Leaders & Workers Retreat 2007

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Family Day 2007

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GIA Email Accounts

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When you stumble...think about the ants....

Paths to Ponder

Can you imagine living in the desert for a whole year, observing the activity of a mound of busy fire ants? Deborah Gordon of The Santa Fe Institute did exactly that, and discovered four main groups of workers: cleaners, haulers, gatherers, and security ants. Each category consisted of an ever-moving line of ants marching in cadence toward a specific goal.

Cleaners carried debris from inside the nest, to a dumping ground. Hauler ants circled the top of the mound, clearing clutter from the entrance. Gatherers marched off on time-consuming missions for food, and security members fought off threats to the community at large.

How could one person observe so much? Deborah painstakingly painted a tiny dot of color on the back of each ant, to the tune of over 50,000 dots! The dots enabled Deborah to chart the course of each line of workers. One of the most fascinating aspects of her study was watching the ants overcome obstacles and threats to their orderly world--a stick across the trail, invading insects, lack of water, and fire.

Haulers immediately stopped to help gatherers; cleaners came to the aid of the security force. None ran for cover, but scurried to and fro, working to protect and serve each other. They overcame obstacles by fulfilling their own tasks, then helping fellow members of the community to excel at their tasks, too. Complex adaptive behavior. That's what Deborah called the ants' behavior.

How adaptive are we when unexpected obstacles or events litter our path? How do we react when people around us stumble? What have we done this week to make our community and world a better place? They're questions worth pondering.

"Watch the path of your feet, and all your ways will be established." (Proverbs 4:26 NAS)

- Bonnie Bruno -

The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."
Psalm 32:8 NLT


Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.
Psalm 37:5 NLT

In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
Psalm 56:11 KJV

This Is Good...Looking at Things Positively

This Is Good

An old story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!"

One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!" To which the king replied, "No, this is NOT good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail.

About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake.

As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone that was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way. As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. "You were right," he said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this."

"No," his friend replied, "This is good!"

"What do you mean,'This is good'? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?"

"If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you." "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." (Rom. 8:28)

Situations may not always seem pleasant while we are in them, but the promise of God is clear. If we love Him and live our lives according to His precepts, even that which seems to be bleak and hopeless will be turned by God for His glory and our benefit.

Hold on, God is faithful! May God bless you this week as you seek His will in every situation.

[ Author Unknown -- from Pat (patr@bayou.com), Bill Champion (Tidbit Devotional) ]

GOD is GOOD ALL THE TIME!!!

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8 KJV

Cultivate Optimism Until It Becomes a Habit


"At least ten times every day, affirm this thought: ‘I expect the best and, with God’s help, will attain the best.’"
-Norman Vincent Peale-

"K-C"

Evangelism Thru Anti Drug Campaigns

Project Temple Update Oct 2007

When loads become wings to be nearer to God...

Burdens Give Us Wings

An old legend relates that long ago God had a great many burdens which He wished to have carried from one place to another on earth, so He asked the animals to lend a hand. But all of them began to make excuses for not helping: the elephant was too dignified; the lion, too proud; and so on. Finally the birds came to God and said, "If you will tie the burdens into small bundles, we'll be glad to carry them for you. We are small but we would like to help."

So God fastened upon the back of each one a small bundle, and they all set out walking across the plain to their destination. They sang as they went, and did not seem to feel the weight of their burdens at all. Every day the burdens seemed lighter and lighter, until the loads seem to be lifting the birds, instead of the birds carrying the burdens.

When they arrived at their destination, they discovered that when they removed their loads, there were wings in their place, wings which enabled them to fly to the sky and the tree tops.

They had learned how to carry their burdens, and their loads had become wings to carry them nearer to God. Burdens we carry for others may become wings of the spirit, to lift us into happiness such as we have never known.

Author Unknown -

"K-C"

The Parable of the 3 Kernels of Corn

Three Kernels of Corn Parable

Three young men were once given three kernels of corn apiece by a wise old sage, who admonished them to go out into the world, and use the corn to bring themselves good fortune.

The first young man put his three kernels of corn into a bowl of hot broth and ate them.

The second thought, I can do better than that, and he planted his three kernels of corn. Within a few months, he had three stalks of corn. He took the ears of corn from the stalks, boiled them, and had enough corn for three meals.

The third man said to himself, I can do better than that! He also planted his three kernels of corn, but when his three stalks of corn produced, he stripped one of the stalks and replanted all of the seeds in it, gave the second stalk of corn to a sweet maiden, and ate the third. His one full stalk's worth of replanted corn kernels gave him 200 stalks of corn! And the kernels of these he continued to replant, setting aside only a bare minimum to eat. He eventually planted a hundred acres of corn. With his fortune, he not only won the hand of the sweet maiden but purchased the land owned by the sweet maiden's father. And he never hungered again.

The more you give, the more you get. However, that should NOT be the reason for your giving.

Proverbs 11:24 NLT
It is possible to give freely and become more wealthy, but those who are stingy will lose everything.

Proverbs 11:25 NLT
The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

[ Author unknown -- from 'Guidewords' -- Ed:anon. ]

"K-C"

The Pearl - More Precious Than Diamond

The PEARL

As a jeweler by trade I'm always interested in the gemstones listed in the scriptures. As I was meditating on 'Matt 13' and the parable of the 'pearl of great price' I began to think of our Lord. Why did He come to claim a pearl? Why not a diamond?

'Matt 13:45' "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls." 'Matt 13:46' "When he found one pearl of great price, went and sold all he had and bought it."

In the parable of the merchant, we see that he sold all he had and bought the single pearl. It speaks to us of the tremendous price the Lord paid for our redemption. The God of glory, the King of Kings & Lord of Lords left the splendor of Heaven to claim a pearl, and gained the pearl through paying the price that was far more than any here could pay.

As a jeweler I would question the choice the Lord made choosing to leave the Father's side for a pearl instead of what we would think of as having greater significance, the girl's best friend, the much coveted diamond. You probably know that the diamond is graded in 'value' according to the 4 C's: Cut, Color, Clarity & Carat-weight. The answer to my pondering was right there! The diamond receives a substantial portion of it's value from the way a person cuts it. The work of man's hand! The only natural gemstone that has more value when it is found than when men finish with it is the PEARL. Like the pearl, men can add nothing to the value of out salvation, through Jesus Christ.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are we saved through faith; and that not of yourselves -- it is the gift of God -- 'Eph 2:9' Not of works, lest anyone should boast.

The pearl is formed when a foreign object somehow enters the inside of the oyster, and instead of ejecting the object or irritant out, as most humans would try to do, the object is covered by the oyster with layer upon layer of a substance secreted from it's own body. The object that came into the life of the oyster as an irritant, instead of being cast out is turned into something lovely within the oyster. "We are all an irritant (through our sin) to God, but he accepts us, in spite of our sin. He covers our sin and brings us into His Holy kingdom.

Think about other details of the pearl. The longer the pearl stays in the oyster the more valuable it becomes. Isn't that the character of our God? When He found us we were nothing more than an irritation to Him, but by God's grace, we can be of some value to His Kingdom! God is using our time now to conform us into a beautiful image of His dear Son. The pearl is formed in a Living Object! No dead rock is the pearl, it comes from life. The very life of the oyster is given to the pearl. What a blessed God that He gives us this chance. In Him we enjoy eternal life, and much more! Our God has communicated with us in pictures so we comprehend the richness of His Love. The Pearl to me is just one more analogy of how God can take an irritant (sin) and turn it into something beautiful -- if we let Him.

The true value of the pearl is not seen from the outside. To the world around it the pearl is just another barnacle covered nasty looking shell. Oh, friends the Lord looks upon the heart. Are you doing the same, to others? Only the Lord sees us as complete in Him. If the world knew what we will look like when our Bridegroom comes for us, they would surely want to come!

To see the true beauty of the pearl the oyster must die. The oyster is ripped open with a knife in the side, before the true treasure is revealed. The analogy in the Pearl here is like Christ's death, so that all who trust in Him will be able to see and be with Him in His beautiful Kingdom, for eternity. It's His desire that all should accept Christ as their personal savior, so that they too shall receive their salvation, and live with Him for eternity. Thanks be to God for this wonderful gift. Have you accepted Christ as your Savior?

The PEARL also reminds me:

1. God desires to fellowship with us -- irritants (sin) and all.
   
2. God has communicated with us through the scriptures, using all sorts of metaphors -- the beautiful pearl is one more.
   
3. All of God's creation: every bird, pretty flower, panoramic mountain vista, and even oysters, were given by God to show us things concerning Himself. God's final Word to us is His dear Son, and all that is written of Him; which we should read about regularly in our Bibles -- the book of Pearls.
   
4. God can turn irritants (sin) into pearls -- if you let Him.
   

Addendum -- John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."



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The STONE and The RIPPLES

THE STONE

"My grandfather took me to the fish pond on the farm when I was about seven, and he told me to throw a stone into the water. He told me to watch the circles created by the stone.Then he asked me to think of myself as that stone person.

"You may create lots of splashes in your life but the waves that come from those splashes will disturb the peace of all your fellow creatures," he said.

"Remember that you are responsible for what you put in your circle and that circle will also touch many other circles. You will need to live in a way that allows the good that comes from your circle to send the peace of that goodness to others. The splash that comes from anger or jealousy will send those feelings to other circles. You are responsible for both."

That was the first time I realized each person creates the inner peace or discord that flows out into the world. We cannot create world peace if we are riddled with inner conflict, hatred, doubt, or anger. We radiate the feelings and thoughts that we hold inside, whether we speak them or not. Whatever is splashing around inside of us is spilling out into the world, creating beauty or discord with all other circles of life.



We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 NASB

…let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.
Hebrews 10:24 KJV

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:12 NIV



"K-C"

When you fall, God will lift you ...

The Pit

A man fell into a pit and couldn't get himself out.

A SUBJECTIVE person came along and said:
"I feel for you, down there."

An OBJECTIVE person came along and said:
"It's logical that someone would fall down there."

A PHARISEE said:
"Only bad people fall into a pit."

A MATHEMATICIAN
calculated how he fell into the pit.

A NEWS REPORTER
wanted the exclusive story on his pit.

A FUNDAMENTALIST said:
"You deserve your pit."

AN I.R.S. man
asked if he was paying taxes on the pit.

A SELF-PITYING person said:
"You haven't seen anything until you've seen MY PIT!"

A CHARISMATIC said:
"Just confess that you're not in a pit."

An OPTIMIST said:
"Things could be worse."

A PESSIMIST said:
"Things will get worse."

JESUS, seeing the man, took him by the hand
and LIFTED HIM OUT of the pit.

-source unknown-



The steps of the Godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
Psalm 37:23-24 NLT



"K-C"

The Marble Statue and the Marble Tile

The Marble Tile

There was this museum laid with beautiful marble tiles, with a huge marble statue displayed in the middle of the lobby. Many people came from all over the world just to admire this beautiful marble statue.

One night, the marble tiles started talking to the marble statue.Marble tile: "Marble statue, it's just not fair, it's just not fair! Why does everybody from all over the world come all the way here just to step on me while admiring you? Not fair!"

Marble statue: "My dear friend, marble tile. Do you still remember that we were actually from the same cave?"

Marble tile: "Yeah! That's why I feel it is even more unfair. We were born from the same cave and yet we receive different treatment now. Not fair!" he cried again.

Marble statue: "Then, do you still remember the day when the designer tried to work on you, but you resisted the tools?"

Marble tile: "Yes, of course I remember. I hate that guy! How could he use those tools on me, it hurt so badly."

Marble statue: "That's right! He couldn't work on you at all as you resisted being worked on."Marble tile: "So???"

Marble statue: "When he decided to give up on you and start working on me instead, I knew at once that I would be something different after his efforts. I did not resist his tools, instead I bore all the painful tools he used on me.."

Marble tile: "Mmmmmm......."

Marble statue: "My friend, there is a price to everything in life. Since you decided to give up half way, you can't blame anybody who steps on you now."



But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
Isaiah 64:8 (King James Version)

Yes indeed, GOD is in control of everything...He is an ever powerful and awesome God! All you have to do is to trust Him, no matter how heavy your burden is...or how painful the situations you are in...God will make a way!!! Though it seems impossible...He will make a way for you...Just trust Him...Let Him hold you...and mold you- as He planned...He will make a great masterpiece out of you!

They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.
Psalm 112:7-8 NLT

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed….
2 Corinthians 4:8-9KJV

"K-C"

The Monkey & The Apple

The Monkey with The Wooden Apple

There once was a happy monkey wandering the jungle, eating delicious fruit when hungry, and resting when tired. One day he came upon a house, where he saw a bowl of the most beautiful apples. He took one in each hand and ran back into the forest. He sniffed the apples and smelled nothing. He tried to eat them, but hurt his teeth. They were made of wood, but they were beautiful, and when the other monkeys saw them, he held onto them even tighter.

He admired his new possessions proudly as he wandered the jungle. They glistened red in the sun, and seemed perfect to him. He became so attached to them, that he didn't even notice his hunger at first. A fruit tree reminded him, but he felt the apples in his hands. He couldn't bear to set them down to reach for the fruit. In fact, he couldn't relax, either, if he was to defend his apples. A proud, but less happy monkey continued to walk along the forest trails.

The apples became heavier, and the poor little monkey thought about leaving them behind. He was tired, hungry, and he couldn't climb trees or collect fruit with his hands full. What if he just let go? Letting go of such valuable things seemed crazy, but what else could he do? He was so tired. Seeing the next fruit tree, and smelling it's fruit was enough. He dropped the wooden apples and reached up for his meal. He was happy again.

Like that little monkey, we sometimes carry things that seem too valuable to let go. A man carries an image of himself as "productive" - carries it like a shiny wooden apple. But in reality, his busyness leaves him tired, and hungry for a better life. Still, letting go seems crazy. Even his worries are sacred apples - they prove he's "doing everything he can." He holds onto them compulsively.


An anxious heart weighs a man down….
Proverbs 12:25 NIV

God's Message Is Clear: Don't Worry, Be Faithful...

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.
Psalm 37:5 NLT



"K-C"

Solicitation Letter Tagalog Version

Solicitation Letter English Version

God Is In Control...A Mighty and Awesome GOD!

God Is In Control

"I am God. Today I will be handling
all of your problems. Please
remember that I do not need your help.
If life happens to deliver a
situation to you that you cannot handle,
do not attempt to resolve it.
Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for
God to do) box. It will be
addressed in My time, not yours.
Once the matter is placed into the box,
do not hold on to it or remove it.
Holding on or removal will delay the
resolution of your problem. If it is
a situation that you think you are
capable of handling, please consult
me in prayer to be sure that it is
the proper resolution.

Because I do not sleep nor do I slumber,
there is no need for you to
lose any sleep. Rest my child. If you
need to contact me, I am only
a prayer away."

Be happy with what you have: Should
you find it hard to get to sleep
tonight; Just remember the homeless
family who has no bed to lie in.

Should you find yourself stuck in traffic;
Don't despair. There are people in
this world for whom driving is an
unheard of privilege.
Should you have a bad day at work;
Think of the man who has been
out of work for years.

Should you despair over a relationship
gone bad; Think of the person
who has never known what it's like
to love and be loved in return.

Should you grieve the passing of
another weekend; Think of the woman
in dire straits, working twelve hours
a day, seven days a week
to feed her children.

Should your car break down, leaving
you miles away from assistance;
Think of the paraplegic who would love
the opportunity to take that walk.

Should you notice a new gray hair
in the mirror; Think of the cancer
patient in chemo who wishes she
had hair to examine.

Should you find yourself at a loss
and pondering what is life all
about, asking "what is my purpose?";
Be thankful. There are those who
didn't live long enough to
get that opportunity.

Should you find yourself the victim
of other people's bitterness,
ignorance, smallness or insecurities;
Remember, things could be worse.
You could be them!!!!


Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.
Psalm 37:5 NLT

Trust the Lord your God with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."
Psalm 32:8 NLT



"K-C"

Stop and Pray

A Divine Stop

A friend of mine was driving through an
intersection one day and his little four-year-old
son was in the car with him.

The car door flew open,
and the little boy rolled out of the vehicle right
into the middle of traffic coming from four ways.

The last thing my friend saw was
a set of car wheels just about on
top of his son moving at a vary fast rate of speed.
All he knew to do was cry,

"JESUS!"

As soon as he could bring his car to a halt,
he jumped out ran to his son,
who was perfectly all right.

But the man driving the car that had
almost hit the child was absolutely hysterical.
My friend went over to him and started trying to comfort him...

"Man, don't be upset!" he said.
"My son is all right, he's okay...
Don't be concerned about it.
Just thank God you were able to stop!"

"You don't understand!"
the man responded.
"I never touched my brakes!"

Author Unknown



Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Philippians 4:5 NIV

For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those who are fully committed to him….
2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
Proverbs 15:3 KJV


"K-C"

The Rebellion Against the Stomach

The Rebellion Against the Stomach
By: Author Unknown

Once a man had a dream in which his hands and feet and mouth and brain all began to rebel against his stomach.

"You good-for-nothing sluggard!" the hands said. "We work all day long, sawing and hammering and lifting and carrying. By evening we're covered with blisters and scratches, and our joints ache, and we're covered with dirt. And meanwhile you just sit there, hogging all the food."

"We agree!" cried the feet. "Think how sore we get, walking back and forth all day long. And you just stuff yourself full, you greedy pig, so that you're that much heavier to carry about."

"That's right!" whined the mouth. "Where do you think all that food you love comes form? I'm the one who has to chew it all up, and as soon as I'm finished you suck it all down for yourself. Do you call that fair?"

"And what about me?" called the brain. "Do you think it's easy being up here, having to think about where your next meal is going to come from? And yet I get nothing at all for my pains."

And one by one the parts of the body joined the complaint against the stomach, which didn't say anything at all.

"I have an idea," the brain finally announced. "Let's all rebel against the lazy belly, and stop working for it."

"Superb idea!" all the other members and organs agreed. "We'll teach you how important we are. Then maybe you'll do a little work of your own."

So they all stopped working. The hands refused to do lifting and carrying. The feet refused to walk. The mouth promised not to chew or swallow a single bite. And the brain swore it wouldn't come up with any more bright ideas. At first the stomach growled a bit, as it always did when it was hungry. But after a while it was quiet.

Then, to the dreaming man's surprise, he found he could not walk. He could not grasp anything in his hand. He could not even open his mouth. And he suddenly began to feel rather ill.

The dream seemed to go on for several days. As each day passed, the man felt worse and worse. "This rebellion had better not last much longer," he thought to himself, "or I'll starve."

Meanwhile, the hands and feet and mouth and brain just lay there, getting weaker and weaker. At first they roused themselves just enough to taunt the stomach every once in a while, but before long they didn't even have the energy for that.

Finally the man heart a faint voice coming from the direction of his feet.

"It could be that we were wrong," they were saying. "We suppose the stomach might have been working in his own way all along."

"I was just thinking the same thing," murmured the brain. "It's true that he's been getting all the food. But it seems he's been sending most of it right back to us."

"We might as well admit our error," the mouth said. "The stomach has just as much work to do as the hands and feet and brain and teeth."

"Then let's get back to work," they cried together. And at that the man woke up.

To his relief, he discovered his feet could walk again. His hands could grasp, his mouth could chew, and his brain could now think clearly. He began to feel much better.

"Well, there's a lesson for me," he thought as he filled his stomach at breakfast. "Either we all work together, or nothing works at all"

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might….
Ecclesiastes 9:10 NIV

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
Colossians 3:23 NIV

But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.
2 Chronicles 15:7 NIV

He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
I John 2:10 KJV


"K-C"

God paid the price...

Heaven's Grocery Store

As I was walking down life's highway
many years ago
I came up on a sign that read
Heavens Grocery Store.

When I got a little closer
the doors swung open wide
And when I came to myself
I was standing inside.

I saw a host of angels.
They were standing everywhere
One handed me a basket
and said "My Child shop with care."

Everything a human needed
was in that grocery store
And what you could not carry
you could come back for more.

First I got some Patience
Love was in that same row.
Further down was Understanding
You need that everywhere you go,

I got a box or two of Wisdom
and Faith a bag or two.
And Charity of course
I would need some of that too.

I couldn't miss the Holy Ghost
It was all over the place.
And then some Strength
He smiled and said
"Just take them everywhere you go."

Again I asked "Really now,
How much do I owe?"
"My child" he said,
"God paid your bill a long long time ago."

"K-C"

The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Explaining the Other Side

A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."
Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."
"You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"
The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.
Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing... I know my Master is there and that is enough."

Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9-10 NIV



"K-C"