Chaplain Mick's Blog: October 2007

Friday, October 26, 2007

Weekly ReCap – 10-26-2007 – Disasters Happen

Disasters happen. We shouldn’t be alarmed.

If you haven’t done so yet, please take the very short survey about disaster preparedness training. Even if you are not in the Peoria Il. area I would like your input! Consider the California wild fires, would you like to be personally prepared? Would you like to be trained and able to head out as part of a CERT or DiRT team to provide aid and care?

{ Click Now and Take the Survey! }

Bella - A Movie to Save a Life!
One person can change your life forever. This is the subtitle of a beautiful and touching new film called Bella that’s set for release on October 26th.
Read more. . .
The Appendix Redeemed!
Turns out there may be a purpose for the little organ that could. With this new discovery about the usefulness of the appendix, the number of “vestigial” organs from evolutionary theory is down to one. Yep, just one!
Read more. . .
Disaster Preparedness Training Survey
"When disaster strikes, we have a responsibility and opportunity to care for our neighbors whose lives have been directly impacted by tragedy."
Go take the survey. . .
'Mom' and 'Dad' Offensive?
Could the words/labels ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’ be banned in California schools for being discriminatory against those with differing gender identities? This has renewed calls for parents that hold traditional values to remove their children from public schools.
Read more. . .
'False Soldiers'
There are false soldiers in the services, unfortunately. Those whose allegiance is tied to personal or political motives rather than the Constitution of the United States of America and the officers they serve. So here is the distinction (in my humble opinion):
Read more. . .
Mid-Week Devotional - Luke 14:33
Do we love God more than our possessions? It isn’t that we should sell everything and live without, but that our attachments should change. We should be attached to Jesus and be willing to leave our possessions if he calls us to.
Read more. . .
Bible Challenge 2007 - Week 30
Fear God and keep His commands. Read, study, and write His Word on your heart. Dwell on God’s decrees and meditate on His works.
Read more. . .

Part of our ministry and mission should be to pray and care for those in need. Take a moment to pray for those affected in Southern California.

I am grateful for:
- Childlike wonder and amazement. (my son learning how his tractor “digs dirt”!)
- My wife’s dedication to her calling.
- The Cause God has given me.

[ Mid-Week Devotionals ][ Subscribe for Updates ] [ Join the Bible Challenge ]

All Scripture links by BibleGateway.com Unless otherwise noted.

Bible Challenge 2007 - Week 30

Week 30

“. . . the conclusion of the matter is: fear God and keep His commands, because this is for all humanity.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Fear God and keep His commands. Read, study, and write His Word on your heart. Dwell on God’s decrees and meditate on His works.

Sunday Isaiah 10-12
Monday Isaiah 13-15
Tuesday Isaiah 16-18
Wednesday Isaiah 19-21
Thursday Isaiah 22-24
Friday Isaiah 25-27
Saturday Isaiah 28-30

“A new survey finds that nearly twice as many people can name the ingredients of a Big Mac than can name the Ten Commandments. . . ‘I think the message is clear that we're failing, not only on a society level, but also on a personal level, to teach and spread these most important building blocks of our faith and our morality,’ he says. He points out that it is ironic that God's Laws are not well known in a nation founded on Judeo-Christian values.”
(“‘Ten Commandments’ survey of Americans: Huh?” by Allie Martin, 10/12/2007)

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

{ Bible Challenge Home } { Past Weeks } { Project Home }

[ Mid-Week Devotionals ][ Subscribe for Updates ] [ Join the Bible Challenge ]

All Scripture links by BibleGateway.com Unless otherwise noted.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Mid-Week Devotional – Luke 14:33

Read: Luke 14:15-15:32

Scripture

Luke 14:33

“In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” (NIV)

“In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not say good-bye to all his possessions cannot be My disciple.” (HCSB)

Observation

You must be willing to give up everything to follow Jesus.

Application

What would we be willing to do to follow Jesus?

Considering that he was spit on, mocked, beaten, and nailed to a cross, all of which should be my punishment, maybe we should be asking, “What wouldn’t I do for Him?”

Considering that he died taking the punishment for all sinners for all time, but rose from the grave to defeat death, securing our hope of eternal life, maybe we should be asking, “What wouldn’t I give up for Him?”

Will we bear the cross (v. 14:27), calculate the cost (v. 14:28), and decide if we are able to follow Jesus (v. 14:31)? If he asked us to, would we leave it all for Him?

Do we love God more than our possessions? It isn’t that we should sell everything and live without, but that our attachments should change. We should be attached to Jesus and be willing to leave our possessions if he calls us to.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, you have done more for me through your son, Jesus Christ, than I can ever truly fathom. I praise you, God, for your free gift of grace and for the work you have done in me to re-prioritize my attachments. Strengthen my resolve, Lord, to serve you and you alone as my master. Gently help me to live out this truth in my life. In Jesus Christ’s name I pray – Amen.

{ Mid-Week Devotionals Home Page } { Romans 15:4 Project Home Page }

[ Mid-Week Devotionals ][ Subscribe for Updates ] [ Join the Bible Challenge ]

All Scripture links by BibleGateway.com Unless otherwise noted.

‘False Soldiers’

There are false soldiers in the services, unfortunately. Those whose allegiance is tied to personal or political motives rather than the Constitution of the United States of America and the officers they serve.

So, a blanket statement about ‘false soldiers’, as disheartening as it is, is true. However, a blanket statement that disparages all service men and women (like having to be bribed into service with signing bonuses) is very similar to John Kerry's "only stupid kids join the military" comment (paraphrased).

So here is the distinction (in my humble opinion):

A true soldier: Colon Powell
Held dying soldiers in his arms early on in his career and vowed to serve and lead them with honor and integrity that is unequaled!

A false soldier: John Kerry
Scared and horrified by the brutal reality of war, ". . . in the early 1970s while he was sniveling for the cameras in front of Congress he basically called most of his fellow Viet Nam vets the equivalent of 'baby killers' and war criminals. He has continued to malign the very men and women he served with ever since." Rather than sucking it up and fighting the good fight to win the war for his fellow soldiers and his country he turned and spit in their faces and used it as a political gain for himself. He is a false soldier. (Dobra)

John Kerry, and other false soldiers like him, have publicly and deliberately given psychological and political aid and comfort to America's Jihadist enemies in a war that is as much psychological and political as military. (Dobra)

Let’s keep things in perspective and keep our motives in check.

“Don't insult the American people by saying you are behind the troops when you ignore their heroism. CNN and NBC News can't get enough of negative war zone stories. They run them all day long. And really, how many heroes are there these days? And you ignore, ignore a Medal of Honor winner? Awful.” – Bill O’Reilly

“GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - A Navy SEAL who was killed while leading a reconnaissance mission in Afghanistan will receive the nation's highest military award, the Medal of Honor.

Lt. Michael P. Murphy, 29, of Patchogue on Long Island, is the first Medal of Honor recipient for combat in Afghanistan, the Navy said in a statement Thursday. . .

Even after being wounded, Murphy crawled into the open to make a radio call for help and still continued to fight, the Navy said. The call ultimately allowed the rescue of one wounded SEAL and the recoveries of the bodies of Murphy and two others killed in the firefight.”
- Full story here: SEAL to Get Posthumous Medal of Honor

“. . . They were brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear. Their faces were the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles in the mountains.” (1 Chronicles 12:8)

Works Cited:

O’Reilly, Bill. “Disrespecting The American Military” Fox News. 10/24/2007

Dobra, Mick. “Elitist Liberals – John Kerry Insult shows his true character!” 11/01/2006

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Specialty Devotional Bibles!
Firemen, Police, Soldier, Sailor Bibles and more!

[ Mid-Week Devotionals ][ Subscribe for Updates ] [ Join the Bible Challenge ]

All Scripture links by BibleGateway.com Unless otherwise noted.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’ Offensive?

“If you want to have sex at age 11, see the [school] nurse.” – Bill O’Reilly

Could the words/labels ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’ be banned in California schools for being discriminatory against those with differing gender identities?

“. . . in the culture war here at home, pro-family activists in California and across the country are expressing disgust and disappointment over the news that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger late Friday afternoon signed two radical bills very similar to ones he had vetoed last year. The bills could take homosexual indoctrination in the public schools to an extreme level, even banning the words ‘mom’ and ‘dad’ as discriminatory, and raising fears of state-sanctioned reverse discrimination against those with traditional values. According to one analysis, schools may be forced to accommodate children with ‘gender identity’ issues by allowing kids to use whatever restroom they want depending on which gender they choose to identify with. History textbooks may have to be rewritten in order to highlight the positive contributions of homosexuals, bisexuals and transsexuals. For years, the militant homosexual movement has hidden its agenda behind the claim of ‘privacy.’ Now it is clearly out in the public arena, seeking to indoctrinate our kids and trying to force traditional values into the closet.” (Bauer)

This has renewed calls for parents that hold traditional values to remove their children from public schools.

“Ray Moore, a spokesman for Exodus Mandate, which advocates Christians give up on public schools and either school their children at home or send them to Christian schools, agreed with Thomasson, and went further.

‘This really is a call to conservative and Christian pro-family groups to give up this absurd idea of public school reform,’ he told WND. ‘It can't be done. The longer they talk about saving public schools, the longer they prolong this agony, when they could be setting up new schools.’

He said such plans to indoctrinate children in sexual alternatives is not a surprise at all. ‘The pagans are simply obeying their god,’ he said.” (Unruh)

Here is a great assessment from Pat Boone:

“Karl Marx, the noted ‘educator,’ 160 years ago spelled out his main strategies for takeover and domination of any country: 1) progressive, graduated income tax, and 2) government education of the children. Leftist, liberal, spend-it-all politicians are accomplishing the first; and socialistic, humanistic activists in and out of government are making awful headway with the second.” (Boone)

Works Cited:

Bauer, Gary. “End of Day Report 10-15-2007” American Values

Boone, Pat. “Academic Apocalypse Now” WorldNetDaily.

Irvine, Martha. “Thousands of teachers cited for sex misconduct” USA Today. 10/20/2007.

O’Reilly, Bill. “Birth Control Pills for 11-Year-Old Girls” Fox News. 10/19/2007

Unruh, Bob. “Brave New Schools: Ban on ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’ sparks call for exodus, ‘Public districts no longer are safe environment for children’” WorldNetDaily. 10/16/2007

See Also:

- American Liberty, A Christian Issue?

- Tyranny and Rebellion

[ Mid-Week Devotionals ][ Subscribe for Updates ] [ Join the Bible Challenge ]

All Scripture links by BibleGateway.com Unless otherwise noted.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Disaster Preparedness Training Survey

"When disaster strikes, we have a responsibility and opportunity to care for our neighbors whose lives have been directly impacted by tragedy."

Please follow the link below and take this short (should take less than 2 minutes!) survey:

Would you be interested in Disaster Preparedness Response and Recovery Training for your family, business, church or small group? {click to take this survey, please.}

By Chaplain Mick Dobra

[ Mid-Week Devotionals ][ Subscribe for Updates ] [ Join the Bible Challenge ]

All Scripture links by BibleGateway.com Unless otherwise noted.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Bible Challenge - Week 29

Week 29

“The fear of the Lord is wisdom’s instruction, and humility comes before honor.” (Proverbs 15:33)

A holy reverence and awe for God and wisdom’s instruction can be found in His Word. Continue to read, study, and “store up” his commands within you! (Proverbs 2:1) Praise God for His Word and keep moving forward on the journey!

Sunday Ecclesiastes 7-9
Monday Ecclesiastes 10-12
Tuesday Song of Songs 1-4
Wednesday Song of Songs 5-8
Thursday Isaiah 1-3
Friday Isaiah 4-6
Saturday Isaiah 7-9

“Not to put too fine a point on it, but Osama Bin Laden is bidding his followers to come and die for him, and we can’t even ask our kids to stay awake during prayers? . . .

People are looking for meaning and truth. That’s just a basic fact of human nature. If people aren’t getting the truth at church, they’ll look for it somewhere else, even if, as in the case of Islamism, it’s a futile search.As Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, ‘Do not try to make the Bible relevant. Its relevance is axiomatic…. Do not defend God’s Word, but testify to it…. Trust to the Word. It is a ship loaded to the very limits of its capacity!’”
(“Youth and the Relevance of the Gospel” by Jordan Ballor, 8/15/2007)

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

{ Bible Challenge Home } { Past Weeks } { Project Home }

[ Mid-Week Devotionals ][ Subscribe for Updates ] [ Join the Bible Challenge ]

All Scripture links by BibleGateway.com Unless otherwise noted.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

The Appendix Redeemed!

Turns out there may be a purpose for the little organ that could.

“Just a few generations ago, the evolutionists decreed the human appendix a vestigial organ (i.e., a useless organ we inherited millions of years ago when it was a rabbit’s useful organ) and hence proof of evolution.” (Noebel)

But in a new discovery, “Some scientists think they have figured out the real job of the troublesome and seemingly useless appendix: It produces and protects good germs for your gut.” (AP via FoxNews)

Mr. Noebel goes on to say, “Vestigial organs have been a powerful arrow in the evolutionists quiver. When the argument was initially made, the German anatomist Widersheim insisted that there were at least 180 such organs and structures (e.g., gorilla ribs) in a human being.” (Noebel)

With this new discovery about the usefulness of the appendix, the number of “vestigial” organs from evolutionary theory is down to one. Yep, just one! “And let me predict that the latest concept of ‘junk’ DNA will turn out to be science fiction as well. Because there is so much in our cells that we don’t understand, the parts we don’t understand have been labeled ‘junk.’ Any takers who want their junk parts removed so they can get on with their evolution? I’ll bet when the day is done, we will discover that all parts of a living cell are vital to its life and survival.” (Noebel)

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,

I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
(Psalm 139:13-17)

Works Cited:

AP. “Appendix May Produce Good Bacteria, Researchers Think” FoxNews.com, October 5, 2007.

Noebel, David A. “The Appendix: The Case of the Mistaken Vestigial Organ” Christian Worldview Network. 10/10/2007

[ Mid-Week Devotionals ][ Subscribe for Updates ] [ Join the Bible Challenge ]

All Scripture links by BibleGateway.com Unless otherwise noted.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Bella – A Movie to Save a Life!

From Gary Bauer, End of Day Report, 10-12-2007:

One Film Can Change Your Life Forever

One person can change your life forever. This is the subtitle of a beautiful and touching new film called Bella that’s set for release on October 26th.

An emotional tale of self-discovery, Bella is the story of two people whose lives change forever when they find that it sometimes takes losing it all to finally appreciate the things that truly matter.

With its pro-life, pro-humanity message, Bella has been largely spurned by Hollywood. Despite this, Bella won the Toronto Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award (traditionally a bellwether indicator for Academy Award success). The Toronto Film Festival is the largest international film competition in the world.

This pro-life film has already touched many lives. In fact, a number of pregnant women considering abortion decided to give love and life a chance after seeing this powerful film.

Here’s what you can do. The film will open to very limited distribution in 31 markets on the weekends of October 26th and November 4th. Broader distribution opportunities will be based on the success of the screenings during the first two weekends. Bella needs your assistance to mobilize your companies, churches, friends and families to buy tickets and fill the theaters. To find out more about what you can do to help spread Bella’s message of hope, please visit www.BellatheMovie.com.

Pass it on!

[ Mid-Week Devotionals ][ Subscribe for Updates ] [ Join the Bible Challenge ]

All Scripture links by BibleGateway.com Unless otherwise noted.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Weekly ReCap - 10-12-2007 - Peace

Is peace possible?

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:27-28)

Incredible Video! Must See!
Click here for this Life House Skit!
Muslims Plead for Peace - Show Us!
But. . . will they publicly and officially issue condemnation for the Muslim leaders that are leading the world in hate filled war and murder? I pray they do.
Read more. . .
Mid-Week Devotional - Luke 14:11
Be humble. Turn your focus from yourself. Do not compare yourself with others and try to raise yourself above them.
Read more. . .
Bible Challenge 2007 - Week 28
“The Bible was written over a span of 1500 years by forty different human authors in three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek), on hundreds of subjects. And yet there is one consistent, noncontradictory theme that runs through it all: God’s redemption of humankind.”
Read more. . .

I am grateful for:
- My Dad. (Thanks for fixing my washer!)
- Honest and authentic friends. (Thanks BIA!)
- Visons and dreams.

Have a blessed weekend!

[ Mid-Week Devotionals ][ Subscribe for Updates ] [ Join the Bible Challenge ]

All Scripture links by BibleGateway.com Unless otherwise noted.

Bible Challenge 2007 - Week 28

Week 28

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;” (Proverbs 1:7)

We are heading down hill now! How awesome has the journey been! I pray God’s blessings on you.

Sunday Proverbs 16-18
Monday Proverbs 19-21
Tuesday Proverbs 22-24
Wednesday Proverbs 25-27
Thursday Proverbs 28-31
Friday Ecclesiastes 1-3
Saturday Ecclesiastes 4-6

- The Bible has stronger bibliographic support than any classical literature — including Homer, Tacitus, Pliny, and Aristotle.
- Truly, the Bible affirms the eyewitness credibility of its writers.
- . . . the Bible refers to historical events and assumes its historical accuracy. . . and the historical assertions it makes have been proven time and again.
- Over and over again, comprehensive field work (archaeology) and careful biblical interpretation affirms the reliability of the Bible.
“The Bible was written over a span of 1500 years by forty different human authors in three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek), on hundreds of subjects. And yet there is one consistent, noncontradictory theme that runs through it all: God’s redemption of humankind.”
Source: “M-A-P-S to guide you through Biblical reliability” by Hank Hanegraaff

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

{ Bible Challenge Home } { Past Weeks } { Project Home }

[ Mid-Week Devotionals ][ Subscribe for Updates ] [ Join the Bible Challenge ]

All Scripture links by BibleGateway.com Unless otherwise noted.

"Brethren, we came to this country to practice our religious liberties, and if we don’t get involved, we’re going to lose them."

John Peter Muhlenberg "January 21, 1776 in the Lutheran church in Woodstock, Virginia, Reverend Muhlenberg took his sermon text from the third chapter Ecclesiastes, which starts with 'To every thing there is a season...'; after reading the eighth verse, 'a time of war, and a time of peace,' he declared, 'And this is the time of war,' removing his clerical robe to reveal his Colonel's uniform. Outside the church door the drums began to roll as men turned to kiss their wives and then walked down the aisle to enlist, and within half an hour, 162 men were enrolled. The next day he led out 300 men from the county to form the nucleus of the Eighth Virginia."
John Peter Muhlenberg, American Heritage

Samaritan Ministries

Voice of the Martyrs

Answers in Genesis

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Currently Reading
The Second Amendment by David Barton"Constitution signer John Dickinson, like many of the others in his day, defined an inalienable right as a right 'which God gave to you and which no inferior power has a right to take away.' Our Founders believed that it was the duty of government to protect inalienable, or God-granted, rights from encroachment or usurpation...

the Second Amendment was to protect what was frequently called "the first law of nature" - the right of self-protection. This right of self-protection was, in fact, considered an inalienable right - a right guaranteed to every citizen individually."
Every American Patriot must read The Second Amendment by David Barton

Book Reviews

Follow on Amazon!

No King but Jesus!
One nation, under God!

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." -Edmund Burke

"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." ~Samuel Adams

Saint: "the people of God, the church of Jesus Christ. . . the idea of being set apart for God as well as conformity to God's likeness through the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit." We are all called saints that believe and have faith. The "celebrated" saints are people who lived extraordinary lives and can inspire us to do the same.
Saint Stephen I of Hungary

"The time is now near at hand which must probably determine, whether Americans are to be, Freemen, or Slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their Houses, and Farms, are to be pillaged and destroyed, and they consigned to a State of Wretchedness from which no human efforts will probably deliver them. The fate of unborn Millions will now depend, under God, on the Courage and Conduct of this army-Our cruel and unrelenting Enemy leaves us no choice but a brave resistance, or the most abject submission; that is all we can expect. We have therefore to resolve to conquer or die."
- General George Washington to his troops before the Battle of Long Island
Thanks to Jim's Quote of the Day