Ramblings From Ron

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RAMBLING THOUGHTS

FROM RON

 

I believe in Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. While modern inventions have changed our way of life, for some reason many in the church, both clergy and lay, want to reinterpret God’s Word to make it fit the society of today. It is my hope that my RAMBLING THOUGHTS might lead you to consider that what the Bible calls Sin is still Sin and what the Bible calls Love is still Love. I will be talking about the ‘SOMETHINGS" that God wants us to do, about general topics, and sharing thoughts on Bible passages now and then. On whatever I write, I am interested in your feedback. When it comes to talking about God’s Word, only our Triune God knows the exact Truth. If you think I am in error, please tell me and maybe in this way, we can both grow, not only in our Faith, but in anticipation of the Heavenly Mansions that Jesus has gone to prepare for us in His Father's House.

 

God's Peace.  See You At The House. 

 

 

 

MY COFFEE POT DID NOT WORK


It may seem odd, but we have two coffee pots on the counter at all times. There is a reason for this and it is not because my wife drinks Decaf and I prefer regular. Years ago we needed a new coffee pot as ours suddenly quit working. The store where we made the purchase did not have many in stock as they were awaiting a new shipment. The one we purchased was, and is, a good coffee pot but it did not have the timer to automatically turn on in the morning. This was not a problem, but we often said that it would have been nice on those mornings when things became rushed as we were preparing to leave for the work of the day.


The next Christmas we received an automatic pot from one of the kids and it was great.  As wonderful as it was, there was still one problem. The gauge that indicated how much water you put in the reservoir was inside the reservoir. Now that is fine unless you are in a wheelchair and can’t see inside. Therefore, when Jane is home we use the automatic and she fills it with the water.


The first time I made coffee after Jane left on a recent trip, I had the water in and turned the switch to ON. Nothing happened. I checked the water level. I checked to see if the the coffee basket was in correctly and I even gave the unit a tap. Nothing.  Now what would I do?  I even checked to make sure that it was plugged in. Yes, the white cord was plugged in. I was about to give up and make some Instant Coffee and then I remembered there should be two white cords plugged in. Sure enough, the end of the cord to the coffee pot was in a place where I could not see it. The air purifier was running fine. I plugged the pot in and instantly the fresh brewed coffee began to flow into the pot.


My life is sometimes like that and maybe yours is also. Does it seem like things are always going wrong? Do you feel like you can’t accomplish anything? Maybe you want to give up and just not do anything.


I have had those feelings many times and each time the same problem existed. I was not plugged in to God. Once I plugged in through prayer or just what I call God thinking or God talking, immediately His fresh brewed and freely given strength began to flow into me. Sometimes I wonder why it takes me so long to check the plug.


Make it a point to check several times a day to be sure you are plugged in to God and are nourished by the tremendous flow of His Love that enters your life.


GOD’S PEACE.  SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE

 


August 15, 2008

LET’S TAKE A STAND--AND SUPPORT NATURE


In January I wrote the first of what I planned to be a series of LET’S TAKE A STAND articles. In that article I wrote against the high price of a cup of coffee. To be sure, that may be a minor issue when compared to other major problems today.

As I write this, the Newscasts are filled with stories of the devastating floods in Iowa and other States. There have been a far above average number of tornados bringing death and destruction. The memories of devastating hurricanes, cyclones, and tsunamis are still vivid in our minds. Earthquakes, mud slides, forest fires, and volcanic eruptions continue to be reported. All of these have claimed many thousands of lives and caused millions, if not billions, of dollars, in property destruction.

It is tragic that these things happen, but it is even more tragic that instead of doing something to prevent these disasters, we seem to be doing everything we can to encourage and increase them.

LET’S TAKE A STAND AND SUPPORT NATURE instead of continuing to destroy it. Let me hasten to say that this is NOT a statement about Global Warming. That is a subject that I will leave to the scientists as I certainly do not have the ability to understand what is going on in the atmosphere. This IS a statement about living in God’s Creation and being responsible caretakers of what God Created and called GOOD as He provided for our use.

In the 1960’s as I began my ministry in the rural village of Chatfield, Ohio, many farmers were clearing acres and acres of woods so that they might have more land to till and produce more corn, soybeans and wheat. The practice was coming to a close soon after we arrived in Defiance County, Ohio, in 1975. Just a few years later there were many farmers planting acres and acres of trees on land that had once produced crops. Those who were planting new wood lots had found that they needed the windbreak that the trees had formerly provided for them. This was not unlike what those who lived through the Dust Bowl Years experienced in the Midwest. It took some devastating times to discover that the trees and the grasses held the soil together, kept the winds manageable, and produced a great supply of oxygen. There are some excellent books written about the Dust Bowl Years, and I encourage you to read of this sometime forgotten part of American History.

A very simple way to TAKE A STAND AND SUPPORT NATURE is to take care of the trees that are on your property and if there is space, plant some more.  Maybe your church could use some more trees. What a perfect gift it would be In Honor of or In Memory of someone. Flower gardens, houseplants, and the well-cared for green grasses add beauty and oxygen for all to enjoy. Maybe you are the one that is needed to plant and care for a flower garden at your church. Some people find great joy in starting new plants from ones they have in their home or in their garden and then giving these plants to someone who loves flowers but either is not able to produce them or can’t afford to buy them. What joy the plants will give and often what a treat for some lonely person to have a plant to care for day after day.

I believe that God had a definite purpose in everything that He created, a definite way that His Creation would add to our lives. Let us thank God for the benefits we receive from His Creation of flowers and trees and do our part to be good caretakers of His loving gifts to us. LET’S TAKE A STAND AND SUPPORT NATURE.

 

GOD’S PEACE. SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.

 


June 18, 2008

ARE YOUR DEVOTIONS BORING?


Many people miss the great gifts that can be theirs if they do not approach their Devotional Time in the right way. As a result when people finish their Devotion for the day, it may be only a few minutes before they would not be able to tell you what they had read. Some have even said that what they read that day was kind of boring and there is no reason to remember what they had been reading.


In our Devotional time, we are in a conversation with God. When we are in conversation with others, we expect them to remember what we are talking about and they expect the same of us. If I have spent time in conversation I feel hurt if someone says he or she will do something and then does not. The same applies to the Devotional relationship with God and me and with God and you.


Here are some suggestions that might help your Devotion time become alive and memorable:

1. Have the materials that you need. This can be just a Bible if you are using the Through the Bible in a Year Program.


2. Have a pad of paper and pen or pencil to write down questions or thoughts that come to your mind. Reviewing your notes later can help you to recall and rethink your Devotion.


3. A dictionary will help you to understand words that are new to you. If you don’t know what a word means, it is possible that you will misunderstand what the Scripture says.


4 A quiet place for your Devotion time. No TV or radio to interrupt your thoughts. This can be done in your car. Get to work, school or an appointment early so that you can have your devotions in the quiet of your car.


5. Some people find it helpful to have their devotions with others. Some at the table before or following a meal. Some with friends over mid-morning coffee. Some with coworkers before work or at a break time. The discussion can be most helpful and the prayers for each other are so valuable.


6. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit before you begin. Then read and pray with an open mind, You may not notice anything the first days or weeks but I believe that if you are sincere as you talk to God, you will feel God’s answers as the Holy Spirit works within you.


7. Approach your time of Devotion as something you want to do, not something that you HAVE to do. Devotion, by the meaning of the word, is something that is freely and joyfully given.


8. Ask others if they have a meaningful time of Devotion. If they say, YES, then ask what they do. If they say NO, you may have planted a seed for them to consider a Devotion time for themselves.

Devotions don’t need to be boring, they can be alive and exciting. Don’t do all the talking, all the demanding, give GOD a chance to talk to you. As the days and months go by, it is very possible that you will look back and ask yourself, “When and how did my life change for the better?”


GOD’S PEACE. SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.

05/17/2008

HAVE A POWERFUL PENTECOST!


When meetings were held in the days before Pentecost, our Bishop would always greet us with the words, HAVE A POWERFUL PENTECOST.  Then he would encourage us to do the same when we went back to our own congregations. It was the belief of Bishop Holle that if we are going to say Merry Christmas or Happy Easter, then it is important that we wish others a Powerful Pentecost.


This request was given to us over 25 years ago and to this day I have never heard anyone except Bishop Holle, wish another a Powerful Pentecost.  In fact, I have rarely thought about it myself.


Now with the Festival of Pentecost here again, I wonder if maybe  Bishop Holle was right and those of us who remained silent were wrong.  In fact, maybe so wrong that we have hindered people from realizing and responding to the HOLY SPIRIT.


In the calendar of the Church Year, the Season of Christmas goes from December 25 to January 6, Easter goes from Easter Sunday to Pentecost, about 50 days long, but Pentecost lasts from usual late May or very early June until Advent begins either the last Sunday in November or first Sunday in December.  It would seem to me that a Festival Season that lasts that long should have the same sense of importance as the others.


One other point.  The main action, that being the Birth, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus have taken place in the Advent through Easter part of the Church Year.  The rest of the year is Pentecost and the Sundays of Pentecost. It is in this Season that we hear and learn of the work of the Holy Spirit within us, we hear the stories of the faith of those who have labored in God’s vineyards before us, and at the end of the Pentecost Season see the visions of the Heavenly Mansions where Christ the King awaits to return to receive unto Himself those who have believed in Him and in faith, kept His Commandments.


I wish you not only a POWERFUL PENTECOST, but also

the POWER of the Holy Spirit working within you.


the POWER of the Holy Spirit leading you in His Service.


the POWER of the Holy Spirit that will, at your request, lift you from the depth of sin to the height of forgiveness.


the POWER of the Holy Spirit that is freely given to those who believe.


the POWER of the Holy Spirit, what a gift. Have you accepted that gift, that POWER into your life?  If you have, then you know how important it is to lead another to the joy of having A POWERFUL PENTECOST.

GOD’S PEACE.   SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.

05/11/2008

I WAS STUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY

 

I not only got stuck in the driveway, but the snow was so deep and soft that the wheels sunk way, way down and I could not even rock it back and forth.  Now, this may seem like a strange subject for the 9th of May when the grass is green and early flowers are in beautiful bloom. The thing is, I was in my “thinking room” this afternoon,  and all of a sudden I remembered this event that took place nearly 30 years ago.  (If you don’t know what a “thinking room” is, I will write a RAMBLING THOUGHT about it in the coming days).
 
Now, back to the story of what happened when I got stuck, followed by a question for your Life in Christ.  I was serving as the Pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran and St. Mark’s Lutheran Congregations in Defiance County, Ohio.  A faithful member had passed away and on this evening I went to the Funeral Home in Napoleon to be with the family as they made the arrangements.  It had been snowing heavily that day, and I was happy to see the snowplows working on the country roads as the snow had stopped falling.
 
Normally it would take about 2 hours to make the arrangements. By 9 p.m., when I was on my way home, the roads were clear and the trip was uneventful.  That changed as I turned into my driveway.  The snow plow had been past and had done a good job on the road, BUT the snow was piled along the side of the road.   I had to give it a little extra to get through the snow left by the plow. The pile raised the front wheels as I traveled over it and when the back wheels came over I did not want to be going to fast and hit something, so as I slowed down, the wheels dropped into the deep snow and I went no farther.
 
At that time, I was not using a wheelchair, just a full leg brace and a cane for my post polio.  One thing I could not do was walk through deep snow without assistance.  But that was no problem because my family was home, and they would help me.  I honked the horn.  NO RESPONSE.  I had another idea.  I opened and closed the garage door and repeated that several times.  Certainly someone would hear the door open and close and wonder why dad did not come into the house.  NO RESPONSE.  There was a light on in the upstairs bedroom that looked out over the driveway.  I honked my horn again and flashed my lights dim to bright, repeating this several times.  At last, the heads of two of our sons appeared in the window.  They saw me.  They waved at me.  They left the window, and I knew they were going to tell my wife that I was stuck in the driveway.  I waited. NO RESPONSE.
 
I really did not know what to do next.  Then for the first time since I became stuck, there was a car coming down the road from Napoleon.  As the car turned, it then stopped on the road near where I was.  The late Paul Knape got out of the car and offered to help.  Paul was a neighbor and part of his farm was just across the road from the parsonage.  I knew that Paul was just on his way home from a Dialysis Appointment in Toledo and that he should not help.  So I asked if he would go home and call my wife, and tell her to look out in the driveway because I need help.  He called. She looked.  She called another neighbor.  He came with a tractor and pulled me out.  I drove into the garage and we lived happily ever after.
 
Now, the question  concerning your Life in Christ.
 
First of all, let me say that Nick and Pat thought I was just honking to let them know that I was home, and my wife did hear the garage door go up and down, and she thought I had just stayed in the garage to do a little work. If they had known I needed help, they would have been there immediately. We are all like that, ready to help when we see the need.  With that understanding, here is the question:
 
How often do you see someone who needs your help and you pass on by without knowing that need?
 
My guess is that each of us do it on a regular basis.  Pray that God would open your eyes and your hearts to see and hear the pleas for some help, for a friend, or for even a simple hello and a few minutes of conversation.
 
GOD’S PEACESEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.

 

 

 

05/09/2008

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APRIL SHOWERS, MAY FLOWERS and WEEDS!

Here where I live, it seems like we have gone from Winter to Summer and have skipped Spring.  After weeks of cool weather and over abundant rains, the last few days the sun was bright and warm providing very comfortable early Summer temperatures.


Except for the always early small flowers that usher in the colorful moths of beauty in the flower garden, the only other signs of life were the green leaves emerging from the long winter nap beneath the soil.  With the sun warming the soil it will not be long before bulbs will send forth a vision of beauty and a fragrant aroma.

At the same time as the green of the flowers emerge, there are other seeds that have ended their winter rest, and various shades of green are observed in the brown soil. The ever watchful gardener will on a regular basis keep an eye on this green growth.  This growth comes from the same soil, but it is not a flower--it is a weed.  Once the weed is seen, the faithful gardener removes it so that it will not destroy the beauty of the flower bed.

While we give praise to the gardener for the beautiful, weed-free garden, we need to take a step back and see how we have failed in being gardeners for God.  God, in His chosen way, has provided the mother’s body as the haven for the life of a child to grow from conception until the child is ready for the world.  This would be the comparison to April Showers.  Under normal circumstances, when everything is ready, the baby bursts forth from the mother’s body as the flowers burst forth from the place of preparation in the soil.  This would be the May Flowers.

When it comes to the weeds, the similarity ends.  While the gardener works hard to get rid of them, the majority of people not only ignore, but also encourage, the growth of weeds in the lives of children today.  To be sure, we do a good job of health care, proper nutrition, keeping poisons out of the reach of children, teaching them to be polite, and so forth. 

The weeds of sin grow within and so often we do nothing to stop them.  For example:   I remember a young child letting loose with a string of swear words.  His mother apologized to the visitors by saying:  We try to tell him that is barn language, and he should not use it in the house.  No weeds were pulled, they were encouraged to grow.

I have known high school athletes who have been caught for under age drinking and being under the influence  Even though the rules say they should be suspended, the parents and athletic boosters gather together to overturn the rule, saying kids will be kids; they didn’t hurt anything.  The weeds were not pulled, they were encouraged  to grow.


In the above example, by overturning the suspension, the parents, athletic booster and school administration are say that winning the athletic event is the most important thing, not following the rules, not being responsible for your own behavior. The weeds were not pulled, they were encouraged to grow.

Yes, April Showers do bring May Flowers and the weeds are soon there.  The faithful gardener gets rid of he weeds before they take over the and choke out the flowers.

Yes, God’s Love showering upon you will bring forth the flowers of love and service.  The weeds of sin will soon follow and grow rapidly.  What kind of a gardener will you be?

GOD’S PEACE. SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.

 

 

04/22/2008

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THE NCAA AND HOLY WEEK

 

You might think that I am going to blast the NCAA for scheduling games during Holy Week. Certainly I am not happy with the prospect of games being played on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter.  Even so, I am not going to rant and rave about it.  In fact, maybe it is a good thing that the games are being played during these Holy Days as it is certainly a test of our faith.

 

Think about this.  What will your decision be as you are faced with the following questions?

 

On Thursday evening, will you be watching the games on your TV or will you be at your Church to hear again the words, "On the night in which he was betrayed, He took the Bread and broke it and gave it to them, saying, take and eat, this is My Body, given for you"?   And then will you hear, "Take and drink, this is My blood shed for you?"

 

On Friday, will you be watching the games on your TV at home or will you be at your church hearing again the SEVEN LAST WORDS FROM THE CROSS at a service that takes us to the OLD RUGGED CROSS.  If you have a Service of Darkness, will you experience the solemnity of the great Sacrifice as Jesus died for you? When you leave in silence will you allow that silence in which you leave worship to stay with you throughout the weekend until the JOYOUS NEWS of the Resurrection of Christ is proclaimed?

 

On Easter Sunday, if you live in an area where the games begin while worship services are being held, will you be at worship or in front of the TV? Additionally, when your family gathers for Easter Dinner, will conversation and reflections upon your worship that day be put aside, overshadowed by the game on TV?

 

The NCAA has done you a favor by presenting you this test. You have to make a choice. Will you Worship the Crucified and Risen Savior or the basketball game?

 

We daily have to face the challenge and the question that Joshua presented to his family.

 

15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15 (NKJV)

 

GOD’S PEACE. SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.

 

03/19/2008

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IF GOD DIDN’T CARE


I was watching the Gaither Homecoming Hour on WLMB TV, a Christian Television Station, in Toledo, Ohio. On this program, Jake Hess was singing one of my favorites, “IF GOD DIDN’T CARE” written by Bill and Gloria Gaither. If you would like to hear and see this favorite of mine, there is a free video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCGquKgYkfc

As these beautiful words describing things that we would not have, “IF GOD DIDN’T CARE” ran through my head, I began to think of other things that would also fit. I began to wonder how much we take for granted and forget the fact that we would not even have IF GOD DIDN’T CARE?

But even more than that, how much do we ignore, push aside, destroy, change to meet our needs and do not even think about the fact that God gave it to us because HE CARES?

This is troublesome to me. As I sit here writing these words, I can think of pages and pages of examples of how by ignoring and even destroying precious gifts that have come to us from a caring and loving God, we are slowly but surely destroying our lives, our communities, our churches and our world.

Think about this. It is very easy to put all of the multitude of examples under one simple concept. God has said, “If you love me, you will keep My Commandments.” If we love someone, we trust that person, so in like manner, if we love God, we trust Him. The Children of Israel said that they loved God when He sent Moses to lead them out of captivity and into the Promised Land. But THEY DID NOT TRUST HIM. God gave them the Ten Commandments because HE CARED. Even though they were physically present when Moses came down from the mountain with those Commandments, they did not trust God and they rejected them. And what a miserable life they had wandering through the wilderness, not realizing that they had rejected a great gift that God had given to them because HE CARED.

Today, we are much the same as those Children of Israel. We say we love God, but we don’t trust Him enough to understand that HE CARES about us so much that He gave us the Commandments. I believe that our lives and our world are in the captivity of fear, distress, and we are wandering aimlessly, as were the Children of Israel.

Please give this some thought. Please take time to share with me a thought on one single wrong in your life, your family or your community that has happened because God was not trusted enough to follow His Commandments. There is no doubt in my mind that God gave the Commandments because He Loved the Children of Israel and because He Loves you and me.

IF GOD DIDN’T CARE, He would have let His creation continue to wander aimlessly to their doom. But he did and does CARE. He did and does LOVE.

There would be no hope for me, no hope for you, no hope for the world, IF GOD DIDN’T CARE. What are you going to do?

GOD’S PEACE. SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.

 

 

02/29/2008

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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.

 

 

02/17-18/2008

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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.


The most popular one of the three is the only one that we pay for and it seems that is something people think no home should be without. That’s right, it is the Call Waiting feature of your telephone service. The reason I say that some people think that no home should be without it is that I have had some people become upset with me as they have called and received a busy signal. One person told me: "I called and got a busy signal; don’t you care about not knowing that I called? The man was offended because I chose not to pay a monthly fee just so I could take his call. I also think that call waiting leads to an act of rudeness. I really don’t like it when I am talking with someone and they tell me to wait because there is a call waiting, Are people too busy to call back later? When someone calls me, and we are talking, the person I am talking to deserves my full attention and should not have to wait while I see who is calling. One last negative. Call waiting is one of many, many low cost unnecessary services or items that many people use. If we took the combined sum of all of these expenses, what a difference we could make in the lives of those with needs far more important that having to dial again because of a busy signal.


The second Call Waiting is equally unpleasant to me, but there is no cost for it. Most of the time we identify this as "Please Hold." How irritating it is to punch a bunch of numbers, then some more, until we are finally told what number to press to get a real person. That is bad enough. When we press these numbers, we are then told that the next available representative will take our call. As we wait and get more irritated, we keep getting the recording, "Please continue to hold, your call is very important to us." How important is it if I have to wait and wait and wait? How I wish that there would be a person who would say, all of our representatives are busy now, please give me your phone number and I will have one call you back as soon as possible. With the computer it should be a simple thing to even receive an approximate number of minutes or hours before we will be called. Wouldn’t that make more sense that having upset customers who sit there with the phone for a very long time. Maybe these ‘Please Hold" businesses don’t think that time is very important to us.


The third Call Waiting and the one I really like is the least used and there is no cost. This service provides help in so many ways: illness, grief, hunger, poverty, family relationships; in fact, any problem that anyone could face. Not only that, you don’t have to make the Call, you just have to answer it when the need is there. It is Jesus with the line constantly open to you, with His Call Waiting for you to answer. Remember, He said, "come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." The next time you have a problem His call to you is waiting and that is a call worth taking.

GOD’S PEACE. SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.
 

 

02/14/2008

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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.

 

 

02/12/2008

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WHY DO YOUNG PEOPLE DIE?


After my retirement from the active ministry in 2001, I accepted a part time position with the Rodenberger Funeral Home in Napoleon, Ohio. My duties center around the Visitation time when friends and relatives come to share in the grief of the bereaved family. Visitation times are different from community to community and range from two days of visitation to none. Here, an average visitation would be from 2 -9 on the day before the Funeral. The numbers of people who will come to pay their respects can range from 50 to 500, and occasionally, a little lower or higher.

I am there to assist the grieving family in any way that I can and to greet those who come for the visitation. I have many opportunities for conversation as the people come and as they leave. If there is a long line of visitors, as the line passes me, there are additional opportunities for discussion and questions.

The question that I am asked most frequently is, “Why do young people die?” The meaning of the word “young” in this question does not have a precise definition. It is asked when a child or a teen passes away. It is a normal question when death comes to those from 20 -60. I have even had people ask me this about persons in their 70’s and early 80’s. In each case, following the question will come the comment, “That’s too young to die.”

Of course the easy answer is that we all have to die and that we have not been given a guarantee as to how long we shall live.

That answer does not satisfy anyone. Possibly the better question is Why do some people die younger than others?

The Bible tells us that we are conceived in sin, and I believe that life begins at the time of conception. I believe that sin became a part of me from the very first second of my life. The Bible also speaks of “the wages of sin are death.” Sometimes it is obvious that sin causes some “young” people to die. Examples are accidental deaths where alcohol, drugs. speeding, ignoring stop signs or lights, or improper use of cell phones is the cause. Certainly murder would also be another example.

We like to talk about children inheriting talents and abilities from their parents, but tend to ignore the fact that children can inherit weaknesses in the body or tendencies to acquire diseases that cause the young to die. Even though people know many families where death regularly come at an early age, all too often life styles do not change and preventive medicine is not sought. When we either abuse or neglect the body that God has given to us, that is also sin, for we are then neglecting or harming a precious gift that God has given to us.

The sins of those who release pollutants into the air, water or soil lead to deaths of those that are too young. Deaths that come from unnecessary activities such as auto racing, athletics, dangerous stunts, etc. also lead to death of the young. Far too many die young because of malnutrition or starvation because in a world of over production, a world of having all the money needed to send space crafts soaring into space, there is not enough money to move food from where it rots and spoils to where it could save lives AND that is sin.

Each death certificate states the cause of death unless there is no forensic way to determine it. Even so, sometimes we cannot say with certainty that inheritance, carelessness, abuse of the body, or anything else is the basic cause.

The important thing is not to determine what sin caused a death, The importance is for each of us to know that death can and will come at any time. As children of God we do not need to fear death. We can proudly state with St. Paul, O Death where is thy sting, O grave, where is thy victory? But thanks be to God who has given us the victory over death and the grave. From the little that has been revealed to us about Eternity with God, I strongly believe that when a person enters into Eternity with Christ, that person WILL NOT ASK, “Lord, why did I have to die so young?” but instead WILL ASK “Lord, why did you wait so long to call me home?”

WHY DO YOUNG PEOPLE DIE?

NOT because they sin, we all sin.

BECAUSE they can. and we all will.

Watch therefore, for you know not the day nor the hour when the Son of God will return.

GOD’S PEACE SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.

 

 

02/10-11//2008

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LET’S TAKE A STAND--COFFEE

 

I have long believed that all of the rhetoric that we hear, of the problems our nation and world faces, has little substance and leads nowhere. There is always talk about new legislation that needs to be enacted, new funding to correct the problems. Seldom, if ever, do these actions do anything except raise taxes and cause more anguish and frustration. I have long believed that most problems that plague our nation and world can only be resolved by individuals living and acting in the way that God would lead us.

 

LET’S TAKE A STAND will be a now and then series of THOUGHTS on both minor and major things we can do to help our way of life be pleasing to God.

 

Please feel free to send these THOUGHTS on to your friends. Please feel free to let me know if you agree or disagree. Please let me know if you have additional thoughts on the THOUGHT of the day. PLEASE TAKE A STAND.

 

Coffee may seem like an insignificant item on which to take a stand against the problems that face us daily, and it probably is. However, in the past years, not much seems to have been done about the major problems. Consider this:  Is it possible that by attacking some of the seemingly insignificant things that the bigger concerns will also be affected?

 

When I talk about coffee in this THOUGHT, I am not concerned about decaffeinated versus caffeinated, nor how many cups a day is too much, nor where the coffee beans grow or the cost when you buy a bag or can. I am thinking about the coffee you purchase by the cup. First of all I have a hard time understanding the cost of a cup of coffee, with a sandwich or a meal, anywhere from $1.25 to $2.50 and up depending on the general pricing of the restaurant. More irritating is the cost of a cup at a fast food restaurant or a coffee shop. Depending on the size and kind of coffee, the price can easily reach near $3.00, sometimes higher. I realize that some people might have five or six cups during the meal and conversation, and some will have several cups without ordering anything else.

 

I don’t know how many cups of coffee come from a pound, but at some prices it does not take many cups to pay for the pound. My question is, "Is it right to pay so much more than a normal markup for the cup of coffee? Is it right to take money that could be used for more important things and use it to buy a cup of coffee?"

 

There is much news coverage of the economic situation at present. People cannot afford to make purchases that keep our factories and retail outlets going. On the national news again we hear of a call for government funding to help businesses that are struggling. For some reason we do not understand that government cannot solve our economic problems; only the people can, as they spend their dollars with care. In my opinion, coffee that costs $1.00 on up is not a wise use of our money and contributes to our economic woes. Even worse, it makes it ever more difficult for us to support the charities who reach out to help those who cannot help themselves.

 

Yes, I enjoy my coffee. Yes, I go to town every morning for coffee. Yes, I do this with care because my tall cup of coffee and a roll or donut costs a grand total of 75 cents.

 

Will you TAKE A STAND and not buy coffee unless the price is reasonable?

 

GOD’S PEACE. SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.

 

 

01/13-14/2008

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

Once again I want to share with you a lesson that can be learned from the activities of our cats, Shadow and Princess. It was time for their annual check up at the Vet. Now that they are a little bigger and heavier, it is easier for my wife to take them to the Vet one at a time. All went well with Shadow, good health, everything fine. A week later it was time for Princess. Again all was well except for one thing. Shadow’s weight was fine, but Princess was a few ounces over the limit for a cat her size. The doctor suggested that instead of leaving the food out all of the time, to limit the amount put in the dish and only to leave it out long enough for them to eat. Of course, this meant that Shadow was also on the same limitations as Princess.

 

When it came time for their evening food, as she often did, Princess took a look at it, and then went off to sleep for a hour or so. After Shadow had eaten and Princess was still sleeping, the food dishes were picked up and put into a drawer. When Princess woke up, she came out to have her supper but there was no food there. Up until this point, the two cats had never had a time when they would hiss at each other; they were truly loving sisters. But not this time. Princess turned toward Shadow, arched her back and began to advance toward Shadow. It was as if Princess was saying to Shadow, "You ate my food, and now I am mad, and I’m going to get you for it." Fortunately, we were there and were able to intercede and stop things before a real catfight broke out. This stage of hostility went on for a couple of days before the harmony returned to the lives of the cats. Oh, yes, there are still times when a little hostility shows through.

 

Life is like that, isn’t it? Princess only assumed that Shadow ate her food. She had no proof. She did not know that we had taken it from her. How many times have we lashed out at others on the presumption that they had done something that upset us? Far too many times I am sure. Not only that, but sometimes it takes weeks, years and occasionally a lifetime before we can forgive someone for something they DID NOT do.

 

There is one more lesson from this story that we need to remember. Just like we were there to intervene between the two cats, God is there to intervene when we get ourselves into the same situation. Princess and Shadow responded to our intervention. Why can’t we respond when God, in His Love for us, intervenes? If we would respond, it might make this a better world.

 

GOD’S PEACE. SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.

 

 

01/09/2008

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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.
 

 

01/08/2008

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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.

 

 

11/11&12/2007

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THE TV EVANGELISTS CONTROVERSY

 

When I heard and read the news reports of the proposed investigation into the finances of some of the most well know TV Evangelists, I was both sorry and glad.

 

I was SORRY because if these accusations are true, all TV evangelists get hurt. There are many who work very hard on a very small number of gifts that they receive from their viewers. Some of them don’t ask for gifts and carry out their ministry trusting that God will provide. Then, if they receive something extra, they use it for extra ministry and not for themselves. We must pray for those who labor for Christ and not for their own glory.

 

I was GLAD because if these accusations are true, then these ministries must be exposed and people must turn their backs on them. If these accusations are true, then these are the false teachers that Peter warns about and we must refrain from supporting them. Are these accusations true? I don’t know. God knows. If they are true, are these the rich that Jesus talks about who come to the feast and go to the best seat at the table, ignoring the poor who look hungrily at the celebration. Are these the Pharisees who point at the Publican and say, "Thank God I am not a sinner like that man."

 

Just one more THOUGHT on this subject. There have been people who are in high places in Christian Television stations and networks who have come out against those accused. I only ask these executives, Why are these people still on your network and station? I realize that you need the income to keep your ministry going. Even so, stop and think for a moment about this question,. "Doesn’t the money you receive for airing these accused individuals feel like the 30 pieces of silver must have felt in the hands of Judas?"

 

GOD’S PEACE. SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.

 

 

11/10/2007

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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.

 

 

10/24/2007

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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.

 

 

10/01/2007

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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.


It is not my purpose in this THOUGHT to call for great celebrations giving praise and gifts to Christian Leaders. It is not my purpose to call for honors for those who have paid positions in Christian Leadership. It is not my purpose to praise those who have used their names or finances to gain honorary positions so that their name is associated with things that make them look good.


My purpose is to ask you to pray for those who freely give of their time and talents to LEAD people to the GOOD NEWS of the Gospel.


This could be the Pastor who is paid but goes far beyond the numbers of hours of work that the pay represents as he shares the GOOD NEWS not only with His Sunday Morning words but with his very life.


This could be that tireless person who works with the youth and not only understands them but is also able to let them know that God loves them. That LEADER is always ready to respond when a youth calls or comes for help.


It could be that person who regularly goes to nursing homes just to visit. That visit LEADS the residents to know that God has not forgotten them even if friends or family don’t come very often.


It could be the person who is a faithful volunteer at a Prison Ministry, a Nursing Home, a Soup Kitchen, a Homeless Shelter, or any way the actions show God’s Love.


It could be YOU. Who does the Holy Spirit want to help you LEAD one step closer to faith today?


Pray for all Christian Leaders that many might be led to Christ.


GOD’S PEACE. SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.

 

 

09/30-10/01/2007

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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.

 

 

09/13/2007

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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