Halloween

Halloween 1991 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4 verse 6) On October 31st, 1991, Halloween was a significant event in the northern part of the United States. We had two events to prepare for: children trick or treating and June's departure to the UK for a family visit on November 1st. Mother Nature also had a plan she had not consulted with us on; the great Halloween three-day blizzard in Minnesota was a piece of what is now known as "The Perfect Storm." Paul told the Philippians, "Do not be anxious about anything…" but millions of Americans were anxious that weekend. People died on lost ships on the Grand Banks, and Minneapolis had 30 inches of snow. But it was not all bad on our end. Let me explain. We had a temperature drop in the early afternoon, and a snowstorm started. There were six inches of snow on the ground, and we prayed for the children's safety. That is not unusual in Minnesota in the fall, and we did not expect it to be anything but a fun Halloween. We had already decorated the outside of the house with Christmas lights, so we turned them on. The lights drew a large group of Halloween revelers. We met them with a special greeting, "Ho Ho Ho, Happy Halloween." There were 15 inches of snow in the morning, and the visibility was near zero. A trip to the airport seemed impossible. We decided to depart after lunch for a 6:30 flight, and the twenty-minute drive took over two hours and was very dangerous. June's flight departed 3 hours late, and I had a three-hour ride home. Happy Halloween. Tonight is Halloween; enjoy it with your neighborhood goblins. Thought for Today: Halloween is special, and we should enjoy it with the revelers. We should also think back to 1991 and be prayerful. Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, this week, we pray for children on a day they look forward to each year. We pray that they are safe and have a great evening. We give thanks for their presence in our lives. Amen

Harvest

Harvest "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9 vs. 6-8) Since retirement and downsizing in 2006, June and I have not had the benefit of gardens as we had at our home for twenty-seven years. We spent long hours tending them, and we had a bountiful harvest. We do not miss all that work because we have other harvests. As apartment dwellers, we have forty to fifty days a year to fill that used to be spent gardening. We now spend those days together, sowing seeds in our relationship, spending time with others, and helping where we did not have time before. The crop is now a closer relationship with each other and friends. This different harvest is a blessing. Paul's analogy of reaping crops in his message to the Corinthians is still valid. We all need to sow seeds daily in relationships, our minds, and each other to reap the harvest of love and friendship. Thought for Today: Let's take a quick look at our calendar and see where we can sow seeds for our future, our worldly lot, and the Lord because He is our real future. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we live in a world of hate and anger. This week, we pray that we may sow seeds of love that will temper negativity and help spread love in our world.

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