Devotional
That picture will preach!
That is the thought when I saw this picture. As many of you know, I have really enjoyed getting out on the Pearl River in my kayak. That’s a story for another day. But last Sunday afternoon, I took my beautiful niece Sissy out for a nature trip on the river to take some pictures. She took this picture of the butterfly. It has always been a mystery to me when I see people standing in front of a picture in an art gallery….just studying a picture. I, on the other hand, can blow through an art gallery in about 3 minutes. There is no telling what I have missed. But this picture really caught my attention.
DOW DROPS 777 POINTS
777. That is how many points the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell today (9/29/08). For many, that number brought fear, anxiety, anger, despair, or even down right panic. Although I am trained to not be emotional about market moves, I must confess that I had a nauseating feeling in my stomach watching the House vote fail and the subsequent 777 point drop. It was a sick feeling to be sure. I know from talking to lots of people that there were thoughts of uncertain futures and an easy peace of mind was rare in light of a 777 point drop in the stock market. People’s 401k plans, pensions, and other investments in the stock market lost somewhere around 7% today. SEVEN!
I wonder how many people felt like me when they see 777 on every headline news tomorrow morning. It wasn’t until I got home and got to my quiet place that something hit me. SEVEN is a number that appears many, many times in the Bible. It symbolizes God’s completion and perfection. Man oh man how my feelings changed in an instant. What a great reminder in the midst of a storm that God is there in complete control and with a perfect plan. Details
Truth Seekers and Truth Teachers
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4
It is with great pleasure that I bring the news to you today about our conference speakers. Dr. Bill Ury and Dr. Steve Blakemore will share the word of truth again this year. This year’s conference will be a dynamic series of sessions that involve presentation and discussions at the tables. This “fellowship of journeymen” was an incredibly powerful format at last year’s conference and we want to continue to build on that.
One thing I have always been able to count on with these two Godly men, is that they will teach, share, challenge and eagerly profess the good news of the gospel. We may not always want to hear the truth, but if we are all honest, we know that we all need to hear it. You will never hear from these two men what your “itching ears want to hear” but rather you will hear the “truth that will set you free”.
We need sound doctrine and these are two of the best teachers in the country who love you enough to not let you turn your ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. The focus of this year’s conference is to hear in layman’s terms the good news of the gospel and what is the meaning of our lives in light of that gospel. The true gospel is the best news we will ever know.
Unfortunately, there are many churches today where the leaders are fearful to speak the truth. They end up preaching a “don’t rock the boat” sermon week after week and we wonder why the true gospel is not sinking in. I am grateful to both of these men, who have had such a profound influence on my life, for being willing again to share the good news. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we should want to hear, know, understand and experience what it means to have Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Come to the conference and…. “be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—HIS GOOD, PLEASING, AND PERFECT WILL.” (Romans 12: 2)
God bless,
Scot
