Click here to watch a video of Ray Boltz singing "Thank You" to Billy & Ruth Graham on YouTube.com.

I am wondering IF you feel like I do when it comes to reading one of the many translations of the Bible that you may not totally trust it 'cause “it ain't the King James Version, ya know the one Jesus used?” (smile)  This happened to me as I was finishing the Book of Romans in NASB then reading it in “The Message” Bible.

I was telling my wife that I found where there were vegetarians in the Bible she asked me where, then she found it in The Message.  And…not only just veggies but broccoli is listed as well.  Can you believe that? Do a comparison study of the verses in Romans 14:1-12 in your favorite version, and then in The Message. These verses in both translations have to do with the  responsibilities in “Cultivating Good Relationships,” including judging one another. [To read the passage in The Message, click here.]

“Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. One man has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. Let not him who eats regard with contempt him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and stand he will, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One man regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, "AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD. (Romans 14:1-11) NASB

Many of my friends at church keep asking me IF I am going back to Alaska this summer and I must reply “…it is not on the scope” or in my plans.  In all probability those trips are over but I have wonderful memories.  I praise the Lord for the door that opened back in 1996 for Marge and me to go and minister in SE Alaska and then on out to the Yukon Delta in several villages in 1998, and then to be called to pastor Prince of Peace Assembly of God in Klawock for 5 years.  This was all far beyond our plans after retirements in 1996.  In 2004 we moved back to Kansas City, Kansas to settle in for “retirement again“ but the Lord had other plans, as I returned to Emmonak in 2005 and 2007.  My comment is simply “stay pliable” in the hands of the Lord and He will continue to use you in His service!

The prophet Jeremiah gives the assurance to each one of us that our heavenly Father knows all about us and what our futures hold. “For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.  And I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,” declares the LORD, “and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.'” (Jeremiah 29:11-14) NASB

LEAD ME, LORD, I WILL FOLLOW !

May 16, 2008

‘Tis the season to be jolly, fah, la, la, la, la - but not ho, ho, ho any more!  (So the “politically correct” people might say.)  Early in October signs of Christmas began to appear in stores and on city streets, and now the Salvation Army bell ringers are in position to assist in raising funds to help needy folks.  It would be well that each of us would do a little when it comes to donating to this great organization.  We personally know several SA Captains we worked with in Southeast Alaska and their dedication is a marvelous example for all believers. 

       Along with the Christmas season come family reunions, children’s programs in churches, drama presented by youth groups, church choirs and generally attitudes that change to a more of celebration than of cynicism, though it is still around.  Travel in some areas becomes an annual nightmare due to the weather in many locations and the increase of people going and coming for the holidays. 

       Plans are made for these exciting times with friends and family.  Gift exchanging, wonderful meals together --  and in our area, we have the Plaza lights that people will travel annually to see.  They are indeed beautiful when the snow is falling lightly, the streets  covered, bright lights glittering, yep it is nice!  For the Kansas City Marshalls our plans had to be changed and we are staying home due to some unexpected medical needs.  So, our New Mexico and Texas Marshalls will be celebrating as individual families, I think!  We’ll get to see our local grandchildren and great-grandchildren, so we won’t be lonesome.

       Marge, Janet and I received a special blessing this week with the Clint McGuffey family stopped by and we “lunched” together.  We enjoyed seeing how the children have grown.  The McGuffeys attended our church in Klawock, Alaska before they moved to Hosanna Ranch in Montana.  These folks have been and are a continued blessing to all who have the privilege of meeting them.  Icy conditions caused a short delay before they arrived in Kansas City so our time was a little more limited than what originally had been planned.  We just praise the Lord they were able to include a stop here for even a few hours. 

       Most families are accustomed to reading the Christmas story in Luke, and it has been ours.  Our kids were always kidding me about getting my “preacher” voice when I read in Luke.  However, for these comments let’s look at Isaiah and think about the description given to the “One sent from God”   “…For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us;  and the government will rest on His shoulders;  and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.”  Isaiah 9:6-8 (NASB)

       And His name shall be called Immanuel! “…Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with Child and will give birth to a Son, and will call Him Immanuel.  Isaiah 7:14 (NASB)  What a Christmas wish “…God with us!”  Amen?

            Marge and I wish our friends and family and all who read these thoughts might  have a very prosperous 2008.  This may well be the year for Jesus to return!

“…THIS SAME JESUS SHALL RETURN IN LIKE MANNER AS YOU SAW HIM DEPART!”

11-Dec-07

Praise the Lord for a successful project!

You have heard the saying "You can take the boy out of the country but you cannot take the country out of the boy?"  Well this is how I feel about my being home from Alaska following a four-month time of ministry in that great state!  People are still asking me if I plan on going back next summer, and my response is "It is not on my radar screen for the future."  Slowly I am coming to realize someone else will need to step up to the plate and take my place in the batting order of meeting needs there. 

As I was making plans to leave Emmonak for the final time, the Lord laid on my heart a desire to provide a small utility trailer for the 4X4 ATV that "Speed the Light" provided for Pastor Austin Jones.  So, I sat a goal of $1,500.00 which should buy the trailer plus the shipping costs from Anchorage to Emmonak.  Our friends and family caught the "vision" and within a 5-week period over $2,175.00 has been given and mailed to Pastor Jones and the church! Now, isn't God great?  Marvelous?  Wonderful?  Awesome?  PTL!  This project will be a blessing to the church and community in providing them the much-needed method of transporting items too big or too heavy to carry on their ATV!  

Northland Cathedral here in Kansas City, our church home, has just completed a very successful missions convention.  We heard missionaries from South America, from Africa, from one who is involved with the media ministries for the Assemblies of God... but none from Alaska!  And inside I keep saying to myself "...but there is Alaska, but there is Alaska with many villages without an evangelical message, and there are Native churches without a resident pastor!" 

We stood on several occasions and sang at the closing of the service, "I'll go where You want me to go, dear Lord, over mountain, or plain or sea.  I'll be what You want me to be,  dear Lord, I'll do what You want me to do!" and all the while I am wondering "...do these folks really mean it?"

We are in the fall season of the year when the autumn harvests are taking place, farmers are busy with apple harvest, pumpkins in time for Thanksgiving, garden plots have been plowed under, tree leaves are turning and soon falling, many birds have  headed south, and Monarch butterflies as well.  Followed by the first frost, the first freeze, the first snow… having said all of this, I hope you know that our time here on earth may be limited and we know that Jesus Christ is planning His return… and only His Father knows when that will take place!

"…Harvest is past, summer is ended, and we are not saved." Jeremiah 8:20 NASB
1-Nov-07

DESIRE TO BE FAITHFUL

I believe one of our desires, or at least should be for every believer who has committed themselves to the Lord, is to be faithful in doing what the Lord has "positioned" them to do in their walk with Him.  I don't believe He expects everyone to be the same, but He does expect each of us to be obedient and faithful in our walk.  If it we were all the same we would be "donut" Christians, simply going through the motions because that's what we were made to be.  That is not the case!  We are different and should endeavor to live our lives that will be pleasing to Him.

            One of the things I have volunteered for is to be an "interviewer" at Gracious Promise Foundation every Tuesday afternoon.  This is a ministry to assist families of the incarcerated.  One of the interviewers and I were discussing the need of creating an atmosphere in our churches where people would feel welcomed.  He agreed with me, or I with him, that people put up their defenses as soon as they hear the name of a church because of something that happened to them or to their family and they want no part of it.  I know the response of many to this is... they are using it as an excuse - maybe so - but does that let us off the hook in trying to win them?

            In my devotions I am reading the book of Deuteronomy where good things took place when people "listened" to the Lord and then "obeyed" Him when He gave them directions.  "You shall therefore love the LORD your God, and always keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments. And know this day that I am not speaking with your sons who have not known and who have not seen the discipline of the LORD your God -- His greatness, His mighty hand, and His outstretched arm, and His signs and His works which He did in the midst of Egypt to Pharaoh the king of Egypt and to all his land; and what He did to Egypt's army, to its horses and its chariots, when He made the water of the Red Sea to engulf them while they were pursuing you, and the LORD completely destroyed them; and what He did to you in the wilderness until you came to this place; and what He did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben, when the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their households, their tents, and every living thing that followed them, among all Israel -- but your own eyes have seen all the great work of the LORD which He did. Deuteronomy 11:11-1-7 (NASB)

            He has just told them to "love" Him and to "keep," or obey, Him because of His faithfulness to them and then they were to pass on their history to their children and to their children's children.

            Now back to the discussion I was having with the interviewer.  "We" have become so interested in building our own "spiritual dynasties" that we have forgotten the real needs of people.  Jesus taught about our relationships with the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the widows, and the orphans, which is a continuum to each generation.  My friends, heaven will not be divided off into denominational segments, but heaven will be the gathering place for the redeemed! 

            My responsibility is for me to keep myself in line with the Word and do what He has called me to do!  Like I heard someone say, "...just love God, love people, and stay out of trouble."  Paul the Apostle wrote on a number of occasions that we are to be found "...in Him."  IF you and I will do this we will make heaven our eternal home!

GREAT IS THE FAITHFULNESS OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER!
29-Sep-07