ON WHEN PEOPLE PRAY...

My sister Jody and her husband, Pastor John Genn, live in Lone Grove, Oklahoma.  They pastor a church right in the town of Lone Grove. The other day Jody shared with me something that had happened recently that really touched my heart.

A young lady named Shelby visited their church on a Wednesday night. She enjoyed the service so much that she told her fiancé that she was going to buy herself a dress and go back to the church on Sunday.  Jody said it was apparent that she had never been to church before and had lived a hard life.  Before she could come back to church on Sunday something happened that prevented her from returning. During that week she was run down by an aggravated drunk driver! The car ran completely over her and she sustained serious injuries and was left for dead in the street. Her injuries included both of her lungs being punctured, a broken pelvis, and serious head injuries! They air-lifted her to the Oklahoma City Hospital with a very slim chance of survival. Tragically, she also lost her unborn baby she was carrying. Jody said, “When I visited her in the ICU she was unrecognizable and in a coma!” 

They began to mobilize people to pray for Shelby. She said, “We prayed for a miracle!”

This past Sunday night they opened their service in Lone Grove with a song called "Awesome". God's presence was there in a mighty way! While they were singing this chorus, the back door opened and in came Shelby being wheeled in a wheelchair!!  Her head bandaged, legs bandaged, bruised all over, BUT ALIVE! It wasn't long before tears were streaming down her face along with everyone else in the church! Several of the ladies went over to her and began praying with her.

Click video below to listen to the song they were singing that Sunday night when Shelby was wheel into the service. It will touch your heart too!

Sometimes, terrible things happen to people in this world but there is hope when people begin to pray!  Our God is AWESOME!!!   SRR

ON THE STING...

Esther shared with me a story just the other day about something that happened in her childhood.  I will tell it to you as I recall her story.

The beautiful summer day offered no sign of chaos as Esther, Ronnie, and Sharon were picking berries by the edge of the trees. The containers were filling up.  Conversation was light and cheerful.  Then Esther asked a question in her five year old innocence, “What are those things, Ronnie?” As Ronnie, her older brother, turned to see what she was talking about, he shouted, “HORNETS!!!”  Suddenly, the tempo of the day changed, especially for Esther. Berries went flying, along with arms and legs. “RUNNNN!!” they screamed.

Now Esther was the youngest of the three that were there. She grabbed the back pocket on Ronnie’s pants in an effort to keep up with the others. Then the stitching of the pocket gave way, as the older ones bounded up over the hill. The next few minutes turned into a stinging frenzy, as the tiny yellow jackets concentrated on the kid they could reach the easiest. It was almost too much to bear! Esther screamed, danced, and finally fell to the ground, beating the air in an effort to chase these horrible things away.  Edgar’s nephew, Vernon, came running from the garden and carried her up to the house. Her Mother and the others worked for what seemed like hours to get the hornets out of her clothes and hair and endeavour to get her calmed down. Her little body was covered in stings! Finally, as she lay on the couch, sobbing, but calmed, one last hornet that had been missed, made itself known.  Once again, Esther’s screams and cries filled the air on the Valley Road near Belleisle Bay! Thankfully, she wasn’t allergic to them, and quickly recovered.

Have you ever wondered why the Bible uses the adjective “sting” to describe death?  It makes sense when you think about it. Death can come suddenly, or slowly work it’s way into our everyday, calm and peaceful lives. No matter how it arrives, it stings! It hurts, and there’s no way around it – or is there? 

I like how I Corinthians 15:55 puts it “O death where is thy sting, o grave where is thy victory?” I’m so thankful that Jesus took that sting for us on Calvary. We still mourn, but not as those who have no hope! Praise God, the “sting” is gone!!  If you are experiencing the sting of a loved one’s passing, I encourage you today to lay it all upon Jesus and you too will experience relief from the sting! SRR

ON CELEBRATING NEW BIRTH June 12, 2012

It was 1966 and we were living in the quaint little village of Friendship, Maine.  I lived in a perfect little world with my puppy named Fritz and my mom and dad in our little mobile home.  I was six.  I remember that my mom was looking so swell!  She was expecting another child!  Sure enough, just as expected, one day she came home with a beautiful, bouncing baby girl. They named her Jody Rae.  She had the cutest little dimples on both of her cheeks! What a bundle of joy she was!! Everyone was so excited. Whenever people came to church or to our home Jody was the center of attention. I have always loved my sister! It was a wonderful thing that had happened to our perfect home! Seriously....It was!!

Steven  Age 6

One day as I was playing outside I was climbing up one of the trees near the school playground that was about 200 feet from our home. As I was climbing, I lost my grip and fell out of the tree and landed sideways on my foot. I thought I had broken it. I literally had to crawl home. The pain was terrible!  

As I reached our yard, dad was there and came running over to me. He said, “What’s wrong son?” I told him what had happened.  He picked me up and carried me into the house.  As mom and dad looked at my foot they agreed that it must be a sprained ankle. It didn’t appear to be broken. Rather than take me to Rockland they said we’ll just wait and perhaps it will get better on its own.  We’ll just keep the weight off of it until it gets better.  Mom wrapped it in one of those elastic bands for sprains.  That night dad carried me to my bed.

In the morning I told mom the pain was still very bad when I tried to put weight on it.  So dad carried me to school. That was actually kinda fun!! Everyone gathered around as he carried me into my class and sat me at my desk.  All through the day my friends and my teacher helped with the things that I needed. They would sharpen my pencils, help me to the cafeteria at noon, help me to the washroom, etc.  They were so understanding!  When the bell rang that afternoon, there was my dad at the doorway ready to carry me home. We lived in walking distance so dad carried me on foot through the path to our mobile home. This went on for several days.  Dad would carry me to school and carry back home at the end of the day.  He was so compassionate to my situation. I think dad and I "bonded" a little more during that time!

Well, since it appeared that my foot just wasn’t getting better, dad and mom agreed, we better take this boy to Rockland and get that ankle x-rayed.  As we waited in our family doctors office for the report on my foot, the doctor came in and took my dad aside.  He said, “Ray I don’t exactly know how to say this, but according to what we see on the x-ray, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Steve’s ankle nor does it appear that there EVER was anything wrong with his ankle. It seems his problem isn’t with his ankle at all but more a problem with his nose.  I think his "nose is broken" and it probably has something to do with Jody being born....if you know what I mean.” In case some younger ones don't know, a "broken nose" is an expression meaning a severe case of jealousy. 

Dad turned to me and didn’t tell me what the doctor had said, which I thought was kinda strange.  He simply reached down and wrapped his arms around me and carried me to the car.  All the way home.....dad was silent!  He carried me into the house.  Later that evening he carried me to my bed.  In the morning he carried me to school the same as other previous mornings.  I thought, “What a dad!!!!”  But then something different happened!  Once I was seated at my desk, dad came around in front of me, placed each hand on the corners of my desk and he put his face down close to mine. It felt a wee bit uncomfortable. He stared me right in the eyes and he said these words in a tone that I will never forget. It was very deep and raspy and he spoke very slowly, “Son....I know what you’re doing....and you need to listen to me very closely....today everything has changed....the Doctor said there is nothing wrong with your ankle....and mister man, when the bell rings this afternoon....you had better be walking on your own when you come through the door!”  A shiver shot up and down my spine three times as he spoke. My head did one of those jiggle things! I swallowed and tried to speak just one word.  I tried to say, “Okay.” But there was no sound...only the movement of my lips! 

Now I don’t know if you believe in miracles or not, but I tell you, that day I had a miracle happen because I was walking all on my own when the bell rang!  And I've been walking okay ever since!!

Now this story can be expounded on a little.  What I just shared with you doesn't only happen in the home. It often happens in the workplace.  A new man is hired and he begins to get a lot of attention and then it isn't long until he is promoted. Then someone who has been around for years seems to fade into the background while someone else passes them by. What they forget is that their position is just as important to the company as the new comer.

Sadly, this happens in the church as well.  Sometimes, when new Christians are born into the family of God, older Christians can tend to feel a little neglected and missing out on some of the attention that once was theirs.  Remember, it takes a lot of work bringing up a new child.  There are diapers to be changed, bottles to be filled, food to be fed, and clothes to be cleaned. And that's not to mention the holding, the comforting, and the burping!  Comments like, the pastor doesn’t spend any time with us anymore, or the new ones are the only ones that matter, stem from a lack of understanding.  It’s an awesome thing when our heavenly Father talks to us and reveals to us how we must not allow those feelings to invade our heart and how we as Christians can implicate ourselves in the growth and nurture of new converts.  The whole purpose of the church is NEW BIRTH and all the family can rejoice together when new ones are born.  Here’s the key; When God brings new people into the church, we all can be there to rejoice and surround them with all the attention they deserve and need. We can join in with the parents/leaders in nurturing them and take part in the new child’s growth.  When we take this approach rather than feeling neglected, I believe heaven is happy!  Oh, how much fun it is to love and encourage the new ones that are born into the family!  Let’s celebrate NEW BIRTH!!  SRR 

Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

ON PUSHING THROUGH June 11, 2012

Pastor Steve

The Work of the Lord always moves forward.  Sometimes events happen as though to hinder its progress but God has built into His Work a fail-proof system whereby the church will never be stopped in its forward motion.  Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

As we stood the tent on Saturday I began to remember the time we bought this tent a few years ago. It was 2005 and we had decided to look for our own circus tent for Victory Bible Camp rather than borrow one from our good friends in Benton, New Brunswick. 

I had heard someone say that they saw a "Tent Sale" online and that I should check it out.  So I did.  I found the site and it was a tent rental company in Toronto that was liquidating a lot of tents that they had purchased from another company that was closing.  I scanned down through the list and finally I found a tent that I felt would be feasible. The description of the tent was a 35’ X 70’ Pikes Tent with aluminum poles and four telescopic center poles and with all the side walls, heavy duty ratchets with binding straps.  In very good condition for $1,900.  I was impressed!  I knew that a tent of this description could cost in excess of $35,000 - $40,000 new.

I called the company and got a salesman on the line.  He said, "Mr. Roach we can have the tent delivered right to your site within three days.  It will be cash on delivery and sold in an “as is” purchase.  In other words, no exchange and no refund.”  I said, “I understand!”  He proceeded to draw up a contract and faxed it to me for verification and my signature.  I returned the signed document by fax. He gave me a phone number where I could reach him direct.

We waited the three days.  No sign of the tent. I called the rep and he assured me that it was on it’s way. We waited another three. Still no tent. We were now two weeks from our Children's Camp.  We continued busying ourselves with other things and one afternoon I called the sales rep again. Once again he assured me that the tent would be there tomorrow.  They had encountered a mechanical problem with the truck in Kingston. This went on for the next two weeks and each day I would call, the rep would give me another reason why the tent had not arrived.  One reason was, they were stopped at the border and were not allowed to cross.  I said, “Border?  What border?”  He said the one going into Quebec. I laughed! One day he told me that the truck drove through the night and they got all the way here but couldn’t find the campground so they turned around and drove back to Toronto six hours away!

The Children's Camp began. We still had no tent. At that time we were in the process of building the new camp washrooms and all that was there was a shell.  We tidied it up and used that building as our main meeting place during that week. The last time I spoke with the salesman, he apologized and said he had been at the hospital with his wife and daughter the day before and that his daughter was deathly sick.

As we were in prayer with the camp staff one morning, someone spoke up and said, I think something is trying to hinder this camp from progressing and we need to take authority over it right now!  We prayed!  After our prayer time I went to the phone and called the company.  This time I didn’t use the sales mans number. I spoke with the receptionist and asked to speak with the manager.  She put me through to the "owner" of the company.  I explain what had transpired over the past three or four weeks. I told him my dilemma and that now we were coming to end of our first week of camp without a tent that had been promised.  He asked where I got the advertisement for the tent and I told him.  He laughed and said, "That ad is about five years old and those tents are long gone!!  I knew then that something really strange was going on. He laughed again when I told him about the sales rep being at the hospital with his daughter who was dying.  He said the boy you’re talking about isn’t even married and doesn’t have a daughter! He’s only 21! Now I could hear the tone change in his voice. He asked for my contract number. He couldn’t find anything in the system that pertained to anything I had ordered!  I was very perplexed!

I said, “So what are we going to do about this?"  He said, "We’re going to fix it!  You will have a tent by this time tomorrow! And he will not have a job by this time tomorrow!" The tent arrived be truck the next day.  It wasn’t quite the same as what we thought we were getting but none the less we got our tent! In a later conversation that day with the manager, he said he had confronted the sales guy and fired him on the spot.  Turns out he had duped a few others and somehow had been able to pocket company money.

Even though camp was half finished we all rejoiced because we saw the mountain removed and the tent went up!  

Many times we face obstacles that stand in the way.  But the key is to ”never give up”. Speak to that mountain and tell it to get out of the way! Remember God’s work will always go forward never backward!  You may be facing something very frustrating today. Set your face “FORWARD” and say I’m pushing through this mountain!  God will give you the strength! God said to Joshua, “Be strong and take courage!” I am believing with you that this mountain must move!  "Mountain of hindrance.....GET OUT OF THE WAY!!" 

ON THE GIFT OF REBUKE... June 10, 2012

In grade one I fell madly in love with the girl of my dreams!  I knew we would get married some day. She sat right in front of me in our two room schoolhouse in Friendship, Maine.  The problem was that she wouldn’t give me the time of day!

Scene 1:  It was about the second or third week of school.  I had tried every possible way to get Bonnie’s attention.  But to her, it was like I didn’t exist!  So I waited for that right moment and when I saw her coming up the aisle I eased my foot out into her pathway.  She tripped and fell flat on her face!  Dating rule # 1: Never introduce your feet first to a lady! It's not nice!

Scene 2:  Mrs. Sylvester, my 1^st grade teacher, was a large woman.  Many times the size of me!  She hollered my name across the room and the room went deathly silent.  I even think one of the windows cracked when she yelled.  She had witnessed the entire event!  I was BUSTED!!

Scene 3:  Mrs. Sylvester grabbed my arm, and ushered me directly out of the classroom. We walked briskly, side by side, toward the stairway leading down to the basement where the washrooms were.  She directed me, of all places, right into the “girls” washroom.  She grabbed the top part of the back of my trousers and yanked them down so that the quarter panel of one of my buttocks was exposed to the fresh air!  She proceeded with her right hand to plant one good swat right on my bare behind!  I was humiliated!  I was shocked!  I was hurtin’!  Then I was cryin’!  I haven’t checked lately but I’m quite sure there is still an imprint of her hand to this day!  For sure there is still a little sting!!

That day, I gave up on Bonnie and I’m not sure who she married and don’t care!!

Scene 4:  One week later, I was outside on the school playground with some of my friends.  We were tossing balls, tossing sticks, and “innocently” I tossed a rock.  I guess because of the earth’s rotation, the rock found it’s way right through my 1^st grade classroom window.  Once again, I heard my name in a most spine tingling, familiar way!  STEVE!!!!  It was Mrs. Sylvester! Once again she had witnessed the entire event!

Scene 5:  She beckoned for me to come into the school.  I did!  She grabbed my arm, and ushered me directly down to the basement where the washrooms were, again.  She directed me right into the “girls” washroom, again.  She grabbed the top part of my trousers in the back, again, and yanked them down so that one of my buttocks was exposed to the fresh air, again!  She proceeded with her right hand to plant a second good swat right on my bare behind, again!  I was humiliated, again!  I was shocked, again!  I was hurtin’ again! And I was cryin’ again!  The other one hardly had time to heal!

Me and the Gang

When the dust settled, I gathered my friends together.  Timmy Beals, Craig Beals, and Craig Reid.  The four of us made up a team of unequivocal loyalty!  We went everywhere together!  We went to school together, to church together, down to the wharf together...everywhere!  I began to share with them my discontent with the actions of Mrs. Sylvester.  They were in total agreement with me.  So I devised a plan for the next time she gets out of line. I explained what I planned to do.  I will reach up and place both hands on her head and shout, “I REBUKE YOU IN JESUS’ NAME!”  I said, “You guys need to be close by because I don't really know what might happen!"  I’m not sure where I came up with that idea but it reminds me of something else I encountered early in my ministry.

In my first year of pastoring when I was 20 years old there was a man who came to our service on a Sunday night. I had never seen him before.  He sang along with all our songs and seemed to know the words quite well.  He seemed to like my preaching because every so often he would say “Amen”.  Or maybe that meant, “That’s enough!”  Anyway, it seemed obvious to me that he had some church background.  After the service he came directly over to me and introduced himself.  He wasn’t long letting me know that he was ‘used’ in the Gifts of the Spirit.  I said, “Oh really!”  He said, “Yeah, especially the “Gift of Rebuke”.” The definition of rebuke is: An expression of sharp disapproval or criticism. I was curious so I said, “And how does that work?”  He said, “Well, during any given church service, when I feel the “gift” comin’ on I stand up and point someone out and begin rebuking them!  I said, “Oh really?  Well, just so you know, you will NEVER do that in my church!” He argumentatively insisted that it was really in the Bible.  He said you need to read the book of Ezekiel because Ezekiel was the “Rebuking Prophet.”  Again, I firmly said, you will NEVER do that in my church!” I furrowed my eyebrows this time.  He apparently wasn't impressed!  We never saw him again!

I said that to say this, I know it takes all kinds to make the world go around!  But sometimes the reputation of the church is less than desirable and has been marred by people who lack wisdom and proper teaching.  I’m glad that Mrs. Sylvester didn’t see the stupid side of me in demonstrating the gift of rebuke at 6 years old.  It probably would have meant another trip to the basement! And you know what happens there! Oh, by the way, there are only nine Gifts of the Spirit listed in 1 Corinthians 12, not ten!  ‘Rebuke’ is not one of them. Also, the Gifts were given to edify, not to criticize or tear down.

How about we just get back to being real and stop playing games. This is about the Church sharing the Gospel not the church doing some circus sideshow act and portraying something about God that isn’t true!  Our generation is looking for something that will really heal their hurts and bring hope to their messed up lives.  Let’s go to Church today and help the troubled and hurting find a place of refuge in Jesus Christ!   SRR

ON MORE HEALING... June 9, 2012

Abel Steven Vanderheide

We feel that our family is so blessed of God. It’s hard to believe that we have now grown to twelve. We thank God for His hand of mercy and grace toward us! In April we received our 6^th grandchild. His name is Abel Steven Vanderheide.

During her second trimester, the doctor told Estelle that the ultrasound had revealed an irregular heartbeat and a cyst on the brain of her unborn son. We immediately went to prayer, claiming the promises God gave us in His Word.

They scheduled Estelle for a Specialist who does in-depth ultrasounds. We had a month to believe and claim this little boys healing. We called his healing into existence just as Jesus instructed His Disciples to do.  Jesus had told them to pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”  Notice that! Pray that those things on earth will be as they already are in heaven. You and I know that in heaven there is no sickness!  So praying God’s will on earth, as it is in heaven simply means bringing heaven’s blessings to earth through prayer!

For an hour and a half the Specialist searched and examined, but could find not one thing wrong with this little guy! That’s the kind of God we serve! He is more than able, and we thank Him so very much! 

One person asked us “So how did they happen to misread the first ultrasound like that??” They did not misread it, we believe God rewrote it!! We serve a mighty, prayer answering God!!

And here’s what is really neat......our 6th grandchild can't even talk yet but he has a true testimony of God’s faithfulness that happened before he was even born!   SHOUT NOW!!

I only notice one problem that he has.....he crys on occasion! Something I never did as a baby. And I never soiled 1 diaper!! J

ON SIDESHOW DISTRACTIONS.... June 8, 2012

Distractions can come in all different shapes and sizes.  There is nothing as annoying as when you are busy trying to do something and there is this "something else" that keeps distracting you!  It’s happened to us many times.  We are busy doing the Work of the Lord and something keeps trying to take our focus away from the task at hand.  I’m sure it’s happened in your life as well.

Well, the year 1999 was the worst! It was a year filled with distractions and there was one common result when the distractions came....FEAR!  Today, I will only share a couple of them.

We had just finished a week of preaching at Aroostook Pentecostal Campmeeting in Bridgewater, Maine.  I had been the Morning Bible Teacher for that week during Family Camp.  We were on our way home to Laval travelling through New Brunswick and we decided to stop at the Irving Restaurant in Perth, New Brunswick for some lunch.  This was the old one across the road from the big water tower on the old highway.  As we pulled into the parking lot we noticed there was some heavy road construction going on all around.  It was when they were putting in the new four-lane highway.  So we go inside and sit next to the side window right beside the tall propane cylinder where customers could have their small propane tanks filled.  And of course there was the gas station on the other side of the restaurant.

 

As we got settled, the waitress came and took our order. Within a couple minutes she came back into the dining room and announced to everyone, “In a few minutes there will be some blasting up on the hill behind the restaurant.  Don’t be alarmed.  It will only last a few seconds.”  There were probably 11 of us seated in the dining room.  About 10 minutes went by and our food arrived.  My wife and I and two girls bowed our heads to pray.  As I said “Amen” the heaviest RUMMBLE and loudest EXPLOSION began to shake the ground! Even though we had been prepared and knew it was going to happen it scared the living daylights out of us! It felt like they had dropped the “Mother Load” of TNT right under our feet! Just then we noticed people outside running away from the building with horrified looks on their faces. Those running were staring up at the sky. Now, I don’t know what would have gone on in your head, but in mine I was thinking, “Hmmm...What’s wrong with this picture?” Gas station...propane tanks...TNT!  I jumped up and rushed over to the front window.  And then I saw it....ROCKS!!, thousands of rocks were falling all over the parking lot.  Many were small but some were a pretty good size. I thought, “WOW! This can’t be good!” Then my brain kicked in and said to me, “No this isn’t good at all...you’re in a gas station ya know!”  Just then a huge boulder came crashing through the roof and right through the floor leaving a hole the size of an average watermelon!  It went through the floor about four feet from where my family and I were sitting!  I was shocked! Everything in the room was covered in gyprock dust. We looked at each other is total disbelief.  Within a few minutes the RCMP arrived and he asked me if I would be able to provide a statement. As I am sitting in the Police car giving him details of what had just happened, a little white truck with a flashing orange light slowly pulled into the parking lot. The little guy in the truck had a somewhat bewildered look on his face as he surveyed the scene. I said to the Officer, “I think that’s the guy we should be talking to.  It turns out the workers hadn’t covered the dynamite properly before igniting it!

A few weeks later we were taking Estelle to Bible College in St. Catherines, Ontario. The morning we were to leave and come back to Laval, we stopped at Tim’s for some coffee.  We ordered our breakfast and sat next to the window.  We like sitting beside windows!  As we began to drink our coffee on this quiet, peaceful morning, into the parking lot comes a little Suzuki Tracker, full tilt!  It never slowed a bit and slammed right into the window opposite from where Esther and I were sitting just one table away, shattering it from top to bottom! We just looked at each other and I said, “What in the world is going on?”  Once again it was like something was trying to scare us and to cripple us with fear.

In the same year we had an encounter with a very troubled girl in Montreal whose name was Rosa-lita.  Sometime when you have time I’ll tell you that story.  It was unbelievable!  It still gives me “shivers” when I think about it!

Throughout 1999 this sort of thing was happening often, until we were in prayer one day and the Lord showed us that these were just spirits that were trying to distract us from what God had called us to do.  If the enemy of your soul can distract you with fear, it will cripple your efforts.  Once we understood what we were dealing with, we then took authority over it through prayer and it subsided.  Now, when things like this happen, we immediately recognize what it is and we command it to GET OUT!

I recall reading a story as told by Smith Wigglesworth some time ago when he was being visited by the devil one night. Smith had gone to bed when all of a sudden he heard a noise downstairs, so he took his lantern and went down to investigate the noise. He found that Satan had manifested himself and was sitting in his rocking chair. Smith's reaction was one that we all should have. He looked at the devil and said, "Oh, it's just you.". . . blew out the lamp and went back to bed. Smith was always nonchalant in these types of situations, which would normally disturb most Christians. He knew he was more powerful than the devil. He had to be; he had the Holy Spirit living in him! There was no reason for him to fear something that was less powerful than he was.

Here’s how the Apostle Paul talked about this, “And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:22-24

And then one of my favourite scriptures says, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”

The Message Bible says, Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.  Proverbs 4:23-27 The Message

You may be bothered by "sideshow distractions" today with things that can be very un-nerving. My word for you today is....Be unmovable!  Be steadfast!  Don’t look to the left or the right!  Stay focussed on your personal calling!  God will protect you! SRR