THE CHOIR OF CREATION

June 29th, 2012 | By admin

by Paul Holland

            We conclude our Daily Nourishment today in reading the book of Psalms. The book of Psalms is certainly one of our favorite books.  Psalm 148 is a hymn of praise. C. S. Lewis wrote a devotional book, Reflections on the Psalms in which he writes: “I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. …In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him” (95, 97).

            Derek Kidner in the Tyndale OT Commentary Series calls this psalm a “Choir of Creation” (487). You are familiar with this psalm because you have sung it frequently in worship. In 1893, these words were set to music by William Kirkpatrick.  (more…)

ASK AUNT MARY-WHAT ARE YOUR DREAMS?

June 27th, 2012 | By admin

By Aunt Mary

What are your dreams right now? You may say to get a good job and make plenty of money. Maybe to marry a rich man so you won’t have to work. I’m sure it’s something like that.

When I was your age, I wanted to marry rich so I wouldn’t have to clean the house and wash dishes. I hated that, and I still do. That’s not my piece of cake. I did marry rich, but not in money. My hubby is rich in love, kindness, and thoughtfulness. We’ve had good days and bad days, but after almost 50 years of marriage, I see more good days than bad days.

Through the years we’ve noticed people we’ve gone to high school with that have craved money. They’ve not been happy. They’ve turned to liquor, sex, gambling, and other things. Money does not bring happiness. Oh, it can make life more pleasant, but it doesn’t bring happiness. Being friends with your spouse does. 1 Timothy 6:10 tell us, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many arrows.”

Remember that verse. Be happy with what you have. Don’t look at what others have and wish you had it. Don’t long for what you don’t have.

Marry someone who is your best friend. Enjoy each others company. Sit down and talk together. Go to church together. Have the save beliefs. Have the same beliefs in raising your children. Raise them together. Go to ballgames, school programs, and other activities. Have a deep commitment to family.

Back when my now husband and I were dating, he was in school and I was working. We were at different ends of the state. A guy in the office where I worked kept asking me out, and I kept refusing. This guy drank, partied, and I don’t know what else. I didn’t want any part of that. A friend kept telling me I should go out with him. I knew I shouldn’t. I never did and I’m so glad now that I didn’t. I wonder what ever happened to him. I know what happened to me. I married the one I loved, settled down, had children, remained a Christian, and had a wonderful life. No regrets!

ASK AUNT MARY- GETTING SEXY

June 20th, 2012 | By admin

There’s a commercial on HGTV about when summer comes, the clothes come off, and everyone gets sexy. Is that what everyone thinks? Well, I don’t, and a lot of other people don’t. That is what people are trying to make girls think. What is so important about getting sexy and parading up and down the streets with very little clothes on? We’ve talked about this before, and it does increase a man’s desire for sex.

Every time I go to a wedding I’m appalled at how many young women come with less and less clothes on. They seem to want to outdo the bride. Maybe I’m old fashioned, and some of you will say I am, but it’s the only place I can go outside of a honky-tonk that I see so much skin. It’s even spilling over to church services. Girls, don’t go along with the crowd. Cover yourself up.

Mothers, why do you let your daughters go out like this? You do have some control over them. You still can tell them this is not appropriate. You still can say no. Why are you letting your daughters display their bodies in this way? Are we forgetting what modesty is all about? It’s not for older women, it is also for younger girls and teenagers. 1 Timothy 2:9-10 says, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”  (more…)

A CHRISTIAN APPROACH TO ISLAM (PART II)

June 18th, 2012 | By admin

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Part I of this two-part series appeared in the January issue. Part II follows below and continues, without introductory comments, where the first article ended.]

Unlike the popular notion, Islam is not the exclusive religion of Arab countries in the Middle East, but has found prolific expression around the globe. It is the fastest-growing religion in the world, claiming up to one billion adherents worldwide. To put that in perspective, this figure indicates that one out of every five people is a Muslim. In the United States, there are now up to five million Muslims, and over 1,100 mosques or Islamic centers (see Rood, 1994; Ahmad, 1995). Muslims, therefore, no longer are the vague features of geographically detached people, but could be among those whom we encounter in our daily routines. In light of these considerations, properly understanding, and responding to, Islam become increasingly apparent and personal.

The Persian Gulf War, and other such conflicts involving the U.S. and Islamic nations, have created within Westerners largely negative images of Muslims. Often they are associated with the stubbled faces and cold stares of fanatical terrorists who, to advance their political agenda, bomb public facilities, snuffing out hundreds of innocent lives. While some militant Islamic sects have conducted terrorist activity in the U.S. and other Western nations, they are not necessarily representative of all Muslims (see Al-Ashmawy, 1996; Sial, 1995). Simply exposing the radical views held by violent sects would not be a responsible critique of Islam. As Islamic writer Mubashar Ahmad correctly has objected, such an approach “would be as if someone tries to understand Christianity by reading the news of what is happening politically and religiously in Northern Ireland or of apartheid in South Africa” (1995). (more…)

THE POINT OF LIVING

June 15th, 2012 | By admin

By Paul Holland

From Arcamax.com

Maurice Sendak died a few weeks ago. I was introduced to him when our girls were little and watching “Little Bear” and reading “Where the Wild Things Are.”  Before Sendak died, he made the comment that at death, everything is over. “Everything that I called living is over. I’m very, very much alone. I don’t believe in heaven or hell or any of those things” (quoted in World, June 2, 2012, page 12).

How dreary life would be if this is all there is. To answer Calvin’s question: “If we’re just going to die, what’s the point of living?” – there is no point if there is no God. Without God, do what you want to do. If you get by with it, all the better. If there is no judgment, do what you want to do.

But if there is a God, we will be called into judgment for what we do here on earth. And Jesus said our responsibility on earth is two-fold: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:36-39).

How does your life measure up to that purpose? Every decision we make needs to be made in light of those two over-arching purposes in life.

From Administrator. I have been ill recently and in the hospital. Paul has been kind enough to let me use some of his articles. Thanks Paul. I appreciate it so much. I pray my mind will come back as soon as I’m off these antibiotics.

TREASURES

June 12th, 2012 | By admin

by Katt Anderson

Recently I had a stay in the hospital. It was not enjoyable, but it made me think about the things important to me. On thing that I treasure is my health. It is so important to everyone to have a healthy body. Eat right. get enough sleep, and dwell on pleasant thoughts. Don’t abuse your body by eating unhealthy foods. Look around you the next time you go to a fast food restaurant. Do you see many skinny people? Probably not because they are chowing down of greasy french fries and monster hamburgers where the grease is running out of them.

That’s not good. That makes gallstones, diverticulitis, and a host of other problems. We should treasure our health. In some things, I agree with Mr. Bloomburg, the mayor of New York City. He is limiting the fat served in that city. We should be doing that on our own.

Another treasure is the ability to study God’s Word. I found out that I had more time to study the Bible while I was in the hospital. I have the Bible downloaded on my Kindle. It is so easy to read and keep up with my reading that way. I found out I enjoyed reading. It was quiet and I could get more read than normal. I had more time to think about what I was reading. I know that sounds odd, but sometimes life gets in the way and we don’t have time to think about what we read. The Word has become one of my treasures.

My family has always been a treasure. They are very important to me. I’ve not been able to enjoy the ball games this year, but maybe I can soon.

Another treasure is my church family. I don’t know where I would be without them. They are more important than anything when there is sickness. They are always there. They have so much love for everyone.

I didn’t mention money, cars, or material things that I could treasure. They are not important. They don’t make me as happy as the things mentioned above. My car runs, it gets us to church and back and anyplace we want to go. I have everything I need, so I don’t need anything extra. God has blessed me over and over with what I need. I’m happy with what I have. I don’t need or want luxuries.

You may think your treasure is in money, things, or possessions; but it is in the Bible. Study it daily and find the treasures that lie there.

JESUS – LORD OF SOLVING OUR PROBLEMS

June 7th, 2012 | By admin

By Paul Holland

In looking at the cross through the eye of inspiration some 500 years before it happened, the prophet Isaiah writes: “Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God and afflicted” (Isaiah 53:4).

Now I would like for you to look at Matthew 8:17. This is early in Christ’s ministry. He has healed Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever. That evening, many demon-possessed sick people were brought to Jesus and He cast out the evil spirits and healed all who were sick. Matthew quotes this verse from Isaiah 53:4 but Matthew changes it: “He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases.” (Matthew 8:17). (more…)