This is my daughter at a park feeding ducks after the flood.

What to do when troubles hit your life

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. Nahum 1:7

We are are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. II Corinthians 4:8-9

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. Psalm 138:7

Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. John 14:1

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43:2

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou has considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities. Psalm 31:7

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2

For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. I Peter 5:7

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6:34

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. II Corinthians 1:3-4

Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:6-7

Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. Isaiah 51:11

Georgia Flooding

On Sunday, September 20, 2009, the South Cobb area experienced what many have referred to as the 500 year flood. Many of our Powder Springs and Austell citizens lost their homes, as well as, all of their possessions. The city had a number of neighborhoods impacted by the flood. It is estimated that 1220 in the Cobb County area were affected by the flood. Paulding, Douglas, Fulton, Dekalb and Gwinnett counties are still assessing the damage of the disaster.

To the fellow servants I want to thank:

• The American Red Cross
• The United Way
• The Salvation Army
• Samaritan's Purse
• Habitat for Humanity
• Atlanta Council of Churches
• All the food closets in the Atlanta area
• Firefighters
• Police
• 911 operators
• CERT (Cobb County Emergency Response Team)
• EMA of Cobb
• GEMA and FEMA
  

I truly thank you for being there for our wonderful citizens in need. How blessed we are to have been a recipient of your love and kindness.

To my brothers and sisters in the many teams of the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams from:

• Texas
• Mississippi
• Alabama
• Louisiana
• Florida
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Kentucky
• Oklahoma

...and all the workers who responded to the call lead by Stuart Lang, Ricky Thrasher and Lee Hurtt of the Noonday Baptist Association where most of the disaster happened.

I would like to personally thank the teams of 26R, 16R, 19R, and my own 13R and to the leaders of the tams I worked with in the past weeks--David, Joe, Charlie, Marcus, Mike, Carl, Gary, Steve and my buddy Don who has worked many diasters in his years with Disaster Relief.

To my fellow chaplains: Rob, Ralph, John, Charlie, David, Carl, Julia, Melinda, Mary, Ruth, Don, Jim, Russell and all the other chaplains I did not have the opportunity to meet--THANK YOU.

To the many other organizations and volunteers and public safety personnel in the flood disaster area that I have not mentioned, please know we are so thankful to you. Please let me know who youare so that I might thank you personally.

A Thankful Change

Some days, we forget to look around us
Some days, we can't see the joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves, we take when we should give

So for tonight, we pray for what we know can be
And on this day, we hope for what we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for

Look beyond ourselves, there's so much sorrow
It's way too late to say I'll cry tomorrow
Each of us must find our truth, it's so long overdue

So for tonight, we pray for what we know can be
And everyday, we look for what we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we can do more
There's so much to be thankful for

Even with our differences, there is a place we're all connected
Each of us can find each others' light
So for tonight, we pray for what we know can be
And on this day, we hope for what we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though this world needs so much more
There's so much to be thankful for

You are the light of the world...Matthew 5:14

A thankful change...
A special blessing for this year...

Brother Gary

Times are A'Changing

What used to be MODESTY is now called sex hang-up.
What used to be Christian discipline is now called unhealthy repression.
What used to be disgusting is now called adult.
What used to be moral irresponsibility is now called freed up.
What used to be chastity is now called inhibitions.
What used to be self-indulgence is now called self-fulfillment.
What used to be living in sin is now called a meaningful relationship.
What used to be perversion is now called alternate life-style.
What used to be depravity is now called creative self-expression.
What used to be ethical anarchy is now the theology of liberation.

SIN CAN BE VERY SUBTLE AND DECEPTIVE

PLEASE DO NOT BE MISLED

For the whole story, read Romans chapter 1