The statement about “watching someone love something before you can love it yourself.” really hit a nerve with me. It was like God himself asked, “Can others see how you love me?” I feel quite certain that my brothers and sisters in Christ know that I love God. But how about the waiter at the restaurant, the bank teller, the nice lady that takes care of my dry cleaning, the barber, the checker at the food mart? Can they see, without knowing anything about me, that I love God? Others that I come into contact with may be like Donald and not like God until they see how I love Him. So I need to do a better job about showing my love for the One that loved me first.

Pray for me that I will show others how I love Him.

BTW, the book is not about blues or jazz. But I am glad he used the title.

Logan is 13 years old and listens to KSBJ on Sky Angel because he lives on a ranch in a very small town in Nebraska. He called us distraught because he had to take down a calf. His words have wisdom beyond his years.

Thanks to KSBJ for sharing this with all of us.

The expected plea for money never came. As the silence between us widened something inside said, “ask him if he needs any help.” I was sure that he would say “yes” but I held true to the inner voice. “Do you need any help?” I asked. He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget. We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it from those of higher learning and accomplishments. I expected nothing but an outstretched grimy hand.

He spoke the three words that shook me. “Don’t we all?” he said.

I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a bum in the street, until those three words hit me like a twelve gauge shotgun. Don’t we all? I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I needed help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day. Those three little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have accomplished, you need help too. No matter how little you have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or a place to sleep, you can give help. Even if it’s just a compliment, you can give that. You never know when you may see someone that appears to have it all. They are waiting on you to give them what they don’t have – A different perspective on life, a glimpse at something beautiful, and a respite from daily chaos that only you through a torn world can see. Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets. Maybe he was more than that. Maybe he was sent by a power that is great and wise, to minister to a soul too comfortable in themselves. Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a bum, and then said, “Go minister to that man cleaning the car, that man needs help.”

Don’t we all?

We certainly DO all need help, and those who recognize it are one step closer to receiving it than someone with an arrogant, self-contained attitude. What is it that YOU need today; financial help, spiritual or emotional healing; physical healing? Let’s not be timid with God when we need His help. If we don’t ask, we don’t receive!

Watch this incredible story.

Dee, my beautiful bride

Tonja and Sherry, my wonderful daughters

My brothers and sisters

My church family

My work family

And most of all for the Love that God has shown me through the birth, death and resurrection of His only Son and imparting that same Love to me so that I may love others.

May God’s richest blessings be with you and your family this Thanksgiving.

There once was a man who had nothing for his family to eat.

He had an old rifle and three bullets. So, he decided that he would go out hunting and kill some wild game for dinner.

As he went down the road, he saw a rabbit. He shot at the rabbit and missed it. The rabbit ran away.
Then he saw a squirrel and fired a shot at the squirrel and missed it. The squirrel disappeared into a hole in a cottonwood tree.

As he went further, he saw a large wild “Tom” turkey in the tree, but he had only one bullet remaining.

A voice spoke to him and said, “Pray first, aim high and stay focused.”

However, at the same time, he saw a deer which was a better kill.

He brought the gun down and aimed at the deer. But, then he saw a rattlesnake between his legs about to bite him, so he naturally brought
the gun down further to shoot the rattlesnake.

Still, the voice said again to him, “I said ‘Pray, Aim high and Stay focused.” So, the man decided to listen to God’s voice.

He prayed, then aimed the gun high up in the tree and shot the wild turkey.

The bullet bounced off the turkey and killed the deer. The handle fell off the gun and hit the snake in the head and killed it. And, when the gun had gone off, it knocked him into a pond.

When he stood up to look around, he had fish in all his pockets, a dead deer and a turkey to eat for his family.

The snake (Satan) was dead simply because the man listened to God.

Moral of the story:

Pray first before you do anything, Aim and shoot high in your goals, and stay focused on God. Never let others discourage you concerning your past. The past is exactly that, “the past.”

Live every day one day at a time and remember that only God knows our future and that he will not put you through any more than you can bear.

Do not look to man for your blessings, but look to the doors that only He has prepared in advance for you in your favor.

Wait, be still and patient: keep God first and everything else will follow.

1. How do we as Christians fit into politics? Should we run for political office? If so, what should our political views be?

2. How do terms like “fiscally conservative” and “socially liberal” play into our everyday lives? Does social liberal mean caring for others?

3. How can a Christian claim to be Pro-Choice?

4. Can we separate our call from God and our call of man? Should we?