57 Cents

This Sunday I'm going to preach about SACRIFICIAL GIVING. I hope you'll be here to join me in an amazing month (November) that will culminate on the 21st with THANK YOU JESUS DAY.

Aren't you curious to know what this has to do with 57 cents?

You'll have to come Sunday to find out.

See you there.

Andy

Keeping Up with the Blog

I don't think this is quite the same as keeping up with the Jones', but it sure has been a hard thing for me to do.

If anyone cares... I'm going to start writing here regularly.

Thanks for patience.

Andy

The Real Switch...

Just a few days ago on our local news affiliate I heard a reporter inview Jennifer Aniston about her new film, The Switch. As far as I can tell the movie is about a woman who chooses to have a baby without a father. I'm not going in that direction...Bill O'Reilly took care of that rant.

Anyway...in the interview, the reporter askes, "What is the message of this movie?" To which Jennifer replies, "You can do what you want, when you want, and you don't have to play by anyone elses rules."

Huh ?

I don't know if she really, in a philosophical way understands life is like this, but who knows, maybe that world view is now normal.

I'd like to research that quote better, to make sure I didn't mis-hear it. I don't want the downfall of American culture to be pinned on Ross' old girl friend if it isn't true. Either way, is this the way Americans see how life is supposed to be lived? Play by your own rules, to heck with everyone else?

We'll see.

aj

Back Home...Hitting It Hard

Home for two weeks. Nolan is at Children's Camp, and I am now preparing for our mission trip to South Dakota the first of August. Summer is winding down, and I can't say enough how excited I am. If you look back you will probably find some ramblings at the end of Spring concerning how excited I am becase Summer is almost here. Funny.

I'd love to write something deep and spiritual right now, but I need to plow through over 2,000 emails, and look at my sermon text for next week, and make a hospital visit.

Have a great night.

Andy

9:36 PM - Monday - Borders Books - Lee's Summit Missouri

I'm in Kansas City taking a class. Theology II. 8 hours a day for 5 days. Day one is in the books, and I am wore out. I just looked at the remainder of my summer, and it doesn't look good either. Of the 6 remaining weeks before school starts, we have plans for 5. Granted one week is vacation, but I usually come home more tired from vacation than when I left. NO PROB. God is my strength and refuge. Well - a voice in the speaker over my head said BORDERS is closing in 15 minutes, and I need to bring my final purchases to the front of the store to check-out. Too bad for them. I only came in to use the free Wi-Fi. He-he-he...Catch you later. - aj

Church Shopping

Order 227

In 1942 the German and Axis Armies marched deep into Russia, and World War II seemed to be at a tipping point.  If Hitler controlled Stalingrad, he would control the Volga River, and the main military transportation route for most of the Soviet Union.

This is when Joseph Stalin gave this fateful order.   Order 227.  The watch-words of Order 227 were "NOT ONE STEP BACK".  The Russian soldiers were sent into battle with the zagradbat behind them.  The zagradbat were blocking battallions that were ordered to shoot their own men if they retreated in any way, shape, or form.  Not one step back.

The Russian soldiers fought until the last drop of blood was shed from the last man.  With their backs to the Volga river the Russians outflanked the Nazi Army, and ultimately won the Battle of Stalingrad.

At what cost?

It is estimated there were 850,000 German and Axis casualities, and over 1.2 million Russian casualities.  That is 2 million casualities in a single battle to take one city.  Not to mention the civillian losses.  40,000 Russian civilians died in one weekend of bombing by a Nazi Panzer Division, and the notorious German Luftwaffe.

These numbers are hard to get a modern American mind around.  We are disturbed when one death is suffered in a modern war.  Don't get me wrong.  It breaks my heart when I hear stories of young soldiers laying down their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq.  But the horrible truth is...Wars are not measured in bullets and tanks.  They are measured in lives.

Luke 14:25-35

Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.  Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.  For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?   Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'  Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?  And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.  So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.  "Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?  It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

To win a battle...a war there is a price to pay.  The Germans and Russians both paid a high price.  Likewise, to follow Christ there is a price as well.  Will you count the cost?  Will you deny self?  Will you love Him more than family and posessions?  Luke 14:25-35 is Jesus' ORDER 227.  Not One Step Back.

I have decided to follow Jesus.

The cross before me, the world behind me.

My cross I'll carry 'til I see Jesus.

Though none go with me, I still will follow.

No turning back.

No turning back.

aj