Learn about Doug White, a Christian who safely landed a King Air plane he did not know how to fly. A 15-minute video of this amazing story is here - https://bit.ly/31uDVQl - and a presentation by Doug about this amazing story is here: https://bit.ly/2QOHNJV
Monday, March 29, 2021
Doug White safely lands King Air plane
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Karl Stegall
A Member of the Family
Karl Stegall tells of two brothers who entered the first grade. One said he
was born January 1, 1984. The other said he was born April 4, 1984.
"That is impossible [that you are brothers]," said the teacher.
"No," replied the first brother, "one of us is adopted."
"Which one?" asked the teacher.
"I don't know," he replied. "One day I asked my Dad [that question] and he
kissed us both and said, 'I forgot.'" *
The relationship of these two brothers to their father and to one another
illustrates two descriptions of how one may be brought into the family of
God.
Some Scriptures speak of being born into God's Family. Jesus told
Nicodemus: "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he
cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be
born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and
be born?" Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born
of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:3-5).
This is a reference to baptism (immersion) in water when a penitent believer
in Christ receives the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit
(Acts 2:38; 22:16). Upon his or her baptism, the penitent believer is added
to the family of God, the church (Acts 2:41, 47; Galatians 3:26-29).
Other Scriptures speak of the redemptive process as being adopted into the
family of God (Romans 8:15-17; Galatians 4:4-6; Ephesians 1:5). The idea is
that because of our sins, we are orphans and desperately lost. But God
loves us and wants to adopt us into His family. The Son of God, Jesus, paid
the price for our redemption - and our adoption - by dying on the cross for
our sins (Ephesians 1:7). The Apostle Paul wrote to Christians: "For you
did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the
Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself
bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children,
then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer
with Him, that we may also be glorified together" (Romans 8:15-17).
When is one adopted into the family of God? Here is where the two pictures
combine: one is adopted into the family of God when he or she is born again.
God will save and adopt into His family those who place their faith and
trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts
17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized -
"born again" - for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). He adds us
to His family, the church, and we enjoy all the spiritual blessings that are
found in Christ (Ephesians 1:3), including knowing God as our heavenly
Father and sharing relationship with brothers and sisters in Christ.
As Christians we exclaim, "How great is the love the Father has lavished on
us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1
John 3:1).
The Good News is that YOU can be "born again" and "adopted" into the Family
of God, too. Trust and obey Jesus. God wants you to be in His family,
forever.
-- David A. Sargent
* From "Family of God" by Robert C. Shannon as quoted in www.preaching.com.
Karl Stegall tells of two brothers who entered the first grade. One said he
was born January 1, 1984. The other said he was born April 4, 1984.
"That is impossible [that you are brothers]," said the teacher.
"No," replied the first brother, "one of us is adopted."
"Which one?" asked the teacher.
"I don't know," he replied. "One day I asked my Dad [that question] and he
kissed us both and said, 'I forgot.'" *
The relationship of these two brothers to their father and to one another
illustrates two descriptions of how one may be brought into the family of
God.
Some Scriptures speak of being born into God's Family. Jesus told
Nicodemus: "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he
cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be
born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and
be born?" Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born
of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:3-5).
This is a reference to baptism (immersion) in water when a penitent believer
in Christ receives the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit
(Acts 2:38; 22:16). Upon his or her baptism, the penitent believer is added
to the family of God, the church (Acts 2:41, 47; Galatians 3:26-29).
Other Scriptures speak of the redemptive process as being adopted into the
family of God (Romans 8:15-17; Galatians 4:4-6; Ephesians 1:5). The idea is
that because of our sins, we are orphans and desperately lost. But God
loves us and wants to adopt us into His family. The Son of God, Jesus, paid
the price for our redemption - and our adoption - by dying on the cross for
our sins (Ephesians 1:7). The Apostle Paul wrote to Christians: "For you
did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the
Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself
bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children,
then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer
with Him, that we may also be glorified together" (Romans 8:15-17).
When is one adopted into the family of God? Here is where the two pictures
combine: one is adopted into the family of God when he or she is born again.
God will save and adopt into His family those who place their faith and
trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts
17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized -
"born again" - for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). He adds us
to His family, the church, and we enjoy all the spiritual blessings that are
found in Christ (Ephesians 1:3), including knowing God as our heavenly
Father and sharing relationship with brothers and sisters in Christ.
As Christians we exclaim, "How great is the love the Father has lavished on
us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1
John 3:1).
The Good News is that YOU can be "born again" and "adopted" into the Family
of God, too. Trust and obey Jesus. God wants you to be in His family,
forever.
-- David A. Sargent
* From "Family of God" by Robert C. Shannon as quoted in www.preaching.com.
Sunday, March 14, 2021
Lisette LeJeune
Didn't Have To
On December 3, 2020, Lisette LeJeune tested positive for COVID-19. A single
mother of two, she immediately quarantined herself and her boys, Matteo, 3,
and Adonnis, 14. The boys tested positive 3 days after she did.
"We took quarantine really seriously ... we were not coming out at all,"
said LeJeune. She even warned her mail carrier of their predicament. "I
opened the door one day with my mask on and told my mail lady that we had
COVID and I would put a bucket in front of the house so she could just drop
it in without touching our mail box."
The next day, LeJeune received more than just mail from the mail lady. The
USPS carrier delivered the LeJeune's mail along with a personal gift. It
was a care package - a bag filled with canned foods, cookies, gummies and
orange juice. Attached was a note from the mail lady: "Get-well wishes ...
I hope you all are feeling better! - USPS Carrier, Mary."
"It just feels really nice for someone to really take the time to do
something kind," she said. It is especially heartwarming when the kind act
comes from someone who "didn't have to" do it.
Because of our sins, we are separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). Our
situation is fatal (Romans 6:23). We are in desperate need.
God loves us so much that He sent His one and only Son to die on the cross
for our sins. He didn't have to do it, but He did it because He loves us.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever
believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16 ESV).
Jesus willingly gave His life for us. He didn't have to do it; He did it
because He was obedient to His Father and because He loves us.
Jesus said, "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I
may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I
have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command
I have received from My Father" (John 10:17-18 NIV).
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
Because of His loving sacrifice, we can have salvation from our sins, be
added to His family, and receive the gift of eternal life (Ephesians 1:7;
2:13-19; Romans 6:23).
God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust
in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts
17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). He will
continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His
Word (1 John 1:7-9).
"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his
friends" (John 15:13 NKJV). Jesus demonstrated that great love for us -
even when He didn't have to. That's why it's called grace.
Won't YOU accept His loving offer of salvation and eternal life and commit
your life to following Him?
-- David A. Sargent
* Information gleaned from "Texas mail carrier sends get-well package to
single mother battling COVID-19" by Daniella Genovese, www.foxnews.com.
On December 3, 2020, Lisette LeJeune tested positive for COVID-19. A single
mother of two, she immediately quarantined herself and her boys, Matteo, 3,
and Adonnis, 14. The boys tested positive 3 days after she did.
"We took quarantine really seriously ... we were not coming out at all,"
said LeJeune. She even warned her mail carrier of their predicament. "I
opened the door one day with my mask on and told my mail lady that we had
COVID and I would put a bucket in front of the house so she could just drop
it in without touching our mail box."
The next day, LeJeune received more than just mail from the mail lady. The
USPS carrier delivered the LeJeune's mail along with a personal gift. It
was a care package - a bag filled with canned foods, cookies, gummies and
orange juice. Attached was a note from the mail lady: "Get-well wishes ...
I hope you all are feeling better! - USPS Carrier, Mary."
"It just feels really nice for someone to really take the time to do
something kind," she said. It is especially heartwarming when the kind act
comes from someone who "didn't have to" do it.
Because of our sins, we are separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). Our
situation is fatal (Romans 6:23). We are in desperate need.
God loves us so much that He sent His one and only Son to die on the cross
for our sins. He didn't have to do it, but He did it because He loves us.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever
believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16 ESV).
Jesus willingly gave His life for us. He didn't have to do it; He did it
because He was obedient to His Father and because He loves us.
Jesus said, "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I
may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I
have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command
I have received from My Father" (John 10:17-18 NIV).
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
Because of His loving sacrifice, we can have salvation from our sins, be
added to His family, and receive the gift of eternal life (Ephesians 1:7;
2:13-19; Romans 6:23).
God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust
in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts
17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). He will
continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His
Word (1 John 1:7-9).
"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his
friends" (John 15:13 NKJV). Jesus demonstrated that great love for us -
even when He didn't have to. That's why it's called grace.
Won't YOU accept His loving offer of salvation and eternal life and commit
your life to following Him?
-- David A. Sargent
* Information gleaned from "Texas mail carrier sends get-well package to
single mother battling COVID-19" by Daniella Genovese, www.foxnews.com.
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