Unshackled Hope from the 5:16

Our sermon series called Unshackled Hope continues this Sunday as we focus on James 5:16 - "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." Join us as we explore this promise from the Lord.

This afternoon worship takes place at 5 pm; tomorrow at 8, 9:30 or 11 am.  Join us!

Top Ten Signs Your Pastor Is Wild About Books

Keep your eyes open for these important signs...

10) Can't resist the urge to rearrange the bookshelves of every home he visits

9) A plaque on his desk reads, "Kindles are for sissies!"

8) When asked, "How many books do you need?" his answer is, "Just one more"

7) For troubled members he suggests "bibilotherapy"

6) Can't stop laughing after he tells his pest exterminator to spray for "bookworms"

5) One bookshelf in his office is devoted to his prize collection of 113 pairs of bookends

4) Instantly knows when any of his books are out of order; didn't notice that his dog died

3) His office desk is made up entirely of "Luther's Works"

2) Knocked a picture of his wife and a book from a shelf at the same time. Breathed a sigh of relief when he caught the book

And the number one sign your pastor is wild about books...

1) Names his twin sons, "Barnes" and "Noble!"

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

When I survey the wondrous cross

 On which the Prince of Glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss

 And pour contempt on all my pride

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast

 Save in the death of Christ, my God

All the vain things that charm me most

 I sacrifice them to His blood

See, from His head, His hands, His feet

 Sorrow and love flow mingled down!

Did e'er such love and sorrow meet

 Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine

 That were a tribute far too small

Love so amazing, so divine

 Demands my soul, my life, my all

Don't let people stress you out!

So how do we cope with the unknown future, the fear of how things will turn out, and the fear of how others will think of us? We do it by realizing we have control only over the choices we make in governance of ourselves and therefore focusing our energy on choosing to do what we believe is the healthiest, most reasonable, and most appropriate choice given the information we have at the time in any given situation.

Then - and here are three big keys to reducing stress - we 1) surrender our outcomes to a higher power; 2) evaluate the results and learn from the experience; 3) set other people free to think or feel any way they want about us, accept other's responses as evidence of their character, and make decisions based on the evidence on how we will interact with them in the future.

Timothy R. Jennings, "The Aging Brain," pages 156-157

Thinking about Abbey Road

It was on this date in 1969 that the Beatles released the last album they recorded together, "Abbey Road," named after the street where the EMI recording studios they used were located. 

I remember getting out of school that day and jumping in my car to head home.  Switching on the radio, I heard, "Coming up next - the new Beatles album. and we'll play it in its entirety." I listened to side one while in the car and when the station took a break to switch to side two, I ran in the house, set up a small tape recorder to listen and tape the second side.

I was thrilled with Abbey Road.  It seemed that every time the Beatles released a new album, they had broken new ground, so to speak.  The musical arrangements, the song writing, the artwork - every album better than the last one.  When I finally bought the album, it didn't leave my turntable for a long time.

Sherri and I have had the opportunity to visit Abbey Road twice - once in 2004 and again in 2011.  Here we are making our way along the famous crosswalk - the same one the Beatles strolled across as the made the cover for the album.  I shed my shoes as did Paul McCartney on the original cover.

Representing Jesus Christ

A room-service waiter at a Marriott hotel learned that the sister of a guest had just died. The waiter, named Charles, bought a sympathy card, had hotel staff members sign it, and gave it to the distraught guest with a slice of hot apple pie.

The guest later wrote a letter to the president of the Marriott Hotels. It said, in part, "Mr. Marriott, I'll never meet you. And I don't need to meet you. That's because I met Charles. I know what you stand for...I want to assure you that as long as I live, I will stay at your hotels. And I will tell my friends to stay at your hotels."

I'm not sure where I read this story - I think it came from "Leadership" magazine.  No matter. What's important is this - because of the compassion of a lowly waiter, the Marriott Hotel chain now has a customer for life!

There's a message in this story for each of us. Just as Charles the waiter was a representative of Mr. Marriott, so are believers in Christ Jesus. The apostle Paul calls us "Christ's ambassadors," (see 2 Corinthians 5:20). Every day the Lord gives us abundant opportunities to influence lives, to help a hurting soul, to offer a soothing word to a searching man of woman, boy or girl.

And when we share God's Word with someone, the Holy Spirit works faith to believe and trust God for forgiveness and eternal life. Then, another ambassador for Jesus has been placed in the "field."

Maybe a good prayer today goes something like this: "Lord, make me more like Charles, ready to show and share Your love with people today.  Amen."

A collect for the anxious

Grant that I, Lord, may not be anxious about earthly things, but love things heavenly; and even now, while I am placed among things that are passing away, hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

From "The Divine Hours - Prayers for Summertime," by Phyllis Tickle