Gideons sending 40,000 New Testaments to Astrodome

self ^ | 9/2/04 | Mark Felton

[Registered]

No better time to meditate on the Word than while fasting...now where's my sarcasm tag?

[Blood of Tyrants]

You can believe or not. I really don't care. The story was told to me by one of the Gideons who delivered the NT's.

[SerpentDove]

I wouldn't panic too much. I bet the Gideons are not impeding relief efforts one bit.

[Blood of Tyrants]

"Why not ship bibles AFTER shipping in rescue gear? 40 inflatable boats would be more useful in "saving" people at this point."

The Gideons are NOT a relief agency and never have been. They don't keep supplies to nourish the body on hand. What is the point in saving their lives only to lose their souls?

[MplsSteve]

I'm certain they're not either.

[I'm ALL Right!]

I'm all for sending Bibles, but how about sending a volunteer with each of those Bibles...or a blanket, or some food.

[eleni121]

Wonderful news and God bless Gideon's.

[eleni121]

I don't think their souls are an immediate concern.

---

You obviously have no knowledge of the soul - body connection do you? Sad.

[peyton randolph]

Not very Christian of you. I'm sooooo disappointed.

[Corin Stormhands]

Yes, but have you learned to post a sarcasm tag? ;-)

[SerpentDove]

"No better time to meditate on the Word than while fasting...now where's my sarcasm tag?"

I know you were joking. They have plenty of food.

[Mark Felton]

"but I feel they are a little misplaced at this time."

You couldn't be more wrong.

We are giving these out at centers where the refugees are colelcting clothes and food. If you could have seen the tears and hugs my wife just received after giving out some of the New Testaments you would know how wrong you are.

[Mark Felton]

There is a volunteer for each Bible. They are not simply strewn about like feed before chickens. They are handed out personally one-on-one and each person will spend time with each storm victim, as they need. Our ministers might be the first people that the victims have met tht they can spend time telling their story, and allowing themselves to vent, or seek reassurance. We will be there to listen them, cry with them, hug them, console them...and help them come closer to God.

"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase>" -- 1 Co 3:6

The people are thirsting for those New Testaments with a a passion. They need to read, they need the comfort they need to restore their spirit and come to understand the new direction that God has given each of them.

But we only provide the words. Mere paper and ink. But the meaning of those words are a gift from God. Those words have given strength to the greatest civilization ever known to man. God has been good to those who truly follow Christ. Within their souls is the passion, power and light of the Holy Spirit that comes only to those who accept Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

" Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." -- Philippians 4:11-13

[I'm ALL Right!]

THAT is good news! I believe you have to earn the right to be heard, and these people need their basic needs met before they will be open to really listening.

[mjtobias]

"That's great, but it's only half the story."

The other half is mythology.

[Mark Felton]

You don't understand. We are not there to be "heard" or to preach ot to convince anybody of anything.

We do not have to say a word. They come to us and ask for the New Testaments for themselves. (then we provide some human compassion if they wish to talk)

We are meeting their need, not preaching to a captive audience or making a "sales pitch".

They desperately want these New Testaments. Their Bibles were lost.... or their spirits are lost...

[MplsSteve]

Mark-

After reading your post, I take back what I said.

Your sense of priorities is not a little misplaced. They're very much misplaced.

You have decided that handing out Bibles is more important than food, water and clothing - or even helping storm victims clean up their property.

Your committment to Christ is admirable. Your sense of real life priorities is not.

[IronPriest]

Forget the AstroDome. As everyone here who is defending your decision to send Bibles and not food can agree, they are well taken care of.

What about everywhere else? Here's a yahoo news article on Mississippi. How about sending them some food? http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050903/ap_on_re_us/katrina_mississippi_hk2

[edbook]

What if some mosque sent 40,000 copies of the Quran? What would the comments be here then?

and, why would the ACLU have anything to say about distributing New Testaments unless copies of the Quran or some other such tome were prohibited?

[Mark Felton]

I have been with them personally. They are desperately seeking the word of God.

...yet you tell them they don't need it?

The Christian storm victims would have great pity on you.

" For scorners delight in their scorning,
And fools hate knowledge. " -- Proverbs 1:7

You do not know what you don't know. Someday I hope you will be placed on the path to true, infallible wisdom. You will truly know it when you get it, without any doubt in your mind, heart or soul.