“The harvest indeed is great, but the laborers are few.
Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest, to send forth laborers into his harvest.”
(Matthew 9:37-38)
Dear Friends ~
Summer is winding down with tinges of autumn seen here and there; vacations are pretty much over and with school back in session the Labor Day weekend has become the unofficial end of summer pleasures. In our mountain community it’s time for one last fling with the boat on the lake and then hauling it out for cold weather storage. A three-day weekend to barbeque with the family is a joyful respite from all our labors, especially 
on a holiday created to honor the various kinds of labor that propel our livelihood and the growth of our country. Labor is a necessary and worthwhile part of life where we hone to perfection our natural skills be they physical, intellectual or both. At a young age we all try to decide what we will become when grown-up; some choose to walk in a parent’s footsteps while others go for a career totally foreign to the family history. Some of us try out two or three different occupations until the right fit is found according to the stages of our growth, all of which can occur while our primary role of fatherhood or motherhood demands our focus. We can wear many hats, as the saying goes, while we navigate between obligations, vocations and avocations.
Some individuals hear God’s call to labor in His vineyards as their chosen profession and dedicate their 
whole lives to His service, and His service alone. It has become apparent in a culture that doesn’t have time for God anymore, that His priests and pastors are not reaching those in need for they won’t frequent church services to hear The Word, nor will they read it on their own… they are labeled the “nones” for nonbelievers who’s religious affiliation is listed as none, and they are growing significantly in our young people particularly. Their excuses for nonbelieving are far from legitimate which they would realize if only a Christian pastor had the opportunity to debate it with them, but such closed minds won’t bother with such pursuits, so a new evangelization is needed.
Laypeople are now being urged by church pastors everywhere to labor in God’s vineyard and bring in a harvest of new souls ripe for the picking… you, as a friend to these “nones” and other individuals estranged from the church, must take on a new role in life as a sort of public relations officer for Almighty God… yes, another “hat” to put on for the promoting of Almighty God, anytime, anywhere and anyhow you can. Without seminary training, you will approach those in family, friends, and workplace and social acquaintances
that you know need salvation and by simply sharing your faith little-by-little with them and stirring up questions for them to ponder you just might, with the help of prayers to Almighty God, save a lost sheep. Never underestimate God’s help in this endeavor… He may even point you to the soul He wants you to work on… when you find the words coming to mind that help you broach this subject to another, realize that is also His very real ability to equip you for whatever undertaking you accept on His behalf. When you labor for your Heavenly Father “in the family vineyard” even if it’s just occasionally, by your sincere effort and love for Him, He will help you succeed. The wages you will earn for that pursuit are far greater than any earthly salary… you will not only save another soul by showing them your Heavenly Father… you will be the pride and joy of your Heavenly Father, and greatly rewarded for laboring in The Family Business.
“Humility is the refusal to exist outside God.”
Simone Weil
When the experience of God has so overwhelmed ones life, it becomes necessary to admit that any worth one has as an individual is so insignificant compared to the magnificence of God Almighty. With that realization, one knows that His Will supersedes whatever we might think best and we therefore accept and want His control and direction to our lives. Consequently, humility is not thinking that I am insignificant, but rather admitting that I am worthwhile because of His doing, not my own.
O Jesus, thou hast promised
To all who follow thee,
That where thou art in glory
There shall thy servant be; 
And, Jesus I have promised
To serve thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow,
My Master and my friend.
O let me see thy footmarks,
And in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly
Is in thy strength alone.
O guide me, call me, draw me,
Uphold me to the end;
And then in heaven receive me,
My Savior and my Friend.
John Ernest Bode
MEET THE “NONES”
On the various forms and applications that we fill out in life, the question about our religious affiliation has been growing with the answer of “none” much to the chagrin of religious pastors everywhere. It is perceived that almost fifty percent of young people under thirty profess to not believing in God and quite naturally 
they are the ones that believe in the legitimacy of abortion, same-sex marriage, and legalization of recreational drugs. Where were their parents in their early formative years you might wonder as I do, when morality and ethical behavior had to be discussed at least occasionally? With the family breakdown begun during the sexual revolution, initiating higher divorce rates and more and more mothers working out of necessity or by women’s liberation to careers over family, many, many causes lie at the base of this foundationless bunch of rebels who want release from all restraints on their behavior. Another significant cause is the growth of relativism, the tolerant shallow philosophy where what is right or wrong for one individual isn’t necessarily so for another person; this particular “ism” along with atheism, secularism, humanism, scientism, etc. have all gained momentum by the sheer fact that there is strength in numbers… but we all know, might does not necessarily mean right! Take for example, years ago when Christianity was majority rule, abortion was definitely considered killing with such a stigma attached to it, that legalization was deemed necessary to save so many lives that were being lost or mutilated by botched illegal and unlicensed techniques. Legalized abortion is still the act of killing and very wrong in the eyes of God, but now being legitimized by majority rule and the public shame abolished, that gives rightness and moral strength to immoral behavior! And the same holds true for homosexuality and drug addicts… sound Christian churches will never be able to succumb to societal pressures to overrule God’s pronouncement on these sinful acts, just because a significantly growing number of the ungodly thinks it’s all right! These poor minded, spiritually uneducated and morally defunct sinners have no fear for what is in 
store for them when God’s judgment is rendered on their behavior… and rendered it will be when God deems its time as He did with the infamous people of Sodom and Gomorrah… God’s punishment cannot be stayed,and while it may not be the fire and brimstone those towns of old got, the current day “nones” will get their share of His wrath when appropriate, and some too late when in hell eternal they will find out there really is an Almighty God. They were too pre-occupied in life with selfish pursuits to find out about The Creator of life, their Heavenly Father… no excuse is acceptable in this day an age for anyone to claim ignorance to His Being… that ignorance will certainly not be bliss, but eternal damnation… what a sad and wasteful use of life. When you know a “none” or have one in your immediate family, it is very hard to contain your anxiety for that soul, that you, as a devout Christian know, they will end up 
suffering consequences for in eternal hellfire. What to do with someone who doesn’t want to be saved? Pray, talk, and supply information to them when possible… let your commitment to them show the vital truth their rejection of God holds for them… if they remain adamant in their denial, God will know that you gave it your best effort and He will take it from there.
