Genesis 5:23-24- “So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.”  NASB 

• The Friendship Started 

Barbara Jo and I had just moved into our new house at the lake. I was mowing the grass when I saw an older man riding his lawn mower towards me. He turned off his mower and I turned off mine. He said, "Hi, my name is Harry." I said, "Hi, my name is Gary." 
 
That was the introduction of what was going to be a great friendship. It didn't last long enough was the only problem.
 
He said to me, "Did I see you riding a Harley?" I said, "Yes, you did." His next words were, "I got my first one in 46, right after I came home from the war."
 
Harry had grown up in Chicago and worked as a Union Carpenter. It had been the trade of his father and grandfather.
 
In 3 1/2 years he taught me a lot of little carpentry tricks to fix things and also how to live. 

• How To Live To Be 93 

Harry lived to be 93 yrs old. He told me his advice to a long life is to stay active. He informed me he was not going to make the mistake his dad did. His dad retired and according to Harry didn't stay active and died in his 60's.
 
Harry did exactly what he said he would do. He stayed active. Our first winter here we received about 6-8 inches of snow on our first snow fall. I took my snow blower over to Harry's to help clear his driveway. He came out and stopped me. He said, "I know what you're trying to do and I appreciate it, but I have to do this myself."
 
I learned a valuable lesson from my friend. If you want to live to be 93 stay active.
 
I watched him paint his garage last summer. He sat in a lawn chair and painted the lower half then stood and used a roller and painted the top half. It took him days but he did it.
 
I did go over and make him come down off the ladder once. He had 15 or 20 bees buzzing around his head. He said, "I just have a little bit more to do." I said, "Harry it will be there tomorrow. Now come down off the ladder you are making me nervous."
 
He came down but he wasn't real happy. He wanted to finish painting his garage. I sprayed the bees nest and he finished the job later that day.
 
So how do you live to be 93? According to Harry, "Stay Active." 

• What To Do When God Takes Someone You Love 

I think the best thing you can do is talk about them. You have memories to share and life lessons that will bless others, so talk about them. Share those stories. One way to never let them die is to talk about them. When you talk about the one that has deceased others will know it is okay to speak about them with you also.
 
Let me close with this story of Harry. He put a roof over his back steps that led to his garage. He did this when he was 92. He framed it out, put plywood over it and shingles over the plywood.
 
When I saw his new addition I said to him, "Harry why didn't you call me and I would have helped you." He said, "I didn't need you."
 
What a hoot! I wish you all could have known him. The world doesn't have too many gems like Harry left in it. 
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• Greatest Compliment 

The day before Harry died I took some food over to his house. I sat on the couch and talked with him for a few minutes. When I got up to leave he stuck out his hand and I shook it and he told me this, "You were a good neighbor."  I likewise told him, "That he was a good neighbor as well."
 
Harry was a real blessing in my life and I am going to miss him. It won't be the same mowing the grass this year and looking over not seeing him mowing his grass.
 
So long Harry, I am going to miss you my friend.
 
Think On These:
 
A man never gets so rich that he can afford to lose a friend.
 
A friend takes an interest in you, but not a controlling one.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

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Acts 9:23-25 - When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.  NASU

• Saul Created Either a Revival or a Riot 

In the above passage Saul has completed his on the road to Damascus conversion. He is now preaching Jesus to be the Messiah. The Jews cannot believe what they are seeing and hearing. Before their very eyes the same person, Saul, who was persecuting the converts to Jesus Christ, is now preaching that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah.
 
There were some Jews who had listened to him for a few days and now they have heard enough. There is only one thing to do with Saul and that is kill him. It is quite evident that he has lost his mind according to them. They liked Saul when he was persecuting those who believed Jesus to be the Messiah, but now they see him as a traitor.
 
Their plan was to kill this new messenger of Jesus the Messiah.
 
Yet, on the other hand, there were some Jews who had listened to him preaching about Jesus and they were glad to hear his conversion story and accept Jesus as the Messiah. 

• True Conversion Bewilders Some People 

Saul hadn't lost his mind as some of the Jews were proclaiming. They were trying to argue with Saul but his new understanding of the Old Testament scriptures and how Jesus was the fulfillment of these prophecies was overwhelming.
 
They were bewildered and embarrassed by Saul's knowledge of the scriptures.
 
Maybe you have gone through a conversion to Jesus and people are bewildered by it.
This happens to a lot of Christians. Your goal is to grow closer to the Lord regardless of what other people think of you.
 
Don't let this surprise you nor deflate you spiritually when people don't believe in your conversion.
 
Your plan needs to be to continue to study God's Word and help those who will listen to you. 

• The Need For Rope Holders 

The plot to kill Saul becomes so great and well known that the disciples come up with a plan and that is lower Saul through an opening in the wall in a large basket.
 
Can you see all of these disciples working together for a common goal?
 
Their thoughts must have been we have to save Saul's life because he definitely believes like we do that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
 
They get Saul to get in the basket (how much faith did that take) and while men lift up the basket with Saul in it there are men holding the ropes as they lower the basket down the wall. 
 
These rope holders are heroes.
 
Can you imagine for a second if they would have dropped the basket and Saul would have died once he and the basket hit the ground?
 
Thirteen books of New Testament that were written by Paul would be non-existent and it would be 14 books if you believe Paul is the author of the book of Hebrews, like I do.
 
These roper holders were playing a bigger part in history of Christianity than they could ever have imagined.

Are you playing a bigger part in Christianity than you are imagining today? 

• What Rope Are You Holding Today? 

Are you holding on to a rope and you're thinking I wish I were somewhere else doing something great for God?
 
Do you think that any of these rope holders knew that Saul would become the Apostle Paul and write over half of the New Testament that you and I can read everyday?
 
Whatever you are doing today see yourself as a roper holder.

Vision what you are doing everyday is going to be used by God to make a huge difference in Christianity.

Think on These:

People may doubt what you say, but they'll believe what you do.

Some people entertain ideas; others put them to work. 

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

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 1 Sam. 1:10-11 - She, greatly distressed, prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. She made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head."  NASU 

• Hannah Bargains With God 

I have spoken with people who felt it was absolutely wrong to ever bargain with God when praying. You may be reading this Pump Up thinking I believe it is wrong to bargain with God while praying.
 
I would say, "Okay, for you it would be wrong, but not for someone who doesn't believe like you." In our scripture text today we can see that Hannah prayed to the LORD while in great distress and in her prayer she bargains with God. She says, "If You Will…I will…"
 
My friends that is what we call bargaining. If you do something for me then I will do something for you. She not only bargains with God, He accepts the terms of her bargaining. 

• What Caused Her To Bargain With God 

It was caused by her physical condition that she could not bear children. The reason she couldn't bear children was because God had closed her womb.
 
It wasn't bad enough she couldn't bear children but she was reminded of her situation constantly by her rival Peninnah, Elkanah's other wife.
 
1 Sam. 1:6 - Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. NASU
 
God says, one woman for one man and man tries to improve upon God's plan and says, you can have more than one wife if you want? Now what could ever go wrong with that plan? Two women under the same roof, in the same kitchen, oh I am sure that will work perfectly. 

• God Accepts Her Conditions 

God not only accepted her terms he blesses her with a son. Hannah names him Samuel, which means "heard of God."
 
1 Sam. 1:19-20 - And Elkanah had relations with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her.  It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked him of the LORD." NASU
 
Do you have some physical handicap that you would like to have changed? Then ask the Lord. If it is His will He will grant you your petition.
 
Are you being provoked by someone then take it to the Lord? Hannah did and God changed her situation and life. If it is His will He can do the same for you.
 
Have you ever felt that God or life has dealt you a bad hand? Hannah did and she wept bitterly about it. She takes her prayer to God and bargains with Him in it. 

• God May Accept Your Conditions 

God may accept your conditions as you bargain with Him, but there is one thing you really need to know. God kept His part of the bargain and so did Hannah keep her end of the deal.
 
Don't bargain with God if you are not serious about keeping your end of the deal.
 
1 Sam. 1:26-28 - She said, "Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the LORD.  "For this boy I prayed, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of Him."So I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there. 
 
Think On These:
 
One thing you can give and still keep is your word.
 
A broken promise is something the best glue can't fix.
 
God's promises are like life preservers. They keep the soul from sinking in the sea of trouble.
 
Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

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