He was a missionary to Newfoundland, and because he was from my home town, I followed his faithful service closely. He wasn’t a big man, but he was a man who had the ability to overcome his fears. This missionary would enter a logging camp or mining camp and invite the men out to his gospel service.

I saw Irishmen built like him, from the same genepool, walk into a bar and not fear anyone or at least give that appearance.  This soldier of the cross was using his genetic makeup for the sake of the gospel.

This Christian worker reminds me of the apostle Paul who overcame fear to do the work God called him to.

2 Corinthians 7:5

For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.

If fear had kept Paul and his companions from Corinth, what would have been the consequences?

Give it some thought.

Gary

“Make Your Bed “by Admiral William H. McRaven is a speech delivered at the commencement address to the graduates of the University of Texas at Austin on May 17, 2014. Later this speech became a bestselling book. The theme was that if you can accomplish one thing right at the start of the day, it will greatly improve your chances of doing greater things right during the rest of the day.

There is a poem I enjoy that follows the same theme.

God in the Morning
Ralph Spaulding Cushman

I met God in the morning
When my day was at its best,
And His presence came like sunrise,
Like a glory in my breast.

All day long the Presence lingered,
All day long He stayed with me,
And we sailed in perfect calmness
O’er a very troubled sea.

Other ships were blown and battered,
Other ships were sore distressed,
But the winds that seemed to drive them
Brought to us a peace and rest.

Then I thought of other mornings,
With a keen remorse of mind,
When I too had loosed the moorings,
With the Presence left behind.

So I think I know the secret,
Learned from many a troubled way:
You must seek Him in the morning
If you want Him through the day!

Matthew 6:33

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Give it some thought.

Gary

My brother was a scaler for Great Northern Paper Company for over thirty years. There were a few times when he would ask me to spend a day with him on the job in his company truck. Looking back, I regret not accompanying him more often.

One tremendous statement he made that will always stick with me: “Don’t let any of these employees try and convince you of how hard we work, because the truth is, none of us work hard.” My brother was either humble or just telling it the way it was.

Jesus offered us an easy job.

Matthew 11:28-29

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Let Him carry some of that and the load will get easier. Don’t be deceived by someone telling you how hard he or she works.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Thought I would give you a big word today. Eisegesis, it is an interpretation, especially of Scripture, that expresses the interpreter’s own ideas, bias, or the like, rather than the meaning of the text.

When studying a passage, bring in the context. What is the chapter about? What is the book about and what does it mean in light of the entire Scripture?

Don’t go making things up because God has a hard time with that crime and will show little mercy.

2 Peter 1:20-21 

No prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Warning: the Bible is like no other book. It needs study and not one’s personal interpretation.

Give it some thought.

Gary

It didn’t matter where I was those nights or what activity I was involved with. Star Trek was on and nothing could stop me from missing it. Home by seven came before responsibility or pursuit.

I wanted to be like Captain Kirk commanding a starship and exploring the universe while fighting Romulans. Seeing Lieutenant Uhura was a special treat each episode.

It was entertainment and not then, now or ever would be a real human experience.

Some people look at God, heaven, angels and eternity as no more than man’s imagination. It is too bad for them.

God is real and has given us his Word full of promises. I don’t want to miss out on anything He has to offer.

Like coke, He’s the real thing.

1 Corinthians 2:9

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.”

Don’t miss this.

Think about it.

Gary

In many churches and at many funerals, this powerful old Christian hymn has been sung. We as Christians look beyond the present age with its limitations to a world where disappointments can’t exist.

Some glad morning when this life is o’er, 
I’ll fly away; 
To a home on God’s celestial shore, 
I’ll fly away (I’ll fly away). 

When the shadows of this life have gone, 
I’ll fly away; 
Like a bird from prison bars has flown, 
I’ll fly away (I’ll fly away) 

Just a few more weary days and then, 
I’ll fly away; 
To a land where joy shall never end, 
I’ll fly away (I’ll fly away)

I’m looking forward to today; we’re going to have a mixture of sunshine and clouds. As long as I awaken to a new day of Maine air and the beauty of our state, life is OK.

However, I’m also looking for another day promised by God to everyone who has embraced the Son.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Enjoy this world the Creator has given us, but never take your focus off the coming world.

Think about it.

Gary

Fear is a very real and present enemy. What does a job change bring? What does military life bring? What does disease bring? What does old age bring?

As time like a river flows, the list is endless when it comes to the uncertainties of so many things.

One thing the believer has going for him or her is the fact God is timeless. He knows the future as well as the present and is always on time on our behalf.

The Apostle Paul faced some tremendous fears. When one needed an intervention from God, He was there.

Acts 23:11

But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”

The Lord has a plan for every one of us and man cannot change it.

Think about it.

Gary