Archive for July, 2011

Spiritual Growth #41

Monday, July 25th, 2011

Many of us have a problem of one kind or another with the church. Some of the complaints we hear is the music is to loud, the service is to long, the church is not spiritual enough. I am not able to use my gifts and talents, we need a new pastor and the list goes on and on. The truth is we can always find something wrong if that is what we are looking for.

The church is the living spiritual body of Christ on the earth. It is also an organization made up of laws, rules, regulations, rituals and doctrines. If you are one of those who are trying to change the church. God help you because you will need it.

Many years ago when my marriage was in serious trouble, I looked to the church for help when I should have gone to Jesus. The church was not able to help me but Jesus did. I was angry with the church. I was always grumbling about it. I guess God got sick of hearing me grumble and complain and one day He said to me; “When did faith enter into your heart?” I knew immediately! I answered; “when I was a little kid and I was sent off to church and the priest and nuns talked about God. I believed in God and Jesus from that point on” He said; “that is right the church did its job, it instilled faith in your heart. Now stop your grumbling and leave the church alone!”

There is only one body of Christ on this earth, the church. It is comprised of many different parts and names. This one church has problems because it is made up of people like you and me. We have priest and ministers that have problems because they are also like us. In spite of the fact that the church is comprised of imperfect people like you and I, and these priest and minister that sometimes fail, the church has not failed because millions of little children all around the world are having faith instilled in their hearts. Someday when they are ready to respond to God, that faith will rise up within them and they will touch the living God and it will transform their lives, even as it has transformed yours and mine.

Freely Live, Freely Give! (July 4, 2011)

Monday, July 25th, 2011

My Dear Children,

The forth of July; Pauline and I often thank God for the nation we live in. We have traveled a lot in our lifetime. I hope to travel some more, God willing. Pauline and I have been in this ministry over forty years now. This last trip we drove was 4250 miles, we know that it is time for us to begin to slow down a little and we are going to do that.

I am sure that like a lot of other folks I grumble about the government and taxes and other things and in spite of it all, we live in a wonderful country with a lot of wonderful people. I believe that we have the greatest freedom of any nation on the earth. I watch the news and see the millions of people all over the world struggling to have peace and freedom and I think how blessed we are. The freedoms and peace we have, came with a price.

It seems to me that one of our greatest enemies is greed. Be on guard that you do not allow it to become a stronghold in your life. The more we have the more we want. There is nothing wrong with having wealth as long as you give freely so that someone else is blessed with it.

Dear children, grand children, and my spiritual children, one thing I have learned, the more you own, the more owns you. You become a servant of the things you own, if it is a home or cars or lots of money or even a pet, you are its servant. I have seen the prince and princess on TV as they have been touring Canada, I don’t envy them I feel for them. What a position they are in! They have to be guarded all the time, people want to touch them, to talk to them, constantly in the public eye. They are paying a price. Part of that price is their freedom, they are a national treasure of England and that comes with a price.

It is such a sad thing for our nation that so many people think the government is responsible for them. When we think the government is our provider and have lost the will to provide for ourselves and think that others are responsible for our welfare, we have given up our right to care for ourselves, and in the process we give up our freedom.

We have even given up our right to a free vote. Because even though I vote, I have to vote for those that will keep meeting my needs.

Dear loved ones, don’t hold back from meeting the needs of folks around you. Do it freely expecting nothing in return. Do not get caught in the trap that says; “I have done this for you now you must do this for me.” Give freely and receive freely but don’t get caught in the trap.

Dear family you are in my prayers and thoughts every day!

Your loving Father