Soles 4 Souls

Last week, Pastor Jeff encouraged us to consider how rich we were and how poor most of the world around us is.  He suggested we give the shoes we were wearing to an organization that works to supply shoes to the poor of the world.

It has been encouraging to hear how positive the experience of giving was to people of the faith who participated.  I heard of individuals who had been saving money for periods of time and finally bought their perfect pair of shoes, only to give them away.   Almost 1,000 pairs of shoes were given.  Awesome!

I heard of one little girl being asked where her favorite shoes were.  I heard she had tearfully given them to “Soles for Souls”.  I heard another lady say she had given her shoes to an organization called, “Soles for Souls”.  I think the body of believers at Grace Point are examples of the name they bear, “Grace Point”.

I wish the “Soles for Souls” could talk or send email.  Wouldn’t it be awesome to hear how each pair navigated through the organizations involved and found theirselves on the feet of a person in need.  I remember seeing a little beggar boy in Honduras with plastic wrap around his foot to protect a sore he had.  Maybe he will get a pair.

For a moment, I thought I’d join…

Baha’is believe:

• the purpose of life is to know and worship God, to acquire virtues, to promote the oneness of humankind and to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization
• all humanity was created by one God and is part of one human race
• work performed in the spirit of service is a form of worship
• the soul, created at the moment of conception, is destined by God to reach the afterlife, where it will continue to progress until it attains the presence of God

Baha’is practice:

• daily prayer and communion with God
• high moral principles, including trustworthiness, chastity and honesty
• independent investigation of truth
• a life dedicated to the service of humanity
• fellowship with the followers of all religions
• avoidance of excessive materialism, partisan politics, backbiting, alcohol, drugs and gambling

Then, you get to the meat…

This commonwealth must, as far as we can visualize it, consist of:

a world legislature, whose members will, as the trustees of the whole of mankind, ultimately control the entire resources of all the component nations, and will enact such laws as shall be required to regulate the life, satisfy the needs and adjust the relationships of all races and peoples.

A world executive, backed by an international Force, will carry out the decisions arrived at, and apply the laws enacted by, this world legislature, and will safeguard the organic unity of the whole commonwealth.

A world tribunal will adjudicate and deliver its compulsory and final verdict in all and any disputes that may arise between the various elements constituting this universal system.

A mechanism of world inter-communication will be devised, embracing the whole planet, freed from national hindrances and restrictions, and functioning with marvellous swiftness and perfect regularity.

A world metropolis will act as the nerve centre of a world civilization, the focus towards which the unifying forces of life will converge and from which its energizing influences will radiate.

A world language will either be invented or chosen from among the existing languages and will be taught in the schools of all the federated nations as an auxiliary to their mother tongue.

A world script, a world literature, a uniform and universal system of currency, of weights and measures, will simplify and facilitate intercourse and understanding among the nations and races of mankind.

It all seems so good, yet I can’t quit thinking about the Bible and its’ description of the end times.  This seems like a great platform to launch the final days of mankind on earth. 

What are You Thankful For?

It’s Thanksgiving!  It wouldn’t be fair if we didn’t pause for a minute and consider what we are thankful for.  Much of what I am thankful or “full of thanks” for seems overworked, but it is true.  I am thankful for:

• Cora, my bride and life friend.  The mother of my son.
• Jeff, my son and friend.  The father of my grandchildren.
• April, my daughter-in-law and friend.  The mother of my grandchildren.

I could stop there, because there is such a gigantic amount of thanks in those three people.  But, there is more thanks to give to the rest of my family and Cora’s family.

• Our parents are awesome and so very supportive of all we have done in our lifetime together.
• Our friends are always there, without judgement.  Just friendship and love.

I am thankful that God chose to allow Christ to die on the cross for each of us, that we might have eternal life today.  I am thankful to Jesus that He accepted His calling from God and agreed to suffer with His Father on the cross. 

Without the fullfilment of these choices a couple thousand years ago, the Pilgrims would never have arrived in the New World.  You and I would never have happened and have the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving would never have been fullfilled.

God bless you and your family!
archie and cora

Thanksgiving in the Midst

As believing Americans, we have an incredible Thanksgiving heritage.  The Pilgrims, English Puritans who fled from the religious persecution they were experiencing in Britain moved to Holland and eventually headed for the New World. 

There were 44 Pilgrims and 66 “strangers” as the Pilgrims referred to the other passengers on the Mayflower.  They landed in America 65 days later on September 6, 1620.  By spring there were only 50 survivors. 

What an incredible faith these early people of America had!  It took years of persecution and struggle that prepared them for this EPIC journey. 

We in America tend to marginalize suffering.  If God hasn’t saved us from some negative event in our life by Sunday, we want to know where He is.  In the case of the Pilgrims, it took years of faith toughening and then a life time of struggle to build a Godly foundation for you and I to share in the Thanksgiving we have today.

Remember your heritage this Thanksgiving and give God His Glory.

Tooth Extraction – A Memory

Thanksgiving is a time of memories.  Last Thanksgiving was a time of pain producing memories.  I am still greatful to Dentist Rob for the part he played in creating this God Spot memory.

Click for memory…

Did Jesus Blog?

Jesus was quite the storyteller.  If only He had blogged…

“A man had an apple tree planted in his front yard. He came to it expecting to find apples, but there weren’t any. He said to his gardener, ‘What’s going on here? For three years now I’ve come to this tree expecting apples and not one apple have I found. Chop it down! Why waste good ground with it any longer?’

The gardener said, ‘Let’s give it another year. I’ll dig around it and fertilize, and maybe it will produce next year; if it doesn’t, then chop it down.’” Jesus

I think God has checked me for fruit for many years.  Maybe this year, I’ll produce fruit sweet to His taste and pleasing to His eyes.

ONE – One Church. One Mission. One Life.

“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” John 17:22-23

There are angels, you know…

Today, one car ran a red light. A truck jumped a green light. The truck hit the car broadside. The car flew through the intersection straight at me while sitting peacefully at the light. Somehow, the car missed me and ran up the sidewalk beside my minitruck, before hitting a post and coming to a stop a foot from me.

Some days are easier than others to spot God at work. Today, was an easy one.

I had run to Home Depot to pick up a new door for a room I was building. I was wrestling with a personal choice I needed to make which impacted myself and others. My stomach was in knots. Ever been there? Sure you have!

I was rationalizing about my faith. I told myself the issue was not a big deal. It was not my responsibility. Just ignor it and move on. But God spoke with clarity, He sent His Son to die on the cross for me. What price was I willing to pay to not compromise my faith?

At the very moment of repentence and sorrow, the car was flung my direction. Coincidence, good blog material, or had the evil one responded? You be the judge.

Michael Jackson and Islam

Pop Quiz: What do Michael Jackson and Islam have in common?

Yes.  It’s true!  Michael Jackson has converted to Islam.  But the real question is, “Does he have enough money left for the Islamic faith to want to accept him?”  I wonder what it is like to be rejected by your faith.  Is that possible?

I’m MIFFED!

This Sunday morning I got up pretty much as usual.  I had two pairs of shoes.  I put the good pair on and went to church with my wife.  Seems reasonable, right?!

Wrong! I left church with no shoes and my old tennis shoes in the closet.  What’s up with that?  I’ll tell you what’s up.  It is http://www.soles4souls.org/ .  The pastor has driven home the point that we are rich relative to the world.  Well maybe I was rich, but the joke is on him.  I’m down to one pair of shoes and he will have to put up with my smelly tennies at work.  Ha!

On a serious note, you should check out the organization and maybe make your own donation to the cause of putting shoes on the shoeless.  While you have your checkbook out, invest in our local youth and make that donation you have been thinking / praying about for our new youth building.

 

Are you short a pair of shoes this morning?