Grac*e-mail for 05/02/11 got grace?
Today I send out a special birthday wish for my son, Seth, who is now 16 years old. He is a GREAT young man and I am so proud of him!!!! May God continue to bless him… today and every day.
John()_:-) Every time you see this angel, remember that God loves you!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Gal 2:20-21
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."
NKJV
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
I recommend these grief e-mails to folks who have lost loved ones…
Sharing Your Grief
Day 41
Which of these sentences best describes you? Your spouse? Siblings? Children?
“I like to open up and share deep-felt emotions as often as possible.”
“ I can think of a million things I'd rather do than bring up the pain again by talking about it.”
Every person has his or her own way of reacting to grief, and men and women often respond differently.
"My husband still has a hard time just talking about it," says Dora, who lost her daughter.
"I think his way of dealing with it is to dive into work, to avoid it, to not talk about it. Many times it causes problems between us because I want to talk about it. For me, it's like he's not validating my suffering by allowing me to share it with him. For him, it's as if I'm opening up his wounds by wanting him to share it with me."
You cannot change another person to grieve in a way that pleases you, but you can give your concerns about that person to God and pray that he or she will someday open up and release those crippling emotions.
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16).
Lord God, it's so important that I share my emotions with others. Only You can soften a heart that is hardened. Once again, I give it to You. Amen.
To subscribe, go to http://dailyemails.griefshare.org/dailyemails/
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Grac*e-mail now has a page on Facebook… so send your friends an invitation to enjoy!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Haha… A funny from Sermon Fodder and Joke A Day Ministries. To get a regular dose of Christian humor and a modern-day parable drop a note to Sermon_Fodder-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or to ajokeaday7-subscribe@topica.com.
Recently while we were eating lunch after church one Sunday, my youngest son asked me what the highest number I had ever counted up to was.
I said I didn't know. Then I asked him how high he has counted.
“5,372,” came the prompt reply.
"Oh," I said. "Why did you stop there?"
"The sermon was over."
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Here is a link and some info…
http://www.victorjadamson.com/index2.html
Welcome to Victor J. Adamson.com, a help site for homosexuals, their families and friends.
Do you have a son or daughter, a brother or sister, or a special loved one of any relation or of no relation who is Gay - Homosexual? Is your loved one out there wandering in the Valley of the Lost Sheep, wondering "Why me?" Are you yourself, perhaps, struggling with the Homosexual Orientation, or with some other besetting sin or addiction in your own life? And, as a result, are you wavering in your own personal relationship with Christ, your Creator and Savior?
The purpose of this Web Site is to share with you what Christ has done in my own personal life to save me from a downward spiral that was leading me in this life to ultimate destruction, and, even worse, to eternal destruction rather than life everlasting.
It is my prayer that at least some portion of my personal testimony, and the ministry of this Web Site, may help you, or someone you know, avoid some of the pitfalls that I have experienced through many years of living "the gay life." If my testimony is able to help even one person come to know Christ more fully and to accept Him without reservation as the Answer to the Homosexual Orientation problem, or the problem of any other besetting sin or addiction, then the mission of this Web Site has been accomplished.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got these from “Pun of the Day”. You can subscribe at
http://www.punoftheday.com/
When asked about rumors that he owned a bakery, Shakespeare replied, 'It's much a-dough about muffin.'
Elevators may bring you down, but to me they're very uplifting.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
If you received this from a friend and would like to join…
To subscribe to this group, send email to
grace-mail+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Or you can visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/grace-mail?hl=en?hl=en
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this from the “Pearls” mailing list. To receive, just sent Larry Burrows a request at larryb1939@sbcglobal.net
It is not enough to own a Bible; we must read it. It is not enough to read it; we must let it speak to us. It is not enough to let it speak to us; we must believe. It is not enough to believe; we must live it. --William A. Ward
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
And another link… Smith Wiggglesworth - On the Power of the Word of God
http://www.bible-knowledge.com/smith-wigglesworth-on-the-word/
%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this from Pastor Danny…
One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport.
We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.
My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.
My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.
So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'
This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.' He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you.
Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.
%%%%%%%%%
Send good stories and clean funnies to: johnlynnbright@gmail.com
NOTE - All material contained in this mailing is shared as received and is believed, by me, to be anonymous... unless credit is given. Please contact me at the address above if you know the author of any material so that I may give credit where credit is due. Thanks!
Grace & peace –
John A. Bright
Pastor, Walmsley Boulevard UMC in Richmond, Virginia
johnlynnbright@gmail.com
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..."
Monday, May 2, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Grac*e-mail for 04/25/11 got grace?
Grac*e-mail for 04/25/11 got grace?
Here is one of my fb posts from today…
Heard this in a teaching... wonder why it makes me want to cry?
"Some wish to live within the sound of Church or Chapel bell;
I want to run a Rescue Shop within a yard of hell."
...- C.T. Studd
C.T. Studd (1860-1931) was an English missionary who faithfully served His Savior in China, India, and Africa. His motto was: "If Jesus Christ is God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him."
Now, a few more thoughts on the matter…
Why is it soooooo hard for pastors and ministers to reach the lost? Have we lost the vision of the unsaved burning in hell for an eternity? Have we somehow convinced ourselves that there is some “option” other than eternal life or eternal death?
I believe it is time to stop blaming the culture and start looking at The Church who needs to REPENT!
John()_:-) Every time you see this angel, remember that God loves you!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
John 14:1-6
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
NKJV
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
The High Calling
Published on The High Calling (http://www.thehighcalling.org)
The Inevitability of Death
By Mark D. Roberts
Apr 16, 2011
Psalm 49:1-20
Those who are wise must finally die,
just like the foolish and senseless,
leaving all their wealth behind.
Psalm 49:10
Psalm 49 isn’t exactly what you’d call cheery. Its main point is that the rich will die just like everybody else. The psalm ends on this note: “People who boast of their wealth don’t understand; they will die, just like animals.” Not exactly an upbeat thought, is it?
Yet Psalm 49 offers us the possibility of looking at our lives differently, of living with deeper purpose and wider vision. Even if we’re not striving for riches, most of us spend generous amounts of time and effort seeking that which, in the end, will be left behind. We worry about so many things that don’t matter when we look at life from the perspective of death’s inevitability. Psalm 49 gives us the chance to see life from the point of view of death, and therefore choose to live with significance.
As a pastor, I’ve spent more time in memorial services than just about anybody I know. You might think this is a downside of ordained ministry. But, in fact, I consider it a blessing. I’ve officiated in memorial services where eulogies have been relatively empty because the deceased lived their lives devoted to emptiness. And I’ve overseen memorial services that are joyous celebrations of lives well led. What makes the difference? Not wealth. Not position or power. Not even success, as the world defines it. Lives that matter even after death were focused on loving God and loving others. It’s really that simple. So when I’m reminded, either by my involvement in memorial services or by Psalm 49, that I will die, I’m encouraged to live this day with eternal significance. Today I want to be a person of love.
QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: When you reflect on your own death, what thoughts or feelings come to mind? What are the things in your life for which you strive and which really don’t matter all that much? Given the inevitability of your death, how will you live differently today?
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for Psalm 49. When I first read it, I must confess I felt rather distressed. I wondered why I had to think about death today. But the more I have reflected upon this psalm, the more I have come to appreciate its sober reminder.
Yes, Lord, the day will come when I will die. On that day I will leave behind my possessions and obsessions. When I stand before you and have my life examined, will you and I rejoice over what you have done through me? Will I have loved you with all that I am? Will I have loved my neighbor as myself? Will I have invested my life in the things that last forever?
Thank you, dear Lord, for the reminder to live fully for you this day. May I live today, and each day ahead, with the wisdom that comes from knowing my days on this earth are numbered. Amen.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Grac*e-mail now has a page on Facebook… so send your friends an invitation to enjoy!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
This is a video that will give your faith a “kick in the pants”…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTaJleuDcq4&feature=related
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Check out this short video…
http://worshiptogether.worshiphousemedia.com/mini-movies/42/Mechurch
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got these from “Pun of the Day”. You can subscribe at
http://www.punoftheday.com/
Anyone hear about that dictionary that fell into the river? It was un-a-bridged.
I did a theatrical performance about puns. Really it was just a play on words.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
If you received this from a friend and would like to join…
To subscribe to this group, send email to
grace-mail+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Or you can visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/grace-mail?hl=en?hl=en
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this from the “Pearls” mailing list. To receive, just sent Larry Burrows a request at larryb1939@sbcglobal.net
God's people should plan for a voyage of a thousand years, but be prepared to abandon ship tonight. --Joseph Bayly
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this from a member of my home church, Magnolia UMC in Suffolk, VA…
God is so good, He just keeps revealing His love to us in so many ways. Thank you Lord for all you do, are doing and will continue to do in and through our lives. Amen and Amen.
Love is a learned behavior. We are only capable of loving the way we have been loved by others or the lack thereof. Most of the time our love comes with restrictions, caution and conditions because of past hurts and rejection. It is easy to love someone when everything is going fine and life is bright and cheery but what about when someone rejects our love repeatedly? Do you continue to reach out or do you pull back. We begin to put conditions on that love out of fear or frustrations. God puts no restrictions on His love for us, even His discipline is given in love. Imagine for a moment if God said I will only love you if you do this or change that, or if He said I’ve given you all the chances you deserve I just can’t love you anymore. Not one of us would ever know the love of God if He put conditions on His love.
Growing up the only love I knew was distorted by years of all types of abuse. I grew up so confused about love, I thought love was total sacrifice of anything I needed or wanted in life. It meant pain and suffering. As I grew up I realized I could not be loved nor could I love anyone else, the price was to high for me to pay. I shut out the world from my heart and protected it at all costs. I rejected and hurt people before they had a chance to hurt me, I pushed everyone away. When I came to Christ I was so broken and wounded by life and all I heard was how God loved me. My heart sank cause I knew He couldn’t love me and I couldn’t love Him. Yet the more I grew closer to God the more he was healing me from the inside out. He revealed His love to me and never once put conditions or restrictions on it, He just loved me. I have had to relearn everything I ever knew about love. Only through the love of Christ am I able to love others and to let them love me. You see God sent me to a church that was so full of love that I could not deny it existed. It was through all of you that I first saw the love of God. It’s been a process but more and more He reveals His amazing love to me so that I may share it with others.
So the next time someone is nasty, hateful or distant towards us, we need to stop and think for one moment, maybe they too have not learned to receive or give love and we just need to love them the way God has loved us. We may never know the path their lives took or the wounds they bear in silence, inside they may be crying out for the love they never received. Will you give what God freely gave you? “Unconditional love”.
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes hi Him should not perish but have eternal life”.
I Corinthians 13:4-7
(4) Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up (5) does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil. (6) does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; (7) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
May God Bless You
Lesley
%%%%%%%%%%%
Send good stories and clean funnies to: johnlynnbright@gmail.com
NOTE - All material contained in this mailing is shared as received and is believed, by me, to be anonymous... unless credit is given. Please contact me at the address above if you know the author of any material so that I may give credit where credit is due. Thanks!
Grace & peace –
John A. Bright
Pastor, Walmsley Boulevard UMC in Richmond, Virginia
johnlynnbright@gmail.com
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..."
Here is one of my fb posts from today…
Heard this in a teaching... wonder why it makes me want to cry?
"Some wish to live within the sound of Church or Chapel bell;
I want to run a Rescue Shop within a yard of hell."
...- C.T. Studd
C.T. Studd (1860-1931) was an English missionary who faithfully served His Savior in China, India, and Africa. His motto was: "If Jesus Christ is God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him."
Now, a few more thoughts on the matter…
Why is it soooooo hard for pastors and ministers to reach the lost? Have we lost the vision of the unsaved burning in hell for an eternity? Have we somehow convinced ourselves that there is some “option” other than eternal life or eternal death?
I believe it is time to stop blaming the culture and start looking at The Church who needs to REPENT!
John()_:-) Every time you see this angel, remember that God loves you!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
John 14:1-6
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
NKJV
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
The High Calling
Published on The High Calling (http://www.thehighcalling.org)
The Inevitability of Death
By Mark D. Roberts
Apr 16, 2011
Psalm 49:1-20
Those who are wise must finally die,
just like the foolish and senseless,
leaving all their wealth behind.
Psalm 49:10
Psalm 49 isn’t exactly what you’d call cheery. Its main point is that the rich will die just like everybody else. The psalm ends on this note: “People who boast of their wealth don’t understand; they will die, just like animals.” Not exactly an upbeat thought, is it?
Yet Psalm 49 offers us the possibility of looking at our lives differently, of living with deeper purpose and wider vision. Even if we’re not striving for riches, most of us spend generous amounts of time and effort seeking that which, in the end, will be left behind. We worry about so many things that don’t matter when we look at life from the perspective of death’s inevitability. Psalm 49 gives us the chance to see life from the point of view of death, and therefore choose to live with significance.
As a pastor, I’ve spent more time in memorial services than just about anybody I know. You might think this is a downside of ordained ministry. But, in fact, I consider it a blessing. I’ve officiated in memorial services where eulogies have been relatively empty because the deceased lived their lives devoted to emptiness. And I’ve overseen memorial services that are joyous celebrations of lives well led. What makes the difference? Not wealth. Not position or power. Not even success, as the world defines it. Lives that matter even after death were focused on loving God and loving others. It’s really that simple. So when I’m reminded, either by my involvement in memorial services or by Psalm 49, that I will die, I’m encouraged to live this day with eternal significance. Today I want to be a person of love.
QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: When you reflect on your own death, what thoughts or feelings come to mind? What are the things in your life for which you strive and which really don’t matter all that much? Given the inevitability of your death, how will you live differently today?
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for Psalm 49. When I first read it, I must confess I felt rather distressed. I wondered why I had to think about death today. But the more I have reflected upon this psalm, the more I have come to appreciate its sober reminder.
Yes, Lord, the day will come when I will die. On that day I will leave behind my possessions and obsessions. When I stand before you and have my life examined, will you and I rejoice over what you have done through me? Will I have loved you with all that I am? Will I have loved my neighbor as myself? Will I have invested my life in the things that last forever?
Thank you, dear Lord, for the reminder to live fully for you this day. May I live today, and each day ahead, with the wisdom that comes from knowing my days on this earth are numbered. Amen.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Grac*e-mail now has a page on Facebook… so send your friends an invitation to enjoy!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
This is a video that will give your faith a “kick in the pants”…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTaJleuDcq4&feature=related
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Check out this short video…
http://worshiptogether.worshiphousemedia.com/mini-movies/42/Mechurch
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got these from “Pun of the Day”. You can subscribe at
http://www.punoftheday.com/
Anyone hear about that dictionary that fell into the river? It was un-a-bridged.
I did a theatrical performance about puns. Really it was just a play on words.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
If you received this from a friend and would like to join…
To subscribe to this group, send email to
grace-mail+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Or you can visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/grace-mail?hl=en?hl=en
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this from the “Pearls” mailing list. To receive, just sent Larry Burrows a request at larryb1939@sbcglobal.net
God's people should plan for a voyage of a thousand years, but be prepared to abandon ship tonight. --Joseph Bayly
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this from a member of my home church, Magnolia UMC in Suffolk, VA…
God is so good, He just keeps revealing His love to us in so many ways. Thank you Lord for all you do, are doing and will continue to do in and through our lives. Amen and Amen.
Love is a learned behavior. We are only capable of loving the way we have been loved by others or the lack thereof. Most of the time our love comes with restrictions, caution and conditions because of past hurts and rejection. It is easy to love someone when everything is going fine and life is bright and cheery but what about when someone rejects our love repeatedly? Do you continue to reach out or do you pull back. We begin to put conditions on that love out of fear or frustrations. God puts no restrictions on His love for us, even His discipline is given in love. Imagine for a moment if God said I will only love you if you do this or change that, or if He said I’ve given you all the chances you deserve I just can’t love you anymore. Not one of us would ever know the love of God if He put conditions on His love.
Growing up the only love I knew was distorted by years of all types of abuse. I grew up so confused about love, I thought love was total sacrifice of anything I needed or wanted in life. It meant pain and suffering. As I grew up I realized I could not be loved nor could I love anyone else, the price was to high for me to pay. I shut out the world from my heart and protected it at all costs. I rejected and hurt people before they had a chance to hurt me, I pushed everyone away. When I came to Christ I was so broken and wounded by life and all I heard was how God loved me. My heart sank cause I knew He couldn’t love me and I couldn’t love Him. Yet the more I grew closer to God the more he was healing me from the inside out. He revealed His love to me and never once put conditions or restrictions on it, He just loved me. I have had to relearn everything I ever knew about love. Only through the love of Christ am I able to love others and to let them love me. You see God sent me to a church that was so full of love that I could not deny it existed. It was through all of you that I first saw the love of God. It’s been a process but more and more He reveals His amazing love to me so that I may share it with others.
So the next time someone is nasty, hateful or distant towards us, we need to stop and think for one moment, maybe they too have not learned to receive or give love and we just need to love them the way God has loved us. We may never know the path their lives took or the wounds they bear in silence, inside they may be crying out for the love they never received. Will you give what God freely gave you? “Unconditional love”.
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes hi Him should not perish but have eternal life”.
I Corinthians 13:4-7
(4) Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up (5) does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil. (6) does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; (7) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
May God Bless You
Lesley
%%%%%%%%%%%
Send good stories and clean funnies to: johnlynnbright@gmail.com
NOTE - All material contained in this mailing is shared as received and is believed, by me, to be anonymous... unless credit is given. Please contact me at the address above if you know the author of any material so that I may give credit where credit is due. Thanks!
Grace & peace –
John A. Bright
Pastor, Walmsley Boulevard UMC in Richmond, Virginia
johnlynnbright@gmail.com
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..."
Monday, November 8, 2010
Grac*e-mail for 11/08/10 got grace?
Grac*e-mail for 11/08/10 got grace?
I have a favor to ask of all my subscribers, please forward this mailing to five folks you believe it will bless… thanks!
John()_:-) Every time you see this angel, remember that God loves you!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Eph 1:13-14
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
NKJV
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this link from Don Collins…. It is a beautiful video!
www.andiesisle.com/creation/magnificent.html
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Grac*e-mail now has a page on Facebook… so send your friends an invitation to enjoy!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this funny from my Dad…
I thought about the 30 year business I ran with 1800 employees, all without a Blackberry that played music, took videos, pictures and communicated with Facebook and Twitter.
I signed up under duress for Twitter and Facebook, so my seven kids, their spouses, 13 grandkids and 2 great grand kids could communicate with me in the modern way. I figured I could handle something as simple as Twitter with only 140 characters of space.
That was before one of my grandkids hooked me up for Tweeter, Tweetree, Twhirl, Twitterfon, Tweetie and Twittererific Tweetdeck, Twitpix and something that sends every message to my cell phone and every other program within the texting world.
My phone was beeping every three minutes with the details of everything except the bowel movements of the entire next generation. I am not ready to live like this. I keep my cell phone in the garage in my golf bag.
The kids bought me a GPS for my last birthday because they say I get lost every now and then going over to the grocery store or library. I keep that in a box under my tool bench with the Blue tooth [it's red] phone I am supposed to use when I drive. I wore it once and was standing in line at Barnes and Noble talking to my wife as everyone in the nearest 50 yards was glaring at me. Seems I have to take my hearing aid out to use it, and I got a little loud.
I mean the GPS looked pretty smart on my dash board, but the lady inside was the most annoying, rudest person I had run into in a long time. Every 10 minutes, she would sarcastically say, "Re-calc-ul-ating". You would think that she could be nicer. It was like she could barely tolerate me. She would let go with a deep sigh and then tell me to make a U-turn at the next light. Then when I would make a right turn instead, it was not good.
When I get really lost now, I call my wife and tell her the name of the cross streets and while she is starting to develop the same tone as Gypsy, the GPS lady, at least she loves me.
To be perfectly frank, I am still trying to learn how to use the cordless phones in our house. We have had them for 4 years, but I still haven't figured out how I can lose three phones all at once and have run around digging under chair cushions and checking bathrooms and the dirty laundry baskets when the phone rings.
The world is just getting too complex for me. They even mess me up every time I go to the grocery store. You would think they could settle on something themselves but this sudden "Paper or Plastic?" every time I check out just knocks me for a loop. I bought some of those cloth reusable bags to avoid looking confused, but I never remember to take them in with me.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
This link has some good info for partents…
Here is a listing of the slang words for different drugs. Click on the slang name and it then describes the drug. It is important that parents be aware of these slang terms, they may hear children (and/or adults) use the slang term.
http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/drug_guide/BySlang/
%%%%%%%%%
Got this link from Dan Griffiths… He subscribes to the e-mails from this site –
http://www.griefshare.org/dailyemails/
Here is a sample –
Understanding Your Grief
Grief is not an enemy or a sign of weakness. It is a sign of being human. Grief is the cost of loving someone.
Since grief comes to everyone, why do some people seem to work through it better than others?
“Some people think that going through the losses or crises of life are the exceptional times,” says Dr. H. Norman Wright.
“I see it differently. I see the times of calm as the exceptions. Life really is going through one loss after another, one crisis after another.
“Instead of avoiding talking about these times, let’s do our homework. When you know what to expect, you’re not thrown by them as much, and you’re going to be better able to recover.”
Join us each day for the next year as we walk with you on your journey through grief, strengthened and enabled through the Lord Jesus Christ.
“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
Lord God, teach me to embrace my grief and not fight it, so that I may experience the true healing that comes from You. Amen.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got these from “Pun of the Day”. You can subscribe at
http://www.punoftheday.com/
Stir-fry cooks come from all woks of life.
With only one piece of wood, I tried to convince the fire to light by use of a monologue.
The man who worked at the watch factory was very funny. He stood about all day making faces.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Check out the end of this e-mail for my latest sermon – “What Color Is God?”
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
If you received this from a friend and would like to join…
To subscribe to this group, send email to
grace-mail+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Or you can visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/grace-mail?hl=en?hl=en
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this from the “Pearls” mailing list. To receive, just sent Larry Burrows a request at larryb1939@sbcglobal.net
Christ, the Son of God, the complete embodiment of God's Word, came among us. He looked on humanity's losing battle with sin and pitched His divine tent in the middle of the camp so that He could dwell among us. --Beth Moore
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Here are a couple of church funnies I got from Pastor Jo Ellen Hetherington…
Holy Communion
Being a new pastor to an aging congregation, I told them I would be serving them prune juice in Holy Communion. When asked why I would dare entertain such a thought, I said, "If the Holy Spirit won't move you... the prune juice will!"
Hot Air Hand Dryers
My pastor friend put sanitary hot air hand dryers in the rest rooms at his church. After two weeks, he had them taken out. I asked him why and he confessed that they worked fine, but when he went in there he saw a sign that read, "For a sample of this week's sermon, push the button."
%%%%%%%%%%%
Send good stories and clean funnies to: johnlynnbright@gmail.com
NOTE - All material contained in this mailing is shared as received and is believed, by me, to be anonymous... unless credit is given. Please contact me at the address above if you know the author of any material so that I may give credit where credit is due. Thanks!
Grace & peace –
John A. Bright
Pastor, Walmsley Boulevard UMC in Richmond, Virginia
johnlynnbright@gmail.com
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..."
"What Color Is God?"
A sermon by Pastor John Bright
11/7/10
Acts 10:34-35
Then Peter opened his mouth and said:"In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality." NKJV
Back in 2004, the city of Monza in Northern Italy passed laws to protect small pets. One of those laws banned the use of goldfish bowls. Their reason - the curve of the glass distorts the goldfish's view of reality.
Makes you wonder… did the goldfish tell them? Did it complain?
Our view of the world is shaped by who we are.
I remember the shock I felt the first time I saw a Christmas card with a Native American nativity - there was a Native American Joseph, a Native American Mary and a little Native American baby Jesus. I have seen the same kind of cards for Blacks and Asians.
Why do you look surprised? Did you really think they look like they do on our Anglo Christmas cards? If you want a real dose of reality, consider this… Jesus probably looked like the men on the FBI Most Wanted Terrorists List!
That's hard to hear, but remember our reality of God is not based on us looking out at Him. Rather, our view of God comes from how He looks at us.
That is how I determined to answer the question, "What color is God?"
When God looks at us, what does He see?
- Sons (and daughters) of God (Romans 8:14, Galatians 3:26)
- A temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19)
- In 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 we are called Ambassadors for Christ and the Righteousness of God
Let me tell you what He does not see - God does not see trash!
(Say - "I'm not trash.")
Then it was clear to me… God is green! He is the Great Recycler!
I have had many conversations with folks this week since I put the sermon title on the sign by the road. Some folks thought I was actually going to talk about skin color. Some folks told me God is clear or crystal. Hey, God is a spirit - no color to deal with. But if what I see in the Bible is still true, God's actions make Him green.
I remember a time before the "Green Movement" of today. I remember when we first learned about the three Rs - Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
When we apply these to God, we see:
1. God helps you REDUCE the junk in your trunk.
2. God REUSES people… sometimes over and over again.
3. God RECYCLES people - He can use anyone!
First R - REDUCE - God helps you REDUCE the junk in your trunk.
What is the "junk in your trunk"?
Bad memories /secrets from the past
Anger towards others (especially the kind you can't let out - your boss, your in-laws)
Guilt/shame
This is in no way a complete list. The junk in YOUR trunk is what you think of when you are all alone… when you wake up in the middle of the night… when your "happy pill" wears off. For some it is skeletons in the closet. For others it is a sense of impending doom that you just can't shake… always waiting for the other shoe to drop.
No matter what it is, the junk in your trunk is a heavy load.
Jesus had something to say about our heavy loads… Matt 11:28-30
" Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." NKJV
When I think of how God wants to help reduce the junk in our trunks, makes me think of that e-mail that goes around this time of year:
A woman was asked by a co-worker, "What is it like to be a Christian?"
The co-worker replied, "It is like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc., and then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."
When it comes to junk in the trunk, God doesn't just do it once, He has to keep on doing it because we keep putting more junk in. My opinion - that junk is 10% what folks do to us and 90% our thoughts, feelings and attitudes. What we need to put in there is God's Word!
Here are a couple of good ones:
Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. NKJV
Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. NKJV
Never doubt that God want to help you reduce the junk in your trunk!
The second R - REUSE - God reuses people (even the ones with junk in the trunk!).
I love the story of King David. Things are going great for him until he is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Look at 2 Samuel 11:1 - It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. NKJV
What follows is a story of adultery, betrayal and murder coming from someone described as " a man after God's own heart." This is a man who wrote in the Psalms of his love for God's law… his love for prayer and worship.
After he is confronted by the prophet, Nathan , we read his words of repentance in verse 12:13 - So David said to Nathan,"I have sinned against the LORD." NKJV
Now King David is restored and used again by God!
Some of you may be asking, "What does a story of an ancient king have to do with me?
Did any of you watch the 2010 World Series last week? One of the stories that came out was the story of Josh Hamilton. At 19 years old he was a top pick in the 1999 Amateur Draft. That first year he batted .347. The next year he was playing Single A ball and batted .302. The year 2001 began a downward spiral for Josh Hamilton. There was a car wreck, drugs, alcohol, rehab, injuries on the field, more drugs and more alcohol. Finally, in 2004 he failed several MLB drug tests and was released.
It was then that Josh Hamilton spent two years out of baseball - he got serious about rehab and about his relationship with his Savior - Jesus Christ.
In 2007 he went to the Cincinnati Reds and batted .292 and had 19 homers. The next year he was traded to the Texas Rangers. When they won the playoffs, the whole team used ginger ale, instead of champagne to celebrate in the locker room to help Josh Hamilton stay clean and sober. This season he was one of the best players in MLB and he speaks at churches all around Texas. That is a picture of grace!
By the way, it's not just our past that makes us think God can't/won't reuse us… some folks think they are "too old."
Ever hear of two old folks in the book of Genesis named Abram and Sarai. God reused them, changed their name to Abraham and Sarah. God reused them to bring a man named David to the throne and a Messiah to Bethlehem… and to Golgotha.
The third R - RECYCLE - God RECYCLES people - He can use anyone!
Do you know what you call someone who rides a bike twice? A re-cycler.
God is the Great Recycler and He can use anyone - I'll prove it. Turn to Matthew 1:1. The beginning of the New Testament lays out the lineage of Jesus Christ. Verse one mentions David and Abraham. Who else is on that list?
Verse 3 - Tamar, an adultress
Verse 5 - Ruth, a non-Jew, and Rahab, a prostitute
Not just the women… what about the men?
Verses 7 and 10 mention Abijah and Manassah - these were not great rulers, to say the least!
God recycled these folks into the lineage He would use to bring Christ into this world.
God can use anyone and anything to get folks! What about Balaam's donkey? God will even us a donkey to get a prophet on the right path.
In Acts 10:34, we find Peter at the home of a Gentile. Since there was no great reaction by you to that statement, I realize you don't understand how Jews looked at Gentiles.
Jews looked at Gentile the way I was raised to look at Blacks. Jews looked at Gentile the way many of us look at Latinos today. Not just as different… less… inferior… like trash!
What did Peter say in Acts 10:34 - "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality."
God has no favorites.
God does not look at anyone and see trash!
God's love and mercy is so great… His desire that all should be saved so complete, He can't look at us and see trash.
He is not done with you!
Even if you have junk in your trunk, He is not done with you!
Even if you think you have been too bad or got too old, He is not done with you!
Even if you have never chosen to accept God's gift of grace and be born again… you are not a throw away!
God is the green, He is the Great Recycler!
Amen.
I have a favor to ask of all my subscribers, please forward this mailing to five folks you believe it will bless… thanks!
John()_:-) Every time you see this angel, remember that God loves you!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Eph 1:13-14
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
NKJV
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this link from Don Collins…. It is a beautiful video!
www.andiesisle.com/creation/magnificent.html
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Grac*e-mail now has a page on Facebook… so send your friends an invitation to enjoy!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this funny from my Dad…
I thought about the 30 year business I ran with 1800 employees, all without a Blackberry that played music, took videos, pictures and communicated with Facebook and Twitter.
I signed up under duress for Twitter and Facebook, so my seven kids, their spouses, 13 grandkids and 2 great grand kids could communicate with me in the modern way. I figured I could handle something as simple as Twitter with only 140 characters of space.
That was before one of my grandkids hooked me up for Tweeter, Tweetree, Twhirl, Twitterfon, Tweetie and Twittererific Tweetdeck, Twitpix and something that sends every message to my cell phone and every other program within the texting world.
My phone was beeping every three minutes with the details of everything except the bowel movements of the entire next generation. I am not ready to live like this. I keep my cell phone in the garage in my golf bag.
The kids bought me a GPS for my last birthday because they say I get lost every now and then going over to the grocery store or library. I keep that in a box under my tool bench with the Blue tooth [it's red] phone I am supposed to use when I drive. I wore it once and was standing in line at Barnes and Noble talking to my wife as everyone in the nearest 50 yards was glaring at me. Seems I have to take my hearing aid out to use it, and I got a little loud.
I mean the GPS looked pretty smart on my dash board, but the lady inside was the most annoying, rudest person I had run into in a long time. Every 10 minutes, she would sarcastically say, "Re-calc-ul-ating". You would think that she could be nicer. It was like she could barely tolerate me. She would let go with a deep sigh and then tell me to make a U-turn at the next light. Then when I would make a right turn instead, it was not good.
When I get really lost now, I call my wife and tell her the name of the cross streets and while she is starting to develop the same tone as Gypsy, the GPS lady, at least she loves me.
To be perfectly frank, I am still trying to learn how to use the cordless phones in our house. We have had them for 4 years, but I still haven't figured out how I can lose three phones all at once and have run around digging under chair cushions and checking bathrooms and the dirty laundry baskets when the phone rings.
The world is just getting too complex for me. They even mess me up every time I go to the grocery store. You would think they could settle on something themselves but this sudden "Paper or Plastic?" every time I check out just knocks me for a loop. I bought some of those cloth reusable bags to avoid looking confused, but I never remember to take them in with me.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
This link has some good info for partents…
Here is a listing of the slang words for different drugs. Click on the slang name and it then describes the drug. It is important that parents be aware of these slang terms, they may hear children (and/or adults) use the slang term.
http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/drug_guide/BySlang/
%%%%%%%%%
Got this link from Dan Griffiths… He subscribes to the e-mails from this site –
http://www.griefshare.org/dailyemails/
Here is a sample –
Understanding Your Grief
Grief is not an enemy or a sign of weakness. It is a sign of being human. Grief is the cost of loving someone.
Since grief comes to everyone, why do some people seem to work through it better than others?
“Some people think that going through the losses or crises of life are the exceptional times,” says Dr. H. Norman Wright.
“I see it differently. I see the times of calm as the exceptions. Life really is going through one loss after another, one crisis after another.
“Instead of avoiding talking about these times, let’s do our homework. When you know what to expect, you’re not thrown by them as much, and you’re going to be better able to recover.”
Join us each day for the next year as we walk with you on your journey through grief, strengthened and enabled through the Lord Jesus Christ.
“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
Lord God, teach me to embrace my grief and not fight it, so that I may experience the true healing that comes from You. Amen.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got these from “Pun of the Day”. You can subscribe at
http://www.punoftheday.com/
Stir-fry cooks come from all woks of life.
With only one piece of wood, I tried to convince the fire to light by use of a monologue.
The man who worked at the watch factory was very funny. He stood about all day making faces.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Check out the end of this e-mail for my latest sermon – “What Color Is God?”
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
If you received this from a friend and would like to join…
To subscribe to this group, send email to
grace-mail+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Or you can visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/grace-mail?hl=en?hl=en
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this from the “Pearls” mailing list. To receive, just sent Larry Burrows a request at larryb1939@sbcglobal.net
Christ, the Son of God, the complete embodiment of God's Word, came among us. He looked on humanity's losing battle with sin and pitched His divine tent in the middle of the camp so that He could dwell among us. --Beth Moore
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Here are a couple of church funnies I got from Pastor Jo Ellen Hetherington…
Holy Communion
Being a new pastor to an aging congregation, I told them I would be serving them prune juice in Holy Communion. When asked why I would dare entertain such a thought, I said, "If the Holy Spirit won't move you... the prune juice will!"
Hot Air Hand Dryers
My pastor friend put sanitary hot air hand dryers in the rest rooms at his church. After two weeks, he had them taken out. I asked him why and he confessed that they worked fine, but when he went in there he saw a sign that read, "For a sample of this week's sermon, push the button."
%%%%%%%%%%%
Send good stories and clean funnies to: johnlynnbright@gmail.com
NOTE - All material contained in this mailing is shared as received and is believed, by me, to be anonymous... unless credit is given. Please contact me at the address above if you know the author of any material so that I may give credit where credit is due. Thanks!
Grace & peace –
John A. Bright
Pastor, Walmsley Boulevard UMC in Richmond, Virginia
johnlynnbright@gmail.com
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..."
"What Color Is God?"
A sermon by Pastor John Bright
11/7/10
Acts 10:34-35
Then Peter opened his mouth and said:"In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality." NKJV
Back in 2004, the city of Monza in Northern Italy passed laws to protect small pets. One of those laws banned the use of goldfish bowls. Their reason - the curve of the glass distorts the goldfish's view of reality.
Makes you wonder… did the goldfish tell them? Did it complain?
Our view of the world is shaped by who we are.
I remember the shock I felt the first time I saw a Christmas card with a Native American nativity - there was a Native American Joseph, a Native American Mary and a little Native American baby Jesus. I have seen the same kind of cards for Blacks and Asians.
Why do you look surprised? Did you really think they look like they do on our Anglo Christmas cards? If you want a real dose of reality, consider this… Jesus probably looked like the men on the FBI Most Wanted Terrorists List!
That's hard to hear, but remember our reality of God is not based on us looking out at Him. Rather, our view of God comes from how He looks at us.
That is how I determined to answer the question, "What color is God?"
When God looks at us, what does He see?
- Sons (and daughters) of God (Romans 8:14, Galatians 3:26)
- A temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19)
- In 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 we are called Ambassadors for Christ and the Righteousness of God
Let me tell you what He does not see - God does not see trash!
(Say - "I'm not trash.")
Then it was clear to me… God is green! He is the Great Recycler!
I have had many conversations with folks this week since I put the sermon title on the sign by the road. Some folks thought I was actually going to talk about skin color. Some folks told me God is clear or crystal. Hey, God is a spirit - no color to deal with. But if what I see in the Bible is still true, God's actions make Him green.
I remember a time before the "Green Movement" of today. I remember when we first learned about the three Rs - Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
When we apply these to God, we see:
1. God helps you REDUCE the junk in your trunk.
2. God REUSES people… sometimes over and over again.
3. God RECYCLES people - He can use anyone!
First R - REDUCE - God helps you REDUCE the junk in your trunk.
What is the "junk in your trunk"?
Bad memories /secrets from the past
Anger towards others (especially the kind you can't let out - your boss, your in-laws)
Guilt/shame
This is in no way a complete list. The junk in YOUR trunk is what you think of when you are all alone… when you wake up in the middle of the night… when your "happy pill" wears off. For some it is skeletons in the closet. For others it is a sense of impending doom that you just can't shake… always waiting for the other shoe to drop.
No matter what it is, the junk in your trunk is a heavy load.
Jesus had something to say about our heavy loads… Matt 11:28-30
" Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." NKJV
When I think of how God wants to help reduce the junk in our trunks, makes me think of that e-mail that goes around this time of year:
A woman was asked by a co-worker, "What is it like to be a Christian?"
The co-worker replied, "It is like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc., and then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."
When it comes to junk in the trunk, God doesn't just do it once, He has to keep on doing it because we keep putting more junk in. My opinion - that junk is 10% what folks do to us and 90% our thoughts, feelings and attitudes. What we need to put in there is God's Word!
Here are a couple of good ones:
Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. NKJV
Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. NKJV
Never doubt that God want to help you reduce the junk in your trunk!
The second R - REUSE - God reuses people (even the ones with junk in the trunk!).
I love the story of King David. Things are going great for him until he is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Look at 2 Samuel 11:1 - It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. NKJV
What follows is a story of adultery, betrayal and murder coming from someone described as " a man after God's own heart." This is a man who wrote in the Psalms of his love for God's law… his love for prayer and worship.
After he is confronted by the prophet, Nathan , we read his words of repentance in verse 12:13 - So David said to Nathan,"I have sinned against the LORD." NKJV
Now King David is restored and used again by God!
Some of you may be asking, "What does a story of an ancient king have to do with me?
Did any of you watch the 2010 World Series last week? One of the stories that came out was the story of Josh Hamilton. At 19 years old he was a top pick in the 1999 Amateur Draft. That first year he batted .347. The next year he was playing Single A ball and batted .302. The year 2001 began a downward spiral for Josh Hamilton. There was a car wreck, drugs, alcohol, rehab, injuries on the field, more drugs and more alcohol. Finally, in 2004 he failed several MLB drug tests and was released.
It was then that Josh Hamilton spent two years out of baseball - he got serious about rehab and about his relationship with his Savior - Jesus Christ.
In 2007 he went to the Cincinnati Reds and batted .292 and had 19 homers. The next year he was traded to the Texas Rangers. When they won the playoffs, the whole team used ginger ale, instead of champagne to celebrate in the locker room to help Josh Hamilton stay clean and sober. This season he was one of the best players in MLB and he speaks at churches all around Texas. That is a picture of grace!
By the way, it's not just our past that makes us think God can't/won't reuse us… some folks think they are "too old."
Ever hear of two old folks in the book of Genesis named Abram and Sarai. God reused them, changed their name to Abraham and Sarah. God reused them to bring a man named David to the throne and a Messiah to Bethlehem… and to Golgotha.
The third R - RECYCLE - God RECYCLES people - He can use anyone!
Do you know what you call someone who rides a bike twice? A re-cycler.
God is the Great Recycler and He can use anyone - I'll prove it. Turn to Matthew 1:1. The beginning of the New Testament lays out the lineage of Jesus Christ. Verse one mentions David and Abraham. Who else is on that list?
Verse 3 - Tamar, an adultress
Verse 5 - Ruth, a non-Jew, and Rahab, a prostitute
Not just the women… what about the men?
Verses 7 and 10 mention Abijah and Manassah - these were not great rulers, to say the least!
God recycled these folks into the lineage He would use to bring Christ into this world.
God can use anyone and anything to get folks! What about Balaam's donkey? God will even us a donkey to get a prophet on the right path.
In Acts 10:34, we find Peter at the home of a Gentile. Since there was no great reaction by you to that statement, I realize you don't understand how Jews looked at Gentiles.
Jews looked at Gentile the way I was raised to look at Blacks. Jews looked at Gentile the way many of us look at Latinos today. Not just as different… less… inferior… like trash!
What did Peter say in Acts 10:34 - "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality."
God has no favorites.
God does not look at anyone and see trash!
God's love and mercy is so great… His desire that all should be saved so complete, He can't look at us and see trash.
He is not done with you!
Even if you have junk in your trunk, He is not done with you!
Even if you think you have been too bad or got too old, He is not done with you!
Even if you have never chosen to accept God's gift of grace and be born again… you are not a throw away!
God is the green, He is the Great Recycler!
Amen.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Grac*e-mail for 11/01/10 got grace?
Grac*e-mail for 11/01/10 got grace?
I have a favor to ask of all my subscribers, please forward this mailing to five folks you believe it will bless… thanks!
John()_:-) Every time you see this angel, remember that God loves you!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Matt 5:43-44
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you…”
NKJV
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Can we really pray for our enemies? If you want a challenge to pray for those who would see us destroyed, check out this site… Roger Dixon sent this my way….
http://www.atfp.org/
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Grac*e-mail now has a page on Facebook… so send your friends an invitation to enjoy!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Today is All Saints Day (a much better thing to celebrate than yesterday!)…
Got this at http://stphransus.blogspot.com/2006/11/all-saints-meditation.html
Quirky fact: All Saints was John Wesley's favorite Christian holy-day.
A PRAYER FOR ALL SAINTS DAY
Sing praises to God, O you saints, and give thanks to God's holy name! We exalt you, O God, for you have restored us to life! We may cry through the night, but your joy comes with the morning. You hear us, O God, and you are gracious in our distress. You turn our mourning into dancing!Our souls cannot be silent! O God, our Savior, we give thanks to you forever! - THE UM BOOK OF WORSHIP 1965, ALT
And this at
http://johnwesley1703-1791.blogspot.com/2010/11/all-saints-day.html
This blog contains extracts from the journals of John Wesley which are in the public domain. The extracts are from years which correspond with the day and date of the current year (2010). So when JW says it is Monday 1 March 17.., it is Monday 1 March 2010 . Over the years I have found this to be an interesting way to read John Wesley's journals. I hope you do too.
All Saints’ Day Mon 1 Nov 1756: Was a day of triumphant joy, as All Saints’ Day generally is. How superstitious are they who scruple giving God solemn thanks for the lives and deaths of his saints!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
I am posting this as a good place to start in the ongoing debate over “grieving shows a lack of faith”…
Daily Reflection
by Mark D. Roberts
Laity Lodge Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence
Is There a Place for Sadness in Authentic Christianity?
READ Psalm 6:1-10
I am worn out from sobbing. All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears. [Psalm 6:6]
I grew up in a culture, church, and family that didn't have much room for sadness. If ever people in my life were feeling sad, it was my responsibility to "cheer them up." As Christians, we knew we were supposed to "Rejoice in the Lord, always!" God was the one who wiped away every tear. Thus, sadness was inconsistent, not only with our cultural norms, but also with our understanding of authentic Christianity. Real Christians were happy, not sad. They always had smiles on their faces. And they certainly didn't drench their beds with their tears.
Of course, there was a problem with the cultural assumptions of my early years. People did get sad. And sometimes their sadness seemed unavoidable, if not reasonable. Beloved friends and family members might get sick and die. Our nation watched as tens of thousands of our young men died in Vietnam. Wasn't it appropriate to feel sad sometimes?
The notion that true Christians aren't ever sad also stumbles upon teaching and examples of Scripture. Many of the psalms, for example, express deep sadness to the Lord, without sense of shame. In Psalm 6:6, for example, David prays, "I am worn out from sobbing. All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears." Now that is serious sadness, even if it does reflect a poetic use of hyperbolic language.
If the Psalms are given to us to teach us how to communicate with God, then there is surely a place for sadness in authentic Christianity. Scripture invites us to be honest with God, to share what's really going on inside of us. The Lord will carry our sorrows as we offer them to him, without hiding or pretending.
Moreover, authentic Christian community includes a place for shared sadness. Remember Paul's instruction in Romans 12:15. We are to "be happy with those who are happy" and "weep with those who weep." If someone we care about is grieving, our job is not to "cheer them up," but rather to join them in their sorrow, and in this way to bear their burdens. As we do this, we come to know more deeply the heart of Jesus, who is "a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief" (Isa 53:3). Moreover, when we deal openly with our sadness, as well as the sadness of others, we open our hearts to a deeper and fuller experience of God's joy.
QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: Did your culture, family, and church teach you about sadness? Are you free to share your sorrows with the Lord? And with other believers? What helps you express your true feelings to God in prayer?
PRAYER: Thank you, merciful God, for the example of David in Psalm 6. Thank you for the invitation to speak with you honestly, not holding back our sadness or desperation.
Thank you, dear Lord, for hearing our prayers just as they are, for wanting to have an intimate relationship with us in all of our messiness and confusion.
Thank you, gracious God, for entering into our sorrow through Christ, for knowing the inside of sadness.
Thank you, O God, for meeting us in our pain, for offering peace that passes understanding, for turning our mourning into dancing.
Help us to be authentic in our relationship with you, sharing our true thoughts, feelings, fears, and hurts. Help us to weep with those who weep so that we might also rejoice with those who rejoice. May your church be a place of safety and freedom, where broken hearts are mended.
We pray in the name of Jesus, the man of sorrows. Amen.
%%%%%%%%%
It is not the exam season at colleges yet, but you might want to pass this funny prayer along to the students you know…
O Lord, hear my anxious plea
Calculus is killing me
I know not of 'dx' or 'dy'
And probably won't until the day I die.
Please, Lord, help me in this hour
As I take my case to the highest power.
I care not for fame or loot
Just help me find one square root.
And Lord, please let me see
One passing mark in organic chemistry.
Oh such a thing I constantly dread
I'd just as soon join the Marines instead.
Lord, please give me a sign
That you've been listening all the time.
Please lead me out of this constant coma
And give me a shot at my diploma.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got these from “Pun of the Day”. You can subscribe at
http://www.punoftheday.com/
Yesterday I rode my bike twice, I guess that makes me a recycler.
Did you see guys that Bob the ventriloquist hangs out with? They're nothing special, just a bunch of dummies.
How do spacemen add more protein to their diet? They make it meteor.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Here is one that has made the rounds by e-mail… a real “classic”…
Do you need propping up?? I know I do.
FATHER, PROP US UP
Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old deacon who always prayed, FATHER, prop us up on our leanin' side.'
After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he prayed that prayer so fervently.
He answered, 'Well sir, you see, it's like this....I got an old barn out back. It's been there a long time, it's withstood a lot of weather, it’s gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many years. It's still standing, but one day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit. So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on its leaning side so it wouldn't fall.
Then I got to thinking 'bout that and how much I was like that old barn. I been around a long time, I've withstood a lot of life's storms, I've withstood a lot of bad weather in life, I've withstood a lot of hard times, And I'm still standing too. But I find myself leaning to one side from time to time, so I like to ask the Father to prop us up on our leaning side, 'cause I figure a lot of us get to leaning, at times.'
Sometime we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness, leaning toward hatred, leaning toward cussing, leaning toward a lot of things that we shouldn't, so we need to pray, 'Father, prop us up on our leaning side,' so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify the Father.
-- Author Unknown
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this video from Reid Broce…
Need a pick-me-up? Watch this –
http://www.stservicemovie.com/
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
If you received this from a friend and would like to join…
To subscribe to this group, send email to
grace-mail+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Or you can visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/grace-mail?hl=en?hl=en
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this from the “Pearls” mailing list. To receive, just sent Larry Burrows a request at larryb1939@sbcglobal.net
God knows where we are. Sometimes we forget this. Sometimes we even feel that God has forgotten us. He hasn't. God knows exactly where we are. So when you are afflicted with those forsaken feelings, when you’re on the verge of throwing a pity party thanks to those despairing thoughts, go back to the Word of God. --Charles Swindoll
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Reasons to love your enemies….
God commands us to love. Here are some key Scriptures (Bible verses) on loving your enemies:
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another (John 13:34).
But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27-28).
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse (Romans 12:14).
We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it (1 Corinthians 4:12).
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:17-21).
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:9).
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble (1 John 2:9-10).
%%%%%%%%%%%
Send good stories and clean funnies to: johnlynnbright@gmail.com
NOTE - All material contained in this mailing is shared as received and is believed, by me, to be anonymous... unless credit is given. Please contact me at the address above if you know the author of any material so that I may give credit where credit is due. Thanks!
Grace & peace –
John A. Bright
Pastor, Walmsley Boulevard UMC in Richmond, Virginia
johnlynnbright@gmail.com
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..."
I have a favor to ask of all my subscribers, please forward this mailing to five folks you believe it will bless… thanks!
John()_:-) Every time you see this angel, remember that God loves you!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Matt 5:43-44
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you…”
NKJV
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Can we really pray for our enemies? If you want a challenge to pray for those who would see us destroyed, check out this site… Roger Dixon sent this my way….
http://www.atfp.org/
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Grac*e-mail now has a page on Facebook… so send your friends an invitation to enjoy!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Today is All Saints Day (a much better thing to celebrate than yesterday!)…
Got this at http://stphransus.blogspot.com/2006/11/all-saints-meditation.html
Quirky fact: All Saints was John Wesley's favorite Christian holy-day.
A PRAYER FOR ALL SAINTS DAY
Sing praises to God, O you saints, and give thanks to God's holy name! We exalt you, O God, for you have restored us to life! We may cry through the night, but your joy comes with the morning. You hear us, O God, and you are gracious in our distress. You turn our mourning into dancing!Our souls cannot be silent! O God, our Savior, we give thanks to you forever! - THE UM BOOK OF WORSHIP 1965, ALT
And this at
http://johnwesley1703-1791.blogspot.com/2010/11/all-saints-day.html
This blog contains extracts from the journals of John Wesley which are in the public domain. The extracts are from years which correspond with the day and date of the current year (2010). So when JW says it is Monday 1 March 17.., it is Monday 1 March 2010 . Over the years I have found this to be an interesting way to read John Wesley's journals. I hope you do too.
All Saints’ Day Mon 1 Nov 1756: Was a day of triumphant joy, as All Saints’ Day generally is. How superstitious are they who scruple giving God solemn thanks for the lives and deaths of his saints!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
I am posting this as a good place to start in the ongoing debate over “grieving shows a lack of faith”…
Daily Reflection
by Mark D. Roberts
Laity Lodge Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence
Is There a Place for Sadness in Authentic Christianity?
READ Psalm 6:1-10
I am worn out from sobbing. All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears. [Psalm 6:6]
I grew up in a culture, church, and family that didn't have much room for sadness. If ever people in my life were feeling sad, it was my responsibility to "cheer them up." As Christians, we knew we were supposed to "Rejoice in the Lord, always!" God was the one who wiped away every tear. Thus, sadness was inconsistent, not only with our cultural norms, but also with our understanding of authentic Christianity. Real Christians were happy, not sad. They always had smiles on their faces. And they certainly didn't drench their beds with their tears.
Of course, there was a problem with the cultural assumptions of my early years. People did get sad. And sometimes their sadness seemed unavoidable, if not reasonable. Beloved friends and family members might get sick and die. Our nation watched as tens of thousands of our young men died in Vietnam. Wasn't it appropriate to feel sad sometimes?
The notion that true Christians aren't ever sad also stumbles upon teaching and examples of Scripture. Many of the psalms, for example, express deep sadness to the Lord, without sense of shame. In Psalm 6:6, for example, David prays, "I am worn out from sobbing. All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears." Now that is serious sadness, even if it does reflect a poetic use of hyperbolic language.
If the Psalms are given to us to teach us how to communicate with God, then there is surely a place for sadness in authentic Christianity. Scripture invites us to be honest with God, to share what's really going on inside of us. The Lord will carry our sorrows as we offer them to him, without hiding or pretending.
Moreover, authentic Christian community includes a place for shared sadness. Remember Paul's instruction in Romans 12:15. We are to "be happy with those who are happy" and "weep with those who weep." If someone we care about is grieving, our job is not to "cheer them up," but rather to join them in their sorrow, and in this way to bear their burdens. As we do this, we come to know more deeply the heart of Jesus, who is "a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief" (Isa 53:3). Moreover, when we deal openly with our sadness, as well as the sadness of others, we open our hearts to a deeper and fuller experience of God's joy.
QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: Did your culture, family, and church teach you about sadness? Are you free to share your sorrows with the Lord? And with other believers? What helps you express your true feelings to God in prayer?
PRAYER: Thank you, merciful God, for the example of David in Psalm 6. Thank you for the invitation to speak with you honestly, not holding back our sadness or desperation.
Thank you, dear Lord, for hearing our prayers just as they are, for wanting to have an intimate relationship with us in all of our messiness and confusion.
Thank you, gracious God, for entering into our sorrow through Christ, for knowing the inside of sadness.
Thank you, O God, for meeting us in our pain, for offering peace that passes understanding, for turning our mourning into dancing.
Help us to be authentic in our relationship with you, sharing our true thoughts, feelings, fears, and hurts. Help us to weep with those who weep so that we might also rejoice with those who rejoice. May your church be a place of safety and freedom, where broken hearts are mended.
We pray in the name of Jesus, the man of sorrows. Amen.
%%%%%%%%%
It is not the exam season at colleges yet, but you might want to pass this funny prayer along to the students you know…
O Lord, hear my anxious plea
Calculus is killing me
I know not of 'dx' or 'dy'
And probably won't until the day I die.
Please, Lord, help me in this hour
As I take my case to the highest power.
I care not for fame or loot
Just help me find one square root.
And Lord, please let me see
One passing mark in organic chemistry.
Oh such a thing I constantly dread
I'd just as soon join the Marines instead.
Lord, please give me a sign
That you've been listening all the time.
Please lead me out of this constant coma
And give me a shot at my diploma.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got these from “Pun of the Day”. You can subscribe at
http://www.punoftheday.com/
Yesterday I rode my bike twice, I guess that makes me a recycler.
Did you see guys that Bob the ventriloquist hangs out with? They're nothing special, just a bunch of dummies.
How do spacemen add more protein to their diet? They make it meteor.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Here is one that has made the rounds by e-mail… a real “classic”…
Do you need propping up?? I know I do.
FATHER, PROP US UP
Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old deacon who always prayed, FATHER, prop us up on our leanin' side.'
After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he prayed that prayer so fervently.
He answered, 'Well sir, you see, it's like this....I got an old barn out back. It's been there a long time, it's withstood a lot of weather, it’s gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many years. It's still standing, but one day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit. So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on its leaning side so it wouldn't fall.
Then I got to thinking 'bout that and how much I was like that old barn. I been around a long time, I've withstood a lot of life's storms, I've withstood a lot of bad weather in life, I've withstood a lot of hard times, And I'm still standing too. But I find myself leaning to one side from time to time, so I like to ask the Father to prop us up on our leaning side, 'cause I figure a lot of us get to leaning, at times.'
Sometime we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness, leaning toward hatred, leaning toward cussing, leaning toward a lot of things that we shouldn't, so we need to pray, 'Father, prop us up on our leaning side,' so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify the Father.
-- Author Unknown
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this video from Reid Broce…
Need a pick-me-up? Watch this –
http://www.stservicemovie.com/
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
If you received this from a friend and would like to join…
To subscribe to this group, send email to
grace-mail+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Or you can visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/grace-mail?hl=en?hl=en
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this from the “Pearls” mailing list. To receive, just sent Larry Burrows a request at larryb1939@sbcglobal.net
God knows where we are. Sometimes we forget this. Sometimes we even feel that God has forgotten us. He hasn't. God knows exactly where we are. So when you are afflicted with those forsaken feelings, when you’re on the verge of throwing a pity party thanks to those despairing thoughts, go back to the Word of God. --Charles Swindoll
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Reasons to love your enemies….
God commands us to love. Here are some key Scriptures (Bible verses) on loving your enemies:
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another (John 13:34).
But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27-28).
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse (Romans 12:14).
We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it (1 Corinthians 4:12).
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:17-21).
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:9).
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble (1 John 2:9-10).
%%%%%%%%%%%
Send good stories and clean funnies to: johnlynnbright@gmail.com
NOTE - All material contained in this mailing is shared as received and is believed, by me, to be anonymous... unless credit is given. Please contact me at the address above if you know the author of any material so that I may give credit where credit is due. Thanks!
Grace & peace –
John A. Bright
Pastor, Walmsley Boulevard UMC in Richmond, Virginia
johnlynnbright@gmail.com
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..."
Monday, October 25, 2010
Grac*e-mail for 10/25/10 got grace?
Grac*e-mail for 10/25/10 got grace?
I have a favor to ask of all my subscribers, please forward this mailing to five folks you believe it will bless… thanks!
John()_:-) Every time you see this angel, remember that God loves you!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Proverbs 24:13-20
13 My son, eat honey because it is good,
And the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste;
14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul;
If you have found it, there is a prospect,
And your hope will not be cut off.
15 Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous;
Do not plunder his resting place;
16 For a righteous man may fall seven times
And rise again,
But the wicked shall fall by calamity.
17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him,
And He turn away His wrath from him.
19 Do not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the wicked;
20 For there will be no prospect for the evil man;
The lamp of the wicked will be put out.
NKJV
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Grac*e-mail now has a page on Facebook… so send your friends an invitation to enjoy!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Check out the three minute weekly update video at
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this info from Focus on the Family…
Honor, Privilege, Duty
Americans are blessed to have the right to be involved in our system of government. But democracy has one key requirement: our participation. The most basic democratic participation is voting, yet it can also have the most profound impact. When you vote, you help determine who will lead our nation, make our laws and protect our liberties. More than a right, voting is a privilege millions of people in other parts of the world can only dream about. Still, many Americans choose not to vote. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as many as 29 percent of citizens are not registered to vote—that’s 60 million people! Nearly one-third of eligible voting citizens did not vote in the last presidential election. In 2008, we saw extremely high voter registration numbers—but during a non-presidential election year, voter registration rates traditionally decline. However, we have the opportunity to positively impact the direction of our country in off-year elections as well.
The Influence of Faith
Our faith in God should influence our values in life, including the political arena. We shouldn’t be bashful about injecting notions of right and wrong into public debates. These ideas come from moral standards, which help prevent a free society such as ours from sliding into social chaos. People of faith, grounded in moral truth, must be prepared to discern those candidates best able to uphold moral values. As Christ’s representatives on earth, we have a mandate to be “salt and light” in our culture
(Matthew 5:13-16). Tom Minnery, senior vice president of Government and Public Policy at Focus on the Family® says, “Our government asks for our participation. We have a government ‘of the people, by the people, and for the people,’ in Lincoln’s memorable phrase. We Christians have a duty as citizens to lend our government our involvement.”
Voting Your Values
Here’s a sobering thought: Some believers fail to consider their biblical values when voting, sometimes choosing candidates whose positions are at odds with their own beliefs, convictions and values. A study by The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life® found that nearly 60 percent of Amercians say religion has little effect on their voting decisions.
The Ministry of Voting
That’s right. Your vote can be a form of ministry. After all, when you vote, you are directly and indirectly impacting people’s lives. By the people you select and the ballot measures you support, you are making a practical difference—for good and bad—in the lives of:
• Preborn children (abortion policy)
• Impressionable youth (pornography laws and education policy)
• Husbands and wives (marriage and divorce laws)
• Hurting souls (religious freedom laws)
And that’s only the beginning.
So this election year, prayerfully resolve to:
1) Be registered.
2) Be informed.
3) Vote according to your values!
It is absolutely critical as Christians that we get registered, be informed and vote according to our values. As believers, we have a duty to be involved in the democratic process. But our charge is not simply to vote the way our friends or family vote, or the way our political party wants us to vote, or with concern only for our personal finances. Instead, we must vote our values, our beliefs and our convictions. An informed vote takes effort. The choice is not always easy, but it is always significant.
“If America is to survive, we must elect more God-centered men and women to public office— individuals who will seek divine guidance in the affairs of state.” — Billy Graham, evangelist
%%%%%%%%%
Hymns for Everyone
The Dentist's Hymn: Crown Him With Many Crowns
The Contractor's Hymn: The Church's One Foundation
The Tailor's Hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy
The Politician's Hymn: Standing on the Promises
The Optometrist’s Hymn: Open My Eyes That I Might See
The IRS Agent's Hymn: I Surrender All
The Gossip's Hymn: Pass It On
The Shopper's Hymn: Sweet By and By
The Pilot's Hymn: I'll Fly Away
The Waiter's Hymn: Fill My Cup, Lord
The Lifeguard's Hymn: Rescue the Perishing
The Baker's Hymn: When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder
The Shoe Repairer's Hymn: It Is Well With My Soul
The Geologist's Hymn: Rock of Ages
The Men's Wear Clerk's Hymn: Blest Be the Tie
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got these from “Pun of the Day”. You can subscribe at
http://www.punoftheday.com/
If you spend too much time in the coffee shop you'll be latte for work.
I can't tell you where to buy soy sauce tonight, but I can shoyu tamari.
I asked somebody a question about pi, their answer was never ending!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Good Morning!
When I say good morning I mean to say…
G-od
O-ffers us His
O-utstanding
D-evotion to
M-ake us
O-bedient &
R-eady for a
N-ew day with Him.
I-nspire others please, and
N-ever forget
G-od loves you!
%%%%%%%%%%%%
With the cold/flu season just around the corner, I wanted to start sharing some “Old Fashioned” help. If you have a good one, send it my way…
Here are a few “natural” helps…
Honey mixed with a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon powder taken daily for three days will help when you have that nagging cough. It also will help clear the sinuses.
Taking 1000mgs of vitamin C daily will help the body fight virus infections.
Drink ginger tea. Ginger tea is antiviral and helps break up the mucus and congestion. Boil 2 tablespoons of fresh grated ginger in 8 ounces of water. Let it cool and drink as needed.
Two garlic supplement tablets, found in most health food stores, taken three times a day will help break up the mucus from sinus or chest congestion.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
If you received this from a friend and would like to join…
To subscribe to this group, send email to
grace-mail+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Or you can visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/grace-mail?hl=en?hl=en
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this from the “Pearls” mailing list. To receive, just sent Larry Burrows a request at larryb1939@sbcglobal.net
How long has it been since your hunger caused you to crawl up in His lap, and like a child, to reach up and take the face of God to turn it toward you? Intimacy with Him! That is what God desires, and His face should be our highest focus. --Tommy Tenney
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Send good stories and clean funnies to: johnlynnbright@gmail.com
NOTE - All material contained in this mailing is shared as received and is believed, by me, to be anonymous... unless credit is given. Please contact me at the address above if you know the author of any material so that I may give credit where credit is due. Thanks!
Grace & peace –
John A. Bright
Pastor, Walmsley Boulevard UMC in Richmond, Virginia
johnlynnbright@gmail.com
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..."
I have a favor to ask of all my subscribers, please forward this mailing to five folks you believe it will bless… thanks!
John()_:-) Every time you see this angel, remember that God loves you!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Proverbs 24:13-20
13 My son, eat honey because it is good,
And the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste;
14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul;
If you have found it, there is a prospect,
And your hope will not be cut off.
15 Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous;
Do not plunder his resting place;
16 For a righteous man may fall seven times
And rise again,
But the wicked shall fall by calamity.
17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him,
And He turn away His wrath from him.
19 Do not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the wicked;
20 For there will be no prospect for the evil man;
The lamp of the wicked will be put out.
NKJV
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Grac*e-mail now has a page on Facebook… so send your friends an invitation to enjoy!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Check out the three minute weekly update video at
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this info from Focus on the Family…
Honor, Privilege, Duty
Americans are blessed to have the right to be involved in our system of government. But democracy has one key requirement: our participation. The most basic democratic participation is voting, yet it can also have the most profound impact. When you vote, you help determine who will lead our nation, make our laws and protect our liberties. More than a right, voting is a privilege millions of people in other parts of the world can only dream about. Still, many Americans choose not to vote. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as many as 29 percent of citizens are not registered to vote—that’s 60 million people! Nearly one-third of eligible voting citizens did not vote in the last presidential election. In 2008, we saw extremely high voter registration numbers—but during a non-presidential election year, voter registration rates traditionally decline. However, we have the opportunity to positively impact the direction of our country in off-year elections as well.
The Influence of Faith
Our faith in God should influence our values in life, including the political arena. We shouldn’t be bashful about injecting notions of right and wrong into public debates. These ideas come from moral standards, which help prevent a free society such as ours from sliding into social chaos. People of faith, grounded in moral truth, must be prepared to discern those candidates best able to uphold moral values. As Christ’s representatives on earth, we have a mandate to be “salt and light” in our culture
(Matthew 5:13-16). Tom Minnery, senior vice president of Government and Public Policy at Focus on the Family® says, “Our government asks for our participation. We have a government ‘of the people, by the people, and for the people,’ in Lincoln’s memorable phrase. We Christians have a duty as citizens to lend our government our involvement.”
Voting Your Values
Here’s a sobering thought: Some believers fail to consider their biblical values when voting, sometimes choosing candidates whose positions are at odds with their own beliefs, convictions and values. A study by The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life® found that nearly 60 percent of Amercians say religion has little effect on their voting decisions.
The Ministry of Voting
That’s right. Your vote can be a form of ministry. After all, when you vote, you are directly and indirectly impacting people’s lives. By the people you select and the ballot measures you support, you are making a practical difference—for good and bad—in the lives of:
• Preborn children (abortion policy)
• Impressionable youth (pornography laws and education policy)
• Husbands and wives (marriage and divorce laws)
• Hurting souls (religious freedom laws)
And that’s only the beginning.
So this election year, prayerfully resolve to:
1) Be registered.
2) Be informed.
3) Vote according to your values!
It is absolutely critical as Christians that we get registered, be informed and vote according to our values. As believers, we have a duty to be involved in the democratic process. But our charge is not simply to vote the way our friends or family vote, or the way our political party wants us to vote, or with concern only for our personal finances. Instead, we must vote our values, our beliefs and our convictions. An informed vote takes effort. The choice is not always easy, but it is always significant.
“If America is to survive, we must elect more God-centered men and women to public office— individuals who will seek divine guidance in the affairs of state.” — Billy Graham, evangelist
%%%%%%%%%
Hymns for Everyone
The Dentist's Hymn: Crown Him With Many Crowns
The Contractor's Hymn: The Church's One Foundation
The Tailor's Hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy
The Politician's Hymn: Standing on the Promises
The Optometrist’s Hymn: Open My Eyes That I Might See
The IRS Agent's Hymn: I Surrender All
The Gossip's Hymn: Pass It On
The Shopper's Hymn: Sweet By and By
The Pilot's Hymn: I'll Fly Away
The Waiter's Hymn: Fill My Cup, Lord
The Lifeguard's Hymn: Rescue the Perishing
The Baker's Hymn: When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder
The Shoe Repairer's Hymn: It Is Well With My Soul
The Geologist's Hymn: Rock of Ages
The Men's Wear Clerk's Hymn: Blest Be the Tie
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got these from “Pun of the Day”. You can subscribe at
http://www.punoftheday.com/
If you spend too much time in the coffee shop you'll be latte for work.
I can't tell you where to buy soy sauce tonight, but I can shoyu tamari.
I asked somebody a question about pi, their answer was never ending!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Good Morning!
When I say good morning I mean to say…
G-od
O-ffers us His
O-utstanding
D-evotion to
M-ake us
O-bedient &
R-eady for a
N-ew day with Him.
I-nspire others please, and
N-ever forget
G-od loves you!
%%%%%%%%%%%%
With the cold/flu season just around the corner, I wanted to start sharing some “Old Fashioned” help. If you have a good one, send it my way…
Here are a few “natural” helps…
Honey mixed with a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon powder taken daily for three days will help when you have that nagging cough. It also will help clear the sinuses.
Taking 1000mgs of vitamin C daily will help the body fight virus infections.
Drink ginger tea. Ginger tea is antiviral and helps break up the mucus and congestion. Boil 2 tablespoons of fresh grated ginger in 8 ounces of water. Let it cool and drink as needed.
Two garlic supplement tablets, found in most health food stores, taken three times a day will help break up the mucus from sinus or chest congestion.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
If you received this from a friend and would like to join…
To subscribe to this group, send email to
grace-mail+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Or you can visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/grace-mail?hl=en?hl=en
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this from the “Pearls” mailing list. To receive, just sent Larry Burrows a request at larryb1939@sbcglobal.net
How long has it been since your hunger caused you to crawl up in His lap, and like a child, to reach up and take the face of God to turn it toward you? Intimacy with Him! That is what God desires, and His face should be our highest focus. --Tommy Tenney
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Send good stories and clean funnies to: johnlynnbright@gmail.com
NOTE - All material contained in this mailing is shared as received and is believed, by me, to be anonymous... unless credit is given. Please contact me at the address above if you know the author of any material so that I may give credit where credit is due. Thanks!
Grace & peace –
John A. Bright
Pastor, Walmsley Boulevard UMC in Richmond, Virginia
johnlynnbright@gmail.com
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..."
Monday, October 18, 2010
Grac*e-mail for 10/18/10 got grace?
Grac*e-mail for 10/18/10
got grace?
I have a favor to ask of all my subscribers, please forward this mailing to five folks you believe it will bless… thanks!
John()_:-) Every time you see this angel, remember that God loves you!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Isa 40:27-31
27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
And speak, O Israel:
"My way is hidden from the LORD,
And my just claim is passed over by my God"?
28 Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the LORD,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
NKJV
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Grac*e-mail now has a page on Facebook… so send your friends an invitation to enjoy!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this link from Vella Osborne…
http://www.jrsbible.info/bible.htm
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
A few funnies from Faith Sturgis…. (Don’t forget to keep sending me the good, clean emails you get! John()_:-)
A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.
The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.
The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.
Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.
The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah".
The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"
The little girl replied, "Then you ask him".
(and)
A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work.
As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.
The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."
The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."
Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."
(and)
A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.
After explaining the commandment to "honor" thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?"
Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, "Thou shall not kill."
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got these from “Pun of the Day”. You can subscribe at
http://www.punoftheday.com/
Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat says to the other, 'You stay here, I'll go on a head.'
The invisible cows were herd but not seen.
'We've lost too much to the Indian princess at that card game,' declared Capt. John Smith, 'but don't let poker haunt us.'
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this a while back from lmci.org
Two weeks ago, while Dale and I were visiting our daughter Hannah in Birmingham, Alabama, we attended Church of the Highlands where Pastor Chris Hodges taught from an out-of-print booklet by Jack Hayford, entitled How to Live Through a Bad Day. In it, Jack Hayford gleaned from the statements Jesus made on the cross to use them as life lessons for us. I’d like to communicate to you what inspired me, and perhaps it will inspire you as well—because, hey, we all have bad days. I am not being negative; on the contrary, realistic. Bad days happen. We can learn from the Master how He lived through His worst days.
Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. Hebrews 12:2 The Message
Jesus went through His worst days so you can make it through yours.
For brevity’s sake, let’s look at only two of the statements Jesus made on Calvary and the life principles they teach us in how to live through a bad day.
Principle #1—Forgive
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing (Luke 23:34 New Living Translation). Forgive everyone who’s trying (or seemingly trying) to ruin your life.
On Jesus’ worst days He had plenty of reasons not to forgive—betrayal, false accusation, rejection, abuse, and humiliation, to name a few—yet He forgave them and asked His Father to forgive them as well. What an example! He did it and will give us the strength to do it too.
That's why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people's sins, he would have already experienced it all himself—all the pain, all the testing—and would be able to help where help was needed. Hebrews 2:17–18 The Message
To live through our worst days we need to be forgiving.
When Jesus suffered, He did not threaten to get even: He left His case in the hands of God. 1 Peter 2:23a Living Bible
Why should we forgive?
* Because we need forgiveness (Matthew 6:15)
* Because they are victims too (Ephesians 6:12)
Here’s a successful key in forgiving people: forgive them in advance.
In relationships some the greatest challenges we face is in failed expectations. So, in the beginning of each work day (or any day), forgive them in advance—just in case. It sounds odd but it works. Make it your pre-day game plan to purposefully forgive in advance.
Principle #2—Be Compassionate
In our examination of how Jesus lived through His worst days, we see Him, in the height of His own pain and agony, reaching out to help someone else.
One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39–43 New Living Translation
Help others who are experiencing your same struggle.
I know someone who lived this out firsthand. Our dear friends, Dave and Julie Carlson lost their 2-year-old son, Josiah, in a tragic accident. Last Thursday, Dave officiated at his own son’s funeral and preached the most powerful sermon on “Not Doubting” that my husband, Dale (who was present) had ever heard. After the service, Dave ministered to/prayed for a long line of people. Dave, living through his worst days, ministered like his Master; who, in His pain, helped others who were experiencing the same struggle. I am moved beyond description at this report. Only Jesus, who has experienced all the pain and all the testing, could give a man or woman the strength to do that.
Jesus went through His worst days so you can make it through yours.
I’d like to share with you another statement from Chris Hodges’ teaching that has been re-echoing in my soul. He said, “We are not looking for a better now but a better place.”
Friends, remember this world is not our home. We need to fix our spiritual GPS to that heavenly kingdom. We need to build a vision of eternity in our hearts so, no matter how bad our worst day is, hope is on the way.
We wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13b New International Version (NIV)
The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. 2 Timothy 4:18 (NIV)
So keep your eyes on Jesus, who, in His worst days, never lost sight of where He was headed. Like Him, we are headed there too—that exhilarating finish in and with God. Keeping our hearts fixed on eternity, we can put up with anything along the way. Even our very worst bad days.
Just remember, He went through His worst days so you can make it through yours.
Running the race with you,
Vicki Sides
%%%%%%%%%%%%
With the cold/flu season just around the corner, I wanted to start sharing some “Old Fashioned” help. If you have a good one, send it my way…
One of my kids started with a throat this morning so I made up a new batch of this great “home remedy”…
Sore Throat Gargle
Use several times a day at the first sign of a sore throat.
Combine:
1 cup apple cider vinegar
4 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp salt
½ tsp Tabasco Sauce
Stir until salt dissolves and store in the refrigerator
To gargle:
Add 1 Tbsp of mix to ¼ cup warm water
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
If you received this from a friend and would like to join…
To subscribe to this group, send email to
grace-mail+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Or you can visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/grace-mail?hl=en?hl=en
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this from the “Pearls” mailing list. To receive, just sent Larry Burrows a request at larryb1939@sbcglobal.net
If I look at myself, I am depressed.
If I look at those around me, I am often disappointed.
If I look at my circumstances, I am discouraged.
But if I look at Jesus, I am constantly, consistently, and eternally fulfilled!
--Author Unknown
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Send good stories and clean funnies to: johnlynnbright@gmail.com
NOTE - All material contained in this mailing is shared as received and is believed, by me, to be anonymous... unless credit is given. Please contact me at the address above if you know the author of any material so that I may give credit where credit is due. Thanks!
Grace & peace –
John A. Bright
Pastor, Walmsley Boulevard UMC in Richmond, Virginia
johnlynnbright@gmail.com
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..."
got grace?
I have a favor to ask of all my subscribers, please forward this mailing to five folks you believe it will bless… thanks!
John()_:-) Every time you see this angel, remember that God loves you!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Isa 40:27-31
27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
And speak, O Israel:
"My way is hidden from the LORD,
And my just claim is passed over by my God"?
28 Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the LORD,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
NKJV
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Grac*e-mail now has a page on Facebook… so send your friends an invitation to enjoy!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this link from Vella Osborne…
http://www.jrsbible.info/bible.htm
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
A few funnies from Faith Sturgis…. (Don’t forget to keep sending me the good, clean emails you get! John()_:-)
A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.
The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.
The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.
Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.
The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah".
The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"
The little girl replied, "Then you ask him".
(and)
A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work.
As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.
The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."
The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."
Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."
(and)
A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.
After explaining the commandment to "honor" thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?"
Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, "Thou shall not kill."
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got these from “Pun of the Day”. You can subscribe at
http://www.punoftheday.com/
Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat says to the other, 'You stay here, I'll go on a head.'
The invisible cows were herd but not seen.
'We've lost too much to the Indian princess at that card game,' declared Capt. John Smith, 'but don't let poker haunt us.'
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this a while back from lmci.org
Two weeks ago, while Dale and I were visiting our daughter Hannah in Birmingham, Alabama, we attended Church of the Highlands where Pastor Chris Hodges taught from an out-of-print booklet by Jack Hayford, entitled How to Live Through a Bad Day. In it, Jack Hayford gleaned from the statements Jesus made on the cross to use them as life lessons for us. I’d like to communicate to you what inspired me, and perhaps it will inspire you as well—because, hey, we all have bad days. I am not being negative; on the contrary, realistic. Bad days happen. We can learn from the Master how He lived through His worst days.
Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. Hebrews 12:2 The Message
Jesus went through His worst days so you can make it through yours.
For brevity’s sake, let’s look at only two of the statements Jesus made on Calvary and the life principles they teach us in how to live through a bad day.
Principle #1—Forgive
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing (Luke 23:34 New Living Translation). Forgive everyone who’s trying (or seemingly trying) to ruin your life.
On Jesus’ worst days He had plenty of reasons not to forgive—betrayal, false accusation, rejection, abuse, and humiliation, to name a few—yet He forgave them and asked His Father to forgive them as well. What an example! He did it and will give us the strength to do it too.
That's why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people's sins, he would have already experienced it all himself—all the pain, all the testing—and would be able to help where help was needed. Hebrews 2:17–18 The Message
To live through our worst days we need to be forgiving.
When Jesus suffered, He did not threaten to get even: He left His case in the hands of God. 1 Peter 2:23a Living Bible
Why should we forgive?
* Because we need forgiveness (Matthew 6:15)
* Because they are victims too (Ephesians 6:12)
Here’s a successful key in forgiving people: forgive them in advance.
In relationships some the greatest challenges we face is in failed expectations. So, in the beginning of each work day (or any day), forgive them in advance—just in case. It sounds odd but it works. Make it your pre-day game plan to purposefully forgive in advance.
Principle #2—Be Compassionate
In our examination of how Jesus lived through His worst days, we see Him, in the height of His own pain and agony, reaching out to help someone else.
One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39–43 New Living Translation
Help others who are experiencing your same struggle.
I know someone who lived this out firsthand. Our dear friends, Dave and Julie Carlson lost their 2-year-old son, Josiah, in a tragic accident. Last Thursday, Dave officiated at his own son’s funeral and preached the most powerful sermon on “Not Doubting” that my husband, Dale (who was present) had ever heard. After the service, Dave ministered to/prayed for a long line of people. Dave, living through his worst days, ministered like his Master; who, in His pain, helped others who were experiencing the same struggle. I am moved beyond description at this report. Only Jesus, who has experienced all the pain and all the testing, could give a man or woman the strength to do that.
Jesus went through His worst days so you can make it through yours.
I’d like to share with you another statement from Chris Hodges’ teaching that has been re-echoing in my soul. He said, “We are not looking for a better now but a better place.”
Friends, remember this world is not our home. We need to fix our spiritual GPS to that heavenly kingdom. We need to build a vision of eternity in our hearts so, no matter how bad our worst day is, hope is on the way.
We wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13b New International Version (NIV)
The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. 2 Timothy 4:18 (NIV)
So keep your eyes on Jesus, who, in His worst days, never lost sight of where He was headed. Like Him, we are headed there too—that exhilarating finish in and with God. Keeping our hearts fixed on eternity, we can put up with anything along the way. Even our very worst bad days.
Just remember, He went through His worst days so you can make it through yours.
Running the race with you,
Vicki Sides
%%%%%%%%%%%%
With the cold/flu season just around the corner, I wanted to start sharing some “Old Fashioned” help. If you have a good one, send it my way…
One of my kids started with a throat this morning so I made up a new batch of this great “home remedy”…
Sore Throat Gargle
Use several times a day at the first sign of a sore throat.
Combine:
1 cup apple cider vinegar
4 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp salt
½ tsp Tabasco Sauce
Stir until salt dissolves and store in the refrigerator
To gargle:
Add 1 Tbsp of mix to ¼ cup warm water
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
If you received this from a friend and would like to join…
To subscribe to this group, send email to
grace-mail+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Or you can visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/grace-mail?hl=en?hl=en
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this from the “Pearls” mailing list. To receive, just sent Larry Burrows a request at larryb1939@sbcglobal.net
If I look at myself, I am depressed.
If I look at those around me, I am often disappointed.
If I look at my circumstances, I am discouraged.
But if I look at Jesus, I am constantly, consistently, and eternally fulfilled!
--Author Unknown
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Send good stories and clean funnies to: johnlynnbright@gmail.com
NOTE - All material contained in this mailing is shared as received and is believed, by me, to be anonymous... unless credit is given. Please contact me at the address above if you know the author of any material so that I may give credit where credit is due. Thanks!
Grace & peace –
John A. Bright
Pastor, Walmsley Boulevard UMC in Richmond, Virginia
johnlynnbright@gmail.com
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..."
Monday, October 11, 2010
Grac*e-mail for 10/11/10 got grace?
Grac*e-mail for 10/11/10
got grace?
John()_:-) Every time you see this angel, remember that God loves you!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Used this scripture at a wedding yesterday (please pray for Darrell and Reta as they take the first steps in their journey of married life!)
Col 3:12-17
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
NKJV
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Grac*e-mail now has a page on Facebook… so send your friends an invitation to enjoy!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
I have shared mailings from Mark Gibson in the past. Here is a good one! You can request being added to his list bus sending an e-mail to withtheholyspirit@earthlink.net …
Hello Precious Ones,
The blessings that God has bestowed upon us are not meant to be used solely for our benefit, but are to be shared so that others may benefit from what God has freely given us. We are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves and be quick to lend a helping hand and share the Love of God towards all who are in need. The Lord Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:8 “...freely you have received, freely give.” The Lord tells us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the widows and fatherless, and simply do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Be encouraged to do all you can with what you have and do not worry about the results because it is God who brings results in ways that we have never imagined. (Matthew 5:43-48)(Matthew 25:34-40)(Luke 6:30-36)
I hope you are encouraged by today's message to not keep what God has given you only for yourself, but share and give and allow the love of God to shine brightly through your life.
STONE SOUP
Many years ago three soldiers, hungry and weary of battle, came upon a small village. The villagers, suffering a meager harvest and the many years of war, quickly hid what little they had to eat and met the three at the village square, wringing their hands and bemoaning the lack of anything to eat.
The soldiers spoke quietly among themselves and the first soldier then turned to the village elders. “Your tired fields have left you nothing to share, so we will share what little we have: the secret of how to make soup from stones.”
Naturally the villagers were intrigued and soon a fire was put to the town's greatest kettle as the soldiers dropped in three smooth stones. “Now this will be a fine soup”, said the second soldier; “but a pinch of salt and some parsley would make it wonderful!” Up jumped a villager, crying “What luck! I've just remembered where some has been left!” And off she ran, returning with an apron full of parsley and a turnip. As the kettle boiled on, the memory of the village improved: soon barley, carrots, beef and cream had found their way into the great pot, and a cask of wine was rolled into the square as all sat down to feast.
They ate and danced and sang well into the night, refreshed by the feast and their new-found friends. In the morning the three soldiers awoke to find the entire village standing before them. At their feet lay a satchel of the village's best breads and cheese. “You have given us the greatest of gifts: the secret of how to make soup from stones”, said an elder, “and we shall never forget.” The third soldier turned to the crowd, and said: “There is no secret, but this is certain: it is only by sharing that we may make a feast”. And off the soldiers wandered, down the road.
Author Unknown
Be encouraged to open your heart and share with others what God has freely given you. Our possessions will not be with us a hundred years from now, but what we do for others in the name of the Lord will be a shining reminder that our heart and life belonged to God while we were on the earth. Life on earth is short no matter how long it may seem in the natural and we should be quick to remember that helping others and sharing what we have been given is a true testament that our eyes are focused on things above and not on the materialistic things of this world. Be blessed and be a blessing. God loves you and so do I!!
Mark Gibson
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got these from “Pun of the Day”. You can subscribe at
http://www.punoftheday.com/
I stole someone else's idea for a stage drama. Am I a playgiarist?
What do you call a rabbit with lots of flees? Bugs Bunny.
The former Dallas running back told me the most amazing story. It was Emmit's myth.
If you're looking for a fish that's good to eat you can't beat a drum.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Do you know about “The Truth Project”?
http://www.thetruthproject.org/
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Haha… I recently had a birthday and since I am slowly creeping up on the 1/2c mark, thought this was pretty funny…
Signs That Old Age Might Be Creeping Up On You
Your favorite section of the newspaper is "25 Years Ago Today."
The parts that have arthritis are the parts where you feel best.
A big evening with your friends is sitting around comparing living wills.
Your clothes go into the overnight bag so you can fill the suitcase with your pills.
Somebody you consider an old-timer calls you an old-timer.
Your idea of a change of scenery is looking to the left or right.
Your knees buckle, but your belt won't.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
I have seen this one before with different a different title. Enjoy…
Charles Schultz Philosophy
You don't actually have to take the quiz. Just read straight through, and you'll get the point, an awesome one, that it is trying to make!
Take this quiz:
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.
Easier?
The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones who care.
%%%%%%%%%%%%
With the cold/flu season just around the corner, I wanted to start sharing some “Old Fashioned” help. If you have a good one, send it my way…
For Coughing
Grandma made her own Formula 44. She boiled 1/4 cup of molasses, one tablespoon each of butter and vinegar, and a small onion.
Strain out all the solids and store in the refrigerator.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
If you received this from a friend and would like to join…
To subscribe to this group, send email to
grace-mail+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Or you can visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/grace-mail?hl=en?hl=en
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this from the “Pearls” mailing list. To receive, just sent Larry Burrows a request at larryb1939@sbcglobal.net
Tarry at the promise till God meets you there. He always returns by way of His promises. --L. B. Cowman
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Pastor Danny Holdren, Liberty Cowboy Church, sent this one my way…
When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.
On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."
Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!"
Life is full of imperfect things....and imperfect people.
I've learned over the years that learning to accept each others faults - and choosing to celebrate each others differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.
And that's my prayer for you today. That you will take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Send good stories and clean funnies to: johnlynnbright@gmail.com
NOTE - All material contained in this mailing is shared as received and is believed, by me, to be anonymous... unless credit is given. Please contact me at the address above if you know the author of any material so that I may give credit where credit is due. Thanks!
Grace & peace –
John A. Bright
Pastor, Walmsley Boulevard UMC in Richmond, Virginia
johnlynnbright@gmail.com
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..."
got grace?
John()_:-) Every time you see this angel, remember that God loves you!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Used this scripture at a wedding yesterday (please pray for Darrell and Reta as they take the first steps in their journey of married life!)
Col 3:12-17
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
NKJV
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Grac*e-mail now has a page on Facebook… so send your friends an invitation to enjoy!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
I have shared mailings from Mark Gibson in the past. Here is a good one! You can request being added to his list bus sending an e-mail to withtheholyspirit@earthlink.net …
Hello Precious Ones,
The blessings that God has bestowed upon us are not meant to be used solely for our benefit, but are to be shared so that others may benefit from what God has freely given us. We are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves and be quick to lend a helping hand and share the Love of God towards all who are in need. The Lord Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:8 “...freely you have received, freely give.” The Lord tells us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the widows and fatherless, and simply do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Be encouraged to do all you can with what you have and do not worry about the results because it is God who brings results in ways that we have never imagined. (Matthew 5:43-48)(Matthew 25:34-40)(Luke 6:30-36)
I hope you are encouraged by today's message to not keep what God has given you only for yourself, but share and give and allow the love of God to shine brightly through your life.
STONE SOUP
Many years ago three soldiers, hungry and weary of battle, came upon a small village. The villagers, suffering a meager harvest and the many years of war, quickly hid what little they had to eat and met the three at the village square, wringing their hands and bemoaning the lack of anything to eat.
The soldiers spoke quietly among themselves and the first soldier then turned to the village elders. “Your tired fields have left you nothing to share, so we will share what little we have: the secret of how to make soup from stones.”
Naturally the villagers were intrigued and soon a fire was put to the town's greatest kettle as the soldiers dropped in three smooth stones. “Now this will be a fine soup”, said the second soldier; “but a pinch of salt and some parsley would make it wonderful!” Up jumped a villager, crying “What luck! I've just remembered where some has been left!” And off she ran, returning with an apron full of parsley and a turnip. As the kettle boiled on, the memory of the village improved: soon barley, carrots, beef and cream had found their way into the great pot, and a cask of wine was rolled into the square as all sat down to feast.
They ate and danced and sang well into the night, refreshed by the feast and their new-found friends. In the morning the three soldiers awoke to find the entire village standing before them. At their feet lay a satchel of the village's best breads and cheese. “You have given us the greatest of gifts: the secret of how to make soup from stones”, said an elder, “and we shall never forget.” The third soldier turned to the crowd, and said: “There is no secret, but this is certain: it is only by sharing that we may make a feast”. And off the soldiers wandered, down the road.
Author Unknown
Be encouraged to open your heart and share with others what God has freely given you. Our possessions will not be with us a hundred years from now, but what we do for others in the name of the Lord will be a shining reminder that our heart and life belonged to God while we were on the earth. Life on earth is short no matter how long it may seem in the natural and we should be quick to remember that helping others and sharing what we have been given is a true testament that our eyes are focused on things above and not on the materialistic things of this world. Be blessed and be a blessing. God loves you and so do I!!
Mark Gibson
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got these from “Pun of the Day”. You can subscribe at
http://www.punoftheday.com/
I stole someone else's idea for a stage drama. Am I a playgiarist?
What do you call a rabbit with lots of flees? Bugs Bunny.
The former Dallas running back told me the most amazing story. It was Emmit's myth.
If you're looking for a fish that's good to eat you can't beat a drum.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Do you know about “The Truth Project”?
http://www.thetruthproject.org/
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Haha… I recently had a birthday and since I am slowly creeping up on the 1/2c mark, thought this was pretty funny…
Signs That Old Age Might Be Creeping Up On You
Your favorite section of the newspaper is "25 Years Ago Today."
The parts that have arthritis are the parts where you feel best.
A big evening with your friends is sitting around comparing living wills.
Your clothes go into the overnight bag so you can fill the suitcase with your pills.
Somebody you consider an old-timer calls you an old-timer.
Your idea of a change of scenery is looking to the left or right.
Your knees buckle, but your belt won't.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
I have seen this one before with different a different title. Enjoy…
Charles Schultz Philosophy
You don't actually have to take the quiz. Just read straight through, and you'll get the point, an awesome one, that it is trying to make!
Take this quiz:
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.
Easier?
The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones who care.
%%%%%%%%%%%%
With the cold/flu season just around the corner, I wanted to start sharing some “Old Fashioned” help. If you have a good one, send it my way…
For Coughing
Grandma made her own Formula 44. She boiled 1/4 cup of molasses, one tablespoon each of butter and vinegar, and a small onion.
Strain out all the solids and store in the refrigerator.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
If you received this from a friend and would like to join…
To subscribe to this group, send email to
grace-mail+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Or you can visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/grace-mail?hl=en?hl=en
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Got this from the “Pearls” mailing list. To receive, just sent Larry Burrows a request at larryb1939@sbcglobal.net
Tarry at the promise till God meets you there. He always returns by way of His promises. --L. B. Cowman
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Pastor Danny Holdren, Liberty Cowboy Church, sent this one my way…
When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.
On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."
Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!"
Life is full of imperfect things....and imperfect people.
I've learned over the years that learning to accept each others faults - and choosing to celebrate each others differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.
And that's my prayer for you today. That you will take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Send good stories and clean funnies to: johnlynnbright@gmail.com
NOTE - All material contained in this mailing is shared as received and is believed, by me, to be anonymous... unless credit is given. Please contact me at the address above if you know the author of any material so that I may give credit where credit is due. Thanks!
Grace & peace –
John A. Bright
Pastor, Walmsley Boulevard UMC in Richmond, Virginia
johnlynnbright@gmail.com
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)