MARCH 2016 EDITION

I turned seventy last December. When I was younger, I thought people that were seventy were geezers. Now I “are” one! I do not feel like a geezer, however, except for the occasional pain in the joints when rising from a chair etc. Someone once posed the question to me that was thought provoking, “How old would you be if you did not know how old you are?” I think the question goes to state of mind. I certainly do not feel seventy most of the time. I would say I was about forty to forty-five with hair bleached white by the sun!

As I think about being seventy, I think about how much time I have left before I get to stand face-to-face with Jesus. It could be today or, possibly, I could live another twenty-five years or so. Advancements in modern science being what they are, it could be even longer. A physician friend of mine told me that the body without the effects of cancer and heart disease could function to one hundred and twenty! I am not sure I would like to hang around that long, but I will stay as long as He lets me and not a second more.

Coach Mark Richt, the former head football coach at the University of Georgia, had a motto for his teams…”Finish The Drill” It originated in his pre-season Winter workouts that were notoriously brutal. He used it all season long as a battle cry. His challenge to his players was to give it all you can give for the entire sixty minutes of the game and finish strong. I take that thought as a personal challenge. I want to finish strong. I want to finish well. I have a little saying that I keep on my desk. Here it is:

“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming, “WOW – What a ride!”

Sure, after forty years in ministry, I am a bit weary but as Paul says in his letter to the people of the church at Phillipi in chapter four, verse thirteen, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I want to be able to say like Paul says in his second letter to Timothy, chapter four, verse seven, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Tomorrow is not promised to any of us, but at the end of each day we can have the thought, “Today, with God’s help, I finished the drill, I finished well, I finished strong.” If we do that, at the end of our days, we can hope to hear our Lord say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into your rest.”

MINISTRY NEWS

§  Continued Friday Morning Bible Study studying Proverbs.

§  Met with members of Young Life staff in the  

    Southeast Region.

§  Met with individual men for counseling and encouragement.

§  Attended Young Life Reunion Weekend for the 28^th year.

§  Taking online course from Hillsdale College on C.S. Lewis.

No matter how much longer we have, may we all say:

We finished the drill. We finished well. We finished strong. “We have fought the good fight, we have finished the race, and we have kept the faith.”

FEBRUARY EDITION

FEBRUARY 2016 EDITION

“Hope and change”, those were buzzwords in the mid-2000’s. They motivated many who were struggling with their life situations. They propelled a candidate to our nation’s highest office. Yet, here we are over a decade later and we are still looking to someone or something to give us hope, to help our situations change.

We look to our county’s leaders in hopes that, if we elect just the right people, our situations will improve. Yet, each time we think we have it right, our leaders, seduced by prestige, power and money, disappoint us. They are much too busy trying to be re-elected to actually consider what is best for our country. Our Congress is so much more divided than almost at any time in our history. Where is the hope for change in all of this? Where is a leader who can unite us?  Is he a Republican or a Democrat?

When I choose a leader, as our state is doing today in the primary, I place my hope and trust in the one, I feel, can do the job he is chosen to do. The one in whom I have chosen to place my hope and trust in is eminently qualified. He has all the tools. He has “the right stuff”. He is an Independent. He has great wisdom, has demonstrated leadership ability, he has sacrificed more than anyone else for our good, he is compassionate, kind and humble. He understands both justice and mercy. He is a healer who can bring all parties together. He has years of experience. He has great name recognition. He is patient and he is kind, he does not envy, nor does he boast. He is not proud and is not rude. He is not self-seeking, nor is he easily angered. He keeps no record of wrongs. He does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. He always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres.

He is worthy of our trust. Got any idea who I am talking about?

My hope is that you too will choose Him as your leader. He is waiting for you to place your trust in Him. Today is the day!

              As Nike says, “Just Do It!”

MINISTRY NEWS

Our Friday Men’s Group has been enjoying or discussion on the book of James.

I have had several meeting this month with Young Life staff members for encouragement and counsel. I have been so impressed with the talented people that God has called to minister to high school and middle school kids in the Southeast Region.

I continue to meet with men individually for counsel and encouragement.

I cannot begin to thank you enough for your prayer, words of counsel and encouragement and financial support over the almost 25 years that Net Work Ministries has been ministering to men and their families. Blessings to you all!