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June 05, 2008

I hope you enjoyed and retained much from the sermon surrounding the life of Gideon. The part of his life which is often overlooked but especially interesting was the first three verses of Judges Chapter eight: 1 Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon, "Why have you treated us like this? Why didn't you call us when you went to fight Midian?" And they criticized him sharply. 2 But he answered them, "What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren't the gleanings of Ephraim's grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer? 3 God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the Midianite leaders, into your hands. What was I able to do compared to you?" At this, their resentment against him subsided.

Gideon’s answer to those angered was not necessarily one in which many of us would have chosen, however it was a wise one indeed. Solomon would one day write something about this type of behavior in what we now know as the book of Proverbs chapter fifteen, verse one: A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

I guess Gideon knew what he was doing by answering their allegations in the way he did for it seemed to cause their vile attitude to dissipate. However at the same time it seems a bit disingenuous for him to answer them in this way. Oh well, there will probably always be people and situations which we will never fully understand nor agree but whatever it takes for God’s people to live in harmony with one another is what we must always strive to attain.

This Sunday afternoon our Youth will be leaving for another mission trip. For 14 years our youth have been going on these trips each summer and it is as much a work in their lives as Vacation Bible School is for the our younger children. Some of our youth come from homes where vacations are never dreamed of, nor money available. Remember, "We may be the only bible they may read. Our lives an example because of His Story." Please pray for our youth and if you have a monetary gift you would like to share with them before they leave, please do so in cash because it might be too late for them to cash a check while on the road. Your gift will be properly noted and much appreciated.

Our Youth have worked hard to accomplish much in a short time frame. Your golf scramble fees, donations for food and car washings, gifts and purchases toward the yard sale plus driving to other churches where they are to perform their skits and songs have helped tremendously...and who knows where some might be had it not been for your generosity. Thank you to everyone.

Oh and by the way...if it sounds like all they have been doing is raising money for their trip...it’s not so. Just this past Saturday, after working tirelessly at their own Yard Sale, our Youth went over to and helped out with the Franklin Avenue Church of God Youth’s Fund Raiser...which they did not ask for or receive any compensation. We truly have a great group of teens and adults working from and worshiping at Mt. Zion Christian!!!

This Sunday I plan to preach another sermon from the book of Judges. This sermon will be from chapters thirteen through sixteen and is about a man who is often portrayed as a man of huge bulging muscles, "Samson." He was a man, who I don’t believe possessed Gideon’s tact. Read up on this man and...well, we should wait and talk about that on Sunday.

SEE YOU HERE, THERE OR IN THE AIR!