowboy understands that when things aren’t going
right it is time to sit back, take a hard look at the situation, and to take
corrective action when needed. Sometimes it isn’t the strategy or tactic
that is wrong it is just unfortunate circumstances, when that’s the case
a cowboy understands to buckle down and work your way through it.
Standing at the sink yesterday Julie made the mistake of leaning against
the faucet and Rick playfully slapped the back of her head-I made that
mistake around dad once in a rental house-he said to me that’s how those
things get busted do you want to fix it?

Every man deserves respect. That includes others as well as yourself. What
cowboy hasn’t made mistakes, when a man rides into camp he is treated with
respect till he proves otherwise. In his well business that is how Jerry always
operated-Some one that had lots’ of money was treated exactly as the widow
who had nothing! He would be up in the middle of the night if your cattle had
no water or leave a family dinner to make sure the well was fixed-exactly
because he respected everyone-no not like everyone but respected everyone.

Be creative. One cowboy said; Sure if you’re ten miles from home and all you
have is a piece of wire and a stick then if you are going to get it fixed all you
have is your wits. At the Nursing home they were found of calling Jerry
MacGyver- because he could fix anything!

Act. Contemplation is a good thing when riding drag or at the campfire at
night, but a cowboy is a man of action. To “cowboy up” means to give it
your all. When Jerry took on anything that is how he did it!

Believe. Believe in God. Who can ride across a pasture on a good horse
on a spring day and not know there is a Maker? Believe in yourself. A
cowboy who doesn’t have faith in his abilities isn’t worth spit. A cowboy
who doesn’t have faith in something bigger than himself is worth even
ess. Now God did not give us many trails to get to heaven only one-but
one is enough-that trail is not a religion it is a personal relationship with
Jesus Christ. Listen to the first excerpt of the first sermon that was probably
preached outdoors. . . Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has
ade this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said
to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name
of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and
for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them,
“Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted
his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their
number that day.

Tim Mcgraw recorded the Cowboy in us, one portion of the lyrics is We
Ride and Don’t worry about the Fall! If you want to know how a cowboy
can ride a rank horse or bull there it is- we ride and do not worry about
the fall!

The truth about life is -it is both soo good and sometime soo hard we
get on it and ride through it without ever thinking of the fall!

Judy’s story about the dialysis

One of my favorite Old testament prophets was Amos Amos was
a shepherd under the reigns of Uzziah and Jeroboam II Amos, good
man he was. Good shepherd man. Good herdsman. I prefer to think
of him as a cowboy preacher. Amos preached about God’s justice
and righteousness. He condemned all people who made themselves
powerful or rich at the expense of others. And his main message
to the people of Israel was this: Amos 4:12 “Prepare to meet your
God, O Israel.”

And, of course, everyone needs to prepare to meet God in person.
This is a big part of what life is about. We start life with God
(even though we don’t realize this), we continue our lives with God
(even though many people stubbornly refuse to admit this. He is
our sustainer in life). And we end life with Him even though many
people deny this. BUT WE OF ALL PEOPLE SHOULD RECOGNIZE
THIS FACT AND BE HUMBLED BY IT! Life is a preparation to meet
God in person!

Peace in the Valley

Benediction
When I see a windmill, I see the Holy Spirit at work in the life of a believer. First, pneuma is the same Greek word for both wind and Spirit. "The winds
are yourmessengers; flames of fire are your servants" (Psalms 104:4). The
windmill adjuststo the direction of the wind in order to work, just as the
Christian must adjust to the divine Wind in order for life to work. Jesus said, "The wind blows wherever itwants. Just as you can hear the wind but
can't tell where it comes from or where itis going, so you can't explain
how people are born of the Spirit" (John 3:8). The windmill brings forth
life-giving water to a dry and thirsty land, just as Christians are to
overflow with the Living Water of His Spirit! "Whoever believes in me, as
the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.
By this hemeant the Spirit. . ." (John 7:38,39). So, the next time you pass
one of the prairie's whirligigs may you be amazed at the works of God.
Roger Miller

Scripture
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear it’s sound, but you cannot
tellwhere it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born
of the Spirit.” John 3:8 NIV

Turning to Face the Wind
I hear the windmills creek and squeak,
As Wheels turned toward the wind.
Those mills pumped water for the stock
On which our hopes were pinned
The sucker rods moved up and down
While wheels spun round and round
They sucked the fossil water up
For use above ground.
The windmills made life possible
On flat and dry terrain.
They kept the stock tanks well-supplied
Despite infrequent rain.
To us those wooden windmills were
The pyramids of the plains,
More monumental than the ones
Built during pharaoh’s reigns.
My family, too, faced winds head on-
The winds of chance and change
The winds that blew with Blizzard force
And howled across the range.
And like the windmill derricks,
We anchored to that place,
And Turned as did the Windmill Wheels
To face what we must face
Cowboy Poetry (turning to face the Wind) Jane Ambrose Morton

Sentence Prayer
Father
There is neither Sail or windsock that can capture your gust. We all are being
driven home by your mighty gusts. Jerry is at home with you -so Help us adjust
Holy Spirit to the direction you are blowing today. Help us see in your wind
there is no chance or change, that you cannot use for your glory. Help
us anchor enough to this life that we are able to serve you, but may we be free
enough to adjust to your will. Amen

Rom 14:7-8
For none us lives to himself alone
and none of us dies to himself alone.
If we live, we live to the Lord;
and if we die, we die to the Lord.
So whether we live or die we belong to the Lord.

Message
We may have come here to committ Gerald Smith To the
Lord our God Father, Son and Holy Spirit But this is not
the end We who are Christians know,we know that we will
be with Jerry again. Because of the risen savior, our Lord
Jesus Christ Because he lives We shall live also We are a
people full of hope. We are a people who are not Grieved
but full of hope for we know Jerry is at peace with Christ

Committal
In sure and certain hope
of the resurrection to eternal life,
through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Jerry - we commend you to almighty God
and we commit your body to its final resting place,
ashes to ashes, dust to dust

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord,
they will rest from their labor,
for their deeds will follow them.

Prayer
Lord,
Thank you for blessing us with the life of
Jerry
Instill in our hearts,
the knowledge of the hope that we have in you.
Fill us with your love,
and grant us your peace.
Amen

The Cowboy's Prayer" by Badger Clark
O Lord, I've never lived where churches grow;

I love creation better as it stood

That day You finished it so long ago

And looked upon Your work and called it good.

Just let me live my life as I've begun,

And give me work that's open to the sky;

Make me a pardner of the wind and sun,

And I won't ask for a life that's soft or high.

Make me as wide and open as the plains,

As honest as the horse between my knees,

Clean as the wind that blows behind the rains,

Free as the hawk that circles down the breeze.

Just keep an eye on all that's done and said,

Just right me sometimes when I turn aside,

And guide me on the long, dim trail ahead,

That stretches upwards toward the Great Divide

Benediction
May the Lord hold you and keep you
May the Lord give you comfort
May the Lord shine his face upon you
and give you peace.
Amen

True Wealth

2010-02-23T11:01:00.002-07:00

Have you ever just felt sorry for yourself? Recently, we have had quite a series

of unfortunate financial events. And I was not pleasant to be around, because I

had forgotten the blessings I have. When your desire is for what you do not

have- you are blinded to the treasure in your hand.

Out of the blue, we had a friend show up to volunteer to paint our

house. We had some one feeling very generous give us 5 gallons of paint. I spent

money I did not have taking mynephews out for pizza, and in return found a

connection that I had not experienced in a while. I have a son in the Navy,

who has found his calling in life. A daughter who talks to her dad, as a

friend not a parent, who tells me I am the perfect dad. (Not true-but I

will take it!) I have two children living with us, who tell me they love me!

I have a wife, who has been loyal, loving, and my best friend for 24 years.

No, I have no more cash in the bank-but now that I have stoppedto count

my blessing-I know that I am rich beyond measure.

During these difficult times we all have the tendency to think, we

would be happy if we could just get caught up on the mortgage. We curse

the car repairs that seem to just keep oncoming! The kids growth spurt

and hunger never seems to stop and the grocery kart runneth over! But if

our focus is on life’s challenges we will miss the blessings God has graced

us with!

Christ moved heaven and earth to bring us freedom from guilt-peace with

God and a home in heaven. We are also told time and again in scripture

that the same effortput into saving us, will be put into making us like

Jesus! When is the last time over coffee, you sat real still and

counted the blessing of your friends and what little you have done

to deserve their loyalty? When is the last time you sat with a loved

one and became awed at the love showered on you unconditionally?

During a recession we are tempted to be envious of a raise-a better

financial situation-or house values. But Jesus reminds us. . . .

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,where moth and

rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up

for yourselves treasures in heaven,where moth and rust do not destroy,

and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:19,20

That is exactly what Friendship First Church campaign is all about-

finding the one thing we cannot live without friendship with God

and Other People. Something that can never be taken from us, Love!

Gusts of God

2010-02-11T12:52:00.000-07:00

Father
There is neither Sail or windsock that can capture your gust. We all are being driven home by your mighty gusts. Help us adjust Holy Spirit to the direction you are blowing today. Help us see in your wind there is no chance or change, that you cannot use for your glory. Help us anchor enough to this life that we are able to serve you, but may we be free enough to adjust to your will. Amen

Team Sunday

2010-02-02T21:02:00.005-07:00

Sunday was one of those days, I love as a pastor. There was an abundance of new faces

along with mugs I have gotten used too. The church was filled with every team uniform

to the poor couple who did not know about Team Sunday who dressed up.heir was an

abundance of Bikers and Cowboys. During the service we recognized three past elders,

who have made this church family what it is today. Unofficially still Shepherding

God's children who worship at Elbert Christian Church. A man diagnosed with cancer,

came up at the end of service so the Elders could pray for him. With tears in his

eyes, he said thank you to his God.

After service every one helped people set up displays for their different

ministries. Our attendance for the day was 130, but we had over twenty different

mission people of ECC were involved in. Everything from funeral dinners at ECC to

music ministry seeking to journey to Cameron Africa. Eric and Deborah Johnson are

looking to start an Evangelism Explosion class and Answers in Genesis. Eva's Coffee

bar raised $75 dollars for Hati.

While all of this was going on upstairs, the food servants were downstairs setting

up a tailgating feast. Homemade brats to chips and dips were found. Charlie the

rancher was disappointed for their was no more beef to be had.

I found there was only one problem; at 1:30 after a 10:00 A:M Start time no one was

leaving! I finally had to turn lights off and drop hints like: don't you think it's

time to leave?! I was speechless most churches struggle to get people in the door,

we can't get them to leave!

Thank you Elbert Christian Church-you reminded me once again why it's a Joy to serve

the Lord.

No Line on the Horizon by U2

2009-03-30T18:55:00.002-06:00

I love the New U2 album the lyrics are deep and the music is unique. Let me

share with you the Lyrics from White as Snow.

White as Snow

Where I came from there were no hills at all
The land was flat, the highway straight and wide
My brother and I would drive for hours
Like we had years instead of days
Our faces as pale as the dirty snow

Once I knew there was a love divine
Then came a time I thought it knew me not
Who can forgive forgiveness where forgiveness is not
Only the lamb as white as snow

And the water, it was icy
As it washed over me
And the moon shone above me

Now this dry ground it bears no fruit at all
Only poppies laugh under the crescent moon
The road refuses strangers
The land the seeds we sow
Where might we find the lamb as white as snow

As boys we would go hunting in the woods
To sleep the night shooting out the stars
Now the wolves are every passing stranger
Every face we cannot know
If only a heart could be as white as snow
If only a heart could be as white as snow

http://www.u2.com/discography/lyrics/lyric/song/188

Windmills

2008-12-05T16:04:00.004-07:00

When Pastor Roger sees a windmill, he sees the Holy Spirit at work in the life of a believer. First, pneuma is the same Greek word for both wind and Spirit. “The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are your servants” (Psalms 104:4). The windmill adjusts to the direction of the wind in order to work, just as the Christian must adjust to the divine Wind in order for life to work. Jesus said, “The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can't tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can't explain how people are born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). The windmill brings forth life-giving water to a dry and thirsty land, just as Christians are to overflow with the Living Water of His Spirit! “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. By this he meant the Spirit. . .” (John 7:38,39). So, the next time you pass one of the prairie’s whirligigs may you be amazed at the works of God.
Be God's,
Roger Miller

Redeeming Evil

2008-10-24T21:41:00.002-06:00

I love the book the Shack by William P. Young. Mack accuses God about justifying

pain and evil:Papa replied; "Were not justifying, we are redeeming it." Those seven

words may be the bestapologetic of a Holy God's allowance of the worlds plight.

The Same day I was blessed by experiencing Cash's America. It was the Johnny

Cash's life story. Johnny Cash's life was a journey from justifying his evil, to

finding God's redemption. Johnny is an example a man can be a drug addict and a

saint, struggling to find his God.

One of the best redemption stories in Cash's America, is the story of his older

brother Jack tragic and painful death at the hands of a table saw. At first glance

there is absolutely no redeeming qualities to his painful and unnecessary death. The

Cash family tells that in His final minutes on earth: Jack pleads with his father

that he wants to be with him in heaven one day. So he asks his dad please tell me I

will see you in heaven one day? Ray Cashed promised he would, Jack died

and Ray got on his knees and accepted Jesus as Lord.

Truth be told you are God's story of redeeming evil. No one but you knows where you

are in the story; lost, lusting or longing for God's light. But know that no matter

the evil or good you have known you are God's Child. Papa wants you home in His

arms.

Be God's

Roger Miller

2008-10-17T14:58:00.004-06:00

Book Review of Nick and Norah’s infinite Playlist by Rachael Cohn &

David Levithan by Roger Miller

Nick and Norah’s infinite playlist is about hope. Hope cannot exist in the past. In the book Nick

and Norah are hopeless because they are stuck in past relationships with their ex’s. In fact when

hope is directed toward the past it becomes despair. Hope cannot exist in anything we already

have. Hope can only exist in the future. The Play list is a story about one existential night of

club hopping while Nick invites Norah to be his five minute girl friend. Existentialism –living for

the now-without different characters, plot and possible endings will only lead to a hopeless

existence. The book ends hopeful for Nick and Norah because their discovery of each other,

allows them to bury their past and hop on the A Train into the future. Hopefully together. The

highest and most noble thought in Nick and Norah’s infinite playlist is Norah’s concept of Tikkun

olam. Tikkun olan is the Jewish concept that means to repair or perfect God’s world. Norah has a

slightly different view when she states: “Exactly. Basically, it says that the world has been

broken into pieces. All this chaos, all this discord. And our job-everyone’s job-is to try to put the

pieces back together. To make things whole again.” (143) Then Nick comes up with insight when

he says: Maybe we’re the Pieces. . . Maybe, “ I say, “what we’re supposed to do is come

together. That’s how we stop the breaking.” This is a challenge to the reader to ask: is the

shocking and chaotic song that opens the book by Dev: “F____ the Man/F____ the Man/I

really want to F_______ the man” (1)-ever put pieces back together or will it just break the

world more. All of western thought says that what we think, what we sing, what we visualize

leads us to either wholeness or brokenness. Instead, it will be songs like Ludlow that Nick

composes, that will lead to Tikkun Olam. “Who will apologize for how we are? Who will navigate

when we’ve gone this far? Answer me Answer this Answers all the questions that I’m too afraid

to ask! (114) This is one of the books flaws it is in the young adult Genre and I am sure that the

authors youngest readers can not see that all the shocking graphic language and sexuality only

brings the brokenness to Nick and Norah’s world. While it is Nick and Norah’s love- expressed in

Ludlow is what brings wholeness. It saddens and angers me as a parent that this book received

glowing reviews, there has to better coming of age books for my children. Nick and Norah’s

infinite playlist receive praise for the realistic portrayal of the New York Club scene for Teens.

Here is what the School Library Journal wrote: The passion and intelligence of these characters,

along with the authors’ intimate knowledge and complete respect for their audience, make this

novel unique.” This is what I find objectionable the authors respect and seeming approval of the

club scene that has left Nick, Norah and their friends broken and angry. The pornographic world

they live in receives so much respect from the authors it glitters. Instead, of the raw reality of

Nick and Norah’s stalled life just like His Yugo, maybe because it has been immersed in a world

of filth. Parents only the strong of heart will be able to wade through the shocking world of Nick

and Norah’s vulgarity and sexuality with little redemptive value. Because of these factors it is

my opinion it is not a appropriate book for teens.

The concept of nobility has as much to with a person’s worldview as it does with his family tree.

To be noble meant to be “High-Minded.” It is not about arrogance or being exclusive it is a

person who seeks that which is most honorable. Literature is the doorway to the highest

thoughts , principles and motivations. So it saddens me that a popular book portrays young

adults first sexual experience in the Ice Room at the Marriot. It angers me that this book

accurately shows that many parents are absent in their teens journey to adult hood. It angers

me as a parent that many educators believe and teach books such as Nick and Norah’s infinite

play list will build a more noble and hopeful world.

Indicator Species by Lee Pitts

2008-08-19T06:08:00.003-06:00

I can not believe it has been 4 months since I posted-a very busy summer. I read this article during the fair and it had a deep impact on me and wish to share it with others.

Some scientists say that the existence of mankind is melting away because some Polar bears are disappearing faster than a bag of marijuana at a Puff Daddy Concert. We are told that polar bears are an "indicator species", much like the canary who was taken into mine shafts to warn miners that they'd best be searching for daylight when the bird fell of it's perch.

I have no argument with the concept of indicator species, I just think that instead of polar bears there are specimenns much closer to home to keep an eye on to tell us when Armageddon will arrive. Here are my top 10 indicator species. . .

*Bee Keepers: Look in your Yellow Pages and you'll find they are as easy to find as knees on a bee. Their disaperance wouldn't be as much of a concern if one-third of the food we eat didn't result from bee pollination. They may not be as cuddly as polar bears but I think we should be far more worried about their disappearance.

*Sheep Shearers: These folks are disapearing faster than lambs in Wyoming. There are a couple of reasons for this and they have nothing to do with global warming. Our sheep industry has been exported to New Zealand and Austrailia and the shearers are all making more money clipping humans at Supercuts. I think my last haircut was given to me by an intoxicated and blindfolded sheep shearer. I smelled like KRS for a week.

*Blacksmiths: One day we'll pay for parking the horse and carriage in favor of the automobile. And with gas at $4 a gallon I think that time is rapidly approaching. When we do finally come to our senses all the blacksmiths will be making Jewelery, tongue studs and wrought iron security gates.

*Chicken Farmers: Chickens used to be raised on 95 percent of our farms but now they are as rare as a bunkhouse Feng Shui expert. I think there are only three left.

*Knitters: Remember when grandmas passed the time by knitting instead of yanking on slot machines? If we ever get into a war with China we're all gonna be running around naked because no one knows how to make their own clothes anymore.

* Livestock Auctioneers: Oh, sure there are more auctioneers than ever, but they are all selling foreclosed real estate. The three meat packers left are trying to put livestock auctioneers out of business. . . right along with true price discover.

* Logging Truck Drivers: Be honest now-when was the last time you were run off the road by a logging truck? The few logging truck drivers that somehow managed to survive the spotted owl are not being wiped out by $4 diesel. If you don't think this is serious go the lumber yard and ask the price for a 2-by-6-redwood board.

* Knife Sharpners: There used to be an agreeable fellow who came by the place on a regular basis to sharpen our knives and scissors. Lately though this indicator species has been harder to find than an NFL linebacking interior decorator. This is too bad because we import more of our beef and other meat from Brazil, Argentina and 30 other countries around the world we are going to need much sharper tableware.

*Large Animal Veterinarians. These are harder to find in vet schools these days than male students. They are about as popular as farrowing crates. This is a concern to me and my fellow aging baby boomers who won't be able to afford medical advice, and assorted ointments and salves, when the vet comes to the ranch to preg check the cows.

*Trappers: When Congressmen start coming in close contact with all the wolves and mountain lions they stocked our backyards with they'll come to their senses and start paying people to get rid of them. Just like we used to do before we handed over our government to English majors, lawyers and overeducated urbanites who seem to care more about saving fairy shrimp than they do kids.

The Cowboy in Me

2008-03-27T06:34:00.003-06:00

The Cowboy in me want to ride rough shod over life.
The Christ in my attempts self-giving

The Cowboy in me wants to be drunk with the pleasures of this life.
The Christ in me is driven toward the life to come.

The Cowboy in me was build by the Barbwire of rejection and the burning sun of disappointment.
The Christ in me is crucified daily in the attempt to love my enemies as the Son has love me.

The Cowboy in me refuses to admit the sin of pride and anger.
The Christ in me holds out hope that God can be seen in all men, even prideful ones.

The Cowboy in me wants to ride against the wind, with the wind blowing away all my responsibilities.
The Christ in me calls me to row against the wind with a cargo of lost souls.

The Cowboy and the Christ both need the blood of Jesus to find a way to the bunkhouse.

Sinner's Prayer

2008-02-25T21:03:00.004-07:00

Who are You ? 2 Sinners Prayer? February 17, 2008
Roger Miller

The Sago Mine disaster was a coal mine2006. The Sago Mine in Sago West Virginia, the blast and ensuing aftermath trapped thirteen miners for nearly two days only one of whom survived. What went on in the final hours in that mine? We may have never known this side of heaven what happened in that mine in those final hour except for Randal McCloy On April 26 wrote a letter to the families of the 12 men killed in that mine detailing what happened in those final hours. "We were worried and afraid," McCloy wrote, "but we began to accept our fate. Junior Toler led us all in the Sinner's Prayer."

The Church of Christ the Christian Church has been criticized for it opposition to the sinners Prayer.
Because of our non-use of the prayer some have put the cult label on us! Some of this criticism has been justified because. . . Over the years ago I heard sermons and conversations in which a Church of Christ preacher would ask the question, "Can a man who is trapped in a cave and can't get to water to be baptized get to heaven?" His answer was absolutely not. Some may have went on to discuss why Mother Teresa is in hell and why the man on his motorcycle that dies in a crash on his way to being baptized is in hell.

Those type of preachers would give absolutely no credence to the belief that those miners who didn't know Jesus before praying the "Sinner's Prayer" could be in Paradise right now. He would argue since they weren't baptized in water there's no way they could be there. There are a lot of people and Bible scholars who would share the preacher's sentiments.

I'm as firm a believer in people being baptized as anyone. Every New Testament example of people being saved involved water baptism. Jesus was baptized. There's so much important symbolism in baptism. I've heard one writer refer to baptism as "the believer's wedding ceremony". I think everyone should be baptized.

In the situation of the Sago miners, I believe with all my heart that if their "Sinner's Prayer" was sincere (as I believe it was) that God heard it. What business of it is mine or anybody else to decide or declare whether or not those men got to go to be with the Lord or not? Is not Judging man-Gods Job? The bigger question is shouldn't we all hope they're there? What’s the Big Deal? Most people point to Romans 10:9-13 as the basis for the "Sinner's Prayer". That passage reads: "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

The examples I found of the "Sinner's Prayer" were almost all like this one:

“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from his day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”

What an incredible, scripture-based prayer! As the fumes and smoke literally sucked the life out of that hole in Sago, can you imagine the peace and comfort that prayer must have brought the men who had never prayed it before? Can you picture the tears in the eyes of the men who already knew the Lord as they heard these men pray this prayer?

So What the Big Deal? Why does the Christian Church oppose the sinners Prayer? In Romans 10:9- 10 we’re introduced to a Greek word that means "to say the same thing." It’s the Greek word "homologeo" (“homo" = same; "logeo" = say). This is the word that is translated "confession," and Paul tells us that confession is part of what we do to be saved. There are three Greek words used in the Bible that we translate to the English word, prayer. The first word is "proseuchomai" which means...to pray to God, supplicate, worship, make prayer. The second Greek word for prayer is "parakaleo" which also is a compound word. "Para" means "near, beside, equal" and "kaleo" means "to call or bid". When put together the two words mean to call or bid someone who is on an equal level with us. The third Greek word for prayer is "deomai" which means "to beg or petition...as binding oneself". It implies a very urgent need. The problem the restoration has with the sinners prayer is the word prayer is not found in Romans 10:9-13. Our motto is where the scripture speak we speak and where the scriptures are silent we are silent! We are for prayer, but against adding to God’s instructions and that is what we feel the sinner prayer does! Second problem we have with the sinners prayer is, well do you remember how we talked about last week the best way to understand the Bible is to use the scripture to understand hard to understand verses? Once again, if this were the only verse about confession or calling on the name of the Lord-it would be easy to make the leap that confession is prayer. Paul the writer of Romans I believe is going back to his own day ofsalvation. Luke recording in Acts 22: 12-15 Paul or Saul’s Conversion writes: A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. 13He stood beside me and said, 'Brother Saul,receive your sight!' And at that very moment I was able to see him. 14"Then he said: 'The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16And now what are you waiting for? Get up,be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.' Notice Luke the writer of acts uses a different word for confession: Calling on his Name but it is the same concept as Romans 10:9.
From this passage is it not clear that Paul is alluding to his public confession of Christ at his baptism? Once again Prayer is not in the passage! When you speak where scripture speaks and are silent where it is silent you have issues with man’s additions and subtractions with the text! What is it that we need to confess? We need to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. God wants us to say is the same thing that:* Peter said in Matthew 16:16 “You are the Christ the Son of the Living God (Let’s say that together) * Martha said in John 11 when Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world." SO, God wants us to “say the same thing.” What does history teach us? As followers of Christ, we have to be on the offensive against the attitude that the way we have always done it is God’s way! Wrong! Most of history-a Majority of God’s children have made a mess of God instructions-including me-Including you-Including your saintly grand mother! Thank Goodness for God’s Grace and Mercy! Remember from last week three additions to God instructions was the teaching of Original sin, and indulgences! Then Came the teaching of purgatory, when you die if you have venial sins that are not forgiven you go to a place called purgatory to be punished for your sins and when you are punished long enough then you go into heaven. No where in scripture are we are sent to a temporary place to purge us from our unforgiven sins.

Only the blood of Christ can purify us from sin, we can not purge ourselves from sin! Many of the European cathedrals where financed through indulgences. A priest would be designated as a fundraiser, He may come to Elbert and offer a sliver of the original cross and a hundred years less in purgatory for a 1000 dollars. So after you bought enough of these indulgences you might as well indulge in sin because your time in purgatory has all been paid up for.

This dramatically changed the teaching of Salvation, The church over hundreds of years shifted from adult baptism to infant baptism. From immersion to sprinkling. From a repentant heart full of faith, to no faith with the church as the saving agent! By the time the reformation came along Apostolic teaching of salvation was virtually lost, the new cry became by faith alone-most threw out baptism because of the vast heresies of the dark ages .

One of man’s solutions was the Mourners Bench. Out of the doctrine of original sin came the tradition of the mourner’s bench and alter call. The bench is about 20" to 25" high and several feet long. Sometimes it is covered with padding, and it is known to be a place of outbreaks of tears over sin. No one is certain how the first altar call happened, but most historians lay it at the feet of early Methodists. But the concept goes all the back to the Calvinist tradition which believed that men were called only to wait on God for their salvation. They prayed for special feeling of the heart or a vision to confirm they were of the elect. At one time in history the sinner prayer was almost unheard of and the mourners bench was front and center. It is a reminder that man is really adapt at adding and subtracting from God’s directions. WE all must be very careful! Because, If one wants to be saved, he must be saved according to God's will (Matt. 7:21).

The “sinner’s prayer” probably evolved, in some form or another, in the early days of the Protestant Reformation movement, as a misguided reaction against the Roman Catholic dogma of justification by means of meritorious works. For example, Jacobus Faber (c.1450-1536), who has been called “the father of the French reformation” wrote a commentary on the epistles of Paul in 1512. (This was fiveyears before Luther’s break with the Roman
Church in Germany.) In this volume Faber argued that justification is obtained through faith without works . Later, rebelling against the “merit works” system of Romanism, Luther would contend that salvation is on the basis of “faith alone.”
The Roman Catholic Church epitome of meritorious works was infant baptism, so in protest baptism was slowly left out. The sinners prayer has flourished because it is compatible with modern media. While the mourners bench originated about the same time, I believe it has faded from the seen because it is difficult to invite 10,000 at a Large revival to come forward and to wail and mourn seeking god’s confirmation of salvation. And if T.V. and Radio Evangelist had to ask their audience to find a bench or a baptistery-they may be out of a work. The sinners prayer is terribly convenient to man, but can not be found in God’s instruction book the bible! But the question I have is why did God choose baptism? Personally I think for three reasons it is a humbling act to be dunked in water publicly! You can not Biblically baptize your self, it requires another person, Christ made us to be in a community-so it should begin in a community! Lastly, most baptisms are done inside a church building or in the presence of a church family, the church is the mother that raises God’s children. So baptism is done in and with community not like a distant and independent sinners prayer that can be done over the airwaves! What would I say to Randall L. McCoy? I would say I am Confident in God’s Mercy to make an exception for your friends who sincerely prayed the sinners prayer.

The answer to this question is found in the character of God. Listen Psalms 103: 10 share with us the character of God: He (God) does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us our sins deserve or repay us according
to our iniquities. Ps 103:10 NIV Would a God of love reject an honest heart? No way. Would a God of mercy and kindness condemn any seeking soul? Absolutely not. Having called you and died for you would he cast you away because of a curious sequence of events? Inconceivable. Is it possible for an unbaptized believer t o be saved? Yes, definitely. Should every One be baptized? Yes, definitely. Listen to how the Character of God comes through Jesus hanging on the cross in his love for the thief to which he says: Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 20:43 the thief on the cross, however, is a crucial exception. His conversion drives dogmatists crazy. It is no accident that the first one to accept the invitation of the crucified Christ has no creed, confirmation, christening, or catechism. How disturbing to theologians to ascend the mountain of doctrine only to be greeted by an uneducated thief who cast his lot with Christ. Here is a man who never went to church, never gave an offering, never was baptized, and said only one prayer. But that prayer was enough. He has a crucial role in the gospel drama. The thief reminds us that though our dogma may be airtight and our doctrine dead-center, in the end it is Jesus who saves. Does his story negate the importance of obedience?

No, it simply puts obedience in proper perspective. Any step taken is a response to a salvation offered, not an effort at salvation earned. In the end, God has the right to save any heart, for he and only he sees the heart. That is the position of the Christian Church-Only God can make exceptions-as men we have no right to add or
subtract from scripture-so I have a responsibility as a follower of Christ and a teacher to follow scripture as close as possible trusting God’s grace to overcome my weaknesses and sins!

What would I say to Randall L. McCoy if he said to me, I prayed the sinners prayer in that mine and I do not want to be baptized. I would first point out that Once a person admits his sin and turns to Christ for salvation, some step must be taken to proclaim to heaven and earth that he is a follower of Christ. Baptism is that step. Baptism is the initial and immediate step of obedience by one who Has declared his faith to others. So important was this step that, as far as we know, every single convert in the New Testament was baptized. With the exception of the thief on the cross, there is no example of an unbaptized believer. Second, I would say Randy think about your response for a moment. God humbles himself by leaving heaven and being born in a feed-trough. The God of the universe eats human food, feels human feelings, and dies a sinner’s death. He is spat upon, beaten and stripped naked, and nailed to a cross. He takes our eternal condemnation on himself in our place. He then offers salvation as a free gift and asks that we say yes to him in baptism and someone responds, “I don’t want to.” Such logic does not add up. Such resistance doesn’t reveal a problem with baptism. Such resistance spells trouble of the soul. It reveals a problem of the heart. I am confident that it reveals a unrepentant heart! A person refusing to obey God does not need a study of the sacrament. He needs a long, hard examination of the soul. The incongruity puzzled even Jesus. “Why do you call me‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things I ask?” (Lk. 6.46). Or listen to James; You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. James 2:24 True believers not only offer their sins, they yield their wills to Christ. Baptism is the initial test of a believing heart. If one won’t obey Christ in baptism, what will he do when He calls shim to obey him in prayer? Or evangelism? Or service?The highest motive for doing anything is because God asks you to do it. The heart of the saved says, “If you want me to be baptized in a pool of Jello, I’ll do it. I may not understand every reason, but neither do I understand how you could save a sinner like me.”

If one is resistant on the first command, one might wonder if there has been a true conversion experience. So Randy if you love and believe in Jesus, if you are willing to turn from your sins and follow God there is no need to refuse or wait-this day declare your faith and commitment to Christ at your baptism!

Conclusion: What is our Hope? Some have called the Christian Church Water regenerationist because we
have emphasized baptism to the point some have left Christ out of the equation. So I am often asked, as a member of the Christian Church is your hope in Baptism-is your hope in doing a ritual in the right way? I respond the same way every time My hope is the same as that of every Christian-My hope is in Jesus the Son of the Living God! Hebrews Points out that Jesus is the Author and perfecter of every believers faith. He is the hero of the Christian Faith. He is the one we practicing walking in his footsteps.

Well Jesus left us an example I believe we should follow. Sinless Jesus is Baptized as an Example for us. Matthew 3:16 Jesus is Baptized as a Adult by being dunked under water. Matthew 3:17 Lastly, Jesus commands us to baptize other believer to declare that they and disciples of Jesus! Matthew 28:19 I am certain that if you love Jesus, but have not been baptized after hearing the truth today your faith will compel you to obey by coming forward to be baptized as we stand to sing!

Kenya

2008-02-25T20:13:00.003-07:00

Elbert Christian Church is attempting to raise $8000.00 to build a church in Kenya for the Massai people. We have a auction coming up on May 10 at the Russel Gates in Elbert Co. We are looking for New or almost new products for donations. This is a great cause because less than 3% of the Massai tribe are follower of Christ.

A Peacock

2007-08-05T20:38:00.000-06:00

All I wanted was one majestic peacock. My local feed store called to inform me that my one

peacock was in. I asked about the guinea's I also ordered for companionship and to teach the pea chick how to eat. They informed me they oversold the guinea's and they no longer had any available, but they had number where I could get Guiena's. I went home and made a temporary cage, for the pea chick. Called the guiena owners they told me they wher just a little east and north outside of Kiowa. Thirty miles later several pasture trails later, I discover the little community of Bijou. Meet a pet llama who try's to mug me and meet George and Marla. They have every conceivable pet imaginable. It was not a matter of them loading me up with Guinea's Noo! They had them trained to the vocal command of Guiena, to come back to their pen. I first needed guiena instruction. Then I was given the nickel tour of over 3oo guiena and each of their history. Then I was sold a pair of turkey's and 30 guiena's.

Arriving home I discovered my cute little kittens had figured out how to extract the pea chick from his temporary cage and had consumed my $30 Pea Chick!

So here I was with 30 guineas and two turkeys-three counting me and no pea chick!

Since the kittens ate the pea chick, I couldn't have them eating the Guinea hens-so I went to the big R and bought a cage, a water bottle and two feed pens. $110 later I had everything for my Guinea / turkeys-but no pea chick!

But is that not the way it is-we move heaven and earth to acquire a want-to find out it was dust in the wind! Our wants takes us further than we had planned and often does not leaves us until we are busted and broken!

Be God's

Roger Miller

Big Day

2007-07-03T11:54:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was a big day for me and my son who turned 18. How is that possible. It was fun listening to him banter with Aunt Michelle how he was now a man! To think we have traveled together for 18 years and now we are beginning to see the possibilities of what God is building in his life!

Then this morning I read from my Sacred Space;

The Old Testament tradition was not exactly child-centred: "The stick and the reprimand bestow wisdom… Correct your son and he will delight your soul." (Proverbs 29) The Gospels (Matthew 18, 1-10; Mk 9, 35-37) give us a precious glimpse of how Jesus related to children. He gave them time, and touch, and urged the disciples: "Change, and become like little children." Why is theirs the kingdom of heaven? Perhaps because of their sense of wonder, their readiness to be unnoticed, their acceptance of dependence on those who love them. They know what it is to be told off, corrected, punished - and mostly take it in their stride. They are constantly challenged in learning, ready to tackle more new things; they know they have a future and look forward to it. Thank God for children.

Truly Thank God For Children!

Be God's

Roger Miller