Ralph in the Coliseum Hospital!

 
As you can see, Ralph is back in the hospital (Coliseum)! Please keep him in your prayers, as he is not feeling very well! I asked him to look "sick" in this picture, so you would feel sorry for him! He did the best he could! He is presently getting 2 units of blood!

Blessings,
Mac

A Wonderful Service

Yes, I am probably prejudiced, but we did have a wonderful service this morning at GCF! Thankfully, we are enjoying such a sweet, sweet spirit! The unity of the Spirit is quite remarkable, and I am very thankful for it! I wish the entire world could have experienced this time with us!!

Tomorrow is Our Gathering Day!

That is correct; tomorrow is Sunday, our gathering day! I am really looking forward to our time together, especially in light of the fact that I have a surprise for you--one you will enjoy (I feel sure!). Anyway, roll on out of bed, hit the floor, get dressed, load up, and head on out to our sheep shelter: 6733 New Forsyth Road. Oh, by the way, we gather at 10:00 AM, so be on time, please. You do not want to miss the surprise!
Blessings,
Mac

Good News!

Ralph is at home, and so is Joanie!!

A Prayer Matter

  Our beloved Ralph Whitehead will be having by-pass surgery on Tuesday, January 13. Please keep him and his wife, Date, in your prayers.

A Prayer Request

 
The man standing next to me (he is second from the left) is my dear, dear friend. On January 12, he will be undergoing a major piece of cardiovascular surgery. I want to ask you to pray for him, for the Docs that do the procedure, and for his speedy recovery. I will keep you posted after the procedure.
Blessings and thanks much,
Mac

Resolutions Enslave; Goals Set Free

Dear Fellow Travelers,
This past Sunday, I shared seven goals with my congregation, goals that I think are not only realistically attainable, but also fruit-bearing, even in the process. I offer them to you for your consideration:
GOAL # 1: That I might progressively become more intimately acquainted with the benefit of praying for and loving my enemies (see Matthew 5:44). [The benefit: The more I pray for and love my enemies, the less they control my life and, consequently, the more I submit to God.]
GOAL #2: That I might progressively become more intimately acquainted with the benefit of humbling myself in order that I might be the servant of others (see Matthew 23:11-12). [The benefit: Jesus came not to be served but to serve, and I can follow no better example; not to mention that, as a servant, I am focused more upon others and less upon myself.]
GOAL #3: That I might progressively become more intimately acquainted with the benefit of being gracious to others, rather than judging them (see Romans 2:1). [The benefit: In being gracious to others, I am showing them the same blessing that He has shown to me, and in doing so, I am NOT condemning myself!]
GOAL #4: That I might progressively become more intimately acquainted with the benefit of knowing that, not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions (see Luke 12:15). [The benefit: Money ceases to be the object of my worship!]
GOAL #5: That I might progressively become more intimately acquainted with the benefit of knowing that it is more blessed to give than to receive (see Acts 20:35b). [The benefit: I give more freely, expecting nothing in return, and I spend less energy evaluating the need and more time meeting the need]
GOAL #6: That I might progressively become more intimately acquainted with the benefit of believing that justification is accomplished by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus alone, not by the works of the Law (see Galatians 2:15-16). [The benefit: I am able to rest in His finished work!]
GOAL #7: That I might progressively become more intimately acquainted with the benefit not only of knowing Him, but also of sharing in the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings (see Philippians 3:10). [My life demonstrates the secret, Christ in me, my hope of glory!]

New & Better Resolutions

Dear Fellow Travelers,
I do not make New Year’s resolutions for several reasons, not the least of which is the fact that I cannot keep them. A “resolution” has the smell of a promise and, surely, we all know that we do not keep promises, well, not very consistently anyway. It seems like the more passionately we promise not to do something, the stronger the urge to do it, and we all-too-often cave in to the urge.
As I finished writing those words, my eyes fell upon these words from Jesus: “. . . for I only do the things that are pleasing to Him” (John 8:29). Now, if I were going to make a New Year’s resolution this would be it: From now on, like Jesus, I will only do the things that are pleasing to Him!
Yes, I know what you are thinking and you are correct; I will not follow through, I will not keep this resolution! Yes, I might have good intentions about keeping it, but good intentions do not equate with keeping resolutions (promises). The fact is this: If I could keep this one resolution, I would not need a Savior, and believe me, I need One—every day and all day!
What I am attempting to say is this: If you are going to insist on making some New Year’s resolutions, please do not set the standard so high that you cannot possibly reach it, e.g. “From now on, like Jesus, I will only do the things that are pleasing to Him.” Instead, be realistic and make resolutions that are more in line with your abilities. Let me offer a few: During 2009, I resolve (1) to do a better job at pursuing my own desires; (2) to put more effort into judging and condemning others; (3) to find more effective ways to waste my money; (4) to seriously seek someone who is doing nothing, so I can join him (her); (5) to discover more ways to be against something, rather than discovering ways to be for something; (6) to create a more effective facade, one that will do a better job of disguising my true opinion of myself; (7) to spend more time developing and strengthening my superstitions and less time learning to pray.
Since 7 is the perfect number, I will stop with these; however, I honestly believe that we will be much more likely to keep these resolutions than the ones we usually make, and, I might add, these will tend to keep us aware of our desperate need for our Savior!
Mac Goddard
01/02/09