Archives for February, 2010

Fear

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

There is a lot of fear going around these days.

There is fear about tomorrow, about grades, about homes, about jobs, about the future and some fear overshadows all those and then some for some people. The nation is in crisis and nobody can seem to find a way to help us out of it. We are running scared in the world … all because of the power of money.

Don’t get me wrong, I like money and I can find so many uses for it; enough uses in fact to run out of it before I know it. Yet how we view money and the power we give money has been the issue for us in this country and the world. We have allowed money to right next to God (sometimes higher than God). I shared in my Sunday sermon that our life is not measured by the amount of our possession. This is not my word but the words of Jesus. That puts a whole new spin on the power of money.

We do not need to stand in fear but instead to stand in faith. We need to let our faith conquer not only our fear but our issues with money and how it has taken control of our lives. Faith finds ways where money says … sorry we are in a recession … sorry we have cut the budget …. sorry you have lost you job but there is not enough money to go around …. sorry we are forclosing on your home – faith say, my life is not measured in the amount of my procession.

In those moments we in faith turn to the faith community to our brothers and sisters and say, please help. We belong to a community of the compassionate and committee. This community of faith cares for each other and the entire world. We are the hands and feet and heart of Jesus.

That being the case we stomp out fear and offer faith, even in the darkest of times Never forget no matter how fearful it seems … God is still God and God still loves you and me and will provide a way.

Keep the faith!

Posted in Feelings, Spiritual Insight, The Church | 6 Comments »

The Mouse Knows

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

I’m headed to the Kingdom … not the Kingdom of God that you would usually expect me to talk about but the Kingdom of a big mouse named Micky. Yes, my wife and I are taking our poor deprived daughter for her first visit to Disney World next week. At age 12 Katie has never been to the Magic Kingdom. I know; how has she survived?

As we get ready for our trip I have found the Mouse knows how to do it. We have received in the mail information especially prepared for the Everhart Family, in it was a DVD to help us plan our trip. Sweet uh? The DVD tells us all about the hotel we have chosen and how we might make all these plans prior to our arrival; no waiting, no standing in lines, no “sorry no room for you”. Wow, all before we get there. They even are offering to set us up on a meal plan. I like meal plans.

They have noticed that we are interested in a meal with the Princesses of Disney and helped us book a time for Katie to eat with her heros (a real princess meeting the fake princesses … a must you know) We will have special seating and time with four of the most powerful princesses in animation.

Do we need help getting around? You know at 49 I might have limited mobility. Do you need to get tickets to Space Mountain, Tower of Terror and other hot rides before you get there? They are ready to help me … uh I mean Katie get to her ride on time.

The mouse can teach us Christians some things. Being prepared for the coming of the people is vital. Having the welcome mat out before they even come is so important. Making the experience something they will never forget because of ease and friendliness makes all the difference in the world.

Hey we are smarter than an old mouse … aren’t we? Let’s make it our aim to make our church the door way to the Kingdom of God and in so doing welcome the people with joy, laughter, and love. We got more to offer than old mouse!

If I don’t write next week it might be because I’ve converted to the love of the Mouse but don’t count on it!

D

Posted in The Church | No Comments »

The most powerful weapon

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

I was talking to the McDonough Methodist Academy students today in chapel and shared a verse of scripture from Ephesians 4:29. Go a head and look it up … it will do you good to open your Bible !

Paul is sharing a word about a word. I asked the children to help me and I told them that when I said a certain word they were to catch that word and put it back in my mouth. I yelled “CHRISTMAS!” and said get it. Several waved their hands in the air and others got excited and yelled “CHRISTMAS!” as well. So now more words were in the air. Despite their attempts they could not catch the word or put it back into my mouth. It had already made it around the room.

My point being (and I hope they got it ) was that we must be so careful because our mouths are powerful weapons (for good or bad). Paul says do not let anything mean, bad, ugly, hateful, spiteful, slanderous, bitter and on and on … come out of your mouth. As Christ followers we are to have mouths used for positive exchange … for that which builds up the body, the church, the Kingdom of God.

I told the children that the younger they learn to let their words from their mouths build up instead of tear down the better life will be and God will be so pleased. It is hard for us older “kids” to change and put a guard on our mouth. We live in a time that many people feel they have a right to tear anyone down, say anything they want  and they do it with a vengeance. They cross the line of freedom of speech and destroy a life before one can imagine it.

It isn’t about freedom of speech or pointing out anothers faults … it is about love for each other, it is about being Christian and asking ourselves what should I say in this situation, in this discusssion, in this moment; that will build up and not tear down. We are called to live above the norm to live the extra ordinarary life for Jesus Christ.

Now if you excuse me I have to work on my mouth … I hate it when my blogs convict me.

Later

Posted in Random Thoughts | No Comments »