2011.1.31 Monday Morning!

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

How are you doing with your New Year resolutions? You do remember them, don't you? I'm working on one that requires cleaning out my bulging files. I was surprised to find that my first MONDAY MORNING message was sent 9/10/07. In it I assured anyone with a prayer request, or with sugestions relating to these weekly messages, a personal reply. The offer still holds. Let me hear from you.

With the help of Brian Dishman, a son of Pilgrim Church now living in Japan with his wife and daughter, our sharing the good news of Christ is going world wide. Thanks - many thanks - Brian.

One of my early messages, dated 10/29/07, quoted the late William Barclay, one time professor of New Testament at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. Writing about happiness, he said three things are needed:

Something to hope for ...

Something to do ...

Someone to love ...

How great the blessing these three things are. They can be yours.


Richard 

2010.10.25 Monday Morning!

Greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, located in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma. Dare I get personal with you today?  Ordinarily I have an abundance of pep, lately I've been feeling very tired (lazy?).  A week ago I opened William Barclay's book of devotions and on the page that stared at me were these words:  "tiredness is often as much staleness as anything else."  Barclay went on to write that tiredness comes when ones personal resources have been over strained.  He illustrated his point with this example: "When a car battery is exhausted...it must be brought into contact with a new source of electrical power from which it may be recharged." Repeatedly, Jesus had to go into a lonely place to pray - to listen to God - so that his strength might be renewed.  What was necessary for Jesus is far more necessary for me.  How about you?  O Lord, keep me from going stale! With Blessings and Cheers, Richard

2010.09.13 Monday Morning!

Top of the morning from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Vinita, Oklahoma. It will be a good day if you put a smile on your face. Smiles rejuvenate tired spirits and lost happiness.

A happy life is God's will for you! William Barclay, a beloved New Testament professor at Trinity College, Glasgow, Scotland, wrote "For a happy life three things are necessary: Something to hope for. Something to do. Someone to love."

He then went on to write a timely message for today:

"Something to hope for: The beginning of the end of life is when we live in memory rather than in hope; when our memories are an escape from prison rather than a stimulus for further living.

"Something to do: Anyone who can look to days of unemployment or a time of enforced inactivity, when the hours seem slow and empty, knows that work is not a curse but a blessing.

"Someone to love: When love enters life there comes a new thrill, a new awareness of possibilities undreamed of. When love is born, life and the world are renewed."

Give thanks for the influence of those who have blessed your life, and then live usefully, with hope and love.


Richard

2009.01.19 Monday Morning!

Greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, a church with a big heart, located in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma.

If you know of anyone who may like to begin his/her week with "Monday Morning", send an email address to Donna in the Church office. And, be assured that your email replies to Monday Morning are much appreciated!

Today, our Pearls of Value come from the pen of Prof. William Barclay, author of the popular Daily Bible Study.

1. "We must never be self-centered in our happiness. Even when we are happy, there are others whose hearts ache. In our happiness, we must never be so self-centered that we forget others pain."

2. "We must never be selfish in our prosperity. It is always wrong for prosperity and selfishness to go hand in hand."

3. "We must never be self-righteous in goodness. How harmful is the so-called Christian who harps on and on about his goodness."

Pretty good directives, aren't they?

Peace,
Richard