Lauvers Mennonite Home

“The LINK” is a monthly, two page newsletter published by Lauvers. It is an inspirational newsletter that is mailed, free of charge to our friends and interested persons. It is mad e up of an article by pastor J, editorials, announcements about upcoming events, and news of church activities. You can request a monthly copy of the LINK by email at johnwg@nmax.net or by phone at 717 463 9091.

“This “season”[1] mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a love letter. Share some treasure. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Find the time. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Listen. Apologize if you were wrong. Try to understand. Float envy. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Appreciate. Be kind, be gentle. Laugh. Deserve confidence. Decry complacency. Express your gratitude. Go to church. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love. Speak it again. Speak it still once again.”

I received the above quote in a monthly email newsletter from a legal counsel group. While the content of the quote is overtly Christian and immensely practical and good, it was followed by several comments attempting to make it fit any or all faith communities. The attempt represents what is increasingly common in our country and what can be accurately labeled faith plagiarism.

It would be no less than shocking! All of what we do at Christmas would be seen with entirely new eyes! It would be a real moment of discovery. The question is, just what exactly do you expect Christmas to be or to mean to you this year? Do you expect it to be: * a “warm rush”, a few “fuzzy” feelings?

* the usual over spending of what you don’t have to impress people you don’t really want to give to anyhow?

Or are you feeling a need to follow the Christmas “stream” back to its source? Back to the springs that brought it into being? Back to the awesome story of God coming to visit us! Back to the common, ordinary stable, and the experience of a child being born into our human family; a very special child?

For that to happen, imagine with me, the experience of Christmas 2007, with Jesus at our side while we:

* make calls for “family” Christmas dinner plans, only to argue about the details and “leave” some relatives out.

* put experiencing family times well above the experiencing of God’s presence.

* are more interested in having “fun” than in God’s strategy and passion for urging people to turn from wrong and evil to what is good and right.

What a sad commentary! But it need not remain as such. The good news greatly outweighs what is tragic. The source springs of Christmas are just as good as new. The head lines from God’s anchors are still the same,

“ Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”*

Don’t settle for less. “Leftover” traces and remnants of “Christmas” simply will not do. Search for all that God has and for what He intended Christmas to be! Great joy will follow! Christmas 2007 will be for real! Merry Christmas! God’s very best to you and yours! Pst J

It was a gift, a good gift. Maybe even a very good gift. We all agreed. It had been a long day, but almost a perfect day. Good weather. Good friends. Safe traveling. A group of seventeen people, two boats, lots of little ones, and the limit on big ones. Certainly, it was a good gift.

The water was smooth, the temperature was right, and anticipation was high as Captain Joe steered the “Lucky Duck” out of the Herrington marina at Chesapeake Beach , Maryland on August 23rd. He directed the boat eastward across the bay toward the “Summer Gooses”, a favorite haunt of fish and fishermen. The companion boat followed suit. Soon hundreds of “spot” found their way into either the live tanks or the ice coolers. The latter would serve as fare on menus, the former as bait for the big ones. And the big ones soon followed! They went for the live bait over and over. “Oh, it must be a big one”. Self proclaimed or by stander announcements reflected the bending rods and pulling fish as the strippers desperately tried to free themselves of the hook and line that had taken them. A tragedy for them and the bait; but a good gift for us.

For many, a successful fishing trip is a good gift. But there are even better gifts. A fishing trip is just the tip of the iceberg. The Creator of this amazing universe has much more to offer. Jesus had something to say about fish and good gifts.[1] He insisted that God is able to do much better at giving good gifts even than a parent. On the strength of this goodness of God, he instructed us to be good to others, just like we want them to be good to us. We call this the golden rule, or the principle of reciprocity. Many good gifts find their roots in living out what Jesus instructed us to do. All truly good gifts find their roots in God. What a trip! What a discovery to know that God is good! That He delights in giving good gifts! “Oh, step aside, I feel a pull right now, it must be a big one!”

You might as well go right ahead and admit it. That’s right. Just admit it! There are some things you are uneasy about, downright worried, or even scared about. If you aren’t, at least you were at sometime. How can I tell? Because even the fish know about it!

Sure they do. Experts are measuring the levels of prozac in fish. And it is not because the fish are anxious and taking prescription prozac. It’s because people are worried too much and too anxious, among other things. Certainly there are right uses for prozac. But the facts are that so many people are taking prozac, that, from its excreted forms, it is now measurable in fish such as the bluegills studied in Texas by Baylor toxicologist Brian Brooks. What does it mean? It means too many people are anxious, too anxious, too worried.

Jesus teaches that anxiety is a function of wrong priorities. He points out that people worry about things like food, beverages, and clothes. I suppose he would include things like cars and houses as well. Ironically, he notes, worry doesn’t change any of these things. Rather he points out that the gift of being alive is far more important than undue concern about food and beverages. Likewise, a human body is infinitely more important and significant than the clothes men put on it, be they rags or royal robes.

The cure all for worry, Jesus says, is to make the kingdom of God and making right and godly choices the first priority in our life. This, he says, will be followed by God providing all the other things. So, if we have made wrong and ungodly choices; we should be anxious. We can be confident that unfortunate things will be happening unless we change our choices and direction. But, by choosing the right things within our control, we can trust God; that he will provide something to drink and eat, and clothes to wear. He does a great job of taking care of the birds; he promises to do even better for people.

So, which is better? Prozac or establishing right priorities and trusting God? For me, I will choose putting the kingdom of God and his values first. It a great way to live. The price is right. And the worry level is low. Besides, its good news for the blue gills in Texas and in Juniata county!

I saw a new kind of bird last week. I am not sure I ever saw one like it before. It was about the length of a black bird, but smaller in body size, with a deep, dark brown color and a long, slender beak. Its profile was strikingly beautiful. I look forward to learning the name of this species of bird! (If you know the name, give me a call!)

But even more striking than that particular species of bird is the universe of creatures and their surroundings that it represents. What an amazing place we live in! Every creature and every part of this universe is awesome in some way. With just a little attention, we can see the fingerprints of God all around us. With a little effort to get past the barriers of the things we take as given and for granted, we enter a world of wonder, amazement, and intrigue! This is the work of God and God alone. His work is unparalleled. His gifts are without equal. His rent fees are zeros. No bills for the sun. No charges for the rain. No assessments for beautiful clouds or the chorus of birds singing in the morning hours. This wine is good wine. Drink deeply and enjoy. All on God’s account.

God’s word tells us that He planned it so well that even people who have not known God will know Him from the wonders of His work in creating this universe we call our home.[1]

What a privilege it is to live in this place He prepared for us. He is not here in person just now, but He did come to visit one time. And He promised He would return again. For now we have been left in charge. Its great to know the creatures but even greater to know the creator. The best way to know Him is to read the sixty six books that remain the all time best seller, otherwise known as the Bible. Beyond that, listen for His voice. He really does speak to people. He would like to speak to you too.

A google search on the key words about returns over seven million hits. People allege “killing of the messenger” in situations from a purge of the CIA, to journalism in

Iraq

, the Bush administration, to a Scientific American cover up and more. What is plain to see is that the concept of killing the messenger is not strange or foreign. What does it mean and why does it happen?

All people like the language of love and the messages it brings. Most or all people like some or most of the messages of truth. But many people don’t like all the messages of truth. For the messengers who bear the unwelcome messages of truth, the recourse of killing the messenger is all too common. Why? The answer is at once clear and just as quickly denied and ignored. For those foolishly choosing the option, the blind hope is that destroying the messenger will at the same time destroy the messenge. Not so.

May 19^th will be yet another attempt to kill a messenger. It will be in the form of the DaVinci Code movie with Dan Brown’s blatant attempt to discredit Jesus as a messenger. After all, what could be more effective than to tell a “story” of Jesus secretly living an immoral life?

What Dan doesn’t know or is unwilling to acknowledge in practice, is that his caldron of evil intention and misrepresentation will not change the message at all. While he will undoubtedly be “successful” in misleading numerous people for a period of time, the message his is attacking will emerge unscathed, just as it has for centuries and centuries! And Dan, will discover, before his last breath, that, he personally is unashamedly in need of both the messenger and the message he is choosing to attack. Likewise, if he chose to research, he would likely discover that the very tactic of “killing the messenger” was first described by none other than Jesus himself. *

Killing the messenger does not work. Truth will prevail. Choose Jesus. Dan Brown’s “blip” on the screen of time will be short indeed. Jesus will go on and on! That’s right. Choose Jesus now and forever!

He came to us from Sudan , Africa , a man of unusual faith. His first church service ever in North America was here at Lauvers in the mid 1990’s. At that time, Yasir was in his thirties. With heavily accented English, he shared his story. He grew up in strict Muslim surroundings in Sudan , Africa . Ken, a missionary from the Lancaster , Pennsylvania area, befriended him. The friendship grew. Yasir’s father, a devout Muslim, urged Yasir to bring Ken to their home. His father liked Ken so much he wanted to persuade him to become a Muslim. But, “the rest of the story” had a different outcome.

Yasir shared that he was absolutely captivated by the concept of forgiveness. For him, it was a totally new concept. As a Muslim, he was taught that his eternal future depended on the balance of all the good and evil that he had ever done. To be safe and justified in Allah’s eyes, the good would have to out weigh the bad. Farther more, he understood; there was no way to know, in this life, whether the good or the bad would prevail. Viola! A very difficult position to be in! Ken shared the promise of God’s forgiveness with no payment required. Yasir, to his family’s chagrin, became a follower of Jesus.

Today Yasir is back home serving as a missionary to the radical Muslims of his own country. The path to get there has been a long and interesting one. Soon after arriving in United States , Yasir trained first at Rosedale Bible College in Ohio , then completed a Master’s degree in sociology at the University of Ohio . God called him back to his homeland to work with refugees and AIDS’s victims. While his native country men are visiting destruction and injustice on their own people, Yasir marches to a totally different drum beat. His emails and stories of chilling escapes from “informers” tell an incredible story. Instead of killing, Yasir is working for peace, assisting refugees, and inviting people to a far better way to live. Yasir is a living example of the “oaks of righteousness” that Isaiah talked about hundreds of years ago.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.[1]

Contrary to prevailing assertions, not all paths are equal. The Christ of Christmas walked a path that has never been equaled. To walk on it in 2007 will bring the best to all of the world and the brightest of hope for our destiny! Yes sir! That’s Yasir! Choose with him! Happy NEW YEAR!

Except in moments of anger and cursing, Americans don’t speak very much about hell. Jesus spoke about hell on multiple occasions. According to him, the following puts a person in danger of going to hell:

· refusing to believe God when you see Him at work and hear Him speaking to you.

· religious people who are looking good on the outside but being hypocritical and evil inside.

I’ll take five hundred, that’s right, five hundred acres of Shade Mountain for Christmas! It would be so cool! Five hundred acres to explore, to climb o, to go deer hunting, to build a cabin, to camp , to do, well, five hundred other things ! I would be so excited! But, in 2006, with the prices of land in Juniata county, it isn’t likely to happen. The cost is simply too high, and for now, the return is too low. But it is still a nice thought with Christmas coming.

In reality, there is something worth far more than a gift of hundreds of acres of ground on Shade Mountain . And that is the gift of peace and love that comes from God’s gift at Christmas. I remember feeling as a child, the intense warmth, anticipation, and joy that was in the air. It is one of my warmest memories from childhood years. I didn’t understand it then, but I had no doubts that it was real and wonderful.

Contrast that warmth of Christmas with the heart wrenching picture in the museum of the concentration camp at Dachau , the photo of a mother and her little girl, walking in line toward the gas chambers of the Nazi regime. The mother is walking behind and, with her hands, she is holding the eyes of her daughter shut, to spare her just a bit of the horror. Their fate was conceived with the seeds of Darwin ’s evolutionary theory and sealed with Hitler’s resolution to speed up the process of achieving a super human race. Only six decades ago. Contrast the warmth of Christmas also with the late term abortion industry of Dr Tiller, the baby killer of Wichita , Kansas (see the websites describing his gruesome work).

Despite all that cold and horror, the warmth, peace, and joy of Christmas are still here! Unobtrusive, they will nonetheless be found by those who seek them out. God planned it from the beginning of time, staged it 2000 years ago, and guarantees them right now. Read the stories again in Matthew and Luke, sit alone, lift your eyes to the heavens, pray, talk to God, and rediscover the story of God’s love, forgiveness, hope, joy and peace! Five hundred acres of the Shade Mountain or any other mountain don’t come close to the value of this gift! Receive it and be glad!

The stories go on and on like a broken record: “Man arrested for possession”, “Two children murdered by parent”, “Incidence of HIV among same sex partners up 44%,” “Angry employee turns gun on co workers”, “Cheating at all time high among college students”, “Company rocked by board scandal”. Too often focusing on the tragedy and pain of the events makes us miss the obvious. People were doing morally wrong things and participating in activities they knew they shouldn’t have been. Why are we surprised when painful consequences happen and people fall into the jaws of their own trap?

God doesn’t fake anybody out. He spells it out in black and white. Men and women will be accountable for what they say and do. Sometimes that judgment happens here, and we read about it. Other times it will happen in God’s own timing.

The amazing and refreshing news is that God’s greatest and most passionate interest is not in us being judged. Rather He is interested in seeing us experience and reflect His own love, forgiveness, right living, and hope. Does He know and care about us? Sure He does. He came to visit 2006 years ago. He made each one of us unique in multiple, multiple ways so as to pick us out of crowds of billions.

It’s down right exciting to get to more about God! His work is all around us. He shows up in the lives of people who listen to Him. His finger prints are on the fall scenery. At Lauvers, we are excited to discover more and more about God and His ways and to live the way He intended.

It was a great day to go crabbing. The winds were too high for many boaters. The docks were almost empty. And the crabs were hungry.

Crabbing was a new experience for us. So were the park and launching docks at Jane’s Island in Crisfield , Maryland . Fortunately, learning to do crabbing was a simple matter, we were told. Just take the fish heads from the previous day’s catch, attach a string, dangle the fish head over the edge of the docks, and wait for a tug. They were exactly right. The tugs came quickly and the crabs came up fighting and struggling, eating as fast as they could, and attempting to hold on to their new “entrée” for the day. What they didn’t know was that there was a “string” attached, and a big dip net just waiting for them to come within reach. About two dozen found themselves caught in the net. The ten which were five inches or bigger, also landed in the steaming pot, and provided a fresh and rewarding crab dinner for the “crabbers”.

The crabs fully believed they were pursuing the right thing. They were getting deliciously rewarded right up to the very moment of capture, when all was lost. For the smaller ones, a route of escape was possible, though not likely to change any of their future behavior. Almost surely, they will pursue yet another meal in the future with a “string attached”.

I think of the many pursuits people engage in, just as eagerly and engaged as the crabs of the Chesapeake bay , which turn out to have “strings attached”, leading to unbelievably painful, disillusioning, and even destructive results. I think of parents, myself included in some ways, who eagerly pursued noble or less than noble pursuits at the cost of a relationship with their children, only to wake up and realize they lost what was more important. I think of persons who worked hard for financial gain but realized or will realize they lost their faith and relationship with God. The “mindless” crabs of the Tangier Sound have an incredible lesson for us. Jesus said,

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.5 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”

Don’t end up in a big dip net and a steam pot. Chose values and pursuits with lasting benefit and security. Guaranteed by God himself. It doesn’t get any better than that!

We have all heard it: “I can’t believe he did it!”, “I am bored to tears”, “Why did I smoke the joint? It was my birthday and all”, “No one would have ever guessed”. When strange and unexpected things become public, we are shocked. We would not have guessed Troy would be doing drugs and loosing his wife and kids. No way could we have known Eric would go off the edge and get violent. Who could have predicted George would end his own life?

In the lonely hours and days of boredom we become “easy pickins” for winds of evil cause. In the vacuum of discontent with work, spouse, or life itself; we become dry and brittle tinder for flames that are bright for a short season, but leave us hurt and burned. In the moments and even months of lack of sleep and exhaustion, our perspective is lost. Even right things can become empty and disgusting.

But at the end of our rope, there is more to be discovered. Given a heart that is willing and eyes that are open; we can see inspiring, encouraging, and even exciting things around us, both near and far. Isaiah, of centuries ago, announced a cause worth living for, a cause worth being involved in. He announced the birth of a son and that “of his government and his peace there will be no end”.[1] He spoke of the kingdom of God . That kingdom comes to us today through the words, person, and life of Jesus, with all authenticated by the living Spirit of God. That government, that kingdom, and that peace continues to spread all around the world. It cures boredom. It provides purpose. Living close to the edge is not only not worth it, it’s dangerous. Discover God and what He is up to! His wonders never end! No truth is more fair or right. No love equals His.

Some people learn from advice, some from experience, and some never learn. A young man drives too fast and gets fined. He drives too fast again and loses his driving license. He drives too fast again and wrecks his new car.

The lessons learned from experience come with pain and a high price tag. Try paying the credit card bills from long term overspending. Try getting another job after multiple positive drug screens. Try paying ex spouse support for decades. Try getting rid of cervical cancer caused by sexually transmitted human papilloma viruses.

But, lessons from good advice come simply with listening and following what is shared. The outcome is nothing short of desirable. Consider these weighty proverbs:

“ The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.”[1]

“ Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.[1]

“A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.”[1]

“ He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.”[1]

“ Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.”[1]

“ He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.”[1]

Like track hoe excavators, good advice moves us ahead effectively. But, some still insist the pain and hard knocks that come with picks and shovels. All of us fall into one of the ways of learning. We can learn from good advice. We can through the pain of experience. Or we can be destined to go through the unending cycles of not learning at all. “ The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.” Make a choice and live with the outcome!

Our nation was rocked in June 1876. One of the most daring and admired Indian fighters was dead. He was shot in the left temple and chest and stripped naked. He was found two days later. All of his 210 men were killed. His name was George Armstrong Custer. He, many historians believe, was over confident. With his 210 men he engaged 7000 strong, made up of Sioux, Cheyenne , and Arapaho bands. It is believed the battle lasted

only about two hours. Deep into Indian territory and isolated from reinforcement, Custer died at the age of 36.

Today there is a whole new group of George Armstrong Custers. They are made up of confident individuals who have set out on their own. They live deep in enemy territory. They represent a growing group, a group of individuals who have separated themselves from reinforcements. Their slogan is, “I can be a “Christian” by myself”. Confident, pleased, and even arrogant, they deny the lessons history has taught, and even more importantly, they have failed to check what God thinks about the whole idea. Cut off from support, the enemy will take them in less than two hours! Body bags will be needed. #1, #2, #3….# 87,296.

Does it need to happen? Of course not. God never endorsed or issued such a venture. God’s people have always been a community with mutual support, encouragement, teaching, accountability, and with a strong, strong emphasis on relationships. The gathering of God’s people has been a central and foundational practice for thousands of years.

Go ahead. Go out on your own. Be a bloody casualty in body bag #87, 296, if you must!. But, be aware. God never intended that to happen. He planned for your very best: for loving friends, for encouragement when you are down, for accountability when you are blatantly deceiving yourself, for the development of your gifts, and for a legacy of community and an extended family. Find a community of godly people. Taste what God has to offer. You won’t be disappointed!

Jackie Robinson was the first black to play major league baseball. While breaking baseball's "color barrier," he faced jeering crowds in every stadium. While playing one day in his home stadium in Brooklyn , he committed an error. His own fans began to ridicule him. He stood at second base, humiliated, while the fans jeered.

Then shortstop "Pee Wee" Reese came over and stood next to him. He put his arm around Jackie Robinson and faced the crowd. The fans grew quiet. Robinson later said that arm around his shoulder saved his career. *

The above story by Larry Wise is a good example of a a “pledge of presence”. It is easy to have people around us when things are going well and when we can affirm and support them in some way. It is so different when we are in desperate need for whatever reason. It is at that moment we long for someone to be around,, for someone to really care about us. It happens all the time. At school when the other kids just aren’t kind. In marriage when conflicts come. When things are uncertain.

One of the most compelling of commitments to companionship is related in the story of Ruth and Naomi. Ruth, a foreigner and daughter in law to Naomi made her unconditional commitment of presence. “Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or o turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the

LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." Ruth 1:16-17

How fortunate we are to have friends with this kind of commit to us! Surely it should be true for husbands and wives. And it is great to have others with a similar commitment!

“Before we didn’t even eat together. Now we sit down together and pray. Things are different. We have been going to church services for several weeks.”

The young husband was telling me about an exciting change in his family. I was thrilled because I know this kind of change comes with a bright future attached to it! Jesus said,

“Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me”.[1]

The change seems so minor but the difference in outcome is incomparable. God will honor families who choose to serve Him! In the place of children and young adults with despair, disillusionment, and drug seeking behavior there will be young men and women who are alive with purpose, committed to what is right and good, and eager to serve those who are needy around the world. In the place of broken families, there will be a rich legacy of love, loyalty, humility, and community. The things that are most important and valuable in life come for free. One of them is the choice to serve God with our head and hearts. God’s promise is that He will not leave this uncompensated, now or in all of the future!

President Roosevelt once grew tired of the smiling superficiality that accompanied many White House receptions. One particular evening, he decided to see whether or not anyone actually paid attention to what he said. As he shook hands with each guest filing through the line, he smiled real big and said, "I murdered my grandmother this morning." No one even noticed. They just gave the usual protocol, "How lovely!" or "Keep up the good work." One foreign diplomat was listening and added humor to the night as well. When FDR told of his scandalous deed, the diplomat tactfully commented, "I'm sure she had it coming to her."

Too often we fail to listen when God speaks. Too often we fail to hear when He speaks. Jesus forcefully put his cards on the table in this regard, “He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” [1] The good news is that we can “belong” to God and hear Him speaking loudly and clearly. The whole universe around us speaks of His greatness. Godly men and women all around the world live out God’s character and values in their lives. The Spirit of God speaks in a “still small voice” deep in the heart of those who want to listen! Listen. God will speak. You will hear.

We did it again! The April 15^th deadline has come and gone. But the 2005 tax year is already approaching the halfway mark! And tax wheels continue to grind. People have talked about taxes for centuries. Notable quotes include:

"Like mothers, taxes are often misunderstood, but seldom forgotten.'' - LordBramwell, 19th Century English jurist

"The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax." - Albert Einstein, physicist

History is also full of stories of people who tried to escape or get around taxes and ended up doing time rather than taxes. Taxes are a certainty. So is the end or our lives.

Jesus advises that we financially give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. That will take care of taxes. It wouldn’t take care of death. Death and the conclusion of life is more complicated than that. Detailed accounting and inventories of our lives are being kept we are informed. Every careless word.[1] “ Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account”.[2] That’s scary.

The good news is that in God’s economy our old liabilities can be erased in a moment with one genuine request for forgiveness. Even better our future accounts can be guaranteed to be favorable through encountering God personally. Now. By becoming part of His family [3], death is no longer a threat.

“I Murdered My Grandmother this Morning”

Too often we fail to listen when God speaks. Too often we fail to hear when He speaks. Jesus forcefully put his cards on the table in this regard, “He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” [3] The good news is that we can “belong” to God and hear Him speaking loudly and clearly. The whole universe around us speaks of His greatness. Godly men and women all around the world live out God’s character and values in their lives. The Spirit of God speaks in a “still small voice” deep in the heart of those who want to listen! Listen. God will speak. You will hear.

Pastor’s Corner

“A Pledge of Presence”

LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." Ruth 1:16-17

How fortunate we are to have friends with this kind of commit to us! Surely it should be true for husbands and wives. And it is great to have others with a similar commitment!

Pastor’s Corner

“Our Family is Different Now”

“Before we didn’t even eat together. Now we sit down together and pray. Things are different. We have been going to church services for several weeks.”

The young husband was telling me about an exciting change in his family. I was thrilled because I know this kind of change comes with a bright future attached to it! Jesus said,

“Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me”.[3]

Pastor’s Corner Aug 2005

“CAUSALTY # 87,296, PLEASE BRING A BODY BAG.”

only about two hours. Deep into Indian territory and isolated from reinforcement, Custer died at the age of 36.

Pastor’s Corner

Sept 2005

“A CHATTERING FOOL COMES TO RUIN”

But, lessons from good advice come simply with listening and following what is shared. The outcome is nothing short of desirable. Consider these weighty proverbs:

“ The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.”[3]

“ Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.[3]

“A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.”[3]

“ He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.”[3]

“ Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.”[3]

“ Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.”[3]

“ He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.”[3]

Oct 2005

Pastor’s corner

“Living Close to the Edge”

We have all heard it: “I can’t believe he did it!”, “I am bored to tears”, “Why did I smoke the joint? It was