August, 2017

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Enjoyment

Monday, August 7th, 2017

I have had some pretty heavy posts lately so I thought I would lighten up a bit. My blogging friend, Martha Orlando, has written a six-book series of “fantasy novels.” I use that word fantasy because I don’t know what else to use. 🙂 Much like the Chronicles of Narnia, they use animals and children to tell a much deeper story. Below is a picture of the first three in The Glade Series. I started reading them well over a year ago but since the second half were not complete at the time, I laid them aside. But since I was unable to do much of anything except sit in a solid chair and read, I decided to pick them up again and read all six. This post will review the first three…The Glade Series.

What would you say to a 10 year old boy who misses his father (died in the military); doesn’t like his new step-father (Jim); argues constantly with his sister; is always angry at his mother; and is now being taken to a house where he will spend the whole summer with his family AND no internet, no TV, and no friends? Yeah, I don’t know either.

But Davy’s first night there he finds something is different and has a surprising encounter with a squirrel (Grey) and an owl (Wise One) that changes his entire summer. Well, let’s just say it changes him. I can’t and don’t want to say too much more because I don’t want to have to write Spoiler Alert in this review. Let’s just say Davy is in for a fantastic summer, along with his whole family, as he meets the “Old Ones.” I thoroughly enjoyed the escape this series offered me. You will too.

I’m glad I went back and reread these three before moving on to the final three (next post).  It was a good refresher for me, plus there was so much I had forgotten. Someone is bound to say, “You are an adult. What are you reading children’s books for?” I would simply say, “Have you ever read the Chronicles of Narnia?” C.S. Lewis wrote those for the children in his life, but they are enjoyed and appreciated by adults as well as children. (least this adult). Martha has written an entertaining Glade Series and I have already passed them on to some of our young children.  I hope you will also give them a read. You can get them from Amazon or directly from Martha’s Glade site.

Revenge??

Friday, August 4th, 2017

My sermon this Sunday is entitled Don’t Get Mad. Get Even?????

Filled with question marks for a reason.

You may have heard the story of the man who was bit by a dog which was later found to be rabid. The man had contracted rabies and this was a time when nothing much could be done after rabies had set in. The doctor told him everything possible would be done to make him comfortable, but his advice was for the man to get his affairs in order as soon as possible.

The dying man sank back in depression and shock, but finally rallied enough strength for a pen and paper. He began writing furiously.

About an hour later the doctor returned and the man’s pen was still flowing. The doctor said, “I’m glad to see you are taking my advice. Are you working on your will?”

“This ain’t no will, Doc,” the man said. “It’s a list of people I plan on bitin’ before I die.”

We may chuckle at that somewhat fanciful illustration, but I suspect there is something in all of us that can probably relate to that story.  Did you know there is a website called “ThePayBack.com” where it boasts about helping you get revenge? Seriously.

But here is the $1 million question: is that really the answer? Really? No matter how much or in what way we have been hurt. I am of the opinion the answer is no. Never has been and never will be. “Don’t get mad. Get even” is a lousy philosophy.

In the OT we have a living, breathing example of vengeance withheld, actually averted when everything justified it (at least in the perpetrator’s mind). Check out I Samuel 25 for the story.  Prayers for this weekend would be much appreciated. Thanks ahead of time.

ForgivenessIsNot

Tuesday, August 1st, 2017

I delayed this post due to the one about ME. But don’t think for one moment that means it is any less important. In fact, there may be a “reason” why I was led to delay posting this. Only God knows I guess. 🙂

This past Sunday I preached on Forgiveness. I told the folks as I was studying for the message I scoured my books for help. I think I almost went book for book, shelf for shelf, looking for ways to help the sermon be a bit more relevant. I found something in a book by Sheila Walsh called The Storm Inside. The chapter was titled Navigating Treacherous Water: From Unforgiveness to Freedom.  I hit, as they say, the mother lode! She began the chapter with a quote from C.S.Lewis:

Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.

Before I share what she wrote, let me preface it by saying that I think many people have the wrong idea of forgiveness. We often think forgiveness = forgetting. I, for one, don’t know that it is humanly possible to forget what has been done to us. So I focused on what forgiveness is not (from her book written in blue):

  • Forgiveness does not say that what the person did was okay; people do many things that are far from okay.
  • Forgiveness does not say that you have to continue in a hurtful relationship with someone who has harmed and will continue harming you. Don’t let anyone tell you that you should stay with someone who is beating the tar out of you or molesting you. GET OUT!
  • Forgiveness is not burying your head in the sand and pretending the offense never happened.  That’s what got you into the mess in the first place.
  • Forgiveness is not denying the pain.
  • Forgiveness does not mean we don’t take the wrong seriously.

Forgiveness is not about removing someone’s liability, but about setting your own heart free. It’s not about the other person’s sin; it’s about your freedom.

I hope you are living in forgiveness and experiencing freedom. If not, maybe these will help.