---

March 31, 2008, Personal Prayer
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” (Romans 14:19)
As we watch the news, read our newspapers and study life around us and throughout the world, we see a lot of stress and confusion. The media presents us with more negatives than positives. We might wonder how to overcome these challenges and bring peace to the world. We need to consider what our contribution to peace will be. Certainly we can not go out tomorrow and solve the world’s problems and create “World Peace.” However, each of us can start every day with the goal to be at peace and stay that way. Stay within ourselves through prayer to maintain our own internal peace. Recently June and I started attending a monthly lunch called Faith at work. It is basically an interfaith group that has agreed to keep their faith in the workplace. They attempt to make decisions as Jesus would have. Each month there is a speaker with a testimonial proving the concept that the workplace does not have to be mercenary or cut throat. Attendees tend to leave with their internal faith recharged for another month of internal peace through prayer and the ability to serve others through their faith. Our contribution to the world can and will start within us. We know that the Lord is with us, we need to let Him in and others see the results. As Paul stated to the Romans, “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” (Romans 15:1 & 2).

Thought for the Week: There is an old expression that suggests aggressive reactions: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” That is always an option. This week for us let’s think about this: “When our going gets tough, let’s start to pray and be at peace.” Let’s all demonstrate a better way!

---

March 23, 2008, Peaks and Valleys
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God ...
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us,...”
(Romans 5:1-4, NIV)

Life is full of peaks and valleys. It is very human to take credit for the peaks and blame something else for the valleys. It is hard at times to identify with our own “piece of the action” when there is pain. It is often hard to appreciate the lessons learned through the suffering process. We look to our faith more often when we are in a valley than when we are at a peak. Many people that visit our churches come through crises. Divorce, illness, grief, loneliness etc. are among the common reason for a visit. I have personally never greeted someone that told me that they had such a great week that they came to say thanks to God. (If one of you has, I would like to write the story!). However, one of the beauties of our faith is that we recognize God’s role in helping get us to the next peak. We recognize God’s role in getting us to the final peak. Each peak gives us a reason for a stronger faith, the lessons learned in the valleys gives us the “... perseverance, character; and character, hope” that carry us through out our lives.

Thought for the Week: This week let us recognize if we are in a peak or a valley. Let us recognize the lessons we are learning if it is a “valley” and give credit to those things that helped make it a “peak”. Either way, let us give thanks to God.

Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father, we are in a confused world. Many people are concerned about their future in tough economic times. There is war, fear, terror that seems to dominate the news. Certainly there are many needing a “peak” to help them out. This week we pray that through your Son Jesus, we all may find a peak and a way to share your Love with someone. Amen

---

March 16, 2008, New Beginnings
“This is a day of new beginnings.
time to remember and move on,
time to believe what love is bringing,
laying to rest the pain that’s gone.”
“Christ is alive and goes before us,
to show and share what love can do,
this is a day of new beginnings;
our God is making all things new.”
(This is a day of New Beginnings;Vs 1 & 4; Words: Brian Wren, 1978; Methodist Hymnal No. 383)

Those of you that have known me long enough understand that on March 21, 1977 my family and I started a true “New Beginning”. That was the year of treatment for alcohol abuse and the adoption of the slogan “This is the first day of the rest of your life”. They supported me as did my friends and business associates. Each year I am reminded that through faith and friendship there is a good life. I thank all of you that have been my friends and associates since then. The story of recovery is repeated in our society every day with the grace of God ever present in the process. Often as Christians we see a need and get a chance to help. One of the beauties of being Christian is the act of helping.

Thought for the Week: This week we will be out in the world interacting with friends and business associates. We may see a need to help. Many people will back away. This week let us recognize needs in others and step forward with God’s support and offer the Christian assistance that is needed.

Prayer for the Week: This week the serenity Prayer
“God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I can not change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.”
My blessings to all of you.

---

March 3, 2008, It’s in the Spirit
“Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before….” (Joshua 3:4)

If you are reading the Good News, you probably believe that the Lord is with you. You are blessed. However, often we meet people who are under achievers, dead end kids, those who don’t bounce back from a negative experience. They have buried potential that was given them at birth that is not being discovered. In the story of Joshua, he was being advised to take over from Moses and be a leader. He did not think he was capable and had never led before. He was being told, he believed and he successfully led because the potential was part of the spirit.

Many of us experience challenges in our lives that we would just as soon not meet. It may be a sick relative, a new job opportunity, a career change—they are all scary situations. Most of us that read Good News are successful and have taken steps to release the talent that the Lord gave us.

Two dedicated gentlemen and Good News buddies help underprivileged youth, often being released from jail. Recently one told a story of a fellow that stole again so he would be returned to jail and have a roof over his head. That was a step he knew would work and he had the skills to implement it—Thus he was successful. The question we face as Christians is how do we transfer our spirit to those who need help? How do we let them find the talent that the Lord gave them?

Another Good news buddy has a clinically depressed husband. He faces the same challenge. Depression seems to magnify obstacles and hide opportunities. We need to find a way to help people take the tiny steps in life that will release the person or talent that the Lord gave them. This needs to be done through the spirit. “‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.”(Zacharias 4:6)

---

February 25, 2008, The Law?
“Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”
The law is not based on faith;”
(Galatians 3v 11& 12)

In Civics 101 we are taught that in America we follow a version of the English common law. The constitution mixes things by declaring “In God we trust” and then separating Church and State. What a conundrum. We have to deal with the duplicity. Somehow each state legislature and the congress write thousands of laws and they seem to change them yearly. We spend a lot of time adjusting, ignoring or being unaware of the changes. Governments seem to want to legislate what we know as good Christian ethics; caring about each other, helping each other and developing community. There is no allowance in law for agape love and caring for our fellow man. Fortunately, as Christians, when we follow God’s law, we are in alignment with most man made laws and we coexist very well. In fact, the most successful people that I know of follow God’s law first and man’s law second. There is a connection with faith and success.

Thought for the Week: This week let us practice God’s law. Let’s demonstrate our caring and love of humanity in our actions. Let’s demonstrate agape love in our daily activities.

---

February 18, 2008, God’s Way
“But even if He does not…”
(Daniel 3:18)

When someone has a terminal disease, do we have a right to pray for a miracle when there is truly no known cure? That question was asked at a recent bible study. In attendance were at least two pastors, several PhDs and no one in the group had a great answer. We overwhelmingly felt there it was better to pray for other things; the family, a comfortable passing, etc. We were being practical (human) and I do not remember anyone mentioning that the issue was in the hands of the Lord. This week my friend lost his 64 year old wife and last week it was my mom’s 95 year old sister. Somehow, that age difference just does not seem fair. However, my mom surely is grieving every bit as much as my friend. When we lose a friend or loved one we will always grieve and feel the loss. We also recognize our own mortality and lack of control. Each of us comes face to face with our own challenges. We often have a desire for God to send in a rescue squad to take care of them for us, remove the challenge and stress from our lives. These are normal emotional responses to life’s unwanted challenges. We need to remember that God is in these challenges with us, we are always in them together. We need to pray for the best but remember who is in control. The best is not always our plan. God works out the plan and is in control. It is alright to hope we are on track with His plan but we need to accept the results and move on with understanding and love. Things will be better tomorrow, but from God’s perspective, not ours. We also need to remember “the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” (Psalm 121:8).

Thought for the Week: This week we need to understand that we are not the plan, just a piece of it. When things do not go our way we need acceptance, forgiveness and hope. This week when things go astray, let us remember the planner is with us..

---

February 12, 2008, Let’s Talk
This is a repeat from February 2006. I was in Boston last week supporting my mom because her 95 year older sister passed away. Please excuse my retread and say a prayer for mom and the family as they celebrate Helen’s 95 years!
“You must go to everyone I send you to
and say whatever I command you.”
(Jeremiah 1vs7)
The city of Boston has a public area called Boston Commons. It is a central park that was set up as a common grazing ground for city-owned live stock. I believe that even today, all Boston residents have the legal right to graze their cow on “the common.” “The Common” is now and always was a meeting place where people meet to discuss the issues of the day. It still serves that function today. There are people on every corner, some literally standing on soap boxes, discussing everything from gay issues to the mid-east. In fact, you can generally find a “talker” that is representing your ideas no matter what you feel. The most common subjects the talkers address are issues of faith. There will be conservatives on one corner and liberals on the next using the same Bible passages to reinforce their beliefs. Often, they engage their audience in debates that may be very intense. “The Boston Common Talkers” represent America’s free speech at its finest. Most of us shy away from publicly sharing our faith with others. Jesus clearly wants us to share but we are generally do not have the confidence to speak out in public. We need to realize that we need to share and “…say whatever I command you.”
Thought for the Week: This week, let us all look for a chance to tell someone about our faith. Let us invite someone to share, someone we may help and possibly even invite them to join us at a service.

---

February 3, 2008, Trust and Faith
“I will trust in you.
In God whose word I praise,
in God I trust.”
Psalm(56:3)

We all experience times in our lives, certain situations when our trust level is down. These are usually times when we must let a situation be under someone else’s control.

A teenager spending a weekend away with friends, away at camp or going off to school. We fear what they may find to do

A family member not home at an expected time. We fear an accident or other harm.

Consider a simple four way stop sign with all drivers arriving at the same time. Often no one trusts enough to go first.

Reading this, it would be easy to think that the subject was fear, but it is Trust. “The Lord is my light and salvation— Whom shall I fear?”(Psalm 27:1) There is a direct link between a faith and trust in the Lord, and high levels of anxiety and stress. Yes, there are days when we are strong and have no fear, then there are days when we are weak.

On the weak days, we need to meditate. Leave the news turned off, put down the newspaper and get closer to God. “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”(Psalm 50:15)

Thought for the Week: When we have doubts this week, let us stop, take a deep breath and try to place our faith in God. If we can do that, our reactions to doubtful situations will be less stressful.

Prayer For the Week: Heavenly Father, as we go through our busy schedules, it is easy to forget you. We try to control, manipulate and alter our lives to fit “our will” and lose sight of “your will”. We seem not to trust you. We pray that we can slow down, consider your will for us and increase our trust in you.
Amen

---

January 29, 2008, Win-Win
Hi All,
The sports events of this week have me repeating a Good News from 2003. This week we had the Australian open Tennis tournament, the national figure skating championships and next Sunday, the Super Bowl. In sports there is only one winner. In God and life there is room for all of us to be winners. Please read on.

“...what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.”
(Psalm 8:4,5 NIV)

In America there is a win lose philosophy running rampant through out our society. There is a lot of hero worship devoted to overpaid athletes. We seem to have adopted Vince Lombardi’s attitude “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” Well, that may be our world, but it is not God’s world. The Psalmist clearly demonstrates that we were created a little lower than the angels and crowned with glory. There is plenty of God’s love for each of us. There are world wide resources that when shared in God’s way will do for all. We live in a great world with great people and somehow we taint it with our own un-Godly behaviors. Young athletes in the 40s, were taught a different philosophy; “It’s not whether you win or lose, its how you play the game that counts.” That seems to be the way the Lord would want us to go through our lives. The good news is that over the years, long term success is always done the Lord’s way, win-win.

Thought for the Week: This week let us focus on creating win-win situations in our lives. Observe our surroundings and lighten them up a bit. Slow for the other drivers, merge rather than block. Open a door and allow a few people through. Sit forward in church and leave some room in the back for late comers. Let’s show everyone that we all can win. Let our message be that there is enough of everything to share.

Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father, as we enter a New Year we have some concerns. There are new political issues, some international strife along with many great things you bring to us. This week we pray that we may recognize the resources of the world belong to you and that we need to share rather than compete for them. We pray for a world of sharing rather than a world of competition. Amen

---

January 20, 2008, Stand Free
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
Galatians 5 vs. 1

You that know me probably have heard my definition of retirement. It is having four days a week without a calendar commitment and to have a long to do list with the opportunity to choose. For me, that is the definition of freedom and the way Christ would want us to live. Unfortunately, there are few careers that offer that kind of flexibility and most families today have two careers working to clutter up their calendars.

The economy of 2008 and the financial status of the American family does not seem to allow freedom in that way. It is very easy to get caught up in the pursuit of becoming an average family or an average Joe. It takes a certain amount of control to take a deep breath and step out of line to seek peace. The “…yoke of slavery...” has become habitual and many feel uncomfortable when they have free time. We need to evaluate that, each on our own terms.

We can experience our own freedom through meditation and prayer. It takes but a few minutes to unwind when we focus on being at peace. My old standard of balance, the YMCA triangle of Spirit, Mind and Body, is a model we need to keep in our lives. We need to stop, look and listen to Christ to keep peace in our lives so that we can be the best we can be for our families and society.

---

January 13, 2008, Real Service
“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”
Galatians 5:13

In today’s world where in many families husbands and wives both have careers, children have multiple weekly activities and prices of staples seem to take more income that they used to, how do we feel free? Also, how do we serve one another in Love? Most of us just do not have enough time! Surprisingly, many people find ways to fit it all in to spite society and finances.

Today at our church, we had a community meal that was prepared by a group that calls themselves TOFYG! That is an anachronism for too old for youth group. On Saturday, they congregated in the kitchen and did the preparation, and this morning they cooked, served and cleaned up while we old folks ate and relaxed. Surely, they could have been elsewhere on a bright winter weekend, but their passion was to be together and to serve. They had the experience of yesterday and today, working together, socializing and making the choice to serve. We elders were blessed and certainly felt love from them.

Often, we feel trapped by our lifestyle, careers and commitments. Feeling free is not an option to many. Recently, one of the lay leaders of our church resigned because she felt burned out, not free anymore. Their family was there today looking more relaxed and happy. They are in a time where they are accepting the love from the congregation and enjoying themselves.

Part of the message today is that we need to feel free and not burdened. There are times when we need to take from the church and times we need to give. It is fortunate that there always seems to be someone to give and meet others needs. That is what being a spiritual person is all about— feeling free, being capable of serving out of love and being able accept the gift of love from others.

Thought for the Week: This week let us be aware of opportunities to serve the Lord’s will. Open the door for someone, talk to a stranger, hug your spouse (Who I hope is not a stranger.) or help another in some way. However, if we are not having a great week, let us be willing to receive the loving support of another. Let us make this week a win-win in the name of the Lord.

---

January 8, 2008,The Promise
“God is not unjust; He will not forget your work
and the love you have shown Him
as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end,
in order to make your hope sure.
We do not want you to become lazy,
but to imitate those who through faith and patience
inherit what has been promised.”
( Hebrews 6; 10-12 NIV)

In twelve step programs, there is a reading called “How It works.” It recognizes that the program is to develop “spiritual growth not perfection.” We all tend to get into that perfect mode; perfect mom, perfect dad, perfect employee and the list goes on. Obviously, each of us falls short of perfection.

In our daily lives, we make mistakes. We could count them weekly and judge ourselves as failures. The only one of us that does not make mistakes probably does nothing. Many people work their way into depression by counting their failures rather then their successes.
In our spiritual lives it is not any different. We all have made mistakes and will continue to be less than perfect. We may feel bad or judge ourselves rather severely. However, “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown....” We must remember that as we walk the walk.

Thought for the Week: This week we will fail again at being perfect. With that in mind let’s focus on the good that we do, the encouragement that we give others and the love we have in our hearts. That will help us have a great week.

Prayer for the Week: Dear Lord and Father, it is easy to be distracted from your wishes for us. There are temptations that surround us in our daily lives, we make some bad choices and some good ones. This week we pray that we may focus on your understanding and caring love. We pray for the opportunity to demonstrate and share your love to others.
Amen

---

January 1, 2008, Happy New Year.
This is one that I repeat every New Year. Happy new year to all.

"Not that I have already obtained all this,
or have already been made perfect,
but I press on to take hold of that
for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize
for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. "
(Phillipiens3:12-14; NIV)

Happy New Year. For the next few weeks the athletic clubs will be filled with "New Years resolutionists". Diet programs will come and go, self improvement books will be purchased or at least the dust will be blown from last years cover! Does that sound familiar? Yes, we all have had a few resolutions fall by the wayside.

I do not know if Paul wrote the above on New Years eve but it is appropriate. Many of us have new goals today: weight, fitness, financial goals etc. Paul is asking us to look at our spiritual goals. "...Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize..". Hold that thought as you proceed through 2006.

Thought for the Week: This week let us look ahead rather than behind. Let us look ahead at the opportunities in our lives. This year let us practice Christian ethics and life style in all phases of our lives and by all means share our faith with others.

Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father as this New Year begins please hear our prayer for serenity:
"God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I can not change
The courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference."
Hear this for all the worlds people so that your love and peace may dominate this New Year.
Amen