29 July 2007 - The Five Ps

The following is Chaplain Eddins email to the Corps and was delivered by the Corps Commander to the troops following the Chaplain’s wishes.  The service was opened by a beautiful prayer from the heart of Allen Price and closed by a prayer by General Joe "Cobb" Sockwell.  The Commander tried his level best to present the Chaplain's message, but no one can make the Pickle Pulpit proud like Tex:

To the 13th:  It's a great day to be alive on that we'll all agree so lift your voice in praise bow your heads in prayer with thanksgiving and let each Lord's day be special to all. Well, first things first, - Brother John is doing fine. We all here thank everyone for their prayers for we do believe, and we do believe in the power of prayer.  Secondly, you fellows have no way of knowing how much your calls meant to us. I'll be able to tell you when I get the bill lol. My hat's off to Bear and Jennifer for hosting this reunion.  All of us were looking so forward to it and all the troops have reported a having a great time.  All our votes (The Eddins Family) can be cast for South Carolina next year. Blue I didn't get those pics if you sent them yet. Please send again.

Now, for Sunday's lesson. We were coming prepared to hold complete worship services.  The elements were packed for the Lord's Supper Acts 20:7.  Songs were run off to lift our voice in praise Eph 5:19.   We would bow our heads in prayer Acts2:47 and I would have deliver the message of the hour Rom. 10:14-17, Rom.1:16

The Lord has provided the perfect illustration for the lesson I had prepared.  I was going to bring a lesson on the 5 P's  you all learned 30 years ago.   Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance. Thru life you know you have found this true in everything and like me you have kicked your self in the backside every time you failed to do it.  Because lot's of our own troubles and failures could have been prevented by just a little time of thought before hand.

Brother John's Heart Attack is a reminder of life's uncertainty.  No one in my family would have been shocked if it was me, but Johnny who would have thought it. This time the Lord answered our prayers our way - which I hope you remember.   I hope you remember all the times he has answered your prayers your way that is times when his will matched yours.  It's a real challenge to remember them when his will does not match ours. Someday, (and I hope I'm not here for that) John will no longer live here (Heb. 9:27).  The Lord has no intention for his creation to live in sin or around it.  One by one we will leave this earth and give an account for ourselves as we get older.  My brother and sisters we need to think ahead because Christianity is not a faith only religion the next time someone says "I'm alright because I believe", you should turn him to James chapter two and pay special attention to verses 17-26.  You might point out for him that the devil believes verse 19 and ask them if they think he's going to be in heaven or you might point out that faith only is mentioned in verse 24 but it says and not by. Yet the scriptures teach salvation is by grace and not by works Eph 2:8-10. The saddest scriptures in the entire bible are Matt.7:21-24 (at least they are to me). Finally, my Brothers and Sisters, remember John 14:1-6.   Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.  Please take seriously the things that matter most in this world and that my friends is where will you and your family that will follow after you will spend eternity . Amen

Love,

Chaplain General Tex Eddins