Super Hero

A MountainWings Moment#7044

Dr. Marilyn spoke at our staff meeting. She took us through
exercises as she worked to get our minds and spirits adjusted to
a more positive direction."

Close your eyes and think back to when you were small. What
did you want to be? What were your dreams? What did you want
to do? Close your eyes and think back." she instructed.

I closed my eyes and thought back. I remembered what
I wanted to be.

Dr. Marilyn then told of her early beginnings as a writer.
She told of the articles and the publishing successes that she
experienced but so many of them were punctuated by,"I
didn't get paid for that."

Her words struck me.

I worked in a corner drug store when I was very small. I was
below the age limit to work but the store made an exception.

My father owned the store, thus the exception. I worked
long and hard. I treasured my lunch breaks. Not so much for
the food or the rest, it was what I did during my lunch breaks
that I treasured. I read comic books. I read the action books,
not the romance or the comedies; action, pure action.

When I closed my eyes and thought back, I knew instantly
what I had aspired to be.

A Super Hero!

Superman, Batman, Spiderman and Ironman were some
of my heroes.

In all of the action comics that I read, there were two distinct
patterns. Those two patterns were in every action comic book
that I can recall.

First, there was always a battle between good and evil.
The battle was always tough. The battle was always a close
call. No matter how strong or how many powers the Super Hero
had, evil pushed him to the very limit and most times almost
defeated him.

Second, the Super Hero was never paid for his contribution to
society; he always earned his living in his alter ego.

Superman made money as Clark Kent, a newspaper reporter.
Batman made money as Bruce Wayne, a rich industrialist.
Spiderman made money as Peter Parker, a photographer.
Ironman made money as Tony Stark, owner of Stark Industries.

None of them were paid for being a Super Hero and the
contributions they made as Super Heroes.

As I listened to Dr. Marilyn state how she had never been paid
for many things, a light popped on in my mind."

The real Super Heroes don't get paid for the Super Hero stuff!"

I pastor a church and have never accepted a salary or taken up
love offerings for myself. It's correct to be fairly
compensated but I, like Paul, simply choose not to.

I am the editor of Mountain Wings and the Air Jesus websites,
and I don’t get any money for that either.

I realized as my eyes were closed that it is Super Hero stuff and
my dream has been realized.

You've got Super Hero stuff too.

Parenting
Volunteering
Helping a stranger or friend in need
Doing anything beneficial

...that takes time, effort, energy or resources and where you
expect no monetary return is Super Herostuff.

Use your powers well.

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The Cold Glass of Water

from A MountainWings Moment#7051
by Tim McGill, Director of Environmental Service, Walker
Baptist Medical Center, JasperAlabama and Pastor,
Junior High Students, Sumiton Church of God,
Sumiton, Alabama


About four years ago I was a missionary in Honduras. My wife
and three-year-old daughter were with me as we traveled to
remote areas building medical clinics. We accomplished most of
the work during the summer months when school was out in the
States.

At times we would have one group get on an airplane to leave
the country and have another group get off an airplane to start
back on a project. We would assist the new group getting into a
hotel to rest after the long trip and then while they rested, go
back to our little house and do laundry, cut the yard and load up
to head back to the mountains for the next one or two weeks.

It was during one of these between group prep times that I had a
MountainWings Moment.I was running on just a few hours of sleep,
and it was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside. My grass was
almost knee high and all I had to cut it with was a line trimmer,
or as we call it, a “weed eater.” However difficult it was, I was
blessed to have the line trimmer. Most of my neighbors used
machetes and a crooked stick to cut their yards.

I had been cutting for some time when I noticed a small boy
leaning on my security fence. It was common for beggars to come
to my fence and even go through my trash looking for something
to eat. I must admit, I had a lot to do and I was ignoring the
little boy. He just kept standing there. He was dirty and wore
only a little pair of tattered shorts. I was covered with cut grass,
hot and had too much to do before getting back out in the field to
be bothered with giving handouts. The group would be waiting.

Finally, I had to take a break, and I walked over to the little
boy and sat down near him. He looked up at me with his dirty
little face and asked “Papa, (Spanish for Father/Priest) may I
have a cup of water.” Immediately Matthew 10:42 came to my
mind.

Here I was, so caught up in missions work, I had forgotten
the mission. I went in, got one of our best glasses (not one of the
usual paper cups reserved for such occasions), and filled it with
ice and water. I took it to the little boy and watched him as he
savored every last drop. He then handed me the glass; and with
a smile as big as his face, he said,“Thank you and God bless you
Father.”

No, I’m not a priest or even Catholic, but he gave me the
highest salutation he could think of.

We continued on with the group that had arrived that day and
numerous others who had come with a heart to help the Honduran
people, but I have never looked at things the same way since
that encounter with the cold glass of water.

† † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †

Hebrews 13:2
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some have
entertained angels unawares.



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Prayer: More Is Better

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Genuine, heartfelt prayer changes things and it changes us.
When we lift our hearts to our Father in heaven, we open
ourselves to a never-ending source of divine wisdom and
infinite love.

Do you have questions that you simply can't answer?
Ask for the guidance of your Father in heaven.
Whatever your need, no matter how great or small,
pray about it.

Instead of waiting for mealtimes or bedtimes, follow
the instruction of your Savior: Pray always and never
lose heart.

And remember: God is not just near; He is here,
and He's ready to talk with you. Now!

from the Ted Brabham newsletter
sign up for it under links

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