Posted on 09/02/2005 9:21:56 AM PDT by Mark Felton
The Gideons International are sending 40,000 Personal Witnessing Testaments (New Testament, Psalms, Proverbs) to be distributed at the Astrodome and other relief centers in Houston.
My camp in Clear Lake is the focal point for organizing Gideon volunteers to help with the distribution. We are doing this in cooperation with the Salvation Army.
If you are a Gideon, or a minister, and would like to help the Salvation Army and Gideons minister to the people and distribute the New Testaments please freep mail me your name and phone number and either myself, the Salvation Army or a Gideon organizer will contact you.
At this time we are working with our own personal cell phones until we get a headquarters established. You may also contact the Gideons International HQ in Nashville, TN and they can forward your information. Telephone: (615)564-5000 or Email us at tgi@gideons.org
The scriptures are on a truck due to arrive Sunday by 10 a.m. and we are planning shifts to provide patoral care 24/7.
God is at work, and we are called by Him to Serve His Will. There was a purpose for Katrina, let us not fail to fulfill our duties.
>if you had a thousand dollars to contribute...would you invest the saving of people's lives in physical sustenance..or the spiritual alternative<
Do you consider what happens in this world to be more important than eternity?
I'm not with the Gideons. Why don't you write them with your concerns?
Because the Gideons are good people/Christians and would not do such a thing. I was refering to those who have said this diaster was Gods wrath.
== It is the greatest of comforts. It is the only enduring comfort.
[I don't think their souls are an immediate concern.]
== There is no more immediate or more lasting concern.
[God must truly work in mysterious ways. In this case, it's an apparent dis-concern for the suffering of his people.]
== This ministry reaches out to their most grievous suffering. This is what the Gideon's have been called to do. There is no shortage of other ministries who are called to meet physical needs. They are equipped and prepared for that ministry and will do it better. Would you be as critical of a ministry sending blankets or clothing instead of food and water? Would you be as critical of bus drivers for driving buses rather than attempting to provide medical aid?
[I follow Christian tenants very seriously.]
== Do not let "Christian tenants" be an obstacle between you and Christ's Salvation.
[You have no idea who I am.]
== No, but I know for whom you are speaking.
[The Bible at this point is merely a sop to people who have more immediate needs.]
== There is no more immediate need than the love of Jesus Christ. What more effective way to find that love than His Word?
[If you're starving and thirsty...what would you prefer...a book...or food and water?]
== The Bible is more than a mere book. It is the divine Word of the one true God. In its physical form it is only a vehicle paper and glue, but the message it carries is the whole armor of God. In every instance, I would prefer the comfort of the Word to any comfort of the world.
[...if you had a thousand dollars to contribute...would you invest the saving of people's lives in physical sustenance..or the spiritual alternative]
== Feeding their souls is eminently more important.
[I guess that's why he sent a CAT 5.]
== Do you presume to know the Will of God? Would you condemn a physician for cutting open a patient without waiting to find out if he is removing a cancer? Would you name the work of a potter before he has completed working on the vessel?
[....get your head out of the Book...and smell the real world.]
== The world leads to eternal separation from God. The world's wisdom is foolishness to God and the Word of God will seem foolishness to those of the world. We live in the world today, but we are only passing through it. That doesn't mean we don't do Christ's work here and now, but you can only serve one master.
[I wonder who is going to feel better. The people who are dying...or the people having a successful distribution project.]
== You are judging hearts which you are not capable of judging. There is no greater comfort a dying person can have than knowing they are passing into the arms of their eternal Father. Would you rather deprive them of that final knowledge and comfort for the sake of one more meal or one more drink of water?
[Allow me to clear this up. First of all, Pete, you are an asshole,]
== If you knew Jesus Christ, you would not say such things.
[Second I have no problems with the distribution of the Bible. It's a good thing. But!!! It's secondary to the life and survival of our fellow citizens!!]
== If you knew Jesus Christ, you would not believe such things. The sharing of God's Word is the preeminent thing. It is the greatest commission. I sense that you would have us rely on the abilities of humanity which are faulty and inadequate, while dismissing the abilities of God in whom ALL THINGS are possible.
[God will not work a miracle and make it all go away.]
== Do you speak for God? Do you know His Will? He works miracles every day. Would you recognize one if you saw it?
[Pleaser allow me to ask another question. The Bible is a great consolation to the breathing populace....what does it do for us, once we die.]
== It does all the more for us once we die. The Bible is not merely a consolation. In itself, it is only a book; however, it carries the story of eternal salvation. Without the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the dead face an eternity of torment separated from God.
[Food is an immediate need to physical survival. Scripture can wait awhile, while the body recuperates.]
== And if the body doesn't recuperate? You can not count on tomorrow. Even the strongest of us may die today. What about their need for safety and peace? The violence and anger scream out the need for God's Word in the heart of the suffering.
..but there is peace of God to be found.
These people are being given food, shelter and water, care and medicine...
..but the true peace of God will sustain them like nothing else!
Oh. Since I never said anything like that, maybe I got a little confused.
But how do I know if it's God's judgment or not? I'm not God. His judgment has fallen on people in the past, you know. And the Bible certainly tells us it will in the future.
But is this God's judgment? That's not for me to say, either way.
Trust me....his endeavors are not misplaced.
..These people are not just hungry, tired, ill, or thirsty....
..the very fabric of their lives have been ripped from them, and they are confused, scared, lonely, mad, and in mourning for what they have lost, whether someone physically, or their home or town.
You can believe they need the Good News right now!...
You're talking to the wrong person about this. Talk to God.
No, you presume it's an "either/or" situation.
I consider it a matter of priorities.
If I had an opportunity to supply these poor people with MORE food, water and clothing instead of SOME food, water, clothing and Bibles, my choice has been made.
>>If I had an opportunity to supply these poor people with MORE food, water and clothing instead of SOME food, water, clothing and Bibles, my choice has been made.<<
You assume there is not enough food there, or that there will not be enough in the future. On what are you basing your assumption?
"Quick true Gideons story. "
uh huh.
"The Gideons were traveling"
All of them? A few? What were their names? When?
"Unknown to them, there was the son of a French diplomat who spoke very little English and read none, but he got a bible, too."
Who was the diplomat? Who was the son?
" A few days later, the schoolmaster asked them how they knew to pack a French language NT's."
THE schoolmaster? There was only 1 school?
I'm sorry.... Miracle sounding story with no details, sounds more like an urban myth.
How much room does 40,000 bibles take?
Why not ship bibles AFTER shipping in rescue gear? 40 inflatable boats would be more useful in "saving" people at this point.
Ah yes, here we go...the Mr Angry Man routine.
Save it for someone who cares. Your condescension is as bad as NewGuy357's which is why I told him to f*** off. This is no rage in me - only irritance at what I see as misplaced priorities by one group.
Your post is absolutely wrong on all accounts. The issues of sustenance have always been priorities. I've never insisted that Bibles were being handed out instead of food and water or ahead of food and water.
My priority is that everyone possible gets enough food, water, clothing and medical attention. To me, and I suspect many in the Gulf Coast region, these is first and foremost. Yes, even more important than a Bible!
The Gideons are a worthy group, I'm sure. But in times like these, let's concentrate on the priorities.
>>The Gideons are a worthy group, I'm sure. But in times like these, let's concentrate on the priorities.<<
What makes you so sure that is not happening?
Your statement makes an assumption.
I've simply said that given the choice between MORE food, water and clothing instead of some food, water, clothing AND Bibles, my choice has been made.
Also, given the large population of people in the Gulf Coast with next to nothing, I think it's a pretty fair assumption that there's not enough right now.
And 4000 teachers to teach reading to the recipients?
CNN reported yesterday that bibles were the second most REQUESTED items in shelters.
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