My cousin Steve used to lead a camping program that ministered mainly to children of prisoners. In listening to him speak a couple of years ago, he said that doing ministry to hurting children is much like hugging a porcupine. I'll let you use your own imagination to conjure up images of how that may feel, but at the very least he was saying that it will not be easy. But, at the same time, he was pointing out that there are rich rewards. I dare say that the rewards are worth the cost.
Heb. 12:2 tells us that Jesus, "for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross and scorned not it's shame". In other words, for Jesus, the reward of souls redeemed was worth cost of the Cross.
Hug a porcupine today - it's worth the cost, and it will change your life.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Monday, November 13, 2006
Praying with (and for) the kids
He met me at the top of the stairs, and the first words out of his 12 year old mouth were, “Did you pray for my Dad tonight?” I had to admit that I hadn’t, so we stopped right there, had a short prayer and off he went, satisfied that his work was accomplished. It’s only been a week, but I find his words hard to get out of my mind: “Did you pray for my dad tonight?”
Each Sunday night at our church’s Kids club, we have a few moments for “pop-corn prayer.” It simply means that a child prays a one or two sentence prayer and then says “pop”, indicating that it’s someone else’s turn. At the beginning, I was amazed that the kids wanted to pray. After getting over that initial surprise, I continue to be intrigued by two things about their prayers.
First, I am surprised by the weight of the things they pray for. Of course they have a wish-list of toys and things they would like to have. But they quickly get past that, and turn their attention to the things that really matter to them – their brothers and sisters, their Moms and Dads. A significant number of them have major health concerns in their immediate or near family members, and every week these are the focus of their prayers.
Secondly, I am surprised at how they gravitate towards the adults who join them in their prayers. Every Sunday I watch the 12 year old I mentioned above as he seeks out a 58 year old man of the church and starts to tell him about his week. The ONLY thing these two have in common is that together the boy and the man have prayed for the boy’s dad.
Do you want to make a change in your community? When you pray tonight (you will pray tonight, won’t you) get past your own wish list, and begin to pray for a young teen. Get to know their name, and let them know you pray for them.
“Hey pastor! Have you prayed for my Dad today?” “Why yes, young man, I have!”
Each Sunday night at our church’s Kids club, we have a few moments for “pop-corn prayer.” It simply means that a child prays a one or two sentence prayer and then says “pop”, indicating that it’s someone else’s turn. At the beginning, I was amazed that the kids wanted to pray. After getting over that initial surprise, I continue to be intrigued by two things about their prayers.
First, I am surprised by the weight of the things they pray for. Of course they have a wish-list of toys and things they would like to have. But they quickly get past that, and turn their attention to the things that really matter to them – their brothers and sisters, their Moms and Dads. A significant number of them have major health concerns in their immediate or near family members, and every week these are the focus of their prayers.
Secondly, I am surprised at how they gravitate towards the adults who join them in their prayers. Every Sunday I watch the 12 year old I mentioned above as he seeks out a 58 year old man of the church and starts to tell him about his week. The ONLY thing these two have in common is that together the boy and the man have prayed for the boy’s dad.
Do you want to make a change in your community? When you pray tonight (you will pray tonight, won’t you) get past your own wish list, and begin to pray for a young teen. Get to know their name, and let them know you pray for them.
“Hey pastor! Have you prayed for my Dad today?” “Why yes, young man, I have!”
Thursday, November 02, 2006
We Really Do Need Each Other
- They used to be nominal church members. I forget how it started, but they became part of an unoffical small group in the church. (I say unofficial, because we didn't have any "official" small groups.) They met regularly with three or four other people, - studying the Bible together, praying together, encouraging each other - and it was amazing to watch the growth in their lives. The reality of the presence of Jesus began to show through their lives in a way that it never would or could if they had kept up the routine of merely coming to worship on Sunday mornings.
- She was a solid part of the church community, an exemplary Christian ... had been for years. Attended, worked, gave ... all the things people are expected to do. But she was alone ... until circumstances in life forced her to touch base with some others. She began to ask for prayer, and another unofficial small group was formed; not a "group" in the sense that it met every week, but a cadre of concerned individuals that took each others lives and needs seriously, a group who conscientiously prayed for and encouraged each other in the Lord, a group that knew they could trust one another.
I see the way people's spiritual lives bloom when they begin to trust fellow worshippers with their concerns, and I wonder "Why don't we all do that?"
Who are you praying with?
Who is praying for you?
Your church family will become a much more vibrant part of your life when you start to look on it as your family - when you start to ask each other for help, when you begin to pray and encourage each other.
We really do need each other.
- She was a solid part of the church community, an exemplary Christian ... had been for years. Attended, worked, gave ... all the things people are expected to do. But she was alone ... until circumstances in life forced her to touch base with some others. She began to ask for prayer, and another unofficial small group was formed; not a "group" in the sense that it met every week, but a cadre of concerned individuals that took each others lives and needs seriously, a group who conscientiously prayed for and encouraged each other in the Lord, a group that knew they could trust one another.
I see the way people's spiritual lives bloom when they begin to trust fellow worshippers with their concerns, and I wonder "Why don't we all do that?"
Who are you praying with?
Who is praying for you?
Your church family will become a much more vibrant part of your life when you start to look on it as your family - when you start to ask each other for help, when you begin to pray and encourage each other.
We really do need each other.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
The Danger of Misinformation
In a group email a few weeks ago, someone asked about a mutual acquaintance, and I responded to the group with the latest "authoritative" information that I had.
Here is a direct quote from my response - You mentioned _____ and _____. I just heard today from (another mutual acquaintance) that a couple of weeks ago, there was a flooded basement, and so the home they were looking forward to moving into is not available for a while. There is mold, which of course must be taken care of. So, in their first weeks of retirement, everything is in storage, I think they are living with friends (or family)
Today I got an email from the couple we were talking about. He says:
"Hello Thurland. How are you doing? I've been so busy that our computers are still sitting around unpacked. I'm emailing from the local library (which works fine). Regarding the above quote, nothing could be further from the truth! I wonder how these stories are put together! I'm happy to tell you that we are doing very, very fine. We are counting our blessings from the Lord day by day, sometimes hour by hour! It is truly wonderful here, and we've never been happier.
He goes on to tell me some more details, but the point is that my original story was comppletely false. Fortunately, on this one, it doesn't matter a lot. But it is a good lesson. How often do we pass on "facts" that really aren't "facts"? And how much damage might be done by those "non-facts"? Probably a lot more damage than having mold in the basement.
An old Sunday School song comes to mind. O be careful little mouth what you say (2x) For the Father up above is looking down in love. So be careful little mouth what you say."
Here is a direct quote from my response - You mentioned _____ and _____. I just heard today from (another mutual acquaintance) that a couple of weeks ago, there was a flooded basement, and so the home they were looking forward to moving into is not available for a while. There is mold, which of course must be taken care of. So, in their first weeks of retirement, everything is in storage, I think they are living with friends (or family)
Today I got an email from the couple we were talking about. He says:
"Hello Thurland. How are you doing? I've been so busy that our computers are still sitting around unpacked. I'm emailing from the local library (which works fine). Regarding the above quote, nothing could be further from the truth! I wonder how these stories are put together! I'm happy to tell you that we are doing very, very fine. We are counting our blessings from the Lord day by day, sometimes hour by hour! It is truly wonderful here, and we've never been happier.
He goes on to tell me some more details, but the point is that my original story was comppletely false. Fortunately, on this one, it doesn't matter a lot. But it is a good lesson. How often do we pass on "facts" that really aren't "facts"? And how much damage might be done by those "non-facts"? Probably a lot more damage than having mold in the basement.
An old Sunday School song comes to mind. O be careful little mouth what you say (2x) For the Father up above is looking down in love. So be careful little mouth what you say."
Thursday, October 19, 2006
THINKING & PRAYING EVANGELISTICALLY
The theme of our Tuesday night midweek (open to all, but realistically consisting of 5 people on a low night, 15 on a high night, and regularly 8-10) is "Thinking and Praying Evangelistically."
In fact - Our church is a member of an evangelical denomination. This simply means that we embrace the doctrine of personal salvation espoused by Jesus when he told Nicodemus, "You must be born again." We believe in a real heaven, and a real hell, and we believe that Jesus is the way of salvation.
In actuality - While our church is evangelical in name, it falls short of being evangelistic in practice. This means, that while we say we are evangelicals, in practice we have not placed a high priority on sharing this with members of our community.
In faith - It is our Tuesday night prayer that that will change. the Tuesday night midweek is praying and believing that we will train ourselves to not only "think and pray evangelistically", we will begin to "act evangelistically." Will you pray with us?
What do you think? Is evangelism important. Is it important for Winchester Wesleyan to regain this impetus? Are you going to be a part? Do you have real people with real names for whom you pray? Do you pray that God will open a door so you can share the Gospel with them?
Are you an evangelistic thinker? An evangelistic prayer? Are you willing to make the personal changes necessary in order to become one?
Click the comment button below and let us know what you think
Thurland
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
An exercise worth trying, a gift worth giving
From Madeleine L’Engle’s foreword to Christopher Arnold’s book - “Seeking Peace”
A decade or so ago one evening during Lent, at Manhattan’s Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, I listened to the Reverend Canon Edward West talk about the peace we seek, and use the rather unexpected metaphor of a subway. Most of us in the audience that night rode the subway, to the Cathedral, to and from work. He pointed out to us that if we looked at the people riding in the same car with us, most of them would look as though nobody loved them. And that, alas, was largely true. Then he told us that if we would concentrate inconspicuously on one person, affirming silently that this person was a beloved child of God, and, no matter what the circumstances, could lie in God’s peace, we might see a difference. Peace is not always something you “do;” it is a gift you can give.
The next time I rode the subway I glanced at a woman in the corner, hunched over, hands clenched, an expression of resigned endurance on her face. So, without looking at her, I began to try to send God’s loving peace to her. I didn’t move. I didn’t stare at her. I simply followed Canon West’s suggestion, and to my wonder she began to relax. Her hands unclenched; her body relaxed; the lines of anxiety left her face. It was a moment for me of great gratitude, and a peace that spread out and filled me too. It is something I try to remember as I ride a subway or bus, or walk down the crowded streets, or stand in slow-moving lines at the supermarket. If God’s peace is in our hearts, we carry it with us, and it can be given to those around us, not by our own will or virtue, but by the Holy Spirit working through us. We cannot give what we do not have, but if the spirit blows through the dark clouds, and enters our hearts, we can be used as vehicles of peace, and our own peace will be thereby deepened. The more peace we give away, the more we have.
A decade or so ago one evening during Lent, at Manhattan’s Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, I listened to the Reverend Canon Edward West talk about the peace we seek, and use the rather unexpected metaphor of a subway. Most of us in the audience that night rode the subway, to the Cathedral, to and from work. He pointed out to us that if we looked at the people riding in the same car with us, most of them would look as though nobody loved them. And that, alas, was largely true. Then he told us that if we would concentrate inconspicuously on one person, affirming silently that this person was a beloved child of God, and, no matter what the circumstances, could lie in God’s peace, we might see a difference. Peace is not always something you “do;” it is a gift you can give.
The next time I rode the subway I glanced at a woman in the corner, hunched over, hands clenched, an expression of resigned endurance on her face. So, without looking at her, I began to try to send God’s loving peace to her. I didn’t move. I didn’t stare at her. I simply followed Canon West’s suggestion, and to my wonder she began to relax. Her hands unclenched; her body relaxed; the lines of anxiety left her face. It was a moment for me of great gratitude, and a peace that spread out and filled me too. It is something I try to remember as I ride a subway or bus, or walk down the crowded streets, or stand in slow-moving lines at the supermarket. If God’s peace is in our hearts, we carry it with us, and it can be given to those around us, not by our own will or virtue, but by the Holy Spirit working through us. We cannot give what we do not have, but if the spirit blows through the dark clouds, and enters our hearts, we can be used as vehicles of peace, and our own peace will be thereby deepened. The more peace we give away, the more we have.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
The Cost of Running From God
Down, Down, Down
Jonah 1:3 reads (in part) “so he paid his fare and went on board.”
I know that Jonah did not think that this purchase of a ferry ticket in any way paid the cost of his attempted escape from the will of God, but when I read it this phrase started me thinking about the cost of running from God. The more I think of it the more I realize that what we see as the total cost is really only a down-payment.
For Esau, it was the cost of a mess of pottage. For Jonah, it was the price of a ferry ticket. What is it for you?
Some random thoughts from this first chapter of Jonah
1. For Jonah, it was all down hill after he paid the fare.
1:11 - Then it grew more and more tempestuous
1:13 - the sea grew more and more stormy against them
He got all of this for the price of admission to a ferry.
Are you wracked on the storms of your life? Is it because you are running from what God has asked you to do?
2. Interestingly, while Jonah was running from God, he was able to salve his conscience by keeping a proper theology.
- In Chapter 1:9 he says, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.”
- In Chapter 2:9 he prays, “Salvation is from the Lord”
- In Chapter 4:2 he continues, “I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”
All of this paints a great picture of God - the Creator, the Redeemer, and the compassionate, forgiving One. This is an outline that any evangelical preacher would recognize as fodder for a great message. And yet, here was Jonah, running from God … to do who knows what.
3. Jonah was able to fall asleep. Again, I know this was from physical exhaustion, but it is also a picture of one who has become spiritually non-responsive. God says “Nineveh”, but I think Tarshish is just as good. God says “east”, but I’ll choose west. God says “Preach” but I choose to sleep.
The “sleep” is a picture of a good conscience, but this illustration shows us that the conscience - by itself - cannot be trusted. In I Timothy 4:2, Paul talks about teachers “whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.”
The cost of running from God
The price of a ticket is just a down payment
From there we go down, down and still down
Until finally our conscience can no longer be trusted
Is it any wonder we cannot hear his voice?
Jonah 1:3 reads (in part) “so he paid his fare and went on board.”
I know that Jonah did not think that this purchase of a ferry ticket in any way paid the cost of his attempted escape from the will of God, but when I read it this phrase started me thinking about the cost of running from God. The more I think of it the more I realize that what we see as the total cost is really only a down-payment.
For Esau, it was the cost of a mess of pottage. For Jonah, it was the price of a ferry ticket. What is it for you?
Some random thoughts from this first chapter of Jonah
1. For Jonah, it was all down hill after he paid the fare.
- He went down to Joppa
- Then down into the boat
1:11 - Then it grew more and more tempestuous
1:13 - the sea grew more and more stormy against them
- Until finally, it was down into the belly of the whale.
He got all of this for the price of admission to a ferry.
Are you wracked on the storms of your life? Is it because you are running from what God has asked you to do?
2. Interestingly, while Jonah was running from God, he was able to salve his conscience by keeping a proper theology.
- In Chapter 1:9 he says, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.”
- In Chapter 2:9 he prays, “Salvation is from the Lord”
- In Chapter 4:2 he continues, “I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”
All of this paints a great picture of God - the Creator, the Redeemer, and the compassionate, forgiving One. This is an outline that any evangelical preacher would recognize as fodder for a great message. And yet, here was Jonah, running from God … to do who knows what.
3. Jonah was able to fall asleep. Again, I know this was from physical exhaustion, but it is also a picture of one who has become spiritually non-responsive. God says “Nineveh”, but I think Tarshish is just as good. God says “east”, but I’ll choose west. God says “Preach” but I choose to sleep.
The “sleep” is a picture of a good conscience, but this illustration shows us that the conscience - by itself - cannot be trusted. In I Timothy 4:2, Paul talks about teachers “whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.”
The cost of running from God
The price of a ticket is just a down payment
From there we go down, down and still down
Until finally our conscience can no longer be trusted
Is it any wonder we cannot hear his voice?
Thursday, October 20, 2005
You want me to join a church?
Church Membership - a case of “collective hearing”
It has often been said that when men get married, they get a case of “selective hearing.” In other words, they hear what they want to hear, and conveniently miss what they want to miss. (In defense of married men, I’d like to say that’s not true. I’d like to … but…that’s probably best left to another article)
I’ve been thinking about Church Membership this week. (On Sunday, our church is receiving eight new members - an exciting day for a small church.) Today, in conversation with my secretary, it came to me that church membership is a case of “collective hearing.” There are many leadings of God we miss when we depend on our own understanding. But when all of the ears of a group of people listen intently, collectively they hear it better.
No church is perfect. No church has all the answers. And to a great extent, the idea of church membership has fallen into disfavor. But I want to say that one great advantage of commitment to a church through membership is this - you develop collective hearing.
It has often been said that when men get married, they get a case of “selective hearing.” In other words, they hear what they want to hear, and conveniently miss what they want to miss. (In defense of married men, I’d like to say that’s not true. I’d like to … but…that’s probably best left to another article)
I’ve been thinking about Church Membership this week. (On Sunday, our church is receiving eight new members - an exciting day for a small church.) Today, in conversation with my secretary, it came to me that church membership is a case of “collective hearing.” There are many leadings of God we miss when we depend on our own understanding. But when all of the ears of a group of people listen intently, collectively they hear it better.
No church is perfect. No church has all the answers. And to a great extent, the idea of church membership has fallen into disfavor. But I want to say that one great advantage of commitment to a church through membership is this - you develop collective hearing.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Putting Things in the Right Place
THE “LORD’S PRAYER” AS OUR MODEL
Our small group Tuesday night meeting this fall has been filled with lively discussion and no small amount of introspection as we walked through the model prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray. As we prayed it together, we found it is much more than a litany of oft-repeated words. It helps us to put our life in the right order.
It is a good model for prayer. By that, I mean, it is meant to be prayed in the order it was given. For example, when I pray by jumping in the middle (“Give me my bread”), I am quite likely to be selfish in my requests. On the other hand, it seems that when we do step one seriously, an honest look at step two is more apt to follow. Step three naturally follows step two, and so on until the end.
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name
Step One - “PUTTING GOD IN HIS PLACE”
I say this carefully, but this phrase puts God in His place. Not, of course, in the manner in which we often think of “putting so-and-so” in their place … in fact it probably would be better if I said that this phrase recognizes the place of God. The Heavenly Father. The Holy Heavenly Father. A holy God who desires family relationship … with me! Our God is an awesome God, He reigns in heaven above with wisdom, power and love. Our God is an awesome God.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven
Step Two - “GOD PUTS ME IN MY PLACE”
When I dare to pray this, and listen while I pray, it is as if I hear God whisper to me, “You’re kidding, right?” And of course, I piously answer, “No.” Then he gently (sometimes) shows me that if I really mean that, I must stop worrying about his will in the world, and be serious about attending to his will in my life.
Give us this day our daily bread
Step Three - “PUTTING MY DESIRES IN THEIR PLACE”
This is a dangerous part of the Lord’s Prayer, if we have not been serious about step two and three. The idea of a Christian with an elevated view of self, and a diminutive view of God’s role is quite laughable. Can you not see how childish it looks to the Heavenly Father? “Dear God, give me this and this and two of those. And while I have you on the line, perhaps you could get tomorrow’s things together and hand them through the drive-through window. I will be in quite a hurry, you know. Thanks for everything. Bye. And, oh, by the way, couldn’t you do something about the Tsunamis and hurricanes. The never-ending requests for help are becoming quite overbearing.”
Our intercession changes dramatically when we have taken time to acknowledge the rightful place of God, and allow him to place us in our place. The shopping list of selfish requests is left outside the prayer closet. In fact, there comes a time when we are concerned more about others heart aches than even the necessity of our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us
Step Four - “PUTTING MY ATTITUDE TOWARDS OTHERS IN ITS PLACE”
This step of forgiveness is not quite as altruistic as it seems. I think God instructs us to do the hard work of forgiving others, because it is good for us. (In fact, I think most of God’s instructions are for that purpose. For example, the goal of the Ten Commandments is not to keep us from everything that is fun; it is to protect us from everything that is dangerous. But that’s another lesson.) Non-forgiveness brings ulcers, it robs us of sleep, and it steals the energy that could be used in many other ways. In effect, the person we do not forgive is elevated to a place where he is allowed to come between you and God. Do you really want that person to have that power over you? “Forgive our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.”
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil - for Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory - forever
Step 5 - “PUTTING SIN IN ITS PLACE”
Tonight we discovered several Scripture verses that could be used as positive affirmations to remind us that Christ has given us victory over sin, and thus his power and glory are at work in our lives.
Our small group Tuesday night meeting this fall has been filled with lively discussion and no small amount of introspection as we walked through the model prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray. As we prayed it together, we found it is much more than a litany of oft-repeated words. It helps us to put our life in the right order.
It is a good model for prayer. By that, I mean, it is meant to be prayed in the order it was given. For example, when I pray by jumping in the middle (“Give me my bread”), I am quite likely to be selfish in my requests. On the other hand, it seems that when we do step one seriously, an honest look at step two is more apt to follow. Step three naturally follows step two, and so on until the end.
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name
Step One - “PUTTING GOD IN HIS PLACE”
I say this carefully, but this phrase puts God in His place. Not, of course, in the manner in which we often think of “putting so-and-so” in their place … in fact it probably would be better if I said that this phrase recognizes the place of God. The Heavenly Father. The Holy Heavenly Father. A holy God who desires family relationship … with me! Our God is an awesome God, He reigns in heaven above with wisdom, power and love. Our God is an awesome God.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven
Step Two - “GOD PUTS ME IN MY PLACE”
When I dare to pray this, and listen while I pray, it is as if I hear God whisper to me, “You’re kidding, right?” And of course, I piously answer, “No.” Then he gently (sometimes) shows me that if I really mean that, I must stop worrying about his will in the world, and be serious about attending to his will in my life.
Give us this day our daily bread
Step Three - “PUTTING MY DESIRES IN THEIR PLACE”
This is a dangerous part of the Lord’s Prayer, if we have not been serious about step two and three. The idea of a Christian with an elevated view of self, and a diminutive view of God’s role is quite laughable. Can you not see how childish it looks to the Heavenly Father? “Dear God, give me this and this and two of those. And while I have you on the line, perhaps you could get tomorrow’s things together and hand them through the drive-through window. I will be in quite a hurry, you know. Thanks for everything. Bye. And, oh, by the way, couldn’t you do something about the Tsunamis and hurricanes. The never-ending requests for help are becoming quite overbearing.”
Our intercession changes dramatically when we have taken time to acknowledge the rightful place of God, and allow him to place us in our place. The shopping list of selfish requests is left outside the prayer closet. In fact, there comes a time when we are concerned more about others heart aches than even the necessity of our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us
Step Four - “PUTTING MY ATTITUDE TOWARDS OTHERS IN ITS PLACE”
This step of forgiveness is not quite as altruistic as it seems. I think God instructs us to do the hard work of forgiving others, because it is good for us. (In fact, I think most of God’s instructions are for that purpose. For example, the goal of the Ten Commandments is not to keep us from everything that is fun; it is to protect us from everything that is dangerous. But that’s another lesson.) Non-forgiveness brings ulcers, it robs us of sleep, and it steals the energy that could be used in many other ways. In effect, the person we do not forgive is elevated to a place where he is allowed to come between you and God. Do you really want that person to have that power over you? “Forgive our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.”
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil - for Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory - forever
Step 5 - “PUTTING SIN IN ITS PLACE”
Tonight we discovered several Scripture verses that could be used as positive affirmations to remind us that Christ has given us victory over sin, and thus his power and glory are at work in our lives.
- Phil. 4:13 - I can do everything through him who gives me strength
- I John 4:4 - You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
- Romans 8:36-39 - No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- James 4:7-8 - Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you
- Psalm 18:29 - with my God I can scale a wall.
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Don't Epect Too Much
“Life is meant to be managed, not cured.”
Dr. Phil
I like that. It doesn’t mean we have to fatalistically accept everything that comes our way, but it does mean we will be much more contented if we make the best of every adverse situation. This morning on the news I saw a beautiful teen-age girl. She had just been crowned the home-coming queen for her school, and was celebrating with her friends. She was an accomplished artist - one of those girls that seemed to succeed at everything she did. It was exciting to watch.
Oh … I forgot to mention that the 17 year old has Cerebral Palsy, and has been in a wheel chair all her life. Her paintings are created with a brush in her mouth, and everything she does takes all of her energies. Her speech is slurred, but her smile is beautiful.
Life is meant to be managed, not cured
Dr. Phil
I like that. It doesn’t mean we have to fatalistically accept everything that comes our way, but it does mean we will be much more contented if we make the best of every adverse situation. This morning on the news I saw a beautiful teen-age girl. She had just been crowned the home-coming queen for her school, and was celebrating with her friends. She was an accomplished artist - one of those girls that seemed to succeed at everything she did. It was exciting to watch.
Oh … I forgot to mention that the 17 year old has Cerebral Palsy, and has been in a wheel chair all her life. Her paintings are created with a brush in her mouth, and everything she does takes all of her energies. Her speech is slurred, but her smile is beautiful.
Life is meant to be managed, not cured
Sunday, October 09, 2005
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