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June 13, 2004
“Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears re-lieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour that I first believed.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
a life of joy and peace.”
(Amazing Grace, Vs 4 & 5)
(Words by John Newton, 1779)

There are almost as many ways to find joy and peace as there are people. It can be found anywhere at any time. It is something that we all measure in our own way. As Christians we have the tools to and knowledge to reach out and find it.

However, often we let our every day tasks and challenges disturb our peace. This past week it seemed that the traffic situation was a threat to many people’s tranquility. The construction season combined with heavy rains slowed things down to a crawl. Frustration seemed to replace grace on the highways. A Good News friend wrote a book called Finding Grace. In regards to traffic his comments were “...leave early, take the pretty route and listen to good music.” He is right on. As Christian’s when we find our tranquility threatened, we need to use our tool kit. Prayer, meditation and even a chat with a friend. They all will work. God did not put us here to be frustrated. Experience grace as He wants you to.

Thought for the Week: This week let us all keep grace at the forefront of our daily prayers. Let us expect the daily challenges and be ready with our tool kit. This week let’s experience grace and joy every day.

Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father, we recognize that your joy and tranquility are always available and you are always with us. This week we need you to help us daily. This week we pray that we may keep you on our minds and in our thoughts as we work through the challenges of our Christian lives.

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June 6, 2004
“I come to the garden alone,
while the dew is still on the roses,
and the voice I hear falling on my ear,
the son of God discloses.
and he walks with me,
and he talks with me,
and he tells me I am his own,
and the joy we share as we tarry there,
none other has ever known.”
(In the Garden, C. Austin Miles)
(Methodist Hymnal No. 314)

The overwhelming support that we have as people of faith is certainly wonderful and one of the greatest advantages of Christianity. Often, as an A type personality, I awake before June and go jogging (now walking!) at sunrise, “...while the dew is still on the roses....” The sound of mourning doves and early robins is the dominant sound rather than traffic or other social activity related noise. Often I find myself humming “In the Garden.” Another time when it comes to mind is before a tough meeting or event. Whether a business meeting, neighborhood meeting or a hospital visit, it is great to know that you are never alone if you let Him join you. Many of you often see me with a lapel pin that is a pair of feet. They are from “Foot prints in the sand”. They are to invite conversation regarding the concept of walking with Christ every day. It us always an interesting conversation. We are blessed.

Thought for the Week: This week let us simply remember that we are never alone. Let us enjoy His presence as we walk through our lives.

Special Prayer: Please extend a special prayer for a Good News recipient, Bob, who is dealing with the many issues of aging parents. Let us all pray that his strong faith and good judgment will help him through difficult times and issues that we all will face in our time.

Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father, we are certainly glad that you are here for support. Often the world around us is confusing and it is difficult to understand your wishes. However, we give thanks for the roll that you play in our every day lives and the help you give you give our friends and families. Amen

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May 23, 2004
Keep reminding them of these things.

Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.” ( 2 Timothy 2; 14-16 NIV)

When Paul wrote 2 Timothy he was concerned about the welfare of the church during a time of persecution. He was asking Timothy to guard the gospel. So what does that have to do with us in 2004 Christianity? Christianity is a part of the world’s society. What is there to guard? Well, how about guarding our own faith against the “Godless chatter” that surrounds us daily. We read it, hear it and sometimes participate in it. There are many examples of this in an election year. The candidates’ negative campaigning with partial truths, facts taken out of context and drilling into their opponents past certainly apply. We need to put their chatter in perspective and pray about it all. In our personal lives it is also easy to become wrapped up in ungodly thoughts and chatter.

Years ago I attended a very spiritual breakfast meeting every Friday. Over time it became a political talk time dealing with issues way out of our control. That is very natural. My daughter recently dropped out of a bible study that she had attended for several years. In her eyes it had evolved into a social support group rather than a study group. It did not fit for her any more. The group and she had grown in different directions. That is also very natural.

Those examples do not mean that those groups evolved into godless chatter. It simply demonstrates that the term is totally relative to each individual. It demonstrates the need for each of us to listen to others; to pay attention; to speak out and demonstrate our faith and thoughts. We need to work our faith into our daily lives and conversations.

Thought for the Week: This week we will hear some Godless chatter. Let us recognize it, correct it when we can and keep it in perspective. Pray for those who promote and participate in it.

Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father we give thanks to you for all the things that are reborn in the Spring. Flowers, leaves, green grass all make us appreciate your world. This week we pray for the opportunity to enjoy and love each other. Amen

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May 16, 2004
“Help us accept each other as Christ accepted us;
teach us as sister, brother, each person to embrace;
Be present , Lord, among us, and bring us to believe
we are ourselves accepted and meant to love and live.”
(Fred Kaan, “Help Us Accept Each Other,” 1974
UMC Hymnal 560)“

We are faced with decisions every day regarding our relationships with others. Sometimes there is aggressive behavior that needs to be dealt with. In business there is a competition to get to the top; in school, the head of the class; in sports to be number one etc. It is the way it is. When growing up I was taught that winning is not everything, it was how you played the game that mattered. In the seventies I attended a business management seminar sponsored by Green Bay coach Vince Lombardi.. The emphasis was on detail, being service oriented and planning ahead. Of course, every day his famous quote was stated quite clearly. “ Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing”. Over the years the operating principals that were learned at that seminar have made my live very successful. However, that last quote bothered me then and now. Often I have seen people climb over others in an attempt to get ahead. In almost every case they fail either financially or personally. People that play by the old rule always do better. To play by the old rule takes faith in yourself and God as well as a love and caring for people. Good News recipients are a varied lot from all walks of life and socioeconomic backgrounds. Two are very successful Christian CEOs and how their companies behave matters to them. Christian ethics takes great faith. No matter where or who we are, fairness and love of others is the real key to success. Then how do we deal with the aggressive ones? the inconsiderate neighbor? the cut throat business man? The ones that bend rules ? John quotes Jesus in chapter 15:17, “This is my command, Love each other”. We need to pray for and love our competitors in life.

Thought for the Week: This week let us practice unconditional love in our lives. If confronted with opportunistic or aggressive behavior, let us find a way to get through the situation in a positive and loving way.

Prayer for the Week: Dear Lord, this week let me reach out to people. Help me understand them and care about them. We pray that through our faith in your ways we can improve our selves and our surrounding world. Amen

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May 9, 2004
“You are the light of the world.
A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand,
and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16, NIV)

My pastor says that we are all ministers in some way. Is that true? I believe that it is a fact that most of us want to keep under our hats. Perhaps the term closet minister applies to many of us. We help, we lead by example we attend services to learn more and we silently minister to those around us. Often, we do not know when we are leading. In any Sunday congregation there are takers and givers. Some percentage is there suffering a hurt, an illness and are looking to take something from the service. Others are there to sing, learn from a class, to teach or just to have some special time. The important thing is that we are all there.

Silent ministries occur in many ways. Twenty odd years ago, a young single couple was acting in a very special way. Holding hands, whispering in each other’s ears and an occasional peck on the cheek. My personal thoughts were that they were inappropriate. The pastor announced their pending wedding during that service. After the service, a good friend of mine mentioned how neat he thought they were and that he wished he and his wife still had that level of enthusiasm for each other. My mind crossed over and today I think that couple, without intent, set an example for older couples. They were ministers. “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds..”.

Thought for The Week: This week let us be thankful for those around us. Be at peace and demonstrate our pasion and love to others. Spring flowers have burst into color, warm weather makes us feel great, so let’s utilize our Spring spirit to demonstrate our faith.

Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father, you have blessed us with many friends. We are surrounded and can not avoid them. At work, on the streets and at home we are blessed.This week we want to pray for them all and especially pray that they recognize the beauty of Christian friendship.

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May 1, 2004
“In the bulb there is a flower,
in the seed an apple tree;
in co-coons a hidden promise:
butterflies will soon be free!

In the cold and snow of Winter
there’s a Spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until it’s season,
something God alone can see.”
(Hymn of Promise, Vs1, Natalie Sleeth, 1986)

This is s glorious time of the year. The northern hemisphere goes into the transition to Summer. It is a time when the resolutions from new year are long since successful or forgotten. A time of vacation planning, garden planting and the anticipation of the beauty of the warm season. A time of hope led by the visible evidence of God’s presence around us.

This is a time for reflection and review of our dark side. A review of the negative forces in our lives. This is Spring and we need to recover the “...hidden promise...” in our personal lives “... that God alone can see.” Through our faith and belief, our Lord will share with us the pleasures of life.

Thought for the Week: It is Spring. Let us take special notice of it’s wonders. Smell the flowers and enjoy the showers. Let us share these positive feelings with others and encourage positive feelings around us.

Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father we pray for an end to senseless killing and the guidance to understand this violent world that surrounds us. There seems to be a dominant hate factor that is not created by Godly forces. There needs to be more prayer and less negative logic.

This week we pray that the worlds religions may see You as one God. We pray that somehow through your divine guidance, killing, hate and violence may come to an end.

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April 24, 2004
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life,
by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice” (James 3:13-16,NIV)

One of my recurring themes is that we are all ministers. Within our individual congregations we hire ordained ministers to lead and teach us as we move forward on our spiritual journeys. Sometimes we catch ourselves in the Sunday only mode. A very dear friend of June's and mine is in a spiritual crises. For whatever reason faith has left and bouts of depression have occurred. It is probably not coincidental. For Christians, there is a strong tie between our faith and our inner peace. When our faith is doubtful we take control of things. We forget to "Let go and let God". (one of my favorite slogans.) As Christians, we need to demonstrate our inner peace to others. Show our caring spirits and our love. Not on Sunday but every day in every activity. Our ministry needs to be subtle, persistent and very public. When we function in a very Christian and public way, people in doubt will come to us.

Thought for the Week: This week let us demonstrate our inner peace to all we meet. Let us look for opportunity to talk about our tranquillity and our faith. Let us offer to share with others.

Prayer for the Week: Dear Lord, there are many great events that are masked by tragedy. The events in the Middle East are tragic and seem out of human and your control. The threat of terrorism is world wide and hate seems to be the basis of too many judgments. This week we pray that somehow we as Christians may fine a way to contribute. That we may have our prayers answered with a lasting miracle. We all need an end to hate and hateful decisions.