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Comments by Pastor Howard Marshall |
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Prince of Peace Assembly of God 907-755-2275 |
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Comments by Pastor Howard Marshall |
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Prince of Peace Assembly of God 907-755-2275 |
Updated 25-Jun-03
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Patriotism is defined as one who “loves his or her country!” Most of us, I would say, are very loyal to our country and are disturbed when we hear people or see people who are in opposition to what our leaders are trying to do to help those who are in need of assistance. This Independence Sunday, we want to honor those
who have served our country in military.
The 4th of July is special to Americans around the
world. It has been a long
time since 1776. Many wars
have been fought; lives lost defending our country, the great U. S. of
A. In view of what is transpiring around the world, we
realize that freedom is not free!
For a nation to be truly free from the horrors of war, it is
going to cost and that cost is very high, not necessarily in $$ but in
the lives of men and women who are serving their country.
In June 1950 the North Koreans shot down two American
planes and our country went to “war” against them, though at the
time it was, and still is, called
just a “conflict.” I
was privileged to have had the opportunity to enlist in the U.S. Navy
and serve for almost 4 years. I
do not worship the American Flag but I do respect it.
I do place my hand over my heart when it passes by in a parade or
when the national anthem is played.
I am patriotic! Now,
let me address the need of our being just as committed in being a
Christian. When the Lord
saves us and we experience Salvation, we are to “stand tall” as a
believer. Our “spiritual
freedom” cost our Heavenly Father His one and only begotten Son.
"If therefore the Son shall
make you free, you shall be free
indeed."
(John 8:36) “...Never let anyone take away your right to stand
tall as a Born-again American!”
<>< <>< <>< What “pushes” your panic
button? What creates a real “stir” in your life? What
causes you “unnecessary” worry? “Concerns?”
In reality it can be most anything unexpected that may come our
way. As a newly-wed and just arriving in San Diego, California, I checked us into our hotel. My suit needed to be pressed so I left Marge in the room and took the suit to the cleaning shop. When I returned, I could not get an answer at the door. I went to the desk and they called but no answer. I became quite concerned as to what had happened to her. We had just arrived after a
three-day train trip from Kansas. She was exhausted and had lain
across the bed and went to sleep. I
mean a SOUND sleep. When
she finally answered the door, she was surprised that I had been trying
to get her to open the door, not knowing she was sleeping.
That has been almost 51 years ago, folks! In our church family, we
should realize we are sheep of His pasture and we are not our own, but
are His and He is NEVER caught by surprise. He
is NEVER caught off guard! He
knows exactly what He is doing at all times, so we should not become
anxious when things do not happen as fast as we feel they should. Last Sunday night I spoke on the subject “Does anybody really care?” We know according to the verses in the text that God does care about the small things in life. “...Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? And yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:6-7 Someone
has said “...If
a care is too small to be turned into a prayer, it is too small to be
made into a burden.”
“Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” I Peter 5:7 <>< <>< <><
In our society there are some pretty “warped”
ideas about being a father. One
of the areas is that of single parent families, where there may not be a
father living there. Or
with marriages becoming so fragile that the children are fearful about
Mom and Dad staying together. My dad was a little guy. He
stood about 5’7” tall, weighed about 130 pounds soaking wet, a man
who provided for his family. During
the Depression era he worked for the Frisco Railroad Company and made
$0.28 per hour, 8 to 10 hour days and 6 days a week, and walked 3 miles
to work. One way that is! My dad was a hunter, a fisherman and a trapper. My dad could also cook up a pretty mean pot of steamed cabbage. Between him and my mom we’d have a wonderful Sunday dinner. Wow, such memories! He had his chickens he and mom raised for the eggs and for “fried chicken” (before Kentucky Fried Chicken), mashed potatoes and gravy, followed by chocolate cake and strawberry Jell-O and sweetened iced tea. Are you hungry yet? In
the photo, above: Marcille, Eva, Pearl, John, Howard, and Paul. Hopefully, you children are creating wonderful
memories, like the ones I have. In
the bulletin today we have some comments from some of our elementary
children about their special dads. "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you. Exodus 20:12 <>< <>< <><
For our church, we believe
summer is an opportunity to get outside the walls of our church to
minister. Some will be involved with Vacation Bible School (VBS) in
neighboring churches, which is great, and hopefully we will have a
missions team in our area the last of June and early July and IF it
happens, we will have additional activities to get involved in.
Just watch for more information on this possibility. Some of our SS classes may
need help to cover for teachers while they are gone and, as your pastor,
I trust you will be ready to do what you can to help.
With summer upon us let’s get excited about what the Lord wants
to do in our midst. How about an “all church picnic” to share with
our friends and neighbors for a relaxed time? Christians can have fun,
you know! I have heard
rumors of a “kite flying contest.”
That would be fun; maybe I could even get my kite into the air. “...Whatever
your hand finds to do, verily, do it with all your might....”
Ecclesiastes 9:10a. Perhaps
this should be our goal for the summer, keep busy doing what the Lord
has for us! Amen? <>< <>< <><
But
there’s more. You
remember Jesus told His disciples and followers to “wait” for the
promise of the Father. On
the day of Pentecost there were about 120 in the Upper Room doing just
what Jesus had instructed them to do.
Waiting! Waiting for
the promise of the Father, to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
They were all saved and on their way to heaven, but they were to
be endued with power, as prophesied by the Prophet Joel.
“...And
it will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all
mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will
dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
And even on the male and female servants I will pour out My
Spirit in those days.”
(Joel
2:28-29) Then,
according to Acts 2, “it happened” just as it was prophesied.
This was the beginning of the Pentecostal experience that
millions around the world, including the USA, have experienced and
enjoy! Folks, you SHALL
RECEIVE POWER after the Holy Spirit is come upon you!
Acts 2:1-4 is for you if you have never been baptized in the Holy
Spirit! <>< <>< <>< Creating
memories!
That is what Pastor Marshall is doing this
weekend in the Kansas City area. He
is hoping to fill up his “memory bank” with good memories with the
Marshall family. Today
is what we traditionally call “Memorial Day Sunday.” On Monday there are memorial services to honor those
who have died. People visit
cemeteries to decorate the graves of their loved ones and recall the
memories of those who are no longer with us.
Memories can be wonderful IF we take the effort to create them as
we live life! Memories
become the resource for successful living today. Let’s
reflect on some possibilities about this verse. "Remember the days of old, consider the years
of all generations. Ask
your father, and he will inform you, Your elders, and they will tell
you”. (Deuteronomy. 32:7)
Remember these folks were not celebrating an anniversary.
They were not resting back upon the glory of past achievements.
They were facing their supreme test—an issue of life or death.
They had experienced 40 years struggling for survival.
Farther back were four hundred years of slavery in Egypt. Consider the power of memories to
awaken our sleeping strength. Each
of us is a slumbering giant. Most
of our ability remains dormant. Our memories can unlock and release
powers that sleep in all of us. The
children of Israel went forward from that time and place and achieved
the impossible armed only with little more than memories.
Those memories awakened and released through them giant strength
of flesh and spirit, they captured the Promised Land! <>< <>< <>< Commitment.
Today, please welcome Gary Lawton as our guest speaker in the absence of
Pastor Marshall, who is enroute to St. Louis, Missouri to attend a
conference on Committed Caring Congregations.
Pastor is working with the Prince of Wales Island Methamphetamine
Prevention Coalition as a representative of the Faith Community, and the
committee thought it would be good if he attended.
So...Kansas City is on the “way back,” so he’ll get to
spend 5 days with Janet, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Lawrence Armour is currently home on leave from the
U.S. Navy. He is fulfilling
a commitment he made to serve our country. Whenever a person takes on a new job, they are
making a commitment to their new employer.
When Marge and Pastor Marshall got married 50 plus years ago,
they make a commitment. The strength of any church is largely due to its
active attendants. Some
people are members and some are not.
In our society today people choose to “live together” rather
than putting their commitment on paper.
They say they are not ready to make that commitment but they want
the privileges of marriage. NOT! Prince of Peace Assembly appreciates all that call
this their church home. On
the table in the fellowship hall is membership information. What
membership does is create a strong bond between people working together
to accomplish the ministry God has called us to do.
The Psalmist said it well in this verse “...I WAS glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD." (Psalm 122:1) This denotes the attitude we all should have when we come together. We need each other, so if you worship with us, support our church with your giving, call this your church home, we’d love to have you join our ranks and become a member. Just see Pastor Marshall or one of the board members for more information. <>< <>< <>< Tornado
Terror! Parts of
the lower 48 are called “tornado alley.”
Wonder why? If you have had your radio or television on, you
heard the news about the devastation many tornadoes caused as they swept
across the plains states this week, and you probably are glad you live
in SE Alaska! When Marge and I saw the news early Monday morning before leaving Anchorage, we called and talked with our daughter Janet, in Kansas City, Kansas. She is safe and the house is fine -- she knew the Lord would take care of her, and we agreed. Whenever nature’s fury takes over, there is little
mankind can do to stop it. Over
the years POW Island has had a number of landslides -- do you suppose
anyone has the power to stop one of those? All one can do is
watch...and that is what many people do whenever they announce a tornado
is approaching. Marge and I
have done it ourselves. (One
is supposed to get underground, but…!) Let me turn to a little more “gentle” subject.
Mothers! Today
(5/11/03)we are honoring our mothers in the service.
Mom, you are special! There
is no greater vocation or occupation than that of “mothering.”
Consider this: “The
school will teach children how to read, but the environment of the home
must teach them what to read. The
school can teach them how to think, but the home must teach them what to
believe.”
By
Charles A. Wells
“...Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12 NIV) <>< <>< <>< Just think - spring break is over and the next breather comes when school is out for the summer! College basketball games (NCAA) are in high gear for both men and women, known as March Madness. Pro basketball (NBA) playoffs are coming up and will be underway until summer. Baseball fans will soon be watching their favorite teams. Yea, What did we ever do before we had TV? It's been a long time since I have seen kids play "kick the can" or shoot marbles. And what about "sandlot baseball", where neighborhood kids choose up sides and play until dark or supper, whichever came first? In essence, I'm talking about what we do with our spare time. In other words, slow down and smell the roses! Get involved in the lives of people will help occupy your time if you get bored. Think how Jesus lived His life. I'm reading the book of John, where Jesus needed to be away from the crowds for a quiet time. We all need this. Sometimes I drive out along Big Salt Lake, turn off the engine, listen to the water and the wind in the trees, and have a quiet time with the Lord.
In making your plans, be sure and allow time for "refreshment" in the Lord's presence. Try it! <>< <>< <>< People
need each other!
One of the
benefits of living here on Prince of Wales Island IS we do not have to
fight the crowds at the mall, the grocery store, post office or gas
station. And... no one
behind us honking their car horn for us “hurry up or get out of the
way”! (At least not very
often!) The
nearest thing close to the crowded conditions in the lower 48 around
here is when there is a basketball game, the gym is crowded, when the
game is over and people are ready to go home, then we may have a
“small” problem...nothing compared to the metro areas.
Yea! The
reason I started these comments with “people need the Lord” is this;
we received news from our missionary friends, Lloyd and Rozella Marsh,
who live in La Paz, Bolivia, South America. These friends of ours have
been missionaries there since 1964.
Upon their arrival in Bolivia there were no Assembly churches.
Today, there are over 200! PTL!
It is 13,000-ft. elevation where La Paz is located.
This is one place I would like to visit should the Lord tarry His
return. Marge
and I have supported these missionaries during their ministry in South
America. What a privilege
to have a part in each other’s lives.
Our mission fields may be different in terrain, in culture, but
people need the Lord where they live.
Yep, even right here in Klawock!
In
Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus gave us our assignment. He said “...Go therefore and make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching
them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age."
(underlining mine) As your pastor, I want to encourage you to continue to support
our missions ministry here at Prince of Peace Assembly.
Together we DO make a difference! <>< <>< <>< This week I read a challenging article. Let us take the words of this old proclamation (found tacked to the wall of a martyred young pastor in Zimbabwe) to heart, and we will not be left speechless or ashamed in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. “I’m part of The
Fellowship of the Unashamed.* I have
Holy Ghost power. The die
has been cast. I have stepped over the line.
The decision has been made.
I’m a disciple of His. I
won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still. “My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my
future is secure. I’m
finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth
knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving
and dwarfed goals. “I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity,
position, promotions, plaudits or popularity.
I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised,
regarded, or rewarded. I
now love by faith lean on His presence, and walk by patience, am
uplifted by prayer, and labor by power. “My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my
road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my
mission clear. I cannot be
bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or
delayed. I will not flinch
in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary,
negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity or
meander in the maze of mediocrity. Click here to see photos of The JOY Team and some of the folks who came to our meetings. <>< <>< <>< What
dominates our lives? We pick up the Ketchikan news, read about the
world’s condition, or listen to or watch the news on television, we
become fearful? Gas prices and the cost of living continue to go up, the
economy is on shaky ground, we have to ask ourselves, what’s next?
This all has to do with the “end time.” Jesus talked about this in Mark 13 and ends the
chapter with these words “...and what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch!”
(Mark 13:37). Hopefully,
you who were able to be in the services, felt enriched by God’s Word
preached by our evangelists, Doris Nixon and Marleen Mercer, known as
The JOY Team.
Just know nothing is going to happen but what our
heavenly Father already knows about.
He will make a way where there seems to be no way because He is
our PROVIDER! He cares for
us when things go bad. So, we are not controlled by fear but by faith in
Him. Amen? In the coming weeks let’s determine to build on
what we experienced and learned. We
must not sit back and wait for things to happen.
With His help, we will be people who make things happen rather
than watch them happen. I
cannot find in the Bible where we are to "pass the buck”; that
happened in the Garden of Eden and we have suffered ever since! As your pastor, I believe as Sunday Nite Alive
becomes more productive for the Lord; sinners getting saved our Sunday
morning services will be affected as well.
One of our SS teachers is crying out for “more room”! What a wonderful problem!
The Board will be working on a solution for that need.
We just don’t quit because we don’t have room.
<>< <>< <>< Is
it I? For my devotions this week I have been reading, and
finished, the Book of Matthew. One
of the scenes that stands out in my mind in the relationship Jesus had
with His disciples, before and during the final days of His life, was
when He announced the betrayal that was about to take place.
(Matthew 26:21) It is interesting that each one of the twelve asked
the same question of Jesus...”Lord,
is it I?” believing that they could not or would not deny Him.
However, Jesus knew, and spoke directly to Peter, when Peter
strongly defended his position
“...though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never
be offended (or deny
You),” in verse 34 Jesus spoke to him and said “...Verily
I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crows, thou shalt deny
me thrice.”
Peter’s reaction ... NOT ME! With the world conditions changing so rapidly, my
question is...are we strong enough to take our stand and declare who we
are in Christ Jesus? Or by
omission stand by, say nothing? That action itself would be denying who
we are in Him! I encourage you to join me in praying for our
Evangelists who are with us through Wednesday night.
Dedicate yourself
to being present in each of these services.
The sinners will get saved when they come under the sound of the
gospel. I am asking you to
do four things to show your support.
(1) Pray for the meetings (2) Attend each service (3) Bring an unsaved friend
(4) Support it financially. I
know these ladies would welcome an opportunity to be in your home for a
meal. If you would like to
host them, please let Pastor know. You
will be blessed by getting to know them better and ministering to their
needs. “...Revive me according to Thy lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Thy mouth.” Psalm 119:88 People
prepare to
do many things in life. From
the time we are old enough to make decisions on our own, we should begin
making preparation for eternity. We
may not know it at the time but our decisions will result in good or
bad, depending on the choices made.
When our children were small, I remember them getting
their “things” ready for their first day of school, as
kindergartners, eager to learn. Much
of their success depended on how well Marge and I taught them about
being prepared for their school days. Changing gears a little about preparing….
Summer is just a few months away and plans are already being made
on what will be done on your vacations.
Hey, that is a pleasant thought, isn’t it? For the seniors,
they too are making preparations for their big day, for which they have
been waiting for many years. In our preparations, I seriously wonder IF we are
putting the same effort into “where we will spend eternity.”
We know there are two destinations for all people...heaven or
hell. In order to make
heaven our eternal home we have to prepare to meet God.
On the contrary, all a person has to do is “nothing” to go
into eternity without God and to an eternal hell. So, as we prepare to live, let’s prepare to leave
this life as well. In the
Gospel of John are some words recorded about “how to do it.”
“...But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born
not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but
of God.
(John
1:12-13) As a congregation, my prayer is that we shall do our best by sharing our experience with the Lord with others, including the young people who have been attending. They need mentoring in their walk with the Lord as new babes in Christ! <>< <>< <>< We
have all heard the expression “...you
can’t tell a book by its cover.”
It reminds me of people who say they are Christians but their expression or
actions don’t really “say so!” I
am realistic enough to know that we cannot keep a smiley face all the time. Regardless
of where we are or what we are doing, we may walk around in a daze, a
state we call absent-mindedness,” or a more modern phrase would be
“air headed.” Preoccupation
happens to all of us. Driving
down the street our minds are preoccupied and we may fail to stop at the
sign. Or we go to the
refrigerator, open the door and have forgotten what we were going to
get. The
point I am trying to make is this, let’s work on this “being like
Jesus” 24/7! One old
chorus in our hymn book gives us a challenge “...Let the beauty of
Jesus be seen in me. All
His wonderful passion and purity; Oh, Thou Spirit divine, All my nature
refine ‘til the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.”
Take
a mental “snap shot” of your countenance
(your facial expression) and grade yourself on a scale of 1-10 with 10
being the best and 1 being much less than best.
Hopefully what this will do to each of us will help us realize
how important it is to reflect the image of Jesus. The world sees what the Christian Life is all
about when they look at us! The
chorus to one of the “old” songs we “used” to sing goes like
this...”O, to be like Thee! O, to be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer, pure
as Thou art; Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine
own image deep on my heart.” (I
would like to change one word...face for heart!) What did Jesus tell us about being like
the Father and Himself? “...Philip
said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for
us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet
you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen
the Father; how do you say, `Show us
the Father'? (John 14:9-10) “The most valuable gift you can give another is a good example” <>< <>< <>< Families
have been forever!
The Bible records the family life of Adam and Eve in the very
first book called Genesis! (Genesis
2:7 creation of man) (Genesis 2:21-23 creation of woman)
Generally, when we speak of families we think about human
families, which should be. However,
let me think about other families in the animal species.
Recently I heard about a mamma sheep giving birth to 4 little
lambs, which is very unusual. There have been sightings of a sow bear and 4 cubs, again
unusual. Occasionally we
see a dog with a litter of puppies, eight or nine or more of the little
critters. Visit
a pig farm back in Kansas and you’ll see litters of baby pigs.
Pastor,
why are you writing about families? Because the family composite of a
dad, a mom and kids, is becoming unusual itself.
A growing segment of our society are families with just a mom and
no resident dad, or a dad and no resident mom.
Even more sad is the family of two men or two women who choose to
live together, adopt children and called themselves a family. My
question today is this “...where do children learn values to live by,
if they do not learn them from Mom and Dad? What about spiritual values?
One of the important factors in the Christian walk is the impact we make
upon our children. When
they see us enjoying church, associating with other families, giving in
offerings, praying around the altar, worshiping, and yes, at times even
clapping and/or raising our hands to the Lord. We
shop, we hit the “malls,” go to ball games, camp, picnic as
families, so why not make the church the most important place where we
come together as families? <>< <>< <>< Expressing
Love. February is when
people shop for an “expression” of their feelings for their loved
one. These expressions can
be anything from box of chocolates, roses, a romantic card, perfume, a
candle light dinner, or .... ya got the idea guys and gals?
It may be to a parent or parents, seldom to a brother or sister,
but will be for a special friend. Love
is a four-letter word that has been so misrepresented by our world’s
values. It has been reduced
to a meaningless relationship, which does not require a commitment from
either party. However, I
firmly believe that when “true love” is evident, there will be
actions (which do speak louder than words); there will be commitments to
a person or persons you really care about. One
of the songs that we had sung at our wedding was “I Love You Truly”
and when I think about it and try to sing it to Marge, it will bring
tears to my eyes. Another
one was “Always.” Let
me make another comment about “love.”
True love will wait! When
a person is told “...if you love me, you will give yourself to
me...after all we are engaged to be married.”
That may be true, but does not give anyone the liberty to act as
though they are! The
“world” will know we love them when we possess the love of our
Heavenly Father. Here is
what God’s Word tells us “...By
this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only
begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this
is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to
be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also
ought to love one another. I John 4:9-11 [Underlining
mine.] <>< <>< <>< "People
need the Lord"
is one of the choruses we have sung, perhaps not often enough. The words go something like this: People
need the Lord, People need the Lord.
Let me paraphrase those words and simply say that people
on Prince of Wales Island need the Lord. I
know you agree with me; this is a fact that does not change and will not
change until people recognize their need of Jesus Christ as their
Savior. When Jesus gave the Great Commission, I believe He had people in
mind. Matthew 28:18-20
records those words. “... And Jesus came up and spoke to
them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on
earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching
them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, even to the end of the age." I know God wants to do so many wonderful things for each of you,
as part of this congregation. Jesus
gave the assignment, let’s each one take it seriously and feel the
“heartbeat” of the song writers when they penned additional words
like “...everyday they pass me by.
I can see it in their eyes.
Empty people filled with care.
Headed who knows where, on they go through private pain living
fear to fear. Laughter
hides the silent cries, Only Jesus hears.” Who is my neighbor? Who am I to “connect” with in reaching
people for the Lord? It takes a friend inviting and bringing a friend.
IF we really believe hell is real and eternity is forever,
shouldn’t we be involved in other people’s lives? "GOD IS NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH"... SHOULD WE BE? <>< <>< <>< Anticipate!
Webster defines this as “...to foresee and provide for
beforehand and to look forward to ...” For believers we have the blessed hope of “looking
forward” to or anticipating the
coming of our Lord. A
few weeks ago, our children eagerly waited for Christmas to arrive so
they could open their gifts. They
anticipated this exciting time. Today,
football fans have been anticipating the Super bowl football game.
This yearly activity is supposed to determine which team is the
Super team, the number One team, the best team in the game of
professional football. We’ll
see! Question?
Are we “anticipating” the soon return of Jesus? We read in the Bible
about it. “Only our Heavenly Father” knows when this event is to
take place. "But
of that day and hour no one knows, not even
the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.”
Matthew 24:36 In spite of this “lack of knowledge”, we faithfully wait
for this to take place. The
Bible also tells us “...And there will be signs in sun
and moon and stars, and upon the earth dismay among nations, in
perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from
fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world;
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. "And then they will
see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory.
"But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift
up your heads, because your
redemption
is drawing near."
(Luke 21:23-28 Let’s excitedly anticipate “everything God wants to do in our lives!”All we have is TODAY -- let’s not waste it! 26-Jan-03<>< <>< <><
Dog Tales. They tell us, man's best friend is his dog. True or false? Possibly you
are saying to yourself as you read this, "I hope not because I don't
even own a dog."
During
my growing years as a kid in the middle of the great state of Kansas I
usually found some summer jobs that paid lots of money. I remember one
yard I mowed with the push mower (without an engine) I was paid $0.50 a
week. That yard took me over two hours to mow. Then there was another
yard I took care of and these folks had a dog, and
that dog had pups. One of them caught my eye and when I got home I asked
my Mom if we could have it. I guess she and my dad agreed because I
brought home that little black and white pup, which I named
"Pat". He was my companion until I went into the U.S. Navy. Here's another story about dogs that I will never forget. Mom would not let us go to a movie because if people saw us going into a movie house they would think we went to all of them, besides going to movies was sin. I know you have seen at least one "Lassie" movie. When I was about 10 years old, my sister and I begged Mom to let us see "Lassie Come Home", and she let us go. I remember there were people who were crying because of Lassie and all of her difficulties.
'Nuff dog stuff! The Bible tells us we have a friend who sticks closer to use than a brother. That friend is Jesus! "... A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. " (Proverbs 18:24 KJV). |
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Scripture taken from
the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972,
1973, 1975, 1977, by The Lockman Foundation. Some scriptures are from the King James Version (KJV). |
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Other Comments by Pastor Howard Webmaster: Marge Marshall |
Credits: Background, kite, and basketball graphics, Microsoft. Photos, Howard & Marge Marshall. Dove graphic, source not known. Push pin from www.bellsnwhistles.com |
I
have often described the Pentecostal experience
as “frosting” on the cake or “whipped cream” on apple pie!
