TAKE YOUR GOAT INTO THE ROOM WITH YOU

There is a story about a family that was not very thankful . . . A man goes to his pastor and complains, Life is unbearable. There are nine of us living in one room. What can I do? The pastor answers, Take your goat into the room with you. The man thinks that this is ridiculous, but the pastor insists. Do as I say and come back in a week. A week later the man comes back looking more distraught than before. We cannot stand it, he tells the pastor. The goat is filthy and he makes a mess of everything. The pastor then tells him, go home and let the goat out and come back in a week. A radiant man returns to the pastor a week later, exclaiming, life is beautiful. We enjoy every minute of it now that there's no goat in the house, only the nine of us.

Thankfulness is always a matter of perspective!

Psalms 100 is one of the great Thanksgiving chapters in the Bible. The first verse of chapter 100 says: "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth." To make a joyful shout is more than hollering or screaming. The emphasis is upon what we are shouting about. The Hebrew word means "an extension of the hand." It is as if the psalmist is saying to cup the hand to the mouth and speak out loud a very joyful confession to the Lord. Psalms 100 explains the many ways that we should be thankful. We need to serve God and each other with thankfulness, we must come before God in a thankful manner. There is Public Praise and there is Personal Praise. Thanksgiving is more about your attitude then your circumstances.

PRINCIPLES ARE ETERNAL AND THEREFORE THEY NEVER

CHANGE WITH THE CULTURE OR CIRCUMSTANCES.

SO IS YOUR THANKSGIVING JUST A HOLIDAY THING OR
A PRINCIPLE THING IN YOUR LIFE?

Have a great Thanksgiving Day!
Pastor John J. Dodd

VETERAN’S DAY

Corporal Jeffrey Starr was a typical 22-year-old American Marine. He was into high tech, he was computer savvy and he believed in his mission. While serving his third tour in Iraq, he wrote a letter to his girlfriend and stored it on his computer. It was to be opened only in the event of his death. On May 30th 2005, he was killed by small-arms fire near Ramadi, Iraq.

His girlfriend received the following email:
"It may seem confusing why we are here in Iraq, but it’s not to me. I'm here helping these people, so that they can live the way we live. Not to have to worry about tyrants or vicious dictators...to do what they want with their lives. To me that is why I died. Others have died for my freedom, now this is my mark."

Corporal Jeffrey Starr gave his life in pursuit of an ideal in which he believed. He is an American hero, one of many whose mettle has been tested and cured in the crucible of war. There are, and have always been, many more just like him. Each believes in the mission and those certain enviable character traits, among which are determination, persistence, willingness to sacrifice, possessing an iron will and devotion to duty.

Many of us have friends and family that have gave of their own lives to secure the freedom that we now enjoy. Yet, we must remember that the "war" does not end for most of our veterans just because they made it home safely. They still need our support and love as they come home and try to re-enter civilian life. So, on this Veteran’s Day, let’s make every effort to honor the brave men and women who have served this great nation and have protected our freedom.


Pastor John J. Dodd