David Leo Doran was said to be one of the greatest preachers to ever walk in shoe leather. I have said it myself and have heard many others say the same thing. He was an old time fiery preacher. He would quote more scripture in one sermon than most preachers use in a year’s worth of sermons. He could tell a story like you have never heard it told anywhere else. Most important of all, when he came to the pulpit, you knew that he had been in touch with God.

David did not have very much formal education. He had to leave school in the tenth grade to work and help support his family. Yet he always had a hunger to learn and continued to study and educate himself. He would talk to well-educated men that he admired and ask them what books they recommended. He would then buy the book and read it from cover to cover. He was much disciplined about this. I remember someone recommended Clyde Narrimore’s book, “The Encyclopedia of Psychological Problems.” They said it was a good book to have to help when you had to counsel with people. David bought the book and read it from cover to cover, word for word.

He was a preacher who studied. He would eat lunch on Sunday afternoon and then go to his study and prepare for the message that night. When he was finished, he started on his Bible lesson for Tuesday night. Tuesday nights, when he got off work, he would eat, bathe and change clothes, and then he would head for the church to finish up for Bible Study that night. He never walked to the pulpit without spending hours in study and prayer.

He took his responsibility so seriously that I recall a time or two when he would actually tell us that he didn’t have a message, although he had spent time in study and prayer, he didn’t have a message. He refused just to go through the motions or just be redundant in what he had to say. He was honest and up front and said he had nothing. Generally he would share a scripture with the Church and then call us to prayer.

I saw and heard him preach at a Fellowship Meeting which is a service with several churches gathered together. He was preaching on Jehu telling different men to come see his zeal for the Lord. David began preaching about being zealous for the Lord. He got to preaching about being like Jehu, who they said drove his chariot ferociously. David grabbed the hand of a young man sitting in the front of the church and he began to run around the building. The whole time he was pulling this young man behind him and preaching with all his might about having zeal for God.

Mind you, at this time David was about 47 or 48 years of age at this time. The young man had just returned from Marine boot camp. David ran him around that building until the young man’s tongue hung out, while David never missed a word or slowed down. The man could preach!

A Bible Study, which David taught, might last an hour or more. A sermon that he preached would be thirty minutes or so. That was his average. A Pastor once called him to preach for them for several nights and the night of the main event the Pastor requested David preach on a certain subject and asked that he preach for three hours. David did just that, he preached for three hours and although I was not able to be there, those that I spoke too later told me it seemed just like minutes.

When David was 59 years old, he found out that he had Parkinson’s disease. You might not be familiar with Parkinson’s disease so let me briefly explain its effect on a body. Parkinson’s disease is the result of a chemical deficiency between the brain and the nerve center that sends signals to the muscles. As a result of this, many of the things we do reflexively have to be thought out, step by step, in order for the person to be able to do them. For example swallowing is something done as a reflex, we don’t think about it at all. Yet with Parkinson’s you have to think through the whole swallowing process. Many people with Parkinson’s have problems swallowing food or even saliva.

Parkinson’s affects walking, talking, and standing. I won’t go into detail, but because of the lack of the signal from the brain to the nerve center it was soon evident that after twenty-five years, David’s time as pastor had come to an end. It was also obvious that he would no longer be able to preach the way that he once had preached.

David was a champion; he squared his shoulders and faced the problems before him. I must say that the most difficult thing for him to face as a result of this disease, which so disabled him, was not being able to preach the way he loved to preach. At the time of his being diagnosed with Parkinson’s I was David’s associate pastor. When he could no longer carry on the work as pastor, in the church where he had pastored for twenty-five years, He and the church asked me to step in and carry on his work. Being his son and his student, I knew how he wanted to stay involved so I encouraged him to seek other ways to minister. One of those ways was discipling young Christians.

When I became Pastor, the people in the church began to call David “The Elder” as a way of honoring him for his life time of service to that church. When we started working together with David teaching young Christians, I called it, “Sitting at the feet of the Elder.”

David dealt with Parkinson’s and all the effects it had on his life and his body for ten years. In 1999 the doctors told him and the family that Parkinson’s had taken its toll and David didn’t have much longer to live. I spent many nights, along with my brothers and oldest son, sitting in David’s living room, sometimes holding his hand. Most of those nights were spent sitting together, talking quietly and listening to him talk to us. I don’t remember a lot of the details of those conversations, I think it was more of his spirit strengthening ours than it was of words and dialog. I just remember being there with him. As the days went by, David became weaker. He became so weak that they brought a hospital bed in and set it up in his living room.

I remember on a Saturday afternoon I was sitting with him. Faye, his wife and my mother, had laid down to rest. David was a sleep and I was sitting on the couch in the living room thinking. It was very quiet and still. I watched David as he slept and seemed to labor a bit in breathing. In the still time my mind went back over the years and I began to remember the different times that I had listen to my Dad preach. I began to relive those moments and those sermons which we called “Messages.” My how he could preach!

I walked through the years. I remembered the times and the places. There were one-room school houses. There were school gymnasiums. There were Camp Meeting Tabernacles and Brush Arbors. There were nice Church buildings and other buildings that had been converted from a former life into a church building. There were big crowds, medium size crowds and there were small crowds. David had preached in them all and to them all.

I remembered sermon titles like, “Are You Asking for Trouble?” “You Know Too Much!” “Check Points on the Road to Heaven.” “Five Things I Would Like on My Tombstone.” “A Three and Two Count!”

It was a very overwhelming experience. In my heart I knew that David didn’t have many days left to live. Along with that knowledge and the memories I felt just a little overwhelmed. Then I remember a thought that came to me. Maybe it was more of a wish or even a prayer than a thought, actually. Whatever it was, I said to myself, “I wish I could hear Dad preach one more ‘Message’. I wish I could just hear him do it one more time.”

My eyes had actually been closed and when I opened them Dad was looking at me. I asked him if he had gotten some rest and he answered back appropriately. Then we both sat there somewhat lost in our thoughts. A few moments later, Faye came into the room to check on David. They spoke to each other in low tones and then Faye left the room. I didn’t think any more about what had been going through my mind because within just a few moments’ people started coming into the house to visit. There was Slim and Rose Daniel. Jean Daniel and the Petranoff family showed up. Marc and Valerie Anderson came walking in and the house was soon filled with family and friends from the church. One of the last people to come in that evening was Joe Silva. Joe and his wife Sheryl were newer saints in the Church that David and Faye had been teaching and Joe looked to David as a son does to a father.

After Joe came in, David began to talk. Suddenly he was once again the Pastor. He looked at my wife, Melinda, and asked her if she would get out the old accordion. He looked at me and asked me to get out my guitar. Then he looked at us all and said that he had asked Faye to call everyone in so that we could have a time of worship and fellowship. It was about this time that I realized the people he had Faye call in, were those people that he had pastored for so many years. These were “his people or his saints.” He had loved them, led them to Christ, discipled them and pastored them for twenty-five years. They were those who were dearest to his heart and him to theirs.

He would tell us the song that he wanted us to sing and we all gathered in and sang our hearts out. He would call the name of an individual and ask them to sing a “special” song that they had sang in church, and they would sing their hearts out. What a time we had. You could feel the Spirit of God as it began to minister to each of us.

After everyone had sung and after we had pretty much exhausted the old song book. David spoke to Justin, his oldest grandson and my oldest son, and told Justin to go into his office and bring him some things. When Justin returned he had with him some sermon notes and a chart which he set up for his Grandpa.

David turned to Joe and said, “With all that has happened I haven’t been able to teach you this lesson that I really want you to hear. I have called you all in because I have something that you really need to hear.”

My prayer was answered. My desire came to past. There on his hospital bed “The Elder” stepped up to the pulpit and preached one last “Message” to his people. I got to hear him preach one last time.

He preached from Hebrews 10:34-38 which reads:

Heb 10:34-38
34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” KJV

The words of the “Old Preacher’s” last message that stuck in my mind was this. Don’t cast away your confidence in God. Trust in God! God will always do the right thing. He said, “I don’t know why things in my life haven’t worked out the way that I planned them, but I have confidence in God that I will receive my reward and that He knows what is best.”

Yes, just as I had remembered it, the Preacher had a Message and that Message was for me. I am thankful I got to hear him preach one more time. Today, on what would have been his eighty-fourth birthday, I can still hear him say, “Have faith in God!”

Just a thought! God Bless!

I Know It Smells on the Ark...

I know it smells, but the Ark is the only thing floating! ~ Noah on day 299. Do you ever wonder about the conversations that took place on the Ark? It would seem that Noah and Mrs. Noah were on the Ark with their three sons and three daughters in law for about a year. Combine the close quarters of eight people with all of the animals and even a vessel as large as the Ark was will become very small. You have to wonder what took place and what was said. I wonder if they reacted like I sometimes tend to do? I find that sometimes when I am in the midst of being “saved” from adversity I complain about the method of that “salvation.” Rather than being thankful all I can see is the “stink” that is around me. Now you know the boat had to stink! Have you ever been to a zoo? Have you ever driven by a dairy? How about pulling up to a signal light and finding yourself setting next to a livestock truck? Anytime you get several animals together the natural result is going to be a smell. In fact it is going to be a really big, bad smell! A smell that would get more intense and eventually drive a person to a distraction! What do you do? The Ark is the only thing floating. There is no where else to go. Actually the Ark is your salvation. If you hadn’t gotten on board the Ark you would have drowned with everyone else. But now, the Ark is stinking and you are wishing you were anywhere but on the Ark. Been there and done that! I have often prayed prayers that go like this: “God I have got to make heaven no matter the cost and I need your help.” So God looks at me and sees some things in my life that will keep me from heaven and goes to work. Then in the midst of God’s mercy and grace I begin to complain that what God is doing in my life is too painful, it stinks! Another prayer that I have prayed is, “God I want to know you and to be like you. Show me what I need to do.” Again, God takes me at my word and begins to show me what I must do to know him and be like him. However, the cross is heavy, the road is lonely and, well, it just stinks! Yet when I look around me. When I look at all that is happening and going on in my world. I see a lot of destruction! There is so much that is failing! So many are drowning in the cares of life. They have put their hopes and trust in the things of life and all of its assurances only to have it wiped out. I know, the Ark is the only thing floating! So, despite the smell. Irregardless of how uncomfortable it might become I am going to stay in the Ark. I have found safety from the storms of life, in the Ark. I have truly found that I can rise above all adversity in life by remaining in the Ark. I will admit it isn’t always as pleasant as I would like it to be. However, it sure beats trying to tread water. Remember, it is just a thought!

You Might Lose Your Head But Don't Lose Your Heart

“You might lose your head, but don’t lose your heart” ~ Peter. Ok, I just made that up. Peter didn’t really say those words, that we know of. However, Peter did live a life that spoke those words. He dealt with persecution, imprisonment and eventually death. Yet through it all, he never lost his heart. It is so easy, when things are going good, to make statements and promises that are hard to keep during adverse times. Just as Peter did to Jesus. His promise was that even if everyone else left Jesus, he would stay and fight to his death. His intentions were good, he even drew his sword and took a swing at the enemy. However, when the adrenaline stopped flowing and things quieted down, Peter had second thoughts and lost his heart. The wise man tells us in Proverbs to guard our heart because the issues of life come from it. (Pro 4:23) Of course he isn’t speaking of our blood pumper, but the seat of our emotions and thoughts. This is the place many of our decisions are made. The influences of our lives come from our heart. It is from our heart that the voice whispers to us telling us to do something or not to do it. We would do well to be careful what we allow to come into our heart. There is an urgent need to protect our hearts. Not too many years after the night in the garden and the tragic mistake in the courtyard, Peter’s heart is once again put to the test. He is lead before a court and found guilty of preaching about Jesus Christ. The judge condemns him to death and he is led away to his execution. Of course we have no way of knowing but my imagination tells me that Peter’s heart was reminding him of the night so long ago when it had failed him. Oh the shame and frustration that had resulted from the wrong decision. No! It won’t fail him now. He might die for what he believed but he would die willingly. And he did! Yes, we might lose our head. Things might not go the way we planned or hoped that they would. However, we must protect our hearts at all costs. Our heart affects everything I do so I must keep it safe. Remember, it’s just a thought!

What Do You Do When It Stinks?

What Do I Do When It Stinks? Emotions of despair, those feelings that the situation that is being faced is hopeless and impossible. Realization dawns upon the consciousness bringing with it the certainty that all hope is gone and that I have arrived at the “Irr Home.” At the “Irr Home” everything living here is: Irreparable, Irremediable, Irretrievable, Irreclaimable and Irrevocable! With that realization comes a perception of impotence, which brings with it the awareness of powerlessness and weakness. Struggling with the conception of thoughts that leave one paralyzed with fear. Feeling totally ineffective to face another day of more of the same. These are the feelings of the real world. Products of a world that is determined to take the best we have to offer and to stomp on it until it is totally crushed beyond repair. We have tried our best and our best isn’t enough! We have offered all that is sacred and dear, and it has been rejected. We have gutted it our until we feel that our guts are exposed to be literally ripped from our bodies. The world looks at us with a look of contempt and scorn and says, “You made your bed, now sleep in it!” However, I have good news for you! The wonderful news of the Gospel of Christ! When the world says you made your bed now sleep in it, Jesus says, Take up your bed and walk!” It is just another day like any other day for the past thirty-eight years. Somehow he drags himself one more time down by the sheep market to the Pool of Bethesda. He isn’t even sure why he goes to all of the trouble. He knows that there is no possible way for him to get into the pool if the angel were to come today. With this acknowledgment comes a feeling of despair. His situation is hopeless. He is not only physically impotent. He is powerless to ever change his life. Life will always be this way! In the midst of this chaotic jumble of embroiled emotions came Jesus! Jesus came to this place which conveyed ideas of magical cures. A place where sometime during the year an angel would come and trouble the water and the infirm would hope to be the first into the water. The first person in the water, after the angel troubled it, was healed of their disease. This was a place that was close to the sheep market, and like is the case with large livestock sale barns, I am sure the emanation of the sheep gathered into that one small place would begin to attack the olfactory senses of those that came to the pool. In other words, it smelled! The bodies of men and women who were sick with all manner of diseases, impotent folk. The blind, the halt, the crippled. Many of them unkept and unwashed. It was a painful picture of the chief kind of human suffering and bodily disease. It was a place of hopelessness. A feeling which must have permeated the air. A cauldron of fear percolating out feelings that each situation was irremediable, irrevocable. Screaming there is no hope! Helpless and powerless! Individuals grasping at the illusive, fragile dream that they might be the first into the pool the next time the water was troubled. Struggling to hold on to that dream through year of failure. Hearing a constant bombardment of doubt and fear from those around them that had been at the pool for so many years. Spirits, once high with hope and promise, have now shrunken in distress as realization dawns on them, their situation is hopeless. That was the atmosphere of the Pool of Bethesda! Jesus looks on the man, knowing how hopeless his plight is, and without demanding from the man even faith, asks him, “Wilt thou be made whole?” This individual, who might have come to the place where he was doubtful of the blessing of healing because of the resulting responsibilities, is hearing a question he might have heard from others. He whines out, with a professional drawl, his oft told story, reflecting very much on his lovelessness, quarrelsomeness, and ugly temper. The melancholy recital of his frequent disappointment is given with an air of insolvent resignation. Maybe even a gloomy satisfaction with his lot in life can be heard in his voice. However, Jesus doesn’t even rebuke him for his lack of faith, as he has others. He doesn’t require anything special of him. All he simply says is, “Take up your bed and walk.” The Psalmist said, “Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again — my Savior and my God! (Psalms 43:5 NLT) The Apostle Paul added to this, “And if we have hope in Christ only for this life, we are the most miserable people in the world.” (1 Cor 15:19 NLT) We are living in a time when life is filled with uncertainty. Men and women are living lives filled with fear and hopelessness. No matter what is tried to improve life it seems powerless to make the needed change. There is a high rate of burnout and certainly a deep level of cynicism. Dependency upon the world system has left many in despair, wondering where to turn and when it will all change. Our hopes in this life and what this life has to offer are bound to bring nothing but disappointment. This world, or the age in which we live, is ruled by the god of this world. As a result, it is doomed for failure. If we rely upon this world to meet our needs and to save us from our despair, we too are doomed for failure and disappointment. Jesus stood at the tomb of Lazarus. His heart was broken, not because his friend had died. He knew and had already said that Lazarus was just asleep. His heart hurt for those who were crushed with sorrow and wept as a result of all hope laying dead for four days. He told them to roll away the stone from in front of the tomb and their response was, “He has been dead for four days and it is going to stink!” So what do you do when it stinks? You roll the stone away! You take up your bed and walk! You refuse to let circumstances dictate to you your response to the blessings of God. Step out by faith. Do the opposite of what is natural and step into the world of the Supernatural! Let Jesus Christ have a chance to bring to live what the world says is dead! It is in the midst of turmoil and chaos that Jesus Christ is at his best. Whether it be in the midst of a crowd at the pool where hope has faded or at the tomb of one who has been buried too long, Jesus Christ is still the answer we need today. When life is nothing but a stinking mess, Jesus Christ is still our only hope. The choice is ours. We can continue to lay in a world of cynical unbelief or we can take up our bed and walk. We can continue to lay in that which has entombed us, or we can arise and come out of the tomb. Well, its just a thought! I refuse to be discouraged or sad, I will put my hope in Jesus Christ!

The Key to Success

The portion of this instruction, which we often ignore, is one key to our success as a Christian Soldier. It is found in this same passage, but is overlooked because we stop when we come to the end of the description of the armor. Here it is:

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”; (Eph. 6:18 KJV)

The key, to making the whole armor effective, is prayer. A Christian soldier that doesn’t pray will have the same problems as the Roman soldier that didn’t drink water. Eventually both will become too weak to fight and will die. You cannot be a successful Spiritual Warrior without a consistent prayer life!

The Spiritual Warrior must be given to prayer. We are not talking about only praying when things are going bad and you are feeling overwhelmed. We are talking about praying always. This is praying in every season and on all occasions. Praying that builds up a reserve of strength and stamina to carry you through battle.

In James 5:16 the Apostle speaks of the “effectual fervent prayer” being of great force. The term, “effectual fervent,” means to be effective or to have power. It comes from the root word “energes” which we referred to with the sword of the Spirit. This word speaks of power, being active, and working. The word “availeth” speaks of being forceful and doing much work. We are not talking about “now I lay me down to sleep” type prayers. Nor are we talking about “God bless this mess” prayers. We are talking about prayers that are hot and powerful! These are the prayers that will make a difference.

Just putting on, the Whole Armor of God, will not be sufficient if prayer that is fervent and energized does not power the Warrior. He might as well be a statute in a museum for all of the effect he will have in spiritual warfare. His prayers must be Spirit driven! They must be prayers that he enters with the sole purpose of reaching the throne of heaven.
Jude encourages us to build ourselves up in our faith by praying in the Holy Ghost. Not only will, praying in the Holy Ghost, build us up in our faith, it will also keep us in the love of God. (Jude 20, 21) Again, this is speaking of prayer that is more than rhetorical prayer. This is prayer that enters the Spirit realm.

Paul, in Romans 8:26-27, tells us that as we pray in the Spirit we talk directly with God. To the point, when we don’t know how to pray or what we need to pray for, the Spirit of God will pray for us. Later, in 1Corinthians 14:4, Paul tells us that if we pray in the Spirit and speak in tongues we are building ourselves up or making ourselves stronger.

Accessing all of the resources that God has made available to us is incredibly important, for you and me, so we might be victorious. The promises to the overcomer are eternal. They go beyond relief and victory in this present life. These promises are eternal and include eating of the tree of life. Not being hurt by the second death. The overcomer will eat of the hidden manna and will receive a new name. He will receive power and rule with God. Overcomer, you will receive a white garment and your name will be in the Book of Life. To the one that overcomes is the promise to sit with God upon His throne. The overcomer will inherit all things and God promises to be his God and the overcomer will be His son.

So, Warrior, put on your breastplate of righteousness. Gird your loins with the belt of truth. Shod you feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. Put on the helmet of salvation. Pick up your shield of faith. Arm yourself with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Strengthen yourself by praying in the Holy Ghost! Go into battle knowing that it isn’t our battle but the battle belongs to the Lord. Be victorious!

Living Life!

Rain fell in sheets as inside the Church the father of the bride said, in an emotion choked voice, “What’s that Parson, who gives this woman away? Her mother and I.” The young man took the hand of the young lady and they together turned to face the preacher as he began to speak.

Someone sung another song that talked about God teaching us to love. Still they sung another song about the Tie that Binds. The two preachers shared more words. The couple exchanged vows. A Bible was given as a symbol of the foundation the marriage was to be built on.

Finally, the long awaited moment, they pronounce the couple husband and wife. A kiss is given! The couple makes the long walk down the aisle, while the miniature bride and groom jump off the stage and run behind them.

They enjoy cake and fellowship, as people wish the newlyweds’ good luck. A container is passed and many bless the couple with a love offering to help them enjoy a few days together.

Finally it is time for the couple to leave. Many have already left the Church to drive home but a few remain behind to see the couple off. The rain has stopped but the night is still very dark and wet. The couple climbs into the 1969 Mercury Montego Coupe and pull out of the parking lot heading into “a life together.”

No one could predict what the future would hold. There was no way to see all of the thrills and spills. How could anyone know the triumphs and disappointments that would come during the years to follow. That night there wasn’t a mountain that they couldn’t climb or a river that couldn’t be crossed. All that lay ahead, it seemed, was easy victories and great promises.

For life to be lived to its fullest, there will be victories and there will be defeats. A definition of life could be emotional. Like our emotions, which go up and down, so goes life. The key is to have a firm foundation, something to build on. Build life together on something that never changes. The Word of God is forever and unchanging. It is the perfect foundation on which to build a life.

Children came to the young family. First a son was born. Oh the magic of the moment when life is first recognized to have come from you and the one you love. Nothing can compare to that moment. Next a daughter is born. Daddy looks into her dark eyes and he is lost forever. Then, there is the night when she stops breathing and high speed trips are made to the hospital. Hours spent waiting for doctors to discover what is wrong. The two stands together in the hallway listening to their baby scream as the doctors run more tests. A trial! A wilderness! It is a time of learning to lean on the mercy of God.

Life is being lived! A father suddenly becomes ill and passes from life. He is so very young and so is his daughter. Again, a time of learning to lean on God and draw strength from His well. Lessons are learned from the late night times of prayer. Lessons that say that God orders the steps of a righteous man and He takes joy in those steps. You might weep during the night, but the sun will come up and with it will be joy.

Another son is born. So different from his brother and sister in so many ways. He is born during another wilderness time. It is a reminder that the blessings of the Lord come even when you don’t know where God is.

What is life? It is but a wisp of steam, a vapor. You get up every day and live life until one day you look back and realize that thirty-four years have passed since that rainy night when you said, “We will!” Years of blessings!

Children have become teenagers and then adults. They have left the nest and now have their own families. There are moments when you wish you could roll back the years and again enjoy those precious moments of yesteryear. You would go a little slower this time and spend a little more time enjoying those things that are so important. You would recognize things so important now. If you could do it again, you would make sure you emphasized how crucial a love for the Word of God is to a life. You would spend more time kneeling beside your family in prayer. Make sure they realized the importance of a personal relationship with God.

There is no going back! You’ve done the best you could do. Now you have entered another chapter of life. The foundation is still firm because the Word of God is sure. Prayers are made for your children. Precious hours are spent with them and their children. Oh the glorious times of family gathered. Listening to the laughter as precious memories are shared. Watching the grandsons as they play.

Life has a different look now. You are thinking about life from a different perspective. There was a time when it was about building and conquering. Now life is about influencing and teaching. It is about what you will leave someone else someday.

The old Mercury is gone. Other cars have been used to travel the hundreds of thousands of miles since that night thirty-four years ago. Three children have been raised. Three grandsons have been enjoyed. Five churches have been pastored through those years. Many songs have been sung and many messages have been preached. Tears have been shed, but laughter has been there all along the way. A couple, started life together and continuing on. Trusting in each other. Depending upon God. Standing on the Word of God. Blessed beyond measure. No one knows what tomorrow holds, but we do know who holds our hand.

Remember, it’s just a thought!

Dedicated to my wonderful wife Melinda! I love you . . .

Our Helmet of Salvation

The Helmet of Salvation

The Roman soldiers used several types of helmets worn. Most of the helmets consisted of bronze. They designed them to cover the back of the neck and having metal cheek guards to protect the sides of the face. The helmet had a reinforced ridge along the forehead to protect against downward slashes.

Paul tells us, in Ephesians 6:17, to, “take the helmet of salvation . . .” I find it interesting that Paul links salvation with the helmet. The helmet’s design and purpose were to protect the head of the soldier. Salvation is to protect the head or mind of the Child of God.

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds ;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Cor. 10:3-5 KJV)

The battle or warfare of the Christian soldier takes place in the mind. Satan, the enemy of our soul, will wage war upon us by attacking our mind. The control center of the body is the head or the brain, the mind. The same is true spiritually in that our spiritual control center is our mind. Our thoughts and our thought process determine who we are and how we respond in all situations. If our enemy can attack our minds and gain control of them, he is then able to disable us. In fact, he will eventually destroy us.

Paul tells us that our spiritual weapons are powerful, through God, to the pulling down of strong holds. Strong holds would be fortresses or castles that the enemy has control of. Paul speaks of them, spiritually, as imaginations or those things that exalt themselves against our knowledge of God. He goes on to call our thoughts controlled by Christ.

The word imagination, used here, is speaking of reasoning of evil intent. It is the contemplation of actions because of the verdict of the conscience. In other words it is reasoning that is hostile to our Christian faith or teachings. It is thinking about things that are contrary to the Word of God. Our conscience says it is all right to do, what we are thinking about, so we go ahead and do it.

The helmet of our salvation is our protection against those evil thoughts. Let’s take a few moments and try to break this down a bit more. Salvation speaks to us of deliverance, safety, security, refuge and sanctuary. When we think of our being saved, we think of a defender or deliverer. In fact, we could actually use the word savior in place of the word deliverer. We also know that in Luke 2:11 the angel of the Lord told the shepherds in the field that Christ the Lord was their Savior. The angel told Joseph that the baby, Mary would have, would be named Jesus, because He would save His people from their sins. Of course many more scriptures confirm that our Lord Jesus Christ is our glorious Savior.

Paul says to the Church of Ephesis, “Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.” (Eph. 5:23 KJV) As the head and as my Savior or salvation he is protecting me. When I allow Christ to be my head or the authority of my life I bring myself into His protection. With Christ in authority I now have the advantage when in battle. Those strong holds of my mind will crumble before Him. The thoughts, which are ungodly and destructive, will be brought into captivity to Christ. I can live victoriously!

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 NIV)

The wildebeest is the most fierce of all hoofed animals. Even a lion will not attack a healthy adult wildebeest. However, every animal has its nemesis or their adversary. The nemesis of the wildebeest is a fly. The information that they gave me says this fly will crawl down into the ear canal of the wildebeest and lay its eggs. When the eggs hatch, the maggots crawl even farther into the ear canal. They begin to eat the brain of the animal from the inside. It isn’t long until this causes the animal to be in intense pain.

What will happen next is sad, but try and picture it. The wildebeest will be eating and suddenly the pain in its head becomes so intense it is like the animal goes crazy. Trying to get rid of the pain they will suddenly jump straight up in the air and then spin around in circles. They are trying to get rid of the pain in their heads. After a few moments they will resume their eating. Until this all, happens repeatedly. It becomes more frequent as the fly’s progress farther and farther into the brain.

Lions are predators and will lie around the herd of wildebeest. They remain just on the fringe waiting and watching. Because of the fierceness of the wildebeest, the lion will not attack a healthy alert one. So they wait for one that has become ill and weakened by the attack of the flies on their brain. When they have spotted an animal that repeatedly goes into frenzy, they creep as close as possible, watching and waiting. Eventually the wildebeest will come out of his frenzied spinning totally confused, bewildered and even dizzy. This is the moment his enemy has been waiting for and with a roar the lion launches himself through the air in attack. The wildebeest is bewildered and befuddled. He is having a hard time standing. His world is spinning around. There is a loud confusing noise, a roar, but where is it coming from? He doesn’t know and then it is too late.

Let’s consider a couple of interesting things we can learn from this. We all know we have an enemy or adversary who is Peter likened to a roaring lion, (1 Peter 5:9). Beelzebub is a Bible name for Satan. In fact, Matthew 12:25 calls Beelzebub Prince of devils. In Luke 11:15 called Satan the chief of devils. The word, according to the dictionary, is a Latin word taken from a Hebrew word and means “Lord of the Flies.” In the Greek Beelzebub means the “dung-god.” It was actually the name of an Old Testament idol that Israel often worshiped, (2 Kings 1:2-3,6,16) In John 8:44 Jesus called Satan the father of all liars.

Now think of this. Beelzebub, the Lord of the Flies, comes to us and whispers in our ears. He tells us lies, whispering those little “flies” into our ears. God doesn’t love us or we would be experiencing so much pain. God doesn’t care what happens to us, He could change things if he wanted to. Go ahead and sin a little, it won’t hurt. God deserves it if you sin, He hasn’t treated you right. You can’t make it! You are a failure! You are a loser! Look at all the mistakes you have made! You aren’t worthy of God’s love! Do I need to go on? Do I need to say more? Lies that come from “The Lord of the Flies” and attack our minds. Little flies that land and creep farther and farther into our minds. They lay their eggs in our minds.

These eggs lay there and eventually hatch. They begin to eat away at our minds. The lies grow and destroy. It destroys us of our spirituality, our faith, our hope and finally our life. It is just as Jesus said, the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. That is just what Beelzebub is trying to do. The pain becomes intense, to the point it is unbearable. We find ourselves bewildered. We become confused. We become disillusioned with everything. We are dizzy, dazed and befuddled! Then in the midst of this, the devil roars “like” a lion. We don’t know where the roar is coming from and we give up to his attack.

The helmet of salvation is to protect our minds against such attacks. It is the knowledge and understanding of God that will keep and protect us during the attack on our minds or our thinking. The attacks will be focused on exalting the enemy against the knowledge of Christ. This is what Paul spoke about in 2 Corinthians 10:5.

The prophet Hosea wrote that Israel was destroyed because of a lack of knowledge. They had rejected the Word of God and God rejected them. (Hosea 4:5) They had forgotten the Law of God and God forgot them. The wise man of Proverbs warns us to:

“Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.” (Prov. 23:12 KJV)

A few verses later he stresses that we pay the price for truth and refuse to sell it. Along with truth we should get wisdom, instruction and understanding.

“Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” (Prov. 23:23 KJV)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom. With wisdom we need to get understanding. Understanding is going to help us to overcome the attacks of the enemy.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” (Prov. 9:10 KJV)

“And this is what he says to all humanity: 'The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.' " (Job 28:28 NLT)

When I use the helmet of salvation, I am trusting in the wisdom, knowledge and understanding that I have received from God. I am protecting myself against the lies of the enemy that would have me to doubt God. My mind is protected, because of my awesome respect for God. My knowledge and understanding of Him guard my mind against the lies of the enemy. I recognize what the enemy says as lies and reject them, before they can harm me. Before the enemy can build a stronghold in my mind, I can tear it down and destroy it.

It is vital that I constantly reaffirm what I have already learned of God. I need to strengthen it by constantly adding to that knowledge. I also need to seek the face of God and ask Him to help me to increase in knowledge, wisdom and understanding.

Everyone Watched My Leg Grow!

This is the testimony of Natalie Dixon, who experienced a miracle healing in her life on January 14, 2012 at New Life in Osceola, Arkansas. Let her tell you about it...

Well, where do I start? From the time I was a baby I had a growth problem with my leg... When I was very young I started wearing a brace to hopefully stretch my ligaments to help me walk a little better. Although the stretching of the ligament was not going to grow my bones, it would help my leg some where I wouldn’t walk on my tiptoes. Which the length needed to grow too. But doctors cannot grow bones so they worked on the tendon.
Well my mom had to exercise my foot all the time and I had to wear a brace to school. The brace went up to my knees ...so it was very noticeable! So as a child I got all the jokes I could stand. Which we are human and we carry a lot of the bad comments into our adult life and after awhile you believe them.
After some time, I don’t remember my age.. My mother just got tired of the braces and exercising my foot so she just quit! So I’m a young child that is growing up walking on my tip toe and not to mention the length wasn’t the same.. So I really got the looks ridicule from all the people in high school.
I adjusted as life went on ... But my infirmity never stopped me from trying to live life to the fullest! I would run jump play anything I could! To make a long story short.. I have done a lot of things with this infirmity... I went to college, got married, became a mom...
When I got in church and God filled me with the Holy Ghost in on April 20 th, 1997!! Wow! How amazing! God loved me despite all the harsh words I had heard from people in my life!!! How that I was crippled and made fun of but inspite of all that the God of Heaven still loved me!!!
I really enjoyed church! I loved soul-winning and was on fire for God! The infirmity that I had in my leg never stopped me from witnessing! I was going to win people to God walking straight or not!! Now through life I always got prayer for my leg and my foot! Don’t get me wrong… I did! I did not make an issue about it.. just would always go get prayer. If God healed me… “Wonderful” and if God didn’t heal me,” Wonderful!” My infirmity never stopped my walk with the Lord!
On January 14, 2012 , like any other day , I got up getting ready to start my day. I knew that Bro. Doran’s in Osceola was having revival! I just felt an overwhelming desire to go, which I love to go to church anyways but this was like overwhelming! So , I went to church that night! I knew God must have something special and amazing in this service so I was on my way! I never dreamed that I would be the miracle that was so profound that night!
After the preaching, there was an alter call , so I went! I always go try to give things to God and to cleanse myself from the message being taught that night! People prayed for a while in the alter and God was moving greatly! Bro. Brandon Houseworth asked , “Is there a person here that has a problem with their right leg?” Well, I just raised my hands and said, “I do!” He asked, “What’s wrong with your leg? “ I said, well, my right leg is shorter than the left leg.” I think Bro. Houseworth said, Well, that’s a good problem.. lol.. or something to that nature. So, prayer began and then Bro. Houseworth wanted me to sit in a chair, so I did! Well, a lady laid her hands on my feet and prayer began again! I was enjoying just the presence of God , when all of the sudden, I here a “ahhhhhh” and people praising God! I was like that has got to be good!!! Are you ready? EVERYONE WATCHED MY LEG GROW IN FRONT OF THEIR EYES!!!! IT GREW 2 INCHES OR MORE! I was like such in shock to the miracle it never really came into my spirit till the next morning. I woke up and both feet hit the floor. NO MORE TIPTOEING! I tried to walk like I used to and when I did my right leg would raise up too high!!!There was no need to do that because God gave me new bones! I now walk flat-footed! My bones in my hip do not hurt!! It is truly amazing! Im still in awe!! I DON’T WALK LIKE I USED TO WALK..HE MADE THE DIFFERENCE!!!!
I was chatting with a friend.. she said , that the man that was at the pool of Bethesda was there for 38 years! Well, I am 39! A baby usually starts walking good after the first year! So, I was healed of an infirmity that I had for 38 years!! My story goes along so much with this story! When God healed the man , the Lord healed him “wholly” which is his body , spirit and soul!! Every since I have received this miracle, I feel like I have been healed entirely, “wholly” . All the pain from the past and years of emotional abuse from having an infirmity feel erased from my mind! Because humans are cruel and after years of hearing comments when I was young , you really feel like you are not good enough!! Or that you will never be good enough! But praise be to God, I’m healed body soul and spirit now!! God is amazing! I love Him!

Note: A little information about Natalie Dixon: I'm a blessed beyond measure! I have a wonderful husband! I have 3 wonderful children that I love with all my heart. I have the greastest church family. Im involved with the work of God as much as possible. I love Him , I love Him, I love Him!!!!!

I work with the deaf at our church. Christian Life Center in Brookland, Arkansas. Besides I think sign language is beautiful ..just another wonderful way to glorify God! Thanks for your goodness Lord!

Im just a good apostolic lady who loves serving God and being in His Kingdom! Anything to help His kingdom florish that is my desire! Im pretty easy going , love people , love soul-winning! Never meet a stranger.

The Shield of Faith

The Shield of Faith

As with each part of the armor, the shield had a very vital role in the armor of the soldier. I am including some information that I found concerning the construction and use of the shield the Roman soldier used in warfare.

“ The scutum was a curved oval shield made from two sheets of wood glued together and covered with canvas and leather, usually with a spindle-shaped boss along the vertical length of the shield. It can be considered a body shield, and was extremely heavy (~10kg or 22 lbs.). It is 1.28m (4.2ft) long and 63.5cm (25in) wide, and is constructed of laminated birch. Nine or ten strips of birch from 6-10cm (2.36-3.93in) wide were glued in-between two layers of thinner strips laid out perpendicular to the middle layer. The shield is thickest in the center (1.2cm) (1/2in), and is slightly less than a centimeter (.39") thick at the edges. The shield was covered with felt which was stitched through the wood. The grip was horizontal, and was meant to be held from the top. This type of shield probably also commonly featured an iron edging on the top and bottom rims. The shields of the legionary had to be of regulation size, and a soldier could be severely reprimanded if his shield was too large.”

When the soldiers marched into battle, they stood shoulder to shoulder with their shields in front of them, forming a wall. The men behind them stood in tight formation with their shields above their heads, forming a roof of protection. This formation was so tight and closed that the arrows of the enemy could not penetrate the protection. They said that the formation was so strong and dense that many times the troops would march into a river and stand there while the army, with wagons, passed over them using their shields as a bridge.

Through the years, while reading this passage, I have often pictured the soldier with a small round shield that he would maneuver around to stop the arrows coming at him. I would wonder what happened if he were to miss one or if two came simultaneously. This picture has changed, in my mind, to agree with the passage of scripture as it says, “ . . . taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench ALL the fiery darts of the wicked.” The enemy cannot fire anything at us that our faith will not protect us from.

Faith is such a powerful word. Faith is more than just hoping or thinking positives. It is much more. Faith is a firm persuasion or conviction based on what we have heard. It is to place trust or have confidence in what we are believing. In other words, faith is more than just saying I believe something is true, it is living as if you have been convinced it is true.

Let me give you the best word picture I can think of to help you understand faith. Jesus approached His disciples while they were in a boat on the sea. The disciples were afraid when they saw Jesus because they thought He was a ghost. Jesus called to them not to be afraid and identified Himself. Peter challenged the identity by saying “Lord if it is really you, bid me to come to you.” Jesus simply answered, “Come.”

Now faith has to kick in! Peter has heard that it was Jesus. Peter has received the invitation to come to Jesus. However, action must now accompany that which he has heard. Now Peter is about to try to do something that is physically impossible to do. He is about to swing his leg, over the side of the boat, and walk toward Jesus on the water. In order for this to take place, Peter must have the firm persuasion or confidence that Jesus is out there in the dark. He must have the trust or confidence that if Jesus said to come he can walk on water. Peter is about to live what he believes to be true.

As we all remember the story, Peter did, in fact, walk on the water to Jesus. He did accomplish that which was physically impossible for him to do. It wasn’t until he became convinced that he could not walk on the water that he began to sink. In other words, then he became firmly persuaded that what he was doing could not be done.

In our relationship with God faith is the base on which everything else rests. The writer of Hebrews said, “We must first believe that He (God) is and that He (God) is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” We must have that firm persuasion that God is really there. We can’t see Him, but we are persuaded and we trust that God is going to respond to our pursuit of Him.

Where does this faith come from? It is the result of what we have seen and heard. We have seen the evidence of God’s existence or His being. In fact Paul said it this way,

“From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.”
(Rom 1:20 NLT)

Just looking around us and seeing the amazing creation of God starts us on the road of faith. Added to that basic realization and knowledge is what we hear. Again Paul gives us insight into faith:

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom 10:17
KJV)

To the basic knowledge there is a God, which we have because we have witnessed and enjoyed his handy work, we add what we have learned of God. Preaching and teaching is so important to our faith in that it is what spark our faith. Faith comes from what we hear and what we read in the Word of God. This is the reason we must have a personal Bible Study in our lives and we must be faithful to Church to hear the Word of God.

The question arises, how does this tie into spiritual warfare and the shield of faith? It goes back to that firm persuasion or conviction which is based on what we have heard. It involves placing trust or confidence in what we believe to be true. Let’s look at a good example of this happening in the Bible. The Spirit has led Jesus into the wilderness where He fasted forty days and nights. He is very hungry! Wild beasts surround him and Satan tempts him. (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13)

You will notice that prior to going into the wilderness, John the Baptist baptized Jesus. After He was baptized, Jesus heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22) So in the wilderness, when tempted, He stands on what He has heard. He has heard a voice from heaven and He has heard the Word of God, which was read aloud at the synagogue. He obviously read the scripture as well.

When the fiery darts of temptation were thrown at Jesus, we see Him using His shield of faith. He is firmly persuaded to live by the Word of God! He is placing His trust and confidence in the fact He is only to worship and serve God. There is no doubt in his mind that He doesn’t need to try or test God. He knows that God will stand by Him because of what the Word of God tells Him.

The young early Church has just received a warning they were not to preach in the name of Jesus. What were they to do? Peter told the court they were going to preach what they had seen and heard! They returned to the rest of the Church and explained the threats they had received. Together, all of the Church, began to pray and notice their prayer.

“And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:24-31 KJV)

So the shield of faith is again used for protection. A fiery dart of fear has been sent their way. As they began to pray they went back to that firm persuasion which was the result of what they had seen and heard. They returned to the bases of their faith which was, “God you created heaven and earth.” They continued with the greatness of God, His promises and deeds He had done. Then they presented their problem to the Lord. They were standing on their trust and confidence in God and His Word.

The enemy of our soul will attack us with fiery darts of fear and doubt. It is at this point that we must have confidence or trust in our salvation and our God of salvation. In your mind you can picture the Christian soldier behind the protection of a wall of faith. He stands firmly planted behind the persuasion or belief that he can place his trust in the Word of God.

Along with the basis of our faith we must build our faith or make it stronger. How is this accomplished? We build our faith by praying in the Spirit. We make ourselves, or our faith, stronger by praying in the Holy Ghost.

“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,” (Jude 20 KJV).

“A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally in the Lord,” (1 Cor 14:4 NLT).

We will spend some more time talking about prayer a little further on in this chapter. However, let me say here that prayer is so vital to strengthening our faith. As we pray in the Spirit, or in the Holy Ghost, we build up our faith. Pressing on in our prayer until we know we have touched God is like engaging in physical exercise. You press until you feel the “burn” and know you have had a good workout. You know that you are building your strength.

When in battle and under the attack of the enemy we have the blessed assurance that we can trust in the Word of God. No matter what is thrown our way, we can rely upon God’s Word to give us a shield against the enemy’s attack. Relying on that firm persuasion, our faith, will never let us down but will quench all of the fiery darts of the wicked.

Shoes of the Gospel of Peace

Our first inclination when we sense danger is to run and hide. We want to flee the threat of danger! Our pulse begins to race! Our adrenalin begins to pump! Fear grips our heart! The first thought we have is to make a retreat and save ourselves.

Fear is a controlling, amazing thing. The cause of fear doesn’t even have to be real, it can be something we have imagined or someone has told us. Experiences can cause fear in our lives that are either real or imagined. Fear will control you. Let me give you an example.

I was driving home from Church one Sunday with my mother. We exited the Interstate and came to a stop sign at an intersection. Across from where we sat, about a hundred feet away and to our right, we could see the shore of a lake. My mother looked at the lake and said, “That makes my stomach hurt!”

Not sure what she was referring to, I asked, “What are you talking about?” To this she replied, “That water! Looking at it makes my stomach hurt!”

Now I was very curious how the lake’s water could make her stomach hurt, so I asked her. To this she replied, “Well, when I was two years old I almost drowned. So when I look at water, it makes my stomach hurt.”

I was surprised and said, “Mom, you can’t even remember when you were two years old. How can that experience make you afraid of water to the point it makes your stomach hurt to look at it? You are just going on what someone told you.”

Mom replied, “I don’t care! It makes my stomach hurt to look at water.” I then began to recall how afraid she had been all of my life whenever water was involved. She had never, in my lifetime, gone swimming. In fact, I don’t ever remember her going wading or standing in the waves at the ocean. When we were kids, we would beg to go swimming at the river. When mom would finally give in and would take us we could only get in the water up to our knees. I was eighteen years old when I learned to swim. A fear that someone had told her about, had controlled her life for seventy-five years.

The same thing happens to us spiritually. We often deal with fears that things that we have experienced in our past have caused. Sometimes the enemy of our soul will whisper lies in our ears that will breed fears into our lives. Our imaginations begin to expand on the lies, making them larger and more real in our minds to the point fear controls us.

Paul tells us, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim 1:7 KJV)


John also writes and tells us, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18 KJV)

Fear is the root of so much of our spiritual troubles. It is the cause of much of the conflict we have with our brothers and sisters in the Lord. We can find ourselves going through life responding to the fears of what others think about us. We are afraid of what someone else will do or say if we dress a certain way or fail to respond in a certain way. Too often we find ourselves bound by things we are sure others are saying about us. Fear and condemnation can blind us until we become helpless.

When fear sets in it brings torment! Torment will result in the victim becoming self centered. Not because they are egotistical! This happens because they become consumed by the fear that has overtaken their lives. Everything becomes centered on this fear and how it affects them.

The “Good News” is that God hasn’t given us the spirit of fear. He has given us the “Spirit of Power.” Power is the opposite of fear. Fear leaves you feeling weak. Fear causes you to feel vulnerable and helpless. However, power is strength, ability and authority. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you,” (Acts 1:8a KJV).

The “Good News” is that God hasn’t given us the spirit of fear. He has given us the “Spirit of Love.” Love is the opposite of fear. Fear causes you to feel alone. It will make you feel that no one cares and no one is listening to your cries for help. Fear will make you feel that no one will be there to take care of you. Love, on the other hand, is the assurance that someone is there and they do care. It is the knowledge that there is someone you can call to and they will respond and wrap their arms around you in a loving embrace. Peter admonishes us, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1Peter 5:7 KJV)

The “Good News” is that God hasn’t given us the spirit of fear. He has given us the “Spirit of a Sound Mind.” Several translations use the word discipline here. A mind that is undisciplined will cause fear. They allow the imagination to be in control. However, when we control or discipline our mind, fear is no longer able to rule over us. Paul admonishes us, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”; (2 Cor. 10:5 KJV).

When I recognize that I have protection from fear I am free to walk in peace. I will enjoy peace that is beyond understanding in my life. I will know peace with my fellow man. It is then that I will be free to spread the “Gospel of Peace” in a world that is searching for peace. As Jesus said in His last words to His disciples, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me” (Acts 1:8 KJV).

Paul encourages us in to, “Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:6-7 NLT)

(An excerpt from the second chapter of the book I am presently writing.)

Is Your Nose Pressed Against The Window?

It was so funny, one night at Church, you know that some of the funniest things happen at Church! I had to start laughing and shame on me. We were having an awesome move of God in service. I was standing up front playing the guitar and looked over to the side. My brother, Tim, was in the fellowship hall doing children’s ministry. He had come to the door and was peaking in to see what was happening. All I could see was one eye and his nose. I couldn’t help but laugh because it looked so funny.

I remembered an incident back many years ago. You can only remember many years ago when you get old. I was preaching a revival in a little town in Oregon. The revival was only for the weekend, so I had invited one of the young men from the church to accompany me so I wouldn’t have to travel alone. On Monday morning the pastor left early for work and we left, when he did, to head home. We stopped at a little restaurant in town to have breakfast. We were seated right at the window, which looked out over the street. The restaurant was right on a corner which also served as a school bus stop and there were several children standing waiting for the school bus. As we were setting at the table eating, I looked over toward the street and much to my surprise there were three little boys standing at the window with their noses pressed against the glass watching us eat.

You can imagine how funny that looked! We started laughing and they start laughing as well. I couldn’t help but think of those three little boys when I saw the big boy looking through the door. It was as if his nose was pressed against the glass and he was wishing he could have some too. If you know Tim, you know that is exactly what he was wishing!

The Psalmist tells us, “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.” (Ps. 34:8)

How many times have we stood back and watched others get blessed while we wonder how good it tastes?! How often have we looked in, with our noses pressed against the window, wishing we could have some of that?! All along each of us has the opportunity to “taste and see” for ourselves. We don’t have to be a spectator; we can be a participator in everything God offers to the believer.

I have observed as different ones plunge their dipper into the “well of living water” and take a taste. I have watched as the “well of living water” began to bubble up within them and the blessings began to purge away the pressure of the week. I have watched as some were healed, just as a result of worship. I have watched others as the weariness of life was washed from their faces. Some weep with relief. Others have responded with jubilation. They “tasted” and found for themselves the Lord is good. There is a special blessing when we realize we can place our trust in the Lord!

Each and every life is created with a hunger in it that can only be filled by God. Jesus stopped one day at a well and talked with a woman who had come to draw water to meet her natural, physical needs. Jesus offered her water that would meet the longing that was in her soul. In fact, Jesus told her, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14 KJV)

How many times have I wanted to buy a type of food that I was hungry for only to realize it was too expensive? At the price of beef today you need to mortgage your home to buy a steak! There have been times in my life, when we have lived on very simple, basic staples because of a lack of finances. I remember one time when I was young and times were hard, as Dad and Mom were pastoring a home mission Church, we lived on pancakes for several weeks. In the morning we had pancakes with homemade syrup. In the evening we had pancakes with jelly. That was all we could afford and were thankful for it.

However we have this invitation, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” (Isa 55:1 KJV)

I don’t have to stand outside the window and press my nose against the glass. I have a standing invitation to come inside and eat and drink until I am full. What a blessing to be invited to come in and sit down to eat at the king’s table. What a great opportunity is available, to have the assurance that satisfaction is available to each and every one of us.

Let me encourage you to step back from the window and come on in! Pull up a seat and place your trust in God, you will find out He is GOOD!

It’s just a thought! God Bless

Why the Rainbow?

Do you have a family altar? I think every family should have one. Wait a second, let me restate that again, this time correctly. I think every family must have a family altar! Not only is it Biblical but it is also a very good idea.

Altars get God’s attention. He stops and listens to what is said at an altar. He remembers those things that are laid on an altar before Him. It is not something He just passes over. He doesn’t just casually say, “Oh my, they are at the altar again, hummm.” No, when God sees a person at an altar His attention and memory become focused on that person and what they are saying.

Suddenly, right before his eyes, stands a man! This isn’t just any man. His appearance is totally different and within moments of being surprised by his appearance, Cornelius recognizes that he is seeing an angel of God. What the angel has to say probably surprises’ him as much as his sudden appearance.

“Cornelius, your prayers and your giving have gotten the attention of God!” He then instructed Cornelius to send for Simon Peter to tell him what more he needed to do.

The thing that stands out about Cornelius is he was a man with a family altar. The Bible describes him this way. He was devout, deeply religious, earnest and sincere. He feared God with everyone in his house. He taught his family to hold God in high respect. He gave alms. He showed his commitment to God by giving. He prayed to God always, leading his family in prayer as well as having his own private devotions.

Jesus stated in Matthew 18:19-20, “That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them . . . For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” That is what a family altar is all about! Two praying together in agreement! Two or three people who are gathering in the name of Jesus, worshiping the Almighty God.

More than one time in the Book of Revelations we are told that the prayers of the saints come up before God as an incense in heaven. Prayers get the attention of God! Families that pray together get the attention of God! Momma, your prayers are being heard and God is remembering them. Daddy, God hasn’t forgotten those tears you have shed for your son or daughter, you have His attention!

The writer of Hebrews reminds us that we have an altar. In the Old Testament the altar was a large box-shaped object that was in the Tabernacle. Many altars were built on sites as were needed. Abraham built an altar, on more than one occasion, to offer sacrifices to God. Isaac and Jacob followed in the patriarchs footsteps and built altars themselves. There are many other times that we find individuals building altars before God. However the writer reminds us, also, that our altar is different. It isn’t one that the animal sacrifice is to be made upon. This isn’t necessarily an altar built of stone so that it won’t burn when the sacrifice is offered. This isn’t an altar made of brass that is to be carried from place to place. This isn’t an altar made of gold and incense is to be burnt upon it. It is a place, whether a bench, or a chair, or a bowed head, it is a place where we can meet God and God will meet us.

If there is one thing that is missing in America it is the family altar! The place and time where the family gathers together to pray and touch God. If there is anything missing in the families of the Apostolic Church, it is the family altar! That place and time where the family unites together and touches God. Our hectic lifestyles have kept us from this a powerful spiritual communication with our God. We have allowed ourselves to become so busy with life that we have lost sight of the importance of praying together as a family and meeting with God.

The first place in the Bible that an altar is mentioned is in the Book of Genesis 18:18-20. Sacrifices had been made since Adam and Eve and they are mentioned as a sacrifice was made, however no mention of an altar was made until chapter eight. God has seen the sin of mankind and repented that He made man. He decides He will destroy mankind and start all over again. He finds Noah, a man who walked with God, and has him to build an ark or a large boat. When the ark is finished, Noah takes his family into the ark. Rain comes from heaven and the waters of the deep arise and the earth is completely cover by water. Every thing that breathed was destroyed, except those that were on the ark.

After many months the waters receded and Noah and his family walk off the ark with all of the animals that were on the ark. The very first thing that Noah did was to build an altar. This is the first mention of an altar in the Bible and it is built by a man whose righteousness had led to the saving of his family. With his family gathered together they come before God at a family altar and offer thanks to God for His salvation. What a way to start a new life! They built a family altar.

What I found to be so impacting about this story is what happened next. They offer their sacrifice on their family altar and the Bible says that God smelled a sweet smell and said, “I am going to change the way I deal with man in the future.” God makes a covenant or binding agreement with mankind. He promises never to destroy the earth by water again. As a sign of His covenant He placed a bow in the sky, a rainbow. Whenever you see a rainbow, it reminds us that God has made a covenant with us that He will never destroy the earth by water again. All because a family was thankful and built an altar.

Let me encourage you to build a family altar. Many of the friends and families have built and dedicated altar benches for their family altar. However an altar can be anywhere and anything. It isn’t really about the object. It is really about the time of agreeing together and praying together.

So the next time you see a rainbow in the sky, remember it is a sign of God’s covenant with man. The next time you see a rainbow in the sky, remember it is there because a family built an altar.

Hey, it’s just a thought!

Be Converted and Become as a Little Child

Do you like to watch children playing? I love to just sit and watch and listen to kids as they play. I love to hear the laughter as they run and play their games. I really enjoy hearing the laughter of children, as it echos through the day bouncing off the buildings and filling the air.

This morning, as I was driving my bus route, I watched a young girl walk to the edge of her porch. It was a beautiful morning with just a touch of fall in the air. The little girl might have been about eight years old. She was wearing a backpack and was obviously waiting for the school bus to come by and pick her up. Instead of stepping down each step, she hopped down each one! It was just a small hop, not a jump, and it was done in a casual, carefree manner. Before she had reached the bottom step we had passed her house and she was out of sight.

I couldn’t help to note the difference in the manner in which she went down those stairs and the way I would have gone down them. Her descent was light, carefree and full of anticipation for the day. Mine would have been slower, burdened and wishing I was staying home.

Oh to be a kid again! They don’t walk down steps. They hop! They don’t walk down the street. They skip! Kids don’t walk to the bus. They run! They aren’t worried about what could happen. They aren’t concerned with the weather. They aren’t fretting about the economy. They couldn’t care less if it rains today or tomorrow. Their main focus is on right now and enjoying this moment of life.

On the other hand I dread going down the steps. The question runs through my mind, “Is this going to make my knee hurt?” I really don’t want to walk down the road, the question on my mind is, “How is this going to benefit me?” I drag to the bus because I would rather be going somewhere that is more fun and less demanding. I worry about tomorrow. I am fretting about the economy, especially mine. My focus tends to be on what might happen or on the complexities of the probabilities of the maybes.

A portion of scripture came to my mind. I remembered Jesus saying, “. . . become as little children.” Now my interest is tweaked! I knew God was trying to speak to me and now He had my attention. I have heard, and probably made, many references to becoming as a little child, full of innocence and faith. Was this what I was hearing from God?

I have found that it is always good for me to look up the passage and read it afresh. Being old and feeble minded I have a tendency to forget the whole passage and only remember a portion. Often I don’t even get that right. I have also learned that by finding and reading the passage again, it gives God the opportunity to bring something brand new to my attention from the passage. This is just what happened when I located and read Matthew 18:3, “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus is giving His disciples a lesson in humility. He was asked who would be greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Instead of listing all of the great deeds and accomplishments that must be accomplished, Jesus turns and calls a little child. Rather than cataloging the need of a great family tree, money in the bank and extreme intelligence, Jesus takes a child onto His lap. He tells the crowd they need to be converted and become as a little child.

Why? Why would he use a little child as an example of humility? Why not use someone or something else? Why use a child?

Who understands the simplicity of trust? A little child does. They trust their parents for everything. A child doesn’t worry about food, clothes, housing or transportation because they trust. They don’t feel like they have to handle it themselves because they trust. They don’t worry or fret about tomorrow because they trust mom and dad to take care of tomorrow. All of the worry and fretting is something they learn later, but as a little child they just trust.

The Apostle Peter encourages us to cast ALL of our cares upon Jesus because He cares for us. (1Peter 5:7) Trusting Him with our concerns is a sign of humility. Giving them to Him to take care of is a sign of humbleness. Recognizing that His grace is more than enough is truly trusting. (2 Corinthians 12:9) Becoming dependent upon Him rather than self-sufficient speaks of submission. Taking the way of the child is a requirement.

I need a conversion in my life. There needs to be a transformation to take place in my mind and in my heart. My mind needs to be renewed and I need to stop thinking as an adult thinks. The world with all of its pressures and agendas has influenced my thinking and I need to be converted once again. I need to become as a little child.

While I was writing this thought, Melinda, my beautiful and wonderful wife, came into my study. In her hand she held a mixing bowl and a spatula. Without saying a word she walked up and handed both of them to me. Immediately I knew what I was suppose to do. I became as the little boy I once was, who loved to clean the bowl after mom had mixed a cake. Everything came to a halt as I laughed and went right to work, enjoying the taste of the cake batter and the opportunity to be a kid again.

How often does Jesus try to interrupt our busy lives to give us the opportunity to just enjoy being a kid again? It’s conversion time!

It’s just a thought!

It is a BIG Deal!

Have you ever heard the expression, “familiarity breeds contempt?” It was often used as a warning when I was growing up and I have found it to be true. The more familiar I become with things the less I hold them in awe. The more casual I feel and act around these things. I have seen this in many areas of life. In fact, this was forcibly brought to my attention this past weekend, here, let me share.

My alarm goes off at 4:20AM every weekday morning. After hitting the snooze button a couple of times, while trying to talk myself into getting out of bed, I get up and take a shower, get dressed and head for the kitchen. While Melinda is getting ready, I fix her breakfast. Now don’t get excited because I just put some cream cheese on a bagel and get a bit of yogurt out. I then fix my breakfast, eat, and quickly rinse off my dishes and place them in the dishwasher. We then head off to work.

Friday morning the routine was moving right along just fine. I wasn’t having to think and it was a good thing because my mind isn’t awake at that time of the morning. However, the routine came to an abrupt halt when I started to rinse off the dishes to put them in the dishwasher. Much to my chagrin there was water standing in both sides of the sink and it wasn’t there when I had gone to bed. Thus began two days of dealing with a plumbing situation that was the result of a full septic tank.

Saturday morning a tank truck pulled up to pump the septic tank. Out of the truck came two men who, without hesitation, began a process that I could tell they were very familiar with. The older man, who obviously was the boss, walked over to where the tank was located and sat down on a five-gallon bucket. The other man began to pull hoses off the truck and hooked them together. The boss then took one end and stuck it into the hole in the tank and the pumping began. After a little bit of time had passed the boss said something to the helper who then went over to where I had a shovel laying. He picked up the shovel, my shovel, and walked back to the tank and stuck the handle down into the septic tank moving it around. He then pulled it out and turned it over and stuck the blade down into the septic tank and moved it around.

I just want you to know that about the time the handle of that shovel disappeared into the septic tank there came over me a “spirit of generosity” because I decided right at that moment those two fellas had just gotten themselves a new shovel. I was never touching that shovel again! I didn’t and they did!

The difference between them and me was simply they were so accustom to working in that environment that they didn’t think twice about what they were doing I was standing thirty-feet away and I was worried I might get some on me. Familiarity breeds contempt! To them it was not big deal.

I have watched the waste disposal men reach into some strangers garbage can and pull out bags of garbage with their bare hands and think nothing of it. Then I have seen them climb in the truck and drive to the next place while eating or drinking. I have a hard time reaching into my own can and lifting out the bags. The difference between them and me is they do it every day and do it all day long. They have become familiar with it. Familiarity breeds contempt! To them it is no big deal.

Several days back I was reading a novel for some recreational reading. Melinda and I had been reading several books by a Christian author and had really enjoyed her light, humorous style of writing. I have not read a secular novel in over a year because I get tired of trying to find books that are not filled with curse words, sex and violence. As I was reading this particular book I came upon a “mild” curse word (I put mild in quotes because that is how it would be classified by most people) and I flinched. I read a bit further and came across another “mild” curse word. This time I looked to see if this was the author we had been reading and it was. I then looked at the copyright date and found it and realized that this book had been written before she had started writing as a Christian and although most would not consider it offensive, because I had not read those words in such a long time they were to me. Familiarity breeds contempt! It is a big deal!

Recently someone was telling me they had stopped watching television and movies. Their reason was they were trying to get closer to God and felt this was a hindrance in seeking that close relationship they desired. They said that after several months they were visiting another family and the television was turned on. The show that was being watched was a home and garden show. This person said that when the advertisements came on they were so offensive! They went on to explain they had never noticed this before but because they had been away from television for several weeks they noticed and were offended. Familiarity breeds contempt! It is a big deal!

I remember in times past doing something that I knew was wrong. Oh how it bothered me! I knew that God was going to come and I was going to be lost. I would get up in the middle of the night and repent because I was afraid God would come while I was asleep. Nevertheless I wouldn’t change and pretty soon I didn’t feel so bad about what I was doing. Now it wasn’t a big deal!

The American Indians had an explanation for the conscience. They said it was a circle inside of each man that had a triangle inside of it. When we do something wrong the triangle turns and its points hurt as the rub the wall of the circle. However, if we ignore the pain, long enough, the sharp points of the triangle will wear away and we will no longer hurt. What they were saying is, “Familiarity breeds contempt!” Or it is a big deal!

The wise man wrote, “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” (Ecc. 8:11) What he is saying is because we do something wrong and God doesn’t “ZAP” us we continue and think it is all right. Why? Familiarity breeds contempt! We think it is no big deal!

I remember as a young teen hearing a Brother Charles Garner preach about Freddy the Frog. It seems some boys caught Freddy and wanted to cook him. They got them a pot of water and put it on to boil. When it came to a boil, they dropped ole Freddy right in the pot. Immediately ole Freddy jumped right back out of the boiling water. They put him back in and ole Freddy jumped out again. After several unsuccessful attempts to cook Freddy one of the boys got an idea. They poured the boiling water out of the pot and filled it with some nice cool tap water. They put Freddy in the cool water and he began to swim around. They put the pot back on the stove and Freddy continued to swim around. They watched as the pot of water began to warm up, anxiously watching to see if ole Freddy would try to jump out. Ole Freddy the Frog was doing the back stroke! He was swimming like a frogman! For a while that is until the water became nice and warm then he became sleepy and pretty soon ole Freddy the Frog was a cooked frog.

Brother Garner explained to us that is the way it is with sin. We watch for the “BIG” ones. We won’t rob a bank or murder someone with a gun. But the enemy of our soul knows that if he can slip in with something small pretty soon we won’t notice until it is too late. We become familiar and familiarity breeds contempt! It’s no big deal. We can handle it!

When was the last time we sincerely prayed asking God to “shine the spotlight” of His Word on our lives and show us what needs to be changed or removed? When was the last time we decided that no matter what everyone else was doing we were going to make some changes just because we wanted to draw closer to God?
I know that what I am writing isn’t usually found in a blog and will not be popular. I am sorry, I am not trying to be offensive but I truly believe that we have allowed ourselves to become familiar with the things in our lives that should not be there. It is time that we fall on our faces and seek heaven and turn from our sins. Familiarity does breed contempt! It is a big deal!

God Bless . . . it’s just a thought!

Let Me Hear Him Preach One More Time!

David Leo Doran was said to be one of the greatest preachers to ever walk in shoe leather. I have said it myself and have heard many others say the same thing. He was an old time fiery preacher. He would quote more scripture in one sermon than most preachers use in a year’s worth of sermons. He could tell a story like you have never heard it told anywhere else. Most important of all, when he came to the pulpit, you knew that he had been in touch with God.

David did not have very much formal education. He had to leave school in the tenth grade to work and help support his family. Yet he always had a hunger to learn and continued to study and educate himself. He would talk to well-educated men that he admired and ask them what books they recommended. He would then buy the book and read it from cover to cover. He was much disciplined about this. I remember someone recommended Clyde Narrimore’s book, “The Encyclopedia of Psychological Problems.” They said it was a good book to have to help when you had to counsel with people. David bought the book and read it from cover to cover, word for word.

He was a preacher who studied. He would eat lunch on Sunday afternoon and then go to his study and prepare for the message that night. When he was finished, he started on his Bible lesson for Tuesday night. Tuesday nights, when he got off work, he would eat, bathe and change clothes, and then he would head for the church to finish up for Bible Study that night. He never walked to the pulpit without spending hours in study and prayer.

He took his responsibility so seriously that I recall a time or two when he would actually tell us that he didn’t have a message, although he had spent time in study and prayer, he didn’t have a message. He refused just to go through the motions or just be redundant in what he had to say. He was honest and up front and said he had nothing.

I saw him, at a Fellowship Meeting, it is a service with several churches, preach. He was preaching on Jehu telling different men to come see his zeal for the Lord. David got to preaching about being zealous for the Lord. He got to preaching about being like Jehu, who they said drove his chariot ferociously. David grabbed the hand of a young man sitting in the front of the church and he began to run around the building. The whole time he was pulling this young man behind him and preaching with all his might about having zeal for God.

Mind you, at this time David was about 47 or 48 years of age at this time. The young man had just returned from Marine boot camp. David ran him around that building until his tongue hung out, while David never missed a word or slowed down. The man could preach!

A Bible Study, which David taught, might last an hour or more. A sermon that he preached would be thirty minutes or so. That was his average. A Pastor once called him to preach for them for several nights and the night of the main event the Pastor requested David preach on a certain subject and asked that he preach for three hours. David did just that, he preached for three hours and although I was not able to be there, those that I spoke too later told me it seemed just like minutes.

When David was 59 years old, he found out that he had Parkinson’s disease. If you are not familiar with Parkinson’s disease let me briefly explain, its effect on a body. Parkinson’s disease is the result of a chemical deficiency between the brain and the nerve center that sends signals to the muscles. As a result of this, many of the things we do reflexively have to be thought out, step by step, in order for the person to be able to do them. For example swallowing is something done as a reflex, we don’t think about it at all. Yet with Parkinson’s you have to think through the whole swallowing process. Many people with Parkinson’s have problems swallowing food or even saliva.

Parkinson’s affects walking, talking, and standing. I won’t go into detail, but because of the lack of the signal from the brain to the nerve center it was soon evident that David’s time as a pastor had come to an end. It was also obvious that he would no longer be able to preach the way that he once had preached.

David was a champion; he squared his shoulders and faced the problems before him. I must say that the most difficult thing for him to face as a result of this disease, which so disabled him, was not being able to preach the way he loved to preach. At the time of his being diagnosed with Parkinson’s I was David’s associate pastor. When he could no longer carry on the work as pastor, in the church where he had pastored for twenty-five years, He and the church asked me to step in and carry on his work. Being his son and his student, I knew how he wanted to stay involved so I encouraged him to seek other ways to minister. One of those ways was discipling young Christians.

When I became Pastor, the people in the church began to call David “The Elder” as a way of honoring him for his life time of service to that church. When we started working together with David teaching young Christians, I called it, “Sitting at the feet of the Elder.”

David dealt with Parkinson’s and all the effects it had on his life and his body for ten years. In 1999 the doctors told him and the family that Parkinson’s had taken its toll and David didn’t have much longer to live.

I spent many nights, along with my brothers and oldest son, sitting in David’s living room, sometimes holding his hand. Most of those nights were spent sitting together, talking quietly and listening to him talk to us. I don’t remember a lot of the details of those conversations, I think it was more of his spirit strengthening ours than it was of words and dialog. I just remember being there with him. As the days went by, David became weaker. He became so weak that they brought a hospital bed in and set it up in his living room.

I remember on a Saturday afternoon I was sitting with him. Faye, his wife and my mother, had laid down to rest. David was a sleep and I was sitting on the couch in the living room thinking. It was very quiet and still. I watched David as he slept and seemed to labor a bit in breathing. In the still time my mind went back over the years and I began to remember the different times that I had heard my Dad preach. I began to relive those moments and those sermons which we called “Messages,” my how he could preach.

I walked through the years. I remembered the times and the places. There were one-room school houses. There were school gymnasiums. There were Camp Meeting Tabernacles and Brush Arbors. There were nice Church buildings and other buildings that had been converted from a former life into a church building. There were big crowds, medium size crowds and there were small crowds. David had preached in them all and to them all.

I remembered sermon titles like, “Are You Asking for Trouble?” “You Know Too Much!” “Check Points on the Road to Heaven.” “Five Things I Would Like on My Tombstone.” “A Three and Two Count!”

It was a very overwhelming experience. In my heart I knew that David didn’t have many days left to live. Along with that knowledge and the memories I felt just a little overwhelmed. Then I remember a thought that came to me. Maybe it was more of a wish or even a prayer than a thought, actually. Whatever it was, I said to myself, “I wish I could hear Dad preach one more ‘Message’. I wish I could just hear him do it one more time.”

My eyes had actually been closed and when I opened them Dad was looking at me. I asked him if he had gotten some rest and he answered back appropriately. Then we both sat there somewhat lost in our thoughts.

A few moments later, Faye came into the room to check on David. They spoke to each other in low tones and then Faye left the room. I didn’t think any more about what had been going through my mind because within just a few moments’ people started coming into the house to visit. There was Slim and Rose Daniel. Jean Daniel and the Petranoff family showed up. Marc and Valerie Anderson came walking in and the house was soon filled with family and friends from the church. One of the last people to come in that evening was Joe Silva. Joe and his wife Sheryl were new Christians that David and Faye had been teaching and Joe looked to David as a son does to a father.

After Joe came in, David began to talk. Suddenly he was once again the Pastor. He looked at my wife, Melinda, and asked her if she would get out the old accordion. He looked at me and asked me to get out my guitar. Then he looked at us all and said that he had asked Faye to call everyone in so that we could have a time of worship and fellowship. It was about this time that I realized the people he had Faye call in were those people that he had pastored for so many years. These were “his people or his saints.” He had loved them, led them to Christ, discipled them and pastored them for twenty-five years. They were those who were dearest to his heart and him to theirs.

He would tell us the song that he wanted us to sing and we all gathered in and sang our hearts out. He would call the name of an individual and ask them to sing a “special” song that they had sang in church, and they would sing their hearts out. What a time we had. You could feel the Spirit of God as it began to minister to each of us.

After everyone had sung and after we had pretty much exhausted the old song book. David spoke to Justin, his oldest grandson and my oldest son, and told Justin to go into his office and bring him some things. When Justin returned he had with him some sermon notes and a chart which he set up for his Grandpa.

David turned to Joe and said, “With all that has happened I haven’t been able to teach you this lesson that I really want you to hear. I have called you all in because I have something that you really need to hear.”

My prayer was answered. My desire came to past. There on his hospital bed “The Elder” preached one last “Message” to his people. I got to hear him preach one last time.

He preached from Hebrews 10:34-38 which reads:

Heb 10:34-38
34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” KJV

The words of the “Old Preacher’s” last message that stuck in my mind was this. Don’t cast away your confidence in God. Trust Him that He always does the right thing. I don’t know why things in my life haven’t worked out the way that I planned them, but I have confidence in God that I will receive my reward and that He knows what is best.

Yes, just as I had remembered it, the Preacher had a Message and that Message was for me. I am thankful I got to hear him preach one more time.

Just a thought! God Bless!



40th Anniversary of Triumphanlt Life Center Rio Dell, California