Archives for March, 2010

It’s That Time

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

It’s that time when candidates for ordination in the United Methodist Church get to meet their presenters who will take them before the Board of Ordained Ministry in April. It is time for reading tons of theology papers, for listening to sermons, for looking at report and lots of praying for direction.

It’s that time to begin worrying about appointments in the North Georgia Conference. It is time to consider if one’s ministry is complete and it is time to move or to invest in another year at the same church. It is time for looking at the Journal to see what churches might be opening and it is time to listen to the grapevine and see where everyone else thinks you are going. It is time to pray and seek God’s direction in our ministries

It’s that time to move through the most holiest week of the year and follow in the footsteps of Jesus to the cross and to the empty tomb! It is time to reflect on our spiritual life and to seek renewal as we grow in our discipleship. It is time to get the new outfit for Easter to wear it proudly proclaiming new life. It is time to pray that resurrection will happen to us again … right now this Easter

It’s that time to consider another year of our life … wow half a century. It is time to think about “Just for Men” and One A Day Vitamins. It is time for those fun test from the doctor and his assistants. It is time to pray that God isn’t finished with me yet but has more for me.

It’s that time. The one connecting theme I have found with this time is the theme of … it is time to pray. Prayer is one of the most under used avenues of communication with the lover of our soul. Prayer has become trait and flippant for most, (Oh here comes Bob, I told him I would pray for him … “Lord, help Bob please,” Hey Bob been praying for you!)

It is that time to pray to spend time being still and knowing God. It is time to open myself to God and listen instead of talk. It is time to communicate with the One I say I love. It is time…thank goodness there is time!

Grace and peace,

Dana

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A Hidden Truth

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

 

 

There is a hidden truth in this story sent to me by Meri Tauzier. Sometimes truth is hidden in many things. It is really cool when it is shared in laughter … especially laoughter at ourselves.

Thank you Meri, and all of you enjoy and find the truth!

Jesus and Satan were having an on-going argument about who was better on the computer. They had been going at it for days, and frankly God was tired of hearing all the bickering.

Finally fed up, God said, ‘THAT’S IT! I have had enough. I am going to set up a test that will run for two hours, and from those results, I will judge who does the better job.’

So Satan and Jesus sat down at the keyboards and typed away.

They moused.

They faxed.

They e-mailed.

They e-mailed with attachments..

They downloaded.

They did spreadsheets!

They wrote reports.

They created labels and cards.

They created charts and graphs.

They did some genealogy reports .

They did every job known to man.

Jesus worked with heavenly efficiency and Satan was faster than blazes.

Then, ten minutes before their time was up, lightning suddenly flashed across the sky, thunder rolled, rain poured, and, of course, the power went off…

Satan stared at his blank screen and screamed every curse word known in the underworld.

Jesus just sighed….

Finally, the electricity came back on, and each of them restarted their computers. Satan started searching frantically, screaming:

‘It’s gone! It’s all GONE! ‘I lost everything when the power went out!’ Meanwhile, Jesus quietly started printing out all of his files from the past two hours of work.
Satan observed this and became irate.
‘Wait!’ he screamed. That’s not fair! He cheated! How come he has all his work and I don’t have any?’
God just shrugged and said,

JESUS SAVES

Posted in Spiritual Insight, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Why Do We Feel?

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

“Feelings, nothing more than feelings,
Trying to forget my feelings of ….”

I just finished watching The Bachelor — yes I know I’m a sick man; but I’m also a mad man because I feel for Tenley. I know she is singing this song from days gone by,  Feelings, nothing more than feelings, Trying to forget my feelings of love. Jake chose someone other than her and she is crushed and her feelings for him only bring her pain (or at least that is what Hollywood wants us to know but I’m a sucker for romance).

Feelings they mess us up so much or do they? I’ve been experiencing a host of feeling over the last few weeks with all that is going in the world, in our town, in the church, in my own family. These feeling are driving me crazy at times because I don’t know how to deal with the situation or what to do with to help or make better. The feelings are overwhelming me and I’m finding I’m quite useless in many areas.

It is at these times I have to stop and return to my Creator … to the moment of my first love as some say and ask for help. So many times I have tried to do all this on my own and in so doing have limited success and much failure. When I allow my feelings to overwhelm me I can’t even move. I take this time to ask God to redeem me AGAIN and set me on a firm foundation, to clear my mind and to give me direction.

The good news is that God is faithful — feeling or not; and will pick me up again and give me what I need to make it though the season. God love me that is the one sure thing in life and doesn’t require a feeling. Yes, feeling is involved but it is not primary. And the love of God puts all feelings in perspective. It also reminds us that feelings are a gift from God. To be in fellowship with our brothers and sisters; to care about the neighbor; to have a heart for the least, the last and the lost; to be moved by the plight of another are all gifts from God that center around the heart … the feeling heart. We have a great gift. We feel because God feels and we are made in the image of God. Gifts are great but sometimes require grace to carry.

I’m rambling something bad today … just more thoughts of a wondering preacher. I do know I love you and that too is a feeling but also fact that is embraced by God’s grace.

Later

Posted in Feelings, Random Thoughts | 1 Comment »