St. Patrick
In one week a special day arrives. Everyone wears green. People pinch each other. Some drink green beverages. Yet what do you know about St. Patrick. Well, here's a brief overview I found. Let me know what you think.
urbana.org - Great Cloud of Witnesses

Choices
Proverbs takes me to the crossroads everyday. I can choose one way or another. Sometimes my journey comes to a fork in the road. I am at wits end often. I have mounting things to do. I am unsetttled as to which course to take. So what do I do?

I worry. I fret. I seek escape. I procrastinate.

Yet I forget that I have a great God who wants me to share my burden. He tells me,

"Cast all your anxiety upon Him because He cares for you (I Peter 5:7)."

God is there waiting for me. I can picture in my mind an older man waiting in the bend on the road with a wheelbarrow. I am carrying a heavy sack of stuff; worries, fears, challenges. Yet I often walk right by. He can carry my load--some or all of it. I just need to stop and ask Him to carry it. So what do you do?

Do you worry? Say it's all right, "I'm okay." "I'm good." "I can handle it. "

Don't forget that God is waiting to help carry your load. It doesn't matter what it is. He's there to carry it. For me its tasks--lots of things to do. Yet want to be wise not foolish. In Chapter Nine of Proverbs the contrast is between a simple person deciding who he or she will follow. Will you follow Wisdom? Will you follow Folly? What are the burdens you carry? Make a comment or share your struggles. Share anonymously, cryptically, or unfettered. I wonder what burdens you carry and need God to carry for you.

Using media to share God's Word

One of the best things I am learning is trying to engage students with media. I am learning a lot from Josh Fronduti. Today we taught eighth grade students about the spiritual gift of mercy. We used three movie clips and added hands-on teaching elements. We challenged them to go out into their school and offer mercy to others. God is so good to allow us the ability at this time in history to use resources to teach His truth. I wonder how God is teaching you through the use of media. Please share.

May God help us use technology wisely to teach His truth,

Pastor D

Do what I say and you will live

In my readings this morning, Proverbs chpater seven addresses sexual temptation. From the persepctive of a young man, the seduction of this young simpleton is described in vivid detail. The temptress seduces him. Serving as bookends to this drama, warnings blare. Young people (both men and women) can fend off the Temptress--yes, you can fend off the Seductress. The end of the chapters says,

"So, friends, listen to me, take these words of mine most seriously. Don't fool around with a woman like that; don't even stroll through her neighborhood. Countless victims come under her spell, she's the death of many a poor man. She runs a halfway house to hell, (she) fits you out with a shroud and a coffin."

Sexual temptation seems overpowering. Our culture sells it. Our culture feeds it. Our culture minimizes it. Our culture is saturated with sex. Our culture gives into it. Nevertheless God's truth declares that you can avoid fooling around in that neighborhood.

So how do you fight and win over temptation? I wonder how you wisely live a life that engages and triumphs over sexual temptation. It's not as easy as you may think. Let me know how you try to overcome sexual temptation. Til' next time,

Pastor D

Protect your heart
Proverbs 4:23 says,
"Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. "
One thing I am learning to do is to guard what comes from my heart. The heart is innermost place inside where I truly live. God's wisdom says to guard it like a prison-guard, to protect it as my most precious possession like gold at Fort Knox. I can choose to keep my heart on guard.
Matthew Henry, a man long ago who commented on this verse shares this, "Attentive hearing the word of God, is a good sign of a work of grace begun in the heart, and a good means of carrying it on. There is in the word of God a proper remedy for all diseases of the soul. Keep thy heart with all diligence. We must set a strict guard upon our souls; keep our hearts from doing hurt, and getting hurt. A good reason is given; because out of it are the issues of life. "
His words--"keep your heart from doing hurt, and getting hurt"--is a difficult task to complete. Too often I cannot keep myself from getting hurt and seeking to returning hurt for hurt. I praise God that I am learning how to keep a strict guard on my inner self. I want God's heart where I can love and receive love as God intended. It is possible. Seek God to find deep love. May God help you find deep love in Him.
Pastor D

In the sight of God and humankind
God challenged me to reconsider how I interact with Him and with others. I reflect on my habit to read the Bible everyday and to guide my life according to what I discover. The verses that confronted me are:
"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck. write them onthe tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and humankind (Proverbs 3:3-4)."
Love and kindness in my relationships brings favor and friends. I wonder how many times my words or actions or attitudes have not been grounded in love. I wonder how many people have experienced unkindness from me. Such incorrect habits do not reflect God and His truth. I want more than just guilt. I want God. I want more than just failure. I want God. I want more than just comfort. I want God. May God's love and kindness fill me to show others God's truth. I praise God for His discipline and His redirection in my life. May you respond to God's truth and walk close with Him.
Pastor D