Primum Non Nocere

The sirens on the ambulance wailed down the busy street like howling wolves as we navigated the thick traffic in a small community just outside of Baton Rouge.  My partner, Pinky was driving and was less than pleased with the locals reaction to our presence.

“NO ONE knows how to drive in this state.  I mean, really?  How complicated can it be?  You see an ambulance, you pull to the right.  You would think that someone with half a brain cell could figure that out.”  We were responding to a cardiac problem on the far side of town. We had been slammed that day with back to back emergencies and were both a little on edge.  The humid air of the South Louisiana Summer was also intensifying our ill disposition.  The sweltering heat was relentless.  Our sweaty uniforms clung twisted and uncomfortably to our bodies.  It took a concerted effort to stay hydrated in the oppressive weather just to keep ourselves from falling victim to the overwhelming temperatures.

 ”You know you’re giving them too much credit, right?  First, you’re assuming they actually have half a brain cell to think with.  Second, getting a license in this Parish is easy.  They only make you drive around the block.”

“To the right! To the Right!” She yelled while bumping the air-horn.  “Well, it definitely shows.”

“You know, Pinky. Some statistics show that road rage is the major contributing factor in about 50% of all automobile crashes.”

“Oh, yeah?”  She snickered.  “That’s probably also the major contributing factor keeping paramedics from carrying handguns.  How far out are we?”

“Take a left at the next stop sign and we should be right on top of it.”  I silenced the pager on my hip.  It was alarming for the third time since we had been assigned the call.  Dispatch was getting several requests from the First Responders on scene to verify our ETA.  Apparently our patient was in pretty bad shape.  We had no idea it would be at the hands of the rescuers on scene.

As we made the turn, we could see an elderly man on his knees in what looked like the praying position.  Strangely, though,   he was clutching his chest with one hand and fighting the First Responders off with the other. There were two of them ”rendering aid” to the patient.  One was frantically tugging at the patient’s sleeve trying to remove his shirt while the other was forcibly holding an oxygen mask on his face.    It looked like he was getting mugged.  Pinky and I exchanged puzzled looks as we grabbed the gear from the unit and began approaching the trio. The paient’s face was flush and his skin was diaphoretic.  He was also panting heavily and speaking in-between breaths as he argued with the rescuers.  “Leave…..me……. alone!”  He yelled.  “I don’t….. want ……your help!”  He was having a heart attack.

 ”Stop resisting, Sir!”  One of the First Responders replied.  ”We’re only trying to help you!  We’re just doing our job!”  

“You know, guys.” Pinky interrupted in her calm country-girl vernacular. ”If you treated melike that, I don’t think I would want your help either.”  We were both in total agreement and tactfully encouraged the two overzealous rescuers to step aside as we began our own assessment  of the patient. Its obvious that the First Responders, even while acting with the best of intentions, were doing more harm than good for their patient. Usually, help from our Friends from the local fire department was exceptional.  However, this pair’s actions were far below the standard of care.  It wasn’t that they weren’t telling the patient the truth.  He did need oxygen.  However, it was how they were conveying the truth that was the problem.  Here is a quote from a non-Christian that is incredibly relevant to the subject.

 “Whenever you have truth it must be given with love, or the message and the messenger will be rejected” ~Mahatma Gandhi

 When discussing medical ethics, it is very common to hear someone state the phrase “Primum non nocere”.   Sometimes written “Primum nil nocere”, the expression roughly translates to “first do no harm”.   This is an important medical precept because it helps to clarify the overall goal of medicine.  It reminds health care providers that they must consider the possible harm that any intervention might do and that given an existing problem, it may be better not to do something, or even to do nothing, than to risk causing more harm than good.  In this case, the First Responders were exacerbating the patent’s chest pain and shortness of breath by fighting with him.  In the long run, this was only placing more demand on his already oxygen starved cardiovascular system.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

When speaking to non-believers about salvation and when speaking to believers who have fallen into a backslidden condition, I find it important to remember primum non nocere.  It reminds me of my main goal which is to lead people to salvation in Christ through his loving kindness and not to forcibly will them into submitting to his authority.  

 In the book of 1 Corinthians, Paul speaks quite frankly with the Corinthian church about their willful disobedience to God.   There was division in the church, open sexual immorality, and confusion about the use of spiritual gifts.  But, even while rebuking them, he also retained the message of grace and mercy that should be expressed amongst all believers in Christ.  Grace is defined as the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.  Mercy, on the other hand is compassion or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one’s power.  Inherently, grace is showing a great kindness to someone while mercy is forgiving someone even when they don’t deserve it.  Lets take a look at what Paul had to say to the Corinthians.

 ^9“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders ¹⁰nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God”.  ~1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NIV

Here, Paul lists a lot of people that won’t “inherit the kingdom of God”.  However, it is very important not to overlook the relevance of verse 11.  Lets take another look at it.

 ¹¹And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” ~1Corinthians 6:11 NIV

The term “were” is a reference to the past tense.  The term “but” is a reference to an exception.   So Paul is saying that they used to be all of these sinful things.  However, they are now “washed” and “sanctified” and “justified”.  What allows a Christian to struggle with sin and still be loved by God?  The answer is simple.  It is grace. 

Jesus Christ was confronted with a similar situation in the book of John.

³The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group ⁴and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” ⁶They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

   But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. ⁷When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

 ⁹At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. ¹⁰Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

 ¹¹“No one, sir,” she said.
      ”Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” ~John 8:3-11  NIV

Jesus responded with two things that are vitally important to remember when dealing with the lost and with backslidden believers.  His first response was to the Pharisees.  “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”  The Bible teaches us that we have all fallen short of God’s will (Romans 3:23,24).  His second response was for the adulteress woman.  He said, “Go now and leave your life of sin.”  It wasn’t that he was condoning her sin by forgiving her.  After all, what she had done was wrong.  But he chose to forgive her anyway.  This act of kindness in spite of the law is Christ showing her mercy.  Martin Luther, a 15th century priest and theologian had this to say about the subject.

 ”The law works fear and wrath; grace works hope and mercy.” ~Martin Luther

Does this mean that because of Christ, we have the right to willfully disobey God?  No.  Paul actually instructs the Corinthian church to expel a man that had been practicing immorality (1 Corinthians 5:1-5).  However he also instructs us to remain self disciplined (1Corinthians 9:24-27), encourages us with stories of his own shortcomings and explains that God’s grace is sufficient to overcome any burden (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

Our presence in the lives of unbelievers may be to encourage them by sharing our own personal hardships.  Or, maybe we are here to teach right thinking to a group of people who lack discipline.  In either case, Jesus is love.  Love cannot be forced on anyone.  It must be freely accepted by whom it is being shared with.   Beating your Bible over an unbelievers head will only serve to give them a headache.  It will exacerbate their already critical situation and eventually, turn them from the church’s help altogether.  Here is one last quote from Gandhi.

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” ~Mahatma Gandhi

 Remember to show unbelievers Christ’s love, grace and mercy by living a Christ like lifestyle yourself. Remember primum non nocere.  Be Blessed, My Friends!  Be an Overcomer!

~Bro. Jason Z. Hunt

Memory Verse: ^“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God”.  ~1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NIV

Memory Word 1: “Grace”: the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.

Memory Word 2: “Mercy”: compassion or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one’s power.

Inspiring Music:  “Still My Child” by Mary Mary

Dead Sea Christians

Water is the most common substance known to man.  In fact, it is so plentiful that it covers over 70% of the Earth’s surface.  It can be found not only in the Earth’s seas and oceans, but also in the atmosphere as vapor, and in the vast, expansive glaciers and polar ice caps as a solid.  Water greatly influences weather and climate and can appear in several different forms as precipitation.  Evolutionists believe the first living creatures appeared in water.  The Bible mentions water as early as the second verse in the Book of Genesis and approximately 442 times after that in the complete canon of the New International Version.  ALL living creatures rely on its ability to aid in chemical balances and metabolism. It is a common fact that the average human is actually composed of about 75% water.  It is such a necessity for human functioning, that a loss of 15-20% of the body’s water usually results in death.  In short, water is universally known as a source of life.

The Dead Sea is a body of water located in a valley bordered by the West Bank, Jordan, and Israel.  At 1,385 feet, it’s shores are the lowest elevation on the Earth’ s surface found on dry land.  However, this is not the most remarkable characteristic about this grand lake.  The salinity level of its contents is at 33.7% which is far greater than the 3-6% salinity found in the worlds saltiest oceans.  The Dead Sea owes its high mineral salt content to several factors. First, it’s completely landlocked, so any fresh or saltwater that flows into it from the Jordan River or other tributaries becomes trapped until it evaporates. Evaporation happens quickly due to the areas arid conditions and lack of precipitation. When the water evaporates, the salty minerals are left behind, causing the remaining water to become more and more concentrated with salt.  This high salt content prevents any life outside of microorganisms from growing within it’s borders.  To quote my colleague the Rev. Michael Hammett; “The Dead Sea falls victim to having too much inflow and not enough outflow”.  In essence, the Dead Sea is “dead” because the high salt content prevents anything impure from taking up residence or even growing within its boundary.

Please don’t misunderstand me.  There is nothing wrong with being “salty”.  Jesus made this clear in the book of Matthew.

 ¹³“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”  ~Matthew 5:13 NIV

Even with such a gloomy namesake, thousands of people regularly travel to the Dead Sea for its positive, holistic effects on everything from psoriasis and atopic dermatitis to cystic fibrosis and rheumatic diseases, like various forms of arthritis and fibromyalgia.  The salts and minerals are transformed into cosmetics, the waters of the Dead Sea are used in thalassotherapy, the climactic features of the Dead Sea are used in climatotherapy, and the bright, radiant, sunshine that falls on its shores is used in heliotherapy. Essentially, the resources of the Dead Sea are being used to minister to the needs of others. 

The word minister can be used as a noun or a verb.  Both are highly important for this discussion.  As a noun, the word refers to a person authorized to conduct religious worship, a member of the clergy, or a pastor.  It could also mean a person acting as the agent or instrument of another.  When used in the form of a verb, the word minister means to administer to, to apply, to furnish, or give supply to. 

As a minister it is very important to remain “salty”.  Allowing yourself to become tainted with sin can destroy the life restoring testimony of your ministry.  In 1980 the Dead Sea had a major drop in it’s salinity due to a successive series or heavy rain storms.  This shift in the mineral concentration allowed an algae to flourish in the warm waters and transform the pigment of the relatively clear lake to a deep red color.  The same can happen to Believers if we choose to become diluted by sin and lose our “saltiness”.  Conversely, because of sin, this dilution may weaken our ability to minister to, furnish, or give supply to others seeking healing in Christ.

Why is this relevant to you?  Because as long as you remain dead to sin, you will prevent impurities from growing within your borders.

^11″In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹²Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ¹³Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. ¹⁴For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”  ~Romans 6:11-14 NIV

Like the dead sea, we should try our best to remain pure and free from corruption while openly welcoming those needing a healing to our shores.  Failure to do so can not only have a negative impact on our lives, but also on the lives of the ones we minister to.  Just as algae can grow and augment the composition of a lake, unchecked sin can also flourish and change the composition of our lives and destroy our ministry in the process.   Believe what you may, but there is a huge difference in being dead to sin and being dead insin.  Be Blessed, My Friends!  Be an Overcomer!

~Bro. Jason Z. Hunt

Memory Verse:  “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”  ~Matthew 5:13 NIV

Memory Word:  “Minister“:  –noun; 1. a person authorized to conduct religious worship; member of the clergy; pastor. 2. a person acting as the agent or instrument of another.  –verb (used with object) 3. to administer or apply. to furnish; supply –verb (used without object) 4. to perform the functions of a religious minister. 5. to give service, care, or aid; attend, as to wants or necessities.

Inspiring Music: “Give Me a Clean Heart” by Fred Hammond

The Lion and the Gazelle

“Every morning in Africa, when the sun rises over the Serengeti, a Gazelle begins to run.  Why?  Because she knows that if she is not faster than the fastest lion, she will be caught, devoured, and surely die.  And every morning in Africa, when the sun rises over the Serengeti, the lioness also begins to run.  Why?  Because she knows that if she is not faster than the slowest gazelle, she will go hungry, starve, and surely die.  The moral of the story is this; It doesn’t matter if you see yourself as the lion.  It doesn’t even matter if you see yourself as the gazelle, but when the sun comes up, you had better start running.”
~Author Unknown
I can remember my father telling me this story as a child.  I have held it dear to my heart all these years because it helps me resist the trappings of laziness.  Laziness is defined as to be averse or disinclined to work, activity, or exertion; to be indolent.  Work is defined as exertion or effort directed to produce or accomplish something; to labor; to toil.  As Believers we must have a predisposition to work and an averse to laziness, not only for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven, but also for our earthly employers as well.
 ^23″Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, ²⁴since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving”. ~Colossians 3:23,34 NIV
We do this not to act as “people pleasers” but, because it is what the Lord commanded of us.  The Bible is filled with scriptures warning its readers against laziness and I would like to share a few of them with you.

• The Lion 
   ¹ “The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” ~Proverbs 28:1 NIV

The Bible frequently speaks on patience.  However, it would be disastrous to confuse patience with a spirit of laziness.  Sometimes we say we are putting things off to plan or to prepare when we are actually just putting things off.  No one has ever won a race they have never started.  As Christian Believers we must be people of patience who calmly wait on direction from the Lord (even the lioness on the plains of the Serengeti waits for the most opportune time to pounce on her prey). But, we must also be people of action who, by Gods divine direction, move when called upon.  Lets look to the Bible for more insight on the subject.
^11″Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”    ~Romans 12:11-12 NIV
^6″In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. ⁷For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, ⁸nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. ¹⁰For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” ~2 Thessalonians 3:6-10 NIV
As a man or woman of action, you will not be without your criticizers.  In fact, it should be expected.  They will call you a dreamer, unrealistic, or even insane.  But, if you are truly in God’s will, then it is better to heed His direction than the direction of man.  Popular author Bryant H. McGill once commented on this very same subject.
“Fanatic is often the name given to people of action by people who are lazy.” ~Bryant H. McGill

• The Gazelle 

⁴ “Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids. ⁵Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. ⁶ Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!”  ~Proverbs 6:4-6 NIV
It’s no secret that the Bible is pretty hard on the person it calls “the sluggard”.  Who exactly is King Solomon speaking of?  He’s basically describing a lazy person and has a few harsh but factual words for them.  Lets take a look at a few scriptures.
¹⁹ “The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.” ~Proverbs 15:19 NIV
⁴ “The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” ~Proverbs 13:4 NIV
²⁵ “The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. ²⁶ All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.” ~Proverbs 21:25-26 NIV
Lets face it, Friends.  Gazelles are designed to run.  They have springy legs and lite, streamlined, bodies.  In fact, some have been reported to maintain speeds up to 50 miles per hour.  But, if they chose to lay idle instead of using their God given talents, resources, and abilities, they would be quickly devoured.  As Christian Believers, we are supposed to be men and women of great faith.  However, if we only believe and choose not to apply our faith, then we allow ourselves to be easy prey for Satan like the motionless gazelle.  The Book of James put it this way.
^14″What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? ¹⁵Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” ~James 2:14-17 NIV
The Parable of the Talents in the Book of Matthew also brings this idea to light.
¹⁴“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. ¹⁵To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. ¹⁶The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. ¹⁷So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. ¹⁸But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
 ¹⁹“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. ²⁰The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’
 ²¹“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
 ²²“The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’
 ²³“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
 ²⁴“Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
 ²⁶“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? ²⁷Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
 ²⁸” ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. ²⁹For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. ³⁰And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.‘ ~Matthew 25:14-30 NIV
Bryant H. McGill had a comment to make about this subject as well.
“Change will never happen when people lack the ability and courage to see themselves for who they are.” ~Bryant H. McGill
 As followers of Christ, we should eagerly listen for God’s direction and then act upon His calling.  We should also be careful stewards of our God given abilities actively applying them when and where necessary.  We should learn from the examples of the lion and the gazelle and cast off the spirit of laziness for there is no place for it in the Kingdom of Heaven.  Be Blessed, My Friends.  Be an Overcomer!
~Bro. Jason Z. Hunt

 

Memory Verse 1:  “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11 NIV

Memory Verse 2:  “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17 NIV

Memory Word 1: “Laziness”:  averse or disinclined to work, activity, or exertion; to be indolent

Memory Word 2:  “Work” :  exertion or effort directed to produce or accomplish something; to labor; to toil

Inspiring Music: “Run” by J’son and “Work” by Tedashii

Jenga and the Weight of Sin

About a year ago, I was working with a group of seven and eight year olds from the youth ministry when one of them asked me a question.   ”Brother Jason, Whats sin?”

“Sin” I explained, “is anything that is not of God.  It can be stuff like lying, stealing, teasing the new kid, or just being disobedient.  To sin is to willfully separate yourself from the direction God wants you to go in.” I then reminded him of what the Bible says about sin in the book of 1 John.

^4″Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness”.  1 John 3:4 NIV

 I was pretty proud of the fact that I had come up with an age appropriate answer so quickly.  Then I noticed his brow starting to wrinkle. Little Jimmy was thinking.  If you’ve never worked with small children, you’re probably wondering, “Well, whats wrong with that”?  Nothing at all.  In fact, stimulating the minds of small children is a good thing.  However, this was Little Jimmy.  Every year, I have a student in my class like Jimmy.  He’s the kid that asks the tough questions like, “Did Adam and Eve have belly buttons?” Just in case you’re wondering,  no they did not.  Unlike the rest of us, they were formed by Gods hand and had not been born.  Therefor, they had no need for belly buttons.  Questions like these were common from him.  The funny part was, growing up as a child, I was a Little Jimmy.  I can remember confounding my Sunday School teacher with questions about dinosaurs, how old the earth was, and why there weren’t any girl angels in the Bible if there were so many pictures of them.  One day my Sunday school teacher actually got the best of me for a change.  I asked him if animals could talk in the Bible, why couldn’t they now.    To this day I can remember him looking at me with a smile on his face and saying, “Who says they can’t?”    Moments like that one are what inspired me to teach in the youth ministry.  No class is complete without a Little Jimmy.

“But don’t we sin everyday?”   He asked.

“Yes, Jimmy.” I answered.  Jimmy had apparently been thinking about how he had spent his day prior to coming to service.  I thought that was the end of it, but I could still see him working over some things in his mind. 

 ”Do you have another question, Son?”

“Yup.  Hold on.” 

“Take your time.”

“OK.  I’m ready.  If we sin all the time and sin separates us from God, does that mean that God doesn’t love us anymore?”

“No, Jimmy.  Just like any good parent, God will always love His children.  Even when He doesn’t always agree with the things that we’ve done.  In fact He loves us so much, He sent Jesus to Earth as a sacrifice to die on the cross for our sins.”

“But, if Jesus died for our sins, doesn’t that mean we can do what ever we want?” 

“No, Jimmy.”  Little Jimmy was exercising my brain.  I saw where this conversation was going and decided to come up with another age appropriate answer.  “Have you ever played the game Jenga before, Jimmy?” 

His eyes immediately lit up with excitement.  “Yes, Brother Jason!  I LOVE that game!”  I walked over to the cabinet and put the game on the table.  For those of you who have never played Jenga, the game is pretty simple.  You have three rows of stacked blocks that lay in opposite directions every other level.  This creates a crisscrossed tower of eighteen levels.  The object of the game is to remove a block from the high rise and add it to the top without collapsing the tower.

“Well, Jimmy.  Your life is kind of like a big tower of Jenga blocks.  Right now, all the pieces are in their proper place and your tower is fairly stable.  The problem comes when we decide to sin.  You see, Jimmy, Satan hates a stable Jenga tower.  Ever since he was cast out of Heaven, his job has been to try to knock down as many Jenga towers as he can.”

“I hate Satan!”

“Good job, Jimmy.  What aggravates Satan the most is that he just can’t walk over to your table and topple your Jenga tower.  In fact, he has to convince you to destroy it.”

“How does he do that?”

“By enticing you to sin.  You see, Jimmy.  Every time we sin, it’s like removing a Jenga block from our tower.  At first, just having one block missing isn’t a big deal.  Go ahead and try to pull one out.”  Little Jimmy did as he was told and removed a block from the center of the tower.

“That was easy!”

I know, Jimmy.  And that’s exactly what Satan wants us to think.  But, Satan isn’t just satisfied with weakening your tower.  He wants to destroy it.  To do this he tries to burden you with your sins.  Now place the block on top of the tower.”  Again, Jimmy did as he was told.

“It still looks pretty stable to me, Brother Jason.   I’m really good at this game.”

“I bet you are, Jimmy.  But lets keep playing a while.”  And so we did.  Every time Jimmy removed a block and stacked it on top of his tower, I told him it was another sin he had committed.  He stacked lies with unbelief.  He balanced selfishness with anger.   Hate dangerously teetered on top of the blocks of gossip and lust.  We continued to play until his tower was one big, wobbly, mess. 

Jimmy started laughing.  “I think it’s gonna fall.”

“It would fall if we kept playing Satan’s game, Jimmy.  And I don’t think God would be happy with us if our life looked like this.  But remember, my little friend.  God Loves us so much that He sent his only son to die on the cross for our sins.  So if we ask God to forgive us, He does something so amazing that neither you or I can do it for ourselves.  Do you know what that is Jimmy?”

“No, Sir.  What does He do?”

“He puts all the blocks back in place.  He removes the weight of sin from our shoulders and places our life back in order.”  I then carefully began removing blocks from the top of Jimmy’s tower and recreated a more stable tower next to it.  I could see the proverbial light bulb come on above his head.  When I was finished, I shared another scripture with him.

  ^21″God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God”. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

“I think I understand now, Brother Jason.  But, can I ask another question?”

“Sure, Jimmy.  Whats on your mind?”

“Where are the dinosaurs in the Bible?”

“We’ll save that one for next time.  Right now, lets play some more Jenga.”  We both laughed and to my surprise, Little Jimmy was content for the rest of the day.  I think part of Jimmy’s contentment came from understanding that God will continue to love us no matter what we do.  We just have to remember that the weight of sin can destroy our lives if we aren’t careful.  It’s important for Believers to remember that no matter what you may have done, if you ask God with a sincere heart, He will not only forgive you of your sins, but will also reorder your life.  Be Blessed, My Friends.  Be an Overcomer. 

~Bro. Jason Z. Hunt

Memory Verse: ^“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God”. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

Memory Word:  “Sin”:  Anything not of God.

Inspiring Music:  “Most High” by Deitrick Haddon and the Voices of Unity from the Blessed and Cursed Soundtrack

Cling to the Rock

I attended a funeral service this weekend for the Grandfather of a close family Friend.  Even though we were all in shock by his sudden death and will miss him dearly, it wasn’t a sad day.  We found a comforting security from the knowledge that our elder was a Christian and would be spending his eternity in the presence of our Heavenly Father singing and praising His Holy name.  

The funeral was a beautiful ceremony enriched with powerful music, testimonies, and a decorative array of flowers that would have easily rivaled the pallet of the most prolific artist. The familiar aroma of perfume wafted through the air from the elder mothers fanning themselves under their finest Sunday hats.  The elder men in the church, most with salt and pepper marbling in their hair, patted their feet and sung throaty hymns as they rocked to the sounds of the Gospel choir.   The church was filled to capacity with friends and family members from around the country all paying their final respects to a man who died to self and lived a life for Christ daily. 

There were several wonderful speakers that expressed words of comfort to the family, but I was especially moved by the colloquy of  one minister who presented a story about the security of Christ.  I would like to take this time to share his parable with you.

Late one Tuesday afternoon, a young girl and her little brother were walking home from school on the railroad tracks that passed behind their community.  The sun fell on their shoulders as they made the familiar trek back to their subdivision.   Like every day, they laughed and played games to help pass the time as the followed the steel rails past the backside of town.  Suddenly, a Spring shower began to rain down on them.  They began running down the wooden ties desperately seeking shelter when they decided to take a detour through an old railway tunnel.  Their mother frequently warned them to stay out of the dark, cramped space during this part of their journey.  However, not wanting to be wet in the cool April air, they decided against her advice in lieu of finding an asylum in the abrupt change of weather.

The rocky passage was dark and stunk of mold and metal.  Not being able to clearly see what was hidden in the shadows, they quickly decided to continue their sprint to the light at other end.  As they approached the opening, they could hear the tracks vibrating under their feet.  They both new this foreboding rumble was a sign that a train was right upon them.  They were normally home when it passed, but they were delayed at school and took too much time on the walk back. They could see the monstrous machine round the bend in the tracks and enter the tunnel wailing its horn as it approached.  In desperation, the young girl threw her brother against the craggy wall and yelled, “Cling to the rock, brother!  Cling to the rock!” 

 After several terrifying moments, the train finished its journey through the tunnel.  Both brother and sister ran free from the dark cavern unharmed by the mechanical beast only by having been saved by clinging to the rock.

Beloved, I am here to tell you that Jesusis The Rock and no matter what terror you face or doubt you may have he is where you should find your security.  Security is defined as freedom from danger, risk, care, anxiety, or doubt.  It is a well-founded confidence.  Security is also defined as something given or deposited as surety for the fulfillment of a promise, obligation, or the payment of a debt.  If we put our trust in Jesus, he will sustain us through our darkest hours.  His sacrifice on Calvary was the deposit paid on our behalf to bless us with the assurance of Gods promise of security through salvation.  But knowing God is our security isn’t enough.  We must put our knowledge into practice.  If the young lady in the parable above only knew of where to find her security but did not act upon it, our tale would have had a disastrous ending.  Lets take a look at the book of Matthew to see what the Bible says about this principle. 

 ²⁴“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27 NIV

The challenges of life are many and far reaching.  They tax and burden even the strongest of men.  In these times of trouble, people often lean on something superficial or temporal to sustain them through their struggles.  But as Believers, we should be leaning on Christ for he is genuine and eternal.  Through him, we have the assurance that come what may, God will always be in control.  The Apostle Paul states it aptly in the book of Romans.

 ^36″For from him and through him and to him are all things.  To him be the glory forever! Amen.” Romans 11:36 NIV

As Believers we must put into practice the principle that God has the final say in all things.  For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. If you are plagued with doubt, fear, and unbelief, turn your cares over to the Lord.  Cling to The Rock!  If you are struggling in your finances, place your faith in what is eternal instead of what is temporal.  Cling to The Rock!  If you have been rejected by your family, friends, or church don’t give up on God or even yourself.  Cling to The Rock!  If you are stricken with illness or injury, don’t look for man to solve your problems.  Cling to The Rock!   Be Blessed, My Friends.  Be an Overcomer!

Bro. Jason Z. Hunt

Memory Verse:  “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”  Matthew 7:24 NIV

Memory Word:  “Security”: 1. freedom from danger, risk, care, anxiety, or doubt;  a well-founded confidence. 2. something given or deposited as surety for the fulfillment of a promise, obligation, or the payment of a debt.

Inspiring Music:  “With Everything” by Hillsong

Res Ipsa Loquitur

For a number of years, I ran a very successful EMT program at a local technical college.  When you walked into the building you noticed a strong sense of pride not only from the staff, but also from the students that studied there.  They carried themselves in a manner that was almost reverential.  This mentality carried over into their work, studies, and the rest of the culture surrounding their facility. Even though the building  was several decades old, it was immaculately maintained. 

The commons area was the hub of the facility.  Students from all over the massive complex would pass through the open space to drop off their kids at the on site daycare, to enjoy a snack from the cantina, to study, and sometimes even to get a free bite to eat from the culinary department.  The walls of the commons area were of particular interest.  They were adorned with motivational quotes and sayings from throughout history.  It was difficult to face any direction in the massive area without being enriched by an uplifting message.  My favorite statement came from a rather unpretentious looking mirror hung on the east wall.  Above it was written the phrase “Would you hire this person?”

What a powerful motivator!  It actually made the passer by objectively evaluate their own appearance.  In fact, EVERY day I was there I can remember seeing someone  who happened across it take the time to make themselves look more presentable. Wouldn’t it be great if we took the same amount of time to make ourselves look more like Christ?  What if the words above the mirror read “Would you say this person is a Christian”?  Would you need to make yourself look more like Him while standing in front of it? 

Believe it or not, there is actually a medical-legal component to EMT and Paramedic programs.  It focuses on things like consent, tort, proximate cause, and a few other legal issues and ramifications prehospital professionals may encounter while working in the field.  There are two Latin expressions we teach our students during this particular section.  They are “Primum non nocere” which roughly translates to “First do no harm” (I will write on this subject at a later date) and “Res ipsa loquitur”.  This translates to “The thing speaks for itself” and refers to the common law of negligence.  It essentially means that the elements of duty of care and breach can be sometimes inferred from the very nature of the accident, even without direct evidence of how any defendant behaved.  For example, if a Paramedic is transporting a patient with chest pain to the hospital who sustains a broken arm in transit due to being dropped by the ambulance crew while in their care and under normal circumstances,  it is obvious that there was a breach of duty and therefor proves negligence. 

Let’s take the idea behind “Res ipsa loquitur” to another level and apply it to the lifestyle a Christian is supposed to live.  For example, lets play pretend you are a defendant on trial for being a Christian.  A jury of your peers sits to your right focused on their mission of finding either innocence or guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  A judge arbitrates the event while a prosecuting attorney brings forth evidence of the crime.  She has recorded documentation of every conversation you have ever had and has a list of places you choose to frequent.  The prosecutor speaks to the examining magistrate about your participation with your local church, what you expose yourself to, what and how much you eat, drink, where you sleep and with whom you sleep with.  She tells the court how you handle the haters on your job and discusses the amount of time you share with your family.  She compares your obedience to God with your willful disobedience and places a high emphasis on the number of times you have attempted to reach out to non-believers.  She presents any false idols and vices you allow to remain active in your life to help fulfill the burden of proof.  She tells the jury how you handle your innermost thoughts and desires and places them on display for the entire court to see. 

If this were you on trial, would “the thing speak for itself”? If you were on trial for being a Christian, would you be found guilty?  By definition, a Christian is a person who exemplifies in his or her life the teachings of Christ.  Lets go to the Bible to see how a Chirstian is supposed to “exemplify” these teachings.

^16″So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. ¹⁷For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” Galatians 5:16-17 NIV

So here Paul writes that a Christian is supposed to live life “by the Spirit” and not according to the desires of the “sinful nature”.  So how can we tell the difference?  He continues his decrees in the next several verses.

^19″The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”  Galatians 5:19-25 NIV

I know what you may be thinking.  It’s great to play pretend, but there is no spiritual mirror we can look into to gauge our walk with Christ.  Well, My Friends, that’s not exactly true.  Lets take a look at the book of Matthew for the answer.

³³“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. ³⁴You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. ³⁶But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. ³⁷For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”  Matthew 12:33-37 NIV

These words are spoken from Christ.  He places a heavy emphasis on the words we speak.  He brings them up again in Matthew 15.

¹⁷“Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? ¹⁸But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ ¹⁹For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. ²⁰These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean.’ “  Matthew 15:17-20 NIV

So in essence, we can use the words we speak to help clarify the changes that need to be made in our relationship with Christ.  Are there any other scriptures in the Bible that help us find our way as believers?  Of course there are!  There are so many in fact, that I cannot list them all here.  But, lets take one more look at the writings of Paul for an example. 

^1″Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. ²Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”. Romans 12:1,2 NIV

He continues…

^9″Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. ¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. ¹⁷Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. ¹⁸If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord. ²⁰On the contrary:  ”If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. 
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”.  Romans 12:9-21 NIV

As a Christian, it is important to live a life of “Res ipsa loquitur”.  The places we go, the things we say, and how we interact with Believers and non-believers alike, is a direct reflection of who we are in Christ.  We must remember that whether we chose to bear good fruit or be bearers of bad fruit, the way we live our life will always speak for itself.  Be Blessed, My Friends!  Be an Overcomer!

Bro. Jason Z. Hunt

Memory Verse:  ^“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature”. Galatians 5:16 NIV 

Memory Word:  “Christian”: A person who exemplifies in his or her life the teachings of Christ.

Inspiring Music:  “Agnus Dei”  performed by Michael W. Smith

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions...

It was a cold, wintry night in South Louisiana. It had been raining incessantly for the past several hours with no signs of a relief.    The torrential downpour had beaten against our bodies the last three calls and it was time for a much needed break. Being wet for extended periods of time is  uncomfortable.  Being cold and wet is a miserable, debilitating existence that is difficult to explain with mere words.  I had just achieved my Paramedic certification and found myself being “baptized by fire”.  My friends called me the angel of death.  Not because of a lack of ability on my part, but because of the sheer severity of the calls I happened to run.  It felt like I was being stalked by the grim reaper.

We had been running emergencies non stop since 6:00 AM and at 10:00 PM, found ourselves only sixteen hours into our twenty four hour shift.  Emotionally drained and physically fatigued, we decided that it would be best to stop at a local gas station to refuel our ambulance and grab a quick late night snack.  As I entered the building, I passed by two young men on their way out.  They pointed and laughed at me in my uniform.  “He looks like a wet cat!”  one of them said, but only using a  more vulgar noun to describe me.  I ignored them, of course.  I was too exhausted to do much else.  It wasn’t unusual for me to get picked on while I was in my work clothes.  I was only nineteen when I became an EMT and only about twenty one at the time, but I could have easily passed for someone much younger.  Their high jinks continued for several moments and as they continued their witty repartee, one of them shouted mockingly, “Hey, man!  I want you to save my life tonight!”  Then off into the rain they went.  Both laughing and full of life without as much as a single care in the world.

Not twenty minutes later, we received a page for an emergency on Raven Street.  It was a ”man down” call.  As a Paramedic, there are few things as frustrating as being summoned to this type of emergency.  As a pre-hospital provider it is our job to be prepared for the unexpected.  However, the vagueness of this call’s description opens up the possibilities for just about any type of emergency imaginable.  It could be a cardiac arrest, a diabetic emergency, or even some type of trauma.  The only other information dispatch could give us was that it was a signal “H” or “Hazard” call.  This basically means we needed to standby out of harms way a block or so from the scene until it was deemed safe by law enforcement. 

Several tense moments passed as we watched dark navy uniforms being silhouetted by brilliant blue flashes from the light-bars stacked on their police cars.  Their shadowy figures danced back and forth across the street like some strange, abstract ballet.  Secretly I hoped it was a false alarm.  I prayed that it was just some drunk that had fallen in a ditch or someone who wouldn’t need our care.  A mans voice broke through the static on our radio.  It was the police and they sounded very anxious.  “Hey, guys it’s bad!  You need to get in here, now!”  I cursed  the day and ordered my partner to enter the scene. 

As we approached, we could see a car rammed into a tree just off the sidewalk.  Its front end was smoking, and the two front wheels were elevated off the ground and still spinning.  There was a massive indention where the hood had been displaced.  The closer we came, the more details became visible through the raging thunderstorm.   There were splashes and streaks of crimson on the windows and the car was riddled with bullet holes from the front end to the back.  We suddenly realized this was not an accident, but something much more.  The patients were trying to escape a drive by shooting , lost control of their vehicle, and collided with the tree. 

A young mans body fell out of the car as we opened the door.    He stared passed both of us into the heavens as if looking for the stars through the nimbus clouds above us. Paramedics call it the stare of death.  Its usually an ominous sign of things to come.  He had a faint pulse and agonal respiration’s, but if we didn’t act fast we would lose him.  He had multiple penetrations to his head, neck, and torso. In fact I could actually palpate a bullet that came to rest underneath his skin between his skull and scalp.

“Medic!”  someone shouted behind me. “You have another one over here!”  A man was laying in the street with similar injuries across his thorax.  Not even the heavy rain could wash away all the blood he was losing to the pavement.  He had a bullet wound that made its entrance to the anterior portion of his neck. Every time he took a breath, he would exhale a plume of warm air from its opening.   We quickly decided to call for another ambulance and divide the treatment of the patients until the second unit arrived.  I stayed with the patient in the street while my partner worked the young man in the car.

With the help of the fire department, I loaded my patient in the ambulance and began treatment.  He writhed in pain and trembled violently from a combination of cold and fear.  I applied an occlusive dressings over the wounds to his neck and chest and started two large bore IV lines to bring his rapidly falling blood pressure within normal limits.  I placed him on high flow oxygen and covered him with a blanket.  He was sliding into decompensated shock.  The compensatory mechanisms his body used to balance sudden blood loss had begun to fail.  He desperately needed to get to the hospital. 

After what seemed like an eternity, the second ambulance arrived on scene.  My partner and I turned his patient over to them and we rapidly transported our patient the hospital.  The entire event took place in less than ten minutes.  Even though I didn’t make the connection that night, the next day I realized they were the same two young men that asked me to save their life.  I sometimes wonder If I had been able to tell them of the horrific events of their future before they occurred if they would have chosen a different road home.

Even though I have changed significant details to comply with privacy laws, this story was based off of an actual call I ran several years ago.  When I think back on that night, it reminds me of  something I read called Pascal’s Wager.  The title may sound foreign to you, but I’m pretty sure you have heard someone quote it before.  Originally suggested by Blaise Pascal, Pascals wager basically states that, even though the existence of God cannot be determined through intellectual reasoning, a person should “wager” as though God exists, because living life accordingly has everything to gain, and nothing to lose. 

Even though Pascal didn’t factor in the need for sincerity in our worship with God, he does make a valid point.  If I live a life for Christ and there is no God, then I have lost nothing.  But if I live a life contrary to His will and there is a God, then I have lost everything.  As Believers and non-believers alike, we have a decision to make.  This is what Joshua had to say to the Israelites;

¹⁴ “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. ¹⁵But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:14-15 NIV

Why is it important to accept Him as Saviour?  Lets take another look at a few passages of scriptures from the Bible.

⁵Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” ⁶Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:5-6 NIV

It says NO ONE comes to the Father except through Jesus.  NO ONE.  So how do you come to Jesus?  Through Salvation.  What is Salvation?  I’m glad you asked!  Sometimes called being saved or accepting Christ, Salvation is in fact deliverance from the power and penalty of sin.  It comes from Christ’s Sacrifice on the cross for our sins.  Romans 10:9-10 Explains how we except Christ as Lord and Saviour. 

⁹That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. ¹¹As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  Romans 10:9-10 NIV

Salvation is the belief that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and that, by the power of God rose from the grave just as he said he would.  It’s choosing to live a life for Christ and not one that is contrary to God’s will.  Who can receive Salvation, you ask?  Salvation is for EVERYONE!  Lets take a look at the book of Luke.

⁹“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 11:9-10 NIV

There are too many people in our society that stand and mock the very Savior that has been sent to rescue them.  They choose what they think is the easy road without considering the consequences of their folly.  Then, when they are at the point of obliteration or are facing an insurmountable trial, they cry out to Him in need of deliverance.  Wouldn’t it be much greater for us to live the life He intended rather than trying to bank on His forgiveness to enter into Heaven?  Isn’t it greater to trust in His direction and to actively seek His fulfillment rather than spending our lives chasing after selfish pleasures and wasting our life on superficial desires that can never be satisfied?  We should be cultivating a relationship with our Heavenly Father not rejecting his direction. God knows “the Beginning from the end”, but He has given us free will.    We have the ability to chose where we will spend eternity.  Have you made the right decision?  Be Blessed, My Friends.  Be an Overcomer!

Bro. Jason Z. Hunt

Memory Verse: Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:5-6 NIV

Memory Word: “Salvation”: deliverance from the power and penalty of sin; Redemption.

Inspiring Music: “King of Kings” (He’s a Wonder) by Cece Winans, “Restore” by Jessica Green, and “Bless the Lord” (Son of Man) Tye Tribbett & G.A.