The Church U S A

How many different denominations and independent I’m not sure anyone person knows.
The push to become a mega church seems to be on. One such one that seats 18,000, many seating 10,000. Multiple services, with multiple choice of type’s of service, such as regular, conservative, contemporary, Christian rock, instruments, no instruments,
Jesus only, charismatic on and on.
Multi-million dollar buildings. Plush landscaped grounds with fountains.
Chauffeur’s, bodyguards.
SOUNDS AND LOOKS LIKE BIG BUSINESS .
Be sure you are not drawn into something who is working for there own glory. The following is something I read this morning, which answered some of my?????????????
From the Message Matthew 7:14--23
14"Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.
15-20"Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don't be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.
21-23"Knowing the correct password—saying 'Master, Master,' for instance— isn't going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, 'Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' And do you know what I am going to say? 'You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here.'
Don’t get me wrong. For every one I mentioned there are thousands of good small church’s
doing the work of the Lord.
We all are tempted to follow the one that has the charisma.
I’m not backing down from what I have started.
Jesus said that we ever 2 or 3 would come together in his name he would be there, the secret is the “TOGETHER” PART, TO BE IN “AGREEMENT” THEN YOU WOULD HAVE CHURCH, it doesn’t make any difference whether your in a nice building or you just happened to meet at the dumpster. When you do have church.
If Christians could agree would there be the need for the many denominations?
The early church met daily going from home to home breaking bread together, sharing the needs of the others worshiping hearing the word and the teaching of the apostles
They were no ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe. Read the book of acts, see how the church grew. If we were to do that today
Your neighbors would want in on the faith plan you have.
Maybe some more another day.

Help for the Helplessness

I’m going out on a limb. I know not everyone see’s things the same way.
This morning was my morning to do be at the hospital making patient
Visits. While I was waiting for the list of names and rooms, a knock on the
office door, come in said the chaplain, in came a lady saying she had a big
Problem and would the chaplain take care of it for her.
She began by saying this fellow who came to the soup kitchen each day was a
Patent on the second floor, who not only had abig medical problem, but had no
home and no one to take care of him, (he is 38 years old) His ex-wife and ex-girl friend wanted nothing to do with him, She just wish there was some place where they could
place him,
At this point the chaplain introduced her to me. She is an Episcopalian Pastor of a
church in Zephyrhills, I told her the church’s that ran the soup kitchen (which are several)
should have a place for people like that, well she though they should go to the Mayor or some government agency to provide a home for them.
Well I have learned that a person and I don’t care if they are a pastor, deacon,
democrat or republican, black or white, a male or female, that they have the concept
that the government is God’s way of taking care of all the poor.
Show me where the word says that, I believe the reason the government is involved
Is because the church has moved away from where it started in the book of Acts.
I know it would not be easy, it would take a lot of tough love. I know it would
Present many challenges, heart aches, sleepless nights, and most of all people
Digging into there pockets.
Go ahead jump in let me know what your thinking is.

A little sparrow

I am only a tiny sparrow.
A bird of low degree,
My life of little value
But the dear Lord cares for me.

I have no barn nor storehouse,
I neither sow nor reap,
God gives me a sparrow’s portion,
But never a seed to keep.

I know there are many sparrows;
All over the world they are found,
But our heavenly Father knoweth,
When one falls to the ground.

Though small, we are never forgotten
Though weak we are never afraid,
For we know the dear Lord keepeth
The life of the creatures He made

I fly through the thickest forest,
I light on many a spray;
I have no chart nor compass,
But never lose my way.

And I fold my wing at twilight
Wherever I happen to be,
For my Father is always watching,
And no harm will come to me.

I am only a little sparrow,
A bird of low degree,
But I know the Father loves me;
Have you less faith than we?

HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW
AND I KNOW HE WATCHES ME.
AND HIS EYE IS ON YOU TOO

Merry Christmas

Christmas, "God's special gift to us."
Not just once a year, but God,s gift of salvation is available 24/7, 365.
Some of the titles that are being use for sermons this year are,
THE BIRTH OF HOPE
LORD OF THE LOST
SALVATION SHOPPER'S
LIGHT UP THE WORLD
SEASON OF SALVATION
Christmas is a time of reading in the paper stories of people helping the down and otters.
Helping those who are unable to help them selves.
Let's keep the spirit of doing for others alive.
Let's be the light in the dark world.
Spread peace, joy, kindness, and be very quick to forgive those who have caused us hurt.
Being it is the birth of Jesus that we celebrate, WHAT GIFT DO YOU THINK HE WOULD WANT US TO GIVE HIM?
FIRST OF ALL HE WOULD WANT US TO ACCEPT HIS GIFT OF SALVATION.
TO GIVE OUR SELVES AS SERVANTS.
TO PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS OF HIS SALVATION.
TO GIVE HIM OUR HEART FELT WORSHIP AND PRAISE.
TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL OUR HEART.
TO DO UNTO OTHERS AS WE WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO US.
TO LIVE IN OBEDIENCE TO HIS WORD.

This is just a partial list. but a good place to start.

CHRISTMAS IN A DIN BOX

A Sunday School teacher of young boys asked them to tell about a Christmas they remembered.
One little boy said last year my parents took me to visit Grand Ma and Grand Pa.
They live in Florida in a park with a lot of other old re tarted people, they live in
a little Tin house. and I sleep in the Florida Room which has a tin roof, and one
night it rained and rained, the noise was so loud it kept me awake all night.
The park has a fence around it and you have to go through a gate, that is to keep all those old re tarted people in.
In the morning they all get together for coffee and donuts and to tell stories, then in the afternoon they play shuffleboard were they push these round flat disk with a long stick, and at night after they have gone out to eat early birds they play a card game called cat-is-nasty.
Sometimes they have potluck dinners where you get all kinds of old people food.
Some walk around the park like they are looking for something and others ride big tricycle's.
Sure not much fun for a kid. I wish GramdMa and Grand Pa could move back home where we use to have so much fun. I really miss them, because I love them so.
dino & Bernadine

WEMOVE-WECARE

Wemove.

How ironic is that?

To be the name

of our favorite chat.

When most of us either move

More than we should.

And others would gladly move

if only they could.

But diversity of symptoms

Make us unique.

Some cannot walk

Others can't speak.

But near every night

We come together for talk.

And usually stay

Till wellafter dark.

PD, dystonia,

Or even msa.

It's into wemove.

In the foyer we stay

for regardless of title

It's really the same.

We are just players

In this disorders game.

Just names on a wall?

I'd rather say..NOT

When I think of the support

From friends we've got.

When one hurts we all do.

As it should be.

For life sometimes deals us

More than need be.

But your heartache is something

That we can all share.

For this chat room called "WEMOVE"

Should be renamed "WECARE"

susan Popp.West Virginia

Living with PD & Cervical Dystonia

don't forget comments to all blogs arewelcome.

dino living with parkinson's

WITHOUT HOPE

As a volunteer 4 hours a week at the hospital I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE of working with the chaplain as one who makes visits to the patient. I'm know as one in pastoral care which gives privilege to all areas of the hospital. Tuesday A.M is my time, to start I report to the chaplain for a list of patients to visit. sometimes as many as 30 other times only 20, and you never are able to see them all because of one thing or the other.
This past Tuesday my list included a female 25 years old who was in ICU, so I made a few other stops before heading there.
When I enter the room there was a young Latino male sitting by the bed of the patient who was a nice looking white lady, I greeted her and told her my name and what I was doing, she said to the young man "get up and let him sit down", he jumped up an stood in the far corner of the room.
I asked her what was going on with her, she said I took an overdose of sleeping pills. so I sat there quietly for a moment and then said to her,"do you want to talk about it?", She nodded yes with tears running down her cheeks. Gently I said, tell me about it, it all began when I was nine then again when I was 18, I had a little girl and a little boy who where all my life and they have taken them away from me, I just don't have anything to live for.
I told her that what she was doing would not help to get the children back but there was one who would help her to live a life that would be reason to have the children returned. She had no where to call home, was a dancer, and probably sold her body which I Assumed, she did not tell me that.
So I spent a good amount of time sharing what God had done for me. while I was there another Latino came in with a sack from Dairy Queen, he sat it on her stand and went to the corner with the other fellow.
I read the 23 Psalm to her and shared stories from the word of God. But made it clear to her it was her choice to make that I could not do it for her and that it had to be sincere.
She shared that at the age of 9 she had been taken from her mother, at 18 she had overdosed and didn't wake up for 2 weeks. I believe the males that were there were using her, she was using drugs.
I would like to tell you she turned to Christ that morning while I was there but to my knowledge she did not, but I had stirred up hope in her. And my pray is that the word I shared will not return void. I have not given you her name, but pray for her God will know who you are praying for.

More Than Friends Forever

It's Monday evening and I'm enjoying some peace and quiet, Bernadine has gone to the Rec. hall to play Euchre.
We have Angel net work which is 16 channels of T V and 16 Radio stations all christian programs. I have the worship channel on which is beautiful quiet music with nature sciences, tonight it is winter sciences with snow and mountains with scripture across the screen, of which I don't see all of them as I mostly just listen as I write.
Today we received a Christmas card with from a dear, dear friend Gen, as in years past she includes her update of what is going on in her life (Always what the Lord is Doing.)
Gen and Ron became our friends back in the 1960's some time after I became a christian in 1964. They were active in Faith at Work with a group of Christians in South Bend Indiana where they live and Bernadine and I had a Beauty Salon.
I had read about Faith at Work in the paper and boldly went to their house and knocked on the door, thus the start of a great friendship and relationship of many other believers.
Somewhere in our friendship Gen and Ron moved to Greenwood just south of Indianapolis to be closer to their daughter Allison.
Let's go back to the beginning of that relationship. From the very first meeting our our love for God bonded us together with many times of being together sharing laughs and tears, but most of all PRAISES FOR THE LORD.
In the F A W meetings Ron would play the guitar and Gen would led the singing until someone would start the sharing of what Jesus had been doing in their lives.
I remember a trip to Georgia to visit Kononia Farm which was started by Clarence Jordon, a Christian man who had a love for the poor black people who were still being persecuted by whites
in the South. This was just a few miles from Plains were Jimmy Carter lived. Also while there I met Maynard Fuller who was just beginning to experiment with building homes for the poor, which today is know as Houses for Humanity
In 1996 on our way home from Florida we planed our last night to be in Greenwood and Take Ron and Gen to supper and catching up on the happenings with each other. This became a annual time for us.
We no longer drive to and from Florida and Ron is in the nursing home with Alzheimer's. The last time we stopped to see them Ron no longer knew who we were. Gen goes several times a week to see and feed Ron. She continues to be active with a group of senior Christian and still praises the Lord for His love for her,
I know one day we will again be together when the Lord takes each of us to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be, together with our heavenly Father.
Until then our memory's live on in our hearts

LONG TRIP FOR PREGNANT WOMAN!

IT WAS TAX TIME AND JOSEPH AND MARY BEING HUGH WITH CHILD ABOUT TO BE BORN HAD A LONG WAY TO GO, ABOUT 90 MILES BY DONKEY. i CAN'T IMAGINE HER BEING ABLE WITHOUT GOD'S GIVING HER GRACE THAT WAS SUFFICIENT FOR HER.
TODAY THE TRIP IS MADE ON AIR CONDITIONED MERCEDES BUSES.
THEN ON ARRIVING THERE THEY FOUND THAT THE ONLY PLACE TO STAY WAS IN A
STABLE FOR ANIMALS.
MARY GAVE BIRTH TO A LITTLE BABY BOY, WHO WAS TO BE CALLED JESUS, CAN'T YOU JUST SEE HER CHECKING THIS BABY OUT, WAS HE LIKE ALL OTHER BABIES?
AFTER ALL SHE HAD CONCEIVED WITHOUT BEING WITH MAN, SURE ENOUGH 5 FINGERS ON EACH HAND, 5 TOES ON EACH FOOT, SHE RAPPED HIM UP TO KEEP HIM WORM AND PUT HIM IN THE MANGER.
BABY JESUS HAD TO BE FED, CHANGED, JUST LIKE ALL OTHER CHILDREN HAD TO LEARN TO WALK AND TALK JUST LIKE OTHERS.
DID MARY KNOW MORE THAN WE ARE TOLD OR DID SHE TRUST THE MESSAGE GOD HAD SENT BY AN ANGEL. WE DON'T KNOW.
EVEN THOUGH OTHERS MAY HAVE DOUBTED HER STORY, SHE HAD TO KNOW SOMETHING SPECIAL WAS GOING ON.
SHE HAD TO BE IMPRESSED.
WELL ANY WAY ONE WEEK FROM TODAY WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF JESUS OUR SAVIOUR.
IT'S HIS BIRTHDAY WE CELEBRATE.
WHAT DO THINK HE WANTS FOR HIS BIRTHDAY?
HE WANTS US, "ALL OF US"
HE WANTS US TO BE SERVANT'S
HE WANTS US TO PROCLAIM HIS LOVE AND SALVATION
HE WANTS US TO BE HIS DISCIPLES
HE WANTS US TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL OUR HEARTS.

I TRUST YOU'LL SPEND SOME TIME PONDERING ALL THESE THINGS THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON.

A CHRISTMAS PRAYER FOR YOU

i WILL MASTER THIS BLOGGING IF i LAST LONG ENOUGH.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TROUBLE IS, EXCEPT IT IS
A HECTIC time trying to get the Christmas message together
for Sunday evening. It seems to be coming together by working
on it a block or point at a time.
Maybe tomorrow will go better. I'll pray that there will not be to
many demands from my fans, don't think they be breaking down
my door.
Any way I'm starting in Isaiah and who knows were I'll end.
Got to enclude Zack & Beth, & John, Mary and Joesph, and of
course little Jesus, from the craddle to the cross, all for me and you.

Well I'll publish this and see what happens, if I find out how to import, I'll send my message.

ALL IN A DAYS WORK

NOTHING GAINED, NOTHING LOST