GIVE YOUR PROBLEMS TO THE LORD

We all have problems that plague us – some worse than others. Ignoring them or pretending they don’t exist won’t make them go away. If we give those problems to the Lord, it allows us to put them in perspective. Your problems won’t necessarily go away, but praying to God about them will certainly make those problem seem far less significant. One day an elderly man entered into a hospital. He was grumpy from being on medication and the nurses thought him to be insane, as he yelled for his wife to get the apple basket. By the time they had checked him into his room the nurses were exhausted from the fight he was putting up. “Sir you have to calm down we are doing everything we can for you” they would try to explain. “I don’t need your help” the grumpy man would yell “I want my apple basket”. He finally slept. The nurses sighed with relief and talked among themselves whether they should call the hospital psychologist about the old man and his obsession with the apple basket. As they talked and laughed about the situation the wife came in carrying the basket of apples. They looked kind of stunned as she asked if she could see her husband and deliver his basket. Sure, they agreed as they watched her slip past into his room. Curiosity consumed them over the next few weeks as they tended to the elderly man. He was eaten with cancer and the doctors had given him no hope of survival. He turned out to be a very calm, happy man once he had his basket. His wife, they noticed, would come in with apples and go out with apples and the curiosity grew even more till one nurse couldn’t stand the suspense. One night as he was nearing the end, the nurse sat down in a chair by the wife.” May I ask why do you have that apple basket? I just don’t understand the significance.” “I am an apple farmer by trade he sighed. From the time I was 20 till the day I do die I will forever have my apples.” The nurse nodded thinking she understood. He just likes his work, she thought, assured now he was a little bit crazy. As she started to leave, the old man asked her to sit down. “At age 20 I was saved, I accepted the Lord as my Savior.” Oh no, the nurse thought. Here comes the lecture on religion. The old man continued. “The day I accepted the Lord as my Savior I got this basket, and each time I had a problem or concern that I could not handle, I put an apple in the basket un-shined.” “Why?” the nurse said shaking her head. “Because it reminded me to give those problems to the Lord for him to shine. See my basket now, he stated. As my problems disappear so do the apples. As I get new problems, ones I cannot handle alone, I put an apple in.” The humble nurse looked into the basket…only one apple was there. With that, he took a big breath and grabbed his wife by the hand and faded into eternal sleep. The wife paused for a moment and got up from her place to take from the basket the last remaining apple. She whispered in his ear that his reward awaits him in heaven. The nurse stayed still and asked with tears in her eyes, “what do you think his riches will be?” The wife knew what they were, eternal life with Jesus Christ. But she could see the concern and sadness upon the young nurses’ face and handed her the apple and said “the biggest apple pie you can imagine!” That was the day the young nurse was saved, and from that day on she always had a basket by her bed. - Author Unknown http://jesus-loves-you.org/?p=2248

EVIL CANNOT EXIST WITHOUT GOOD

“Good can exist without evil, whereas evil cannot exist without good…” – Thomas Aquinas The deepest human desire is for happiness. But it seems, more often than not, that that dream is an illusive one. The fact of the matter, and this is something that Christians know by experience and by reason, is that happiness is meaningless without a knowledge of the good and a habitual commitment to live in accord with it. The world, though, often militates against the good. In a post-modern, relativistic and agnostic age, like the one we live in, the good, it is said, no longer has a common meaning. Rather, it is argued that “the good” is determined by each individual’s private ego. Because of this, the concept of evil is no longer clear, indeed, it often wears the disguise of the good. Christians, believe that there is such a thing as absolute moral good, because we know God and the truth that God is the one and only source of the good. We know that the Kingdom of God is where we belong, and that it is the only thing in all of eternity that is completely, absolutely free from suffering. No tears exist there, precisely because good can exist without evil. But Christians also know that our present existence is fallen and that we live in the midst of suffering as a result. Yet we also know, through the light of faith and the power of human reason, through the reality of experience, and through the truth of scripture, and the life, death and resurrection of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, that there is such a thing as the identifiable, universal good. We know this also because of what defies it, hates it, and opposes it—-identifiable evil. Evil exists and can be identified precisely because it is in opposition with the good. It cannot exist without good. Why is that? Because evil finds its existence only in competition. It’s desire is to be at war with the good. It’s desire is to defeat the good. The great irony is that it’s power is limited and delusional. In the end it cannot win. It is always shown for what it is when good makes itself known in the minds and hearts of men and women. Satan, for all of his rage against God, for all of his desire to be equal to God, is finally a fool, and ultimately a loser. Evil is recognized clearly for what it is precisely because there is such a thing as the Good. The Good is the mirror in which evil is revealed and reflected back upon itself. Jesus conquered the arrogant, yet utterly finite reality of evil when he died for all of us on the Cross. Only Jesus could have borne all the weight of our sin on his shoulders. Only Jesus could forgive all sin with the infinite power of love. Only Jesus could erase sin’s efforts to separate us from the love of God. Jesus opened the gates of Paradise to us again, because of his infinite love for each and every one of us. Evil, on the other hand, because it knows deep down that it is foolish, is desperate to gather others around it in order to relieve its own foolishness and to declare some kind of “meaning.” Good needs nothing beyond itself. It exists for its own sake. It exists because it is of God, the eternal, Ground of Being in which goodness and love finds its existence and meaning. Evil cannot exist without the contrast of the good. Evil can only exist in this world, where it constantly disguises itself as “good.” It knows that it will never be attractive unless it can “appear” to be good. Good needs no disguise. It simply is what it is. Evil, on the other hand, cannot exist without the disguise of the good. It needs to “appear” to be good, in order to compete with what is really good. Evil will have no existence in the Kingdom of God. It won’t even be remembered. Why? Because “good can exist without evil” Human beings, in light of the conscience written into the depths of their hearts, minds and souls, know and desire the good. Christians know this personally, yet, we also know how weak we are and how attractive evil can make itself look. But because we know the good, we also can recognize evil’s disguises. Because we know the infinitely good God, personally and intimately, we can hope for, and believe in, the goodness of the Life Eternal in Paradise. Thanks be to God! Dan Doyle is a retired professor of English and Humanities. He taught 13 years at the high school level and 22 years at the university level. He spends his time now babysitting his granddaughter. He is a poet and a blogger as well. Dan holds an AA degree in English Literature, a BA in Comparative Literature, and an MA in Theology. To read more of Dan’s work, click here. http://jesus-loves-you.org/?p=8085

CHEWING IT OVER

By Chana Kroll It's one of those things that men will simply never get. Why do I have more energy after spending an hour cleaning out the various junk drawers in my house? Why would anyone feel euphoric just because they can see where the floor in their kids' room is, rather than making the educated guess that it must be somewhere at the bottom of all those toys? And even if the sight of a clean room makes you smile, why does it make us feel better - lighter even - when we're standing in a different room entirely, on the other end of the house? They might prefer to chalk it up to insanity, or to simply being one of those girl things, but I prefer to attribute it to spiritual sensitivity. In this week's Torah portion, we read the statement, "When G‑d your G‑d shall broaden your borders, as He has promised you, and you will say, I shall eat meat, for your soul shall desire to eat meat, you may eat meat to your souls' desire." (Deuteronomy, 12:20) Rabbi Akiva, one of the foremost scholars and leaders of the Talmudic era, commented that the verse "when G‑d will broaden your boundary" teaches that one should only desire to eat meat in a state of wealth and affluence. At first glance, it seems to be saying that a poor person eating meat would be ostentatious behavior. Yet, a seemingly contradictory opinion, that of the sage Rabbi Yishmael, is cited together with this one in the classic commentary written by Rashi: "will broaden your boundary" refers to the Jewish nation entering the Land of Israel. The fact that they are cited together, in one commentary, without qualification or resolution, seems to suggest that the real meaning of these two statements somehow explain rather than contradict one another. The primary wealth of the Jewish people is not material wealth, but our spiritual inheritance - the one possession that has never been nor can be, stolen from us – even temporarily - no matter how many times we've been exiled. When read as spiritual affluence, Rabbi Akiva's statement is explained and made personally relevant to every Jew by Rabbi Yishmael's commentary. In the desert, Jews lived a purely spiritual existence. So removed were we from the material world that even the food we ate (the manna) was entirely absorbed into spirituality. There was no physical waste from the manna because there was no part of the food which could not be elevated – so every last molecule of it was absorbed into our bodies, to be utilized as fuel for our spiritual endeavors. In the desert, all of our endeavors were spiritual; we were free from any need to work. The only household chore required of us was to gather the manna. Our entrance into the Land of Israel was a sudden entry into a world of wars and diplomacy, of settling the Land, of tilling the soil and having to grow and harvest our own food, of having to work with and within the material world. It should have come as a numbing shock. It should have caused a disastrous descent into empty materialism. In fact, such a result is what ten of the twelve spies who came into the Land in the days of Moses were afraid of. This is why they spoke so negatively about the Land that the people wept over the idea of entering it. But their fears were misguided. No only did we not descend into crass materialism upon entering the Land, we were able to elevate the material world to a much greater extent than when we were in the desert. "When G‑d, your G‑d, will broaden your boundary" is actually a reference to the tremendous spiritual abundance we were blessed with when we entered the Land for the first time, a spiritual abundance each of us still possess, however buried it may sometimes feel. With this new wealth, the boundaries of what we could and could not elevate and refine in this world were broadened. One proof for this is in the statement which follows: that we could eat meat according to our heart's desire. In the desert, we were only capable of fully elevating meat if it was from an animal which had been sacrificed in the Tabernacle (some offerings had "leftover" parts designated for our consumption). But in the spiritual and material existence we entered when we came into the Land, we could elevate even ordinary meat, meat from an animal which had not been sacrificed. In other words, in the desert, when our involvement with this world was very limited, we were capable of elevating the world in a limited way. For example, if Jews did eat ordinary meat in the desert, it was not entirely transferred to holiness. But today, each one of us can affect such an elevation. The key is making time each day to enter the Land, and experience again the broadening of our own inner boundaries. When we engage in explicitly spiritual acts such as prayer, studying Torah, helping someone else, or meditating on our relationship with G‑d and all that He does for us - we enter the spiritual parallel of the Land of Israel. Punctuating our day with these experiences renews our own ability to lift up even some of the "heavier" components of the world around us. As we read further in the Torah portion which repeats the criteria of kosher animals, we discover yet another dimension to understanding our ideal relationship with materiality. "These are the animals that you may eat: every animal that has a split hoof, that is separated with a split into two hooves, that brings up its cud among animals - it you may eat." (Deuteronomy 14:4-6) According to Chassidut, one of the many lessons - perhaps reasons - attached to keeping kosher is related to the spiritual effects of eating certain types of animals. These effects are reflected in the physical form, as well as behavior patterns, of the various animals and birds in existence. We are told specifically to eat only those animals which have split hooves and chew their cud. A hoof, in Hebrew, is called parsah, which can also mean curtain or separation. An animal, when it stands on its hoof, is separate from the earth he is standing on. When the hoof is fully split, some exposure to the earth is maintained. This teaches us an important lesson about our relationship with materiality. Just as an animal with a split hoof retains a channel through which it is connected with the earth, we're not meant to seal ourselves off from this world, but rather to stay involved, while simultaneously being elevated above it. From that vantage point, we can take the time to "chew our cud," to mull over which things we need to work with or partake of, and which we need to simply leave alone. In doing so, we take control of the material world. We take what is meant for us to take and what we are capable of elevating - and the more we grow spiritually, the more (kosher) possessions we can carry. One of the reasons why giving charity generously is often a vessel for business growth is that the deed itself lifts us - and our possessions - to a level where more wealth can be carried without leaving us tired, or leaving the wealth itself trapped in a purely material existence. Instead, we put the material world to service for us and do not become slaves to it. Yet, it isn't just in the pursuit of material belongings that we have to balance. According to classic works on ethics - an orderly home puts the mind and soul at rest (so if your husband questions your emotional reaction to having an organized closet, tell him there's a source for it in Torah). Sorting through mounds of our belongings, tossing the genuine garbage, and organizing what is left, is one of many ways of chewing the cud of our corner of the physical world. It's not that Torah advocates asceticism - but it's a matter of not allowing ourselves to be overwhelmed by what we have nor by what we want. As we sort through things, mulling over their potential uses, and deciding where things best fit, we create an environment where the things we have are serving something larger - us and our families. Which leaves us just a little bit freer to pursue things higher than where we now stand. BY CHANA KROLL Chana Kroll is an alumna of Machon Chana Yeshiva for Women in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Prior to moving to New York, she taught at a boarding school/shelter for runaways and young people whose families were homeless. More articles by Chana Kroll | RSS http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/545126/jewish/Chewing-It-Over.htm

THE BLESSING OF THORNS

Sandra felt as low as the heels of her shoes as she pushed against a November gust and the florist shop door. Her life had been easy, like a spring breeze. Then in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a minor automobile accident stole her ease. During this Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son. She grieved over her loss. As if that weren't enough, her husband's company threatened a transfer. Then her sister, whose annual holiday visit she coveted, called saying she could not come. What's worse, Sandra's friend infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer. "She has no idea what I'm feeling," thought Sandra with a shudder. "Thanksgiving? Thankful for what?" she wondered aloud. For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life but took that of her child? "Good afternoon, can I help you?" The shop clerk's approach startled her. "I...I need an arrangement," stammered Sandra, "for Thanksgiving?" "Do you want beautiful but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the day with a customer favorite I call the Thanksgiving Special?" asked the shop clerk. "I'm convinced that flowers tell stories," she continued. "Are you looking for something that conveys gratitude this Thanksgiving? "Not exactly!" Sandra blurted out. "In the last five months, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. " Sandra regretted her outburst, and was surprised when the shop clerk said, "I have the perfect arrangement for you." Then the door's small bell rang, and the shop clerk said, "Hi Barbara...let me get your order." She politely excused herself and walked toward a small workroom, then quickly reappeared, carrying an arrangement of greenery, bows, and long-stemmed thorny roses. Except the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped...there were no flowers. "Want this in a box?" asked the clerk. Sandra watched for the customer's response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems with no flowers!?! She waited for laughter, but neither woman laughed. "Yes, please." Barbara replied with an appreciative smile. "You'd think after three years of getting the special, I wouldn't be so moved by its significance, but I can feel it right here, all over again," she said as she gently tapped her chest. "Uh," stammered Sandra, "that lady just left with, uh... she just left with no flowers!" "Right...I cut off the flowers. That's the Special... I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet. "Oh, come on, you can't tell me someone is willing to pay for that?" exclaimed Sandra. "Barbara came into the shop three years ago feeling very much like you feel today," explained the clerk. "She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing, her son was into drugs, and she was facing major surgery." "That same year I had lost my husband, "continued the clerk," and for the first time in my life, I had to spend the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow any travel. "So what did you do?" asked Sandra. "I learned to be thankful for thorns," answered the clerk quietly. "I've always thanked God for good things in life and never thought to ask Him why those good things happened to me, but when bad stuff hit, did I ever ask! It took time for me to learn that dark times are important. I always enjoyed the 'flowers' of life, but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort. You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others." Sandra sucked in her breath as she thought about the very thing her friend had tried to tell her. "I guess the truth is I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God." Just then someone else walked in the shop. "Hey, Phil!" shouted the clerk to the balding, rotund man. "My wife sent me in to get our usual Thanksgiving arrangement... twelve thorny, long-stemmed stems!" laughed Phil as the clerk handed him a tissue-wrapped arrangement from the refrigerator. "Those are for your wife?" asked Sandra incredulously. "Do you mind me asking why she wants something that looks like that? "No...I'm glad you asked," Phil replied. "Four years ago my wife and I nearly divorced. After forty years, we were in a real mess, but with the Lord's grace and guidance, we slogged through problem after problem. He rescued our marriage. Jenny here (the clerk) told me she kept a vase of rose stems to remind her of what she learned from "thorny" times, and that was good enough for me. I took home some of those stems. My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific "problem" and give thanks to Him for what that problem taught us." As Phil paid the clerk, he said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the Special!" "I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life." Sandra said to the clerk. "It's all too... fresh." "Well," the clerk replied carefully, "my experience has shown me that thorns make roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember, it was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore so we might know His love. Don't resent the thorns." Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident, she loosened her grip on resentment. "I'll take those twelve long-stemmed thorns, please," she managed to choke out. "I hoped you would," said the clerk gently. "I'll have them ready in a minute." "Thank you. What do I owe you?" asked Sandra. "Nothing." said the clerk. "Nothing but a promise to allow God to heal your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on me." The clerk smiled and handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach this card to your arrangement, but maybe you'd like to read it first." It read: "Dear God, I have never thanked you for my thorns. I have thanked you a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear; teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed closer to you along the path of pain. Show me that, through my tears, the colors of your rainbow look much more brilliant." ============================ Stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead, tell your storm how big your God is. MIKEYSFUNNIES.COM

AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE CONFIRMED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

Romans 4:3a [Paul writing:] What does the Scripture say? In our passage today, Paul's question provides the right direction for all of us who seek answers: "What does the Scripture say?" Let me affirm some basics about Scripture: 1. The Bible is God's Word to us. (2 Timothy 3:16-17: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.") 2. The Holy Spirit is our personal teacher. (John 14:26: "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.") 3. The Holy Spirit honors and uses God's Word to us. (1 Thessalonians 1:6b: "...you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.) 4. The Scriptures are our source of authority -- for faith and practice. (Psalms 19:9,11: "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.") We cannot depend solely on traditions, our experience, or the experience of others to be accurate authorities of God's will and ways. Experience and tradition must always be tested against the backdrop of Scripture. As Christians, the Holy Spirit is at work in us -- confirming in our own hearts the truth of Scripture. Therefore, whenever a teacher or pastor presents what they consider to be a Biblical principle we can depend on the Holy Spirit to validate if what is being taught comes from God. (John 7:17: "If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.") Paul poses the question in our passage today: "What does Scripture say?" My immediate response is to open and read my Bible. What is your response? Is it simply to listen to the teacher's opinion? We must always be on guard -- Scripture can sometimes be twisted to fit a teacher's intent or purpose (not that Paul is doing so). That is how cults are started and evil is done in the name of the Lord. Our best response is to always read Scripture in its full context while allowing the Holy Spirit to instruct, confirm or correct. POCKETPOWER.ORG

THE HOLY PALATE

By Aviva Bogart Recently, I have dared to venture into the enigmatic and internal landscape of mindfulness meditation. During my first class, starting with a raisin in my hand, I was asked to describe the raisin. I noticed its flaccidity, its translucency when held up to light, and the slight crinkling it made when I put it to my ear. Then I was asked to close my eyes and, as if in slow motion, raise it to my mouth. As it got closer, I was asked to notice the anticipation of how it might feel. When I made the blessing and it touched my lips, I experienced an electric surge of emotion, a swelling inside. As it rolled around in my mouth and I finally took my first bite, I was astonished by how rich and sweet it tasted. One raisin and I was sold. Just talk to me and supply endless amounts of raisins (of which previously I wasn’t overly fond), and I will be as compliant as your star worker bee. Is it that accessible to conjure feelings of pleasure? Gently leading my mind back to the raisin in my mouth, I was asked to notice the initial urge to swallow immediately, but not to give in to that urge till I felt ready. As I swallowed, I was aware of the raisin traveling down my throat, and I traveled with it. As I opened my eyes and observed the rest of the group, I wondered if everyone had felt similar sensations of connection with a raisin, which got me thinking whether perhaps the extraordinary brilliance of Chassidut has finally rippled out and trickled down into my ordinary life. Let me explain: For too long, the Jewish ideal has been thought of as one that typically abstains from indulging in physical delights. Ironically, when the Tanya, the foundational work of chassidic philosophy, brings an example of a man who has never derived enjoyment from this world all his life, it mentions none other than Rabbi Yehudah HaNassi. This is a man who, at the time of his demise, said that he had had no enjoyment of this world, even to the extent of his “small finger.” According to the Talmud(Avodah Zarah 10a–b), Rabbi Yehudah HaNassi was one of the most affluent men of his times, and was greatly revered in Rome. He had a close friendship with the emperor Antoninus Pius, who would consult Rabbi Yehudah on various worldly and spiritual matters. He was a key leader of the Jewish community ofJudea toward the end of the second century, and was the chief redactor and editor of the Mishnah. The Tanya does not mention someone of standard income, or even someone less fortunate. The paramount embodiment of abstemiousness is a man to whose table there was brought food from every continent, in every season, without even a moment of financial stress, someone whose life was heavily accented by the opulence of the world. We can interpret this on a simplistic level, as Rabbi Yehuda HaNassi was clearly a righteous person in his generation, and the physical joy of a righteous person not only pales in comparison to their spiritual joy, but rescinds it completely. We can also look deeper as to why the paradigm of Rabbi Yehuda HaNassi has been given to us. To me, a woman who considers herself a connoisseur of the senses, this information came as a breath of fresh air. The more I learn chassidic philosophy, the more I appreciate this world for its abundance of raw materials begging for elevation. As G‑d is essentially beyond natural order, it follows that our ability to elevate materiality into spirituality is what enables us to become, as a wonderful teacher of mine so succinctly put it, G‑d’s “poster child.” Literally, we stand for the ability to go beyond ourselves. In consonance with some of the most intriguing paradoxes, I find using physicality as the key component in going beyond ourselves, to be fascinating. It’s almost like G‑d telling us, “Here, I am giving you earthly delights like you have never experienced before. Please, please, smell, taste, touch, hear and feel. Really see what is before you. Dare to encounter the palate of life.” In compensation, He asks us one thing: to be conscious of where the flavors originate. Yet it seems the most unfeasible of tasks, to stop and be present, when life compels us to always have an errand at hand. If we don’t have our own plan, we will inevitably be thrown with abandon into another’s without a moment’s hesitation. Who wants to be part of someone else’s plan, someone else’s dream? As a strong believer of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction meditation, I may have very divinely “stumbled” upon how to approach this material vs. ethereal struggle. I think the solution to elevating life lies in a box of raisins. It lies in being fully present and noticing the tiny nuances that take place in every “bite” of our lives. Chassidic philosophy teaches that not even a blade of grass sways in the wind without G‑d’s knowledge and His will pronouncing that particular blade into being. If I contemplate how every grain that makes it to my mouth exists in order for me to thank my Creator for it, how could I not slow down for that one moment before I do eat it? Something that is surely more satisfying than having my own plan, and that is unequivocally more satisfying than being part of someone else’s, is being part of His plan. Metaphorically speaking, by extending ourselves we become a pen for G‑d to write with, a vehicle for Him to harness and a cup for Him to fill. In surrendering ourselves, we actually achieve significance, as we say in prayer, “My L‑rd, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your praise.” We are not praying, we are simply allowing our bodies to be a receptacle for prayer. I feel so fortunate. I feel as if I have discovered the underpinnings of humanity. Is it that simple? For now, I have made a salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, red peppers, avocado, beets, sprouts and toasted walnuts, splashed it upon a canvas of green and purple lettuce, and dressed it with fresh lemon, herbs picked from my neighbor’s garden, and a spoonful of extra-virgin olive oil. I plan on losing myself in the variety of flavors. Pair this with the subtle undertones of G‑d’s intelligence, care and compassion, and you’ve got yourself a feast. BY AVIVA BOGART Aviva Bogart, originally from Sharon, Massachusetts, is currently studying in Mayanot Institute for Women in Jerusalem and plans to continue pursuing a degree in psychology when she returns to America. More articles by Bogart, Aviva | RSS http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/1551575/jewish/The-Holy-Palate.htm

THANKSGIVING: REKINDLING THE GRATITUDE

John MacArthur, Grace to You To help stimulate a kind of deeper gratitude, my family has adopted a Thanksgiving tradition we've found extremely helpful. Each year after our Thanksgiving meal we gather in our living room and simply recite the blessings of God that have touched our lives. One by one we circle the room, each one of us expressing our gratitude to God for His many physical and spiritual blessings. Allow me to share with you just five blessings that deeply touch me every year and prompt me to thank God. Perhaps it'll catch and you'll be able to rekindle your gratitude! You're Saved and You Know It No work of God's is more beyond my comprehension yet closer to my heart and more worthy of gratitude than salvation. Before coming to know Christ, each of us lived in a self-imposed prison. Guilty, condemned, spiritually blind and with no means to pay our debt, our destiny was one of eternal separation from God. But Christ not only rescued us from the power and penalty of our sins, He also lifted us to a place of blessing. He delivered us from punishment and brought glory. He took away the threat of hell and gave us the hope of heaven. He dismissed us from divine wrath and brought us a divine benediction. One hymn writer put that unfathomable transaction like this: In wonder lost, with trembling joy, We take the pardon of our God; Pardon for crimes of deepest dye, A pardon bought with Jesus' blood, Who is a pard'ning God like Thee? Or who has grace so rich and free? We sing of salvation. We talk of salvation. Salvation is the essence of Christianity. Thanking God for saving us should be the unceasing occupation of our lips — only a stone-cold heart could offer anything less. The Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth Watch a half hour of news and tell me if the word chaos doesn't come to mind. The world is gripped by it. Conflict abounds as religious, philosophical, and political systems collide. Moral, social and economic problems proliferate but solutions are scarce. The political process is drifting rudderless on a sea of confusion. Life is all questions and no answers. There is no concrete guideline or standard by which to judge good and bad, right and wrong. The suppression of truth exacts a tremendous price. But thanks to God, you and I have an eternal, objective, incontestable, irrevocable standard we can depend on for all matters of life. From the truth of Scripture we can understand the ebb and flow of life better than all the educators, philosophers, politicians and social pundits combined. God's Word offers us a window on the real issues people battle. We know how to be good employees, to love our spouses, to raise our families, to truly love our neighbors. Meaning in life is not a question, it's a fact. I thank God for revealing His truth to us and for allowing me the privilege of studying and teaching it. Life's Storms Perhaps the most difficult time to be thankful is when we're in the midst of a setback, a challenge or a trial. When the storm comes, giving thanks is rarely our first reaction. Being thankful for adversity is never easy, but it is always right. From experience I know the difficult times are the ones in which God seems to be most at work in our lives, strengthening our weak spots, comforting our hurts, and drawing us to greater dependence. Businessman John Marriott offered this perspective: "Good timber does not grow with ease; the stronger the wind, the stronger the trees." Let's not neglect to thank God for the strong winds He allows to blow our direction. ◄ Previous Page Next Page ► Page 1 Page 2 Whole Article http://www.christianity.com/christian-life/art-and-culture/thanksgiving-rekindling-the-gratitude-11559785.html?p=1

THANKSGIVING WHAT IT TELLS US ABOUT AMERICA, COMMUNITY, LONELINESS AND GOD

Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie Lecturer, writer, and President Emeritus, Union for Reform Judaism Thanksgiving tells us a lot about America, about our yearning for community and connection, about loneliness and about God. Loneliness destroys us in the same way that bullets and poverty destroy us. It eats away at our spiritual wellbeing. It eviscerates our sense of wholeness. In fact, loneliness kills. "O chevruta, o mituta," it says in the Talmud (Taanit 23a): Either companionship or death. And the other great religious traditions agree. No human being is capable of living an atomized life. We live by community; otherwise, we live badly, or not at all. But now the puzzle: Americans seem to be choosing to condemn themselves to the hell of loneliness. As David Brooks recently pointed out in the New York Times, the number of Americans who are living alone has risen from 9 percent in 1950 to 28 percent today. This latter number is shocking; that so many choose a solitary life is seemingly contrary to experience, instinct and good sense. There are a number of reasons why this is so. A major one is that advanced democratic societies are necessarily untidy and uncomfortable affairs that dissolve traditional bonds of family and community; and what is generally true is particularly the case in difficult economic times. Another reason is that technology isolates us, and not just in our leisure hours. For the first time in the modern era, many of us -- even if we are employed by large companies -- can use technology to do our work in isolation, and we are often encouraged to do so. And, of course, some of the founding myths of American culture -- the lone cowboy of the American west, taciturn and heroic -- romanticize the virtues of the independent, solitary hero. Stripped of community and companionship, Americans have created substitutes in order to cope. These replacement mechanisms may be unfulfilling, but they serve a purpose as we try to fill the void in our lives. Our obsession with celebrity, hardly a new phenomenon but one that has now reached unheard of dimensions, can perhaps be explained in this way. Lacking real relationships, we embrace pseudo-relationships with the rich, famous and beautiful, devouring every detail about them that the media can provide. And then, of course, we use Facebook and text messages to connect with hundreds of friends; these connections have positive dimensions to be sure, but a "friend" in this context is often no more than a passing acquaintance. But now the good news: Our innate desire to belong, rooted in the human condition, resists society's effort to isolate us. We fight back, sometimes without knowing it. Even in today's harsh climate, when so many of us drift without an anchor, we gravitate toward real-life, face-to-face, tactile communities and to family above all -- the fundamental unit of the human tribe. And never more so than at Thanksgiving. At Thanksgiving, Americans are on the move, finding their way back to parents and cousins and elderly aunts. We crave the comfort and familiarity of community, acknowledging, for a moment at least, that in the lonely dark of our homes and apartments, we feel defenseless against the beasts of modern life. Of course, once we get there, we confront the aggravations and pettiness that family and community bring. We groan at the jokes and stories too often told and the sibling rivalries still unresolved. Living alone may be impossible, but living together is not the easiest thing either. Still, on balance, we always find solace in the support that our extended families bring. What does this have to do with religion? Quite a bit, actually, and on Thanksgiving we all sense it. Even the most secular families are inclined to say some kind of a Thanksgiving prayer, acknowledging the holiness of our collective effort to hold each other up and provide for each other in times of need. Religion at its best affirms the ties of family and community, investing family celebrations with meaning and structuring family life with ritual and rules of conduct. Communities can exist without religion and God; but the most satisfying communities are those that draw on the traditions and ceremonies that religion provide. And religion at its best is not about bricks, budgets, or numbers, but about fostering sacred community among vulnerable human beings who yearn for connection. Thanksgiving has a special hold on us, and we should rejoice in its blessings. And we should remember what it teaches us: our deep and profound need for intimacy and belonging. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-eric-h-yoffie/what-thanksgiving-tells-us-about-america-community-loneliness-and-god_b_2167522.html LJG---I know it is after Thanksgiving but this is so beautifully said that I just had to post it.

THINE NOT MINE

God, please take this manifested hate. I have been admitting my faults, but what about those that surround me? I am by no means perfect or complete,but I know that you will never give up on me. Any wrath of anger is unjustifiable. Is it excused for a moment by the flaw of human emotion? To gain inner peace is a journey within itself. God, please grant Your will to exclude anger and bitterness from my life, and those that surround me. Opinions and false misconceptions alter one's thinking, allowing offense to come within words perceived by another. Is it any one's fault? No one cares to hear vicious anger, and others tend to close them out. Let no one speak for me, I will stake my own claim. I'm letting go of my anger and letting others rule their own. Even with patience, forgiveness is a never-ending struggle. God, please bind any acts of confrontation, keep me slow to speak. The condemnation of other's false accusations do nothing but call attention to their own self afflictions. Disappointment will still come to those trying to gain inner peace, because no matter how hard you may try you will still stumble while amongst others. It is like being in the ocean and trying not to get wet, Every one will affect each other, knowing or not, as long as the earth does turn. Feeble mindedness is not a choice that is self acknowledged. God, You have shown me mercy. Let me see through your eyes amongst fellow ind, because I am not trying to be proud. Any exploitations through honor or good deeds, comes only from you, God......... -PLEASE FORGIVE ME FATHER, LET THEY WILL BE DONE- Shelia Seroki-Grogan

SIX WAYS TO TEACH KIDS ABOUT SPIRITUALITY

Recently a number of friends have confided to me that they’d had “the talk” with their kids. No, not that talk. I mean the talk about spirituality: aboutG‑d, about the afterlife. About what it means to be human, and how each of us fits into the grand pattern of the universe. Often, “the talk” comes when we’re not ready. “Where did Grandpa go when he died?” a child might ask, or “If G‑d is good, why did Grandma get sick?” Many of us never hashed out own our thoughts about these issues, and find it difficult to help our kids work through them today. “Yet “the talk” is unavoidable (your kids are bound to bring up their spiritual thoughts with you), and when handled with sensitivity, can bring us all closer together. Here are six ways to get started. 1. Recognize Your Child’s Innate Feelings There is a beautiful Jewish story (Talmud, Niddah 30b): During the nine months a baby is in its mother’s womb, its neshamah, or soul, spends its time learning Torah. For nine entire months, each soul is completely immersed in G‑d, communing directly with its maker. Just before each baby is born, G‑d sends an angel, who reaches out and touches the baby’s mouth. With this touch, the baby forgets all the Torah it learned in the womb, and is ready to be born. Thus, each time we are exposed to teachings about G‑d and spirituality, we’re naturally drawn to them, as we already learned about them once, long before. Each one of us has a faint trace of a memory from those months of communing with our Creator. If you ask an adult, “Do you feel that G‑d loves you?” it’s likely they’ll roll their eyes; a question like this simply isn’t considered sophisticated in the modern world. Yet ask a child if G‑d loves them, and you’ll likely get an enthusiastic“Yes!” Children’s simplicity is often dismissed as naiveté these days, but in the Torah view it’s seen as proof of young people’s high level of spiritual awareness. 2. Lose the Cynicism One of the reasons kids are so much more eager to discuss spiritual matters is that they haven’t yet learned the cynicism of us adults. Being cynicism is a natural defense: it’s our way of guarding ourselves against disappointment. (I’d love to win the lottery—but I don’t think I will—so it’s tempting to be cynical: nobody ever wins, it’s a dumb way to spend one’s money, look at all the lottery winners you read about who say winning didn’t make them happy anyway . . . ) But this kind of pessimism is poisonous: it strangles hope, and makes us mock the very things we often, deep down, actually yearn for. When you feel yourself descending into skepticism, think of the biblical figureNoah, who built an ark and lived in it during the famous storm that lasted forty days and forty nights. The Torah recounts how G‑d commanded Noah to build a mammoth ark, and then to choose animals of every type to fill it with before the storm. In fact, Jewish tradition teaches that Noah spent 120 years constructing his massive ship, and that during that time the entire world mocked and made fun of Noah for his impossible-seeming task. Yet Noah never gave into embarrassment or cynicism. He withstood the gibes of all the peoples of the world, and never lost his innocent faith. Though he was reviled for so many years, Noah never stopped viewing the world as a place of promise, and his place in it as one of holiness and importance. In fact, the Torah comments on Noah’s purity: Noah is described as “righteous and wholehearted,” and it is said that “Noah walked with G‑d.” Unfortunately, this purity is easily lost in today’s more cynical world. One way to encourage our children to be spiritual is to discuss their concerns and questions seriously, without being dismissive or negative about their thoughts. 3. Be Grateful Get in the habit of pointing out your blessings, from big things, down to the things many of us take for granted, like electric lights or the fact that our car started this morning. Gratitude makes children (and adults!) more sensitive, and open to noticing G‑d’s blessings in their lives. 4. Admit You Don’t Know Everything A friend once told me that after a close relative died, her son asked her if the relative was in Heaven. “I broke it to him that there’s no Heaven,” my friend told me. “Then I told him that even though some people think so, there’s no such thing as…,” and she listed a litany of religious ideas and precepts. All I could think of was, “Really?” How do you know? I felt so bad for her son: here he was, in a vulnerable position, trying to make sense of his very confusing world. When our kids ask us difficult questions, sometimes the best thing we can do is admit we don’t know, and try to find answers together. 5. Explore Jewish Texts Together I went to Sunday school as a kid, and there my teachers answered my questions—all of them. There was nothing they didn’t have an easy answer to, and I grew up thinking there was one “right” answer to every question in Judaism. When I looked at traditional Jewish texts as an adult, however, I found people wrestling with the sorts of questions I wanted to explore. Three thousand years ago King David asked, “Why do you stand far off, O L‑rd? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalms 10:1). And the questions have never stopped coming. One way to encourage our children to grow spiritually is to study Jewish texts together. Each of us has the benefit of thousands of years of Jewish questioning and wisdom; setting a time to sit with our kids and read through some Jewish texts is a great way to tap into it. Plus, learning together brings us closer, as both parents and children watch each other wrestle with important ideas. The great Rabbi Joshua ben Perachiah advised each person to go out and find a teacher for themselves (Pirkei Avot 1:6). This might mean learning with a trusted rabbi or educator. With luck and time, parents and children can be each other’s teachers too, bringing the whole family closer together. 6. Seek G‑d Everywhere A truly spiritual person is one who is able to see the Divine everywhere. Encourage your children to turn to G‑d, to speak to Him. This can take the form of traditional Jewish prayers, or can be more free-form. Start reciting the Shema prayer (“Hear O Israel, the L‑rd our G‑d, the L‑rd is one”) with your kids at bedtime. Remember that there are divine sparks in other people too. The Torah teaches that every human being is created b’tzelem Elokim, in G‑d’s image. In Judaism, one of the highest ways to honor G‑d is to honor our fellow men. When we speak to each person gently, when we deal with others honestly, when we approach the world with optimism, we model spiritual behavior for our children. BY YVETTE MILLER Yvette Alt Miller, Ph.D. is a mother and adjunct professor of Political Science living in Chicago. She is the author of “Angels at the Table: A Practical Guide to Celebrating Shabbat” (Continuum 2011). More articles by Yvette Miller | RSS http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/1915106/jewish/Six-Ways-to-Teach-Kids-About-Spirituality.htm

JESUS TEACHES US THE ART OF PRAYER

JESUS TEACHES US THE ART OF PRAYER JESUS TEACHES US THE ART OF PRAYER Prayer Cabinet (Photo by Pastor Davis) The very first thing we must learn about prayer is simply this; prayer is personal. The second thing is,prayer is a form of art, and no one has taught this more skillfully than Jesus. With this being said, why do we not follow the art pattern that Jesus has established for us to learn how to pray in order that ourprayers will be answered? The answered is simple; we follow the pattern of the Pharisees rather than learning from and following the pattern of Jesus. For a believer, prayer should be second nature, almost like breathing. But sadly, in the lives of many believers, prayer is greatly lacking. Perhaps this is true because many times when we pray, it seems like nothing happens. This should lead us to reconsider our motives for prayer, “Jesus said, “When you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. They stand in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men.” The problem with the “religious” people of that day, the Pharisees, was that they prayed to impress others. On street corners and in the marketplace they could be seen lifting up their hands and praying in a very ostentatious manner. Others would walk by and think, “Look at that man of God. He loves God so much that he can’t even wait to get to the synagogue to pray.” What they didn’t realize was that the person praying was most likely thinking, “What a man of God I am. Everyone is looking at me. Everyone is impressed with my spirituality. I am so holy.” That type of prayer won’t be heard by God. A person so concerned with what others are thinking about him is too full of himself to be effective in his prayer. He is like the self-righteous Pharisee Jesus mentioned who “prayed thus with himself.” God won’t hear the prayer of a pride-filled person, for it is nothing less than sin, and the Bible tells us that if we regard iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not hear us. Make no mistake about it—spiritual pride is every bit as much a sin as lying or immorality, even though it is a more subtle one. We said from the very beginning that prayer is personal, and Jesus teaches us the art of prayer. Now all you have to do is listen up, because here’s what He wants you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread,[c] and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. The Lord’s Prayer (Our Father) – Worship Song [HQ] http://youtu.be/7m7ZV0XAMto Now we encourage you to follow Jesus Teachings on prayer and you will get your prayers answers. May God’s grace and mercy rest and abide in you now and forever, in Jesus name, Amen! PASTOR DAVIS/MASTER TEACHER http://vineandbranchworldministries.com/2012/09/10/jesus-teaches-us-the-art-of-prayer/ (Sorry, I couldn’t get the video picture to copy.)

A THANKSGIVING PRAYER GOD MIGHT RARELY HEAR

Cindi McMenamin, Author While we tend to look forward to Thanksgiving because it usually means a four-day holiday, getting together with family, and eating more food than we have all year, it is my sincere desire that it be more meaningful this year. What if Thanksgiving were the one day in which we over-emphasized what should be on our hearts every day of the year: a heart of gratitude in everything? God clearly spelled out His good and perfect will for us in First Thessalonians 5:18 when He inspired the Apostle Paul to write: “In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Did you catch that? In everything. In the good times, as well as the bad. In the pleasantries of life, as well as in the pain. During difficult times, trying times and frustrating times, too. I got to thinking about how Thanksgiving might be so much more meaningful if I focused on thanking God for the things He rarely hears thanks for. Try this with me this year. Thank Him, not just for the food on the table before you partake, and the “blessings for this past year” but for all the ways He has not performed according to your liking. For all the times He has said “no” and for all the ways He has worked in and through your life, perhaps without you knowing it. Thank Him for all the unresolved issues and the ways you are still waiting for answers. Thank Him—regardless—and see what it does for your soul as you offer Him a heart of obedience and surrender this year. Thank Him—regardless—and see how it moves the others who are around your table. Consider praying this prayer around your table on Thanksgiving: Thank you, God, for this food we are about to eat. And thank You for Your many blessings on usthis past year…the ones we’ve seen, as well as the ones we haven’t seen. Thank you, God for the times You have said “no.” They have helped us depend on You so muchmore. Thank you, God, for unanswered prayer. It reminds us that You know what’s best for us, even when our opinion differs. Thank You for the things you have withheld. You have protected us from what we may neverrealize. Thank You, God, for the doors You have closed. They have prevented us from going where Youwould rather not have us go. Thank you, Lord, for the physical pain You’ve allowed in our lives. It has helped us more closelyrelate to Your sufferings on our behalf. Thank you, Lord, for the alone times in our lives. Those times have forced us to lean in closer toYou. Thank you, God, for the uncertainties we’ve experienced. They have deepened our trust in You. Thank You, Lord, for the times You came through for us when we didn’t even know we needed a rescue. Thank You, Lord, for the losses we have experienced. They have been a reminder that You are our greatest gain. Thank You, God, for the tears we have shed. They have kept our hearts soft and moldable. Thank You, God, for the times we haven’t been able to control our circumstances. They havereminded us that You are sovereign and on the throne. Thank You, God, for Your ability to take what we consider ‘tragedy’ and turn it into a treasure. Thank You, God, for those You have called home to be with You. Their absence from this earth reminds us to keep our eyes fixed on heaven. ◄ Previous Page Next Page ► Page 1 Page 2 Whole Article http://www.christianity.com/christian-life/prayer/a-thanksgiving-prayer-that-god-might-rarely-hear.html

AVOIDING A GENERIC THANKSGIVING

Paul Lamey My thrice-great grandmother was a Choctaw Native born in South Mississippi in 1845. Her name was Clementine “Thankful” Page. I’m not sure what her parents called her in the day-to-day but I’ve imagined it would be great if she went by “Thankful.” I can imagine that name echoing through a house in those antebellum years. “Thankful, it’s time for dinner” or maybe, “Thankful, what did you do?” What a wonderful name and a great way to be remembered. For whatever reason, her parents chose to mark her life with a constant reminder of gratitude. Likewise, Christians have been given a new name in Christ and we should be marked by the virtue of thanksgiving. “Thankful” should be our name. Many nations have their own traditional “Day of Thanks.” Here in the United States, our country celebrates Thanksgiving every fourth Thursday of November. It has a long history and has been on the books since 1863, when Lincoln declared, “Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.” To be sure, there are gluttonous excesses associated with the holiday that old Abe probably didn’t envision but I believe it can serve as a vital reminder to followers of Christ. Any “Day of Thanks” should serve as a genuine cue for the believer that real thanksgiving is a daily virtue skillfully pondered and carefully applied. Move Beyond a Generic Thanksgiving The interesting thing about Thanksgiving Day, Gerald Bray writes, is that it “manages to be religious and secular at the same time.”[1] However for the believer, a secularist perspective will not do. Bray gets to the point of this noting that, “Today it is a major celebration when people are expected and encouraged to be grateful, but no one specifies to whom thanks should be given.”[2] This requires us as Christians to move beyond a generic thanks. So what is biblical thanksgiving? If we tied together the wealth of the Bible’s teaching we would see that thanksgiving is the recognition that God has blessed us. One of the biblical words used for “thanksgiving” (yada) means to praise, confess, or witness. These are words that are directed to something or better still, to someone. This of course points us to the fact that our confession and our witness are rooted in the character and work of the Triune God. As Christians, we do not offer generic thanksgiving to a generic Being with generic adulation. So, we confess the work of the Son as given by the Father in the power of the Spirit (2 Cor 13:14). As believers, we are witnesses to the grace of God, which has been richly lavished on His Church (Eph 1:3–14). Thanksgiving for Every Occasion In Scripture, especially in the Psalms, thanksgiving is often bound together with praise. So to offer praise to the Lord is to give thanks (Psalm 106:1; 136:1). In thanksgiving, we loosen our tongues and proclaim with our voices all that the Lord has done. We declare all of His wonders (Psalm 26:7). So in this way, the Psalms can serve as a voice for our particular praises of thanksgiving (Psalm 95:2). Taking our cue from the Psalms we can learn to offer thanks in some unexpected places. We learn that thanksgiving can come through the channel of suffering, spiritual apathy, and lament as well as times of exuberance, joy, and prosperity. In this way Calvin was right to call the Psalms “An anatomy of all parts of the soul.” Biblical thanksgiving will move our hearts to confess the works of the Lord in all circumstances. ◄ Previous Page Next Page ► Page 1 Page 2 Whole Article http://www.christianity.com/christian-life/spiritual-growth/cultivate-a-thankful-heart-365-days-a-year.html

GOD'S FOSTER CHILDREN

GOD'S FOSTER CHILDREN We children of God are eccentric beings. Some of us are confined and conformed and conformed to a season of death, but it is only for a season. There are many seasons in a lifetime, but life itself is incessant - never ceasing and constant. Human and fleshly by our genetic, life is a characteristic. In God's eyes, spirit and soul are eternal because we are made in his image. Do you to live forever? You can by being obedient. Join in covenant with God. It is a promise with and to our Father to trust in Him. Put no faith in earthly man, for he will forever fail you. Trust in the Lord, and lean not to your own understanding. Follow your heart, not your emotions, or feelings because they will often defy you. When you rely on those things, it becomes a sin of human nature allowing a further characteristic known as pain. Anything worldly that we want or acquire comes through some sort of loss or gain within ourselves, because it is not a spiritual conquest with God. As we go through life, thing and circumstances are ever changing. We learn what we ought to do, we do what we are taught to do, we do what we want to do, we do what we are asked to do, we do what we are not supposed to do, we do what we are dared to do, we do what we defy to do. How often do we do what God expects us to do? When we do what God expects, we do what we are destined to do. Through ignorance, most people on this planet misuse the advantage of tie that God has given us. A lifetime is a minute as compared to His eternalness. it is just a blink of His eye. But did you know, that doesn't make a single life that God created any less valuable than another? A hierarchy chain of life is evident, with mankind being ore superior than the average animal. In different parts of the world, some massive animals still rule over man in desolate situation. God rules Heaven and Earth. Heaven is our safe haven promised to us by Him, after our season on Earth of wandering through the wilderness. It sure is hell if we let go of God's hand. But what if we never took hold of God's hand on our own? The Holy bible is evidence of Jesus Christ and the Father God. The Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is the telepathic sweat that bleeds from our pores to take us down the paths that God leads us. Hundreds, possibly thousands or more claim to hear His voice our right. Don't be discouraged if you have never heard God speak. He isn't necessarily audible to the ear. He speaks more intuitively, as a direct knowledge that He is , or as He states - I Am. He sometimes speaks in a flash of enlightenment, like a tremendous bolt from the sky that is charged with wisdom and His knowledge to be. He may come in the wind to brush unforgiveness from your eyes or it may be a small whirlwind of fall leaves touching the ground, kicking a few words out. It is said that God never gives you more than you can handle. It is the same with the words that He gives you. He may give you one word at a time as He begins to prune you. As you grow old, to say that you have never known God is a poor excuse, and plain-out laziness. You must receive initiative, or take time to know God and Jesus. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one in the same. Seek and ye shall find. First you must establish your faith by believing in something unseen, and knowing that God is eternal. If you cry out to God, He always answers. Blessings don't always come when you want them to, but when you have met His requirements and He sees fit you may own the world without fear. You will feel in your heart what He expects of you, but you must have patience. Patience is a virtue. It is a strive for general moral excellence, and that is what God wants. Patience or faith isn't something that you acquire or say that you have. it is learned, but you must have a desire in your heart. You must open the door of your heart to God. Not to let God in, but to let God out. Bring Him into moral existence. Jesus lives, and will return to take us home to God in Heaven. First you must walk in His light. God sets you free from the bondage of death. By accepting God in your heart, you will no longer have fear of life or death. Jesus was sacrificed, crucified, and die for all of man' sins. That puts you under the law of Grace, the so-call amnesty which allows you to rest any unforgiveness on His cross. Jesus died for forgiveness, so He expects to be received as your Savior, enabling you to forgive yourself and anyone else-no questions or explanations. How do you subdue lethal anger fueled by years of accumulated hurt and hate? It is easy to tell someone to pray. Most people just become consumed with worry, only to change those things that were never your fault into self-proclaimed guild. Guilt eats you from the inside out, mentally and physically. Your mind races until it becomes overloaded, and it moves into your body as sickness and disease. This brings further knowledge to your brain that the battle with anger's hurt and hate are actually stealing your body - and life. Sheila Seroki-Grogan (LJG, my nephews girlfriend)

ROSE AND LINDA'S BLOG WORSHIP GOD IN ALL THINGS

Worship the Lord in all things. Most of us think of Worship as going to a building and singing some songs. Worship is the act of doing things that lift up to the Lord in a beautiful, fragrant aroma. Acts of kindness are acts of worship. But do we stop to think that all we do is lifted up in a fragrant aroma to the Lord? How do you smell? Is that the fragrance of wine from Communion or the stench of beer or liquor from a night out with the gang? Is the that the smell of a meal you took to someone alone, or the tail gate party on Sunday instead of Church. The list could go on, but you get the point. How do you smell to the Lord today? What kind of Worship are you sending up? God Bless recj/LJG

ROSE AND LINDA'S BLOG ANSWERED PRAYER

God can and will answer prayers right away. But what if that is not what you need? There is a time and place for all things under heaven. God is the God that is always on time. A friend shared with me once sometimes God will let you get your face in the dirt and when you think you can take no more He will let you turn your head to catch a breathe of air and then put you right back in the dirt. When you do get up you are much stronger. Look at the roots of a tree, the deeper the roots the stronger the tree, the harder it is to be uprooted. It is important to pray God's will not our own. We have but to look at the Old Testament to see story after story where promises were made, prayers were prayed. Some were answered right away and some answered many years later. We also see in these stories where people stepped out on their own to answer a prayer and though they think a prayer is answered they have brought confusion into their life's. The main thing is to stand strong, believe, and wait on the Lord. God Bless recj/LJG

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE DAY (THIS IS A MUST READ...IT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND AWAY)

The Cross in Our Bodies A couple of days ago I was running on my treadmill, watching a DVD sermon... And I was BLOWN AWAY! I want to share what I learned.... But I fear not being able to convey it as well as I want. I will share anyway. He was talking about how inconceivably BIG our God is... How He spoke the universe into being... Then He went on to speak of how this God ALSO knitted our human bodies together with amazing detail and wonder. At this point I am LOVING it (fascinating from a medical standpoint, you know.) . And I was remembering how I was constantly amazed during medical school as I learned more and more about God's handiwork. I remember so many times thinking..'How can ANYONE deny that a Creator did all of this???' He went on to talk about how we can trust that the God who created all this, also has the power to hold it all together when things seem to be falling apart...how our loving Creator is also our sustainer. And then I lost my breath. And it wasn't because I was running my treadmill, either!!! It was because he started talking about Laminin. I knew about Laminin.. Here is how Wikipedia describes them: 'Laminins are a family of proteins that are an integral part of the structural scaffolding of basement membranes in almost every animal tissue' You see.... Laminins are what hold us together... LITERALLY. They are cell adhesion molecules. They are what holds one cell of our bodies to the next cell. Without them, we would literally fall apart. And I knew all this already. But what I didn't know is what they LOOKED LIKE.. But now I do. And I have thought about it a thousand times since....Here is what the structure of Laminin looks like... AND THIS IS NOT a 'Christian portrayal' of it.... If you look up Laminin in any scientific/medical piece of literature, this is what you will see.... Now tell me that our God is not Amazing!!! The glue that holds us together.... ALL of us.... Is in the shape of the cross. Immediately Colossians 1:15-17 comes to mind. 'He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; All things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him All things HOLD TOGETHER.' Colossians 1:15-17 Thousands of years before the world knew anything about Laminin, Paul penned those words. And now we see that from a very LITERAL standpoint, we are held together... One cell to another.... By the cross. You would never in a quadrillion years convince me that is anything other than the mark of a Creator who knew EXACTLY what Laminin 'glue' would look like long before Adam breathed his first breath!! .....submitted by a reader to "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net) LJG... It is the precious Cross of our Lord and Savior that really does hold us together!!! It is just plain stupid for people to reject the Cross and Jesus. But yet so many do. They are willing to let His Cross burn for eternity. It just breaks my heart even more for those who reject the Savior. How well would we handle being spit on in the face? Much less the beatings so bad that it stripped the skin to shreds? He did all this and more because of His great Love for us. I knew the the Tabernacle God instructed to be built was in the shape of a cross laying on the ground. Picturing Jesus being nailed on that Cross.

FATHOMING BIBLICAL WOMANHOOD MAY REQUIRE MORE THAN A YEAR

Fathoming Biblical Womanhood May Require More Than a Year... Kelly Givens, Contributing Editor to Crosswalk.com A review of A Year of Biblical Womanhood: How a Liberated Woman Found Herself Siting on Her Roof, Covering Her Head, and Calling Her Husband "Master." When I was tasked with reviewing Rachel Held Evans’ new book, I was admittedly nervous. A lot of heated discussion is circling around AYear of Biblical Womanhood, and I was hesitant to step into the fray. However, having now read the book, I’m excited to be part of the conversation. There’s a lot worth talking about, and yes, much to critique. Unfortunately, many are tossing aside this book for its flaws without considering the valid points it brings to an important conversation. Evans spent twelve months following "as many of the Bible’s teachings regarding women as possible in my day-to-day life" (xxi). She created a "Biblical Woman’s Ten Commandments," and each month dedicated herself to one of the commands. These included "submitting" to her husband by saying "Yes, Master," to every request; mothering; having a gentle and quiet spirit; dressing modestly; devoting herself to "the duties of the home;" covering her head in prayer; and so on. Evans found herself learning how to sew her own clothes, spending a week in a tent while on her period and trying to feed a very temperamental electronic baby. This all makes for a funny and thoughtful book. Evans' goal was to show her readers just how hard and ultimately oppressive it would be to literally do everything the Bible teaches regarding women. "I set out... to show that no woman, no matter how devout, is actually practicing biblical womanhood all the way." By the time I was done reading, I was inclined to agree. If biblical womanhood means sewing my own clothes and sleeping in a tent, count me out! The problem is, while this may be biblical womanhood in the sense that it covers a literal read on what the Old and New Testaments say about women, it’s not "biblical" in so far as it offers Old Testament law and scriptural narrative on the same plate as New Testament directives. This has proved to be the main issue many have with the book. Evans not only adheres to New Testament instructions (women must be gentle and quiet, must dress modestly, must cover their heads in prayer), but also Old Testament, Jewish cleanliness rituals (touching no one during her period, following kosher rules) as well as creating commands out of narrative prose (taking the 31st Proverb to literally mean women should sew their own clothes, rise before dawn, etc.). As many have pointed out, Christians no longer practice cleanliness rituals because Jesus' death was the final sacrifice and cleansing for our sins (John 1:29, Romans 3:27-28 6:14 Gal. 2:16, 21 Acts 3:20). We also generally understand that narrative passages, like Proverbs 31, are meant to praise godly behaviors, not create a set of legalistic rules for us to follow. So, by mixing Old Testament laws and rituals with scriptural narratives and New Testament instructions, Evans has confused people. Some have accused her of being intentionally misleading, but I don’t believe this was her intent. She wanted a compelling, funny story, so she mixed in Jewish observations of cleanliness rituals and keeping kosher, created some rules out of a proverb most understand to be an accolade to one specific woman, and didn't make a distinction between those things and the instructions the New Testament (specifically Paul) gives women. That's a problem for many, and Evans has admitted as much. On her blog, she responded to critical feedback, saying: ◄ Previous Page Next Page ► Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 http://www.christianity.com/christian-life/manhood-and-womanhood/review-year-biblical-womanhood-rachel-held-evans.html

A BIT OF HUMOR

0-200 IN 6 SEC Ed was in trouble. He forgot his wedding anniversary. His wife was really mad. She told him "Tomorrow morning, I expect to find a gift in the driveway that goes from 0 to 200 in 6 seconds, AND IT BETTER BE THERE." The next morning, Ed got up early and left for work. When his wife woke up, she looked out the window, and sure enough, there was a medium-sized gift-wrapped box in the middle of the driveway. Confused, the wife put on her robe, ran out to the driveway, and brought the box back into the house. She opened it and found a brand-new bathroom scale. Funeral services for Ed have been scheduled for Friday. ….. DOC'S DAILY CHUCKLE (pkaine@woh.rr.com) by way of "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)

I'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE MAN

Missions is like scaffolding that is used to erect a building. It is just temporary to lend support until the structure can stand on it’s own. Then it is pulled away and moved to another location where it is needed” – Steve Saint “I’ve Been Everywhere, Man.” Some of you may have heard that old tune by Johnny Cash….”I’ve been everywhere, man. I’ve been everywhere, man. Crossed the desert’s bare, man. I’ve breathed the mountain air, man. Of travel I’ve had my share, man. I’ve been everywhere.” Well, as far as our family is concerned, this has pretty much become our theme song over the last few months. As you can see by the map above (top center picture) we have been making our way around speaking at churches, sharing at schools and visiting with you awesome people that have been faithfully standing behind us, praying for our family and for the Dao people. We are actually writing this letter from approximately the “P” on the map if anyone is wondering where we are at the moment. It has been great to reconnect with many of you guys and to see face to face the people that have been supporting us in this awesome task of translating and church planting in the Dao tribe. Thank you for the hospitality you’ve shown our family! We are still waiting for our next renal ultrasound appointment for Job’s kidney. As we mentioned in the last update, that next appointment with the pediatric urologist is scheduled for October 2nd and that is why we have been using this past couple months to travel around and visit with friends, supporters and churches. On a good note, after the last kidney ultrasound and checkup we were told to watch Job closely for bleeding in the urine and high fevers caused by the deformed kidney and praise God, neither of those things have happened since that last checkup this last July. So once again, thank you for your prayers on our son Job’s behalf! Please continue to pray for him, that his kidney will be healed and we won’t need to have surgery before our return to Asia and to the Dao tribe a few months from now. (Top left picture shows a recent picture of Jennie and little Job.) Another thing weighing heavy on our minds and hearts right now that we want to ask prayer for is in relation to the Dao Bible teachers that have been teaching and leading outreaches in our absence. We just got word from our co-workers this past week that one of our main teacher trainees, a man that we have been personally training and working with for almost seven years now has fallen into sin and disqualified himself from teaching any longer (according to the standards for a teacher found in 1 Timothy and Titus). Shortly after the man fell into sin, he became very sick and is right now said to be on death’s doorstep. He has now repented from the sin committed and has even shed many tears over what he has done but he is still deathly ill. He as well as the Dao community around him see his sickness as God’s judgment on his sin and so this is a very interesting and delicate time indeed in the Dao church. We are sad to hear that after we have spent so many years training this specific man it has come to this. We are encouraged however that despite this one man’s disqualifying himself to teach any longer there are other Dao teachers that are still standing strong and teaching faithfully. (Top center picture shows some of the Dao Bible teachers sharing during a Sunday believers gathering.) It’s a reminder of why we need to keep working there in the Dao tribe until the “full council” as Paul puts it (Acts 20:27), has been both taught and translated into the Dao language. Only God’s Spirit working through God’s Word will ultimately change human hearts. We are asking God to do what is best for His glory and for the Dao church in this situation, in this man’s life, and in the Dao community. Please pray with us in this that God would give wisdom, understanding and patience to the other Dao teachers, our co-workers and us as well as we work through these issues. Pray that we will trust that even though this may not all make sense to us at the moment, God knows what is best for His glory and the spread of His name in the Dao tribe. Please also continue to pray for healing for Job’s kidney and for positive results at the next doctors appointment. Finally, please pray for our travels over the next couple months as we continue to make our way around speaking at churches and also begin preparing to return to the Dao tribe. And if the map shows we are coming close by you, don’t hesitate to contact us! We would love to spend time with you also before we head back to the other side of the world! Because He said “GO!” - Scott, Jennie ,Moses & Job Phillips - Luke 9:60/17:10 Our website: sjphillips.org has videos, pictures, and info on the ministry God has allowed us a part in among the Dao tribe. Feel free to check it out if you get some time. And now, you can follow us on Twitter@sjphillipsorg

ROSE AND LINDA'S BLOG PSALMS 80

PSALM 80 2b Stir up Your strength, and come and save us! 3 Restore us, Oh God; 3 Cause your face to shine, And we shall be saved! 7 Restore us, O God of hosts; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved. 14 Return, we beseech You, O God of hosts; Look down from heaven and see, and visit this vine 17 Let Your hand be upon the man of your right hand, Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself. 18 Then we will not turn back from You; Revive us, and we will call upon Your name. 19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; Cause Your face to shine, and we shall be Saved! Friday the 16th day of November. The first day of the rest of your life. Are you right with God? Is the USA right with God? Are we obeying His commandments? Are we living according to His Word, the Holy Bible? Can you stand naked before Him right now, with all you are exposed? Can this country do the same, can we stand before Him? Answer yourself honestly, as only He knows you better than you do. We do not know when He is coming, but we do know He is coming back. Are you ready, is this country ready? Stir us up Lord! Stir us up Lord! Restore us our God! God Bless recj/LJG

WHO DECIDED WHAT WENT INTO THE BIBLE

Hal Seed, Lead Pastor, New Song Community Church Just about everyone wants to know how the sixty-six books got chosen to be in the Bible. Why these sixty-six? Why not a few more (or a few less)? Why these books and not others?In Persecution in the Early Church Herbert Workman tells the story of a Christian who was brought before the Roman governor of Sicily during the last great persecution of the church. His crime? Possessing a copy of the Gospels. The governor asked, “Where did these come from? Did you bring them from your home?” The believer replied, “I have no home, as my Lord Jesus knows.” The governor asked his prisoner to read a portion of the Gospels. He chose a portion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Next he read from Luke: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” At this, the judge ordered the prisoner taken away—to his death. Under Roman law new religions were illegal. In its first few decades Christianity was seen as a sect within Judaism. Once it was determined that Christianity was a separate religion, it became illegal to identify as a Christian. So, for the first three centuries of what we now call the Christian Era, it was a crime to be Christian. Persecutions sprang up throughout various parts of the empire. Believers were tortured and sometimes martyred for their faith. In 303, Emperor Diocletian ordered the confiscation of Christian property and churches, and the burning of Scriptures. Believers and their Book had become so inseparable that the way to eliminate Christianity was to eliminate the Bible. How the Bible Came Together Who decided what went into the Bible? The short answer to that question is no one. Or maybe a better answer is God did. When scholars talk about how a book qualified to be called Scripture, they list five characteristics called the laws of canonicity. But these characteristics are recognized in hindsight; they weren’t developed by a particular group at a particular time in history. After his resurrection Jesus commissioned his followers to go and make disciples, and they did. They devoted themselves to sharing the Christ’s good news, enfolding people into local churches and teaching them to obey all that Jesus had commanded. These Jewish believers already had Scripture. Around Palestine the Jewish Scripture is exactly what Protestants today call the Old Testament. Jesus referred to these books when he spoke of the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms (Luke 24:44). Outside the Holy Land some Jews included twelve to fifteen other books as part of Scripture. The Septuagint, which was translated in Egypt, contains books that we now call the Apocrypha. (Apocrypha means “those hidden away.”) Early Christians differed over whether these extra books should be considered Scripture or not. Those nearest Palestine tended to exclude them. Those closer to Rome tended to include them. During the sixteenth-century Reformation, Martin Luther spoke strongly against the Apocrypha. In reaction the Roman Catholic Church convened a council in Trent (now in Italy), where they declared the Apocrypha to be canonical. To this day Catholics and Protestants disagree on this issue. Catholics uphold the Apocrypha. Protestants believe that the Apocrypha is useful but not inspired. Wherever Christianity spread, Christians gathered for worship and instruction. In keeping with the customs of the Jewish synagogue, a portion of Old Testament Scripture would be read and explained. Meanwhile, the apostles, along with other evangelists and teachers, traveled from place to place to plant churches and encourage believers. When one of these recognized leaders was in town, he was invited to speak during the service. christianity.com

SHOULD WOMEN BE PASTORS OR ELDERS OF A CHURCH? A BIBLE STUDY

What does the Bible say about women being ordained as pastors? What about having women as elders of a church? What does the Bible tell us? Biblical Qualifications for a Pastor This is one of the most controversial subjects in the church today. Should women be pastors or is this relegated only to men? What does the Bible tell us? This article is not going to be based upon human opinion or my own personal opinion. Let the Bible speak for itself, for the Bible is God speaking directly to us (2 Tim 3:16). The qualifications for a pastor are listed in several places but one place in particular goes into more depth than others. It is Paul’s instructions to Timothy in 3:1-7: This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Notice in verse one it says, if a man, meaning that Paul was clearly indicating this office was for a man. The position of bishop is the same word as “overseer” which is also the definition of a pastor. Paul continues by saying “he desires a good work” meaning “he” is a male. Especially since “he must be blameless, [and] the husband of one wife.” Every single reference refers to a male: his children…his own house…how he will take care of the church…he must have a good testimony…lest he fall into reproach. There is no other way to translate the original Greek than that of a male. The qualifications therefore include that the pastor must be a “he.” Deacon Qualifications Many churches have deacons and elders but many have deaconesses as well. The qualifications for a deacon are also found in 1st Timothy 3 but specifically in verses 8-13: Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given too much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. Again we see Paul addressing the qualifications of deacons as primarily men but it should also be noted that there were deaconesses mentioned in Romans 16:1-2. The office of a deacon is clearly defined as men who have no duplicity (not double-tongued) and as having only one wife (1 Tim 3:12) but deaconesses can not be ruled out biblically speaking. There are differing beliefs in different denominations as to whether or not there are deaconesses but there are almost always deacons. Can Women Be Pastors? This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. We have seen Paul’s clear instruction to Timothy to select overseers (bishops or pastors) among men who qualify. Since a pastor must also be apt to teach, Paul addresses the role of women in the church and says, “But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression“ (1 Tim 2:12-14). A pastor has authority over the church and so no woman, according to Scripture, is to be over a man in authority in the church or at home (Eph 5:24). This does not mean that the church board can not discipline a pastor and the church board may well be composed of some women members. Even in the Old Testament there was not one single woman that was ever a priest in the 700 times this office was mentioned. In the New Testament, both elders and pastors are mentioned in the masculine, saying he must be blameless (1 Tim 3:2, Titus 1:6-7), he must be the husband of one wife (1 Tim 3:2, Titus 1:6), he must be apt to teach (1 Tim 3:2, 1 Tim 2:24), he must rule his own household well (1 Tim 3:4), he must have his children in subjection (1 Tim 3:4, Titus 1:6), he must not be a novice (new Christian) lest he be filled with pride (1 Tim 3:6), he must have a good reputation (1 Tim 3:7), and hold fast to the faith that he was taught (Titus 1:9) Can Women Be Elders? The very description of an elder is that of an older man. I could not find one single Scripture where it mentioned the qualifications of an elder to be anything but a male; one not new to the faith (1 Tim 3:6). Some denominations have teaching elders. Any one designated as a pastor is already an elder but these can be separate offices. Paul writes to Titus that “An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient” (Titus 1:6). Since the elder is to be the husband of one wife, we can naturally conclude that he is a male. Paul also instructed Titus in appointing elders in the Crete church writing, “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man be above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward“ (Titus 1:5-7). The fact that pastors are also elders is found in these verses as he uses the words “elders” and “overseer” interchangeably and includes the fact that elders must be a man above reproach and the husband of one wife. What is obviously missing is any reference to a woman being an overseer or an elder. Conclusion According to Scripture, men are designated to be the pastors and elders. This does not mean that women are inferior to men because Jesus was and is God and He is co-equal to the Father in His omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. Even so, Jesus voluntarily put Himself under the authority of the Father while on earth. Was Jesus inferior to the Father just because He was in subjection to and followed the will of the Father? No! Jesus is God just as much as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit are. Women are co-heirs, co-equals, and co-inheritors and God considers women, not to be inferior to men, but the equals of men. It is only in authority that they have differences in roles but not in an inferior sense at all. Women are to be in subjection to their husbands (Eph 5:24) and not to teach or have authority in the church (1 Cor 14:34-35) but they are not any less important or valued to God than men are. In heaven, they will still be equal to men but they will no longer be in subjection to them…but only to Christ Who is the head of the Church. He has designed the Church to be set up in this way. This is not based upon personal opinion but from the Word of God, which is our final authority. Source: New International Version Bible (NIV) THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/should-women-be-pastors-or-elders-of-a-church-a-bible-study/#ixzz2BMfEZ7aS Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/should-women-be-pastors-or-elders-of-a-church-a-bible-study/#ixzz2BMf23vHA

ROSE AND LINDA'S BLOG GETTING IT RIGHT WITH GOD

+(THE REST OF THE STORY) Yesterday we ended with the question ‘Why do you believe what you just read?’ LJG and my goal since we started this was to share our knowledge with others and to get people to question why they believe what they believe. To seek and study the Word of God in the Bible to better know and understand the truth according to His Word, not man. Many religions are based more on traditions then on what God’s Word says. This is what Jesus was speaking of in the Bible. Yesterday we did not include a single scripture. Let us look at Matthew 18:6; Mark 9:42; and Luke 17:2 we will not quote here we want you to read. Anyone who causes one of God’s children to sin would do better to have a millstone tied around his neck. That said now let us go back to yesterday’s article. Getting right with God. When God created Adam He breathed into his nostrils, Genesis 2:7, the breathe of life; and man became a living being. If we look up the meaning of breath we find that it “exactly corresponds respectively to the Hebrew [in Greek] meaning heart[+ily] life, mind, soul, +us, +you. Looking further we find wind by resemblance breath; to breathe refreshed; breathing creature; to live; to revive; alive-living [maintenance]. [Yes we do our research] We like that word maintenance, because we do have to maintain our soul to be right with God. But what to do when we fall, make a mistake, get it wrong. We are all aware of Acts 2:21 if we call on the Name of the Lord we shall be saved. But we want you to look at Matthew 9:13 and Luke 5:32 I do not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. Now we want you to think on that a bit. He called us, we answered. He knew our mind set, we had been living our life’s according to how our mind led us. Do you think He thought we would change over night? Do not misunderstand we have talked to many who from that day forward were delivered from everything we would think of as bad. Others, well if you are a fan of Joyce Myers she tells the battle she had with smoking. We could give many examples and are pretty sure you probably have a few of your own. So we are walking alone on our walk and we slip, God knows we are going to make mistakes,some small some big. Let’s go to the Book of Luke 15 and we can look at verses 4, 8, 11. Again and again we are told He looks for what is lost, and He welcomes those who leave Him that return home. Let us also look at Luke 18:19 He tells us no one is good, but God. If we go to Luke 22 verses 57, 58, 60 Peter denies Jesus 3 times, but verse 63 tells us he went out and wept bitterly. Finally let us turn to Luke 23 verses 41 thru 43 two criminals are hung with Jesus. One mocks Christ, the other says this man has done nothing wrong. This same one asks Jesus will you remember me, and Jesus tells him, ‘today you shall be with Me in Paradise. Is there a certain way or place, written words we need to speak to be forgiven. NO, what Jesus desires from us is to be sincere. If we go to Him, He will forgive us. God Bless recj/LJG

ROSE AND LINDA'S BLOG GETTING RIGHT WITH GOD

What steps do we need to get right with the Lord? God is a God of order, we ask then in what order do we approach the Lord? Is there a set in stone proper order that if not done correctly, we fail? Do we need another person, to be in a certain place, a certain position [such as our knees], correct words, do we need a Bible in our hands? Just exactly how do we get right with God? This is so easy, we are in fact the ones that make it hard. That can be because we are ashamed, embarrassed, don’t know what to say, or how to say it. First remember God already knows what you did, He did in fact see, hear witness whatever it was you did. Nothing is hid from him. Second be sincere, from your heart, your soul, your deepest being. And if by chance you know you should feel that way but don’t, just be honest about that to. Third, now this part is up to you. You can cry, shout, whisper, you can say ‘I’m sorry or just ‘sorry’. Take how ever long you need. Fourth ask God to forgive you, even if you don’t feel it. Forgive yourself, ask for forgiveness for anyone that was affected by it. Ask God to let them forgive you. Now praise God , thank Him, it would be nice if you spent some time with Him. But don’t you feel better? Can I ask you a question? Do you believe what you just read? Why? The rest of the story tomorrow. God Bless recj/LJG

ROSE AND LINDA'S BLOG, LET IT GO, PLEASE

For those that don't know Sunday is my day to address things that are happening in the world and around me. These are my personal feelings. Romney and Obama had a tight good race and Obama won. Either way we all should be praying for the President of the USA. Let it go. We are not going to be implanted with a chip to be able to receive health care. Let it go. It is rare to find a small/big business that works any body over 30 hours a week already, because the employers do not want to pay for health care benefits, nor any other benefits. Blame the employers. Congress and the Senate have a big say in what bills do and do not get passed. Stop putting all the blame on one person. All states should pass laws that you have to pass a urine test to get stamps and checks from the government. Could we please get someone to look into public housing, it is suppose to be a temporary thing not a life time. Once a person has paid their time for a crime give them back the right to vote. Put God and the Bible back in schools and our court houses. Make parents be responsible for the actions of their children. I think I am finished. No I forgot one, if people would keep their sex life's behind closed doors no one would know and then it would be private. God Bless recj

ROSE AND LINDA'S BLOG WHAT DOES GOD WANT FROM US?

We would love to be able to read some minds right now. A question like that should make you think. He created the world and all that is in it, same for the heavens. What can we do for Him? Serve Him? Well that sounds real good. Does that means he crosses your mind when things are bad? Maybe you actually give Him 30 minutes each morning. How do you in fact serve Him? Is serving Him what He desires from us? We understand you have a job, family, and activities that fill your life. We wonder do you think Jesus would enjoy watching a football or baseball game? At least we know there are a number of football players that take Christ to the field with them. Do you? What about hunting? God did give us animals for food. How many men take their sons but leave Jesus at home? With work places being what they are today we do hope He travels with you there. What does God want from us? If we have asked Him into our life's, doesn't that mean we are a part of Him. He has given us the Holy Spirit to live inside of us. We don't know about you but when we leave the house we take all of us with us. What does God want from us? Our answer might not be yours. God wants us to live and walk as if we do know that He is with us, inside of us each move we make. [Is there any part of your life you would rather God not be a part of?] Sorry He knows it all. God Bless recj/LJG

ROSE AND LINDA'S BLOG TO ALL PARENTS

[As I was looking through a the book a poem fell out and God laid it on my heart to share it today. It is meant for someone special who will know it when it touches their heart. God Bless our sister and niece Sandy and who ever this touches.] TO ALL PARENTS 'I'll lend you for a little time a child of mind," He said. "For you to love the while he lives, and mourn for when he is dead. It may be six or seven years, or 22 or three. But will you, till I call him back take care of him for me? He'll bring his charms to gladden you, and shall his stay be brief, you'll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief. I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return, but there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn. I've searched the wide world over in my search for teachers true, and from the throngs that crowd life's lanes I have selected you. Now will you give him all your love, nor think the labor vain? Nor hate Me when I come to call, to take him home again? I fancied that I heard them say, 'Dear Lord, thy will be done, for all the joy thy child shall bring, the risk of grief we'll run. We'll shelter him with tenderness, we'll love him while we may, and for the happiness we've known will ever grateful stay. But shall the angels call for him much sooner then we planned, we'll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand.' God Bless recj/LJG