| Preacher's Byline - Volume IV, Section 8.1 |
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Another wonderful month being about our Father’s business and several items we want to document for the August 2008 edition of the Byline! As always I want to take a moment to apprise you to some upcoming events and rides. We as a Ministry would love to have you join us at any or all of them. Please be sure to check in with the events section of the website as we routinely add more rides and events on a sometimes daily basis.
Upcoming events 2nd Thief is organizing or participating in for 2008:
We are also formulating plans for the following Events/Rides for 2008:
Many times you have seen written in this Byline how busy we stay. Praise you Father for that as it is a joy to share the Good News. What we also know how to do is rest in Him and fellowship as believers together.
Case in point is the 2nd Thief Ministries Independence Day 2008 Ride & Picnic. Last year we held our celebration at Shenandoah National Park and I was inclined to go back. But thanks be to God for the beloved Twells. She brought to my attention the Shenandoah River State Park that is just south of Front Royal, VA. Woo wee are we all glad she did. Members and friends of the Ministry converged on that location from the Shenandoah Valley, Piedmont and Northern Virginia. There were close to 75 people in attendance ranging in age from 6 to 83 years old! Some of us Riders met over at Outlanders in Luray to enjoy a ride organized by our beloved Circuit Rider, the Shenandoah Valley Coordinator for 2nd Thief Riders. Craig did an excellent job of not only picking out the roads to ride, but being the Road Captain for the Ride.
 One of the biggest treats for kids of all ages at the park was tubing on the Shenandoah River. Fillmore aka “River Rat” impressed everyone with his river skills and ability to stay in wet clothes most of the day. Again, the Beloved Twells regaled us with her culinary skills and nobody left hungry. The guys in the band did an acoustic set and played several Ministry favorites. All of us enjoyed listening to their God-given gifts as they sang of a loving Heavenly Father. It was such an appropriate way to bring the day to a close. What a great time had by all.Well speaking of the Band they were back at the Daily Grind in Gainesville. Kevin and Mimi, the owners, are wonderful people. It is a pleasure for the Ministry to appear at their location and look for us to be there many more times to come. It has sort of a “clubhouse” feel to it when we are all gathered over there together. .png) During July the Band also went over to Harrisonburg, VA. They were invited to appear with several other ministries and Praise Bands from Local churches at an outreach on Kelly Street. Several of the Riders enjoyed cruising over to the event. What a joyous time bringing the Good News literally to the streets. We made a lot of new friends that day and met a lot of gifted brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you to Glen and Melissa from Vertical Connection Ministries who coordinated the event. Don’t even ask about the python that came out to join us for a little while… The Ministry was blessed to be invited to participate in a live interview at WLTK Christian Radio over in the Shenandoah Valley. Craig, our Coordinator for the Shenandoah Valley Chapter helped set this wonderful opportunity up. How glorious when the various members of the Body of Christ collaborate to be about our Father’s business. From that interview four of the Riders enjoyed a day of “Riding the Highways and Byways…Sharing the Good News” over in West Virginia. Pastor Paul, Murdock, Circuit Rider and Preacher enjoyed high mountain scenery and cooler temperatures on the way to the Mountain Man Rally. Of course we had a great time of fellowship and a divine appointment or two. One included meeting some biker “PIG’S" wearing pink t-shirts (easy Fillmore) at a scenic overlook. Seems that “PIGS” means “People in God’s Service” and they rode from Charlotte, NC and also minister via motorcycles. In our continued pursuit to be a “Ministry of Excellence” more than ten Riders participated in some group riding training. The Riders Edge course from Harley Davidson was selected as it incorporates foundational standards from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. The classroom portion of the training included viewing a DVD, going through a study guide and a lively Q & A session…trust me. After the classroom portion we then transitioned to the practical. A group of ten bikes cruised from Gainesville, VA to Marshall, VA. Along the way we were on Primary, Secondary and back roads. We traveled on stretches of open highways and reduced speed small town streets. Everyone employing their new found skills and doing a great job. The reward was breaking bread at Fosters in Marshall, VA. Speaking of Riders, the story involving our newest member here is humbly amazing. Our newest Rider Aaron is a young Marine on active duty in Iraq. He was praying on how to be more effective in sharing the Good News. As a result of his prayer he was led to Google “motorcycle ministries” and ended up on the 2nd Thief Ministries website! His own words tell the story: I saw the page and instantly I knew I belonged, it was an answer to prayer. Glory, yes and amen Aaron AKA “Gator”…you, Hailey and son Jay belong! Serving Him and encouraging one another as a family is a truth we fully understand. All of us here humbly rejoice at your answered prayer and calling to 2nd Thief Riders. We too are receiving answers to our prayers. That prayer is for committed believers who love their Heavenly Father and want to share the love and grace of Jesus with others to be led here…and they are and it is a joy inexpressible!  By the way, Gator got his moniker because he is a Marine Corps AAV driver. Can you see the family resemblance? I can… Ooh Rah Marine! So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?Hebrews 13:6 NKJV (and Gator’s favorite verse)
And one last thing, Aaron rides a sport bike. More answered prayer from the sport bike riders here…they feel “underrepresented.” You see here at 2nd Thief, like the Marines, we are “looking for a few good men and women” period, but the fact you ride a sport biker is going to help some among us sleep better tonight. Frankly, I don’t know what the big fuss is as we do have some Gold Wing drivers and they assure me that those bikes are really “Old Men Sport Bikes”…WooooHoooo!  We like to talk of a “calling” to 2nd Thief. This is not some kind of prideful response to those led here. A calling is the normal way for our Father to reach out to His people. His word is filled with numerous examples. Let’s take a look at what that means and elements involved.Of course there is the initial calling and it is apparent that our Father does not concern Himself about disrupting aperson’s life…which is only right as He is the giver of it. In Genesis chapter 12 Abraham was told to “Get out of your country, from your family and your father’s house, to a land I will show you.” Talk about a change of pace…woo wee…and He didn’t even tell Abraham which land.
Moses was living the life of a Shepherd and tending the flock of Jethro. He was trying to put that whole Egypt experience behind him. Exodus chapter three advises that, “The Angel of the Lord appears to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush…but the bush was not consumed.” Of course it is our Heavenly Father that is calling from the bush to Moses. Somewhat more dramatic way to get his attention, but still an interruption of his life. What about some examples from the New Testament you say. OK, what about Zacharias who was going about his routine of life and serving at the temple when he got “the call.” An angel of the Lord told him, “Your prayer has been heard.” Zacharias was told that he would have a son, great in the sight of the Lord and filled with the Holy Spirit from birth (that is a message in of itself).
Then there was Mary who was told, “Rejoice highly favored one.” She was a young virgin girl betrothed to Joseph. Mary was living a completely normal and routine life. One day playing with all the other young girls, then betrothed to be married and then one of the greatest calling of all time. What else is involved with a calling? Well it is the reaction to the call of God on your life…and to a person it is fear or unbelief or both. Hey think about it, the Creator of all things is reaching out to you! It is quite literally, “A mission from God.” Abraham, told he would be made a “great nation”, obeyed the call but obviously struggled with unbelief as to what God told him would take place. That resulted in the whole Hagar thing which ended in the schism with Ishmael that reverberates to this day. Exodus chapter three reveals that Moses was advised he would be used to bring “the children of Israel out of Egypt.” And yet Moses was “afraid to look upon God.” Later on he asked God if Aaron his brother could speak for him. Aaron later cost 3000 people their lives as a result of his unbelief and disobedience. In Chapter 1 of Luke we read that Zacharias was, “troubled and fear fell upon him.” As a result of his fear and unbelief he was mute until eight days after John was born. When Mary heard her call she was “troubled” and she was told, “Do not be afraid.” To her credit after an answer to a poignant question she rejoiced at the news, This brings us to an important truth which is God always dispels the fear and unbelief a person experiences by refocusing that person on God Himself. It is a pep talk that reminds the person to trust in Him and an assurance that He will bring the calling to a divine conclusion. The call to Joshua is a wonderful example of this. “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”Joshua 1:5-9 NKJV So beloveds don’t let yourself be unsettled to the point of disobedience to a call of God on your life because of fear or unbelief. You can see that it is the norm to initially experience those feelings. Focus instead on the fact that the Creator of all things has called you and promises to see you through. And remember when He calls you He also equips you with giftings to complete the mission. Oh, and one more thing… The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.Romans 11:29 NKJV Godspeed Preacher |
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