Your Life -- It's on Loan!

I like to take long walks in the cemetery. I've noticed something about the hundreds of people beneath the cemetery ground. None of them kept their bodies! They each were given a body to use -- some for a short time and some for many years. But they all gave those bodies up. And that is true with their things, too. They came into the world with nothing and they left the things of this world behind.Everything. Their bodies; their money; their responsibilities; their families; and, all of their things!
An old story tells of a grandmother and her grandson walking the beach. The little boy spotted a dead pelican in the sand. "What happened to that bird?" he asked."That pelican died and went to heaven to be with God," explained his grandmother, in hopes of soothing the child.Still puzzled, he asked, "Well, why did God throw him back?"
I rented a car recently. The rental papers indicated that the carwas "dented all over." I looked closely and, sure enough, it was covered with little, round dents! Every door, the hood, the roof and the trunk were affected. The car looked as if it had been caught in a severe hail storm.The damage was only visible upon close inspection, so it didn't particularly bother me that it was dented. I drove the vehicle for afew days and returned it to the rental agency. It wasn't my car. I knew I couldn't keep it if I wanted to.Our bodies are like loaner vehicles. They are ours to use, but not ours to keep. We must care for them and maintain them, for the better shape they are in, the longer we may borrow them. But we will someday turn them back in. We were fortunate enough to be given bodies to usefor a while, but sometime they will become sick, damaged or simply worn out, and we will need to return them.This simple concept is one of the most transforming, comforting and freeing truths I have come to know. I have been given thee xtraordinary gift of a body to use for a season, and a few things ofthis world to enjoy for a time. But NONE of these are mine to keep.Therefore, I will guard against becoming too attached, for I know Imust give it all up someday.I can live freed from unnecessary worry about myself. It's all on loan. Mine to use well and enjoy for a time. And then, when I returnit all, I will give it back in gratitude and joy, thankful that I even got to use it at all!
Steve Gooder

How Long Do We Have ?

About the time our original 13 states adopted their new constitution, in 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh , had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years prior:"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship."The average age of the worlds greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:1. From bondage to spiritual faith;2. From spiritual faith to great courage;3. From courage to liberty;4. From liberty to abundance;5. From abundance to complacency;6. From complacency to apathy;7. From apathy to dependence;8. From dependence back into bondage ."Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul , Minnesota , points out some interesting facts concerning the 2000 Presidential election:
Population of counties won by: Gore: 127 million; Bush: 143 million;
Square miles of land won by: Gore: 580,000; Bush: 2,427,000
States won by: Gore: 19; Bush: 29
Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by: Gore: 13.2 Bush: 2.1

Professor Olson adds: "In aggregate, the map of the territory Bush won was mostly the land owned by the tax-paying citizens of this great country. Gore's territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in government-owned tenements and living off government welfare..."Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the "complacency and apathy" phase of Professor Tyler's definition of democracy, with some 40 percent of the nation's population already having reached the "governmental dependency" phase.Pass this along to help everyone realize just how much is at stake, knowing that apathy is the greatest danger to our freedom.

THIS WEEKS PRAYER

This week ask the Lord to help you set your priorities and order your day. Spend daily quality time in prayer and ask God to help you set boundaries and say “no” when needed. As you pray for those closest to you remember the persecuted church, those giving their lives for the gospel and those serving in the military. Pray that God would have His way in the upcoming elections and that we would focus on what’s important to Him. Continue to pray for the protection of Israel, President Bush, our military bases, ports, airports, borders, transportation systems, cities, water and food supplies. Pray for peace in Iraq so that our troops can come home. 2 Chron. 7:14

Breaking The 100+ Groweth Barrier

“Breaking the 100+ Church Growth Barrier”October 27-28 2006 Friday 6:30pm – 9pm: Saturday 8:30am - 1pm Camp Boothe, Green Pond, Alabama Featured Speaker:Bryan Cutshall
Early Bird Registration (By July 15th) Only $55.00 per a person! $45 for groups of 5 or more!(After July 15th) $75.00 per person $65.00 for groups of 5 or more Registration Fee Includes:Seminar Manual Overnight Lodging in Dormitory Breakfast Saturday
HURRY SPACE IS LIMITED!

Bryan Cutshall, D. Min., is the Senior Pastor of Twin Rivers Worship Center in St. Louis, MO. Under his guidance and direction, the Twin Rivers church has grown from 52 people to one of the most vital mega churches (Average of 2000 Sunday Morning Attendance) in the Midwest. Bryan is a pastor, convention speaker and church trainer. Each year, he trains thousands of church leaders in conferences, diagnostic clinics, consultations and retreats. He is the author of several books in addition to the ChurchTrainer book label - a resource line for training pastors, leaders and workers in the Body of Christ. All of his books and resources can be found at: http://www.churchtrainer.com/
To Register or for More Information Contact the Alabama Church of God of Prophecy State Office @ P.O. Box 707 Bessemer, AL 35021. Phone: 205-425-1905 or e-mail: alcogop@aol.comAll Registrations with Payment need to be received by August 1, 2006.
This Event is Sponsored by the Alabama Church of God of Prophecy State Office and is Open toPastors, Ministers, and Key Church Leaders From All Denominations.

Be a Part of the 100 Days of Prayer Iniative

At the 94th International General Assembly of the Church of God of Prophecy, then General Overseer-Select Bishop Randy Howard invited the global Church to be a part of 100 Days of Prayer. This season of prayer was to begin on October 1, when Bishop Howard would begin serving as General Overseer of the Church.

October 1, marks the beginning of the 100 Days of Prayer Initiative and you are invited to join others around the world that are praying during this time.

Below are the prayer directives for the next two weeks:

Week One Focus: General Presbyters
10/1, Bishop Sam Clements, North America
10/2, Bishop Brice Thompson, Caribbean
10/3, Bishop Felix Santiago, Central America
10/4, Bishop Miguel Mojica, South America
10/5, Bishop Clayton Endecott, Europe/CIS/Middle East
10/6, Bishop Sherman Allen, Africa1
0/7, Bishop David Browder, Asia/Oceania

Week Two Focus: General Overseer
10/8, Wisdom
10/9, Guidance
10/10, Spirit Empowering
10/11, Grace
10/12, Anointing
10/13, Vision
10/14, Discernment