Fun Night, Fall Fest, and Devotional #2 in John

Last Friday's Fun night was wonderful. I was encouraged. Thanks to all who brought food, for some reason we had left over cantelope (go figure). Thanks to JTo, Johnny, and Eric for answering questions in our "Lion's Den". I believe they came out unscathed. Thanks to Kathryn for the door prizes. The praise band, thanks, Ian, Felicia, Kathryn, and JTo. Tim played special music, and Nick on Base for that one, J To on drums. And thnks to Charlotte for playing the Power Point, I mean running it and organizing.

(We shot some nice pics. I will post them at another place, more info forth coming.)

This October 31 is our Fall Fest - a ministry to our children. We have an opportunity to do more than one booth, I will send out an email to all you youth.

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Devotional

ESV Online Study Bible
Crossway: " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were
made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In
him was life, [1] and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in
the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

They teach us that a passage has one meaning but many many applications. As I mentioned previously, I am studying the Bible with 3 others and we have been camping out in the book of John, and have studied chapter 1 for the last three months. Last time I wrote some questions, but today I was thinking how God's word feeds us.

The weather in Dallas is glum- pretty rainy. No sun for a few days now. That kind of weather is a downer at times. Its depression weather. I always remember that one of the most depressed cities in America is Seattle (due to constant rain). There is something about sun shine that we need. In the same way, we need SON shine, y'know what I mean?

I battle depression off and on, and for the first time in my life, I can say that God is talking to me through this battle. Verse 5 speaks to us about how the darkness has not overcome the light! One of my youths pointed out, that darkness is the absence of light. Amen, we need that light.

Its probably cliche to say read your bibles and pray, but truly nothing like the power of prayer. I recently choked on a piece of steak, I whispered out "heimlich, heimlich" and my friend proceeded to adminsiter the maneuver, the steak flew out! It was disgusting, and saliva everywhere. But those precious gasps of breath. Wow, those breaths felt like gold, like I had never breathed before. It was like the coldest glass of water after mowing the lawn in 100 degree sun. So refreshing! Such it is with Jesus as our friend, savior, redeemer, and King.

Depression

This weeks devotional: Have you ever felt like this?

1 Kings 19: 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. and he asked that he might DIE, saying, "It is enough, now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers." (emphasis mine)

I had a week like that recently. Off and on I get really depressed. Sometimes depression can hit after a spiritual high. If you look back at 1 Kings 18, Elijah had a big spiritual victory, and not so soon after he is running for his life.

We went over this passage in Nepal, right before our return home...and so often after spiritual highs we hit lows...but God doesn't want us to fall into despair. Later in Chapter 19, an angel comes to feed him. Defn. something about being fed...spiritually. Jesus said that we don't live on bread alone, but every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matt 4:4).

I pray that you are eating God's word, and spiritually nourished.

Thanks for reading, and I plan to be back next week with a short written message. Take care and God Bless You.

-William

Satisfied?

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,that we may rejoice and be
glad all our days. Ps. 90: 14

The other night I kept drinking one glass of tea after another. I just couldn't quench my thirst. Incidentally I've given up dark sodas like coke, and dr. pepper...its been two years. (Seldom drink 7-ups etc). There are times I just don't feel satisfied. I think that my "Missions" class could've gone better. And other things in my life are not as I would like them to be.

I felt like that this morning. So I went to the library and I picked up a book on missions. One of the essays was written by John Piper. He was supposed to speak on thelogical training for pastors and missionaries, but the bulk of his paper was on the importance of knowing God. Above all other things we should strive to know Him. And he added his famous quote in that paper.

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.

I think God was sharing with me Ps. 90:14 as I realized my longings were in the wrong direction. Are my affections solely on him? Do I bring glory to God by being most satisified in Him?

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In a few days I will be traveling to East Asia with my wife and her family. I will be gone for about three weeks. Will I have access to Facebook? Blogspot? I read somewhere most likely not...which may be good...I have been contemplating a fast of sorts in regards to FB and blogging.

Astronomical Thoughts!

"...For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."-Mt. 2:2b

I was captivated tonight by the alignment of Jupiter, Venus, and the moon in the night sky. I could've sat out there all night it seems. In my mind I wondered what the ancients would say. Y'know back in the day, pre-electricity, pre-t.v., ancient peoples all looked to the night sky. And the thought occurred to me, just what did the star look like that showed the wise men the way to the Savior?

Back in my hometown of El Paso, the city is split by a mountain. In past days, they would say that it was the southern most point of the rockies (not totally accurate but romantic). And on that mountain the city had a star erected. My home church was practically under that electric star. And I thought, if people followed that star to that little church, would they find Jesus?

Many people today want to be stars, I say why not be a star that shines for the Savior of the World? Would people look at you and see you pointing to him?

Delighting in the Lord

Psalm 1:1-2 "1Blessed is the man[a] who(A) walks not in(B) the counsel of the wicked,nor stands in(C) the way of sinners, nor(D) sits in(E) the seat of(F) scoffers;2but his(G) delight is in the law[b] of the LORD, and on his(H) law he meditates day and night." Taken from BibleGateway.

Someone once challenged us in church, do you spend more time reading God's word or eating? If you eat 10 minutes for breakfast, 20 for lunch, and 30 for dinner, that sums up to 1 hour of eating. Do you read the Bible for more than that? Good question. Challenging one, even for me.

My professor in chapel explained, standing in the way of sinners is like when we stand on the pathway to a house. The one you step on from the sidewalk to go to the front door. That opened up that verse to me, because when you walk up the pathway to that front door, you have made up your mind to go that way. Or at least are thinking about that...many young people today are tempted to walk up that path. The temptation may be great...Is your heart to do good or do evil?

How does one become blessed? Spend time in God's word. (Read your Bible devotionally, regularly, and passionately.)