Good advice from Col.Potter of M*A*S*H: "If you're not where you are, you're nowhere!" For the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, Christmas was approaching, the war was dragging on, and everybody just wanted to be home, or anywhere else.
The reason this little piece of advice resonates with me is this; it says be content where you are. For this moment, I cannot change my situation, but I can look around and be blessed by the good things, the wonderful people who surround me. For me, this saying of the Colonel's goes right along with the scripture verse, "Godliness with contentment is great gain."
By setting our sights on things above and yet being grateful for what we have, that is the path to true contentment. More money and more stuff will just encumber you, while the simple things of life, those most basic blessings, they are what bring peace and joy.
Not convinced yet? Are you always waiting for the next big break or the next big raise? Are you looking ahead with anxiety and thinking sometime soon I will have all I need to be content? I guarantee it won't happen if you have not learned to be content right now. You may be like the billionaire who when asked how much money it would take to make him happy said, "Just a little bit more."
So, make up your mind that today and right here you are content. Live in the moment with the grace of God holding you. Live a full and peaceful life with God's help. Doma
Monday, October 26, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The View From the Pew
I don't know about you, but the view from the pew, or in our case, the folding chair, looks pretty encouraging. The church has new babies, little children, preteens and teens, parents, grandparents and even some great grandparents. This is a place they come to for soul support. How much they receive depends on how hungry and open to the good news of the gospel they are. Here for them is the scripture preached in a straight forward manner. Here also is fellowship offered and available. What is taken away depends on the attitude of the folks who come.
I don't see much to criticize, because we are not up to our eyeballs in the social gospel, but rather steeped in the living words of the Bible. This truth does not change. It is a worthy meal ready to be ingested any time, particularly available to enjoy on Sundays because of faithful preachers who adhere to the Truth. How very blessed we are! May God help our pastors and bless their obedient faithfulness. Doma
I don't see much to criticize, because we are not up to our eyeballs in the social gospel, but rather steeped in the living words of the Bible. This truth does not change. It is a worthy meal ready to be ingested any time, particularly available to enjoy on Sundays because of faithful preachers who adhere to the Truth. How very blessed we are! May God help our pastors and bless their obedient faithfulness. Doma
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
The Pledge Examined
"One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." These words are in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. Every aspect of this phrase bears close scrutiny.
One nation . . .I remember the idea termed the melting pot. That idea, we were taught, was that people coming to America would put this country first and their native country second. We would all be Americans. We were really proud of that idea. It was not perceived negatively until years later.
Some people come to this country and preserve their native heritage uppermost and consider themselves Americans second. They enjoy the benefits of America but don't consider themselves Americans. There is nothing wrong about one's native heritage, but we are not "One nation" as long as there are little cultural communities speaking their native tongue almost exclusively and isolating themselves from mainstream America.
"Under God" is the phrase most under assault in the Pledge. Whose God? Or should God even be mentioned? Well, His name is inscribed all over public monuments in Washington D.C. and throughout the country. His name was invoked in the writings and speeches of the most of the Founding Fathers. This was once a nation considered to be Christian because the majority of its citizens were Christians.
"Indivisible" seems to imply that the nation cannot be divided, but recent rhetoric and media bias does nothing to unite this nation and everything to be divisive. I have not seen any positive result to this negativity.
"Liberty and justice for all" . . .well, it depends on which part of the ALL you happen to be. With the media stressing negative cultural values and educational trends geared to taking the place of parents, the liberties of many people are being compromised. As for justice, you get what you can afford to pay for should you end up in court in this fine country.
It seems the wording could say "One nation, fragmented by dissension, with no moral compass and no absolute values for all." Please pray for our nation to be brought to its corporate knees and acknowledge the One who brought us to this beautiful land. Doma
One nation . . .I remember the idea termed the melting pot. That idea, we were taught, was that people coming to America would put this country first and their native country second. We would all be Americans. We were really proud of that idea. It was not perceived negatively until years later.
Some people come to this country and preserve their native heritage uppermost and consider themselves Americans second. They enjoy the benefits of America but don't consider themselves Americans. There is nothing wrong about one's native heritage, but we are not "One nation" as long as there are little cultural communities speaking their native tongue almost exclusively and isolating themselves from mainstream America.
"Under God" is the phrase most under assault in the Pledge. Whose God? Or should God even be mentioned? Well, His name is inscribed all over public monuments in Washington D.C. and throughout the country. His name was invoked in the writings and speeches of the most of the Founding Fathers. This was once a nation considered to be Christian because the majority of its citizens were Christians.
"Indivisible" seems to imply that the nation cannot be divided, but recent rhetoric and media bias does nothing to unite this nation and everything to be divisive. I have not seen any positive result to this negativity.
"Liberty and justice for all" . . .well, it depends on which part of the ALL you happen to be. With the media stressing negative cultural values and educational trends geared to taking the place of parents, the liberties of many people are being compromised. As for justice, you get what you can afford to pay for should you end up in court in this fine country.
It seems the wording could say "One nation, fragmented by dissension, with no moral compass and no absolute values for all." Please pray for our nation to be brought to its corporate knees and acknowledge the One who brought us to this beautiful land. Doma
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