The story has been told of a woman who had acquired wealth and social prominence and decided to have a book written about her genealogy.  The well known author she engaged for the assignment discovered that one of her grandfathers was a murderer who had been electrocuted in Sing Sing Prison.  When he said this would have to be included in the book, the woman pleaded that he find a way of saying it that would hide the truth.

When the book appeared, the incident read as follows:  "One of her grandfathers occupied the chair of applied electricity in one of America's best known institutions.  He was very much attached to his position and literally died in the harness."

God's decision when He gave us His Word, the Bible was that He included some things we would probably have left out.  Like Noah and his daughters; David and Bathsheba; and Peter and his denial of the Lord on the night He was betrayed.  That's the biggest reason I know that God gave us the Bible, because He didn't leave anything out.  He included the failure of man.  God's decision gives me great hope.  If those people were included with all their failures and He has included me with all of my failures, there is hope for anyone who is willing to turn to God.

The story has been told of a man who was crossing a desert in the days of the pioneers.  He ran into trouble and was dying of thirst when he spotted a pump near an abandoned shack.  He had no water to prime the pump, but he noticed a jug of water near the pump with a note attached.  It read:  "There is just enough water in this jug to prime the pump, but not if you drink some first.  This well has never gone dry, even in the worst of times.  Pour the water in the top of the pump and pump the handle quickly.  After you have had a drink, refill this jug for the next man who comes along."

What would the man dying of thirst do?  To follow the instructions and prime the pump without first taking a drink would be an exercisse of the kind of belief the Bible speaks of.  Biblical belief requires that one stake his life on the truth of the promise.  If the man follows the instructions, he takes the chance of pouring out all the water and getting none to drink if the pump fails.  So he must trust the message is right.  He must act in belief, without first receiving, and must trust in the truth of the promise.

May God give you strength to trust in faith as you journey today!

I am a huge Lou Holtz fan.  I had the opportunity to have breakfast with him last year.  Not only was he a great coach, he is a world class speaker.  He is also a great encourager.  When I left him on that Friday morning, I felt very encouraged.

In a 1978 interview, Lou Holtz, at the time the head coach of the then number-one rated Arkansas Razorbacks, modeled and stated his philosophy of coaching.  At practice, Holtz grabs his players by their face masks and shakes them (not something that would probably be tolerated today by the political correctness followers); he flails at them with his hat; he throws his hat in disgust; he smacks players on the rear with his omnipresent manila folder.  "Once you get things going, then you begin to build confidence," he says.  "You praise loudly and criticize softly."

Have you ever wondered what to do or say to someone after a tragedy?  Sure, we all have.  It is one of the most difficult things that people attempt to do after someone has experienced a death.  We think about what would be the right words to say to this person.

I've got great news for you - It is called the ministry of presence.  I know that Job had three friends that absolutely blew it when they talked to him after his tragedy.  But, before that they did a pretty awesome thing.  At the end of chapter 2 it talks about them seeing Job at a great distance and seeing that his sorrow was great.  When they came to him it says that they sat on the ground with him for seven days and no one said a word.  That's the ministry of presence.  People will not remember much of what you said, but, they will always remember your presence.  So, the best thing to help someone after a tragedy is to just say, "We love you and are willing to do anything we can to be of help.  Don't hesitate to call on us."  And then, just be there with your presence.  God bless you as you minister to anyone who is hurting!