Author: John Page 81 of 166

Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”

Cricket is an interesting game, with some similarities to baseball but with many differences.  One notable difference is that it is very difficult to get an opposing player out.  In fact, there are situations during Test Matches where the same batter remains at bat for an entire day because the defensive team cannot get him out.  In the meanwhile, the batter scores hundreds of runs for his team.  It is very rare for a batter to get out without scoring a single run.  In fact, such a situation is called a Duck.  It is extraordinarily rare for a batter to get out on the first pitch (aka first bowl).  This situation is called a Golden Duck, and if achieved in a match (at any level) it qualifies the batter to become a member of the Primary Club.  Sadly, I am a member of the Primary Club.

While stationed in the United Kingdom many years ago, my village cricket team invited me to play a match with them against a neighboring village.  I was excited to show them the American athletic prowess and eagerly joined the team.  Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to practice ahead of time or even to warm up immediately before the game.  Before I knew it, I was at bat with a determined bowler intent on thwarting my cricket debut.  At the first pitch, I swung for the fences expecting a glorious crack of the bat.  Instead, all I heard was the cheering of the other team.  Sure enough, my mighty swing completely whiffed and the ball struck the wicket behind me.  I was out on the first ball, and didn’t even know what a big deal it was until my team passed on the deflating news.  They also passed on my name and story to the Primary Club who sent me a tie commemorating the event.  I had one pitch thrown my way, and I missed it.

There is only one pitch that matters for eternity – what do we do with the glorious news of Jesus Christ.  Do we accept it and connect with Him, or do we miss it altogether?  Thirteen years ago this week, I accepted Jesus as my Savior after missing His grace every time it came my way prior to that.  It was the single most important decision I will ever make in my life.

May we all remember the glorious moment when we connected with Jesus.  May this single event motivate us continuously to reach out to our needy world with the good news of Christ.  PLEASE PRAY THAT CHRISTIANS WOULD FAITHFULLY PITCH THE GOSPEL TO THOSE AROUND US.  Making connections for Christ will help bring our nation and our world into THE PRIMARY CLUB!

John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

Romans 8:38-39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Sheyann Webb-Christburg is known as the Youngest Activist.  As a nine-year-old girl, she marched with Dr Martin Luther King, Jr in Selma, Alabama.  In doing so, she witnessed history and helped make history.

Sheyann has spent the majority of her life helping those around her.  Through her story and through her actions, she has poured her life into inspiring and encouraging others.  Her motivation to do so stemmed from her time in March 1965 in Selma with Dr King; she states “I knew I was special, because someone who was special told me so.”  What a great, motivational truth!

We need to harness the same motivation and spread it to others.  God loves us!  He has told us that we are special!  We must use that amazing truth to motivate us, and to prompt us to inspire and encourage others.  We must also help others around us know that they are special.  We must tell them so!  We must show them so!  Our words and our actions can cause others to do great things for God.

PLEASE HARNESS AND SPREAD THE MOTIVATION OFFERED BY A LOVING GOD.  We are special, because Someone who is special has told us so and has shown us so.

Luke 14:16-20 “Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:  And sent his servant at supper time to say to the that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.  And they all with one consent began to make excuse.  The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it:  I pray thee have me excused.  And another said, I have bought five yokes of oxen, and I go to prove them:  I pray thee have me excused.  And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.”

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

In our busy American lives, we all have excuses about why we cannot serve God fully with our lives.  We have jobs, we have families, we have hobbies, and we have friends.  We have commitments, we have burdens, we have obligations, and we have debts.  We have an endless stream of demands from a society that is ceaseless in its capacity to require more from us.  All the while, God gets crowded out.

This is not a new problem.  God has been calling people to come to him from the beginning of time, and yet they often conclude that they “cannot come.”  There always seems to be a valid reason to say no.  There always seems to be a valid reason to delay.  Yet, our priorities are askew.

When God calls out to us, the other things can wait.  When the Lord needs us, the other things can be delayed.  We need to say yes to God, and no to these other priorities.

S. Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A tells us the following: “I think I’d like to be remembered as one who kept my priorities in the right order. We live in a changing world, but we need to be reminded that the important things have not changed, and the important things will not change if we keep our priorities in proper order.”

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO BETTER PRIORITIZE OUR LIVES TO ELEVATE THE LORD.  Let us say “Yes!” to God, and seek Him first.

Matthew 21:12 “And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves.”

On September 18^th, the United States Air Force turns 70 years old.  This year’s birthday theme reminds us of our Air Force’s willingness to push the envelope – Breaking Barriers since 1947.  Indeed we have!

How have American Christians been breaking barriers?  How have American Christian Churches been breaking down barriers?  How have we been influencing our world?  How have we been making an impact?

If we haven’t been doing a good job at any of these things, then maybe it is time to reassess our lives and our ministries.  Maybe it is time to:

• Begin new community outreach efforts
• Find new groups of people to serve
• Build new relationships with like-minded believers
• Establish new prayer groups
• Reassess your assumptions about ministry effectiveness
• Mold new subordinate leaders
• Relook at stagnant customs and traditions
• Engage newer Christians with ministry opportunities and responsibilities
• Establish relationships with community leaders
• Ensure our personal prayer and devotional lives are active, fresh and vibrant

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD DEVELOP A PASSION FOR RELEVANCE IN OUR NEEDY SOCIETY.  It is time to break barriers!

I Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

II Corinthians 12:7-9 “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:  for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

September 15^th, 2017 is National POW/MIA Recognition Day.  It is a time for all Americans to remember the sacrifices of those who were Prisoners of War and those who are Missing in Action.

A notable POW was Brigadier General James Robinson “Robbie” Risner.  Risner was an Air Force fighter pilot, an ace, and an American hero.  He spent more than seven years in POW camps in North Vietnam after being shot down on September 16^th, 1965.  He spent more than three years of those in solitary confinement.  Risner experienced extra harsh treatment as the prison’s Senior Ranking Officer, returning home with honor in 1973.  When asked how he survived his tortuous treatment, Risner said the following:

“To make it, I prayed by the hour.  It was automatic, almost subconscious.  I did not ask God to take me out of it.  I prayed he would give me strength to endure it.  When it would get so bad that I did not think I could stand it, I would ask God to ease it and somehow I would make it.  He kept me.”

As the Senior Ranking Officer, he issued the following guidance:

“I’m in charge, and here’s what I want you to do.  Be a good American.  Live by the Code of Conduct.  Resist up to the point of permanent physical or mental damage and then no more.  Give as little as possible and the bounce back to resist again.  Pray every day.  Go home proud.”

Risner went home proud!  He also offers us all important spiritual truths.

No matter what we are facing, we are to pray by the hour; pray every day.  It should be automatic, almost subconscious.  Whatever you are going through, ask God to give you strength to endure it and to ease it.  His strength is made perfect in weakness.

AMERICAN CHRISTIAN, PLEASE PRAY BY THE HOUR!  He will keep you!