Good News October—December, 2008, from Spirit of Hope in Golden Valley Minnesota

December 31, 2008, Confidence

“For you are my hope;
O Lord God, you are my trust…
And the source of my confidence.”
(Psalm 71:5)

Folks, we are starting a new year next week and many of us are making our new year’s resolutions. As usual mine involve weight and fitness and statistically that makes me average. Another issue to deal with this year is trust; the economy is changing, there is war in the mid-east, and there seem to be global changes that we have not experienced in the past. All of that has affected the trust and confidence that we have in the world around us. The Psalmist above gives us a strong message for the new year and forever. It clearly demonstrates that through our faith we can find confidence and trust. The newspapers, the TV journalists and media all want to sell us on negativity. They are after ratings and for whatever reason they think that is the way to sell their time. That is not a good service to the world. Ok, we do read the news but we also need to read the good news of Jesus to balance the books. His good news can overcome all of the monies spent on negativity. Also in Psalm 71 the following statements on good news are written: “But as for me I will always have hope”
(Psalm 72-14)

“You will increase my honor
And comfort me once again”
(Psalm 71-21)
You can see that the good news needs to be our resolution for the next year. Through the good news of Jesus Christ we will all have a better life and live in a better world.

Thought for the Week: Happy New Year to all. It will be as we grow in confidence and trust in those around us. It will be when we share the good news to those around us. It will be as we grow together in our faith.

Prayer for the Week: Dear Lord and Father, we are coming to the end of a year and are faced with the opportunities that present themselves each January 1st. As always we want to d better in every way. This year we pray that we can discover the spiritual maturity and growth to be better at being a disciple and worker for You. We pray that we may find a clear vision of what we can do for you. Amen

December 19, 2008, Blue Christmas

“Humble yourselves ... under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
Cast all your anxiety on him
because he cares for you.”
(1 Peter 5: 6 & 7; NIV)

Holiday cheer is a great and wonderful thing. It is a time when it is easy to be happy in our society. Bright lights, merry music and more smiles and eye contact as we walk along the streets. Yes, the holiday season brings us great joy. There are, however, those that are experiencing tough times. There are events that just can not be ignored. There are those with critically ill loved ones who are fearful that this is their last holiday together. There are those that are experiencing their first holiday season alone after losing a loved one. There are many who are ill and fearful. These are friends of ours that are experiencing a “Blue Christmas.”

This year there are National Guard troops that are getting ready for deployment to harms way in January, there are thousands of people in the Northeast who have been without power for a week and need help, (my mom included) and many others experiencing financial losses that threaten their future as they head into the New Year.

Unfortunately the aforementioned events do not cover it all. Many of us do not know how to deal with people in this kind of emotional need. We would love to help but do not want to interfere. I pray that all of us think about that. This is a time to share; a time to listen; a time to pick up the phone and just say hello; a time to ask someone if they would like to share a prayer. This is a time when we can reach out to someone out of love and share God's faith.

Thought for the Week: I ask for special prayers for our soldiers in harms way, the people of the northeast, specifically my mom, and those around us that are ill. Let us focus this week on those around us that are experiencing a blue Christmas. Let us identify them. Let us reach out to them with love.

Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father we pray for ourselves, our friends and loved ones. Many are ill and experiencing fear, uncertainty, loneliness or hurt. Many need You in their lives and have not found You. This week we pray that we may help be the conduit that strengthens their faith and eases their anxieties. This week we pray for a way to do your will in this way. Amen

December 14, 2008, Self Commitment

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.”
(Mathew 11:28)

If this passage sounds familiar, you probably read last week’s Good News. This is a strong message worth repeating during such an active time. It suggests that we have tools in our faith that can help us enjoy the season. However, just like the tools in the garden shed, they will not help us if we don’t reach out and pick them up.

This week at a bible study the lesson included an article by Dr. Gayle Carlton Felton entitled Being Committed to Ourselves. I am summarizing it here, “In the tension and busyness of our colliding commitments, we sometimes devalue one that is extremely important: our commitment to ourselves. The Christian faith with it’s talk of sacrifice and self denial can mislead us into believing that our own lives have no value. Historically, this has been a very potent, and dangerous, ideal, taught particularly to women. I want to argue that we have a duty to love ourselves. Jesus told us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, not instead of ourselves. Before we have a self worthy to give away in sacrifice and denial our selves have to be valued and cultivated. …It is only healthy commitment to self that faithful commitments to others and to God can grow.”

The many tools of Christianity are available to us all, and “picking them up” just takes the time to allow them to work. Here are some suggestions.

Try changing your daily routine.

In the morning, shut off the news, put down the paper and sit alone with your beverage and just think about the season in quiet. That may change your outlook for the day.

When you feel out of control or stressed, have this week’s passage in your presence, take a break and read it. Give your faith a chance.

There are many options. God is available to us, but we have to let Him into our lives.

Thought for the Week: The Christmas story is one of wonder and genius. The genius of the wise men to read and follow the signs shown to them. They took the time to go and answer a call. They took a leadership role. As we go through this busy time, let us understand our role as Christians and be leaders in spirituality.

Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father, we are experiencing unusual times. The weather is confusing and there is unrest in our society. We are approaching a new year with hesitance and in many cases fear. We need you beside us in times like this. We pray for the presence of mind to stop and let you come with us. Amen

December 7, 2008, Holiday Season

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mathew 11:28-30)

The Holiday season has arrived. Thanksgiving just past and surely we all spent four days meditating and offering prayers of thanks for our blessings. WHAT?? That's not what we did in my house! What we did was have a wonderful gathering at my daughters house. Yes, there were prayers and thanks combined with some outside games, football, Christmas shopping and a 5K race. Put the weekends activities on a list and most of us would realize why we were tired the following week. As Christians, we are coming to a very special day. A day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Our focus however is often placed on gifts, parties, getting our acts together for the new year. Our calendars are full with many special events: holiday parties, Winter sports, Christmas pageants and services, shopping, year end business meetings. Sometimes it just gets out of control. Is all this activity a “bad thing”? I think not, especially if somehow we can get through it all by keeping Christ at our side and on our mind.

Christianity and spirituality are wonderful allies during busy times.

Thought for the Week: This week let us focus on finding more time for ourselves during this busy period. Let us be selfish once a day and take "time out" from our obligations to society. Let's find a few minutes each day to let Christ help us enjoy the season.

Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father, we are overburdened with problems. There are people dying at war and on the streets of our cities. We are busy with year end business activities and planning for Christmas. Many of us will be traveling over the holidays. Please give me the power to be aware of Christ's presence through all of this. Help me find a way to walk through this activity with God as my co-pilot. Amen

November 26, 2008, Thanksgiving

Below is my Thanksgiving greeting. There are several people that will be receiving this that do not receive my weekly messages. June and I hooked up with them at a 50th high school reunion in 2007. This has been a dynamic year and it may be difficult to focus on our many blessings long enough to be thankful. We are thankful to all of you, our friends and acquaintances. Have a happy Thanksgiving.

“As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, rooted and built up
in him and established in the faith,
just as you were taught,
abounding in Thanksgiving”
(Colossians 2:6-7)

This is a short prayer of Thanksgiving today for all my friends. The best part of Good News is the many of you who respond that I have never met. Our list of friends includes four CEOs (at least two take time to share the Good News with some staff), many salesmen (because that is my world), several clergy in several countries, many retirees and all sorts of others. Thanks to you all because you each enhance my life at some level.

Several years ago our pastor spoke of “returning thanks” to God this week rather than “Giving Thanks.” It was something his grand father used to do three times a day. His basis was that God gave us the things we are thankful for and he wanted to hear from us but that we were really giving back or returning thanks.

This week I return thanks you all, as well as to God, and share my love of people and life with you.

Prayer for Thanksgiving: Dear Lord and Heavenly Father, we return blessings and thanks to you today for the many wonderful experiences we have, the love that we feel from our friends and acquaintances and for the guidance that you give us in our daily lives. We pray that throughout the world people learn to appreciate your blessings and to live the life that you desire for us—One of peace and good will for all. Amen

November 24, 2008, Thanksgiving

“As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, rooted and built up in
him and established in the faith,
just as you were taught,
abounding in thanksgiving".
(Colossians 2:6-7)

Once each year we celebrate Thanksgiving. It is the traditional start of what we call the holiday season. To give thanks we must be aware or focusing on the good and rewarding parts of our lives. Focusing on the positive.

H. Norman Wright put it this way, “Thanksgiving is not to be limited to only the times when we are aware of blessings. Let us give thanks even when we have a problem to solve, when there are difficulties to be met. At these times, we give thanks to God for unconditional love and goodness, for unlimited wisdom and abundance. When we give thanks continually, we are rejuvenated in our spirit, mind and body.” Let us hold those thoughts and be thankful for all of our blessings.

Thought for the Week: This week we move into that frantic period called the holiday season. Winter sports activities run high, holiday parties are abundant, year end financial activity in both our personal and business lives need care and then there are the holiday greeting cards. Let us focus this week on giving thanks to God for the love we have for each other and the support He will give us through prayer that will make this season a blessing. Pray and give thanks to the LORD.

Prayer for the Week: Dear Lord and Father, this week we give you thanks. Thanks for our friends, our families and our troubles. Yes, we give you many thanks for our financial crises, our family stress and the ripples in our personal seas of tranquility. Trough our troubles we learn to pray and appreciate the many blessings that seem greater when compared with the ripples. This week we give you thanks for our lives, your love and your forgiveness. Amen

November 16, 2008, Personal Peace

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy —think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.
And the God of peace will be with you.”
(Philippians 4; 8 & 9, NIV)

For several years there has been a lot of bad news. It seems that we have been bombarded with a media frenzy of negativity; financial news, terror, street violence, some institutions breaking down etc. How does that affect the peace and tranquility in our lives? The one word answer is “negatively”!

As Christians, we need not be affected that way. We have an ally, friend and leader in Jesus Christ. We have the ability to take a few minutes when stressed and utilize His help. Please note that I said "utilize" rather than "ask for" his help. It is up to us as individuals to "just do it." In my high school we were forced to memorize something from Benjamin Franklin regarding time usage. "We have only just a minute, only sixty seconds in it, forced upon me, can't refuse it didn't seek it, didn't chose it, but it is up to me to use it..". In a way, our faith fits that mold. Just like we can waste our time, we can waste our faith. The difference is that our faith is always available and time can be lost. In our search for peace and tranquility, love and friendship- the ability to live our lives well, we need to keep our faith at the forefront; "...Put it into practice, and the God of peace will be with you".

Thought for the Week: This week let us have peace no matter what happens in our lives. Let us focus on our faith when we are stressed. This week let us pray rather than react to negativity. Put our faith to good use.

Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father, we pray and appreciate your response. Often when we need you we fail to seek you. This week we are faced with many challenges in our lives. This week we pray that we will recognize your activity in our lives and your presence around us. Amen

November 10, 2008, The Right Way

"Treat others as you want them to treat you... Never criticize or condemn or it will all come back to you. ...If you give you will get. Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more and running over. Whatever measure you use to give, large or small, will be used to measure what is given back to you."
(Luke 6:31,37-38TLB)

In the work place, there are often stresses that have a negative effect on the overall environment; deadlines that need to be met, projects that are under funded, professional jealousies that have developed, a lot of issues that are passed on to us that we can not control. It is easy to be negative and act different than a child of God. It is not always easy to behave the way Luke has suggested.

Very early in my career, a very senior engineer at Bell Lab's advised me that as an employee, I would always receive a percentage of what I was worth, never 100 percent. His explanation was that difference was required to have a profitable company. After 40 years of working, that seems to have been very accurate advice. In the business environment, when thinking dollars and cents, his equation seems to work. However read Luke again.

One of the many issues that have always been a challenge to me is the people that are sharks in the business environment and Christians on Sunday. What I mean is, those that are opportunistic, somewhat misleading (I won't say dishonest) and practice ways that are not part of good Christian ethics. My question has always been, "Can you function outside Christian guidelines Monday through Friday from eight to five, and then consider yourself a Christian?" The most successful business people that I know live only by good Christian ethics. They have read Luke.

In the real world, giving is rewarded many times over. God has set it up this way. I believe that the business world is part of the real world and that we are to act and follow God's guidelines if we are to grow to our full potential.

Thought for the Week: This week we will be tempted to take the easy route rather than the Godly route. There will be physical as well as mental temptations. We will win and contribute more by being Godly in our thoughts and actions. “WWJD?”

Prayer for the Week: Dear Lord, during our lives we are often tempted to forget your ways and work out problems in a human rather than a Godly manner. This week please give me the strength and foresight to let you work through me when trying to help, both at home and in the work place.
Amen

November 1, 2008, Love of Serving

Folks— This week, the thought for the week and prayer come first.

Thought for the Week: This is election week and should mark the end to the un-Godly campaign advertisements. Let us vote on Tuesday and then focus on those who give us love, those close to us. Let us stop each day and appreciate the benefits we receive from those around us. Let’s enjoy the week.

Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father for over a year we have listened to great caring people behaving in an un-Godly way in pursuit of Political office. This week we pray that You can bring a healing to our country so that we can move forward and show the world we are a worthy God loving people. Deserving of respect. Amen

“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.... The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:16-18, NIV)

In all relationships there is a need for love. That is not to say that we should walk around all day handing out roses! But being kind, serving and helping when we can is an act of love. Within our family structures, trust comes from our love. One of my favorite quotes is from H. Norman Wright's “Ten Commandments for Loving Your Spouse”— ‘Don’t suffocate your spouse with possessiveness.’— Remember that God is the one who owns us, He has merely entrusted our spouse to our care.”

Love is an interesting concept. It is something that we all want and need, but is it something that we freely give? My experience is that successful or over achieving people are passionate people. People that enjoy serving, people that feel that they have helped others while accomplishing their tasks. People that love other people. Often when looking at their lives, they also have a strong faith. Usually a love of God.

On election day in 1992, I had a chance to talk with a former Governor and Senator from Minnesota and asked him if he missed running for office. He talked for several minutes about missing the ability to “serve” the people. His answer surprised me. But the truth of the matter is, to put up with the exposure of politics and the negatives of the job, the reward must be internal. A love of serving. Since 1992, I have grown to understand this man’s spirituality, motives and his love of humanity. He deserved and earned my respect.

Somehow, through loving God, having a strong faith and spirituality, we can give and receive love. This sharing gives us confidence and drives out fear. It makes our lives better.

October 28, 2008, In God We Trust

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-10, NIV)

We, June and I, are giving thanks to the forefathers of our country. In1865 when “In God We Trust” was put on one, two and three cent coins; in 1956 is became a national motto; in 1966 it was finally on all US currency as the fifty and hundred dollar bills were added to the list. It is amazing that our Government had this constant theme for a hundred years. Somehow they felt it was important to constantly remind the American public who to trust. With the overwhelming negative news and political campaigns blasting in our faces over the last few months it is easy to be negative and almost depressed. There is little news that we are going to accomplish the American dream. With all of that information, let me ask you, who do you trust? The financial crises and the decline in the equity markets is all about a lack of trust. It has been well earned by our national corporations. Every time our leaders announce a plan to resolve the issue it seems to send things in a down spiral. We seem to have lost trust in them, or at least I know that I have. Another trust issue is in our national leaders. June and I are enjoying a brief vacation in New England this week. There is physical work to be done to get my 91 year old mom and her home prepared for winter. We need to do some spiritual work and support to support cousin Donna, age 54, who suddenly became a widow last week. We need to find a way to look forward to our retirement in spite of the negative financial news around the world. We need to focus on a source of positive energy. Today we will attend a church with people we learned to love and respect forty years ago when we were first married. We will re-charge our spiritual batteries with positive energy. Many of you that I call my Good News Buddies will do the same. Somehow, through prayer and understanding, we need to keep the faith we have in the Lord. He does not expect us to understand everything, just to love and trust Him to put it all together. Together we need to demonstrate this trust and love to others through times of stress and tragedy. We need to be like the tree whose roots are planted by the stream. We need to be fresh and always bear the fruit of the Lord. We need to have this "fruit" available when others need it.

Thought for the Week: This week let us focus on our “fruit.” Let us understand what our faith can do for others with less understanding. Let us pray and keep our spiritual fruits fresh so that we may share them with those in need.

Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father, we come to you confused by world events. We are concerned about out own personal issues; unemployment, depleted retirement funds, sickness and many other issues. Through out all of this, we pray that we may recognize our roll as servants. We pray that we make our spiritual fruits available to those in need. Amen

October 20, 2008, Bring Love Home

“Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, it’s hopes are fadeless under all circumstances.” (1 Corinthians 13:7, AMP)

We are all having our lives adjusted do to the present financial crises. There are concerns about our financial futures, our careers because institutions we trusted are letting us down. We are changing our style of operation and the way we live our lives.

There are businesses laying people off, those that continue working are doing more for either less or the same. In short form, our lives have become more stressful and in many cases the stress has grown into frustration and then anger. Sometimes it is hard to focus on the benefits brought to us through the Lord and our faith through Jesus Christ.

One of the reasons that “Good News” exists is exactly the above. Meditation works and helps bring us back to reality. There is a Good News recipient whose wife has had chronic degenerative back problems for over 15 years. She is tired of pain killers and muscle relaxants. A few years ago she started meditation classes and learned to meditate almost to the point of self hypnosis. She reduced her drugs to one quarter of her previous dosage. The stress and worry about her disease was causing the tension and many problems that added to her symptoms.

One of the things they teach us in sales is to always be ready for the next meeting Sit in the car before entering the building and review in your mind why you are there and what you hope to accomplish. It works in sales.

Many of us bring our daily problems into the home at night and bring our frustrations in to our family life. The children bring home their frustrations from school, mom and dad from their jobs (or from a bad round of golf) or from the evening traffic. What for? Tonight when you go home, try sitting in the driveway and read this week’s passage and leave the stress behind. Pray that you can go into the house in a loving and caring mood and contribute to the peaceful and loving environment called home.

Thought for the Week: Someone once said that at times we are all salesmen. My example of preparing for a meeting is a serious part of business life and success. This week, let us all focus on “preparing for the meeting” with our families and with God. Let us contribute to peace and tranquility rather than helping increase stress.

October 11, 2008, Indian Summer

"This is the day that the Lord has made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24; NIV)

In Minnesota we are experiencing a wonderful Autumn. An “Indian Summer” as it is called. Our first heavy frost was followed by a freeze and now we have warm temperatures. Certainly this is a gift to us by God. It is something that we all appreciate and offer our thanks. During this time, the crab grass has died; there is color in the leaves; the lawn does not need to be mowed as often; the evenings are cool; the garden does not need weeding. There are many blessings about “Indian Summer” and they are easily recognized.

In our daily lives there are also many blessings but we often do not see and acknowledge them. We try to control our lives and often do not turn enough over to God. The more we allow Him to take over, the more blessed our lives become. Psalm 40:16 says “...But may all who seek you, rejoice and be glad in you...”

As we give thanks for good weather, we need also to give thanks and recognize God’s role in our daily lives.

Thought for the Day: The fall season is upon us. There is bad news and negative political advertising all around us. The busy holidays are approaching us all too swiftly. This week we have the opportunity to relax and enjoy the dwell in activities between the end of Summer and the holidays. Let us enjoy by allowing God's will into our daily lives. Let Go and let God this week and appreciate the things he will do for us.

Prayer for the Week: This week Father, we pray specifically for those in the World that need food, shelter and a quality of life. In our country there are too many people out of work or threatened by unemployment. The world is threatened with interesting financial challenges. In many countries the Holy season approaches many desperate people. Thus week we pray for them and that somehow the prosperous peoples of the world can find a way to do your will. We pray that we may find a way to contribute. Amen

October 1, 2008, Contributing

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us... If it is contributing to the needs of others, let us give generously.”
(Romans 12:6a, 7b).

Generous. That is the best way to describe a person with the gift of giving. In most translations the verse is translated, “a person who gives liberally.” The original Greek word means “to share with anyone, or to impart.” Webster mentions “...as a cow gives milk.” A cow does not give milk, that is its function. A person with this gift cannot help but give, it is their function. Their whole lifestyle is that of giving. It is built into their personality.

A person with this gift gives freely. No cost, bartering or strings. They look for ways to give without drawing attention to themselves and gain enjoyment in giving. They set a wonderful example for children because they gain an understanding of how God gives through their parents. Keep in mind, in God’s way, all gifts have a purpose and one is no better than the other. Even if generosity is not our natural gift, we can all learn to give in some way.

Thought for the week: Let us evaluate our gifts; ask ourselves where we are best suited to do God’s work. Then let us pray for the opportunity to use these gifts.