Sometimes You Can Only Laugh At Yourself

This was one of those weeks when you have to laugh at yourself. Early in the week I was conducting a funeral. I w as just beginning to lead the congregation in singing Amazing Grace. I put my guitar on my shoulder and after I got the strap adjusted I backed away from the microphone as I normally do when I am singing. As I backed up I felt something against my back. I moved forward a little and to my horror a vase full of flowers crashed to the floor. There was glass and water and flowers all over the carpet. Trying to make the best of it I moved down in front of the pulpit and lead in the singing of the song. As I was singing I noticed that several family members were laughing. It was a particularly sad occasion so I was surprised. When I was finished leading the singing they told me why. It seems that two of the pieces of greenery had stuck behind my guitar strap forming what looked like green wings. They were convinced that somehow the deceased person had a hand in arranging this. She was known for her practical jokes. It was one last joke at my expense. The good part is that it brought some sense of easing the pain of losing a mother, sister and friend.

On Thursday evening we were over at my son's house. I was telling them that I had a funeral the next day. My daughter-in-law was teasing and told to be careful that I didn't fall off the stage (platform). I have been guilty of standing to close to the edge in the past. The next day everything went off without a hitch until I was packing up to leave. I have trifocal glasses and sometimes it can be deceiving if you do not look right down at where you are stepping. I went down one step and looked to avoid a flower vase. I missed the step and went crashing to the ground. In an instant I was on the floor with several men around me, all worried that I was seriously hurt. Fortunately, all I had was a bump on my head, a sore elbow and wounded pride. Sometimes you just have to laugh.

Perhaps we can dream

An Old Song I used to sing that reminds me of why we remember on Rembrance day. We not only need to remember our soldiers who have given their precious lives but why our freedom is so precious.

Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream
words and music by Ed McCurdy

Last night I had the strangest dream I'd ever dreamed before
I dreamed the world had all agreed
To put an end to war
I dreamed I saw a mighty room
Filled with women and men
And the paper they were signing said
They'd never fight again
And when the paper was all signed
And a million copies made
They all joined hands and bowed their heads
And grateful pray'rs were prayed

And the people in the streets below
Were dancing 'round and 'round
While swords and guns and uniforms
Were scattered on the ground

Last night I had the strangest dream
I'd never dreamed before
I dreamed the world had all agreed
To put an end to war.

TRO-©1950,1951 & 1955 Almanac Music, Inc.New York, N.Y. Copyrights renewedUsed by permission

The Good Things

What joy it was today to watch the miners from Chile who were set free from their captivity deep under the ground. To see many of them falling on their knees with thanks to God gave me joy! It is good to see good things on television. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

How Do We Help

I met a young woman this week. She is a very timid and has a lot of responsibility. Her mother just passed away and she is left with the care of her father who suffers from alzhiemers disease. She wants to do the best for her dad but he can be violent - a consequence of his disease. How do you help a person in this situation? It is not enough to tell her that all she has to do is ask God to help her. What do we as Christians do? How do we reach out in love and with compassion? When the Good Samaritan helped the man left at the side of the road, he did so with no strings attached. Often our help goes unrewarded and unacknowledged. Are you willing to reach out a helping hand with no strings or expectations attached? That is the only way that we can truly express the love of Jesus in our hearts. Show God's love to someone who comes into your life today with no thought of return.

Sometimes I am Ashamed to Call Myself a Christian

I would like to preface my remarks with a simple statement. Along with my fellow evangelical Christians there are certain things that I view as being contrary to the word of God. In my view homosexuality is contrary to scriptural teachings.

That being said I am ashamed of those Christians who feel it necessary to speak publicly and with great vigour with negativity about this subject. Over the past several weeks there have been several news reports regarding the kidnap and torture of gay persons simply because they are gay. There have also been several reports of young rural gay persons who have been driven to suicide because they have been bullied and persecuted because of their lifestyle choice. This is deplorable. Some of those people who have perpetrated this persecution have done so because some churches, ministers and Christians have gone out of their way to declare homosexuality as a sin against God and society. They have been involved with crusades proclaiming homosexuality and homosexuals as being a sin and sinful. It is my belief that this is not our job nor our duty as Christians. We are called to hate the sin but love the sinner. Anything that we do out of hate and fear is not God's will for his people.

Along with many others I find the very thought of homosexual behaviour as being unnatural and against the word of God. I do not, however, agree that this gives us license to behave in hateful and cruel ways. We cannot bring people to Christ by fighting against the sinner. Our job is to proclaim the love, grace and mercy of God. We are called to be ambassadors for the King of Kings.

I would encourage my brethren in the Lord to look closely at their own lives and fight the battle to overcome those things that so easily overtake us in our lives. The sins of pride, anger, hate, envy and the like are just as vile as any other. There are many things that trouble us in the world - fighting against those things does us more damage than fighting the battles within our own hearts and lives. None of us is perfect and not one of us is without sin. Pray for those caught in the terrible chains that bind them. Show them love. The Good Samaritan who helped the man who had been robbed and beaten and thrown in a ditch to die did not ask about the man's life - he only helped and displayed God's love and care for him. Our job is to proclaim that God loves the whole world and sent his Son for the whole world. As for me that is a big enough job for me.

Blogging

I wonder about the benefit of a blog. Does anyone look at it? Does anyone care what is in it? Do they read it or is it just a waste of time and effort?

Had a funeral today for an 85 year old woman. Only three people at the funeral. It is sad to live 85 years on this earth and to not have anyone who cares when you leave it. The people who attended the funeral were her medical doctor and her pharmacist and her husband. It was nice that they, at least cared. Her daughter didn't care, her siblings didn't care and we don't know what friends she still had. To live your life so alone is sad. If you know someone who is alone and has no one who cares - find a way to show them that you do care.

The Changes of Life

In 20 days I will turn 65 years old. I know in my heart that 65 is not really that old for the men and women of today, however, I also know in my heart that I have more life behind me than ahead of me. I am particularly aware of the shortness of life this week because one of our fellow ministers, Dwain Saunders, passed away suddenly at the age of 60 just a few days ago. It makes me ever so conscious that it is more and more important to make the most of every day and to appreciate and be thankful for every day we are given. We enter this world naked and with nothing and we leave this world naked and with nothing. Only those things that we have done for Jesus will count when we face our maker. Those times that we have given help to someone in need will count. Those times that we have shown care, love and concern will count. The sacrifices we have made to tell the story of Jesus will count. "Whatever you have done for the least of these my brothers." These words must be the guide for our footsteps and He - Jesus - must be the light for our feet. The Prayer of St. Francis gives us the words - "Where there is hatred let me bring love, where there is darkness - light, sadness - joy; to be loved as to love; to consoled as to console." It is as we give ourselves that we truly find life. Dwain was such a person. He worked among those who live in the inner city and gave them all that he had.

Grandfather's Clock

May The Good Lord Bless and Keep You

Whispering Hope

It Is No Secret

Rick Orsten Singing Life Is Like a Mountain Railroad

Rick Orsten Singing Wings of a Dove