Rainbow Over Carson Valley
“I have set My bow in the cloud, and it shall serve as a sign of a covenant
between Me and the earth” Genesis 9:13
Hi Men:
I pray this week you made a concerted effort to keep your eyes off the horizontal. Years ago I was complaining as I was heading out the door of our house to go to work. My wife said the following, “Dan, remember, this is not our home. We are not home yet!” I never forgot those words.
How easy it is to get wrapped up in the affairs of this life and take our eyes off Jesus. Jesus died for us and He asks us to die for Him. To be “Born Again” we need to die to our self. If we won’t totally give up the control of our life, how can Jesus live through us?
We would be fools not to receive this amazing offer from Jesus. Especially from the stand point that this life is a vapor and eternity is forever. And as Jesus takes control of this short life we have on this earth, amazing things will happen. The man that discipled me often reminded me:
“Dan, you will carry into eternity the product of your investment in this life. Life is too short and the stakes too high to live mediocre lives.”
I never forgot that. We want to invest in eternal matters. Why? Because Jesus made it pretty evident in the “Parable of the Sower.”
Matthew 13:23 (NASB): “But the one sown with seed on the good soil (4th soil), this is the one who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and produces, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much.”
I would say that’s a pretty good return on your investment. Men, no matter what it costs in this short life of ours, let’s commit to do whatever it takes to stay in the “4th Soil”
PHOTO ABOVE
My wife and I were in Carson City last weekend for our grandson’s birthday. He turned “2” We had a grand time. After a rain one evening, I was out front with my two grandsons watching the rainbow, while my daughter-in-law snapped this photo. Later she surprised me with it – one of those photos that you keep close to your heart.
Some of you might remember the John 10:10 video: “Over the Rainbow” If you missed it, Here It Is Again (YouTube 6:30 min)
Here are a few Rainbow Facts that may surprise some of you:
- A rainbow is actually a full circle — we only see half from the ground.
- No two people ever see the same rainbow — each one is uniquely yours.
- The bow forms at a perfect 42° angle — precision built into creation.
- Double rainbows always appear reversed (red on the bottom) because light bounces twice inside the raindrop.
- A rainbow is made from billions of droplets, each acting as a tiny prism.
- Pure white light is revealed as many colors — a picture of God’s manifold glory.
- The rainbow shows seven colors, God’s number of completeness.
“Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:2-3)
A Divine Appointment at 32,000 Feet
My wife and I boarded a Southwest flight from Reno back to Las Vegas after visiting our son and family in Carson City (mentioned above). Because of thunderstorms, the pilot had to take the long way around — giving me an unexpected hour and a half conversation with the woman seated next to me.
She was a middle-aged gal, very friendly, heading home to Austin, Texas after attending a family funeral in Reno. She grew up there and went to UNR. She joked that she hoped she wouldn’t disturb me if she fell asleep because she snores — which instantly broke the ice.
As we talked, we both mentioned our college days and I told her I had been involved in a fraternity at UNLV — Alpha Tau Omega (ATO). Her face was priceless when she heard that! She laughed, because she knew the Reno ATOs had a reputation like something out of Animal House. That gave me the perfect opening. I told her the surprising truth: ATO was actually founded at VMI (Virginia Military Institute) right after the Civil War for the sole purpose of introducing college men to the person of Jesus Christ. She couldn’t stop laughing at the irony or maybe hypocrisy.
I went on to share that I had been president of our ATO chapter for three years and had a copy of the Ritual and Secret Work of Alpha Tau Omega. Within that ritual are direct references to the Bible and the Cross of Jesus Christ — something that really stunned her. That opened the door wide to spiritual things. [Read that part of the Secret Ritual]
I then shared my testimony — how I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ under a tree in my backyard almost 35 years ago. I told her how I used to dislike the term “born again” until it happened to me, and how my life was completely changed from that day forward. I had her attention and she was genuinely interested. I even shared my India story with her, along with photos from my phone, which amazed her. We talked about how God loves us, and how He will guide and direct our lives if we believe and trust Him. Because she told me her life was very stressful, I shared a couple of Bible verses with her.
She also opened up about her daughter, who wants to attend UNR and is exploring her own faith. That’s when I pulled out my resources. I had two sets — one for her and one for her daughter. She eagerly wanted everything.
I even pulled out the little tract, Are You a Good Person? and walked her through it. “Have you ever lied? Stolen anything?” She admitted she had — which makes us, by God’s standard, a liar and a thief. I asked, “So if you’re standing before the perfect Judge, are you innocent or guilty? Heaven or hell?” That’s when I shared the solution — the good news of Jesus Christ, who saves us when we repent and turn our lives over to Him.
By the time the plane landed in Las Vegas, it was clear to me this had been a divine appointment. I’m so grateful the Lord put Stephanie in my path, and I pray He will do a mighty work in her life — and in her daughter’s as well. These encounters are priceless. I apologized to Stephanie that she didn’t get to snore 🤠
Amazed by His Grace,
Dan
“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”
(Romans 13:14)
Men: I can’t believe that 9 years ago today 8/29/16, Walt Henrichsen went to be home with Jesus. The sentence below is what Walt allowed me to see and do……. to prey upon him (as he discipled me) and plunder his knowledge from 1993 to 2016.
The only thing you can take when you die is what you are. If you know this and believe Jesus, then you can become a PREY to others and be content, for you understand that it is your calling
Contentment – Day 242 Blue Book
The purpose of these devotionals is to help you think Biblically.
Solomon said, “As a man thinks, so is he”
READ THE PDF HERE / Send it to a buddy
Arizona Conference
Southwest Men’s Retreat
October 3 – 5
If anyone would like to attend the 2025 Southwest Men’s Retreat in Arizona,
below is the registration information!
REGISTER HERE
Former Lesbian Finds Jesus
Men: If you haven’t heard of Rosaria Butterfield, you have missed out. Take a few minutes and listen to this recent message from her.
Rosaria is a former advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and was a prominent figure in gay rights activism. She was a tenured professor at Syracuse University. Hear what brought her into that lifestyle, and how God set her free! Rosaria now spends her time promoting biblical perspectives on sexuality, identity, and faith, sharing with others how they too can be set free in Jesus!
Listen To Jills Story Here (YouTube 17:50 minutes) Note: Send to your friends
To know more about Rosaria go to: DecideNow.com/RosariaButterfield
“Allahu Akbar”
Men: You probably know that Nigeria is the most dangerous country in the world for Christians who currently live there. But, did you know that 90% of all Christian Persecution Deaths worldwide happened in Nigeria in 2022 and 2023? Just this year on Father’s Day night, 81% of a village in Yelewata, Nigeria were brutally massacred. Whether it’s Fulani Herdsman or Boko Haram, they are all Orthodox followers of Islam.
If interested, Here is a Report from CBN News: (YouTube 5:33 minutes)
THIS WAS HARD HITTING – BUT TRUE
What is behind fear? Are you fearful to share your faith?
Most of us are. To conquer it, I see fear as a barometer of pride. The more fear you have, the greater the pride in your heart.
Consider what we fear most. It is not that our faith will be shaken, or that someone will outwit us in an argument. Rather, it is the fear of looking foolish, of being called “religious” or “brainwashed,” or of being rejected for our beliefs.
A proud person is fearful of those things because he has a high view of himself. Pride dreads ridicule and rejection. But a truly humble person is not concerned with himself or how others view him, because his view of himself is low.
It is the sin of pride that keeps us from coming to the cross, and it is the sin of pride that stops us from preaching The Old Rugged Cross. We do not want to carry its shame and reproach.
“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” — Mark 8:38
Yikes! 😨
IS THE COST WORTH IT?
