And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. 1 Samuel 17:34-36
He loved his sheep and through the power of God was able to slay the lion and the bear. It’s interesting that David, a man after God’s own heart had a love for sheep. God has a love for His sheep, the children of God.
In John 21 Jesus talks to Peter.
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. John 21:15-17
Once again God is saying that if you love me you should support and promote my children. The Great Shepherd loves you and if you can conect with that love you can grow closer to Him. He wants to guide you to safety.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
That last part that says, “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. The Lord doesn’t want you to be taken from the edge of the flock.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1 Peter 5:8
He is waiting to take you, but that shepherd is ready to save you. That shepherd will leave 99 to go and find 1. He loves each of us personally.
When you are down, He is there to carry you. When you’re scared, He wants to encourage you. When you’re ready to quit, He will let His strength flow through you. When you’re worried that it won’t work out for you, then He is there to tell you that He has it under control.
It may seem like everyone has forsaken you, but God is still there with open hands. Let that love strengthen you day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute and you can live for God.
Thank you Jesus for the love of God and thanks for reading!!
The Shepherd’s Love
April 26th, 2010The King’s Hawk
April 25th, 2010Genghis Khan, ruler of a vast empire, had trouble controlling his own temper.
One summer morning, he went out hunting with his friends. Genghis Khan was a skilled hunter, and he also had a hunting hawk to help him. When Genghis Khan said the word, the hawk would soar into the sky, and scan the ground below for prey. If it saw a deer or rabbit, the hawk would swoop down upon it with amazing speed.
That day, fortune seemed to favour Genghis Khan. He caught much game, and everyone was happy. Before dusk, the hunting party gathered together to make their way home. They took the shortest route back to the palace but Genghis Khan decided to go a different route. Even his pet hawk flew away. Genghis Khan knew that it would find its way back so he didn’t worry.
He rode along a trail that led to a spring. When he arrived where the spring was supposed to be, he realized that it had dried up. He rode on, and soon spied some water trickling down over a rock. He dismounted from his horse, took out a cup from his hunting bag, and made his way to the water.
He held it under the rock and water dripped slowly into the cup. Genghis Khan was feeling thirsty and extremely impatient but he managed to hold on until the cup was filled. Just as he was about to drink the water, he heard a whirring sound in the air. As he looked up he saw his pet hawk flying down towards him. To his shock, it knocked the cup of water out of his hand. All the water splashed to the ground.
Genghis Khan was surprised to see the hawk, and even more surprised at what it had done. He thought that it was just being playful. The hawk flew back and forth a few times, and then sat on one of the rocks by the spring.
Ignoring it, Genghis Khan picked up his cup, and held it under the rock again to try to catch the small drops of water. When it was half full, he brought it up to his lips. Just then, the hawk swooped down, and knocked the cup away again!
This time, Genghis Khan began to feel irritated. He was very thirsty, and the bird seemed determined on making sure he stayed that way!
Picking up the cup once again, Genghis Khan held it under the rock. He noticed that the hawk was sitting perched on a rock higher up, and its gaze was focused on him. With his other hand Genghis Khan slowly slid his sword out of it’s scabbard.
When the cup was full, he slowly brought it towards his lips. This time, he kept his eyes on his pet hawk. Sure enough, it swept towards him with lightning speed. With anger towards the hawk, Genghis Khan raised his sword and savagely slashed at the hawk. Blood spurted from its neck, and it fell, lifeless, at his feet. “That will teach you, Sir Hawk! Never mess with a world ruler,” he said.
When Genghis Khan turned around to drink, he realized that his cup had lodged in between two rocks higher up. Not to be deterred, he climbed towards the cup.
After a long time, he got to the cup utterly tired and thirsty. To his horror there was a huge, dead snake of the most poisonous kind, floating in a pool of water from which the drops he had collected was coming from. The sight made him forget his thirst. He understood why his pet hawk had tried to prevent him from drinking the water. “It was trying to save my life, and I repaid his kindness by killing him.”
He walked down to his hawk and picking it up said, “I have learned a sad lesson today, and that is, never to do anything in anger.” He then turned and sadly started to ride home with his dead pet hawk in his hands.
If we act in anger we will regret it.
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. Proverbs 14:29
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: James 1:19
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Proverbs 15:1
Many people are looking and waiting to fight.
People today will build up anger against the preacher and elders in the church. Like the Hawk they may see something that you don’t see. When it looks like they won’t let you do anything, just understand that they can see what you can’t, and they could save your life.
If you act in anger when it happens you would lose out with God. Or like Genghis Khan, you may kill your connection with the man of God in your life.
Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife. Proverbs 30:33
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:9
When you are stirring up anger you are having bad judgment.
Church Bloopers
April 17th, 2010Our next song is “Angels We Have Heard Get High”
Don’t let worry kill you ~ let the church help.
Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community.
Thursday night ~ Potluck supper. Prayer and medication to follow.
The senior choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir.
At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be “What is Hell?” Come early and listen to our choir practice.
The preacher will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing “Break Forth With Joy”.
The Rev. Adams spoke briefly, much to the delight of his audience.
The church is glad to have with us today as our guest minister the Rev. Shirley Green, who has Mrs. Green with him. After the service we request that all remain in the sanctuary for the Hanging of the Greens.
The eighth graders will be presenting Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” in the church basement on Friday at 7 p.m. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
The associate minister unveiled the church’s new giving campaign slogan last Sunday: “I Upped My Pledge ~ Up Yours.”
Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa will be speaking tonight at Calvary Memorial Church in Racine. Come tonight and hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.
Announcement in the church bulletin for a National PRAYER & FASTING Conference … The cost for attending the Fasting and Prayer conference includes meals.
Miss Charlene Mason sang, “I Will Not Pass This Way Again.” giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don’t forget your husbands.
The Peacemaking Meeting scheduled for today has been cancelled due to a conflict.
The sermon this morning: “Jesus walks on the water” The sermon tonight: “Searching for Jesus”.
Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Jack’s sermons.
Next Sunday Mrs. Vinson will be soloist for the morning service. The pastor will then speak on “It’s a terrible experience”.
Low Self-Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 to 8:30 p.m. Please use the back door.
Ushers will eat latecomers.
The third verse of Blessed Assurance will be sung without musical accomplishment.
The concert held in Fellowship Hall was a great success. Special thanks are due to the minister’s daughter, who labored the whole evening at the piano, which as usual fell upon her.
Hymn 43: “Great God, What Do I See Here?”
Preacher: The Rev. Horace Blodgett
Hymn 47: “Hark! an Awful Voice is Sounding”
On a church bulletin during the minister’s illness: GOD IS GOOD Dr. Hargreaves is better.
Sign-up sheet for anyone wishing to be water baptized on the table in the foyer.
Newsletters are not being sent to absentees because of their weight.
Diana and Don request your presents at their wedding.
The Soldiers Duty
April 15th, 2010Alexander the Great was one of the best military generals to ever live. One night he couldn’t sleep so he decided to walk around the camp.
While he was walking he saw one of the guards asleep. The penalty for sleeping on duty was sometimes death.
The soldier woke up and saw who he was in front of so you could imagine the fear he felt.
Alexander the Great asked, “Do you know what the penalty for falling asleep on guard duty is?”
“Yes, sir,” he responded.
Alexader the Great asked him, “What is your name?” “Alexander, sir.”
He then asked again, “What is your name?”
“My name is Alexander, sir,” he replied.
The third time he said it much louder, “What is your name?”
And a third time the soldier humbly responded, “My name is Alexander, sir.”
Alexander the Great then looked at him and said strongly, “Either change your name or change your conduct.”
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 2 Timothy 2:19
We as soldiers carrying the name of Jesus have a reputation to uphold. We reflect Him. Just the name gives us a high responsiblity to be like Him. We are in the end times so we need to stay alert and awake.
Your pastor is watching in the night for you. We need to help him to stay alert. When the King comes like Alexander the Great did we need to be ready.
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41
Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. Mark 13:33
Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. Mark 14:38
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:36
All of these verses say watch and pray. You can’t just stand on the side watching but not putting any action to your watching.
It would be the same as having a mute watchguard. He could be more awake then anyone, but if he doesn’t have a way to connect to the leaders and the men then what is the point. Thank God for a watchman on the wall that prays and isn’t muted. Thank God for a preacher that can awake the church when it’s time to fight for what is right and godly.
A good prayer life will make you aware of the presence of God.
We need to carry the name of Jesus with pride not trying to hide it.
Mix It With Faith
April 6th, 2010Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:17-22,24,26
When you take action on your faith, then God will reward you.
It’s like the lady who prayed to God and asked to win the lottery because she needed money. So the day after that, she checked the paper and she hadn’t won. The next day she checked, and again she didn’t win. So she asked God, “Why didn’t I win. I asked and believed you would.” God said, “Work with me here, buy a lottery ticket!”
We don’t play the lottery, but you see what I mean when you put action to faith. God can work in mighty ways.
And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
Matthew 8:5-13
If this man hadn’t gone to Jesus and asked Him to heal his servant then it wouldn’t of happened. The centerion might have believed that Jesus could do it. If there hadn’t have been action the servant wouldn’t have been healed.
If you mix faith with action the results will be awesome!
Hold Up His Hands
April 5th, 2010Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.
So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.
And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:
For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. Exodus 17:8-16
Your man of God can be the difference between you living for God and backsliding. He may be intervening for you, like Abraham intervened for Lot in Sodom and Gamora, and you might not even know it. You should always respect your preacher. He should never be slandered by you or your family. Like Aaron and Hur helped hold up Moses’ hands we need to hold up the hands of our preacher.
You should tell your pastor that he’s the best thing that God could give you. He gets discouraged too. He is not a super human, but he is God’s man. You can help him just by your words of love and appreciation.
Obedience That Might Kill You
March 28th, 2010
A couple hundred years before Christ was born, Alexander the Great conquered the known world with military strength, tactics, and diplomacy. One day, Alexander the Great, was marching toward a strong, fortifed, walled city. He called for the king, and when the king was on top of the wall, Alexander said, “Surrender to me immediately.” When the king heard this he laughed and said, “Why should we surrender to you? We have you far outnumbered. You are no threat to us.” Alexander then asked to demonstrate the reason for surrender. He proceeded to line up his men in single file and and march them toward a cliff that dropped hundreds of feet below to their deaths. The soldiers did this without any hesatation whatsoever. The king and his soldiers watched amazed and shocked. When ten soldiers had died He stopped the men and the enemy king surrendered instantly.
Nothing can stop us as a children of God, if we are willing to lay down our lives for Him.
If you can have that same commitment to God, your pastor, your parents, and even your friends then you will live a happy live. Even when obedience might kill you, it is still the second best policy in my opinion.
Honesty is the number 1 best policy, but that’s another blog for another time.
It might not kill you physically, but it may hurt your pride or “coolness.” It is still the best thing to do in any situation, because God would want you to.
Always being obedient is not easy; believe me I know. When you start to rebel, then you will go down. Jonah disobeyed God, and he went DOWN to Joppa, DOWN to the boat, and DOWN into the belly of the fish. The moment he repented God brought him UP.
If we will show obedience the first time, we might not have to go through what Jonah when through.
So just be obedient. We can work on it together! 
One Thing God Wants
March 27th, 2010And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. | Thessalonians 5:13.
“Sowing discord involves going from one person to another to cause dislike or distrust of someone. Confidential matters are usually repeated to enforce the accusations. Gossip is spreading rumors with personal, intimate, or sensational details intended to damage another’s reputation.”
Talking behind one another’s back does not please God. If you are always talking about someone, you might even start to lose your friends. If you try to bring discord in the church, you are hurting not only yourself but also the whole church. The rumor spreads and makes everyone mad or take sides, and that can end up in a church split.
That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 1 Corinthians 12:25-26
A schism is a split or separation within a group or organization, typically caused by discord.
“If Satan can destroy confidence among members of a congregation, discourage weak saints, place a stumblingblock in the path of sinners, or change the thinking of new converts, he is extremely happy!”
Proverbs 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
You can see that God hates a liar and a person that sows discord. They go hand and hand, because people will tell lies about you or someone else, and then everyone will continue to tell them. That can even ruin your reputation. “Those who enjoy sowing discord are usually critical and motivated by jealousy.” They try to lift themselves up by putting another person down. By finding faults in others and sowing discord they hope to justify their sins. Cain and Abel were jealous, and it ended up in the killing of Abel. That same thing can happen to the church in a spiritual stand point.
God doesn’t want a church that sows discord.
Some of my thoughts and words came from why ABC Bible Pace.
Is There One or Three?
March 17th, 2010People are always wondering if there is 1, 2, 3, or 1,000,000 Gods. There are many people who believe in three Gods. They say that there is a Father, a Son, and a Holy Spirit. A verse they like to use is Matthew 28:19 which says, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the yjhrtSon, and of the Holy Ghost.” They think that Matthew 28:19 is saying that there are three God’s and we should baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. My Pastor once said that you could give someone a check for a million dollars and write “father” on it or “son” and it wouldn’t work. That is not his name. It’s a title, but if he put his name on the check it would go through. It’s the same for Matthew 28:19.
The Trinitarians like to use Jesus’ baptisim by saying that all three persons were present at the event, but if you read the verse is says God said, “This is my son IN whom I am well pleased.” So, okay, what about the dove? The dove is a manifestation. In the Old Testament, God used a donkey to gets Balaams’ attention and a burning bush to get Moses’ attention. These were both manifestations.
You might say that when Jesus died on the cross that he was praying to a seperate person but that was Jesus’ humanity praying to his Divinity. He felt as if he had been deserted. (If you feel deserted by God just keep going and you will make it through and come out victorious just like Jesus did).
So you decide if there is one or three. PS: There is ONE.
Heaven and Hell Jokes
March 9th, 2010
Bring riches with you
There once was a rich man who was near death. He was very grieved because he had worked so hard for his money and he wanted to be able to take it with him to heaven. So he began to pray that he might be able to take some of his wealth with him.
An angel hears his plea and appears to him. “Sorry, but you can’t take your wealth with you.” The man implores the angel to speak to God to see if He might bend the rules.
The man continues to pray that his wealth could follow him. The angel reappears and informs the man that God has decided to allow him to take one suitcase with him. Overjoyed, the man gathers his largest suitcase and fills it with pure gold bars and places it beside his bed.
Soon afterward the man dies and shows up at the Gates of Heaven to greet St. Peter. St. Peter seeing the suitcase says, “Hold on, you can’t bring that in here!”
But, the man explains to St. Peter that he has permission and asks him to verify his story with the Lord. Sure enough, St. Peter checks and comes back saying, “You’re right. You are allowed one carry-on bag, but I’m supposed to check its contents before letting it through.”
St. Peter opens the suitcase to inspect the worldly items that the man found too precious to leave behind and exclaims, “You brought pavement?!!!
Filling in for St. Peter
A famous professor of surgery died and went to heaven. At the pearly gate he was asked by the gatekeeper: ‘Have you ever committed a sin you truly regret?’
‘Yes the professor answered, ‘When I was a young candidate at the hospital of Saint Lucas, we played soccer against at team from the Community Hospital, and I scored a goal, which was off-side. But the referee did not see it, and the goal won us the match. I regret that now.’
‘Well,’ said the gatekeeper. ‘That is a very minor sin. You may enter.’
‘Thank you very much, Saint Peter,’ the professor answered.
‘Im am not Saint Peter,’ said the gatekeeper. ‘He is having his lunchbreak. I am Saint Lucas.’
He’s going to Heaven
Father Murphy walks into a pub in Donegal, and says to the first man he meets, “Do you want to go to heaven?”
The man said, “I do Father.”
The priest said, “Then stand over there against the wall.”
Then the priest asked the second man, “Do you want to got to heaven?”
“Certainly, Father,” was the man’s reply.
“Then stand over there against the wall,” said the priest.
Then Father Murphy walked up to O’Toole and said, “Do you want to go to heaven?”
O’Toole said, “No, I don’t Father.”
The priest said, “I don’t believe this. You mean to tell me that when you die you don’t want to go to heaven?”
O’Toole said, “Oh, when I die, yes. I thought you were getting a group together to go right now.”
Gates gets punishment
Bill Gates suddenly dies and finds himself face to face with God. God stood over Bill Gates and said, “Well Bill, I’m really confused on this one. It’s a tough decision; I’m not sure whether to send you to Heaven or Hell. After all, you helped society enormously by putting a computer in almost every home in America, yet you also created that ghastly Windows ‘95 among other indiscretions. I believe I’ll do something I’ve never done before; I’ll let you decide where you want to go.”
Bill pushed up his glasses, looked up at God and replied, “Could you briefly explain the difference between the two?” Looking slightly puzzled, God said, “Better yet, why don’t I let you visit both places briefly, then you can make your decision. Which do you choose to see first, Heaven or Hell?”
Bill played with his pocket protector for a moment, then looked back at God and said, “I think I’ll try Hell first.” So, with a flash of lightning and a cloud of smoke, Bill Gates went to Hell.
When he materialized in Hell, Bill looked around. It was a beautiful and clean place, a bit warm, with sandy beaches and tall mountains, clear skies, pristine water, and beautiful women frolicking about. A smile came across Bill’s face as he took in a deep breath of the clean air. “This is great,” he thought, “if this is Hell, I can’t wait to see heaven.”
Within seconds of his thought, another flash of lightning and a cloud of smoke appeared, and Bill was off to Heaven. Heaven was a place high above the clouds, where angels were drifting about playing their harps and singing in a beautiful chorus. It was a very nice place, Bill thought, but not as enticing as Hell.
Bill looked up, cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled for God and Bill Gates was sent to Hell for eternity.
Time passed, and God decided to check on the late billionaire to see how he was progressing in Hell. When he got there, he found Bill Gates shackled to a wall in a dark cave amid bone thin men and tongues of fire, being burned and tortured by demons.
“So, how is everything going?” God asked.
Bill responded with a crackling voice filled with anguish and disappointment, “This is awful! It’s nothing like the Hell I visited the first time!! I can’t believe this is happening! What happened to the other place….with the beaches and the mountains and the beautiful women?
“That was the demo,” replied God.
A lawyer died and arrived at the pearly gates. To his dismay, there were thousands of people ahead of him in line to see St. Peter. But, to his surprise, St. Peter left his desk at the gate and came down the long line to where the lawyer was standing. St. Peter greeted him warmly. Then St. Peter and one of his assistants took the lawyer by the hands and guided him up to the front of the line into a comfortable chair by his desk. The lawyer said, “I don’t mind all this attention, but what makes me so special? “St. Peter replied, “Well, I’ve added up all the hours for which you billed your clients, and by my calculation you must be about 193 years old! “