A Newspaper Column Debate

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made 'no sense' to go to church every Sunday.

He wrote: "I've gone for 30 years now, and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons, but for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them.  So, I think I'm wasting my time, the preachers and priests are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column

Much to the 'delight' of the editor, it went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

"I've been married for 30 years now.  In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals."

"But I do know this: They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today".

"Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"

When you are DOWN to nothing, God is UP to something!

Gini's Response: Hmmmmm and Mmmmm  So true.  now that I am 72 I have lost track of the sermons.  Some were definitely "snoozers"  and some were "100% nailed it".  I grew up Southern Baptist, small little Banning church, went to Cal Baptist College (now University).  One of the requirements at CBC was taking two years in Bible (one Old Testament and one New Testament.  The professors was in the "snoozer" category.  She was in her 70s and her lectures were straight read from the text book by Hester.  Actually she was a joke around campus - SAD.  But here I am at age 72 and I LOVE to read God's Word.  So Hmmm and Mmmm.  His Word says "His Word will not return to Him void."  It NEVER grows old.  It continues to nourish this old lady. 

Head Conversations

March 19, 2014 ·

I'm not a night person...prefer to be home in relaxed clothing when the sun goes down...last night was my Bible study meeting and all day yesterday it was "I'm going...I'm not going...I'm going...I'm not going." Going won out at 5:15 and I had to be there at 7 with a 20 minute drive...so I started a new conversation in my head "you can do this!" So glad the "go" won out. The study in God's Word was awesome...Peggy McAulay's leading/teaching was great, discussions were special and God met me there with HIS love and grace. Thanks Precepts and Peggy.

Waiting

And once again I post something from the past. This is from 3-12-14. The words are from the devotional book "Jesus Calling". I find it interesting that I can't remember what we were waiting for four years ago. But, it seems there is even more waiting on this 12th day of March, four years later. I'm always reminded of words in the Bible about "waiting". This seems to be a position God often chooses for us. And, if you are like me, you don't like it. But these words from J.C. paint a beautiful word picture of a strong chain. The ( ) words are from four years ago post on Facebook: (For those in the waiting room: "Waiting, trusting, and hoping are intricately connected, like golden strands interwoven to form a strong chain. Trusting is the central strand, because it is the response from My children that I desire the most. Waiting and hoping embellish the central strand and strengthen the chain that connects you to Me."
- Jesus Calling, March 12, 2014 THIS IS FOR MY FAMILY AS WE WAIT TOGETHER AND TRUST GOD TOGETHER. you... Gini, Mom, Sister, Wife & Mimi)

Working Out

In January I was contacted by Abi Correale, a junior at Biola.  Abi is my niece Lisa's daughter.  Abi is in the nursing program at Biola.  One of her classes is regarding geriatrics and she has an assignment to interview a "senior adult".  She is to do 5 interviews.  As of this writing we have concluded 4 and we will finish in March.  Her assignment is due in April.

These interviews have been interesting and I told Abi she will know me better than my own sister knows me!  We discuss physical, mental and spiritual health.  As we discussed physical I told her about my decline in this area - especially in my muscle tone and ability to walk well.  Long story short as a result of this discussion, I contacted a friend who is a personal trainer with a very, very small gym.  In the first week of March 2018 I began a 2 x a week, one hour each session work out with him.  I am SO ENCOURAGED and EXCITED to see improvement.  I'm grateful to God for this.

Prayer from Facebook site

The words in this prayer came from a site I follow on Facebook. The words are partial because I left out the parts about a family attacked because of their faith. I LOVE the words of this prayer. It explodes with truth, faith in our Abba Father and speaks of our need for HIS mercy. Read it. Pray it...for the HIS global church:
"Abba Father, Lord of Hosts! We rejoice that you protect and cover with your mighty shield! Please drench with your loving kindness; bring merciful healing to all places of trauma in the church. Defeat the enemy at every turn. Explode the growth of your church as your saints continue living the gospel 'by faith!' In the Name and for the Glory of Jesus Christ, amen."
"When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him." Isaiah 59:19

PAIN

"The Problem of Pain" by C.S. Lewis. "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world."

A Finished Work

From August, 2016

"A Christian trusts a finished work". I read that in a devotional book today and the words seemed to jump off the page. A finished work. And Jesus said (from the cross) "It is finished". Is this the finished work I am trusting? Yes and No. Strange that I would read that sentence just one day after a VERY bad day. In some ways, pain is my enemy. Yesterday it raised its ugly head. Kyla and I were building something together and it was quite a project. We were finishing it on the floor when she looked at me and said, "This is a really good day". Then she smiled and continued her work. It was shortly after those sweet words when pain in my lower back screamed at me. Gingerly I stood and told Kyla I had to stop. "Mimi's back is hurting". How well can a 5 year old understand that? Try as I could, I couldn't get the pain to let up --- Tylenol, ice, lying down --- nothing helped. I needed to move slowly through the house. But what we built was blocking my movement so I showed her how to easily separate the pieces so I could walk. She said no. So I did it for her. With my foot. I kicked and the beautiful structure fell into smaller pieces. To emphasize my anger and frustration I yelled at her. Oh how quickly a sweet relationship can crumble. Pain or not, I scolded myself, internally and tried to repair the structure. "Do you want to help me, Kyla?" "NO!" she said with tears, "You hurt my feelings."

Do I trust the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Yes. I believe He died for me because of days like yesterday. But also No. I don't trust Him to guide me to a safer place when I am standing on the edge of the cliff of anger. Because I have had experience with this cliff in different circumstances I have learned to hear His words of warning and words of wisdom of "Come to Me and I will help you with this." I heard those words of warning on and off yesterday. In those instances, pain was my friend...part of the warning. But I chose to not heed His gentle calling me back. Anger and stubbornness hang out together. Yesterday, they won.
Today is a better day...less pain. But, best of all, I went to that place of forgiveness. At the cross, I experienced once again His gentle grace. Now, for the hard part...to restore the broken relationship with my precious Kyla. Charlie said, "Gini, she will forgive you. It will just take time." I began mending the bridge of forgiveness for her today. I rebuilt, as best I could the structure. Hopefully tomorrow she will build again and I look forward to those sweet words, "This is a good day, Mimi."