2011.1.17 Monday Morning!

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

 

Today, in the USA, we observe Martin Luther King Day.  A remarkable man of peace and good will, he was flawed like all of us.  We can learn from him that God uses imperfect people in extraordinary ways.  Throughout the Bible one finds God using imperfect people to do his will, which is the well being of all creation.

 

Dr. King's son wrote these words which challenge each of us to live the dream of his father:

    "I pray that all Americans will embrace the challenge of

      social justice and the unifying spirit that my father shared

      with his compatriots.  With this commitment, we can begin

      to find new ways to reach out to one another, to heal our

      division, and build bridges of hope and opportunity

      benefiting all people.  In so doing we will not merely

      be seeking the dream, we will at long last be living it."

 

With blessings and in friendship,

Richard

A PEARL OF VALUE

    When we learn to respect ourselves

it becomes easier to respect others.

               

 

2010.12.13 Monday Morning!

Best wishes for a MERRY CHRISTMAS from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Vinita, Oklahoma.

 

Christmas is a time for lights.  Beautiful lights are shining in every city and village.  Lights are an important part of Christmas, symbols of the Christmas story:

    The true light that enlightens every person has come

     into the world in the birth of Jesus.  In him was life,

     and the life was light for all people.  His light shines

     in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

                                            (Will you read John 1:1-18, please?)

 

The mood of despair, however, is familiar in our dark patches.  Immense problems face our nation and the world;  war, an economic recession, unemployment, hunger, home foreclosures, terrorism.

 

And, there are personal difficulties:  problems within families and among friends, jobs that no longer give satisfaction, loss of health, unexpected death of a loved one.

 

I understand how people may feel abandoned by God.  Sometimes I ask myself "Is there really a God who cares?"

 

Then the light of Christmas comes with the assurance that in smooth and rough places "God is with us".  None of us is alone.  Confident of that helps disperse times of darkness.  I haven't  answers to the many questions that bother me, but of this I am sure; God is with me and helps me carry on with courage and strength.

 

My thoughts and prayers are with friends for whom 2010 has been a shattering year.

 

Richard.

Mother's Day Announcement

2009.12.07 Monday Morning!

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

When those of us remember the attack on Pearl Harbor on this day, December 7, 1941, we will never forget where we were when we heard the breaking news on radio. My question, after all these years, is what have we learned?

I write only for myself, of course, but I've learned to believe more strongly than ever in Christ's reassuring message that people need not be eternally chained to the transgressions of the past. Repentance and reconciliation are God's way of providing new beginnings. Enemies in World War II are now friends, united to defeat a new enemy, world-wide terrorism.

At a personal level, with a consciousness of God's abiding presence with us, we can conquer selfish mistakes, repent and be free from the shackles of yesterday.

"Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide, in the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side; though the cause of evil prosper, yet 'tis truth alone is strong; though her portion be the scaffold, and upon the throne be wrong, yet that scaffold sways the future, and, behind the dim unknown, standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own."

Blessed are the peacemakers...a pearl of value for everyday!

Richard

2009.05.25 Monday Morning!

Greetings and best wishes on this Memorial Day from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, located in beautiful Vinita, Oklahoma, the glistening heart of "green country" where we've had almost a month of steady rain.

Years ago, I saw the UN Charter signed in San Francisco. The UN has done many things well, but presently it is failing to keep world peace.

I know we pray for peace, but I fear that is a sentimental prayer, like love your neighbor. God doesn't do anything for us that we can't do for ourselves.

What can we do? War is a human problem that can be overcome only by human solutions. There always will be disagreements and conflict. However, when Oklahoma and Arkansas have conflict over clean water they don't go to war. They enter "conflict resolution" (a comparatively new field), and agree to abide by the judicatory.

It may be an impossible task, but a global effort to include "Peace Studies" in high school, college and university curricula may save us from the last nuclear war staring us in the face.


Peace,
Richard