Saturday 5/9/15 Old Man, Old Story! (4)

Dear Father in Heaven: Thanks for the beautiful days we have been having. Lord Jesus, I love You, and I want to thank You for going to the cross for me. I am so unworthy of what You did for me and all others. Lord Jesus, thank You for setting it up that we got to see Matthew. Thank You for answering our prayers about him. Please, Lord, help him. I pray for our nation today, Lord, and I pray that the United States of America will turn from our wicked ways and come back to You so that our nation will be healed. Lord, You are our last hope, and yes, You have always been our only hope. America, please trust in God. Lord Jesus, please bless and protect our President and other leaders. Bless Mrs. Obama and the girls also, Lord. Please, Lord, protect our military wherever they are serving. Protect our police and keep them safe. Please be with all the firefighters, and Lord, that new class that just finished training at Harrisburg Area Community College. Thank for keeping Chief Coburn safe these years and giving him the ability to teach new firefighters. Lord, be with them as they run into buildings as I and others would be running out. Lord, please help me now with the message and then to get it dispatched. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Brothers and sisters: Prayers were answered as we got to sit down and see Matthew after almost three years. Dear brothers and sisters, please keep praying for him. I want to thank all of you for prayers and give God all the glory. Please note that it seems sometimes our prayers are falling on deaf ears. But they are not, we just need to learn to keep praying until something happens. It is in the hands of God and that is the best and only place to put thins. I pray I will get back to a more daily schedule in writing. I just keep praying the pain will let up. Anyway, I want to get to the message, Old Man, Old Story.

Saturday: May 9, 2015: Old Man, Old Story (Day Four)

I Love to Tell the Story: (Catherine Hankey, William G. Fischer)

Chorus:

I love to tell the story!  'Twill be my theme in glory.
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story!  'Twill be my theme in glory.
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

Luke 3:2b - The Word of God came to John, son of Zechariah, in the desert. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him. 5 Every alley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. 6 And all mankind will see God's salvation.'" (NIV)

Mark 1:6 - John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. (NIV)

A lot of years ago, although it seems like just yesterday, I was at a "Couriers concert." These men started to sing a song called "John the Baptist." During the song, singer/song writer Neil Enloe pointed tome as to say I might look like this man from the wild. I do admit that I just might look a tad like old John, but I do not like locusts and honey, however, peanut butter and honey, that is good. Ever since Neil did that I look at some of the people from the Bible and think well, maybe this is the one that I might have looked like. I confess I want most to act like and follow Jesus, but looking like John, well, that is not all that bad.

Since being "Born Again" and growing nearer and nearer to God and wanting to follow Him and to work for Him, my message most often is the same message that John the Baptist took out to the masses. Yes, my message for all of you this day would be to "Repent" for the Kingdom of God is near. REPENT, for the Kingdom of God is near. REPENT, for the return of Jesus is near. REPENT and follow Jesus and invite Him into your heart for He is  the way to Heaven, and He is the only way to Heaven. All my messages will not get you into Heaven, but if you follow them, follow what I am trying to tell you and call on Jesus to save your soul, then you will make it to Heaven. One of the rules taught by John and I am telling you this today. These words still good from John today and relayed by me. REPENT, for our Lord Jesus is coming back and soon.

So once again today I want to thank Neil, Duane, Phil, Dave, Tim, Doug, and others who have helped me grow in the Lord and still keep my "Old Man" look as I look back and tell some of those "Old Stories." And while he was called John the Baptist, I will be happy with Pastor Dan or Santa. Yes, Santa. And one of these days, the Old Man Story will tell you how an old man used and still uses Santa (the world's biggest miff) to tell the Old Story of Jesus, the greatest story ever told about the GREATEST MAN who ever walked on the face of the earth.

Dear Father in Heaven, please  help us to follow the words of John the Baptist and also Jesus when they told us to repent of our sins. Help us to repent and walk in the steps and the light of Jesus. Help all those this day that do now know You to come and fall in love with You. Help us serve You this day as we hand out food in Your name. In Jesus' Name, I give thanks and pray. Amen.

Now go forth, praying, repenting and enjoying your day by sharing your blessings. Love ya.

Pastor Dan