SMILE! It's my MONDAY MORNING message reaching out to you from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, in Vinita, Oklahoma. Smile because smiling and laughter are good medicine. A few years ago I attended a meeting of ministers and elders where one person soon had everyone relaxed and laughing, except one glum person who sat like a sphink. One gave us all a sense of joy, the other chilled us, never cracking a smile. One was able to laugh at himself, the other almost lost his temper. There is, of course, the wrong kind of laughter which is prompted smutty jokes or cruel jibes at someone else. However, the right kind of laughter brings fun and happiness into our lives, and that is important. Hearty laughter for the right reason is good medicine. And, preventive medicine is cheaper in every way than curative medicine. Love, laugh and live. Richard |
Monday, May 16, 2011
2011.5.16 Monday Morning!
Monday, May 9, 2011
2011.5.9 Monday Morning!
Greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, Vinita, Oklahoma. Thank you for your 'visit'. I hope you will find these MONDAY MORNING messages helpful on your spiritual journey.
On that journey, I urge you not to give up the cultivation of worship. The act of worship, in one's daily quiet time, and with the community of faith on Sunday, is a personal meeting of the soul with God.
We may talk "about God", and we may work out ways and means for a practical application of our spiritual insights, but these are not enough. A personal meeting of the soul with God is primary to our Christian life.
The act of worship calls for intense, daily devotion. It is a demanding commitment which will not be reached along lines of least resistance.
Peace.
In friendship,
Richard
On that journey, I urge you not to give up the cultivation of worship. The act of worship, in one's daily quiet time, and with the community of faith on Sunday, is a personal meeting of the soul with God.
We may talk "about God", and we may work out ways and means for a practical application of our spiritual insights, but these are not enough. A personal meeting of the soul with God is primary to our Christian life.
The act of worship calls for intense, daily devotion. It is a demanding commitment which will not be reached along lines of least resistance.
Peace.
In friendship,
Richard
Monday, May 2, 2011
2011.5.2 Monday Morning!
Greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Prersbyterian Church in Vinita, Oklahoma.
What unseen, intangible realities are you using to build your life? You are the builder of your life and what comes forth depends on what invisible forces are at work in your soul, in your inner life.
Your invisible ideals construct your life. Your destiny is connected with your inner attitudes of mind, heart and will.
Don't be tone deaf or blind to the unseen and intangible realities of your life.
In friendship,
Richard
"Dreams, visions and hopes, though invisible, are factors that build and shape the things we see. An invisible world is behind and within the visible one, the builder of the visible."
What unseen, intangible realities are you using to build your life? You are the builder of your life and what comes forth depends on what invisible forces are at work in your soul, in your inner life.
Your invisible ideals construct your life. Your destiny is connected with your inner attitudes of mind, heart and will.
Don't be tone deaf or blind to the unseen and intangible realities of your life.
In friendship,
Richard
Monday, April 25, 2011
2011.4.25 Monday Morning!
Greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, Vinita, Oklahoma. I hope you had a blessed Easter at worship and with family and friends.
I've a story today about a 13 year old Timothy. He saved his pennies, nickels and dimes to buy a big red kite which he had spotted in a neighborhood store.
The happiest boy in the world, Timothy went to a playing field where he let out a little string at a time until you couldn't see the kite anymore.
A jogger saw Timothy running, holding string, and asked "What are you doing?
Timothy replied, "Flying my kite." The jogger thought the kid was pulling his leg and laughed, saying, "I don't see any kite. How do you know there's a kite up there?"
And Timothy answered, "I can feel the tug!"
That simple story has a profound meaning. Isn't it the message of Easter faith? We can't see the Risen Christ, we can't prove the Resurrection of our Lord. But, as a Christian, don't you feel the irresistible tug of Christ on your life?
I feel the tug of Christ at work through you and other friends and family members who have given me comfort and encouragement since the death of Helen, my beloved wife of more than 60 years.
Thank you for your support. Don't ever lose the Tug of Christ on your life.
With blessings and in friendship,
Richard
P. S. We had 104 in attendance at church yesterday. What a blessing!
www.pilgrimpresbyterian.blogspot.com/
I've a story today about a 13 year old Timothy. He saved his pennies, nickels and dimes to buy a big red kite which he had spotted in a neighborhood store.
The happiest boy in the world, Timothy went to a playing field where he let out a little string at a time until you couldn't see the kite anymore.
A jogger saw Timothy running, holding string, and asked "What are you doing?
Timothy replied, "Flying my kite." The jogger thought the kid was pulling his leg and laughed, saying, "I don't see any kite. How do you know there's a kite up there?"
And Timothy answered, "I can feel the tug!"
That simple story has a profound meaning. Isn't it the message of Easter faith? We can't see the Risen Christ, we can't prove the Resurrection of our Lord. But, as a Christian, don't you feel the irresistible tug of Christ on your life?
I feel the tug of Christ at work through you and other friends and family members who have given me comfort and encouragement since the death of Helen, my beloved wife of more than 60 years.
Thank you for your support. Don't ever lose the Tug of Christ on your life.
With blessings and in friendship,
Richard
P. S. We had 104 in attendance at church yesterday. What a blessing!
www.pilgrimpresbyterian.blogspot.com/
Monday, April 18, 2011
2011.4.18 Monday Morning
Greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Vinita, Oklahoma.
If you were on vacation in July or August and went to a nearby church on Sunday morning you might be surprised to hear the congregation singing "Jesus Christ Is Risen Today."
Yet, if we believe that Jesus Christ is risen and living then every Sunday commemorates the Resurrection of our Lord, and all of our life is lived in his presence. That's Easter faith!
Easter faith is living in close companionship with Jesus. It is a faith of action more than words, of deeds rather than doctrines. It is not restricted to one Sunday a year.
For me, at least, there are two high-water marks in the Bible that sum up an authentic Easter faith!
First, Micah 6:8. The prophet asks
Answering his own question, he says:
Second, Mark 12:28-34: Jesus said
We may not like all our 'neighbors', but we are to love even those whom
we dislike - we are to do them no harm.
Peace and goodwill,
Richard
If you were on vacation in July or August and went to a nearby church on Sunday morning you might be surprised to hear the congregation singing "Jesus Christ Is Risen Today."
Yet, if we believe that Jesus Christ is risen and living then every Sunday commemorates the Resurrection of our Lord, and all of our life is lived in his presence. That's Easter faith!
Easter faith is living in close companionship with Jesus. It is a faith of action more than words, of deeds rather than doctrines. It is not restricted to one Sunday a year.
For me, at least, there are two high-water marks in the Bible that sum up an authentic Easter faith!
First, Micah 6:8. The prophet asks
"What does God require?"
Answering his own question, he says:
"to be just...to love kindness...to walk humbly with God."
Second, Mark 12:28-34: Jesus said
"You shall love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself."
We may not like all our 'neighbors', but we are to love even those whom
we dislike - we are to do them no harm.
Peace and goodwill,
Richard
Monday, April 11, 2011
2011.4.11 Monday Morning
Greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Vinita, Oklahoma.
Early in the morning of April 5, 2011, Helen, my wife and best friend for more than 60 years, died peacefully in her sleep. Today, I share with you a poem and words from St. Paul (Romans 8:38-39).
The poem, "Closing Prayer", was written by Jean W. Wood, a member of the Jermain Memorial Presbyterian Church, Watervliet, N. Y., where I served as pastor in the 1960's.
Closing Prayer
Consummate quietude
Unadorned silence
Soft Darkness
Tranquil light
Serenity
Stillness
Simplicity
Solitude
Soul-soothing peace -
my prayer
my gift
for you
for me
for all of us.
Amen
And, from St. Paul these words of Easter faith:
"Nothing will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
With fond regards and in friendship,
Richard
www.pilgrimpresbyterian.blogspot.com
Early in the morning of April 5, 2011, Helen, my wife and best friend for more than 60 years, died peacefully in her sleep. Today, I share with you a poem and words from St. Paul (Romans 8:38-39).
The poem, "Closing Prayer", was written by Jean W. Wood, a member of the Jermain Memorial Presbyterian Church, Watervliet, N. Y., where I served as pastor in the 1960's.
Closing Prayer
Consummate quietude
Unadorned silence
Soft Darkness
Tranquil light
Serenity
Stillness
Simplicity
Solitude
Soul-soothing peace -
my prayer
my gift
for you
for me
for all of us.
Amen
And, from St. Paul these words of Easter faith:
"Nothing will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
With fond regards and in friendship,
Richard
www.pilgrimpresbyterian.blogspot.com
Monday, April 4, 2011
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
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
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