“Whatever happened to…”

You’ve probably heard someone say, “Whatever happened to the good ole days?” Well, the days were ‘ole’ but many probably weren’t that good! Times have always been difficult, just in different ways. I suppose I have to concede that while our society has come leaps & bounds ahead in technological & medical advances, and we have every ‘time saving device’ known to man, we have lost a few things along the way. At the risk of sounding like a major ‘old coot’ I thought about a few things & jotted them down.

For instance: whatever happened to candy bars for a quarter, cokes for .75 & gas under a buck? Whatever happened to going to a movie with popcorn & coke for under $10? Whatever happened to having lunch for $5? (Actually I remember when all those things were far less than that but didn’t want to send you over the edge of credibility.)

Whatever happened to riding your bike (a banana seat job with a wheelie bar & high handle bars) all over town as long as you were back by dark? Whatever happened to a time when we knew our neighbors & exchanged pleasantries & acts of kindness? Whatever happened to doing something stupid & finding the news made it back to your mother before you did? Whatever happened to a time when you could actually talk to strangers without fear? Whatever happened to a time when people of wealth and power were business & political figures not T.V. personalities, pop stars & sports stars?

Whatever happened to a time when a handshake sealed a deal? Whatever happened to being shocked by language & sexual content in a movie? Whatever happened to a time you would never hear about illicit sexual activity on the evening news…carried out by trusted figures?

Well, we have to admit that while some things do get better & make life ‘easier’ we live in a troubled society. The walls of decency & right seem to crumble. If we simply trust in society & even in the ‘goodness’ of man we’ll be utterly disillusioned & defeated.

Lest I sound totally jaded & dour, there is a constant ray of hope. Our confidence can’t rest on a political figure or party to completely affect change & make our lives better. There has only been One constant & unchanging force for good all through time. One person has been rock solid from the beginning. Never changed & never wavered. Never had to have a team of ‘handlers’ put a spin on any actions He has taken. The man, Christ Jesus. The bible says,

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

Hebrews 13:8 NLT

The only One you can trust in an every changing, fluctuating world is the actual Creator. He is rock solid.

www.myspace.com/davejacksonnewport.

Also Dave Jackson on facebook Now we have a new Blogspot to share the devotion with those on facebook called “Dave’s Desk.”

ASUN website www.bcmasunewport.org

Dave Jackson-Campus Minister djackson@absc.org cell 870-217-9376

Are You Listening?

Can’t tell you how many times my Mom asked, “Are you listening to me?” when I was a kid! It was probably because I got that glazed look in my eyes as she droned on about something stupid I had done. You know, where your brain kind of kicks into neutral & everything sounds like the teacher on the Peanuts cartoon… “Whoppa whop whop whop whoppa…”. I’ve got to be honest with you, I confess, as a man I’ve gotten that same look when my wife drones on about something stupid I have done. Same sound, “Whoppa whop whop whop whoppa..” And again, “Are you listening to me?” or “Did you hear a single thing I said.” Truth is, men, like kids, hear SOME of it. Enough to keep us out of trouble MOST of the time.

While we can laugh at ourselves, it’s often sadly true with our relationship with God. We hear just enough to try to keep us out of trouble MOST of the time. Just like our families long to have a better, deeper communication with us, God longs for us to hear His heart. He’s not droning on about something stupid we’ve done, He’s trying to draw us into a close relationship.

As God was calling the young boy (who would be the prophet & spiritual leader for Israel) Samuel, God called out repeatedly but Samuel misunderstood the call. Sam thought it was just the old priest he served calling after him. It was a much higher call. Finally Sam answered rightly:
"And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.” I Sam. 3:10 NLT
God is calling to us daily. Can you hear Him? You might say, “How do I know His voice?” (I hear that a lot.) Many are ‘restarting’ their lives & careers and others rebuilding a life. While others of you may be just starting out in education & hitting life’s path. So, how can you know God’s voice?
The author Henry Blackaby gave some great insights on God’s calling. He shares that God calls to us by His Spirit through: “His people (the church & spiritual leaders), through circumstances, through prayer, & through His word.” I find the last one the most sure-fire way to not mistake His voice.

If you have questions about: “Where to from here, Lord?”, why not pick up His word, the bible, (or spiritual instruction manual for life) & seek His will. I’ll help in any way I can. Again, I don’t know all the answers, I simply know The Answer…Jesus.

www.myspace.com/davejacksonnewport.
Dave Jackson on facebook
ASUN website www.bcmasunewport.org
Dave Jackson-Campus Minister djackson@absc.org cell 870-217-937

Life Giving Water

Some parts of the country have had record draughts this year. They have dangerously low water tables & shortages of water. In our own state that’s far from the case. Area dams are almost at 100% capacity & rives are in flood stage with waters far exceeding the banks. Many homes have been flooded. Some have even lost their life from raging flood waters.

The past few years I’ve helped with Katrina disaster relief in several ways. I plan to return this summer bringing a group to help finish one of the destroyed churches. (If interested in this mission project contact me!) Many their lost their lives as the waters reached into the rafters of homes & overtook houses. Ironically, with all of that water many were parched & near death from dehydration. The water all around them was stagnant & life-threatening. Workers couldn’t hand out water fast enough. Publish Post

While in life’s storms we think little of the need for water, but after the storms pure water is crucial for life. I worked with a young student one time that went on a mission trip to Mexico. Someone had switched signs for “agua pure”(pure water) with the runoff water. The young man’s intestines were attacked & he almost died.

Jesus met a woman who had been beaten in life’s storms & moral problems. She was reduced to going at the hottest part of day to draw well water when no one was around. No one except Jesus that is. After a discourse on water & religion Jesus finally cut straight to her need:
Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” John 4:13-14 NLT
The woman found ‘water’ that would quench the thirst of her life that day. She left the well, and her water jar, to share with everyone she knew this life giving water!

This Thursday we’ll be out at ASU-Newport helping with Spring Fling. We’ll pass out water for the games & fun, but we’re there to share the true ‘life-giving water’ of Christ.

www.myspace.com/davejacksonnewport.
Dave Jackson on facebook
ASUN website www.bcmasunewport.org
Dave Jackson-Campus Minister djackson@absc.org cell 870-217-937
Dave’s Desk at http://bcmasunewport.blogspot.com

Open Doors

Often churches have difficulty getting people to come into a church. That took on a new dimension in Philadelphia recently. According to AP news service, vandals put glue in the locks of several churches making it difficult for parishioners to get inside for Sunday services. At least eight churches of various denominations were targeted. In some cases, the vandals broke off keys inside locks. Worshipers at one church used a drill to get their doors open. At another church, a member brought a blow torch from home.
What's more difficult is when churches are closed from the inside keeping 'outsiders' away from a safe haven & refuge where they can find encouragement. Sadly, many times we stiff arm & hold people away who are different from us. Several years ago I was on a mission trip & we were visiting around a shady, quiet neighborhood. I passed by a church. A letter had fallen from the church office sign. It read "Church Of ice". I commented that it was unfortunate & a sad commentary on many churches. As we rounded the corner of the building, to our shock we found the church had been closed down & literally padlocked shut.
I pray people of all races, social standing, age & income feel welcome at the church I serve & attend. I want to do my part to welcome & embrace people & let them feel a place that's warm & inviting. We live in a hard, cold world & it's important to have a place to turn & find encouragement.
In the last book of the bible, Revelation, Jesus made a statement that's been quoted many times. The statement is often quoted in regard to inviting Christ in our lives. It was actually written to the "Church"! People had gotten wrapped up in their religion & ritual & left out the relationship with God. He said, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends." Rev. 3:20 NLT
Again, I hope our churches are always open to people. If you are not involved in a local church, or more to the point, if you don't have a relationship with Christ & feel He's outside your heart, this verse may apply to you also. I've heard it said, "Jesus is a Gentleman. He will never force His way into your life." In the famous painting of "Christ at the Door" by Warner Sallman, there is no handle on the outside of the door. After he unveiled his painting the artist was told he made a mistake & forgot the handle. He replied, "No, the handle to the door is on the inside & you must open it."

www.myspace.com/davejacksonnewport.
Also Dave Jackson on facebook
ASUN website www.bcmasunewport.org
Dave Jackson-Campus Minister djackson@absc.org cell 870-217-9376

-Holding Out Hope-
You may have heard the saying, “Man can live 40 days without food, 4 days without water, up to 4 minutes without air, but he can’t live 4 seconds without hope.” I’m not sure if that is completely true, but probably not far off the mark. One thing there is no shortage of is hopeless, hurting people.
I’ve had to encourage many who have lost hope & are in utter despair to the point they wanted to end their life. While I’m no licensed counselor, I’ve tried to encourage them that life is definitely worth living. When we focus on our problems & difficult situations it makes a sort of tunnel vision that blinds us from the rest of the good stuff. We only see the bad. The trite saying is true: ‘suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.’
In my own family I’ve had two extended family members commit suicide. Depression is no laughing matter (no pun intended). I won’t bore you with stats, but suffice it to say there are scores of people who question if there is a reason to go on in life.
One thing I try to encourage is involving oneself in the lives of others. Helping those who are less fortunate or in desperate need helps us refocus our hearts on helping rather than our own hurts. Granted, there are real life issues we all need to face, & burying yourself won’t make them disappear, but it does help us when we help others.
I have so many sad stories of people who felt they had no way out but to end their life. Another sad truth is that when life doesn’t make sense people often turn away from God. At a time when one should be turning more for His help, people often blame God for the situation. It’s from the false assumption that we can fully understand all of life & its outcome & that God is not acting in our best interest. Rather than to lose faith when we can’t see the proverbial ‘light at the end of the tunnel’, it is a definite time faith is needed. The writer of Hebrews says this about faith & hope:
"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." Hebrews 11:1 NLT
If you feel you have no hope or feel overwhelmed with your life, please feel free to call. My policy is to freely help with a couple of ‘counsel’ times & if it is beyond me I will definitely connect you with a qualified counselor who works on a ‘slide scale’. Those of us in ministry had always rather try to encourage folks before they are sitting with a gun to their head in the middle of the night, distraught & irrational, or calling with their stomach full of pills. If you feel hopeless I’m here to hold out hope to you. Simply contact me.

www.myspace.com/davejacksonnewport. Dave Jackson on facebook
ASUN website www.bcmasunewport.org
Dave’s Desk on www.bcmasunewport.blogspot.com
Dave Jackson-Campus Minister djackson@absc.org cell 870-217-937