I just finished reading I Samuel 16. This is the chapter where Samuel is sent to Bethlehem to the house of Jesse to anoint one of his sons as the new king (to replace Saul).
When Samuel arrives in Bethlehem, the town is worried; apparently the appearance of the man of God struck fear into the hearts of the people. But, he assures them that he has come in peace and tells them to prepare a feast.
As the feast begins, Samuel spots Jesse's oldest son, Eliab, and thinks, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD." [v.6]
WRONG!
...the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." [v.7]
Then, Jesse's sons are brought in succession before Samuel:
Abinadab
Shimea
Nethanel
Raddai
Ozem
Then Samuel said to Jesse: "The LORD has not chosen these...Are these all the sons you have?" [vs.10-11]
Jesse responds: There is still the youngest, but he is tending the sheep." [v.11]
In some societies, shepherds are the weakest members of society - children, women, and elderly. Often they're entrusted with the livelihood of the entire family. And they have to do it with minimal provisions.
Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives." [v.11]
Hmmmm - I wonder how long that took?
When David arrived the New English Bible reports him as having "bright eyes".
Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one." [v.12]
Have you ever felt like the lowest of the low?
False humility aside: haven't you occasionally wondered how God could ever use someone like you?
HE CAN! HE WILL!
Romans 12:3-8 (NIV)
"...think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.
If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;
if it is serving, then serve;
if it is teaching, then teach;
if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;
if it is giving, then give generously;
if it is to lead, do it diligently;
if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."
Kind and Gracious God,
We rededicate ourselves to You this morning! Everything we are and everything we have comes from You! Use us in whatever ways You can to fulfill Your divine purposes. No task is too small or too big! With You all things are possible.
I will not think small thoughts today and I will not think grandiose thoughts. I will simply be obedient. I want to be Your David today!
For the Kingdom's sake. Amen.
Thursday, August 6, 2020
Wednesday, August 5, 2020
TRANSFORMATION
Last week we looked at King Saul's life when Samuel anointed him to be the first king of Israel. In that process, Samuel said to Saul: [I Samuel 10:6 NIV]
Yep! What happens to that caterpillar inside the cocoon! A transformation takes place that is EXTRAORDINARY! An ugly worm is transformed into a beautiful butterfly! That which was restricted to crawling around on leaves can now FLY!!!!!
This is analogous to what happens to our lives when we present our bodies as living and holy sacrifices to God [Romans 12:1].
The term metamorphoo is found four times in the New Testament. We've looked at one in Romans 12:2. Two more are in the Transfiguration account where God's glory shone THROUGH Jesus - not on Him! The fourth is in II Corinthians 3:18, [NASB]
It's quite simple, really. It simply means that when we open our lives completely to God, He changes us dramatically! We begin a process of taking on His character. The things that used to be important to us, may not any longer be so important. We begin to love the things and people He loves! Our priorities change!
Think of the dramatic change that takes place in that worm! That's the picture! Maybe we all need to put pictures of worms and caterpillars on our mirrors and dashboards?
God really can make that kind of change in your life - if you'll let Him! I've seen it happen scores (if not hundreds) of times! He's still transforming me! PTL! I think I've been one of His harder cases! 😂 Put your trust in Jesus and let Him begin the transformation now! This simple prayer will put you on His path:
The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy...and you will be changed into a different person.What an unusual thing to say! "You will be changed into a different person." How? Why? Three verses later the biblical record records these words:
As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul's heart...I made a note in my Bible about this:
It seems important to realize at this point that God chose a good man with great potential. God made an investment in human free will. It would be Saul's choices that would bring his downfall.In our New Testaments we find some verses that shed light on this subject.
Romans 12:2 (NASB)
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Ephesians 4:23-24 (NASB)
...that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
[verses 25-32 are so important to read because they describe what this renewed life will look like in VERY practical terms!]We're actually talking about a very familiar word here that most of us will remember from our high school science class days: METAMORPHOSIS!
Yep! What happens to that caterpillar inside the cocoon! A transformation takes place that is EXTRAORDINARY! An ugly worm is transformed into a beautiful butterfly! That which was restricted to crawling around on leaves can now FLY!!!!!
This is analogous to what happens to our lives when we present our bodies as living and holy sacrifices to God [Romans 12:1].
The term metamorphoo is found four times in the New Testament. We've looked at one in Romans 12:2. Two more are in the Transfiguration account where God's glory shone THROUGH Jesus - not on Him! The fourth is in II Corinthians 3:18, [NASB]
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.OK, Hal, so what does this all mean?
It's quite simple, really. It simply means that when we open our lives completely to God, He changes us dramatically! We begin a process of taking on His character. The things that used to be important to us, may not any longer be so important. We begin to love the things and people He loves! Our priorities change!
Think of the dramatic change that takes place in that worm! That's the picture! Maybe we all need to put pictures of worms and caterpillars on our mirrors and dashboards?
Lord Jesus,
As of right now, I give You my life! Begin to work Your transformation in my life! I want to be a butterfly for You! I surrender myself to the cocoon of Your will! Amen.
Tuesday, August 4, 2020
ALMA KELLY - A SPIRITUAL HERO IN MY LIFE!
A few good things have come from the Wuhan Virus for me. During the quarantine period I was able to finish two books. I hope to publish a short, Christian, romance novel soon - yep, you read it correctly. I also am putting finishing touches on my life story (which I may or may not publish). Moments ago, I jumped on Facebook before going to bed and saw that Alma Kelly had turned 94 today. In her honor, I'm sharing a chapter from my life story...
As he read, the brief progression of thoughts I had while hiking came to my mind. I immediately became curious to see how far into the chapter he would read! He read through verse seventeen! I COULDN’T WAIT TO HEAR HIS MESSAGE!
I
ALMOST LEFT THE MINISTRY!!!!
The Oakland church had begun to respond to my
leadership in spite of severe opposition from the older contingent of the
congregation. I was traveling to
Pittsburgh three or four times a week to attend seminary. I had set high standards for myself for being
a great husband and a great dad. The
pressures of all these responsibilities brought me to a point of burn-out in
October of 1984. I was severely
depressed. I called an emergency
Pastor’s Cabinet meeting for a Wednesday evening and resigned! I simply walked in and told them I was done.
Our church was growing and good things were
happening, but I was totally burned out!
Between the negativity and opposition I was facing, plus going to
Pittsburgh three/four times a week for classes, massive reading assignments,
research papers, all-night typing, trying to be a great husband and father – it
just all came crashing down around me.
With no plan in mind – I quit my job!
As I headed for the door after my
announcement, Alma Kelly loudly called my name, “Harold!” I stopped and turned toward her. She said, “We don’t accept your resignation. We’re placing you on an indeterminate ‘Leave
of Absence’ with full pay.”
Mind you
now, she did this without a vote and without conference approval! She simply took authority. Then, she went on to say, “Evil things have
taken place in this church – in this room, in your office! You’ve faced these evils alone and we’re not
letting go of you. You go home and rest
and we’ll take care of the church until you’ve recovered.” And with that, I left.
Every Sunday after that, Pete (our treasurer)
knocked on our door on Sunday after church and delivered my paycheck!
I was simply depleted! The Cabinet was obviously shocked by my
resignation! Some in the room that night
were: Paul, Pete, Alma, Russ, Martha and
perhaps one or two others.
April 1, 2020 - Alma Kelly called me today! She found an old cassette tape of a ‘Rally
Day’ service at Oakland from thirty years ago and was playing it. She was so blessed by the music and hearing
my prayer and message that she felt compelled to call me and thank me for my
ministry. She is a wonderful woman and
acknowledges God’s blessings openly in her life! She stepped up to a major leadership role
when I faced my burn-out crisis! I thank
God for her!
I had no plan.
Debbie hardly knew what I was doing.
For the next couple of months, I sought the counsel of several older
pastors and also saw a professional counselor.
We visited our home churches – New Brighton and Rochester. Although I was not active in pursuing prayer,
I’m confident that scores of people lifted our family to God during the ensuing
weeks and months. Of course, I continued
my seminary studies, but did not engage in ministry – with one exception.
During this time I received a phone call from
Rick (a friend from our church); it went
something like this:
RICK: “Harold,
I know you’re not really our pastor right now and that you’re going through a
hard time, but I just wanted you to know that my Dad had a heart attack and is
in the ICU at City Hospital.”
HAROLD:
“Are you there with him right now?”
RICK:
“Yes.”
HAROLD:
“I’ll be right there.”
This burn-out experience centered around a
major doubting of my ‘call’ to ministry.
The New Brighton church had sent many young men into the ministry and
was quite proud of this fact. Had I
simply succumbed to the pressure of a church that exerted a lot of its
influence toward promising young men?
Another major factor was the heavy influence
of my own mother. She had held such an influential role in my life – had she unduly pressured me into sensing a ‘call’ to
ministry. She had died in October,
1981. Since her death, October had
become a difficult month for me to get through.
Was my burn-out a manifestation of my grief?
During this time, two pivotal events took
place that led to my return to ministry.
EVENT #1
I received a phone call from Glenn Hughes. He had heard of my struggle and felt led to
call me and share a memory with me. He
proceeded to tell me the following story:
[A rough
remembrance of his words] “Harold, when
I preached the revival at New Brighton in 1969, I had high expectations for a fruitful week of
ministry. However, the altar was barren
that whole week. People were kind and
responsive in many ways, but there were no seekers – except you. When the revival ended on Sunday night I had
decided to drive back to Rochester, NY, to sleep in my own bed. As I drove along in the darkness, I poured my
heart out to God about the fruitless week of preaching. In the midst of my tears and disappointment,
God clearly spoke to me. This is what He
said: “Glenn, I want you to trust
Me. You accomplished what I sent you
there to do. Rest in that.”
From that point on, I felt a spiritual relief
and placed my trust in God. Glenn had
said, “Harold, you were the only fruit from that week! I thought in the midst of your struggles that
you needed to hear that.”
EVENT #2
The week of Thanksgiving drew near and I was
not feeling any major sense of relief or resolution. I announced to Deb that I was going
backpacking on the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail [a 70-mile trail I had hiked
before from Johnstown, PA to Ohiopyle, PA].
She was trying to give me as much space as necessary and freely let me
go. I packed and left to hit the trail a
week before Thanksgiving.
I spent my whole time talking to God – a
common practice for me when I’m in the woods.
It was a comprehensive dialogue about my life and my call. I labored with the Lord over the purpose of
my life.
One day as I walked along a section of trail
that utilized a logging road for over a mile, I had a conversation in my mind
that probably only took a moment to occur.
I mused about whether or not I should put out a fleece like Gideon did
[Judges 6-8]. That quickly made me
wonder what kind of fleece I would use.
I remember laughing to myself as I processed these very quick
thoughts. I wondered who was preaching
at Oakland during my absence. I
suggested that if I went to worship and the preacher used a very common text
for his message – then that would be a good ‘fleece’. So, what would the text be? With a smile, I thought of John 3:16. If s/he would preach solely on John 3:16, I
would know that God had answered my ‘fleece’.
J
And in a matter of mere seconds, this
succession of thoughts was over…and I continued hiking.
During the course of days in the woods and
long nights (because of the late fall orientation), I slowly came to a sense of
peace about my future. It’s difficult to
explain, but I came to a fragile conclusion that I would gradually resume my
ministry. As I reached this delicate
conclusion, I felt a subtle, growing renewal in my spirit. This manifested itself most in a growing
desire to be with my family for Thanksgiving.
However, I still had twenty-six miles to go to reach my car!
I decided to push hard and try to finish the
hike in two days! I had numerous
mountains to overcome to make this happen, and short days to limit my hiking
time. However, I was driven and still
only thirty-two years old! I finally
reached my car long after dark a day or two before Thanksgiving. I was
exhausted – hiking the last three hours using a flashlight! I drove to a phone and called Deb to tell her
that I would be arriving home very late.
As we celebrated our family Thanksgiving, I
announced to Deb that we would be attending worship at Oakland on Sunday. I know she was very surprised. I told her that we would skip Sunday School
and arrive just in time for worship.
As we entered that Sunday, you could almost
hear the collective gasp as we walked down the center aisle and took our seats
on the left side toward the front. It
was a delight for me to have my children sit with me – something that we rarely
experienced. [Travis was 8, Troy was 4,
and Tracie was 3].
Alma Kelly led the service and announced that
Elwood Daugherty was the preacher for the morning [he was the assistant to the
conference superintendent at the time].
After some singing, she announced that he would come and read his
scripture lesson. I reached for my
Bible. He had us turn to John, chapter
three. I did so. He began to read at verse one.
As he read, the brief progression of thoughts I had while hiking came to my mind. I immediately became curious to see how far into the chapter he would read! He read through verse seventeen! I COULDN’T WAIT TO HEAR HIS MESSAGE!
However, we had to do some more singing and
then have prayer. I was on the edge of
my seat! Debbie knew something was up –
but she didn’t fully understand until later.
Finally, it was time for the message. Pastor Daugherty got up and said: “This is very unusual for me this morning,
but God has spoken clearly to me this week and seems to want me to bring an
Advent message based solely on verse 16.”
And then he proceeded to do just that!
It was a final, deep, assuring confirmation of
my ‘call to ministry’ that I never doubted again! I returned to ministry at Oakland within
several weeks. I eventually completed
thirteen years at the church with scores coming to faith in Christ and the
congregation growing to well over two hundred! PTL!
PARISHONER AND FRIEND
I probably met Jim Heldreth on the grounds of the Tri-State Campground [a lot of people knew him as Jack]. He was a strong supporter of the camp through the years. He was about ten years younger than my parents, but thirty years older than me. He and my father served on many Rochester District and Pittsburgh Conference committees together.
OBITUARY
Jim was a trustee at Roberts Wesleyan College for many years and was highly regarded for his service there. While I was a student in the early 1970's, he looked me up on a couple of occasions for a brief visit - always ending with the question: "Harold, how are you doing spiritually?"
Not many people asked that question and I appreciated his concern for my spiritual well-being.
Little did either of us know that in a little more than ten years, I would be appointed to be his pastor at the Oakland Free Methodist Church in East Liverpool, Ohio (1982).
Jim had some characteristics that I'll now try to describe:
- He was a deeper thinker than most.
- He often saw things from a perspective that was unique to him.
- He 'noodled' on things for long periods before establishing an opinion.
- When he established an opinion, he held to it tenaciously.
- He was not an emotional man but held to his beliefs as precious!
- He was a very handsome man and could be very charming (which I'm sure contributed to his success as a salesman).
- He lived according to principles that he had discerned and never broke them.
I recall a story he told me of finding a quarter along the road in front of his 'growing-up' home. He ran with it to his father holding it out with excitement. His father asked Jim if the quarter was his. He explained that he had found it. But his father asked again if it was his quarter. Jim answered, "No." His father responded, "Then put it back where you found it."
Jim's past was important to him. He continued to own the original homestead property for many years. He took me along on trips to West Virginia several times to visit that old home and property. It was well-hidden in the cracks and valleys on back roads that could hardly be called roads. Yet Jim still knew and talked with all his 'neighbors'. I enjoyed those road-trips together. He was a different man there.
He challenged me frequently and was not timid to let me know when I had disappointed him or when he disagreed with me. Most of the time, he seemed to think I was a pretty solid preacher. 😊 But there were other times that he held my feet to the fire.
During the thirteen years I served as his pastor, the American church was going through a rapid series of changes. These were replicated in the Oakland Church. I found myself in the tenuous position of trying to maintain a balance between a fairly established group of older believers (who had built the current building and were strong supporters of the church financially and with their attendance) and a group of younger, more charismatic believers who had a bigger, more aggressive vision.
As the church grew and changed - ultimately becoming a church of well over two hundred, my relationship with Jim seemed to stumble. He never withdrew from me, but our closeness diminished. I always regretted that.
When I was part of the Promise Keeper's movement in the 1990's, I received a teaching from Howard Hendricks that I agreed with:
“Every disciple needs three types of relationships in his life. He needs a 'Paul' who can mentor him and challenge him. He needs a 'Barnabas' who can come along side and encourage him. And he needs a 'Timothy,' someone that he can pour his life into.”Jim Heldreth was my Paul for a season and I appreciate the investment he made in me!
OBITUARY
James Jackson Heldreth, 98, of Chester, WV, formally of East Liverpool, OH passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 28, 2020 at East Liverpool City Hospital.
James was born on December 24, 1921 in Smithfield, WV the son of the late Wilbert C and Ethel (Dye) Heldreth. James joined the US Marine Corps during World War II and served in the South Pacific. He graduated from Chesbrough Seminary, which is now Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York. Later he served for 18 years on Roberts Board of Trustees and upon resigning was elected into the Alumni Hall of Fame. James was employed by Chrysler Corporation, Ferro Corporation and Endicott Church Furniture Inc. of Winona Lake, Indiana, where he worked as a Sales Counselor until he retired in 1983. James was a member of the Free Methodist Church since 1933 and at Oakland Free Methodist Church in East Liverpool since 1941. The college and church were his main interest in life.
James was preceded in death on March 2, 2006 by his wife, Anna, whom he married on March 14, 1941.
James is survived by one brother, Charles Heldreth of Columbiana, OH and many nieces, nephews, and cousins
ROMANS 12
You may not realize it, but Romans 12 is like a compilation of scriptures from all through the Word of God. My personal study Bible has more notations of comparative scriptures than probably any other chapter of the Bible! [Get a cross-reference Bible and check it out!]
If you haven't read it in a while, this chapter is full of practical advice and encouragements. In my opinion, it's the Apostle Paul's magnum opus! It makes you feel so hopeful to read his exhortations!
As I was reading this chapter this morning, I noticed an assignment that I had given myself at some time in the past.
So, I decided today was the day to fulfill that assignment. Sometimes it helps se to see something arranged a little differently. Maybe this will impact you today? Here we go:
DO:
Make your love sincere
Hate what is evil
Cling to what is good
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love
Honor one another above yourself
Keep your spiritual fervor
Be joyful in hope
Be patient in affliction
Be faithful in prayer
Share with God's people who are in need
Practice hospitality
Bless those who persecute you
Rejoice with those who rejoice
Mourn with those who mourn
Live in harmony with one another
Be willing to associate with people of low position
Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone
Live at peace with everyone
If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink
Overcome evil with good
DON'T:
Be lacking in zeal
Be proud
Be conceited
Repay anyone evil for evil
Take revenge
Be overcome by evil
Kind and Gracious God,
This is quite a list that the great Apostle Paul has given us through Your Spirit! Taken individually, not one of them is really hard. But the list - as a whole - is overwhelming to us.
We could only accomplish this kind of life with the constant help of Your Holy Spirit! Fortunately, You stand ready to help us every minute of every day - and are especially near when the going gets tough [which is now for many people].
Stand by our side and walk with us through these challenging days! We want our lives to be 100% pleasing to You! For Jesus' sake. Amen.
If you haven't read it in a while, this chapter is full of practical advice and encouragements. In my opinion, it's the Apostle Paul's magnum opus! It makes you feel so hopeful to read his exhortations!
As I was reading this chapter this morning, I noticed an assignment that I had given myself at some time in the past.
So, I decided today was the day to fulfill that assignment. Sometimes it helps se to see something arranged a little differently. Maybe this will impact you today? Here we go:DO:
Make your love sincere
Hate what is evil
Cling to what is good
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love
Honor one another above yourself
Keep your spiritual fervor
Be joyful in hope
Be patient in affliction
Be faithful in prayer
Share with God's people who are in need
Practice hospitality
Bless those who persecute you
Rejoice with those who rejoice
Mourn with those who mourn
Live in harmony with one another
Be willing to associate with people of low position
Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone
Live at peace with everyone
If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink
Overcome evil with good
DON'T:
Be lacking in zeal
Be proud
Be conceited
Repay anyone evil for evil
Take revenge
Be overcome by evil
Kind and Gracious God,
This is quite a list that the great Apostle Paul has given us through Your Spirit! Taken individually, not one of them is really hard. But the list - as a whole - is overwhelming to us.
We could only accomplish this kind of life with the constant help of Your Holy Spirit! Fortunately, You stand ready to help us every minute of every day - and are especially near when the going gets tough [which is now for many people].
Stand by our side and walk with us through these challenging days! We want our lives to be 100% pleasing to You! For Jesus' sake. Amen.
Monday, August 3, 2020
EXPERIENCING GOD'S PRESENCE
I had the responsibility and privilege of leading churches for nearly forty-three years. I eventually came to realize that the most important thing was to work hard to try to create an environment where people could regularly experience the presence of God!
We all need to know that God is real and that God is concerned about our lives.
No one can manufacture that! It's up to God's Holy Spirit to intervene.
He often shows up as a result of singing! I've noticed over the years that certain songs seem to lend themselves more than others to the showing up of God's Holy Spirit. I've lost count of how many times the Spirit fell on a congregation while singing "It Is Well With My Soul" or "Shout to the Lord". There's something about certain songs that seem to open us to the reality of God's love for us and His engagement in our lives.
Liturgy can also bring God into focus! I come from a free style of worship, but am currently worshipping in a more liturgical church. For two years, I attended worship regularly on the campus of a charismatic, Catholic university! One day, at the noon mass, when the priest lifted the elements of the eucharist, the entire, packed congregation hit their feet and began praying out loud, singing in the Spirit or praying in tongues! It had never happened before! I never saw it happen again. That day, for some reason unknown, the Spirit of God fell on that entire congregation of several hundred students and faculty as they stood to praise Him for several unbroken, holy moments! I was blessed out!
The public reading of God's Word can call forth the presence of God! It doesn't happen all the time and we rarely know when it's going to happen. But there have been times when I could barely read the scripture lesson. My voice would break and tears flooded my eyes. The impact on the people was very similar! My sister-in-law, Laurie, recently reflected on a Sunday at New Middletown when her daughter-in-law, Abby, read the scripture lesson. The power of God radiated through Abby as she read and we were ALL inspired and blessed!
Prayer is another time when God can make His presence known! Sometimes prayer in worship can be boring [forgive me!]. When Troy was little, he leaned over to his Mom while I was praying one Sunday and said, "Mom, how does Dad think of so many things to pray about?" 😂 But, prayer can also be a time when God's Spirit breaks in and blesses His people. During our years at Cornerstone Church the prayer time on Sundays was magnificent! When Pastor Brenda opened the altar for prayer people responded in droves. Then more people came to pray with their friends and family! By the time the prayer-song ended, people would be kneeling in hoards around the altar with weeping, praying out loud, and tears. Newcomers were captivated by this sight! And we all experienced God's presence!
The preaching of the Word can also introduce moments of God's presence! Like prayer, sometimes preaching can be dry and boring. But there are moments when God chooses to breathe life into a message and His Spirit falls!
While at New Middletown, our leaders decided to participate in a national survey. It was awkward to ask people to take five minutes in worship to fill out this form. But when it came back, I had a really great moment when I read that the people from our congregation reported "experiencing the presence of God" regularly in our worship! Woo Hoo! I could have danced at that report! It was an affirmation that we had attained our goal!
Yesterday, at Bethel Church, I experienced the presence of God as people reported on the love they have enjoyed as a result of being a part of Bethel Church over the years! One fellow, Mike, went on-and-on about the love his family has known since becoming part of the congregation! I had to pull my hanky out and wipe my eyes as the tears flowed. Mind you, it wasn't Mike or the others who shared; they were just reporters. God was simply giving His Church a big 'atta-boy!' I love it when that happens!
I don't know about you, but I live for those moments! In biblical days they built altars to help them remember those places and times. I build those altars in my memory and in my blog articles 😉.
Lord,
More than ever, we need these sacred times of sensing Your Holy presence! During a time when some of our churches can't even meet together, send Your Spirit to anoint and bless us so that we share a common vision and hope!
Help us to live faithfully in accord with Your will, plan and desires for us so that we can increase the probability of experiencing Your presence!
For the Kingdom's sake, Amen.
We all need to know that God is real and that God is concerned about our lives.
No one can manufacture that! It's up to God's Holy Spirit to intervene.
He often shows up as a result of singing! I've noticed over the years that certain songs seem to lend themselves more than others to the showing up of God's Holy Spirit. I've lost count of how many times the Spirit fell on a congregation while singing "It Is Well With My Soul" or "Shout to the Lord". There's something about certain songs that seem to open us to the reality of God's love for us and His engagement in our lives.
Liturgy can also bring God into focus! I come from a free style of worship, but am currently worshipping in a more liturgical church. For two years, I attended worship regularly on the campus of a charismatic, Catholic university! One day, at the noon mass, when the priest lifted the elements of the eucharist, the entire, packed congregation hit their feet and began praying out loud, singing in the Spirit or praying in tongues! It had never happened before! I never saw it happen again. That day, for some reason unknown, the Spirit of God fell on that entire congregation of several hundred students and faculty as they stood to praise Him for several unbroken, holy moments! I was blessed out!
The public reading of God's Word can call forth the presence of God! It doesn't happen all the time and we rarely know when it's going to happen. But there have been times when I could barely read the scripture lesson. My voice would break and tears flooded my eyes. The impact on the people was very similar! My sister-in-law, Laurie, recently reflected on a Sunday at New Middletown when her daughter-in-law, Abby, read the scripture lesson. The power of God radiated through Abby as she read and we were ALL inspired and blessed!
Prayer is another time when God can make His presence known! Sometimes prayer in worship can be boring [forgive me!]. When Troy was little, he leaned over to his Mom while I was praying one Sunday and said, "Mom, how does Dad think of so many things to pray about?" 😂 But, prayer can also be a time when God's Spirit breaks in and blesses His people. During our years at Cornerstone Church the prayer time on Sundays was magnificent! When Pastor Brenda opened the altar for prayer people responded in droves. Then more people came to pray with their friends and family! By the time the prayer-song ended, people would be kneeling in hoards around the altar with weeping, praying out loud, and tears. Newcomers were captivated by this sight! And we all experienced God's presence!
The preaching of the Word can also introduce moments of God's presence! Like prayer, sometimes preaching can be dry and boring. But there are moments when God chooses to breathe life into a message and His Spirit falls!
While at New Middletown, our leaders decided to participate in a national survey. It was awkward to ask people to take five minutes in worship to fill out this form. But when it came back, I had a really great moment when I read that the people from our congregation reported "experiencing the presence of God" regularly in our worship! Woo Hoo! I could have danced at that report! It was an affirmation that we had attained our goal!
Yesterday, at Bethel Church, I experienced the presence of God as people reported on the love they have enjoyed as a result of being a part of Bethel Church over the years! One fellow, Mike, went on-and-on about the love his family has known since becoming part of the congregation! I had to pull my hanky out and wipe my eyes as the tears flowed. Mind you, it wasn't Mike or the others who shared; they were just reporters. God was simply giving His Church a big 'atta-boy!' I love it when that happens!
I don't know about you, but I live for those moments! In biblical days they built altars to help them remember those places and times. I build those altars in my memory and in my blog articles 😉.
Lord,
More than ever, we need these sacred times of sensing Your Holy presence! During a time when some of our churches can't even meet together, send Your Spirit to anoint and bless us so that we share a common vision and hope!
Help us to live faithfully in accord with Your will, plan and desires for us so that we can increase the probability of experiencing Your presence!
For the Kingdom's sake, Amen.
Saturday, August 1, 2020
JESUS HAD SISTERS!!!!
Matthew 13:56 (NIV)
"Aren't all his sisters with us?"
I wonder how his relating to his sisters colored his life? They had to have had an impact on him. Surely they helped him better understand how women think and react. Being a big brother helped develop him into the caring Lord we love so much! They probably taught him at least a little about patience as well. 😂
I have sisters too! Two of them!
Jeannette is almost fifteen years older than me. I never remember living in the same home with her - although I'm sure I did for at least a couple of years. She married (my late brother-in-law, Bob Liberty) Lib right after graduating from high school, so he was always part of my life, too.
Jeannette (of the four of us) seems to have taken more of our maternal side - the Waltons. She has the looks and humor of my mom and aunts (Goldie and Sylvia). Along with that side she has also always been high-strung and nervous.
I've seen her laugh - LOTS; and I've seen her cry. She is a passionate person! Early in my life she had two sons: Tom and Bob. I was an uncle before I was five! They are awesome men and were each amazing sportsmen (Lib made sure of that!). 😉 They were both written up in the local papers repeatedly when they played high school football.
Tom went on to become a teacher and coach and has garnered a lot of respect from his students and peers. Bob developed business interests when he was young and has expanded that into a significant enterprise today. I love these guys and their wives and children and grandchildren! Proud to call them FAMILY.
Jeannette was constant motion all her life! When I was growing up (in New Brighton), she would flit into our Brighton Heights home and back out again several times a week. She dearly loved our parents and would stop by frequently to check in - usually with the boys in tow. We often visited her home as well (Beaver Falls and then Chippewa).
Jeannette is in a nursing care facility today and is struggling with dementia. Most of the time she knows us, but her short term memory is 'short term'. But she's always sweet! Her boys take good care of her - in spite of the terrible limitations due to Covid-19.
Jeannette will be most remembered for the absolutely hilarious stories that have come from her life! Many of these stories involved Lib and our cousin, Olive (Aunt Sylvia's daughter). I'll just tell one for your enjoyment today:
Jeannette has been a blessing to me through the years! Our growing family enjoyed swimming in their pool! She's been generous with me in many ways! We had lots of nice times with them at their vacation home in Pymatuning! She was a major care-giver to our Dad during the last year or two of his life!
Thank You, Lord, for putting Jeannette in my life!
I also have Beverly in my life! She's seven years older than me and I do remember living with her. In those days, we didn't get along so well - I was the pesky, miserable younger brother! 🤣
When I was eleven (or so), she left home and used our brother, Ira, as a launching pad for her adult life. She held a number of jobs in the Rochester, NY area. My favorite was when she worked for a tie factory - I got lots of really nice ties during that period. 😃👔
She renewed a friendship with her childhood friend, Nancy, and they both settled in that area. Bev eventually met Dick and they married. I dropped the needle on a song during their wedding in our folk's living room in December of 1967. I liked Dick because he drove a cool, blue Mustang! He was an amazing roller skater and has a laugh that everyone enjoys. He worked for many years as a meat-cutter and then worked for Dupont until his retirement! I remember eating lots of good meat at their house - and his home-made spaghetti sauce is to die for!!!!! 😍 Heather was born in the spring of 1973.
When I attended college in North Chili, NY, they often welcomed me for dinner and game nights. Sometimes I brought friends with me. Debbie and I were dating then, so we also spent some great times in their apartment. I used to call them in the middle of the night while I was doing 'nightwatch' - just to harass them! Dick would just hang up on me!
Dick had been previously married and had a son, Scott (born in 1964). He eventually came to live with them. He was an amazing kid! He would stand beside me in my '63 Chevy and tell me exactly how to get where I wanted to go! Scott grew up to be a video-gamer and that led to his career in computers.
As our family grew, we often camped in their back yard -sometimes for a whole week! We would swim in their pool and eat their food! Bev took us to the Rochester zoo several times! It was a cheap vacation for the poor preacher and his family!
Most of all, Beverly's impact has been spiritual. She takes most after our Mom! She is a godly woman with a deep prayer life! If you know her, she's one of the first to respond to Facebook friends who ask for prayer. She's my number one prayer partner (after Debbie). I have absolute trust and confidence in her.
I hope Jesus was as blessed as I've been with good sisters! They've made a big difference in my life and I thank God for them!
"Aren't all his sisters with us?"
I wonder how his relating to his sisters colored his life? They had to have had an impact on him. Surely they helped him better understand how women think and react. Being a big brother helped develop him into the caring Lord we love so much! They probably taught him at least a little about patience as well. 😂
I have sisters too! Two of them!
Jeannette is almost fifteen years older than me. I never remember living in the same home with her - although I'm sure I did for at least a couple of years. She married (my late brother-in-law, Bob Liberty) Lib right after graduating from high school, so he was always part of my life, too.
Jeannette (of the four of us) seems to have taken more of our maternal side - the Waltons. She has the looks and humor of my mom and aunts (Goldie and Sylvia). Along with that side she has also always been high-strung and nervous.
I've seen her laugh - LOTS; and I've seen her cry. She is a passionate person! Early in my life she had two sons: Tom and Bob. I was an uncle before I was five! They are awesome men and were each amazing sportsmen (Lib made sure of that!). 😉 They were both written up in the local papers repeatedly when they played high school football.
Tom went on to become a teacher and coach and has garnered a lot of respect from his students and peers. Bob developed business interests when he was young and has expanded that into a significant enterprise today. I love these guys and their wives and children and grandchildren! Proud to call them FAMILY.
Jeannette was constant motion all her life! When I was growing up (in New Brighton), she would flit into our Brighton Heights home and back out again several times a week. She dearly loved our parents and would stop by frequently to check in - usually with the boys in tow. We often visited her home as well (Beaver Falls and then Chippewa).
Jeannette is in a nursing care facility today and is struggling with dementia. Most of the time she knows us, but her short term memory is 'short term'. But she's always sweet! Her boys take good care of her - in spite of the terrible limitations due to Covid-19.
Jeannette will be most remembered for the absolutely hilarious stories that have come from her life! Many of these stories involved Lib and our cousin, Olive (Aunt Sylvia's daughter). I'll just tell one for your enjoyment today:
This story took place in late August of 1961, when my brother, Ira, was about to be married to Joyce Twitchell in Willow Grove, PA (near Philadelphia).
Of course, our family all made the pilgrimage to Willow Grove for the wedding. Lib, Jeannette, the babies, and Olive started out and made it part way across the state before having a breakdown.
Things pretty quickly deteriorated as they pondered what to do. Ultimately, Jeannette and Olive grabbed their bags as she said over-her-shoulder, "I'm not missing my brother's wedding!"
They flagged down a Greyhound bus and boarded it (just picture that!) - leaving Lib sitting along the turnpike with a broken down car and two babies!
They made it to the wedding! And somehow, Lib managed to get himself, the car and the boys home! All ended well - I guess!These kind of stories abound. When we get together and start sharing them, we end up wiping the tears from our eyes from so much laughter!
Jeannette has been a blessing to me through the years! Our growing family enjoyed swimming in their pool! She's been generous with me in many ways! We had lots of nice times with them at their vacation home in Pymatuning! She was a major care-giver to our Dad during the last year or two of his life!
Thank You, Lord, for putting Jeannette in my life!
I also have Beverly in my life! She's seven years older than me and I do remember living with her. In those days, we didn't get along so well - I was the pesky, miserable younger brother! 🤣
When I was eleven (or so), she left home and used our brother, Ira, as a launching pad for her adult life. She held a number of jobs in the Rochester, NY area. My favorite was when she worked for a tie factory - I got lots of really nice ties during that period. 😃👔
She renewed a friendship with her childhood friend, Nancy, and they both settled in that area. Bev eventually met Dick and they married. I dropped the needle on a song during their wedding in our folk's living room in December of 1967. I liked Dick because he drove a cool, blue Mustang! He was an amazing roller skater and has a laugh that everyone enjoys. He worked for many years as a meat-cutter and then worked for Dupont until his retirement! I remember eating lots of good meat at their house - and his home-made spaghetti sauce is to die for!!!!! 😍 Heather was born in the spring of 1973.
When I attended college in North Chili, NY, they often welcomed me for dinner and game nights. Sometimes I brought friends with me. Debbie and I were dating then, so we also spent some great times in their apartment. I used to call them in the middle of the night while I was doing 'nightwatch' - just to harass them! Dick would just hang up on me!
Dick had been previously married and had a son, Scott (born in 1964). He eventually came to live with them. He was an amazing kid! He would stand beside me in my '63 Chevy and tell me exactly how to get where I wanted to go! Scott grew up to be a video-gamer and that led to his career in computers.
As our family grew, we often camped in their back yard -sometimes for a whole week! We would swim in their pool and eat their food! Bev took us to the Rochester zoo several times! It was a cheap vacation for the poor preacher and his family!
Most of all, Beverly's impact has been spiritual. She takes most after our Mom! She is a godly woman with a deep prayer life! If you know her, she's one of the first to respond to Facebook friends who ask for prayer. She's my number one prayer partner (after Debbie). I have absolute trust and confidence in her.
I hope Jesus was as blessed as I've been with good sisters! They've made a big difference in my life and I thank God for them!
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