We Must Never Forget

We must never forget the costly sacrifice of the freedom we enjoy in America.

Today is a day to remember and give thanks for the men and woman who have served and who are serving in our military. We live in the greatest nation on planet earth-- if you disagree, then please pack your bags and leave. We may not be perfect by any means, but there is no country on our globe like the United States of America. Anybody can complain, but what are you doing to make our country a better place (sitting on your rump whinning and pointing fingers doesn't count)?

Peru Mission Team

It is exciting to see what the Lord is doing in our fellowship at Rockway Church. Please pray for Jonathan and Kacie who will be going to Peru in June. The dates of their mission trip is June 8-20, 2008. They are traveling as members of a team with To Every Nation.

A Divine Miracle Named Asher

Asher is a little miracle from God. Asher is the son of my daughter-in-law's sister, Jaime, who had experienced over the past few years numerous miscarriages. When Jaime became pregnant with Asher, she went into labor after only a few months. The doctors were able to give her medication to suppress the labor. Jaime was hospitalized several times during her high risk pregnancy and was finally confined to bed rest for over half her pregnancy. Asher was born about 9 weeks ago about a month early but as you can see in the above picture he is a healthy little miracle. I took this picture tonight at my granddaughter Taylor's school program in which Asher and his mother also attended. By the way, Asher was the 8th son of Jacob. The Hebrew word for Asher means "happiness." This little boy is currently bringing a multitude of happiness to his parents, and his parents give thanks to God for His faithfulness.

ALL HEAVEN REJOICES

In the 15th chapter of the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells some parables to the religious leaders of his day because of they were grumbling about Him welcoming and allowing the "sinners" and tax collectors to gather around Him. In that chapter, Jesus tells three parables each about something that was lost: a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son (also, referred to as the prodigal son). Each parables ends with a statement of how we should respond to the finding of the item lost. Remember, that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning or truth. Parables only communicate a single truth. Too often some people try to force everything in the parable to have some hidden or special meaning totally missing the real point of the story. Jesus was addressing the unbelieving hearts of the religious leaders who in their self-righteousness looked down on others responding to Jesus' message. The last parable concludes with the "prodigal son's" father declaring in verse 32, "But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." The father declares to the oldest son that it was a moral neccessity to rejoice in the return of his prodigal brother. The first two parables conclude with similar expressions of rejoicing. For example, in the first parable a shepherd had one hundred sheep and one wanders away. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine who are safe and searches for the one lost sheep, and when he finds it he joyfully puts it on his shoulder and goes home. The shepherd calls all his friends and neighbors together requesting them to rejoice with him about his lost sheep being found. Then Jesus says, "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." How does heaven respond to the salvation of one sinner? ALL HEAVEN REJOICES. Tonight along with all of heaven, the Griffis family is rejoicing in the salvation of my granddaughter Taylor who this evening prayed to receive Christ as her Lord and Savior. She called to tell us this blessed news. Folks, I want all of you to rejoice with me and my family. Bops and Nanny have been praying for this day since before Taylor was born. I thank God for His faithfulness. He is like the shepherd in the parable Jesus told. God was faithful to call out and search for this little lost sheep. Praise God. May 7th, 2007, will always be her spiritual birthday. Hallelujah.

Taylor Griffis-- this little sheep was once lost, but now is found. We serve a Great Good Shepherd.