June 2011

"The Strangest Miracle"
John 5:1-9

I don't know about you, but my idea of a miracle is something that gets everybody's attention and maybe even makes the news. If it is a really big miracle, it gets the front cover of Time Magazine and grabs the lead story on the three major networks during the evening news.

 Last month’s tornado that ripped through Joplin, MO was one of those examples.  Days after the tragic event, volunteers, clearing the rubble found survivors.  One man was buried in his car for three days and gave credit to God for his survival.

 Many who were a part of this man’s rescue stated, “I think this is the closest thing I’ve ever seen to a miracle". Many people who were a part of this story were filled with amazement and thanksgiving to God. That is what a good, old-fashioned miracle is all about; amazement, astonishment and thanksgiving to God!

 That's what happened in the Gospel of Mark when Jesus healed a paralyzed man. Remember the story?

 "'I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.' And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, 'We have never seen anything like this!'" [Mark 2:11-12]

 Sometimes people cried out to Jesus and received an answer to their plea that brought joy to people and glory to God, like the time the blind man called out to Jesus. Then there were times when people quietly tried to get close to Jesus believing they would find healing, like the woman with the hemorrhage who worked her way quietly through a crowd so that she could touch even the edge of Jesus' garment. There was even the time four men brought their friend to Jesus on a pallet and when they could not get into the house where Jesus was teaching because of the crowd, they went to the top of the house and tore their way through the roof.  They lowered their friend right into the presence of Christ.

 And always, there was a response. Sometimes the response to the miracle was negative like it was the day Jesus healed a man with a withered hand in the synagogue on the Sabbath.  The miracle in the John 5 is the strangest miracle. It takes place when Jesus went to Jerusalem during a feast time. The particular feast is not identified.  Jesus went to a pool near one of Jerusalem's ancient gates (the Sheep Gate). He observed a number of people who were ill.  Many were crippled.  No one cries out to Jesus, but Jesus went to a man who had been ill for almost four decades and asked him if he wanted to be made well. What a great opportunity.  But the man simply begins to explain to Jesus why he could never make it to the pool in time to be healed after the water was troubled or stirred up. Do you see the strangeness of this? Jesus says to the man, "Do you want to be made well?"  And the man doesn't give a direct answer. "Well you see, I have no one to bring me to the water at the right time and someone beats me to the punch!" After more than 30 years of struggling with his disability, his hopelessness and victim mentality are very evident. 

 Jesus then tells the man to take up his mat and walk whereupon the man does exactly that.  And there is no joyous response from the crowd, no shouting and praising God. The man who was healed does not say anything. The whole episode ends rather abruptly with the words, "Now that day was a sabbath." As we follow the story for just a few more verses, it becomes stranger yet. Fellow Jews confront the man and tell him he should not be carrying his mat on the Sabbath. He was in violation of the strictest interpretation of the laws against work on the Sabbath. When they found out that Jesus was the one who had healed the man, they did not praise God and they did not share their joy with the man who had spent four decades of his life wasting away. Instead, these Sabbath sticklers began to persecute Jesus because he - in the words of the gospel - "...did such things on the Sabbath."  And it gets worse... hear these words:

 But Jesus answered them, "My Father is still working, and I also am working." For this reason the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because he was not only breaking the sabbath, but was also calling God his own Father, thereby making himself equal to God.         [John 5:17-18]

 In this miracle story, there is no rejoicing and no thanksgiving to God. The crowds are not amazed with the goodness of God, but instead, people commit themselves to eliminating Jesus from their midst.  There are however, some very important lessons to be learned from this strangest of miracle stories.

 If we are not careful, we miss the miracles.  The people who witnessed the healing of the man at the Pool of Bethesda, were so caught up in their prejudices, they missed the miracle. It went right over their heads. The meaning of the word "Bethesda" - the name of the pool - is "house of grace." The tragedy of this story is that there was no grace at the Pool of Bethesda for the onlookers who were there simply to criticize and complain.

There a lot of ways we miss the miracle of life and the miracles that take place around us day by day. Not just the striking miracles like the resuscitation of a toddler who was frozen in the snow or a man healed by the Pool of Bethesda, but the miracle of life in the faces of children all around us or the miracle of a heart filled with joy and laughter?  Sometimes it seems that all our efforts to help people live longer are for naught if we don't also learn how to live better. The number one way to live better is to open ourselves up more fully to the "miraculous" in the ordinary all around us.

 If we are not careful, we miss the presence of Christ.  Even the man who had been ill for so long did not know who it was that had brought healing to him with a few simple words. In many of the New Testament stories, the crowds were gathered in anticipation when Jesus came to town and expectation of God's gracious action was high. In this strangest of miracle stories, however, the presence of God in Christ is ignored at best and rejected at worst. There is no shared joy, but instead a shared negative attitude, which will result in the elimination of Jesus.

 Even Christian people, can be caught up in the same negative attitude toward the presence of Christ.  We can miss the presence of God in our lives. How frequently do we charge through our days without stopping to open ourselves up to the presence of God and the gracious work of Christ all around us? It is not that we simply need to, "stop and smell the roses," but that we need to stop and take in the wonder of God's miraculous gift of life.

 The goodness of God is not dependent upon us.  God's grace and love are not conditional. Jesus does not say, "Sorry, but there was no thanksgiving and praise, so the healing is undone."  Though the detractors of Jesus were busy complaining, Jesus was nevertheless present to heal.  What a wonderful thing it is that God's goodness toward us is not dependent upon our being worthy. If life and hope and joy were given to you and me only as we deserved it, our days of sorrow would be long and times of joy be few.  God gives out of grace and love and gives freely to all who will trust in the promises of Christ. And that is the greatest miracle of all!

From the Net

The Speeding Ticket

 
Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in a 55 zone. This was the fourth time in as many months he was caught. How could a guy get caught so often?

When his car had slowed to 10 miles an hour, Jack pulled over, but only partially. Let the cop worry about the potential traffic hazard. Maybe some other car will tweak his backside with a mirror.

 
The Officer was stepping out of his car, the big pad in hand. Bob? Bob from Church? Jack sunk farther into his trench coat. This was worse than the coming ticket. A Christian cop catching a guy from his own church.  A guy who happened to be a little eager to get home after a long day at the office. A guy he was about to play golf with tomorrow.

Jumping out of the car, he approached a man he saw every Sunday, a man he'd never seen in uniform.

"Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you like this."

 "Hello, Jack." No smile.

 "Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my wife and kids."

 "Yeah, I guess." Bob seemed uncertain. Good.
”I've seen some long days at the office lately. I'm afraid I bent the rules a bit - just this once." Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement. "Diane said something about roast beef and potatoes tonight. Know what I mean?" "I know what you
mean. I also know that you have a reputation in our precinct."

 Ouch. This was not going in the right direction. Time to change tactics. "What'd you clock me at?"

"Seventy. Would you sit back in your car please?"

"Now wait a minute here, Bob. I checked as soon as I saw you. I was barely nudging 65." The lie seemed to come easier with every ticket.

 "Please, Jack, in the car."

Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open door.  Slamming it shut, he stared at the dash board. He was in no rush to open the
window. The minutes ticked by. Bob scribbled away on the pad. Why hadn't he asked for a
driver's license? Whatever the reason, it would be a month of Sundays before Jack ever sat near this cop again. A tap on the door jerked his head to the left. There was Bob, a folded paper in hand. Jack rolled down the window a mere two inches, just enough room for Bob to pass him the slip.

 "Thanks." Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice. Bob returned to his police car without a word. Jack watched his retreat in the mirror.

Jack unfolded the sheet of paper. How much was this one going to cost? Wait a minute. What was this? Some kind of joke?  Certainly not a ticket.

Jack began to read:

 
"Dear Jack, Once upon a time I had a daughter. She was six when killed by a car. You guessed it - a speeding driver. A fine and three months
in jail, and the man was free; free to hug his daughters; all three of them. I only had one, and I'm going to have to wait until Heaven before I can ever hug her again.

A thousand times I've tried to forgive that man. A thousand times I thought I had. Maybe I did, but I need to do it again. Even now. Pray for me.

 And be careful. My son is all I have left."

"Bob"

Jack turned around in time to see Bob's car pull away and head down the road. Jack watched until it disappeared. A full 15 minutes later, he too, pulled away and drove slowly home, praying for forgiveness and hugging a surprised wife and kids when he arrived.

Life is precious. Handle with care. This is an important message, please pass it along to your friends. Drive safely and carefully. Remember, cars are not the only thing recalled by their maker.

 
GOD'S BOXES

I have in my hands two boxes, which God gave me to hold.
 He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black,
 and all your joys in the gold."

  I heeded His words, and in the two boxes both my joys and sorrows I stored.  But though the gold became heavier each day the black was as light as before.

 With curiosity, I opened the black. I wanted to find out why.   And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole through which my sorrows had fallen out. I, showed the hole to God, and mused aloud,  "I wonder where my sorrows could be."   He smiled a gentle smile at me." "My child, they’re all here with me."

 I asked, "God, why give me the boxes, Why the gold, and the black with the hole?" "My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings,

The black is for you to let go."   We should consider all of our friends a blessing. Send this to a friend today, just to let them know you are thinking of them and that they are a joy in your life.

A ball is a circle, no beginning, and no end.   It keeps us together like our circle of friends. But the treasure inside for you to see is the treasure of friendship you’ve granted to me.

 One-Sentence Sermons

 Much wisdom often comes with fewest words.  They may be short on words but they contain big messages.

 A grudge is too heavy a load to carry.

 The injury that others do to us is nothing compared with what we do to ourselves.

 A solution to a problem is always good, but the wisdom gained in finding a solution is even better.

 Smart people don’t do all the talking.

 The heart that loves is always young.

 A kind word is never lost; it always finds its way back to you.

 Strive to attain the big things and the little things will come easy.

 Cheerfulness is contagious, but don’t wait to catch it from others. . . . be a carrier.

 Be pleasant and the world will catch on.

 Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.

 Every sunrise is a message from God.

The Psalms - Center Of The Bible

  What is the shortest chapter in the bible?

(Answer - Psalms 117)

 What is the longest chapter in the bible?

(answer - Psalms 119)

Which chapter is in the center of the bible

(answer - Psalms 118)

 Fact: there are 594 chapters before Psalms 118

Fact: there are 594 chapters after Psalms 118

Add these numbers up and you get 1188

 What is the center verse in the bible? (answer -

 Psalms 118:8)

 Does this verse say something significant about

God's perfect will for our lives?  The    next time someone says they would like to find god's perfect will for their lives and that they want to be in the center of his will, just send them to the center of his word!

 Psalms 118:8 (NKJV) "it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man."

 Thank you to all who have passed these Net Items to me for this section of our Newsletter.

Alphabet Soup for the Soul

May 2011

As a community, we are all subject to what I would like to call the Alphabet Soup of our environment.  We throw acronyms around like they were the very language of our nation.  There are terms like FS, USDA, FFA, and 4H that many in 62268, 62277. 62298, and 62242 can understand.  Then there are terms like Flash Drive, Hard Drive, CD-R or CD-RW, SD & SDHC, Software, and CPU that folks working with PCs can understand.  I could go on with all the acronyms of the insurance companies, the Farm Bureau, and the USPS.  But the point is made.  Each calling in life has terminology unique to its field and not readily understood by those in a different work.

We live in a very complicated culture.  There are at least four generations of people living side by side at any given time.  And what one generation says may be interpreted differently by another. Authors William Strauss and Neil Howe’s in their book, Generations,  point out that each generation makes its mark in history. 

They have given names to each generation from the generation prior to the pilgrims landing at Plymouth up until the current generation of today’s children.  For example, The generation born between 1901-1924 is known as the G.I. Generation.  Their children are known as the Silent Generation (1925-1942).  Their grandchildren are known as the Baby Boomers (1943-1960).  The Baby Boomer’s children are called the 13ers (1961-1981) since they are the Thirteenth Generation from the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  The 13ers are the parents of the Millennial (1982-2004).

Our language reflects changes in the culture.  Word meanings in one generation change to something very different for another generation.  For example, the term “gay” used to mean happy and cheerful.  It takes on a completely different connotation for the generations known as the 13ers and the millennial.  The term “evangelical” used by the 13ers takes on a new usage for selling and promoting products on the World Wide Web.  I went to a Microsoft product workshop last year and listened to an “evangelist” walk me through the great new and wonderful way to surf the web.  And I know there are a number of you from the Silent Generation that are wondering what the preacher is talking about.  Which is exactly the challenge of the church today.

Many of us live and make decisions based on lessons which come from a Bible that has not changed in nearly 2000 years.  The meaning and the message in God’s Word is the same today as it was when it was first recorded.   The demand to obey commandments and walk the path of righteousness is straightforward.  The way to salvation and eternal life explained in John 3:16 has not changed.  According to  the polls reported by the New York-based policy research agen­cy, Public,  researchers found in  1,507 adults surveyed that:

·          53% said being religious means making sure one’s be­havior and day-to-day actions match one’s faith.

·          58% said it was not necessary to believe in God to be moral and have good values.

·          60% said “deeply religious’ elected officials should be willing to compromise even on issues such as abortion, the death pen­alty or gay rights.

This fits with the words of Paul:

“The time will come when men will not put up with sound doc­trine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what they want to hear.”  (1 Tim. 4:1).

What is sound doctrine?  Paul wrestled with this when he wrote to Timothy and the young churches in Corinth, Rome, Galatia, Philippi, and Ephesus.  According to Paul, sound doctrine is that which was handed down to him directly from Peter, James and John.  These three disciples received the word directly from the three years they lived and worked with Jesus.   This means we must continue to preach the Biblical truth even if many in the next generation do not enjoy what we have to say.  The generation we must seek is the 13ers.  The challenge we have is how do we speak to the soul of the 13ers.  Our Alphabet Soup may spell words, but the meanings are not the same.

In order to speak to the 13^th Generation, we must first understand, how do 13ers see our American culture?   According to Strauss & Howe’s book, 13^thGen, “Everyday 2500 American children witness the divorce or separation of their parents.  Every day 90 kids are taken from their parent’s custody and committed to foster homes.  Everyday, thirteen Americans age 15 to 24 commit suicide, and another sixteen are murdered.”  The depressing list of everyday horrors continues to leave an impression on this 13^th Generation.  The 13ers may or may not be a “bad” generation, but what is not debatable is that their condition is bad.  The 13ers have grown up in a time when they feel they are expected to correct the wrongs committed by the Progressive Generation (1843-1859), the Missionary Generation (1860-1882), and the Lost Generation (1863-1900).  They have the impression that they must correct the political and social wrongs of the past such as slavery.  They are savvy in what it means to be “politically correct.”  They learned at a young age that they must “cover their anxieties.” They make up the biggest generation in American history (yes, bigger than the Boomers); the most diverse generation-ethnically, culturally, economically, and in the family structure; the only generation born since the civil war to come of age unlikely to match their parents economic fortunes and the only one born this century to grow up personifying (to others) not the advance, but the decline of their society’s greatness.

The only hope that this generation has is what we can offer through the ministry of Jesus Christ.  Through the love we have in Christ, we can offer them not only a reason to live and excel, but also a model for living.  Each of us must make a conscience decision to reach out to these young people with the good news that will be true for all time.  We are not and we do not have to be the answer to our own needs and problems.  We have a Heavenly Father and  Savior who loves and cares for us.  He calls us into a relationship with Him that will give us peace and joy in this life and last beyond this life bringing us to eternal life with Him.  

We live in a society where the humanist idealists have removed the absolutes, which once defined morality.  The eye of the beholder now defines truth.  We must offer a constant guide to relationships that nurture and reinforce God’s love and His plan of salvation.  It is the Command of Christ Jesus to love one another as he loved us,  that has maintained the strength of the churches witness in society.  We must not accept lie of the humanist which is “Chè Sera Sera,, whatever will be will be,” if we do, we will loose the 13er generation.

The members of the Millennia generation are sitting in our Sunday School classes right now.  They are listening and watching us.  It is responsibility of the entire congregation of faith to nurture these young people and reinforce the faith we have in Jesus Christ.  Let us never forget that Christian love and nurture is caught not taught.

From the Net

The Lord’s Test

I woke up this morning and knew that today, The sun would not be shining and the clouds would be gray.

As I stepped outside, rain fell upon my head. My car wouldn’t start so I walked to school instead.

 I forgot all of my assignments I failed all of my tests.  I dropped my head in disgust and asked the Lord for one request.

 “Lord, why is it that things won’t go my way?”

He gently replied, “Dear child it is because you didn’t thank me yesterday.

 I woke you up and enabled you to see the sun again. I gave you shelter, protected your family, and even let you make a new friend.

 I blessed you far greater than I ever had before. But you were too busy to thank me once more.

 You didn’t feel sick because I maintained your health. You had money in your pocket because I maintained your wealth.

 You had shoes on your feet and clothes to wear, too. You had plenty of food to eat, and what did youdo?

 You ignored me and went about your tasks. But when you wanted something you never hesitated to ask.

 I was there when you needed me and that wasn’t too long ago. But when things started going your way, it was me you did not know.

As if that weren’t enough, I provided your favorite luxuries. This was something I didn’t have to do-they weren’t even necessities.

 And when it was time to get on your knees and show your gratitude, You decided that after such a fulfilling day, you weren’t in the mood.

So I decided to give you just a little test.
 To show you how it would feel to stop being blessed.”

 I began to realize what the Lord was saying. And when I got home, I fell to my knees and started praying.

 He said, “My child, you have learned and you know I do forgive. But remember to remember this day as long as you shall live.

 I love filling your life with joy, and your pain I’ll alleviate it. But just a simple thank you would show how much you appreciate it.”

Funny How-----

    How we set our clocks to arise at 4:00am or 5:00am to be at the job by 7:30, yet when Sunday comes we can’t get to church for 11:00am to praise the one who gave us the jobs!

    Funny how we call God our Father and Jesus our brother, but find it hard to introduce them to our family.

    Funny how small our sins seem, but how big their sins are.

    Funny how we demand justice for others, but expect mercy from God for ourselves.

    Funny how much difficulty some have learning the gospel well enough to tell others, but how simple it is to understand and explain the  latest gossip about someone else.

    Funny how we can’t think of anything to say when we pray, but don’t  have any difficulty thinking of things to talk about to a friend.

    Funny how we are so quick to take directions from a total stranger when we are lost, but! Are hesitant to take God’s direction for our lives.

    Funny how so many church goers sing “Standing on the Promises” but  all they do is sit on the premises.

    Funny how people want God to answer their prayers, but refuse to listen to His counsel.

    Funny how we sing about heaven, but live only for today.

    Funny how people think they are going to Heaven but don’t think there is a Hell.

    Funny how it is okay to blame God for evil and suffering in the world, but it is not necessary to thank Him for what is good and pleasant.

    Funny how when something goes wrong, we cry, “Lord, why me?” but when something goes right, we think, “Hey, it must be me!”

    Oh wait. Maybe all this isn’t so “funny” after all.

March 2011

Lent, When it’s Late

2011 will find Lent beginning as late as it possibly can.  With this, we find that Mardi Gras Celebrations are going a little bit longer because of the extended length of the season of Epiphany.  Should this change the way we feel about the repentant season of Lent?  The cold, stormy, and dark climate of winter creates an atmosphere for self-examination.  Participation in weekly Lenten Worship will help us prepare spiritually for Easter mo matter what the weather.

This year, we are going to do something different for our Lenten Services.  Using the aid of our multi-media, we are going to participate in the Easter Experience.  The multi-media experience is meant to be just that: an experience.  An experience is something that we feel.  We meet an experience.  We enter an experience.  Maybe more accurately, an experience enters us.

During the Easter Experience we will feel . . . meet . . . enter the last few hours of Jesus' natural life as well as the first few hours of His resurrected life. We will find ourselves reclining next to Him in the Upper Room, walking beside Him in Gethsemane, standing near Him in Pilate's courtyard, weeping alongside His followers at Golgotha, and celebrating with the disciples at the empty tomb.

As we shadow Jesus, we will often find ourselves identifying with those around Him—Peter, Judas, Mary, and others. But most of all we will find ourselves identifying with Jesus Himself. And that's a good thing because the more we identify with Jesus, the more we will become like Him For Christianity is not simply following rules; it is following Christ. And Christianity is not merely knowing about Christ; it is knowing Christ Himself. For Christianity is "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).

Each Wednesday evening during Lent, the Easter Experience will speak to us.  The spiritual pilgrimage we make will take us through the feelings that only the season of Lent can bring.  The unique DVD-driven study brings the passion and resurrection of Jesus to life through dramatic storytelling and challenging teaching done in a highly cinematic style.  Through these in-depth teachings, we will grow spiritually, bonding with each other as well as with the eternal message of Easter.

Each Wednesday evening, we will open our worship service in the usual way with an opening hymn, call to worship, confession of sin, a second hymn, prayer, scripture reading, and the profession of faith by one of our confirmation students.  The DVD will be shown following the confirmation presentation.  On Ash Wednesday, Communion will be served following the Easter Experience DVD.  Each Wednesday evening, we will watch one of the six compelling dramas in the Easter Experience series.  Following each presentation, we will close the service with a hymn and benediction.  Those wishing to search deeper into the teachings may remain after worship from 8:00 to 9:00 for discussion and further study with Pastor Graves.

Lent is a time when we paint ourselves into the story and transform Easter into a truly life-changing experience.  So that parents can experience each Wednesday evening, we will have an alternate Wee Worship for children preschool age and above.  We realize that this drama may be too intense for young children.

You will want to be in your place of worship at St. Peter each Wednesday to support our confirmation students and participate in a meaningful Lenten Journey to the Easter Experience.  You won’t want to miss it!

February 2011

The Month of the Presidents

Even in the 21^st Century when asked to give the name of our nation’s greatest president, the names of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln would be given most frequently.  What an honor it is to come from the state of Illinois represented so well in Congress by Lincoln.  These two leaders were great men of faith.  A study of the experiences of their lives can teach us much about putting our faith into practice to meet the challenges that we face. 

 George Washington was our General of the Army during the Revolutionary War.  The success and failure of each battle weighed upon his tactics and strategy.  There were times during the War for Independence that God stepped in and handed a victory over to what the British called, “Yankees”.  For these victories, George Washington openly thanked Almighty God for delivering him and his men from certain death and defeat.

 Modern day thinkers would say that George Washington was not a Christian.  During the darkest period of the Revolutionary War, George Washington prayed this prayer for his Country:  “Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that thou wilt keep the United States in thy holy protection, that thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large.  And finally, that thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacify temper of mind which are the characteristics of the divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble invitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation.  Grant our supplications, we beseech thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.”

Tremendous anxiety, worry, and fear existed at the time of the Revolutionary War.  The British Commanders could take over your home as barracks for the their troops.  The British could burn your home to the ground if there was any hint that you were a patriot.  An entire village was locked inside their church in South Carolina.  The church was set afire with the congregation inside.

It was in this time, that George Washington prayed and asked his Chaplains to help each man in the Continental Army to be in constant prayer.  It was through their prayers, and the leadership of a Christian man, George Washington, that God gave us the victory.

We know the Illinois story of Abraham Lincoln.  Many of us have visited Lincoln’s New Salem.  The stories that show the transformation from “Prairie Lawyer” to National Hero can be found in many books about Abraham Lincoln.  Two of which are The Collected Works of Abaraham Lincoln Edited by Roy P. Basler and The Lincoln Scrapbook found in the Library of Congress. 

During the Civil War, President Lincoln was confronted with many issues that placed a wedge between the Northern and Southern States. These issues would ultimately cause the South to secede from the North and form their own republic.  During this tragic part of our nation’s history, President Lincoln met the challenge to lead.  It was during the Civil War that someone asked President Lincoln if God was on our side in the battles.  Mr. Lincoln replied, “I just pray we are on God’s side.”

 At the conclusion of the Civil War, Mr. Lincoln said this prayer for the nation:  Grant, O merciful God, that with malice toward none, with charity to all, with firmness in the right as thou givest us to see the right, we may strive to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan; to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.

 Prayers for our nation have often reflected the hope that our nation’s leaders have for those they lead.  As we listened to the Prayer of Invocation and the Benediction at President George W. Bush’s inauguration, we could hear the hope not only for forgiveness, but the hope that the obedience of our nation to God would bring about national peace and prosperity.

When we recall his 14 minute inaugural address, George W. Bush saw to it that his "first act as President was a prayer." Asking the audience to bow their heads, President Bush prayed,

"Heavenly Father, we bow our heads and thank You for Your love. Accept our thanks for the peace that yields this day and the shared faith that makes its continuance likely. Make us strong to do Your work, willing to heed and hear Your will, and write on our hearts these words: 'Use power to help people.' For we are given power not to advance our own purposes nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power and it is to serve people. Help us remember, Lord. Amen."

President Bush called for an abandonment of materialism and a return to spiritual values. "Are we enthralled with material things, less appreciative of the nobility of work and sacrifice?" he asked. "My friends, we are not the sum of our possessions. They are not the measure of our lives. In our hearts we know what matters. We cannot hope only to leave our children a bigger car, a bigger bank account. We must hope to give them a sense of what it means to be a loyal friend, a loving parent, a citizen who leaves his home, his neighborhood and town better than he found it."

He insisted, "America is never wholly herself unless she is engaged in high moral principle. We as a people have such a purpose today. It is to make kinder the face of the nation, and gentler the face of the world."

Our President confidently noted, "I do not fear what is ahead. For our problems are large, but our heart is larger. Our challenges are great, but our will is greater.  And if our flaws are endless, God's love is truly boundless."

When we look back at our Presidents of the United States, we can see men who loved God and found Him faithful to them and our land through the most difficult times.  Their answered prayers made our nation greater.  Their leadership in prayer led a culture that respected not only God’s authority, but strived to make God’s way their way.

 Some say that we live in a godless, decadent time when personal sacrifice is replaced by self-centeredness.  Abortion rights at this time are more important than religious freedom.   Violent entertainment has desensitized our moral fiber, emotional empathy and compassion for others.  The speeches of politicians of this time remind us that there is a strong need and demand for prayer.  We, who believe in a loving, forgiving, and merciful Heavenly Father, must continue to pray.  In God’s Heavenly Kingdom, prayers are heard and answered.  There is peace, love and joy.

 As we enter the month of February, we have the opportunity to celebrate the birthdays of two of our greatest Presidents.  We can celebrate the joy of not only their answered prayer but ours too.  We can celebrate the assurance of all that we hope for will be ours through our faith in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

From the Net

Shoes in church

I showered and shaved.......... I adjusted my tie.

I got there and sat............ In a pew just in time.

Bowing my head in prayer......... As I closed my eyes.

I saw the shoe of the man next to me..... Touching my own. I sighed.

With plenty of room on either side...... I thought, 'Why must our soles touch?'

It bothered me, his shoe touching mine... But it didn't bother him much.

A prayer began: 'Our Father'............. I thought, 'This man with the shoes,  has no pride.

They're dusty, worn, and scratched. Even worse, there are holes on the side!'

'Thank You for blessings,' the prayer went on.

The shoe man said............... A quiet 'Amen.'

I tried to focus on the prayer....... But my thoughts were on his shoes again.

Aren't we supposed to look our best. When walking through that door?

'Well, this certainly isn't it,' I thought, Glancing toward the floor.

Then the prayer was ended........... And the songs of praise began.

The shoe man was certainly loud..... Sounding proud as he sang..

His voice lifted the rafters........ His hands were raised high.

The Lord could surely hear. The shoe man's voice from the sky.

It was time for the offering...... And what I threw in was steep.

I watched as the shoe man reached.... Into his pockets so deep.

I saw what was pulled out............ What the shoe man put in.

Then I heard a soft 'clink' . As when silver hits tin.

The sermon really bored me......... To tears, and that's no lie.

It was the same for the shoe man... For tears fell from his eyes.

At the end of the service...... As is the custom here.

We must greet new visitors, And show them all good cheer.

But I felt moved somehow............... And wanted to meet the shoe man.

So after the closing prayer......... I reached over and shook his hand.

He was old and his skin was dark..... And his hair was truly a mess.

But I thanked him for coming......... For being our guest.

He said, 'My names' Charlie............ I'm glad to meet you, my friend.'

There were tears in his eyes........ But he had a large, wide grin.

'Let me explain,' he said.......... Wiping tears from his eyes.

'I've been coming here for months.... And you're the first to say 'Hi.''

'I know that my appearance.........'Is not like all the rest.

'But I really do try...............'To always look my best.'

'I always clean and polish my shoes.  'Before my very long walk.

'But by the time I get here.........'They're dirty and dusty, like chalk.'  

My heart filled with pain.......... And I swallowed to hide my tears.

As he continued to apologize........ For daring to sit so near

He said, 'When I get here...........'I know I must look a sight.

'But I thought if I could touch you..'Then maybe our souls might unite.'

I was silent for a moment........... Knowing whatever was said

Would pale in comparison... I spoke from my heart, not my head.

'Oh, you've touched me,' I said......'And taught me, in part;

'That the best of any man............'Is what is found in his heart.'

The rest, I thought,.................. This shoe man will never know.

Like just how thankful I really am... That his dirty old shoe touched my soul

You are special to me and you have made a difference in my life.
I respect you, and truly cherish you.

Remember, everyone needs a friend..
Someday you might feel like you have no friends at all.  Godly friends accept us for not what we get but what we can inspire.

Everything I Need To Know I Have Learned From Noah's Ark

1. Don't miss the boat.

2. Remember that we are all in the same boat.

3. Plan ahead - it wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.

4. Stay fit - when you're very old someone may ask you to do something really big.

5. Don't listen to critics - just get on with the job that needs to be done.

6. Build your future on high ground.

7. For safety's sake travel in pairs.

8. Speed isn't always an advantage - the snails were on board with the cheetahs.

9. When you're stressed, float a while.

10. Remember that amateurs built the ark and professionals built the Titanic.

Prayer Partner

January 2011

New Year, New Start

Important Time

 ¹For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:  ²a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; ³a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; ⁴a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a  to refrain from embracing; ⁶a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; ⁷a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; ⁸a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

 We are entering the second decade of the second millennium.  When I think back to the fluster of 1999 and what was going to happen in the year 2000, exaggeration was the order of the day.  Of course if I told you what happened in the year 1011, you would probably yawn and say, “so what”.  We do have however, an interest in 2011.  With a new year, come the New Year resolutions, the idea that we have a clean slate to start fresh.  We try to convince ourselves that this is the year we will do it.  It is the doing that challenges us.  We want to change some of our habits; stop smoking, lose weight, do something that will better ourselves.

 The Adult Sunday School Class is taking on the challenge of reading through the Bible this year.   The Daily Bible is organized into 365 readings that will take the reader on a pilgrimage to completely read every verse of God’s Word in a year.  Each Sunday morning at 9:00am, the class will discuss what they read.  The Sunday discussion is an opportunity to explore the meaning, find encouragement, life application and motivation to continue reading through the year.

 The Bible is the definitive method God uses to speak to us.  There are those “Ah ha!” moments when we discover the truth in a passage.  There is an understanding that comes when we see people in the Bible with problems and challenges similar to the ones that we face.  There is joy in having a new closeness in our relationship to God. 

 When Jesus was tempted by the Devil, he preceded each statement with “It is written.”  Jesus was quoting from the Old Testament.  Knowledge of God’s Word enabled Jesus to discern truth from falsehood and resist temptation. The Old Testament was assembled for the purpose of providing Jews with guidance.  I use the word assembled because there were lots of writings to choose from to make up what we know today as sacred scripture.  It was about 70 A.D.  when a Rabbi by the name of Yohanan ben Zakkai received permission from the Romans to establish a school in the coastal town of Jamnia.  The invitation was sent to a number of rabbis to meet.  This meeting became known as the Council of Jamnia that convened to determine that 39 books would be put into the Jewish scriptures, which we call the Old Testament. 

 The New Testament, like the old, had many manuscripts from which to select to include as scripture.  It was the Council of Nicaea that finalized what we know today as the New Testament.  The study of the scriptures facilitates a fascinating dialogue between God and his creation.  The Adult Sunday School Class will view a 23 minute video study by R.C. Sproul called “Dust to Glory” weekly to enhance their understanding of scriptures.  R.C. Sproul is a professor of theology and philosophy, author, and a Presbyterian pastor. 

 Never before has there been a greater need for Christians to know the Bibles than now. And yet, we know them less well than we have at any time since the Reformation. “Dust to Glory” gives you the big picture — the major themes, events, and people of the Bible — the very thing we need to help us know our Bibles better. And it does so in a gripping, memorable way. Resolve to learn all that is in your Bible in 2011. There is true treasure there for life now and in eternity.

 As we enter into the first year of the second decade of the second millennium, studying the Bible is the first step in finding God’s purpose for each of us.  As the writer of Ecclesiastes writes, in Chapter 3 verse 1:  ¹For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.  Let us make 2011 a season of learning, a time to know and better understand God’s Word. 

December 2010

Glory to God in the Highest
 
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  – John 14: 6
 
As Christmas approaches, the world takes on a new attitude.  Lights, bells, decorations not only fill our homes, they fill our souls.  This is the time of year we celebrate the birth of not only our Saviour, but our relationship with God through Jesus.  Jesus’ birth fulfilled every promise God made to the Old Testament Prophets.  The God of Creation was also a God of Love.  When Moses talked with God at the burning bush in Exodus 3, he asked 13"If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" 14God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" 15God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.
 
Moses reintroduces the Children of Israel to God, the God of their Fathers.  This reintroduction set the stage for The Passover, the liberation from bondage to the Egyptians, the wilderness, the Promise Land, and The Ten Commandments.
 
In Egypt, the children of Jacob grew to be the children of Israel.  They now needed to learn the expectation God had for them when he chose them to be his people.  God gave them the responsibility to tell other nations, the greatness of God and his plan for his creation.  They were to be like a light illuminating God’s love to all who came into their presence. Isaiah 42: 5Thus says God, the LORD,  who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: 6"I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, 7to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
 
This passage of Isaiah was written at the time when most of the Israelites were scattered away from Israel and Judah.  Some of them were captives in Egypt and some were captive in Babylon.  God’s people were defeated and under a worldly domination.  Isaiah is calling for the Children of God to remember their God and their heritage.  Be the light and remember, “. . .the glory of the Lord shall be revealed”.
 
History tells us the Children of Israel did not become the light that God hoped for.  Even with the voices of the prophets, they held fast to their traditions.  Eventually their traditions became laws designed to shelter them from the world.  These laws forced them to remain separate from what is now the gentile world.  The God of creation is seen by the world as the God of the Jews.  When Jesus speaks about the world, he is referring to everyone who is not Jewish.  Later in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul will refer to the world as anyone who does not know about or does not believe in God and/or Jesus.
 
Yet God so loved the world.  He wanted the people he created to know him.  To know him was to know his love.  Enter Jesus.  Jesus’ birth was low key from the world’s perspective.  Born in a stable rather than a palace, God wanted us to know him not out of materialism but out of that which is basic to all, our soul.
 
Christmas is a season when the spirits of all who celebrate this wonderful time find peace and joy.  For those who do not know God and his intent, it is a season of parties and festivals. 
 
When we lived in Japan, we shared the true meaning of Christmas with our Japanese friends.  They had the manger scenes, the Christmas Trees, the Star, but had never known the reason for all these parts of the Christmas Celebration.  As we shared the message of the angels, the shepherds, and the wise men, they began to understand what was happening in their country when they talked with Christians.  We had a gift exchange and one of the gifts we had was a New Testament written in Japanese.  Carolyn and I prayed for God to give that New Testament to the right person.  The woman who chose it came to us some days later to tell us that her daughter was a Christian and she could now sit with her daughter and read the Gospel.  This brought peace to their family.  This was an answer to our prayers.  The right person picked the scriptures.
 
Christmas gives us the opportunity to share the message of peace with those with whom we come into contact with.  Merry Christmas is a greeting we must use boldly.  “Seasons Greetings” or “Happy Holidays” are phrases that do not communicate the true meaning of our celebration.  Luke 2: 14 records that the angels boldly proclaimed “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"
 
God is asking all of us who believe in his son Jesus to ask ourselves the question, am I pleasing God?  Am I living a life that would bring honor to the one who created me?  Am I a light that helps people see the truth in Jesus?  If your answer is yes to all these questions, than God is pleased with you.
 
Christmas is our opportunity to shout with the Angel’s Glory to God in the highest.  To say the highest means we are placing our loyalties, our commitments, our sacred vows to God as the highest priority we have.  We are using this time of Christmas to remember.  God told Moses, This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.  Let us remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.
 
Merry Christmas

From the Net
 
A cold March wind danced around the dead of night in Dallas as the doctor walked into the small hospital room of Diana Blessing. She was still groggy from surgery.  Her husband, David, held her hand as they braced themselves for the latest news.  That afternoon of March 10, 1991, complications had forced Diana, only 24-weeks pregnant, to undergo an emergency Cesarean to deliver couple's new daughter, Dana Lu Blessing.
At 12 inches long and weighing only one pound nine ounces, they already knew she was perilously premature. Still, the doctor's soft words dropped like bombs.  "I don't think she's going to make it," he said, as kindly as he could.
 
"There's only a 10-percent chance she will live through the night, and even then, if by some slim chance she does make it, her future could be a very cruel one."  Numb with disbelief, David and Diana listened as the doctor described the devastating problems Dana would likely face if she survived.
 
She would never walk, she would never talk, she would probably be blind, and she would certainly be prone to other catastrophic conditions from cerebral palsy to complete mental retardation, and on and on.  "No! No!" was all Diana could say.  She and David, with their 5-year-old son Dustin, had long dreamed of the day they would have a daughter to become a family of four. Now, within a matter of hours, that dream was slipping away.
 
But as those first days passed, a new agony set in for David and Diana.  Because Dana's underdeveloped nervous system was essentially 'raw', the lightest kiss or caress only intensified her discomfort, so they couldn't even cradle their tiny baby girl against their chests to offer the strength of their love. All they could do, as Dana struggled alone beneath the ultraviolet light in the tangle of tubes and wires, was to pray that God would stay close to their precious little girl.
 
There was never a moment when Dana suddenly grew stronger. But as the weeks went by, she did slowly gain an ounce of weight here and an ounce of strength there.  At last, when Dana turned two months old, her parents were able to hold her in their arms for the very first time. And two months later, though doctors continued to gently but grimly warn that her chances of surviving, much less living any kind of normal life, were next to zero, Dana went home from the hospital, just as her mother had predicted.

Five years later, when Dana was a petite but feisty young girl with glittering gray eyes and an unquenchable zest for life. She showed no signs whatsoever of any mental or physical impairment. Simply, she was everything a little girl can be and more. But that happy ending is far from the end of her story. One blistering afternoon in the summer of 1996 near her home in Irving, Texas, Dana was sitting in her mother's lap in the bleachers of a local ball park where her brother, Dustin's baseball team was practicing.  As always, Dana was chattering nonstop with her mother and several other adults sitting nearby when she suddenly fell silent.  Hugging her arms across her chest, little Dana asked, "Do you smell that?"  Smelling the air and detecting the approach of a thunderstorm, Diana replied, "Yes, it smells like rain." Dana closed her eyes and again asked, "Do you smell that?" Once again, her mother replied, "Yes, I think we're about to get wet. It smells like rain."

Still caught in the moment, Dana shook her head, patted her thin shoulders with her small hands and loudly announced, "No, it smells like Him. It smells like God when you lay your head on His chest." Tears blurred Diana's eyes as Dana happily hopped down to play with the other children. Before the rains came, her daughter's words confirmed what Diana and all the members of the extended Blessing family had known, at least in their hearts, all along.

During those long days and nights of her first two months of her life, when her nerves were too sensitive for them to touch her, God was holding Dana on His chest and it is His loving scent that she remembers so well.

Grandpa's Hands


Grandpa is ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. He didn't move, just sat with his head down staring at his hands.  When I sat down beside him he didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if he was OK. Finally, not really wanting to disturb him but wanting to check on him at the same time, I asked him if he was OK.
 
He raised his head and looked at me and smiled.  "Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking," he said in a clear strong voice. "I didn't mean to disturb you, Grandpa, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK," I explained to him.

"Have you ever looked at your hands," he asked. "I mean really looked at your hands?"  I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point he was making. Grandpa smiled and related this story:   "Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled, shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life.  They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor. They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back.

As a child my Mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They held my rifle and wiped my tears when I went off to war. They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special.  They wrote the letters home and trembled and shook when I buried my Parents and Spouse and when I walked my Daughter down the aisle.

Yet, they were strong and sure when I dug my buddy out of a foxhole and lifted a plow off of my best friend's foot. They have held children, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand.  They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body.  They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw.

And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer. These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of my life. But! more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ."

 I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached out and took my Grandpa's hands and led him home. When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and wife I think of Grandpa. I know he has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God.  I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face.
 
Thank you to all who send me these stories.

Where is your Heart?

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

-        Matthew 6: 21

Farmer Brown's pig enjoys eating ... In fact, that is the one thing that he really spends a lot of time doing. He can usually be found under the large oak tree in the corner of Farmer Brown's pig pen. He especially likes it there because that part of the pig pen has everything that he needs.

In the hot summer time, Farmer Brown's pig enjoys the shade of that large oak. He can spend hours there in the coolness of the shade of that tree. Although he enjoys that shady spot a great deal, he never bothers to look up to see what makes the ground such a good place to be.

Under that same tree is a big mud hole that Farmer Brown's pig wades around in and lays down in several times a day. The rain that falls from the sky keeps it filled, but the pig never bothers to look up and see where the water comes from. He just enjoys the mud hole.

In the fall of the year, he eats bushels of acorns that fall from the tree. He finds them on the ground and gobbles them up without ever looking up to see where they came from. He likes the acorns. He uses them for his good, but he never looks higher than the ground on which he finds them.

Farmer Brown's pig spends his time enjoying his "blessings" with­out ever looking up. He never thinks about where all of those good things he likes come from. We often laugh at him because he is a pig, but when we fail to realize that God is the source of the many good and perfect gifts that come from on high, we are much like the pig.

Don't be guilty of only looking at your blessings, without also looking up to see where they have come from. As God blesses us with all the things we have, we should be will­ing to return some of these bless­ings. Returning to God a fair portion of our blessings shows that we know where our blessings come from and shows that we are thankful to God for what we have been given.

Jesus’ statement, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” may sound familiar but if we don’t read it with care, we might reverse the statement through a kind of scriptural dyslexia.  We might read it to say, “Where your heart is, there will your treasure be also.”  That would make sense to us because much of the time our dollars follow our heart’s lead.  We give to what matters to us.  But that isn’t what Jesus said.

That’s the appeal you hear over and over again from, say KETC Channel 9, or the St. Louis Symphony, The Zoo, or your alma mater, or some other charity.  If you care about this institution, you will write a check.  In other words, “Where your heart is, there will your treasure be also.”

Jesus is speaking of a different dynamic:  Give and spend where you want your heart to be, and then let your heart catch up.  Take time to ask God to show you the things that He cares about.  Give to the things you want to care about.  Then  put your treasure where God wants your heart to be.  And if you do, says Jesus, your heart will go there.  If you want to grow in your faith, bring an offering to God. Wherever your treasure is, your heart is sure to follow.

Grandpa's Hands

Grandpa is ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. He didn't move, just sat with his head down staring at his hands.

When I sat down beside him he didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if he was OK. Finally, not really wanting to disturb him but wanting to check on him at the same time, I asked him if he was OK.

He raised his head and looked at me and smiled. "Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking," he said in a clear strong voice.

"I didn't mean to disturb you, Grandpa, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK," I explained to him.   "Have you ever looked at your hands," he asked. "I mean really looked at your hands?"

I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point he was making. Grandpa smiled and related this story:

Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled, shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life.

They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor.

 They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back.

As a child my Mother taught me to fold them in prayer.

They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots.

They held my rifle and wiped my tears when I went off to war. They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent.

They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son.

Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special.

They wrote the letters home and trembled and shook when I buried my Parents and Spouse and when I walked my Daughter down the aisle.

Yet, they were strong and sure when I dug my buddy out of a foxhole and lifted a plow off of my best friend's foot.

They have held children, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand.

 They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body.

They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw.

 And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer.

 These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of my life.

 But! more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home.

 And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ."

 I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached out and took my Grandpa's hands and led him home.

When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and wife I think of Grandpa. I know he has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God.  I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face.

The Five Finger Prayer

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."

2. The next finger  is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

3. The next finger  is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4. The fourth finger  is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

5. And lastly comes our little finger;   the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

Deck of Cards

Tex Ritter told this story during World War 2. Here is a new way to look at a deck of cards!!

It was quiet that day, the guns and the mortars, and land mines for some reason hadn't been heard.

The young soldier knew it was Sunday, the holiest day of the week.

As he was sitting there, he got out an old deck of cards and laid them out across his bunk. 

Just then an army sergeant came in and said, 'Why aren’t you with the rest of the platoon?'

The soldier replied, 'I thought I would stay behind and spend some time with the Lord.'

The sergeant said, 'Looks to me like you’re going to play cards.'

The soldier said, 'No, sir. You see, since we are not allowed to have Bibles or other spiritual books in this country,

I've decided to talk to the Lord by studying this deck of cards.' 

The sergeant asked in disbelief, 'How will you do that?'

'You see the Ace, Sergeant? It reminds me that there is only one God.

The Two represents the two parts of the Bible, Old and New Testaments

The Three represents the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost.

The Four stands for the Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.. 

The Five is for the five virgins there were ten but only five of them were glorified.

The Six is for the six days it took God to create the Heavens and Earth.

The Seven is for the day God rested after making His Creation....

The Eight is for the family of Noah and his wife, their three sons and their wives -- the eight people God spared from the flood that destroyed the Earth. 

The Nine is for the lepers that Jesus cleansed of leprosy He cleansed ten, but nine never thanked Him.... 

The Ten represents the Ten Commandments that God handed down to Moses on tablets made of stone.

The Jack is a reminder of Satan, one of God's first angels, but he got kicked out of heaven for his sly and wicked ways and is now the joker of eternal hell.

The Queen stands for the Virgin Mary.

The King stands for Jesus, for he is the King of all kings.

When I count the dots on all the cards, I come up with a total of 365, one for every day of the year.

There are a total of 52 cards in a deck; each is a week - 52 weeks in a year.

The four suits represent the four seasons: spring, summer, fall and winter.

Each suit has thirteen cards -- there are exactly thirteen weeks in a quarter.

So when I want to talk to God and thank Him, I just pull out this old deck of cards and they remind me of all that I have to be thankful for... .’

The sergeant just stood there.  After a minute, with tears in his eyes and pain in his heart, he said, 'Soldier, can I borrow that deck of cards?'

August 2010

Vacation Bible School

“Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14. I am sitting down after a week of following children in the halls of St. Peter Church.  Our church was filled with laughter, squeals, giggles, and abundance of joy.  This year we had an enrollment of 66 children between age four and 6^th Grade.    Each day the children caravanned with their Egyptian family to the Bible Story Room where they heard the story of Joseph, the son of Jacob.  Some were shocked that Joseph’s brothers threw him into a well and sold him as a slave to some Ishmaelite’s. Yet they were thrilled at the happy ending when Joseph forgave his brothers and his family was reunited in Egypt.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all our members.  We placed a call for help.  That call really came from our Lord Jesus.  His “Great Commission” to us is to “make disciples . . . teach. . . and obey everything” he commanded.   You were there to answer that call.  Over 62 volunteers shared in the joy and excitement of going to Egypt. 

Carol Harms and Carolyn Graves co-directed this year’s Vacation Bible School.  They recruited, equipped, trained and guided our many volunteers.  They led meetings, created schedules, acquired and organized supplies and figured out how to make the curriculum fit our needs for Christian Education.   

Diana Bollmann and her registration volunteers took on the challenge to organize VBS students into Egyptian families. Instead of putting children into groups with other children their same age and grade, they put groups together with children from different ages and grades.  Each family had one or two 4 year olds, one or two kindergarteners, and one or two first graders and so on.   This year we had 23 children register online through our web site.

The Egyptian family groups were guided by leaders and assistant leaders, adults and youth of our church who gave selflessly of their time to reinforce the Bible story lesson and verses.  They guided the children’s steps on their journey through Egypt, sharing the love of God with them. 

Nicole Marcheski and her volunteer group staffed one of our most popular stops, the Food Shop.  Each night called for different treats.  She took care to be aware of food allergies and prepared her snacks with the needs of the children in mind.  We learned quickly how much gold fish and raisins were liked.

Susan Esker rounded up some fun loving volunteers to create the Pyramid Playground.  Games and equipment like wading pools, tarps, wheel barrows, and balls were used to simulate games Egyptian children might have played. 

Penny Dietz and Brad Diemert headed up our Market Place of shops with different crafts and activities.   We had a beauty salon and barber shop, a jewelry shop, a linen shop, a basket weaving shop, a toy shop, a brick making shop, a hieroglyphic shop, embalmers shop, and a food shop.  Each area had adults and youth giving nurture to each child. 

 I want to thank Terrie and Anna Thies and the Sparta Community Theater. Through their theatrical connections, Terrie and Anna were able to acquire the props and then arrange them to turn our sanctuary into Egypt and create a palace and prison for Joseph.  This added to the excitement each child exhibited as they sang the songs and shared in the story of Joseph.  Terrie and Anna led the music as well as wrote and directed the closing program.  Their enthusiasm inspired the celebration times. 

Steve Guebert played the part of Joseph.  He interacted with the children as if they were coming to the prison or the palace for the first time.  He provided fun activities so that they would better understand the story. At the closing program, he sang a song from “Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” We thank him for using his talents to so vividly portray the history, character, heroism and faith of Joseph.

Many parents thanked us and told us the joy that our Vacation Bible School brought to their family.  They caught the excitement from their children.  They reported that their children spent each day singing the songs, telling the stories, talking about the crafts and activities, new friends they made and asking if it was time to leave for Bible School yet.  May everyone who helped or contributed in any way hear our Lord say:  “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”