December 30, 2012 Today's Photograph . . . . More Important Is Your Adopted Name . . . (Tom B)

Bible Study Verse Philippians 2:9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name. (NIV) Thoughts Over the Christmas holidays we were blessed to have my wife's sister, husband and their five adopted children, ranging from 9 to 15 in age, as guests for a few days. During their stay, the oldest discovered he could look up the meaning of names on his cell phone's internet. He started with discovering his oldest sister's name. Of course he wasn't searching for the most charitable definition, but one that would enable him to poke fun at her. His mischief wasn't intended to hurt her, but just to get a rise out of her. Kids will be kids!!! After all the joking, laughing, and wrestling around over his sister's name, you can guess what everyone else wanted. They wanted to know what their names meant!!! The fun was ignited all over again with each new discovery!!!! (Tom B) Action Point If someone was asked to define you, how might he or she respond? Maybe because you like the outdoors they might respond fisherman, hunter, or maybe even dog lover. A few of Jesus' names: "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him The Name That Is Above Every Name," Philippians 2:9 (NIV). "And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace," Isaiah 9:6b (NIV) "For He Himself is Our Peace," Ephesians 2:14a (NIV). "On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords," Revelations 19:16 (NIV). Jesus has adopted us. "He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will - to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves," Ephesians 1:5-6 (NIV). We have the name given us by our earthly mother and father, but more important is our adopted name of Christian, believer of Jesus Christ, if you have accepted Him as your Savior. Sportsmen's Tip of the Day If you fish moving bodies of water, whether it be stream or lake, fish like to seek out a bank that has been undercut by the current. A way of getting the bait or lure down into the lair of the fish is to cast a plastic tube bait, lizard, or worm with the hook embedded into the lure. Cast upstream and let the current carry it under the bank. Reel up the slack, lift the offering up by raising your rod tip, and then let it fall down. Many times the strike will come as the lure is picked up.