BEING REAL

 

Being Real by Charles R. Swindoll Mark 1:35   Dave Cowens, one-time star basketball center for the Boston Celtics, disappeared. Without warning, he walked off the practice court, showered, dressed, and drove away. Alone.   He kept driving to . . . somewhere. His only explanation was the familiar comment, "I need to get my head together." He added that it could take as little as two weeks or as much as ten years. The sportscasters, management, team, spectators, and fans couldn't imagine what he was looking for.   I could. The Carpenters used to do a number that helps explain the superstar's puzzling reaction. It's a peaceful soul-song that talks about needing a place to hide away . . . to be quiet . . . to think things through . . . to reflect.   Perhaps that's what the Boston superstar was trying to say. He had everything imaginable---fame, possessions, job security, a strong body, lots of bucks---but maybe at that moment in his life he lacked something far more important. Something like a sense of purpose and inner fulfillment. Something which basketball and all its benefits could never provide. An inner itch that can't be scratched by achievement or people or things or activities. To scratch it requires a great deal of internal searching, which the athlete felt he couldn't do and still keep pace with the maddening NBA schedule.   To "find yourself" requires that you take time to look. It's essential if you want to be a whole person, real to the core.   Now, I'm not advocating that one suddenly stop everything else so he or she can work the hide 'n' seek process. That's rather unrealistic even if you aren't the starting center for an NBA franchise. It's a little like removing an anthill in your backyard with six sticks of TNT. Or like setting your car on fire because the engine knocks. Learning to be whole isn't prompted by copping out. But there are times in all our lives when we need to back away, slow down, stay quiet, think through, be still.   "I'd rather burn out than rust out!" shouts the zealot. Frankly, neither sounds very appealing to me. Either way you're out. People who are burning out may start a lot of fires and stir up a lot of noise and smoke. But who cares---if everything turns to ashes? People who are rusting out may move about as slowly as a sloth and live to a hundred and thirty. But so what---if all they accomplish in life is paying bills and staying out of jail? There has to be more to life than just doing. There is! It's being. Becoming whole . . . believable . . . purposeful . . . lovable.  Excerpted from Come Before Winter and Share My Hope, Copyright © 1985, 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

BEING REAL

 

Being Real by Charles R. Swindoll Mark 1:35   Dave Cowens, one-time star basketball center for the Boston Celtics, disappeared. Without warning, he walked off the practice court, showered, dressed, and drove away. Alone.   He kept driving to . . . somewhere. His only explanation was the familiar comment, "I need to get my head together." He added that it could take as little as two weeks or as much as ten years. The sportscasters, management, team, spectators, and fans couldn't imagine what he was looking for.   I could. The Carpenters used to do a number that helps explain the superstar's puzzling reaction. It's a peaceful soul-song that talks about needing a place to hide away . . . to be quiet . . . to think things through . . . to reflect.   Perhaps that's what the Boston superstar was trying to say. He had everything imaginable---fame, possessions, job security, a strong body, lots of bucks---but maybe at that moment in his life he lacked something far more important. Something like a sense of purpose and inner fulfillment. Something which basketball and all its benefits could never provide. An inner itch that can't be scratched by achievement or people or things or activities. To scratch it requires a great deal of internal searching, which the athlete felt he couldn't do and still keep pace with the maddening NBA schedule.   To "find yourself" requires that you take time to look. It's essential if you want to be a whole person, real to the core.   Now, I'm not advocating that one suddenly stop everything else so he or she can work the hide 'n' seek process. That's rather unrealistic even if you aren't the starting center for an NBA franchise. It's a little like removing an anthill in your backyard with six sticks of TNT. Or like setting your car on fire because the engine knocks. Learning to be whole isn't prompted by copping out. But there are times in all our lives when we need to back away, slow down, stay quiet, think through, be still.   "I'd rather burn out than rust out!" shouts the zealot. Frankly, neither sounds very appealing to me. Either way you're out. People who are burning out may start a lot of fires and stir up a lot of noise and smoke. But who cares---if everything turns to ashes? People who are rusting out may move about as slowly as a sloth and live to a hundred and thirty. But so what---if all they accomplish in life is paying bills and staying out of jail? There has to be more to life than just doing. There is! It's being. Becoming whole . . . believable . . . purposeful . . . lovable.  Excerpted from Come Before Winter and Share My Hope, Copyright © 1985, 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

Fw: ~~ Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931

My sister sent this to me.

 

What a profound short little paragraph that says it all!!!

       "You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the
wealthy out of freedom.  What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else..  When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation.  You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."


My own side note:

That's pretty much the definition of socialism (communism). Exactly the place that President Obama and the Democratic majority in Congress are dragging us.

Edie

 

Haiti Missions Trip Coming Up Fast

Well, I'm leaving early Thursday morning. The team and I will be leaving the church at 4:00am. We will be catching our flight at DFW around 9:00am. We will fly to Miami, FL and catching a connection there to fly on down to Port au Prince, Haiti. We will then drive 2-4 hours to our missionary contacts house. His name is James Arbaugh. We will stay the night there and continue on the next day to our destination. The drive is approximately 100 miles and will take us 10-14 hours to drive. The destination is called Dubreuil. It is near Cap Haitien.

Once there we will have to cross a river with no bridge. This will be done with a roofs worth of metal, two welding machines, a host of other tools, not to mention each team members personal effects.

We should get started on the roof Saturday. Sunday will be a day of worship and we'll resume work on the roof Monday with the intent of finishing by Friday. During this time some of the team members will be doing VBS and pastors conferences.

We will make our return trip to Dallas all by air on Saturday, July 11, finishing the trip up by driving back to Longview, TX by midnight.

All in all, a very encouraging itinerary.

OUR SPEECH

 

Our Speech by Charles R. Swindoll Colossians 4:5-6    MR PIGS . . . MR NOT PIGS . . . OSAR . . . CM PENZ . . . LIB . . . MR PIGS. Okay, give it a whirl. Read all those words again and translate. If you can—I can tell you what part of the country you're from. Your speech will betray you . . . it does every time. A couple of Sundays ago, I was talking with a group of visitors following a morning service. Several were from different sections of our nation. All, of course, spoke English, but a few possessed a distinct dialect that revealed their roots. I had a little fun by looking at them and asking things like, "When did you move from New York?" or "How long has it been since you left New England?" Both guesses were correct.   I had the most fun with a couple from Noth Cawline-ah (emphasis on "line"). I missed and guessed Geow-gha . . . and they were flabbergasted that I'd have the nerve to put 'em in that camp. I mean, after all!   But it's the Texan and Oklahoman that I get the biggest kick out of. Uh, 'scuse me, I shoulda said git. Unless yore raised duwn thar or have Walt Garrison nearby as a translator, you need a glossary of terms to carry witcha: Spoken Written May-on Man Eggs-it Exit Thang Thing Ray-inch Ranch Far Fire Day-ins Dance Bob war Barbed wire Gittin sum hep Getting some help Harney toe Horned toad Awl beniss Oil business Fixin'ta Getting ready Ornj drank Orange drink Sherf Sheriff Frog strangler Big rain storm It helps to have a pinch 'tween your cheek 'n' gums . . . then those words kinda tumble outa your mouth real natural. Good ole boys readin' this ain't laughin' 'cause we're the ones who talk funny. Like they'd have no trouble a'tall with that exam I started with: MR PIGS . . . "em are pigs." MR NOT PIGS "em are not pigs!" OSAR . . . "Oh, yes, 'ey are." CM PENZ . . . "See 'em pens?" . . . LIB . . . "ul I be!" MR PIGS . . . "em are pigs!" I had a guy tell me that that is part of the entrance exam into Auburn, Ole Miss, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Texas A & M. Why not? If ya cain't read plain ole American stuff, you ain't got no beniss goin' on to college! I better stop this nonsense or we'll never git through. We can dress up, move away, run with another crowd, and try to keep our roots a secret, but our speech won't cooperate. There it is, plain as day for all to hear. Remember? That's what happened to Peter. Backsliding at breakneck speed, the once-loyal disciple tried to fake it by the fire that night they arrested Jesus. But a girl pointed him out. Picture the scene as Mark records it: While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. "You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus," she said. But he denied it. "I don't know or understand what you're talking about," he said, and went out into the entryway. When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, "This fellow is one of them." Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." (Mark 14:66-70 NIV) He could hide his face, but not his speech. His Galilean "drawl" was clearly distinguishable, even in the wee hours of the morning. So what did he do to convince his accusers otherwise? The next verse answers that question: He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, "I don't know this man you're talking about." Galilean or Judean . . . now it didn't matter. He spoke words they all understood. Profanity blurted out publicly in any language or dialect makes it clear—even to total strangers—that the one swearing lives at a distance from the living God. Amazing . . . not another person in the crowd that night accused Peter any further. His street speech was sufficiently convincing.   Nobody ever said it better than the teacher from Tarsus: 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. (Ephesians 4:29 NIV) Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. (Colossians 4:6) Looking for ways to make your witness more gracious, more winsome? Interested in communicating Christ's love and in building bridges that attract others to Him? Start with your speech . . . and don't worry if folks can guess what part of the country you're from. It's when they would never guess you are a Christian that you've got something to worry about.   Excerpted from Come Before Winter and Share My Hope, Copyright © 1985, 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission

An Old Farmer's Advice

Good Advice at any age An Old Farmer's Advice * Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight And bull-strong. *Keep skunks and bankers at a Distance. *Life is simpler when you plow around the stump. * A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor. * Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled. * Meanness don't jes' happen overnight. * Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads. * Do not corner something that you know is meaner Than you. * It don't take a very big person to carry a Grudge. * You cannot unsay a cruel word. * Every path has a few puddles. * When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty. * The best sermons are lived, not preached. * Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway. * Don't judge folks by their relatives. * Remember that silence is sometimes the best Answer. * Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get Older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time. * Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin you none. * Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a Rain dance. * If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'. * Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got. * The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever Have to deal with, watches you from The mirror every mornin'. * Always drink upstream from the herd. * Good judgment comes from experience, and a Lotta that comes from bad judgment. * Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot Easier than puttin' it back in. * If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some Influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around. * Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God. *Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he's too old to fight, he'll just kill you...

A BETTER FOREMAN

 

A Better Foreman by Charles R. Swindoll Philippians 4:8   A person is a product of his or her own thoughts. Thoughts form the thermostat which regulates what we accomplish in life. My body responds and reacts to the input from my mind. If I feed it with doubt, worry, and discouragement, that is precisely the kind of day I will experience. If I adjust my thermostat forward---to thoughts filled with vision, hope, and victory---I can count on that kind of day. You and I become what we think about.   Take a minute to give your imagination a workout. Consider your mind a factory---a busy, bustling workshop of action and production. That's not far from the truth. Your mind is a thought factory. Every day on that internal assembly line it produces thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of thoughts. Production in your thought factory is under the charge of two foremen. The names on their hard hats are Mr. Gainground and Mr. Slideback. Mr. Gainground, as you'd imagine, oversees the production of positive thoughts. At the pull of a lever, wholesome, encouraging, reassuring plans and positive ideas roll down the belt and into the showroom.   That other foreman, Mr. Slideback, has responsibilities too. Over in a darker, damp wing of the plant, Gainground's counterpart manufactures negative, depreciating, worrisome thoughts. Both foremen are well qualified for their respective duties. Gainground specializes in producing reasons why you can face life triumphantly, why you can handle whatever comes your way, why you're more than a conqueror. Old Slideback earned his Master's at Inadequate U. He's full of reasons why you cannot succeed, why you're pitifully unable, why you should cave in, bow down, and surrender to the tangled thicket of inferiority, failure, and discouragement.   Both foremen, however, are instantly obedient. They await your signal to snap to attention. Provide yourself with a positive signal and Mr. Gainground throws himself into action. Pulling all the right switches, Gainground so gears production that one encouraging, edifying thought after another floods your mind and fills your life. As long as production is under his firm control, not even the slightest mist of misgiving may be observed hovering under the factory ceiling.   Foreman Slideback, however, awaits a negative signal (which he would prefer to call "reality" or "common sense") and he's off and running. At peak production, Slideback's assembly line cranks out discouraging, bad-news thoughts faster than the mind can process them. He will soon have you convinced that you can't or won't or shouldn't. Given sufficient time, he will drain your energy, squelch your confidence, and transform you into a frowning tight-lipped fatalist.   Neither Dale Carnegie nor Norman Vincent Peale originated such a message as this---God did.    Listen to three biblical counselors:   Solomon, referring to attitudes: "For as he thinks within himself, so he is" (Proverbs 23:7). Paul, referring to thoughts: "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute . . . dwell on these things" (Philippians 4:8).   Peter, referring to the mind: "Therefore, prepare your minds for action" (1 Peter 1:13). Thoughts, positive or negative, grow stronger when fertilized with constant repetition. That may explain why so many who are gloomy and gray stay in that mood, and why others who are cheery and enthusiastic continue to be so, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. Please do not misunderstand. Happiness (like winning) is a matter of right thinking, not intelligence, age, or position. Our performance is directly related to the thoughts we deposit in our memory bank. We can only draw on what we deposit. What kind of performance would your car deliver if every morning before you left for work you scooped up a handful of dirt and put it in your crankcase? The fine-tuned engine would soon be coughing and sputtering. Ultimately, it would refuse to start. The same is true of your life. Thoughts about yourself and attitudes toward others that are narrow, destructive, and abrasive produce wear and tear on your mental motor. They send you off the road while others drive past.   You need only one foreman in your factory. The name is Mr. Gainground, and he's anxious to assist you. In fact, he is immediately available to all the members of God's family. His real name is the Holy Spirit---the Helper. If Mr. Slideback has been too busily engaged as foreman on your mental assembly line, then fire him! You'll be astounded by how smoothly the plant will run under new leadership. Excerpted from Come Before Winter and Share My Hope, Copyright © 1985, 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

A BRIDGE CALLED CREDIBILITY, PART TWO

 

A Bridge Called Credibility, Part Two by Charles R. Swindoll Ephesians 4:25   Listen to what the Scriptures have to say about keeping your word: Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor. (Ephesians 4:25 NIV) And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Colossians 3:17 NIV) LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless  . . . who speaks the truth from his heart. (Psalm 15:1-2) It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. (Ecclesiastes 5:5 NIV) When a man... takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said. (Numbers 30:2 NIV) Question: Judging yourself on this matter of keeping your word, are you bridging or widening the credibility gap? Are you encouraging or discouraging others? Let me help you answer that by using four familiar situations. 1. When you reply, "Yes, I'll pray for you"---do you? 2. When you tell someone they can depend on you to help them out---can they? 3. When you say you'll be there at such-and-such a time---are you? 4. When you obligate yourself to pay a debt on time---do you? Granted, no one's perfect. But if you fail, do you own up to it? Do you quickly admit your failure to the person you promised and refuse to rationalize around it? If you do, you are really rare . . . but a person of genuine integrity. And one who is an encouragement and can encourage others. I know another One who promised He would return. He, too, will keep His word. In fact, He's never broken one promise. There's no credibility gap with Him. He will return. I can hardly wait to see His smiling face. Excerpted from Come Before Winter and Share My Hope, Copyright © 1985, 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

A BRIDGE CALLED CREDIBILITY

 

A Bridge Called Credibility by Charles R. Swindoll Zephaniah 3:8-13   March 11, 1942, was a dark, desperate day at Corregidor. The Pacific theater of war was threatening and bleak. One island after another had been buffeted into submission. The enemy was now marching into the Philippines as confident and methodical as the star band in the Rose Bowl parade. Surrender was inevitable. The brilliant and bold soldier, Douglas MacArthur, had only three words for his comrades as he stepped into the escape boat destined for Australia: "I SHALL RETURN." Upon arriving nine days later in the port of Adelaide, the sixty-two-year-old military statesman closed his remarks with this sentence: "I CAME THROUGH AND I SHALL RETURN." A little over two and a half years later---October 20, 1944, to be exact---he stood once again on Philippine soil after landing safely at Leyte Island. This is what he said: "This is the voice of freedom, General MacArthur speaking. People of the Philippines: I HAVE RETURNED!" MacArthur kept his word. His word was as good as his bond. Regardless of the odds against him, including the pressures and power of enemy strategy, he was bound and determined to make his promise good.   This rare breed of man is almost extinct. Whether an executive or an apprentice, a student or a teacher, a blue collar or white, a Christian or pagan---rare indeed are those who keep their word. The prevalence of the problem has caused the coining of a term painfully familiar to us in our era: credibility gap. To say that something is "credible" is to say it is "capable of being believed, trustworthy." To refer to a "gap" in such suggests a "breach or a reason for doubt."   Jurors often have reason to doubt the testimony of a witness on the stand. Parents, likewise, have reason at times to doubt their children's word (and vice versa). Citizens frequently doubt the promises of politicians, and the credibility of an employee's word is questioned by the employer. Creditors can no longer believe a debtor's verbal promise to pay, and many a mate has ample reason to doubt the word of his or her partner. This is a terrible dilemma! Precious few do what they say they will do without a reminder, a warning, or a threat. Unfortunately, this is true even among Christians.   Is it true of you? Taste the encouragement in God's message to His people in Zephaniah 3:8-13 and chew especially His words about purified and truthful speech. Let them motivate you today to the highest standard---God's standard---of integrity. Excerpted from Come Before Winter and Share My Hope, Copyright © 1985, 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

ANOTHER PERSONAL JOURNEY

 

DAY ONE UNDERSTANDING GALATIANS BY LINDA DEVENEY   GALATIANS CHAPTER 1   GALATIANS 1:1-10 (NASB)   Gal 1:1   Paul, an apostle (not {sent} from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), Gal 1:2   and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: Gal 1:3   Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Gal 1:4   who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, Gal 1:5   to whom {be} the glory forevermore. Amen. Gal 1:6   I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; Gal 1:7   which is {really} not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. Gal 1:8   But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! Gal 1:9   As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! Gal 1:10   For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.   Who sent Paul?   Who gave Himself for our sins?   Why did He do it?   What did some want to do with the Gospel?   What should be the result of someone preaching the wrong Gospel?   Who are we to seek the favor of?

Report: Same-sex partners to get fed benefits

 

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Today's Poll: 'Hate crimes' amendment

Same-sex partners to get fed benefits President Barack Obama, whose homosexual supporters have grown frustrated with his slow movement on their priorities, is extending benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees, a White House official said. Related commentary: A matter of pride?" Grassroots need to defuse 'hate crimes' ploy A leading conservative lawmaker says the only way "hate crimes" legislation can be stopped in the U.S. Senate is if senators believe that when they return home there will be some "pain" associated with a vote in favor of the controversial measure. VOTE IN A RELATED POLL" Netanyahu's ground rules reveal new tact A best-selling author and former political consultant to Benjamin Netanyahu says the Israeli leader's recent foreign policy speech clearly illustrates that Netanyahu doesn't want to continue the same foreign policy mistakes of the past." Perspective: Equality...or pay-back? Sonia Sotomayor's abusive behavior in court is consistent with someone in pay-back mode -- not the kind of judge you want to give a lifetime appointment." Parenting: Don't ever quit -- even if your teen hates you Don't forsake your relationship with your teens or your love for them, no matter how they act. God's promises aren't empty."

White House wants more powerful Federal Reserve WASHINGTON The Obama administration has unveiled a sweeping regulatory overhaul of the country's financial system. The plan would give new powers to the Federal Reserve to oversee Hydrogen gas leak delays shuttle launch again Aerospace Writer CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. For the second time in less than a week, a potentially dangerous hydrogen gas leak early Wednesday forced NASA to delay shuttle Endeavour's launch NKorea warns US of 'thousand-fold' military action SEOUL, South Korea North Korea warned Wednesday of a "thousand fold" military retaliation against the U.S. and its allies if provoked, the latest threat in

Cruise ship pas...	Stallworth plea	Zicam warning

BLOG: Top 10 wasteful stimulus projects Elijah Friedeman| Senator Tom Coburn has issued a report entitled 100 Stimulus Projects: A Second Opinion. The report highlights 100 of the most wasteful projects funded by the stimulus. Here are the top ten wasteful projects according to the report. " BLOG: Obama's FCC nominee doesn't support the Fairness Doctrine Elijah Friedeman| Julius Genachowski, Obama's pick to head the FCC, said today that he "does not support the reinstatement of the Fariness doctrine." With video goodness. " BLOG: Obama to extend benefits to same-sex partners of fed employees Elijah Friedeman| According to the AP Obama is preparing to extend benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees."

The Contradictions of our President While my first passion (and formal training) is in theology and philosophy, I do love following politics. http://www.conversantlife.com/politics/the-contradictions-of-our-president Bible Busâ€"June Update During our Caribbean cruise last week I finished reading through the Bible.http://www.keepbelieving.com/blog/2009-6-16-bible-busn-june-update/ Jamie Mitchell’s Prayer at the Pennsylvania House Last Wednesday Jamie Mitchell, pastor of NewSong Fellowship Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.http://www.keepbelieving.com/blog/2009-6-15-jamie-mitchells-prayer-at-the-pennsylvania-house/

Iowa Conference - NICHE Part 3 While at the NICHE conference in Iowa, Dr. Voddie Baucham delivered the keynote speech for the Friday night session. The title was Homeschooling How and Why. The goal of the message was to give information to parents and grandparents who Enjoying the Teenage Years   Until just a few months ago, we could say, “We have four teenagers ” That line was always good for murmurs of sympathy or expressions of amazement. But the condolences were unnecessary. We are loving the teenage years As Growing Godly Girls It’s supposed to hit the high 90’s today, with over 90% humidity, here in Mississippi where I live. Sounds like a day to head for the pool or stay inside where it’s cool. Only a mother’s love would propel me

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SELF-CONTROL

 

Self-Control by Charles R. Swindoll Galatians 5:22-23   Willpower is a forgotten word amidst most Christian circles today. Many of us are soft, flabby, and fat either outwardly or inwardly . . . or both.   The overindulgence and underachievement of our age have created a monster whose brain is lazy, vision is blurred, hands are greedy, skin is thin, middle is round, and seat is wide. Color him baby blue!   What has spawned this strange, pillowy product? The Greeks would say: "A serious lack of enkrateia." That isn't a vitamin, it's a virtue---self-control.   The word actually means "inner power or strength." Expanded, it includes such things as having mastery or possession of something, the controlling power of the will (under the operation of the Spirit of God), the inner strength to resist and refrain, the strength not to indulge, not to act on impulse.   Paul uses this term in 1 Corinthians 7:9 regarding the control of sexual desire. He refers to it again in 9:25 as he speaks of the athlete's control over his body and its wants during the period of time he is training for a contest.   Rigid, severe discipline went into such training, mixed with separation and loneliness. Stern soul-discipline was a constant companion of the Greek athlete of the first century. Enkrateia became his middle name for ten long months.   In Galatians 5:23, this virtue occurs in the list of the fruit of the Spirit. But lest you think it is something God suddenly drops on you without any involvement on your part, allow me to quote 2 Peter 1:5-6 so as to keep everything in balance: Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness. Observe two things, please. First, this is a series of commands to the Christian---this is our responsibility. Second, the fulfilling of the commands necessitates our "applying all diligence"---this will take sacrificial effort . . . emotional blood, sweat, and tears! For the remainder of this reading I'd like to apply self-control to our lives just from the neck up. Naturally, we are the product of what we think about. Our actions and our reactions originate in our minds. What do you think about? Upon what do you spend most of your mental energy? How much independent, hard-core, no-nonsense, controlled mental input goes into your day on the average?   Those sorts of questions haunt me when I consider how a phenomenon like TV watching has so thoroughly saturated our society. Consider the following facts, gathered at the time of this writing:   Ninety-five percent of American households---over 60 million homes---have televisions. An additional 100,000 sets are being added with every passing month. More than 106 million adults find themselves in front of the tube on an average week in America.   And how often do those TVs get turned on? The American average is 48 hours per week. The average male watches 26 hours per week, while the female watches 30 hours. A national survey reports that the average American high school student spends more time in front of a television in his lifetime than the sum total spent before a teacher from kindergarten through high school.   I don't have to remind you that I am not anti-TV. I own one and I thoroughly enjoy viewing selected programs regularly as time permits. However, it is exceedingly serious when a nation like ours has become so lacking in self-control that we cannot turn a one-inch knob to "off" and provide our minds and eyes a needed rest from the blast of consistent cosmos propaganda.   It is a pity that many Christians have the TV schedule better memorized than a single chapter from God's precious Word. Due to our lack of mental self-control, our driving desire is to be entertained and amused, rather than challenged through reading or family discussions or silent meditation or personal planning and goal-setting.   I suggest that you attack this problem with a loaded rifle, not a sling shot. Take one needy area at a time and shoot it into submission with relentless prayer and determination as the Spirit provides the gunpowder. Let's meet at the rifle range. I think I hear a few shots already.   Don't fail to draw on the Lord's power as you work on self-control, knowing His strength is yours. Understand and believe Romans 8:9-14. Excerpted from Come Before Winter and Share My Hope, Copyright © 1985, 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

Fw: An Iowa Boy

"In GOD We Trust"

An Iowa boy

... John Gebhardt works at the Cargill plant in Eddyville , Iowa .

Wouldn't it be fitting if this went completely around the world!.....

This needs to make headline news ... not some of the other junk that makes the news these days!  Like the Rosie O'Donell war of words ... celeb weddings .... who's not wearing undies ... etc.

If you agree, please pass this along.

It's a tough, but heartwarming story .... with a picture of John Gebhardt in Iraq .

John Gebhardt's wife, Mindy, said that this little girl's entire family was executed. The insurgents intended to execute the little girl also, and shot her in the head ... but they failed to kill her.  She was cared for in John's hospital and is healing up, but continues to cry and moan.  The nurses said John is the only one who seems to calm her down, so John has spent the last four nights holding her while they both slept in that chair.  The girl is coming along with her healing.  He is a real Star of the war, and represents what America is trying to do.

This, my friends, is worth sharing.  Go for it!!  You'll never see things like this in the news.  Please keep this going.  Nothing will happen if you don't, but the American public needs to see pictures like this and needs to realize that what we're doing over there is making a difference.  Even if it is just one little girl at a time..

James Gates
U.. S. Navy