...too small a thing...

Bad Times .... Are Coming ...Or are they here?

My daily Scripture reading is in the book of Isaiah right now. Reading through the book you always get the sense of bad times coming. The doom of Israel is emminent and the Prophet is telling it like it is. History proved that Isaiah knew what he was talking about.  The earthly kingdom fell. The prophecy of the Bible is truth revealed. And we know that some bad, I mean really bad times are coming before the Lord returns because the Scripture tell us it is going to happen.

So as we consider our times we live in right now how bad are they?

• I still have food to eat and I really get a good assortment and very healthy food several times a day.
• I still have a beautiful home and feel safe in it.
• I lay down to sleep at night with no fear of someone harming me or my family.
• I have the freedom to come and go as I please wherever I want to go.
• I have the freedom to praise God openly. Even at public events I am often asked to pray.
• I have the opportunity to have fun. enjoy entertainment, and choose my friends. 

So what is bad? For me not so bad. My income is way down no doubt. The support for the Ministry of Mission Team Inc has dropped a fair amount not due to lack of intrest or support for what we do, but simply because some do not have anything to give. Some people would love to send support, but just do not have it to give anymore. So we postpone or hold some things till later. We tighten our belts some and cut out some frills of life. We dip into savings (praise the Lord we have savings) and we get very resourceful on how to do ministry. So I guess I could complain about this, but many people do not have jobs and are really worried about a good many things I listed above.  The truth is some might even be going hungry or without a place to stay. So for some, times have gotten real bad and I hope that that is not you. I do realize it is not me.

Once again the thing I am always reminded of when I read the prophets like Isaiah is how bad things will be before the Lord Returns. But Isaiah is full of hope for the people. And we should be people with hope.

3 "The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You.

4 "Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock. Isaiah 26: 3-4

In the midst of the doom and gloom the prophet is metering out up to chapter 24 of Isaiah, he changes gears into chapter 25 and there in chapter 26 is the reason why.... a steadfast mind.

During this sort of troubling econmic down time take stock of yourself. Are times really that bad? For me, "Not So Bad." And for sure, I know this, the Hope of the Lord's return, and the reality of the Lord's provision in my life is constant. To be steadfast of mind, that is a goal in life. It does not come through money my friend. It does not have any connection to the economic processes of life. To be steadfast of mind comes from your relationship with God. So are the bad times here? Not for me.

 

 

Drums

 I am sitting on my front porch listening to the sound of the drum corps at Harrison High School. It is Thursday at 8:00 am and they are beating out a cadence that would make you think there is a football game going on at the stadium. But they are of course just practicing.

I remember laying on a roof in Senegal Africa sleeping under the stars, listening to the sound of african drums beating into the night the rhythms of african music as I tried to sleep. That very next morning I was awakend to the errie sound of the prayer call from the mosque just a couple of streets over from the missionaries home.

I remember a visit years ago to Christ Church in Nasville TN as I was journeying to the Southern Baptist Convention In Indianapolis to hear the unique styles of music they had there. We were not let down as they brought out 4 drum sets and put them on stage and had 4 drummers start a set that included a rendition of the hymn Trust and Obey  as a rap song.  TTTrrrr ust and obey. I can't really write it but I can still hear it even though it has almost been 20 years ago.

I remember the village of Pekaong  in Lesotho where every time we visit, shortly after we arrive, drums will start in the house of the sangoma (witch doctor). The presence of evil is there and they play and beat the drums to remind the people who would come to the Bible study that they are there.

Drums are used all over the world. Drums are used for a lot of different reasons but they all ring out a message. AS I hear the drums keep on beating at Harrison my foot is tapping with the rhythm of the beat. To a certain extent we all beat a drum everyday. Our work, our play, our concerns, our passions, our words, all give a message to others. What is the message today? Is the message one about football? Is the message about your personal comfort if you slept well or feel well today? Is the message about your church or the things your doing in your church?  Or is the message you are sending by way of the words, and actions of the drum you beat simply this.....I love Jesus....I love Jesus....I love Jesus.  

No Pain No Gain

It is an old expression but it is still true. In order to get ahead at most anything that a person attempts you must sacrifice and it will be uncomfortable and painful. Too many have the idea I heard the other day about losing weight that they want to, "Forget the treadmill, give me a pill."

People want and look for an easy way out. Take the short cut. Give me somethining simple. Weight loss, physical fitness, education, financial stability all comes by way of developed plans and sticking to  the plan. We are by nature greedy and want what we want now. But this is a short cut again.

If you want an education study and take classes that you need to gain the knowledge. If you want to lose weight count the calories and discipline yourself. If you want physical fitness, exercise. If you want to know God......

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24

To be a committed Christian you must realize there is a commitment to a way of service and love that will at first seem to hurt and be painful (giving up worldly things) but as you see the reults ...Knowing God ....It is the greatest thing in life.

Jesus Pain is our Gain. Remember He sufferd and died to give us life.

Your Plans Today From a Differnt Perspective

What are your plans for today? Are you going to work or school? Are you going to do what you usually do this morning or is today a special day? It is pretty routine for me so far. I have gone through my morning routine... Dogs out, tea, Bible reading, check email and now on to the blog writing time. So far very average very normal morning.

Now, I had a had a thought about how plans can change. There are many reasons plans can change, but the one that seems to always, always change plans is death. Yesterday I wrote about the loss of a little baby in Africa and I know that the missionaries plans changed yesterday because of the death of the new baby of one of the closest pastors they work with there in Lesotho. God forbid it happening, but the sudden death or severe injury, or even sudden serious illness of a family member or a close friend will change every thing you are going to do today.

World events can change the day. I know all of us remember the events of 9/11/2001 very well, and it changed not only our day, but our lives. No one knew at 8:00 am eastern time except a handful of hijackers what was coming that day. All of this death and dying writing is kind of depressing to read and think about so lets get to the different perspective.

I believe that the Lord is waiting to bless you today. Our Lord has bestowed His love on you and when you have a fresh encounter with God it will change you, and your day. Knowing personally the Lord and Master of the Universe is earth shattering, and eye opening, but so often it just does not happen on a daily basis. Our days are routine with not much thought of God. Oh yeah, we will read our Bible and then acknowledge the Lord with prayer, but sometimes it seems to take the kind of things I was writing about like death, illness or terrorism to drive us back to the Lord.

The real secret to have peace and joy in our lives is to be seeing our God in everything we do and every aspect of our lives day in and day out. No matter what we are doing, in our routines or in our crisis we must seek Him and follow Him. You see when we start tuning in to Him and seeking His direction for the day, no matter what comes our way we will give glory to God.

So what are your plans for today? Not the right question. What are His plans for you for today? This is what we should be asking ourselves.

 

Sorrow in the Mountains of Lesotho

I received this email this morning and I shed some tears and realize that my dear brother Maruti Malapo is hurting very badly. This has just happened a few hours ago. Malapo is one of our key pastors in Lesotho and one of two pastors that does the translations for our work there. You can read Jim Flora's email:

Once again, we are calling upon you for prayer...the Word of God is truly taking root in the hearts of many of the mountain Basotho. Along with the joy of serving these people, sorrow is too often a part of our life.  Mortuti Malopo, the pastor of the church in the village of Khokhoba is a man full of sorrow this morning.  This humble man, lives with his wife and two small children, in one room of an old mobile home that sits adjacent to the tent church.  Yesterday, during the service, Moruti called for me.  His wife was due to deliver their new baby, they were hoping for a son,  in early November.  She was having lower abdominal pains.  I examined 'Me Mary and could not feel any contractions.  I sent for nurse/midwife, 'Me Zaphora who is a member of thier church, and works at the local government clinic.  She felt that 'Me Mary was not in labor and gave her medications for "stomach illness."  During the evening, I called Moruti several times and he said that 'Me Mary was better.  At 8:30pm he sent a text saying she had been sleeping with no pain since 6pm, when Zaphora had been at their home to check on her.  During the early morning, she began having extreme pain.  The calls he made to call for me, did not go through, we have since learned that there was a problem with the cell phone tower.  He started to the hospital with her at 4:30am.  The closest hospital is more than one hour away.  She delivered their son on the side of the river near the village of Makoabane.  I received a call from him at 5:20 this am, asking me to come to the clinic...he said the nurses needed me. The nurses were unable to find a heartbeat, and wanted me to confirm their findings.  When I arrived, their son was dead.  What heartache this young pastor and wife are experiencing this am as the sun is rising over the Maluti Mountains.  Please pray that God will continue to be their strength.  Pray for Jimmy as he travels with them to the funeral home.  Pray for midwife Zaphora as she struggles with the loss of the child, a feeling she frequently has experienced.  Pray for our family, as we strive to bring Life to those who are living in a world so full of death.

Please join me in praying for our brother in Christ and his family this morning.

 

Sunday .... With Jesus... and everyone else.

 Young Girls Singing in The Cocal Church in Puerto Cabeza Nicaraga

Yesterday was Saturday with Sunshine so I thought today's title appropriate. We as the Davis family have been using Bryant Wright's Right from the Heart devotionals that you can get each day by email in our daily family time at night. Yesterday Bryant wrote about coming together to worship each week and how important it is to be present in worship services.

This is such a truth. I got up yesterday with a longing to go ride my motorcycle for hours. Do I have that same longing to be with God's people to worship? I do worship alone and yesterday there were moments of worship as I was riding in beautiful North Georgia as my helmet speakers were cranking out ...Glory to God, Glory to God, Glory to God in the highest.... it was a great moment. I was worshiping the Lord God who has given me such a great life. But this morning we come together as a body of Christ. 

I love my Life Group. They are great bunch of people who need love and spiritual stretching. They need their faith challenged and exercised to grow and develop. And the guy teaching this morning really needs it bad. (That would be me.) I love these guys and look forward to seeing them this morning.

Now the truth is we often think of Sunday as a day to be with Jesus, but the reality is that we should be with Jesus everyday. We should not miss a quiet time with Him in the morning and talk to Our Lord as we progress through every day. But the collective organized body of Christ where we can learn and worship the Lord together is set up on Sunday. Don't miss it.

• The Church needs you.
• The Lord has plans for you to be a part of the Church.
• The people in the community need the Church with you as a part of it.
• You need the church for fellowship and a chance to learn and grow by encouragement of others.
• Jesus established it and died for the Church.

I have been so fortunante to attend churches all around the world. I have people I would love to see in so many places to worship with them this morning. I think about my friends all around the world having Sunday with Jesus just like I will do at Burnt Hickory this morning and I smile. I wonder if Jesus is smiling this morning as He sees us come together to worship.

Ride Photos

 

Chris Rhea made this photo of me on Cobb Parkway as we were almost back home.

We ate breakfast at Waffle House drove to Chattanooga by way of HIram, Rockmark, Rome and Summerville Ga. We had lunch at a place called Nikki's in Choo choo town and then headed home. What a great Ride.Chris says that he is going to make a Facebook page for his motorcycle because he is never in the pictures but I got a shot of him makeing pictures of the bikes. Thanks for the Photos Chris.

Red lights and gas pumps were all part of the process but about 225 miles and all home safe makes for a great ride.

 

 

 

Saturday....With Sunshine

A Saturday with sunshine is a joy. God has given us a beautiful day for football, golf, yard work, or of course my choice motorcycle ride. Not much time right now as I am going to ride with some friends up toward Chattanooga this morning. If I get back with some good photos I will try to put a couple up this afternoon.

Have a great Saturday morning.

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

The photo is from a Builders for Christ Trip 2 years ago to Manteno IL. Kent B. snapped the photo at 50 mph. Mrs Betty Smith is on the back of my old bike as we rode one afternoon after working all day. Today is opposite of that....Ride all day and work a little after I get done riding. Yeah!

 

Breakthrough

 
Have you ever had a moment where there was a breakthrough spiritually and you saw and heard a Word from the Lord? YOU CAN!

It seems our lives are so full of doing, going, living that we are quick to forget the being part of life. I mean think about it like this....

When you awakened this morning did you think about who you are in Christ an who you are as person or did you think more about what you are going to do today? Did you have more thoughts about your agenda or your attitude? Was thankfulness for your postion and status in Christ a recurring theme in your prayers this morning or were you too busy giving God the list of things He should bless, change, take care of and mold to your liking today? O sorry, mabye you forgot to pray.

The Bible says,

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2: 9-10 ESV

If you are a believer YOU are a possession of God. You do not belong to this world, or even yourself you belong to God. Are you thinking of yourself like this. You can't and you will not think of yourself as a child of God unless your heart is repentant. Unless you are turned away from sin and seeking The Lord you will be focused on self. So what you are doing, where you are going, or living will become more important than being.

Now do not get me wrong I am not advocating sitting in the lotus position all day going "ummmmmm, Ummmmm, UMMMMMMM, Momma Louie!  Trying to have some type of mystical experiance as you discover you being. What I am saying is that so often Christian people are so focused on self, our comfort, our agenda, our plans, that we just plain exclude God. Often this is because of sinfulness that is a repeated thing in our lives. Here is what the writer of Hebrews said to do:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Do Not Grow Weary Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. Hebrews 12:1-3 ESV

I think the trick it laying aside the sin. Are you willing. It is actually simple. Just talk to the Father now. When you do you will find yourself being what the Father wants you to be obedient, ready to serve, and on the move.

One More Thought about the Cop Killer

Troy Davis was executed last night about 11 PM. 22 years after he shot and killed Officer Mark MacPhail in a Burger King Parking lot in Savannah GA.  It is so amazing how people are twisting this story and claiming that there is "doubt." The only doubt that exist is what the media is creating. If you do not know the case do not be saying there is doubt as there is none except his friends and the media want to whip up a news story.

FACTS

• There were 34 witnesses in the case not just 9.
• He shot Officer MacPhail in  a crowded parking lot with lots of people watching.
• The murder of MacPhail was not the only crime he was covicted of as there were other charges and he was found guilty on all of them. The charge against Davis for the murder of MacPhail was the one carrying the death sentance.
• Once Troy Davis shot MacPhail, he walked to him and shot him a second time standing over him in the head.
• The people who recanted or changed testimony were friends of Davis who made changes like "I cannot be sure that Davis is the one who shot MacPhail" even though they were there and said before that he was the shooter. It has been alleged there was "pressure" from the police. The majority of statements were taken at the scene of the crime when people had just seen what had happened. 
• Four major courts looked at and reviewed this case. If there was any doubt there would have been no execution.
• The shooter was black and the officer was white blue. Some want to make the case a racial. It was not and never has been about race.
• Here is one more fact - this is over.

I proudly serve to minister and encourage our men and women who serve our community. I am saddened at every offense of the law that requires our officers take action to put people in jail.  When law eforcement is murdered in public the death penalty is merited. May God have mercy on Troy Davis soul.

Rest in Peace Mark MacPhail. God bless you for your service and courage to be a part of the Thin Blue Line. May God bring comfort to your family.

Ann Coulter wrote a good column on this if you want more. LINK