A BOOK YOU NEED TO READ

Friday, August 06, 2010

A TRUE STORY
IN THE EYE OF DECEPTION
By Nikki Rosen 


Ordinarily I would not use my space on Spiritual Sundays to advertise a book or anything else. However, in this case I do so without any feeling of guilt. I am not advertising this book for my benefit but for yours. This is a book you need to read. Nikkie Rosen has a horrible story to tell and it needs to be told so people can be aware of what is going on in our world and also to see God helping those who cannot help themselves.

Nikki did not want to tell her story--she didn't want anybody to know. I believe the fact that her story is now in book form and out there for everybody to see is a God thing. Therefore I want to help her by calling her book to the attention of a major publisher. That's where you come in. All of you who read and write for Spiritual Sundays can help to advertise A True Story--In The Eye of Deception. Some of you are writers and have books of your own published. You may be able to help Nikkie by introducing her work to a major publishing company. Her book has only been printed by the University she attends in Canada and they have no way to circulate copies. The book has been well received by those who have read it and she received the Canadian Christian Writing Award.

The story Nikkie tells is hard to read because it is a horrible story of deception and horrendous abuse. But your heart will be touched by the movement of God in her life and the way she has become a victorious adult. It is amazing! Yesterday I found out she does not attend church on a regular basis. As a minister for forty-seven years you already know I believe everybody needs to be part of God's family--the church. So I'm telling you about Nikki and her book hoping that some of you will be able to help her in ways that I can't. I know you will pray and that is no small thing, but she needs more. I have put it out there now and I am trusting God to lead you to the next step.

You may read Nikki's post on Spiriutal Sundays by clicking on Sarah (I don't know why she writes under this name). You may read about her and her book at her website http://religiousdeception.blogspot.com/

Thank you for taking the time to read this post.

LOOKING ALL OVER THE PLACE FOR YOUR TREASURE

The following is a quote from Barbara Brown Taylor in her book, An Altar in the World.

"People seem willing to look all over the place for this treasure. They will spend hours launching prayers into the heavens. They will travel halfway around the world to visit a monastery in India or take part in a mission trip to Belize. The last place most people look is right under their feet, in the everyday activities, accidents, and encounters of their lives."

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER AGAIN

Thursday, August 05, 2010

ERMA BOMBECK WROTE:

If I had my life to live over again, I would have waxed less and listened more. 

Instead of wishing away nine months of  pregnancy and complaining about the shadows over my feet, I'd have cherished every minute of it and

realized that the wonderment growing inside me was to be my only chance in life to assist God in a miracle...

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television...and more while watching life...

There would have been more I love yous...more I'm sorrys...more I'm listening...but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute of it... 

and never give that minute back until there was nothing left of it.

NEWSPAPERS ARE MEANT TO BE READ

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Our neighbors across the street, a nice Jewish family from New Jersey, are on vacation for a week.

I don't know why I mentioned they are a Jewish family from New Jersey. I guess I just wanted you to know. It certainly has nothing to do with what I am writing about. Besides they have lived across the street now for several years so they are an Arizona family. They are good neighbors. The children used to "drive me nuts" when they were young and trying to knock my windows out with baseballs like I did when I was a kid. Now they are older and rarely come outside. I guess they are inside watching television and becoming couch potatoes. However, I don't know. They may be busy doing homework or making bagels or something.

Anyhow, just before they left they asked if we would watch their house while they are away. And they said if the papers start to stack up maybe we could just pick them up and throw them away.

The first thing I do in the morning is go outside and pick up the morning paper. I bring it in the house and start reading. I do this even before my first cup of coffee. I start with the front page and work my way to the last page. I want to turn immediately to the Sports page but I rarely do. This has been my habit for years.

When I walked out the front door this morning I noticed two papers in our neighbors driveway so I walked across the street and picked them up.

I smiled on the way back across the street. No--I laughed out loud.

Our neighbors never pick up their paper on the day it is delivered. In fact they don't pick them up until there are four or five scattered all over the drive. This has been their habit for years.

But they will be picked up this week!

SLOW ME DOWN LORD

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

I don't know who wrote the following words but I like them. I found this today in a folder of my favorite things:

"Slow me down, Lord! Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind. Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time. Give me, amidst the confusion of my day, the calmness of the everlasting hills. Break the tension of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of the singing streams that live in my memory. Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep. Teach me the art of taking minute vacations---slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog, to read a few lines from a good book. Remind me each day of the fable of the hare and the tortoise, that I may know that the race is not always to the swift; that there is more to life than increasing its speed. Let me look upward into the branches of the towering oak and know that it grew great and strong because it grew slowly and well. Slow me down, Lord, and inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life's enduring values that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny."

FROM STARBUCKS TO THE STAINED GLASS SANCTUARY

Monday, August 02, 2010

For the past six years I have spent most of my time at home and with Charlotte.

I love our home and I love Charlotte.

Today while walking at the mall I remembered something I had almost forgotten. For years, in the days when I went to the pulpit every Sunday, I was always mentally working on a sermon. It didn't seem to make any difference where I was, what I was doing or who was there---my mind was on Sunday's message.

That is no longer true. I don't preach any more and there is no need to prepare sermons. Oh, I still find myself thinking about messages that need to be preached and thinking about what I might say on a particular subject. But I am no longer preoccupied with sermon preparation.

For many years almost everything provided seeds for a sermon---everything!

Now, since most of my time is spent at home and with Charlotte I realize I need to be out and about more making connections between modern life and the Scriptures.

During the month of September I will be back in the pulpit. In the meantime I need to be at the mall, Starbucks, sporting events, and other social activities. I need to mingle, pay attention and learn. Maybe we all do.