Top of the morning from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Vinita, Oklahoma.
This will be my last MONDAY MORNING message until September. I encourage you to read your Bible during the summer and I offer the following suggestions.
FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT: Read two volumes by Luke, a physician and the only Gentile writer in the Bible. The first volume is the Gospel of Luke, often called the most beautiful book in the world. Luke's second volume is The Acts of the Apostles, an important history of the early Church.
FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT: Read two short books, Jonah and Ruth. Both turn the thinking of their day on its head by declaring that God is for all people.
And from Psalms, I suggest reading the following: Psalm 1, 8, 9, 16 (verse 6), 19, 23, 24, 27, 34, 46, 51:1-17, 67, 84, 86, 90, 91, 95:1-7, 98, 100, 103, 116, 121, 130, 137:1-8,
139:1-12, 17-18, 23-24; 145, 148, 150.
Enjoy,
Richard
Monday, June 29, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
2009.06.22 Monday Morning!
Greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Vinita, Oklahoma.
It's strange to me how intelligent people can believe our every moment is predestined by God. Such fatalism ought be wiped from the mind. God has established laws within creation, and one is the law of cause and effect. An airplane crash, in which more than 200 people are killed, is not the purposeful will of God.
We need only reread the book of Job, who asked: "Shall we receive good at the hand of God and bless him for that good...and then turn around and blame God for the bad things that come upon us?"
Job, who at times prospered and was blessed with a loving wife and children, at other times suffered more than anyone ought to endure, was prepared to live with unanswered questions.
There was one thing Job could affirm and that is that nothing can separate all creation, and that includes you and me, from the love of God.
Faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love.
Richard
It's strange to me how intelligent people can believe our every moment is predestined by God. Such fatalism ought be wiped from the mind. God has established laws within creation, and one is the law of cause and effect. An airplane crash, in which more than 200 people are killed, is not the purposeful will of God.
We need only reread the book of Job, who asked: "Shall we receive good at the hand of God and bless him for that good...and then turn around and blame God for the bad things that come upon us?"
Job, who at times prospered and was blessed with a loving wife and children, at other times suffered more than anyone ought to endure, was prepared to live with unanswered questions.
There was one thing Job could affirm and that is that nothing can separate all creation, and that includes you and me, from the love of God.
Faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love.
Richard
Monday, June 15, 2009
2009.06.15 Monday Morning!
Top of the morning from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, a Church that has served Christ in and around Vinita, Oklahoma for more than 126 years.
One of our long-time members, Mrs. Julia Bond, has died. A gentle lady, intelligent and humane, I want to share with you two things which I found in her life that can be helpful to everyone.
First, though Mrs. Bond encountered sorrow and pain, I never heard her whine. She made it clear to me that she counted her blessings every day, and that those blessings trumped all else.
Second, she had a smile for others! That smile, with words of support and encouragement, especially to 4-H youth, indicates what in the long run of life does to us depends on what life finds in us.
My hope and prayer is that the Bond Family, and all of our families, will consider our goodly heritage (Psalm 16:5-6).
It is well to count our blessings and to offer a smile for others.
Peace,
Richard
One of our long-time members, Mrs. Julia Bond, has died. A gentle lady, intelligent and humane, I want to share with you two things which I found in her life that can be helpful to everyone.
First, though Mrs. Bond encountered sorrow and pain, I never heard her whine. She made it clear to me that she counted her blessings every day, and that those blessings trumped all else.
Second, she had a smile for others! That smile, with words of support and encouragement, especially to 4-H youth, indicates what in the long run of life does to us depends on what life finds in us.
My hope and prayer is that the Bond Family, and all of our families, will consider our goodly heritage (Psalm 16:5-6).
It is well to count our blessings and to offer a smile for others.
Peace,
Richard
Monday, June 8, 2009
2009.06.08 Monday Morning!
Top of the morning from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, located in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma. Our Sunday worship service is at 10 a.m. If you can, share with us in worship...and you'll be sure to get to a restaurant before the Methodists and Baptists!
With some dear friends in Grove, Vinita, and Tulsa suffering from a lot of pain, I realize that in the long run what life does to us depends on what life finds in us. There are some people who prefer whining to counting their blessings.
I want to say loud and clear that if we love God, what happens to us doesn't determine the consequences. We can change any situation by changing our inner attitude toward it. The way we handle troubling situations depends on what is inside us.
Love God and you'll discover that the qualities of your mind and spirit will provide resources to live victoriously.
Love God...and live to the hilt!
Richard
With some dear friends in Grove, Vinita, and Tulsa suffering from a lot of pain, I realize that in the long run what life does to us depends on what life finds in us. There are some people who prefer whining to counting their blessings.
I want to say loud and clear that if we love God, what happens to us doesn't determine the consequences. We can change any situation by changing our inner attitude toward it. The way we handle troubling situations depends on what is inside us.
Love God and you'll discover that the qualities of your mind and spirit will provide resources to live victoriously.
Love God...and live to the hilt!
Richard
Monday, June 1, 2009
2009.06.01 Monday Morning!
Greetings and all good wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, Vinita, Oklahoma.
I preached on "Lost and Found" and several people asked for a copy of the sermon. I take that as a compliment - good for my ego - which will last a long time., i.e. until a similar request comes.
"The winning sermon" was based on the 15th Chapter of Luke, which contains the essence of the good news which Jesus proclaimed. Try re-reading this chapter sometime this week.
In a trinity of incomparable parables, Jesus taught that the cause of "lostness" is WASTE. When you waste your life you lose it.
The lost coin was not damaged nor defaced, it no longer fulfilled its function. The lost sheep was not a bad sheep, but when it strayed it was no longer a part of the flock. The son, whom we call the Prodigal Son, was lost because he separated himself, by wrong choices, from his family.
Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, to rescue us from wasting life, from not fulfilling God's intended purpose.
What is that purpose? The purpose is defined by the Old Testament prophet Micah and by Jesus, in two high-water marks of all religion. Micah said: seek justice - love kindness - walk humbly with God.
And Jesus said: Love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself.
Life is complex. We all make mistakes, but we can rise above our failings, which need not be fixed or congealed, by committing ourselves to the requirements Micah and Jesus gave us. They will save us from wasting our life!
Peace,
Richard
I preached on "Lost and Found" and several people asked for a copy of the sermon. I take that as a compliment - good for my ego - which will last a long time., i.e. until a similar request comes.
"The winning sermon" was based on the 15th Chapter of Luke, which contains the essence of the good news which Jesus proclaimed. Try re-reading this chapter sometime this week.
In a trinity of incomparable parables, Jesus taught that the cause of "lostness" is WASTE. When you waste your life you lose it.
The lost coin was not damaged nor defaced, it no longer fulfilled its function. The lost sheep was not a bad sheep, but when it strayed it was no longer a part of the flock. The son, whom we call the Prodigal Son, was lost because he separated himself, by wrong choices, from his family.
Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, to rescue us from wasting life, from not fulfilling God's intended purpose.
What is that purpose? The purpose is defined by the Old Testament prophet Micah and by Jesus, in two high-water marks of all religion. Micah said: seek justice - love kindness - walk humbly with God.
And Jesus said: Love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself.
Life is complex. We all make mistakes, but we can rise above our failings, which need not be fixed or congealed, by committing ourselves to the requirements Micah and Jesus gave us. They will save us from wasting our life!
Peace,
Richard
Monday, May 25, 2009
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
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
Monday, May 4, 2009
2009.05.04 Monday Morning!
For some of you who at one time lived in the Vinita area, and who are now scattered across the country and overseas, I send special greetings from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church this MONDAY MORNING. Memories are important, and I want you to know we remember you.
An ancient Greek legend came to mind as I prepared to share in a funeral service for a dear young friend. The legend speaks of a woman who arrived at the River Styx, where Charon, a gentle ferryman, stood ready to take her to the realm of departed spirits.
Charon told her she could drink of the water and completely forget what she was leaving behind. She thought about that, and asked questions: Shall I forget how I've suffered? Shall I forget my failures and how I've been hurt? The ferryman said yes, and then reminded her that she would also forget her victories, her successes, her happy times. And she would forget how she had been loved.
The legend concludes by saying that she did not drink of the water.
An ancient Greek legend came to mind as I prepared to share in a funeral service for a dear young friend. The legend speaks of a woman who arrived at the River Styx, where Charon, a gentle ferryman, stood ready to take her to the realm of departed spirits.
Charon told her she could drink of the water and completely forget what she was leaving behind. She thought about that, and asked questions: Shall I forget how I've suffered? Shall I forget my failures and how I've been hurt? The ferryman said yes, and then reminded her that she would also forget her victories, her successes, her happy times. And she would forget how she had been loved.
The legend concludes by saying that she did not drink of the water.
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all God's benefits."
Memories are the stuff of life.
And that's why we send you MONDAY MORNING! We want to keep in touch!
Richard
And that's why we send you MONDAY MORNING! We want to keep in touch!
Richard
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)