HEART TALKS - BOOKENDS

Everyone knows that books do not stand up by themselves…THERE MUST BE BOOKENDS on both sides in order to make it possible for them to remain upright. Otherwise, they fall in both directions and normally knock some other things down as they do. As important as the books are and as much knowledge as they might contain, they are dependant upon the bookends to keep them in place. These can be medical books, legal books, financial books, school textbooks, religious resource books…it doesn’t matter…they are dependant upon the bookends to keep them together and in place.
People are like that! WE NEED BOOKENDS! We do not stand up very well without bookends to keep us from falling down and probably knocking someone else over, even breaking their spirit and causing them pain and suffering. We all require being held up, held in place. WE ARE TRULY CO-DEPENDENT! We do need each other. We’re different, all of us. It is called “individuality”. We all have different information (called talent and experience) that to the other books are important.
There is something else interesting about the books between the bookends. Everything in those books may not be the best information. Bad things happen! The human element is flawed…every one of us. And, some of what is in the books is of no real interest or value to us, but it is there. THINGS HAPPEN and everything that happens over the course of a person’s life isn’t good or beneficial. We would like to go back and undo some of the painful history in the history book (journal) of our life, for instance. We would all like to undo the hurt that we have caused others, even something as seemingly trivial as hurtful words and/or the denial of the love and affection that we did not receive. THE JOURNAL OF OUR LIFE IS BEING WRITTEN EVERY DAY! We should all be thankful that we have others in the library of life who stand side by side with us to help hold us in place when we fail, or when discouragement drives us to quit.
What about the bookmarks? From the Christian perspective (and this is really important) WE HAVE THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA AS THE BOOKENDS TO THE RECORD OF OUR LIFE…THE VOLUMES WE HAVE WRITTEN BY OUR THOUGHTS AN DEEDS. His name is JESUS! We cannot eradicate the bad things in the book of our earthly life…BUT HE CAN…and that is what really matters most. WHAT HE FORGIVES HE FORGETS…never to remember it against us anymore. Maybe the big challenge is to strive with every ounce of energy we have to be like Jesus and also FORGIVE and FORGET.
I close with the thought that we can always count on “Our Bookends” being there for us, holding us up, cleansing when called upon, and making it possible for us to endure to the end and ultimately be saved. Think on these things! -- Dr. Jerry A. Jones

Another Heart Talk

It’s How You Say it that Matters

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: “I am blind, please help.” There were only a few coins in the hat.
A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.
Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, “Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?” The man said, “I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way.”
What he had written was: “TODAY IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY AND I CANNOT SEE IT.”
Do you think that the first sign and the second sign were saying the same thing? Of course both signs told the people they were lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?
MORAL OF THE STORY: Be thankful for what you have. Think differently and positively. Invite people towards good with wisdom. When life gives you 100 reasons to cry, show life you have 1000 good reasons to smile. Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future with fear. Keep the faith and drop the fear. Don’t believe your doubts and do not doubt your beliefs. Life is a mystery to solve not a problem to resolve. Life is wonderful if you know how to live it.

Prayer Request

Friday Evening – 7:00 P. M.
HOME BIBLE STUDY
and NETWORK OF PRAYER
A Non- denominational verse by verse study of the Word of God
CURRENT STUDY: The Gospel of Mark
Commentary provided for all new attendees!
NEXT STUDY: The Book of Jonah
Held at the home of Pastor & Mrs. Jerry Jones
1210 North Orchard Drive – Burbank, California 91506
(818) 843-2112 for Information

Prayer Requests – Week of June 20-27 2008
PLEASE BE IN PRAYER DAILY THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK
Keep this prayer list in a place where you will see it and be reminded to pray!

Donald Pitman (Dallas, Texas)
Mrs. Jones’ brother-in-law – retired Wycliffe Bible Translators missionary –
having tests for potential heart problem. Wife (Mary) requests our prayers for Don.

IF YOU’RE GOING TO PRAY YOU MIGHT AS WELL PRAY IN FAITH! AND WATCH GOD WORK!

Jim & Betty Nielsen (Pacoima, California)
Both came home from vacation with a serious flu (viral) condition. When these people miss church…they’re SICK. Pray for this dedicated couple.

From Marie Maritz(South Africa)
Pray for Yolande (Marie’s granddaughter in Scotland). Yolande had surgery on the 16th of June. She was born with two abnormal kidneys (one too small and the other enlarged). Many doctors and specialists have tried to find a solution for her problem without success. She has been hospitalized many times, but has been in pain throughout her life. Pray for Yolande’s parents during this crucial time. Yolande’s Mom’s (Linda) health isn’t good either and her job situation is not good.

From Chaplain Donn Ragle CALIFORNIA PARKS (Paso Robles, California)

There is a matter of prayer that I trust you could have your folks agree with myself and others concerning: Steve & Elaina Johnson were Chaplains at El Capitan for 5 seasons, but when Steve resigned the office, the board and he also said he would not be available to chaplain for a while either. This left El Capitan open and I have been praying for some time for a solution here. It looks like finally we had one – a gal that had served at DL Bliss a few years ago wrote me after the newsletter went out that she is a maintenance worker with Parks & Rec, she transferred to El Cap and did we have some place there or near that she could serve. Pray that this will be God’s solution for this area.

From Richard & Georgia White SHILOH MINISTRIES – Portola, California

We are asking for your prayers for Erick (their son). Nineteen years ago he had a serious injury and was not able to walk for nearly 9 weeks. After seeking medical help which didn’t help, and seeking the Lord’s help, God healed him and within a few days he was normal…while getting wood last week (Thursday) Erick started having some discomfort in his hip area and muscle spasms. He worked for a week and on Friday had the same discomfort in his hip and left leg. Erick didn’t go to church on Sunday. Couldn’t walk without much pain and said his left leg was weak to stand on. The only way he can get around is to crawl on his hands and knees. Appointment being made with a doctor in Reno. THE WHITE FAMILY IS ONE OF THE MOST GENEROUS FAMILIES DR. JONES KNOWS, SUPPORTING OUR MINISTRY SEVERAL TIMES EACH YEAR. We need a miracle here folks!

THINK ABOUT IT!
Why not make the following pledge to GOD and to yourself:
From this moment forward, I pledge to God…and to myself…that I will speak to God about people and I will speak to people about God. I will speak only that which edifies the Lord, the Body of Christ and my family! I desire to bless and not curse, to edify and not to demean, to build up and not tear down. I ask God’s help in keeping this pledge!

Holding this one over…CUT THIS ONE OUT AND PUT IT WHERE YOU CAN
PRAY IT OFTEN. It is OK to be this open with your heavenly Father when you go to Him in prayer.

DEAR FATHER…
I confess that there are times when I do not know how to pray. Please teach me! I confess that there are times when I am not motivated to pray, when I do not feel like praying. Please motivate me by the inner working of your Spirit to pray effectually for those whose needs I am aware of. I confess that I am not always compassionate toward the pain, suffering and losses that others suffer. Father, help me to show compassion when I pray. Father, I confess that I do not always have the strong faith that I need when it is time to pray. Please help me! Help me in all these areas of my life. Show me how important prayer is and help me to pray more consistently. This I ask in your name…AMEN! (This is Pastor Jones’ prayer…make it yours).

It is now clear who the two candidates for president of our country will be. Much prayer needs to go up between now and November. GOD HELP US!

“I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO…I CAN’T…BUT MY GOD CAN”
(A short devotional by Dr. Jones)

“And now O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I AM BUT A LITTLE CHILD: I KNOW NOT HOW TO GO OUT OR COME IN…Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart (Hebrew; hearing) to judge the people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” (1 Kings 3:7, 9 KJV).

This is King Solomon speaking. Here is a young man that had no trouble admitting to GOD that HE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO. Here is a man that would come to be so well known that the Queen of Sheba made a special trip to meet this man “she came to prove him with hard questions” (1 Kings 10:1b). At the end of her visit she proclaimed, “the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighteth in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the Lord loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice” (1 Kings 10:7b-9 KJV).
How did all of this success come about? Apparently, Solomon was aware of his inability to take on the role of king. He admitted…in layman’s language…GOD I’M NOT SMART ENOUGH TO DO THIS. I SEE MYSELF AS ABILITY NO GREATER THAN THAT OF OF A LITTLE CHILD. He admitted that he couldn’t do the job. He believed that he DID NOT have the qualifications.
Solomon then did the smartest thing he could have done. HE ASKED GOD TO EMPOWER HIM TO DO THIS, TO GIVE HIM THE UNDERSTANDING THAT HE DID NOT HAVE. He felt inadequate in himself to judge the people. He admitted that he didn’t have the ability to discern between GOOD and BAD. He then acknowledged, “who then is able to judge thy so great people” – GOD’S PEOPLE. He saw the people as God’s people. This is the purest form of humility to be found anywhere. The people of any congregation do not belong to the pastor. They do not belong to the head deacon or the elders. THEY BELONG TO GOD! The people ARE THE PEOPLE OF GOD. Through God’s eyes they are HIS POSSESSION…flawed, but His…and He loves them, cares for them, and THEY ARE HIS PEOPLE FOREVER. Hallelujah! This is good news!
What do we think would happen if this same kind of humility would come back into the family (people) of God – HIS CHURCH? It would amaze the most spiritual of the spiritual. Do we need it? The answer is obvious.
The consequence of true humility is (1) God’s acknowledgment, and (2) God’s favor and blessing – “And the saying pleased the Lord…And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life: neither hast thou asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies: but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.” (1 Kings 3:10-12)
We never lose by admitting I DON’T KNOW…I CAN’T…BUT MY GOD CAN! Think on these things and act as we all should. – Dr. Jerry Jones

THE ECONOMIC SITUATION
The price of gasoline is SCARY! As of (June 6) the cost of oil jumped $11.00 a barrel to an all-time high (and it goes up almost daily). What will happen to our price at the pump? If it hasn’t already jumped several more cents, it will. The news reporter just today is talking about $5.00 per gallon gasoline by July 4th (less than a month). WE NEED GOD’S INTERVENTION! This is going to impact the work of the Lord, church attendance, giving to God’s work, etc. The fallout from this is going to be enormous. PRAY SAINTS!

Marilyn Ladner(Memphis, Tennessee)
Marilyn writes: “I have a friend I have been sharing your messages with. His mother and I are Christian sisters and he (Tom) is having marital problems. He has also been blessed by your messages. God bless you and this e-mail family and your wife of course. I am praying.” (Tom’s wife’s name is Tammy. She has moved out.)

PLEASE SOLICIT OTHERS TO HELP US PRAY. FEEL FREE TO MAKE COPIES OF THIS PRAYER LIST OR GIVE PASTOR JONES A NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS (OR E-MAIL ADDRESS). A COPY OF THE WEEKLY PRAYER LIST WILL BE MAILED TO ANYONE DESIRING TO HELP US PRAY, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE. PRAYER REQUESTS MAY ALSO BE CALLED TO PASTOR JONES AT 818-843-2112 FOR INSERTION INTO THE WEEKLY PRAYER LIST.


Literature, Sermon CD’s, Sermon Tapes and Bible Commentaries by Dr. Jones are available. Feel free to contact him by phone or e-mail: his2u@charter.net

REMEMBER: But for the grace of God, there go I. Let us pray with all the compassion of the Savior. Compassion will put you in the other person’s shoes and you will feel how great and painful is their lot in life. And,remember “love covers the multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). You’ve gotta believe! Else why pray?

Your Help Needed!
Pastor and Mrs. Jones are involved in a project that benefits “The Ronald McDonald House”. We need you to save the tabs from your aluminum cans. They are worth $1.00 each to help “The Ronald McDonald House” provide housing for families with children being treated for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Enlist those you know to help us. Our goal is to collect 10,000 within the next twelve months. Bring them to our study meetings or mail them to Pastor & Mrs. Jones: 1210 N. Orchard Dr., Burbank, California 91506-1110. WE CAN DO THIS! A beach is made of single grains of tiny sand. Help for families with seriously (often terminally ill) children is made up of tiny little aluminum tabs from canned drinks. WE CAN DO THIS! (If you would count your tabs and put them in a “baggie” that would be helpful. And, don’t hesitate to ask family and friends all over the place to get involved (either getting them to our study group members) or by mailing them directly to Pastor & Mrs. Jones. TOGETHER WE CAN REACH THIS GOAL!

It’s A Sad Day
As of this date (June 17, 2008), same sex marriages are being performed in California. This is A SAD DAY! Oh, we all know that those who subscribe to, and participate in, this lifestyle have been doing this since Genesis Chapter 19 and Romans Chapter 1. This is nothing new. Is the legalization of these marriages going to add God’s blessing to the union. For those who know the Word of God, and who subscribe to It’s teaching on this subject, God’s blessing “will not” be on these marriages (unions). Making them legal in man’s system means nothing to God. “His ways are not our ways…His thoughts are not our thoughts” (Isaiah). God’s kingdom (according to Jesus) “is not of this world”. His kingdom is a kingdom within a kingdom, a kingdom (Bride) that He will one day extract out of the cesspool of man’s self-serving and wicked system.
In thinking about this, I am asking myself, “How should God’s people pray?” The answer seems to come back loud and clear, pray that ye enter not into temptation…if you are in the field, don’t think you will have time to go back to the house…if you’re on the rooftop don’t come down, etc…Jesus teaching. Will our prayers change the depraved nature of the world? Probably not! If that were the case, why has the problem continued to escalate over the thousands of years since Genesis 19 and Romans 1? As Jesus said, on His way to the cross, after hearing the wailing of the women in the crowd, “…Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children” (Luke 23:28).
And, maybe the fact that our system of laws protects these people from preachers saying, or writing, in opposition to their lifestyle, identifying it for what the Bible identifies it as…SIN, with serious consequences, I find it incumbent to stand on the side of God’s Word and what it has to say about the unnatural use of the body, men with men, women with women, etc. (Romans 1). That this situation is a stench in the nostrils of God is clearly a matter of concern to Christians. How should we pray? Pray for yourselves! Pray that GOD will somehow intervene. The church cannot condone what the Bible does not condone. The Bible and what it teaches must be upheld.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE OFTEN AND BE BLESSED BY THE NEW MATERIALS THAT I AM PUTTING UP AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE…AS OFTEN AS THE HOLY SPIRIT PROVIDES THE INSPIRATION. MORE PEOPLE ARE NOW VISITING THE SITE. PRAY FOR THE WEB MINISTRY TO BE EFFECTIVE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.

And, please share the web address with family and friends, encouraging them to become part of our Internet family. Also, where possible, ask that our website be added as a link to other websites.

PASTOR & MRS. JONES ARE HONORED TO BE CONNECTED TO YOU IN ONE WAY OR OTHER. WE TRUST THAT WE ARE A BLESSING TO YOU. YOU CERTAINLY ARE TO US. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND FOR HELPING US PRAY AND LOVE PEOPLE. “He that loveth not knoweth not God, for GOD IS LOVE.” TO THOSE WHO LEND SOME FINANCIAL SUPPORT, WE THANK GOD…OUR SOURCE! Thank YOU for being one of “God’s Ravens” to this ministry.
GOD IS OUR SOURCE! Let’s be faithful! Do not panic!

Day by day, dear Lord, of thee three things I pray:
To see thee more clearly…Love thee more dearly…Follow thee more nearly,...
Day by day. -- (Richard of Chichester)

Someone has said, “You can change the future and it starts today!”

ATTITUDE IS THE NAME OF THE GAME
Another POEM BY THE PARSON
Dr. Jerry A. Jones

When you think you are down…you will be!
When you think you’re up…you will get there!
ATTITUDE IS THE NAME OF THE GAME,
So if you fail…or succeed…you are to blame.
So think up…then get up!
Get yourself in the game --
Step up to the plate and swing the bat,
Go after the dreams that you dream;
No need to stay down and think “I’m all done”;
No need to stay down and miss out on the fun --
Swing the bat my friend, you may hit a home run –
And get the job done.
ATTITUDE IS THE NAME OF THE GAME INDEED,
Whatever you decide, to either fail…or succeed.

PRAY FOR REAL REVIVAL TO INVADE THE CHURCHES OF OUR LAND!
Pray for God to do it again!

Carol Pickens(Detroit, Michigan)
Please pray for a co-worker’s daughter, AVA, who is 6.5 months old
and has been ill. She is not eating and is cranky. Her blood work
showed a high white cell count.

Denise Dennard(Novi, Michigan)
Her mother is in and out of ER, is now in rehab, and makes constant demands
on Denise’ time. Denise is trying to work and complete her nursing program.
This is an emotional and physical drain on Denise. Both of these ladies
need your prayers.

Amy Vest(Burbank, California(
Amy has just graduated from the Los Angeles Police Academy and has been
assigned to the Van Nuys Division. She and her parents have asked prayer for her safety as she begins her career as a police officer. (Note: Amy was born while Dr. & Mrs. Jones were pastoring the Burbank Church. We have served the spiritual needs of this family for a lot of years. We thank you for helping us hold them up in prayer.)

In closing…
You may not be able to pray your way “out of” some situations, for some
situations are “allowed” by God for character building (more often than not),
to teach us that we’re not “an island” – but that we are dependent upon the
Creator for all things. What we can depend on – as we pray – is that GOD WILL BE WITH US THROUGH OUR TRIAL, knowing that when we are tried we will come forth as pure gold. God will be able to step back, take a long and hard look at us, and say, “I really like what I see! My child passed the test. Now, I will take him/her to a higher plane where I will reveal myself in greater ways to them.
So…PRAY ON…stop the complaining…look for what God has planned
for you as one of His children.

WHEN THERE IS AN ANSWER TO PRAYER PLEASE LET US KNOW!
We ALL wish to rejoice with you as you give your praise report!

THE DUCK AND THE DEVIL - Heart Talk

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma’s pet duck. On an impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved.
In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.
After lunch the next day Grandma said, “Sally, let’s wash the dishes.” But Sally said, “Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen. Then she whispered to him, “Remember the duck?” So Johnny did the dishes.
Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, “I’m sorry but I need Sally to help me make supper.” Sally just smiled and said, “Well, that’s all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help.” She whispered again, “Remember the duck?”
After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally’s he finally couldn’t stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, “Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.”
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AND EVERY DAY HEREAFTER: Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done, and whatever the devil keeps throwing in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.) whatever it is, you need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing. He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He’s just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you. How long will the devil’s “Sally” hurl what God has forgiven in your face? Sometimes the devil comes in human form (more often than not, actually). And, I wonder how long Christians will unwittingly allow Satan to use them in this unforgiving way. When will be love as HE loves, forgive as HE forgives, and forget as HE forgets? Just musing, that’s all.
The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness, He not only forgives you, but He forgets. It is by God’s grace and mercy that we are saved. WHEN HE DIED ON THE CROSS HE WAS THINKING OF YOU.

This website is part of the worldwide ministry of
DR. & MRS. JERRY A. JONES
For information about the caring ministry of these retired pastors:
Post Office Box 6986
Burbank, California 91510-6986
e-mail: his2u@charter.net

Spit out the Shell - HEART TALK

Great lessons are often learned from unusual things that happen in our life. Such is the case with a half dozen squirrels that hang out around our home. I’m not quite sure how it happened, but I have managed to become friends with these little creatures, so much so that they come looking for me. They love salted peanuts. They now eat out of my hand. Mrs. Jones, on a few occasions, has come into our kitchen and found one of my little friends looking for me (the kitchen door being open on a warm day). And, on one occasion, one of my little friends crept into my office in our garage, looking for me. They have even learned where I keep them and I have heard them rummaging in the peanut bag.
These are my friends. I have gained their trust. But, more important than the great pleasure I get from feeding them salted peanuts is a lesson that I have learned from them as I have watched them up close. The picture above is a true representation of these cute little critters eating the peanut. I watch them as they begin the process of GETTING TO THE PEANUT. They spit out the shell. They know where the peanut is. They also know the difference between the shell and the peanut. They simply spit out the shell and eat the peanuts one by one. As soon as they are finished they begin swishing their bushy tail, their nose twitches, their eyes sparkle, and it is clear that they are ready for another round. THEY SPIT OUT THE SHELL IN ORDER TO GET TO THE PEANUT. Oh, they create a mess (the shells always do), but they have brought me so much pleasure that I don’t mind cleaning up their mess.
There is another of God’s creatures that provides further impetus to the lesson that I hope will come through loud and clear. This comes from my growing up in the Deep South in a rural environment. Did you know that you can throw corn in gravel and a goose will scoop up both gravel and corn. The lesson here is that the goose has the ability to know the difference between gravel and corn. He will spit out the gravel and swallow the corn…naturally.
The spiritual lesson here is that every person who names the name of Christ needs to pray for these same God-given instincts. We need to realize that in order to get to the peanut we will have to spit out the shell. There is no food value in the shell. Yes, the peanut needed the shell in which to grow and be preserved. And, inside this shell that we call our body there is something of value…our soul. There is within each of us a yen for God, a hunger for better things, a desire to one day lay aside this old house of clay and present to God that which His Son died to redeem.
And, there is certainly a lesson to be learned from the goose. Are we as smart as a goose? Not always! We lack discernment when it comes to what is gravel and what is corn…what to swallow and what to spit out. There are many voices. There is every wind of doctrine blowing. We need to be careful when it comes to what we swallow and what we spit out. Nobody is all together right in his/her doctrine (philosophy or opinion). As God’s Word tells us, we need to use caution. We need to “prove all things” (1 Thessalonians 5:21), and we need to follow the instruction given by John in his first epistle: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (m. examine) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
Pray for wisdom! Get understanding, Solomon wrote. The human spirit is gullible. It judges books by the cover. It so easily gets caught up in the “hype” that prevails on television and in many pulpits today. Where I was raised, I often heard the old-timers say, “never buy a pig in a poke.”
In closing, let me challenge you to realize that the shell – if you hope to get the benefit of the nut inside, and your spiritual man is going to be fed – must be spit out. Paul spoke of it as crucifying the flesh with the lusts thereof. There is value inside of you. Cater not to the shell – the external – the carnal man. Life is like a gravel road. There is good and bad. The gravel is often mixed with the corn. Pray for the wisdom to know the difference. SPIT OUT THE GRAVEL!

Pastor Jerry Jones

A Charge Have I by Brian Becker

PRESENTED TO PASTOR JERRY JONES
on the occasion of his 40 years in ministry celebration.
December 10, 1989

The Lord our God has charged you
with the souls of many men.
The Holy Spirit comes upon you
And you speak the message He sends.

You feel our pain and sorrow,
You see the tears we cry;
You tell us ‘worry not, for tomorrow
Will wipe the tears from our eyes.

You’re the man of God, you’re on fire;
In your hand you hold a mighty sword;
You lift us up out of the mire
And set our souls upon the Lord.

To us you’re a chosen warrior,
A defender of the cross –
Preaching the Gospel of the Risen Christ,
And salvation for the lost.

We praise our Heavenly Father
For this preacher so learned and wise;
For he preaches with love, righteousness and truth,
And does battle with the father of lies.

A personal postscript:
I have no idea what ever happened to Brian. He was a struggling child of God when he wrote this. What I do know is that I am humbled by what this young man saw in this preacher. It is still the cry of my heart and my determination, after all these years, to be this…and more…to all who need me. My heart reaches out to the LOST…the LAST…and the LEAST. – For Christ…PASTOR JERRY A. JONES

PARSON TO PERSON MINISTRIES

JUST OVERLOOK IT! - Heart Talk

-Is it really that important?
-Is it worth the confusion it will cause?
-Is it worth the hurt feelings?

Someone has said, “The art of being wise is knowing WHAT to overlook.” For the sake of making the point, I would like to ask, “How much of what we don’t overlook is really important? How important is much of the trivial stuff that we make so much to do over? In my judgment, too many mole hills are turned into mountains. We react to trivial things, things that really do not amount to a hill of beans. Conversely, the important things in life are often not given the same attention, energy, or emotion.
The excuses that are given for such juvenile behavior are just that…juvenile. Unfortunately, far too many people have a very short fuse. It doesn’t take long for the fuse to hit “pay dirt” and things blow up. What follows often becomes unnecessarily hurtful. Wounds are opened that more often than not, will never heal. It is for sure that the scar tissue will always be there as an emotional reminder of the “little thing” that exploded into something destructive. Sadly, the pain will never go away. And, more often than not it is “the tongue…the little member” that kindles the fire (James 3:5). James was speaking from experience when he wrote (in the same chapter), “The tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God…these things ought not so to be” (James 3:8-10).
People spend too much time looking for something to “tick them off,” or so it seems. It would be so much better if words and deeds were deliberately chosen to build others up and encourage them. It would be so much better for all concerned if we would JUST OVERLOOK SOME THINGS…THE TRIVIAL THINGS…THE THINGS THAT ARE BEST LEFT UNSAID AND UNDONE. For many it seems that there is some personal pleasure in stirring up a stink and hurting someone, and more often than not it is someone we love.
In closing, I remind you that THE ART OF BEING WISE IS KNOWING WHAT TO OVERLOOK. We could all smarten up a bit, don’t you think? Think on these things! Act on these things!

Pastor & Mrs. Jerry A, Jones