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A friend of mine sent me a great video of "The Duke" John Wayne and his buddy Dean Martin its about 3 minutes but it is good.
THE DUKE : What I want for my daughter.
Hope you like it. I wish a few more folks would realize the value of what it means to live in the United States of America. It is the greatest place on the face of the earth to live and If you live here you are blessed.
The willingness of a group of men to sit down with one another and reveal their flaws and shortcomings is unusual and uncommon. The male ego does not work well to say hey "I have a problem." The tendancy among men is to always say I can handle whatever you or life dishes out. I have a group of 4 other men I meet with on a regular basis that I can do this unthinkable deed. I can go to these dear friends and say guys I have blown it I have been ______ ________ _______. I would not dare fill in some of the blanks on the web as rumors and gossip would be rampant. (Some Of YOU will try to fill in the three blanks.) Don't speculate or you will be wrong and gossiping. But I want you to get a glimpse of what I have in the relationship with the other men in my prayer group. It is refreshing. It is revealing. It is a little scary. I trust these guys and they trust me but how much should I reveal of who I really am. The Lord knows me completely and I have no secrets from God. My wife knows almost as much about me. In fact I think she knows me better than I know me sometimes. This is a joy to have the intimacy with a wife to share all things. But with a group of other guys how much can I share. We pray together and share together alot.
I had the chance to be in a skit at the church on easter Sunday and it was quite a challenge to memorize several pages of lines. The skit was about two men one helping the other around the house. One man was sharing Christ with another. The man being helped was all about lights for Christmas and eggs and bunnies for easter and he was really not excited about doing even that. The final point of the skit was when Joe (my character) realized easter was about the work of the savior and how he rose from the dead. Joe then decided he wanted a tomb in the yard instead of chicks and bunnies. It was fun and while it may not win Tony awards, I thought about a few things as I was a participant in the skit. I was willing to work extra for the chance of helping out in the skit. Am I willing to do something extra for the Lord everyday? I was willing to memorize lines. Am I willing to memorize the Word of God? I was willing to stand up in front of people and say the lines. Am I willing to stand up and proclaim the truth? I was willing to go early to church and to stay late. How often will I do that? Would I like Joe be willing to build a tomb in the yard if it would help someone to know the Christ I know?
I hope I am willing to do all these things but the point is It took extra time and I was willing to do something extra just because someone ask me to. The real point is; Am I doing as much as I can? Or am I holding back on the work so that I am a little more comfortable? Am I willing to commit all I have or do I hold back so that I will have a little reserve for later? The easter celebration is all about Jesus giving his all and He was victorious. One good look at the cross and we know Jesus gave his all. Are we willing to give our all?
The skit went fine but I could have given more. I could have done more. I could have prayed more. So tommorrow will be the day after easter and the question will be ---How much will I do for Jesus today?
The skit took a little extra on my part. Jesus gave it all. How much will I do out of love for him everyday. I pray it will be all I can do.
Today I was blessed as I realized how God is using me in ministry with the Cobb Police Department. I attended the annual awards day ceremony and saw men and women of the Cobb County Police given awards for many different things. I was pleased to see a delightful young woman receive the Myron Swataski Scholarship award. I have had the honor of serving on the selection committee for several years and it is aways a joy to see the recipent receive her award. I saw men I had served at prescient three honored for work where a man was in danger but they because of restrain saved the man's life. But the greatest moment came when they gave the Police Blue Star. This award is given to officers who have been injured in the line of duty. Three men were given the award this year. All three had been involved in accidents that were traffic related. All of the accidents were very serious. All three times the call had come that an officer was down and I was able to respond to the hospital. To be at the bedside and to be there with loved ones as they faced the very critical moment of hearing the doctors report is a task I know that God has called me to do. My prayer for all of these men has been constant from the day of their accidents. All have suffered working hard to recover and all have returned to work though some in a limited capacity. These men were all an inspiration to me today. What an honor to see these men as they were recognized.
One of the officers lost a leg and now walks on a prostheses. When he walked across the stage he did not limp. Amazingly he did not limp. Another was on crutches as he just a few weeks ago had surgery again. His spirit is strong. He is a cheerful and fun guy. I am always impressed with his courage. The third fully recovered and although he may have to endure more surgery in the future he shipped out to serve the USA in Iraq only a few months after his accident. After completion of his duty there he has now come back to CCPD. What a great moment to see these men honored today. Thank you Lord for the privilege I have had to pray and minister in a small way to these heros.
Seeing all of these who serve receive awards today was a great moment for me to know that I have the privilege to know and minister to Cobb Counties finest men and women. I pray that God will continue to bless all of our fine Law Enforcement Officers.
This past week has been a great adventure in short term missions. We literally Logged On. Hurricane Felix passed over the eastern part of Nicaragua taking out many villages with its fierce winds. As it destroyed homes and schools and churches the wind also knocked over trees. Thousands of trees. The need to rebuild is critical in the area and how can it be done without lumber. The downed trees are there and all that is needed is someone to cut it into planks for building. The Mission Team Inc team of four was us to the task this week logging and cutting over 16,000 board feet of lumber. That is enough to build five houses and a church. Praise God for the team and for the strength we had to accomplish the task.
Impact 360 is a ministry developed by some of the finest folks connected with Chick-fil-a restaurants. The program for first year college students concentrates on leadership and developing a Biblical world view. There is plenty of practical experience with hands on work with service projects and a month long mission trips. Leadership is developed as the students are exposed to some of the finest leaders in the country and have the opportunity to hear the leaders heart and ask questions. I think the way they are going about it will accomplish great things as these young people find out about what it really takes to be a leader. I know the picture is small but look at the faces and see if you can find one that you could trust to be leader....
Last Wednesday night there was a change. My Mom called me to ask what time my father in law's heart catheter procedure would be done. My answer was "I didn't know he was having one. I raced home to ask my wife what is going on with Bob. She had forgotten to tell me that earlier that day Bob went for a stress test on the tread mill at his doctors office. I do not think he had been studying for this exam and he did not pass. The doctor set him up for the next day to have a heart scan and so my Thursday morning was to go to the hospital and stand by with a man who means so much to me. In just a moment that morning there was a second change. We were waiting to hear that Bob would need some medication and exercise to watch it a little more on his heart but what I heard that stood out was the words "multiple blockages."
