Monday, January 18, 2010

1_18_10

The Deacons Corner

Friends, we all have friends. A true friend is one that will always tell you the truth and be upfront with you. He will do it in a loving kind way. How many true friends do you have? I may have three true friends. They are ones that can give me advice about my worst faults and I know they mean to help. I accept their comments no matter how painful they may be. You see Job had friends
Job 2:11 (KJV)
11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.
In today’s society so many of us have friends only because of what we can offer them. Ask anyone who has come into a great sum of money. They have friends coming out of the woodwork.
In the recent past I have experienced just these type of friends being invited to dinner so my “friend” could glean information on an issue that I would mediate, only to degrade me in front of several people with malice. He couldn’t be upfront enough to ask me my opinion at the dinner. Another “friend” that I spent a day with discussed the same issue and then to team up with the first man with an arsenal of comments, allegations and lies against me. Now these people seem to have a certain position of power within our church.
I was distraught about this until God impressed upon me to read the epistle of Jude.
Jude 1: 4, 8, 10 & 16 says:
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
You see, God was telling me that He knows they are there.
The verses He impressed upon me to read next gave me peace.
Jude 1:17,20-22 says:
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:

You see the Love of Christ truly will make all things better. Fret not God IS still in control.



With The Love of Christ
Deacon Dan
John 3:30

Thursday, January 7, 2010

The Beacon Article 1/13/2010

Theft is a particular problem here in Clarksdale. I have had five bicycles, an electric chain saw, a tree trimmer, and other small garden tools stolen.
Nationally on a scale of one (lowest) to ten (highest) the crime rate nationwide is on average a three.
Here in our city the crime rate is two times higher than the national average among these crimes {crimes against property (theft, vandalism, and breaking and entering)}. I don’t mean to complain or be negative about our city I am just stating the facts.
The words for a thief appear approximately forty-eight times in the bible. Proverbs 29:24 (KJV) says:
24 Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.
This article is not meant to offend but God had placed it on my heart a while back and I just can’t put it off any longer. You see sometimes truth hurts and while I was studying some verses in Malachi he impressed upon me to write this article.
You see Malachi 3:8-10 says:
8 “Will a man rob God?
Yet you have robbed Me!
But you say,
‘In what way have we robbed You?’
In tithes and offerings.
9 You are cursed with a curse,
For you have robbed Me………….,

I pray you don’t have a problem with theft of any type. God tells us to
try Him in tithes and offerings and He will:
10……………….. pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.
May you receive blessing immensely.





With the Love of Christ
Deacon Dan
John 3:30



Sunday, January 3, 2010

The Beacon Article 01/06/2010


The cliche' “You can’t judge a book by its cover” has a new meaning to me.
One Saturday morning on a trip to Greenwood I wondered how many people would be at the competition and how skilled my opponents would be.
I did well in the first event. I would have a trophy to show for my effort. Yet this prize is not the one I really wanted.
My opponent for the next event came forth, he looked very overweight slightly shorter than myself. He seemed to move slowly and I should easily have more reach on him.
As the referee dropped his hand I never saw the fist that hit me in my left eye. He got a point and I had a great pain in my eye. I thought he had given me what is called a blowout fracture. There was not enough time for me to contemplate my pain, diagnosis or anything else except to fight and fight hard and fast.
You see I had greatly underestimated my foe. I based his skill on his outward appearance. The lesson I received from my second event in this Karate tournament would be far more valuable than any trophy. After the tournament was over, my sparring opponent and I met again in the locker room. When he took off his top to his “Gi” (karate uniform) I realized what I had mistaken for layers of flab were actually very developed muscles. I found out he worked out six days a week at about two hours a day.
You see in life we pre-judge people many times on an outward appearance. Sometimes their hair may not appeal to us. They may stutter, have a birth defect, a shrill voice or a different color skin. What we sometimes don’t realize they have a wonderful personality, are very intelligent, or have a very godly spirit.
God the Father created them and He does not make mistakes. I pray this year be the year we see people through the eyes of Jesus with a love that goes beyond negative first impressions’.

12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12 (NKJV)



Happy New Year
With The Love of Christ
Deacon Dan
John 3:30