Sunset on the Rocky Mountains…A lot happened here in Lamar Colorado. We had to buy a new tire for our RV, had to stay for two days to wait out 60 mph gusts and it was still a hard tow the day we finally got moving…We read this and immediately did our laundry…Thank You Jesus!!!!
”You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?“ Psalms 56:8 NKJV
God counts our wanderings. The Lord knows every trip we have all taken. For just us alone, that’s a lot of trips. If only we had access to that book, God’s book…
“Sometimes, in olden days in the East, mourners would catch their tears in water skins and place them at the tombs of their loved ones..” New Scofield Bible.
“God preserves our tears in a bottle, so that He can wipe them away.” John Bunyan.
“The tears of God’s persecuted people are bottled up, and sealed among God’s treasures.” Matthew Henry.
Mooch-docking at our best friend and brother in Christ, Bruce’s ranch on the east side of Denver Colorado…This is Cash and Brodie. Dogs love us…125 Twin…A visit with Bruce is always a learning experience for me…It seems, for some unknown reason, we cannot visit Bruce without picking up yet another dirt bike!!!
”You uphold me because of my innocence you establish me in your presence forever. Blessed be Adonai the God of Isra’el from eternity past to eternity future. Amen. Amen.“ Tehillim (Psa) 41:13-14 CJB
“Thank God for the starlight, and He will give you the moonlight. Thank Him for the moonlight, and He will give you the sunlight. Thank Him for the sunlight, and by and by God will take you where He Himself is the Light.” Anonymous
High in the Arizona forrest, we had a great day one …The things you see on I40…We covered 633 miles, way more than we like to. Got a campsite in what has to be the most expensive campground north of Santa Fe New Mexico.
”Blessed is he who considers the poor; The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.“ Psalms 41:1 NKJV
”Blessed be the Lord God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.“ Psalms 41:13 NKJV
Psalm 41 begins and ends with “Blessed.” Blessed means Happy. Begin your life with Happy and end it with Happy…
”I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the LORD. The LORD hath chastened me sore: But he hath not given me over unto death. Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: This gate of the LORD, Into which the righteous shall enter. I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, And art become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused Is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD’s doing; It is marvellous in our eyes.“ Psalm 118:17-23 KJV
Easter is considered by most believers as the most important Christian holiday. It requires faith to accept the truth of what the Bible describes. Yet Easter represents a divine supernatural event that is hard to picture in human terms. A man dies on a cross, is put into a sealed tomb, then three days later presents himself to friends.
Traditions and symbols are often used to supplement our understanding of biblical reality. The challenge, of course, is not to let these practices displace the priority of God’s word. We are about to celebrate Easter, an opportune time to examine some of its traditions.
The word “Easter” is not found in scripture. Some countries use the Jewish word for Passover to note the resurrection of the Lord (e.g., Paques in France). English-speaking countries began calling it Easter when a medieval monk, Bede, wrote that the month of April (where Easter often occurs) was called Eosturmonath, after Eostre, an Anglo-Saxon goddess of fertility.
Pagan cultures used the egg in springtime festivals as a symbol of new life. Thus, Easter eggs became a reminder for Christians of the new life through the resurrection of Jesus. In 692 AD the Council of Constantinople forbade eating eggs during the 40 days of Lent. This meant Christians could resume eating eggs Easter morning, when Lent ended, as a way to remember the resurrection.
Decorating eggs is linked to the legend of Mary Magdalene bringing a plain white egg to Emperor Tiberius Caesar as a gift. The egg miraculously turned bright red after Mary said, “Christ is risen.” The Eastern Orthodox Church adheres to this legend in a non-miraculous manner; Easter eggs are dyed bright red by boiling them with yellow onion skins.
Multi-colored Easter eggs grew in popularity. In 1290 AD King Edward I of England ordered 450 decorated Easter eggs to be given to his royal household. Louis XIV of France had a chocolate egg made in 1725 AD. Today, hollow plastic eggs are more popular with children than real eggs; the obvious reason is that they are filled with candy treats.
The Easter bunny was invented by mixing a bit of history with superstition and myth. Human graves from Neolithic and Iron Age periods sometimes contained hare bones (i.e., rabbit), implying some religious connection. Ancient religions in the Middle East ascribed love and fertility to rabbits. Titian’s painting The Madonna of the Rabbit (1530 AD) showed the Virgin Mary touching a white rabbit. German children began making nests for Easter eggs; parents said a hare would deliver the eggs Sunday morning; hence, you have an “Osterhase” (Easter bunny). Neglect the biological fact that hares are mammals and do not lay eggs.
How would you connect these Easter traditions with what the Bible has to say about the resurrection of Jesus? Today, the majority of Americans, children included, see Easter only as egg hunts and baskets. What of the true meaning of Easter? Should not our focus be more on the resurrection and less on the candy?
It is difficult to explain the new life offered through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:4) using a hard-boiled egg. The empty tomb, described in each gospel (e.g. Mark 16:4-6), is generally accepted, but hard to symbolize as a plastic egg filled with candy. Harder to explain is the resurrection (John 20:13-18) and its meaning (Mark 10:45; John 5:24); the Easter bunny doesn’t fit into these verses; though you might try to equate the bunny with a messenger like the apostle Paul.
I readily admit to biting the ears off chocolate Easter bunnies, as an annual treat for the eternal gift I received through Christ Jesus. Maybe we should label all eggs, bunnies, and baskets as special treats; and tell others why they are special.
”I will love You, O Lord, my strength.“ Psalms 18:1 NKJV
Tell God you love Him. He loves us.
”The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.“ Psalms 18:2 NKJV
This is how we need to hold onto God today.
God is my rock, my fortress, my delivery, my strength, He is my shepherd…
He and me…
”He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, For they were too strong for me.“ Psalms 18:16-17 NKJV
He and me, not the best grammar, but it is the best way to say this truth.
We ALL need a personal, vitally strong relationship with God!
“He has delivered me from my strong enemy.”
We all need help today, we all need a partner, I can recommend such a One. He will never leave you alone, never desert you, never forsake you.
“…lo, I am with alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).
Depend on Jesus Christ today –
”It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man.“ Psalms 118:8 NKJV
”Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.“ Psalms 2:12 NKJV
“Kiss the Son is the Old Testament way of saying, ‘…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…(Acts 16:31).” “Kiss the Son.”
”The Lord is in His holy temple, The Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.“ Psalms 11:4 NKJV
God is watching us today. Does that mean anything to you?
God is testing us today. Does this affect your life?
God wants us to turn to Him. It is the only thing we can do. When our legs are taken out from under us, we have a righteous God that we, as believers, can lean on, run toward.
Just as Abraham loved God, and believed, we can wrap our arms around our Lord and hold tight.
”Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished. And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. So the days of weeping and mourning for Moses ended.“ Deuteronomy 34:7-8 NKJV
”“The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, according to all you desired of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’ “And the Lord said to me: ‘What they have spoken is good.“ Deuteronomy 18:15-17 NKJV
Do you ask yourself, why God does not reveal Himself today?
God has! In the person of Jesus Christ! God has nothing more to say to humanity. He has said it all through the Lord Jesus Christ. Period.
Hear Him, listen to Him…
”While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”“ Matthew 17:5 NKJV
The other week I was doing research into the origins of some commonly used words or phrases. One of them was the word “bummer.” In the 1960s it became a slang expression for a frustrating experience. For example, “Bummer, I flunked the history test.”
I also discovered that “bummer” has been applied to some newborn lambs. Most ewes (female sheep) give birth to only one lamb. A mother can provide adequate nursing for one lamb, but the birth of two or three lambs makes weaning difficult. There is not enough mother’s milk to go around.
When there are multiple births, or even the birth of one lamb, the ewe will reject a little lamb, pushing or kicking it away from her. Instinctively, the mother seems to know that particular lamb has a low probability of survival. The rejected lamb is called a bummer lamb. It will hang its head low, as if its spirit is broken. Other ewes in the herd will not adopt this rejected baby. In nature, a bummer lamb is destined to die.
On a farm, a shepherd may decide to hand-feed a bummer lamb. The shepherd will hold the baby and wrap it in a blanket to stay warm, often keeping it in the house. Once the bummer lamb gains enough strength, it is placed back in the flock. Interestingly, every time the shepherd calls the flock, the bummer lamb is first to respond, likely because it has been so close to the shepherd that it knows his voice the best.
Not surprisingly, there have been many devotionals written about Jesus, the shepherd, and we, the sheep. I offer my perspective.
When Jesus told the parable about a lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7), he rhetorically asked if we would leave 99 sheep to go after the lost sheep. Perhaps the Lord’s audience was already familiar with the concept of a bummer sheep separated from the flock. In the parable, the shepherd puts the lost sheep on his shoulders and takes it home to rejoice with his friends.
In John’s gospel, the Lord speaks of himself as the shepherd (John 10:1-16). His sheep know his voice because they have had a close relationship with the shepherd; an implied understanding that we were all at one time bummer sheep. There are also other sheep the shepherd wants to bring into the flock, so there would be only one shepherd and one flock. Moreover, Jesus is the good shepherd, willing to lay down his life for the sheep.
The Bible teaches we have all sinned, and Christ willingly died for us (Romans 3:23; 5:8). Each of us started life as a bummer sheep, rejected in many ways by the world around us. We were destined to eternal death had not the Good Shepherd come to look for us (Luke 19:10). By God’s grace, we heard his voice and came to him.
There are many wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing, trying to get the unwary to listen to their voices. Those that listen to their lies will eventually find themselves in the lake of fire. Now that’s a bummer.
”“Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.“ Deuteronomy 17:18-20 NKJV
We all should be like the king.
Do you have a copy of God’s Word? The Bible…Your own private copy..??..
The Presbyterian church called a meeting to decide what to do about their squirrel infestation. After much prayer and consideration, they concluded that the squirrels were predestined to be there, and they should not interfere with God’s divine will.
At the Baptist church, the squirrels had taken an interest in the baptistry. The deacons met and decided to put a water-slide on the baptistry and let the squirrels drown themselves. The squirrels liked the slide and, unfortunately, knew instinctively how to swim, so twice as many squirrels showed up the following week.
The Lutheran church decided that they were not in a position to harm any of God’s creatures. So, they humanely trapped their squirrels and set them free near the Baptist church. Two weeks later, the squirrels were back when the Baptists took down the water-slide.
The Episcopalians tried a much more unique path by setting out pans of whiskey around their church in an effort to kill the squirrels with alcohol poisoning. They sadly learned how much damage a band of drunk squirrels can do.
But the Catholic church came up with a more creative strategy. They baptized all the squirrels and made them members of the church. Now they only see them at Christmas and Easter.
Not much was heard from the Jewish synagogue. They took the first squirrel and circumcised him. They haven’t seen a squirrel since.
Eldon and Terry found some really old power washers and got both of them running…Bob and Mark were wheel bearing specialists…Dave and Mark, our entire team in charge of driving and trailer maintenance…Scott sporting the impact driver. It got a lot of use…Terry, Marie and Stephanie load our new Quick Reaction feeding unit…Wheel bearing jobs and tire purchases were huge… It was a great time, lots of hard workers came and now AZDR is ready to show the love of our Lord Jesus Christ to a hurting world…
”Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.“ Proverbs 3:27 NKJV
”And I looked, and behold, you had sinned against the Lord your God—had made for yourselves a molded calf! You had turned aside quickly from the way which the Lord had commanded you.“ Deuteronomy 9:16 NKJV
Why? It is our character to be phony. Everyone, believers and nonbelievers. Can this be fixed? Yes, if you are a child of God.
Pray this prayer-
”Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.“ Psalms 139:23-24 NKJV
A recent article in Christianity Today1 described the dilemma of Christian churches in Indonesia receiving donations from questionable sources. Last year, a Cabinet Minister donated thousands of dollars to Catholic churches, the money coming from a multi-million-dollar telecom bribery scheme. The official was given a 15-year prison sentence. Catholic leaders vowed to return the money, on the basis of Christian ethics.
In 2017, a sea transport director was found guilty of accepting bribes. He claimed he used the money for orphan care and repair of a damaged church.
Such instances of dirty money being used for religious purposes led to asking Christian leaders whether organizations should ever accept donations from unethical sources. Their responses were perhaps not all that different from how American Christians might have replied to the same question. You decide.
The director of a Christian organization said the Bible condemns money obtained through sinful means. A seminary professor admitted churches have limited capabilities to trace the origins, or motivations, for offerings. He favored educating congregations, citing the ethical implications of 2 Corinthians 8:5 and Romans 12:1, as well as the command not to accept the earnings of a prostitute (Deuteronomy 23:18). However, a pastor with a church in a red-light district has prostitutes that come to worship and give money, which he justified by citing the sinful woman who poured expensive perfume on the feet of Jesus (Luke 7:37-38).
Other pastors were a bit more two-sided. One discovered an honorarium that came from a questionable source. He cashed the check and gave the money to another minister, who was told the source but accepted the cash because he needed to pay for his child’s school tuition. Another pastor warned that when budget needs are high, so is the greater temptation to accept dirty money. He advises donors to give the money directly to recipients so he doesn’t have to worry about the origin of the funds.
The issue of dirty money and religion illustrates the odd pictures you get when blending scripture, pragmatism, and moral values. Imagine a remake of the Godfather movie where a priest tells the Godfather the church cannot accept money from a crime boss. Or a new series of the Father Brown PBS show where the elderly ladies of the village have hit the jackpot at Bingo, and the church needs to repair the steeple.
The definition of dirty money includes a very large gray area. For example, was the 30 pieces of silver given to Judas to betray Jesus dirty money, or was it part of God’s plan? In our world, if gambling is a sin, then any winnings must be suspect, as well as the wages of someone who works in a casino or lottery booth. Do any profits and wages from alcohol, tobacco, oil, or politics qualify as dirty money? Is it dirty money if an unrepentant sinner buys something at a church fundraiser?
Are there situations where you would accept dirty money? A loved one needs surgery. Your church was destroyed by fire.
The tactic of “don’t ask, don’t tell” will not satisfy the Lord. God judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart, and nothing can be hidden from Him to whom we must give an account (Hebrews 4:12-13). You are fortunate if, like me, you have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as an alarm.
“And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statues and judgements which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.” Deut. 5:1.
Step #1. Hear it.
Step #2. Learn it.
Step #3. Keep it.
Step #4. Do it.
Get the Word of God in your head, get His Word in your heart, get God’s Word to your feet, and to your hands.
Super Bowl LVIII is in the history books. Analyses have begun on what we saw, or thought we saw. The largely undisputed fact is that the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime. I say “largely” because some 49ers fans thought they were cheated. Yet we know cheating is prohibited. But is it?
Opponents read lips to determine what the other coach is saying, which is why a coach holds his play card in front of his mouth. A team lines up like it is going to pass the football, but instead executes a running play. In the broadest sense, such efforts involve tricks or deception, but they are not dishonest, violating the rules of the game. On the other hand, when we consider the price of a football, there is a slippery path to the end zone marked by corporate profit.
You may remember family football games with brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles. There were unspoken rules; you never chop-blocked your aunt. Afterwards, everybody gave their version of the highlights. Professional football had similar family origins, but has now grown into a multi-billion-dollar organization that sells an illusion of family. Like Alice in Wonderland, it gets “curiouser and curiouser” the closer you look.
NFL Super Bowl tickets sold for $9,000 – $12,000, beyond the range of the average worker or retiree. A hot dog, beer, and popcorn cost $45, but you could keep the souvenir popcorn box. You could spend $60 on a bowl of nachos that included pieces of lobster and steak.
NFL teams are owned by corporations; players are employees. The winning Chiefs players each received a bonus check of $164,000; the losing 49ers were given $89,000. The corporate bottom line, though, is much larger, and curiouser.
CBS pays the NFL $2.1 billion a year to broadcast games, including three Super Bowls. Revenue from 2024 Super Bowl ads put $600 million in the NFL piggy bank. To pay for their $7-million ads, Doritos would have had to sell about 540,000 party-sized bags of chips, and Verizon would have needed 26,000 customers to buy new phones. Of course, the ads were seen by 113 million people, making the cost only 6-cents per viewer.
Most people, like me, stayed home and watched the game on TV, eating nacho dip at supermarket prices. It was not, however, like being in the stadium. Digital TV has 23-76 second delays in sending images, something to do with signal processing. And most timeouts cut away to ads. Three days later, the victory parade in Kansas City was marred by what the NY Times called “A game, a parade, a shooting: The story of America in Three Acts” 1.
I believe it is in our God-given nature to desire family and community, a place where we feel like we belong, and where we are secure. While I have written this devotional from the unhealthy perspective of love of money (1Timothy 6:10), we cannot ignore God’s rules and expect Him to be pleased with anyone who would chop-block their aunt. Nor those who become obsessed with the high price of footballs.
The Book of Ecclesiastes uses the word ‘Vanity’ 37 times.
Vanity means Empty, Purposeless…
“Even if we possess the whole world and all the things that men consider necessary to make their hearts content, we learn we cannot be satisfied without Jesus Christ.” Dr. J Vernon McGee.
“…He has put eternity in their hearts.” Ecclesiastes 3:11.
You will never get satisfaction in your heart from the world. Your heart is too large for the world!
Even if we all possess the whole world and all the things that we think will make us content in our hearts, nothing, not anything will satisfy like belief in Jesus Christ…
”“Now among the cities which you will give to the Levites you shall appoint six cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. And to these you shall add forty-two cities.“ Numbers 35:6 NKJV
The cities of refuge do what Jesus Christ is doing for us today, sheltering the sinner, you and me from judgement.
”God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.“ Psalms 46:1 NKJV
”I cried out to You, O Lord: I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.“ Psalms 142:5 NKJV
”And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain.“ Isaiah 4:6 NKJV
”However, if he did not lie in wait, but God delivered him into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.“ Exodus 21:13 NKJV
”There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.“ Romans 8:1 NKJV
”Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.“ Romans 8:33 NKJV
”Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.“ Romans 8:34 NKJV
”and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;“ Philippians 3:9 NKJV
”that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,“ Hebrews 6:18-19 NKJV
”So Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and each of their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. And Moses placed the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witness. Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds.“ Numbers 17:6-8 NKJV
Life out of death. Aaron’s rod brings buds, blossoms and produces fruit. Life out of death. Resurrection. Jesus Christ, the resurrected Savior of the world. Our great High Priest.
”And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.“ Hebrews 5:4 NKJV
”Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.“ Hebrews 7:25 NKJV
Right now, Jesus is at the right hand of God, making intercession for His children.
”Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.“ Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV
In one of those rare moments of leisure, I was reading some articles on military history, when I came across one about Audie Murphy 1. I had forgotten that he was the most highly decorated serviceman in World War II. In addition to three Purple Hearts for being wounded, he earned two Bronze Stars, two Silver Stars, one Distinguished Service Cross, and a Congressional Medal of Honor. The article detailed how Audie Murphy won the Medal of Honor.
In December 1944 the Germany Army tried unsuccessfully to push Allied forces back into Belgium and France in the Battle of the Bulge. On New Year’s Eve the Nazi’s launched Operation Northwind to destroy two Allied armies on the western edge of the Bulge. On January 26, 1945, Company B, 15th Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division was attacked by 6 German tanks and 250 Nazi soldiers in the woods near Holtzwihr, France. The Company had 102 of its 120 enlisted men wounded; all the officers, except Lt. Audie Murphy, were killed. Murphy would wage a one-man war against those German forces.
The 19-year-old Lieutenant led what was left of Company B into the woods to find cover. By the afternoon of January 26th, the German forces were advancing towards the Americans. Murphy spotted an Army M-10 tank destroyer in flames, but it had a functional 50-caliber machine gun. He left his men in the woods, jumped on the M-10 and began firing at the German infantry, forcing them to retreat. Though wounded, Murphy stopped only to reload and make calls for Allied air support. With air support, Company B held its ground throughout the night, and the next day reinforcements captured Holtzwihr. If Murphy had not made his stand atop a burning vehicle, the remainder of Company B and the 15th Regiment probably would have been destroyed. For his extraordinary heroism, the commander of the 7th Army presented Lt. Audie Murphy the Medal of Honor on June 2, 1945. If you are into old movies, you might watch To Hell and Back, made about 10 years later, with Audie Murphy himself in the starring role.
After reading the military article I remembered another warrior who waged a one-man battle against the enemy. He was older than Murphy by about 15 years, and not a commissioned officer in an army. The small company he led was made up of 12 men, some women, and a few stragglers. He made his stand atop a hill. His heroism is thoroughly documented in a 260-chapter book. Numerous movies and documentaries have been made, but he never appeared in person; these presentations are usually seen on TV only in the spring and after Thanksgiving. Few people ever stop to realize he was closer to Hell than Audie Murphy ever was. Yet this one-man warrior saved millions more than an Army regiment. Would you care to guess who this hero is?
Okay, if you are struggling, here is a clue. His first name never changed, but he was given several last names. One was for his hometown, Nazareth (Mark 10:47); another referenced his divine appointment, as the Anointed One (Matthew 27:17); and one stated his divine nature, as the Son of God (John 20:31). If you are still stumped, go to the library and check out the book I mentioned, it’s called the New Testament. Or it may be simpler to find a church that is open and go inside and ask someone to tell you who this warrior is.
If you had only 90 seconds left to live, what would you do? Panic? Laugh? Pray? Kiss your loved ones? Finish your cup of coffee or glass of wine? Do nothing? Your response would probably depend on how serious you took the news.
On January 23rd the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists announced the Doomsday Clock had only 90 seconds left before midnight was reached 1. The Doomsday Clock has been metaphorically monitoring how close we are to annihilating ourselves since 1947. Instead of the clock display from 1 to 12, representing a 60-minute countdown to the apocalypse, many Doomsday Clocks have only the markings from 9 to 12 because the U.S. nuclear weapons program spun the dial to 7 minutes left in 1947, and 2 years later it went to 2 minutes when the Soviet Union conducted their first atomic bomb tests.
The minute hand is moved back and forth each year depending on how the 22 members of the Bulletins Science and Security Board answer two questions: 1) is humanity any safer, or at greater risk, than last year, and 2) is humanity any safer, or at greater risk, compared to the 77 years of setting the clock’s dial?
The bad news is that we have only 90 seconds before we self-destruct. The good news is the clock has not moved from its 2023 setting. You might wonder why. Six countries continue their nuclear weapons programs. Regional conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Taiwan could spread. Last year was the hottest year on record, yet spending on clean energy is only slightly higher than what was spent on fossil fuels. Genetic engineering is more sophisticated; Artificial Intelligence explains to the less sophisticated how they can use this technology.
While the Doomsday Clock addresses the signs of our end, it is about as reliable as Punxsutawney Phil as predicting when. No need to set the hands on any clock, the Bible makes it clear we do not know the day, hour, or minute when it will occur (Acts 1:7). God has said this world is going to end, and only He knows when.
Jesus proclaimed all manner of bad things will occur before the end (Matthew 24:1-29; Mark 13:7). Lawlessness, the disregard for both constitutional and moral laws, will increase (2 Thessalonians 2:9). We see the signs all around us.
When life of Earth does end, there will be a time of judgment (2 Peter 3:3-7). Everyone will stand before the throne of Christ (Revelation 20:12-15). Contrary to postmodern views, you cannot blast open the gates of heaven with your nuclear weapon. Nor can you engineer your genetic makeup to be sinless. And the artificial intelligence app on your phone will not provide a convincing defense of who you are. The reality is that God’s books will be opened to see what you have done according to His commandments, and whether you confessed Jesus as Lord and had your name entered into the Book of Life.
By the way, if your name is not in the Book of Life, you will be cast into a place that has no need for Doomsday Clocks because doomsday lasts forever. And the Bible clearly indicates this place will be a lot hotter, and more painful, than the world was in 2023.
You don’t have to be a nuclear scientist to realize the security for your eternal future belongs in the hands of God. The clock is ticking and each moment you have to answer only one question: are you ready?
Are you planning to go to Punxsutawney, PA for the annual gathering on February 2nd to see whether Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow or not? Phil and his groundhog ancestors have participated in the superstitious prediction of weather in North America since 1886. Canada, of course, has its own Groundhog Day, as do many other cities throughout the U.S.
You could travel to Raleigh, NC to see Sir Walter Wally, excepthe retired in 2022, leaving Snerd, in Garner,the only working groundhog in NC. You may not want to see Potomac Phil in Washington, DC because he always forecasts six more months of political deadlocks, and is a taxidermied model, a fitting symbol for his predictions.
Live groundhogs, as you know, have only one duty: to see their shadow or not. If they see their shadow, they are to retreat into their dens to hibernate for another six weeks of winter. No shadow means spring will arrive early.
The origin of our Groundhog Day is rooted in the medieval German tradition of Badger Day; different animal, same forecast. However, Badger Day was originally a much older Christian holiday, Candlemas. The birth of Jesus was first celebrated on December 25, 336 AD. Jewish law said a woman was to wait 40 days to be purified after giving birth (Leviticus 12:1-8). It was this custom when Joseph and Mary presented Jesus to the Lord in the Temple (Luke 2:22-32). Forty days after December 25th is February 2nd, first celebrated as a holy day in 386 AD. Among its many names, Candlemas was known as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ.
Luke’s gospel account mentions a Jewish man, Simeon, who took Jesus into his arms and proclaimed him to be, “a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” Based on this verse, Roman Catholic priests in the 7th century began to bless candles for people to burn throughout the year, and the event was called Candlemas.
Folklore around the candle lights of Candlemas shifted towards weather forecasting. Sunny days meant more of winter, overcast days were a sign of an early spring. In Germany, badgers replaced the candles and the event became known as Badger Day.
I can’t figure out why a sunny day would mean more of winter. After all, you would think a groundhog would bask in the sunshine, and anticipate hibernation was done, a new season was coming. Instead, he is afraid of his shadow. If I were to re-invent Candlemas (Groundhog Day), I would add some scriptures from John’s gospel and reverse the interpretation of shadows.
John’s introduction to Jesus states, “In him was life and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness but the darkness has not understood it” (John 1:4-5). “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God” (John 3:19-21).
The new Groundhog Day (Candlemas) interpretation: A cloudy day is where there is no light of Jesus, and people cannot recognize their need for a new season, so they retreat back into the darkness of their hole. A sunny day is where the light of Jesus shines, and you see the shadow of your former self, and the light guides you into a new life.
In our modern world we are confronted with defining when a life begins and when it ends. The beginning and end are bookends for human existence.
Ancient civilizations recognized the beginning of life was somehow connected to pregnancy. They also practiced ending life prematurely through wars and executions; abortions were done for a variety of cultural and economic reasons.
The early Christian church debated when a fetus achieved a rational soul, considered to be the start of a human life. In the 13th century Thomas Aquinas believed the rational soul was infused into a fetal body only after it had developed into a recognizable human form (about 40 days after conception). Today, many Christians consider life to begin at conception.
Until the 16th century, Christians condemned abortions done after the rational soul entered the fetal body; the procedure was associated with sexual sins (e.g., fornication or adultery). Early termination of pregnancy (before the rational soul united with the body) was not considered murder. In 1588 the Catholic church declared all abortions were murder, but three years later a new pope again allowed early abortions. This rule persisted until Pope Pius IX in 1869 again declared all abortions as murder; a ruling still in effect today.
Fast forward to the 1973 Supreme Court ruling that granted legal access to abortion, and the 2022 ruling which overturned the 1973 decision. For 50 years we have been so caught up in the abortion argument that we were barely aware of another issue. Frozen embryos1. An embryo is defined from the time the egg is fertilized until the seventh week of development, where definite organ systems can be identified.
In vitro fertilization is the process where a woman donates eggs which, in a laboratory, are fertilized by male sperm, becoming an embryo. The embryo develops the specialized cell lines and then is frozen. At a later time, the embryo is thawed and implanted in the woman’s uterus, with the hopes of developing into a full-term baby. The success rate is low.
Today, there are an estimated 1.5 million frozen embryos in the U.S. Each year, 30,000-100,000 embryos are frozen in other countries. Not all frozen embryos are used. Thousands belong to parents who have gone beyond child-rearing years. Numerous embryos have been abandoned by their donor.
A few evangelical programs try to have the embryos adopted, but they barely make a dent in the surplus held in frozen storage. Therein lies the moral dilemma. If you consider them to be a human life, and we do know they can become a newborn baby, then it would violate the sixth commandment to toss the embryos in the trash (Exodus 20:13 you shall not murder). Given what we know about embryology, we can’t go back to the rational soul argument of Thomas Aquinas. Nor can we interpret Genesis 2:7 where “man became a living being” when God breathed into his nostrils to mean life begins when we take our first breath. To assign the frozen embryos a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order is hardly ethical or moral. If we developed technology to incubate the embryos until they developed into newborns, we would be faced with a new dilemma: what to do with millions of orphaned children?
I have no solution for these cold babies. However, many places of worship observe the Sanctity of Life each January 22nd. The observance was driven by the abortion issue. Perhaps we ought to expand it to include frozen embryos. Or maybe, every once in a while, you might include them in your prayers.
“Every heart with Christ is a missionary; every heart without Christ is a mission field.”
Be Prayed Up. A prayed up heart is a ready witnessing heart…
Know God’s Word. Put it in your heart and in your mind…
Show Love and Respect. Use words if you have to…
Be Patient. Love, be love, show love, when others can’t or won’t…
Talk about Jesus…Be bold, He changed your life, share it…
Talk about the Gospel of Grace. ”For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.“ Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV
Be There. Pray!
”Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”“ John 8:31-32 NKJV
”But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”“ Numbers 13:31-33 NKJV
I hear this a lot, “our country is in a mess!” Really, people and even confessing Christians are and do act scared.
Are they afraid, have they lost their faith? If and when this happens, difficulties and problems are magnified. They become greater than they are.
Yes, there were giants. Without faith, the giants look bigger than they are. The report compares grasshoppers to giants.
But…Who did they leave out???
GOD!
Let’s put God into the world we live in, the country we inhabit, the state, county, town and neighborhood where we are…
”Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.“ Psalms 37:5 NKJV
”For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,“ I Corinthians 15:3-4 NKJV
The Apostle Paul is telling us the foundation of the Gospel message. Read these two verses, Paul wrote to the church in Corinth that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again “according to the scriptures.”
What scriptures?
The Old Testament!
Did you know, the Old Testament is also known as the Hebrew Bible, Jewish Bible,or the Jewish Scriptures?
Things that make you go ‘mmmm’….
Make the choice today to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ…
”Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: “Who will give us meat to eat?“ Numbers 11:4 NKJV
We have a mixed multitude in our churches today. They are unconverted members, one foot in the world, and one foot firmly planted in the world. They run, with enthusiasm, in both worlds…
This mixed multitude is unable to desire or understand Jesus Christ as the Bread of Life, our manna.
They chase after that which pleases the flesh. The mixed multitude like big buildings, fancy rituals, an easy doctrine. This group will lead away the unspiritual believers…
Be careful, use caution! Use discernment in your prayers, be careful in what you ask…
”And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul.“ Psalms 106:15 NKJV
College football is big business. It costs money to recruit, train, equip, and feed the 105 football players allowed under NCAA regulations. Plus, you have the salaries of all the coaches, staff, and administrators. The top 25 head coaches have a salary of $6.3M – $11.4M, not counting bonuses; these incomes are a bit more than college professors or deans are paid.
A portion of football funding comes from public sources like tuition or taxes. The bulk of the money comes from alumni associations, or revenue from televised games. Yet athletic departments are reporting shortfalls in the millions of dollars. What to do? Raising ticket prices for home games won’t eliminate deficits and, besides, it would greatly irritate the fan base. Increasing tuition would be a political catastrophe. Elon Musk, Warren Buffet, or other billionaires might not be that interested in football.
Universities reached into Pandora’s Box and pulled out a solution. Alcohol. For years, alcoholic beverages were sold inside stadiums in private boxes. And, of course, outside the stadium beer and other spirits flowed freely at tailgate parties. For the past ten years, selling beer and wine for public consumption inside stadiums has been the norm1. This year, 55 of 69 schools in the Power Five (Big-10, Big-12, PAC-12, ACC, SEC) sell alcohol in the public areas of their stadiums.
The lure of big money has drawn more institutions to Pandora’s Box. The University of North Carolina is in its fifth year of selling booze, to the tune of about $4 million in sales this year. The University of Wisconsin did not sell alcohol at its football games, but will start selling intoxicating beverages at basketball and hockey home games.
The secular university viewpoints are what you might expect. “We’re not the first.” “Selling alcohol has simply become a new revenue stream.” One fan cried “boo” to the high prices inside the stadium, but favored getting as much booze into you as you can before going into the game!
For those of us watching a game at home on TV, there is a new challenge. If a camera pans a student naked from the waist up, in a snowstorm, with face and chest painted home team colors, are they a spirited fan or filled with spirits?
The Bible does not prohibit drinking alcoholic beverages unless you take the vow of a Nazirite (Leviticus 6:1-4) or you are going into the sanctuary (Leviticus 10:9). Scripture does, however, take a very grim view of drinking to excess. Like Noah, getting drunk can discredit your reputation and put families in turmoil (Genesis 9:20-27). Like Lot, sexual immorality can result from drinking excessively (Genesis 19:32-38). We may cause others to stumble by consuming too much wine (Romans 14:20-21). Overindulgence disqualifies someone from serving in a church leadership role (1 Timothy 3:3, 8).
Jesus set the example for us. He cheered those who obeyed His teachings, and booed those with wicked desires. He never rationalized sinful temptations that might cause someone to stumble. We ought to lead others, especially younger persons, the same way, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
”Now Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well; for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.”“ Numbers 10:29 NKJV
An invitation. This could be applied to us, believer’s, the church. We are strangers and pilgrims, stumbling through this world. This a wilderness world that we live in, not our home. But, and it’s a big one, we are on our way home to Jesus Christ. To be in His presence. Our’s is the same call as Mose’s, come with us.
If you are not a child of God by faith in Jesus Christ, there is an open invitation to join our march through the wilderness. We won’t block roads, we won’t keep people from shopping, we won’t be carrying any signs. We are not any better than any one else. We are sinners who have been saved by the grace of God.
This is no protest march…
This is a salvation march…
This is a redemption march…
This is a march to the heavenly Zion…
If you see yourself as a sinner and you need a Savior…
Turn to Him, Jesus Christ, by simple faith and trust.
”For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.“ Proverbs 23:7 NKJV
What are you thinking? Experts believe we have 25,000 to 100,000 thoughts a day.
”casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,“ II Corinthians 10:5 NKJV
Protect your mind and refuse to let garbage and the filth of this world into it…
”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.“ John 1:1-3 NKJV ”And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.“ John 1:14 NKJV Jesus Christ is God. There was never a moment when He wasn’t God…
”Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing: ‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’ Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.”“ Numbers 6:22-27 NLT
The Father- “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee;
The Son- “The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee;”
The Holy Spirit- “The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
There are plenty of images and decorations for Christmas. Because of Constitutional concerns over separation of Church and State, you don’t find many of them displayed on government property. The state of Iowa is an exception; it permits religious displays on government property during holiday periods. A Nativity set was put up on the rotunda of the Iowa state capitol.
No sooner was the Nativity up than the Satanic Temple of Iowa demanded they be allowed to erect an altar at the Iowa state house, not far from the Nativity.1 Though the Governor personally opposed such a display, she said, by law, they must also be allowed to display their religious symbol. The symbol is said to represent the pagan idol Baphomet, a figure with a gilded ram’s head, wearing a cape. The state did insist they not use a real ram’s head.
An ordained minister in the Christian and Missionary Alliance stirred up public debate by agreeing with the Governor that government neutrality on religion on religion and First Amendment rights meant allowing the satanic statue to be displayed.
A Navy pilot and former congressional candidate from Mississippi saw the debate on social media. He drove to Des Moines and cut off the head of the satanic idol. For his moral outrage, he was charged with fourth degree criminal mischief, and could be awarded a year in prison along with the opportunity to donate up to $2650 to Iowa.
When I first learned of the Naval officer’s action, I shouted, “Hoo-rah Navy!” Politicians already have a difficult enough time making morally correct decisions without placing a satanic statue on their pathway to legislation.
I discovered there is a Satanic Temple somewhere in North Carolina, though I don’t think it has any branches in eastern NC where we live. Its stated purpose is to “positively impact the residents of North Carolina.” Such an impact, if they were to erect a satanic idol, might result in many representatives of all Armed Forces, active and retired, volunteering to cut the head off the statue.
When I discussed the news story at a recent pastors meeting, several interesting points were raised about the greater importance of telling someone about your faith instead of pointing to pictures or statues. I did a little research and discovered most members of the Satanic Temple are atheists who use Satan as a metaphor for not being subject to any rules. That’s good insight because Jesus told us we would encounter opposition from false teachers, and we should use the opportunity to witness to them (Luke 21:13).
Another interesting point was most people have seen numerous pictures of a baby in a manger, angels, crosses, drawings of Jesus, etc. So much so that, today, fewer and fewer people can tell you what those images truly mean. Perhaps we should be less concerned about displays of Christianity on government property and more concerned about speaking to people about the truth of God’s word and the coming of His Son to earth as a baby in a manger. As believers, we are to be witnesses for Jesus throughout the world (Acts 2:32). It is more difficult to go tell it on the mountain this Christmas, than to sing Go Tell It On the Mountain. Why not do both?
”For with God nothing shall be impossible.“ Luke 1:37 KJV
”Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.“ Isaiah 7:14 KJV
Every time we call Him Jesus we are saying, God with us (Immanuel), He is God, He is God with us and God for us. He is our Savior, born of a virgin. Have you put your trust in Him?…?
”For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.“ 2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV
”Into thine hand I commit my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.“ Psalm 31:5 KJV
”and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our’s only, but also for the sins of the whole world.“ 1 John 2:2 KJV
”Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”“ Matthew 1:18-23 NKJV
What better day to remember the importance of how Jesus was conceived than Christmas Eve.
Ponder the magnitude of what God did for us through Jesus Christ- Merry Christmas…
It’s hard to believe around 12 hours ago we were in Maui and now we are home in Arizona…Just the best folks ever to dig through ash. There is a special kind of bond that comes from Disaster Relief Ministries…God bless to all of our DR brothers and sisters that Norma and I have served with-Thanks…
And I, if I am lifted up…will draw all peoples to Myself. —John 12:32
Very few of us have any understanding of the reason why Jesus Christ died. If sympathy is all that human beings need, then the Cross of Christ is an absurdity and there is absolutely no need for it. What the world needs is not “a little bit of love,” but major surgery.
When you find yourself face to face with a person who is spiritually lost, remind yourself of Jesus Christ on the cross. If that person can get to God in any other way, then the Cross of Christ is unnecessary. If you think you are helping lost people with your sympathy and understanding, you are a traitor to Jesus Christ. You must have a right-standing relationship with Him yourself, and pour your life out in helping others in His way— not in a human way that ignores God. The theme of the world’s religion today is to serve in a pleasant, non-confrontational manner.
But our only priority must be to present Jesus Christ crucified— to lift Him up all the time (see 1 Corinthians 2:2). Every belief that is not firmly rooted in the Cross of Christ will lead people astray. If the worker himself believes in Jesus Christ and is trusting in the reality of redemption, his words will be compelling to others. What is extremely important is for the worker’s simple relationship with Jesus Christ to be strong and growing. His usefulness to God depends on that, and that alone.
The calling of a New Testament worker is to expose sin and to reveal Jesus Christ as Savior. Consequently, he cannot always be charming and friendly, but must be willing to be stern to accomplish major surgery. We are sent by God to lift up Jesus Christ, not to give wonderfully beautiful speeches. We must be willing to examine others as deeply as God has examined us. We must also be sharply intent on sensing those Scripture passages that will drive the truth home, and then not be afraid to apply them.
Another great start to our day, with a strong word from the Lord and a song from MODR Greg…Our team is captivated by homeowner Guy’s story. His house survived the fire, but it was a close call…There were quite a few ducks here, enjoying Maui life…We made another new friend today, Girly…Chicken mom with babies had lunch with us…This green lizard welcomed us back to base…
”“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.“ Matthew 13:45-46 NKJV
This is our teammate, Kent, he gave us a great devotion to get our day started…
I have only one photo today, as usual, everyone can take pictures, videos and even fly drones, but not us.
I only complain on almost every post because I love to take photos and display them on this site.
All of our recovery work will cease tomorrow. We have a sort of a job that does not include wearing tyvex and masks. That is a good thing, because we spent the better part of the day working in them.
It is strange to think that our three weeks are over and tomorrow is our last job in Lahaina. We have met and served many property owners, and have performed our job like no other Fire we have worked before.
”And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.“ Mark 6:31 NKJV
Jesus told His disciples to rest a while. My prayer is that my NCDR team, David, Mike, Jim and Joel are resting for a while. My prayer will be for Mark, Kent, Janice will rest a while.
Rest a while. This can only be accomplished if you have put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. If you’re reading this by chance and have not placed your faith in His hands, Do it today, don’t wait!
We really enjoyed our service in Kahului Union Church….We ran into our old friend Oreo this morning…Norm found these old boat parts at our visit to Baldwin Beach Park. She wanted to take a piece, but they were too heavy for her to pickup…We drove the Hana Highway, around thirty miles in length. We counted 55 of these one way roads, or one lane bridges…Most of the road looked a lot like this….Hana Bay…We stopped at Kaumahina State Wayside and I could only find parking for three of my tires. Not sure how this happened…A Monk Seal taking a siesta brought quite a lot of attention. Other than raising his head and opening his eyes, he didn’t do much…He did do a 180 but we missed it, as there were a lot of turtles near by…
This is White Hat John and his wife, Gay. They are co-directors of Hawaii Pacific SBC Disaster Relief. It has been our privilege to serve them and the residents of Lahaina. Location of the pink pond from yesterday’s report. Of course, we had to go back for a more in-depth look…Part of the pink pond, see below…Okay…It was windy, I think the pond had pink caps…Pink on one side and blue on the other…Be careful where you walk…After an exchange of text messages with Maui born DR Gary, we enjoyed an authentic Hawaiian lunch…Photo courtesy of DR Janice…
”He also taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live.“ Proverbs 4:4 NKJV
“The heart will blaze the trail that the feet will follow.”
No recovery work for us today. We worked directly with White hat John, moving equipment from one trailer to another and then moving the HIDR recovery trailer to where we are staying, staging it for a slow boat to another Hawaiian island. After that, three of us transported 12 cases of water/gator aide to our working trailer in Lahaina. Thanks to my NCDR boys, we enjoyed some good BBQ at the local food truck park. Of course, Norm and I had Kraken Coffee for desert…A Pink Pond…This is winter in Maui…If only…
Sad day today. White hat John’s favorite team, NC/AZ is no more…David, Joel, Mike and Jim had to go home today. I will always cherish the ministry we did here in Lahaina. No one would ever have guessed that we formed this team two weeks ago, we worked together and had each others back every step of the way. What a blessing to have met and served together. Love you guys…This was our assignment for today. Help Hawaii DR move supplies, restock trailers and other wise look good…This is Oreo, I met him today…That should really be, HIDR, not sure how this could happen….No work in the burn area today, 30 to 50 mph winds…I am not a big fan of machines, but this is a nice gym. Just another plus to where we are staying. Thanks again, Hawaii DR….
The Gospel is written a chapter a day
By the deeds that you do and the words that you say.
My teammate, Joel, from North Carolina gave the morning devotion today, and as our other teammates commented, he hit it out of the park! Joel’s devotion had to be one of the best I’ve ever heard…On our way to Lahaina this morning, God gave us this spectacular rainbow. A double that reached from sky to sky…I snuck this shot of AZDR teammates, Kent and Janice posing for another camera…Our NC/AZ combination team that has served the Lord so faithfully…We have two AZDR members missing, Norm and Mark are serving on a real NC team. Funny how things work out…Sea turtle watch…
Love incarnate, love divine Star and angels gave the sign Bow to babe on bended knee The Savior of humanity Unto us a Child is born He shall reign forevermore
Noel, Noel Come and see what God has done Noel, Noel The story of amazing love! The light of the world, given for us Noel
A typical day for us, prayer, breakfast, vans, ice chests, screens, tarps, shovels, five gallon buckets, gloves, tyvex suits, N95 masks, pump sprayers, golf carts, walking, searching, praying, talking, digging, lunch, more digging, sifting, cleaning, driving, paperwork, showers, Bible study, dinner, prayer, debriefing, prayer, meetings, bed, and rinse and repeat, same tomorrow…
We would not have it any other way….
”But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.“ I Peter 2:9-10 NKJV
For some reason Norm found it funny that Pastor Rocky delivered his message in flip flops. I think they are the state of Hawaii’s official footwear…
After church we had a great lunch with North Carolina Mike. We had some plans to visit some more of Maui, but eventually just hung out and rested for the remainder of our day off…
I feel weird taking photos of our food, except for pickle slices that have angry faces. Norm said it was delicious…Yes…I know, another ocean picture. It’s all I am allowed to take and you have to agree, it never gets old looking at it. We had a great job today and got to hear an incredible story of bravery…
This was a great place to take my break….A homeowner told me today that God will make beauty from ashes…This is Team Arizona. We will be closing out the recovery work in Lahaina. From left to right, Mark, Kent, Janice, Norm and me…At this time we have too many on our team so they will be getting great experience working with other states. This coming Thursday we will back together working as a well oiled machine…My team is always looking for work. No jobs this afternoon so they decided to sort through the trash. Really though, we are trying to save money by recycling bottles, but certain teams and states, which will remain nameless, seemingly cannot follow basic instructions on which trash bag to use. I find it amazing…Today, the four of us dove deep into a local coffee trailer…Good stuff…
Full house for devotions at 0515 in the AM. Chaplain Harry from Virginia Disaster Relief started us off right with a word from the Lord…Awaiting Further Instructions- we do this pretty well…I can’t take any photos of our work, but I can photograph an egret when it lands on a truck …
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31 NKJV
This a great way to end a beautiful ministry opportunity that the Lord provided for us, lunch at the ocean. Our teammate Mike was under the weather for a while and then decided he would rather hang out with the Incident Command team than us. So we had lunch at the beach and ate ice cream without him. All kidding aside, our Chaplain and team did some of the best and most needed ministry to a family today. You could step back and see the Lord working through them…
After lunch we went to the Maui Civic Center where the Disaster Relief Recovery resource center is. It was like old home week for Norma and she introduced me to all of the people she worked with back in September. I felt like I was with a celebrity…
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.” Proverbs 3:27 NKJV
Not only in Disaster Relief, but in your everyday life…
I have the greatest time serving with my all North Carolina team. From left to right, David, Joel, some Arizona guy, Mike and Jim. They did a trailer inventory for Hawaii Baptist, went to serve another Lahaina resident and generally looked good. We are the “A” team. I am pretty sure we are John’s favorites…Did I mention that it is hard work doing inventory? This shot has our team Chaplain in it. She makes the rest of us look good…Instead of selfies, we have chickens…I have no words…
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”” Daniel 3:16-18 NKJV
Waiting to have our equipment picked up. I can’t take any photos of our work, so I am reduced to taking selfies…See above caption. I did want to mention my new and improved steel toed boots. Big improvement over my old ones. After 11,000 plus steps, my feet still get tired and hurt…
“Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Sing to the Lord; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods. The gods of other nations are mere idols, but the Lord made the heavens! Honor and majesty surround him; strength and beauty fill his sanctuary. O nations of the world, recognize the Lord; recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong. Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor. Let all the earth tremble before him. Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!” The world stands firm and cannot be shaken. He will judge all peoples fairly. Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy! Let the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he is coming! He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with his truth.” Psalms 96:1-13 NLT
This is Henry. He is a decorated war veteran and we had the privilege of finding three of his four war medals that he really wanted to recover. A Navy veteran…
This is the inside of a safe that our team eventually opened…As I was changing my boots, I witnessed a driver from an international volunteer organization, which shall remain nameless, attempt to park this car between two white lines…Two thumbs up…
We had a great service at Waiehu Community Church. Thanks Pastor Rocky, and congregation for your love…Finally able to take photos so I went a little crazy. This is the view from Waiehu Community Church…Norm scored some locally grown fruit. The banana was really tasty…We drove around Maui to the other side of Lahaina…Surfs up…Looking for sea turtles…After four days of chicken and pork, these burgers were delicious…This chicken tried to weasel in our dinner…
“There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. His delight is in the fear of the Lord, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist. “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea. “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious.”” Isaiah 11:1-10 NKJV
Jesus is the Restored King, Anointed King, Righteous King, Edenic King, and the Universal King.
A warm day of work. Our team was able to assist two families today. Both jobs were difficult due the type of construction of their homes. Our team consists of me, from Arizona and four fellas from North Carolina. We are probably the best team in Lahaina!
Maui lizard….This is Pastor Ysushi. We needed a Japanese interpreter today and, was he good. Loads of fun working together. It was great to hear him pray in Japanese.Again everyone but us can take photos. Frustrating…
Nomads2 