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Good News
Good News from April–June, 2008 Good News from January–March, 2008 Good News from October–December, 2007 Good News from July–September, 2007 Good News from April–June, 2007 Good News from January–March, 2007 Good News from October–December, 2006 Good News from July–September, 2006 Good News from January–March, 2006 Good News from October–December, 2005 Good News from July–September, 2005 Good News from April–June, 2005 Good News from January– March, 2005 Good News from October–December, 2004 Good News from July–September, 2004 Good News from April– June, 2004 Good News from January–March, 2004 Good News from October–December, 2003 Good News from July– September, 2003 Good News from April–June, 2003 Good News from January–March, 2003 Good News from October–December, 2002 Good News from July–September, 2002 Good News from April–June, 2002 Good News from January–March, 2002 Good News from October–December, 2001 Good News from Bob’s cousin’s son in this eye-witness report from New York, September 13, 2001 Good News from July–September, 2001 Good News from April–June, 2001 Good News from January–March, 2001 Good News from November–December, 2000
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June 25, 2006, Forgiveness “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace... The Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind, able to teach and not resentful.” (2 Timothy 22:24) Forgiveness is the way of Christian life. It is not always an easy path. We Christians are challenged throughout our lives with anger and resentment. Sometimes we grow vindictive and just want to get even. Wow, what a curse. Is it possible to find peace through revenge? Absolutely not. Resentments demonstrate a serious challenge that we Christians need to deal with. How do we find peace when someone has done us wrong? How do we keep God at the forefront of our lives when our livelihood is being attacked? The answer is in good Christian friends, mentors, readings and prayer. Many of us today are challenged with issues. Some have lost jobs, some have divorced, others have significant others who are terminally ill. It is easy to develop anger, fear and resentment. How do we deal with negative issues without destroying the peace in our life? The Christian message is clear; we will find peace only when we have a strong enough faith to forgive and keep God at the forefront of our lives.
Prayer for the Week: Heavenly father, our lives are full of the challenges that are placed before us. Sometimes these challenges create fear and hurts that are difficult to deal with and easy to hang on to. Friendships and relationships often become challenged. Please help us keep the many great and positive gifts you have given us at the forefront of our thoughts and give us the power and wisdom to deal swiftly and honestly with the challenges. Amen
June 16, 2006, Perseverance “Therefore since you have been justified through faith, we have peace with God... we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings. Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance brings character; and character brings hope. And hope does not disappoint us.” (Romans 5:1-5) The key word this week is perseverance. Somehow in our lives we search for serenity or peace. Where does it hide, or do we hide it on our selves? Certainly we all go through phases when we are not at peace. Careers get in the way, illness occurs and the general business of our lifestyle disturbs tranquility. When we are not at peace, who is in control? In 1998, my daughter gave me a daily meditation book. I gave up reading the morning newspaper and started reading it daily. It helped me have a better day. I no longer new the baseball scores, how Tiger did or, better yet, how many negative things occurred in the world the day before. The daily devotional gave me a feeling of peace at the start of the day. So where does persistence fit in? Well, peace is illusive and hard to grasp, or even to define. The search may be everlasting. Paul’s message to the Romans is clear. Through out the ups, downs and general activity of our lives, we must be persistent in our faith and keep God in our lives. Through the grace of God, we will find the hope, peace and tranquility we desire. My favorite poster hangs on my office wall. It states that “The race is not won only by the swift, but also by those who keep on running.” Somehow persistence will carry us through to the end.
Prayer for the Week: Dear Lord, this week I give thanks for the many blessings that are present in my life: The good friends, the lifestyle, the rain and flowers of Spring. There still are many issues that need attention. I pray for your guidance so that as I work through the issues, you are with me and somehow am doing your work. Amen
June 11, 2006, Let's Talk “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 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.”
June 4, 2006, Gods Love for Generations “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.” (Deuteronomy 7v9) Over the years June and I have invited several couples with different backrounds to join us on holidays. Below are two stories and some of our observations. On Christmas in 2001 a family from Pakistan shared Christmas dinner with our family. It was a good time and they shared a lot about raising a family in Pakistan. This was not an average Pakistan family because the husband was well educated and one of the most enlightened and dedicated family men we have ever met. Their two daughters attended school where my daughter Claire teaches and we learned a lot about our society and the Pakistani life. They relocated to Singapore and left a lasting impression on June and I. God was important to them and they demonstrated to us the many ways God works in every life. Another friend we invited to a Thanksgiving was a Native American. She was a single parent with more stress in her life that anyone deserves. A teen age son whose dad had committed suicide had left her with some heavy duty challenges. Her Native American faith is totally different than ours. In the ten years since, June and I have been helpful friends to her and seen the many trials and tests that were put before her. Through her strong faith and by being a dedicated mom, her son is now in college and we have seen various examples of God’s grace in her life. The interesting piece of the above stories is that most faiths practice, in some form, the Ten Commandments. Not as Moses spoke them but in their own terms. It seems to me that we all look toward a single God.
Prayer for the Week: Dear faithful Lord and Father, the world is a great and wonderful creation. There are many peoples of all colors and beliefs. There are generation gaps, social differences, and economic separations. Often the differences get in the way of social graces. This week we pray for two things; First that we can learn from differences to have peace in our own lives. Second, we can contribute to the understanding of your will and towards a better understanding of your Grace. Amen.
May 29, 2006, God’s Love and Grace “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God.... (Deuteronomy 7 v 9) In the last decade June and I have been blessed by being close to people of varied faiths. Through our association with each, we have come to a strong belief that we all worship the same God in different ways and we all experience God’s grace. Several years ago we became good friends with the family of an executive from Pakistan. It was our first real close relationship with a Muslim family. We were close to them in 2001 and observed the frustration that a true Muslim felt in regard to September 11. The wife was Christian from England and as a family they had strong faith and values including a great relationship with each other. Recently a Jewish friend that I have known and liked for years shared with me that he does bible studies so he can learn about the Christian perspective. His strong family values, general positive personality and strong ethical standards make him someone I am glad to know. This last year we have spent several Sundays in Unitarian Meeting Houses when we return to Massachusetts with my family. We are learning more about my mom’s grand parents who were Unitarian ministers. Involvement with my brother’s memorial service at a Unitarian meeting house was a bit different for us. I even Unitarianized my bible passage in respect for their beliefs. To avoid making this a 10,000 word essay, let me summarize some of our other relationships: A son in law who is a southern Baptist, a brother in law who is a Catholic priest in the UK, a Buddhist sister in law, a Mormon best friend who lost touch with his faith, a Native American friend who has involved us in some spiritual activities, and the list goes on. In each instance mentioned, June and I have experienced good friendships and observed strong Godly values in our friends. In most instances, we have observed God working in our friends’ lives and seen God’s grace at work in many ways. Most, importantly, we have experienced God’s grace through our friends.
Prayer for the Week: Dear faithful Lord and Father, the world is a great and wonderful creation. There are many peoples of all colors and beliefs. There are generation gaps, social differences, and economic separations. Often the differences get in the way of social graces. This week we pray for two things; First that we can learn from differences to have peace in our own lives. Second, we can contribute to the understanding of your will and towards a better understanding of your Grace. Amen
May 23, 2006, Can’t Get Away “The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Psalm 46:7 There are unfortunate people around us that do not believe. They go through life assuming full control of their surroundings and do not need any help or support. My recently deceased brother was one of the unfortunates. He was not churched and was uncomfortable discussing the possibility of spirituality with us. We differed in the way we felt but still loved and respected each other. He could not understand why June and I would go to church on a nice Sunday morning when we could be at the lake. That was the way it was. In the last year, an interesting change occurred. He started counting his many blessings and recognized the role that God had played in his life. He talked about people and events and the roll the Lord had played through out his life. He developed a spirituality that surprised both June and I. Often he would give thanks and talked about the great memories given him by God. In the end, June and I observed that the Lord was with him. As believers, we understand that God is our sidekick, our supporter our fortress. This was the first time June and I have observed that even the non-believers can not get away. God is with all of us, always.
May 14, 2006, Illness, 23rd Psalm This week we will celebrate my brother’s life at a memorial service in Massachusetts. In the last year of his life, my brother Wayne, found a spirituality and was able to count his blessings and thank those around him who had been his friend. This is a repeat from last year and relevant for today. “Even though I walk through the valley Recovery from surgery is a tough mental and physical battle that frequently ends in the deepening of spirituality. Healing physically is something we all are used to; our bumps and bruises over the years, minor cuts, all go away in time. It is easy not to recognize the miracle of God with the minor problems. However, when a big one comes, it is equally easy to ask, “Where are you God?” or, “Why are you doing this to me?” It is easy to lose sight of what matters when facing a life threatening event. Often, we are caught up in the analysis of the doctors’ skills and the various treatment options. Yes, let’s get technical and analytical to make sure that the doctor can take care of us. Let’s make sure we go to a hospital with the latest equipment. But somehow, let’s not forget God in the process. In 1998 I had to deal with cancer, my impatience and out right fear chased me into the hospital in only three weeks, with very little analysis or wait and see. Just my typical impulsive, “Just do it.” (Thanks, Nike.) As many of you know, somehow, I threw it over to HIM with reckless abandon. That brings to mind the last line of the Psalm 23, “Surely goodness and love will follow, all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” It is now 2005, my brother and another friend will probably die of the cancer that I had. A very good friend and spiritual brother in San Diego is experiencing recovery. Those of you that interact with me know that I was blessed and am very thankful.
Prayer for the Week: Dear Lord, many of our friends have health issues. Some are minor, some serious and some fatal. We pray that we may find a way to assist, help and calm their fears as they walk through their valley. May we help by following your guidance through prayer. Amen
May 7, 2006, Joy and Peace “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15v13) We Christians often seem celebration conscious. Easter, Christmas, Pentecost, rally day, etc. All seem to be great celebrations that hold our church families together. In our private lives, we always seem to be looking for a reason to celebrate. There are birthdays, anniversaries, and many holidays that trigger family gatherings and create great memories. The most significant of all of our celebrations is the celebration of one’s life at a memorial service. The end of life experience brings grief and sadness. It is often a time of depression for close loved ones. The memorial service is one of joy, hope and the power of the holy spirit. A time when the faults, idiosyncrasies and character defects that we all have are forgotten. It is a time to remember the many blessings that a person received in their lifetime and the blessings that they have given to those around them. This week there are several Good News recipients who are experiencing or expecting end of life events in their families. We all need to pray for them. We need to pray that the Lord will help them celebrate the lives of their loved ones and that they find the joy and peace as they move forward in their grief.
Prayer for the Week: Dear Lord and Father, we live amongst the wonders of Your creation. We have four seasons, mountains, oceans and the grandeur of creation. This week we pray to thank You for it all and the wonderful lives that we live through You. Amen
May 3, 2006, Run for the Prize II This week’s Good News is a repeat from May 6, 2003. June and I are in Massachusetts with my mom and have placed my brother, Wayne, in hospice care. Wayne is on his final journey and we ask you all for prayers for him, Mom and family. Bob “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? “Run in such a way as to get the prize. “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (1 Corinthians; 24-28 NIV) Last week June and I hosted several elite runners. Gifted professionals that earn their living by using the body that God gave them. There were over 6,000 runners in the race, all of them winners. The two time champion, Julius, finished in fifth place this year after two of his friends and countrymen. He said afterwards that he did not have to get the money to win, that just to compete with his friends made him a winner. That is a great attitude. The winning woman was a 41 year old Russian, Lyubov. You may rememberi me writing about her last year. She came in ahead of many younger professionals for the second year in a row. She was proud to have won but talked about her many friends that were at the event. It was easy to see that competing meant more to her than simply winning. In church today I talked to Kevin about the event. He ran it after several years sabbatical. His first words were that he was a real winner because he finished and had fun. The message is very clear, in running and in life: we want to run so that we are not disqualified for the prize.
Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father, this week life will again be flying by. Things move very fast in today’s world. It is easy to forget principles when under pressure. This week we pray for the guidance and judgment to follow your will in our daily activities. We pray that we lead by example and make those around us glad we were with them. Amen
April 24, 2006, God’s Help “The Lord said, ‘Call to me and I will come to you.’” (Jeremiah 33:3) It is easy to go through a busy day without acknowledging the presence of God in our lives. In fact, sometimes when we get to the end of a day and look back, the day seemed out and out un-Godly. That is our own fault. When that happens, we have not done the best job of caring for ourselves. We will have busy and stressful days. Whether working or playing, bad things happen to all of us. Confusion and stress always seem to find their way into our lives. In my life lectures, we talk about putting ourselves first for a part of each day. That requires a bit of selfishness to help maintain our sanity. The results make us a better worker, a better parent and overall a better person. There is nothing selfish about that! Henri Nouwen calls it a still place “…This still place is where God can dwell and speak to us. It also is the place from which we can speak in a healing way to all the people we meet in our busy days.” We all need to think about that.
Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father, the world around us is confusing, sometimes cruel and always difficult to understand. Please allow us time to step aside from our busyness and dwell upon “your will” rather then “our needs.” Let us find the peace or stillness to allow “thy will to be
April 15, 2006, Faithfulness “Great is thy faithfulness Morning by morning new mercies I see All I have needed thy hand has provided Great is thy faithfulness Lord unto me” (Words from Great is thy Faithfulness by Thomas Chisholm, William Runyon 1923) Spring is a great time of the year. In the north we enjoy transition from winter wonderland to green. In the desert the transition is from rainy season a dry desert bloom. The longer days bring brightness to our lives. In its simplest form, the kids can play outside after dinner in the daylight! (So can mom and dad!) Somehow in spring, we become affected with positive energy. There are more smiles on people’s faces and more interaction with neighbors. It is a time when we can visibly see the work of the Lord at work and appreciate his blessings. This is a time when our faith is renewed.
April 10, 2006, Spring “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 its season, something God alone can see.” (Hymn of Promise, Vs1, 1986) This is a 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. It is a time of vacation planning, garden planting and the anticipation of the beauty of the warm season. There is hope caused by the visible evidence of God's presence around us. This is a time for reflection and review of our dark side; 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.”
April 2, 2006, 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.
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