PROVOCATION

Where Are We Going?

Can you imagine heading out the door, getting in your vehicle, starting the car, and driving away without any idea where you were heading or what your destination was? Wouldn’t it be foolish to take a trip without knowing where you are going? You wouldn’t know how to prepare for the trip or what to pack for where you would end up.
But, in all reality, many Christians are doing that very thing! Every day, they continue on the trip of their life, without having any idea where they are going or what they should take with them. Oh, granted, they may believe as a Christian they are going to end up in heaven, but do they really know where they are going, or anything about what to take – or what they can take with them?!
In John 14, Jesus told the disciples about our future destination. He said He was going to prepare a place for them, and that He would come back to take them to be with him. Today, we are waiting along with all believers for Jesus to take us to the place He is preparing for us!
As we continue our “Focus on the Future” series this Sunday, we will be looking at the Bible and discover the answer to the question every believer needs to know – “Where Are We Going?” This is a message that you will want to invite all your friends to join with you in hearing!

Stuffed With Junk
by Ron Hutchcraft
The other day one of our team members shared a discovery she made during the remodeling of her kitchen. The counter top had been removed, and as she looked into this little 6″x8″ drawer by the sink, she saw that it was completely stuffed – with “stuff”! She realized that for 24 years she had been sticking things into that drawer – twist ties, rubber bands … you know, everything. There were some useful things in the back, but there were inaccessible because of all the “stuff.” Now, it had been a long time since the drawer had been opened very much – our friend just crammed things into it and occasionally pulled it open an inch or two to use something out of it. But looking down on it all from above, she was surprised to see what was in there. Almost everything in that drawer could be thrown away – but it was accumulating for years. And that drawer was much more useful now that it was emptied out.
You’ve got to wonder what God sees when He looks down on the contents of our life. The “top” is always off as far as His view of us is concerned. He sees directly into our heart, our motives, our every thought. And all too often, our life and our heart are cluttered with “stuff”… things we’ve filled our life with that are simply unnecessary to Him, useless to Him – actually limiting our usefulness to Him.
Some of us won’t realize how useless a lot of our life has been until it’s too late to do anything about it – we’ll wait until the Judgment Seat of Christ. Paul talks about it in 1 Corinthians 3, beginning with verse 11, our word for today from the Word of God. He says, “No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones (that’s filling your life with things that will last, that have eternal significance), wood, hay, or straw (things that are just “stuff”), his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light … the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” You get one life. You can fill it with things that really matter or with things that really don’t. With things that will last forever or things that will be gone in a moment. And often what this world stresses as being important is really just “stuff” – and what Jesus says is important, our world thinks isn’t much.
So when the Lord looks down inside your life, is it crammed with a lot of “stuff” that just doesn’t mean much? A lot of time in front of a television, hours on the Internet, listening to music, talking on the phone, following sports, pouring yourself into causes and diversions that won’t matter much in eternity at all? It’s not that these things are necessarily bad. The problem is when “stuff” that should be peripheral becomes central in your life. That’s when it’s time to reevaluate your priorities. It’s time to see your life through God’s eyes, and clean out what’s not useful – the trivial pursuits.
When you do, you become so much more useful to your Lord. And the more you fall in love with Him, the less you’ll be stuffing your hours, your days, your mind and your heart with “stuff.” You’ll be about what Jesus is about. You’ll be “seeking first the Kingdom of God.” (Matthew 6:33)
As seen in Ron Hutchcraft’s “A Word With You.” Reprinted with permission. “A Word With You” is a radio outreach of Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc.

Finish The Race
by Steve Troxel
Paul was returning to Jerusalem at the end of his third and final missionary journey. By this time in his ministry, Paul had been a Christian for nearly twenty years. Twenty years since Jesus called Paul, “My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel” (Acts 9:15). Twenty years of faithful service, and now… “In every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me” (Acts 20:23).
Paul was returning home, but his life was not going to be easy. He knew there were many trials ahead, but his life had a purpose far beyond his immediate surroundings. Acts 20:24 says, “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of, testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”
It was several more years before Paul wrote; “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation” (Philippians 4:12); yet here, when facing certain hardship, Paul showed he had already learned the secret. The particular circumstances in Paul’s life had become of minor importance. He knew his contentment was not based on current events, but on bringing glory and honor to God. His life had a wonderful purpose even in the face of great adversity and harsh conditions.
We were all created for the same purpose as Paul – we were created to bring glory and honor to God! Our specific tasks may differ and change from time to time, but we each have the same unchanging purpose. Everything we do, say, and think should bring glory and honor to our Heavenly Father!
God’s race is run in the deepest part of our heart, not in the flurry of activity. Running well is not defined by doing more; rather, we run a “successful” race as we do every little task we are given with the complete and absolute devotion of our heart.
His race is long and often difficult. There are many distractions which seek to slow us down and even pull us from the track; and at times we may even wonder why we’re running. But being a participant in God’s eternal race is infinitely more rewarding than standing on the sidelines and simply watching! He has called us to run – and to run well!!
We must run the path God places before us with all the strength He provides, and within the sure and calming protection of His grace. Let’s run with the motivation of bringing Him glory and honor by loving Him with ALL our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Let’s continue to run well, and with a burning desire to finish the race.
As seen in the January 4, 2012 issue of Steve Troxel’s email devotional “God’s Daily Word Ministries”

We’re Expecting!
by Alan Smith
A young private sought permission from his Commanding Officer to leave camp the following weekend. “You see,” he explained, “my wife’s expecting.”
“Oh…” said the Officer, “I understand. Go ahead and tell your wife that I wish her luck.”
The following week the same soldier was back again with the same explanation: “My wife’s expecting.”
The Officer looked surprised. “Still expecting?” he said, “Well, well, my boy, you must be pretty bothered. Of course you can have the week-end off.”
When the same soldier appeared again the third week, however, the Officer lost his temper. “Don’t tell me your wife is still expecting!” he bellowed.
“Yes sir!” said the soldier resolutely, “She’s still expecting.”
“What in the world is she expecting?” cried the Officer.
“Me,” said the soldier simply.
Christians are a people who live in expectation. We’re expecting that someday all the wrongs of this world will be brought to justice. We’re expecting that the sufferings of this life will someday be replaced by joys beyond our imagination. But, most of all, we’re expecting our Lord to return for us and we are anxious for that day to come. Paul seems to indicate that all of creation is earnestly awaiting the same thing (Rom. 8:19).
“Now when [Jesus] had spoken these things, while [the apostles] watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’ ” (Acts 1:9-11)
Are you expecting?
This article by Alan Smith, Senior Pastor of the Helen Street Church of Christ in Fayetteville, North Carolina. You can visit his site at http://www.TFTD-online.com

What If Church Was Not Just About Me?
by Ron Edmondson
“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” – Philippians 2:4
What if…
Instead of going to be encouraged… we went to encourage others…
Instead of hoping to sing my favorite song… we hoped to sing “their” favorite song…
Instead of looking to be served… we intentionally served others…
Instead of waiting to be welcomed… we welcomed others first…
Instead of asking to be prayed for… if we sought to pray for others…
Instead of going to receive a blessing… we went to be a blessing…
What difference would it make in our church experience?
Of course, church is ultimately not about either of us… it’s about Jesus…
But, church is also where people who want to make much of Jesus gather to grow, fellowship and worship Jesus…
So, I wonder how our church experience would be made different, if we approached it considering the interest of others…
Just wondering…
as seen at http://www.ronedmondson.com/2011/07/what-if-church.html

The Many Names of Christ
To the ARTIST He is the One Altogether Lovely.
To the ARCHITECT He is the Chief Corner Stone.
To the BAKER He is the Living Bread.
To the BANKER He is the Hidden Treasure.
To the BIOLOGIST He is the Life.
To the BUILDER He is the Sure Foundation.
To the CARPENTER He is the Door.
To the DOCTOR He is the Great Physician.
To the EDUCATOR He is the Great Teacher.
To the ENGINEER He is the New and Living Way.
To the FLORIST He is the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley.
To the GEOLOGIST He is the Rock of Ages.
To the HORTICULTURIST He is the True Vine.
To the JUDGE He is the Righteous Judge, Judge of All Men.
To the JEWELER He is the Pearl of Great Price.
To the LAWYER He is the Counselor, the Lawgiver, the Advocate.
To the NEWSPAPER He is the Good Tidings of Great Joy.
To the OCULIST He is the Light of the Eyes.
To the PHILANTHROPIST He is the Unspeakable Gift.
To the PHILOSOPHER He is the Wisdom of God.
To the PREACHER He is the Word of God.
To the SCULPTOR He is the Living Stone.
To the SERVANT He is the Good Master.
To the STATESMAN He is the Desire of All Nations.
To the STUDENT He is the Incarnate Truth.
To the THEOLOGIAN He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith.
To the TOILER He is the Giver of Rest.
To the SINNER He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the World.
To the CHRISTIAN He is the Son of the Living God, the Savior, the Redeemer and the Lord.

The Last Impression

An American businessman went to Japan on a business trip, but he hated Japanese food, so he asked the concierge at his hotel if there was any place around where he could get American food.
The concierge told him he was in luck, there’s a pizza place that just opened, and they deliver. The concierge gave the businessman the phone number, and he went back to his room to order a pizza.
Thirty minutes later, the delivery guy showed up at the door with the pizza.
The businessman took the pizza, and immediately began to sneeze uncontrollably. He asked the delivery man, “What on earth did you put on this pizza?”
The delivery man bowed deeply and said, “We put on the pizza what you ordered – pepper only.”

Since you received firstIMPRESSIONS in your email, chances are you are a believer in Jesus Christ. But, let me ask you this. If you have accepted Christ as your Savior, will you be found in church this Sunday? You need to! Why? Because you will be encouraged in your faith, and you will also encourage someone else! Hebrews 10:25 tells us to “not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” I believe that “Day” – the day that Christ returns – is coming soon! So – let’s gather together and encourage each other this Sunday! See you at WFA!

Yours for HIM
Pastor Tim Satryan
Senior Pastor
WILMINGTON first assembly of God

SCRATCH THE POLITICAL ITCH
By Morris Clopton

First let me state that I borrowed most of these ideas from a visiting preacher, Guy Jolin. The expounding on each thought is mine.

Supreme Court
God – What has the Supreme Court said about God during its history? There are at least 136 oral arguments concerning God viewable on the Supreme Court website.
Constitution- How does the constitution fare on the Supreme Court?
“The republic endures and this is the symbol of its faith.”
CHIEF JUSTICE CHARLES EVANS HUGHES

“EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW”-These words, written above the main entrance to the Supreme Court Building, express the ultimate responsibility of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Court is the highest tribunal in the Nation for all cases and controversies arising under the Constitution or the laws of the United States. As the final arbiter of the law, the Court is charged with ensuring the American people the promise of equal justice under law and, thereby, also functions as guardian and interpreter of the Constitution.
The Supreme Court is “distinctly American in concept and function,” as Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes observed. Few other courts in the world have the same authority of constitutional interpretation and none have exercised it for as long or with as much influence. A century and a half ago, the French political observer Alexis de Tocqueville noted the unique position of the Supreme Court in the history of nations and of jurisprudence. “The representative system of government has been adopted in several states of Europe,” he remarked, “but I am unaware that any nation of the globe has hitherto organized a judicial power in the same manner as the Americans. . . . A more imposing judicial power was never constituted by any people.”
The unique position of the Supreme Court stems, in large part, from the deep commitment of the American people to the Rule of Law and to constitutional government. The United States has demonstrated an unprecedented determination to preserve and protect its written Constitution, thereby providing the American “experiment in democracy” with the oldest written Constitution still in force…
Cornerstone Address – Supreme Court Building

The People of God failing to stand up for the teaching of Jesus cause undeniable damage to the moral consistency of our great nation. If Christ followers fail to stand for the teaching of Jesus are they really Christ followers.
John Adams stated that the Bible is a law book, which would advance a perfect world if followed.
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
― John Adams
“The happiness of society is the end of government.”
― John Adams
Roe and Wade – 70’s, there are over 300 references to Roe and Wade on the Supreme Court website. How did Christ followers sit by and pretend that politics is dirty and we are the silent majority we cannot get involved. What is the church doing to help young mothers with their problems of sexual promiscuity and child bearing?
San Francisco’s Homosexuals and their detestable practices causing an ever-increasing AIDS problem. Yet honest God-fearing people bombarded with, force-fed practices among humans that animals do not practiced in the animal kingdom as being an acceptable alternate life style. Stand for what is Right!
Jesus is tough on sin but tender toward sinners in every situation that occurs during His ministry on earth.
Welfare-Societal problem generational, whole societies are on the “dole” and know nothing of self-worth, pride in accomplishment, unable to produce, waiting for the next Government hand out.
The church must stand for right
National day of prayer- George Washington instituted a special day to give thanks to God for saving our great Nation. Today our government ignores God and the morally correct ideas that built this country, substituting instead foreign ideas that are destroying the very moral fiber of America.
Voice of the church must be heard, Talk the talk and walk the walk.
Rosa Parks – remember the individual who had the strength of her convictions and refused to waver in standing up for what she knew to be right.
Malignant press – when a problem is recognized by a few that few must take action to change. The press must be questioned, do not idly stand by when you know the facts and the media blatantly misrepresents the truth. Do the necessary research on your own find the facts and expend all the energy you can to spread the TRUTH about misrepresentation by the media.
Christians must vote. Let our voices be heard through the ballot box
John preached a simple sermon repent and be baptized.
Christians should not only be Christian activist but political activist as well. God used heathen rulers through out history to punish His people. “We the People” elect our rulers hold them accountable.
Take America back one heart at a time.
We are a long distance from 1776 to the moral sewer of 2011.
Founding Fathers were God centered people they had everything to lose. Signed with ink paid with blood, families in hiding, property lost. The price they paid for liberty and freedom is beyond understanding.
What are you doing today while the state takes children from Christians?
How far will we be pushed before we respond- Stand up for Right!
Benjamin Franklin – called on Continental Congress to fall on their knees to seek guidance.
Edward Gibbons – Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire.
Five reasons for the fall of the great dynasty.
• First: Rapid increase of divorce, with the undermining of the sanctity of the home, which is the basis of society.
• Second: Higher and higher taxes; the spending of money for bread and celebrations.
• Third: The mad craze for pleasure, sports becoming every year more exciting and more brutal.
• Fourth: The building of gigantic armaments, when the real enemy was within; the decadence of the people.
• Fifth: The decay of religion; faith fading into mere form, losing touch with life, and becoming impotent to guide it.
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…” (Psalms 33:12)

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)

Two hundred years average life of a nation through history.
Get involved – Spend time in prayer, seek God’s guidance.
America today is like Sodom and Gomorrah.

God seeks only our repentance and service.
2 Chronicles 7:14 says:
2 Chronicles 7:14(ASV)
14if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Are you an Ostrich sticking your head in the sand, or an Eagle high in the sky seeing everything?

Use the power of the ballot box to express your wishes and concerns.

Sign of leadership failure!

“The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the US Government cannot pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies. Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that “the buck stops here.” Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better”.
– Senator Barack H. Obama, March 2006

7 June 2011

Do you really want four more years of the present Obama policies?
By Morris Clopton

Do you want to continue paying union thugs and welfare recipients stimulus funds, which are your tax dollars? Is buying votes with your tax dollars what you want from your government? Are you supportive of redistribution of the wealth that you worked to earn to those who refuse to work but rather depend upon government handouts?

Are you comfortable with a president and government that trash the very documents that this formed this Republic? Does the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States form the basis of your understanding of what our great Republic is? Do you agree with a president that disregards the Constitution of the United States in his policymaking? Are you comfortable with a president misusing the war powers and not complying with the constitution? Will you enjoy control by a presidential group larger than the US Army?
Do your personal liberties mean anything to you? All you have to do is research history and see the comments of our ancestors stating that once you take personal liberty away you never get it back. Will the Individual Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) aka. “Death panel” set in place by Obama Care meet your personal health needs as you age and theoretically become more dependant upon medical care. The IPAP, fifteen members appointed by the president are already in place.
Obama’s IPAB Board Will Control Medicare Decisions
Friday, 27 May 2011 02:10 PM
By Betsy McCaughey
Read more on Newsmax.com: Obama’s IPAB Board Will Control Medicare Decisions

On April 13, the president reiterated that the board would decide what care is “unnecessary” for seniors, and that he would like to see IPAB’s unprecedented powers increased.

Do you really think you will continue to have personal health care options?

Did you agree with the president going outside the bounds of the constitution and the executive office in firing the CEO of GM and giving control of GM to the Labor Unions? Are you comfortable with the Chrysler corporation sellout to Fiat? Do you believe that GM has paid the buyout money back to the government?

How do you like the $534,000.00 per US family owed to support the $63 trillion unsupported debt that the president and his party have saddled on the working populous? I personally do not like the tax on every penny earned for the government to give away to those who will not work.

Are you overwhelmed with the openness of the president and the government in the policy making process as promised by candidate Obama? Makes “we the people” seem very much a part of the process does not it.

When personal liberty cases come before the US Supreme Court, are you concerned about the recent appointment of two extreme liberal justices? The retirement of one more justice gives president Obama an opportunity to change the course of justice for decades.

Do you want to continue to enjoy the rights under the first amendment to the constitution? Is your freedom of speech important to you? Do you enjoy the right to keep and bear arms granted by the second amendment? Please be aware of the sad situation in Europe and Australia where the government insidiously took away personal gun rights. Check out the plight of the Europeans and Australians pertaining to gun ownership. Do you want the government dictating which firearm and how many firearms you can own? Remember when second’s count the police are only minutes away.

The question you must personally answer is “Do you really want four more years of president Obama’s policies?”

Telephone, write, email, or personally contact your representative and senators, keep them informed of your concerns and hold them accountable for their votes.

First Impressions
From Senior Pastor Timothy Satryan

A story is told about a man who was imprisoned during Napoleon’s reign. While sulking in his dungeon one day, he etched on the wall the words: “Nobody Cares!” A few weeks later, through a crack in the dungeon floor, a little green shoot sprang forth, reaching toward the tiny ray of sunlight that came from his small prison cell window.

The prisoner began giving a portion of his daily water to the little shoot and it began to grow. One morning the man awoke to a beautiful flower. A tear rolling down his face, he crossed out the words, “Nobody Cares!” and replaced them with “God Cares!”

The story goes on to tell that His devotion to the flower was reported to the Empress Josephine. She was so very moved that she convinced Napoleon to set the man free.

How many times do we feel like nobody cares?

God has planted little shoots of hope in each and every one of our difficult circumstances. Do you know that? Perhaps we’re stepping on them, not even noticing they exist. Perhaps we’re pulling the shoots before they spring forth into beautiful flowers. God wants us to be released from our prisons of despair.

Romans 15:13 says “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” Know this day that there is a God who knows your need, and cares deeply about you!

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 11.19. Live for God, on purpose, trusting in Him and holding onto His hand each and every day!

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Making Godly Decisions

It begins the moment we wake up in the morning. And every moment of every day, we are continually in the process. Sometimes they are seemingly minor and of little significance. Other times they appear to be life-changing. But, make no doubt about it, there is rarely a moment that goes by in which you are not making a decision about something in your life.

Whether the decision seems big or small, your life to a great degree is the sum total of the result of the decisions you have made each and every moment of every day.

If this is true, and I certainly believe it is, then as followers of Jesus Christ, the question that must be asked is how can we assure ourselves of making Godly decisions along life’s way.

Are there any principles to help us in this process? And, is there an example to which we can look that can speak to us today as we face the ever-growing complexity of the decisions we must make?

The answer to both questions is a resounding yes! In God’s Word we find the principles to guide us in our decision making. And, among others, we can look at the prophet Daniel, as he was a prisoner in a foreign land, for an example of how to make Godly decisions. In Daniel 1:8, we read that “Daniel resolved not to defile himself.” (NIV) The KJV says it this way – “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.”

What have you “purposed in your heart?” What have you resolved to do? How do you go about “Making Godly Decisions”? Don’t miss my message this Sunday morning at WFA! Make a purposeful decision now to join us!

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200 Pounds of Trash

by Alan Smith

Fred Craddock tells the story of a missionary family in China who was forced to leave the country sometime after the communists took over.

One day a band of soldiers knocked on the door and told this missionary, his wife, and children that they had two hours to pack up before these troops would escort them to the train station. They would be permitted to take with them only two hundred pounds of stuff.

Thus began two hours of family wrangling and bickering – what should they take? What about this vase? It’s a family heirloom, so we’ve got to take the vase. Well, maybe so, but this typewriter is brand new and we’re not about to leave that behind. What about some books? Got to take a few of them along. On and on it went, putting stuff on the bathroom scale and taking it off until finally they had a pile of possessions that totaled two hundred pounds on the dot.

At the appointed hour, the soldiers returned. “Are you ready?” they asked. “Yes.” “Did you weigh your stuff?” “Yes, we did.” “Two hundred pounds?” “Yes, two hundred pounds on the dot.” “Did you weigh the kids?” “Um, …no.” “Weigh the kids!”

And in an instant the vase, the typewriter, and the books all became trash. Trash! None of it meant anything compared to the surpassing value of the children.

If only it were that easy for us. If we had to make a physical choice, the choice would be easy. What’s worth more – your child or a computer? If you could only take one with you, which would it be? That’s easy; it’s a no-brainer. But seldom does the choice come wrapped in such easy-to-open paper.

Too often, it sounds more like this: What’s more important – spending time with your family or staying at work a couple of extra hours to get caught up? “Don’t ask me to make that choice! My family is important to me. It’s just that I really need to get this done! After all, I’m only doing it for provide for them.” Still, there are times when the question won’t go away: Which is more important?

And there are times when we are forced to admit that we’ve been gathering hundreds of pounds of “trash” while neglecting that which is of greatest importance.

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:7-8)

But God bless each one of you with the wisdom to choose that which is of greatest value.

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Have You Been “Burned”

Have you been “burned” by people? You’re not alone, we all have. But instead of being consumed by it, God tells you to forgive it and let it go. Hebrews 12:15 says to “…watch out that no bitter root… grows up among you…” When you deny your feelings and stew under the surface, you give the devil the advantage over you (2 Corinthians 2:11). But by dealing scripturally with the situation your painful experiences can make you better, not bitter.

If you’re struggling with bitterness today do these three things. First, forgive. Forgiveness isn’t based on an emotion. Don’t wait until you “feel” like it – decide today to let the offense go. When you do, God’s Spirit will calm your emotions and help you overcome the urge to retaliate. Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matthew 5:7 NKJV) Since you yourself will always need to make withdrawals, God calls you to keep making “mercy deposits.”

Secondly, pray about it. The moment you sense resentment, turn to God and He will give you the strength to act in love rather than react in anger. When you commit to living this way He promises to give you “…power to keep [yourself] calm in the days of adversity…” (Psalm 94:13 AMP)

Thirdly, think scripturally. Look up every verse you can find on showing forgiveness and meditate on them. Remember, each time you choose to do the right thing, a little more of the old you dies and the new you develops. That’s how God prepares you for greater blessing. But you must be in position to receive it. So decide now that although you’ve been “burned,” you won’t become bitter.

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It Happens to the Best of Us!

A pastor was building a fence while the neighbor’s 12-year-old son watched. The pastor smiled and said, “Are you interested in carpentry?” “No,” the boy replied. “I just want to hear what a preacher says when he hits his thumb with a hammer!”

You are the only Bible some people will ever read, and they’re watching to see how your life lines up with what you profess. Some are hoping for confirmation of the life-changing power of Jesus; others for a chance to say, “See, Christians are all hypocrites!” We want to set a good example, but sometimes we fall short. And as humbling as it is to mess up, God uses those failures to “…make it clear that our…power is from Him, not…ourselves.” (2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT)

God doesn’t gloss over the shortcomings of even the most notable saints. They’re “examples… written down as warnings for us…” (1 Corinthians 10:11) Abraham, the “friend of God,” lied about Sarah being his wife (Genesis 12:10-20). Moses, the mighty leader, got angry and disobeyed God. David, a man after God’s heart, committed adultery and then tried to cover his tracks with murder (2 Samuel 11:15). Peter, head of the church, denied Jesus not once but three times (Luke 22:54-62), and John Mark gave up and went home during a missionary trip (Acts 15:38). They’re all in there, warts and all, and Paul says, “If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

So don’t get discouraged when you stumble. Get up, admit your mistake, apologize to the people involved, ask God for forgiveness, forgive yourself, learn from what happened, and move on.

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Spiritual Heartbeat

What is the heart? Most simply, it is the organ that pumps blood through the body. I read recently that physiologically each person’s heartbeat has its own unique pattern. Just as there are no two people exactly alike, no two hearts keep the exact same rhythm. The Bible refers to the heart as the driving will or innermost being. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

Just as there are no two identical physiological heartbeats, so it is with how God made our spiritual hearts. Your spiritual heart possesses a unique emotional heartbeat that races when you encounter different causes, activities, subjects or circumstances. Instinctively, it seems there are some things we care deeply about and other things that don’t even turn our heads. Understanding this spiritual heartbeat is a part of the journey God has for us; it helps us understand God’s intention for our lives.

The Bible is full of stories that show how passion stirred calling. Solomon had a heart to be a wise ruler. Moses had a heart for his people. Nehemiah had a heart for Jerusalem. These are simply a few examples among many. What is your passion?

I believe God has given each of us a passion no matter how small or large the scale may seem. Many moms are following their heartbeat to stay at home and sacrifice their careers to raise their children. Other people are figuring out how they can use their passion and skills in the workplace to make a difference. Some are teaching Sunday school to fulfill their passion that the next generation would come to know Jesus.

What gets you excited? What powerful emotion or enthusiasm has the Lord placed on your heart? Not sure yet? Keep looking. For when you find that passion, you will have a better understanding of God’s call on your life.

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Chocolate Chip Cookies

As the elderly man lay dying in his bed, death’s agony was suddenly pushed aside as he smelled the aroma of his favorite homemade chocolate chip cookies wafting up the stairs.

Gathering his remaining strength, he lifted himself from the bed. Leaning against the wall, he slowly made his way out of the bedroom, and with intense concentration, supported himself down the stairs, gripping the railing with both hands. In labored breath, he leaned against the doorframe, gazing wide-eyed into the kitchen. There, spread out on the kitchen table, were literally hundreds of his favorite chocolate chip cookies! Was it heaven or was it one final act of heroic love from his devoted wife, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man?

Mustering one great final effort, he threw himself toward the table, landing on his knees in a rumpled posture, one hand on the edge of the table. The aged and withered hand quiveringly made its way to a cookie near the edge of the table; feeling the warm soft dough actually made the pain of his bones subside for a moment. His parched lips parted; the wondrous taste of the cookie was already in his mouth, seemingly bringing him back to life.

All at once he felt a sting on his hand. He looked up to see his wife, still holding the spatula she had just used to smack his hand, saying: “Stay out of those! They’re for the funeral.”

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The Last Impression

An elderly woman walked into the local country church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps. “Where would you like to sit?” he asked politely.

“The front row please,” she answered.

“You really don’t want to do that,” the usher said. “The pastor is really boring.”

“Do you happen to know who I am?” the woman inquired.

“No,” he said.

“I’m the pastor’s mother,” she replied indignantly.

“Do you know who I am?” he asked.

“No,” she said.

“Good,” he answered, “Let me show you the front pew.”

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I thought of this week’s “Last Impression” after a guest at WFA last Sunday asked Jean Duerr, who sits in our front row, if she was my mother! It was all the more amusing because, it being Mother’s Day, I mentioned in the service that my mother was in Pittsburgh.

We have truly been experiencing a great presence of the Lord each Sunday morning here at WFA. If you are in north Delaware this Sunday, please consider this your invitation to join with us this week to worship the Lord and be encouraged from His Word. You will be blessed!

In this Issue
Volume 11.19
Friday, May 13, 2011

Making Godly Decisions

200 Pounds of Trash

Have You Been “Burned”

It Happens to the Best of Us!

Spiritual Heartbeat

Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Last Impression…

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Timothy Satryan
Senior Pastor
WILMINGTON first assembly of God

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firstIMPRESSIONS – Vol. 11.18 – Friday, May 6, 2011
Rev. Timothy G. Satryan [firstIMPRESSIONS@wfa.org]

This past Wednesday evening was an unforgettable evening in ministry for me, and for a number of people. We have just returned from the PennDel Ministry Network’s “MinistrieSummit,” the annual gathering of the Assemblies of God ministers. The final meeting of the MinistrieSummit is the Ordination Service, where men and women who have prepared for ministry through years of study and have proven their ministry through years of service as a licensed minister, receive the highest level of ministerial credential in the Assemblies of God – ordination.

What made this year’s service unforgettable for me, and for the pastoral staff of WFA, is that our own children’s pastor, Michael Murphy, was ordained. Since I serve as the presbyter for the state of Delaware, I hade the distinct privilege of being the one to ordain Pastor Mike. I also invited the entire WFA pastoral staff to come and join me by laying hands upon Pastor Mike and Jessica as a part of the ordination service.

This marks the first time that WFA has a children’s pastor who has received this highest level of ministerial credential. In the Assemblies of God, ordination is not something that is easily achieved, or given out to anyone and everyone. There are three levels of ministerial credentials. Certified Minister is the novice level of credential. Licensed Minister is the next level, and given to those who have achieved a higher level of training and experience. However, to become an Ordained Minister, one must have completed an even higher level of study and training, have a proven ministry, and have served as a Licensed Minister for at least two years prior to Ordination. The actual process of Ordination is fairly lengthy, and includes written examination, extensive background and reference checks, personal interview before the credentials committee, including members of the presbytery, and final approval of the General Council of the Assemblies of God.

Above all else, the awarding of the Ordination credential means that the leadership of the Assemblies of God has recognized and acknowledges the specific calling of God upon the life of the individual being ordained. It is really God who ordains – the presbytery and the AG is merely affirming what God has already done.

We are extremely proud of Pastor Michael Murphy, and we are blessed that he and his precious wife, Jessica, are a part of our pastoral team here at WFA.

To acknowledge this momentous occasion, we have asked Pastor Mike to preach his first sermon as an ordained minister this Sunday morning at WFA. You will not want to miss it! Also, following the service, we will have a dessert fellowship to allow everyone to express their congratulations to Pastor Mike and Jessica.

Your children are a top priority to us here at WFA. And we thank God that He has allowed us the privilege to have the Murphys as our children’s pastors, providing the oversight and direction for all of our children’s ministries.

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 11.18. Live for God, on purpose, faithfully serving Him according to His calling upon your life.

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A Mother’s Crown

In recognition of Mother’s Day this Sunday, here is a poem acknowledging and honoring Christian mothers everywhere.

Heaven lit up with His mighty presence,
As all the angels looked down,
Today the Lord was placing the jewels
In all the mothers’ crowns.

As He held up a golden crown
As all the mothers looked on,
He said in His gentle voice,
“I just want to explain each stone.”

He held the first gem in His hand,
But the radiance couldn’t match His own.
For He was the light of Heaven
Reflecting off each of the stones.

“The first gem,” He said, “is an emerald,
And it’s for endurance alone,
For all the nights you waited up
For your children to come home.

For all the nights by their bedside
You stayed till the fever went down,
For nursing every little wound,
I add this emerald to your crown.”

“A ruby, I’ll place by the emerald,
For leading your child in the right way,
For if you hadn’t taught them about Me,
They wouldn’t be here with you today.

For always being right there
Thru all life’s important events,
I give you a sapphire stone
For the time and love you spent.”

“For untying the strings that held them
When they grew up and left home,
I give you this one for courage.”
Then the Lord added an amethyst stone.

“I’ll place a stone of garnet,” He said,
“For all the times you spent on your knees,
When you asked Me to take care of your children,
And them for having faith in Me.”

“I have a pearl for every little sacrifice
That you made without them knowing,
For all the times you went without
To keep them happy, healthy, and growing.”

“And last of all I have a diamond,
The greatest of all gems,
For those mothers who lost their children
When they came home to heaven before them.”

“This is the most precious sacrifice,
So I give the most precious stone,
For I know just how you felt,
I too lost a child of My own.”

After the Lord placed the last jewel in,
He said, “Heaven is now complete,
For every mother has her crown of jewels,
And all her children are at her feet.”

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The Trouble With Bragging

by Alan Smith

A North Carolina farmer was talking to a Texas rancher. The Texas rancher was bragging that his spread was soooooo big, that he got in his pick-up in the morning and didn’t reach the end of his spread until nightfall.

The North Carolina farmer replied, “Yup, I had me a pick-up like that once.”

That’s the trouble with bragging – no one seems to appreciate it as much as we do! But how will everyone know how important we are unless we tell them? So we tend to focus on ourselves – we talk about what we have accomplished, we talk about who we know, we talk about what we have just bought.

Can I offer a suggestion? Just for today, forget about yourself and focus on someone else. Take an interest in what someone else has accomplished, or better yet, take an interest in a problem that someone else is experiencing.

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:3-5)

But, if you do this, won’t others fail to realize just how important you are? Perhaps. But, more likely, they’ll recognize true greatness in your humility.

This article by Alan Smith, Senior Pastor of the Helen Street Church of Christ in Fayetteville, North Carolina. You can visit his site at http://www.TFTD-online.com

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The Prize

There is an old story about the Greek Marathon. Muscular, conditioned runners paced nervously near the starting line for the long-distance race. The time was near. They “shook out” their muscles, inhaled deeply, and put on their “game faces.”

In the midst of it all, a young stranger took his place at the starting line. His physique was awesome. Taking no notice of the other contestants, he stared straight ahead. Two prizes would be awarded the winner of the Marathon: a magnificent bouquet of flowers and the honor of standing beside the king until the conclusion of other contests.

There seemed to be no question among the runners about who would win the prize. It is alleged that the stranger was offered money not to run. Someone else attempted to bribe him with property. Refusing the offers, he toed the mark and awaited the signal to run. When the signal was given, he was the first away. At the finish line, he was the first to cross, well ahead of the rest.

When it was all done, someone asked the young man if he thought the flowers were worth as much as the money and property he had refused. He replied, “I did not enter the race for the flowers. I ran so that I could stand beside my king!”

Those of us who have chosen to follow Jesus Christ are “running the race” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25). It is a race that has a prize for those who finish (notice, not those who finish first, but all who finish). This prize, according to Paul, is an “imperishable crown.” The rewards for those who enter heaven are described in scripture with a lot of terms – “many mansions”, “streets of gold”, “tree of life” – and the list goes on and on. All of those things are attractive. That’s why God tells us about them.

But I would be willing to give up all the streets of gold and settle for a small corner of a shack as long as I can know the reward of being able to stand beside my King. That’s what I look forward to more than anything else. It is the one thing that will make heaven the wonderful reward that it will be.

“…The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.” (Revelation 22:3)

Run the race with diligence. Your King is watching and waits for you at the finish line!

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T H I N K

Alan Redpath once formed a “mutual encouragement” fellowship at a time of stress in one of his pastorates. The members subscribed to a simple formula applied before speaking of any person or subject that was perhaps controversial.

T – Is it true?

H – Is it helpful?

I – Is it inspiring?

N – Is it necessary?

K – Is it kind?

Paul wrote, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

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Do You Feel The Heat?

A refiner in Biblical times had a special way of purifying his silver. Using a large pot, he placed ore (with a high silver content that was mined from the earth) inside. He would build a huge, blazing fire underneath and carefully waited and watched as the contents started to melt. First he skimmed large amounts of sediment from the top with a wooden spoon. Knowing the silver was not pure he made the fire hotter by add more wood to the already bright flames.

Soon the intense heat would cause impure particles to surface and these, too, were skimmed off of the liquid metal. Still not satisfied with the refinement, the worker turned up the heat with an even hotter flame by using his densest wood. Although this was a long process, the refiner never left his post. He doesn’t want to injure the silver by leaving it on the heat too long.

“It is ready,” he announced to his new apprentice. With a questioning look the young man readies the molds. The master refiner removed the pot from the heat and allowed the apprentice to look inside. He announced, “You know the silver is perfectly refined when you can see a reflection of yourself. Now it is ready for use.”

When was the last time the “heat” was turned up in your life? Maybe your relationships seemed to burn your broken heart or a health problem felt like constant fire or the all-too-common financial hot coals were burning your pocket book. What knowledge or change of personality or insight did you gain from the experience?

The intention of the high heat allowed God to remove the sediment from your character that kept Him from seeing His reflection in your life. He refined character with the blazing warmth of troublesome times in order to remove any particles of self-reliance or disobedience. The surface of a heated heart shimmered with hope. His image soon appeared, as an outline of The Refiner’s Reflection. That last bit of high temperature brought into focus a clear image of the Refiner. You are ready for his use.

Zechariah 13:9 says “This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’”?

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Does Prayer Change Things?

by Teressa Vowell

They say that prayer changes things, but does it REALLY change anything? Oh yes! It really does! Does prayer change your present situation or sudden circumstances? No, not always, but it does change the way you look at those events.

Does prayer change your financial future? No, not always, but it does change who you look to for meeting your daily needs.

Does prayer change shattered hearts or broken bodies? No, not always, but it will change your source of strength and comfort.

Does prayer change your wants and desires? No, not always, but it will change your wants into what God desires!

Does prayer change how you view the world? No, not always, but it will change whose eyes you see the world through.

Does prayer change your regrets from the past? No, not always, but it will change your hopes for the future!

Does prayer change the people around you? No, not always, but it will change you – the problem isn’t always in others.

Does prayer change your life in ways you can’t explain? Oh, yes, always! And it will change you from the inside out!

So does prayer REALLY change ANYTHING? Yes! It REALLY does change EVERYTHING!

as seen in Kimberly Quiggles’ Cup o’ Cheer

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The Last Impression

On a sunny morning, William’s mother came into her son’s room and said, “William, it’s Sunday. Time to get up! Time to get up and go to church! Get up!”

From under the covers came mumbles, “I don’t want to go!”

“What do you mean?” she said. “That’s silly! Now get up and get dressed and go to church!”

“No!” he shot back. “I’ll give you two reasons. I don’t like them and they don’t like me!”

“Nonsense,” she told him. “I’ll give YOU two reasons to go. First, you are 42 years old, and second, you are the PASTOR!”

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We are anticipating a phenomenal time together this Sunday here at WFA. We will be honoring and praying a special blessing over all the mothers present. And, we will be honoring Pastor Michael Murphy, our children’s pastor, on the occasion of his being ordained by the Assemblies of God. After church, be sure you plan to stay for our dessert fellowship following. It’s going to be a great day at WFA!

In this Issue
Volume 11.18
Friday, May 6, 2011

A Mother’s Crown

The Trouble With Bragging

The Prize

T H I N K

Do You Feel The Heat?

Does Prayer Change Things?

The Last Impression…

——————————————————————————–

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Miss an issue of
firstIMPRESSIONS? – you can
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Ministries, activities, birthdays and more this month at WFA

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Timothy Satryan
Senior Pastor
WILMINGTON first assembly of God

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21 April 2011

Imbecilic Statements made by president Obama!
By Morris L. Clopton

These statements made this month by president Obama. Recall if you will that, this is the president who along with his democratic congress set forth on a sworn path to rape, pillage, and disembowel, our great Republic. His chosen methods included increasing spending to create a fourteen and one-half trillion dollar debt (that is with twelve zeros 14,500,000,000,000.00) a debt that unborn and even those that are not an idea in the minds of their mother and father are compelled to pay. These individuals have no say, no chance to repute this travesty imposed upon them by president Obama. Do you not find that gutless? President Obama forced a stimulus bill through congress that repaid his union thug friends but did nothing to stimulate the economy. The second stimulus went to the teachers union again nothing to help the economy. Yet the president touts his stimulus as generating jobs, while our un-employment rate is higher than it has ever been.

“Barack Obama was my college classmate (Columbia University, class of ’83). As Glenn Beck correctly predicted from day one, Obama is following the plan of Cloward & Piven, two professors at Columbia University. They outlined a plan to socialize America by overwhelming the system with government spending and entitlement demands. Add up the clues below. Taken individually they’re alarming. Taken as a whole, it is a brilliant, Machiavellian game plan to turn the United States into a socialist/Marxist state with a permanent majority that desperately needs government for survival … and can be counted on to always vote for bigger government. Why not? They have no responsibility to pay for it.” Shawn McCall

President Obama made the statement that “the government should not spend more than it takes in, in revenue” this from the same president who is and wants to continue spending our Republic into oblivion. President Obama speaking to gullible college students led them to believe that the proposed GOP budget would damn them to poverty and oblivion. The present democratic policy will ensure that there is no Medicare of Medicaid available for this generation under democratic policy presently in existence. On the other hand, the proposed GOP budget will enable future Medicare recipients to fund their own health care via wise investment choices. In Palo Alto president Obama speaking from an apparent scripted question and answer time with Mark E. Zuckerberg on Facebook, president Obama slammed Paul Ryan’s GOP budget as being cowardly and seeking to have economic recovery on the backs of the poor middle class. Recall again that it is the democrats who are cutting Medicare and Medicaid right now. Paul Ryan has proposed budget would not make any changes in Medicare or Medicaid until 2021. The president had to give a wavier to seniors on their Medicare benefits because of the cuts affected today by democratic supported health care bill. It is sad that our republican controlled congress does not have the intestinal fortitude to create and pass a bill requiring the government to not spend more than it receives in revenue and credit it to president Obama.

Please contact you U.S. Representative and Senators and let them know what you think.

April 1, 2011
Why are “We the People” so passive and cowed by a destructive government?
By Morris Clopton

Everyone who listens to radio, watches TV, or reads newsprint online or printed is aware of the destruction of our great Republic that the Obama administration is forcing on us. Yet we set idly by while the democrats run amuck. It is inconceivable that even the parasites among us that voted for Obama are unable to see the rape and pillage that is taking place everyday in politics. Is there no pride anymore? Liberty once given away is extremely difficult if not impossible to regain.
The democratic party can fuel destruction of lives and property and the state run media print the news with glee as indicated below:
Democrat Congressman Michael Capuano (who is considering a run against Republican Senator Scott Brown) whipped up a crowd of union hacks into a frenzy yesterday declaring: “Every once and awhile you need to get out on the streets and get a little bloody when necessary.”
Union thugs are organized in intimidating gangs and delivered to every political gathering that speaks truth, honesty and seeks integrity in our government. Again, the state run media poses no questions, does not seek answers to why the ruling body of our government can commit unlawful acts and not be answerable to the law.
During a pro-union rally at Colorado’s State Capitol yesterday, some alleged SEIU union supporters got into a shouting match with a black Tea Partier. However, the conversation was not just a loud, heated exchange. It got very personal when two union supporters ganged up on the conservative, one of them calling him “uneducated” and another asking him if he has any children “that he claims”:
We continue to allow a miniscule minority of alternate lifestyle individuals dam our nation with their ungodly acts while gaining sanction of our government with no intestinal fortitude. Example:
Eric Holder DOJ no longer defend ban on homosexual marriages
WASHINGTON — In a major policy reversal, the Obama administration said Wednesday that it will no longer defend the constitutionality of a federal law banning recognition of same-sex marriage.
Attorney General Eric Holder said President Obama has concluded that the administration cannot defend the federal law that defines marriage as only between a man and a woman. He noted that the congressional debate during passage of the Defense of Marriage Act “contains numerous expressions reflecting moral disapproval of gays and lesbians and their intimate and family relationships — precisely the kind of stereotype-based thinking and animus the (Constitution’s) Equal Protection Clause is designed to guard against.”
How can a group of billionaires follow their leader George Soros into subjecting our great Republic into the disaster called Obamacare? This group is obviously intelligent enough to acquire their billions through whatever means, but rest assured they are not looking out for the interest of “We the People” they are looking out for themselves. George Soros supposedly instructed Obama on when and how much to offer in the failed stimulus bill. Every intelligent individual can see how well that worked, yet the parasites of our nation continue to fawn after government handouts.

While Obamacare is rightly notorious as a fiscal nightmare, less well known is just how massively it transferred power from Congress to the executive branch. In fact, the full scope of Congress’s abdication is still unknown. What is now known, however, is that deeply buried within Obamacare was a $105 billion slush fund that assures its implementation into the future, no matter what future voters think or want.

This makes then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s comment to the Legislative Conference for National Association of Counties about Obamacare, “We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it,” made a year ago tomorrow, ironically prescient. Just this past month, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) updated an October 2010 report titled “Appropriations and Fund Transfers in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).” The new report found that, unbeknownst to almost every Member of Congress, Obamacare contains $105 billion in direct implementation spending that bypasses Congress’s normal appropriations process.

The representatives and senators “We the People” elected in November 2010 need to stand up for honesty, integrity, and transparency in our government. Do what we elected them to do stop spending, get rid of all the excessive unnecessary laws hampering our US corporations from increasing employment via producing products with good “ole” USA quality? Repeal taxes that cripple corporations, institute the Fair Tax and move our nation out of the red into the black economically. There are so many common sense ideas that would drastically increase employment, remove our dependency on foreign oil, reduce taxes on the populous and still meet the needs of our government. Get rid of the handouts to non-producing individuals. Yet our elected officials appear to be concerned only with their own well being not the resurrection of our great nation. How can we be so blind as to continue to allow this to take place?

How I wish to provoke, agitate, aggravate you enough that you will rise up and storm the halls of congress with your letters, emails, and telephone calls. Hold your representatives and senators to their responsibility to do what we elected them to do.

If you are young enough, go to work today in your community, city, town, and state gather like minded individuals rise up get elected to school boards, county, city and state offices make solid changes to resurrect our Republic and sustain it.
If you are already involved in politics find out what constitutes are concerned about and make it happen. If you are too old to begin a new profession, become more aware of what is going on in our nation, share with the young lions, sponsor them, encourage them, stay in constant contact with your elected officials at every level and let them know your concerns and what you think of their performance.

May God give us all the wisdom and strength to take every necessary action to resurrect and sustain our weak and feeble nation?

Morris Clopton

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are
Conscious of our treasures.” – Thornton Wilder

95 year old hero! Letter To Obama at Whitehouse from 95 year Old Pearl
Harbor Survivor !!
Harold Estes

This venerable and much honored WW II vet is well known in Hawaii
For his seventy-plus years of service to patriotic organizations and
Causes all over the country. A humble man without a political bone in his
Body, he has never spoken out before about a government official, until
Now. He dictated this letter to a friend, signed it and mailed it to the
President.

Dear President Obama,

My name is Harold Estes, approaching 95 on December 13 of this year.
People meeting me for the first time don’t believe my age because I
Remain wrinkle free and pretty much mentally alert.

I enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1934 and served proudly before, during and
After WW II retiring as a Master Chief Bos’n Mate. Now I live in a “rest
Home” located on the western end of Pearl Harbor , allowing me to keep
Alive the memories of 23 years of service to my country.

One of the benefits of my age, perhaps the only one, is to speak my mind,
Blunt and direct even to the head man.

So here goes.

I am amazed, angry and determined not to see my country die before I do,
But you seem hell bent not to grant me that wish.

I can’t figure out what country you are the president of.
You fly around the world telling our friends and enemies despicable lies
Like:
“We’re no longer a Christian nation”
” America is arrogant” – (Your wife even
Announced to the world,” America is mean-
Spirited. ” Please tell her to try preaching
That nonsense to 23 generations of our
War dead buried all over the globe who
Died for no other reason than to free a
Whole lot of strangers from tyranny and
Hopelessness.)
I’d say shame on the both of you, but I don’t think you like America, nor
Do I see an ounce of gratefulness in anything you do, for the obvious
Gifts this country has given you. To be without shame or gratefulness is a
Dangerous thing for a man sitting in the White House.

After 9/11 you said, ” America hasn’t lived up to her ideals.”

Which ones did you mean? Was it the notion of personal liberty that 11,000
Farmers and shopkeepers died for to win independence from the British? Or
Maybe the ideal that no man should be a slave to another man, that 500,000
Men died for in the Civil War? I hope you didn’t mean the ideal 470,000
Fathers, brothers, husbands, and a lot of fellas I knew personally died
For in WWII, because we felt real strongly about not letting any nation
Push us around, because we stand for freedom.

I don’t think you mean the ideal that says equality is better than
Discrimination. You know the one that a whole lot of white people
Understood when they helped to get you elected.

Take a little advice from a very old geezer, young man.

Shape up and start acting like an American. If you don’t, I’ll do what I
Can to see you get shipped out of that fancy rental on Pennsylvania Avenue
. You were elected to lead not to bow, apologize and kiss the hands of
Murderers and corrupt leaders who still treat their people like slaves.

And just who do you think you are telling the American people not to jump
To conclusions and condemn that Muslim major who killed 13 of his fellow
Soldiers and wounded dozens more. You mean you don’t want us to do what
You did when that white cop used force to subdue that black college
Professor in Massachusetts , who was putting up a fight? You don’t mind
Offending the police calling them stupid but you don’t want us to offend
Muslim fanatics by calling them what they are, terrorists.

One more thing. I realize you never served in the military and never had
To defend your country with your life, but you’re the Commander-in-Chief
Now, son. Do your job. When your battle-hardened field General asks you
For 40,000 more troops to complete the mission, give them to him. But if
You’re not in this fight to win, then get out. The life of one American
Soldier is not worth the best political strategy you’re thinking of.

You could be our greatest president because you face the greatest
Challenge ever presented to any president.
You’re not going to restore American greatness by bringing back our
Bloated economy. That’s not our greatest threat. Losing the heart and
soul of who we are as Americans is our big fight now.
And I sure as hell don’t want to think my president is the enemy in this
final battle…

Sincerely,
Harold B. Estes

National Rifle Association of America
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, VA 22030

March 14, 2011

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We read your editorial submission to the Arizona Star. However, to focus a national dialogue on guns – and not criminals or mental health issues – misses the point entirely. Americans are not afraid of gun ownership. To the contrary, they overwhelmingly support the fundamental, individual right to keep and bear arms. The primary reason why tens of millions of Americans own firearms is that they fear violent criminals roaming the streets undeterred.

We agree with your assertion that “Americans by and large rightly refrained from finger-pointing” in light of the shooting in Tucson. In truth, the professional corps of gun control lobbyists moved with lightning speed to exploit the tragedy. These included the Violence Policy Center (“In the wake of these kind of incidents, the trick is to move quickly”), the Brady Campaign (“Gabrielle Giffords Shooting ‘Inevitable’”) and Mayors Against Illegal Guns-MAIG (“Bloomberg, Mayors Outline Steps to Help Prevent Another Tucson Shooting”). Your article contains talking points nearly identical to the ones circulated by MAIG for weeks in pursuit of its longstanding gun control agenda. In contrast, it was the National Rifle Association that avoided “playing politics with other people’s pain” with our consistent response that only thoughts and prayers for the victims and their families were appropriate in the immediate aftermath.

We also agree with your statement that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to bear arms. Your record as a public official, however, is anything but supportive of the rights of law-abiding gun owners. In fact, when Congress had an opportunity to voice its support for the basic right of lawful Americans to own firearms, you refused to join a bipartisan majority of more than 300 of your colleagues in signing the congressional amicus brief to the Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller. In addition, you previously stated (and have never retracted) your support for both Washington, D.C.’s and Chicago’s handgun and self-defense bans that the Court rightfully struck down in Heller and McDonald v. Chicago. Further, you surrounded yourself with advisors who have advocated against the Second Amendment for years (Eric Holder, Hillary Clinton and Rahm Emanuel, to name just a few) and you nominated Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court, one of whom has already attempted to eliminate the Second Amendment right entirely. More recently, you selected Andrew Traver to head the BATFE, despite his long-standing association with groups that support onerous new restrictions on our rights.

If you do in fact believe the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right, we suggest you demonstrate that in your policies and those of your Administration, which you have not done to date. Simply saying that you support the right to keep and bear arms is mere lip service if not put into action.

The government owes its citizens its most vigorous efforts to enforce penalties against those who violate our existing laws. The NRA has members proudly serving in law enforcement agencies at every level. Rank and file law enforcement want to arrest bad people – not harass law-abiding gun owners and retailers.

As for enforcing the laws on the books, we strongly suggest you enforce those that actually take violent criminals off the streets. To start, we urge you to contact every U.S. Attorney and ask them to bring at least ten cases per month against drug dealers, gang members and other violent felons caught illegally possessing firearms. By prosecuting these criminals in federal court – rather than state court – strong sentencing guidelines would apply and charges would not be plea-bargained or dismissed, nor would criminals be released after serving only a fraction of their sentences. This simple directive would result in roughly 12,000 violent criminals being taken off the streets every year. Surely you agree that this would be a good first step.

Unfortunately, your Administration is currently under a cloud for allegedly encouraging violations of federal law. We suggest that you bring an immediate stop to BATFE’s “Fast and Furious” operation, in which an unknown number of illegal firearm transactions were detected – and then encouraged to fruition by your BATFE, which allegedly decided to let thousands of firearms “walk” across the border and into the hands of murderous drug cartels. One federal officer has recently been killed and no one can predict what mayhem will still ensue. Despite the protests of gun dealers who wished to terminate these transactions, your Administration reportedly encouraged violations of federal firearms laws – and undermined the firearm industry’s concerted efforts to deter straw purchases through the “Don’t Lie for the Other Guy” program. We hope you agree with our belief that this burgeoning scandal merits a full and independent investigation.

There are additional steps you can take to prevent tragic events such as the Tucson shooting from occurring in the future. One of these is to call on the national news media to refrain from giving deranged criminals minute-by-minute coverage of their heinous acts, which only serves to encourage copycat behavior. If media outlets won’t show a fan running onto the field during a baseball game because they don’t want to encourage that behavior by others – surely they can listen to law enforcement experts and refuse to air the photographs, video messages, or Facebook postings of madmen and murderers.

Another step is to encourage people to report red flags when they see them. In the case of Tucson, a man clearly bent on violence was not reported to the proper authorities by those who had good reason to believe he had serious mental problems. That’s not a deficiency in our gun laws, it’s a deficiency in our mental health system – and should be treated as such.

In closing, we agree that gun owners in America are highly responsible. This is in large part due to the NRA’s 140 years of dedication to promoting safe and responsible gun ownership, an effort on which we take a back seat to no one. We welcome any serious discussion on policies that focus on prosecuting criminals and fixing deficiencies in the mental health system. Any proposals to the contrary are not a legitimate approach to the issue.

Sincerely,

Wayne LaPierre
Executive Vice President
National Rifle Association

Chris W. Cox
Executive Director
NRA-ILA