Many people have heard about the tragic crane collapse in Pasadena/Houston.  It happened this afternoon at the Lyondell Bassel plant where they were doing a shut-down.  My dad has worked at this refinery for over 35 years and was in the building about 200 yards from where the crane collapsed.  Four people were killed and 8 others were injured in this tragedy. 

He said that the mood was extremely somber at the plant this afternoon, as could be expected.  Please pray for the families of those who were killed as well as healing for those who survived.  Also continually pray for the safety of all those who work these dangerous construction/refinery jobs.

I’ve needed a little humor on this Friday morning and I was expecting a message from God, BUT.  Maybe He was trying to tell me something.  Maybe He was confirming His call on my life.  Maybe this means nothing.

As I was filling up with gas there was a piece of paper containing a work order with a post it note attached.  The post it note said, “John 1:6”  So I looked up John 1:6 in the Bible.  Now before you read it let me inform you that my official first name is John.  John 1:6 says, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.”  What do you think?

It may be a stretch to apply this to me.  Then again maybe God was simply saying, “John (aka. Danny) I have set you apart as My servant.  I have called you into ministry.”  No matter what any of this means I know that I am a child of God who is loved by My Heavenly Father.  If nothing else, it means that I picked up a post-it note that let me know that John the Baptist was sent by God to proclaim His Son Jesus Christ:)

It seems these days that everyone is raising prices.  The report out yesterday was that we are having the fastest rate of inflation in 26 years.  I went to Sonic for happy hour (it is truly happy for me) and experienced yet another blow to my monthly budget.  They went up on their Route 44 Iced Tea. This is the second time in less than 6 months. What is a man to do in today’s economy?:)

I just got back from filling up the church van and almost experienced a heart attack.  $125.00.  Everyone is raising prices what is the church to do?  As I pondered $4.00 a gallon and the economy and it’s effect on the church, I had an idea.  I wouldn’t say it is a God-idea but a Danny idea.  After little deliberation and thought, we have officially agreed to raise our required tithing percentage to 12%.  We hate to pass on the rising cost of inflation to the church customer but we have no other option.  So beginning this Sunday it goes up to 12% of your gross income. 🙂  This is only a joke!

What are we to do in hard economic times?  Trust God!  It is preposterous to think that God would require a raise in tithing.  I am glad to say that at Nederland First Assembly we are being blessed.  Though people face a crunch in their budget, we still find that people are trusting God and still giving.  We do not have to worry about what to do?  God always seems to make away.  My word to those who are worried about the economy and where it is heading.  Trust God, He owns a cattle on a thousand hills and He surely can take care of all of our needs.  The Psalmist said, “I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor His seed begging for bread.”

This morning, I was reading in the New American Standard Bible and for the first time ever, I found a typo in a Bible.  Now note, it was a typo not an error.  It placed a b in the middle of a sentence and it made little sense.  It proves that man still makes errors.  Who would want the task of editing and reviewing the Bible for typo’s.  What a job!

Although I found a typo in my Minister’s Bible it proves that man makes mistakes, but the Word of God is still without error.  God’s Word is perfect.  It has the power to change lives.  Man makes typos in their everyday lives.  Mistakes in our relationships, on our jobs and in things we say.  Typos in just about every area of our lives.  God’s Word, however, stands!  It was written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit inspires us as we read it.  We can rely on God’s Word to help us in every area of our lives.  The Bible helps us correct the typos in our lives.

*by the way, CBD is having a great deal on this Minister’s Bible.  $19.99 for Genuine Leather.