June 28, 2008

 French writer Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) wrote: 

“He who does not live in some degree for others, hardly lives for himself.”

When we live for others we figuratively come out of our shell and begin to live.  Life begins to take on a new meaning, and the brilliance of life begins to come into view. 

Since our mission is to Be Christ in the world by sharing God’s love and serving others.  We are taking some children and adults to Louisiana this coming week to live for other people.  The experience should allow God’s love to enfold each person who serves as well as each person who is served.

Since I will be in Louisiana next week I’m not sure about internet access.  If I have access I will journal our days.  If no access is available I will post next week.

Peace

Jim

June 27, 2008

Its been a hectic week but God has been good.  I’ve seen him at work in the lives of several people who have been ‘rowing against the wind’, and that helps me to stay focused on him as well.

Just as we look for God in all the frustrations we encounter, also look for God in the joyful things we encounter.  I said that I’ve seen God in the lives of people who were struggling this week but I’ve also seen God in the smiles and the laughter of people this week.  And the interesting thing is that some of the people I’ve seen smiling and laughing are the same people who were struggling.

Think about that…

Peace and laughter

Jim

June 26, 2008

There is a lake in Ohio named Grand Lake St. Marys.  It is not a very large lake, by Tennessee standards, and it is fairly shallow.  I’ve been told that its not more than eight feet deep anywhere in the lake.  The lake was hand dug with scoops and horses many years ago to feed water into the Erie Canal.  Today it is a recreational lake.

I used to live some 20 miles from this lake, and my father described it well when he came to visit us.  My father used to say that we lived close to “The Troubled Water.”  He said that because it seemed that the lake was always choppy with white caps, and sometimes it was so rough that small boats dare not set out.  The reason the lake was so rough was that it was shallow and there was almost always, it seemed, a wind blowing.  Put shallow water together with the wind and there is a recipe for danger.

I read this morning in Matthew 14 about Jesus’ disciples out on the lake at night caught in a storm.  The wind and the waves were beating on them and they were terrified.  When I read that I immediately thought about the “troubled water” in Ohio.  And I thought about how even a strong faith is sometimes challenged when the winds and the waves begin to beat down.  And I thought about how a lack of faith hardly stands a chance against the storms that we will surely face.

What we all need to understand is that “troubled water” will come upon us, and the only way we can deal with that is through our connection with Jesus.  Without a connection with Jesus we are left to the wind and the waves.  But with Jesus, Jesus provides a way to navigate into calmer water.

Peace

Jim

 

June 25, 2008

Yesterday was a busy, hectic, emotional day (Today promises to be about the same).  But the day was topped off with Bible School.  Bible School was the highlight of my day.

I had nine kids in my class last night, and their ages were 12 to 15.  We talked about kindness.  And as my day came to a close with that conversation, what I found was that Jesus was present in the midst of everything I encountered.  But Jesus was especially present in the personalities of the kids.

Peace

Jim

June 24, 2008

Jesus does come to us through the storms people face.  And its true that he is often most visible and most welcome during those times.  But Jesus is there at other times as well, we just aren’t always on the lookout.

Jesus often spent time looking for the presence of the Father.  He was seeking what he needed to be able to stand all the pressure that would be coming his way.  On a couple of occasions Jesus fed thousands of people but then he had to go and feed himself, not with food for his body but with food for his soul.  Jesus needed time alone with God to pray and seek God’s presence.

I often need to remember that.  Sometimes there is so much noise, so much gloom, so many people face so many problems, and if not for the time spent seeking food for the soul there is no way that any of us could find Jesus in the storms.

Peace

Jim

June 23, 2008

James Moore says was speaking on Jesus’ disciples who were caught in a storm on the lake one dark night.  They were scared to death, and afraid for their lives. Then they saw Jesus walking on the water.  Moore says, ”Isn’t it fascinating that the presence of Christ is often most visible and most welcome when we are caught in a storm of rowing against the wind?”

I sat in the home of some friends last night, some friends who were in effect rowing against the wind.  Death had finally brought victory, and this family was feeling the presence of Christ.

Peace

Jim

When I think about the attitude of ownership within the Christian faith, two words come to mind: stewardship and responsibility.  When we have the attitude of ownership within the church, we become stewards of the church and become responsible for the well-being of our fellow believers. 

Our faith is rooted in love, forgiveness, the attitude of ownership, and sharing that ownership with others so that they may learn the importance of stewardship and responsibility in the church.  If we do this, the Christian faith will continue to grow and thrive.  By being good stewards of ourself and others, we Christians can continue to make a difference in the world by claiming ownership and thus becoming stewards of our faith.

June 20, 2008

The attitude of ownership creates commitment.

James Moore used the analogy Jesus gave of the sheep in the sheep pen.  When the wolf came the hired hand ran away for fear of his life.  But the owner of the sheep protected them, would even give his life for the sheep.  That’s what ownership does, it creates commitment to and for something.

When we take ownership in the church, we become committed to the church, and to the mission of the church.

Peace

Jim

June 19, 2008

The attitude of ownership in something creates a love for that something.  Its the kind of love we have for our families.  Ownership draws us toward each other with a love that crosses boundaries.  That says so much when you think about it.  Ownership in the church causes us to reach accross economical and social barriers (at least it should cause us to do that) with a hand of fellowship to any others that come within our reach.

Love reaches out, and ownership produces love.

Peace

Jim

June 18, 2008

The attitude of ownership means responsibility.  When we take ownership in something we are responsible for its well being.  That means that when we take ownership in the church we do our best to help the church succeed.  That can mean a lot of things.  It means care for the building and church property, care for the lives of our people, promoting the mission, To be Christ in the world by sharing God’s love and serving others,  and making disciples of Jesus Christ.  And, taking ownership in the church means a responsibility to help other people take ownership in the church.

 All of that is a big responsibility, but once we take the responsibility God seems to give us what we need to do the job.  If you haven’t taken ownership of the church yet, try it, you’ll like it.

Peace

Jim