Peggy's Ponderings

The Bucket List

2008-05-15T08:36:00.000-07:00

Usually I don't pay much attention to movies, but lots of people are talking about this one and it has underlying Biblical principles. I might include some of my thoughts in a sermon, which means I should not write them here too yet.

The advice to write a list of all the things we want to do before we die is nothing new. I have written many such lists in my life. The temptation is to restrict myself to what is currently possible, but life changes. My likes and dislikes have changed too. It's time for a new list.

More later.
Note to self, close the toilet seat lid and look before I sit. The dog is drinking out of the toilet and and it's kind of wet. Dogs do not drink neatly.

Give It All to God

2008-05-14T17:14:00.000-07:00

If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light.
Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears.-
Glenn Clark

The Lord wants us to be happy. He wants us to love one another. Luke 6:37 says we must forgive one another or God will not forgive us. Our complaints may be legitimate but, it is to our benefit if we let it go and move on. Be kinder than you need to be. Treat others like you would like to be treated, even if you mess up big time. Don't you want to be forgiven? (You are a little bit wierd if you say no, I want them to hate me all their life).

Come to think of it, wanting them not to forgive you could be a form of revenge. The unforgiving person is slowly destroying their own body with the chemicals it dumps out every time they rehash the problem. I'd much rather forgive and move on.

Envy and jealousy are a waste of time and energy. People we envy often have burdens that we would never want. Most of the things we envy are nothing but air over time. God has given us what we need.

All of these things are burdens we bear. they shorten our lives, make us sick and probably even make us fat. (Yes, negative emotions can keep us awake at night. Not enough sleep makes the body less efficient at burning calories. Negative emotions toward others and toward life can literally make you fat.)

More Wonderful People

2008-05-08T17:59:00.000-07:00

We drive older cars and sometimes have problems with them. We drive old cars because insurance is cheaper with tha age of our boys, taxes are cheaper, there is no car payment, and nobody wants to steal an old car. We do not care about status or making an impression by what we own. Our first concern is our ministry and serving the Lord. I would rather feed hungry people than have a pretty car, for example. (and it's not just talk, we do)

Last week my husband was having trouble with the brakes on his car. With so many things going on, it is hard to leave the car in the shop for a couple of days, so he wasn't getting it fixed. Jim offered to fix it for him last Monday and John took him up on it. It was going to be a while before John could get it into the shop. We are used to making do with whatever we have. Jim and Jim Jr fixed all of the brakes and other stuff while John was at work. It was very much appreciated. We are so blessed to have them as friends! I'm pretty sure the Bible says something about them getting an extra blessing from the Lord for helping John since he is a pastor.

Kindness from a Stranger

2008-05-07T12:14:00.000-07:00

We live in a very nice city full of a lot of good people. Yesterday I was stopped a traffic light and a car behind me honked. I hadn't been paying much attention and only figured out it was me they were honking at as the light turned.

I went ahead and they followed me to the next stoplight, which was only a block away since we had turned. I watched in my mirror and they signaled me and the man got out. They were smiling, we were on a busy road and it was midday so there was nothing at all to fear (for those of you who live in big, crime ridden cities).

The man brought me a wrench that had been laying on my bumper. Apparently my son laid it there when he put the dog carrier in the back of the car for me. It was very nice of them to take the time to do that.

Street Preacher at MSU

2008-05-01T16:20:00.000-07:00

Last week I watched a street preacher draw a crowd of students at MSU and was fascinated by it. They did not like what he was saying and they argued with him, but they were listening. I told several people about it.

This afternoon, a friend who teaches at MSU called me and said there was another street preacher drawing a crowd in front of Strong Hall. She was describing what she saw and said she had not seen anything like it there before.

I drove over to see what was going on. The street preacher was shouting Bible passages and some of the students were shouting back. It was an interesting scene. The preacher was being referred to as Santa because he was older, with a white beard, suspenders, and a bit round and chubby. He wore a fishing hat on his head.

Their was a young man wearing a pirate's hat on his head and carrying a flag for the Church of the Spaghetti Monster. Several people were dressed like pirates and several had various signs. The COTSM had signs that said hugs given. Somebody showed up dressed like one of the sand people from Star Wars. It was a very good costume. Several people, students, were dressed up.

There was a very articulate young man wearing a blue bandana on his head and he was arguing with the preacher quite a bit. Last week he was arguing with a different street preacher and declaring he is an athiest. He does a very good job and it is part of the reason why they draw a crowd. People are listening, fascinated, and thinking. That is good. I talked to him for a minute. He is actually a friendly and polite young man overall. He was a bit of a smart alec. I told him, with his speaking ability, he would be successful in anything he chose. He thanked me then said he thought he might like to go into prostitution, just to get a response. This young man is the type God could use to bring about revival. Not the fire and brimstone, scare people stuff, but a change of heart and a turning to true faith by the masses. (He would not like it if he read this, but I'm just a stranger so my opinion is just that)

I talked to several people who were there. One student said it was a lot like watching a train wreck, you were drawn to it.

It is interesting. What I am seeing in defensive young adults concerning the church is a fear of abuse. It is very similar to what I am seeing in middle aged, and even senior, adults who have been through churches with splits, power struggles and all sorts of abuses (actually, the church I am in now has had some of the worst I ever heard of in their past). What are we, as the church, doing? Why are we putting up with these people who behave like that? It's not just excuses.

Students are drawn to spirituality. It is a part of our times. We are wired for God and are not at peace until we are worshipping Him. Last week, the young man I talked to while watching another street preacher said he had no knowledge of the Bible. He had no idea if what the guy was reading was correct or not. Another knew but didn't like the emphasis on telling everybody they are going to hell (it was a turn or burn preacher).

The COTSM and friends had a festival Tuesday to raise money for those living in poverty. They made $300, which they gave to Habitat for Humanity for bunnies and chicks. It was enough for starter baskets for 6 families. One of the things they did was throw water ballons at the guy who argues with the preacher for $1 a throw.

Even the street preacher was there that they had been arguing with. Here is what the blogger said about him, "I am also thankful that Brother Jed was so supportive. He may be crazy, and he may be delusional, and he might have a slight masonic complex, but he really helped us out yesterday. He even took a water balloon in the face." Somebody gave them $100 for the priviledge of throwing a water ballon at Brother Jed, the street preacher.

These street preachers are like prophets. They make the students mad. They preach about hell and judgement and lean heavily on yelling about sexual sins. They also hit other favorite student passtimes like drinking and such. The students prefer to believe they go to heaven no matter what, and anything they do is okay with God. It's a nice though but not true.

By the way, the students do not worship a spaghetti monster. It is a club protesting extremeism and doing things to help others, such as the heifer project this week. They get dressed up and have fun being together.

Crosslines Fish Day

2008-04-30T20:35:00.000-07:00

Today was our Fish day at Crosslines. We supplied the food and handed it out to everyone who came to Crosslines for help between 9 and 11 am. Ed does an excellent job in getting it all together and making sure there is enough food on the shelves.

We had several volunteers today. Without them, the job could not be done. Thank you to Gordon, Mary, Tammy, Ed, Carol, Michael, Jim, Reed, and Martha. I was there but these people did all the work.

For a little while I was at the window giving out the food. The clients were very nice and were appreciative. I enjoyed it. When Ed got back from getting more peanut butter, I turned it back over to him. Along with the food, we offered Bibles to everyone. Most take them.

We have a very good and caring group of people at our church.

Meals, Pups and Thoughts

2008-04-30T15:27:00.000-07:00

The night before last, Dr. Jay Brown was in town for a visit and stayed with Vera. Dr. Jay is the president of Memphis Theological Seminary. Vera has the gift of hospitality and people love to come to her house.

We went to Fire and Ice Restaurant with Vera and Dr. Jay and had a wonderful dinner. The chef is a fantastic cook and the food was delicious. We ate in the poolside garden area. Wonderful! I love the spinach artichoke dip and the creme brulee especially. All the main dishes are very good. Their calamari is delicious. It is crunchy, not fishy and I like crunchy.

Dr. Jay is a brilliant man. He understands how to lead and how to get along with a variety of people. Not many can do that with success. We all agree that he has class. Last year, at general assembly, there was a fuss about how the seminary money was being spent and what was being taught. There are other denominations attending MTS too, so some of what is offered there caters to other groups. That, and the fact that if you get two or more people together, they will not agree on everything no matter what the topic. Dr. Jay got up to the microphone and handled the whole controversy very well and with class. He was tactful and diplomatic and the controversy calmed down. The people I was sitting with commented on how well he handled it. They chose the right man for the job.

Dr. Jay is the youngest, or one of the youngest, people in leadership in the denomination. Our denomination is steeped in tradition and history so many of those in leadership are well past retirement age. That is good, but I hope they will work to groom the next generations for leadership too, for the sake of continuity. I'm not seeing so much of that yet. There is a little, but not enough. I have only been active in the denomination for about 4 years, but I have been familiar with the way they do business since 1976 through several ties.

The church is making a stab at it with the youth advisory delegates at GA but I'm not sure there is any indication of lasting leadership desire. This denomination likes to choose leadership based on pedigree. The more generations of CP's you have behind you, the better. Too bad the majority of CP's leave the denomination when they are grown. It would be better and smarter to groom more of the capable and gifted newcomers too.

The practice of choosing people born into the CP church for leadership positions could be good, but it could also be a little bit like my experience with purebred, pedigreed dogs. The one looking at me right now is a lab pup and is showing potential as the hunting dog she was bred to be. Her parents are champions but we will see what she will be.

Nick was a purebred Cocker Spaniel with papers. He barked at leaves and at the rain. When it rained he liked to go out and stand in it and look up. He literally did not have the sense to come in out of the rain. He never did figure out where the end of his chain was. He would go running at full speed until he got to the end of the chain, then the force of his running would cause him to jerk the collar, and fly up into the air sideways and fall to the ground with a thud. He did this many times a day all of his life. Too many generations too close together and he had lost his ability to learn new things and to reason.

Then there was Polly, the purebred chihuahua. Defiance could have been her first name. She had hip displascia and quite an attitude. She knew what we wanted, she just didn't care. Her favorite things to do in the world were to hide under the covers and to eat. She weighed a pound and a half and she could put away her weight in food. She wasn't quite like a real dog. She could sweat, and did. She also got into a bag of chocolates one night. She had to get inside one bag, eat through a paper bag and a cellophane bag and eat the foil on the pound of candy kisses. She ate the whole pound, foil and all, and lived and was not sick at all. Polly's life was all about Polly which is a strange attitude for a dog.

Molly was a purebred teacup poodle who weighed 3 pounds. She was old when we got her but she was the sweetest, most compliant dog we ever had. She would herd the other pets in the house and she even tried to herd the furniture. Being herded really ticked the cats off. She loved to go for walks but was tired and panting and had to be carried after less than 30 feet. In other words, she barely made it outside of the house before she was exhausted.

What does all this have to do with the CP's. I guess there are the pups(younger adults), like the lab, who don't quite have it together yet and need additional training but have lots of potential to do great things. Without training, they will continue to be ineffective. There are those like the Cocker who do not have a clue and keep trying the same failed stuff over and over (at least he developed a tough neck).

There are those like the chihuahua who make demands but give very little and are mainly wrapped up in themselves. She had no conscience. There are those like the poodle who are sweet and loving and care a lot. They do a good job but they are getting older and it is harder for them.

So far, I have never had a dog that could be an analogy for a good, solid CP leader who is in the prime of life and not quirky. Maybe those kind don't appear in the dog world. No, Ralph has one come to think of it. He has a purebred german shepherd from the police department. A police dog had a litter, or something like that, and they gave away some of the pups. Dixie is a good dog who stays with Ralph, follows his commands and helps him out some. Ralph is in a wheelchair. Dixie is smart and does what she is supposed to do. She is good at analyzing situations and figuring things out.

I suppose some CP's might feel insulted if they knew I was comparing people personalities to dog personalities. One would have to have a lot of dogs to cover all the personalities.

So how did I get from nice dinners and conversations to dogs I have owned? Who knows? It's all about life and how we approach it.

Random Acts of Kindness

2008-04-30T14:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was the recipient of a random act of kindness by a stranger. I was over at Porters buying quantities of groceries for our Crosslines fish day and my cart was full. As people came up behind me who had only a few items in their hands, I let them go ahead. It takes a while to check out a cartful and that was my second time through the line. Some of those coming in were on their lunch break and needed to get back to work. The first cart got too full, so I paid for everything and put it in the car before reloading the second cart.

I offered to let another lady behind me with about a dozen items go ahead of me. She looked like she was dressed to be on a lunch hour from work. She said she was in no hurry and she wasn't on her lunch hour. As I checked out, the lady, the cashier and I visited. The lady was excited about a trip in the near future to see her daughter graduate from seminary. I told her I had been studying for ministry also and would graduate in July. The lady goes to a church that does Crosslines too and we talked about it a bit.

I went out to my car and loaded everything in it. The other lady came out of the store and called me over to her car saying she had something for me. Every once in a while, somebody hears about our food ministry of feeding the poor through Crosslines and will donate some food items, which is very nice. Springfield is full of good, loving people.

But that's not what happened this time. The lady handed me a bouquet of flowers! She said they were for me. What a wonderful surprise! They smell great. She really made my day.

God blessed me through a stranger.

Quote for the day

2008-04-25T07:06:00.000-07:00

If you want to know what a man is really like, take notice how he acts when he loses money.-- New England Proverb

I started to write about this and it occured to me, it sounds good on the surface but it isn't really true consistently. Sometimes you can tell about the person, but only God knows the heart and what's really going on.

Does it apply to now?

2008-04-19T12:35:00.000-07:00

Something to ponder. Does this still apply today?

"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'
In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse-the whole nation of you- because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your field will not cast their fruit," says the Lord Almighty. "Then all the nations will call you blessed, and yours will be a delighful land," says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 3:8-12

Some people will say no, this does not apply to us today. We are no longer under the law. That is true. Scripture says to give what you have decided in your heart to give. The Lord loves a cheerful giver. This is coming out of a time when many believers were so committed they were selling everything they owned and giving it all to the church. It says you decide what to give. 100% is not necessary.

A key part of 2 Corinthians 9:7 is to give what you have decided to give in your heart. Giving is an indicator of the state of your heart? Another verse says, where your treasure is, your heart will be also. Giving is a reflection of the heart.

What does that say about people who want to be very private about their giving and don't want anyone to know? Giving in the Bible was not a particularly private affair. Jesus and the disciples watched people put their money into the box. That's where Jesus' observation of the widow putting in her mite came from. It was no secret.

Secrecy today could have something to do with people who intend to do someone harm. The Bible does not say one has a right to privacy when donating. It does say not to shout out how much you are giving to brag and make a show of it.

Is it possible that people want to hide how much they give because they may be ashamed? Privacy is a part of our culture so it may just be something we take for granted. Generosity is a reflection of the heart, whether it be time, talents, service or finances.

Am I going to tell people to tithe? Probably not. The original tithe (tithe means 10%) was more than that. There was the yearly temple tithe. On top of that was the tithe for the poor each year. There was another tithe spent once every three years to celebrate before the Lord. The tithe was really 20% a year plus the 3 1/2% or 10% a year for the celebration, depending on how you read it. The early followers did more than that from indications in scripture.

Where does that leave all of us, as church members and believers? I will leave that to God who can see people's hearts and knows much more than I ever will. Do we tithe? Yes, plus. Why do I tell? Maybe somebody else will want to try it too if they know people would really do such a thing. Maybe God will pour out a lot more blessings on them.

God's Ways

2008-04-12T14:54:00.000-07:00

Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
Matt 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

It seems like the motto of our time is "Somebody has to pay." We are in a culture where accidents are prosecuted. Everything is prosecuted. If something bad happens, somebody must be punished. It's a shame they can't put hurricanes and tornadoes in jail because these prosecution hungry people would do that too. We must blame someone.

A car skids on the ice and someone is hurt, our bloodthirsty culture is demanding more than payment for damages, they want somebody to go to jail or worse. And they want millions of dollars to boot.

A kid does something stupid or misbehaves in some way that causes harm to himself or others, somebody must have been negligent and some adult must pay and be prosecuted. As adults in this culture, most of us are falling for this garbage hook, line and sinker. We forget that as children we did stupid things and sometimes got hurt and it was our own fault!

Thirty years ago our culture still allowed for accidents and did not prosecute every little thing for either profit or revenge. We have gone crazy and taken leave of our senses.

I cannot speak for other religions, but those who call themselves Christians and fancy themselves to be faithful are sinning against Jesus when they seek revenge or do not practice mercy. Our scriptures are very clear, if you do not show mercy, you will not be shown mercy. If you do not forgive, the Lord will not forgive you. If you seek revenge, you are sinning against God. These things have no place in the Christian life.

If a person who calls themself a Christian is hard nosed and hard hearted, they are doing much more damage to the body of Christ than a pagan who doubts there is a God but shows mercy. I am ashamed of anyone who serves on a jury who is a hothead without mercy, or even worse, cold and calculating and without mercy. Paul says something about people being blights at the love feast. Sounds about right.

The tares among the wheat that Satan planted will continue in the churches parading as believers like wolves in sheeps clothing. They will try to convince believers that their lack of love for one another is what Christ really meant. They will be vengeful, lacking mercy and kindness, and stirring people up against one another. They will try to redefine words so that bad is good and good is bad. They will twist scripture to make it mean what they want. Those who do not read and study scripture will be decieved.

Jesus said, "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, that you love one another." Love does not seek revenge on anybody, no matter what the world says is right. That's the world, not Christianity. Love is merciful. The world, the courts, the schools, politics and other areas are not merciful. That is no excuse for Christians not to be merciful. They do not have to go along. True Christians are called to be different and to stand out, not to blend in.

Remember a question many moms used to ask kids who wanted to go along with the others? If everybody else jumped off a cliff, would you do it to? Following the world in revenge, lack of mercy and insisting that someone pay is the equivalent to jumping off a cliff. It is sin and it has no place in the Christian's life. No excuses. You can't lie to God about it. He knows and you are going to be in BIG trouble kiddo. Ultimately, the "somebody" who has to pay will be YOU standing before God if you are merciless and vengeful. Cut it out for your own sake and live like a true Christian. He's taking names. He died for them too.

Churches That Hate Grandmas and Grandpas

2008-04-12T12:26:00.000-07:00

I don't know how I feel about Grandma hating churches. Those that do this would protest that I worded it this way, but that is what they are. Somehow, I do not think Jesus would approve.

There are a number of churches that covet young adults and young families. They design everything around these age and interest groups. That's not particularly a bad thing. There are many lost people in those age groups that need to be reached.

So where do I come up with the grandma hating label? These same churches will say, from the pulpit, in Sunday school and everywhere else, that they do not want anybody under 40 attending. They even go so far as to tell people older than that they are not welcome and they need to find another church.

They are doing this to give young adults the illusion that they are doing something new. They aren't particularly. Finding mates, on the job issues and raising children are nothing new. The Bible has not changed. Jesus is the same and so is God. Music is simply keeping up with the times, which it has always done.

They are creating a division that does not need to be created. The implication of being so particular about age is that older people are bad in some way. They are practicing open age discrimination in a time when that is against the law. (Everybody who breaks the law feels that they are justified in doing so which means it is no excuse at all.)

If the churches simply aimed their sermons and Sunday school lessons at issues that concern young adults, most older people would not be interested unless they wanted to encourage the younger adults. They can have all their super baby programs and elegant children's playgrounds, their teen entertainment and all that free stuff that costs a lot of money. Bells and whistles are fun.

The old rugged cross and self sacrifice and all that stuff is boring. Children do not sit still for that sort of thing. It's all about them and having as much fun as possible. And who can blame them? We live in a child oriented society. They do hear the salvation message. They also get the impression the Lord rose to serve them, not that they are to serve the Lord.

If you discourage the older people from coming, there are almost never any funerals so most younger adults live with the illusion that they are immortal. With no older people, there are few examples of the unfairness of life and the long term results of both good and poor choices. It can give a somewhat myopic view of life for those not involved with older people elsewhere.

So how do I feel about grandma hating churches? Kind of negative, like Jesus would not approve. But they are reaching the lost and unconcerned. And in a few short years, these young people will be the older people they are booting out the door and telling them they are not welcome. God's payback.

In the meantime, we welcome people of any age at our church. We are all the children of God.

What Do They Do At Women's Retreat?

2008-04-11T12:14:00.000-07:00

This note came from one of the women who went to the retreat and I wanted to share it.............

I had one of the best times at the retreat that I have had in a very long time. The first day we broke up into groups and attended class and then rotated to the next class. At one class, we talked a lot about the missions and saw some videos about them and then wrote some letters to senators and congressmen about passing the food bill on poverty and hunger.

We also sent postcards to Burger King to pay a penny a pound more for tomatoes to help working conditions for the tomato pickers and also to R.J. Reynolds for those working in the tobacco fields.

They did really well with the silent auction. I think they made over $700 from it. I also enjoyed going shopping at Osage Beach with the girls.

In one of the Saturday morning classes, we made a craft item to put candy and scripture cards in for the children's home in Denton, Texas. That was fun. In another class, we talked about that blind missionary named Jennifer (I can't remember her last name) and saw a short video about her.

We played games and had a "talent show" Saturday night and that was just a ball. We also had a great time playing "Family Feud." I just really enjoyed meeting all the people, singing the songs, and getting to know the ladies better in our own congregation. The sermon at communion was especially good, I thought.
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This is one of the best and most detailed reports I have ever heard about what happens at a Mo CP women's retreat! Thank you Grace! I wanted to share it with others who might wonder what they do so they can see if they want to go too next time.

I have heard for many years (at least 30)that they have classes, shop, have a variety show and have a church service, but nothing on the content. I am impressed that they are involved in specific, named missions in a hands on and specific manner. That encourages more participation. I especially liked the crafts for the children's home.

The women who organized this went to a lot of work and did an excellent job in my opinion.

I probably would have gotten into trouble on this retreat though. (This is my conscience and no reflection on the women or the quality of the retreat. Except by people who are "wired" like me, with similar cultural backgrounds, I am often misunderstood) Until I am sure I understand an issue thoroughly, I will not write a letter or sign my name to anything, including social action issues. Experience tells me the issues are always more complicated than they appear and sometimes the solutions that look good in theory only cause those you are trying to help additional troubles. I need plenty of time to think about and study a matter first. My call is to personal ministry, evangelism, education and practical help rather than political action. (Although I have been known to talk to senators and congresspeople in person on issues.)

I have no problem with others writing letters and signing petitions following their consciences. There are many things in the world that could use improvement and every little bit helps. Just the fact that the women were given more information to get them thinking in new ways about helping others is fantastic. Many people do suffer terribly and we can help some of them.

It sounds like this was a very good retreat. I wonder what projects they supported and did in years past? They kind of kept it a secret, neither telling what they were going to do on the brochure, nor reporting anything about it afterward.

Sunday Smiles

2008-04-07T09:39:00.000-07:00

The church services were such a blessing Sunday! (Okay, so blessing isn't a specific meaning- type word but it does mean good) Michael turned 4o and we sang Happy Birthday to him. There was a lot of laughter and fellowship. John's message was Biblical and challenging. Holy communion was served with reverence and joy.

We were missing several people, but several were able to come who had not been there for a while. It was really good to see them. The ladies group went on a retreat and about 10 ladies from our church were able to go. I'm looking forward to hearing what they learned and how they were spiritually inspired. I've heard a little bit about the laughter and fellowship and great food.

Several of our regular attenders were not feeling well so we prayed for them and hope to see them back and perky next week. One young man who has just started coming to the church has never heard the salvation message before. Because of the lower attendance and several other factors, John had plenty of extra time to answer his questions. He is still pondering his decision.

The evening service was good too. Jeremy was gone so I preached. The sermon was on worry and anxiety.

Jesus says don't. But most of us do. It's the number one mental health problem for people seeking help. There are lots of possibilities but I gave 3 reasons why Jesus might have said do not worry that are not pity party items. One, anxiety can be self centered. Me, me, me. Two, anxiety can be because we need to forgive someone and get on with our life instead of worrying they will do it again. And quit thinking others will do something because one person did. Three, it might mean we do not trust God very much to be able to handle things. We are to work hard, share, handle what we can, turn the rest over to God and pray about anything that stresses or worries us for any reason.

Anxiety and worry is a topic that could take up days and even weeks of workshops, lectures and practical applications.

Next week Jeremy will be back for the night service.

Prayer and Heaven

2008-04-02T17:57:00.000-07:00

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Col 4:2

Many people from many faiths pray. And some pray who have no faith at all. There is only one Lord and he is God. There is only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ.

Other faiths believe in reicarnation, nirvana, eternity on earth, living on only through those left behind, becoming gods themselves and other things. Those things are not the heaven that Jesus was talking about. Only Christians who are believers and followers of Jesus go to heaven to be with him. Everybody else wants to go somewhere else to be with somebody else anyway. That's their faith.

Why would anyone be offended at being told they are not going to heaven to be with Jesus when where they really hope to go at the end of life is back to earth as something else? The only people who should be upset about not going to heaven are those who want to go in the first place because they want to live forever with Christ. And those people have only to believe and they will be saved according to the Bible.

Everybody thinks they are right but some have to be wrong. They have the right to be wrong but they need our prayers.

Soul Blessing

2008-03-31T17:32:00.000-07:00

Dear friend,
I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

This looks like a letter any of us could write. Maybe we don't speak much about souls but we do wish our friends well and pray for their good health. Probably we should think more about care of our souls. They are very important to our well being.

There is a hymn that I love to sing, "It Is Well With My Soul". It is one of those internal spirit lifters. It describes a state of being, rather than an action, regardless of what life brings.

For believers, the state of our souls should be a consideration. We need quiet time with the Lord. The activity and noise of life can drown out the still, small voice. If we do not spend time with the Lord in studying the scriptures for our own growth, in prayer and in silence listening, we may miss out of some growth and blessings and peace the Lord has to offer us.

This letter is from 3 John 2. 3 John is written by John to Gaius as both praise and warning about another man. It reads much like a letter we might write if we were actively involved in witnessing and encouraging one another among difficult people and circumstances. We do have something like those kind of people today. Interesting.

Rejoice

2008-03-27T17:50:00.000-07:00

Rejoice in the Lord. Phil 3:1

Are you gentle?

2008-03-27T17:14:00.000-07:00

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Phil. 4:5

Christians are to be known for their gentleness. Are we gentle with other people, especially other believers?

Another version translates gentleness as kindness. Are we kind to one another so much that even strangers notice?

It can be translated as 'let all know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness'. Are we unselfish in all areas of our life?

The original word in Greek can mean considerateness or forebearing spirit. Are we so considerate that it is evident to everyone?

Do we have a forebearing spirit?

This little line says a lot. The Lord will be back soon. Will He have cause to say, "Well done." of each one of us? If we were not supposed to work toward being gentle, kind, unselfish, considerate and forebearing to the point that it was obvious to everyone, it would not be instructed in the Bible.

Do What Leads To Peace

2008-03-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

"Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace......" Rom 14:19

This is not a political statement, although some may take it that way. What can we do to promote peace? There are many possibilities.

There is peace among your friends and family.
There is peace in your home.
There is peace in your local church.
There is peace in your denomination.
There is peace at work.
There is peace in your town.
There is peace in your school.
There is peace in your state.
There is peace in politics.
There is peace in your country.
There is peace in the world.
There is peace in your own heart and life.

To promote peace, we must start in our own heart and life. If we do not know Christ, there can be no peace and without the peace of Christ, we have very little to offer.

The book, "Knitting for Peace" puts forth an interesting concept. Individuals can do many things that have the possibility of promoting peace and making the lives of others better. Whether it is sweaters for orphans, hats and gloves for poor children, lap blankets for the elderly, socks for a third world group, shawls for comfort and many more things, it says there are many options.

One ladies group in our denomination makes pretty pillowcases for older veterans who are in bed most of the day. Others make lap blankets for shut ins. Many groups make prayer quilts for those suffering from long term illnesses such as cancer. People make things for preemies and newborns in need. Some grow extra produce in their gardens and give it to people they know or even to the local food bank. Some of the ladies groups make toys for children in the hospital or in a crisis. Teddy bears are popular. So are heart shaped pillows for those coming out of heart surgery to ease the pain.

There is something called 'Make a Difference Day' that many groups participate in every year nationwide. Making a difference often promotes peace among people.

There are people who fix meals and take to others. Some take it to church, to work, to friends, or to others to share. Other people like to do landscaping. They plant trees to act as a buffer for noise and for beauty. They plant flowers for passers by to admire and take them to others to share.

When we pray for missionaries and are supportive of them, we are promoting world peace. They are the ones feeding the hungry, giving medical care, building homes, encouraging, teaching and telling people of God's love for them so they no longer have to live in fear and despair. There are many projects that reach people we will never touch. One I like is Operation Christmas Child.

Almost anything we can do can be used to promote peace at some level if we so choose. It is more lasting if we are doing it in Jesus' name and are telling them of His love for them.

On an individual level, our words can promote peace or discord. Peace or lack of it almost always starts with words, so words are powerful. It is our choice, but the Bible says, blessed are the peacemakers. True kindness goes a long way.

Pondering Food and Oil

2008-03-25T10:59:00.000-07:00

"Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages and do not damage the oil and the wine." Rev 6:6

This voice comes with the black horse which is said to symbolize famine. A quart of wheat would be enough for one person. Three quarts of barley, which was cheaper than wheat, is a small amount for a small family. Today's newspaper talks about the rising cost of food worldwide.

There are places that often have famines and food shortages due to war and political factors but this extends even further. The cost of food is going up a lot everywhere and for those marginal people worldwide, that is going to mean hunger. The news says 37 countries faced food crises in December. The news names China, India, Haiti, Ecuador, Egypt, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Italy, Japan, Pakistan, Mexico, France and US as having a crisis or rising prices.

The thought is that it is being caused by the rising price of gas and oil. Farm equipment runs on it. Food is delivered by trucks which use oil and gas. Processing takes fuel as does packaging. As an alternative, grains, like corn, are being used to make fuel. That means there is less for human consumption. There have also been unusual weather patterns that have ruined crops.

Things will settle down eventually, unless we really are in the end times. In another article, a farmer who is Pennsylvannia's biggest fresh to market tomato grower is not going to plant any tomatoes this year. He isn't going to plant any pumpkins either. He says there are not enough people to harvest it. The migrant workers, primarily from Mexico, have dwindled in numbers. I wonder how he treated those workers who are known for being very poor and low paid. Maybe he was okay. If he doesn't plant something else that he did not care to tell the newspaper, I wonder how he will make his living this year.

The world will go on but some will suffer. We do what we can. What happens to those in other countries can eventually affect us. It's a ripple effect.

In the mean time, I think it might be a good idea to put out a few tomato plants in my flower box and maybe plant a few other things in the other planter box. The more people who grow some things for their own consumption, and maybe a bit extra to share, the less impact it will have overall here if the predicted doom and gloom continues. That, and it will be healthier eating a few home grown foods and they taste so much better fresh!

Will it stop the end times? No, if that's what it is and not just a temporary glitch. But better to do something than nothing in this area.

Love Should Make Us Peculiar

2008-03-24T17:22:00.000-07:00

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, "Love your neighbor as yourself." All the Law and the prophets hang on these two commandments. Matt 22:37-40

Love God.
Love people.
Including yourself.

What would our lives look like if we really did this?
Would we be skipping worship, prayer meetings and Bible study?
How much would we be praying?
Would we be cutting people off in traffic or taking one another to court?
Would we be spending $50 or $100 to eat in a restaurant and not even give a small can of food to the local food pantry for the poor?
Would we continue to be in such a hurry and neglect people and our relationship with God (what realtionship?)?
How about watching TV all the time instead of playing with our kids or visiting friends, family, the lonely, the sick, or those less fortunate?
All those hours at work, are they all that necessary or could we do less?
Would we be more careful not to pollute the air and the water that we all breathe or drink?
Would we be saying mean things about one another?
Loving ourself means taking care of ourself. Do we or do we put everyone else first?
Do we forgive as Christ forgave us, even though it is undeserved?
Do we forgive ourselves?
Do we hold a grudge or give the burden to Jesus?
Do we try to control others for our own reasons?
Do we give others the benefit of the doubt?

If we really believed Jesus' words and did them, we would be viewed as peculiar indeed. And Christians are called to be a peculiar people according to scripture. (KJV)

Gossip

2008-03-19T12:50:00.000-07:00

As I was studying scripture today, the Holy Spirit brought to my attention a concern for gossip. This is not the same thing as being under conviction for anything I have done. It is more a warning to be very careful. Something is coming up that requires vigilence, but I don't know what.

Gossip is deceptive. Sharing information is part of belonging to a community. If I know that John loves rice krispie treats and dark gourmet coffees and Jeremy loves deviled eggs and bow hunting, it is much easier to surprise them with things they love.

When I know that Bill has a herniated disk, Gene has bad knees and Bob has heart trouble, I know not to ask them to move heavy objects and to object if they try. If I know that Nell is a diabetic, I would not give her candy for a gift and if I know that Ron can't read, I don't embarass him by asking him to read or do the lesson in class. We adapt to one another's weaknesses and strengths so as to build up and not tear down.

We share information about birthdays, special events, occupations and many other things. Most of the time people have no objection to us sharing these things. Most want to be understood and accepted and these bits of general information help. People who consider themselves very private people might get upset, but they might not really want to be part of a community anyway. Either that or they are wounded and feel a need to protect themselves more than other people do. They are probably correct. There are some meanies out there. We don't need to add to their burden.

This is what the Bible says about Gossip.

"Do not spread slander among your people." Lev 19:16

"A person who lacks judgement derides their neighbor, but a person of understanding keeps their tongue.
A gossip betrays a confidence but a trustworthy person keeps a secret." Pr 11:12-13

"A perverse person stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends. " Pr 16:28

"The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inward parts." Pr 18:8 (also 26:22)

"A gossip betrays a confidence, so avoid a person who talks too much." Pr 20:19

"Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip, a quarrel dies down. " Pr 26:20

"As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife." Pr 16:21

Gossip is more than just friendly information. It causes strife, quarrels and unnecessary pain.

So what are we to do? My sister's macaw (large parrot) likes to say, "Shut up!" That's a good general principle, even if it does come from a big bird. And, if we hear something, we should not repeat it like a big, noisy bird.

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. .. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as Christ God forgave you." Eph. 4:29,32

It should be interesting to see why the Holy Spirit has given me this concern today. Time to go back to Bible reading and study.

Thoughts quote

2008-03-18T06:28:00.000-07:00

To think bad thoughts is really the easiest thing in the world. If you leave your mind to itself it will spiral down into ever increasing unhappiness. To think good thoughts, however, requires effort. This is one of the things that discipline - training - is about.--

James Clavell, in his novel "Shogun"

Brave Witness

2008-03-17T18:33:00.000-07:00

This is the story of a 92 year old woman in Dyersburg, TN who, when she was being robbed in her car, witnessed to the robber successfully. She told him about Jesus and how, if he killed her, she would go to heaven but he would go to hell. He appeared to take her words to heart.

http://commongroundsonline.typepad.com/common_grounds_online/2008/03/elderly-woman-w.html

We never know how the Lord will use us, no matter what our age, if we are faithful.

Unpopular Opinion

2008-03-17T17:40:00.000-07:00

There is a story today about a 15 year old girl in California who stopped an out of control school bus full of 40 elementary students. The driver of the bus was reported to be unconscious or otherwise unable to stop the bus.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2008-03-15-girl-schoolbus_N.htm?csp=34

So how did the school district reward the girl for saving the lives of 40 young students? She got a Saturday detention. They say she was skipping school so was at the wrong place at the wrong time. They said she was making bad choices. I wonder if the parents of the little ones on the bus who are healthy and whole instead of possibly injured or dead feel the same way?

I am not in favor of students skipping school, but sometimes school districts focus on the money and their need for authority, rather than on people.

Her grandma makes a comment that makes much more sense. Grandma says she thinks the girl was where God wanted her to be.

There are differing theological underpinnings here. The school officials are behaving like secualr humanists who do not believe God ever intervenes in our life. From their point of view, she needs to be punished because she was merely skipping school and God had nothing to do with it. The accident was simply a random event, a matter of luck. Her presence there was also a matter of blind luck, nothing more.

Taken to it's logical conclusion, which will offend but I find people who think this way offensive anyway, the school's actions say they would much rather that girl have been in class where she belonged in their opinion. What is the logical fate they are assigning to the children on the bus? Injury and possibly death. To punish the girl is to say there is no God and also to say those children on the bus would have been better off if she had not stopped it. These school administrators are godless people who are their own gods. That is not a popular opinion but, if you get to know them, I'm guessing that is exactly what you would find. (That or rigid and confused but still not respecting of God) Many school officials hate God even though they categorically deny it and say it's not relevant and all sorts of other verbage.

A Saturday detention is no big deal, especially if the girl has the satisfaction of knowing God used her to save lives and that her life made a difference, maybe a huge one. If teachers and other students treat her well, maybe she won't want to skip as much.

Grandma is a believer. It is apparent God intervened on behalf of those elementary students and the bus driver. If it took using a girl with an upset stomach who isn't too fond of school to do it, that's not such a bad thing. And why would she not be too fond of her school? Maybe they earned it. After all, she is being punished rather than praised for saving the lives of 40 kids according to the newspaper report. That says they are a pretty rigid, legalistic and cold outfit no matter how pretty they talk.