Hero of Athens

J. Neal Ensminger, editor of The Daily Post-Athenian, stood before the Chattanooga Civitan Club in 1974 and said, "Let me tell you about the historic Battle of Athens and its hero, Bernie Hampton, the pastor of Keith Memorial Methodist Church." He went on to say that the battle of Athens, Tennessee stands as the most violent manifestation of a regional phenomenon of the post-World War II era. Seasoned veterans of the European and Pacific theaters returned in 1945 and 1946 to southern communities riddled with vice, economic stagnation, and deteriorating schools. Undemocratic, corrupt, and mossback rings and machines kept an iron grip on local policy and power. Moreover, their commitment to the status quo threatened the economic opportunities touched off by the war. Across the South, veterans launched insurgent campaigns to oust local political machines they regarded as impediments to economic "progress." See http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/imagegallery.php?EntryID=A043

The editor of The Daily Post-Atheian told us that officially, the "Battle of Athens" in McMinn County began and ended on August 1, 1946. Following a heated competition for local offices, veterans in the insurgent GI Non-Partisan League took up arms to prevent a local courthouse ring headed by state senator Paul Cantrell and linked to Memphis political boss Ed Crump from stealing the election. When Sheriff Pat Mansfield's deputies absconded to the jail with key ballot boxes, suspicious veterans took action. A small group of veterans broke into the local National Guard Armory, seized weapons and ammunition, and proceeded to the jail to demand the return of the ballot boxes. The Cantrell-Mansfield deputies refused, and the veterans, now numbering several hundred, opened fire. As the battle continued through the night a mob started turning over police cars and burning them. The ensuing battle lasted all night and ended only after the dynamiting of the front of the jail. As dawn came to the battle scene, out of the smoke and fog stepped a small man, the Reverend Bernie Hampton. He had a Bible in his left hand, and his right hand was lifted as he bravely stepped out between the veterians and the deputies. No one else dared to move out into the open. All eyes were upon the Bernie, knowned as "the quiet man", the pastor of Keith Methodist Church. He lifted his right hand and said, "Boys, the war is over. The victory is won. Let us end this destruction and begin now to work together to rebuild our town." As the hero of Athens stood there the deputies came out and surrendered. Within days the local election commission swore in the veteran candidates as duly elected. The McMinn County veterans had won the day in a hail of gunfire, dynamite, and with the faith and courage of a pastor.

The late J. Neal Ensminger, former editor of The Daily Post-Athenian and the popular teacher of a weekly radio broadcast from a Keith Memorial Sunday school class, was inducted into the Tennessee Newspaper Hall of Fame at a banquet ceremony Nov. 6, 2009. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Knoxville.

Gospel Story in Poetic Verse

For sharing the Gospel with others.



Day One Existence Before Time

Paraphrase of John 1:1-3 in Poetic Verse

In the first inning, in the very beginning, before all time,

There was the Messenger, standing with God, the Father.

By Spirit power, the Messenger is present in prime time.

For the Messenger, going the extra mile, is no bother.

His deeds of kindness go beyond goodness and fairness.

Though-out history there has always been an awareness,

Of the activity of the Messenger in all the universe's frame.

All creation, not just humanity, has had a sense of the same.

This Gospel proclaims that the Messenger is eternal,

God is one and there is no other. We experience Him,

As Spirit, the Presence; as Father, the General; as Messenger, the Colonel.

In John we experience God primarily as Messenger, the Journal.

All things came into existence though Messemger's foreseeing.

Without Him, not even one thing has come into being.







Day 2 In Darkest Night a Prayer is Heard

Paraphrase of John 1:4-7 in poetic verse

The Messenger is the Word of Life,

And Life is the Father's gift to all; both women and men.

Through the Word light has shined in the darkness,

And continues to brighten the whole universe again and again.

The darkness has never over-shadowed the Messenger's Word.

Demonstrated in the darkest night, when a prayer is heard.

God provided an answer by an agent from the Hebrew Klan.

His name was John, the Messenger's "special agent" man.

John introduced the Messenger, who gives amazing ligh,

So all might live victoriously, even in the darkest night,

Overcoming our terrible loneliness and paralyzing fright.

The Messenger as God's Word is He makes the Creator heard.

In the Messenger, God's presence receives prime time accent.

By the influence of the cross, the empty tomb, and pentecost,

Given to us when He came in the great visitation event.



Day 3 The Visitation Event

Paraphrase of John 1:8-14

John came as the special agent of the Promised One.

He was not the long awaited Christ, the Father's Son.

He came to introduce the Son, as the Messenger of Light.

He helped us to meet the Son, who illuminates our night.

He revealed how the Promised One always shares with us,

As the Messenger revealing to human nature spiritual insight.

His revelation is confirmed by the image of God in every person,

Providing from our birth the gift of the Creator's Light.

John introduced us to the Messenger as the living Word,

And through Him the heavenly Father's voice is heard.

He came as a human being into the world He made,

And we did not recognize nor welcome Him with a serenade.

Though we belonged to Him and are eternally indebted to Him,

Most of us did not invite Him to lead our personal parade.

And we did not recognize Him as the One who all creation made.

In fact, we are ashamed that we hide from Him when He came,

Like dishonest tenants who've been stealing the Master's grain.







Day 4 Some Received the Messenger

Poetic paraphrase of John 1:12-14

A few received Him, like Spring welcomes the great blue heron.

They did not experience Him as being over-barren.

With Jesus we enjoyed being in the Father's family,

In Him we moved to the Father's house, accepting his name.

We who live with Him have a new birth and a new fame.

Our birth did not come from this world's well known blood lines,

Nor from the adventures of discoveries, bringing new finds.

Nor did it come from the DNA of some outstanding combatant.

But it was life, coming from our Heavenly Parent.

And the Messenger, who is Christ, the Son, became one of us,

And it is recorded history that He lived for awhile in our town.

We actually saw Him as a real person, living in God's glory,

As He healed the sick and taught the people all around.

Such glory as the only begotten Son receives from his Father,

An obedient Son, full of loving-kindness and scriptural truth,

With a life of service, filled with miracles of living proof.



Day 5 A Secret Message Has Been Given

John 1:15-18 paraphrased in poetic verse

John testified about Him and cried out, with a shout.

"This is He of whom I said, 'Jesus of Nazareth is number One.'

He, who comes after me, has priority over me, there is no doubt,

For He existed before I did, as God's only begotten Son."

Our lives were transformed when in Him we believed.

For out of His abundance we have all received,

Grace upon grace and spiritual blessings shared "a plenty."

And favor upon favor and gifts heaped upon gifts for many.

While the wonderful gift of the Law was given through Moses,

The "icing on the cake" of unearned amazing grace,

Was given to us by Jesus Christ who suffered in our place.

And as we follow Him by faith, and share, "Jesus is the One,"

We are given assurance that God gives us new life in His Son.

No one has ever seen God, the Father, at any time;

Only the Messenger has an intimate presence with the Father.

He helps us communicate with our Fater on a daily routine.

He has revealed God, bringing Him out where He can be seen;

The "hidden" Deity is now welcomed on the human scene,

Just like we as children of our dairy farmer, earthly father,

Welcomed our dad's love gift of a milking machine.



Day 6 Who is This Man, John?

Paraphrased poetry of John 1:19-27

The leaders, from Jerusalem, sent messengers to Elizabeth's and Zechariah's son,

Asking, "John, Who are you?" "Are you the Promised One?

He responded, "I am God's Christ. I swear it is true."

They asked, "Are you Elijah? " And he said, "I am not!"

"Are you then a new Prophet, passing through?"

John said, "You are on the wrong track; You have a blind spot."

Then they said to him, "Tell us, Who are you?

Whatever credentials you have, it is time for you to show.

It is important now that we, as religious leaders, know."

John answered, "I am the voice of one shouting in the desert,

It is time for you to wake up and become alert.

Begin to do your job and prepare the way of the Lord,

Start over, and walk the path you have tried to divert."

And they asked him, "If you have a word from God,

Why are your garments so simple?

Why are you not wearing a prophet's shirt?

Why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ?"

John answered, "Do not focus on me. I baptize only with water.

It is a preparation ceremony to help us to be alert; to Him.

Never fear; He is here. He has already entered our earthly shire.

Look, there stands the One, Whom you are too blind to see.

With your lack of vision you have lost the ability to deduce.

It is He coming after me, as the One preferred before me,

The sandals on His feet, we are not worthy to unloose."







Day 7 The Future Started in the Past

John 1:28-34 Paraphrased As Poetry

There was a wonderful faith response in Bethany near the Jordan crossing,

Where the Gospel through John's preaching and baptizing was unfurled.

The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Look!

There is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world!

This is He of Whom I said, after me comes a Man Who takes rank above me,

Because He was before me and existed before I did.

And even though we grew up together as children running free,

I knew him as my cousin, but I did not know His true identity.

I could not clearly see, limited by my humanity.

But it is time that He should be made fully known,

As the Builder puts a corner stone to hold the structure together,

And to mark the historic site, where some important foundations were put right.

"I am now preaching and baptizing so we might come to know the Chief Artist's Son."

John gave further evidence, saying, I have seen the Spirit descending on Jesus of Nazareth,

As a dove out of heaven, and the Spirit dwelt on Him, witnessing that He is the Promised One.

Even though we grew up together, I did not know Him nor recognize his true nature.

But He was the Father's Messenger, the One, who sent me to baptize and said to me,

"Upon Him Whom you shall see the Spirit descend and remain,

He is God's only Son, Who by baptizing with the Holy Spirit makes all new."

And I actually did see it, and my testimony that "Jesus is the Savior" is true.



Day 8 An Invitation: Come and See

John 1:35-42 Paraphrased as Poetry

John was standing with two of his disciples, the next day,

And he called their attention to Jesus as He walked along the way,

And John said, "Look! There is God's Passover Lamb",

Remembering how God provided the Lamb meal in Egypt,

To set the children free from bondage to slavery.

The two disciples left John and went with Jesus,

Hoping to hear Him say, "Follow me!"

When Jesus saw them following closely,

He said to them, "And what is it you wish to see?"

And they answered Him, "Rabbi, where are You staying?"

He invited them, "Come with me."

So they went and saw the place where Jesus planned to stay,

And they remained with Him all day.

One of the two who had heard what John had to say,

Was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, known as a great fisherman.

Andrew first sought out and found his own brother and said to him,

We have found the Messiah!--which translated is the Christ (the Anointed One).

Andrew then led Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said,

"You are Simon, son of John. You shall be Cephas, known as Peter, the rock.

Follow me and I will make you a shepherd, a great leader of the flock."







Day 9 You Shall See Greater Things

John 1:43-51 Paraphrased as Poety

The next day Jesus desired and decided to go into Galilee;

And He found Philip and said to him, If you would be My attendant, follow Me.

Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the same city as Andrew and Peter.

Philip sought and found Nathanael and told him,

We have found the Christ, the One Moses talks of in the Law.

He is the One, the Prophets wrote about--Jesus from Nazareth, a carpenter's son.

Nathanael responded,"O me, Nazareth! Can anything good come out of such a place?"

Philip looked a Nathanael face to face, and said, "Come and see!"

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said concerning him,

"See! Here is a true descendant of Jacob, an Isaelite indeed.

He has grown from pure and healthy seed. To refine his life there is not need.

In him there is no guile nor deceit nor falsehood nor duplicity!"

Nathanael, overheard Him and said to Jesus,

"How is it that You know these things about me?"

Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called on you,

I saw you when you were at home under the fig tree."

Nathanael answered, "Teacher, You are the Promised One!

You are the King of Israel! You are God's Son."

Jesus replied, "Because I said to you, I saw you beneath the fig tree,

Do you believe in and rely on and trust in Me?

Be a faithful disciple and greater things than this you will see."

Then Jesus said, "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you all,

You shall see heaven opened, revealing the Father's plan,

And the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man!

Why is the First Amendment in the Constitution?

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

The following is an example of why there is a need for nations to have laws that protect their people from leaders of government denying citizens of the freedom of speech and worship:

In 1933, Martin Niemöller, a German pastor, founded an organization of pastors to combat rising government discrimination against Christians, especially those of Jewish background. By the autumn of 1934, Niemöller joined other Lutheran and Protestant churchmen like Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer(who was later executed in early 1945 by the Nazi government) in founding the Confessing Church, a Protestant group that opposed the government leaders, who were seeking the Nazification of the German Protestant churches.

In a celebrated manifesto, produced and smuggled out of the country, and reprinted in the foreign press just prior to the 1936 Olympics, he along with nine other pastors wrote to Hitler, who, in their opinion was attempting to influence the churches to replace their historic Biblical morality and theology with the political beliefs and standards of the Nazis leadership, who controlled the German government.

"Our people(leaders) are trying to break the bond set by God. That is human conceit rising against God...We ask that liberty be given to our people to go their way in the future under the sign of the Cross of Christ, in order that our grandchildren may not curse their elders on the grounds that their elders left them a state on earth that closed to them the Kingdom of God." [from TIME Magazine July 27, 1936]

Arrested on July 1, 1937, Niemöller was brought to a "Special Court" on March 2, 1938 to be tried for activities against the State. He was fined 2,000 Mark and received a prison terms of 7 months. As his detention period exceeded the jail term, he was released by the Court after the trial. However, immediately after leaving the Court, he was re-arrested by Himmler's Gestapo. He was interned in concentration camps from 1938 to 1945. He was released by the allies in 1945. After his release in 1945, he was president of the Evangelical church in Hesse and Nassau from 1947 to 1961. He was one of the initiators in the Stuttgart Declaration of Guilt, signed by leading figures in the German church. The document acknowledged that the church had not done enough to resist the Nazis. In 1961, he became president of the World Council of Churches.

Niemöller is famous from writing a poem that challenges us to stand up for our Christian principles even when powerful forces in government are forbidding us to do so.

The famous poem: The variant found on most English and American posters reads:

First they came for the Socialists, and I didn’t speak up,

because I wasn’t a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I didn’t speak up,

because I wasn’t a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up,

because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me, and there was no one left

to speak up for me.

by Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945

You will be given the Nations

Psalm 2:1-12 (Paraphrase of the New Living Translation)

1 Why are the twenty first century nations so angry?

Why do they waste their time with a futile plan?

2 The so called national leaders are in a great battle,

Against their own religious historic stand;

The rulers of education and government plot together

To deny the existence of the Creator of the Universe;

Especially against his anointed One.

3 "Let us break our historic national chains," they cry,

"And free ourselves from slavery to faith in God and his Son."

4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs.

The Lord scoffs at them.

5 Then in anger he rebukes their rebellion and sin,

Terrifying them with great recessions in their faces.

6 For the Lord declares, "I will place my chosen ones,

On seats of power in the great cities and in my holy places"

7 The chosen will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

"The Lord said to me, ‘You are my daughters and my sons.

You are the chosen ones.

You, who live like orphans recognize me as your Father.

8 Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,

The whole earth is under the stewardship of my chosen ones.

9 You will break the secular rebels with an iron rod

And smash their progressive governments like broken sod."

10 Now then, you leaders, act wisely!

Be warned, you rulers of the earth! God says,

"This world is mine. It is not your turf!

11 Accept your place of leadership with reverent fear.

Rejoice with trembling, and to Me draw near."

12 Submit to God’s royal Son. Then He will not be angry,

And you will not be humiliated by your self proclaimed glory.

For only the obedient will live to tell a victory story.

What joy will be theirs, all who take refuge in Him,

Finding victory over selfishness, rebellion and sin.

-Paraphased by Curtis R. Schofield

Retired United Methodist Minister

Fishing

He loved to go trout fishing in the Smoky Mountain streams. This time he was anticipating "the big one". Hilton and Ella Ruth had arrived the afternoon before, and had camped in a familiar area. He rose before dawn, gathering all his equipment, and was on the banks of the cool fresh stream by the time the Almighty said once again, "Let there be light."

He slowly worked his way upstream, quietly throwing the fishing fly exactly where he wanted it to go. In the first thirty minutes he caught several fine trout. He was anticipating the big one, when all of a sudden he was interrupted by a very low voice somewhere nearby. His eyes searched the foggy area, but he could see no one until he looked up and saw an old fisherman sitting on top of a large rock overlooking a beautiful waterfall just ahead. The old man was talking to someone, but he was not looking at Hilton and no one else could be seen. Listening very carefully, Hilton could hear the low voice saying, "I hear him. I hear him. I hear him." Then after a few minutes went by, the old man spoke again. He was still not looking at Hilton, but this time he spoke a little louder, as if trying to get someone's attention. He began to ask, "Can you not hear him? Can you not hear him?" Hilton then began to focus on trying to hear what the old man was hearing.

After several minutes went by with the old man saying, "I can hear him. Can't you hear him?", Hilton decided that the old man was following the same pattern that Jesus did, "And a great while before dawn Jesus rose and went out in a quiet place and prayed." Hilton decided to use this same time to seek to listen to God speak. Hilton began to silently praise God for His wonderful creation, and for revealing Himself to human beings, whom He had made in God's own image.

Finally, after a long silence the old man spoke again, "I can hear Him! Can you?" It was then that Hilton answered the old man. Speaking in a low voice, but very clearly, "Yes, I can hear Him. Thank you for including me in your morning talk with Him."

Hilton says that as he made his way back to have breakfast with Ella Ruth, it became clearer to him the meaning of the words of Jesus to his fisherman friends, Simon Peter and Andrew, "Follow me and I will make you a fisher of men" (Mark 1:17).When he arrived, Ella Ruth had breakfast ready and asked, "Well, did you catch the big one?" He responded, "I surely did!"

"Thou shall not's"

How do you handle life when you feel like you are hemmed in by "Thou shall not's"? That was the question Lucille Campbell was dealing with in the devotional she wrote for "Time-Out for the Spirit" by Guidepost. One morning after reading to her children from Exodus 20 the Ten Commandments, her eleven year old daughter responded with a rebellious statement, "Thou shall not! That is all the Bible ever says." Her mother decided to wait and pray for a more influential opportunity to respond to Donna.

Later that day the Campbell family packed a picnic and explored some woods nearby. On one old tree, next to a fence that cut them off from a beautiful meadow, filled with green grass and thousands of beautiful short wild flowers, was a sign that said, "No Trespassing." Down in the lower part of the field was a small stream that was very inviting to the children. They asked, "Can we go down to the creek and put some of these dead leaves in and play like they are our boats going down a great river?" To that question their mother responded, "What does that sign on the tree say?" To that question Donna responded, "That sign and that fence are just two more 'Thou shall not's!' Before her mother could stop Donna she quickly climbed over the fence.

Suddenly, from the woods on their left, about fifty yearling steers burst forth, bawling and bucking. They seemed to be heading toward Donna. The family and Donna had a few moments of fear until Donna was able to reach the fence and roll under it, just in time. When the family arrived home and had their evening meal together, they had a sharing time about their experiences of the day. They all enjoyed the picnic and their searching through the woods for different types of leaves and the games they played, but the one event that got the most attention was the scary experience of the steers coming out of the woods toward Donna after she had climbed over the fence and gone into their pasture. Together they concluded that the Ten Commandments are signs that God is posting around activities that could be very dangerous for our lives. Therefore, they concluded their sharing with a pray of thanks to our heavenly Father who has given us warning signs for our safety and protection.

Scriptural Guide: "And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you" (Jeremiah 7:23).

"victory or death"

It was Christmas Day in Northern Pennsylvania. A freezing, exhausted group of men, protecting American from the British, was led by General George Washington. The volunteer group of farmers, merchants, and settlers marched through an icy, driving rain and snow. Hundreds collapsed from sickness and exhaustion as they marched through the night. One third of them did not have boots. Their rag-wrapped feet literally left a trail of blood in the Pennsylvania snow. On their shoulders literally rested the future of America. Their password - "victory or death" - was their reality. Newt Gingridge claims those who made the sacrifices to win the revolution, have a message for those of us living today: He is challenging us to read the story of George Washington and his men. Historian William Forstchen has launched a new novel, "To Try Men's Souls." It is novel about George Washington and the fight for American freedom .

"To Try Men's Souls" is the wrenching, first person account of General George Washington's 1776 sneak attack the enemy at Trenton after crossing the Delaware River. This tale of heroism and sacrifice is told through the eyes and private thoughts of General Washington, writer Thomas Paine, and Jonathan Van Dorn, a young private in the struggling colonial army. It takes its title from Thomas Paine's famous work, "The Crisis," which opens with a phrase that captures perfectly the heroism and endurance displayed by Washington and his men: "These are the times that try men's souls..." "To Try Men's Souls" is a story of the miracles that can be achieved by a free people with courage and a willingness to endure. As Washington and his men march, a storm bears down on them, turning frozen earth to mud. "To Try Men's Souls" describes the unimaginable conditions the American heroes faced:

"Raise your foot, put it ahead of you, heavy mud caked thick to each boot. Put your foot forward, sink into the congealing glue nearly to the boot top, sometimes the chilled slop spilling down inside. Pull your other foot up out of the slop, stagger forward another step. There was no longer any semblance of a marching column, just an endless weaving line of men ahead, the last few stragglers of this broken army." (see Newt Gingrich Letter, October 21, 09, Vol. 4, No 42).

The Storm that brought such terrible suffering for America's heroes was called by Washington "Our Christmas Miracle." Why? Because the storm that created such hellish conditions for the Americans, who defended America from the enemy was the same storm that caused the British-paid German mercenaries, who were Washington's target in Trenton, to stay inside that night. Even though the weather caused the Americans to arrive four hours late - well after dawn - when they got to Trenton, the enemy invaders, the Hessians, were asleep in their beds. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Washington and his men won the battle of Trenton. Their victory reinvigorated the cause of American freedom. Washington's "Christmas miracle" was the turning point in the Revolutionary War in 1776, and the birth of America.

To Believe or Not Believe

By Curtis R Schofield

It takes academic "faith" and some science fiction to be an atheist. An atheist is someone who does not believe in God. When we do not believe that there is an eternal Creator, logic says we must believe that what we call the creation, matter and energy, are eternal or are created by some type of force or process. If we accept that matter and energy are eternal, as Aristotle believed, then we must explain how life was created out of dead matter(stuff). If that is so, then our only choice is to believe that in the dead stuff there is a force that developed(or creates) life. Life as we know it includes living organisms that can reproduce themselves. This includes plants and animals and human beings, plus small living organisms within matter, plants and beings that are too small for the human eye to see. It takes a lot of "faith" plus some science fiction to believe that there is a force in energy and dead matter that can create life. It takes even more faith to believe that there is a force that can not only create life, but that it can create intelligent life. Intelligent life is probably the greatest act of creation that we human beings can understand. In my opinion to believe that there is a force in energy and dead matter that can not only create life, but can also create intelligence, goes beyond faith to science fiction. If an atheist can believe that there is a force in dead matter, which itself has no self awareness of its own existence, but that it has the power to create a living being, a living being that has awareness of its own existence, then that person has to have more "faith" than is called for by the theist, one who believes in God, the Creator.

However, it is important for the serious reader to realize that becoming a believer is not just a matter of giving intellectual assent to our academic conclusions. The Scriptures teach us that faith is a gift which we must accept. The late Paul Tournier, a distinguished Swiss physician and psychiatrist, in his book, "The Meaning of Persons" and in his personal taped testimonies he tells what it really means to be a person. Because of his experience of becoming an orphan as a child he claims he was never as a child was able to accept the gift of love that his care giver offered. Therefore, he was not able to form personal relationships with others and with God, until as a adult he was able to accept the personal love that his wife offered him and the personal friendship of some Christian men who truly cared for him and taught him how to share the personal part of his life with them and with Christ.

Therefore, I choose to believe what was given to us by the Biblical writers and our experiences in the faith community of believers:

Genesis 1:1-31

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...And God said 'Let there be a land in the midst of the waters'...And God said 'Let the earth put forth forth vegetation, plants yielding seed, and trees bearing fruit'...And then God said, 'Let the waters bring forth living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth.' ...And then God said, 'Let the earth bring forth living creatures...cattle and creeping things and beasts...And God said, 'Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish...the birds...the cattle...and every living creature on the earth...and God saw everything that He had made and behold it was very good.

John 1:1-4,14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God, and all things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it...The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth, and we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.

Curtis R Schofield is a retired United Methodist minister and an associate trustee of the Foundation for Evangelism, related to the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church.

Poem

Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.

Break my bondage to this cold heart of mine,

And set me free from thinking only of me.

Over my rebellious heart give me a victory.

Once again, let us celebrate the year of Jubilee.

Then we will sing contentiously songs of praise to Thee.



Lord Jesus, once you broke the bondage of sin,

On a cross at a place called Calvary.

Surely the victory there included me.

If so, please from my self centeredness set me free.

Create in me a new love for You and all humanity.

Let it be, O Lord. Let it be.



I am listening now for whatever You have to say.

My little children, humble yourselves and pray:

Father in Heaven if You are really “up there,”

Make yourself known as the One who does truly care.

Assure us that through the power of your Spirit,

For all our needs, You will a bounty prepare.



Especially, help us to claim Jesus’ victory over the evil one.

Remember how on the Cross He said, “It is finished, it is done.”

At the Resurrection He defeated our worst enemy, death,

Through your visitation to us as the Incarnate One.

Thank You for making possible our eternal salvation.

On Good Friday and Easter Sunday at the rising of the SON.

Clarkston

Some of the world's greatest missionaries began their missionary service in Georgia. In the eighteenth century John Wesley and George Whitfield helped start the Great Awakening in America by coming from England to Georgia as missionaries. It is still happening today. Adam and Mary Hoyt, former Christian missionaries to Muslim refugees in Tajikistan, have recently become missionaries to Muslim refugees in Clarkston, Georgia. In a recent newsletter Adam wrote,

"Celebration Fellowship, a refugee church has become our everyday church when we are not in the Atlanta Vineyard Church. Celebration Fellowship is a house church model which is so effective as a strong Christian movement in China.We meet two Sundays a month in homes, like the early New Testament Church did. One Sunday a month we meet at a community space in a local park, and one Sunday we meet in rented space in Dekalb Technical College. We have 5 house churches, divided according to language, providing refugee leaders a opportunity to hone their skills in leading Bible studies, worship, and hospitality. These large group gatherings allow us to maintain a sense of camaraderie and community as a church...We are excited about what God is doing here by his grace, and the way God is growing us."

One day when Adam and I were both serving at the Mission Society headquarters in Norcross, Georgia, Adam told the story about a father who took his children for a ride through Atlanta on the public transportation train. He said that at nearly every stop someone of a different nationality would get on the train. Hearing all the different languages excited his children. Finally, his son asked, "Daddy, why have these people from all over the world come to Atlanta?" The father answered, "When Jesus came into the world over 2000 years ago, He asked us to tell his stories to all the peoples of the world. Since we have not yet completed the task, I guess He just to decided to send them here to Atlanta so we can share the stories of Jesus with them here."

In a recent newsletter Adam wrote, "We love Clarkston. We have big dreams for Clarkston and her refugees. We love the people we are becoming through our daily interactions with our neighbors. We feel a deep sense of belonging, of mission and of spiritual fulfillment here."

If you have been wishing you could find a way to share Christ with Muslim people, consider becoming a prayer partner with Adam and Mary Hoyt. You can communicate with them at PO Box 1151 Clarkston, GA 30021 or by calling 404-294-8177. Tell them Curtis Schofield asked you to contact them.

"Change your focus, change your life"

"Change your focus, change your life" wrote Anthony Fernando to his readers on June 19, 2008. He illustrated the truth of his challenge by the life of Sarah, a gifted dancer. From the age of three, her world revolved around ballet and she wanted nothing more from life than to dance each and every day.

As she grew older Sarah received numerous ballet awards and when she was fourteen she was awarded a prestigious scholarship to study at the National College of the Arts. Sarah continued to work hard at her dancing. Her teachers recognized both her talent and her work ethic and encouraged her to audition for the Australian Ballet.Three days before her audition, Sarah was involved in a car accident and broke her ankle. While the hospital classified this as a ‘minor injury’, for Sarah it was a life changing incident. Although her ankle healed, she found that she no longer had the extension required to be an elite dancer. In the blink of an eye her life long dream of dancing with the Australian Ballet was over. Sarah became very depressed and all she could think about was how unfair life was. For two long and miserable years Sarah was lost in a personal world of anger and disappointment.

Then one day she found encouragement from a friend, who helped her realized that by spending all her time thinking about what she could no longer do she had been making herself miserable. With a new outlook on life, Sarah made a change and began focusing instead on what she could do. While she could no longer be a professional ballerina, she was still a talented dancer. Anthony Fernando reports that Sarah began to persue contemporary, jazz, and swing dancing and to her delight she discovered that her years of classical training meant that she picked things up very quickly. She also discovered a passion for teaching and over time, Sarah’s life was once again filled with the joy of music and dancing.

A fellow pastor of mine told me about visiting an elderly member of his church who had suffered a stroke. Once when he was visiting her after long weeks of therapy he reported that he said to her, "I am so sorry that through this stroke you lost so much of your ability to function. It must be hard on you to think of all the things you no longer can do." To this she smiled and said, "Pastor, at first I focused on the things I could no longer do. I became depressed as I counted over ninety things I can no longer do, but I was encouraged when I read in the Scriptures, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.' That verse changed by point of view. I began to focus on what I can still do. There are hundreds of things I can still do. That is why you see a smile on my face and a gleam in my eyes."

Curtis is a retired United Methodist pastor who lives on Sand Mountain. You can his read inspiring stories in his book, "Into All The World" which you can buy at CVS Pharmacy in downtown Trenton, GA.

We Were Lucky!

When we lost Coach Armstrong we were sure that all hope for a great season was lost. Coach Al Rotella came to us in LaFollette, Tennessee as a our head coach. He was different.

We first noticed that he did not own an automobile. He was dependent on someone else getting him to and from the high school. He and his wife had a large family. It was important to him to have them in church every Sunday.

He was a very big man, but he could move fast. He was very friendly. We liked him as a person, but we missed Coach Armstrong, who had made us a winning team.

It did not take Coach Rotella long to make us forget about Coach Armstrong. He expected a great deal from us. After he led us through our first day of exercise, it was hard for us to get out of bed the next morning. Every muscle in our body hurt. He put each of us in a position and taught us a several running and passing plays. He told us that each of us had a very important role to play. He revealed to us that every play is designed to go for a touchdown if every player executed his assignment. Therefore, we knew that everyone had an important job to do each time the ball was in play.

He was always helping us to look on the positive side. In the heat of a hard practice, he would stop us and say, "Look around you at the mountains. Thousands of people come from all over the country every year to see these mountains. They spend millions of dollars to get here. You get to see them everyday for free. Enjoy them."

When we were preparing for an important game with Lake City, one of our strongest rivalries, he asked us why in the past our team lost so many times to the "Blue Devils." Someone spoke up and said, "It is because they are lucky!" Coach Rotella said, "You are right. The lucky team always wins. What is that makes a team lucky?" We could not answer him. Then he quoted Thomas Jefferson, one of our country's founding fathers. Someone asked Jefferson, "Why is it when we are in a battle with the English they seem to have all the luck?" Jefferson answered, "To win battles it is important to be prepared to fight. You have to have a plan, and every soldier has an important job to do. Yet when all is said and done, luck does play a role in who wins. Therefore, I have studied why it is that some persons have more luck than others, and I have come to the conclusion that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." Every year Al Rotella was our coach, LaFollette had a winning season. We even completed one season undefeated. We were lucky!

Biblical Guide: "God blessed the seventh day, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation(Genesis 1:31).

Poem - "The Freedom Dream"

The Freedom Dream
A July 4th Celebration
by Curtis Schofield

What were our ancestors to do? Where could they turn?
With hunger and illness, exploitation and persecution on all sides.
There was fear and frustration in the land, especially in Europe.
The stories about American land and new life made them yearn,
Giving our grandparents a new hope, a "yes we can."
And a vision of a future place to make a new stand.
They were hearing America calling, with freedom to worship,
To learn, to assemble, and to speak one's own word.
They especially wanted the freedom to have their own land,
For a home, for a place to work, and for their voice to be heard.
They wanted freedom to move, when necessary to avoid strife,
In their efforts to seek and make a better life.
Thomas Jefferson later expressed their desires for bliss;
"To have God given rights, of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness."
To the immigrates the American natural bounty,
From border to border and sea to sea, was incomparably varied.
To them it was an inexhaustible paradise and more.
For the most part, the new comers enthusiastically worked together.
With imagination, vitality, and persistence they were able to score,
With triumphs of inventiveness in technology and industry galore.
Also in communications and transportation they were esteemed.
It was beyond anything the world has ever seen or dreamed.
Unprecedented in the history of the world was the explosion,
Of social, political, religious, and technical phenomena. Wow!
This all occurred in America, especially from the 1850's till now.
In that brief span humankind accelerated the rate of travel,
To twice the speed of sound and we saw many barriers unravel.
Communication progressed from the pony express to instantaneous.
Comfort and convenience advanced from candlelight and open flame,
To control of every nuance of light, heat, and humidity the same.
While it is true that other countries helped provide the pioneer,
The most dramatic breakthroughs in progress happened here.
Right here! With the America dream in the land of the free.
While the harsh restrictive aspects of the Calvinist doctrine,
Espoused by the founding pilgrims, current Americans tend to veto.
The founders dedication to the practical virtue of hard work,
And the importance of faith in God are still valued in our credo.
Anyone not valuing freedom of worship and hard work,
Is considered not a leader, and only tolerated as a jerk.
Freedom of worship went hand in hand with a widespread belief,
That our primary goals should always be righteous,
And designed not only to see American's glory unfurled,
But to be a blessing to all the peoples of the world.
The founders believed devoutly in this country,
And believed that Americans were beneficiaries of a will,
Not for pleasures like the Roman followers of Aphrodite.
Our founders believed that theirs was a "City on a Hill,"
Being guided for greatness by the hand of the Almighty.
Puritan historian Edward Johnson wrote in the 1650's,
That the Lord has "sifted a whole Nation to plant his choice grain."
To him we were destined for great service, not just for personal gain.
Two centuries later this theme was still being played,
When Novelist Herman Meville said, "Americans are the peculiar,
Chosen people, the Israel of our time;
We bear the ark of liberties of the world."
From the very beginning the engine that would subdue,
A wild continent was fueled by a dream and a faith view.
People from all over the world were attracted to the freedom dream.
To worship, to freely speak, and to work on your own land,
Was and is the settlers' primary theme.
With the success there was an ebb and flow of cooperation,
Overcoming divisions over conflicts that arose among the settlers.
They came from every land, bringing their religion, language, music, and cuisine.
Some came as slaves, without their consent, and without a dream.
But the freedom vision was too much even for slavery's strong hold.
By 1864 President Lincoln set all slaves free, we are told.
With the 20th century leadership of Martin Luther King, Jr. came full civil rights.
The sun began to shine in hidden places. It was a beautiful sight.
The American Indian also has played a significant role in the freedom dream.
By the 1880's the whole nation was asking,
What have we done to the red man and the buffalo on the virgin land?
Without them the western plains seemed as empty as a broken glass.
The evening sun cast long shadows on the lonely endless grass.
Yet the Indians' dream would not so easily fade from the scene,
Even when the hopes of the slain red ones lay lonely on the plains.
The shadows tried in vain to hide the American Indians' pain.
But the faithful witnesses of history tell us a different story.
In the victories over the red man there was little glory.
Most died a starvation death, from destruction of the buffalo meat, and
From illegal immigrants destroying wild game that was the red man's claim.
"Total warfare" was a phrase the red man at first did not understand.
By the time he understood, the US command had already spoken.
It was then the red man's dominance of the west was broken.
He could not win, while believing one battle can decide all claims.
In his war history, a great victory in battle could achieve all aims.
He was not ready for the army's continuos campaign of war games.
But the US Army kept a coming, seeking total victory.
The Indian, not able to win an army campaign, still had a plan.
When he had to slip away, he never gave up his battle array.
Like a Roman senator in his toga, he continues to impress today.
Many rivers, roads, and places wear Indian names, they say.
These signatures verify the Indian was never fully defeated.
Think about how the US Military names its equipment,
The AH-64 Apache (helicopter), the BGM-109 Tomahawk (missile),
And the UH-72A Lakota (helicopter) to name a few.
When the academics teach about great military leaders,
The west's best warriors as listed in "who's who,"
They tell how the US army lost to Crazy Horse and the Sioux.
For General Custer and his 700 veterans, the event was a "Waterloo."
When Custer's battle against the world's finest cavalry was over,
There were no US army attackers left for the Sioux to pursue.
Therefore, we ask, where have all the red men gone?
They are undefeated. They are living among us, everyone.
We find more Americans every day with the red man's DNA.
They are butchers and bakers and "candlestick makers."
They are bankers and teachers and child caretakers.
They are city officers and drivers of buses and vans.
Many are soldiers who help protect this free land.
In World War II the U.S. sought a fool-proof encryption code,
So as to protect the nation and the services of the G I Joe.
The answer was found in the ancient language of the Navajo.
It all began with a vision of freedom unfurled.
This vision was shared by the immigrants with friends in the old world.
They responded to the vision in great numbers.
It must have been a sight to stand watching the caravan of immigrants.
They had been rejected by the land owners of their place of birth.
They made the hard decision to leave most of their wares and cares.
Because nearly all their past dreams had become nightmares.
All that is except the dream of a place to begin anew.
That was it! The dream inspired them with a new point of view.
No one can describe early American better than western writer, Louis Lamour.

"They were haggard, worn, hungry for rest and cool drink.
The inner urges of the flesh were crying out to stop and think.
But the deep desires of the heart moved them further, one step at a time.
How was it possible for them to go on? One step at a time in a death march rhyme.
But they kept moving, because the vision was upon them, with all it thrills.
They could not forget the golden promise of the distant hills,
Offering a land of milk and honey, the fair and flowering land,.
In their dream they could see it, in spite of their struggle in the desert sand.
The dream is sought by all wandering peoples of whatever time and place.
No hardship is too great. No road is too steep or rough.
No mountain is impassable when the vision is upon a people."
The vision sustains us no matter how tough.
The sacrifice can be endured as long as we can see the steeple.

- Louis Lamour (paraphrased) THE TALL STRANGER. p.6.

This freedom poem was inspired by reading "The Story of America" by The Reader's Digest Association, Inc, 1975, especially pages 8-15 and by reading novels y Louis LaMour(see "The Tall Stranger". p.6.)

Hero - Dr. Don Cannon

Dr. Cannon practiced medicine in Chattanooga for over 46 years. He touched many lives with his kind and compassionate way of making each patient feel special. We felt as if each of us was part of his own family. He will be greatly missed. He certainly will be missed by the Schofields. He was our doctor.

I remember what a blessing he was when I went to see him for my annual physical examination or when I was dealing with some physical problem. In the last few years he would come into the room in his wheel chair. First, he would want to know about my family and my ministry. Then he would ask about the issues that his assistant had put on the chart. He would cover each detail, including the effects of physical issues that he had treated me for long time ago.

One patient, who nominated Dr. Cannon for Memorial's National Doctor's Day award in 2007, wrote that Dr. Cannon continued to practice medicine even while he was fighting cancer. "He is a survivor and a dedicated doctor," the patient wrote, "I have asked him several times, 'Why do you not retire and enjoy your life resting?' And he always responds. 'I'll be in the office until the day the Lord takes me home.'"

It was a blessing and a Christian witness to walk into his office and see on a table his picture, along with a personal statement. This personal statement was placed there when he returned to work after cancer surgery and a period of recovery. The statement was an appreciation to his patients for their prayers and for their encouragement during his time of recuperation. I was very much blessed by his personal testimony, giving God the glory for the healing that had taken place in his body. I have read that statement several times. It has always gives me hope as it assures me that "the Great Physician" is at work in my life, as well as my favorite doctor and his dedicate staff.

Recently, he died at the age of 75. He will be missed by his wife, Grandeana, to whom he was married for 56 years, his daughters, especially Dr. Allison, who has been his professional medical partner for several years, and the many of us who have been his patients for many years.

The medical doctor, Luke, wrote one of the Gospels. He recorded that Jesus said, "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge him or her before the angels of God"(Luke 12:8). I have no doubt that, even now, Don Cannon is being acknowledged before the angels. Lord, help me to live for others so that You and they will be blessed and honored among the angels.

Count Olaf, the Norweigan Viking Giant

In the mid 40's my dad and mom rented a dairy farm near Scandanavia, Wisconsin. It was there I learned how to milk a cow. Before long I was milking five cows every morning and again in the evenings. The owner of the farm was Clifford Thompson, known in Wisconsin as the tallest man in the world. I remember the times that he came to visit. As he walked in he had to bend over to keep from hitting his head on the ceiling. He always came in a light gray suit, and used a walking stick to steady himself. He recognized each of us individually. Dad always referred to him as a lawyer. On one of his visits to our home he gave dad a ring from his finger. Dad used to impress others when he would take out Mr. Thompson's ring and push a fifty cent piece through it.

I was totally surprised, years later, when I was doing research to discover that Mr. Thompson had spent several years in circus life. He was known as Count Olaf from Norway. In fact he was actually Clifford Marshall Thompson, a Norwegian-American farm boy from Rugby, North Dakota. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Julius Gustavus Thompson, moved to Scandanavia, Wisconsin, shortly after the birth of their son. Clifford kept growing long after other boys his age had stopped, and eventually reached the height of eight feet, six inches, making him one of the tallest men in history. Despite the limitations of his size, Clifford managed to finish school in nearby Stevens Point before embarking on a career as a professional giant.

After eight years as a career giant, he left the circus to become a traveling salesman. Though no longer a freak by trade, Clifford was still continually on display, representing The Big Shoe Store in Stevens Point. At the Wisconsin State Fair he wore a sign that said "Drink Milk: Look what it did for me". He advertised the 1935 Ford V8 as roomy enough for a giant, although his own car was custom-fitted to accommodate his size.

The research revealed that in his spare time Clifford enjoyed lecturing to civic organizations and was a member of the B.P.O. Elks in Wisconsin Rapids. He and his wife owned a 110-dairy farm near Scandinavia. That farm was the Schofield home in the mid-forties. Like most giants, Clifford required custom-made clothes; his shoes were size sixteen, his hat size nine, his chest forty-six inches and his waist forty-two inches. He was said to consume at one sitting three pounds of steak, three potatoes, three dishes of vegetables, a quart of milk and a whole apple pie. In 1949 he entered Marquette University in Milwaukee and obtained his law degree within two years, becoming the tallest lawyer in history. He practiced first in Iola, Wisconsin, then in Los Angeles, before finally settling in Portland, Oregon. He died on October 15, 1955, four days short of his 51st birthday. See http://phreeque.tripod.com/cliff_thompson.html. To many people in the circus life he was a freak, but to the Schofields he was a hero. He made it possible for us to get into the dairy business.

Scripture Insight: "A friend loves at all times." Proverbs 17:17

The Power of Presence

Several years ago, when I was a young pastor, I rushed to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee to visit a person who had called Contact Telephone Ministry to share that she was in the process of making a suicide attempt. I was following up after the caller had been rescued and taken to the hospital. When I entered I was very anxious. But I found myself immediately calmed as I hurriedly walked into the hospital and saw in the hall a friend, the pastor of First Christian Church. He was listening to a troubled family member of someone who was in surgery. Since he was focused on the person with whom he was giving support, I did not interrupt him, but I still felt the same support he was sharing with another person. The support was coming from his presence.

When Dr. Debbie Hall wrote an article in 2005 named, "I believe in the power of presence" she had been a psychologist in San Diego's Naval Medical Center Pediatrics Department for several years. She was reminded of this belief when she and several other Red Cross volunteers met a group of evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. They were there, as mental health professionals, to offer "psychological first aid." Despite all the training in how to "debrief," to educate about stress reactions and to screen for those needing therapy, Debbie Hall was struck by the simple healing power of presence. Before they had done anything, as they walked in the gate to the shelter, they were greeted with an ardent burst of gratitude from the first person they encountered. Since Debbie and her team had not done anything yet, they felt guilty for receiving the affirmation. It was at that moment that Debby was reminded of the healing power of presence.

In her article Dr. Hall shares how she was first hurled into an ambivalent presence many years ago, when a friend's mother died unexpectedly. She had received a phone call from the hospital where the mother had just passed away. Part of her wanted to rush down there, but another part of her didn't want to intrude on this acute and very personal phase of grief. She was torn about what to do. Another friend with her at the time said, "Just go. Just be there." She did, and she says, "I will never regret it."(http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5064534)

Billy Wilson, a friend of mine, recently lost a close friend through death. Several days after the burial he saw his late friend's wife. When Billy greeted her, he said, "Mary, I am sorrow you lost your best friend." She responded immediately, "Billy, my wonderful husband died, and I miss him very much, but I did not lose my best friend. My best friend is Jesus, and His presence is faithfully with me all the time."

Jesus said, "I am with you always. Even to the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20)

Faith Story - Dr. Worley

He had everyone's attention just by walking into the room. For many years he was the pastor of Church Street United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. He brought smiles to our faces and laughter to our inner being. Once he told us that he used every occasion to share faith with others. He was an incarnation theologian in that he saw Christ somehow in every situation.

One of his favorite places of sharing faith was when he left the church at noon to cross six lanes of traffic to go to his favorite cafeteria. When he arrived at what he called "busiest street corner in the state of Tennessee," most of the time there would be several persons waiting for the right moment to cross. Usually there was someone there who needed assistance. Paul Worley was in his "hay day" helping someone in need. He not only helped them across but he also made sure he got their names and a story of something they liked about themselves or about someone else. When they reached the other side, Paul would then, thank them for the blessing that the person gave him by sharing his or her story with him. He would share, "God has used you to be a blessing for me today. I believe the rest of this day will be better because you and I got to spend some time with each other." Sometimes the new friend would say, "Dr. Worley you are the one who is a blessing. Most people ignore me when I am in need. Then some would say, "Dr. Worley, if there is anything I can do for you, do not hesitate to ask me." "There is something very important you can do for me today!" They would always say, "I can't imagine anything I could do." He would then say, "I am great need of someone who will pray a simple prayer for me three or four times during the rest of this day." "What simple prayer?" "Dear Jesus, have mercy on Paul today!"

"Would you pray that prayer for me today?" When they answered in the affirmative, Dr. Worley sometimes would say, "Why don't we just stop here for a moment, look each other in the eyes, and pray that prayer for each other."

Sometimes there was great humor in one of Dr. Worley's encounters at the corner of Church Street and Smoky Mountain Drive. He loved to tell about the day he helped a drunk man cross the street. When they made it to the other side, Dr. Worley decided to get better acquainted. When they exchanged names, the fellow got excited and said, "Paul, I knew there was something special about you. I could feel it. Is that your church across this road?" Paul said, "I am the pastor of that Church." Then his new friend got really excited. "Paul, I have been wanting to meet you for a long time. I have been wanting to ask you a question." Paul, asked, "My friend, what do you want to ask me." The man looked him straight in the eyes and asked, "Did those Corinthians ever answer that second letter you sent them?" What a joy it is to be in ministry on the street.

Scriptural Guide: "Then Jesus will say to some, 'Welcome to my house, for one time I was a stranger and you took me in.'"

(Matthew 25:35)

Faith Story - Todd Beamer

Shorty after noon on 9/11 a friend handed the phone to Lisa Beamer. The voice on the phone said, "Mrs. Beamer, my name is Nick Leonard from United Airlines. I'm sorry to inform you that your husband, Todd, was a passenger aboard Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania." Lisa turned to her friends, who had come to her home to support her and the children, and said, "That was United calling. Todd was definitely on the plane taken over by terrorists; the one that was on the way to Washington, but that crashed in Pennsylvania." Her husband, Todd, had kissed her good by early that same morning as he prepared to catch an early morning flight to California. The plane had been taken over by terrorists shortly after it took off. After traveling west for some time, the terrorists turned the plane around and by the time a group of brave passengers attacked the hijackers, the plane was heading back east, toward Washington DC. Two other planes had been hijacked and had been flown into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York. One more had been crashed into the Pentagon. Flight 93, on which Todd Beamer was traveling, was brought down in a crash on a Pennsylvania farm.

Two days later, on September 13, Larry Elison, sent out an e-mail to all employees of Oracle Corporation, saying, "Todd Beamer, an employee of Oracle Corporation died when Flight 93 crashed. We believe that he died when he and other passengers tried to recover the hijacked airplane from the terrorists...Todd's courageous actions may have helped keep the airplane from reaching its target-our nation's Capitol. Todd and other passengers probably helped save the lives of many in Washington DC."(see "Let's Roll" by Lisa Beamer, Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois. 2002. p. 184).

Nick Leonard called Lisa, Todd's wife, reporting to her that the FBI had confirmed that during the flight Todd Beamer had called on the GTE Airfone aboard the plane. The call went to a GTE supervisor, Lisa Jefferson. Todd had told her that he and some other passengers were going to fight their way into the cockpit and try to overcome the terrorists. He had asked her to get a message to his wife, Lisa Beamer, telling her that he loved her, and then asked the supervisor to pray with him. Together, they prayed the Lord's prayer, which Todd concluded with "Jesus, help me!" Then Todd's call was interrupted by one of his associates, and Todd's last words were recorded as he called to the small group, planning to stop the hijackers, "Let's roll!" A minute later, at 9:28, the Cleveland controllers clearly heard screams over the open mike aboard Flight 93. Then, just before the plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania, the controllers heard a voice in English, demanding "Get out of here! Get out of here!"

Scriptural Guide: "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." -Jesus(John 15:13)

Faith Story - Lee Strobel

When Lee Strobel was in the process of writing "The Case for Christ" he was interviewing a famous scholar. About halfway through the interview the scholar said, "By the way, nobody's going to read your book. Lee, we live in a postmodern world. People don't care about the historical evidence for Jesus anymore. They don't care. Nobody's going to read your book." Lee says that after this interview he was "bummed out." But he did not let this discouraging word stop him from completing the book that was on his heart and mind.

But the ironic thing is, when the book came out, and the biggest group of people who contacted him saying, "God used that book to bring me to faith in Christ," were 16- to 24-year-olds—the very people who supposedly don't care about this stuff.

When he shared this wonderful surprise, a another friend responded, "Of course, you wrote it as a story." Lee now proclaims that we Christians ought not to lose "the story" as a resource of witnessing for Christ. He is urging us to adapt story telling in sharing Christ. In his book, "Taking Everyday Risks to Talk with People about Jesus" Storbel says that through story and through relationships, we can deliver the Gospel not as a soliloquy but in dialogue and a conversation with groups." He says that people have become more relational, more story-driven. He reports that a famous youth leader used to go on college campuses and describe why to trust the Bible. And people would come to faith in droves. Then they stopped coming to faith in so many numbers, and he didn't know why. Now he uses the story approach. "You know," he says, "I was the son of the town drunk. This is how it affected my life and my relationship with [my dad]. This is what prompted me to seek spiritually. This is the evidence I found. This is how my life was changed. This is how I reconciled with my father." So now his witness for Christ is more effective.

Strobel says, "that's what my ministry is about. I tell my story: I was an atheist. I scoffed. My wife became a Christian." It prompted him to use his skills as an investigative reporter to research Jesus of Nazareth. Then he began to share the evidence he had found. He then concludes by sharing how he received Christ, the difference it's made in his life. It's his story. He found that people often are willing to engage on the level of story. See "The Unexpected Adventure: Taking Everyday Risks to Talk with People about Jesus" by Lee Strobel and Mark Mittelberg, Zondervan, May 2009.

Strobel's book, "The Case for Christ" was shared with me by my young adult son, Philip, who is by vocation a project engineer. He and I have both found that Strobel's book has helped in sharing Christ with others.

Sea Gulls

When I served in a development ministry with the Foundation for Evangelism, Clara and I usually made a "thank you" visit to Florida to see Alice Lockmiller. Alice was so much fun to be around. I usually worked in her area and spent some time with her for two or three days. She always wanted to take Clara and me to the beach. On the beach Alice truly enjoyed God's creation, especially the sea gulls. When she walked out on the beach with her bucket filled with shrimp, instead of flying away which was their usual custom with most visitors, they came to her. It was unbelievable to see the excitement that both Alice and the sea gulls had together.

In his book, "In the Eye of the Storm", author Max Lucado described the following scene.. "An old man walks down a Florida beach. The sun sets like an orange ball on the horizon. The waves slap the sand. The smell of salt water stings the air. The beach is vacant...

"He carries a bucket in his bony hand. A bucket of shrimp...for the sea gulls.

"He walks to an isolated pier cast in gold by the setting sun. He steps to the end of the pier for his weekly ritual.

"Soon the sky becomes a mass of dancing dots. The evening silence gives way to the screeching of birds. They fill the sky and then cover the moorings. They are on a pilgrimage to meet the old man.

"For a half hour or so, the bushy- browed, shoulder-bent gentleman will stand on the pier, surrounded by the birds of the sea..

"But even after the food is gone, his feathered friends still linger. They linger as if they're attracted to more than just food. They perch on his hat. They walk on the pier. And they all share a moment together." This elderly gentleman is committed to the task of feeding the seagulls, though the task seems very mundane (http://www.amazon.com/Eye-Storm-Max-Lucado/dp/0849943256).

Recently, a well known minister wrote, "We live in a society that both fears and avoids commitment. Nobody wants to be committed to anything these days. In fact, the operational attitude today appears to be, 'I want to keep my options open. I don't want to be tied down...

"This philosophy of life is tragic because the fact is that we cannot live without making commitments. Nothing truly great ever happens without the making of commitments. Lack of commitment leads to lack of focus, and lack of focus leads to a life of drifting along with the tide"(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR8rlTIU8_Y).

Learn from both "the old man of the Sea" and from our friend, Alice. Find a need and commit yourself to help meet it.

Scriptural Guide: "If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters; yes, more than your own life. Otherwise you CANNOT be my disciple. And you CANNOT be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me; No one can become my disciple without giving up EVERYTHING for me." (Luke 14:25,26,33 )

Faith Story - Frances Deter

The year was 1969. We pastors were so excited for the opportunity to hear Dr. Frances Deter. He was the guest speaker for a training session for pastors in the Chattanooga area. Clarence Salee, the chaplain of Moccasin Bend Mental Health Center was sponsoring this event. His topic for the day was "You are more important than a tree."

Dr. Deter began his presentation to us with a personal story. He and his wife had made arrangements for their seven year old grandson to spend some time at their home during the Spring vacation. Their grandson, Tim, was ready. He was so excited, trying to guess what his grandparents had planned for the day. Both granddad and grandmother had some special activities in mind. At the breakfast table Tim asked "What are the plans?" Dr. Deter said, "I was ready." "I suggest we go to the plant nursery and buy a special tree in Tim's honor, and plant it today somewhere on our property." Both grandmother and Tim thought it was a great idea. As grandfather and Tim went off to buy the tree, grandmother reminded grandfather to not use up too much of the day, because she had several things she wanted to do with her grandson.

It turned out to be a long morning. First the "men" were gone about two hours picking out the tree, a beautiful cherry tree. When they returned, after some refreshments, they were off to find just the right place to plant the tree. Grandmother was getting irritated, because they were taking so long to do what she considered to be a simple task. By the time they got in for lunch, grandmother was not in a good mood. When they sat down to eat, grandmother, immediately said, "I want you two to know that I am a little irritated with you. You have used up half of the day. Now we can not do all the things I hoped we would be able to do." After listening to grandmother for sometime, she finally said, "It just does not make sense to spend all morning planting one tree. Just how long does it take to plant a tree?" To that question grandfather answered, "It took all morning because Tim is more important than the tree."

Then Doctor Deter turned to those of us he was teaching and asked, "What do you think I meant when I told my wife that the boy is more important than the tree?" We had a wonderful discussion about our need to relate to persons as more important than things, or schedules, and activities.

Scriptural insight: "Jesus asked, 'Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?' Then He called a child to come to him. Jesus took the child and put him in the midst of those He was teaching"(Matthew 18:1,2).

90-yr-old gets diploma

90-year-old Ill. woman gets high school diploma

(see story after poem)

Poem

Congratulations Eleanor for your Graduation

Eleanor Benz left Chicago Public Schools' Lake View High in 1936.

Her friends could not believe, that in the middle of the year,

She would leave, with only a short time left before her graduation.

They knew that education to Eleanor was very dear.

It was a puzzle that she would drop out with graduation so near.

To her teachers and fellow students Eleanor's reasons were not clear.

Later they discovered that her leaving was related to a family need.

When a job offer came, she took it with amazing speed.

Therefore, she became the most famous "drop out" of the year.

Over the following decades she moved to the suburb of Gurnee,

Where she developed a "career", and continued a family whoopee.

Though out the years, Eleanor increased her family,

By adding 15 children, 54 grandchildren and 37 great grand ones.

During this time she never lost her love of learning.

She continued night school along with her daily income earning.

Eleanor increased her skills by attending night school,

Where she became a proficient typist and bookkeeper,

Adding valuable offerings to her employment skills pool.

Recently, in the spring of 2009, she shared with one of her daughters,

That never completing high school was a greatest disappointment.

Her children contacted Lake View leaders, and made an appointment.

A 90-year-old suburban Chicago woman who dropped out of school.

To help family during the Great Depression now has had her graduation Jubilee.

During the first week of June, at Eleanor's 90th birthday party,

The Benz's family presented her with a Lake View High degree,

Plus a 2009 gown and cap with a 1936 tassel.

She was as pleased as a queen, being crowned in her castle.

90-year-old Ill. woman gets high school diploma

A 90-year-old suburban Chicago woman who dropped out of school to help her family during the Great Depression now has her high school diploma.

Eleanor Benz left Chicago Public Schools' Lake View High in 1936 during her senior year to take a job. Over the following decades she moved to the suburb of Gurnee and had 15 children, 54 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren.

Benz attended night school for typing and bookkeeping, but she recently told one of her daughters that never completing high school was one of her greatest disappointments. Her children contacted Lake View, and the school approved Benz's diploma.

This week, at her 90th birthday party, Benz's family presented her with the diploma and a 2009 gown and cap with a 1936 tassel.

http://my.freeze.com/StoryHandler.aspx?category=31&story=314457

Faith Story - "Jane"

Several years ago I was preaching for Curt Mckee, a close friend of mine, who was a pastor in Virginia. One of his members, a student, who was about ready to graduate from college, asked me to counsel her concerning her call. She was sure that God was calling her to become a missionary. Her heart was set on North Africa. Let's call her Jane. Today I have been reading Jane's mission letter to her supporters. She had been on vacation only a few days when she decided to call her host national family with whom she lives. She wanted to report to them that she was doing well and having a good vacation experience. While talking to the mother of the home she was surprised to learn that her young daughter, Yusra, was to be married in three weeks. This surprised Jane since she knew Yusra very well, and she had never mentioned that she had found that special one to be her husband. In fact, Yusra, had not seen her prospective husband, a cousin, for several years. Within the last few days, Yusra's cousin, had returned to their village with the desire to find a wife from among his cousins. He took a few days to visit all his cousins in the area. He decided that Yusra was the one he wanted for his wife. He worked out the details with her parents and the date was set for the wedding.

When Jane arrived back "home" she found that Yusra was very busy getting ready for the wedding. She was busy with intensive 'beauty treatments' and could not see her fiancee until the wedding day. Yusra excitedly showed Jane a suitcase full of new clothes that her fiancee had bought her. Since he arrived, looking for a wife, Yusra had only seen him twice before the day of the wedding. Since they practice another religion rather than Christianity, Yusra and her husband to be had no expectations of marriage involving shared decision making, caring for each other, building trust or a sense of equality. Marriage to them was a set of roles and tasks. They do not see that in their marriage they might have love, grace, forgiveness, redemption and a God who put on skin so we could know Him. Jane asked us to pray for Yusra and her new husband so that they might realize that it is possible in marriage to have what Jesus called, a relationship where "two shall become one."

If you want to receive missionary "Jane's" newsletter and support her in her mission work, contact me and I will be able to arrange for you to communicate with her. Call me at 423-413-5653 or email me at Curtis@farmerstel.com.

Trinity

Have you ever wondered why Jesus asked his disciples to baptize new believers in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit(see Matthew 28:19,20)? The theologians of historical Christianity describe this mystery as the Trinity: God is one, but there are three persons in the Godhead; and all three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are all the same substance.

When I was in theological training we asked professor Dr. Mack Stokes to explain the Trinity so that we could better understand it. He answered us "God is three in one. Is not this a contradiction? No, but it is a mystery. There is only one God. But, on the basis of the Bible, Christians across the centuries have urged that we say more than that. Like Philip in John 14 we keep asking, 'Show us the Father and we will be satisfied.' For the one true God is revealed in different ways in relation to our lives.

"For example, we use several identities of a person to reveal who he or she is. We ask 'Who is that man standing over there?' Someone else says, 'He is the manager of this rail road. He sees that the trains run on time and do not crash. He is more than the manager, he is the owner of this railroad. And more important than that he is my dad.' He is only one man, but he lives as a manager, the owner, and my dad.

"The one true God is revealed in different ways in relation to our lives. So, in struggling to express this fact, Christians have recognized three interrelated but distinct kinds of activities in which God is engaged. What are they?...God is one being with at least three structural differentiations...They are God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (1) God the Father is Creator and Sustainer of the universeand He maintains the creation. (2) God the Son is the redeemer and the re-creator of our souls. God has come to us as Jesus Christ, the incarnate One. In Jesus God has revealed His personal and loving character. (3) God the Holy Spirit is experienced by us as God in our hearts and minds. God is experienced as very present in the community of prayer and faith where Jesus Christ is proclaimed as Lord. God as the Holy Spirit is especially experienced by us in the mission of the Church. It is God as the Spirit who inspires us to share the Gospel with others, and who gives us gifts of the Spirit to enable us to fulfill Christ's mission in the world."(see pp.43,44; MAJOR UNITED METHODIST BELIEFS, Mack Stokes).

Find a place apart today and focus on Matthew 28:19, 20. Pray that your heart, mind, and soul will be more open to understanding who and what God is.

You can read faith stories by calling Jenny, toll free(1-866-308-6235, extention 5127), and ordering: "Into All The World."

Faith Story - Larry Williams

In 1999 I shared with Larry Williams, the pastor of Sand Mt United Methodist Church, how God had opened up a great mission field in Kazakhstan, a newly established nation in Asia. Kazakhstan, as a nation, came into existence after the 1992 fall of the former Soviet Union. I was serving as the Vice President of Development for The Mission Society for United Methodists. God had opened the door for The Mission Society to place twenty six missionaries, serving in the new country. Our missionaries had discovered a serious problem facing the people of Kazakhstan. Because of the long winters, there was only a short summer season for the people to produce all the food that was needed. Our missionaries had established several orphanages. They were struggling to keep the children alive and healthy because of inadequate food supplies.

Since Larry Williams, our part time pastor, was a full time agriculture teacher in the Georgia public education system, I felt led to ask him to consider putting together a small team of agriculture professionals and to do a short term mission in Kazakhstan,

studying the situation so as to establish an agriculture program that would be available to the people through our missionaries.

In the summer of 2000 Larry met three agriculture specialists at the Atlanta Airport. He recruited them to go with him on a short term mission to Kazakhstan. He had never met them personally until that moment when they came together for this mission. He had prepared them to do a professional study of the needs of the missionaries and the Kazak people as related to the benefits of an adequate agriculture program. One was Dr. Earl Goodman, retired agriculture professor from Clemson University in South Carolina. Another was a retired administrator, Wilson Lee from Auburn University. The third was the Reverend Steve Johnson, a pastor and former chicken farmer, from California. Their mission was not only successful for helping the missionaries and members of the six churches established by our missionaries in Kazakhstan, but has launched a new ministry of The Mission Society, called Argimissions.

Recently, I had the privilege of going to Crockett, Texas with Larry and several others leaders of Agrimissions to clean up what was at green house and garden center of an abandoned high school building. Through the leadership of Larry Williams and Doug Neel, a partnership with Crockett United Methodist Church and Agrimissions has been formed to train short term and long term missionaries how to help people to be more effective in growing their own food and also in sharing Jesus Christ, who is the Bread of life.

You can find out how you can serve with your faith and your skills in agriculture, by calling Larry Williams, a retired teacher, who lives among us, right here in Dade county.