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

I Could Almost Kill Steve...

You may be wondering who Steve is, and why I'm so mad at him...well I'm glad you asked.  Steve is our new pet.  He is a stray rooster who wandered up to our house about three weeks ago, and decided to stay.  He follows the boys around the yard like a puppy.  He's a great conversation starter with friends and neighbors...but he starts crowing every morning at 4:30!!! That's right 4:30.  That is...except for today...it was 3:30.  I was in our front yard at 4:00 this morning in my underwear, throwing soccer balls at him yelling - "Shut Up Steve".  How about that for a crazy neighbor.

Ol' Steve has become a fixture around here, and I suppose I couldn't kill him if I really wanted to...but he better get back to 4:30, or we might have chicken and noodles next week for Sunday dinner.

Have a great week.

Andy

Is it me...or was that a line we just crossed?

When I first heard this story on the news, I thought...prayed it was an April Fools joke.  Well.  It's no joke, and I'm trying to figure out if I'm laughing, or crying.  Seriously.  I don't know what to think about this.

One thing is for sure.  I feel guilty, because I know I have done the same thing myself.  I can justify it because it was to a lesser degree, but I feel like I still did it.  It being - giving something away to get people to come to church...or Jesus.

Check out the story for yourself...what do you think?

How To Treat Others

Hiking on Turkey Mountain