June 28, 2010

“God sent forth His son, born of woman, to redeem those who are under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying ‘Abba! Father!’” Galatians 4:4-6

I was watching the TV a couple years ago with my son and they were doing a story on Alaska Crab fishing. One of the captains was a Christian who was very open about his faith. He prayed with the crew and shared his faith openly. He also shared that he and his wife had adopted seven or eight children and he had a picture of them there in the cabin with him. Many times when I was growing up I wondered if I was adopted. All I had to do was suggest this possibility and my mom emphatically put that to rest by stating, “I was there when you were born and you ain’t adopted!” Even so, I believe that adoption is one of the highest expressions of love one can do. Biological origin becomes insignificant as a parent bonds with a child in love. Maybe that is why God chose to adopt us into his family. He didn’t have to forgive us. He didn’t have to let his only begotten son die on a cross for us. But like an adoptive parent, he chose to take us into his family, to make us his children. All he asked for in return was for us to love him, and call him daddy (Abba). He wants to hear from you today. Talk to him in prayer and tell him how thankful you are that he loved you enough to adopt you. He looks forward to hearing from you.

Thought for the week: "Friends may come and go but enemies accumulate."

Funny for the week: "Fore!"

My five-year-old nephew wanted to caddy for my brother's golf game. "You have to count my strokes," my brother told him. "How much is six plus nine plus eight?"

"Five," answered the nephew.

"Okay," my brother said, "let's go."

Starting him out early………….. Chaplain Barnes

Last week’s answer: Complete the following sentence from Psalm 51:10: “Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me.” (Ps. 51:10)

This week’s question: In which book of the Bible do we find the story of Jacob and Esau?

June 21, 2010

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9

“Every third bottle is a winner.” That is what the sign said over the Sundrop display. This was my third bottle and I knew I had to win something. I unscrewed the lid and held my breath with anticipation as I read, “Please Try Again.” They lied! Later that day I withheld the truth in a situation, which is as bad as telling a lie, and the Lord convicted me that it was a sin. Later when I got back in the truck I confessed the sin and asked God to forgive me. Not feeling too good with myself and still struggling with guilt, I looked down and in the cup holder between the seats there was that bottle cap, turned up so I could read it and the words hit me, “Please Try Again.” I had a sense of peace as I knew at that moment God had forgiven me and instead of berating me, he was speaking through that bottle cap, “Don’t quit, try again.” That is the kind of God I serve. Forgiving, restoring, encouraging, and even throwing in a sense of humor. He forgives, forgets and takes us by the hand and leads us on. Could it be he is saying that to you today? “I forgive you my child. I love you, I cleanse you and I want you to walk with me. Come on now, let’s try again.”

Thought for the week: Jumping at the first opportunity seldom leads to a happy landing. Author unknown

Funny for the week: Too Many Cooks
A wife is scrambling eggs when her husband bursts into the kitchen.

"Careful," he cries. "Careful! You're cooking too many at once. Too many! Scramble them! Now! We need more butter. They're going to stick! Careful! Now scramble them again! Hurry up! Are you crazy? Don't forget to salt them. You know you always forget to salt them. Use the salt. Use the salt! The salt!"

The wife turns and asks, "What is wrong with you?"

Her husband calmly replies, "I wanted to show you what it feels like when I'm driving."

Dedicated to Pau-Pau…………Chaplain Barnes

Last week’s answer: How many of Jesus’ brothers became Christians? All four (Acts 1:14)

This week’s question: Complete the following sentence from Psalm 51:10: “Create in me a clean heart O God and renew…

June 14, 2010

“The Lord, your God, is in your midst…he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with singing as on a day of festival.” Zephaniah 3:17

I hate mirrors. When I look in a mirror I see someone that I know too much about. There is a person that I know everything there is to know about. His thoughts, his deepest secrets, his failures and his pain. Most of us would not admit it but there is a deep spiritual battle that goes on when we look in a mirror. I’ve been honest with you. Be honest with yourself. How would you describe the person you see in the mirror? There is an enemy who would love to convince us that we are not worth much. Many times he wins in my mirror battle. Often I feel like such a failure and want to give up. Sometimes he makes me remember past sins and torture myself with negative criticism. But the Bible tells me that that is not pleasing to God. He wants us to forgive ourselves as he has forgiven us. He wants us to think of ourselves as he thinks of us. We are precious in his sight, honored and he loves us with an everlasting love. The verse above says (Terry phrase here) he does high fives and cartwheels when he thinks about us. He even has our picture on his refrigerator. I confess that while I have head knowledge of this truth, I have not applied it to my heart knowledge. So, if you want to get on better terms with the person in the mirror, join me in this little prayer tomorrow morning when you flip on the bathroom light and meet yourself in all your morning glory. Look that person square in the eyes and say, “I am a forgiven child of God. I am precious to my heavenly Father. He has a perfect plan for my life and he is rejoicing over me with gladness right now. So, let’s get cleaned up and get out there and tackle whatever work he has for me to do today.”

Thought for the week: "Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is NEVER putting it in a fruit salad."

Funny for the week: "Romance"

My pregnant daughter and her husband were checking out a new birth facility that was more like a spa. The birthing room had a hot tub, soft music and candlelight.

"What do you think?" she said

He looked around. "Isn't this how we got here in the first place?"

Wise man………….. Chaplain Barnes

Last week’s answer: Who was the father of Noah? Lemech (Gen. 5:30)

This week’s question: How many of Jesus’ brothers became Christians?

June 7, 2010

“Love does not insist upon its own way, is not quick to take offense. Love keeps no score of wrongs.” I Corinthians 13:5

We hear a lot of talk about miracles today but there is one that we don’t hear about often. I am talking about the miracle of forgiveness. Don’t hang up yet. Hear me out. To forgive someone from our own strength is totally impossible. That is why we must have God filling us to be able to do it. Every time I have tried to forgive a transgression in my own strength I find myself stewing in resentment, rehashing the offense and mentally chalking up the reasons why I was right and they were wrong and even at times plotting revenge. Not a pretty picture is it. I am sure no one reading this has ever done those things. Then God reminded me of Joseph. Remember how he was abducted from his father and sold as a slave? They lied to his father and said he was dead so no one would ever search for him. And, you remember who did this to him? His own brothers. I would have dissolved into a mass of resentment and anger. But not Joseph. God helped him to forgive his brothers and that is the only way we will ever be able to forgive. He must so fill our hearts with himself that we come to not only forgive, but actually love that person that offended us. His love can so flow through us that we find ourselves actually wishing good on the very person that wronged us. And that my friend is a miracle. But remember, only God can do that. The real question then is, do we want that miracle to happen. You think about that, Amen.

Thought for the week: It takes just three times as long to tell a lie, on any subject, as it does to tell the truth. -- Josh Billings

Funny for the week: "Anyone Home?"

A social worker who had recently transferred from the big city to the mountains was touring her new territory. She came upon the tiniest cabin she had ever seen. Intrigued, she knocked on the door.

"Anybody home?"

A child's voice answered, "Yep."

"Is your father there?"

"Pa? Nope, he left before Ma came in."

"Well, is your mother there?"

"Nope, Ma left just before I got here."

"Are you never together as a family?"

"Sure, but not here. This is the outhouse!"

City-slickers…………….Chaplain Barnes

Last week’s answer: What were the purposes of the two Jewish calendars? One for civil use and one for the sacred use.

This week’s question: Who was the father of Noah?