>Back in June of 1980, a man came to our church on wednesday nite
and said we needed to have something called Royal >Rangers. Next
thursday we went to the boyscout store in Natchitoches, Louisiana, and bought
uniforms. Next monday we >were at JLTC. District commander's wife sewed our
patches on our shirt when we got there. Me and my buddy John Gibson >were
shipped out to the woods for 5 days and four nights. Rained the whole time. The
last night we went on an overnighter. >Had to build lean-to's from natural
materials. I tore mine down after I got it passed off so's I could sleep on top
of it and get out >of the two inches of running water. That was all the
bribin' I needed. Two years later, I sold my '63 chevy stepside to go to
>camporama. By that time I was GMA # 708, buckskin FCF, and District
Ranger of the year.
>The best bribe is to challenge the boys to accomplish what they
never knew they could achieve, then give them the tools to do it. Yeah I
like that. Memories stay with you alot longer than cash does! Now put a
salvation with that story and you got a good book worth reading-not saying that
that wouldn't make a good story by itself. Salvation or baptism is like icing on
the cake to me. I'm an evangelist at heart. I love soul winning. I give altar
calls and salvation messages every chance I get. There is power in the gospel
that can't be imitated or bought.
I try not to put a price on Salvation simply because
I can't. I'm a bit like Paul & Peter who said "Silver & gold have I
none, but what I have I'll share with you. Be healed in the name of Jesus! Rise
up and walk!" (paraphrased).
Neither I or any one that I know could afford the price of
Salvation so that is why I say what I did.
If money does help to get the gospel out then that is
great.
I think every boy should get some reward for earning
advancements not just the best boy. I can see others giving up and dropping out
and the one boy cashing in. It will be great for him.
I think buying Bibles and handing them out would be a
great reward, too. Yes it cost money-I'm not denying that. I'll dig in my own
pockets and give to missions and Rangers all the time. I just don't think cash
is appropriate to hand out in exchange for someone saying the sinners
prayer. Yes I agree that it may be a useful tool in keeping them there long
enough to receive Jesus and then also keep them plugged in to Christ, but it is
dangerously thin ice in giving them cash. It seems to make it cheaper. DO you
know what I mean?
I do have an object lesson that involves a 20 dollar
bill and I obviously think that is OK. You can give it away but they don't have
to work for it though. Some of you may have heard of it. You ask how many of
them would like this 20. Of course every hand goes up. Then you take it and step
on it (or wrinkle it up) and ask again. Of course thay all still want it. Next
you drop it in mud or dirt (be creative here) and grind it in with your foot and
pick it up and ask again. (Try noit to tear up it up with your foot
though).
You see this 20 is like you-no matter how dirty you get,
how much sin you collect in your life-God still sees your value and worth. He
created you and knew you before you were born and He even knew what sin you fall
into. He wants to pick you from the dirty ground and make you useful for
Him. If you repent and invite Jesus to be your Savior then you can become like a
new shiny bill -a new creation that can be used for Gods glory. He can double
your value as a new person ready for His perfect plan.
Is there anyone here tonight who has never asked
Jesus to come in and make you clean? Tonight is the best time to do it instead
of staying in the dirt and mud of the world. Lets pray to receive His
gift.
Bob Simons
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer.
29:11 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 6:35
AM
Subject: Re: [RR] Bribe for
Salvation
Back in June of 1980, a man came to our church on wednesday nite and
said we needed to have something called Royal Rangers. Next thursday we
went to the boyscout store in Natchitoches, Louisiana, and bought uniforms.
Next monday we were at JLTC. District commander's wife sewed our patches on
our shirt when we got there. Me and my buddy John Gibson were shipped out to
the woods for 5 days and four nights. Rained the whole time. The last night we
went on an overnighter. Had to build lean-to's from natural materials. I tore
mine down after I got it passed off so's I could sleep on top of it and get
out of the two inches of running water. That was all the bribin' I
needed. Two years later, I sold my '63 chevy stepside to go to camporama. By
that time I was GMA # 708, buckskin FCF, and District Ranger of the year.
The best bribe is to challenge the boys to accomplish what they
never knew they could achieve, then give them the tools to do it.
----- Original Message -----
From:
mrkcrcl12
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 12:03
AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [RR] Bribe for
Salvation
This line of reasoning is getting tire some. Lets face
it...earning all of
those merits and advancements is hard work
I am going to address this
from the point of a boy (myself)
because I grew up in Rangers 65-73 as a
young man. I wish that I had been
given some kind of incentive, bribe,
"working relationship"
or what ever you want to call it to work harder on
advancements and
merits. The only "compensation" I recieved for merits was
this little
piece of sew on cloth (remember sew on merits) for my uniform
and an
brief recognition in the outpost meetings. A small minority of
boys
respond well to this and go on to earn their GMA. But the vast bulk
of boys
(me included) did not earn their GMA because we did
not see any real
benefit to doing all of that
work. If there had been some other type of
incentive...for me it would
have been camp gear or FCF outfit items...I know
I would have worked
harder and possibly went on to get my GMA. You can't
point your fingers
at the leaders...I had some of the best, some are still
active (one was
my dad), all of them did their best to motivate the outpost
but not
one of us went on to get a GMA. The way I see it...1% of the
boys
need only a ribbon and verbal praise to earn merits and go for
the
gold...99% need a little more. So what if it takes a little $,
incentive,
"bribe" to get the job done...so be it...in the process we
will be keeping
some of those boys around longer which means we will have
that much more of
a chance to reach them with the
gospel...which...if my memory serves me
correctly...is what we are here
for.
I know of young men that were "bribed in" to an outpost meeting,
gave their
hearts to Christ and in one instance lead his whole family to
Christ...I
would say that was money well spent. Hey, if Christ gave His
life for us we
should use any means at our disposale To reach, teach and
keep these young
men and who knows...maybe a whole family...go
figure.
OK...off the soap box ...
Mike Archer
-----
Original Message -----
From: "Doc" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To:
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 4:49
PM
Subject: Re: [RR] Bribe for Salvation
>
> Well
then, put an ad in the paper and get yur $100 bills
ready!<G>
>
> They make those rubber finger's so's it will
ease the counting out
> of the fresh cash.. I think yur on to
something. I'm sure your wife,
> and the kids will understand you
gifting boys cash for advancements.
>
> Most "ministers" take a
collection from the people, but if you
> want to dole out the
do-rey-me that's fine. *I even said so in the
> ORIGINAL
Message..
>
> Doc
>
>
> --- Keith Brooks
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > Let me think here for a
moment. Johnny is coming to my ranger group.
> > To make it
interesting so he will keep coming, I offer $100.00 for him
> > and
the others to start working on their advancements. The $100.00
>
> keeps Johnny and the others coming week after week (instead of
dropping
> > out) and they are now working on their advancements,
READING their
> > Handbook, READING THE BIBLE, and a couple of give
their hearts to Jesus.
> > WOW. I think that may be
$100.00 well spent.
> > Keith Brooks
>
>
>
>
> =====
> *High MORALE is the Index of
effective Leadership.
>
--------------********+********--------------------
> Morale raises
belief of the Leader in the follower,
> of the follower in the Leader,
of each in themself,
> and both in the .....cause!
>
>
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