Meeting a Christian Hero!!!

Friday, March 6, 2009, I had the great privilege of meeting Mr. S. Truett Cathy the founder of Chick-Fil-A. Most restaurants in the industry normally report 20% of their sales on Sunday. Mr. Cathy has been wildly successful and done it all steadfastly held to being closed on the Lord's Day.

Mr. Cathy spoke to the 2009 National Sunday School Conference in Atlanta. I met him backstage before he went out to speak. I walked up and stood while he was engaged in a conversation with a Chick-Fil-A employee who accompanied him. He immediately stopped his conversation, turned to face me squarely and put out his hand to me.... "Hello, I am Truett." Suddenly, I couldn't remember my name.
I stammered it out as I reached to shake his hand. I quickly told him "Thank you Mr. Cathy for always keeping the Lord so prominently in your business. It means so much to me and my family." He was so gracious and just said "You certainly are kind. Yes. You are too kind to me. Thank you."

My Cathy, age 87, in addition to his business pursuits, has taught Sunday School for 51 years to 13 year old boys. He said he always like to tell people they can always choose the "3-M's" You can choose who will be your master in life, what will be your mission in life and who will be your mate in life. What a servant hearted leader. He spoke for about 15 minutes and received two standing ovations.

Another one of the things I hope I never forget from his presentation..."Do you know how you know someone needs encouragement?" He paused for a moment and then answered "Only if they are breathing!" Everyone needs encouragement he believes and I saw that he gives encouragement to everyone he meets.

He closed his discussion with a question..."When I consider what the Lord has done for us. I ask - Why not be at our best at ALL TIMES? Why Not?......WHY NOT!!.........WHY NOT???"
and he quietly left the podium.

I met this gracious man again at his book signing table. I purchased his latest book, autographed by Mr. Cathy..... it was a great day to meet such a Godly man!!!

SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Dr.Elmer Towns -Spiritual Gift Test click on this link and take this 10-15minute test.

Do you know your spritual Gift or Gifts God has given to you???

1 Cor 12:1-11 gives a great place to begin to study.

Why did GOD give us these gifts? To serve the Kingdom and the Body.

Find out what God has given you and explore how you use it for HIM.


Ken

One Life

One Life Can Make a Difference

I hope you find this 8:48 video uplifting....one life, sold out for Jesus CAN make a difference.

Ken

"ROGER....WILCO"

You may already know this history, but I God has shown me how my prayer life can be changed by it's application.

During the war in the Pacific with the Japanese in World War II (WWII) …many of the Japanese had been educated in American and could speak fluent English. The Japanese used this knowledge and ability to create chaos for our forces early in the fighting. They would intercept American forces radio transmissions and give false orders to send American artillery and planes to attack American soldiers....creating sabotage with the radio.

Our American soldiers, sailors and airmen soon discovered the Japanese, couldn’t pronounce fluently words with R’s very well….so to combat their sabotage, in radio transmissions “ROGER” became “I Understood your transmission”….and was required during the transmission. If you didn't say "ROGER", it was assumed your were the enemy.

Another form of radio transmission was used. The word “WILCO” is short for “I WILL COMPLY". So you can easily say "ROGER...WILCO"....it means "I understood what you said and I will carry it out or comply with your request."
Answering with the word "OVER" means "I AM FINISHED TALKING, NOW YOU CAN SPEAK."
Answering with with the word "OUT" means the transmission - "COMMUNICATION TERMINATED"...in short, "I am finished talking to you."

Our Heavenly Father sends us transmissions - messages all the time during our prayer, bible study, lessons and sermons. He reminds us His Word and His plan to reach out to dying world. He reminds us of His love and care. He asks us to serve Him and grow His Kingdom. He reminds me of the duty of Godly Dad and husband and how I will be held accountable for those tasks.

I am afraid I understand what He is asking me to do for Him, but perhaps I answer "ROGER...OUT". "I hear you and understand what you want, but my will is too strong and I have grown tired of the conversation."

There is only way I should ever answer the LORD of the universe, creator of Heaven and Earth when He speaks....

"Father, ROGER...WILCO".
....I understand and will comply with your will....Here I am, your servant, mold and make me useful for your kingdom.

"Roger,Over and Out."

Ken

Make a Smilebox greeting

Clergy Appreciation Lunch

(click on the photo to enlarge) On Tuesday October 7th, our class served, exercising hospitality by provided lunch for the entire church staff - just over 40 were present (others were on missions trips, etc.)
We have been thanked multiple times and had so many staff members express how much encouragement they received from the lunch. Everything went smoothly and our children especially enjoyed serving in this way.

Special thanks to Alan and Kris Savell, Sonya Douglas and Amber Putman for making the special effort to help Paige serve.

Thank you for making this a class effort and being flexible with the short notice....Paige and Ken

Demonstrate Love...Pray for your wife.

“Whatever you don’t pray about in your life you leave up to chance. And that’s not good enough when it comes to your marriage”

Stormie Omartian (from The Power of a Praying Husband)

Do you want to demonstrate your love and commitment to your wife/husband?

Love is primarily a VERB –(action).

Jesus said “Greater love hath no man than this…that he lay down his life for his friends”

Yes it takes time and discipline to pray…but your wife/husband is a gift from heaven and worth so much more than your simple sacrifice of time to pray.

Sacrificially love your wife… Pray for her each morning. Demonstrate your love and bring her before Jesus.

Sacrificially love your husband…Pray for him each morning. Demonstrate your love and bring him before Jesus.

James 5:16 “…the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

Prayer is a great mystery...Of course God already knows what we need and knows how to give good gifts to us without us even asking. The fact still remains that we are commanded to pray and ask God for all we need each day. Not "suggested" or "petitioned as a swell idea" to pray, but I remind you...we are commanded to pray.

All of heaven is mobilized by our earnest prayers. God's holy angels are sent into action by our pleads. The scriptures assures us our prayers are like a "sweet aroma" wafting up before God's throne. God has proved over and over He is faithful to answer our prayers. The more I am serious with prayer I have found is more about changing and molding me into Christ image, than influencing Heaven to act. I am convinced God is up to the challenge...pray for your wife/husband for 40 mornings in a row and see how He will act mightily in your marriage. Ken

Example prayer for your wife/husband……

Father, bless _________ , give her/him Your grace, joy and peace today.

Lord, help me to always remember ____________ is precious gift from You…help me to never take her/him for granted or take our marriage lightly. Our marriage has a kingdom purpose in You.

Father You placed ____________and me together and You alone have ordained our marriage….make us one in You…keep us in unity.

Anoint______________ today with Your power, grace and Holy Spirit. Help her/him to seek time with You, Father, today in prayer and in Your Holy word.

Grant ______________ the ability to hear Your Holy Spirit’s still small voice so clearly today and guide her/him in every decision she/he makes for our family/children and her/his job.

Fill her/him the confidence to serve and lead our children and the patience to love them as You do.

Quiet her/his mind today and keep negative thoughts and lies of the accuser away.

Help __________ remember he/she is Your child in whom you delight.

Help _________to see a glimpse of how she/he is so positively impacting our children and leading them to know you more. Grant ___________special mommy/daddy feedback from our children.

Lord send Your angels to surround, protecting __________ and our children…. keeping all evil from her/him and from between us.