His name is Jordan Matson. He worked as a driver for a food service company for 6 months to save up the money to go and support himself for at least 3 years. He's not a missionary per se, but he is on a mission. He has independently joined Kurdish forces fighting against ISIL. His words are his mission:
"I couldn't just sit and watch Christians being slaughtered anymore. These people are fighting for their homes, for everything they have." Jordan Matson, unmasked, is a modern day Lone Ranger. Who knows exactly what motivates a person to go beyond what is normal? Duty, Honor, Country, Faith, or maybe just a sense of bringing those to justice who spread injustice. Regardless, this man is a breed apart, and his actions speak much louder than any words he may utter. Please pray for this brave man, and for others who may join him. In a more practical way for our daily lives, we are given by God, Lone Ranger moments. Those are times when our decision may not make sense to most, but is the absolute right thing to do. Standing up for our faith when challenged, being honest with others about our struggles, being courageous when alone to do good, to defend those who cannot defend themselves. Taking in strangers, befriending prisoners, drug users and alcoholics. Living outside of our comfort zones sometimes being in a combat zone. We only have to look to the cross to gain courage, even though other human beings can motivate us with their actions. Jesus went alone, with more courage than any of us could ever muster to suffer beatings and death for you and me. He was the original Lone Ranger, so to speak, who was abandoned even by those closest to him, was doubted by his most ardent supporters, but he knew his calling, his purpose, his mission. He knew one day his believers may get slaughtered for their faith, but his redemption paid for their salvation and reward in eternal life. Oh, if only you or I could have the conviction of our Lord, and the courage of Jordan, the only ones who would be slaughtered would be the devil and his closest associates. And we wouldn't need bombs to defeat ISIL, just more folks like Jordan!
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I walked into the hotel in MIdway, Fl near Tallahassee last night and it was if she had been waiting for me. The desk clerk and I had shared my Chinese food last time I was there and she told me about her kids, family and her struggle to lose weight. When I saw her it was hard to believe but in the past few months she has lost 70 pounds!
Not only that but she shared for a good 15 minutes non-stop all the good things that happened to her during this dramatic process. But then she related how the most difficult part was getting rid of the excess fat on her arms. Me, I immediately thought of all the weight I had lost.......behavior wise and emotionally, but how hard some of the residual effects of it were to get rid of. Sort of like being saved by the redeeming grace and forgiveness of our Lord, and immediately the weight of our sins is reduced, but we tend to hold on to those acts that we considered most despicable that we did and seems like it takes forever to get the weight off. For even years we can struggle because we think that giving it all up in one glorious act of confession and baptism is impossible, but in reality, salvation and forgiveness comes with no asterisk like the car business........like this: $399 per month* *(does not include tax, tag, title, mandatory extended warranty and an extra 5% interest for another 6 months) We think there is no way anyone can forgive the weight of my sins, but the truth is, not only once, but always. The deal can't be that good! God is faithful all the time every time to stand in the gap created by our weight gain and constantly in scripture says "lose the weight", ask for forgiveness and it shall be granted. No asterisk, no hidden fees, complete and everlasting forgiveness. So if like me, you struggle to let that extra weight go, remember that the grace of our Lord extends to all corners of this vast earth and covers a multitude of sins, including ALL the ones you and I have committed. Done deal, let them go, your burdens will be much lighter! It was nice to have almost a week at home, I actually got used to sleeping in the same bed. It was also a
great time to catch up on playing games with my grandson Logan who is 6. We played quite a few different ones, but my top two were "Chutes and Ladders" which I mostly won, and "Go Fish" which Logan wasdefinitely the champ at, don't think I won once. As we get older and become grand parents we stop to actually see the look of glee in the child's face across from us as we do something together that they enjoy. Logan took great joy in whipping his Pa Pa at Go Fish but what he really enjoyed was our time spent having fun. What I really liked was not only a change in my routine (see last week's blog), but a chance to make a difference in his life however small it was. Of course, the Lord was the originator of Go Fish, but His wasn't a game, it was a call to us to be fishers of men. The concept is similar though, match them up with Him and they begin to look the same. They (and us) begin to reflect the image of God and shed the image of self. We become a pair that multiplies into other pairs until the world is full of a whole bunch of Go Fishers. Which makes me think of how we need to Go Fishing more often. What if in every aspect of life, we used the concept? Maybe every day would be a new adventure instead of a drag, we would constantly be on the lookout to cast our rods into the changing waters of life, never afraid of new challenges, because we knew the Lord would provide what we needed. When he told his disciples to cast out their nets into waters that previously produced nothing, we see the scripture in action that "what is impossible for man, is possible for God". Not only did they catch fish, they caught an overwhelming supply. Which tells me that if we conduct our lives as fishermen, there is no limit to what we may catch. Do what God asks us to do and surely we will reap not only an eternal reward, but most definitely we will put greater smiles on the faces of children who have much better parents because of it. We can't catch the true adventure of life or ask others to join us in faith and sobriety unless we Go Fish! |
Glenn YankowskiGlenn is an ex-Marine Viet Nam vet who is also a recovering alcoholic, clean and sober for 30 years. He has been involved in start up and ongoing recovery ministry at North Atlanta Church and Campus for the last two decades. He has a passion for outreach and to spread the message that the answer to lasting and fulfilling recovery from addiction is in a relationship with Jesus Christ. He and the ATB team are available to assist in your questions or needs on an individual basis and will do so maintaining complete confidentiality. You may e-mail him at sgtski@bellsouth.net. Archives
April 2024
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