AMEN Brother,
I have been showing my boys the new stuff and they are
very excited. That's good enough for me. I don't have
enough answers for all the questions. Just tell them to
be patient.
P.S. You are right about Bishop Garlington. Awsome
speaker and singer too.
Geno Plares
O.P.#178 NCal/Nev.
San Jose, CA.
> All,
>
> A few weeks ago I wrote of going to the International Worship Institute in
> Dallas, Texas during the first week of July. I promised that I would send
> later posts talking about how blessed it was to be there.
> With all the "friendly fire" flying back and forth on the 'Rnet these last
> few days I would like to start with these thoughts.
>
> Each day at the Worship Institute consisted of a morning general session of
> worship and teaching, followed by a block of workshops, lunch, a midday
> general session, break, afternoon workshops, dinner, evening general
> session, late-night youth "Jam."
> At the Thursday morning session, Bishop Joseph Garlington of Pittsburgh
> spoke, a VERY anointed man of God - funny, down-to-earth, incisive.
> He was sharing a story with us.............
> It seems he was at a large aquarium (it may have been the National in
> Baltimore, I'm not sure, my notes don't say) and there was an exhibit of an
> African Rock Fish. He looked and all he could see was this lump lying on the
> bottom of the tank. Hmmmm......Where is this rock fish?
> Then the lump moved and he saw, in his words, the ugliest fish he had ever
> seen."
> No sooner were these words, "that's the ugliest thing I've ever seen," out
> of his mouth when God's Spirit spoke in his heart......"Didn't make it for
> you.,"followed by the text from Revelation 4:11 ".........for Thou hast
> created all things, and for Thy pleasure they were created......."
>
> We go to church, sit in the pew, say "ok, I'm here, feed me."
> Worship is something to get us to the sermon.
> We don't like the beat, the bass is too loud, why don't they play more of
> the hymns, why do they play so many of those old hymns, why are they taking
> so long, why is it going so fast, I can't believe they've got Congas in the
> Praise band.
> Got news for you, the worship ain't for you or about you, it's all about
> ministering to Him and it's all good.
> God's not there to serve us on Sunday, we're there to serve Him.
> Well, I'm sure I'll get plenty flamed over that, so be it.
>
> I said all that to say this.......Duane, Clint, Jose, Ade, Kelly, et al....
>
> Royal Rangers is not about us. It's not about Commanders or their likes or
> dislikes. It's about boys (and girls for some) and making them into the
> image of Christ.
> We are only the tools that God uses for HIS pleasure to effect that goal.
> That's ALL we are. I don't care if you've got every training patch there
> ever was and Johnny and Fred both called you by your first name. Don't even
> matter if you were there in '62 like Duane or '88 like me. We are HIS tools.
> I've talked to leaders who have been in churches where this new program is
> being tested and guess what, the boys love it, it works for them.
>
> I'm not going to sit here and tell you that change is comfortable. It never
> is. But you know something? I don't want to be comfortable. LAODICAEA was
> comfortable. I want to be on the leading edge of everything God is doing.
> That's a dangerous prayer. Sort of like Moses asking God if he could see His
> face. The closer I get the more ugliness I see in me but the more I see of
> Him and the more I'm changed into His likeness. So be it, I'll take that
> pain just to get that glory.
>
> I've looked at this new program and looked at it. I've got the Powerpoint
> presentation on my computer, both the program and the new Advancement Trail.
> I've looked at the training changes for the leaders. I say bring it on.
>
> I'm not going to buy into the idea that these men who have been so godly
> that they have been deemed worthy to serve at the highest levels, suddenly
> have gone clueless. They've All served at the outpost level. The have heard
> from the field. They also have a Christian responsibility to listen to the
> heads that God has placed over them AND they pray.
> Maybe we should do more of that (pray) and less complaining. Oops, God may
> tell us to shut up.
> The boys are excited at what I've shown them, good grief isn't that the
> point?
>
> I might as well step on some more toes while I'm at it. Let's cut the Boy
> Scout bashing and the subtle slams at the Missionettes.
>
> Yes, the BSA is paying for their "inclusiveness" and the accepting of public
> funds which places them at the public's disposal, but............
> they've been producing good young men for a long time. I can personally
> vouch for that.......my pastor is an Eagle, so is my Sectional FCF Rep
> (gasp!!!), and my Pioneer Lt. Cdr. I've got two copies of their Handbook and
> a copy of their Fieldbook. I love picking their brains.
>
> The Missionettes were sending godly young women to the mission field before
> Royal Rangers was a gleam in Johnny Barnes' eye. I work with these ladies at
> my church and they are just as passionate for "their girls" as we are for
> "our boys"
> You want everything perfect? All you have to do is die and go to Heaven.
> It's all good up there. Down here you're going to have to deal with sin and
> flesh and egos, etc. etc. etc. And that's just US never mind the world,
> parents, undisciplined boys, National Staff, and (gulp) GPH.
>
> You want to flame me, flame me. Call me a heretic if you will. But remember
> this.......once upon a time someone said it's more than just about rules and
> regulations. It's about the heart and wanting God more than anything else
> and wanting to see Him reflected in his children. Nobody wanted to change
> then either. Except the ones who were willing to just for the chance to see
> Him move in others and perhaps them as well. They were called believers
> then, disciples, Christians.They changed the world.
>
> The rest got left behind, a footnote in history.
>
> Submitted with love, passion and
> In His Service for the boys,
>
> Gary " Burning Heart" Rothwell
>
>
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