Who is Your Counselor?

By Lora Vollmar

Our church has an “in-house counselor.” Oftentimes, when in conversation I have mentioned trials or testings that I am undergoing, I have had fellow church-members in full love and sincerity recommend that I visit with our counselor for a few sessions. Their words are full of praise for her and include how “professional” she is. Some even go so far as to describe “techniques” or “steps” that she incorporates that one can take home and put into practice to learn new ways of thinking and develop new habits.

I am always left wondering, “What happened to God?” When did the church stop directing people to God for salvation in every area of life?

What must God think of us when we totally ignore the Counselor He personally gave to us, and replace Him with our own human, college-educated, professional counselors?

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:16)

Could this be one of the ways that we “grieve the Holy Spirit”? (Eph. 4:30) When we put our trust in humans to save us in the areas of life that counselors cover, are we sinning by replacing God with the idol of “psychology” or “psychiatry”? Does it grieve the heart of God to see the way we trample on His free gift of the Holy Spirit as if it were of no value? It would certainly grieve me if I was trying to help someone, and the person totally ignored me and tried to save him or herself.

God is our Maker. Who would know us better than the one who made us? Who could know how to “fix” what is wrong with us better than our Maker? Can a college education do better than God? Do letters behind one’s name make a person smarter than God?

God is still Maker; Creator of All. Jesus is still the Savior of the World. If Jesus is the Savior, then only the Words of Jesus will fix what is wrong with us.

“The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

No human counselor can teach you all things. What mortal person can give you just the right Scripture when you need it most to resist temptation or get you through another hard day at work? Only the Holy Spirit of God is qualified for the job of Counselor to the human race. God didn’t put an ad in the classifieds and take applications for the position. What’s best is that the Holy Spirit is free. You won’t receive a $100/hour bill in the mail from God. If a person will obey the instructions of the Holy Spirit, he or she will find salvation in Jesus. He knows what is best for each one of us, and sent us exactly what we needed in the person of the Holy Spirit. .

When will we stop sinning by trusting in the arm of the flesh and once again put our trust in the Lord, our God?

“Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.” (Psalm 146:3)

What’s God Doing In The Church Right Now?

By Mark Swegar

This being October 2006, I spent part of last month watching documentaries on the 5th anniversary of 9/11. It’s amazing that even after half a decade, this event on the opposite coast still stirs me deeply. I still grieve over those who lost loved ones that day. I often wonder: if the Twin Tower and Pentagon and Flight 93 family members knew what was coming, would they have done things differently that day, and how would they have prepared? God knew what was coming, because he has all things under control. So why didn’t God tell people about it in advance? On the other hand, did anybody ask Him?

Mid-September was also a special time for Jews and Christians who are aware. The Day of Trumpets is the first day of the Judeo-Christian New Year (i.e., God’s Feast Calendar, which includes the three Seasons of Tabernacles, Passover, and Pentecost, with an inclusive total of seven Feasts), and therefore a great day to get God’s focus for His New Year. But God doesn’t really tell people about it in advance… does He? On the other hand, did anybody ask Him?

“He who has an ear, let him hear what The Spirit says…” But how can we hear the Lord unless we both listen and expect him to speak? God is talking nonstop, but not many of his servants listen and then submit it for confirmation. Still, the Lord has His “New Year’s resolutions” concerning His church, and right here this month and next, I’ll give you the tip of the iceberg about what He desires this year. This way, if (and only if) His Spirit confirms it in your heart, you can prepare because you know about it in advance.

Our church was extremely fortunate to have a visiting band with a large brass section lead our music on The Day of Trumpets. Their vocals combined with nine horns helped us all to “lift up our voices like trumpets” (Isaiah 58:1) and celebrate God’s Provision in our lives. After some simple math, we figured out that this same band last played in our church exactly a year ago on The Feast of Trumpets, with vocals and seven brass horns. We rocked the building and the spirit realm both times! We may be a small church with no band of our own, but we serve a big God who gives us the victory again and again. Trumpets marks the beginning of Tabernacles Season, and Tabernacles (literally meaning Tents) is a time of “God with us” (Emmanuel – Isaiah 7:14). Have you ever gone camping with someone and set up your tent alongside theirs? In the wilderness the Israelites lived in tents, and the most privileged ones dwelt next to God’s tent (The Tabernacle, where the Holy of Holies was located). In this age the Lord has set up His tent among us (John 1:14) and we have seen His glory. What an unspeakable privilege! He wants to live intimately with us. What other response could we have to this except to fall at his feet and worship?

In fact, new levels of worship is exactly what the Lord desires from us this year. Worship is the key to the unity needed in the Body of Christ. Our unity in worship will be a flowing river bringing the water of life to a parched and starving world. Jesus promises us “living water, a wellspring and fountain erupting unto eternal life…and true heart-worshipers must worship God in spirit and truth.” John 4, see also Proverbs 4: 23 Every Christian needs to tap into that wellspring of life which is The Spirit deep within the heart, and let the joy of intimately knowing Him gush forth in the form of praise and worship. As this fountain overflows into every area of life, each believer becomes a rivulet of Christ, a worshiping stream of living water. And as we worship together in one Spirit, we become a mighty river building up the entire body of Christ to the glory of God, for “there is a river whose rivulets gladden the holy place where God Most High dwells.” Psalm 46:4 This is not talking about Jerusalem, which sits on a hill with a meager well water supply and no springs or rivers nearby. Rather we are that river, and the holy place where God dwells is in His temple where we worship (see Psalm 27: 4). Let your heart be His temple, and worship him daily in spirit and truth. From this temple of worship flows this water of life, abundant water of abundant life.

Ezekiel saw water flowing out of the temple, beginning with a trickle, but becoming ankle-deep, then knee-deep, then waist-deep. It swelled into a river so wide and deep you couldn’t even swim across it. This living water flowed through a desert valley, and everywhere it touched the dead sand, trees sprung up with year-round fruit. When it emptied into the Dead Sea, it turned the poison saltwater into freshwater teeming with life (Ezekiel 47). What a beautiful picture of Christ’s Church in worship! “When I am lifted up, I will draw all men to myself,” said Jesus, adding “and you will do my miracles and even greater things than these, because I go to The Father.” The Lord has truly called us to be a portion of the River of Life, and where the river flows everything shall live (verse 9). So take your living fountain of worship and unite with other rivulets and flow, part of The Groom’s great river of living water flowing from God’s throne, breaking every curse and healing every nation. Revelation 22: 1-5 The trumpets have sounded; it has now been declared to you. Be set free to rejoice in worship because Emmanuel – our Lord Jesus Christ – has set up His Tent among us!

[Next month… part 2: how you can begin to prophesy]

This one had me crying

By Lora L. Vollmar

Dear Friends,
This one had me crying, it is so touching in its simplicity and so revealing of how little we understand the way of God.
--Lora

A friend sent me this true story today. I love it because it cuts through the mask of religion and shows the heart of Christ.

His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans, and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college.

He is brilliant, kind of profound and very, very bright. He became a Christian while attending college.

Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. They want to develop a ministry to the students but are not sure how to go about it. One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat.

The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now, people are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything.

Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit, and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet. By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick.

About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill.

Now the deacon is in his eighties. He has silver-gray hair, and a three-piece suit. He walks with a cane and, as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to themselves that you can't blame him for what he's going to do.

How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?

It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing. The minister can't even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.

And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with him so he won't be alone.

Everyone chokes up with emotion.

When the minister gains control, he says, "What I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget."
My prayer for you today is that the love of God will fill you to overflowing. I pray that your cup will be so full, you will be drinking out of the saucer!

--
Lora L. Vollmar
Prayer is my business; Praise is my pleasure.
loralee43@gmail.com

Throw-Away People

By Sharon Fink

Get out of my life. You’re cramping my lifestyle. I’ve seen throw-away people blowing along a path, like a piece of disposable trash. Their head is horizontal with the dirt, feet shuffling, not knowing where to go. If you look closer you’ll see eyebrows seeking each other’s company, mouth corners hanging, even a tear wanting to come out, but too embarrassed. I’ve been there, felt that.

Throw-away people. Therapists and pastors’ appointments are packed with them. Many were tossed aside as children and have never recovered as adults. In our instant world, we think people are as replaceable as disposable diapers that have dirtied our lives. We don’t like their smell, so we throw them away and find another clean one. Fragile friendships. Floundering families.

Sperm and eggs are bought and sold. The bad ones are thrown away. One night flings end up with live babies nine months later. Sometimes their short little lives are purposely extinguished before the nine months. Some children may be loved at first, but when they start making noise and showing their personality, they’re more trouble than their worth. Many couples have decided to have dogs instead of babies. Dogs can be left at home alone all day while their owners pursue their careers.

Men throw away once-shapely wives, when they start to look worn out. Wives throw away perfectly good husbands because they don't suit their needs anymore or they're just not the same product they thought they got when they married them. After all, stores take things back without even questioning the reason for rejection. Shouldn't we be able to do the same with people?

Angry parents who can't deal with their teens yell and scream their kids right out of their homes. Their child lands on the streets or in the arms of a reluctant relative. The reject discovers other rejects and is comforted by a whole community who share common shame. Together they wrap their arms around each other, numbing each other with alcohol and drugs. Throw-away people huddled together, shedding tears or sharing anger at their world. Others hide by closing their blinds to protect them from the garbage being thrown at them. They get out their bricks and super glue and start building walls around them, exposing themselves only to unreal life on television or movies.

Rejection. How it hurts! Somehow we've been told that if we are not perfect, we won’t fit into our world. We need to get fixed. Often it's the beautiful person who struggles with a perceived disability that drives them to multiple face surgeries and liposuction. We look for the day when we will be happy with our outside, when it's really our inside that needs fixing.

I read about a woman who was a throw away. She had a sexual affair and was caught in the act. Her fault, but can you imagine how she felt? Then to humiliate her more, she was dragged out in public and “righteously” presented to Jesus, of all people. They thought she should be disposed of on the spot. Trashed. Of course, a curious crowd gathered around her. It’s always comforting to know there are people worse than us. You can read about it in the Gospel of John 8:3–11.

So what did Jesus, the man who claimed to be God, say? Nothing. He just wrote with his finger in the dirt that surrounded her. I wonder what He wrote. Do you think he was drawing hearts? That’s probably a good thing to do when we see someone whose morals don’t reflect ours. Sometimes it’s best to just keep quiet and pray, rather than blurt out our horror.

The woman’s accusers kept bugging Jesus for a response, so he finally said, (my translation) “OK, you religious guys. Whoever is perfect can be the first one to take a shot at her.” They all walked away with heads down until the woman was left alone with Jesus. “Well, it looks like there’s no one around to condemn you.” His eyes spoke volumes of love. “No one,” she agreed. Then Jesus said three words that instantly turned her from a piece of trash into a valued woman. “Neither do I.” Jesus saw her heartThen he encouraged her to change her lifestyle of sin. Instant healing happened right there.

The Bible is jam-packed with words like that, straight from God’s mouth. “You are more valuable than many sparrows.”(Luke 12:7). “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8) “He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you.” (Isaiah 30:19). “The Lord rescues those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18).

There are no throw-away people in God’s kingdom. His death on the cross for our sins proved forever His love for every human being on this earth.

The Lord Sailed with Us

By Paul Boos

Sitting on the ditch irrigating and waiting for the water to come around, one has a lot of time to think. There is not much out there except cattle grazing and open land, I call it God’s country. He is out there with me as he has been for the last 67 years, even though there have been times I would have questioned his availability.

It was back in 1956 and I was a 2nd class NCO on independent duty on the USS Ponchatoula AO148. She was loaded with aviation gas, bunker oil and a full load of ammunition in the hole. This ship was the largest Navy tanker at that time, she could do 30 knots or more. She had a crew of 217 men and officers.

We were anchored in Long Beach harbor, not far from where the Queen Mary is today. The Captain gave the order to pull the anchor and get ready to go to sea. We were on our way to Korea and Japan. The anchor detail was secured. A lot of the men went to the stern to smoke, this was the only place smoking was allowed.

I was down in sick bay securing anything that might fall or get knocked over at sea. I could hear the two screws picking up speed, we were on our way. I was getting ready to go topside to say good bye to the good old USA when there was a loud metal crushing, vibrating, bang. After getting up off the deck and trying to figure out what had happened, I heard the Captain sounding general quarters over the innercom instead of collision.
All the men from down below were going top side to man the 3 inch and 5 inch guns.

I got up, grabbed my medical bag and went topside. Coming out of the hatch to the main deck, all I could see was a Richfield tanker, the Robert E. Day, listing about 20 degrees. Two of her tank hatches had sprung open and gasoline was running out of her scuppers and into the harbor all around us. The men on the fantail had flipped their cigarette butts over the side and were running to general quarters.

I did not have time to ask God for a safe trip but I knew he was on the ship with the rest of us. I heard other crewmembers thanking God that we did not blow up. If we had we would have probably taken out most of downtown Long Beach. After repairing a 20 foot gash in our hull we got to sea a month later.

This occurrence was never in the news because the Captain had us sign a confidentially paper before we could go ashore.
----
Paul writes from Montague, California

The Challenge of the Church: Exposing Hidden Truth

By Mike Green

The challenge of the church: exposing hidden truth By Mike Green "What is truth?" asked Pontius Pilot of Jesus.

Arguably, this is still one of the greatest questions of our present day. Unfortunately, it was then, as it continues to be today, merely a rhetorical question. Like Pontius, most of us living now would rather presume we know the truth, rather than seek it earnestly.

We live in a society where few things are truly what they seem to be. All around us are lies, deceitful messages, lures and temptations. When the apostles traveled from city to city, they would often meet with large groups of people hungry for knowledge. The great tragedy today is that such hunger for truth has faded away.

We are told in Romans 2:8 "But for those who are self-seeking and reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger."

Seemingly, the truth is easily distinguishable from evil and Christians make conscience decisions daily to follow that which is truth and reject that which is evil, right? We believe that we would be able to distinguish the truth from a lie. And presumably we would choose the path of truth. But that isn't always the case.

Today, the world watches as the events in the Middle East escalate. But American Christians aren't watching a drama unfold merely as spectators. We are participants.

And if the church had been paying attention, we would have easily recognized the lies that told us 9/11 was the catalyst for sending American Christians to kill and be killed at the behest of a secular government. The facts reveal, however, that at the time 9/11 occurred, the U.S. government had long established a history of covert and overt aggressive military involvement in the Middle East that stemmed back 11 presidents. And on September 11, 2001, the U.S. was already in the midst of a war that it initiated through a military invasion of Iraq over 10 years prior . based upon a lie.

Unfortunately, the church has no answers outside of what the government offers as rationale for the attacks of 9/11. The church doesn't even seek the truth regarding the glaring questions that still remain unanswered.

In fact, one would be hard-pressed to find any effort by the Christian church to challenge the Middle East policies of our secular government that has set itself apart from God and purports to always be the arbiter of truth.

The truth is exactly the opposite of what one would have imagined. The church dismisses any questions, refuses to investigate, closes its doors to those who dare to question our government and instead regurgitates the propaganda concocted from within political circles that point to elements within Islam as an enemy deserving of death. It is apparent the church has failed to do its own research. I argue that the church doesn't ask any questions at all, and that failure has left millions of Christians adrift on a sea of apathy and ignorance toward the world around us.

"What is truth?" should not be a rhetorical question. It ought to be the question we ask daily when we read the news of what is happening around us in our society and world.

Unfortunately, the evidence of truth today provides proof that as a body of Christian believers, we have walked hand-in-hand with unbelievers down a pathway of evil, rejecting truth and closing our eyes and ears to its paradigm-shifting message.

Jesus commanded us to love our enemies. And instead of making every attempt to at least understand the motivations of so-called "terrorists," which would inevitably reveal the history of deceit and violence perpetrated by our own government, we instead accept the lies told by our leaders and direct hatred toward our enemies - exactly opposite of what Jesus commanded His followers.

We find ourselves written about in Jeremiah 7:28: Therefore say to them 'This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God, or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.'

So ask the question, what is the truth?

On August 7, 2006 there was news of a shutdown of the largest oil field in the nation operated by BP. The question no one asked is, "Why is British Petroleum operating the largest oil field in America?"

The answer is quite revealing. It leads one into discovery of a relationship between the U.S. government and British Petroleum that spans back to 1953, when the U.S. authorized a CIA covert operation (Project Ajax) to undermine and overthrow the democratic government of Iran in an effort to install a brutal dictator who enabled the U.S. and Great Britain to control the oil flow from Iran (through BP) for more than a quarter of a century. From that time to this, the U.S. government has been involved in covert and overt military operations in the Middle East that has caused the deaths and disruption of literally millions of people lives, and given the U.S. government the well-deserved reputation of "The Great Satan."

Ask the question, "Is this true?" The search for the answer is a journey toward truth.

So why is such information important?

Christian men and women today are being sacrificed upon an altar of political ignorance and apathy. It is Christians that are allied with a secular enemy of God that enjoys our support of its secret decisions that advance its secret agendas. And it is devoutly religious Christians killing devoutly religious Muslims based upon the orders of a devoutly secular government that pretends it is moral, righteous and truthful.

Jesus and the prophets warned of such widespread deceit that would occur in our time.

Meanwhile, the church, gatekeeper of truth, whose job is to expose lies and corruption and set itself apart from such machinations, today finds itself complicit with the U.S. government's contrived deceit that serves as the foundation of rationale for U.S. involvement in the Middle East.

Most Christians are not only ignorant of the facts that have led toward much death and destruction by American Christians in the Middle East, but have failed to even ask the simple question, "What is the truth?"

Such lack of interest in knowing the truth has enabled the forces of deceit to lure the church away from its foundation, and today we find Christians in support of policies with which we are fundamentally opposed. As Christians, we are called to the truth. Jesus said, "I am the truth, the way and the life ." But how is such a statement applicable in our modern-day lives today? The answer to that question is revealed in the journey that begins by asking, "What is the truth?"

# # #

Column tag: Mike Green is the author of "The WHOLE Truth about the U.S. War on Terror: answers to every question you never knew to ask." He is also the Content Editor of the Ashland Daily Tidings and a member of First Church of the Nazarene in Medford. He can be reached via www.theTruthAboutTerror.com.

Suffering — Part 2

By Bob Hansen

I wish I could move on to a new subject, but I can’t stop thinking about what I mentioned in my past column. In it, I brought my son and his fiancée to task about their planned honeymoon. Specifically, it seemed that they had neglected to incorporate the appropriate amount of suffering into their plans. Didn’t the apostle Paul even mention a list of his suffering in IICorinthians 11? (beatings, shipwrecks, and various dangers—in other words, sufferings) Didn’t he write in Romans 8, “I consider that the sufferings of this present age are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” So you see that my argument for hardship is almost biblically based.

I have tried to explain to our son and his fiancée that suffering in the early years of marriage, draws one closer to God, and makes a couple grow stronger and better able to survive the rigors of a long-term relationship. And I maintained that they could hardly expect to suffer while honeymooning in Hawaii.

I wish I could report that they took my message to heart and canceled their trip to tropical paradise in favor of a mountain climbing expedition in Tibet. But instead, they have ignored my excellent council.

In a farther, even more troubling revelation, I have discovered their plan for a dwelling place after they are wed. They are to be commended in that they plan on living near their parents. But it is their living standard that has raised concerns in my mind. Perhaps I have neglected to tell them where my wife and I lived at the beginning of our many blissful years together.

It was a few months after our wedding that we settled in a small, rural community. In that town we found the perfect apartment. Well, I guess you couldn’t really call it an apartment. It was more of a…. Well, it was kind of a…. It was a structure, anyway—with walls and a roof. I recall the landlord saying that the previous occupants found the place to be spacious (I’m convinced they were a family of mice.) He said we shouldn’t have a problem as long as we didn’t own anything that we wanted to keep in the building.

Fortunately, we didn’t, so we moved in. As you might have guessed, the place was tiny—one combination living room/kitchen and one bedroom. I doubt the entire structure was more than sixteen feet by sixteen.

In vivid contrast, my son and his soon-to-be bride, are thinking along the lines of a spacious, two-bedroom apartment with all new appliances and furniture. Besides the amenities specific to their apartment, the complex also offers things like a community meeting room, an exercise gym, pool tables, a hot tub and, I suspect, free ice cream.

Our first place had more than one hot tub—only they were in the driveway and we called them puddles.

On a related issue: what is this new generation’s obsession with automobiles? My wife and I had one vehicle to go with one job. In an obvious attempt to out do us, our kids are going with two jobs and two cars.

Am I the only one who can see the danger in this approach? If young people have it too easy, aren’t they likely to turn into marshmallows? And then, if at some point in the future, they face a real hardship how will they handle it? What if, someday, one of their cell phones stops working? What if someone breaks in and plays with their fancy video game systems and loses their place in the game, forcing them to start over at level one? How will they handle the trauma of such events?

It would be better if they did what my wife and I did. We didn’t strive for the high life, attempting to start out at the top of the affluence pyramid. Instead, we purposely and thoughtfully chose austerity.

And this we did with foresight. We looked far into the future, understanding the value of the furnace of affliction. We realized that adversity is the garden soil in which the vegetables of trust and faith grow.

Yes, we choice high, hard road of poverty because we saw the value to be gained. That was the sole reason for our choice. Well, that and the fact that we had no money.

Smiles From the Bible...

Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married Ruth?
A. Ruthless.

Q. What do they call pastors in Germany?
A. German Shepherds.

Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?
A. Noah. He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.

Q. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible?
A. Pharaoh's daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet.

Q. What kind of
motor vehicles are in the Bible?
A. God drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury . David's Triumph was heard throughout the land. Also, probably a Honda , because the apostles were all in one Accord .

Q. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?
A. Samson. He brought the house down.

Q. What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden
A. Your mother ate us out of house and home.

Q. Which servant of God was the most flagrant lawbreaker in the Bible?
A. Moses. He broke all 10 commandments at once.

Q. Which area of Palestine was especially wealthy?
A. The area around Jordan. The banks were always overflowing.

Q. Who is the greatest babysitter mentioned in the Bible?
A. David. He rocked Goliath to a very deep sleep.

Q. Which Bible character had no parents?
A. Joshua, son of Nun.

Q. Why didn't they play cards on the Ark?
A. Because Noah was standing on the deck. (Groan...)

PS...
Did you know it's a sin for a woman to make coffee?
Yup, it's in the Bible. It says . . . "He-brews"

My "Single" Mistake With God

By Mary Skoglie

Isn't it sort of funny when we have great, grandiose ideas? We think we know what God wants and so we go forward. Oftentimes these forward moves are half our ideas/half God's ideas. But in compassion, God kind of follows us as we figure out that oops...we have things wrong. He should be leading and we should be following. And so it goes.

Recently I had one of those moments. I had sought God's will and I had been praying a lot. For two years, I have had a real burden for the single people in the churches, ages 20 to 30; those people which are out of college, but still do not have a partner. Maybe they are starting their careers and are transferred far away, so they sit in their apartment, lonely and afraid, just longing for anyone to keep them company.

With that mental picture in my mind, I began a two-year prayer for singles in the church. As I prayed, I became more frustrated. I had three such members in my church. Single men, and I had known them for years. I tried to reach out to them. But things were awkward because, besides being single, they also had been former students when I was a teacher. So that just did not work. They could not now move to the mode of friend. I was still "Mrs. Callahan" to them. But I kept praying and God led me to another church.

As I prayed and prayed and prayed, I became more intense on my need to reach out somehow. Then, the crack in the wall came for me. Working on a project for the church, I discovered I was working with two bright singles. I blurted out my heart's desire to reach singles and wondered if they wanted to come to my house for a meal. To my surprise they opened themselves and seemed truly excited. From there I shared my dream of a singles ministry. They wanted that. So I tried to get the word out about starting a singles ministry in my area. I wrote an article in the local Christian paper, telling of my desire to reach singles.

To my surprise, I got calls, inquiries and email. We scheduled our first singles social. I was thinking singles in their 20's, but instead I had older people come. Disabled came. Single parents sought us, and everything but 20's. As I sat at the first outing, I felt a bit depressed. Where were my 20's and what would happen with such a diverse crowd? Was this going to be a total disaster? I was frustrated and a bit sad...my thinking was that I wondered how such a diverse crowd would even get along. And as I started to leave the social, which was anything but what I had in mind, God in His tenderness tapped me on the shoulder and said, "I came for these: the lonely, the sick and the hurting. And you are doing just what I need you to do. How about putting the worries in My hands? I can take care of it."

I had a light bulb moment. Yes, God came for all the lonely and I had to rely on Him to work out all the details. I was only the messenger. Last week we had our second outing--a wonderful time of golfing together. We had disabled, seniors, and my husband and I. Everyone had a great time. And my worries of not getting along just melted.

Isn't it great to know that we have a God that is still in control? If you would like to, come join with singles of all types. We also would welcome couples that have a burden to support the single. We are a diverse group and welcome any singles wanting clean fellowship. Come one, come all; let's just celebrate what God can do. For more information, contact me, Linda Callahan, at 541-664-3964.

On the Road to Heaven

By Barry N. Shaw

On the Road to Heaven - Working Out Our Salvation

The Apostle Paul said to the Philippians, “...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works you to will and act according to His good purpose.” Phil 2:12-13. This statement implies that we must do something in order to be saved. Yet in his letter to the Ephesians, Paul said, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph 2:8-9. Is the Apostle contradicting himself? As he says, “By no means!”

Salvation is a process by which man is delivered from the power and penalty of sin. Salvation starts with the gracious gift of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That gift from God is called rebirth, being born again, for Jesus said, “You must be born again.” Jn 3:7.

God created us in three parts: the flesh, the soul (the mind - will and emotions), and the spirit. 1 Thess 5:23. The flesh is the temple for the soul and the spirit. Spirit is the means by which we communicate with God. The desire of the flesh is self. The desire of spirit is God. The flesh and the spirit are opposing forces within us. They are competitors in a race for our life. See Gal 5:17.

Prior to our spiritual rebirth, the flesh and our sin nature is dominant. From infancy, we seek physical or worldly things to satisfy our flesh. We’re “selfish.” Often, the accumulation of worldly things separates us even further from God. Then God puts events and circumstances in our life that cause us to cry out to Him in confusion and desperation. One example of this is ill health. When we hear that we are ill, we cry out to Him, He hears our cry and He answers our prayers. Although we do not deserve it, His Holy Spirit imparts new life to our dormant spirit. This is called “being born again.” Jn 3:6.

Once reborn, there’s more work to be done in us since rebirth is a state of infancy. We are “...infants, tossed back and forth by the waves...” Eph 4:14. Jesus Christ said, “...but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Mk 13:13. Salvation is a lifelong maturation process of becoming Christlike. 1 Jn 3:2. “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.” Heb 6:11-12. Perhaps that’s what Paul meant when he said to “continue to work out your salvation.” But does that mean we have to do something to be saved? Yes, we must have faith that the Lord will do a good work in us. Phil 2:13.

How does the Lord do His work in us? The flesh consists of our sin nature and self. As to sin, He’s already done the work in us by dying on His Cross—our sins, by His grace, are forgiven. He who was without sin took on the sin of the world and saved us. 1 Jn 3:5. As to self, Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” Mt 16:24-25. The Lord’s grace not only forgives us of our sins, but He also delivers our “self” from the power of sin if we are willing. It is a choice (free will) given to us to deny one’s self, feel the pain and suffering (our cross), and follow Jesus to abundant life. Phil 1:29. We then become less, He becomes more, and we become more like Him. “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Eph 5:1-2.

As we mature in our spiritual walk with Christ, we naturally, in Jesus, resist falsehoods, speak the truth, obey His commandments, speak wholesome talk, seek to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as Christ forgave us, and in the process, find that our bitterness and anger are lessened. See Eph 4:25-32. In our perseverance and by enduring, goodness, righteousness and truth, the fruit of our light, will become more apparent and one day (at the “end”), God will have completed His gracious gift and worked out our salvation in us. Phil 1:6. Hallelujah!

Never Miss An Opportunity

By Stewart Whittemore

Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
NKJV

His name was Jim (not his real name) and we met on one of my flight segments returning from my stay in Florida just recently. Since I was flying standby so I could get back to Oregon in time to see my grandson, Brandon, play in a basketball tournament, I didn't get to choose the seat I was sitting in. Yes, it was the middle seat, and I was not looking forward to the 4+ hour flight sitting in that seat.

Just after I got seated, Jim came along and I asked him if he was in the widow seat incase I needed to get up and let him in. He said he had the aisle seat and would I like it. It didn't take me long to accept his kind offer, so we swapped seats. I prayed that no one else would sit with us so Jim could move over to the window seat (which he liked anyway) and to give us more room. Well our Lord is faithful and sure enough no one else came to sit in our row. Praise God!!!

Shortly after we had introduced ourselves there began the most intense discussion on why Jesus is the only "way" (John 14:6) that I have ever been involved in. It seems Jim had been raised in the Jehovah Witness religion and had turned away from it as a young man because of its strict laws of man. And that was the central theme I tried to show Jim that when we make our belief in Christ a religion instead of a relationship with God we fall into the same trap the Pharisees did. Jesus was so hard on the religious leaders of His day because when they made a convert they made him "twice as much a son of hell" then they were due to their legalism and works based belief.

Jim was quite knowledgeable in Scripture because he was searching for God (although I don't know if he realized it or not) after his separation from the Jehovah Witnesses and so he had spent much time researching the Bible. He was also in the process of writing a book on the world's religions and how they were all basically the same. Therefore, he would pick and choose verses to support his beliefs. I reminded him that if we looked at the Bible in that way, and not in its whole context, then we could believe "there is no God", because that is what it says in the Psalms (53:1). However, when one takes into account what it says before that statement one will see it actually says, "The fool has said in His heart, there is no God..."

After sharing my testimony with Jim I could see an opening develop (John 17:20). And since I had written a book about it, I was able to give it to him so that he could spend more time in reading what God will do for all of us, not just me. Its all about Jesus anyway and what He has done for all of us to live eternally with Him.

We talked almost the whole 4+ hours of the flight. Before we parted I had told Jim that I can't convince him about the truth of Jesus, as our only way to the Father, because only God can change hearts, but if he would pray to God to show him the truth He would do it. I also confirmed what he had said to me earlier, that it wasn't by chance we were sitting together on this flight. He agreed he would pray that prayer. I thanked him again for giving up his seat and said I would pray for him. We then went our separate ways.

Why am I sharing all this? Because it never ceases to amaze me how the Holy Spirit will work through us to reach the perishing with the truth. Our salvation is not based on the good works we do, as Jim seemed to think was his ticket into heaven, as he said, if there was a heaven. In answer to this position I said to Jim I cannot imagine standing before God and telling Him I belong here in heaven because of my good works. How arrogant!

Thankfully, we know by Jesus shed blood for us, we are washed clean of all unrighteousness. We can, therefore, stand righteous before our Father in heaven because He will see Jesus' righteousness and not our "filthy rags".

Never be intimidated when you may be put in a position to share your faith in Jesus, our Messiah. The Holy Spirit gives us the words to say based on our own relationship with God through Jesus. Never miss the opportunity to share why you believe Jesus is the only way through His shed blood for us, your testimony (Revelation 12:11) and the Word of God.

The seeds are planted in Jim's heart now and I am sure the Holy Spirit will bring others into his life to do the watering and God will give "the increase." He will bring another lost soul into His Kingdom. Halleluyah!!!

Thank You, Holy Father, that "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV). Praise God!!!

My Father’s Eyes

By Lynn Ludwick

The other morning my husband Alan headed to his woodshop dressed in jeans and a gray sweatshirt. The color suited him well. (Wives notice these things.) When I wear gray, however, I look more in need of a doctor than ready for a day of labor or fun. To me the color speaks of endless sun-deprived, rain-drenched winter days in the Pacific Northwest. For some women it’s the color of Clairol-hungry hair. To many it’s the color of downcast moods and somber thoughts.

I don’t like gray. At least I didn’t until we bought a new home about a decade ago. The house was the right size, the right location and layout, and a better-than-right price. Did I mention it was gray? Inside and out. From its gray exterior to its gray carpet, tile, kitchen sink and stove, to its all-gray fixtures in one bathroom. I griped. But I liked the layout. I whined. But the price was right. Then I got a grip and bucked up. I would be magnanimous and embrace the grayness.

I worried about some of my furniture, our previous home having been a study in California tan. However, when the couch and kitchen chairs were hauled in and set in place, I was astounded. They fit in perfectly. Had the gray tones in the upholstery always been there? Hmm.

Now, after living in that house I actually like gray. Its palest shade seems a bit ho-hum, but silver, pewter, granite, metallic, gunmetal, slate… Lively. Vibrant. It was clearly a matter of perspective.

Our opinions are often the outgrowth of our eye’s viewpoint, sponsored by our hearts. And it can go either way. If we have certain prejudices, outward appearances will validate our preconceptions. On the other hand, our heart can lead us to overlook discrepancies. To a mommy, a dandelion is a treasured gift when offered by her grinning toddler. Love creates her bias. Some people, seen as plain when first met, become beautiful as we get to know them from the inside out. The agonized parents of an errant child choose to focus on the sweetly remembered person they know is tucked down in there somewhere. The eyes of love probe deep.

It’s akin to how God sees me. I know the yuck I tote around inside, the thoughts that are less than positive, the motives that are less than pure. God peers into the deepest recesses of my being and sees it all, yet opts not to let His eyes linger on my deficiencies. Instead, he zeros in on who I really am—His child, saved by grace. I wear the robes of righteousness He placed on me when Christ became my very own Savior, a covering for my old sinful self. That is God’s chosen focus. (“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous …” I Peter 3:12.) He sees what I will be when my trip on Earth is done, what I am becoming because of the price Christ paid for me on the cross.

“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17) The day I first read that verse in my Bible I thought the translators had mistakenly switched the pronouns. “I [Lynn] will rejoice over Him [God]…”is how it should read. But that isn’t what God said. He loves me and rejoices over me—me, a blip on the planet, a saved-though-still-sinning struggler!

He sees me with a father’s eyes. With God-the-Father’s eyes. I’m his kid! His toddler, if you will, offering dandelions and expecting thanks. I love the quip, “If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.” My picture! That gives me hope on days when I’ve failed. Again. He sees the grayness of my soul as vibrant as the breathtaking hues of a tree on a sun struck autumn day.

And I’m forever grateful.

“For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation. Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy…” (Psalm 149:4-5)

Lynn Ludwick writes from Shady Cove, Oregon. Lynniegirl45@hotmail.com

A Little Inside - Movie Review

A Little Inside
Classic Movie Spotlight A Review for Families
By Jennifer Anne Messing

Rated PG for some mild language.
*Recommended for family viewing, with kids of all ages.*

Check your favorite video rental stores for availability.

A Little Inside is a one hour, thirty-two minute, 1999 Monarch Video film release, in color, directed by Kara Harshbarger, starring Hallie Kate Eisenberg, Benjamin Mills, Kathy Baker, Amanda Detmer and Frankie Faison. This family/sports drama will provide adventure with a hint of romance for adults and kids of all ages.

Ed Mills (Benjamin King), a star baseball player in his hometown who has a promising career before him finds his life immensely changed when tragedy strikes. A few years later, he keeps busy working as a mechanic at an auto shop while trying, as a single parent, to successfully raise his seven-year-old daughter, Abby (Hallie Kate Eisenberg).

Naturally, Ed Mills’ love for baseball shines through even in his parenting. He encourages Abby to join an all-boy little league team and hopes to make her into a junior baseball star. Mills is disappointed, however, when Abby doesn’t seem as interested in baseball as he is and shows interest in other pursuits.

Mills’ friendly but sometimes nosey neighbor, Nancy (Kathy Baker), quietly offers Ed friendship and support and agrees to help him out by picking Abby up from her after-school classes two times a week. In the weeks and months ahead, Ed also comes into occasional contact with Sarah Parker (Amanda Detmer), a former high-school classmate, because Sarah’s daughter and Abby have become friends.

After some extended soul-searching, Ed decides it’s time for him to return to his one true love, playing professional baseball. Though Ed knows doing this will require him frequently to travel out-of-state and sacrifice lots of time he could spend with Abby, he starts playing baseball once again and comes to discover the true price of pursuing this dream at this season in his life.

A Little Inside is a tender drama that most people will be able to relate to, either from the viewpoint of a parent or a child. Many parents face the struggle of being able to pursue their dreams while still continuing to be committed and involved parents. A Little Inside deals with this issue sensitively and in a realistic way by not offering pat answers. One theme this movie deals with is acceptance—acceptance of one’s life circumstances, the good and the bad, and learning how to deal with them in the best way possible and without becoming bitter. There are ways in which Ed Mills’ inability to accept his life circumstances hindered him from moving forward into the future. When Ed Mills came to terms with his past, he was able to have a healthier and more optimistic view of his future.

Another theme which A Little Inside deals with in a provocative way is single-parenting and the unique challenges single parents face. It’s refreshing to see a single-parent father portrayed as loving and very dedicated. The father-daughter relationship between Ed Mills and Abby is very tender and probably the best they could have given their life situation of having to juggle the various demands of Ed’s work and Abby’s schooling. What is commendable in Mills’ parenting style was his ability to be a father and be Abby’s friend at the same time. It is likely that young children being raised by their single parent will find themselves able to relate to the the emotional issues dramatized in this movie.

A Little Inside has a moving musical score and wonderful, understated dialogue. Viewers may find it enjoyable to have to think a little bit about the meaning of things said versus having everything spelled out. Hallie Kate Eisenberg, who played Abby, is a very talented child actress who can capably carry a lead role. Also noteworthy is Benjamin King’s intelligent and sensitive portrayal of Ed Mills.

Parents are cautioned that there a few scenes with some objectionable language, but they are not gratuitous. A Little Inside is a great movie to have when your kids have a friend over for a few hours or for a sleep-over— and you’re looking for something they can watch that is wholesome and entertaining. A Little Inside can be enjoyed by adults and kids of all ages.

----
Jennifer Anne Messing is an author and speaker currently serving as president of the Oregon Christian Writers. JenniferAnneMessing@comcast.net, or www.JenniferAnneMessing.com.

Suggestions Regarding Friendships

By David Snyder

I have been struggling all month to come up with something meaningful on the subject of friendship. I have looked at my friendships through the years and tried to peace together just what makes a person or persons a true friend. I have known many people through years of ministry and have grown fond of a great number of them. Some were “special” as we seemed to spend more time with them than others. I tried not to show favoritism as I wanted my congregations to know that I appreciated them all. But at times there were those who I especially enjoyed being around. As I, or they, moved from place to place contact was lost. This is unfortunate but I suppose it happens to most of us.

Forgive me for witting about myself but I am trying to analyze just what a friend is. I do like most people but I can’t say they have all been friends. So this led me to my Webster New World Dictionary. The dictionary defines a friend as “a person whom one knows well and is fond of; an ally, supporter, or sympathizer.

Some of us are fortunate enough to have certain people we know well and become fond of. We all need these kinds of people in our lives. We need someone who is there for us at all times and understands us enough to love us even when we are unlovable. We need someone to turn to who will support us and truly care about what concerns us from day to day.

But thinking about this I realize that close friendships seem to becoming rarer as time goes on. Everyone is so busy with work, kids, church, marriage, and just trying to survive, that it’s hard to find time to nourish special friendships. This is a twentieth century tragedy. Taking time to simply enjoy close friendships is giving way to the urgent. I believe something is lost in our social make up when this happens. We were made to communicate and fellowship. We were designed to need each other and nourish each other.

I believe we need to have fellowship with many different kinds people. It would not be socially healthy for us to have just one friend we spent our time with and not broaden our scope to include other relationships. We grow and mature as we interact with a verity of people with a verity of personalities and views. This is especially true in a church setting. It is good thing when we take time to spread our friendliness around to everyone and not just huddle in a corner with our favorite few. There are people who attend church every week who need to know they are significant and are accepted. You can be the presence of Jesus as you make it a point to share Christ’s love with as many people as possible at Christian gatherings.

So here are some suggestions regarding friendships:
1) Have many friends, but seek a few special friends.
2) Never allow your friends to infringe on time you need to spend with your family.
3) Be sensitive regarding information you receive from your special friends. You can destroy a friendship by braking confidence.
4) To make friends we must be friendly ourselves.
5) Having good friends is very important to our mental and spiritual health. Go make friends and also be a good friend yourself.

You Know You're in a Redneck Church if…

By Patti

1. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if… the finance committee refuses to
provide funds for the purchase of a chandelier because none of the members
knows how to play one.

2. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if... people ask, when they learn
that Jesus fed the 5000, whether the two fish were bass or catfish, and what
bait was used to catch 'em.

3. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if... when the pastor says, "I'd like
to ask Bubba to help take up the offering," five guys and two women stand
up.

4. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if… opening day of deer season is
recognized as an official church holiday.

5. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if… A member of the church requests
to be buried in his 4-wheel-drive truck because "It ain't never been in a
hole it couldn't get out of" (Love it!).

6. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if... the choir is known as the "OK
Chorale".

7. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if… in a congregation of 500
members, there are only seven last names in the church directory.

8. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if... people think "rapture" is what
you get when you lift something too heavy.

9. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if... the baptismal pool is a #2
galvanized washtub.

10. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if… the choir robes were donated by
(and embroidered with the logo from) Billy Bob's Barbecue.

11. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if... the collection plates are
hubcaps from a 56 Chevy.

12. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if... instead of a bell; you are
called to service by a duck call.

13. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if… the minister and his wife drive
matching pickup trucks.

14. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if... the communion wine is Boone's
Farm "Tickled Pink".

15. You Know You're in a Redneck Church if... "Thou shall not covet"
applies to huntin' dogs, too.

16. You know You're in a Redneck Church if... the final words of the
benediction are, "Y'all come back now, Ya heah".

God Bless and don't fergit ta say yer prayers!!! Ya'll come back now!

Y'know, as funny as this is, it is real and not so "off base", really. Why not? Why do some people knock different lifestyles from their own? All they are is that--just different. It hit me this week when I returned to my family homes and haunts for a long awaited reunion. I grew up on "the other side of the tracks" in an alcoholic home filled with a bunch of rednecks, griefs, and loss. Embarrassment, loathing, and fear have kept me away since 1968. Ouch!

But I returned and was instead filled with joy, laughter, a perfect peace that passes all understanding, and yes, a few tears filled with memories and sorrows for all the bad choices, foolish decisions, and in some cases, lives empty of the joy of the Lord and hope of eternal life with our Lord Jesus Christ in heaven.

They live in the fast lane: traffic, zany, full schedules, people from many lands, always connected by technology and lines to wait in, and fine dining every day at Taco Bell, McD's, In ‘n Out, Taco Del, Burger King, Der Wienerschnitzel, Arby's... too many to list! Oh, and did I mention laughter and love? They live in that the most, amidst all the struggles of life.

I have always felt (inwardly) so superior and simply blessed because I had a fine and quiet life filled with precious people living in their lovely homes where we all entertain one another with love and joy in Christian fellowship. We work hard, live with good morals and ethics, and are just plain, nice people.

Well, news flash! So are they! These "rednecks"--my beloved family. I hope you have a chance in life to get together with folks who live differently, think other thoughts, have flaws and warts-- just like you-- just like me! What a great God we have who loves us all JUST THE WAY WE ARE.

Holy Sabbath Rest

By Lora Vollmar

How do you spend your Sunday?

I awaken to the whispers of love by my Savior. The day begins with worshipful prayer, as does every day, on my knees before my Sovereign King/God/Maker.

Devotions shared with Oswald Chambers, Thomas A Kempis and other saints accompany breakfast. Worshipful music is the background to dressing and preparing for a holy day of communion with God.

Congregational worship in the presence of a Holy God sets the tone for the day. It always contains answers as to what the previous week was all about, as well as clues to what the next one will hold. For those with eyes to see, there are multi-layers of messages from God.

Today’s service was more a time of repentance in sack-cloth and ashes than joyful worship. Both are needful on the battlefield of the way of holiness.

Back home, after a brief lunch and nap, the most important part of the day commences.

I enter the “closet” of my sanctuary (which resembles my multi-use living space in my tiny apartment) and spend the day discussing the events of the week gone by and receiving instructions for the battles to be fought in the coming week. It is a time totally choreographed by God. He dictates the music played, the prayers prayed, the Scripture read, the lessons learned. For those whose faith is exercised enough to know He is Sovereign Maker, this is an easy, natural, effortless way to float through the day. (Any day for that matter!)

In the presence of God, sins are repented of, the soul laid bare, the process of healing commenced and the precious, needful connection with the Spirit refreshed and renewed for the battles ahead.

This time stretches from early afternoon until I retire at night. The day is closed with worshipful prayer as I prepare to surrender myself to my Maker in sleep a symbol of our absolute need of Him.

Thus another Sunday comes to a close, and I am ready to go forth following my Savior wherever He will lead me in the coming week.

A Heavenly Fragrance - God’s Provision

By Beverly Hill McKinney

Have you ever thought about bread as a provision from the Lord? Every day we grab a piece of bead never realizing what a life-giving substance has been provided for us. What a wonderful provision bread is. It meets both our immediate and long-term needs.

Bread meets our daily physical needs, as Christ, our Living Bread, meets our spiritual needs.

Taking the fresh loaf of bread out of my oven, I immediately thought, “Oh, that Heavenly fragrance.” I couldn’t wait to sit down with some tea and have a slice lavished with butter.

Bread evokes wonderful memories for me. As a child, my mother had it on the table at each meal. Although she didn’t bake, the bread always seemed special. Since my parents grew boysenberries, jam was plentiful for our fresh pieces of bread.

When my own children were little, I remember whenever I baked bread they would run into the house and say, “Can we have some?” How they could smell it outside while they were playing amazed me but it seemed they knew immediately when it came out of the oven. What excitement over a simple slice of bread.

Likewise, throughout the Bible God provided bread for his people. In Exodus 16:4 (KJV) the Lord told Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you…” God provided bread for the children of Israel while they complained they had nothing to eat. He not only provided the needed bread but meat as well. However, He gave strict instructions that the bread was to be eaten completely every day and not saved up for tomorrow. God wanted them to depend on Him daily for needed provision.

Another incident of God providing bread was in 1 Kings 17:6 (KJV). God provided bread for Elijah when he was hiding by the brook Cherith. “And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.” In an hour of need, God provided for His child.

In John chapter 6 we are once again shown Christ providing bread for the 5,000 sitting on a hillside listening to him speak. He looked with compassion on them and although he saw their spiritual hunger, he also provided for their immediate need. From a small lunch of five loaves and two fish, he fed the 5,000 and gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. The Lord again showed his abundant love for His children.

He continues in John 6:36 saying, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

I was a child when I asked Jesus into my life. I didn’t understand a lot about the Bible but I well remember the many Bible stories of God’s love shown through His provision and how He had made that available to me through his Son, Jesus. I loved to hear the Old Testament stories of how God provided for his children, but it took many years for me to truly understand that this same Provider would provide for me, His child.

In the account of the manna from Heaven I was impressed by the fact that each day the manna had to be completely eaten. It could not be left over or saved for the next day. So, too, must we daily eat from God’s Word and commune with our Heavenly Father. We can say, “Oh, I prayed about that last week,” but we need to daily talk with Him.

I will never forget a time later in life when we had very little money and barely enough for our next meal. A knock sounded at our door one day. There stood a man from our church holding a large grocery bag. He had brought groceries for us. When I opened the bag later, I found not only many loaves of bread but some very large steaks. As we ate these luscious steaks with our bread, we realized that our Heavenly Father fed us not only our daily bread but gave us more than our hearts could desire.

Taking communion the next week in church, as I partook of the small wafer of bread, I
Do you have a need today in your life? Have you spoken about it to the Lord? Have you thanked Him for His constant provision and His gift to you of eternal life? If you have not experienced His provision personally or trusted Him for a life change, do so today. He is there waiting to fill you with His love. He will not only meet your daily needs but will give you a taste of the fragrance of Heaven.

A True Friend

By Sharon Fink

His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans,
and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of
college. He is brilliant, kind of profound and very, very bright. He became a
Christian while attending college.

Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative
church. They want to develop a ministry to the students but are not sure how
to go about it. One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes,
jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so
Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat.

The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now, people are
really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything.

Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit, and when he realizes
there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet. By now the
people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick.

About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the
church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill.

Now the deacon is in his eighties. He has silver-gray hair, and a
three-piece suit. He walks with a cane and, as he starts walking toward this
boy, everyone is saying to themselves that you can't blame him for what he's
going to do.

How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some
college kid on the floor?

It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church is utterly
silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All eyes are focused on
him. You can't even hear anyone breathing. The minister can't even preach
the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.

And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great
difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with
him so he won't be alone.

Everyone chokes up with emotion.

When the minister gains control, he says,* "What I'm about to preach, you
will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget."*

Friendship

By Troy Pomeroy

It has been said that if you have a few truly good friends in your lifetime, you are a blessed person. Indeed friendship can be counted amongst the greatest of God’s gifts that He imparts upon us. Like all of His creation, friends come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and personalities. And like God’s creational and spiritual gifts, they often come to us at exactly the right time and in exactly the right way that we need.

Sometimes friends care for us in the way that Abraham looked after and cared for his nephew Lot. They take us on their journeys and adventures and put our needs and the honor of our friendship above their own needs. And if we’re really lucky, they may bail us out of trouble we’ve gotten ourselves into.

Other times, good friends empathize with our trouble and bring comfort to us. This is what Job’s friends did when they “heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him.” (Job 2:11,NIV)

Friends can also share such deep love, commitment, and loyalty toward each other that they refuse to be separated. What a blessed thing it is to have a friend that is always by your side! This is the case with Elijah and Elisha. Three times Elijah tells Elisha to stay behind, and three times Elisha responds, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." (2Kings 2:2, 4, 6, NIV)

Similarly, it is also the case with Ruth and Naomi:
Ruth answered, "Please don't tell me to leave you and return home! I will go where you go, I will live where you live; your people will be my people, your God will be my God. I will die where you die and be buried beside you. May the LORD punish me if we are ever separated, even by death!" (Ruth 1:16-17, CEV)

Perhaps one of the most friendships in Scripture is between David and Jonathan: “Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. . . And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself” (1Samuel 18:1,3, NIV). This kind of friendship is somewhat rare and if found should be highly valued. It is a friendship that runs thicker than the blood of family. It is also an illustration of how we should love each other within the body of Christ. Under the right circumstances, friendships within the body transcend normal boundaries. This is further found in the relationship between the Apostle Paul and Timothy, whom Paul would refer to as his son.

Of course, there has never been a friend like Jesus, who would reveal the mysteries of and provide access to the Father. “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15, NIV)

What a strange and delightful thing that our Master and Lord would call us friends. All the wonderful qualities in the varieties of friends we enjoy are wrapped up in Him. And there are things yet to be expressed by Him and experienced by us. Those whom He knows and calls friends can look forward to that relationship for eternity. For the present time, however, we get the privilege of seeing glimpses of Him in the good qualities we enjoy in our friends.

Friendship is...

By Kathy Anderst

"Friendship is...fruit gathered from trees planted in the rich soil of love, and nurtured with tender care and understanding...a present you give yourself...the only cement that will ever hold the world together...the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words...a reward from the past, and enrichment of the present, and a legacy for the future...the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him."

These are just a few quotes from a treasured book of mine called "The Language of Friendship." It was a gift from a truly precious friend who succumbed to cancer in 2002. Our friendship spanned about 12 years. We met at our workplace in 1990 and became intant friends, "soul sisters". We shared our lives and families, watching our children grow up, rejoicing when things were good and crying with each other when things were not so good. We could laugh and talk for hours, sharing a deep love and respect for one another and truly accepting each other exactly the way we were...the "good, bad and the ugly.".

The loss of such a good friend can never be replaced, however, I am blessed to have several good friends in my life now, just as unique and precious, each person very important for different reasons. I have friends who challenge me, both personally and spiritually, keeping me accountable. I have friends I am so comfortable with and have known for so many years that they are and extended part of me and my little family. We can share and confide the deepest part of ourselves without fear of judgment or rejection. We know we are safe with each other. With a few key ingredients such as undying loyalty, unmatched understanding, unquestionable commitment, unsurpassed trust, deep and soulful confidences and endless sharing, I will be blessed, God willing, with these friendships for many years to come.

Even in our differences, we can challenge and teach each other lessons that might be difficult to learn or otherwise accept. With wisdom born of maturity, gentleness and total acceptance, our lives are enriched. If I had a prayer for my friendships, it would be this: "Thank you Lord, for the privilege of such wonderful and enduring friendships and my prayer is that I will never abuse or take for granted the gifts you have so richly given me, and that I will be as much a gift and blessing to them as they are to me."

Grasping Grace & Forgiveness in Times of Guilt and Shame

By Rev. Hiram Johnson, LCSW

On December 18, 1979, I was the driver in a tragic car accident in which a 17 year-old girl later died on Christmas Day. Although I wasn’t speeding (35 mph) and drugs and alcohol were not a factor, I was distracted for an instant and ran head on into an oak tree which stood only two feet from the road. We had seven people in the car and none of us were wearing seat belts. There were multiple injuries throughout the vehicle. While still in ICU, the horrific and shocking news of the girl’s death totally devastated me. Her family would experience tormenting heartache and tragedy two more times when her father and 15 year-old sister were also killed in separate unrelated car accidents.

At the time of our accident, I was 20 years old and not a Christian—and I had grown up in an alcoholic atmosphere. Over the next several months, I would slowly spiral downward emotionally into the deepest despair and a bottomless pit of depression caused by relentless guilt and shame. Many mistakes on my part would ensue. I chose alcohol as a means of coping and as an avoidance vice. Although alcohol can initially dull our emotional pain, it also dulls our passion for God. And as long as I avoided the pain, I avoided healing. God wouldn’t heal what I continued to avoid. We all struggle with the biggest addiction of all—the addiction to self. In the years to come, I would discover that recovery is an ongoing passage to freedom.

Several months following the accident I became a Christian, but I learned the hard way that salvation had virtually no impact on my current emotional state. I became further disappointed and angry with God because I naively expected a form of magic through lightning and thunder bolts, not realizing I was pulling a cruel hoax on myself. Trust may often start on the dark lonely side of agonizing and unbearable circumstances. At this time, however, trust was still in too short of supply. After three hospitalizations for the formal treatment of depression, including two sets of ECT treatments and a suicide attempt, I was voluntarily admitted into the Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee, Florida, for a period of five months. Guilt and toxic shame had become my companions, and I had fallen in love with my sorrow, too. I needed a power that technology could not give (Ephesians 1:19). Beginning in the state hospital’s chapel, I would need and come to understand the divine dynamics of guilt, shame, grace and forgiveness.

Too many people suffer needlessly from unresolved guilt and shame. Often it is our misunderstanding of their divine dynamics that prevent us from living in a liberating and Godly lifestyle. Guilt and shame are normal and healthy emotions that are intended to guide our behavior like a check and balance mechanism. Appropriate guilt and shame leads to redemptive desire and helps prevent the perils of self-absorption. Both guilt and shame are divinely designed to be instructive in nature. Unfortunately, many people tend to take guilt and shame to their extreme(s)—being burdened by the weight of them, or worse, having no guilt or shame at all (Hebrews 10:22).

Guilt can provide many “benefits” such as an unconscious pleasure from suffering, an illusion of control by owning it, and even a distorted sense of connectedness to someone who has died. Similarly, guilt can be an after-the-fact expression of loyalty to the dead. Guilt may also feed an unconscious desire to be admired for feeling guilty. A sense of self-importance may develop because it can become more satisfying to endure and hang on to guilt rather than to accept ourselves as flawed or ordinary. Perfectionism is cruel. Guilt can also be a form of an escape from criticism. If we appear guilt-ridden, people are less likely to confront us. Often, people shy away from releasing themselves from guilt and shame because by doing so, they feel it doesn’t honor the depth of their wrong doing. Guilt can also evolve into just another form of self-indulgence. By becoming engrossed in guilt, we can avoid many other issues, too. Clinging to guilt and shame can easily become a subtle form of idolatry, although we may not be aware of it. My unawareness only gave each of them more compulsive power. A righteous sense of guilt (our natural condition) moves us toward repentance and constructive sorrow. Guilt and shame are necessities of life.

Healthy shame can be a form of humility before God. It can also be an invitation to grace. Shame is ultimately related to virtue. Toxic shame, on the other hand, is based on the flawed perceptions of others or self in regard to rejection, betrayal and broken trust. It is more of a relationship wound that often feels like a wound made from the inside. It is based strictly in our humanness and not on God. Toxic shame is considered more potent and destructive than guilt because it tends to be more focused on the sense of self rather than on a specific act. Trauma fuses or enmeshes with our identity or sense of self to the point we don’t know who we are without the trauma. Often, we can feel a sense of remorse for our own being. Generally, guilt is what we often feel when we make a mistake. Toxic shame can make us feel like we are a mistake. The root of much toxic shame is pride because we reject ourselves as God created us to be. But because we are created and accepted by God through common grace, we can reject toxic shame and our ongoing need for approval. We need not be threatened by our flaws and warts. Wholeness is being aware of our flaws, but also of our strengths in Christ.

The only things that can conquer our false sense of guilt and toxic shame are God’s grace and forgiveness. Grace is God’s love that stoops down to us in order to freely give us what we don’t deserve. His mercy prevents Him from giving us what we do deserve. Forgiveness is the most powerful experience a human being can have, but it is also often the most misunderstood. In fact, we only discover our sense of identity and value through God’s pardon alone. He never asks us to extend more grace and forgiveness (even to ourselves) than He has already freely given us. When we forgive someone, we actually learn how similar, and not different, that person is to us, and it delivers a blow to our victim status. As long as someone else is responsible for your behavior, you will never get better. Our issue is not necessarily confronting someone who has hurt us. The real issue is confronting ourselves at the foot of the cross (1 Peter 2:24, Colossians 2:13-14). When we refuse to forgive ourselves or others after God has already done so, we are giving ourselves higher standards of forgiveness than God. We may also be undermining the full meaning of the Crucifixion. Forgiving ourselves is taking a bold step into power. This crucial aspect was the biggest key to my eventual recovery.

Tragedy never has to have the last word. Christ’s resurrection from the darkness of death is our basis of hope in the midst of tragedy (Acts 2:23-36). If we allow Him, God recycles our garbage and emotional baggage and transforms it into an instrument for redemption (Ephesians 1:7). Jesus chose to drink the cup of redemptive and creative suffering. He chose a path leading into the teeth of suffering (John 10:17-18). As the brilliant French philosopher Simone Weil once said, “The extreme greatness of Christianity lies in the fact that it does not seek a supernatural remedy for suffering, but a supernatural use for it.” Our suffering ceases to be suffering once we give meaning to it. Indeed, in God’s time, our greatest hurts can become our greatest gifts. God freely gives us the power of choice. Between guilt and grace, Christ chose grace. What will be your choice?

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Dr. Stephen Seamands, Professor of Christian Doctrine at Asbury Seminary, has written the foreword. Dr. Maxie Dunnam, Dr. Myron Madden, author Margaret Therkelsen, Florida State Head Football Coach Bobby Bowden, and Promise Keepers Founder Bill McCartney have all personally endorsed the book.

The book may be purchased on line at www.langmarc.com, or by calling 1-800-864-1648. It may also be ordered through local bookstores or major bookseller web sites.

Faith

By Paul Boos

Coming onto the ward that Saturday morning, Lt. Verbals told me she had a really sick three-year-old in a crib in the corner of the ward. The doctor had been in about thirty minutes before and had written orders for the day. He did not have much hope for her recovery and neither did Lt. Verbals.

Little Alice was on oxygen and in a croup tent in her crib. In those days there were only a few antibiotics and she was on them. In order to bring her 104-degree temperature down, we gave her periodic alcohol baths.

Being a nineteen-year-old Navy hospital corpsman, I was unprepared for being around such a sick child. I felt helpless, and my faith was challenged.

While I was trying to get liquids down her, I would rock her in a big old rocking chair and sing the only songs I could remember from Sunday school. I sang Climb, Climb up Sunshine Mountain and Jesus Loves Me. I worked extra hours that night. Leaving the ward I was sad thinking about her critical condition. Mrs. Snodgrass, a civil service R.N. that worked the midnight to 8:00 A.M. shift said, “You’ve got to have faith son.”

I thought, Yah but I didn’t think she would be with us in the morning. Sunday morning, with a heavy heart I went to the ward thinking the worst. To my surprise, there was little Alice standing in her crib, singing Jesus Loves Me This I Know. As Mrs. Snodgrass was getting her purse and leaving to go home she said, “See son, I told you so.”

Faith Requires Action

By Fred Wikoff

“Hut two three,