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Scripture

 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

~Galatians 6:10, NLT

Quote

“Carry out an Act of Random Kindness with no expectation of reward.”

~Diana Frances Mountbatten-Windsor

Christian ministry involves a risk. Sometimes we get banged up when we get emotional involved with those we are trying to help. Paul had such and experience with the church at Corinth. Paul founded the church and served as it’s first pastor. You would think that would endear the apostle to the Corinthians but not so. They were highly critical of Paul. They did not respect or honor the beloved Missionary. We see the great apostles pain in 2 Corinthians chapters 11-12. Paul was crushed by the Corinthian’s cruel criticism and  blatant indifference. 

To Paul’s credit, he never gave up; never quit the ministry. If any man had reason to feel sorry for himself and throw in the towel, it was Paul. Not only did he refuse to quit, he encouraged us not to quit.  In Galatians 6:9 Paul says…So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Notice the ‘If,’ so do not get discouraged and quit.

• Big day: Deacons Meeting @ 8:15, LCBS @ 9:15, Celebrate Jesus in worship @ 10:15, Celebrate baptism @ 11:15, Visitation for the Buford Burgess family @ 2:00-5:00 in the sanctuary, AWANA @ 5:30, Visitation @ 5:30 and evening worship @ 6:15.
• I will be at DBC this morning {Lord willing} and at Sardis Springs tonight. Pray for Joe David who is preaching twice and me as I start the bible study
• Buford’s COLS is Monday @ 1:00 @ DBC. Burial at Andrews Chapel. Then we will be feeding the family at DBC parlor. Mandy is our HOSTESS. We will furnish the meat, bread and drinks. We need you to bring vegetables and deserts.

Buford and the boys…far left is great grand son Cain.

Crisis

SCRIPTURE

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

~James 1:2, NLT

QUOTE

We learn more from life’s trials than we do life’s triumphs.

~Chip Ingram

The Chinese word for “crisis” (simplified Chinese: 危机; traditional Chinese: 危機; pinyin: wēijī) is frequently invoked in Western motivational speaking because the word is composed of two Chinese characters that can represent “danger” and “opportunity“. Some linguist accuse motivational speakers of taking liberties with the word.

One such case was in a speech by President John F. Kennedy, in Indianapolis on April 12, 1959. In his speech, Kennedy said that, “The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis.’ One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity.”

The word “crisis” (wēijī) consists of two syllables that are written with two separate characters, wēi and jī. . . . While it is true that wēijī does indeed mean “crisis” and that the wēi does convey the notion of “danger,” the jī syllable of wēijī does not literally mean opportunity but it can be translated “Critical or defining moment” which is most always an opportunity.

This same concept is what James has in mind, we should consider trouble [various trials] as opportunities for ministry, spiritual advancement and joy. How did Job respond when the bottom fell out of his world? He did respond nobly with sincere worship but you would not consider his first response one of ecstatic joy. Generally, when trouble comes our way, our first response is and intense struggle with our faith that may lend itself to doubt, discouragement and despair. With time we begin to see God at work in our crisis and we begin learning things that we could never understand a part from the crisis. The joy of the crisis is like the sonic boom that follows a super sonic jet. You see the plane long before you hear the sound. Our first response to crisis will most likely be fear but the joy is coming. In Psalm 30:5 David stated the principle like this: Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

I hate to agree with a democrat but I’m going to concur with Kennedy, a crisis is a critical point that presents both danger and opportunity. Remember the old adage, “Don’t waste your sorrows.”

• It is good to be back on line after being down for two weeks. I am no where near 100% but I am better PTL.  I hope this is not a premature celebration but Lord willing I will be blogging daily again: at least that is my prayer. I was able to attend the second service yesterday and see all the babies and children in their Easter outfits. I enjoyed the Praise and worship: The Band, David, the Choir and the Praise and Motion Team were fantastic. I thought Joe David had a great message and I enjoyed the entire service and that includes the offerings.
• At this time we do not know what the treatment will be for the back and sciatic nerve. They may do an MRI next week. I stay on the steroids this week. Barring a miraculous turn around, I doubt that I can be back in the pulpit for a couple of more weeks. We will play it by ear.

Opposition Knocks

SCRIPTURE

What are these weak Jews doing? Do they think we will leave them alone? …They cannot bring stones back to life from these piles of trash and dirt…“What do these miserable Jews think they are building? If even a small fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!”

~Nehemiah 4:2, ERV

QUOTE

The chief danger of the Church today is that it is trying to get on the same side as the world, instead of turning the world upside down. Our Master expects us to accomplish results, even if they bring opposition and conflict.

~A. B. Simpson

Nehemiah’s mission was to build a wall around Jerusalem: Satan’s objective was to stop him. We must remember that Satan has no ethical boundaries–he plays by no rules. He is a creature of habit and some of his moves are predictable but he has no scruples. One of Satan’s favorite tools is ridicule. He uses ridicule to discourage us. Most people, no matter how well intentioned will quit given enough discouragement. The devil in not only ruthless, he is relentless.

• My first report on the Wednesday night attendance was wrong…we had 202 which I think is 3 weeks in a row over 200.
• We made the final decision today. We will have our FALL STEW on October 29. I think we will start at 5:30 and serve as long as folks keep coming. No AWANA classes or Worship….Stew and Hayrides.
• FRONT PEW SHOWER for Katie Sparkman this Sunday morning. It’s triplets! Girls!
• Baby Shower for Zack and Kimie Cochrane Saturday 2:00-4:00 at the home Sandy and Bruce Lee Cochrane.
• TODAY WE PRAY FOR FAMILY.
• We are grateful to Bobby Stork of Grand Bay, Alabama. We are going to watch a video Sunday that Bobby sent us and we use a lot of his stuff in the DIGEST which is getting more popular in spite of myself. Thank you Bobby.
• Today is a travel day for me: LORD willing I will be leaving for Rome early this morning. I am going to see my Uncle Floyd in Rome, Georgia. I hope I get to drive in the rain. I love rain.

Uncle Floyd and a Great

REDNECK PICS

You may have to study this one a bit.

Hey Jerry, have you seen anything? Not yet Daryl but I smell something!

Whatever

 

SCRIPTURE

Whether respected or loathed, praised or criticized as frauds, yet true, as unknown to this world, and yet well known to God, we serve Him.

~2 Corinthians 6:8-9, The VOICE

QUOTE

The supreme test of service is this: For whom am I doing this? Much that we call service to Christ is not such at all….If we are doing this for Christ, we shall not care for human praise or recognition.

 ~A. T. Pierson

 

Paul was beat down by the time he got to Corinth but he met an encouraging Christian couple there who became life long friends. He stayed with them until his team could join him. Between the friendship of this couple, the reunion with his traveling companions and a vision where the LORD speaks to Paul and encourages him, Paul’s spirit is renewed. Paul stayed in Corinth for 18 months as the LORD worked through him to establish a church. After Paul founded the church and moved on, other pastors and teachers worked with the Corinthian congregation. Over time, Paul became unappreciated. Apollos who followed Paul at Corinth was an eloquent speaker: he and some of the other apostles became more popular than Paul. The Corinthian church became very critical of Paul, especially his ability to preach. They said some real ugly things about his speech and his appearance. Paul was a proud man but in II Corinthians he lowers his guard, defends himself and lashes out at the Corinthians [2 Corinthians 11].

Paul was human; there is no question that the Corinthians hurt him deeply but though discouraged, he did not give way to despair.  He was afflicted but not crushed, they knocked him down but not out. After processing all this and more, Paul came up with this affirmation of faith: Whether respected or loathed, praised or criticized, we will serve Christ. Bottom line for Paul was motive: he was driven by the love of Christ. Paul was committed to serving Christ whether appreciated or not. Over time, he learned to play to an audience of ONE. After all, if we do not please Christ, nothing else matters.

• Great holiday: Thank You Jesus. I got to use my new smoke house and also got to read a lot. Family came over for supper and then we had a bean bag tournament. JD and Lara went undefeated.
• Busy day today; Lord willing I will be all over North Alabama. Remember Mandy is in Gulf Shores and Shohn and Clara are at Childrens in B’ham so don’t expect anyone to answer phones. I have to be there first thing to take care of some business and then I will be on the road all day. Clara started running fever so she did not get to come home as planned. I think they have more test to run on Steve.
• I have not forgotten about the IMB debacle but I haven’t had time to get any answers if there are any to get. They certainly did not answer them 3 years ago and they will not respond to my emails. I suppose they want to hear from the affirmatives only. I may be the only one in the entire SBC concerned about this but being alone in a cause or an opinion has never stopped me before. I am just a voice in a wilderness but I will not be silent unless someone can explain what is going on. When I get the Royal-Run-A-Round, I know someone is hiding something. I repeat, “Why was the IMB promoting and giving as a gift, Platt’s book RADICAL? They could not or would not give me an answer. Someone is the board made a decision to promote hyper-Calvinism and now that have elected the spokesman for the Reform Movement. Mark my word, it will be destructive to the convention and it will destroy Missions as we know it. Their Mission will not be the gospel, it will be propagating reform theology. This is not the 20th century version of Calvinism: those people were uneducated and proud of their ignorance. They made fun of preachers who went to college and Seminary. This new brand is highly intellectual but not all has changed: you can spot them by their arrogance. They are convinced they have all the answers. Give them a couple of years and they will explain the trinity.

A Discouraging Word

SCRIPTURE

Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.

~Proverbs 12:18, NLT

QUOTE

God has given us two ears, but one tongue, to show that we should be swift to hear, but slow to speak. God has set a double fence before the tongue, the teeth and the lips, to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our tongue.

~Thomas Watson

The impetus, like Peter, talk and think at the same time. The wise think before they speak. The careless speak without thinking at all and the malicious think before they speak but use their words to cut, harm and discourage. A careless slip of the tongue is one thing but a premeditated and malicious cutting remark is another. The tongue can be used for good or evil. With the tongue, we can praise God or curse man who is made in God’s image; we can use it for healing or hurting; for encouraging or discouraging. Let me share a secret that every servant of God must learn to survive without a root of bitterness. Every lie comes from the devil. When you and I do not tell the truth, our inspiration comes from the devil. Not only does the lie originate with Satan, so does discouraging words. You must learn to discern between constructive and destructive criticism. God never discourages His children. One last thing: the devil uses people: good people, bad people, sane people, crazy people…he doesn’t care so long as they act in a way that is discouraging.

• Today we pray for TEACHERS
• Catfish and Sally go in today. Huntsville Women and Children I think.
• AWANA Fun night and Family picnic tomorrow night and we have changed the time to 6:00 pm. We provide the burgers, dogs, buns, mustard and ketchup. You bring drinks, homemade ice cream or anything that will compliment burgers and dogs. Check Facebook for the blow ups. Those are the ones that are coming. I could dunk on that basketball court if I didn’t have a bad back.
• You have until Thursday at closing time to get the stuff for Bro. Bryan’s Mission: We leave Saturday morning at 7:30 am.
• Friday is the SENIOR ADULT LUNCHEON at 11:30. We also feed the football team breakfast at 7:00 and we are hosting 5th quarter after the ball game.

Courage

SCRIPTURE

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

~Joshua 1:9, NIV

QUOTE

Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.

~C. S. Lewis

Courage is not something we associate with every day life. It is a word we reserve for heroism in battle or in risking one’s life to save another. If you give it thought, courage is more common than you think. The dictionary defines courage as the ability to face something that frightens you, something dangerous, difficult or painful. It is also the  strength in the face of pain or grief. Let’s be honest, some of us are going to need courage to face tomorrow.

Remember, it is not God’s will for us to live in fear; neither does He will that we give way to discouragement or despair. The first verse I memorized was Psalm 56:3, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You [God].”

Some things to remember:

1. God is never the author of our fear of man.
2. God never does anything to discourage us.
3. The devil is a terrorist and his objective is to frighten. He is a play ground bully.
4. Anytime anyone tries to intimidate you: it is of the devil. He is the author of intimidation. God does not intimidate. He  can accomplish His purposes without intimidation.

• It has been a week and it is not over…We got word yesterday morning that Esmer Lee {Banks} Anders had departed this world sometime in the night. Visitation will be Sunday 11:00-1:00 with the COLS at 1:00 which means I will be leaving DBC and going straight to Pecks.
• COLS for Mrs. Eloise Maddox is this morning at 11:00.
• Got by to see Kenny Holladay yesterday: feeling tolerable, not good but able to sit up and conversate. Chemo did zap his strength.
• We made three trips to UCLA in two days: Seth Graduated yesterday morning and Jeremy Dwayne last night. There were 1600 in Jeremy’s class. It took and hour and a half just to call out their names. Started at 6:00 and went to 8:30. Chloe and graduations don’t mix. If you don’t know, UCLA is University of Calhoun Located by Airstrip. I graduated UCLA in 1969, that was 45 years ago. It does not seem possible.
• Full, full slate Sunday: Deacon’s meeting at 8:00, LCBS at 9:00, Worship Celebration 10:15, COLS at 1:00, WEE Care Graduation at 2:00, Praise and worship at 6:00, AWANA graduation during my Sunday night time and then Pizza in the FORTE.

We Ought To Pray

SCRIPTURE

Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart.

~Luke 18:1, NASB

QUOTE

Anything is a blessing which makes us pray.

~Charles Spurgeon

COMMENTARY

Jesus taught His disciples that at all times they ‘ought’ to pray. In English the word ought means to express obligation. Example: a man ought to pay his debts. The Greek word is three letters ‘dei’ and is pronounced die; it implies necessity. The AV translates ‘dei’ four different ways and all would fit the present context: “Men must pray…Men should pray, Men need to pray and or course, men ought to pray.” The NASB reads… “We ought to pray and not lose heart.” The AV reads, “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” The word faint means to become discouraged which is why some translate it “Men should pray and not give up.” People are not prone to faint from light work but earnest prayer is hard work which is why so few are engaged in the task.

Everybody prays. The last conscious thing we will do on this earth is pray. An atheist will pray in a fox hole or maybe for a fox hole. Jonah sailed with a pagan crew but when the storm hit they prayed, earnestly; unfortunately to a god with a little ‘g’. Don’t tell me you don’t pray, I know you pray and so do I: the question is: “Do we pray as we ought?”

EXTRA

• June and I are packing: we will be headed for Mobile later on today [Saturday].
• We have everything lined up for Sunday: you will not miss me this time. We have the donuts and biscuits covered.
• On this day last year it was 60 degrees and overcast.
• I spent Friday in retreat at Thomas and Penny’s cabin. It was good for me. I need to do that one day a week. One of my goals for 2013 was to build me a reading house to put on Ray’s branch. Maybe I will get that accomplished in 2014. The pics below are not Thomas’ cabin but his is very nice. I was sitting at the kitchen bar eating a lean cuisine and I looked up and there was a squirrel looking at me out of the corner of his eye. It spooked me for a minute. When I sat back down at the table I notice a deer looking right at me. Both were stuffed of course. If you’ve seen Beauty and the Beast, Thomas decorates like Gaston.

Kinkade’s Cabin On A Lake

What a place to retreat: TYJ!

The Cross My Hope

Pray For MY HOPE

SCRIPTURE

Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised want to look good to others. They don’t want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save.

~Galatians 6:12

QUOTE

At the heart of the story stands the cross of Christ where evil did its worst and met its match.
– John W. Wenham

COMMENTARY

I don’t think an hour passes during the day that my thoughts are not on MY HOPE. The DVD is out and I previewed it yesterday, I was not disappointed. When I heard that it was 28 minutes, I feared that it would be a hard sell but I was wrong. Listen folks, all you have to do is get your friends to watch this video: if it does not move them, a messenger from hell would not move them. I am hearing some good reports from Matthews but mostly negative. Matthews do not be discouraged. I am sure that I have been a part of the problem but I am going to encourage you from this point on. I am praying for you today, that God will lay names on your heart as He has mine. Don’t give up! Never, never, never give up! We have some new people coming on board. I believe this DVD will be shown in its entirely on FOX and it is a powerful witness. I sent out 6 invitation yesterday to our Friday night party. Before the week is over, we will invite everyone in our neighborhood to the Thursday night party. With the help of some partners, we are hosting a third-party on Sunday night for youth. Don’t get discouraged, we are going see God work. Pray everyone and Matthews–get those invitations out this week if possible.

EXTRA

• I see a lot of potential in MY HOPE. The DVD’s will make great Christmas gifts. We are going to see if we can get a deal on the best of the Duck Dynasty books and put that with the MY HOPE DVD and make some visits between now and Christmas. I know I want one for everyone in my neighborhood.
• Vellene’s surgery went well: the doctor said that a second surgery was necessary in this field about 50% of the time. He said this should do the trick.
• We had a pumpkin carving at our house last night with all 9 Grands participating. I think the Chloe bug is a year or two away from getting into it: her attention span is increasing. It has moved from 3 seconds to 4. I thought one of the kids would send me a pic but they didn’t and it’s too early to bug them.

Slice My Wrist!

SCRIPTURE: If You plan to continue giving me their troubles, kill me now. If You accept me as Your servant, let me die now. Then I will be finished with all my troubles.”  [Numbers 11:15, ERV]

QUOTE: The only place where your dream becomes impossible is in your own thinking. ~Harold Schuller

COMMENTARY: Moses had the dubious task of leading over one million Israelites through a wilderness. These Israelites had a slave’s mentality, and yet they were rebels at heart. They were poor at taking instructions and following them and they were incessant complainers. Of all their faults, I think the complaining discouraged Moses most. A complaining spirit is the mirror opposite of a thankful spirit. There is no such thing as a “Grateful Complainer.” In today’s text, the Israelites get sick of quail and Moses get’s sick of the Israelites complaining. He was so discouraged that he ask the LORD to take him out…kill me now, let me die now.

In Numbers 11 the Israelites are complaining about not having meat in their diet…they are sick of the manna. Of course God could hear their complaints and eventually Moses becomes aware of their complaining. Like all spiritual leaders, he takes it personally and is ready to throw in the old proverbial towel. When Moses approaches the LORD about the problem, he says, “LORD, I have over 600,000 fighting men to take care of plus the old, the young, and the females. Where am I to get meat to feed this ungrateful horde. If we butcher all our livestock, it will not feed this congregation of rebels for more than a month and then what will we do? If we had a place to fish, we would have to fish 24/7 to feed this mob. What do you expect me to do, pull rabbits out of my turban?”

The LORD said to Moses. “Are you kidding me? Did I ask you to do anything? Are you placing limits on what I can do. Don’t you realize that I have thousands of things I can do that you have never imagined. You just relax and I will show you what I can do. [Numbers 11:21-23, JEV]

The LORD did something new, something unimagined, something unforeseen. He caused a strong wind to blow and it blew quail into the camp. At places the birds were 3 feet thick. The Israelites were excited and began cleaning the birds and drying them in the sun. However, the party didn’t last long: the birds made them sick. They got what they wanted and it made them sick.

Lessons To Be Learned–

1. Don’t complain–God takes it personal.
2. Be careful what you ask God for–He may give it to you.
3. Don’t put limits on what God can do. He rarely does the same thing twice. His power and resources are infinite.

EXTRA

• Big Mama says this is locust winter and we have one more winter to go–blackberry which is usually close to June
• Todays schedule: Deacon’s meeting at 8:00, Facilitators 8:30, LCBS 9:00, Worship 10:15 and THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE at 5:30. I know that our small group lessons are sequential but if someone showed up today for the first time, it would be worth it. Today’s insights are new to me. I had never heard them and they are good. I can’t see where anyone could not be benefited from participating.

VBS June 3-7

Don’t Give Up!

SCRIPTURE: So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. [Galatians 6:9, NRSV]

QUOTE: No act of kindness done in Jesus name will ever go unrewarded. ~Yaakov

COMMENTARY: We must not tire in doing what is right. The ERV reads, “We must not give up.” When we have the opportunity to do something good and kind for someone else, we should do it. We especially need to encourage fellow believers by our acts of kindness. I’m 63 years old, I know what it is like to be tired. It is easy to grow weary but we must not grow weary in doing what is right and good. Are you tired of sin? Are you tired of strife and envy? Are you tired of petty jealously? Are you tired of deceit, the hidden agenda? Are you tired of hearing people complain? Are you tired of seeing people suffer? Are you tired of failure and disappointment? So am I but it is no excuse to quit. Write a card…make a call…send a text…bake a cake or batch of cookies…do an act of kindness for someone. It is the right thing to do. Don’t be discouraged and don’t quit. Every act of kindness is a good seed that will produce a wonderful harvest someday.

EXTRA: Continue to pray for the Burcham family. I visited with them again yesterday morning and will be going back today LORD willing. Jeremy’s Granddad is also in DGH. His first name is Milton and he is 87. He is recovering from a fall that resulted in a broken shoulder. Kenneth Harp will have surgery Tuesday a.m. in Birmingham.  We rescheduled the SENIOR ADULT LUNCHEON for next Friday due to the forecast of bad weather. That almost guarantees that the bad weather will not happen but that’s OK by me.

The Buttom one week ago yesterday.