Thanksgiving

In a third world country, someone is hungry right now. In the United States, someone is hungry right now. In Arkansas someone is hungry. And yes, even in Booneville, more than likely, someone is hungry right now. Are you hungry? I am not. For this I am thankful. In fact I am thankful that I am not facing eviction, walking the streets,living under a bridge or holding a sign somewhere at an intersection that says will work for food. I am glad I am not in a halfway house,mental institution or county jail. All of these scenarios are a reality. What does it tell us? First of all we must make a commitment to thankfulness. Next we must put our hands and hearts to work to help those who are in need. Even if they landed their self in the situation they are in by making bad decisions. It is one thing to suffer the consequences of bad decisions, but it is another for people to serve a lifetime sentence of public disdain because we try and convict their character. WHO ARE WE to judge? Jesus never bragged on the judges but he said a lot about the real "neighbor" who stopped to help the man on the side of the Jericho road who was beat almost to death and robbed. He never promised anything to the critics, but he did say "Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me." (Matthew 25:45) Done what? "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me." (Matthew 25:35-36) This Thanksgiving let's be thankful, but let us also commit ourselves to helping those that do not have the things that we are thankful for.

Rayne's First Birthday Party

Rayne, our first grand baby turned one year old on November 12th. Here she is eating birthday cake. Bless her heart, she had been feeling bad and running fever. Nevertheless, she is a doll! She has started talking more. She said "ball" the other day for Nana. She said "Nana" for me as plain as day about a week and a half ago. And yes, she has been saying Pa Pa some recently as well.
Go Rayne!!!

Our Story: A Saturday To Remember

It was cold and windy. Grayson was so ready to get down from the tree stand. I admit that after about an hour and a half, I was getting there too. It was about 7:30am. I said that I would like to at least try to stay on the stand until 8:00am. I knew from hunting with my Dad as a boy that around 8 to 9 was when the bigger bucks sometimes stir. I told him that I was proud of him for being tough enough to get up that early (4:30am) and come out and sit on a tree stand for that long at 7 years old. At approximately 7:15 to 7:20 Grayson had used the grunt call one more time and we had waited in anticipation for a buck to show up. I had confidence in the buck lure we were using at the time also. We had been hearing a squirrel or two playing in the leaves behind us in the woods all morning. Then suddenly about 15-20 yards away over our right shoulders I heard a crack that was indicative of a much larger animal than a squirrel. Then in about 5 to 10 seconds there he was. An eight point buck!

The rest is history. Grayson was so excited because it was our first buck together! So was I to say the least! We had missed an opportunity at a little smaller buck last year in the same hay meadow. However this day would prove to have a different outcome! It was truly a Saturday my son and I will never forget.

Courage Under Fire!

When soldiers fought in the Revolutionary War, they didn't have repeating rifles. They had muskets. It was imperative that they have courage under fire. It took unspeakable nerve to reload their weapons and not drop everything while the Red Coats were constantly hurling lead in their direction; not to mention trying to maneuver and communicate through heavy smoke and ear splitting explosions of musket fire all around them.
As Christians, we must find a way to remain courageous under fire. Yes, we are under fire. We are under a heavy barrage of agnosticism and outright rebellion to the God of Abraham,Isaac, and Jacob. We are under fire due to the offence of the cross! On that thought I have two scriptures to share with you.
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Ephesians 6:16

The other one goes well with it.

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith. I John 5:4

Here is one more. Read it and take courage!

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Psalms 27:14

Calling All Prayer Warriors

Calling all prayer warriors! Our nation needs revival! When a well known actor/Christian stands up as Stephen Baldwin(youngest of four Baldwin brothers in Hollywood)did and says (paraphrasing) that "our young people from 8, 9,10 on up to 19 are further from God than any other generation in history" (where Evangelical values are concerned) folks, we need a revival. If that is not enough, how about this statistic found on barna.org, Half of born again Christians (46%) agree that Satan is "not a living being but is a symbol of evil." (2007) What's missing is the fear of God! That is why so many people are so mixed up! In short it is time to pray like we have never prayed! The Bible says in Psalms 111:10 "The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do [his commandments]: his praise endureth for ever". There is a great lack of "good understanding" in our church culture. in general. It has been replaced with other motivations. We are overdue to get back to the basics. The only way to defeat satan and have a revival is to get back to the Bible and stay there. The same Bible that teaches that "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." in James 5:16.
Prayer warriors man your battle stations, defend the faith, and stand for God!

The Wall! Get Over It!

Do you have a wall that it seems that you can't get over? Get over it! David said in Psalms 18:29, For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. Walls are sometimes made to appear bigger than they really are by our enemy. Almost everyone has faced, is facing, or will face a wall that seems unscalable. The key in David's testimony is that he said "...by my God have I leaped over a

wall". Walls can be emotional, spiritual, physical, or financial. Some even face social walls. Whatever it is, get over it. It may be a relationship with a friend gone bad, and you just can't seem to forgive and forget. I have three words for you. Get over it! Forgive!Your wall maybe a spiritual or emotional battle that you have fought for a long time. Get with God, get fired up and then get over your wall. It won't move voluntarily. You either have to shout it down like Joshua or leap over it like David. Paul was let down over a wall in the night by his friends. Take your pick. Just get over it!

Image accessed on wikimedia.org 11/02/08