Rev. Kathie S. Pownall
PASTOR'S THOUGHTS WEEK OF MAY 4
"How Shall We Live?"
PSALMS
This psalm presents us with a choice of "how" to live - the way of the righteous or NOT. Establishing a relationship with God is the best way to achieve the choice for a righteous walk. This does not mean once a day or once a week but a mindset "delighting" in God and allowing your life to be centered in God ALL THE TIME. Meditating on God's way is a good way to start. Allow a verse of scripture to "live" with you over and over again - all day.
The righteous walk requires difficult decision making and discipline. Choosing God's way often makes us stand out in a way we in which we are not comfortable. That can be lonely. Remember that God has your back covered and in knowing that, your life is bound to bear great fruit in God's name.
PRAYER: Today, thank God for constant care and ask for reminders that your life reflects decisions made with God's directions.
Before I flew I was already aware of how small and vulnerable our planet is; but only when I saw it from space, in all its ineffable beauty and fragility, did I realize that human kind's most urgent task is to cherish and preserve it for future generations.
- Sigmund Jähn, German Democratic Republic
***************************************************************************************************
[Matthew 7:21–27 – "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord!' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?' Then I will announce to them, 'I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!' Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn't collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn't act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!" (HCSB)]
The answer is obviously a resounding "no!" Simply thinking about an activity, a state of mind, or a condition of life does not make it come about. We must act upon those thoughts. We must apply the principles learned in books or from tutors to our lives. That is how we become famous Spanish guitar players, martial artists, or influential speakers.
Some people, however, are not able to transfer this very basic principle to their walk with the Master. They believe that church attendance will make them tzaddikim (righteous people). Let me ask you: are all the people that attend a football game football players?
Others believe that reading the right authors will give them some magical knowledge that will transform their lives overnight and they will wake up miraculous, magical spiritual beings with the power to overcome sin and to call down fire from heaven. So they read Max Lucado, Beth Moore, Billy Graham, Dietrich Bonhoffer, or Saint Augustine. Personally, if there were such a human author—if there was some man or woman who had the power to magically transform us into tzaddikim—my vote would be for A.W. Tozer. Unfortunately, there is no such human. Reading cannot turn us into good people any more than it can turn us into great chefs.
******************************************************************************
Midweek Musings Newsletter
April 3, 2008
CHECK OUT: www. newcastlepres.org
Midweek Musings by Jackie Taylor, Associate Executive Presbyter
Consider the bird feeder.
During my study leave I stayed at a retreat house that had a bird feeder visible from the sun room. I enjoyed it. I watched cardinals and sparrows and morning doves. I watched squirrels scamper underneath to grab some of the fallen seeds. I even observed some bold squirrels trying to climb up.
After an hour or so I realized that the bird feeder, though providing birds with food, was really designed for humans. I began to wonder if these birds had become so accustomed to the seeds that they had forgotten how to do, you know, “bird things”. Do they still dig for worms or fish bugs out of trees or fly in groups to congregate in a corn field? The cardinals at this feeder did nothing but guard it for most of the day. They would try to chase off other birds and eventually started chasing off their own kind.
Consider the church.
I worry sometimes if we have not become like these cardinals at a congregational bird feeder. Church is important and necessary, go early and often! But many of us guard the church with our beliefs and traditions (for better of for worse) so that other “birds” cannot get in for a bite. When that gets old, we then turn on each other.
Do we remember to do, you know, “Christian things” like digging through the scriptures for fresh insight or fishing for people to share the gospel or flying outside the walls for fellowship and learning?
Do we remember?
- Jackie
CHECK OUT
************************************************************************************************
PAST SERMONS:
SermonApril27, 2008.doc
SermonApril62008.doc
Sermon preached at New Castle Presbytery Meeting, March 29, 2008
sermonpalmsunday,2008.htm
************************************************************************************
DID YOU ENJOY CHURCH / BIBLICAL HUMOR?
Try http://www.larknews.com/march_2008/index.php
"CHURCH HUMOR" SUNDAY,
MARCH 30! 9:00 AM
Holy Humor Sunday
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN celebrated the Sunday after Easter, March 30, as Holy Humor Sunday. “Sunday Holy Humor ” or “Bright Sunday” was drawn to national attention by Harvey Cox in his book, “The Feast of Fools,” and popularized by Cal Samra through his newsletter, the “Joyful Noiseletter.” http://www.joyfulnoiseletter.com/
Did he wear a basket on his head, too?
**************************************************************************************
Jesus for President
Politics for Ordinary Radicals
By Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw
Don't miss the opportunity to own Shane Claiborne's widely anticipated release. Publisher's Weekly has claimed the book to be "the must-read election-year book for Christian Americans." To view Claiborne's book and read Publisher's Weekly review in its entirety, click here.
**********************************************************************************
ABOUT PREACHING: Sometimes, preaching is essentially wondering out loud about life in light of biblical texts, for example, maybe today it is wondering about the proverbial fork in the road [the subject in a poem by Robert Frost "The Road Not Taken". Life constantly presents us with two choices. We can follow one path - a life lived in fear, or another, which is a life, lived in trust in God.
Something to Ponder
In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. 
— Albert Camus
We are now in the invincible summer of the resurrection. Hallelujah! KSP
********************************************************************************************
|
|
.
|
|
|
************************************************************************************************
=
%
***************************************************************************************
" A new commandment I give you, that you love one another as I have loved you.
" Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.
" I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another
And tell it strong and clear if they have not,
That once there was a fleeting wisp of glory
Called Camelot
Page Information
|
Wiki Information
|
Recent PBwiki Blog Posts |
Create your own free wiki!