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“…therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.” ~ Genesis 3:23 Jesse Dourte is turning 90 years old. Jesse is the son of Monroe and Susie Dourte of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Jesse is my mother’s brother. The Dourte family had four girls [...] Read More
“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:1-2) The headlines on most of our national newspapers have provided a vivid illumination to the text of Luke 15. The intensity of the recently scrutinized [...] Read More
At 10am Mountain Time this morning, a judge confirmed what God ordained. The mystery of life will unfurl in full delight as the legal system catches up with the velocity of love. Naomi Wolgemuth… with DNA unlike any other Wolgemuth in the family, and yet so perfectly crafted and so sovereignly placed in the expectant, [...] Read More
Two strangers who both volunteered at the same Phoenix Rescue Mission discovered they share more than just a passion for giving back.
They were long lost daughter and father. "24 years ago Amy went up for adoption pretty early, right after birth."
At the time, Will Russell was not ready to be a father. His life was in no shape to take on the responsibilities of fatherhood, but deep down, he always knew they would again be reunited with the daughter he gave up -- he just didn't know how or when.
"I found myself volunteering at the Phoenix Rescue Mission. It was at that point in time after coming home from volunteering I got that phone call," he said.
"I called just to tell him that I was his daughter and hoping to meet him and any siblings I had," said Amy Roberson.
"Unbeknownst to anyone else for the past it's been a constant prayer that God would lead me to her life," said Will.
"It took a lot for me to make that phone call -- I was really nervous, but it was definitely something I felt like I needed to do," said Amy.
"For me to hear on the other end and she said 'Please say something.. my heart's beating through my chest..' The only thing I could tell her was everything's going to be okay... everything's going to be alright," said Will.
Will says his prayers had been answered, but here is where the story gets even more interesting. The two decided to meet the next morning.
He began telling his daughter about his life and his volunteer work at the Phoenix Rescue Mission.
"She said, oh, that's where I volunteer... that's when there was this moment of silence and she said no...the Phoenix Rescue Mission."
The two had been working at the same time -- in different parts of the mission, not knowing the deep connection they shared. "It's never a hopeless situation, if it's meant to be he'll make it in his time. God has perfect timing," said Amy. The two say their reunion is no coincidence. Amy tells us she has some surprises for her dad to celebrate their first Father's Day together in 24 years.
Story and Photo source: myfoxphoenix.com
Romans 8:14-16 (NLT)
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.
What does today’s God’s Story scripture teach us about being adopted?
As believers we are not orphaned or fatherless. We are indeed heirs to the Kingdom because we have been adopted into the family of God. He has adopted us! His Spirit is joined with ours and we are His kids!
How can I connect today’s God’s Story scripture to My Life?
No matter what kind of life or upbringing we had, there are times when we don’t feel loveable. Perhaps you think of yourself as the outsider in your family. Take heart, for in God’s family, we are all welcome, all loved and all wanted! Isn't it interesting that these two found each other at a Rescue Mission? Christ indeed does rescue us!
As a child of God, you have the affirmation that He loves you and has chosen you as His own. Don’t let the circumstances of your earthly father keep you from experiencing the wonderful relationship waiting you with God the Father.
How can I connect Today’s Story, God’s Story, and My Story to Others?
I love the story of this father and daughter that found each other. Even better is the party the angels have when one of us finds our Heavenly Father and realizes that we are His son or daughter! Even though Father’s Day is over, we can still share the great things God has done for us.
As you listen to your friends share about their lives and their dads, pray for opportunities to mention how God is your Heavenly Father. Brag on how He loves you and chose you and wants all of mankind to live with Him forever.
It may be hard for some to understand when they don’t have a great earthly father figure, but as you are transparent about your relationship to God, they’ll see Him shining through. I’m praying that you’ll be able to witness your friends enjoy another Father’s Day as they give their hearts and lives to God.
Is the key to getting rich work, risk or luck?
The role of luck in getting wealthy is no longer just an academic issue: it's also a political one.
If we assume that wealth comes from working hard, taking great personal risk and coming up with great ideas, then the wealthy don't necessarily "owe" society for their success.
But if the rich are simply lucky, or if they get wealthy on the back of America's publicly funded infrastructure, they owe more of a debt in the form of taxes or philanthropy.
The debate over luck or work, self or community, came into the spotlight last summer with a commencement speech at Princeton by author Michael Lewis. The speech was called "Don't Eat Fortune's Cookie." Success, he said, often comes from luck and happenstance—yet the successful often "rationalize" their success as stemming from talent or work or intelligence.
"Recognize that if you have had success, you have also had luck—and with luck comes obligation," he wrote. "You owe a debt, and not just to your Gods. You owe a debt to the unlucky."
President Barack Obama reignited the debate during the election campaign with the "you didn't build that" line. Many said it was taken out of context—he was talking about roads and bridges and public schools—but it still hit a nerve. And it fueled the battle over the wealthy paying their "fair share" in taxes.
But what about the wealthy themselves? A study from Spectrem Group, the wealth research firm, shows that while some of the wealthy say luck played a role in their success, many say hard work, education and risk-taking played a much bigger role.
Among people worth $5 million or more, more than 98% cited hard work as a "wealth creation factor." More than 90% cited education, followed by "smart investing," "frugality" and then "taking risk."
Slightly more than half of those surveyed cited "being at the right place at the right time" as a factor in their success—ranking it far below hard work and education.
Among business owners, however, the number of self-described "lucky wealthy" is much higher: 79% of them cited "being at the right place at the right time" as a factor in their success. Fully 68% of business owners cited "luck" as a factor.
Among corporate executives, 64% cited "being at the right place and right time" as a factor in their success while half cited "luck."
So are the wealthy downplaying luck or is wealth truly self-made?
"One way to interpret the data is that it's a balance," said George Walper of Spectrem Group. "Some acknowledge that their success is partly based on luck. But some people don't. And maybe ego plays a role among the people who may understate the effects of luck."
Article and Photo courtesy of USA Today
Robert Frank, CNBC
Luke 16:11 (NLT)
And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?
Luke 12:15 (NIV)
Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.
Philippians 4:19 (NLT)
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about the key to true riches?
God's Word tells us that worldly wealth needs to be put into perspective. Hard work, risk taking and luck do not provide true riches. God expects us to be trustworthy in regards to money, and he warns us against greed. The key to true wealth is not in what we own but in a relationship with God. He provides us with his glorious riches.
How can I connect today's story and God's Story scripture to my life?
How can I connect today's story, God's Story scripture, and my story to others?
Talk with friends about the role that money plays in their lives.
Discuss their views of luck in getting wealthy. Luck is not mentioned in the Bible but rather the riches that God supplies.
What steps can they take to guard against greed?
Working hard, taking risks and coming up with great ideas can all be positive formulas for success - as long as they remember that everything they have comes from God and belongs to God.
Talk about the riches that impact eternity.
The key to getting truly rich is not through work, risk or luck; it is by saying 'yes' to the gift of God's salvation and trusting in his glorious riches.
The latest installment of superhero movies hits the big screen this weekend. A few select cities debuted "The Man of Steel" yesterday and it opens nationwide today. There has been a fascination with super heroes for decades. I think it is safe to say, much of our desire to create super heroes stems from our longing to know there is a savior who can save us from the evil forces in this world.
Photo Source: images.google.com.
Philippians 3:20-21 (ESV)
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about HEROES?
We long to know there are those who will save us from the evil forces in this world, so we create heroes who have superpowers to do most anything we can imagine. Today's God's Story scripture reminds us that our true hero, our Savior, Jesus, will do more than save us, he will transform our bodies when he returns into forever bodies that will "be like his." Now that is a superpower.
How can I connect today's God's Story scripture to My Life?
How can I connect Today's Story, God's Story, and My Story to Others?
June 18, 2013 | admin
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June 06, 2013 | admin
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June 06, 2013 | admin
In October the harvest season is in full swing for many communities across the US. Everywhere you look when you are outside the city limits you will see people with big trucks and tractors... continue reading.
June 04, 2013 | admin
By: Jeremiah Vik Everyone wants to be a leader…maybe because following doesn’t feel as important as leading. Just a few months into my first ministry role as a youth pastor, I was... continue reading.
May 28, 2013 | admin
By: Dave Ramseyer We are pretty good at thanking the obvious candidates at the end of a school year… we thank ministry volunteers who gave of their time, we thank donors who gave of their... continue reading.
May 21, 2013 | admin
By: Dave Ramseyer Most people give to Campus Life ministry because they are compelled by the mission or the people living out the mission. So when you thank them it would make sense to... continue reading.
May 16, 2013 | admin
What’s that term? Moral Therapeutic Deism? What a mouth full, but it hits the nail on the head in my world. It’s how I grew up. It’s what I see in Christian students today. We use the Bible... continue reading.
May 14, 2013 | admin
By: Matt Coppess Before you begin thanking teachers, administrators, security guards, and lunch ladies, ask yourself this question, "How well do you know them?" Do you know that the head... continue reading.
May 08, 2013 | admin
By: Matt Coppess Chances are you really need your volunteers. Hopefully you can see the impact they have had on students. No matter their role, age, and ability, we should greatly... continue reading.
May 02, 2013 | admin
I heard this in a fresh way the other day. It was at a memorial service for a man of God. Roy Smith, ordinary by fleshly standards, but made a pretty big splash in this world for the... continue reading.
YFC accomplishes it's mission locally with these national ministry strategies.