Bridge Over Troubled Waters

By: PASTOR ELLA RAY TOSCANO

January 25, 2012

I imagine some preachers will use the Italian Cruise ship disaster as a reference in one of their sermons this week. It is such a good example of a planned trip for pleasure and the one person in charge is a bad driver. One would assume the captain of a cruise ship would act responsibly but things happen when someone else is the driver. We need to choose wisely who the captain will be if we will be sailing under his directions.
It is easy to see our country as a cruise ship. We are in the throes of choosing who the captain will be for the next four years. If our captain steers us in the wrong direction it is up to the passengers to be a voice for what is the right course. Passengers can be lazy and let the ship fall where it may. The captain of the Italian cruise liner denied that there was any problem. All is well…just a blackout. I am sure there were those who wished to believe that all was well but things were happening that proved they were in trouble. Once again it is up to us as passengers to pay attention to the signs. It is tempting to read a book and ignore all of the rhetoric associated with the captain of this country for 2012. There will be so many lies and back stabbing that many will opt out for a chaise lounge on the deck with the message of ,” Call me when it is over.” This is where shipwrecks happen…when no one pays attention to the truth of what is happening.
Christians understand the importance of who is captain. We know that we are not captains of our soul as the popular poem says. We are not captains of our fate. Our captain is Jesus Christ and he steers our course. In the midst of the storm at sea the disciples doubted their captain but he was fully aware of all that was happening. They thought he was asleep but he was aware and in control. He calmed the sea. His disciples called out to him because they were afraid. They were aware of the storm and called out to their captain… The Lord Jesus. With Jesus as our captain we can rest in his navigation. He never leaves us and he always goes before us. He is the captain of our soul. If we choose another captain we are guaranteed a shipwreck.
This year all Christians will be challenged to find the right captain for this country. However I believe the most important decision is who is the captain of our souls. It is so easy to take command of the ship called life and forget who the captain is. It is the prayer of Christians that this country will have some smooth sailing. Rough times are due to a lack of Godly principles. People have forgotten that God is their captain. This is why we have some rough seas

Recently I saw the movie, “Make A Joyful Noise”. It was a movie for music lovers especially Gospel music. I loved all the music but the song that really spoke to me was,” Fix Me Jesus” sung by Queen Latifah. It reminded me of the shipwrecks we make of our lives when we choose the wrong captain. The enemy will always navigate us towards the rock of destruction. He wants to destroy our faith. When we fall apart we can come to Jesus and he will fix us. He is the captain of our soul. We can sing the song for ourselves and our country. Jesus can fix us. ..and that is our only hope…fix me Jesus for higher ground oh fix me Jesus. Fix our country Jesus and lead us to higher ground. Fix all who have chosen the wrong captain. Fix us

January 4, 2012

Bridge over Troubled Water
By Pastor Ella Ray Toscano

We have a GPS device that only knows the words, “turn around.” It never likes the direction that we are traveling but eventually it adjusts to the way we are go¬ing. It is not accurate on directions since it prob¬ably needs an update. Once we accidentally programed a trip to avoid freeways. We did not know that we had done this and ended up driv¬ing through some great little towns until we ended up in the center of one of local bigger cities. That was a unique experience. Our GPS did not tell us to turn around and that was one time we should have.

2012 begins a new year…but in Christ every day begins something anew. I am so glad that God allows us to turn around and start all over again. There are times when we head in a direction that is really not the best route God has planned for us .It will get us to the destination but the journey will be less rewarding than what God intended. God has plans for us and his plans have all things work together for all who love the Lord. God’s Position¬ing System is what all Christians need to plug into. ..that is the best GPS of all. Our ultimate destination is heaven but the journey has been planned by God that will be one of abundant life. The Holy Spirit gives power to God’s posi¬tioning System. It is so important to hear from God the direction we need to go. When we get off on the wrong road in the way we live ,our life God has a way of getting our attention. All things work together for good to those who love God and walk according to his purposes.Romans 8:28 …walking according to His purpose means listening to the directions he gives. They come in scripture, words from other believers, sermons, music, Christian gather¬ings and prayer…just to name a few. Walk¬ing according to God’s purpose changes wrong turns and dead ends. He came to save the lost. In Christ we are never lost. We are assured that his grace plants an inner GPS in our hearts..

Psalm 119:9-11 is a GPS word for those who face a direction problem…which way should we go? “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands (or direction). I have hidden you word in my heart…” These words are our spiritual GPS system. A new year symbol¬izes starting again. For some this means turn¬ing around and going another way. When the wise men found the Mes-siah they were warned in a dream to go back another way. Their dream was a GPS in God’s planning . They followed the instructions which were given by God. They could have ignored the warning but they listened and followed. They also followed the star to find the new born King. The shepherds heard the angels sing and followed.
Our GPS is not 100% reliable because it has not been updated. God’s Positioning System is perfect. It can be trusted. Beginning a trip with a perfect guide makes the journey one of peace. Knowing that we are following the plans of God come when we we pray our plans over in the presence of the Lord…and trust the Holy Spirit to guide our way in the direction of God’s will.

One of the old hymns of the church is” Guide Me ,O Thou Great Jeho¬vah”.
Guide me thou O Great Jehovah
Pilgrim through this barren land,
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy pow¬erful hand.

It was written by Wil¬liam Williams in the eighteenth century. He graduated from university as a physician but ended up being a physician of the soul. He was an itinerant minister for forty three years. He traveled over 95,000miles and drew crowds of 10,000 or more…he wrote in his journal that God empow¬ered him to speak loud enough for all to hear. He wrote over eight hundred hymns . He was a pilgrim a traveler in some rough places but he followed God’s Positioning Sys¬tem and lived a fulfilled life.

Jesus said, “I came that they might have life and might have it abun¬dantly.” John 10:10. This tells me that our journey in Him will be fulfilling. He is the only road to heaven. He is the way the truth and LIFE! I choose to trust His posi¬tioning system and live life abundantly.

December 28, 2011
By Ella Ray

This is my last article for this year. ..but all things begin anew with each passing minute, hour ,day month and year. Time does not stand still. It waits for no one. I feel sorry for those who spend their time reacting to the way Christians celebrate. They are living on God’s time clock but they have never punched in. This season the activity of non-believers has been particularly negative. Followers of Christ are guided by love and rude behavior is not acceptable. As we enter the New Year and throw out our wall calendars and redo our Day Planners hopefully we can throw out anything that has tempted us to be rude.
The talking of our dogs has been heard at times by those who deem noise to be evil. Since we do not see our pets as evil we leave where we live often and take our pets to places that they are welcome. Old Town in Benicia is a quaint village and it loves dogs! Our two year old Samoyed is growing up, thank goodness but she still loves to talk .It was a relaxing experience to be where people love our dogs. One of our dogs has cancer and is totally blind but she functions well especially with the expert doctoring of Dr. Ted. We take our “terrible two” year old Sammy and blind Bambi almost everywhere we go. They need to be in a friendly environment. When people do not like you because of who you are it becomes uncomfortable but not impossible. People who do not like pets have a right to be pet free but they do not have the right to destroy our pets. People who do not like the way we Christians celebrate have a right to ignore us and not embrace our beliefs but they do not have the right to crash our celebrations with their own agenda in words that attack or attempt to destroy our spiritual values. There are those who wish to disrupt Christian celebrations. I am thinking of the sign that appeared amidst all of the other Holiday Signs at Travis. It had no place in the celebrations of this season. The sign had no relationship to anything for which to celebrate. It was totally out of place…It was sign put up by Atheists. Christians who are filled with the love of God do not crash the parties of the pagans. My observation is that Followers of Christ go where they are invited. They do not protest with rude actions if they are not invited. Christ was born for the ugly and rude. This is why he died on the cross and shed his blood …for those who spitefully use us. Love buries the hatchet and it does not bury the hatchet in the head of the one who is spiteful.

This year that is approaching is going to be a big challenge for all Christians. Jesus is not a Republican or Democrat. Both sides invite him into their speeches and actions but the invitation is limited. ..He is not allowed to be the guest of honor. He is invited on a limited basis. As the New Year begins, Christians can continue to pray that those with conflicting opinions will learn to let God sort it all out. Not everyone accepts Jesus. If we travel with Him many times the doors are closed. We are invited to this world’s party only if we leave Him home. However Christians have no home without Jesus the Christ. Serving Him completes who we are. He created us and in Him every day is a New Year. This world is not our home but it is where we live. We are renting from God and we know that we are on the time clock of God. Every second counts and we do not want to waste it on unrighteous anger. A.D. is the year of the Lord. For those who choose to disrespect the Lord perhaps they could celebrate on the thirty second day of the thirteenth month and the eighth day of the week.

This is the year of the Lord . In Him all things are made new. I choose to celebrate with Believers and pray for those who do not believe. Invite Jesus to your New Year. In Him you will be wanted loved and appreciated. This may require separating out from those who choose to be rude .Go where you are always invited and loved. Go to church. It is closer than Benicia.

December 21, 2011

This is the time of the year when many invitations come in the mail or by phone. I guess they come by email or Facebook but those I ignore. I have not moved into the social networking protocol. I still believe an invitation is something special and personal and it requires a response. There are Invitations to events that celebrate milestones. No matter the reason, it is not advisable to decline an invitation to something that occurs only once. No matter how busy we are we should always make room for special times because they do not happen again. I remember missing an 80th. birthday party because I had the wrong date and I had misplaced the invitation. This was a very special person and it was a once in a lifetime event and I missed it!

There are many Christmas parties and special events that have led up to this weekend. Some have had more than their share of invitations and some have had very few. The one invitation that remains constant is the invitation offered by the churches. All churches have special events this weekend some more than others. Our Congregational Church on Sacramento Street invites all to a Christmas Eve Communion and Candlelight service at six. We also are inviting Christians to share Christmas morning in a worship of Carols and scripture at eleven A.M. Christians invite others to share Jesus. This is what we do at 230 Sacramento Street. This is what other churches in our town do. We invite all to worship.. Accepting an invitation to worship Jesus is one of the best gifts you can give yourself this weekend. Jesus is inviting us to come and see. Scripture tells us that many are invited but few will come.

This weekend we celebrate the greatest invitation given. God has come to earth and all are invited to celebrate a birthday unlike all others. He has come and he has invited us to come and worship Him but once again many are invited but few there be that will come. There are those who are destroying his invitation and burying it under unbelief. Nativity scenes in public places have become the target of unbelievers. There will always be those who have refused the invitation from God. However those who have shown disrespect to the invitation from God need not discourage those who have heard the invitation and have responded saying…”I will worship the newborn King.” Following Jesus keeps our eyes on things that bring us love. Following means moving in God’s direction. Followers can pass by in prayer for those who have refused the invitation …and they keep moving on.

God loves us so much that that he has shown up in person. He has come down to show us how to love. He tells us that we are to focus on who he is and not those who wish to occupy his space. No one can occupy the place of God without loving Him. The love that jesus came to show us is available all the time if we accept the invitation by the Holy Spirit to go and see this Christ Child whom we celebrate this weekend in a day called Christmas. When one says, “Yes,” to the invitation to worship Jesus Christ and be a follower the Star of Bethlehem is real. I like to think that star is the Holy Spirit, the presence of the living Christ guiding us.

This weekend is Christmas 2011. It is the time to celebrate our gift that arrived from heaven ,,,God came in the form that he created because his created beings needed to be saved from their sins. Nothing could fix his people so he had to come down here himself. He loved us enough to send the very best….HIMSELF! Accept the invitation to follow Jesus this Christmas. When he says, “Come,” rise up and follow! Don’t miss the main event of this weekend. Christmas 2011 will never come again. Merry Christmas

November 30, 2011

This past week found me in Covina again. It was a time of giving thanks for the family small as it was. I saw many families celebrating Thanksgiving at the restaurant. There were many families with members who using walkers and wheelchairs. My one hundred year old aunt was with her walker too. There was a feeling of good will and friendliness amongst those who were waiting. Reservations had been lost and some were walking in without reservations. When we were finally seated we were ignored while everyone around us was served. I was amazed at the civility of my aunt during the wait. I fully expected her to walk in the kitchen with her walker and speed up the process. Her patience was better than mine. This is totally unlike her. I have hid under the table many times when she has made demands on the servers. We enjoyed our meal and the company of one another. For this I was truly grateful. My aunt is no longer the same person she used to be. It is too bad she waited until she was 100 to truly be a follower of Jesus. ..But oh what joy fills my soul to see Jesus in her. Her mother lived with my parents. She was a woman who was a follower of Jesus. She was my roommate until I left home to get married. Everywhere the family went Grandma usually rode along in the back seat. She loved the cattle on the hills. She would point to them telling me and my brother that God owned all of them on a thousand hills. To this day I hear her voice every time I see cattle in the hills. As I grew older I knew her words came from Psalm 50. My Grandmother taught me about Jesus but I did not become a follower until later…but I was always a fan of Jesus. Her life showed me that that was more to Jesus. I thought I knew what I knew but I didn’t. She taught me about Jesus just like my parents did but I chose just to be a fan. I liked youth rallies, skating parties and church ice-cream socials. Then when I was a young adult I liked the social activity of the churches. That is where a lot of Christians are today….looking for a social outlet, a way to be entertained. Fans chase after popular ideas and people. My family lived the life of followers of Jesus .They taught me that God really did care about the cattle on the hills and he owned all of them as well as all of life. My Grandma showed me what a follower was like. She along with my parents showed me there was more to Jesus than what I thought I knew. I am truly grateful that my brother and I moved from a fan to a follower.The definition of a fan is an enthusiastic follower. We can be fans for all kinds of things people and activities. Fans walk away when the team is not winning. Fans walk away when they are disappointed in whom and what they admire. A fan will always have disappointments. Jesus is not looking for fans. Churches for followers are sanctuaries not stadiums .Fans do not see the cattle on the hills as anything to be enthusiastic about. Fans do not change their life style for Jesus. Followers allow Jesus to change their style of life. He rearranges faulty thinking and sets one on the path that leads to glory. I just finished the book,” Not a Fan.” It is a worthwhile read and does not cost much .It gives one food for thought. One follower is worth more than many fans. The book may not cost much but to be a follower Jesus wants us to know that he owns it all and he paid the price for ownership. The Christmas season brings out a lot of fans of Jesus. Our prayer should be that Jesus will be known and there will be many decisions to follow him. Not everyone will have a hundred years to make up their minds as to whether they want to be a fan or a follower.
November 16, 2011

This last week the song, “My Lord What a Morning” kept running through my mind. We had practiced it in choir so it was fresh on my mind. I realized how we can say these words with different voice inflections and come up with many different meanings. If we start the day without prayer we will say, “My Lord what a morning!! “Things do not go right if we do not unlock the day with prayer. Talking to our Lord is the key to a good morning and the secure bolt of the evening.
When the stars begin to fall our hearts should begin to open to all of God’s presence for the day. It takes an effort to truly direct our thoughts towards the Holy Spirit of the Living Lord. The Holy Spirit helps us pray and he calls us to pray. If our thoughts are directed to him the first thing in the morning we will sing with joy, “My Lord what a morning”. An hour in the morning is worth two in the evening. We come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses. This tells me we pray in the morning. He walks with us and talks with us and tells us we are his own. His grace falls like dew on our souls. God wants the mornings of our days and the morning of our lives. Psalm 5:3 reads, “In the morning O Lord you hear my voice. I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”
In the morning signifies in the beginning. When we eat do we always pray before eating? Is every meeting held in the church started in prayer? Is every worship service covered in prayer before it starts? Before one speaks are the words covered by prayer? I will sing of your strength in the morning.” I will sing of your love for you are my fortress my refuge in times of trouble. “Psalm 59:16. Most of us cannot say that all of our mornings all trouble free but it is a given that they will not be trouble free if it they are not started in prayer.
What would happen if all Believers would rise before dawn and cry for help putting all of their hope in the word of the Lord.(Psalm 119:147)If all who claim to know Jesus would begin to pray for our country and our churches a miracle would happen.
People who do not profess to be Believers see the value of prayer sometimes more than Believers. Clint Eastwood is producing a movie on Edgar Hoover. I read something which Hoover wrote which surprised me. He said, “The spectacle of a nation praying is more awe inspiring than the explosion of the atomic bomb. The force of prayer is greater than any possible combination of man-made or man controlled powers, because prayer is man’s greatest means of tapping the infinite resources of God. Invoking by prayer the mercy and might of God is our most efficacious means of guaranteeing peace and security for the harassed and helpless people of the earth.” This is a powerful message from an unlikely messenger.
When we sing,” My Lord What a Morning,” we sing about God hearing sinners, mourn, pray, shout and sing. These words cover all of our prayers in the morning. We bring all of our grief sadness sins and lay them down at the feet of Jesus. If we start the day with Jesus we will have something to shout and sing about.
Isaiah 50:4 reminds us that the lord will give us words that will sustain us when we are weary… And the best part of all is that He will waken us morning by morning. Our ears will hear what He has to say. This will enable one to truly sing for joy, “My Lord What a Morning.” November 09, 2011

Have you noticed the ads on TV for prescription drugs? The voice that tells of all the side effects is an undercurrent of words ending with the possible side effect of death or suicide…then the last words are, “If you suffer from any of these stop taking it and call your doctor.” I would think it would be a bit late after death. The picture on screen is of a most idealistic place to be. It is usually an outdoor scene or an activity that is full of joy .The music in the background is absolutely ethereal. All is designed to cover the required reading of the side effects. Drug companies spend a lot on these ads to be beautiful cover-ups.

There are consequences, good and bad, for all of our actions thoughts and behavior but we tend to reserve the thought of consequences for what we consider to be big decisions. The consequence of taking in the sin pill is immediate death spiritually. Whatever causes one to move away from the truth of who Jesus is can result in serious spiritual illness. No matter how we sugarcoat sin it still remains.
Our society is full of cover-ups. I have a pile of music by my piano which looks tacky but when I cover it up with a linen table cloth it is not so noticeable. . Women wear makeup in hopes to cover up age…Folks continue to try and cover-up for their mistakes instead of admitting to the truth. The cover-up is always a smiling happy response. As we enter Christmas I see a major cover-up of the Messiah. Holiday is a big sugar coated word that speaks of parties, celebrations, decorations with joyous happy participants. In my opinion the word holiday has caused some major side effects during this time of the year…one of which is depression. Not everyone is happy and full of joy. Many are feeling lonely sad and empty. They cannot wait for the holidays to be over! The enemy has painted a picture of false truth over Christmas and called it holidays! The music has changed as well. There are no carols. The side effect of the holiday pill can bring death to Christmas.
Some have left Jesus in the church they used to attend. Church activities are replaced with holiday activities. Thanksgiving is almost forgotten in the holiday rush which begins in November. . It is still our only non- commercial celebration of the year however. So far it is still called Thanksgiving….and not turkey holiday.
All is not lost. If we listen we can hear the truth…no matter how much society tries to cover it up. The shepherds heard the angels the wise men saw the star. Jesus was born and because he lives we can face all tomorrows. We can hear the carols if we listen in the right places. We can see the Jesus of Christmas if we open our hearts to Him. He is looking for us and waiting for us to see and hear Him. His words underline all the holiday happy pills… His presence keeps us from being buried in the holiday hoopla. This is not the holiday season. This is the Christmas season…and the season of Thanksgiving. It is a time for Christians to celebrate who Jesus is. It is a celebration season as we celebrate the truth as found in the Christ Child. Swallowing the holiday pill may bring death to the love peace hope and joy that Jesus can bring. Start the season knowing the reason.
Sunday, November 20, Psalm 100 will give a choral concert at 6:P.M. in the Congregational Church. It is called “Come Follow Me.” This would be a good way to begin this season. All are invited .The choir is made up of singers from several different churches some of which are not in Rio Vista. It is a professional performance by Believers. The Sunday before Thanksgiving is a good time to be reminded of the miracle of Christmas.. It is the prayer of Believers that Christ will be celebrated in Christmas. Come Follow Him .

November 2, 2011

This weekend we return to standard time. We can get back the hour we lost when we went to Daylight Savings Time. This is one of the only times that we are given back an hour that we lost. How many times do we wish that we had the hour back that we spent in a non productive activity? Wasted days and wasted hours …Songs have been sung about wasted time, hours, nights and days. I think of groups that were formed for a purpose but have long since forgotten the purpose. Universities that were founded by Christians have long since moved away from their roots. When we move away from the purpose for which we have come together we are wasting precious time. None of us are going to get out of this life alive and the clock is ticking for all of us. Every minute is precious and yet we all tend to waste time.
Benjamin Franklin wrote,” Dost thou love life? Then waste not time; for time is the stuff life is made of.” His words remind us that every minute we waste is a minute of wasted life. The most valuable gift that God has given to us is not time but our stewardship of that time. Every Christian group should make sure that it is managing and investing in God’s time for His glory and His Kingdom. In Ephesians chapter five verse 15 we read,” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise, making the best use of your time because the days are evil.”Then it goes on to say that we are to be filled with the Spirit and address one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all of our heart giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
When we look carefully how we walk we are looking carefully at how we are spending time. The Greek verb “look” means to examine, investigate and contemplate something with great care and diligence. If we waste time then we are wasting God’s time. If our words or actions do not build up the body of Christ then they are wasted and God is not pleased. There are many activities that Christians involve themselves in and some are not organized from a Christian perspective .Some of the situations Christians find themselves in can be a waste of time. A discerning spirit knows when the minutes are ticking away in a bad use of time. One cannot redeem the lost minutes but in Christ the minutes remaining cancel out all that was past. We can look ahead towards the high calling of God and ignore the low calling of the enemy. The enemy would love to confuse us and make us forget our purpose. The enemy could be my new phone. It certainly wastes a lot of my time. Anything that is a distraction from seeing Jesus can lead one into waste land. We all go there often but as believers in Jesus we know that He helps us reset our spiritual clocks to His timing. All is never lost time wise for the follower of Christ. We do not have to live under the influence of anything or anyone other than the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ. God created us and redeemed us to live under the influence and control of the Holy Spirit. Groups that meet in the name of Jesus need to remember who Jesus is. They can develop a life of their own and the founding Holy Father can be forgotten. Time is wasted because the life has gone out.
When we turn back the clock this weekend it might be a good time to ask ourselves if we are good stewards of the time God has given us? If we have spent one minute in non productive behavior attitudes, actions that minute is forever gone. Non productive behavior for a Christian is acting without His love. We are to love Him and then others. Jesus said these are the two greatest commandments. All time is sorted through these two directives. As you turn the clock back I challenge you to read a Psalm, sing a hymn or a praise chorus, let God fill your heart with His song and give thanks to Him for all of the minutes he has given to you…and give thanks for everything including the negative situations. Give everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His time He makes all things perfect….sing the song and make minutes count for Jesus. A life that is controlled by the Holy Spirit will be lived in worship and gratitude. It was also be lived in servanthood. Every minute invested in loving others will add minutes to a life.

Invest your extra hour Sunday. Go to church
October 26, 2011

One hundred six years ago today a woman of God’s heart was born. Because of her suit for Jesus her two kids love the Lord and are both pastors…one of whom is me. My love for her is always part of my spiritual attire. All of the things we carry in our heart clothe our thoughts. A preschooler reminded me of this today. I have the privilege of singing and telling stories once a week for our Christian preschool. This morning one child gave me the topic for this article. The children come into the sanctuary through the prayer room door. I have all of my clergy robes hanging on a rack in the room along with books, a keyboard and other things. On the front of the rack there is a white robe with a cross on it. One little girl pointed to it as she was leaving and she said, “A Jesus suit!” I will never put that robe on again without thinking of her words. Not only do they strike a theological chord for preaching they strike home at the way we live. All preachers should be clothed in a Jesus suit especially when they preach. I do not like to wear a robe but my mother thought robes added to the dignity of worship. She always said that when the pastor would wear a robe people would focus on the message and not the messenger. I have seen folks in the pulpit whose attire detracted from what they had to say…both men and women. It is not my intent to promote the wearing of clergy robes but is my intent to promote wearing a Jesus suit. If we truly were wearing a Jesus Suit I wonder how our daily actions would change. If we clothe ourselves in his Holy Spirit then we have a Jesus Suit. Clothing is a metaphor for many spiritual truths. Clothing can cover up many flaws but when we are clothed in Jesus our whole being is exposed to his love. He clothes us in His righteousness, love and forgiveness. That is a real Jesus Suit. A real Jesus suit is seen by others…either we present ourselves in that suit or we wear the suit of the world.
Sometimes we try to dress ourselves and we get in such a hurry we may not have time to zip up the back of a dress but usually we do not care because we wear a jacket and no one sees an unzipped dress…until the weather gets hot and we forget and take off the jacket. My Dad pastored a church in Ione. My Mother was out of town and he did not have an ironed white shirt. He pulled one out of the laundry and ironed just the front. He was invited out for a backyard barbecue after church and the temperature was around 100 degrees. I remember him sweating profusely as the other church members asked him if he wouldn’t like to take off his jacket. He finally confessed about his wrinkled shirt and took off his coat.
Sometimes we have to confess that we are not wearing a Jesus Suit. When a vest is buttoned wrong it is because the first button was wrong. ..and all of the other buttons line up crooked. The first thing in the morning we need to do is start with Jesus and let him clothe us in his suit for the day. When we start with him all of the other things will line up. People will see Jesus…just like the little preschooler who said…”Oh Look A Jesus Suit!!!” My parents taught us about the suit of Jesus. My parents never used those words but today with the word of the little preschooler I realized that is exactly what they were trying to teach us. My prayer is that every time I put on that robe it will be Jesus’ suit. I also pray that every morning all Christians will get dressed in a Jesus Suit. Everyone needs to cast aside the clothing of this world’s designer. .. Galatians 2:20 READS,” I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. “Christ loved us and gave himself for us so that we might live. He is the master designer who clothes us in love. He sends us love in many suits…one of which was my mother. I celebrate her birthday today knowing that she has joined many saints who have left their Jesus Suit for us to wear. Whose suit are you wearing?? “Dress yourself in Christ and be up an about.” Romans 2:14 Message. Christians are dressed with somewhere to go.

October 19, 2011

I was intimidated by the Antioch Bridge when we first moved to Rio Vista…but once I drove across it my fear was gone. The barrier makes me feel safe. This is the way of God’s bridge across difficult situations. He walks beside us acts as a barrier to anything that would cause us to fall. He gives all of a barrier against falling into troubled waters and drowning in the trials. Crossing over troubled water without the presence of Jesus Christ would be like driving across the Antioch Bridge with no wall on the side and no barriers. The journey would last a very long time. ..and for most of us the journey would never be made.

This past week I have been reminded of how in Christ we keep on moving over and through troubled waters. My aunt broke her ribs, my husband was sick, some dear friends have had major health issues and someone hacked into our credit card and charged over a thousand dollars at a walmart in Colorado. it is a given that all things work together for those who love the Lord but when trouble comes, which it does to all of us , we need to reach for God’s hand. His hand will turn us in the right direction.

I read a story about a turtle that had been beached. She had wandered to the beach to lay her eggs. She got turned in the wrong direction and headed for the dunes instead of the water. A person saw the problem and reported it to a ranger who promptly went out with his jeep to rescue her. He flipped her on her back and wrapped chains around her legs. Then he hooked the chains to the trailer hitch and began to drag her upside down back to the beach. The poor turtle must have thought she was doomed as her face took on the sand. She was going through a very difficult time and had no idea that she was being saved! When the ranger got her to the beach he unhooked her and turned her right side up. She lay motionless as a wave broke over her but with another wave she began to lift her head and move her legs. After several waves she pushed off and began her journey again safe and alive. Sometimes it is hard to see that the events that turn us upside down may be the very things that give us understanding and strength to save us from sinking into trouble.

The turtle made the journey but she got turned around for some reason. She was on the right journey but lost her sense of direction. How long have we wandered in the wrong direction only to be rescued by the hand of God? Focusing on the troubles of life causes one to become disoriented. The more one focuses on the problems of life the more the water begins to churn. No matter what the circumstances if we know Jesus the hand of God will reach out and turn us in the right direction.

The turtle suffered terror but in it all she was being saved. Sometimes God’s blessings do not come right away. They may come after we have gone in the wrong direction. Our job is to stay the course and not run away. The bridge of God is safe. He has our journey planned. We may think that we have been dealt a bad hand and all seems to be hopeless…just remember the turtle. The very hand she thought was destroying her was saving her. Bridges built by our Lord are safe. They will get us where he wants us to be.

Jesus said “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” He is the bridge.

October 12, 2011

This is the week when Rio Vista celebrates the Bass Derby. It began as a celebration of a fish and who could catch the biggest one. Fishing is important to so many people especially many who live in our town. As we go through this week I am reminded of the greatest fisherman that ever lived and he lives today. He is our Lord Jesus Christ.He told his followers to go out and share his message with others and in so doing becoming “fishers of men.” Today those of us who know Jesus take the symbol of the fish seriously. The early Christians took it even more seriously. It was the way they would identify with one another. During times of persecution they would draw a half arc in the ground and see if the other person finished the arc and made a fish. If he did so then that was acknowledgement that he or she was a Christian. The fish was the symbol for believers. Today it is a symbol for believers. Ichthus is the Greek word meaning fish. The Greek spelling is IXOYE…which when translated into English stands for Jesus Christ God Son Savior. We have all seen the fish with legs and the word Darwin. ..but a simple fish displayed on the back of the car usually signals to others that a Christian is driving. If a car has a fish on it and the driver is rude crude and socially unacceptable the car may be reported as a stolen car!
Here are some things others will not say when they see a fish symbol or a Christian bumper sticker on a car.
Look, let’s stop that car and ask folks how we can become Christians
Those people are Christians so there has to be a reason they are driving 90 miles an hour on Highway 12.
What a joy it is to be sharing highway 12 with another car of Spirit filled brothers and sisters.
Isn’t it wonderful how God has blessed that couple with a brand new BMW?
Oh Look! That woman is getting a chance to share Jesus with a police officer.
That can’t be garbage being thrown out of the window. That must be tracts for the road workers.
Oh dear we are we in trouble. We just rear ended one of God’s cars.
Quick honk the horn or they will think we do not love Jesus
Oh look the bridge is up and malfunctioning. We can gather in prayer with those in the car ahead of us because they have a fish symbol.
When we realize that the fish symbol means Jesus Christ God Son Savior The letters XOYE and the symbol are really powerful….because they represent the power of who we serve. The disciples of Jesus were fishermen. Jesus gave them instructions on fishing. He performed a miracle with the fish and the loaves.. He told his disciples to go out in deep water and where to cast their nets. His instructions caused the nets to break because there were so many fish. Jesus used the language of the fishermen. He served fish to his disciples after his resurrection.
Fishing is what we Christians do. We cannot sit by the shore of life. Our Lord calls us to go out into the deep waters and search for men and women who are drowning in sin…and reel them in! Cast your bread upon the water. Jesus is the bread of life. The symbol of the fish is meaningless if we do not go fishing. .

October 5, 2011

August 10, 2011

Recently Rio Vista had the Holy Ghost Festival. It is a yearly event but for true believers it is a celebration of the soul on a daily basis. The Holy Ghost is the third person of the trinity which we know to be the Holy Spirit. The King James Version of the Bible refers to the Holy Spirit as the Holy Ghost at least ninety times while mentioning the word, “Holy Spirit” only seven times. The Hebrew and Greek words mean the same for the third person of the trinity. If one truly celebrates the Holy Ghost then that person has encountered the living Christ in power. The Holy Ghost is a person of power. No one can come to Christ without being led by the Holy Spirit…prayers lack power if one does not pray in the power of the Holy Ghost. Experiencing the Holy Ghost is a mountaintop experience but believers live in the valleys. This Holy Ghost is not a trivial once a year happening but is a viable part of all Christians walk. None of us could exist in the valley without that power. However there are those who call themselves Christians who walk in the valleys of life with no power because they have not encountered Jesus Christ. He comes in the presence of his Holy Spirit and equips us for living in the valley. He gives one a countenance that shines and a spiritual uplift that lifts above life’s shadows. He makes arms strong to hold on to one another through a crisis, He gives strength to stand strong and tall in the midst of trials. Without him we are like Adam before God breathed life into Him..a lump of mud! The Holy Ghost empowers one to live in the world without being part of it. The mountain top experience of the Holy Ghost is a true celebration. It is the filling station where God’s people can be powered. We do not linger on the mountain because the work is in the valley.
The Holy Ghost experience is not one of confusion but of peace…but He does take all of the truth of the Bible and make it come alive. He does take the churches who profess Christ and fills them with power. He takes those who have been attending a church all of their life and make something new out of their worship. He hears the prayers that are being prayed and his power affirms that he hears and is answering. It is one thing to acknowledge the Holy Ghost and quite another to experience Him. He can stand at the door and knock but it is up to us to open the door and let Him in to our life.
The Holy Ghost experience is all about Jesus! He lived and is still alive by His Spirit. The Gospel of Jesus was not one of mere words. It was one of acts. It was not mere theories but a definite livable underlying question answering, soul satisfying life sustaining fact. He showed the church her emptiness but revealed the bounteous power that is available to replenish that which has died out. His power takes all of life’s problems and solves them if one can turn lose of them . When Jesus walked our lonesome valley he proved that we would not walk it alone because he did not walk it alone. He was filled with the Holy Spirit…The Spirit fueled Him..Even though he was given all power and authority under heaven the works he did were powered by the Holy Spirit. That same Holy Spirit blesses all who seek Jesus.
Do I understand the Trinity?….not really but I know it to be true. I celebrate the Holy Ghost every day of my life. He makes a dull day one to celebrate…We who believe celebrate the Holy Ghost Festival in our soul. The Holy Ghost Festival can occur anywhere and with anyone who is willing to be filled, changed and charged with new life. …Jesus told his disciples to stay and wait until they had been clothed with power from on high. Wait for the Holy Ghost before you begin the parade of life.

August 03, 2011

Believers are constantly being challenged to keep the focus. Often we remind one another to keep the faith but without focus faith fails. In order to stay focused the words of Psalm 16 vs.18 are a simple reminder. It reads,” I have set the Lord always before me.” To stay focused the key word is always. Once we allow our focus to drift elsewhere the main God event gets blurred. There are too many people who have lost their focus resulting in their missing the beauty of the main event which is the presence of the living Lord.

As we go through life it is so important to keep our eyes on the main event and not the people in the grandstand. Last week there was a beautiful patriotic pageant of the flags which began the rodeo. The riders all carried an American flag as they demonstrated their skill of horsemanship. The colors were presented by the military and the Navy Choir sang the National Anthem. Patriotism was the main event and I almost missed it because I focused on people in the stands who refused to stand for the flag or national Anthem. I focused on the negative behavior and almost lost my focus and did not see all of the thousands who were standing. In our Christian walk it is easy to get sidelined with things that are not part of the main event.
The main event in church is to worship Jesus but there are times when the focus is blurred. Do we truly focus on Jesus as the main event of worship? In preparing my sermons I ask myself the same question. Believers have a responsibility to encourage one another to remain focused on the things of the Lord. When we focus on something the peripheral vision is blurred. This is the way we should focus on Jesus all of the other insignificant things become blurred. Whatever one focuses on becomes the dominant influence in their life.
There is a story about two bird watchers who were sitting on a hill with binoculars raised. One was focusing on the sky and the other was focusing on the valley. Suddenly the one focused on the valley became enraged. His blood was boiling because he had seen a cat eat an innocent bird. The other bird watcher was looking up and he saw a magnificent eagle flying peacefully above. Each one saw what he focused on. One had seen the main event for which they had come and he was full of joy. The other had allowed himself to become sidelined and he missed he eagle.
It is difficult to not focus on the negative things in life’s grandstand. It is difficult to focus on Christ as the main event when so many difficult people and distractions take a seat near us. However, even good things can be a distraction. Anything that blurs the presence of Christ will cause one to miss the main event.
THE MAIN EVENT IS Jesus and if we focus on him we will not be stressed. This world is full of teeming injustice. There are grim happenings which can challenge faith but if we remain focused heavenward we will be filled with the peace of God which comes when we make Him the main event. It is a choice just like the bird watchers. We can either look up or look down. “Don’t shuffle along eyes to the ground absorbed with the things in front of you. Look up and be alert to what is going on around Christ-that’s where the action is.” Col.3:2 He is the Main Event

May 18, 2011

Life continues to bring daily changes.
This becomes very apparent when a new cell phone is needed.
In looking at the options available
the mind is a merry go round of unrelated
facts. When the mind quits spinning we
realize that no matter what phone we purchase
we probably will not use all of the
features. It takes time to fi gure out new
applications and many of us do not want to
spend the time to fi gure it out. The words,
“I don’t have time to fi gure it out” are the
words that describe some Christians. They
believe in the Risen Christ but they do not
have time to fi gure out what their life can
mean if truly powered by the Holy Spirit
the presence of the Living Lord.
The way of the Lord
comes in the word of
the Lord which is the
Bible. If one takes time
to understand the way
of the Lord the Lord of
the Lord makes sense.
There are those who
do not read the Bible
using excuses such as
it is too hard to understand
,many of the
passages do not makes
sense and the words do
not apply to everyday
living. There is a Life
Application Bible plus
other Bibles that help
explain some of the
words and thoughts.
God breathes his power
into the words…that is
what gives them life.
The Bible is a powerful
life giving application
that some never use.
It is full of prayer and
praise…Prayer is the
way to open all of the
life giving applications
in the Bible. One has to
connect with the source
of power.
The First Congregational
Church has purchased
a beautiful sign
with the words, “OPEN
FOR PRAYER.” It is
the hope of this pastor
that when the sign is
seen on the sidewalk
she will not pray alone.
However this will
insure that she takes
the time to talk to God
too. Some pray through
words, some through
music, some through
silence and words of
the heart. I pray when
I play the piano. We
approach the throne of
God in different ways.
The sign is a beautiful
sign done by one of our
local sign people….but
no matter how fancy
the sign if it is not applied
then it might as
well say ,”closed to
prayer”.
The new phone I have
decided on has applications
that will remain
closed until I find time
or have an interest in
applying them to use.
With every new electronic
purchase I make
I have to change my
pattern of operational
skills. Most electronic
stuff requires a battery
and that is something
everyone understands.
A battery is what gives
the power. The Holy
Spirit is who gives
power to Christians
that have lost the zest
for life. Batteries are
charged by plugging
into the power source.
If the Way of the Lord
and the Word of the
Lord has grown dim it
is time to connect with
the power source…the
Holy Spirit.
Every Wednesday
morning a group meets
in the Fireside Room
at the First Congregational
Church. The
topic for the next few
months is the Holy
Spirit. The more we
know the more we
grow. Our text book
for this class is easy to
have easy to hold and
easy to follow from
this day forward if we
are joined in a Holy
union with God. The
fellowship of Believers
in a Bible Study is
powerful… if it allows
the Holy Spirit to lead.
Sunday worship is a
good place to start a
power journey. If you
are not attending a
church I invite you to
worship with us. June
through August we will
begin worship at ten
in an informal service.
Take time out to figure
it out! God has a perfect
plan just for you.

March 2, 2011

The grace of God gives courage in the face of adversity. Many people are facing financial adversity as their jobs are disappearing. I have heard people say things are getting better and the economy is improving but so far I have not seen evidence that leads me to believe this is true…as a matter of fact I am witnessing evidence that points in the opposite direction. I know because of the prayer list we have.
There have always been There have always been requests for healing but the list I have right now the requests for jobs has surpassed the healing requests. However no matter what the crisis is the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ gives courage. I think of all the places where Christians are being persecuted. Many are showing supreme courage because they serve a Risen Lord and they know that He is worth living for even though they may die they live because He Lives! I read the horrid stories of religious acts of violence and I thank God that I live where I can worship without fear… Courageous Christians do not fall back on a religion…they fall at the foot of the cross and let Christ love them and infuse them with the courage he demonstrated by going to the cross.

I think of those who poured out their lives for the cause of Christ and gave their life because of their supreme courage. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a man of courage. He was a German pastor during the rise of the Third Reich. When a declaration came down that churches were to exclude Believers with Jewish backgrounds he obeyed God and not man. A well known theologian in America invited Bonheoffer to come to America to be a professor in a theological seminary. This was a safe place for him. He did not have to summon up courage to teach about Christ. However, within a month he returned to Germany knowing that God had called him to take a stand for those whose courage was gone. His efforts led to his execution in 1945. He was completely sold out to God .The questions has been asked,” Where does a man with no fixed star find courage?” The answer is.”He doesn’t!” Bonheoffer’s courage came from an absolute trust in the promises of God… He followed the star of Bethlehem and worshipped Christ. He walked with God.

God is calling Christians to courage. He will give courage to speak up when things are not right. He will give Believers the knowledge of what to do when evil rears its head. Most of us who call ourselves Christians really do know what to do. The problem is that we do not always do it and I believe it is because we lack courage. If you are out of work or in any other kind of adverse situation let God encourage you. Believe Him when he said that he would never leave us or forsake us. When we were children we asked our parents to go with us if we afraid of something. We had courage as long as we were not alone. God goes before us. We are not alone.

January 19, 2011

The Bible story of Daniel
in the lion’s den is a
story that gives Christians
strength to walk across
troubled waters. There are
so many incidents recorded
in the Bible of the
miraculous intervention of
God. God sent his angels
and shut the mouths of
the lions. No wound was
found on Daniel because
he had prayed and he was
delivered. There are many
lions in our world that
are seeking to devour and
destroy the faith of believers.
Things happen that are
discouraging and the lions
circle in hopes to find weak
Christians. We hear the
roar of violence and sink
into a pit of doom. The roar
tries to drown out the voice
of the Prince of Peace but
he still walks amongst us.
The enemy comes as a
lion and stalks his prey…he
roars words of discouragement
about everything. We
all have our lions. They
come in circumstances
that are full of pain and
grief. They come in areas
of what seems like hopeless
addictions. They come
in the voice of those who
say harmful things about
one another. They come
in lies and garbage one
finds on the Internet. They
roar in depression and
suppression. Their theme
song is, “I am Lion Hear
Me Roar!” Lions roar in
politics and the media. It is
not unusual for lions to get
into a roaring match and
discover that they have forgotten
why they are roaring.
They are caught up in
making a statement and the
roar has drowned out any
form of reasonableness. It
is difficult to hear a canary
sing when the cats are
making a ruckus…however
in the midst of the noise
of open mouths the angels
circle and wait for their
orders. When Christians
pray miracles happen. God
sends his angels to shut the
mouths of the lions that are
bent on destruction.
The King who had Daniel
thrown into the lion’s den
witnessed a miracle. He
had believed the roar of the
people who were spreading
lies about Daniel and
so he ordered his death by
the lions…but even as he
did so his last words were,
“May your God whom you
serve continually, rescue
you.” I believe the King
hoped that the God of Daniel
was for real. He must
have had a small amount of
faith because he called out
to Daniel the next morning
asking him if his God had
saved him. Why would he
call out if he did not have a
shred of hope?
In the midst of the roar
of disbelief Christians
can walk with the Prince
of Peace, the Lord Jesus
Christ. He hears every
prayer. The lions in the
lion’s den had been denied
food for days to insure the
quick demise of their prey
but the believer was not
prey…Daniel was a believer
just as we are today.
Nothing can come against
a believer that God cannot
conquer. He will shut the
mouths….because he is the
living God and he endures
forever. His kingdom will
not be destroyed and his
dominion will last forever.
He rescues and he saves.
He performs signs and
wonders in heaven and on
earth. He rescued Daniel
from the power of the
Lions and he will rescue us
from the power of our enemies.
God will silence the
voice of evil. Evil voices
can trouble the waters but
in Christ we have a bridge that lasts forever.

December 29,2010

New Year’s resolutions
usually go in one year and
out the next. I guarantee
all of us have made some
sort of resolution that we
will do next year. We may
not call it a resolution but
it is something we are
putting off until the New
Year. Usually that which
we put off will continue
to take a back seat in our
journey of life. Many make
a resolution to read the
Bible more .Bibles are
read by Christians but
so are books about the
Bible. Some Bible studies
have special workbooks
.One can always say that
the workbooks are full of
scripture and are Biblically
based but the fact
remains they are not the
Bible. If the Bible could
speak it may have the following
words. Jan 15…I
have been resting a whole
week. A few nights before
the New Year my owner
opened me but now I am
closed on the shelf. Only
two weeks into the New
Year and the resolution to
open me has been forgotten.
Feb. 3:My owner
picked me up and rushed
off to Sunday school carrying
me in a new Bible case
he got for Christmas. I am
all dressed up with nowhere
to go. I stay in the
case and am left on the
church pew for all to see.
Feb.23:I have been out of
the case for a few weeks.
My owner left me on the
shelf. Now it is cleaning
day and I get the PLEDGE
treatment. April 2: Wow
today is a busy day .My
owner has to present a
lesson for Sunday school.
He is quickly looking up
passages. This feels so
good but it is sure short
lived. May 5: Today I am in
Grandma’s lap. I feel loved.
May 9: Grandma let a tear
fall when she read John
14:1-3. May 10: Grandma
is gone. I am back in my
old place. May 20: A baby
was born. His name was
written on my pages. July
1: I am packed off into a
suitcase for a vacation.
July 20: I am still in the
suitcase. Everything else
was taken out but I was
left. July 25: I am home
again but I have no idea
why I went. Aug.16: I have
had the Pledge treatment
again and placed in a
very prominent place. The
preacher is coming for
dinner.Aug.20: My owner
wrote about Grandma’s
death in the family record.
He left his extra pair
of glasses between my
pages. Maybe he will take
time to get to know me
when he comes back. He
might remember his New
Year’s resolution. September
30: My owner was
thrilled to find his glasses
but he paid no attention
to me. October 12: I am
moved to the bookcase.
..along with many other
Bibles and Commentaries.
The bookshelves of my
owner show him to bea
well read man. I wonder
why he reads about me
but does not spend much
time with me. November
25: I am going to church
again. My owner forgot
me in the men’s room so
I had to stay in the there
for one week. It is a good
thing his name is written
inside my pages. I do not
think he ever missed me
because the pastor had to
call him and tell him that
I was found. December 5:
I have become part of a
decoration. My pages are
open to Luke to remind
my owner’s friends about
the real meaning of
Christmas. I sense he feels
a bit guilty putting me
on display when he has
not bothered to really let
me speak to him. I hope
he will make a resolution
every day of this coming
year to spend more time
with me. Though he forgot
his last year’s promise to
me my author still loves
him. If he bothers to read
my words he will know
that love…My words can
give him a recipe for a
Happy New Year….
Many of us get new Bibles
for Christmas. Whether our
Bible is old or new ,tattered
red or blue it needs
to be opened and read
each day anew! Reading
the Bible with the Spirit of
the Lord is no chore. It is
not necessary to plan out
how many pages are going
to be read. Sometimes
one verse will change our
journey across the bridge
of life. Just start reading.
Make your life an open
book…the Bible. Happy
New You!

December 15, 2010

Is it beginning to look a lot
like Christmas? What does
Christmas really look like?
Is it decorations in our
homes or does it decorate
our hearts. Every aspect of
Christmas is a star to hang
in our hearts. The love of
God came as a child who
would live die and live
again. He removed the
sting of death from all
who would follow Him.
When Christ was born it
was the beginning of the
look of Christmas. The
angels decorated the sky
with the message of good
News…the shepherds
decorated the hillsides
with their sheep and they
saw the angels and heard
what they said and they
followed .Joseph heard
the angel and he followed.
The sky was bright with
a holy light… It was the
beginning of the look of
Christmas…and those
who saw followed.
Unfortunately it is not
beginning to look a lot
like Christmas everywhere
you go . It looks like a
mish mash of things that
are not Christmas. Even
the secular Christmas
decorations of trees elves
and Santa Claus have
faded into the past. The
only change Christmas
has made in many cities
and communities is lights
and even those seem to
have dimmed. It is not
beginning to look a lot like
Christmas everywhere I
go. The only thing left for
those of us who believe
in the birth of the Christ
Child is to take Christmas
with us everywhere we
go. Christmas sweaters
and other apparel that
look like Christmas are
hard to find. My sisters…
we can resurrect our old
Christmas stuff and wear it
this year. Every day we can
look a lot like Christmas.
(Remember if the sweaters
have been put away the
smell of Christmas is not
mothballs!) . The designs
on the sweaters and other
wearing apparel may not
be religious but they spark
conversations which allow
us to share the Good
News! If we have chosen
to follow Jesus then he
will decorate our lives and
his light will never go dim.
He is the light of the world
with everlasting power.
The people who walk in
great darkness will see a
great light. His name is
called Wonderful, Counselor,
Everlasting Father
and Prince of Peace. That
is the Jesus we celebrate
at Christmas.
There is another song
that says, “Rise up shepherd
and follow.” It is time
for Christians to rise up
and follow.” If you take
good heed to the angel’s
words…you’ll forget your
flocks and forget your
herds.” Some things are
not as important as we
think. All that burdens
us down we can leave
behind when we rise up
and follow Jesus Christ.
Angels are messengers
from God and if we make
the decision to follow we
will hear them. We can let
all the music of the heavens
decorate this season.
The more we follow and
believe the more we will
look like Christ.. only then
will we will look a lot like Christmas.

December 8., 2010

I just left the office of Dr.
Ted Schultz where I said
good bye to Hazel. She
was the wonder dog of
Rio Vista. No fence was
high enough to contain
her. There were no obstacles
that she could
not overcome. She was
a friend to everyone in
town. She greeted me on
my first visit to Rio Vista as
I was leaving the Striper
Café. I was informed that
she had just stopped by
for her morning pancake
breakfast. She would drop
by the church office and
let us pet her and love
her but she would not
stay long because she
had other places to go
and people to see. Hazel
had friends everywhere.
There were many Hazel
spottings . She could be
seen at the carnival during
Bass Festival, rolling in
the mud or taking a dip
in the river. She hitched
rides with strangers and
almost hitched a ride in
someone’s airplane who
thought he would take
her to Arizona. Most dogs
would never have made it
to almost fifteen years of
age with Hazel’s life style.
Her family provided her
with a healthy well balanced
meal but she added
to it with Pizzas, bacon,
cookies, a frozen meatloaf
and other town exotic
delicacies. I will miss the
Hazel spotting. We will
no longer be driving and
say,”Oh look there goes
Hazel.”

Animals are a gift
from God. I know that all
creatures great or small
the Lord God made them
all. The design of God is
amazing. He created man
and woman after the animals to take care of
the animals. He created
us so he could love us
and I believe he created
animals so we could love
them. Why is it so difficult
for us to love one
another? Love came down
at Christmas in the form of
Jesus the son of God. The
baby Jesus is traditionally
pictured in a manger surrounded
by animals. The
Shepherds were the first
to hear the Good News
and their job was tending
sheep. Love was born
among the animals. Sometimes
it seems as if those
who do not like animals
do not like people either.
When I was chaplain
for the Monterey County
Sheriff’s department I was
reminded of the need to
hold, pet and cuddle a
furry soft little animal. The
trunk of many a deputy’s
car contained a least one
wonderful fuzzy teddy
bear. When children were
traumatized or afraid they
were given a bear to hug.
It was the next best thing
to holding a puppy. Adults
are not beyond the same
need. Many are the times
that we shed tears into a
pillow or an old stuffed
animal. Our fifteen year
old Samoyed said goodbye
from the same place
as Hazel. He was a huge
white ball of fluff and
many were the times I hid
my face in his fur and shed
a tear. When my mother
was getting ready to say
goodbye our Samoyed
was also getting ready
to say farewell. I did not
have him very long after
mother left. I know this is
why I was so insistent on
getting Crystal. I missed
the ball of fluff. Crystal has
made it past the first year
and she has turned everything
I own into a ball of
fluff! If she hasn’t turned
it into fluff she has eaten
it. In spite of all her habits
and traumas of puppyhood
she is our new ball
of love. Someday I will say
goodbye to her too but
gifts of love keep giving in
memories.
As we go into gift buying
,wrapping and giving
it is important we see the
real gifts that God has
given to us .Most of the
gifts are not wrapped
in beautiful paper and
bows. Many of the gifts
are wrapped in tears. We
feel emotion towards that
which we cherish and
love. God has surrounded
us with gifts of love. They
come in all sorts of shapes
and forms. I choose to
believe our pets are gifts
from God last and Thursday
God took one of them back.

December 1, 2010
This article was written for
Thanksgiving however an
attitude of thanksgiving
should be an everyday experience.
Christians enter
the season of Christmas as
pilgrims. They on a sacred
journey to Bethlehem.
Thanksgiving was a day
unlike any other holiday .
The three ingredients for
the day revolved around
family food and fellowship.
It is the one holiday that
centers on giving thanks.
Thanksgiving is difficult
for atheists because they
do not have anyone to
thank. We can say thank
you to one another but the
attitude of giving thanks
goes beyond thank you. It
is truly an act of worship
to be filled with gratitude.
When we consider all that
we have been blessed with
a simple thank you is not
enough. . Grateful hearts
reflect an attitude of gratitude.
We all are pilgrims
on a journey. A pilgrim
by definition is someone
who embarks on a sacred
journey.. The journey is
for a religious purpose. All
Christians who seek the
truth and give thanks to
the God of truth as found
in Jesus Christ are pilgrims.
Congregationalists can
be thankful of the saints
who paved the way for
them. The Pilgrims started
the first Thanksgiving.
The pilgrims were the first
Congregationalists. William
Bradford wrote,” Thus
out of small beginnings
greater things have been
produced by His hand, yet
made all things of nothing,
and gives being to all
things that are; and as one
small candle may light a
thousand so ye light here
kindled hath shone to
many, yea in some sort to
our whole nation; let ye
glorious name of Jehovah
have all ye praise.” If
we are the church of the
Pilgrims then it behooves
us to remember our roots.
(he Boston Tea Party
started in the basement of
a Congregational Church.)
Yes our church is really
old but so are many other
denominations. The first
Pilgrims began a work
that bridges every group
of believers.
Pilgrims knew how to be
thankful. They had survived!
They had a custom
of putting five kernels
of corn on each empty
plate before a dinner of
thanksgiving was served.
In many old Plymouth
families the custom is still
followed today. It is done
on Thanksgiving Day or
on December 21 (the
anniversary of the Plymouth
landing). The first
five kernels were chosen,
prior to the first harvest.
Life was so hard that
there was a daily ration
of five kernels of corn for
each person. Now before
eating the Thanksgiving
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meal the five kernels of
corn are set out in remembrance.
The following is
the Five Kernel Prayer.
Five kernels of corn on an
empty plate reminding us
of our pilgrim kin, whose
hunger was so very great,
that death might have
become a friend. Great
creator of earth itself,
You who give bounteous
harvest from seed, Grant
that we may not so much
stock our shelf as share
your abundance with
those in need. When we
sit down to tables stacked
with food of every sort
and name…before mouth
and stomach are packed
may we remember from
whence it came. Amen All
good things come from
the Lord. He blesses us
with his amazing love. He
enables us to be pilgrims
in a land that needs to be
reminded of his glorious
name. One small candle of
gratitude can light others.
Believers are called
to a sacred journey never
forgetting the journey of
the early pilgrims. Someone
said that the Pilgrims
had trouble keeping their
trousers up because they
wore their buckles on
their hat. Pilgrims were
identified by the way
they dressed but the real
identification came from
the attitude of gratitude.
They were identified by
their strong belief in Christ
as the head of the body of
believers. One cannot love
Jesus without a grateful
heart. If we have the faith
the size of a mustard seed
or a kernel of corn we can
move mountains. Hope
you had a happy Thanksgiving
Pilgrim!

November 17, 2010

I have just returned from
my monthly two day trip
to Covina checking in with
my aunt who is ninety
nine years old. Every trip I
witness the power of God
in so many ways. Her life
is supported by a caregiver
who prays over her. God
is a caretaker of all of us 24
hours seven days a week.
All we have to do is call
out his name and He holds
us up and helps us walk
the journey of life. One
should never underestimate
the power God’s
care. His care transcends
our understanding especially
when he breathes
his power into our life. My
aunt is no longer wheel
chair bound … She is not
running any races or walking
without help
but she is walking. There
are times in life when one
is tempted to give in to
what seems the inevitable.
The inevitable is not determinable
with God as the
caregive

Bridge Over Troubled Waters

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