May / June,  2004

 

 

 

Dear members and friends of Mt. Olive,

 

What makes a person a hero?

 

Pat Tillman has been called an America hero.  He could have been making millions of dollars as a professional football player.  He chose, instead to go to war.  He died trying to make the world a better place in which to live.

 

The members of the media seem genuinely confused.  They can’t imagine how a person could possibly pass up all that money to become a soldier.  It boggles their minds that  someone would actually choose to put his life on the line for the cause of freedom rather than become a multi-millionaire.  One gets the feeling that they label Pat Tillman a hero not so much for giving his life as a soldier as for giving up his money as a professional athlete.

 

What makes a person a hero?

 

Our hats go off to all the men and women who serve in the armed forces.  They are America heroes.  Our hearts go out to the families of those who will not return.  They are American heroes too.

 

The world is full of heroes.  The father who willingly passes up a promotion so he can be home to tuck his children into bed at night and hear their prayers.  The mom who counts it a greater honor to read Bible stories to her little ones than to make a business presentation before a Fortune 500 company.  The church member who doesn’t regret turning down a chance to climb the corporate ladder so he has more time to serve in his congregation.

 

What makes a person a hero?  In the eyes of God, it’s the woman who hangs in their and continues to trust the Lord even as her friends turn against her.  It’s the man who stays the course and continues to fight the good fight of faith.  It’s the teenager who refuses to give in to the evil influence of the world.

 

In the eyes of the Lord, a hero is one who carries on in the forgiving love of Jesus and perseveres in His strength.  A hero is one who continues to journey to the cross for forgiveness and healing; and then, armed with the sword of the Spirit, refuses to surrender to the evil one.  A hero in the Lord’s army refuses to quit.

 

What makes a person a hero?  Faith.   Faith that perseveres.  Faith that endures.  Faith in Jesus.

 

Go in faith – and serve the Lord!

 

Pastor Carl Henkel

 

 

 

 

 

2 special Sunday opportunities in May

that you absolutely will not want to miss:

 

  • Sunday, May 2nd  -  Missionary Terry Schultz, who has brought the Gospel to hundreds of  souls deep in the Amazon jungles, will be our guest preacher.  Singer and song writer, Tim Helman, will provide special music. 
  • Terry and Mary will lead us on a jungle power-point tour during our 10:30am education hour.
  • A noon potluck dinner will provide time for Christian fellowship.
  • You won’t want to miss a thing!

 

  • Sunday, May 16th – Alex Janosek has made a movie celebrating the Lord’s grace in permitting her father to observe 40 years as a missionary in Africa.
  • We’ll be privileged to view the movie during our 10:30am education hour.
  • Missionary Janosek is retiring after spending his entire 40-year ministry in Malawi
  • Join us as we thanks the Lord for His goodness!