http://ow.ly/d/XX1 ^WC I am sending this message on behalf of the Meade family. This family lost the lady of the house due to a massive heart attack last Wednesday. It is my hope that as many as will share this information so that those acquainted with Michelle might have opportunity to show support to the family while showing final respects.
Thanks in advance for all that help pass the word.
http://ow.ly/ggAI3 ^WC I admit that I don’t understand this strange dichotomy. On the one hand our President is declaring that the rich don’t pay their fair share in taxes (even though the top 10% pay about 70% of the federal bill) and that their taxes should be raised. Yet he really pays a lower tax rate for many because he takes advantage of laws that allow for tax shelters and the like. I just don’t understand this strange and interesting dichotomy.
^WC I will be teaching tonight at Springs Church on the subject “An Inward Look.” See you at 7:00PM.
The past couple days of been somewhat somber for me. A family that I mentor and advise spiritually lost the lady of the house. The most immediate impact of her untimely demise is to her husband of thirteen years and four young children from the ages of seven to eleven. While I can delve into the hurt and pain associated with losing a loved one the thing that came immediately to my mind was the old song “Get Right With God.”
Yes, there is mourning taking place. Even I expect to see her sitting in her favourite spot when I enter the family home. It simply does not seem real because she was taken out by a sudden massive heart attack. But I am reminded of the fact that when Christ returns to collect His Church He will come quickly and without warning. He has provided us with warning after warning of His soon and sudden return. Preachers having been warning for years that the return of Christ will be as a thief in the night as the Church is suddenly taken from the present world. Just look at the present situation in the United States alone.
It is accepted by many to tell lies of the lie is harmless. Yet Scripture teaches that all liars will have their place in the lake that burns with fire. Yet even those holding positions in church choose to lie. But lying is part of the problem. Many continually entertain unclean thoughts. The vast array of unclean thoughts will not be addressed here but one can easily surmise that when thoughts are not taken captive according to the Word of God any number of things can happen. Unclean thoughts are part of the reason that many are living with the idea that altering their minds with marijuana, alcohol and other illicit drugs are OK so long as no one else is being harmed.
And the evil thoughts continue in so many ways such as the increase of immorality on every front. Said differently, this nation has succumbed to the disease of sin. Sin is what pulls away from God and sin will be the cause of eternal damnation. You see in the Book of Numbers God provided His people specific instructions. If they adhered to God’s Word they would find themselves walking in God’s blessings. Yet if they disobeyed Numbers 32:23 clearly indicates that “But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.”
I certainly mourn the untimely death of this forty-six year old lady even while I wonder how many people die without making things right with God. How many die knowing that God is there for them yet they figure that they have the rest of their lives while the numbering of their days is at hand? And then what about those on the fringes of the church walking around with a form of godliness but denying the very power thereof? And then you have those that work as though their very services are the means to get into the Kingdom.
It is high time that this nation return to its roots of trusting in God. We have left our first love and need to fall on our faces in repentance. No, just a verbal acknowledgement of shortcomings but rather actions turning away from those things that turn from the holiness of God. It means that those on the fringes will submit to the Cloud that covers and protects while allowing the Holy Spirit to not only indwell but also to guide and comfort. It is time that we, collectively and individually, get right with God and do it now!
^WC Looks like my book is on sale at B&N. Don’t forget it is a great stocking stuffer! http://ow.ly/g87hk
What an excellent idea!
Good morning to all!
They call this the “season of sharing”. (Well, I personally think that should be a year round theme, but that’s another soapbox.) I’d like to take this opportunity to thank a new friend and fellow author for his idea about writers helping each other to expand their audiences. His name is Seumas Gallacher, and his idea is “you scratch my blog, I’ll scratch your blog”. A “union” of blog writers is being formed called “The Blog Scratchers Union” with a hashtag of #TBSU.
The idea is to spread the word about the blogs you enjoy and follow by creating a listing at the end of your posts, or in a special section of your blog if you prefer. It seems to catching on like wildfire from what I’ve seen so far. I’ve already found several new blogs that I am now following, thanks to Seumas’ lists.
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I am determined to move beyond myself and extend my care for others. I will not allow an apathetic disposition to uproot the plan of God. I will extend love as far as I can and depend upon my God to hold me up. I will not trust in man nor be dismayed by apathetic so-called Christians who do not take the word of God seriously.
I will not fear when God clearly has spoken upon the pages of his book that he brings with his Spirit POWER. POWER to defeat fear and give me a sound mind. My mind has become filled with God’s wisdom and I choose to lose my mind and receive his. I suggest we daily do this. The world is growing darker. We must arm ourselves with the same mind of Jesus and prepare to suffer.
Suffer for loving the world while it rejects us…
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^WC Here is the thing, I am closing in on 1000 views for my new blog http://atomic-temporary-41693309.wpcomstaging.com/. Please help me get there. 😉
The below lesson was taught to a parents group not long ago. The message becomes even more relevant during the Christmas season because of the many demands. Just remember it is OK to deny requests.
Also, please let it be know that this and all other posts I make should be considered (c) and I would appreciate permission for reuse except in the case of re-blogging. Thank you.
“No” is Not a Curse Word
Prepared for:
Harlem Park Elementary School
1401 Lafayette Ave
Baltimore, Maryland 21217
19 September 2012
Prepared by:
Elder William James Carter, The 1st
The Christian Perspective
“No” is Not a Curse Word
All too often parents work tirelessly for their families and those that surround them. But that work comes a great cost. That cost is that parents are often stressed, worn out, tired, impatient, underfed and the like. With that bad health is often not only at the door but sitting in the easy chair. When this happens parents are not good for themselves or their children. They have said yes way too often to way too many people for all the wrong reasons.
Saying yes is proper and right but not always necessary. There is no need to say yes to everybody for everything because it will have a negative impact. One impact, as noted is stress. But what is stress? There are two forms of stress; one good and the other not so much. The first form of stress is eustress which is a positive stress that provides energy for us. It is the kind of stress that is useful for creativity as well as getting us out of dangerous situations. For instance, if we are cross the street and suddenly a car comes streaming down the road we are suddenly filled with certain adrenalin that allows us to run across the street to safety.
The second type of stress is called distress. Some synonyms for distress are:
This, however, is not the whole of negative stress. There is another term for negative stress which is hyperstress. Hyperstress is the compilation of a number of negative stressors which makes a person feel like there is no hope. Feelings of depression can seep in which makes the stress all the worse. Unchecked stress can:
Much of this stress can be alleviated if we simply learn to say “no”. Many seem to think that saying no is a curse word. That is many see denying others their services as being an obscenity or blasphemous. It is not. Not only is it OK to say no but often it is necessary to say no. For instance; if your child wants you to buy him $200.000 pair of tennis shoes but budget not only disallows it but he just received a new pair of tennis shoes at the start of the school year. It is OK to say no if only because there is no need for them.
And then there are the neighbors. They need this and they need that. Milk is needed for the baby but the store is two blocks away and she just came from the store. And then there are other needs of neighbors that really are not needs rather they are desires that have little to no necessity. But in the mind of the one seeking your help it is not only urgent but an emergency. But you just arrived home from work and dinner needs to be prepared. You are tired and the kids need help with their homework. Not only that you have to prepare for the next day’s work. It is OK to say no. This is a small part of the picture of the working parent because there are many other aspects to their lives. This is a list of things most of us are involved in or with:
With all this going on it is quite easy for a life to fall out of balance. In his book Margin Dr. Richard A. Swenson outlines steps to “restore balance.” Those steps are:
Above all say NO when you need to and when you want to. It is OK to pamper yourself. So,
preachercarter 