HAS PRESIDENT’S DAY LOST ITS MEANING?

Some years ago President’s Day was created by Congress. The observation of the birthdays of Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln were combined into a celebration of all Presidents on the 3rd Monday in February.

It is my belief that President’s Day has lost its meaning. As we approached the Day this year, the greatest mention of the day was either the President’s Day Sales at most stores or the announcement that an office or business would be closed on President’s Day.  Interestingly, a local Bank is advertising that they are open and have special financial offers as well as free coffee from a Coffee Shop that shares the building. I am not sure what any of this has to do with President’s Day or any other holiday.

Driving in the car the other day, I scanned stations and for a few minutes listened to a talk show that I don’t care much about the host's stand on issues. In the few minutes I listened, the host made a statement about why he thought President’s Day came to be. He said it was the result of the powerful lobby of the ski industry. It was his belief that they lobbied for different winter holidays to be moved to Monday so there would be an extra day of work places closed and the people could go skiing. If that allegation is true, I am not sure what that has to do with observing President’s Day or any other holiday.

Most importantly, I often wonder how much children are missing because of President’s Day. Because of today's educational pressures that teachers teach so the students can pass the State required tests, there is not enough time to teach what used to be taught on the birthdays of Lincoln and Washington. How much have we lost because we no longer have the opportunity to learn the values of the legacy from Lincoln and Washington? It has nothing to do with values, but I do wonder how many fewer cherry pies are made at the time of Washington’s birthday?

There is one bright spot. There may be others but I know of at least one State that observes the federally mandated President’s Day and also observes as State Holidays the birthdays of both Lincoln and Washington.

Yes, I believe that President’s Day has lost its meaning. What a difference it might make if Congress would remove President's Day as a Federal Holiday and return to observing the birthdays of Washington and Lincoln on the actual dates of their birth.

GOD’S PEACE. SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.

CALL WAITING

There are three kinds of Call Waiting. Two are used constantly and I don’t like either one of them. The third is ignored by most people and that is the one that I like.

KIND WORDS ARE PRICELESS

“A word of kindness is seldom spoken in vain, while witty sayings are easily lost as the pearls slipping from a broken string.  -- George D. Prentice.

Above are the words that greet you as you open the web page of THE RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS FOUNDATION. Because this is the first day of RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS WEEK, I wanted to share them with you.

These words are also important to me as they speak to a concern that I have about relationships with others. I fear that we are fast losing the ability to communicate with others through writing. In your Inbox each month, what percentage of the e-mails that you receive are actually letters that are written specifically to you? Now, how many of those are not business letters and are not letters from a close relative? I suspect that the percentage would be quite low. Most of the things that we receive are a part of a group mailing. Some of these FORWARDS are interesting, some are witty, some are educational, some are offensive, and some certainly are not pleasing to God as they seek to defraud, as they seek to cast a bad light on people, events and causes. I look at each one, but I do not forward them in a group mailing. If there should be something that I think a particular person would appreciate, I cut and paste and send to that person along with a note telling them that I thought of them as I read the item and that encouraged me to send them a hello. There are times when I will save one in my files for future use here on the web site or in my RAMBLINGS newsletter. When I delete them, they scatter into cyberspace like pearls slipping from a broken string. While you might find all of the pearls, these forwards have scattered and are beyond recovery in my mind.

The written word in letters and e-mails I receive, the spoken words that I hear on the phone or in person to person conversation remain with me. Sometimes I will print these emails and read them again days or weeks later as I do with letters I receive through the mail. The conversations seem to remain in my mind to play over and over again. They are important because they were written to ME, for ME. The words that people say or write to me are never done in vain; they can lift me up, they can challenge my thinking, they can bring a smile to my face or a tear from my eye. They SHOUT LOUDLY.  “I CARE ABOUT YOU.”  KIND WORDS ARE PRICELESS.

There are more than names and address in your ADDRESS BOOK; there are people. People who would love to get a letter, hold it in their hands, read it, set it aside in a special place and read it over and over again.

There are people whose names are on your Christmas Card list that wish they could hear from you more than just once a year.

There are people in Retirement Homes or Nursing Homes that you may not even know who would love to hear about the snow, rains and sunshine where you live, the birds in the trees outside your window, and the rabbit that bounces along and then stops long enough to eat from your flower or vegetable garden.

The KIND WORDS that you can share with another are PRICELESS.

Just one more thing. I admit to sending my Newsletters out in a group mailing. I did not like it when I had to change to the group mailing from sending them individually, but I had no choice.  God had blessed me by the numbers of people who requested the free newsletter. What happened was that I was no longer typing those names on a monthly basis. As I would type the name, I would think about him, her or them and offer a brief prayer. and felt closer to them. Now I feel that i am beginning to lose much of that closeness and I don’t like it.

I must also admit that I don’t send as many personal letters as I want to. I should send at least six a week, yet I have many waiting to be answered because I do not reach that number.

Would you join with me in the following:

Try to send at least one personal letter to someone each week and each week make that a different person? -- YOUR KIND WORDS ARE PRICELESS!

When something is forwarded to you in a group mailing, after you read it, would you delete it, unless you know of one person that would find it meaningful. Then, cut and paste and send along with a personal note -- YOUR KIND WORDS ARE PRICELESS!

I believe that this would be a RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS that would be most pleasing to God.

GOD’S PEACE. SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.
 

LET’S TAKE A STAND--COFFEE

WHO ATE MY FOOD? -- A SHADOW AND PRINCESS STORY

AN EPIPHANY THOUGHT --

WHAT KIND OF HEADLIGHTS DO YOU HAVE?

When I began to drive in the early 1950’s, car headlights were simple things. There was dim and bright. The control was on the left side of the floorboard and you used your left foot to change from one setting to the other. Yes, there were some cars where the owner may have installed fog lights.

Today, it is not that simple as there are various kinds of lights that are seen when driving at night. I am most thankful that on many cars, the lights are on whenever the car engine is running and even more important when the windshield wipers are operating. What a great safety measure this is.

When driving at dusk, at night, or in the rain or snow, I notice that there are three kinds of lights on different cars driving toward me. On cars that do not have the automatic activation of the lights, some may have forgotten to turn the lights on; others only have their parking lights turned on. The majority of the cars have their proper lights turned on, although once in a while a driver will forget to dim them for oncoming traffic. These lights, at the proper setting, give good illumination without the glare bothering the oncoming driver. The third group is made up of a new kind of headlight. These lights are almost blinding to the oncoming driver. Some display a bright white light while others tend to be a bluish light. Both are distracting because of their brightness, in fact as far as I am concerned, distracting to the point of being dangerous.

In this Season of Epiphany, when I ask “What Kind of Headlights do you have?” I am not speaking about on your car. I am asking what kind of LIGHT is coming from you, your words, your actions, that proclaim Jesus Christ as Light of the world?

Does the Light of Christ shine forth from you like the older model cars? Sometimes the Light of Christ within you is not turned on. Sometimes it is like just having the parking lights on -- weak, feeble, not enough to get the attention of others; almost like the failure of a door to door salesman who goes to the prospective customer and asks, “You wouldn't want to buy this would you?”

Does the Light of Christ shine forth from you like the newer, brighter, almost blinding lights? Sometimes this kind of a light is so overpowering, even so abrasive, that instead of being drawn to the Light, people turn away?

I encourage you to strive to have within you the Light of Christ that is like the headlights on most cars today. May the light of Christ shine forth from you every moment that your motor is running, and that is every moment of your life. May you also ask God for the guidance to know when the Light should shine on dim and be illuminating and inviting. Then when needed, may God give you the power to know when to switch to the bright lights to give the seeker coming toward you every opportunity to walk with you in the Light that leads all who follow to eternity.

GOD’S PEACE. SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.
 

VETERAN’S DAY

Twice a year we pause for special observances remembering those who have served in the Armed Forces of our Nation.

In May it is a somber celebration as we remember those who gave their lives on the battlefields of the world. It is because of them that many people of the world can live in relative peace today.

In November it is a time of joyful celebration of the victories that have been won. It is because of them that many people of the world can live in relative peace today.

Some people would ask, ”What is there to rejoice about?  Our men and women are still perishing on the battlefields of the world?" That is a question that calls for an answer.

First of all, we need to always remember and celebrate the victories, while not forgetting the sacrifices that continue today. If we remember the victories and learn from them, the celebrations will continue. Much is written about the victories in battle; however, If you talk with Veterans of all wars, there were other victories to celebrate. We need to celebrate the lives of many children, who were changed because our veterans gave them love in the midst of gunfire, hunger, loss of family members and so forth. These veterans have done this with a candy bar, a piece of gum, a pencil, a notebook, clothing, almost anything that the soldier had or that people at home has sent for the soldier to give to those who need some love and the assurance that those who were fighting in their land, cared about them and loved them.

As we again celebrate Veteran’s Day, why not check with the Red Cross or another organization to see what you might gather together to send to a member of the Armed Forces. In Honor of Veterans let us continue the victories of giving hope to the poor and needy children of the war torn areas wherever they might be?

GOD’S PEACE. SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.

THE TV EVANGELISTS CONTROVERSY

MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY

There are many named days that are self serving and/or frivolous. MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY on October 25 is not one of them. This a Day that we should all take seriously and pray about being a participant.

Many choose not to participate because they don’t have time, OR they don’t know what to do, OR they feel that just one person cannot make a difference.

If you are one of those people, please take a moment to read my response to you:

YOU DON’T HAVE TIME – How much time does it take to smile at someone, or just to have a smile on your face the greater part of each day? The next person you see at the store, at work, at school, or on the street may desperately need to see a smile, and what a DIFFERENCE IT COULD MAKE if they saw your smile.

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO – Each of us have talents that could make a big difference in the life of someone. There are many, many agencies looking for people with your talents to volunteer in whatever they do to serve people. Names and phone numbers of these places are readily available. If you can’t find a place, let me know and I will try to help you in your search. Maybe you don’t want a regularly scheduled time to volunteer; then do it on your own schedule. Just look around and you can identify plenty of ways that you can make a difference. Is there someone in your neighborhood who should not be on a ladder to change a light bulb or something similar? Is there someone who lives alone and does not often have pie or cake because a whole pie or cake is too much for them to eat? Get better acquainted with those around you at home, work, or school. Learn their needs and where you can, offer to help, and YOU WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

ONE PERSON CANNOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE – In the above examples it is one person making a difference. In larger tasks, each one additional person who joins hands in the task MAKES A DIFFERENCE in the outcome of the task.

On MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY will you at the very least pray this simple prayer?

LORD, I want to make a difference.
Open my eyes that I might see what you would have me do, And give me the strength and courage to do it, AMEN.

GOD’S PEACE. SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.

WHERE DID THAT TREE COME FROM?

We are fortunate to have many trees on our property. The trees bring beautiful color in their growing season and then the brilliant colors of the Fall. The trees provide shade on a hot summer day and give protection when the winds blow. Some produce tasty fruits and nuts, and a few can become a nuisance, such as when the wind blows through the cottonwood trees.

Trees are also interesting in that we sometimes discover a tree growing where we know that we have not planted one. Then we ask, “Where did that tree come from?” Sometimes we can answer the question by saying that the winds blew the seed and it landed there; other times the birds receive the credit for dropping the seed, and then there are the times when we have buried garbage that contained seeds.

There is one more interesting way that these trees appear. We know that at the base of the tree trunk, suckers often grow. These suckers grow from the roots of the tree that are just below the top layer of soil. This is easy to understand. Then there are times when these same trees will shoot up a distance away from the tree or even from roots of a tree that has been cut down years before. It is hard to imagine that these roots can remain for a period of time, and a new tree will shoot forth from the root.

Maybe this can help us to understand the references to the “Root of Jesse” as is found in Isaiah 13 and other places. Jesus was “of the house and lineage of David” and David was a descendent of Jesse. From David to Jesus, not much is heard of this lineage; yet the root remained alive, and from that root arose a new shoot -- Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Not only do those tree shoots help us to understand this, they also challenge us to be diligent in our Bible Study and in going into all nations teaching and baptizing in the name of Jesus. We sometimes pass off accounts of the Church of Jesus Christ surviving after years of nothing being heard of it behind the Iron Curtain, in China, and in other lands where Christianity has been outlawed and persons who believed in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit were persecuted and even killed. Yet the roots remained. When the Iron Curtain was lifted, the church came forth from the roots; the same in China, and we hear of the same thing happening in other countries where Christianity is not welcome.

There is still the ever important area of these roots and our youth. For some reason, over the years we have backed away from taking seriously the planting of these seeds and the growing of these roots in the lives of youth. While athletics are demanding more and more time, the church is providing less and less. How can roots grow if they are not properly fed?

The next time you see a new tree shooting forth, instead of asking, “Where did that tree come from?” ask yourself, “Are my roots strong enough to survive if my rights to freedom of religion are taken away?” Then ask another question, “Am I doing as much as I can to help the youth and others strengthen their roots?” May we be the water and the fertilizer that the roots of our faith and the roots of the faith of others may survive--regardless of whatever attacks may seek to destroy our faith.

GOD’S PEACE. SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.

SEPTEMBER 30 & OCTOBER 1, 2007
CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP WEEK
 

This is the beginning of Christian Leadership Week. You probably will not read anything in the paper about it, talk shows will ignore it, except some of the religious talk shows, and it may not have been mentioned in your church this week.

THE ISRAELI FARMERS MISSED THE FIRST STEP!
 

The Toledo Blade carried an interesting story in the Religion Section on September 8, 2007. The headline read, "Israeli farmers coping with requirement to stop work." The problem arises because the Ultra-Orthodox Jews still follow an ancient Old Testament law that requires them to stop working their fields for a year, every seventh year. This began with Rosh Hashana at sundown on September 12 and continues until Rosh Hashana in the fall or 2008. This is known as a Sabbatical year.

The problems are real. Many of the companies that buy spices are ultra orthodox and will not buy these spices during the sabbatical year. For the ultra orthodox farmer, the profit margin is so low that they can’t afford to go a year without the income from their fields. Some non orthodox merchants go along with the sabbatical year because they do not want to lose the business of the ultra orthodox Thus the sabbatical year has become an economic issue versus a religious issue, but it should not be an issue at all.

If my understanding of the Old Testament is correct, along with the command that the land lay fallow every seventh year is the promise that God will provide. This is where I believe these farmers missed the first step and why they are having problems today.  If we go back to the interpretation of the dreams of the seven fat cows being devoured by the seven lean cows and the same with the stalks of corn, we remember that God said that during the seven good years the people were to put aside enough to last them through the seven lean years. Therefore, if they are going to observe this ancient law, they must take the first step of preparing for it in the six preceding years.

While Christianity has long ago understood that Jesus abolished many of these laws, this does raise some questions and makes a point. The point is that doing God’s will takes work. For these ultra-Orthodox Jews, they seem to have forgotten the work they needed to do to prepare and should not expect anyone to support them in something that God has given them directions for implementing. The question that it raises is this. Sabbaticals still exist.  In the church, elected officials, presidents and professors of Seminaries and other Higher Education often take a sabbatical year or maybe a shorter period of time. My problem with this is that many who take sabbaticals also miss the first step. A sabbatical is not something that is earned or given, it is something that a person chooses to do as a part of his or her Christian Life. If that is the case, then the person who seeks a sabbatical should prepare in the preceding years to have the resources available to exist during the sabbatical time. It seems to me to be wrong to take money given for the Mission of the Church to provide Sabbaticals that are often in some wonderful vacation spots overseas.

GOD’S PEACE. SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.

LEST WE FORGET

Today marks another somber observance of the event that few people believed could ever happen. Yet it did. In New York, Washington D.C. and rural Penns