Down, But Not Out

I recently heard this testimony from Pastor Larry Burd of Calvary Baptist in Bethlehem and I asked him if I could share it with all of you on our blogspot. I think you will be encouraged by his testimony. Enjoy. Kim Checkeye

On Monday, October 18, 2010 I was down, but not out! I believe God spared my life from serious injury or even possibly from death.

I was bow hunting for deer with my youngest son, Evan and a friend, Dave Horvath. We were hunting on Dave’s land in Hellertown, PA. We had been in our tree stands for about two hours. I had been standing for the entire two hours, watching for deer and reading my little New Testament. I decided to sit down on a seat that had been built in the tree stand. As I attempted to sit down, one of the 2 x 4 rails by the seat came loose and I lost my balance and fell about 12-14 feet to the ground. I landed on my right side and on my chest. I was in tremendous pain and called for my son, Evan, who was in another tree stand about 100 yards away. I thought surely I had broken my right hip, ribs or back, but my greatest pain was in the middle of my chest. The pain was intense, especially when I breathed. In a few minutes Evan and Dave arrived to help me.

I was so grateful to God that I was alive. I had not hit my head on a rock or broken either of my legs or arms. I was in great pain, but able to stand up and walk out of the woods with the aid of a walking stick.

Evan called his wife and she told his mother what happened. He then called his sister, Lisa, who is a nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem, PA. When Lisa heard Evan describe the intense pain I was having in my chest she insisted we go to the Emergency Room at the hospital and that I get checked out.

The Emergency Room staff at the hospital took me in immediately, put an oxygen tube in my nose, gave me a shot of morphine for the pain I was experiencing, drew several vials of blood and began to assess my injuries. The ER doctor ordered numerous X-rays and a cat scan to determine if I had any broken bones or internal injuries. Several hours later the doctor returned and said he had very good news for me. The X-rays, CAT scan and blood tests showed I had no broken bones and no internal injuries. The doctor said I had severe bruises but I was “lucky.” I assured the doctor that it wasn’t luck that spared my life but God who protected me.

Numerous verses of scripture have come to mind through my experience of falling from the tree stand. Psalm 34:19-20 declares, “A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.” I am so grateful that the Lord delivered me in my fall and that not one of my bones was broken.

Psalm 91:11-12 says this about the Lord: “For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Although there were stones on the ground in the area where I fell it seemed as though I fell between the stones. If I had hit my head or spine on a stone I could have been killed or paralyzed for life. Truly the Lord’s angels must have protected me when I fell.

Proverbs 24:16 says, “for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again…” To me it was a miracle that I fell 12-14 feet and was able to walk out of the woods and have no broken bones or serious internal injuries.

The words of Job’s friend, Eliphaz, spoken to Job during all his troubles have special meaning to me as I reflect on my fall from the tree stand. Eliphaz said in Job 5:19 “From six calamities He (God) will rescue you; in seven no harm will befall you.”

When I fell I was “Down, But Not Out.” The little New Testament I had been reading was still in my hand when I fell. I do not believe for one moment that it was “luck” that spared my life from serious injury or even death. I believe it was God who delivered me, protected me and spared my life. I give Him all the praise, honor and glory.

Jesus saved me spiritually at age seventeen during another crisis moment in my life, and I believe He saved me physically when I fell from the tree stand. During the incident at age seventeen I realized I had sinned before a holy God and needed forgiveness. I recognized that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and was resurrected from the dead so I could have the gift of eternal life and spend eternity with Him someday. I repented (turned away from my sins) and invited Jesus Christ into my life, by faith, as my Savior and Lord. I began to experience a whole new life and had great peace in my heart and mind. The truth of Romans 5:1 became a reality to me. “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus ChrIst.”

Through my experience of falling from the tree stand and not being seriously injured or killed, I have concluded that God must have more work for me to do on this earth. I must do it with all my heart, mind, soul and strength for His glory alone.

“Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the Lord upholds him with his hand.” (Psalm 37:24)

I WAS DOWN, BUT NOT OUT AND FOR THAT I AM TRULY GRATEFUL TO GOD.

Pastor Larry E. Burd

A Mind to Work by Eileen Alpaugh

She gets the call at 5:15 p.m. Her mother-in- law is stopping by to say ‘hello.’ She hangs up the phone, takes a look around her house and tries not to panic. “What do I do first? Freshen the bathroom…no, load the dishwasher… pick up hubby’s socks next to his favorite chair (maybe she should leave them there so his mother can see!)” Twenty minutes later she opens the door and welcomes her unexpected guest into a perfectly presentable home complete with supper cooking on the stove. How did she do it? She had a mind to work. The same woman who just a half hour ago arrived home from an exhausting day at work, ready to put her feet up with a cup of tea and a couple of Swiss Fudge Cookies, managed to find the wherewithal to get a full days chores done in 20 minutes armed with nothing more than a mind to work. The right motivation can give us the energy and stamina to accomplish things that would otherwise seem impossible. As women we are called upon to do this almost daily. Functioning at work after a sleepless night with a sick child, or the unexpected trip to the school with the forgotten permission slip, or the “Oh honey, I forgot – could you do this for me today?” – in between the 25 other to do’s on the list. We manage to get things done when we put our minds to it.

The call is going out “Jesus is Coming Soon.” As His followers we recognize the signs of the times and are convinced that His return cannot be far off. This knowledge motivates me to do what might otherwise seem impossible…to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of my community so that they will not be ignorant or caught unprepared at His appearing. There are so many who need to hear. Like Nehemiah I am broken hearted when I look at the brokenness of my home community.

“What can I do?” you may ask, “I am only one person.” In the book of Nehemiah we are given an incredible example of the difference one person can make. With a broken heart and a sincere prayer he made himself available to be used by God to rebuild the wall of his ravaged home town. What he and his fellow countrymen did in 52 days was nothing short of miraculous.

When you look around your community, among the people in your own church and you see the vast needs, does it motivate you to work beyond your ability, beyond your natural energy to do what seems impossible? As you look around your home town do you see things that break your heart? Lives in shambles, broken hearts, and families being torn apart and left in ruins? If you could change it, would you? Will you?

Do you need a place to start? Truth for Women has many volunteer opportunities available. With combined strength and resources we are working together to help rebuild our community one woman at a time. You could be a person who makes a difference. God is looking for people with a mind to work. The plan is simple; you bring a willing heart and He’ll provide everything else – the energy, the resources, the intelligence and He’ll even provide the results. You’ll be amazed at what can be accomplished with a mind to work.

For more information about Volunteer opportunities call 610-866-5755

For further reading:
Nehemiah 4:6
Philippians 2:13
1 Corinthians 3:6-7