Good things can come from difficulties; this is for you, especially if
your going through rough waters at this time.

A young girl with a talent for speed skating pursued her dream of
Olympic gold. Her coaches believed she had the potential to be the
best skater at the ice rink. But she lived with her single mother, and
the family was poor. Because her mother worked the night shift, she
could not drive her daughter to skating practice each evening after
school. So the girl rode an old bike thirty minutes each way. At first
she was exhausted after biking and practicing, and she had less time
to do her homework and to sleep. It seemed like a terrible added
burden for such a promising athlete to bear.

But after a few months, it became obvious that this problem was
working for the girl's good. Riding the bike exercised the same leg
muscles she needed for skating. The extra workout made her stronger
and gave her better endurance than any of the other skaters. After
years of biking and skating, the young woman won two Olympic medals.
She credited the victory to the good that came from her poverty. Truly
good things can come from difficulties in our life; remember that in
the valley experiences HE is building character in us. Even when we
are feeling the lowest of the low we can come out the other side a
victor.

Remember to financially support the Penn Del Royal Rangers Honey Grove
camp this month; that property is Gods gift to this great ministry to
boys. Shalom.

we can assume that loving God is pre-requisit to His blessings for us.

Thank You

1 Peter 1:13, Get your minds READY for good use; keep awake. (NLS)

During the three years Peter walked with Jesus, he was busy learning.
In the gospels and the first chapter of Acts, we see clues to his
developing leadership. Whenever Peter was faced with a challenge, his
mind turned to God's Word. He looked to the Old Testament to
understand present events. In Acts 1 when the group considered
replacing Judas, he, Peter found direction from the Psalms.
Two of the most important qualifications for being an effective leader
are being willing to learn and willing to obey. We need both of these
qualities to be a useful leader. Peter prepared for each event the
same way leaders today must prepare themselves.
1. Spend time with Jesus.
2. Spend time in God's Word.
Education, study and knowledge do not of themselves make a powerful
Christian witness. That comes only through God when He pours out His
Spirit among us. But Christians are responsible to mature and READY
themselves to serve the Lord.
................................................................................
Consider: We thank God for providing the resources to make our
monthly payment
on our Ranger camp at Honey Grove. We can only get serious about camp
development when the finances become available; please send your
support today.

"Change is in the air"; "if it ain't broke don't fix it" cliches being
tossed around in conversations of late regarding the future of the
Royal Rangers ministry and to what extend will the changes come?
Moderate or mega and are we READY to accept more change for the sake
of the ministry? Don't panic yet!

Dr Stanley M. Horton has some sound advice for ministry leadership.
"Over most of the history of the church there has been too much
dependence on human resources. As long as the funds, equipment,
people, materials, and technical skill are available projects are
pushed with every expectation of success. Yet
manytimes they fail in spite of everything. On the other hand, some
have started with almost nothing but with a tremendous confidence in
God and a dependence on HIS gifts and help of the Holy Spirit, and the
impossible has been done".

"It is a great thing to learn to use the human resources available,
while depending on the Spirit. The gifts of the Spirit are still God's
primary means of building the church" (outpost, section, district)
"both spiritually and numerically. Nothing else can do it".

God will not disappoint us; He has provided the means in the past and
by faith believe that He will continue that work. Keep in mind the end
of the BOOK says we win; in spite of a few rocky roads we will
continue to be victorious; the race is not over yet, the finish line
is now in sight. Press on Commanders.

May your new year be a year of blessing for you and yours. The next
time you sit down to write checks remember our Penn Del Royal Rangers
camp in Honey Grove is counting on you; get that check in the mail
soon, and thank you.

Chaplain Joe Finan

Dr Stanley M. Horton's quote taken from "What the Bible says about the
Holy Spirit". revised GPH 02-0650

Labels: 2007, chaplain, joe_finan