2012.05.28 Monday Morning Message

Greetings and all good wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Vinita, Oklahoma.

Last Monday I wrote about loneliness in our American society.  Sixty million Americans are unhappy with their lives because of l.

Being alone is not necessarily being lonely.  We all need time to be alone.  Jesus often took time to be alone to refresh his spirit, to relax his body, before returning to engagement with people.

It is when we sever connections with others that loneliness grips us.  To move from being alone to connection with God and people is to overcome loneliness.

It is interesting that in the Genesis account of creation God said "It is good" after each act. (Read Genesis chapter 1)  It is after God created a man (Adam) that God for the time time said "it is not good"...it is not good that a person live without connection.

How can we overcome loneliness?  By being connected with people and causes that are important.  The by-product of connections is happiness and loneliness runs away.

Rabbi Gafni, in his book Soul Prints, reminds us that happiness cannot be pursued for its own sake.  We must pursue goals other than happiness and as a by-product of our pursuit, we will be happy and loneliness will dissolve.

How much time do you spend exchanging your deepest thoughts and aspirations with another person?  How much time do you give in sharing your talents with others?  

With blessings and in friendship,

Richard

Church email: pilgrimpresby@sbcglobal.net

On Sunday, June 3 join us for a family meal following morning worship.    Ken Bailey will be our guest minister.  Ken is the brother of Bow Bailey.  He and his wife Jeannie will be here to share our meal. 

Red Morris is barbecuing pulled pork and the congregation is asked to bring salads and desserts.

2012.01.09 Monday Morning Message

Message from the archives of Richard Evans:

Top of the morning and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, located in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma.

My sole message today may be summed up in four words: "DON'T DESPISE SMALL THINGS!" To be faithful in little things is a great qualification for great things!

Perhaps the greatest fault of our age is that we are in too big a hurry to pay attention to small things which might improve our life.

What are some of those small things?

1. convey congratulations to friends (especially young people) when some success or happiness comes to them.
2. extend a word of appreciation for the work of someone you know.
3. extend sympathy. Comfort comes when one knows that others are sharing their sorrow.
   

Perhaps being diligent in doing small things prompted Emerson's fable, "The Mountain and the Squirrel."

"The mountain and the squirrel had a quarrel. And the former called the latter 'Little Prig'; Bun replied, 'You are doubtless very big; but all sorts of things and weather must be taken in together, to make up a year and a sphere. And I think it no disgrace to occupy my place. If I'm not so large as you, you are not so small as I, and not half so spry. I'll not deny you make a very pretty squirrel track; talents differ; all is well and wisely put; if I cannot carry forests on my back, neither can you crack a nut.'"

"Talents differ!" Thank goodness we're not all alike!

Peace,
Richard

2011.9.26 Monday Morning!

Top of the morning from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, located in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma.

Today, I want to share a story about God's embracing grace and my young college friend, Bill.

Bill and two good friends from his dorm pooled their resources so they could tour Europe "on the cheap." They traveled light, slept in youth hostels, and enjoyed the unique characteristics of every country and village they passed through.

The amazing part of Bill's story didn't happen during a visit to the cathedral; it happened in a pub in Ireland. The thee young travelers were enjoying a meal in a quaint Irish pub when they heard a loud groan. At a nearby table a man struggled to heave himself out of his chair. They saw immediately he had only one leg. He reached for his crutch, but lost his balance and began to fall. Instantly his companion at the table jumped up and caught him.

The man with one leg muttered, "Thanks! I'm as crippled as a blind man."

His friend steadied him while replying, "Well now...come to think of it, who of us here isn't crippled?" A hush fell over the pub as the friend continued, "to lend each other a hand when we're falling is maybe the one kind of work that really matters in the end."


With love, peace and affectionate regards,

Richard

2011.4.4 Monday Morning

Greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Vinita, Oklahoma.
 
Generally speaking there are few things that are either good or bad in themselves.  Things derive their power to curse or to bless from how we use them.
 
When I think of the Church I tend to think of all the good it does.  Yet, I am aware that through the ages people in the Church, and in all religions, have been a cause for cruelty and violence as well as for immeasurable good.
 
It is sad to think how religious extremists today are fostering hate and intolerance in the world, and in our nation.  Didn't Jesus show us in the parable of the Good Samaritan (luke 10:25-37) how to act toward one another?
 
Be careful and avoid all forms of religious extremism!  None of us has us has exclusive knowledge of the mind of God. 
 
                   Thanks for visiting our BLOG today.
 
                  www.pilgrimpresbyterian.blogspot.com


In friendship,
Richard

2011.2.07 Monday Morning!

Greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in snowbound Vinita, Oklahoma.

 

When I was a kid, growing up in Racine, Wisconsin, it was fun building a snowman, a snow fort, and having snow ball 'fights' with friends.  I loved sledding, tobagganing and ice skating.

 

At the first snow fall, signs  advising motorists to "Check Your Chains" popped up in front of service stations all over town.  I thought of those signs last week, when Oklahoma had a record breaking snow fall.  Today, no one clasps chains around their tires to drive through snow.  After all, we've got front wheel drive or 4-wheel drive.  People under 60 probably don't have a clue as to the meaning of those long gone signs, "Check Your Chains", which still have a valid message.

 

There are chains of prejudice, of an unforgiving spirit, chains of greed and phony values, chains that bind and enslave us.  Maybe it takes a massive snow storm to remind us of our need to "Check Our Chains".

 

Keep safe,

 

Richard                    

2010.01.18 Monday Morning!

Monday Morning greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Vinita, Oklahoma.

We are so wrapped by a desire to get ahead in the world that I wonder how many of us have forgotten the underpinning of true success, which is GOOD CHARACTER! Genuine sincerity and integrity equals goodness.

Goodness may well be an adequate description of an old fashioned word, "holiness". It is well to remember that holiness and health derive from the same Latin word..

Physical health comes when we observe good, common sense laws: getting good food, exercise, recreation, washing our hands frequently. Spiritual health comes from its laws: practicing quiet time daily, service to God and others, worship within the family of faith.

Keep well in body, mind and spirit!

Richard