The Lord Restores Us When We Keep Loving Him.

        It is my joy to be printed in the Upper Room on Monday, August 12. The theme of that devotional is how we can find true higher power in Christ to continue to build a good life even when our aspirations are crushed. The experience of divorce and being a single parent raising 3 kids is far in the past. May new wife Martha and I have been married for 20 years. She came into my journey of life after I had been a single parent for many years. She and I have blended our two families into one harmonious unit. Now I have 5 children instead of only the original 3. All the children are close to us and we do things with them and the grand children. We have taken all the 5 children into our hearts and we are blessed in their love and support.

      When I was first divorced I was wrong to think that my dream of building a happy family was over. With the Lord's help and Martha's wise partnership we have a very blessed active family life. We have 10 grand children with another one on the way. It is a joy to be active grand parents and to share fun times with them. Attached is a picture of my grandson Owen enjoying the baseball game with me.

      I witness that the words of Romans 8:28 are true to my experience, “”We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” During the time of my despair after the crushing divorce I vowed to keep actively loving and serving the Lord no matter what. When we keep ourselves in the work of loving God daily He will work with us to build a good life, even if all we can give him at times is broken pieces.

Finding Our Safe Tower In Christ

Where Can We Find Safety?

Read: Psalms 91:1-16

        “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalms 91:1-2.

It was my duty to serve as Chaplain at a High Security Prison. The prison housed 1,000 violent men. Gang fights and murders were common on the prison yard. Five gun towers circled the razor wire fences so inmates trying to escape could be shot. One tall gun tower was erected inside the yard to shoot inmates chasing staff members. More bullets were fired from the gun towers in one year here than in any other Federal Prison.

        The warden instructed staff and peaceful inmates, “When threatened run to the shadow of the inside gun tower to be safe until the danger has past.” When walking the prison yard among hundreds of prisoners I felt comforted to know that the yard tower was present. Proverbs 18:10 teaches that God is a fortress, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe.” For me God’s name stands for protection, dependable help, and victory over my enemies. I find safety in a close relationship with Almighty God. Close to Him I can overcome inner enemies of temptation, depression, fear and panic. My soul is sheltered with Christ. No terrorist or criminal action can take away my eternal life safe in Him.

        I thank God for being my protective tower for fearful times. My responsibility is to run to the shadow of His name by prayer and obedience where I can find true shelter.

Prayer: Almighty Father, thank you for always being available to be our protective shelter and safe place. May we all turn to you with trust and obedience when threatened by the storms of life.

Thought Of The Day: We can run to the tower of God’s Love instead of just running scared.

Imagine No Malaria

       I just attended our Missouri Methodist Annual Conference. We are blessed to do great things for others in our combined efforts as disciples of Jesus.  The United Methodist national conference and our state conference have been fighting the terrible disease of malaria since 2008.  At that time we together worked with the "Nothing But Nets" program to bring needed mosquito protection to our brothers and sisters in Africa.  For nearly 2 hundred years Methodists have been in partnership with African Christians to give help to the sick, increase sanitation, and promote healing.
     Our Bishop has challenged each church to give a special offering to this new program called, "Imagine No Malaria".  He asks that we give $10.00 for each person who is average in attendance in worship. This means Rogersville UMC is being asked to give $300.00. This generous giving is putting our faith in action.
      This new program of "Imagine No Malaria" distributes insecticide -treated bed nets, it delivers sustainable and accountable public health systems. It works closely with the village elders, teachers, pastors, and mid wives who all know the people who need help. This system means that the medical supplies and nets are not stolen and then sold by thieves. This way of ministry means that there are regular and on going checks by trained local medical workers to make sure the supplies are being used in the proper life saving and preventive way.
       James 2:14-17 is the foundation of our efforts to give aid to our family in Christ in Africa,
"What good is it, my brothers and sisters; if you say you have faith but do not have works? If a person is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead." It is good to see the Methodist Church in action to make a difference to save children from dying from this preventable disease.  It only cost $10.00 to purchase on insecticide-treated net!
      The World Health Organization reports that in Africa every day 3,000 children die under the age of 5 years.  In 2010 reported malaria deaths were 660,000 with 90% of those in Africa. As Methodists we can and will make a difference.  Many lives are being saved, churches are being started and communities becoming healthier because of the generous sharing of the Methodist Church.
    Here is an African proverb to consider, " If you think you are too small to make a difference, try spending the night with a mosquito."

Look, Grandpa, Did you see it?

     "Look Grandpa, look", I heard this excited refrain often from our 8 year old grandson, Daegan as we gave bread to some ducks. He just wanted to feed the ducks and we experienced much more.  As we walked he held a small loaf of bread proudly in his hands. He was careful to make the bread last for our 30 minute adventure.
      He noticed so many wonders of nature on this stroll around the pond. He pointed out marvels like two flat backed turtles sunning on a rock barely emerging from the water. As we crossed over the foot bridge he called my attention to the little fish flipping on the surface to snatch pieces of bread he threw down.
     The geese honked loudly in an effort to scare the ducks away from the broken bread being thrown. He pointed out the funny way the ducks waddled over to snatch bread from his hand. The loud chorus of honks and quacks was hilarious.
    He told me to keep looking as the ducks swam in a tight V shaped pattern as we circled around the lake. He was excited about the ducks following him all the way around as he stopped often to give his feathered friends another snack. He was proud to notice how the duck band came to him repeatedly.
     Near some tall bushed he shouted out, "Look, it is a wild turkey!"  In my amazement we observed a turkey hen as tall as Daegan skittering away into deeper cover. With her different shades of brown feathers the turkey blended quickly back into the leaves.
      As I was contemplating these wonderful sights he called out , "Look at these big leafs on the water plants!"  I had not noticed the vibrant green and proud stand of water lilies.  I had glaced at them but not appreciated their beauty and freshness. He helped me take note of their full buds about to burst into yellow blossoms.
       I need to view the greatness of our Lords' Creation through the eyes of a child to restore my sense of wonder. Even if we do not have a child at hand we can take heed of the words of Jesus and take time to look carefully around us, "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil or spin, yet even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow for reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" Matthew 6: 26, 28 and 29.
      Worry is a big problem for me. I think one way to escape from the misery of worry is for me to take some time each day to dwell in wonder of our Lord's beauty in creation.  I want to experience more wonder and less worry. How about you? The Lord is speaking to me in Daegan's drum beat, "Look, Grandpa look, look!"