-Do You Hear What I Hear?-

I’ve heard, for years, that all sound waves ever transmitted are still floating around air & space somewhere. I thought that odd & wondered why the air didn’t finally get packed full with all the waves & noise. (I’ve made my share of sound waves!) Seems that was just so many wasted sound waves. Like the ripples in a pond that eventually play out, so do sound waves. They vibrate the molecules of air & make ‘sound.’ After a time, the vibrations fade & just become ‘noise’ until it dies out. As to space, well, FEW molecules in space (a vacuum), so no noise. Kind of deflating when you think of all the cool sci-fi flicks & explosions. They may LOOK cool, but the sound is just for the benefit of the movie goers.

In 1962 the U.S. was in the midst of the Cuban missile crisis & there was a real concern about nuclear war. The song, ‘Do You Hear What I Hear?,” was written during this time. It was an attempt to sway leaders to avert war. That same sentiment has been practiced through countless other songs over a multitude of wars! People write songs, poems, even novels to express a point of view. They essentially want to say, ‘Don’t you hear what I hear?”

I heard on the news of a group of atheists in the New York area who sprang for a billboard to further their cause. Their cause: according to the atheist spokesman, trying to get more people to become atheists, or in his reasoning, admit they are atheist. They made a billboard with silhouette wise men going to a nativity, that says, “You KNOW it’s a myth. This season, celebrate reason.” They put it up next to the Holland Tunnel. Why? They wanted their point of view to be heard, loud & clear. Whether you agree or not, the message went out loud & clear.

Can you imagine hearing what the angels said on that first Christmas? Poor Shepherd guys were minding their own business when the sky exploded with an army of angels! Not the average day on the hillside. These weren’t just town’s folk, religious speakers, or even troubadours spreading their point of view. These were angels. ‘Angel’ means ‘God’s messenger.’ They had a first-hand account of God stepping out of heaven into human flesh! The news the world needed to hear: a Savior is here. The world STILL needs to hear it.

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-12 NKJV

As you read this, I will have just had an injection into my eardrum to continue treatment of two ruptured eardrums back in the summer. The attempt is to completely restore my hearing. I want to be able to hear as I should. Spiritually, I want to hear the message God has for me: the Savior has been born. I’m to be a messenger, just like the angels, then the Shepherds they tagged with the story. God has come among us! The Savior is born. Do you hear what I hear?

www.myspace.com/davejacksonnewport.
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ASUN website www.bcmasunewport.org
Cell: 870-217-9376
Dave Jackson-Campus Minister djackson@absc.org

-Cover Fire-

I never served in armed services. I’ve had friends who did & seen plenty of war movies that enlightened me as to an essential element in an attack. If a squad, platoon, or company is moving forward in battle, soldiers offer ‘cover fire’ for the men to advance. Stands to reason, right? If someone is shooting a heavy barrage of bullets at you, it’s hard to stick your head out to fire back. So, the guys move forward while their comrades offer cover fire.

Not sure if you realize it or not, but each day a spiritual war goes on. No, no bombs, gunfire, or napalm, but a warfare none-the-less. There is a devil & he’s real. While I’ve never SEEN him, I gotta think he doesn’t sport around in a red cape, with horns, a pointy tail & a pitchfork. He wages war against mankind daily.


You might think, “Hey, I’m not getting involved in this religious stuff. I’ll mind my own business & live my life.” Doesn’t really work that way. You can’t be a neutral Switzerland in life. You’re either on God’s side or not. For that matter, it wouldn’t make much sense to be in the middle of two sides of a battle & try to be passive. You’re in the middle!


Are you a praying person? Hope so. You see, someone has rightly stated, “God’s army moves forward on its knees.”
The only way a Christian can operate & move forward is in prayer. To be honest with you, there are many times we simply can’t move forward without the ‘cover fire’ of prayer of those around us. When all Hell throws all it has against you, it takes the prayers & help of fellow Christians.

How about it? Are you offering cover fire for those around you? I can tell you from experience, we need it! If you are trying to stay ‘neutral’: careful my friend. Satan doesn’t play games & he desires to ‘kill, steal, and destroy’ you. Join the battle. Follow after Christ & charge Hell!

Beyond the verses/links scattered in this short encouragement is a list of challenges to pray below. There is also a reminder that when we don’t know what to pray, or feel like we have no prayer left, God’s Spirit will pray & offer ‘cover fire’ for you!
“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.” 1Timothy 2:1

“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” Romans 8:26


www.myspace.com/davejacksonnewport.
Dave Jackson on facebook
ASUN website www.bcmasunewport.org
Cell: 870-217-9376
Dave Jackson-Campus Minister djackson@absc.org
Dave’s Desk - http://bcmasunewport.blogspot.com