| Thought For The Week April 2003 |
 |
| 30 March to 5 April 2003 Weakness Is Strength |
| I watched the news and saw those who protested against the war we were waging in Iraq. I then remembered earlier in the day when someone said that our nation was doomed to fail because we are a divided country. By allowing the protesters to march and chant anti-war messages, we had become weak. However, I saw something else. The protesters were exercising their right to free speach. A freedom that we, unlike many other nations, recognize as a God given right. And it is in this weakness that we find our strength as a nation. The same can be said about ourselves on an individual level. We all have a weakness that threatens to divide us between God and Satan. But when we give that weakness to God, He can use it to make us stronger. J.L. Sager Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weakness and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NLT) |
 |
| 6 to 12 April 2003 Remembering The Chaplins |
| A friend of mine who is a major and chaplin in the U.S. Army Reserve is in Kuwait. (Or by now in Iraq.) He reminds me of another chaplin, a captain, I once knew in Vietnam. They both are very much alike. They have a peace about themselves that many of us wish we could have. The chaplin I knew in Vietnam seemed to have no fear of death. Even under fire, he seemed to be right where he was needed. Beside one soldier who was wounded giving him comfort or beside another taking away the fear and giving him strength to make it thru the fight. He was called home over there. The major that is in this new war, I am sure, will be as strong as that captain was. They both even had the same favorite verse. J.L. Sager "The Father loves me because I lay down my life that I may have it back again. No one can take my life from me. I lay down my life voluntarily. For I have the right to lay it down when I want to and also the power to take it again. For my Father has given me this command." John 10:17-18 (NLT) |
 |
| 13 to 19 April 2003 When The End Was Near |
| I remember just before I left home for my Army basic training in 1967, my Grandfather told me to be strong in both heart and mind. He said that in a short time everything would be different. That the next time we talked, I will have grown in many different ways. Now my Grandfather did not normally speak this way and for some unknown reason I knew he was right. Things would never be the same again. A short time later, after my basic training, I was home on emergency leave. Grandfather had told me in his own way that the end was near. That he would be going home to his reward. I knew that this is what he ment even though I rejected the knowledge of it. Peter also rejected the truth and knowledge of the death of Jesus. J.L. Sager Then Jesus began to tell them that he, the Son of Man, would suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the leaders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, and three days later he would rise again. As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to correct him as he should not say things like that. Mark 8:31-32 (NLT) |
 |
| 20 to 26 April 2003 The Four Seasons |
| Each year we are reminded of what our lives are and will be like. The summer in which the flowers show their beautiful petals of their blooms. The leafy green trees that rustle in a light wind. The animals that rumage under the trees for food and play in the open fields. The fall when the last petals of the flowers disapear. The leaves of the trees turn colors and then fall from the limbs. Bears enter their dens, beavers their lodges, and squirrels their nests where they sleep a near death slumber. Then the winter with it's early darkness and cold windy days. Finally spring comes. The flowers bloom again. The trees turn green with new leaves. The animals awake from their death like sleep and bring forth new life with them. Like the years, we will have our four seasons. The time to live and love. To raise a beautiful family. The time in which we slow down and finally take our last breath. A short time to sleep, to rest. Then finally will come the time of renewal when we are awakened by God. These four seasons were also told to us in God's word in the Bible. J.L. Sager One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and he was baptized by John in the Jordan River. Abnd when Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens split open and the Holy Spirt descend- ing like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven saying, "You are my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with you." Mark 1:9-11 (NLT) Then Jesus shouted, "Father, I entrust my spirt into your hands!" And with those words he breathed his last. Luke 23:46 (NLT) Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a lomg linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preperation for the Sabbath. Luke 23:53-54 (NLT) Then the angle spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He has been raised from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and rell his disciples he has been raised from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember, I have told you." Matthew 28:5-7 (NLT) |
 |