Galatians 6:9: 

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up”.

A wonderful friend of mine for almost 20 years who has been a faithful man of God for over 50 years owns a blessed and productive apple orchard. This apple orchard still supplies thousands of apples to an area business which makes up to 500 gallons of cider daily – pure, cool, refreshing tasty local cider! I don’t think there is anything better in this world, except iced water, to sip on a beautiful fall day!

My friend planted those apple trees and nurtured them from the ground up for decades…and he still takes care of them as he did when he was in his thirties. Recently I was given a huge box of a variety lovely apples from his crop (which will become apple sauce by the way), and it got me thinking of reaping and sowing. I also contemplated thea legacy my brother in Christ and fellow warrior is leaving to the next generation.

Those who have built a booming business using his five-decade-old crop as a foundation are now providing employment for local men and women. Their store sells caramel apples, apple sauce, apple butter, apple cider, apple cider donuts and other local produce and meats from other local business. Anything from apples you can think off  – they have it. Even cold yummy apple slushies from $1 up so the smallest kid can afford it. This is the essence of America. So much came from one man who planted an apple tree and opened a small shop for his wife to sell apple cider! The real life example here, has provided the impetus for this teaching from God’s word to enable common folks like you and I, to leave a legacy which is just as rich as the soil my friend’s apple trees stand on.

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JESUSFEST 2013 (ROCK & ROLL HARDEE’S SPRINGFIELD, IL

One of the major goals I have in bringing these free outdoor Christian concerts to various parts of the city and the county in coming months and years is to bring the joyful news of the Kingdom to areas given up by the church, to worldly systems.  The first one, though too long by a few hours, happened in Auburn, Illinois in October 2011. JesusFest 2 was at the brand new SouthWinds Park (just on the outskirts of town) in October 2012 and the recently concluded JesusFest 3 brought the powerful message of Jesus to the South East Laketown area of Springfield.

Future spots being explored are Petersburg, Rochester, Chatham and other parts of this big city of Springfield. The rubber meets the road…on the road. We can expound and pontificate from a pulpit on Sunday morning, feel good about ourselves and there is nothing wrong with any of this. However the Great Commission from the Great Christ was to “GO AND MAKE”, not sit and take. Evangelism and outreach are not just two words which begin with vowels, but the burden of every soul (or should be) who has been called out of the pit by the Great Rescuer – Jesus, when He saved us. This event went so well, that even the regional management of Hardee’s was impressed by the size and tone of this outreach, under the most perfect sky of the month!

So many hearts were touched, we were invited to do an event there monthly. If I had the resources and could, I would do that, just to reach that part of the city which has the biggest strip-club between Chicago and St. Louis – Deja Vu! God alone knows how many people’s lives – from marriages to the young women who peddle their flesh there – have been completely destroyed by this so-called “gentleman’s club”. No real gentleman will be caught dead in a place like that – EVER!

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