Abide in Me
AIM
by
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I was reaching for a third magazine to put it in my weapon, and I remembered the hand grenades which were strapped to my ammo patches. I took one of the grenades off my pouch and pulled the pin. I let go of the handle and counted about three seconds before throwing it into the brush in front of me. Instinctively, I put my head down and waited for the explosion. I find a moment of peace sort of like a child who is afraid of the dark and pulls his covers over his head. I looked up again, and in the midst of all this chaos, I noticed a line of ants. Large red ants about ½ inch long. There were two columns of them; one, marching methodically up my tree and into a one inch hole in the trunk, and another column just as methodically, marching out of their sanctuary down the tree and out into the jungle. I became furious with them! I screamed at them as loud as I could “What is wrong with you? Don’t you know there is a war going on?” They seem to be clueless. They just remained focused on their own world - their own individual and collective tasks. Aren’t we like those ants? We’re taking fire and we don’t even know it! Tomorrow morning, when your alarm clock goes off, do you have it figured out so that you know exactly how many times you can hit the snooze bar and still make it to work on time? Is your life so completely ordered that you know exactly how much time you can take for breakfast, rush hour traffic, and maybe a quick cup of coffee on the way to work? For most of us that is the way our lives have become. The danger is we forget that there is a war going on all around us.
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About the Book
In these days, it appears that evil is triumphant. It seems as though the bad guy is even being rewarded for craftiness. Decisions are no longer based upon biblical or moral principles, but rather on personal benefit and profitability. The effects of these decisions reach to the very core of our society, causing divisions and grief in our families, our relationships, and our jobs. This seems to be especially true in the world we live in today. In Abide in Me, we are taking AIM at the root of this calamity. Abide in Me contains stories about the author’s own life, which left him wondering, “Why me?” The stories demonstrate how a person can turn, or be turned, 180 degrees from the path he was created to walk and find his way back. We have all experienced trials. Perhaps we have made personal or selfish decisions, which seem to have had disastrous effects on ourselves and those around us. At this point in your life, you may even be thinking there is no hope, because of what you have done. Your past does not define you. Hope for your future is possible, but there are necessary steps you must be willing to take. Joel Trenkle has gone from diving in dumpsters to doctor, but not on his own strength. You can find refreshing new meaning and purpose for your life in this book.
About the Author
Joel received his bachelor’s degree from Regis University, with majors in religious studies and psychology in 1983. He then completed his master’s degree in pastoral care and counseling from St. Thomas Seminary in 1984. He received his Doctor of Christian Ministry degree from Christian Leadership University. Joel is a US Army Ranger and Vietnam combat veteran with extensive life experiences. Doni has a bachelor’s degree in Christian ministry from Christian Leadership University Seminary. She is a strong “prayer warrior” and an excellent pastoral counselor. Doni specializes in caring for women who have been victims of sexual trauma.