A CHRISTIAN NATION?

(In the wake of the budget "crises", I
sent this to my congressmen)

Scripture:

37 “Then the righteous will answer him,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and
feed you, or thirsty and give you something
to drink? 38 When did we see you a
stranger and invite you in, or needing
clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we
see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you,
whatever you did for one of the least of these
brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Mathew 25; 37-40 (Today's New International Version)

Quote:

"If this is gonna be a Christian nation that
doesn't help the poor, either we've got to
pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as
we are, or we've got to acknowledge that
he commanded us to love the poor and
serve the needy without condition! And
then admit, that we just don't wanna do
it." (Stephen Colbert)

DO WE WANNA DO IT?

YOU FEED THEM

Scripture:

But Jesus said, "You feed them." "But we
have only five loaves of bread and two fish,
" they answered. "Or are you expecting us
to go and buy enough food for this whole
crowd?" For there were about 5,000 men
there. Luke 9:13-14, NLT


Reflection:

What I think is interesting about the feeding
of the 5,000, by Jesus, is not only the
miracle in itself, but the actions of the
disciples.
In the account the disciples become concerned
that there are so many hungry people and
how are they going to be fed. It's not like they
had McDonald's across the street. These
people needed to eat!
So they go to Jesus and ask Him what can
be done. And what is His response, He says,
"You feed them". And the disciples response
is that of protest because they didn't have
enough food or money. They didn't have the
resources.
There is a lesson for us here.
Do you think that God would ask you to do
something, that together you and Him
couldn't handle. I don't think so.
GOD IS TELLING YOU DON'T LET YOUR
LACK OF RESOURCES BLIND YOU TO
SEEING GOD'S POWER. HE IS THE
ONLY RESOURCE YOU NEED!!!!!

YOU FEED THEM

HIDDEN TREASURE

Scripture:

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure
hidden in a field" (Matthew 13:44)

In a "Peanuts" comic strip, Lucy and Charlie
Brown are engaged in earnest conversation
about the meaning of life. Lucy feels that it's
a matter of one's perspective. She says,
"Life is like a deck chair. Some people place
it so they can see where they are going.
Some people place it so they can see where
they have been. And some people place it
so they can see where they are now.
" Charlie ponders Lucy's little discourse,
then replies, "I can't even get mine unfolded."
"
Reflection:

I remember as a young boy one of my
favorite games to play was "Pirate", and
I was always looking for the hidden
treasure.
I have found that hidden treasure, that
treasure is the meaning of my life through
God. To share in the life of God, to be in
intimate union with God is my life's greatest
treasure, now and for all eternity.
THE MOMENT IS NOW!
Jesus says you can "be glad and rejoice"
now and have your "reward in heaven," both!
Jesus' words echo those of the Old Testament
Psalmist who wrote, "This is the day the Lord
has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it"
(Ps. 118:24).
NOT YESTERDAY, NOT TOMORROW, BUT
NOW TODAY, THIS DAY LIVE YOUR
GREATEST TREASURE BE IN UNION WITH
GOD!!!!!!!

DEFINING GOD

Speaking before the Council of
Athens, the Apostle Paul said:

24 “He is the God who made the
world and everything in it. Since he
is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t
live in man-made temples, 25 and
human hands can’t serve his needs—
for he has no needs. He himself gives
life and breath to everything, and he
satisfies every need. 26 From one
man he created all the nations
throughout the whole earth. He decided
beforehand when they should rise and
fall, and he determined their boundaries.

27 “His purpose was for the nations to
seek after God and perhaps feel their way
toward him and find him—though he is not
far from any one of us. 28 For in him we
live and move and exist. As some of your
own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
29 And since this is true, we shouldn’t think
of God as an idol designed by craftsmen
from gold or silver or stone.

30 “God overlooked people’s ignorance
about these things in earlier times, but now
he commands everyone everywhere to repent
of their sins and turn to him. 31 For he has
set a day for judging the world with justice by
the man he has appointed, and he proved to
everyone who this is by raising him from the
dead.”

32 When they heard Paul speak about the
resurrection of the dead, some laughed in
contempt, but others said, “We want to hear
more about this later.” 33 That ended Paul’s
discussion with them, 34 but some joined him
and became believers.(Acts 17: 23-34) NLT

ARE YOU GREAT?

Scripture:

Then he said to them, "Anyone who
welcomes a little child like this on my
behalf* welcomes me, and anyone who
welcomes me also welcomes my Father
who sent me. Whoever is the least
among you is the greatest
Luke 9:48, NLT

Reflection:

What is greatness? Am I a great person?
I m not a well known person, I have not
done anything in life that is note worthy,
I'm not a hero, I'm not a celebrity.
I'm just me. So what makes me great!
Christ tells us caring for others is a
measure of our greatness. How much
do you care? How much concern do you
show to others? These are important
questions to accurately measure your
greatness in God's eyes.
Let me ask something when is the last
time you showed your care for someone
else, especially those who are helpless,
or needy, or poor? When is the last time
you expressed compassion and caring
to someone who can't return your love
and concern? YOUR HONEST ANSWER
TO THAT QUESTION WILL GIVE YOU A
GOOD IDEA OF YOUR REAL GREATNESS.

Psalm 12

5 “Because the poor are plundered and the
needy groan,
I will now arise,” says the LORD.
“I will protect them from those who malign them.”
6 And the words of the LORD are flawless,
like silver purified in a crucible,
like gold[c] refined seven times.
7 You, LORD, will keep the needy safe
and will protect us forever from the wicked,
8 who freely strut about
while depravity is honored by the human race.

"Go where you are least wanted, for there
you are most needed."
Abigail Kelley Foster
Pacifist Abolitionist
(1811-1877)

LIVING FOR ETERNITY

In the movie Gladiator, General Maximus
Decimus Meridius seeks to stir his cavalry
to fight well in the imminent battle against
Germania. Addressing his troops, he
challenges them to give their very best.
He makes this profound statement:
“What we do in life echoes in eternity.”
These words from a fictional military
leader convey a powerful concept that
is of particular significance to believers
in Christ. We are not just taking up time
and space on a rock that’s floating in
the universe. We are here with the
opportunity to make an eternal difference
with our lives. Jesus Himself said, “Lay
up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust destroys
and where thieves do not break in and
steal” (Matt. 6:20).
HAVING THE PERSPECTIVE OF
LIVING FOR ETERNITY CAN MAKE
ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS
WORLD
(Bill Crowder; January 3, 2007)

RETIREMENT DINNER

A PRIEST'S RETIREMENT DINNER


A Priest was being honored at his retirement
dinner after 25 years in the parish. A leading
local politician and member of the congregation
was chosen to make the presentation and to
give a little speech at the dinner. However, he
was delayed, so the Priest decided to say his
own few words while they waited:


“I got my first impression of the parish from the
first confession I heard here. I thought I had been
assigned to a terrible place. The very first person
who entered my confessional told me he had stolen
a television set and, when questioned by the police,
was able to lie his way out of it. He had stolen
money from his parents, embezzled from his
employer, had an affair with his boss's wife, he had
taken illegal drugs . I was appalled. But as the days
went on, I learned that my people were not all like
that and I had,indeed, come to a fine parish full of
good and loving people."

Just as the Priest finished his talk, the politician
arrived full of apologies at being late. He immediately
began to make the presentation and gave his talk:
“I'll never forget the first day our parish Priest
arrived, said the politician. In fact, I had the honor of
being the first person to go to him for confession."

MORAL: NEVER, NEVER, NEVER BE LATE

TOUCH A LIFE

Touch a Life

by Anne Cetas

( From Our Daily Bread)

Scripture:

Read: Galatians 6:6-10

Let us not grow weary while doing good.
(Galatians 6:9)

Reflection:

My friend Dan, who was soon to graduate
from high school, was required to make a
senior presentation. He had 15 minutes to
share how he had made it to the point of
graduation and to thank those who had
helped him along the way.

I gazed around the room before he started
to talk. All kinds of people—young families,
teachers, friends, church leaders, and
coaches—were in attendance. He began to
talk about the ways each person had
touched his life. One woman had “been like
an aunt and had always been there” for him.
A 30-something man “shared Scriptures
often and gave counsel.” Another man had
“taught him discipline and hard work.” A
church friend had “taken him to football
practice every day” because his mom
couldn’t. A couple had “treated him like he
was their own son.” One commonality—
they were all just ordinary Christians who
had reached out to make a difference in
his life.

Paul called it doing “good to all, especially
to those who are of the household of faith”
(Gal. 6:10). We can help shape another
person’s life by showing an interest and
taking action. And, as happened with Dan,
we can reap a harvest (v.9).

Look around. Is there someone whose life
needs your touch?

Prayer:

Lord, grant me a heart of compassion
So burdened for others’ needs
That I will show Your kindness
In attitudes, words, and deeds. —Fitzhugh

DO ALL THE GOOD YOU CAN,
IN ALL THE WAYS YOU CAN.
FOR ALL THE PEOPLE YOU CAN
WHILE YOU CAN!.

HE IS FAITHFUL

God is faithful to those who love him

What can you expect when you love God?

Scripture

But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives,
he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Galatians 5:22 NLT


Be faithful yourself

When big problems come, there is something
in all of us that wants to bail out, throw in the
towel, wave the white flag of surrender, and
retreat to someplace less stressful.

This explains why so many people under great
stress and strain walk away from God, a marriage,
a friendship, or a church. When the future looks
stormy or uncertain, it becomes easy to rationalize,
to jettison one's convictions, to go back on promises.

Before you succumb to panic and start to renege
on a commitment, you need to strongly consider
God's promise. It tells us that we have something
within us (Someone, actually) who desires for us
to be loyal and who gives us the courage and grit
to hang tough. The Holy Spirit will, if you ask him,
enable you to persevere — even in the face of
overwhelming trouble.

Praying God's Promise

God, you are always faithful to me. By the power
of your Spirit, help me to keep my commitments
in tough times. I want to be reliable and trustworthy.
I want to be wholly devoted to you, through thick
and thin. Fill me with your Spirit so that I have the
courage to stand firm.

From Praying God's Promises in Tough Times by
Len Woods (Tyndale House) pp 160-61

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living
Translation and other publications of Tyndale
Publishing House

HE CALLS ME FRIEND

by Julie Ackerman Link

(From Our Daily Bread)

Scripture:

Read: John 15:9-17

All things that I heard from
My Father I have made known to you
. . . that you should go and bear fruit.
(John 15:15-16)
:
Reflection:

Someone has defined friendship as
“knowing the heart of another and
sharing one’s heart with another.” We
share our hearts with those we trust,
and trust those who care about us. We
confide in our friends because we have
confidence that they will use the
information to help us, not harm us.
They in turn confide in us for the same
reason.

We often refer to Jesus as our friend
because we know that He wants what
is best for us. We confide in Him
because we trust Him. But have you
ever considered that Jesus confides in
His people?

Jesus began calling His disciples friends
rather than servants because He had
entrusted them with everything He had
heard from His Father (John 15:15).
Jesus trusted the disciples to use the
information for the good of His Father’s
kingdom.

Although we know that Jesus is our
friend, can we say that we are His
friends? Do we listen to Him? Or do we
only want Him to listen to us? Do we
want to know what’s on His heart? Or
do we only want to tell Him what’s on
ours? To be a friend of Jesus, we need
to listen to what He wants us to know
and then use the information to bring
others into friendship with Him.


Sweet thought! We have a Friend above,
Our weary, faltering steps to guide,
Who follows with His eye of love
The precious child for whom He died.
—Anon.

CHRIST'S FRIENDSHIP CALLS FOR
OUR FAITHFULNESS

INDEPENDENCE DAY

Let this be our prayer and our hope
on this Fourth of July

Let there be peace on Earth,
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on Earth,
The peace that was meant to be.

With God as our Father,
Brothers all are we,
Let me walk with my brother,
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me,
Let this be the moment now,
With every step I take,
Let this be my solemn vow,

To take each moment and live each moment
In peace, eternally.
Let there be peace on Earth,
And let it begin with me

HAVE A HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY