Rev Bill

BLOG MOVED

2005-06-05T14:07:00.000-05:00

I have moved my blog to http://revbill.blogs.com/revbill/
Please click on the link and visit my new blog!

I'VE MOVED

2005-06-05T13:48:00.000-05:00

I HAVE MOVED MY BLOG TO http://revbill.blogs.com/revbill/
PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK AND VISIT. I HOPE TO GET ALL MY GROUPS NOTIFIED SOON SO THE CORRECT LINK WILL SHOW UP ON THEIR PAGES.
SORRY ABOUT THE CONFUSION! Bill

1,000 Today?

2005-06-02T07:26:00.000-05:00

OK -- so I was wrng about yesterday. I thought I'd have 7 more people visit my blog yesterday than I actually did. I'm at 993 now -- keep watching the site meter at the bottom of my sidebar (which is still messed up for some reason) and if you are number 1,000 let me know. As I said yesterday -- no prizes involved -- but I would like to know.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Divine Command Personality

2005-06-01T20:09:00.000-05:00

OK -- I am raised in a very Presbyterian family -- first learned about God in a "Southern" Presbyterian church in South Carolina -- attended a Presbyterian Seminary and have served a Presbyterian Church for 20 years. I should have known this version of QuizFarm's personality test would turn out this way!

You scored as Divine Command. Your life is directed by Divine Command: Your god and religion give you meaning and direction.

“Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.”

--King James Version of the Bible

“Even as a tree has a single trunk but many branches and leaves, there is one religion--human religion--but any number of faiths.”

--Mahatma Gandhi

More info at Arocoun's Wikipedia User Page...

Divine Command

90%

Utilitarianism

80%

Existentialism

70%

Justice (Fairness)

50%

Kantianism

40%

Apathy

40%

Hedonism

35%

Strong Egoism

20%

Nihilism

What philosophy do you follow? (v1.03)
created with QuizFarm.com

Rev Mike -- who, by the way, also has a great Presbyterian personality -- told me about this!

Go ahead -- see how you score!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

John Paul II and Me

2005-06-01T07:21:00.000-05:00

You are Pope John Paul II. You are a force to be
reckoned with.

Which Twentieth Century Pope Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

I just found out that my personality fits that of John Paul II!

Wow! That's pretty good!

How about you? See which Pope your personality matches here.

Thanks to St. John's Parish via The Blogdom Of God for this one!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Today The Day I Hit 1,000?

2005-06-01T06:28:00.000-05:00

This may be a big day in the Rev Bill blogosphere! I may have the 1,000th visitor to my blog today. Watch the sitemeter numbers (at the bottom of the sidebar -- which is kind of messed my right now for some reason but it's there) and if you are # 1,000 post a comment so I'll know! I don't promise any prizes -- but I'd still like to know!

Thanks to everyone who reads this blog!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Throwing Down The Church Sign Gauntlet

2005-06-01T06:20:00.000-05:00

It seems that 2 pastors have become involved in a little friendly Church Sign competition. Who says pastors can't have a little fun?

I know this because Rob told me!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Blogcritics

2005-05-31T21:42:00.000-05:00

I have discovered a great way to increase traffic on your blog! It's call blogcritics. It's a site where bloggers post articles that can be linked to books, magazine articles, news articles, books, movies, almost anything you can imagine. Blogcritics uses lists from Amazon for you to link your article to. When people read your article, they see your name and blog address. The more visibility you and your blog address get, the more chances you have of people visting your blog.

I posted my Memorial Day post from this site to the blogcritics site this morning -- adding the codes for different books folks can read to get more information about the things I mentioned.

Read my post to blogcritics here.

If you would like to be a contributor to blogcritics . click here.

Check out blogcritics!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Memorial Day Reflections 2005

2005-05-30T08:43:00.000-05:00

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

This poem – although it was written by a Candaian soldier and physician John McCrae and has become a symbol for the Candian Holiday Remembrance Day,is a beutifully written and moving tribute to those who have given their lives for their country – and very fitting for Memorial Day. I memorised “In Flanders Fields” in the 5th grade – and it has stuck with me ever since. It was a favorite of my Dad’s – a pilot in World War II - - and, I am sure, of many veterans.

On this Memorial Day – as members of the Armed Forces continue to lose their lives in Iraq – there may be questions of the best way to honor those who have died serving their country and those who continue to serve -- but who at any moment may give their lives. This is an important issue for me – just as it is for so many others. I personally have known many who have served – from my Dad and so many of his friends and others I know who served in World War II – to members of my Church and friends who served in the Korean War – to my brother in law (Rob’s dad) and so many others I know who served in Viet Nam – to friends and sons and daughters of friends who have served or are now serving in Iraq.

One way is to support the active troops themselves and their families – regardless of how we feel about war – particularly the war in Iraq – itself. As Jim Wallis of Sojourners wrote in a recent issue of SojoMail:

Even those of us who advocate nonviolence must recognize the humanity of those who, for many reasons, made the hard choice to join the armed forces. As we protest a war and an occupation that has claimed as many as 100,000 Iraqi civilians' lives, we must have compassion for the suffering experienced on all sides.

The human tragedy of war is great. Look at the figures Wallis quotes in his article:

Well over 1 million soldiers have served in Afghanistan and Iraq since September 11, 2001, according to the Pentagon. A full third of those million have served more than once. In addition to the 1,600-plus soldiers who have been killed in Iraq, more than 12,000 troops have been wounded and needed to seek medical treatment. Soldiers who have suffered psychologically are more difficult to count - and often more difficult to treat

If you know families of active military, reserves, or National Guard currently serving in Iraq – let them know you are there for them and want to help them. If you know anyone who has served and is now home, let him or her know of your appreciation and take time to listen to him or her.

Wallis’ article continues to raise the problems of vets who return home after serving. You can read Wallis’ article here.

Being available to help and support active troops and their families is one way to honor those who have died. It is one way of celebrating Memorial Day. Remembering those who have died in prayer is another way – as is praying for those who continue to serve.

On this Memorial Day I offer the following prayer from my tradition – the Presbyterian Church (USA). This prayer is part of our Book of Common Worship:

Righteous God, you rule the nations.
Guard brave men and women
who risk themselves in battle for their country.
Give them compassion for enemies
who also fight for patriotic causes.
Keep our sons and daughters from hate that hardens,
or from scorekeeping with human lives.
Though they must be at war,
let them live for peace, as eager for agreement as for victory.
Encourage them as they encourage one another,
and never let hard duty separate them
from loyalty to your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Until next time – Peace! Bill

The Reforming Problem

2005-05-27T14:55:00.000-05:00

David over at Jolly Blogger has a great post on what he considers to be "the difficulty of being always reformed."

I am not sure who is reading my blog, so if anyone needs some information about what this whole "reformed" thing is you can click here for an article from WikiPedia.

As Daved sees it, when we say "the reformed church is always reforming," or, as David notes the more "highbrow" say:"ecclesia semper reformans, semper reformanda", we come upon something that is easy to talk about -- but hard to put into practice.

This is how he puts it:

This is one of those things that sounds like a great idea until someone actually tries to do it.

Why is it hard to put into practice?

David has many fine points in his post that I am not going to go over here -- I hope you go to his post and read it. For me, the problem is that:

1. Reforming is not always a good thing
2. Not reforming is not always a good thing.

In other words, reforming just for the sake of reforming is wrong. There need to be reasons -- Scriptural reasons -- for the change. Reforming simply to "appeal to a new generation" is not a valid reason for reform. However, saying we will never reform and never even considering change might be refusing to go in new directions God truly wants us to go. If we always reformed with every new idea that came along we might lose our particular identity and witness as a the church. But if we always refused to reform we might not be listening to God's will. Without reform all Christians might still be worshipping in the same way and doing the same things -- or -- to take it even further -- without reform we might not be Christians in the first place!

Reform definately has it's place. But it has to be done carefully -- and prayerfully. And -- in my opinion -- each reform does not have to be for everyone. Not everyone followed the original reformers (Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, Knox, etc.) -- and not everyone has to follow each reform. In fact, David at Jolly Blogger and I will not agree on everything -- we represent 2 different branches of the Presbyterian Church -- but we can still get along -- learn from each other -- read each other's blogs -- and give the message of Christ to the world.

So -- reforming has it's place. But reforming is not the answer at all times -- and neither is not reforming. On matters of reform, we need to pray for God to lead us -- study scripture -- listen to what God is saying -- and listen to each other.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

A Good Sermon Quote

2005-05-26T06:42:00.000-05:00

Last week I (and others) blogged about preaching -- giving our opinions on the question of whether we should preach to believers or non believers. I really liked the response I got from Rev. Mike :

The answer is that we trust the text, preach it, and then when the Spirit speaks, he speaks to whomever he speaks.

Anyway -- I came across a great quote about sermons this morning. I found it on Andrew Careaga's Bloggedy Blog. He had seen it on Richard Hall's blog -- connexions.

Here's the quote:

“A sermon should be like a woman’s skirt: short enough to arouse one’s interest, but long enough to cover the subject.”

Somehow I don't think my Homeletics professors at Columbia Theological Seminary would have put it quite that way -- but I like it!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Daily Scripture Passage

2005-05-25T06:41:00.000-05:00

I have added another new item to my sidebar -- a daily passage from the New International Version of the Bible. This is provided by the International Bible Society and is updated daily. I've put it directly underneath the "Good News" heading on my sidebar.

The International Bible Society has the Java Script Code for several translations you can add to your site, along with RSS feeds you can add to your RSS feeder.

If you want to add this feature to your blog of website, or have it delivered into your RSS feeder, click here for the instructions and script.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Daily Catechism

2005-05-24T05:33:00.000-05:00

I have added something new to my sidebar -- a Daily Question from either the Westminster Shorter Catechism or the Heidelberg Catechism. Both of these speak to what Christians believe and are important documents of the Reformed tradition.

The Daily Question (today's is from the Heidelberg Catechism)will appear in the "Devotional Materials" section of my sidebar. (I go through the Confessions in the Book Of Confessions of the Presbyterian Church, USA, of which the Westminster Shorter Catechism and the Heidelberg Catechism are a part, every day as part of my devotional time, so that seemed to be the logical place to put the Daily Question.)

You can go through each Catachism twice a year following the Daily Question.

Thanks to Tim Challies for providing this service and the script for the Daily Question.

If you have a blog or web site and would like to add the Daily Question to your site, you can get the script here.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Trinity Sunday

2005-05-22T18:25:00.000-05:00

Today is Trinity Sunday -- the Sunday after Pentecost when many churches celebrate The Doctrine Of The Trinity - the fact that we believe God to be three in one -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Doctrine of the Trinity was officially adopted at the First Council of Nicea in 325. In early Christian thought there was much debate about the different natures of God -- and how they were related. Were there 3 different gods -- or one? The Council of Nicea met to discuss these and other issues about the nature of God. The result was -- among other things -- the Doctrine of the Trinity.

While the Doctrine of the Trinity is not easy to understand or expalin (legend has it that St. Patrick used the 3 leaves of a clover to help explain the Trinity)it is a vital doctrine because it helps us understand what we believe about the very nature of God.

There are many ways to celebrate the Trinitarian nature of God. I would like to offer this prayer from my tradition -- the Presbyterian Church (USA):

Gracious Father,
giver of all good things:
For our home on earth
and for your unfailing mercy,
we give you thanks.

Christ, our Redeemer:
For your sacrifice on the cross
and rising from death that we might live,
we give you thanks and praise.

Holy Spirit, giver of life:
For your abiding presence in our lives
and for comforting and guiding us,
we give you thanks, praise, and glory.

O triune God:
To you be glory and praise
now and forever. Amen.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

A Triperspectival Sermon

2005-05-22T17:56:00.000-05:00

I told you I would do it!

I said in my post early last week that the word triperspectival
would appear in my sermon for today. And it did -- in the title and several places throughout the sermon!

I have just gotten around to posting today's sermon. It's based on Genesis 1:1-2:4(a)), II Corinthians 13:11-13, and Matthew 28:16-20, and is an attempt to make the Doctrine of the Trinity more "heart stuff" than "head stuff".

Here's part of the sermon:

Many of you know that my nephew, Rob, works for Campus Crusade for Christ in Orlando, Florida. He has a Blog (that’s short for Web Log – a place on the Internet where he posts about different things – and people can log on to his Blog and read the information he’s sharing. I also have a Blog.) Anyway – Rob posted on his blog the other day about a new word he had learned from one of his co workers. The word is: Triperspectival
(If you want to know how to spell it look in your bulletins – it’s in my sermon title.)
I’ll define the word the way Rob did – because it is so new there are no dictionary definitions.
The way Rob defined it – triperspectival means talking about something from 3 different but related perspectives. Or triperspectival means that you can't fully understand one without an idea of the other two.
The more I thought about this new word Rob had learned the more I thought “that’s what the Doctrine of the Trinity is all about!”
It’s triperspectival!

And here is more:

Through the Father - Son - and Holy Spirit - the Triune God - God is always at work in our lives - always creating and re-creating us - always loving us - always working for peace among us - and always strengthening and guiding us.
To fully understand God we have to have an understanding of this triune nature of God.
We can not fully understand God if we only see God as a creator.
We can not fully understand God if we only see God as a loving God.
We can not fully understand God is we only see God as a strength and guide for our lives.
We have to see God as the creating, loving, and strengthening God that God is to fully understand God.
We have to see all three natures of God to fully understand God.
We have to understand the Doctrine of the Trinity to fully understand God.
The nature of God is triperspectival – we have to understand all 3 to truly understand each one.

You can read the entire triperspectival sermon here.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

When Tragedy Strikes

2005-05-22T05:31:00.000-05:00

My nephew Rob posted about attending the funeral of a co-workers daughter. The post stirred up a lot of emotions in me -- and others.

Here's a part of Rob's post:

She was 18. She's been on mission trips, had a lot of friends who really loved her, and a family that is in a lot of pain.

Nicole had been driving for 3 weeks. She didn't have on her seat belt Saturday. She met Jesus face to face moments after being thrown from her car as it rolled down the highway at 70+ mph.

It's tough to see teens have to weep, wail, mourn, and grieve like that. It's tough to see a mother lean into a coffin to kiss her daughter for the last time.

As I responded to Rob's post, it is tough indeed to be in situations such as these. Part of my resonse to his post was:

No death or funeral is easy -- but funerals such as the one you posted about are extreemly hard. Your faith and your head says one thing and your heart says another.

No matter how strong our faith, we are all human.
No matter how strong our faith we all have emotions.
No matter how strong our faith we all grieve when loved ones die -- especially under particualarly tragic circustances.
No matter how stong our faith we all have questions.
In this case, Nicole was not wearing a seat belt. Would wearing one have saved her life? Maybe -- but we can not be sure. Questions such as these are common -- human nature -- when we are faced with events such as the tragic death of a young girl. I know many families who -- under similar circumstances - have had very similar questions. Some have had their faith in God strengthened -- others have seemed to turn away from God.

What are the answers to such questions?
That's the problem -- there are no easy answers.
All you can do is pray.
Try to be open to the praying, supportive community of believers who are there for you.
Try to be a part of the praying, supportive community of beleivers for the others who are hurting.

Yes -- death hurts. Even in the midst of rejoicing in the eternal life we have in Christ -- we still hurt and grieve. But -- even though we might not feel it at the moment -- God is with us -- and we can reach out to each other.

I will keep Rob, Nicloe's family, and their friends in my prayers.
Maybe you can join me in that. That way at least the praying community of bleieivers will expand some!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Mongerism Books

2005-05-21T13:13:00.000-05:00

Most bloggers I know are avid readers, also. I fall into that catagory. I love to read -- and whenever I find books at discounted prices I go into a buying frenzy!
It's not really that bad -- but you get the point. I enjoy reading good books.

Which brings me to the reason for this post.

I found out about Mongerism Books today and put an icon on my sidebar to advertise the site. They have a lot of Christian books -- books on theology, preaching, doctrinal books, reference books, books by classic Christian authors, and books on the Christian life -- at greatly reduced prices. They also have other media -- CDs, DVDs, and more.

If you like books as much as I do, check out Mongerism Books.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

The Week In The News

2005-05-20T20:43:00.000-05:00

2 of the news items that have caught my attention this week are:

1. The Newsweek "report" of the desecraton of the Quaran
2. The attempt to end use of the fillibuster in Congress

1. Newsweek magazine made the headlines this week for a brief mention in the "Periscope" section of it's May 9 edition that US Soldiers holding Muslim prisoners at Guantanimo Bay, Cuba had desecrated the Quaran in an attempt to get confessions from the Muslims. This report sparked riots in many parts of the Muslim world deadly riots broke out. In Afghanistan at least 17 Afghans were killed and dozens injured. US troops were put in harm's way. Now the story has been called into question -- and Newsweek has retracted it.
Why could Newsweek have not done some better investigating in the first place?
No one seems to know.
What we do know is that once again a news source has misinformed the public -- this time with deadly consequences.
Will the media begin to be more careful about the stories it runs?
I somehow doubt it.
The real problem, as I see it, is that people in positions to inform the public should be very careful with the information they dispense. The public is not in the position to check out stories like the media is, and depends on the media to give them correct information.

2. Congress is debating doing away with the fillibuster. This would be, in my opinion, a mistake. The fillibuster is one way to get opinions that are contrary to the majority opinion expressed. Without the filibuster the people who have the majority opinion can have their opinion acted on without much interference from those who disagree with them.
I believe we need the filibuster to ensure that diffenent opinions are at least heard.

Both of these stories touch some of the more essential tenents of democarcy. Democracy depends upon a public that is informed with the correct information. Demorcarcy also depends upon everyone at least being listened to. Without these, democracy is at risk.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

From My Perspective: To Whom Do We Preach?

2005-05-19T20:37:00.000-05:00

Several bloggers -- Adrian Warnack and Jollyblogger, to name a few -- have had a discussion in The Blogdom Of God and the League of Reformed Bloggers groups about who we preach to.

The question is -- do we preach to non believers or to believers?

I would have to say that I agree with a number of posts I have now read that we preach to both non believers and believers.

Preaching needs to speak to non believers in the hopes that they will become believers.

Preaching needs to speak to belivers in hopes that they will be strengthened in their beliefs.

It is not an either / or propostion -- but a both / and.

Every time I preach I pray that if someone has not come to believe in Christ, that God would somehow speak to them through my words. I also pray everyone who believes will have their faith strengthened through what God says to them in my sermon.

Preaching is one of the most awesome responsibilities anyone faces. Every week I look at the passages I plan to preach on for that Sunday and wonder --

What does the congregation need to hear?
What word can I share with them that will give them a better understanding of God's will for their lives and the world?
How can I connect God to their experiences -- theier lives?

These are not easy questions -- and do not have easy answers. The best I can do is study the passage -- pray -- study some more -- pray some more -- study some more -- pray, pray, pray -- then write what I feel God is saying.

And hope that it is truly what God is saying.

And pray that what I say will somehow speak to others -- including those who believe in Christ and those who don't.

Until next tme -- Peace! Bill

Click For A Chance To Win A DVD

2005-05-18T20:18:00.000-05:00

Tim Challies at Challies Dot Comis having a contest -- and the prize is the DVDs pictured above -- The History & Theology of Calvinism DVD set -- and the movie Luther on DVD.

The rules of the contest are simple -- all you have to do is click on the pictures and you will be taken to his blog -- where you can enter to win. Also -- when you go to the contest from this site -- I will get credit for sending you -- giving me a greater chance to win!

So -- help yourself (and me)! Click on the picture!

But hurry -- dealine is midnight May 19 (tomorrow night)!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

My Other Groups

2005-05-17T17:05:00.000-05:00

Last night I blogged about being a part of the Homespun Bloggers . I have now updated my sidebar to show other groups I am a part of, and other groups I am "following" -- which means I do not actually belong or contribute but like to read the posts of those who do belong.

Going down the sidebar you come to the heading: Groups I Am A Part Of. Along with Homespun Bloggers you will find links for The Evangelical Aggregator, Blogs4God, Pro Life Blogs, The Blogdom of God, The League of Reformed Bloggers, and The North State Blogs.

You will note that some of these (The Blogdom of God, The League of Reformed Bloggers) have the "blogroll" -- or list of others who are a part of that group. As I pointed out in last night's post, Homespun Bloggers also has a "blogroll". The ones who do not have a "blogroll" are ones I could not find the script for adding the "blogroll" to my site!

To access these groups, you can click on their names in this post, click on their names in the sidebar, or -- in some cases -- (Homespun Bloggers, The Evangelical Aggregator,Pro Life Blogs
and The Blogdom of God) I have icons at the bottom of the sidebar that link to them.

Go ahead -- click on the names in this post, the names on the sidebar -- or the icons -- and see what "my groups" are all about!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Homespun Bloggers

2005-05-16T21:02:00.000-05:00

I am now officially a member of the Homespun Bloggers -- a group of bloggers who have joined together to -- as they say on their membership page:

allow amateur bloggers to provide support (both moral and traffic related) to one another.

They have technical support (something I need a lot of), and perodically post "best of" blogs of their members.

I appreciate them letting me join -- and am looking forward to being a part.

There are several ways to link to Homespun Bloggers from this page.

1. You can click on the words Homespun Bloggers in this post -- they are linked to the homepage.

2. You can click on the Homespun Bloggers icon in my icon section of my sidebar.

3. You can click on the name Homespun Bloggers under the heading "Groups I'm A Part Of" section of my sidebar.

You can link to other members of the Homespun Bloggers by clicking on the names in the blogroll underHomespun Bloggers under the heading "Groups I'm A Part Of" section of my sidebar.

Check them out -- and tell them Rev Bill sent you!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Learning Something New: Triperspectival

2005-05-16T05:42:00.000-05:00

Well -- let's start the week with a new word:

triperspectival

As my nephew Rob explains, triperspectival basically means talking about something from 3 different but related perspectives. Or triperspectival means that you can't fully understand one without an idea of the other two.

I'm blogging this to help out Rob with his quest to corner the Google market on triperspectival, and also besause I think I just found a great illustration for my sermon for Trinity Sunday! Look for something triperspectival in a sermon on my Sermon Blog site next weekend!

If I can figure out how to pronounce it! :)

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

A Pentecost Prayer

2005-05-15T14:43:00.000-05:00

Today is the Day of Pentecost -- one of the most important, if not neglected and misunderstood, days in the Christian year. Pentecost is the third most important day in the Christian year -- only lacking in importance to Christmas and Easter. It is the day we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples (as the passage in Acts 2 has it -- the Gospel of John has Jesus breathing the Holy Spirit upon them in one of the post -
resurrection appearances). The event in Acts 2 is considered the birth of the the church by many because it was the first time after the Jesus' ascension that the disciples acted decisively and began to spread the news of God's actions through Jesus. Pentecost is indeed an important day!

Pentecost -- like Easter -- is what is called a "moveable feast" because the date changes every year. Pentecost is celebrated 8 weeks after Easter, so as the date of Easter changes every year, so does the date of Pentecost.

But -- Pentecost is not given a lot of attention in many churches now. If it is mentioned, many times it is only with a passing reference. Even many churches that condiser themselves "Pentecostal" fail to really grasp what happened at Pentecost.

Fist of all -- why is Penctecost not celebrated?

Well -- I am not really sure -- although it could be that some feel the Holy Spirit is something almost dangerously powerful -- good if viewed from a distance like a caged lion or tiger but scary if we are too close to it. Also Christmas and Easter have their marketable qualities -- which Pentecost does not have. I have never seen a "Happy Pentecost" card!

But -- what about the misunderstanding of Pentecost?

Some think that at Pentecost the disciples began "speaking in tongues" -- or speaking in unintelligible but ecstatic speech (the spiritual gift of glossolalia). While I do not argue that glossolalia is not a spiritual gift, I do not think that the event at Pentecost was a case of glossolalia.

Look at Acts 2:1-13:

1When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Verse 4 seems to say that the Holy Spirit gave them the abillity to speak in other languages -- and verses 5-12 seems to indicate that these languages were understood by others who were gathered in Jerusalem from many countries for the Jewish celebration of Shavuot (or Pentecost to the Greek speaking Jews). So -- to me -- this is not a case of glossolalia as much as it was a case of the disciples given the ability to speak in languages they had not been able to speak in before so others could hear about what God had done through Jesus Christ.

So -- Pentecost is a very important day for Christians! Maybe we all should seek out ways to become more -- do I dare say it -- "pentecostal"! Or at least more in tune with the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives!

For more about Pentecost, click here for the article on Pentecost from WikiPedia and here for the text of my sermon from this morning.

I want to offer a prayer for Pentecost from my faith tradition. This is a Litany For Pentecost from the Book of Common Worship of the Presbyterian Church (USA):

Christ has gathered the church in unity through the Spirit.
With sure hope, let us pray: Lord, hear our prayer.
Maker of all things,
in the beginning, you created heaven and earth.
In the fullness of time, you restored all things in Christ.
Renew our world, in this day, with your grace and mercy.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Life of the world,
you breathed life into the flesh you created.
Now, by your Spirit, breathe new life into the children of earth.
Turn hatred into love, sorrow into joy, and war into peace.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Lover of concord,
you desire the unity of all Christians.
Set aflame the whole church with the fire of your Spirit.
Unite us to stand in the world as a sign of your love.

Lord, hear our prayer.

God of compassion,
through your Spirit you supply every human need.
Heal the sick, and comfort the distressed.
Befriend the friendless, and help the helpless.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Source of peace,
your Spirit restores our anxious spirits.
In our labor, give us rest;
in our temptation, strength;
in our sadness, consolation.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Amen!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

God Is Not A Republican Or A Democrat

2005-05-14T15:59:00.000-05:00

It seems that my blog is increasingly becoming a place where I post about the problems I see happen when political parties try to say that "God is on their side" and if you do not agree with them, you are not Christian. Well, that's ok -- because I believe this is a subject that needs to be addressed.

It also seems that I am commening a lot about what Jim Wallis of Sojourners is writing. That's ok too -- I like what Wallis writes and the way Wallis pushes me to think about the theological implications of things.

All this leads me to --

I was reading the article by Jim Wallis in this weeks Sojomail ( with an intro like I just gave I'm sure you knew what was coming :) ) about the dangers of polical parties claiming to be "God's party". It is an excellent article. Here Wallis cites the problems at East Waynesville Baptist Church in Waynesville, NC as an example of what can happen when you begin believing that "God is on your side". You may remember that this was the Church I blogged about several days ago where several members claimed they were forced to leave because they did not agree with the pastor on political issues. (You can read that previous post here.)

Wallis concludes the article with these words:

The Republican Party is not God's own party, as the Religious Right and some Republican leaders seem to be suggesting. And, of course, neither is the Democratic Party. We must say it again and again until it is heard and understood: God is not partisan; God is not a Republican or a Democrat. When either party tries to politicize God, or co-opt religious communities for its political agenda, it makes a terrible mistake. God's politics challenge all our politics. Our faith must not be narrowed to the agenda of one political party.

You can read Wallis' article here.

Pentecost Sermon: 2005

2005-05-14T14:54:00.000-05:00

I have finished writing and have posted my sermon for tomorrow -- The Day Of Pentecost (also Graduates Sunday for us at Wentworth Presbyterian)-- on my sermon blog. It's based on Acts 2:1-21, 1 Corinthians 12:3(b)-12, and John 20:19-23.

The sermon is about needing the Holy Spirit inside of us to do things "smarter" -- to do ministry better.

Here is a part of the sermon:

So many things seem to be “smarter” these days – from watches that automatically set themselves by the National Atomic Time Institute to small cards you can swipe at a gas pump and get gas to “intelligent” building controls that can control the buildings energy, security, and communications needs – going as far as automatically turning off lights when a room is empty.
What makes these things “smarter”?
Usually it’s a “chip” – something put inside the gadget – or whatever – that transforms it and gives it the ability to do something it could not do before.
What can be – in us – to make us “more intelligent” - smarter – able to do new things – as a Church?
Just buy books on Church growth or doing a demographic study of the neighborhood?
These are good – but first – we need something new and different inside us – like a “gadget” needs a “chip” inside it.
We need the Holy Spirit inside us.
Only by the Holy Spirit can we

GET SMARTER ----
GET SMARTER

Read the sermon here
.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Until next time --Peace! Bill

More Friday Fun

2005-05-13T08:27:00.000-05:00

OK -- before I get to work -- I'll share one more fun thing I found today.

If you are a football fan (like my nephew Rob and I are)this might be fun. You can do the math here and -- starting with the number of complete NFL games you watch a week during the regular season -- come up with your age.

Hey -- I did it and it works!

Grab a calculator and work this out as you go:

1. First thing, pick the number of complete NFL games you normally watch in one week of the regular season. (Please pick more than one but less than ten).

2. Multiply this number by 2

3. Add 5

4. Multiply it by 50

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add, 1755. If you
haven't had your birthday yet, add 1754.

6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born. You should
have a three digit number now.

The first digit of this was your original number (How many NFL games
per week you watch).

The next two numbers are…

Your age.

Pretty cool -- huh?

I know this works -- the guys at Footballguys told me so!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

A Case Of Agreeing To Disagree?

2005-05-13T07:56:00.000-05:00

OK -- a little humor for a Friday.

With all my posts about grace and agreeing to disagree this week, I couldn't help but chuckle at this article from the New York Times today. It seems that Hillary Clinton and Newt Gingrich are actually working together on something. Newt is actually speaking in favor of Hillary for President. It strikes me as odd -- but I guess stranger things have happened.

Is this a case of agreeing to disagree?

Maybe -- but then again -- knowing these 2 -- maybe not!

There are some things I am very cynical about! :)

To read the article, click here.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Be An Instrument Of Grace

2005-05-12T05:35:00.000-05:00

I know that since I don't have any children -- I can be an expert on telling others how to raise theirs :) -- but I came across this article on showing grace that can apply to dealing with children and adults.

Let me set the stage for you.

A woman's five year old daughter has hit a young playmate with a broom.
What does the woman do?
Like most parents, (and like I would probably do in that case) she "goes off the deep end".
Then she does something I might not have done.
She prays.
And when she prays -- this is the response she gets:

I began a silent prayer. “Oh, Lord, help me think of something I can say that will have an impact -- something that will reach through to her.”
It took a minute to hear his answer. In that time, I’d already begun formulating a new lecture. I decided to describe for her the steps involved in giving someone stitches. But the Lord stopped me cold.
I always know when he’s talking to me in the midst of a crisis, because what he says runs so sharply counter to what I’m thinking. This occasion was no different.
He whispered, Grace.
And then, because I was so confused, he whispered it again. Grace.
I wanted to fight his voice, but I couldn’t. While I struggled, he continued to reveal himself to me.
She wants to be forgiven.
She’s ready to come to Me.
You’re standing in the way.
That last one did it. I had a vision of my daughter, reaching for the outstretched arms of Jesus -- and me standing between them, blocking her every move.

You can read the entire story here.

Wow!
Being an instrument of God's grace!
Not easy -- but something to work for -- to pray for.
The next time you feel ready to get angry and upset at someone, do 2 things:

1. Pray about it
2. Think about being an instrument of grace instead.

And I will try to remember to do the same! :)

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Security Alerts?

2005-05-11T07:39:00.000-05:00

This just in --
USA Today is reporting that former Homeland Security czar Tom Ridge has stated that at times there were disagreements over the level of security alert the country needs to be under.

Does this mean that even the Sesamee Street characters don't get along?

:)

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Agree To Disagree II: Let's Just Act Like Christians ...

2005-05-11T05:28:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I posted about an article I had read by Jim Wallis of Sojourners about agreeing to disagree and not feeling like your way is the only way. (You can read that post here.)

I ended that post with:

Agree to disagree. Hold true to your own beliefs and what you feel God calling you to do, and honor what others feel God calling them to do. It's not easy -- so let's pray for strength to do this!

This is indeed not easy to do.
I have a friend who -- when he sees some of us arguing over something -- loves to say:

"O -- let's just act like Christians and fight about it!"

While there is a lot of humor in this statement -- there is a lot of truth in it, also. "Agreeing to disagree" is not easy -- in church or in other parts of life. The problem is that when others see Christians arguing and fighting they begin to not believe our message of love and forgiveness. Our actions speak louder than our words.

An example of this is playing itself out in Waynesville, NC, where members of East Waynesville Baptist Church have claimed they were kicked out for voting for John Kerry. The New York Times today is reporting that the IRS is investigating the Church's tax exempt status, and that the minister -- Reverend Chan Chandler -- has resigned.

My question is -- did it have to go this far -- and be such a "public fight"?
Could the members of the Church have settled their political differences in another way -- a way that would not have made such headlines? Reverend Chandler has said that that he was not "preaching politics" -- but felt that George Bush's stand on abortion was more in line with Biblical principles than were John Kerry's . Those who oppose Reverend Chandler have said he was pushing his political agenda from the pulpit. What results from all this is a "he said -- she said" situation where nobody wins!

I can't point fingers at this situation without realising that I must also point fingers at myself. I know that I have been in the midst of some "Church fights" -- some of which have become very nasty -- that -- if I could do it over again -- I would handle differently. I think most of us have been in situations where Christian love was not shown -- and when we step back from the situation -- sometimes too late -- we can see where we were wrong.

So -- what do you do when you are in situations like this?

1. Try to see the other person's side.
2. If you can't agree with the other person -- try to "agree to disagree" -- in other words, try to work with them even though you don't agree with them.
3. Try to work out differences with others queitly and not make a "public debate" out of it.
4. If you find yourself in the midst of a fight, try to step back from it.
5. If you have found yourself acting in ways that are not loving, ask God for forgiveness, try to reconcile with the person, and move on.

Will I take my own advice here?
Probably -- sometimes -- but at other times I'm sure that I will:

"act like Christians and fight about it!"

;)

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

For Mom

2005-05-08T14:06:00.000-05:00

Today is Mother's Day -- and since I can't be with my Mom, (I did send a card ;)) I will blog about her.

My Mom -- Marcene Hayes -- is one of the most loving, giving people I know! She has lived her life giving to others -- taking care of others -- and focusing on others. She and my Dad (Billy Hayes -- who died 2 years ago) have made a major impact on my life -- and it is their influence that has made me the person I am today.

I mentioned some things about Mom's influence on my life in my sermon today. (You can read the sermon here.)

My Mom and Dad were a part of what Tom Brokaw has called the "greatest generation ever" -- the generation that lived through the Great Depression and World War II -- then worked to rebuild America after the war. Her father – a Methodist minister – suffered severe depression and a nervous breakdown -- finally killing himself and her mother. Mom was pregnant with my middle sister Alexa at the time – and almost lost her in her grief over her parent’s sudden and tragic death. But Mom determined to not let the tragedy of her parents death extend into our family – and decided that being loving and caring to others – regardless of how your may be feeling – was the answer to life.

The rest of her life – to this day – has been spent caring for and loving others.

She selflessly gave of herself for me and my sisters – and when Dad became seriously ill with advanced Diabetes and Parkinson’s – and became almost immobile -- she spent several years sitting with him – waiting on him – loving him. It was almost to the point that the rest of the family was not sure that Mom’s health was good – she never got out and never did anything but sit with Dad and would not allow us to hire anyone else to help her -- but since Dad’s death she has shown us that she is perfectly able to do things – it was just that she chose not to so she could take care of Dad.

The other person was always more important to her than herself.

Doing for others was always more important to her than doing for herself.

If I am a person that cares for others – I get a lot of that from Mom! I don’t do a very good job at copying Mom in this – but I do try!

So -- Mom -- Happy Mother's Day!

I love you!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Fake or Photo?

2005-05-07T20:06:00.000-05:00

I saw a post on The Orangejack Blog about taking a quiz to see which images were real (pictures of real objects) and which were fake (computer generated images.)

Easy -- huh?

That's what I thought, too -- until I took the test.

I got 5 correct out of 10 images.

See how well you can do -- take the test!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Mother's Day Sermon

2005-05-06T11:45:00.000-05:00

I just finished -- and posted -- my srmon for Sunday.

This Mother's Day sermon is based on John 17:1-11 -- focusing on Jesus' prayer for God to protect the disciples. I see this prayer for protection to be one many mothers -- and fathers alike -- pray for their children.

Here is a part of the sermon:

Mothers – and fathers too – are familiar with this request.
Any parent who has said goodbye to a son or daughter – as they leave for school, go out into the world to a career, leave for their homes after a visit – watch them as they go off to war – can imagine Jesus' deep feelings for the disciples as he prays God's protection for them.

"Holy Father, PROTECT THEM!"

And – you know – many children can understand these feelings also – especially children of older parents as they leave after a brief visit to return to their own homes – of as they leave their parents in a nursing home – or as they watch their parents being taken in for serious surgery – or as they stand by the bedside as their parents are dying –

"Holy Father, PROTECT THEM!"

You can read the sermon here.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

The Ascension

2005-05-05T20:30:00.000-05:00

I noted in my post this morning that today is Ascension Day. Ascension Day is the day -- 50 days after Easter -- when the church has historically celebrated the ascension of Christ into heaven. (I say the church has historically celebrated this, because I know of very few churches who now celebrate the ascension.)

You might ask -- why is the ascension important?

I believe it is important because it reminds us of Christs' power -- rule -- and ultimate victory. The Psalms assigned for Ascension Day (Psalms 47, 68) celbrate the power of God. When we lose touch with the ascension, we lose touch with our concepts of the deity of Christ and the sovereign majesty of God.

Also -- Ascension Day gets us ready for the coming of the Spirit on The Day Of Pentecost -- just 2 Sundays away!

Wikipedia does it's typically wonderful job on Ascension Day. Clear here to read it.

Unitl next time -- Peace! Bill

A Prayer For America

2005-05-05T06:47:00.000-05:00

Today -- Thursday, May 5 -- is the National Day Of Prayer. (It's also Ascension Day -- I'll blog about that later.)

The National Day Of Prayer is a great opportunity for people of religious faith to come together and pray for our country. We have much to be thankful for -- but much to be prayerful for, also.

I was looking over some ideas for my part in the prayer service in my community at noon today, and came across this prayer from the Presbyterian Church Book of Common Worship. I think it says what needs to be said in a beautiful way.

Almighty God,
You have given us this good land as our heritage.
Make us always remember your generosity
and constantly do your will.

Bless our land with honest industry,
sound learning,
and an honorable way of life.

Save us from violence, discord, and confusion;
from pride and arrogance,
and from every evil way.

Make us who come from many nations
And many different languages
a united people.

Defend our liberties
and give those whom we have entrusted with the authority of government
a spirit of wisdom,
that there might be justice and peace in our land.

When times are prosperous, let our hearts be thankful; and in troubled times, do not let our trust in you fail. We ask these things through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Nothing else needs to be said!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Social Security And The 5th Commandment

2005-05-05T05:39:00.000-05:00

This week's Sojomail
has a good article by Jim Wallis about the theological / moral implications of Social Security reform. I like what Wallis has to say! He begins:

As discussion about Social Security reform begins in the Senate Finance Committee, beware of those who tell you that God spoke to them and they have the "fix" for Social Security. To guarantee the solvency of this bedrock institution in American life will not be easy; it will require our best bipartisan thinking and collaboration. But one aspect of this debate does indeed raise some fundamental moral - and even religious - issues that we ought to consider.

He then ties Social Security to the 5th Commandment: Honor your father and mother. (Read the entire 10 Commandments here.)

Here are the highlights of his points:

1. The Judeo-Christian faith tradition has much to say about intergenerational commitments.
2. We are commanded to "Honor your father and your mother," which is linked to our own well-being and security, "so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you".
3. The constant theme is that the well-being of our parents and the next generation is spiritually connected to our own.
4. Privatizing Social Security threatens to dismantle our nation's commitment and breach a covenant held between child and parent, worker and retiree, employed and unemployed, able and disabled.
5. Social Security is about we, not me, and us, not I. It is a common thread for the common good, a tie that binds a nation's people together.
6. Social Security is an expression of national values - and for Christians, our biblical priorities.
7. Honoring the intergenerational covenant has everything to do with our society's moral behavior.

Thanks, Jim, for reminding us that this is not just a political issue!

Read his article here.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

A New Adventure

2005-05-03T06:16:00.000-05:00

I have started 2 new things on the blogosphere.

Actually, I am just doing 1 new thing -- but it is appearing at 2 different places (sort of).

Let me explain --

I have started posting Bible Commentaries -- or Bible Studies -- at The Minor Prophet web site. If you don't know about The Minor Prophet, you should check it out. It's full of commentaries, devotional material, and Bible Studies written by a lot of different folks -- like me!

Anyway -- I started posting material there last night.

But the material is not really "there"!

I've decided to create a Bible Study Blog and then link it to my Minor Prophet Home Page. I am more familiar with the word processing features here at blogspot -- and just like the looks of it better. I have also started linking my sermons I have posted at my Sermon Blog to my Minor Prophet Home Page so they will add to the treasury of Biblical knowledge at the Minor Prophet!

So -- I now have my Bible Commentaries and Sermons at 2 different places!

You can access my Sermons and my Bible Studies by following the links at the right hand side of this site -- or by going to my Minor Prophet Home Page -- there is a link to it at the right hand side of this site or you can click on the little fellow with the minor's cap and light that says "Library".

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

You've Got A Friend

2005-04-30T20:01:00.000-05:00

I've finished my sermon for tomorrow -- it's based on John 14:15-21 and I have titled it "You've Got A Friend".

The premise is that the Holy Spirit is with us to help us when we need it.

Here's a portion of the sermon:

The promise that Jesus made to those first disciples is a promise to us as well.
Jesus has made it possible for us to have a parakletos
-- a helper on whom we can call in time of need – a friend – God with us – God dwelling in our hearts.
Jesus is saying – in effect –

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running to se you again.

Winter – spring – summer - or fall
All you have to call
And I’ll be there –
You’ve got a friend.

Read the sermon here.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

God Hates .....

2005-04-30T14:41:00.000-05:00

Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas seems to have a mission to let the world know that God hates just about everything they hate - homosexuals, the Pope, whatever they don't like! This Church -- started by
Pastor Fred Phelps -- seems to be intent on spreading hate and fear throughout the country. The local news today has been showing a "love crusade" they have held in Danville, VA -- which turned out to be a confrontation with those who did not agree with them. Thank God no one was hurt -- yet!

They plan to go to a Catholic Church in the area tomorrow to disrupt services -- and celebrate their belief that Pope John Paul II is in hell.

What really concerns me about this is that they are teaching children that God hates homosexuals, Catholics, and just about anyone else who believes differently than they do. These are children from that Church proudly wearing their T shirts!

It's not that I believe that homosexuality is a correct lifestyle -- because I don't -- it's just that I frimly believe several things:

1. God wants all people to repent and believe in Him (John 3:16)
2. God does not hate anyone -- but loves and wants everyone to repent of their sins and follow Him. (Matthew 18:10-14)
3. God wants us to show His love to all people -- and not judge others. (Matthew 7:1-5)

I guess the most important thing I believe is that if God can love and forgive me, God can love and forgive anybody!

Unitl next time -- Peace! Bill

Agree To Disagree

2005-04-29T05:47:00.000-05:00

I read in this weeks Sojomail -- the e-magazine of sent out by Sojourner's -- a great article by Jim Wallis.

Wallis was writing in response to last Sunday's Justice Sunday to express his concern that some Christian leaders -- and other leaders using the name of faith -- are using their ideas about the Christian faith to try to "bully" others into agreeing with them on all matters of faith and politics. The idea he sees is the old one of

If you don't agree with me, you're not a Christian.

Wallis contends that we should never use the faith to force someone to agree with us on issues that are not really "faith" issues. It's not that he is against Christians speaking out on matters of justice and issues that concern us. As he puts it:

Of course, I have no objection to Christian leaders expressing their faith in the public arena - it's a good thing that I do all the time. The question is not whether to do so, but how. As I heard more and more about "Justice Sunday," it felt to me like it was crossing an important line - saying that a political issue was a test of faith.

There are some things that, as Chrsitians, unite us and we should agree on. Salvation by faith in Christ is one of those. However, there are other things we can disagee on -- and still be faithful followers of Christ.

So -- how do we respond to those who do not agree with us?

Wallis gives this good example:

We can get some historical perspective by looking at how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did it - and he was the church leader who did it best. Once after he was arrested, he wrote a very famous "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," addressed to the white clergy who were opposing him on the issues of racial segregation and violence against black people. Never once did he say that they were not people of faith.

In other words, agree to disagree. Don't let the fact that you do not agree with someone on a matter that is not vital to the faith make you think less of them as a Christian. Not everyone does this, but more of us need to.

Wallis wraps up his comments with a good obersvation:

It is now clear there are some who will fight this religious war by any means necessary. So we will fight, but not the way they do. We must never lie or misrepresent the facts or the truth. We must not demonize or vilify those who are our opponents. We must claim that those who disagree with our judgments are still real people of faith.

You can read Wallis' article here.

Agree to disagree. Hold true to your own beliefs and what you feel God calling you to do, and honor what others feel God calling them to do. It's not easy -- so let's pray for strength to do this!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Tips On Reading

2005-04-28T20:36:00.000-05:00

I came across an article on how to read more -- and comprehend more of what you read. Beng an avid reader, I thought I'd share it with you.

The aritcle is: Why Settle for Merely Reading a Book When You Can Master It? How to Read Less More,and Twice as Fast
by Greg Koukl. It's a very good article on how to read more -- and understand more of what you've read.

Here are some highlights:

Overview

Get a sense of the book in 5-10 minutes.
Read jacket copy, contents, skim preface & introduction, read conclusion (last 3 pages) and skim the index. Note publisher and date of publication.
Quickly page through the entire book at the rate of 2-3 seconds per page.

Determine if you want to read the book more thoroughly, give it away, or file it for future reference.

Preview
Skim entire book at a slower rate (4-10 seconds per page), breaking the book in as you go.
Look for structure, outline, key facts and concepts.
Write a quick summary for the book in pencil on title page.

Read
Preview each chapter again before you read it to get the structure (4-10 seconds per page).
Read every word at fastest comfortable speed using a pointer so you won’t wander, hesitate, regress, or lose your place. Mark the margin, but don’t underline the text.
Write a 1-4 sentence summary in pencil at the beginning of the chapter.
Sketch a quick outline or recall pattern.

Postview Immediately
Re-read the chapter quickly, focusing on marked sections, interacting with the text.
Refine your 1-4 sentence summary at the beginning of the chapter.
Review at regular intervals, looking over recall patterns and summary material.

Read the entire article here.

I learned about this article from Stacey at Mind And Media

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

A - ? No Way!

2005-04-27T19:45:00.000-05:00

While reading about my nephew's visit with Rev. Mike -- who I just found out is also a graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary (which explains why his blog is so insightful :) ) I came across a personality inventory Rev. Mike posted about. I took it -- figuring it would be fun.

Well -- this is what I scored:

You Have A Type A- Personality
A-

You are one of the most balanced people around
Motivated and focused, you are good at getting what you want
You rule at success, but success doesn't rule you.

When it's playtime, you really know how to kick back
Whether it's hanging out with friends or doing something you love!
You live life to the fullest - encorporating the best of both worlds

OK -- I like the ballanced -- motivated -- focused -- rule at success -- know how to kick back -- live life to the fullest parts -- but --

A -?

You must be kidding!

A - ?

There must be some mistake here!

I'll never admit to being an A -!

Anyway -- take the personality test and see what type you are -- but be careful! The people who score it don't know what they are doing!

A - ! Ha!

:)

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

John Paul II and the Evangelicals

2005-04-26T07:03:00.000-05:00

You might think that Protestant Evangelical Chriistians and the head of the Catholic Church could never see eye to eye on anything.

But you would be wrong.

John Paul II actually worked with and helped Preotestant Evangelical Christian groups in every way he could. His opinion was that all Christians should work together to proclaim the Gospel -- putting aside theological issues to focus on the more important issues of doing God's work in the world.

I read an article in Christianity Today -- then found it on their web site -- that tells part of the story of how Pope John Paul II worked with Protestant Evangelical Christians to further the cause of the church.

Here's a part of the article:

When Karol Wojtyla stepped out on the Vatican balcony on October 16, 1978, as the new Pope John Paul II, waving to the crowds in St. Peter's Square on the first day of his auspicious papacy, the person preaching for him in his home pulpit back in Krakow, Poland, was none other than Billy Graham. Behind that fact is a surprising story of the late pope's personal involvement with American evangelicals. With his passing, it is time to tell that story.

Click here to read more about how he worked with Billy Graham and other groups -- including Campus Crusade for Christ -- for the Kingdom of God!

Let's pray that Benedict XVI will continue the ecumenical spirit and work of John Paul II.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

RLP: Going Down WIth The Ship

2005-04-25T20:52:00.001-05:00

Gordon Atkinson -- the Real Live Preacher -- has had another of his articles published on the Christian Century web site.

This one is a reflection on faith -- keeping faith -- and staying true to your faith throughout your life -- even in the hard times. It is one of the most poignant -- and yet strong esays I have read in a long time.

Here is part of the essay:

I intend to take my ship straight to the horizon, full steam ahead with my eyes on the setting sun. Don’t speak to me of danger or choices or what might have been. Don’t tell me that I might take on water.... I intend to sail straight and true until the water covers my deck and I can go no further. Then my friends will slow their ships, and come alongside to give me a final salute. And when I go under I will still be facing the horizon with both hands on the wheel.

Read the entire essay here.

May we all sail our "ship of faith" with dignity -- courage -- and commitment to the One who has called us to set sail!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Not Only Internet Evangelism Day

2005-04-24T16:49:00.000-05:00

This morning I blogged about Internet Evangelism Day -- but it seems there is something else going on today also -- o yea -- it's the NFL Draft!

This is a day of light in the midst of darkness that exists from the end of the NCAA Basketball Tournament until the start of the NFL pre season. No offense to you baseball lovers out there -- I do enjoy baseball -- but football and college basketball are my passions! I gusess it runs in the family!

Anyway -- the picture above is of Alex Smith, the former Quarterback from Utah, who was the first pick in the draft this year. He was chosen by San Francisco -- a 2-14 team last season, who could probably use a good QB!

Then there is this handsome "man in black"

He's Troy Williamson from the University of South Carolina. He was chosen 7th and will be playing Wide Receiver for the Minnesota Vikings. Don't expect him to be as good as Randy Moss -- yet -- but he will do well!

Then -- in the 3rd round -- Denver chose Maurice Clarrett. He has finally made it into the pros! You may remember that Clarrett has played 1 college season -- and has been trying to get into the pros for a couple of years. All I can say is "Come on and show us what you've got!"

You can track the NFL Draft here.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Internet Evangelism Day

2005-04-24T05:40:00.000-05:00

Today is Internet Evangelism Day -- a day for celebrating what is being done to spread the good news of God's love over the internet -- and for rededicating our efforts to use the World Wide Web to spread the news of God's love.

My nephew, Rob,is on the planning team for Internet Evangelism Day -- and has some great things to say about it on his blog. This is one of the comments he has posted:

Dear (name deleted), I'm not Christian yet, I'm reading a lot in the bible recently, to tell you the truth, he changed me, a lot a lot a lot…is my prays acceptable? I can't go to church, my religion is very conservative they would kill me if they have seen me there…I love him so much…Thank you." ~ someone in Jordan

Internet Evanglism is making a differnece!

To read more about what Rob has to say, click here.

To learn more about Internet Evangelism Day, click here.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Columbia Theological Seminary: Colloquium 2005

2005-04-23T20:30:00.000-05:00

I spent two days this week at Colloquium 2005 at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur GA. The theme this year was: Evangelism: From Crusade to Coffee Shop.

This was a wonderful two day conference on a vital subject. Statistics show that the Presbyterian Church (USA) denomination is losing thousands of members every year. Certainly there is a need to take another look at what we are doing to bring people to Christ.

I have blogged about several of the presentations -- but wanted to have one post with links to the others in one place.

Monday night we looked at who is an Evangelist
Tuesday morning we heard about The Evangelist As An Artist
We then heard the question asked: Are You An Evangelical
We then heard about A New Great Commission In A Post Modern World

I have also written a sermon to summarize for my congregation what I learned.

The conference was wonderful and filled with great ideas -- now on to putting them into practice!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

An Evangelism Sermon

2005-04-23T20:00:00.000-05:00

I have finished -- and posted -- my sermon for tomorrow. It is my attempt to put into a sermon some the main ideas I got from the conference I attended this week.

CLick here to read the sermon.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

A New Great Commission For A Post Modern World

2005-04-22T21:45:00.000-05:00

As I posted have been posting this week,(Wednesday night, Thursday morning, and Thursday night, I have been at an Evangelism Conference at Columbia Theological Seminary this week.

One of the workshops I attended was about evangelism in a post modernist age, lead by Dr. Steve Hayner, Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth at Columbia Seminary. Dr. Hayner had a lot of great information about what is being called "post modernism" and a lot of charts that described different characteristics of today's culture -- but the main point he made was that there are 3 ways we can respond to the changing culture we see around us --

we can fight it
we can change with it
or
we can realise the God is at work in it -- identify where God is at work -- and be a part of God's work

(I believe Niebuhr would consider "Christ In Culture "Christ in culture".)

Hayner's point was that the Church must try to identify -- and be a part of -- God's work in today's culture.

There has been a lot of talk lately about "the emergent church." For Hayner, an emergent church is one where the members are comfortable going out to and relating to those who are "outside" the Church -- instead of making them come "inside" before they will have anything to do with them. He remarked that if people are not willing to tell the good news of God's love in their day to day contacts the good news will never permeate the culture.

Hayner made the comment that maybe we need to look at other verses of scripture to be our Great Commission in this post modern age.
For centuris Christians have considered Matthew 28:19-20 to be "The Great Commission" -- our orders from Christ to go -- teach -- and baptise. He feels that we might benefit from seeing John 17:18 This is a picture of God sending Jesus into the world -- and Jesus sending His followers into the world -- not making the world come to them.

In this post modern sulture, the idea of being sent into the world -- going into the world -- and being a part of God's work in the world is challanging -- but it is one of the only ways for true renewal in the Church!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Are You An Evangelical?

2005-04-21T19:58:00.000-05:00

As I posted last night and this morning , I have been at an Evangelism Conference at Columbia Theological Seminary this week.

On Tuesday morning at the conference Rev. Jin Kim preached at the worship service about being an Evangelical Witness.

Preaching on the story of the first Pentecost -- Acts 2:1-13 -- he asked:

What happened at Pentecost when the disciples spoke in tongues?

The miracle was that God's great love began to be proclaimed to -- and understood by -- a diverse group of people. The early church was a diverse group. It was not a large group -- but it was filled with people of every culture and race sharing the love of God with each other and with the world.

What is evangelism all about -- Dr. Kim asked. He made the statement that the size of your congregation does not matter. Gaining members is not what evangelism is all about. What matters is zeal – caring – working together against the notions of success in society and ethics in society. Dr. Kim stated that the early church was certainly not big – the Roman Empire was not turned upside down because of church’s size – but because of it’s witness – it’s spirit!

Building loving – caring – diverse communities is the way to renewal in the church.

Dr. Kim then stated that the community of Christians that labels itself the “Evangelical Community” today is basically white! If it is going to really be the Evangelical Community – the community of Good News - - it needs to be the community of Good News for all people – not just those “like us.” Churches need to quit being so concerned about the things that separate them – theological differences, etc. -- and focus on the things that unite them -- the love of God.

One statement by Dr. Kim really made his point for me:

Don’t call yourself evangelical unless you are willing to show God’s love to all people – the poor – the needy – those hurting – even if they are not like you and do not agree with you!

Let's all strive to be evangelists -- sharing God's love with all people.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

More On Evangelism: The Artist

2005-04-21T06:47:00.000-05:00

As I posted last night, I have been at an Evangelism Conference at Columbia Theological Seminary this week.

Dr. Leighton Ford spoke Tuesday morning on "The Evangelist As An Artist Of The Soul." Using the text of the call of Peter from John 1:40-42, he asked the question:

When Jesus looked at Peter, what did he see?

He saw Peter for who he really was -- and accepted him for who he really was!

Too many times we look at people but do not see who they "really are". If we would take the time to see who people "really are" -- and let God touch who they "really are" through us -- we would be blessed -- and so would they!

Dr. Ford talked about this painting

You probably recognise it as Johannes Vermeer's Girl With A Pearl Earring , considered one of Vermeer's masterpieces. In the movie adaptation of how the picture came to be, the girl is a servant in Vermeer's home, and is mistreated. No one sees her for who she is -- only for what she can do for them. Vermeer starts painting, and when he is done he shows the portrait to the girl. She looks at the portrait -- then her eyes grow wide and she exclaimed:

You saw inside me!

As evangelists -- those who share the good news of God -- we need to see people for who they are -- see what's inside them! Many people (most people, actually, at some point in their lives) feel that if God really could see what was inside them, God would not love them. It is up to us to show people that God does see what is inside them -- and loves them!

Dr. Ford ended by calling on us all to pray that God would make us all artists -- like Vermeer -- and like Christ -- of people's souls -- evangelists who take the time to see people for who they really are -- and share the good news that God loves them.

I'll share more about the conference later.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

An Evangelist Is ...

2005-04-20T20:09:00.000-05:00

I have spent the past two days at Colloquium 2005 at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur GA. The theme this year was: Evangelism: From Crusade to Coffee Shop.

This was a wonderful two day conference on a vital subject. Statistics show that the Presbyterian Church (USA) denomination is losing thousands of members every year. Certainly there is a need to take another look at what we are doing to bring people to Christ.

Monday night the keynote address was given by Dr. Leighton Ford. Dr. Ford began by asking us what we think of when we hear the word Evangelism -- and what images we have when we hear the word Evangelist.

His point was the many people see an Evangelist as somone with what he called

A well thumped Bible

He then asked if there are other images we can adopt for Evangelism -- and Evangelists.

In the Greek -- the word Evangelist means:

someone who proclaims good news

Churches need to be "evangelizing communities" -- or communities that are committed to spreading the good news of God's love! Christians need to be busy telling how God has shown them love -- and can show love to others!

We all have a story to tell -- the story of God's love. Evangelists need to be storytellers -- telling the story of God's love.

Dr. Ford asked us to think of who first shared God's love with us. He then said that for most people the answer is not
someone with

A well thumped Bible

but someone who shared God's love in a loving and caring way.
He then challanged us to find a way we can authentically share the story of God's love as we have experienced it with others.

An evangelist, he said, is a stoy teller.

I'll blog some more about the confernce later.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

MinistryNet Retrospective

2005-04-16T15:32:00.000-05:00

You may remember that my nephew, Rob,and his wife Patricia were in Budapest a few weeks ago for the MinistryNet 2005 Internet Ministry Conference. The conference is over, but the work sharing the good news of Jesus Christ over the internet will never end.

Rob has put together a retrospective of the conference on one post on his blog. Click here
to see many of the posts and observations from the conference in one convenient place!

By the way -- unless I come up with something else to blog about tonight or early in the morning, this will be my lst post until some time next week. I'm leaving tomorrow morning for Colloquium 2005 at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur GA. This year's theme is Evangelism: From Crusade to Coffee Shop -- and will feature Dr. Leighton Ford. If I had a laptop and could make posts during the conference I would do that -- but since I don't have a laptop I can't promise post until I return home!

I'm leaving in the morning and not preaching tomorrow -- so there are no updates to my sermon blog for this week.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

More "Humor"

2005-04-15T08:32:00.000-05:00

Wow -- am I in a rare mood this morning!

I just opened an e-mail from The Wittenburg Door and could not help but laugh at this new "Evangelism Tool" they were poking fun at!

Sometimes truth is much stranger than fiction!

Hey -- I'm going to be at an Evangelism Seminar next week at Columbia Seminary featuring Leighton Ford. I wonder if this is one of the "tools" he will be promoting?

Somehow I doubt it!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Lots of Beer -- No Pretzels

2005-04-15T07:55:00.000-05:00

From the humor depatment:

Rev. Mike posted last week about a "tragedy" in Canada. It seems that 46,368 bottles of Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale were wasted as the truck carrying them wrecked and they were all broken.

Here's part of how Rev. Mike reports it:

The truck .... skidded to a stop against the overpass's guardrail, luckily avoiding a 50-foot plunge down to another road.

The female driver was pulled out of the cab uninjured — "more frazzled than hurt," according to Logan — letting rescuers focus on the calamitous aspects of the disaster.

"I had a tear in my eye, actually, when I was watching it," said police Constable Mark Hobeck. "It was full of beer. We were hoping a Hostess truck full of pretzels would come by, but no such luck."

All that beer -- and no pretzels!

A "tragedy" indeed :)!

Until next time -- Peace! Bil

Is Eric Rudolph Really Pro Life?

2005-04-14T20:07:00.000-05:00

Eric Rudolph says he is a pro life activist.

I disagreee.

The man who has plead guilty to several bombings of Abortion Clinics, Gay and Lesbian bars, and the Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta, issued statement that he feels he is justified in his actions because the government is legalising abortion -- which he sees as murder. He sees himself as a pro life activist -- fighting to stop the horrors of abortion.

But -- how can you call yourself pro life -- when you are killing innocent people?

This is not pro life at all.
It is murder.
Just as abortion is.

Here is part of Rudolph's statement:

"There are those who would say to me that the system in Washington works. They say that the pro-life forces are making progress, that eventually Roe v. Wade will be overturned, that the culture of life will ultimately win over the majority of Americans and the horror of abortion will be outlawed. Yet, in the meantime thousands die everyday. ... I ask these peaceful Christian law-abiding Pro-Life citizens, is there any point at which all of the legal remedies will not suffice and you would fight to end the massacre of children? How many decades have to pass, how many millions have to die? ... I think that your inaction after three decades of slaughter is a sufficient answer to all of these questions."

I am pro life. I believe that life -- all life -- is a precious gift from God and to be treated with dignity and respect.

Someone who kills others and justifies it by saying they are fighting to end abortions is not pro life at all.
Anti- abortion maybe.
Pro life -- no.

You can read excerts from Rudolph's statement here.

May God bless all of us with the vision that life -- all of life -- is precious -- and killing others to advance your view is not pro life -- but is wrong.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Dying and Dignity

2005-04-13T20:53:00.000-05:00

This week's issue of SojoMail from Soujourners has a great article on dying with dignity by David Batstone -- one of their frequent contributing editors.

I like the way he begins his article:

Health care these days isn't, for all but the elite strata of our society

How true!

He goes on to say:

It's not hard to conjure up a medical nightmare tale at the local coffee shop: Just start sharing your own recent woes at a hospital, and a host of voices will chirp in with their own experiences of neglect.

Blackstone then tells a moving tale of a Health Care professional who takes her job seriously -- and how she dignifed the dying moments of one unknown man.

This is the story Blackstone tells:

On this particular evening, not unlike most evenings at this urban San Francisco hospital, the nurses had a full slate of patients who needed attention. To Mary Ann's list was added John Doe.

Mary Ann soon realized that there would be no extraordinary medical intervention to rescue John Doe's life. Her task that evening, as she understood her nursing vocation, was to accompany her patient on his journey toward death. Mary Ann continued to make her rounds with all her patients early in the evening, and made regular stops at the bed of John Doe. She noted that the man whose name she would never come to know was aware of her presence, and responded to her words of comfort.

The other nurses on the ward that evening were moved by Mary Ann's spirit of compassion, and felt sympathy for a man dying alone, without apparent friend or family. To a person, the nurses spontaneously volunteered to add to their attendant list one of Mary Ann's patients so that she would be free to care solely for John Doe.

Mary Ann stayed by his bedside the rest of the evening. The man could not speak to her, but he applied pressure to Mary Ann's hand in response to her prayers, stories, and consolations. He remained alert until the last breath escaped from his lungs. Death came to take him at daybreak. Mary Ann uttered one final prayer of gratitude to God for walking this gentle soul home.

And here is Blackstone's real point:

as John Doe lay in his hospital bed dying, saved from a totally anonymous passing by a giving spirit, the nation was transfixed with Terry Schiavo. Americans, it seems, work out their social values through pop culture - race with O.J., gender with the Bobbits, and so on - so perhaps the 24/7 media coverage of every detail of the Schiavo family is not surprising. But it strikes me that Mary Ann, on watch at the bedside of John Doe, is the symbol for an expression of "the absolute dignity of human life" that I will carry with me.

Read Blackstone's article here.

There are still many who hold to "the absolute dignity of human life" -- and many who act in ways that protect that -- even for those whose names they will never know. May God bless us with more people who are committed to "the absolute dignity of human life" -- and work to protect it!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Buy A Car -- Get A Bible

2005-04-12T06:01:00.000-05:00

I just read a great post about Thomas Nelson Printers' attempt to get the Bible to more people. Here's how Michael Hyatt, President of the Thomas Nelson, described the program:

In February, we launched “The Million Bible Challenge.” The purpose of this campaign is to motivate non-Bible readers to read the Bible. We wanted to provide an inexpensive version of the NKJV Bible so that individuals and churches could “pull out the stops” and help us (literally) get the word out. This is a year-long campaign, running from Easter 2005 to Easter 2006

A great idea -- and here are some things that Mr. Hyatt reports have happened:

* These results drove the NKJV to the #1 market share position in the Christian bookstore market. (This is STATs results for March, which are reported in the May numbers. The NKJV has a 33.55% share, the NIV a 22.38% share, and the KJV a 14.66% share.) Not that we are competitive!

* One store, in Kerrville Texas, has partnered with two car dealers in his town. The dealers will put this Bible into every new and used car they sell.

* A Los Angeles store has sent flyers to hundreds of churches in the Southern California area with incredible initial results.

* A store in Scottsdale, Arizona originally ordered 4,000 Bibles. Before they received their order, they had orders for 10,000 Bibles.

I particularly like the idea of the Kerrville, Texas car dealer! ;)

Read the entire post
here.

Oh -- I found out about this reading Mind & Media.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Not Boring -- Not Empty

2005-04-11T20:55:00.000-05:00

I ran across this post -- which is a sermon based on the Walk To Emmaus -- by Mark Greer.

I really like this point he makes:

Christianity isn't a boring, empty religion. It is a movement of people who follow the risen Jesus Christ. It is a movement of people who live a resurrection life now, death cannot hold them back because the one whom they follow has won the victory over death. So we stand firm, we don't let anything move us, we give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord because we know that our work is not in vain.

Mark, I could not agree with you more! A risen Lord that continues to change lives is certainly not boring or empty.

Let's see what we can do to catch the fire and excitement of the risen Lord!

Read Mark's sermon here.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Marketing: Mind and Media

2005-04-10T05:18:00.000-05:00

I get e-mail alerts from Mind and Media -- a wonderful company that helps us look at the culture from a more thoughtful perspective. Part of what they do is get books that present issues from a well thought out perspective -- then get their subscibers to read and post reviews about them. A great idea -- they are being paid by the publishers to do this -- and are building a community of bloggers around their site at the same time.

I have petitioned to be one of their reviewers -- but need more traffic on my site! So get the word out -- and someday I, too, can get free books and blog about them! ;)

Anyway -- the point of this post is to let you know that Stacy Harp, President of Mind and Media, did an interview with Paul Chaney of the Radiant Marketing Group. It's a great interview -- well worth a listen.

Listen to the pod cast of the interview here.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Jim Wallis: The Pope and Terri Schiavo

2005-04-09T16:57:00.000-05:00

As we end the 2 weeks that have been filled with news of Terri Schiavo -- then John Paul II -- I want to share an article I found from Sojourners.

Jim Wallis wrote a good piece about the Pope, Terri Schiavo, and moral consistency. Wallis begins by relating how remarkable it is when someone has a spirituality that attracts millions of people.

Wallis writes:

It's sadly rare for a church leader, or for the leaders of most of our dominant institutions, to demonstrate a spirituality that attracts millions of people around the world - particularly so many young people. But the scene of millions lining up to simply pass by the body of John Paul II in Rome this week is remarkable indeed.

Wallis goes on to write about the Pope's "consistent ethic of life".

One of the great attractions of Pope John Paul II's spirituality was his consistency. At the core of Catholic social teaching is the idea of a "consistent ethic of life," an ethic that seeks to protect and defend human life and dignity wherever and whenever they are threatened, and which challenges the selective moralities of both the political left and right.

Wallis believes the Pope's appeal lay partly in this "consistent ethic of life" , an integrity that is missing in so many other leaders. He believes this "consistent ethic of life" was missing from the death of Terry Schiavo.

Consistency is deeply attractive to people who long for public integrity - particularly to a new generation. The same lack of consistency in the politically selective eulogies of the pope also characterized the highly politicized responses to the sad story and death of Terri Schiavo.

Wallis continues with the statement:

I cannot understand why parents willing to take care of their disabled daughter were not allowed to by a husband who had moved on to another life and family. Terri Schiavo was severely mentally disabled but was not dying, and we don't decide to end the lives of many similarly disabled people, even children, whose mental capacities greatly diminish their quality of life

That is something I am having a hard time understanding, also.

We need more leaders with a "consistent ethic of life". Then again, just "consistent ethics" would be nice in our leaders -- as well as ourselves.

Read the Jim Wallis' article here.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Does It Make A Difference?

2005-04-09T16:12:00.000-05:00

I have finally finished -- and posted on my sermon blog site -- my sermon for tomorrow. It's based on parts of Peter's sermon in Acts 2 and the appearance of Christ after the resurrection on the road to Emmaus.

The premise of the sermon is that we need to live as if the resurrection of Christ has really made a differnce in our lives. If we do not let Christ change our lives and share that change with others, then we miss the life God can give us to live.

I used the story of Ashley Smith to illustrate my point:

I am sure that you have heard of Ashley Smith. You might not recognize her name, but you have certainly heard her story.
Ashley is the young woman taken hostage by Brian Nichols, the man who killed a judge and three other people in Atlanta.
Ashley has had a troubled life -- drugs and other problems. Not so long ago, when she hit bottom, Ashley spent two months in a Christian clinic for drug abusers. The counselors not only helped her to get off drugs, but they also helped her to get her heart right with God. When Brian Nichols took her hostage, she had in her possession a copy of "The Purpose Driven Life" -- a book about Christian faith -- and she had read part of it. God had done a good job of getting her ready for her encounter with a killer.
When Nichols took her captive, Ashley talked to him about God. She showed him pictures of her family. She read to him from "The Purpose Driven Life." When Nichols asked what she thought he should do, she was honest with him. She told him that he needed to stop running -- he needed to turn himself in. She told him that, when he went to prison, he could fulfill his "miracle" by "sharing the word of God" with other inmates.
You know the rest of the story. He let her go -- and she called the police -- and Nichols surrendered peacefully
Ashley let God change her life.
Ashley was changed from a young woman with many problems to a young woman with a story to share – and willing to share it with others.
Ashley let God make a difference in her life – and lived as if Christ made a difference to her.

Read the sermon here.
Until next time -- Peace! Bill

MinistryNet Upate:Wednesday

2005-04-06T20:43:00.000-05:00

My nephew, Rob,and his wife Patricia are in Budapest for the MinistryNet 2005 Internet Ministry Conference.

As Rob has blogged on the MinistryNet blog site, the conference is over, but the work sharing the good news of Jesus Christ over the internet will never end.

Click here to learn more about getting visitors to your web site, digital advertising,, and resourses.

Pray for God to use the parcipants in this conference for His glory!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

MinistryNet Upate: Tuesday Evening

2005-04-05T20:06:00.000-05:00

My nephew, Rob,and his wife Patricia are in Budapest for the MinistryNet 2005 Internet Ministry Conference.

The MinistryNet blog site is again filled with great stuff for those interested in using the internet to reach folks with the Gospel. Click here to learn more about Writing For The Web, Graphic Design, and Web Usability.

Please continue to pray that God will bless this conference!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

MinistryNet Update: Tuesday Morning

2005-04-05T05:40:00.000-05:00

My nephew, Rob,and his wife Patricia are in Budapest for the MinistryNet 2005 Internet Ministry Conference.

The MinistryNet blog site has much more exciting news about Internet Evangelism.

Click here to learn more about what's happening in NAMEStan and Branding, some Wisdom and Revelation they have received, and a group photo of the participants.

Click here for Patricia's report of the "human side" of the conference!

Please continue to pray with me that God will bless this conference and the information used will be utilized for God's glory!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

MinistryNet Upate: Monday

2005-04-04T20:24:00.000-05:00

My nephew, Rob,and his wife Patricia are in Budapest for the MinistryNet 2005 Internet Ministry Conference.

A lot is happening at the conference! Click here to learn about what is happening with Internet Evangelism in Eastern and Western Europe, mentorships, response centers, the art and science of response, media canopy, and connecting with the culture.

Won't you continue to pray with me that God will richly bless this conference?

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

MinistryNet Update: Sunday

2005-04-03T14:15:00.000-05:00

My nephew, Rob, and his wife Patricia are in Budapest for the MinistryNet 2005 Internet Ministry Conference.

Rob's blog has a post today that the conferenece has started!

This is how Rob describes part of the action:

I look around the room now (after dinner and many have left now) and I hear accents from all over. A man from Jordan is playing with his palm. A guy from Germany is using Skype to talk to someone else. A guy from Singapore is surfing the web. A conversation in English, Polish, and others I don't recognize are happening as I type.

I look forward to the rest of the week!

Read Rob's post on his blog site here

Read the post about the opening session on the MinistryNet blog site here.

I'll post more as I see it on the sites -- but keep the conference in your prayers.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Believing Is Seeing

2005-04-03T14:01:00.000-05:00

I have posted today's sermon on my sermon blog. It is based on Acts 2:14(a), 22-32 and John 20:19-31. Entitled "Believing Is Seeing"
it looks at the story of Jesus coming to the disciples the night after the resurrection, then again, with Thomas present, the following week. The basic premise is that many times we have evidence of God's work in front of us -- but don't beleive it for what it is -- so we don't see it for what it is.

Here's a small part of the sermon:

Maybe you see things that make you feel:
“So what if Christ has risen?”
“What difference does it make -- to me?”
“What difference does it make in my life?”
“What difference does it make in this church?”
“What difference does it make in the world?”
“Where’s the new life Christ offers?”
“I don’t see the difference – so I can’t believe it!”

Friends – many times
Believing is seeing.
Believing is seeing.

Read the entire sermon here.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Real Live Personal Space

2005-04-03T05:22:00.000-05:00

Gordon Atkinson -- the Real Live Preacher -- has published another article in the Christian Century magazine. It's about "Personal Space" -- startine with his relating a time when he invaded someone's personal space -- then moving to a refelection on intimacy and the struggle between intimacy and personal space. A good read about what it means t be open and vulnerable.

Here's a part of the article:

Real Christianity involves getting together with a handful of pilgrims and becoming intimate. It means braving the possibility of communion. It means letting people into your personal space. And, by the way, these are exactly the sort of people who may hear something desperate and child-like in your voice and be experienced enough at listening to know exactly what it means.

Read the entire article here.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Pope John Paul II -- The Legacy

2005-04-02T18:55:00.000-05:00

The Pope's life on earth is over -- but his legacy continues.

History -- the news media and others -- will decide what his legacy will be. He was certainly very conservative in many of his views -- many felt too conservative on abortion and the role of women in the church. I'll let others argue these points.

For me he was a Pope who made the Catholic denomination -- Christianity in general -- and indeed religion in genreral more accessable to more people.

In his many travels, his love for life and for others, and his use of the media he became a positive picture of religion for many people. Even in his death he gave us an example of how Christians should face death -- with faith and confidence of eternal life.

Read what ABC news and CNN have to say.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

The Pope -- Fatihful In Life And Death

2005-04-02T09:08:00.000-05:00

People of religious faiths throughout the world are praying for Pope John Paul II as he nears death. CNN is reporting that he is slipping in and out of consciousness. What strikes me is the report that he has written to his adies not to weep for him -- that he knew he was going to a place of joy and for them to rejoice with him.

Even in death, the Pope is teaching Christians the secret to life!

Unitl next time -- Peace ! Bill

MinistryNet Upate: Saturday

2005-04-02T08:43:00.000-05:00

If you have been following my blog, you know that my nephew, Rob, and his wife Patricia are in Budapest for the MinistryNet 2005 Internet Ministry Conference.

Rob's blog has a post this morning that they made it to Budapest! Today will be a day for catching a little rest then getting things ready for the conference.

Here's some of Rob's comments:

I only got about 6 hours of sleep last night which I don't understand. I was so exhausted...still am! We went to bed at 9 local time and I woke up at 3. At 4 I got on up. I don't get it. I'm sure I'll need a nap today...and probably won't get it. Tomorrow night the reason we came here gets started and both Patricia and I need to convert our plane-completed talks into PowerPoint sometime this weekend.

Read his entire post here.

Continue to pray for Rob and Patricia to get some rest -- for their preparation for the conference -- and for success for the conference!

Unitl next time -- Peace! Bill

MinistryNet Upate:Friday

2005-04-01T20:31:00.001-05:00

Friday's MinistryNet Update

Here's the latest from the MinistryNet 2005 blog:

1 more visa granted in Paris. 1 more to go!

God is doing a great thing! Pray for the success of the conference!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Pope John Paul II -- A Life Of Faith

2005-04-01T20:31:00.000-05:00

The latest reports are that the health of the Pope continues to get worse -- and that he is near death. This from CNN

Pope John Paul II is clinging to life though Vatican officials concede he is nearing the end of his long, illustrious life. High above St. Peter's Square, lights burned in the papal apartments as Catholics around the world somberly waited and prayed. During a Mass for the pope's health, the vicar of Rome, said John Paul had "abandoned himself to the hands of Christ."

Prayers are being lifted up by Catholics,indeed people of all religions, around the world tonight for this brave man of faith. Let us all pray that he be free from pain and suffering in his death, and continue to be an example for us all of how to live -- and die -- in faith and confidence of God's loving care.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Terri And The Pope

2005-03-31T20:36:00.000-05:00

2 big news stories tday -- the death of Terri Schiavo and the worsening condition of Pope John Paul II.

While these stories are different, they are similar in that both Terri Schiavo and the Pope have become important figures in the lives of many people -- but for different reasons. They seem to represent what can be the best in us -- and the worst.

The Pope represents the best in us -- even though many feel him to be very conservative John Paul II has become an icon for a religious and spiritual life. I have heard many say over the years: "He looks like a Pope should look" -- a father figure for Catholics and Protestants alike -- an icon of peace and spirituality in a world of hatred and violence.

Terri Shiavo, on the other hand, has become a symbol of a battle that rages in our world on many fronts. The sad thing is that Terri never chose to be that symbol -- never chose to be something to battle over. The Terri Shiavo case has polarized our country and our churches. Politicians have postured, lawyers have argued, preachers have preached, the President has grabbed the spotlight, and the courts have ruled. And why? So Terri could be given the best treatment possible -- or so her wishes could be granted -- or so the particular position of the particular person talking at the particular time could be advanced?

These are hard questions -- and I am afraid the answers lie more in our will to push our own agenda than concern for Terri.

For me, the bottom line in the Terri Schiavo case is not the right to die -- or the right to make our own decisions about quality of life. Terri was not able to make her own decision. For me, the bottom line here is:

"How do we care for those who can not make decisions for themselves"?

This is a deeply moral, reiligious, and ethical question.

Can we, as a society, try to do what is best for those who can not do for themselves?

Can we, as a society, make decisions that are in the best interest of those who can not make the decisions for themselves?

Only if we try to look at what is best for the person involved -- whether we would want it for ourselves or not -- can we begin to decide what is best for those who can not make those decisions for themselves.

Only when we begin to ask "What would they want done?" instead of saying "This is what I want done" can we begin to truly make decisions that would be for the benefit of the person whose life -- and the quality of their life -- is at stake.

This is not an easy task.

We all need to pray for the wisdom to listen to God and listen to each other with respect as the battle over Terri Shiavo and others like her rages on.

Too bad the Pope can not lead us in these prayers.

So -- what do you think?

Please comment -- I would like to know how others feel.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

MinistryNet Upate:Thursday

2005-03-31T20:04:00.001-05:00

I've been blogging about my nephew Rob, his wife Patricia, and the Budapest MinistryNet conference. They left today -- but won't get to Budapest until Friday. Keep them in your prayers.

Tuesday Rob blogged about requesting prayers for visas for the participants to the conference. At that point they needed 11 -- but read the post for today:

UPDATE #4 (31 Mar): 1 more visa granted. 1 potential attendee stopped pursuing it since doing so would require travel from the Philippines to Indonesia (then Hungary) with no guarantees of getting past Indonesia.
** 2 remaining ** - These two individuals are now in transit from Mali and Ghana, hoping to receive visas in Paris and London respectively. Pray for these remaining two!!

Read his post here.

God is indeed at work! Continue to join me in prayer for this coference -- the attendees -- and the impact God would have them to have through Internet Evangelism.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

MinistryNet Upate

2005-03-30T08:32:00.000-05:00

My nephew Rob and his wife Patricia leave for the MinistryNet conference in Budapest tomorrow. They are certainly in our prayers -- not only for safe travel but for a successful conference.

Rob shared some specific prayer requests on the MinistryNet blog site for visas for conference attendees. Here's his post from yesterday:

We told you about a prayer request for some potential conference attendees were having trouble getting their visas to come to Budapest.

Here is the latest update:

* We originally had 11 needing visas
* 3 received theirs
* We still have 8 needing a visa to attend

Will you please pray for these 8 people? Please pray they will be able to get their visa and travel arrangements in time.

UPDATE: 1 visa came through! Please pray for the remaining 7.

Keep them in your prayers! I plan to blog about the conference as I get updates -- so stay tuned -- or stay tuned to the MinistryNet site.

Until next time - Peace! Bill

Happy Birthday, "Old Gull"

2005-03-30T07:44:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday Olivia
Happy Birthday to you!

Today is my sister Oldlivia (oops -- just a slip of the finger there!) Olivia's birthday. Olivia is my oldest sister. I won't say how old she is -- but I she is 7 years older than I am and I'll turn 50 in August -- so you do the math!

I have 2 older sisters -- and when I was little I couldn't say "girls" so I called them "gulls". That's where the "old gull" comes from!

I have many "Olivia stories" -- but one of my favorites involves Olivia, me, and a friend of mine when I was a kid -- his name was Jeff. One day Olivia was watching Jeff and me at home while Mom was at the grocery store. We dedided we wanted an apple -- but Olivia decided we couldn't have it. (I don't remember why!) Anyway -- Jeff and I grabbed the apple and ran outside -- Olivia chasing us and yelling all the way. We got to our tree house -- and Jeff and I climbed the ladder -- then pushed it down so Olivia couldn't climb up after us. With Olivia stalking at the bottom of the tree we decided that -- instead of eating the apple -- we would throw it at her. So there we were -- up the tree -- without the apple -- but laughing and thinking the whole thing was hillarious! You may be wondering why she didn't just put the ladder back up and come and get us. Well, Olivia knew Mom would be home soon -- and that she had us right where she wanted us. Trapped up the tree. When Jeff and I saw Mom's car pull up and Olivia run to the car -- we knew we were in trouble. And we were. Anyway -- we paid the price for the escapade -- but I am sure there were many other times like it!

Anyway -- happy birthday, "old gull!"

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Internet Evangelism

2005-03-29T10:12:00.000-05:00

If you have read my blog before, you probably know some things about my nephew, Rob Williams. Rob and his wife Patricia work for Campus Crusade for Christ. (Rob is also my technical expert when it comes to my blog. My blog is evolving and looking much better thanks to him!)

Rob works with Internet Evangelism for Campus Crusade. It's so good to know that God is using talented folks to get the word out on the Internet! They are planning -- and will help lead -- a conference in Budapest, Hungary next week. I'll be praying for them and all those attending from throughout the world.

Won't you join me in praying for this exciting ministry?

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

He Lives!

2005-03-27T10:20:00.000-05:00

Easter Morning 2005

Rejoice, rejoice O Christian,
Lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find,
None other is so loving, so good and kind.

He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!
He walsk with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.
He lives! He llives! Salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He lives -- He lives within my heart!
"I Serve A Risen Savior" by Alfred H. Ackley

The final chapter in the Holy Week drama is complete -- and the last word is not that Christ died on the cross -- but that He rose again from the dead! In my Church we celebrated Easter with a short Sunrise Service at 6:30 AM around the cross of flowers -- then had a worship service with the choir's Easter Cantata and the Sacrament of Communion -- concluding with a breakfast and time of fellowship. It all added to the celebration of the day -- and the new life we have in Christ.

One of our favorite hymns for Easter is "I Serve A Risen Savior" by Alfred H. Ackley. The story goes that Ackley was preaching about the risen Christ on night -- and one in the congregation told him later

"I don't see how you can get so excited about a dead Jew!"

Ackley replied:

"But, my firend, Jesus lives!"

He then wrote the stirring hymn loved by so many.

On this Easter day, let the joy that Christ lives fill your heart with joy!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

An Easter Sermon

2005-03-26T14:29:00.000-05:00

I finished writing my sermon for tomorrow this morning. I have created a "sermon blog" where I will post my sermons. I will give little bits of them on this -- my main blog -- and link to the sermon post on my sermon blog.

Many thanks to my nephew Rob for helping me with most of the technical things on this blog -- and suggesting having a seperate blog to post sermons -- then linking to that blog from this one! I am so glad he is a Williams -- he and his Dad are so good at computers and other technical things -- us Hayes' are not good at this stuff at all. My sister Olivia (who, by the way, has a birthday coming up on March 30) did real well when she married Bob! (I think his birthday is soon, too! )

Tomorrow's sermon -- based on Jeremiah 31:1-6, Colossians 3:1-4, and John 20:1-18 focuses on Mary's message to the disciples: "I have seen the Lord!" -- and asks the question -- Can You See The Lord?

One illustration is use is from Dr. Paul Willis of The Cathedral Of His Glory in Greensboro, NC.:

Paul Willis, pastor of The Cathedral Of His Glory in Greensboro, tells a story of sailing with his grandfather off the coast of North Carolina when he was a young boy. One day as they were sailing the wind stopped -- the sea became a dead calm -- and their sailboat began floating aimlessly in the water. Try as they might, they couldn’t get the ship to head in the direction of home -- and it was getting dark. Young Paul panicked -- and did not know what to do. He knew they couldn’t swim to shore -- they were much too far out.

What were they going to do?

His grandfather knew that all they could do was wait -- and -- being an experienced sailor and fisherman -- he knew the wind would begin blowing again.

Darkness fell -- and still no wind.

Young Paul knew they were doomed.

Grandfather knew that the wind would come back in time.

Finally -- late into the night -- grandfather woke Paul and told him to trim the sails. Paul did not understand why -- the wind was still not blowing -- but off in the distance he heard a faint sound. The sound became stronger and stronger until finally he could feel the wind. With the sails trimmed, the boat made its way home.

Willis likens the unexpected -- to him -- wind to the new life God offers us.

Just when we think things are at their worst --
there is the wind -- the Spirit -- of God -- giving us new life --
new hope -- for our lives.

Read the sermon here.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

3 Great Days

2005-03-26T14:12:00.000-05:00

Saturday of Holy Week
Holy Saturday

Today is Holy Saturday -- the third day of the Great 3 Days -- or the Great Triduum. In many churches services are held on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday to remember the death of Christ for our sins -- and the resurrection of Christ which gives us the victory over sin and death. Taken together, these services provide a powerful witness to our hope and new life we have because of what Christ has done for us.

Read It Takes A Church to get another perspective on Great Triduum
and Holy Saturday.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Is It Really Good?

2005-03-25T08:20:00.000-05:00

Friday morning of Holy Week
Good Friday

Today is Good Friday -- another of the most holy days in the Christian year.On this day we somberly reflect upon the death of Christ on the cross for our sins -- and how we can follow him and give of ourselves for him as he has for us. This is not an easy task -- and many find it almost impossible to ponder the events of Good Friday without moving quikly to the glory of Easter. But we need to stay focused on Good Friday -- the death of Christ -- the ordeal of Christ -- so that we can truly understand what happened -- what it means for us -- and how it can instruct us for living lives of Christian commitment and discipleship.

Not easy tasks -- but necessary.

The post for today on the Goshen College Lenten Devotional Blog is taken from Matthew's version for the curcifixon -- Matthew 27:11-54.

Here are parts of the devotional:

Today we are invited to embrace the mystery of the cross by recalling the events of Christ’s physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual agony. Grace beckons us to an assent of absolute faith that Christ suffered and died. As Paul reminds us, “If Christ had not died and risen, our faith is worthless!” Our own continual dying to sin, a process that unfolds over the course of our lives, enables us by His grace to ever more fully realize the potential of Christian charity in our daily living.

You can read the entire devotional here.

Take time today to reflect upon the death of Christ for your sins -- and how you can be more devoted to living for Christ!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Commanded To Love

2005-03-24T06:36:00.000-05:00

Thursday morning of Holy Week
Maundy Thursday

Today is one of the most holy days in the Christian year -- Maundy Thursday. This is the day that Christ ate his last meal with his disciples before he was crucified. He was celebrating the Hebrew Passover Seder meal -- celebrating God delivering the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt -- but he gave new meaning to the traditional bread and wine -- explaining that for his followers they would now represent his body broken and his blood shed so their sins would be forgiven. We remember this in the Sacrament of Communion.

The name Maundy Thursday is taken from something else that Jesus did at that meal. The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus washed the disciples feet -- then commanded the disciples to follow his example of love and service. It is the Latin word for commandment mandatium (which is where we get the word mandate) -- that gives us the word Maundy.

This is the day we not only remember the body broken and blood shed -- but also the commandment to love. I guess the question for today -- and every day -- is how well do we love? To what lengths are we willing to go to show God's love to all people? Jesus was not making a suggestion that we love -- he made a commandment!

On this Maundy Thursday -- this Mandate Thursday -- this Commandment Thursday -- think about how well you love -- and pray that God will help you love -- better!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

What's On Your Mind?

2005-03-23T06:48:00.000-05:00

Wednesday morning of Holy Week.

The devotional reading on the Goshen College Lenten Devotionals bog site is taken from Philippians 2:5-11. This, by the way, is the traditional Epistle Lectionary reading for Palm Sunday.It's also considered to be one of the first creeds -- or statements of faith -- of the early church.

Here's snippits of the devotional reading:

Most of us have been asked the very simple question, “what’s on your mind?” As I was reading today’s lectionary scriptures, I imagined God asking the same question of Jesus, as they talked about the salvation plan for all humankind ...

Jesus, bearing the power and equality with God, chose self-sacrificing, humility and love as the way of bringing salvation to people in the world.

In today’s world of convenience, comfortableness, busyness and tensions, are we willing to walk in steps of humility and selflessness?

You can read the entire devotional here.

Indeed, how many people are willing to "walk in steps of humility and selflessness"?
In looking at my life can see I have a lot of work to do! Actually, God has a lot of work to do on me! But God can do the work -- if I let him!

The devotional ends with this statement:

May our life reflect the mind of Christ, by serving God and other people humbly with love, and obeying the word of God.

Sounds like a prayer I need to make for myself.
How about you?

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

L O V E Is My ID

2005-03-22T21:20:00.000-05:00

Tuesday of Holy Week.
I attended mid day services in Reidsville today. A friend, Bishop Elijah Williams, brought a very moving message about Christian unity. He talked about how the PIN (Personal ID Number) for every Christian should be LOVE -- and got us to say after him L O V E is my ID.
You might ask what this has to do with Holy Week.Well -- I think it has everything to do with Holy Week -- the week we focus on the love of God that we see most clearly in Christ on the cross.
Christian unity and love are important topics -- especially during Holy Week. We tend to separate ourselves from others instead of coming together in Christ.The Goshen College Lenten Devotional Web Log focused on Psalms 31:9-16 today. We all know what brokeness is all about. So did Jesus.

This is part of what the Goshen College devotional has to say today;

When his eyes grew weak with sorrow, his soul and body with grief; when anguish consumed him and affliction took his strength, Jesus called out from this psalm (v 5). Broken like pottery by his enemies (v 12), forgotten in his dying, Jesus delivered his life into the hands of God, His Father.

You can read the entire devotional here.

God listend to Jesus' prayers for healing and wholeness. He will listen to ours, also. This Holy Week, try to focus on our unity in Christ, let L O V E be your ID --
, and do things that show your unity with others.
Again today, It Takes A Church has a wonderful post on Holy Week.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

A Holy Week

2005-03-21T19:33:00.000-05:00

This week is Holy Week -- the week that begins with Palm Sunday and ends with Holy Saturday.

It's the most important week of the year for Christians as we reflect upon the sacrafice of Christ for our sins. Many communities have worship services every day -- culminating in the services of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Many churches also observe an Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday.

I find that observing Holy Week in some speical fashion -- whether it be attending special services, having special prayer times,fasting, or a combination several things, helps us put our Christian lives into perspective -- helps us remember what it means to be a Christian -- and makes our Easter celebration much more joyous and meaningful.

I'll spend Holy Week attending noontime servies at various churches in Reidsville, taking part in Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services, visiting and taking Communion to our homebound members, and keeping up with my other obligations. I'll try to blog about these experiences as the week goes on.

For more thougts on Holy Week see It Takes A Church.

So -- how are you going to spend your Holy Week?

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Can I Let Them Pull Out My Beard?

2005-03-21T07:16:00.000-05:00

Today's post on the Goshen College Lenten Devotial web blog is a refletion on Isaiah 50:4-9(a) -- the Old Testament reading for Palm Sunday for those who follow the Revised Common Lectionary. The devotional deals with handling trials in a way that can show God to others.
Here are some of the obersvations:

Throughout the day we should face the trials head on because we know that God is giving us the strength.

Take the opportunity today to smile and talk to that person who is challenging you so that you might show them God’s love!

Read the entire post here.

I find it hard to handle trials -- or challanges -- in a graciious, Godly manner. I would find it particuarly difficult to offer:

my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard (Isaiah 50:6(b))

For someone who has a beard -- I know how that could hurt! Ouch!
I need to pray for patience -- and the ability be be more Godly when facing trials and challanges.
Until next time -- Peace! Bill

It's Madness!

2005-03-20T20:17:00.000-05:00

"When is this game going to end so we can go to sleep?"
That's what Sally, my wife, kept asking me last night as I watched Wake Forest get upset by West Virginia in a double overtime thriller last night!
I know now why they call it "March Madness."
The teams I picked to win did really well at first -- so well I was tied for 1st place in the pick'em game I am a part of -- but after today I am in 8th place! Ugh!

Here's who I picked to advance to the "sweet 16":
Illinois
Boston College
Arizona
Oklahoma State
Washington
Gonzaga
Georgia Tec
Wake Forest
North Carlina
Kansas
Florida
Connecticut
Duke
Syracuse
Utah
Kentucky

8 of those I picked made it to the "sweet 16" -- and 3 of the ones I picked to go to the "elite 8" teams are out -- and 1 of the teams I picked to be in the Title Game (Wake Forest!) is now out of it!
O well -- it's fun!
Even if it is madness!
Until next time -- Peace! Bill

More Hoopsla

2005-03-18T07:18:00.000-05:00

In case you missed it, yesterday was the first day of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. I'm in a pick'em game(where you try to choose who will win all the games). I'm tied with 7 others for the number one spot right now -- we all missed 2 picks yesterday. Mine were the Texas / Nevada game -- I had picked Texas and Nevada won 61 - 57 -- and the Alabama / Wisonconsin - Milwaukee game -- I had picked Alabama and Wisonconsin - Milwaukee won 83 - 73!
O well -- at least everybody else missed 2 games -- even Rob! But I can't gloat too much -- the weekend is still young! Much more basketball to go today -- tomorrow -- and Sunday -- then for 2 more weekends before the finals on Monday, April 4! I will probably be begging for the "seond chance" game before it's all over with!
My favorite games so far?
I enjoy (but don't usually pick) upsets - so the Alabama / Wisonconsin - Milwaukee game was good - and I found myself pulling for Chattanooga to beat Wake Forest -- which was a close game in the first half until Wake Forest pulled away -- and I got really excited when Winthrop -- from my hometown of Rock Hill, SC -- almost beat Gonzaga! Gonzaga finally won 74 - 64 -- but it was a great game!
So -- can I stay on top?
Stay tuned and find out!
Until next time -- Peace! Bill

The Fuss About Patrick

2005-03-17T19:09:00.000-05:00

March 17 -- St. Patrick's Day!
A day for being Irish -- wearing green -- and eating corned beef and cabbage (just make sure you cook it right -- or you'll end up with a purple St. Patrick's Day meal!)
Even people who are not Irish claim to be on St. Patrick's Day!
Well -- just who was St. Patrick -- and what's the big fuss about him?
I'll let WikiPedia give you the details of his life.
I believe he is important because he returned to Ireland after escaping from slavery -- and worked to bring Christianity to the people who had been his captors. Not many people would go back after escaping from slavery to try to convert the people who had captured them! Proclaiming Christ -- even when it meant risking his life -- was more important to him than his physical freedom -- and to me that is something to celebrate.
Later, the faith of the Irish people helped save Europe during the Dark Ages -- as Thomas Cahill documents in his book How The Irish Saved Civilization. The work of St. Patrick helped make this possible!
I love the following prayer attributed to St. Patrick:

I take for my sureties:
The power of God to guide me,
The might of God to uphold me,
The wisdom of God to teach me,
The eye of God to watch over me,
The ear of God to hear me,
The word of God to give me speech,
The hand of God to protect me,
The way of God to go before me,
The shield of God to shelter me....

Christ be with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

A great prayer from a man of legendary faith!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Get Your Party On

2005-03-15T06:52:00.000-05:00

Today's post to the Goshen College Lenten Devotional Blog is still a reflection on Palm Sunday, but from two different perspectives -- closing with a question of which perspective more closely resembles ours.
The first perspective is one of celebration -- the celebration of those Jesus helped, healed, and who His words emposerd.
Then -- there is the perspective of those in power -- who were threatened by Jesus.
Here's how the post describes their perspective:

We had names for a man like this: anarchist, liar, thief. He went around talking about bringing down the government, saying he was the “king,” like it was a funny joke. And that donkey he was riding on? He had his followers steal it for him in broad daylight. The happy bring-down-the-system party had to stop. The people shouting “Hosanna!” and parading about in the streets had to get back to work. The only way to stop the hullabaloo was to give him a death sentence.

Read the devotional here. The question is still important for each of us to answer.
Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Humble -- And Riding On A Donkey

2005-03-14T07:31:00.000-05:00

Holy week begins with Passion / Palm Sunday next Sunday -- but it's not too early to think about the humillity of Christ -- and how Christ comes to us sometimes in very humble, quiet ways.

The devotional readling for today from the Goshen College Devotional Blog is entitled On A Donkey Again.

Here's a part of it:

In our world of noise and distractions, it seems that what makes the biggest splash gets the attention. As followers of Christ, we are called to be in this world, but not of it. How can I, especially during this season of Lent, learn to see more deeply? Do I recognize Jesus in the ordinary moments? Can I see his presence in every creature, especially in the poor and powerless? When I do, how can I then share and promote this new awareness?

Read the entire doevotional here.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Hoopsla

2005-03-13T21:11:00.000-05:00

OK -- it's time for some serious basketball -- the men's NCAA Tournament. Living in NC I have learned that basketball is serious business.

Congrats to Duke on winning this year's ACC tournament. Now -- 5 ACC teams (Duke, UNC, Wake Forest, NC State, and Georgia Tec) are going to the NCAA tournament. Some feel the picks were not fair -- but isn't "discussing" these things what makes sports fun?

Well, here's my picks for the final four --

UNC
Duke

Wake Forest
Illinois

UNC will beat Duke -- Wake Forest will beat Illinois.

The winner of the championship game?

UNC

What do you think?

O -- if you want in a fun NCAA Final Four pick'em game visit Rob's blog -- it will be fun!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

RLP -- Cowboy and Preacher

2005-03-13T06:34:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite writers, Gordon Atkinson, the Real Live Preacher, has had another ne of his articles posted at the Christian Century website. It's called "Said The Cowboy To His People."
Here's a part of it:

Week by week, month by month, from one Advent to the next, and now 12 years have passed us by. I don’t know where we are going with this. A part of me wishes every Sunday were my last, and another part of me lives in fear that one day someone will grab my elbow and say, “That’s enough, Cowboy. Turn in your spurs and hand over your saddle. Let’s give someone else a turn at this.”

And indeed, the day will come when this weary cowboy will pack it in and return to the pew from which he came. But today is not that day.

Another honest look at the joys and struggles of the calling that is ministry!
Read the entire article here.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

A New Look

2005-03-12T16:29:00.000-05:00

I've been "playing with" the look of my blog the last few days. Those of you who have read my blog before may remember how it looked -- basically white without much in the sidebar. Well, I've made some changes. I'll probably make a few more changes -- like link to more blogs and add some more sites I read a lot - - but I like the way it looks.
It really tells a lot about me -- who I am -- and what is important to me.
The Bible at the top -- other news -- things that help me learn and appreicate the world around me -- and friends and other people I find interesting. A good combination.
As usual, I owe a great deal to Rob for helping me with adding things. O -- and I really did not intentionally make my blog look like his -- I just liked the template!
Let me know what you think.
Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Chocolate --- yes! Moderation -- maybe.

2005-03-10T06:36:00.000-05:00

I knew they'd discover some day that chocolate is good for you! The only thing is the guidelines that are suggested:

* If you eat chocolate, only eat dark chocolate.
* Only eat chocolate if you're healthy.
* Consume it in moderation.

I have no problem with the first 2 -- but I wonder if a whole bag of Hershey's Dark Chocolate Kisses can be considered "in moderation"? Maybe I'll cut back to 1/2 a bag at at time -- you know -- eat 1/2 a bag then the other 1/2 30 minutes later.
O -- a tip of the hat to nephew Rob for his post and alerting me to this news!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Which Cross?

2005-03-07T20:46:00.000-05:00

Today's daily devotoinal from Bruderhoff.Com raises an interesting question -- do we bear the cross of Christ or the cross of the world?

Here's a part of the devotional taken from The Immitation of Christ by Thomas A'Kempis:

There will always be many who love Christ's heavenly kingdom, but few who will bear his cross. Jesus has many who desire consolation, but few who care for adversity. He finds many to share his table, but few who will join him in fasting. Many are eager to be happy with him; few wish to suffer anything for him. Many will follow him as far as the breaking of bread, but few will remain to drink from his passion. Many are awed by his miracles, few accept the shame of his cross.

Read the entire devtional here.

Until next time -- Peace! Bill

Journey To The Cross

2005-03-05T21:49:00.000-05:00

I discovered a web site called "Journey To The Cross" -- a site with scripture readings, devotions, and prayers for every day in Lent. It has music and great graphics -- and you can click on the different parts of the devotional when you are ready for them.

Here's a part of the devotion section for today:

servanthood is the other side of love. In Jesus we witness the creative suffering of God.

Check it out!

Until next time -- Peace! Bill