AAA

In the year 2004, what we call serving time is what the Apostle Paul
served as a prisoner in Rome. Held a prisoner and being human
having to have the emotions that go with one who is confined and 
looking for something in their life.

Going from BAH HUMBUG, to WHY GOD! Searching for The
Purpose Driven Life in a world of confusion.

The Apostle Paul must have felt that way as he wrote the letters to the
Ephesians. For even though Paul the Apostle was a prisoner he knew and 
believed in God. He knew to be an Apostle meant “to be chosen and sent 
out by God to preach the Gospel.” Yet one may wonder. If I have been 
chosen by God to preach the Gospel, whom do I preach to? Why in this 
day and age is there so much turmoil, war, hatred, and unrest? How does 
one place trust in God’s promises, let alone people in the world? 

Open your Bible to Matthew 16: 5-12

“When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to
bring any bread. Jesus said to the disciples, “Take warning and be-
ware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” And the disciples 
discussed it among themselves saying, “We brought no bread.” But 
Jesus aware of this, said, “O men of little faith, why do you discuss 
among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet 
understand? Do you not remember the five loaves of the five thousand, 
and how many baskets you gathered? How is it that you fail to perceive 
that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees 
and the Sadducees. Then the disciples understood that Jesus did not 
tell them to beware of the yeast of the bread, but of the teaching of the 
Pharisee and Sadducees. 


Jesus used the example of yeast for yeast is put into bread to make it
rise, and it only takes a little to affect a whole batch of dough. It only takes 
a little bit of yeast, evil in our everyday life, to affect a large group, a family,
a congregation . The wrong teachings of Pharisees and Sadducees were
leading, are still leading, many people astray. As Christians we need to 
beware in our daily walk of the tendency to say, “How can this little wrong
affect anything?” For some the challenge is in trusting God with the little 
things that can become life changing.

Are you seeking the God I want or are you seeking the God who is?
Trusting that you can turn to God even if there does not appear to be a
positive answer on the horizon before you. Beware of the false teachings
of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Beware of the yeast, it only takes a 
little to ruin everything.

Drinking, drugs, gambling, acting out may be a sign of loneliness and
of one, a child of God, who has no feeling of self worth let alone a feeling
of an accomplishment and or a goal in their life.

You may ask, in my daily life where can I go? Go get drunk on Jesus,
not on Bud or Samuel, or Glen, or Miller, or Lambrusco, but Jesus Christ. 
Not walking in wisdom is a fix however one describes it. 

Ephesians 5: 15-18
“Look carefully then at how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do
not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not
get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the
Holy Spirit.”

In the words of 2004,

Don’t escape to hide your pain. That cheapens you and your life. Indulge 
in the spirit of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, sings songs of praise to 
God in rejoicing and be aware of your happiness. Be filled with the Holy 
Spirit, don’t live carelessly but as God the Father wants you to live.

Today in the church is known as Christ the King Sunday and this week 
is the week of Thanksgiving. There are those who are struggling in the 
world and in the church today, at this very moment. Wondering what do 
I have to be thankful for? 

Struggling in being a “Cultural Christian” that’s one who looks good, 
smells good, dresses good, plays the part good in an attempt to impress 
those around them. Struggling in being a Cultural Christian and a Bible 
based Christian, Psalm 1: 1-3:

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor
stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seats of the scornful; but
his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on the Lord’s law he
meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all
that he does, he prospers. 

As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Now I don’t know about 
you but I am thankful and glad that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is 
not a Cultural Christian. I am thankful and glad that as Jesus sat in the
Upper Room with His disciples he took the bread, broke it and said,
take, eat this is my body broken for you. Eat this often in remembrance
of me. I am thankful and glad that Jesus took the cup and said, Take,
drink, this is my blood shed for you. Drink this often in remembrance
of me.

The question has been asked, Where can I go? The answer...call AAA,
not the American Automobile Association that one may know in the sin
of the flesh, but God the Father. In God the Father we have the greatest
care ever known to the human race, AAA.

Listen, 

My child, if you ever need me do not hesitate to call me for I shall Always 
be there for you. Call me Anytime you need, Anywhere you may be. I will 
be there beside you to help if needed and or just to be present. 
I love you, God.

The question has been asked, Where Can I Go? 

Where can I go to be alone? To find shelter from the storm, to be far from 
the crowd, where life is slow and not to loud. Where can I find a hide away? 
Where golden sunset ends each day, where peaceful waters always flow,
where gentle breezes always blow. Where is this place that always fills 
my dreams? I’ve got to find it, I’ve got to find it so that I can lay my weary 
head to rest. I’ve got to find it, where can I go in this life where men don’t 
carry guns and knifes, where there is no fighting in the streets? Where 
love is real and life is sweet. Where can I go to be alone, to find shelter in 
the storm? To be far from a crowd, where life is slow and not to loud. 
Where can I go?

My prayer for this family for Thanksgiving is go to the word of God. Go to 
the arms of God the Father for shelter from the storm where love is real 
and life in God’s arms is sweet.

On this thanksgiving go and hold onto the these words:

Colossians 1: 11-16, and be strengthened by God the Father.

It is all a process of trust in God and in remembering in our Lives. 
Remembering, to remove a mountain in one’s life begins with carrying 
away small stones. It doesn’t happen over night, it takes time, patience, 
and faith in God the Father. When you need a place to go, call God. He 
has the best AAA in the human race.

Do not be afraid, listen.

My child, if you ever need me do not hesitate to call me for I shall
Always be there for you. Call me Anytime you may need me, Anywhere 
you may be. I will be there beside you to help if needed and or just to 
be present.

I love you, God.

May we please sing "Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus", found on page 349 
in the hymnal.

Turn your eyes up-on Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the
things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory 
and grace.

On Christ The King Sunday and in Thanksgiving my prayer for each and 
every one of you, my family, is that you hold the hand of the person next 
to you and hold the word, Colossians 1: 11-16, in your heart and soul.

May we be in prayer.

May you be strengthened with all power, according to God’s glorious might, 
for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who 
has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. God 
has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred
us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have 
redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image 
of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; 
for in God all things were created through 
him and for him.
Amen




11/21/2004 JWM


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