Synergize Conference was at Mount Paran Church of God

THE GUTS TO FALL

Someone quipped that a classified newspaper ad read: "For sale.Parachute. Only used once, never opened, small stain."I realize that we cannot afford to fail in some endeavors. But I also know that we cannot afford NOT to fail in most of what we do.Unfortunately, too many of us live by the motto: If at first you don't succeed, don't admit that you tried. Why? We often feel ashamed or embarrassed when we fall flat.In his book THE COURAGE TO FAIL (McGraw-Hill, Inc. 1993),Art Mortell tells about a conversation he had with baseball's LouBrock. It took place when Brock held the record for stolen bases. He was about 35 years old at the time and his days as a professional player were winding down. Brock was talking about why he successfully stole more bases than younger, faster players."When you start out in baseball," Brock said, "you're young and you have the speed and reflexes. However, when you try to steal second base and you get thrown out, it's a long walk back to the dugout, with40,000 fans watching you. When you reach my age, you come to understand that records are not set by being the quickest, but by the willingness to look bad in the eyes of others."There are other ways to avoid failure throughout life:* Never ask anyone out. There will be no possibility of rejection and embarrassment.* Never ask for a promotion. That way you will not risk the humiliation of being turned down.* Never go back to school. You cannot fail a class you do not take.* Never change careers. You'll never fail at something you never try.* Never try anything you've never done before.If success is just avoiding failure, I don't want it. But if successis about pursuing a passion or finding the guts to risk in order to experience life fully, then I want it. Even if it means a lot of long walks back to the dugout while everyone is watching.-- Steve Goodier

Veiw From Window in Atlanta

PRAYER REQUEST

Keep praying for Mitch. They have decided to do surgery at 8a.m. to remove an abscessed wisdom tooth and a tooth that never came through. Please lift his name before the Lord to heal and comfort him through this ordeal.

Also, our children's director's husband and daughter were in a wreck this morning. Her daughter was carried to the hospital with burns and abrasions from her seatbelt and airbag. Last report, besides a bit of soreness, all is well.

I know that these are attacks of satan. These are the people that are scheduled to go to the Leadership Seminar with Dom and I this weekend. Let's bind together and give the devil a busted nose and have a successful Seminar. To God be the Glory!!!

Rev. Jeremy Wilson

This Weeks Prayer

This week heed the Lord's invitation to go to Him and exchange your heavy burdens for His light one. Ask Him to teach you His ways so you can learn to find rest for your soul. Ask Him to help you determine which burdens you are to bear, which to release and which to help others carry. Continue to pray for the nation and its leaders. Pray for God's will to be done in the upcoming primaries and elections. Pray for President Bush as he finishes his term of office. 1 Peter 5:7

This Weeks Prayer

This week ask God to increase your hunger for Him and accept His invitation for a divine encounter. Ask Him to let you experience these truths in your life so that you can carry His presence within and impact those around you in life changing ways. Continue to pray that the body of Christ would rise up as one - holy and united for God's purposes. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and that those involved in the Middle East peace talks would do the will of God concerning Israel. Psalm 34:2; 1 Corinthians 13: 10-12; Isaiah 6:1; Col. 1:17

REAL LIBERATION

We humans experience two kinds of limitations: physical and mental.I had a remarkable conversation with a woman about physical limitations. Nancy was a sufferer of M.S. She could no longer walk and spent her waking hours in a wheelchair."I'm not 'confined' to a wheelchair," she insisted one day. "It doesn't confine me. It sets me free."She asked me, "Do you want to know my reason for living?""What is it?" I wondered."To liberate people. To set them free. Before I got my wheelchair,"she explained, "I had trouble getting around. Now I can go places!However I can free people, I want to do it.""People speak of being 'shut in,'" she continued. "People who are confined to a room or a house or a bed are not 'shut in.' They're' shut out' - shut out of activities and shut out of people's lives. Somy mission is to liberate people, to set them free, however I can."Because of her disease, Nancy now helps people find ways of gaining more physical freedom. But we humans suffer from other kinds of limitations, too. We need liberation from enslaving beliefs and attitudes."Almost everybody walks around with a vast burden of imaginary limitations inside his head," says J. H. Brennan. "While the burden remains, personal success is as difficult to achieve as the conquest of Everest with a sack of rocks tied to your back."What burden of limiting beliefs and attitudes are you walking around with? Do you ever say, "I can't do that" or "I can't change this or that"? Do you ever think that you'll never be able to pursue your passion or achieve a cherished dream? Do you believe that other people can experience the good things of life, or simply be happy, but not you? These patterns of thinking are as much of a burden as a sack of rocks tied to your back. Listen to these words from Darwin P. Kingsley: "You have powers you never dreamed of. You can do things you never thought you could do. There are no limitations in what you can do except the limitations of your own mind."Okay, certain limitations are a part of life. You may be more able to see those that are physical. After all, "stinkin' thinkin'" can be easily hidden. But, as Kingsley says, when you get rid of limiting attitudes and beliefs, those rocks tied to your back, you'll discover powers you never dreamed of. You'll do things you never thought you could do! And you'll be truly free. Besides an unhealthy mental outlook, what have you got to lose?

Death Announcement

Jack Wilbanks is at Ider funeral home the funeral is tomorow at 1:00 p.m. Please pray for this family and for myself that I may minister to them.

Pastors Retreat

We will be leaving in a little while to head out to Shocco Springs for our anual Pastor's Retreat. Keep us and the other pastor's in your prayers as we travel. Be Blessed, and if you need us please call.

Update on Eulene Gilley

Sister Eulene is still in ICU. The heart Dr. is still conserned that her heart is beating to fast, and plans to do something later after she heals from this surgery, continue to pray.

Update on Eulene Gilley

Everything went well with the surgery she is recovering in ICU because of something that happened after surgery, her heart was missing so they plan to monitor her heart for a few days. Thanks for your prayers, let's keep it up.

Special Prayer Request

Please pray this morning for Eulene Gilley she is in Fort Payne for surgery.

This Weeks Prayer

This week ask the Lord to help you stop, drop and roll when you face fiery trials. Thank Him for the Holy Spirit who helps us remember appropriate scriptures for each need. Continue to pray for President Bush to fulfill the mandate God gave him when he became president. Pray that he would have God's direction, wisdom and protection as he completes his term of office.Pray for God's will to be done in the Middle East, especially where Israel is concerned. Ask God to pour out His Spirit on every nation so that His glory would be seen and His kingdom spread throughout the earth. Isaiah 43:2; Psalm 66:12; 1 Peter 4:12,13