@Ryan Gamble and @Aj Storck (HOOAH). Ryan, AJ, It is my hope hope that you find this community to be a warm and welcoming environment. A place where you can press in and draw up close in your relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I also extend to you the opportunity to be strong witnesses to all who find their way here. Let God use your voice so that His message reaches whoever "Has eyes to see and ears to hear" that which the Holy Spirit prompts us to share! AJ, it is always a pleasure to have another pastor and a brother-in-arms in the fold. Iron sharpens iron and oversight is always welcome. USAR MAJ. (Ret) C. HALL 2BCT 82AB 2-325 AIR (WHITE FALCONS) "ATW" 74-94

Whether you are a child, teen or an adult, there is a very serious possibility that at some point in time; someone may attempt to follow you with intent of doing harm! I'm not trying to scare you, I'm trying to EDUCATE you on how you and /or your loved ones can remain safe! DADS! IT IS VERY MUCH YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE YOUR WIVES AND CHILDREN KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT THERE TO PROTECT THEM! TEACH THIS RELIGIOUSLY! First off, this isn’t hypothetical for me. I am a retired NYPD Motorcycle Patrol Sergeant and I learned early on that while I was out there trying to protect you and your family, I couldn't always be there to protect my family either. The reality of that hit home for me hard! Several years ago, my wife was out shopping with our kids and noticed a man following them. My wife’s first instinct? RUN! This would have been a very bad choice because while she may have been able to evade the person following them, the kids WOULD NOT! Instead, she walked into the nearest store and asked the staff to call store security very loudly. He was gone in seconds. That experience sent me down a rabbit hole. I started going through everything I could find from personal safety and criminology specialists and what I learned completely changed what I taught my family. Because running? That’s the one thing most experts agree you should NOT do. The second you take off, you show fear. And fear is exactly what pushes someone with bad intent to move faster, not back off. Here’s what I taught mine instead: 👉 Confirm it first. Shift direction slightly and keep your normal pace. An innocent person won’t follow. Someone with intent will. Three turns in a row tells you everything. 👉 Walk toward people and cameras. Step into any store. Get close to the register. Being visible in a monitored space is often enough to make someone disappear. 👉DO NOT GO HOME! If you lead them to where you live, you’ve given them something they didn’t have before. Go public instead. 👉 Say your location out loud. Take out your phone and say clearly where you are even with no one on the line. People who follow others tend to back off the moment someone’s whereabouts are spoken.

Finding God is like finding a great treasure or a valuable pearl. Q: Is it a joy for you to sacrifice everything in exchange for God's grace? Q: Do you feel like really understand and believe the trade off?

The greatest enemy of best is good. Q: What good things can distract you from seeking God as your first priority? Q: What changes must you make in order to make God's kingdom and righteousness your top priority?

John 15:26-16:4 Where do you find help and support when you most need it? True friendship is strengthened in adversity. Jesus offers his disciples the best and truest of friends. Who is this promised friend? Jesus calls the Holy Spirit our Counselor and Advocate (also translated Paraclete or Helper). How does the Holy Spirit help us as the counselor? Counselor is a legal term for the person who defends someone against an adversary and who guides that person during the ordeal of trial. The Holy Spirit is our Advocate and Helper who guides and strengthens us and brings us safely through the challenges and adversities we must face in this life. Person and role of the Holy Spirit As Jesus approaches the hour he was to be glorified - through his death on the cross and his resurrection - he revealed more fully to his disciples the person and role of the Holy Spirit. What does Jesus tell us about the Holy Spirit? First, the Holy Spirit is inseparably one with the Father and the Son. It is the Holy Spirit who gives life - the very life of God - and who makes faith come alive in hearts and minds of people who are receptive to God's word. The Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to know God personally. He gives us experiential knowledge of God as our Father. The Spirit witnesses to our spirit that the Father has indeed sent his only begotten Son into the world to redeem it and has raised his Son, Jesus Christ, from the dead and has seated him at his right hand in glory and power. The Holy Spirit reveals to us the knowledge, wisdom and plan of God for the ages and the Spirit enables us to see with the "eyes of faith" what the Father and the Son are doing. Through the gift and working of the Holy Spirit we become witnesses to the great work of God in Christ Jesus. Spirit strengthens us in faith and courage Jesus warned his disciples that they could expect persecution just as Jesus was opposed and treated with hostility. We have been given the Holy Spirit to help us live as disciples of Jesus Christ. The Spirit gives us courage and perseverance when we meet adversities and challenges.