My Kind of Day!

Margaret and I had a busy day today with three activities in three different states.  By the end of the day we had logged over 240 miles.

Our day began at 6:30 A.M. this morning when we left the chapel in Elkton, MD to go to Pittsgrove, NJ for a 7:30 A.M. TFC South Jersey Chapter breakfast.  I was the guest speaker at the breakfast in the Kountry Kitchen restaurant.  Following an all-you-can-eat breakfast I gave a brief ministry update and a short devotional.  We really enjoy our visits with the S. Jersey folks.  They always make us feel so welcome - and the Kountry Kitchen has some good food!

Our first stop of the day and our first all-you-can-eat meal.

Margaret and I got to sit with Jim Murphy (second from the right above)
who is one of the volunteer chaplains at the Life-Saver

Other chapter members and visitors

The lady on the left is Arlene Wright, wife of chapter president William.  Arlene is the one responsible for scheduling the speakers for their breakfasts.

That was our first activity.  From Pittsgrove we headed down to Arundel Mills Mall which is south of Baltimore, MD. for our second activity.  This was a noon AECC luncheon at the Golden Coral - another all-you-can-eat meal.  (AECC is the ministry through which I am credentialed.)

Some of the AECC folks.  At the far table is Chaplain Jim Brown on the left and Chaplain Tom Kramer.  Chaplain Tom is a TFC chaplain in Elkton.

The ladies set together so they could have some girl talk.

While we were there a stranger came over to me and said he noticed the TFC logo on my jacket and asked me if I was a TFC chaplain.  I told him I was and where we served.  He said he had heard about TFC from his brother who is an over-the-road truck driver with more than 3,000,000 miles plus he had listened to the Dr. Dobson tape about TFC.  He said he wanted to thank me for the ministry we provided to truck drivers like his brother.  I gave him one of my business cards and invited him to come and visit our chapel.

That was our second activity.  From Arundel we headed to Dover, DE to pick up our first Angel Food Ministries food order.

Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing grocery relief and financial support to communities throughout the United States.  Angel Food's groceries are sold in a quantity that can fit into a medium-sized box at $25 per unit. Each month's menu is different than the previous month and consists of both fresh and frozen items with an average retail value of approximately $50.

A driver who visited the chapel a while ago told us about Angel Food ministry.  Anyone can participate in the program.  As missionaries we are always interested in ways to save money so Margaret went to their website and looked up our local Angel Food contact.  She found out how to participate and placed our first order which we then picked up today.

After we picked up the food we finally headed home and got back home about 6:30 P.M.

It has been a long day but is was my kind of day - good ministry, good fellowship, and good food.

In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins

Taking Testimonies to the Web

 Attack and counter attack on the web for youth.

To counter an Internet-based attack against the Holy Spirit, a Christian website is encouraging young believers to post to the web a video message that affirms their faith in Christ...

Source: View Press Release

In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins

HomeFront Christian Outreach Excitement!

Saturday morning Margaret, Volunteer Chaplain Ron, and I drove up to Oxford, PA to participate in the dedication ceremony for the second HomeFront Christian Outreach facility.  This new facility is in Oxford, PA near the home of Larry Wyatt and his family.

In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins

The entrance to the new facility

Mandy, wife of HomeFront President Larry Wyatt

Both sides of the area are lined with shelves and racks for storing donated items

That's Ron & Margaret sitting in the back center

NIV Archaeological Study Bible

The Associates for Biblical Research (ABR) have announced a new study Bible which includes references to relevant archeological information:

The NIV Archaeological Study Bible sheds new light on the Bible. From the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation, this new Study Bible is filled with informative articles and full-color photographs of places and objects that will open your eyes to the historical context of the stories you read and the people you meet in Scripture...

Source: NIV Archaeological Study Bible(Associates for Biblical Research)

In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins

Bible Literacy Project

 What to read about some good news on the education front?  Check this out:

In just its first year, more than 85 school districts in 29 states have introduced courses about the Bible using this textbook, and more than 1000 educators are now reviewing The Bible and Its Influence for use next fall...

Source: View Press Release

In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins

E-Missionaries

Here is a great opportunity to enter the mission field without leaving home! 

This is a wonderful opportunity for North American Christians from all ethnic backgrounds, to become missionaries to China without leaving home.

Source: View Press Release

In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins

Actual Newspaper Headlines

 Check out these funny headlines.

Actual Newspaper Headlines...

Source: Actual Newspaper Headlines

In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins

IRAN SAYS 2007 COULD BRING ISLAMIC MESSIAH

A good post which explains why Iran may not be interested in negotiating with us:

The Islamic Messiah known as the "Twelfth Imam" or the "Mahdi" may come to earth in 2007 and could be revealed to the world as early as the Spring Equinox...

Source: Joel C. Rosenberg's blog posting

Thanks to Paige for sharing this!

In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins

Technorati tags: Islam, Iman, Mahdi, Iran

Spoiled Brats

A good reminder for all of us! (Deuteronomy 8:6-17)

The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? 

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.

So being the knuckle dragger I am, I starting thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?''

Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all involved. Whether you are rich or poor they treat your wounds and even, if necessary, send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have , and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells , and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book and do a TV special about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did then how. Insane!

Stop buying the negative venom you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.

WE ARE THE MOST BLESSED PEOPLE ON EARTH, WE SHOULD

THANK GOD SEVERAL TIMES PER DAY.....

Dorothy and Oliver Knox
411 Bourque Road
Lafayette, La 70506

Thanks to Paige for sharing.

In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins

Churches’ Involvement In Evangelism And Outreach

Take a look at these results 

Research results being released for the first time in the January/February edition of Facts & Trends magazine show just how involved U.S. Protestant churches are in evangelism and community outreach, as well as what obstacles hold them back from being even more involved.

Source: View Press Release

In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins

Interactive Holy Land Satellite Map Freeware Program

 Here is a great free resource to help you study Bible geography in Israel.

This program installs on your hard drive and is basically a small website that runs locally on your computer. It is centered around a satellite map of the Holy Land which is annotated with 135 place names...

Source: Interactive Holy Land Satellite Map Freeware

In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins