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Soldier’s are funny creatures.  Some of the more motivated ones are even more humorous.

Along with saluting, it is customary to give a greeting, or a response when passing somebody–it is a politeness that is not found in many other places any more.  Sometimes, like today, I pass some highly motivate soldiers who answer my “How Are You Today?” with

“Another Day in Paradise!” — Paradise is relative, I guess.  A comment like this, makes me smile.  But, to some degree that’s true–some of these guys absolutely love this job and doing it 24 hours a day.  In some ways, it is another day in paradise–Paradise is being in the center of God’s will–and that’s exactly where I am.

or

“Livin’ the Dream!”–Some Soldiers dream of this.  This is there time to shine.  They may go back home and be welcomed as a hero.  They will tell their grand-kids what they did in Iraq one day.  They are truly living the dream.  It is nice to be reminded that, to some degree, I too am living the dream.  It’s the best job in the world.

One of the funiest was “Hangin’ like a hair in a biscut.” That is neither motivating nor appealing, but it is memorable.

I picked up my Bible just a few minutes ago and there was a layer of dust all over the cover.

Now, it is not what you think.  Outside you can not see more than 25 yards because of the blowing dust and dirt.  The sky has become pitch black as the dust blocks out the stars, the moon, and the ambient light from around the FOB.  Some of this dust has slipped through the cracks of this plywood building and settled here on my desk.

And on my Bible.

But how many times have I let my Bible collect dust without the storm outside.  The New Testament church set the example of reading their Bible.

“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica;they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:11, ESV). 

But Deuteronomy 11:18 reminds us to:

“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.” (Deuteronomy 11:18, ESV) 

The bottom line is that we need to be constantly studying the scriptures.  It is here that we hear the see of God, understand His nature, and discern His personality. Not to mention, come face to face with His grace and love.

My Bible has dust from a storm–what is your excuse?

We are all looking for ways to have victory in our lives. 

The Bible says “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (Jn 5:4, ESV)  Today’s sermon talks about living in victory.

Read this week’s sermon at sermoncentral.com