Testimony

Testimony “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord,” (2 Timothy 7 & 8) Paul traveled the world in a constant testimony for God through Christ. He did an easy time in prison once he followed what could only be stated as a hard time. The message above was written while on a kind of death row. Paul knew the end was near; even then, he was testifying and true to his faith. We had a pastor who used to say that the average Methodist invited a guest to church every 12 years. He was being critical of our ability to testify and invite. He wanted to start including an occasional personal testimony in the Sunday service, so he extended an open invitation to the congregation. No one responded. OOPS! That was a hint as to why we were a declining church. We are very nice but private people. One of my character defects is that I love to talk (often way too much!). However, that’s in my world of family, business, and especially sales. I was way too quiet regarding my faith journey and had a spirit of timidity in that area. Pastor Rick changed that. Thus, now there is this book and weekly messages. In our world today, we are often in places where testimony regarding our faith is a challenge. We are hushed by rules; at school, scouts, sports, and just about everywhere we go; talking trash is in; talking faith is out. There is hope; we need love and self-discipline to testify and invite people to join us. WE CAN DO IT. Thought for Today: Let us look for an opportunity to discuss our faith. If we are uncomfortable with that, let’s find an opening to invite someone to join us this week. Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, we pray for the strength to represent you, your ideals, and your will here on earth. We thank you for the opportunity to be at peace and do your work. Amen

I Yam What I Yam (Popeye)

I Yam what I Yam "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," (Philippians 4-13) Was Popeye a philosopher? Cartoonists often are. When confronted with difficult situations, Popeye would say, "I yam what I yam?" gulp down his spinach and defend right. We are not all Popeyes, and we are expected to conform, often to standards below our Christian faith standards, and may face difficulties if we do not. It is necessary to understand who we are and what we are and keep the Lord in our daily lives. We need our "spinach." . In many ways, we are continually fighting image syndrome. Quite often, we get flack because we don't fit in. Conformity is the word, and clones are the result. How did some prophets or John the Baptist fit in with the rest of their society? Probably not too well at times, and they were special. The truth is you are you. You are who God created you to be, and he wants you to know who you are and understand your individual characteristics. No one else is exactly like you. God created you and then broke the mold. You are unique, and it is all right to be you. Don't let others shape you. That is God's task. He started with you, will finish with you, and will be with you. He is our spinach. He does want you to be you. Thought for the Day: Let us search for the person God wants us to be to serve him better. Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we travel through our weekly chores, we need to see a way to help You. We often lose track of our plan; sometimes, we are too busy and do not understand it. This week, we pray that we may find a better way to serve You and make life better for everyone. Amen.

Don't Fake It

Don't Fake IT "Woe to you …you hypocrites! … on the outside, you appear to people as righteous, but on the inside, you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." (Matthew 23v27) One of my favorite themes is being true to our faith by being open and honest. Too many people in the world have a different reality than Christians. Openness comes with some social consequences. As Christians, we are taught that the world has an abundance supplied by God, and I believe that is true, but there is a significant distribution problem. It is as if the resources are limited. In America and throughout most of the world, life is competitive. Dealing with the wealth of Western civilization and how it relates to Christianity is scary. Recently, when discussing a stewardship campaign at our church, it was mentioned that we would not need the government to run social programs if all Christians would tithe. That would be great. Each of us needs to be as good as we can be to contribute to the positive factor in society. We need to take social risks to reach our real rewards. "He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior." (Psalm 24v4,5) Thought for Today: We must choose today to be straight and true or hold back a bit. We must make tough choices and keep a pure heart to improve the world around us. Prayer for Today: Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the many blessings and opportunities you bring. This week we pray for the chance to demonstrate our faith to others, to help. We pray to be able to do your will here on earth. Amen

Busyness

BUSYness "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure I have fought the good fight I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4 6 & 7) Over the years, I have come to relate closely to the race analogies used by Paul in his letters. They are meaningful today because the events around the world have thrown us into a state of high BUSYness. (Spell-check hates that word, but I like it!). Paul's message above is not about a marathon, a workweek, or getting to the children's activities; it has nothing to do with our BUSYness. It has to do with keeping our faith peaked during the process of life. BUSYness! I wrote this today because retired old Bob is too busy with retirement stuff: writing, blogging, helping others in need, increasing my exercise program, and generally being Bob. For the second day in a row, my morning meditation did not fit. In the early 1990s, my daughter gave me a devotional, "With All My Strength" by H. Norman Wright." Before that, I skimmed the newspaper while watching the morning TV news and drinking my coffee. That would increase my stress and negativity. Reading the devotional improved my attitude, and as a result, my life has improved through spiritual growth. Today, I read Paul's message to Timothy before tackling the day's tasks. You see, life is excellent but longer than a marathon. Sometimes called the daily grind. Life is good when the good fight is supported by spiritual growth. Finish your race by keeping the faith. Thought for the Day: In a counter to Paul's message about the race, I read the following from the 23rd Psalm: "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul." Take a prayer break today and every day. Prayer for Today: Dear Father, today we pray for personal peace.

Peace

Peace “Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. …they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide….” (Jeremiah 33 vs. 6 & 9) Today is a great day here in Minnesota. The sky is blue, the temperature is in the mid-seventies (That’s the twenties for my Euro-friends), and I have had a swim, a jog, and nine holes of golf. I am tired and at peace as I write this. I hope that world peace (which includes family, city, county, national, and any other peace!) is like the weather. It will come someday. After World war two there was the famous picture of the soldier kissing the nurse in Times Square. After all, that was the war to end all wars. In the fifties, a friend from New Hampshire received the Silver Star for his contributions to “keeping the peace” in Korea. At my fiftieth high school reunion, the list of deceased was overwhelmingly male. It had a lot to do with Vietnam and agent orange. These people contributed to peace and protected our country, and I greatly appreciate their efforts. The prophet Jeremiah talked about peace 2600 years ago. We are hopeful and pray for it to come, and most of us are willing to help it along. For all of us reading this today, let us contribute a bit of love to the situation. Let us enjoy our peace and hope that it spreads. Thought for Today: Think about how peaceful life is and appreciate it. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we pray for world peace and peace in our families, communities, cities, and nations. We recognize that is a lot to ask, but we ask you for help. Please show us how we can apply your will toward this lofty goal in our lives. We pray for the safety of the world’s soldiers through the end of hatred and war. Amen

Share Your Spirit

Share Your Spirit "And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but tablets of human hearts." (2 Corinthians 3:3) In the early 1990s, the pastor at our small church introduced the concept that we were all ministers, and his function was facilitator or spiritual leader. He encouraged us to speak our faith, demonstrate our spirituality daily, and reach out to people. He used to say that the average Methodist invited a guest to church every 22 years. In our wildest dreams, we may someday achieve world peace, resolve world hunger, and become an ethnically and racially blended society. When that happens, it will not happen through our politics today. It will be a Godly event that we cannot perceive. We are all ministers and have the opportunity to work every day towards an improved society. Language and color divide us into nations and social groups. However, there is a common language,".., not on tablets of stone, but tablets of human hearts." We all have a job to do. Thought for Today: We can easily get caught up in our activities. Families have sports programs, school issues, and business issues, while singles have their way of filling the week. Yes, most people in the world keep busy. Today, let us seek the opportunity to demonstrate and share our spirit with someone. Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, today we thank you for the people you placed in our lives who have supported and led us to grace. Today, we pray for the opportunity to contribute to your will here on earth. Amen

Our World

Our World "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3 vs. 5) As an octogenarian, I constantly wonder about the direction society is going. Remember the good old days? It seems that whatever age you are, they exist. Two of my mom's favorite expressions were "Live and Learn" and "The more you know, the more you don't know." By now, we "Octos" know it all. Hah. In the 50s, TV was going to ruin us. We spent more time watching it than reading, but we still read books. Then, in the 1980s, we bought an Apple IIE computer, and a new age began. In our ever-evolving society, the only constant in the human race is "change." What has not changed? Nature. We still have four seasons; the sun rises and sets, and tides ebb and flow. It is September, and here in the Northland, the evenings are cool, school has started, and a few leaves are beginning to turn. Man's technology changes the way we operate. Our constant is our God-given world. We will read on our phones and tablets and send emails through cyberspace. All the while, God's world will continue to evolve. Thought for Today: Give thanks for the many fall activities; school begins, kids are excited, and the formal learning process starts. To some, the start of the fall sports season holds significant meaning. To others, the fall means hunting and being outdoors. It would be easy, amidst all the activities, to forget God. Remember that all this is God's work, and give thanks for it all. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we thank you for your patient love. We hope and pray that we may use that love to understand this complex world and apply it to the benefit of everyone. Amen