Glory of the Lord to be Revealed!

The fourth candle on the Advent wreath is often called the Angel’s candle.  The circle is now complete at last, and fills our view with light.  “The glory of the Lord shall be revealed,” the prophet once had said, and now the light has come.

So, what do we see in the full light of the wreath?  Look closely … for in the full light of the Advent candles, even now one may begin to see … a cross!  The story begins with the glory of the Lord shining down on Bethlehem.  And at the cross, where darkness fell again, the glory of the Lord  shines.

The world had been waiting so long … centuries.  And now the voice of the Lord is heard saying, “Here I am!”  So what are you waiting for????

May God bless you with Hope, Love, Joy and Peace.

Let Fear Give Way to Joy!

The third candle on the Advent wreath is often called the Shepherd’s candle, and its message may well begin by admitting that when the angel of the Lord appeared, the shepherds were afraid.  The words “God is with you” could be a cause of real fear.

But a baby isn’t frightening, and as in the experiences of the shepherd’s who had come before, like David and Moses, fear turned into joy as the presence of the Lord was made known. 

Do we fear as the Lord draws near?   What concerns do we have as we become aware of the presence of God?  Maybe we have concerns that God will see or know too much about us.  Or maybe we worry that God will enter into our lives and take over.  Or maybe we are afraid that if God gets to close he will reject us.

The message of the third candle on the Advent wreath tells us to fear not – The Lord is come!    He has come to all of us with the message of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love!

Welcome to the season of Advent!

What does it mean to be prepared?

Definition of PREPARE

1 a : to make ready beforehand for some purpose, use, or activity <prepare food for dinner> b : to put in a proper state of mind <is prepared to listen>

2 : to work out the details of : plan in advance <preparing a campaign strategy>

3 a : to put together : compound <prepare a prescription> b : to put into written form <prepare a report>

Prepare! That is the word of this week’s candle, second in the Advent wreath.  This candle is sometimes called the Bethlehem candle because the history of the little town of Bethlehem may well be a lesson in how to be prepared… or how not to.  Bethlehem was not ready to receive her King!

Are you preparing for the coming of royalty, the advent of the King?  Are you prepared?

A second candle glows now on the Advent wreath to help us see – and hear – the message it proclaims.

Welcome to the season of Advent!



You probably spend more time using your listening skills than any other kind of skill. Like other skills, listening takes practice.

What does it mean to really listen?

Real listening is an active process that has three basic steps.

• Hearing. Hearing just means listening enough to catch what the speaker is saying. For example, say you were listening to a report on zebras, and the speaker mentioned that no two are alike. If you can repeat the fact, then you have heard what has been said.
• Understanding. The next part of listening happens when you take what you have heard and understand it in your own way. Let's go back to that report on zebras. When you hear that no two are alike, think about what that might mean. You might think, "Maybe this means that the pattern of stripes is different for each zebra."
• Judging. After you are sure you understand what the speaker has said, think about whether it makes sense. Do you believe what you have heard? You might think, "How could the stripes to be different for every zebra? But then again, the fingerprints are different for every person. I think this seems believable."

LISTEN is the message of the first candle of ADVENT.  Here in God’s Word is a light that shines beyond the bounds of Bethlehem, beyond the hillsides of the shepherds, for all to see.  He is the Word of God proclaimed for all the world to hear – a message of HOPE!

So what are you HOPING for?  Do you have something to look forward to?  A future! 

That is what this first candle and the first week of Advent is all about, a bright future with God.

Something to give pause and think about…

Death, illness, pain — these are the extreme human conditions that really dare us to count our blessings:  death in the family, a prognosis of a dreaded disease, pain from rejection, misfortune or some irreparable damage. With such intolerable distress, how can you even start to count your blessings?

Let me share my little secret. When I feel that the world is caving in and my tears of hopelessness are just about to fall, I look down at my hands. I stretch my fingers and I start to count ... my blessings. I say to myself, “I have 10 fingers ... 1-2-3-4-5 ... I can move all of them. My skin is clear. I can see. I can hear. I can talk. I can walk. I have a family. I have a home. I have friends. I have a job. Not everyone has these. I am a very lucky person. I am whole and I can cope with this minor setback.”

Try it. In your darkest hour, at the height of a most unfortunate situation, count your blessings by starting with your fingers.
—Ruby Bayan-Gagelonia, “Count your blessings,” October 15, 1999, Suite101.com.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving and count your many blessings naming them one by one.

What is a god?  A god is anything that dominates your life or anything that controls your life.  A career can be a god!  Another person can be a god!  Golf can be a god!  Even good things that God has created for us to enjoy become gods when you give them first place in your life.  God says, “WRONG.”   God deserves first place in our lives.  This is the foundation of our faith – put God first.

Today, American families are dropping like flies.  They’re falling apart faster than we can put them together.  Why is this?  I believe it is happening because the families are built on the wrong foundation.  When we put God first in our life – above our own self, above our spouses, above our children, then the foundation of the family will be secure!

Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)

              We Wear the Mask

    WE wear the mask that grins and lies,
    It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
    This debt we pay to human guile;
    With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
    And mouth with myriad subtleties.

    Why should the world be over-wise,
    In counting all our tears and sighs?
    Nay, let them only see us, while
            We wear the mask.

    We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
    To thee from tortured souls arise.
    We sing, but oh the clay is vile
    Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
    But let the world dream otherwise,
            We wear the mask!

 As we enter into the season of fall, with our masks and carved pumpkins, let us reflect on the masks that we wear and remember that God can see what lies behind the mask.  We can hide nothing from our Lord.  Thanks be to God for loving and accepting us “just as we are.” 

We are constantly bombarded with others wanting us to "understand" one thing or another, but that sort of begs the question, doesn't it? We are still left with the fundamental question, "what does it mean to understand something?" Teachers almost universally seek to have their students learn and understand the subject matter they are teaching.

As we study the scriptures, meditate on the Word, and pray, we begin to “understand” what our faith is all about.  But, what does it mean to understand faith?  If someone says he or she understands what faith is, then he or she should be able to explain it to others.  Faith, simply stated, is believing in God.

Jesus was a great teacher and spent much of his ministry trying to teach the disciples and others the great message about faith and salvation.  Do you really understand it?  Ask yourself this question: what does it mean to have faith in Jesus Christ?   Can you explain it to someone else?

Many of the greatest achievements begin with the empowering words of encouragement. When someone is feeling insecure, unsure, or apprehensive about taking constructive action or pursuing favorable opportunities, you should convey to them that you believe that they are capable and that their efforts are worthwhile.

1.    Recognize the person's struggle.

2.    Be positive.

3.    Be sincere.

4.    Inspire a healthy outlook.

The important thing is to do it!!!

At a gathering of senior pastors and spouses of the hundred largest United Methodist churches in the United States, a discussion took place on how these churches could assist the denomination as a whole in the new reality of ministry.   Statistics indicate that there is a rapid decline in worship attendance and church membership. 

John Wesley, founder of Methodism, faced a similar crisis in his own denomination.  Wesley saw empty churches and, even more disturbing, empty spirits and decided something must be done.  He took to heart the teachingsof the apostle Paul, focusing on our need to become what God had created us to be. 

John Wesley traveled 250,000 miles to preach 40,000 sermons in the countryside.  He did this because the people were there and God wanted him to go.  Wesley realized that in giving our lives away in service to Christ, we find real life and it makes all the difference.

Where is God calling you to serve!   Remember God has gone before you to prepare your path.

You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view --- until you climb into his skin and walk around in it," -- Atticus Finch

Walk a mile in my shoes is an idiom that means you should try to understand someone before criticizing them.  And as I look at the definition of what it means to understand someone, I realize that it means to personally interpret, or discern the other person.

I believe that God calls each of us to do our best to understand one another.  I read in Scripture that God asks us to love one another, but to do this we must learn who that person is.  I wonder how many of us take the time to really get to know the people in our lives?  We learn just a little about someone and then we tend to be lazy and fill in the blanks with judgement, criticism and opinions that many times are far from reality.

How much better would our relationships be if we spent more time getting to know what makes another person tick?  Do you really know what their likes and dislikes are?  What motivates them or what frustrates them?  What are they passionate about?  And what do they struggle with silently?

Our world would be so much better and more harmonious if we would spend some time just getting to know one another.  Who do you think you know – but don’t really have a clue about?  Maybe you should take some time to get to know the real person!

The Gospel of John paints a picture of Christ’s love for us and how that love shines every day of our lives.  In Chapter 17, Christ speaks about his love for us and how much each of us should show that love to one another.

As I look over the passage, I am stuck by the fact that it does not quantify that love, but makes a broad sweeping statement about our love for those around us.  It’s easy to choose to love our family and friends, but how about that noisy neighbor, or the teenager down the street with a hot rod, or the person who cuts us off while driving down the street.

As I read the scriptures, God is requiring of us to love everyone!  So how can we show this love and acceptance to those in our community?  Is there someone who you need to be more loving towards?

What the world truly needs is more love.  Let’s be part of the solution instead of being part of the problem.  Let us follow the example of Christ!

Every traveler knows the importance of finding shelter by night – a place to rest, to claim refuge from the day, and to greet the morning.   This is especially true during a storm; a place to find shelter is imperative.  Each of us needs something to hold on to.  So where do you seek out shelter during the storms of life? 

I turn to the promises of God to shelter me from life’s turbulent times.   So what is a promise?  According to one definition I found:  a promise is a manifestation of intention to act or refrain from acting in a specified way.  God is the only promise maker that is a guaranteed promise keeper.  I wish I could say that about other people in my life, but the truth is – God is perfect, man is not.

God’s promises revealed to us through the scriptures include the promise to have enough, to have confidence in God’s plan in the midst of pain, unconditional love, grace when we fail, hope in brokenness, strength for the difficult times, knowledge that in God life will be better, to feel the peace that passes all understanding, and to know that we have a future home with God.  What more could I ask for? 

I know that God’s promises will never fail me!   Maybe you should give God a chance to prove his promises are for you too!

A goal without a plan is just a wish.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

To be successful in your life, you need to have a life plan. Without a plan, many of your dreams will only be dreams. A life plan, on the other hand, will help you turn your dreams into reality. It works because it gives you not just a destination, but also a way to get there.

A life plan doesn’t have to be complicated. It should answer just two questions:

1. What is your destination?
2. How will you get there?

This way of thinking helps us identify what matters most to us.  For me, faith in God, family, and service to others are my top priorities.   My plan for each day is to commune with God, to spend time with family, and to look for and respond to the needs of others.  I know that if I work my plan, then I will get to my destination – heaven!

So what does your life plan look like?  Don’t have one? – Maybe today is the day you ask God to help you develop one.  I guarantee by doing this you will find purpose in life.

Wow, what an opportunity to serve Christ!  As I reflect on the 2011 Youth Mission Trip to Vancouver, Canada, I am amazed at the power of the Holy Spirit working within this world.  Our purpose for the trip was to give the youth at Morrison the opportunity to learn about God’s love by serving others and experiencing a part of the world different than ours.    

One lesson we all learned from this experience was that wealth is not measured in dollars but in the number of options one has.  A life with options is more valuable than money.  This is a very different way to measure one’s resources.  

In light of this definition of wealth, how rich are you?

Most of us would agree with the statement that “obedience is the key to the Christian life.”  The idea of doing the right thing is important to us as followers of Christ.  But let me ask you something.  Is just doing the right thing more important that the reason we do it?  Are we to obey just for obedience sake?

This concept implies that we obey because it's the right thing to do, and that God will bless our efforts regardless of the motivation for our obedience.   I don’t believe that this is exactly true!  Our Christian obedience involves a relationship between God and us.  We learn what he wants for us, then we respond.  Obedience for obedience sake is not Biblical.  Deuteronomy 5:33 says to “walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days.”  God wants us to do the right thing so that we will grow in our faith and understanding.   Obedience should be our response to our relationship with God.  He wants us to choose to obey out of love, not fear.  This type of obedience then leads us to growth and responsibility.

God doesn’t want an army of puppets, he’s looking for those who choose to follow him.  What about you?  What motivates you to do what you do? 

During the summer, I spend time planning for the fall.  According to the Office of US Personnel Management, "Planning" means setting performance expectations and goals for groups and individuals to channel their efforts toward achieving organizational objectives.  It also includes the measures that will be used to determine whether expectations and goals are being met.  That’s just a fancy way to say that during the summer I spend some intentional time preparing for the fall. 

I’d like to share with you some of what’s coming up later in the year. Beginning September 7, I will be teaching the Wednesday afternoon and evening Bible study on the Shelter of God’s Promises.   God is the only promise maker who is always a promise keeper.  For 10 weeks we will explore the scriptures uncovering what God has promised us. 

Starting Sunday, September 11, Confirmation Class will meet in the office conference room at 9:45 am.  The members of the class will be confirmed on Sunday, October 16^th during the 10:55 am Worship Service. This class is for those that are in 6th grade or higher and have never been through the class.

This fall in Soul-utions, we will be looking at the spiritual treatment plan for the chronic life.  For those of us who find ourselves in the grips of unhealthy, chronic patterns, this plan will provide us with the opportunity to begin our recovery.  

I have high expectations for a fall filled with spiritual growth and fellowship with other believers.  So what is your plan for the rest of this year????  I pray that by sharing my plans with you it may help you start planning for your fall. 

Aim HIGH!

How To Tell the Truth?

Before you tell the truth, it is often wise to consider what you hope to accomplish by doing so.

Are you trying to hurt someone or make your relationship stronger (see, should I tell)?

And it helps to keep in mind, that both telling the truth AND using deception are important in a close relationship. Whether we like to admit it or not, both are required to make a close relationship work (see, pros and cons of lying).

But, if you ultimately decide to tell the truth, what is the best way to do it?

This was the beginning of an article I found online when I googled “telling the truth.”  The source is a website called Truth About Deception: Advice about lying, infidelity, love and romance.  This really bothers me.  When the Bible states in the 9^th commandment, “Thou shall not lie,” my understanding is that lying is always wrong.   The message of scripture is that we are to tell the truth.  I find it offensive that this article believes that deception is an important aspect of a close relationship.  No wonder the divorce rate is so high and we find it hard to trust people.  I don’t need an article or anyone telling me how to tell the truth.  It should be very simple.  Every word that comes out of my mouth should be the truth!  If I say something, those around me shouldn’t have to worry about whether or not it is fact or fiction.  Every healthy relationship has a solid foundation of truth.  What about your relationships?   Are you telling the truth?  Just remember, God knows the difference!

When Rabbi Harold S. Kushner wrote the book When Bad Things Happen to Good People in 1981, I believed that he was writing to me.   You see, this book was the product of a personal tragedy in his life that made him re-examine his beliefs about God and the ways of God.   I too was living in the midst of a personal tragedy. 

My son, Mathew was born in March, 1980 with profound brain damage, cerebral palsy, and a seizure disorder.   Like the author, I too believed that I was living a more religiously committed life than many other people I knew with healthy children.   So questions started to creep up.  How could this loving God I had faith in allow this to happen?  Why should my son be subjected to physical and psychological pain everyday of his life? 

One of the ways we try to make sense of suffering is to assume that we get what we deserve, or somehow our adversities are a punishment.  Yet I came to understand through prayer, consultation, and scripture that God is a loving God and does not cause these things to happen. 

Life happens!  It has nothing to do with deserving or not deserving things, nor is it a form of punishment for things we have done.  God wants us to know that his son, Jesus, died for our sins and that when life dishes out hardships, He is there to walk with us through the valleys.  God is our comfort and strength in the midst of the pain – not the cause of it.

I pray that if you are walking through the valley, you know that God is there with you, ready and willing to help, if you just ask!  I am also here to help.

May God bless your steps through life.

A friend of mine sent this to me and I wanted to share it with you!

Shirley & Marcy

A mother was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school.  He didn't want his mother to walk with him.  She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe. So she had an idea of how to handle it.

She asked a neighbor if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance so he probably wouldn't notice her.  The neighbor is up early with her toddler anyway, and thought it would be a good way to get some exercise, so she agreed.

The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor girl he knew.  She did this for the whole week.

As Timmy and his friend walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed the same lady following them every day all week.  Finally she said to Timmy, "Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week?   Do you know her?"

Timmy nonchalantly replied, "Yeah, I know who she is."

The little girl said, "Well, who is she?"

"That's just Shirley Goodnest," Timmy replied, "and her daughter Marcy."

"Shirley Goodnest?  Who the heck is she and why is she following us?"

"Well," Timmy explained, "every night my Mum makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much.  And in the Psalm it says, 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life', so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!"

Take comfort in knowing that God cares this much for us!

What comes to your mind in response to the following questions: Who has hurt you?  Who has offended you?  Who has lied about you?  Who has betrayed you?"   How quickly can you make a short list of people who have caused you pain?  And who were these people who hurt you?  Family members?  Your wife?  Your husband?  One of your parents?  Your children?  Or was it a person at work?  Or a friend from church? (perhaps better labeled "a former friend.)  How many friendships have been shattered because cruel words or actions left you feeling betrayed?

Hollywood makes blockbuster movies with a simple story line-the hero of the movie is hurt or is a victim of injustice, and throughout the movie seeks to be justified.  And then, toward the end of the movie, we cheer for the hero's revenge, "All right, go for it, that evil person deserves it!"

But how does God want us to respond to people who hurt us?  Whether that person is a family member or an enemy, how should we react?  Is this what God would want?

Don't just think about it.  Let 'em know what's on your mind!

Have you always wanted to tell someone something, but didn't know how to do it?  Well, this is the perfect site for you.  Read on. . .

ThePayback.com is your home for all of your revenge needs. So you never had a chance to get revenge on your ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend? Your current spouse lied to you when he said that he would never cheat on you?

Well, you know the saying "Don't get mad, get even".

Get Revenge On People Who Have Done You Wrong!

This is the opening paragraph of a web site called thepayback.com that really caught my attention.   This is not the way God would want us to handle the pain we cause one another in the midst of our relationships.  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you is what we are told to do in Ephesians 4:32.    God also instructs us in Matthew 5:44, But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.    But maybe most importantly, God tells us very clearly in Romans 12:19, Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

The worldly response to someone hurting us is to get back at them; to seek revenge.  But God has a plan for us to love those that hurt us and work toward forgiveness and reconciliation.  Two wrongs have never made a right!  How are you going to respond the next time you get hurt?  GOD’S WAY or the world’s way?

In Daniel Patrick Moynihan's memorable phrase, deviance has been dumbed down. “Everybody has a deviance they need to open up, and the rest of us are supposed to be a 'support group' for their deviance. Is there anybody out there who doesn't have a support group?”

"Healthy" and "sick" have replaced "good" and "evil."
Dennis Prager tells of one day playing in the park with his 2-year-old son. A 5-year-old boy walked over to him, threw him onto the concrete. The 5-year-old's mother rushed over to her son and demanded: "Honey, what's troubling you?"

Where is the reprimand? Where is the sense of wrongness to throw another human being to the ground, or away?

Self-esteem is now deemed more important to teach our children than self-control. In fact, in a recent book called Evil: Inside Human Cruelty and Violence (New York: W. H. Freeman, 1997), Roy Baumeister has found four "root characteristics" of the most violent criminals. One of them is "high" self-esteem. Parents that focus all their rearing on building "high self-esteem" are increasing the likelihood of creating a criminal child.

What do you think?  The Bible gives us guidelines to help us raise our children.  Some of those passages include:

"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” (Heb 12:6) “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” (Pr 22:15) “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” (Pr 29:15) And “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” (Pr 13:24)

Discipline is as much an integral part of childrearing as love is!  May we love our children enough to discipline them when needed.

Life is the sum of all your choices.” – Albert Camus

We make decisions every day.  Everything we say and do is the result of a decision, whether we make it consciously or not.  Whether our choices are big or small, there is no easy formula for making the right decision.  The best we can do is to approach it from as many perspectives as possible and then choose a course of action that seems reasonable and balanced.

Because every decision we make has consequences, the process can be very stressful.  Have you ever been afraid to make the wrong decision?   The key to relieving the stress caused by making decisions is found in scripture.  The answer is simple: we need to let God guide us.  Now I know that some of you are thinking that you have tried this before and it didn’t work.  Knowing God’s will isn’t easy, but I can assure you that God wants to communicate with us and guide our decisions.  The book of James tells us to ASK IN FAITH.  God promises to give us wisdom if we just ask for it.

The real key is to ask ourselves if we really trust in God.  If we do, then we must turn over control of our lives to Him and keep moving in the direction that he leads.  God sees paths that we don’t know exist.  He will make a way.  God bless you and guide your decisions, large and small.

If we don't take care of ourselves, we won't be capable of taking care of others. It's as simple as that. So why do we go on and on and give and give until we're emotionally and physically exhausted?

by Beverly Smallwood, Ph.D.

Have you ever asked yourself that question?  I have!  I know in my head that I need to take care of myself in order to care for others.  I’m even reminded of this every time I ride in an airplane and hear the instructions given before each flight.  If the overhead compartment should open and the oxygen masks come out, I am to place mine on first before assisting others.  This seems to make sense when I hear the airline attendant say it.  So why is it such a hard concept to practice in my everyday life?

As a Christian I have heard it stated and restated numerous times that I should stop thinking of myself and put the needs of others first.  The message of self-sacrifice and service comes across loud and clear.  However, I don't believe that this message is a complete interpretation of the scriptures.

Yes, self-centeredness is at the core of our sinfulness.  We are to deny ourselves and sacrificially give to God and others, but I believe that we confuse unselfishness with stewardship.   The Bible actually teaches the value of our needs, which are God-given and are intended to propel us to growth and to God.  Neglecting our needs leads to spiritual and emotional problems; meeting our needs frees us to meet the needs of others cheerfully and without resentment.

What do you think?

I’ll be praying for you ….Karen

Imagine yourself behind the wheel of a car driving 45 mph on a curving mountain road.  Your speed is safe for the road conditions…or so you think. The pavement is wet due to a light rain, and though you are not aware of it, the temperature is dropping rapidly.  It is late at night and you have been driving for hours.  The radio is on and your mind is focused on the road ahead of you .  All of a sudden, the road feels different.  The steering wheel is loose and unresponsive.  Your heart begins to race as you realize the back end of your car is sliding.  The rain has frozen and become a layer of ice.  You are beginning to slide out of control.  Reflexively, you push your foot on the brake.  That action simply increases the speed you are sliding and you go into a full tailspin… you are out of control!

Few people ever experience the feeling of being absolutely out of control.  It is unnatural, uncomfortable, and creates intense anxiety.  Yet, from time to time, we all experience the sheer panic of being somewhat out of control.  All of us live with a profound need to have order established in the chaos of our lives.  We long for peace in the middle of the turmoil.  We want to discover how to regain control.  We need to get a grip on our lives.

In order to gain control we need to allow the Holy Spirit ‘s power of self-control be infused into our lives.  Then, if we work diligently on balancing our lives, we can accomplish this goal. 

Spend some time this week asking God to take control of your life and provide you the peace you so desperately want and need.  God wants to be a part of every aspect of your life.  He is a God of order.  He can help you get a grip on your life.

I’ll be praying for you ….Karen