January 27/28 2011

"I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."

Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, I am sorry about yesterday. I got up at 3:30 AM on Wednesday, did my household things, wrote a message and took care of our animals. Then it was off to plow snow which I love to do, got back home about 5:00 PM, did a few things and it was snowing again big time, so at 9:00 PM on Wednesday evening I went back out, returning this time about 4:00 AM. Did the household things, took care of animals and it was just time to shower and get moving out for a Sing-A-Long at the Bridges and from there to the Doctors for Dolores to have a nerve block in her back... Got home and did the household things, got something to eat and went to bed and "died". When I was young a long time ago I would do those two days no sleep thing a lot, but now I am a tad older and gosh it ain't so easy anymore.

World Cancer day, Please pray for the following who have cancer: Ron Leidigh (read his update at the end of the message), Kathleen Sansoni, Jo Aguirre (she has a tumor behind her eye, pray that there is no cancer), Margaret Schwear, and Melanie. Other prayers for Sharon who is taking care of her mother and for Vicki and yes, my dear wife. Prayers also for Stanley Bingham, who is moving from The Bridges to a Veterans Home.

The Big Trip 7-4 Jesus Heals 3: Luke 4:42 - At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for Him and when they came to where He was, they tried to keep Him from leaving them. 43 "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." 44 And He kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea. (NIV)
I love how Jesus teaches by example, and I want you to look at Luke 4:42 and see that it is ok to have some "me time", some time to be alone, to pray and to think. Look, Jesus is showing us that it is ok, and He showed us that other places in the Bible. Sometimes, brothers and sisters, you just need some time to be alone with God. In the background on the news they just happen to be talking about men caves and women caves, places in a home to be alone (other than in the bathroom).

Now let's move on to Luke 4:43 - "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." Now look at this example and let's line it up right now with Mark 16:15: He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."

Now let me line them up together:

Luke 4:43 - "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."

Mark 16:15 - He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."

First, He is telling others He must go into the world and preach the good news of the kingdom of God, then He is telling us to do it. Have you ever known people who would say, Do as I say and not as I do? A lot of people, parents mostly, do that. Most often they do not have to say it, they show by example. They drink and curse and then expect for that not to happen by their children. CAN WE start setting good examples like Jesus set for us? Oh my, how I wish I would have learned that one early on in my life. On a day when we pray for those working the fields of harvest for the Lord it is a great day to point these scriptures out to you. God is good, sets good examples, let us follow them... Amen.

Dear Father in Heaven, we thank You for setting good examples, we thank Jesus for setting good examples and we give thanks for the Holy Spirit for being with us to help us follow You. Come over us this day and help us to fall deeper and deeper in Love with You. Please cure cancer from all who have it and end the health problem we call cancer. Let it be done, Lord, in the name of Jesus. World cancer day, Lord, heal Your people. Lord, I just want to confess that I need to do a better job in following You. Help me with it, in the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Now go forth sharing your blessings, and please take time to read the update from Ron, in his own words. Love ya, Pastor Dan.

HI PASTOR DAN, JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A UPDATE ON ME, LAST FRIDAY I HAD A PET SCAN, GOT RESULTS ON FOLLOWING MONDAY AND IT SHOWED I AM NOT IN REMISSION YET. SO I WILL BE DOING MORE CHEMO, ONE DAY A MONTH FOR THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS, EACH TIME IS FOUR TO FIVE HOURS IN DURATION, BUT PRAISE THE LORD IT DOES NOT MAKE ME SICK, BUT DOES LEAVE ME A LITTLE TIRED THE NEXT DAY, BUT AFTER THAT HAVE MORE ENERGY, SO AS THE AGES ROLL I WILL KEEP PRAISING HIM, JUST A BUMP IN THE ROAD, AND CAUSE ME TO DIG MY HEELS IN A LITTLE DEEPER TO KILL THIS GIANT WITH WORD OF GOD AND TO REMIND THIS GIANT, THAT GOD SAYS I AM THE LORD THAT HEALS ME. WELL ENOUGH OF ME. I HOPE YOU ARE PROSPERING AND IN GOOD HEALTH AND PRAYERS TO YOU AND DELORES. HAPPY PLOWING SNOW.

BLESSINGS, RON LEIDIGH