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Someone sent this to me, and I was truly moved by this 8 minute film. I started playing it to just see what it was, and absolutely could not turn it off. Our Lord is in the life changing business. Check this out when you have a few minutes.
In the modern computer vernacular we upload a file and then open it to see what is inside. Yesterday I had the wonderful opportunity to open my heart and see a group of Uganda children. These young singers were at Burnt Hickory Baptist yesterday morning to sing a song in each service and then to do a complete concert last night for a pretty full house. The in between yesterday afternoon I had the opportunity to just go play with these wonderful children. We played dominios and other games while many were absorbed in watching some American singers called Alvin and the Chipmunks. These children were a joy. They were well behaved and quite polite and were very eager to play and have some fun. Most of all they love Jesus. This was obvious last night in the wonderful time of leading worship through praise music. Beautiful young voices combined with dance and drums let you know these African children were all about serving our Lord.
Below the Children dressed in their bright beautiful clothes watch Alvin and the Chipmunks.
Thursday at 10 AM I met a wedding party and climbed up the side of
Kennesaw Mountain for a sweet, short and simple wedding ceremony. How
cool is that. The couple wanted it to be short, simple and sweet and it
was. The bride was the best dressed person on the trail. The groom
brought the dog who because it was outside on the mountain did not have
to miss the ceremony. As a chaplain for Police I have been given unique
opportunities sometimes and this was a sweet time. Although it was a
short ceremony, I stressed how a cord of three is not easily broken
(Eccl 4:12) In Counseling and at the wedding the focus was on how a man
and woman and the Lord make a cord of three. When Christ is in the
center of a marriage, the commitment will stand the test of time. What a
Joy to see this couple unite on a beautiful sunny June morning committing their
hearts and souls with each other and the Lord. A one time place of a huge battle now a place to unite and commit to life long love .
I had fun on Father's day I appreciate my children and their love and encouragement. The boys each gave me a card and these are some of the words they wrote: "Godly example"...."pointing me toward Jesus" and "you make it easy to follow Him to!" WOW these are big words from young men who are doing big things for God. I am proud of these guys. My sweet daughter was especially sweet on Dad's day. She was the table cleaner and servant at our meal and did a great job. What a joy to see a servants heart in all the kids. Here is a picture on my cards.
I wrote about Dad a couple of days ago, and I thought I would put up a few more thoughts this morning. I thought about things your just do not forget. My Dad loves the place he built with blood, sweat, and tears on Lake Nottley. We purchased the lot in 1966 and started building right away. One of the first times we ever stayed overnight in the cabin as I remember was Easter weekend 1967. It was cold and Momma was about to freeze. Dad got the bright idea of putting the lightbulb in the bed with Momma to get her warm. Got her warm alright - it set the bed on fire! You just don't forget that.
Some time around the same timeframe in life ,I was down on the beach stacking rocks (the place is blessed with rocks). I turned one rock over and there to my surprise was a scorpion that promptly stung me on the hand. My older brother, not to miss a chance, told me quickly that to be stung by a scorpion meant I was going to die! I went to where my dad was and stood clutching my hand and as he was finishing driving a nail I asked the most important question I knew to ask at the time. "Dad, when am I going to die?" My loving dad, unaware of the sting and concentrating on the next nail, said something like this: "I don't know son, probably when you are old and gray, maybe 80 or so years old." I just stood there confused and with a big tear starting to roll down my cheek. Dad suddenly realized something else was going on here. He grabbed me and after a few minutes of talking I was stacking rocks again - this time a little more carefully. You just don't forget stuff like that.
One more... I have always thought of Dad as a hero. I didn't figure he was afraid of anything. I have seen him kill snakes, climb up ladders, deal with situations with people and so I figured he was not really afraid of anything. When I was about 14 I had a real live testing of my own fear. Dad and I were at the lake alone. We were digging out from under the house so we could put a basement in. (I know, most folks put basements in before they build the house, but we were a little different and did not want to do it the easy way.) Dad and I were jacking up the house with pillars of blocks and screw-type house jacks. We had to move them from time to time to dig where they were. So we were moving a main support and Dad was tightening the screw jack when a block on the bottom cracked and then crumbled. The column of blocks fell with my dad riding the column. He landed in the pile of cinder blocks and came up clutching his hand which had a huge gash in it. He was also beat up and bruised. The thing was bad enough, but the whole house, well about a 1/3 of it, was just hanging in mid air. With this main support now on the ground, there was a lot of house just hanging there. Dad kept his cool and told me to jack the house up. Block by block, little by little, by myself, I built a new column of blocks and jacks and secured the house while Dad sat there bleeding. We jacked up the house, then we took off to town to the hospital to get Dad sewn up. Dad kept telling me he was a little lightheaded and that I might have to drive him into town. The problem was I did not know how to drive yet. Well, we made it, and he survived with a few stiches, and I saw a man who taught another young man that you can handle a crisis moment. You just don't forget that. Thanks, Dad.
This Sunday is Father's Day and I have many reasons to celebrate. I am so fortunate to have the kids I have; although they are not kids anymore. Grown up men and one lovely young woman, and by the grace of God two of the boys have come home with a prize, giving me two wonderful daughter-in-laws. No grand babies yet, but I know that one day if God blesses this will be a reality. I have another reason to celebrate I have two father-in-laws and both are good men. They are men who have a strong faith in the Lord. Both serve their church faithfully and never interfere in our lives, but would help us and have helped us in many ways. Thank you would not be enough to say to both these men. Yet, I have yet one more reason to celebrate Father's day and that is my own dear Dad. Pete Davis. The Man. Granddaddy. He is now 82 and his old hip and leg are giving him a huge amount of pain, but he just keeps going. I love my daddy. I am proud of him for who he is. He is number one a man who wants to do the right thing. He would give me my family or my brother and his family the shirt off of his back. I cannot say thank you enough to my Dad for all the encouragement, all the love and all the prayers that he has given. My daddy loves me and this is a great thing to have at age 52, a daddy that loves you. I can say to anyone and without any reservations and can and do say to his face "I love you daddy". This is a reason to celebrate.
Our heavenly Father loves us too. Here is a great Godtube video. It is kinda long about 6 Minutes but if you have the time the truth about your heavenly father is always good to hear.
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=07aa60b6777b6f7384d5
HAPPY FATHERS DAY
Everywhere people especially young people are headed out on mission for Jesus. For the next few weeks the world will be full of students singing, doing drama, building, playing, feeding, and so many other things to touch the lives of others all with showing the love of Jesus Christ. I want to challenge all who read this column to be in prayer for those you know who are going and those you only read about. Never before have so many gone to the mission feild as have gone in the last few years. What a reason to praise God!
As you pray remember these 10 important points:
1 Pray for safety
2 Pray for leadership
3 Pray for understanding
4 Pray for strength
5 Pray for empowerment by the Holy Spirit
6 Pray for God to be glorifed.
7 Give thanks for those who have given for others to go.
8 Give thanks for those who go.
9 Give thanks for those who are there on field who receive the teams.
10 Give thanks for God's calling out new missionaries.
Please be faithful to pray over this summer for teams accross the world.
The above photo is Georgia Medical Students on mission in Nicaragua June 2007 The church you see in the back ground and the entire area was blown away by Hurricane Felix a few months after this picture was taken. We never know what is ahead pray for the teams on the field today.
As a Christian we are constantly looking at the world around us and seeing the actions and activities of others both Christian and pre-Christian and we tend to do something that is very dangerous. We compare our selves to them. If we watch long enough we will see a slip up, a gaff, or a open mistake that whoever we are watching at the moment will make. We can say AHA and or do what is Paul's advice in Colossi ans 3:12-17.
The Bible is plain in Hebrews about who we should be watching:
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. Heb 12:1-3 (NASB77)
The problem in our churches is so often we have people watchers instead of Jesus focused people. I have encountered several over the last few weeks that seem to forget this most important but yet basic instruction for the Christian life.
