Leaders

Birthdays, Christmas, Tests, Results, Health, Weather, Game Time, Fridays, Sundays, Wednesdays, Vacations, Mission Trips, Heaven. What do all those above have in common? Some make you anxious while others we greatly anticipate. Some of them have moments of temporary excitement yet long lasting memories. Some bring moments of disappointment and despair, but only one of […]

Birthdays, Christmas, Tests, Results, Health, Weather, Game Time, Fridays, Sundays, Wednesdays, Vacations, Mission Trips, Heaven.

What do all those above have in common? Some make you anxious while others we greatly anticipate. Some of them have moments of temporary excitement yet long lasting memories. Some bring moments of disappointment and despair, but only one of them produces eternal rewards…Heaven.

10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.
11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.
12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up– one on one side, one on the other– so that his hands remained steady till sunset. (Exod. 17:10-12 NIVO)
15 Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner.
16 He said, “For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”
(Exod. 17:15-16 NIVO)

Do you remember who was on the battlefield? The entire Israelite army with a man named Joshua leading the charge. It took everyone to win the battle in front of them. It took 2 people named Aaron and Hur to hold up the arms of Moses. God was involved in all.
The mission in front of us all requires a total team effort and an intentional focus on the challenges and opportunities our Lord provides us all. He never expected nor expects any one person to do it all. Victories come through team efforts. Each person intentionally choosing to put in individual efforts, helping hold up arms until the war is won.
Give thanks to the Joshuas, Aarons, Hurs, Moseses, and the soldiers in your life. Heaven awaits. Let us love deeply and live with Heaven in mind.

Heart of the Gospel

The heart of the gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Paul expresses it in this manner: 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that...

Eclipse

An eclipse is an exciting thing. It was evident Monday at about 2:00 p.m. when I was driving back to the office from making some visits. The traffic was minimal. I even saw several vehicles pulling off the road to catch a glimpse of the moon covering the sun. I even...

The Same Story

Frank Wampol did an outstanding job on Sunday morning directing our hearts toward a better understanding of the emotional and physical agony that Jesus experienced during his crucifixion and the time leading up to it. Before Sunday, I knew that Frank was going to...

You’re Kidding

We were in Pigeon Forge with some of Jane’s family. While there, we visited the replica museum for the Titanic. A very interesting exhibit. We were at the bottom of the replica of the grand staircase listening to the guide explain the rich details of this beautiful...

Theme Verse

You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain, the place, O LORD, which you have made for your abode, the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established. (Exodus 15:17 ESV) This is the theme verse for this year’s Leadership Training For Christ...

Changing Seasons

I need spring to come and winter to end. Honestly, this has been a constant thought in my mind since mid-January following a series of unfortunate events: a trip to the ER, an ablation scheduled, missing a conference due to heart issues, waiting for the ablation,...

Jacob and Esau

I’m sure you remember the story of Jacob and Esau. But if the following brief summary is not familiar to you, read the whole story beginning in Genesis 25:19. 24 When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out...

I Voted

I voted today. I took advantage of the right given to me as a citizen of this country to cast my vote for those who will lead our nation, state and county. I was even given a sticker to declare to others that I had voted.   It was only one vote, but it was my...

My Thoughts

My thoughts are mine! Aren’t they? One of Jane’s favorite expressions is, “I knew you were going to say that.” She loves to make me think she knows everything I’m thinking or that I’m going to say. I have to admit, she gets pretty close. But she’s not always right....

Our Comforter

Kimberly and I adopted our first dog together in 2013. She was a husky/German shepherd mix named Chloe. She was a big dog with a very loud bark. When I served in youth ministry, I often traveled out of town overnight. Kimberly traveled with me on occasion, but when...