What a tremendous year for our Mardi Gras experience.
Everyone did a tremendous job. We had four camps last year and we added a fifth this year. Mardi Gras is the place where boys become men and men become God's Mighty Men. Many of the boys and men of the pastare now missionaries, pastors, and church leaders. This is the place where God speaks to us through each other. We get to hear and see how the Lord is working through each other and then realize God is challenging us to feel His heart for a lost and dying world.
We come here to "sharpen our swords” and "inspect" the new equipment being used by others. We tell our "tales" of mighty adventures and whet the taste in others. Phil Nelson just returned from Europe. Troy Benitone just returned from Africa. Sarge is still in Vietnam. Marvin Steinke is getting ready to take a group from Mark Jordan's church to Honduras. What exciting times we are living in for our Lord.
We plan to dig in with our campsites. We have encouraged each camp to get an identity and a "war cry." Next year it is our goal to have banners for each camp and march in the French Quarter as the Lord's army. Next Mardi Gras we will compete with each other on the "results" of our witnessing. There is nothing like a good identity and a strong challenge.
I pray we were all "tested" in areas and have allowed the Lord to get rid of some of the dross in our lives and listened to the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who WILL go for Me?" God says that we can ask Him for the nations.
Let's all go home "holding tightly to the rod of God" with increased desire to serve our Lord and to bring back every man we can for a mighty catch in 2010.
Love ya's
Fred
Philippians 4:13
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Time is drawing close!!
We have never had a time for sharing Christ like we have this year. The state of the economy is in horrible shape. Many have lost their jobs and many have divorced their wives or committed suicide. Yet, some will not stand up in such a time because the “bad” news has not yet touched them. The Scripture the Lord laid on my heart in a dream was II Chronicles 7:14. In this Scripture, we are the ones who need to humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face and turn from OUR wicked ways, THEN God will hear from heaven, and will forgive our sin, and will heal our land.
That puts the pressure on us the people of God to bring about a change in our country. With Mardi Gras, we have an opportunity to go forth and share with the people the only thing that is solid in this world and that is Jesus. Jesus promises that if we will go forward and lift HIM up that He will do the drawing and draw all of us to Himself. I know God always keeps His promises.
Now the real question is whether or not we will be willing to join up and go forth to share the Lord at the Mardi Gras. No matter how bad the situation is in our country or in the world. It is God’s will that NONE should perish. Since we know this is true, we just need to be like Isaiah in Isaiah chapter six and hear the Lord saying,
“WHOM SHALL I SEND AND WHO WILL GO FOR ME?”
Let’s be like Isaiah and realize we all need to be touched with the tongues of the altar to forgive our sins and answer,
“HERE AM I; SEND ME!”
SEE YOU AT THE MARDI GRAS!!!!!!!!!
Fred
Who can Attend?
Men and young men ages, 17 and older.
When:
February 20th-24th, 2009
Where:
Arrive between 12:00-2:00PM
Friday, February 20th
Heritage United Methodist Church
3 Barracuda Dr.
Hattiesburg, MS 39482
Registration Donation:
$175.00 if received by February 9th, 2009
$225.00 if received after February 9th, 2009
Questions?
Contact N. G. L. at 618-542-4503
Fred Bishop, fred@nogreaterlove.org
Abby Emling, nglabby@yahoo.com
The earlier you register the better.
For your convenience you may register on line at: http://www.nogreaterlove.org/
That puts the pressure on us the people of God to bring about a change in our country. With Mardi Gras, we have an opportunity to go forth and share with the people the only thing that is solid in this world and that is Jesus. Jesus promises that if we will go forward and lift HIM up that He will do the drawing and draw all of us to Himself. I know God always keeps His promises.
Now the real question is whether or not we will be willing to join up and go forth to share the Lord at the Mardi Gras. No matter how bad the situation is in our country or in the world. It is God’s will that NONE should perish. Since we know this is true, we just need to be like Isaiah in Isaiah chapter six and hear the Lord saying,
“WHOM SHALL I SEND AND WHO WILL GO FOR ME?”
Let’s be like Isaiah and realize we all need to be touched with the tongues of the altar to forgive our sins and answer,
“HERE AM I; SEND ME!”
SEE YOU AT THE MARDI GRAS!!!!!!!!!
Fred
Who can Attend?
Men and young men ages, 17 and older.
When:
February 20th-24th, 2009
Where:
Arrive between 12:00-2:00PM
Friday, February 20th
Heritage United Methodist Church
3 Barracuda Dr.
Hattiesburg, MS 39482
Registration Donation:
$175.00 if received by February 9th, 2009
$225.00 if received after February 9th, 2009
Questions?
Contact N. G. L. at 618-542-4503
Fred Bishop, fred@nogreaterlove.org
Abby Emling, nglabby@yahoo.com
The earlier you register the better.
For your convenience you may register on line at: http://www.nogreaterlove.org/
Monday, February 2, 2009
Are you registered yet?
It won’t be long ....
Register NOW before the discount ends -- in 7 days!!!!
I know of no place in the world that God moves in men’s lives like He does at Mardi Gras. Jesus said that if He is lifted up that He will draw ALL men unto Him. It is also God’s will that NONE should perish. We just do simple tasks in presenting Jesus to the people and God does the work.
The process of purifying silver reveals to me how Mardi Gras changes so many of our lives at Mardi Gras. The metalworker placed the silver in a metal container over the hottest fire possible. The silver begins to melt and bubble in the heat. The impurities would rise to the surface in the form of a scum, known as “dross.” The metal worker would patiently skim off the “dross” until the metalworker could see his own reflection in the pure silver. Then he would know that all the “dross” was removed.
Mardi Gras produces in us that same effect. As we go out each day to lift up the Lord in the “furnace of affliction” otherwise known as getting out of our “comfort zones,” certain insecurities and problems come up like the “dross.” We then have small group meetings each day to share, confess and “skim off the dross.” This happens each day and each year as we are willing to go forth for the Lord. So we leave a little of ourselves behind and become a little more like our Lord.
Some of us have been going to Mardi Gras for many years and it still has that same effect on our lives. The sanctifying, “purifying” process will continue for all of our lives. As we confess and forsake our sins, God is faithful and just to give us another chance. Proverbs 28:13 Many have gotten closer to the Lord through the Mardi Gras experience and come home better fathers, husbands, men of God. I am inviting you to join us in the process of leaving the “dross” behind and becoming the men God created us to be.
God will be there. Jesus will be there. The Holy Spirit will be there. NGL will be there. Join up TODAY!!!
*** Special Note: Check out Mark Jordan and the Trinity Boys singing their new Mardi Gras Song on our web site http://www.nogreaterlove.org/
We have also included our Blessing Song Lyrics on our home page!!! Check it out!!
Love ya’s
Fred
Philippians 1:6
Who can Attend?
Men and young men ages, 17 and older.
When:
February 20th-24th, 2009
Where:
Arrive between 12:00-3:00PM; Friday, February 20th
Heritage United Methodist Church
3 Barracuda Dr.
Hattiesburg, MS 39482
Registration Donation:
$175.00 if received by February 9th, 2009
$225.00 if received after February 9th, 2009
Questions?
Contact N. G. L. at 618-542-4503
Fred Bishop - fred@nogreaterlove.org
Abby Emling - nglabby@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.nogreaterlove.org/
** The earlier you register the better -- Only 7 days left for the discount!! **
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