A Thought......

"Do not wait; the time will never be "just right." Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along." -Napoleon Hill

Gideons visit today

For more than 15 years the NLR Church has partnered with the Gideons each year to buy Bibles. Today was their visit.

Gideons bolster efforts in 3rd largest mission field—the U.S.A.

It is hard to believe, but sadly true: the United States of America has become the third largest mission field in our world today. Estimates of unsaved people in the U.S.A. range from 54% to 70%. In response to this startling revelation, Gideons plan to distribute 12 million copies of God’s Word in the U.S.A. alone during their 2008-09 fiscal year.

Perhaps the most sobering way to visualize the spiritual decline in America today is to take a walk down any U.S.A. neighborhood street. It is very likely that two out of three of the people you encounter are lost. They do not know Jesus as their Savior.

What impact can The Gideons make through the distribution of 12 million Scriptures in the U.S.A.? Perhaps there is a more appropriate question…What can God accomplish through 12 million Gideon-placed Scriptures? The Lord tells us that His Word “shall not return unto me void” (Isaiah 55:11).

According to Barna research, less than one out of ten people, who makes a decision to follow Jesus, does so in the context of a church setting. Most will enter into a relationship with Jesus by seeing His life and Kingdom lived out in the lives of others. That’s what Gideons do; they live a Christ-like life, sharing His Word and witnessing to those they meet. And God constantly multiplies these efforts as is apparent through the regular flow of testimonies received at The Gideons International headquarters. (Click on the “Changed Lives” section of this Website to see and hear recent testimonies.) Rest of story

Life Dreams?

I have been reading one Pastors life goals, the list included things such as:

Go to a Superbowl
Go to a Packers game at Lambeau Field
Ride a Mule into the Grand Canyon
Take a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon
Raft a Class V River
Go Cave Tubing in South America
Go Hang Gliding
Do a personal retreat at a monastery
Spend a night in a tree house hotel
Spend a night on a house boat
Go cliff jumping
Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride
Celebrate 50th Wedding Anniversary
Live to meet my Great Grandchildren
Celebrate an Anniversary in Italy
Celebrate an Anniversary in the Caribbean

I found his list quite challenging. What does it take to dream like that, to be willing to take the risk to dream and chase these kinds of experiences? Consider;

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” – T.S. Eliot

“If no one ever took risks, Michaelangelo would have painted the Sistine floor.” – Neil Simon

“It’s nice to at least once a year have a near-death experience.” – Mark Allen

“That which does not destroy me makes me stronger.” – Neitzche

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” – Robert Kennedy

“To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose oneself.” – Soren Kierkegaard

What are your life dreams and goals, what is holding you back?

"When I was young I was sure of everything; in a few years, having been mistaken a thousand times, I was not half so sure of most things as I was before; at present, I am hardly sure of anything but what God has revealed to me." -- attributed to John Wesley

Jason

Many of you may remember Jason Whittington. He attended NLR for a while before moving to New York. A couple of weeks ago he was in town and stopped by to visit for a while. I had the opportunity to have him in our home and do some much needed catching up. He installs high-end audio video in commercial and some residential buildings by day, and is breaking into the voice over business by afternoon and night. Keep a watch out for him; we will be able to say we knew him when...

http://jasonkayne.voices.com/

Hoppers on line

Some of you may remember the Hopper family, I just got the link to their web page.



http://www.shoutlife.com/crownministry

Big Bream!

(Marks)

I think I have a new favorite kind of fishing. These fought a lot harder than the bream at the river ;-)

Just thinkin

I think I said in my e-mail to the folks at work, I am in desperate need of some downtime with a book, and thus began our trip to West Palm Beach Florida.

On the way we stopped at the family reunion in Tennessee. I always enjoy getting to spend time with that part of my family. As with any family it amazes me that we can turn out so different. I like that about us, different perspectives, views, beliefs, I find it refreshing, I believe it adds depth to the whole group.

As we left I went to say bye to Grand-pa, I was not prepared for what happened next, the conversation was so open I could not help myself from asking some questions that I wanted to hear his thoughts on, like, "How do you want to be remembered" his answer, "as an honest man" One thing he said that stuck me odd, "I now count my life in hours, days or months, I have no future..." That thought has stuck with me, No future.....
I did not know how to respond to that. Is it true that we reach a place of no future?
I think it is natural to react to those words, I began to think, what about Heaven? Seeing Grandma? But I think I understood what he was saying, he has reached the place that he can see the end of life.

As the father of this tribe he can only go so far, as a father you built and launched this ship and there comes a time when it sails without you, yet never without your influence. It is true of grandpa and it is true of us all. This family moves and lives on, our future gets brighter with each new birth. Each generation bears a responsibility to make sure that the one behind is grounded, better equipped, better prepared, and better educated with better tools.

I don’t know if grandpa can really see the impact of his life, for that matter I don’t know if any of can really see the impact of our own lives. I believe we all have a fear that somehow we missed it. That seems to be the greatest secret of life there is, we chase what we already have. We are looking for something we already possess; yet never relax enough to see it much less believe it about our life. For all the things we mess up and miss there are some things we get right.

Today I read the following;
“Most of us lead far more meaningful lives that we know. Often finding meaning is not about doing things differently; it is about seeing unfamiliar things in new ways. When we find new eyes, the unsuspected blessing in work we have done for many years may take us completely by surprise. We can see life in many ways; with the eye, with the mind, with the intuition. But perhaps it is only by those who speak the language of meaning, who have remembered how to see with the heart, that life is ever deeply known or served”

I took a cue from a recent teacher and chose to ask myself three questions at the end of the day.
What surprised me today?
What moved or touched me today?
What inspired me today?

By choosing to be fully awake may you see today what you already have.
GT

Sunday June 1 2008 The NLR Church began a partnership with the Spanish ministry of Hector Zetino and the New Hope Church. Pastor Hector is a native of Guatemala and now ministers as a missionary in Arkansas. The New Hope Church began meeting Sunday night. I will pass on more as this relationship develops. They have plans for English, Spanish and computer classes. Welcome to North Little Rock!

A smaller church?

While everyone wants a church of size, the question is what is the ideal size. I enjoyed one mans thoughts....


I've always been a big fan of small churches. That's partly because I don't fully understand how megachurches "do" real church, and partly because I prefer the rawness, freedom and community that comes from a smaller worship gathering.

Is it awkward at times? You bet. A little clumsy and unpolished? Sometimes. Yet those elements, to me, are exactly why small churches are such a treasure. I love that there doesn't have to be soft music playing behind every prayer, altar call or offering. I love that you can get to know — really know — the people sitting next to you, and that building real relationships isn't an option when it's impossible to hide among the crowds. (What crowds?!)

And maybe more than anything, I love that small churches allow everyone to be a key, active part of the body. No sideline-sitters (or at least not for long), all players. Because in small churches, everyone brings something of value.

[Marcus Yoars]