Wednesday 2/6/13 Heroes 3

Good Afternoon, dear brothers and sisters.  Before I go on, I want to share this praise report with you.  I received this from Susie who I know from the museum.  She at one time took care of all those who volunteered at the Antique Car Museum in Hershey, PA.  Now the praise report in her words:

"Praise report:  After a simple gastro prep 1/21, I went into a rare low sodium shock 1/22.  My God-send of a husband Larry called 911 and the first responders got me to the Harrisburg Hospital ER.  More wonderful folks in the ICU brought me back from stroke, brain damage, or worse, and I was released in good health 1/24.  Our neighbors helped Larry and the neighbor's wife, a Catholic school principal, had the whole school praying.  My dear sister rallied church members, friends, and relatives to pray for me.  I would have called you but was not too aware of things!!  So praise The Lord!! Life is good!!!!!"

Thank You, Jesus, for sparing our dear, dear friend.  Susie is also one of our regular readers and a prayer warrior on this line ... GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS ...

Brothers and sisters, yesterday I asked you two questions.  One was the name of Roy Rogers' horse, and I got a bunch of correct answers - "Trigger".  Some named his dog, Bullet, and there was a debate about the name of Dale's horse.  Was it Buttercup, or Butter Milk?  I am not sure.  But one person answered both questions correctly.  It was ministry partner Pamela Bower who said the horse was Trigger and one of my heroes from today who might look a tad like me, and I left the hint, I might lose my head over this ... the answer, "John The Baptist".

Today I am going to be sending the message out differently.  I am going to try and send it without names appearing on the heading.  Please, if you will, let me know if you got the message and how did it arrive, name showing or not.  I am trying out work this out to prevent email addresses from being snatched by the email snatcher (whoever that might be).  Let me get going now on my message.

Heroes 2/6/13 Day 3.

Back in the days of my childhood (when the streets were still dirt and I had teeth) I sort of was forced into being a Brooklyn Dodger baseball fan.  Back then my buddies liked the New York Yankees and since I was the runt, I was told to cheer on the Dodgers.  It is funny after all these years I can remember some of those ball players.  Roy Campanelli, Carl Frilo, Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson, and center fielder the "Duke" Snider, the Duke of Flatbush.  Anyway, we purchased all the bubble gum and collected and traded baseball cards.  It would be nice if I still had my rookie Jackie Robinson card, but they are all gone.  But those were some of my heroes from my past, and times have changed, the roads got paved, and I purchased some store-bought teeth.  (The dentist years ago was not my hero, I ran from him.)  Today I want to look at a few of  my heroes of today and it might surprise you that they do not all come from the Bible.  Maybe the term hero I should reserve for the ones from the Bible and use the term deep respect for the others I might name.  I do want you all to remember that none of my heroes of today are on top with The Big Three, The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost.

Let me go tot he Bible and talk about the one who might look most like me ...

Matthew 3:1 - In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near."  (NIV)

Matthew 3:4 - John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist.  His food was locusts and wild honey.  (NIV)

People have said that I have that wild look sort of like John The Baptist might have looked, but folks, there is no truth that I eat locusts and wild honey.  I have been known to wear a big leather belt around my waist, though (Santa's belt).

Yes, John The Baptist is one of my heroes of today because he was out working for the Lord spreading the word that we are to be spreading today and saying these words ... "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near."  We need to be out speaking for the Lord and even baptizing people in the name of "The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit (Ghost)."

Mark 1:14 - After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.  15 "The time has come," He said, "The kingdom of God is near.  Repent and believe the good news!"  16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.  17 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."  18 At once they left their nets and followed Him.  (NIV)

On the heroes list for me today are brothers Simon and Andrew.  The reason is that without question they stopped what they were doing and went to work for our Lord Jesus.  I also look at this scripture and sort of compare it to how I was called.  Brothers and sisters, when God calls you to work for Him, put down those nets and get to work for God.  It does not mean you must give up a good job if you have one, for we can all work for God regardless of what we do, or even how old we are.  As I tell those in my flock at the Bridges, you are not too old to tell others the good news or tell them about church or hand them an "Our Daily Bread."  "Work for the night is coming, then men work no more."

Okay, one more for today and this might surprise some, but this hero of mine today is a dear friend.  He is someone I have looked up to for help.  He is someone who was called to God very, very early in life.  I met him about 30 years ago.  The term hero is used because I know how he works for God and how that never stops regardless of what in life he has done.  And while I name this gentleman today, tomorrow I will name a couple more.  People who I set my eyes on even as I was coming to Christ.  This man sets examples in all he does and one other neat thing, he is a lot younger than me.  Most folks look up to someone older, that will come tomorrow.  Today I just want to thank this man who has set a standard that makes him just one of my heroes of today, all of which work or Jesus, my main hero.  This man even has a Bible name.  Thanks, Timothy Beitzel, for following Jesus ... Love you, brother.

Dear Father in Heaven, thanks so much for pointing out people from the Bible to be my heroes of today and also people who work hard for You, who give others reasons to follow You in what they do.  I know, Father, that I love Jesus above all, and I pray that each day I can walk with Him more and more.  Father, please bless those on this line and thanks for keeping it open.  In Jesus' name I pray.  Amen.

Now go forth and share your blessings.

Love ya, Pastor Dan.