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Happy Aloha Friday!

Here is another parable about living and dying. Every time I read this story I get something new from it. I hope that as you read it, it will fill your heart and mind with the resolution to reach out to God and know the power of His love when He chooses you to be the one who is saved.

Father and Son

After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church’s pastor slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit and, before he gave his sermon for the evening, briefly introduced a guest minister who was in the service that evening. In the introduction, the pastor told the congregation that the guest minister was one of his dearest childhood friends and that he wanted him to have a few moments to greet the church and share whatever he felt would be appropriate for the service. With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit and began to speak.

“A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the pacific coast,” he began, “when a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to the shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright and the three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized.”

The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story.

The aged minister continued with his story, “Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life: to which boy would he throw the other end of the life line? He only had seconds to make the decision.

The father knew that his son was a Christian and he also knew that his son’s friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves. As the father yelled out, “I love you, son!” he threw out the life line to his son’s friend.

By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beneath the raging swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered.

By this time, the two teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for the next words to come out of the old minister’s mouth.

“The father,” he continued, “knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus and he could not bear the thought of his son’s friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son to save the son’s friend. ”

How great is the love of God that he should do the same for us. Our Heavenly Father sacrificed his only begotten son that we could be saved. I urge you to accept his offer to rescue you and take a hold of the life line he is throwing out to you in this service.”

With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room. The pastor again walked slowly to the pulpit and delivered a brief sermon with an invitation at the end to accept Jesus Christ as Savior. However, no one responded to the appeal.

Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man’s side.

“That was a nice story,” one of them stated politely, “but I don’t think it was very realistic for a father to give up his only son’s life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian.”

“Well, you’ve got a point there,” the old man replied glancing down at his worn bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face. He once again looked up at the boys and said, “It sure isn’t very realistic, is it? But I’m standing here today to tell you that story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up his son for me. You see, I was that father and your pastor is my son’s friend.”

So, let me ask you this Beloved: What is it you think God wouldn’t give you? And would He not do that because He already knows you have it? This man gave up his own son for the opportunity to save another man’s son. God gave up His son to try to save my mother’s and father’s sons and daughter … and your whole family, too … and in fact, the whole world. God has given you everything you need to be saved in Christ. Cling to the cross with Him. That’s what he would do for you.

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service.
chick

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This is one of those things that constantly circulate around the Internet – usually without much change – because it is clever and because it makes a good point. Did it really happen? Possibly, possibly not, but does that matter? It is a parable illustrating the conflicting interactions between World and Spirit, Age and Youth, Time and Eternity. I’m sending it to you today, because it seems to me that we need to think about these things more often.

This parable is one of the best illustrations of the application of Proverb 15:1 I have ever seen: A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. I hope I can remember that the next time someone’s “point of view” pokes my on one of my hot-buttons!

Did God Create Everything?

This is a really great answer to a question you may be asked or have asked. Did God create everything that exists? Does evil exist? Did God create evil?

A University professor at a well known institution of higher learning challenged his students with this question. “Did God create everything that exists?”

A student bravely replied “Yes He did.”

“God created everything?” the professor asked.

“Yes sir, He certainly did.” the student replied.

The professor answered, “If God created everything, then God created evil. And since evil exists, and according to the principal that our works define who we are, then we can assume God is evil.”

The student became quiet and did not answer the professor’s hypothetical definition. The professor, quite pleased with himself, boasted to the students that he had proven once more that the Christian faith was a myth.

Another student raised his hand and said, “May I ask you a question, Professor?”

“Of course,” replied the professor.

The student stood up and asked, “Professor does cold exist?”

“What kind of a question is this? Of course it exists. Have you never been cold?”

The other students snickered at the young man’s question.

The young man replied, “In fact, sir, cold does not exist. According to the laws of physics, what we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-460 F) is the total absence of heat; and all matter becomes inert and incapable of reaction at that temperature. Cold does not exist. We have created this word to describe how we feel if we have no heat.

The student continued, “Professor, does darkness exist?”

The professor responded, “Of course it does.”

The student replied, “Once again you are wrong, sir, darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light we can study, but not darkness. In fact we can use Newton’s prism to break white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color. You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is? You measure the amount of light present. Isn’t this correct? Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present.”

Finally the young man asked the professor, “Sir, does evil exist?”

Now uncertain, the professor responded, “Of course, as I have already said, we see it everyday. It is in the daily examples of man’s inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.”

To this the student replied, “Evil does not exist, sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God’s love present in his heart. It’s like the cold that comes when there is no heat, or the darkness that comes when there is no light.”

The professor sat down. The young man also sat. They stayed like that for a while longer, smiling at each other. After a while, the professor turned to the class and asked, “Anyone else have a question?”

Beloved, think about your faith. Think about how God has given you everything you need to know Him, to see Him, to love Him, and to worship and serve Him. If you have the absence of something good in your life, it probably isn’t because of the presence of something bad. That’s what Satan would like for you to believe. You are created in God’s image. Use everything He gave you when he created you. Anything you leave out creates an absence in your ability to live as you were created to live. You choose. God gave you 100% of you and 100% of Him in Jesus. Think about that, then sit back and smile at God, because He’s smiling at you.

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service.

chick

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THIS IS A POWERFUL MESSAGE. PLEASE READ ALL OF IT. I AM PASSING IT ON BECAUSE I AM CERTAINLY NOT ASHAMED TO DO SO.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke, it’s not funny, and it’s intended to get you thinking…………..

Dart Test…

A young lady named Sally relates an experience she had in a seminary class, given by her teacher, Dr. Smith. She says that Dr. Smith was known for his elaborate object lessons.

One particular day, Sally walked into the seminary and knew they were in for a fun day.

On the wall was a big target and on a nearby table were many darts. Dr. Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone that they disliked or someone who had made them angry, and he would allow them to throw darts at the person’s picture.

Sally’s friend drew a picture of who had stolen her boyfriend. Another friend drew a picture of his little brother. Sally drew a picture of a former friend, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing, even drawing pimples on the face. Sally was pleased with the overall effect she had achieved.

The class lined up and began throwing darts. Some of the students threw their darts with such force that their targets were ripping apart. Sally looked forward to her turn, and was filled with disappointment when Dr. Smith, because of time limits, asked the students to return to their seats. As Sally sat thinking about how angry she was because she didn’t have a chance to throw any darts at her target. Dr. Smith began removing the target from the wall.

Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus. A hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face and His eyes were pierced.

Dr. Smith said only these words… “In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me.” Matthew 25:40.

No other words were necessary; tears filled eyes of the students focused only on the picture of Christ.

Look beyond the face you see.
Look into the heart of me.
Look for Jesus everywhere
And you can find Him anywhere.

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service beloved.

chick

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THE U IN JESUS

Before U were thought of or time had begun,
God stuck U in the name of His Son.

And each time U pray, you’ll see it’s true,
You can’t spell out JesUs and not include U.

You’re a pretty big part of His wonderful name,
For U, He was born; that’s why He came.

And His great love for U is the reason He died.
It even takes U to spell crUcified.

Isn’t it thrilling and splendidly grand
He rose from the dead, with U in His plan?

The stones split away, the gold trUmpet blew,
and this word resUrrection is spelled with a U.

When JesUs left earth at His upward ascension,
He felt there was one thing He just had to mention.

“Go into the world and tell them it’s true
That I love them all – Just like I love U.”

So many great people are spelled with a U,
Don’t they have a right to know JesUs too?

It all depends now on what U will do,
He’d like them to know,
But it all starts with U.

Will YOU pass it on?

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service…
chick

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Good Morning! Happy Aloha Friday
“My Hand in God’s”

Each morning when I wake I say,

“I place my hand in God’s today;”

I know He’ll walk close by my side

My every wandering step to guide.

He leads me with the tenderest care

When paths are dark and I despair—

No need for me to understand

If I but hold fast to His hand.

My hand in His! No surer way

to walk in safety through each day.

By His great bounty I am fed;

Warmed by His love, and comforted.

When at day’s end I seek my rest

And realize how much I’m blessed,

My thanks pour out to Him; and then

I place my hand in God’s again.

— Florence Scripps Kellogg

When you start YOUR day do you say “Good morning, Lord!” Or do you say, “Good Lord! Morning!”?

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service.!

chick

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WOW! this has been a crazy time! Crucita and I took Monday and Tuesday off and did a bunch of work around the house and managed to get in a little time at Todd Beach, too. I really ought to send you a picture of that sometime. Then it was back to work — summer school for her and 47 hats for me. It’s really cool, though, because we’re both enjoying the opportunities to contribute at work. “We gave at the office” has a special meaning for us. In some ways, it’s one of the ways we share the love we have for each other with the folks who live around us — in our work, our neighborhood, our church, our island.

Last Sunday our associate pastor, Fr. Al, gave a homily on LOVE, and he referenced the Greeks words for love. The “bottom-of-the-scale” love is Mania. This is the obsessive/possessive sort of love that is actually abusive because it begins and ends in the Self. It is a malignant love and contradictory to the Love of God. This is the love that gives rise to infatuation, fantasy, and sometimes cruelty. It is related to narcissistic love.

There is XENIA, which is hospitality, but hospitality that is not ostentatious but rather gracious and heartfelt. This is usually on a one-to-one basis so that two people are involved, but it can also be for two or more persons.

Another Greek word for LOVE is STORGE. This is the like of natural, deep, instinctive love between parents and children. Again, it is usually on a one-to-one basis, but can also be for two or more persons. Those of us with large families know STORGE can be challenging at time, but also very powerful; in fact, it is powerful even if only two persons are involved.

A third word in Greek for LOVE is PHILIA. This is a pretty familiar root-word and we see it in other words like “audiophile”, Philadelphia, and Theophilus. It is “brotherly/sisterly love, and is usually associated with dignity and respect of and for others. In this also, the minimum number of persons involved is two

There is also EROS. This is the LOVE that seems to capture most of the attention these days. It is the erotic [sic], passionate love, with sensual desire and longing. Physical and intimate, this LOVE is rooted in the deepest and most basic part of humanity. It is the form of LOVE that works best, in fact exclusively best, with only two persons.

Finally there is AGAPE. Agape is the LOVE that transcends all other forms. In the New Testament, this is the verb used to characterize the LOVE that God has. We’ve all heard of AGAPE love, in fact I’ve mentioned it several times in these Aloha Friday Cards. Here, however, is something new and different I learned from Father Al:

Agape LOVE is a love that can only exist for three or more persons. It is a love that grows out of community, not self. God is LOVE and God is Three Persons. When a couple shares agape LOVE, it usually includes him, her, and God; that’s five persons. Agape love with a child is Mom, Dad, and Baby. Or Mom, Baby, and God. Agape love is not self-based and as so is not self-serving. In modern Greek, this is the verb used for romantic love, the kind of love that is blind. Agape love carries with it no preconceptions, no prejudices; it is that kind of love that is usually called “unconditional.” Some folks think that only God can love unconditionally. I do not. My wife and kids prove it. They still love me despite the times I have not have always loved them as well as I could.

You know people like that, don’t you? People who love you no matter how much they know about you? How about people that YOU love regardless of how many time they have hurt, disappointed, or ignored you? See? You know about agape love, too. Keep God in the equation, and no matter what, you’ll always have enough love to actualize that agape reality. All the other forms of LOVE are real, but only agape love is really, really real. It is superordinate LOVE.

You’re a big part of that three-or-more for me! God bless you!!

LOVE,

chick

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Let me ask you, please, to make sure you read all the way to the bottom. I almost deleted this email but I was blessed when I got to the end. I edited it to take out all the extra line breaks and misspellings so it would be easier to read. I especially want you to read the part in bold, but please, read the WHOLE thing.
God, when I received this e-mail, I thought, “I don’t have time for this, and, this is really inappropriate during work.” Then, I realized that this kind of thinking is exactly what has caused lot of the problems in our world today.

We try to keep God in church on Sunday morning, maybe Sunday night, and, the unlikely event of a midweek service. We do like to have Him around during sickness, and, of course, at funerals. However, many of us don’t have time, or room, for Him during work or play, because, that’s the part of our lives we think we can, and should, “handle on our own.” May God forgive me for ever thinking that there is a time or place where HE is not to be FIRST in my life. We should always have time to remember all HE has done for us.

If you aren’t ashamed to do this, please follow the directions. Jesus said, “If you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you before my Father.” Not ashamed? Pass this on ONLY IF YOU MEAN IT!!
Yes, I do Love God. HE is my source of existence and Savior. He keeps me functioning each and every day. Without Him, I will be nothing. But, with Christ, HE strengthens me. (Phil 4:13: I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.) This is the simplest test!

If You Love God, and are not ashamed of all the marvelous things HE has done for you, send this to other people! I think I know at least 10 people who would admit they love Jesus. Do you love Him?
Jesus is with us every moment of every day. He is completely available anytime you look for Him. Even when you don’t make time for Him, he has time for you. Even if you just shout His name as some sort of exclamation, He hears you. Even if your love for Him is more intellectual than spiritual, He loves you so much He died for you so you could spend eternity with Him. Even if you don’t believe in Him, he believes in the value of your spirit enough to give you an everlasting gift of living through eternity with Him.
Now do you have the time to pass it on? Make sure that you scroll through to the end.

Easy vs. Hard
Why is it so hard to tell the truth, and yet so easy to tell a lie?
Why are we so sleepy in church, but right when the sermon is over we suddenly wake up?
Why is it so hard to talk about God, and yet so easy to talk about nasty stuff?
Why is it so easy to delete a Godly e- mail, and yet we forward one of the nasty ones?
Why are the churches getting smaller and yet the bars and dance clubs are getting larger?
Which are we more likely to say: “Good morning, Lord!” or “Good Lord! Morning!”?

Do you give up? Think about it. Are you going to forward this, or delete it? Just remember-God is watching you. Prayer Wheel-Let’s see the devil stop this one! Here’s what the wheel is all about. When you receive this, say a prayer for the person that sent it to you. That’s all you have to do. There is nothing attached. No good-luck promise, no miracle in just a few days. This is so powerful. Do not stop the wheel, please. Of all the free gifts we may receive, prayer is the very best one.

There are no costs, but wonderful rewards, GOD BLESS! May God keep you and bless you.

Notes:
Isn’t it sad how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world’s going to hell?
Isn’t it sad how someone can say “I believe in God” but still follow Satan (who, by the way, also “believes” in God)?

Isn’t it sad how you can send a thousand jokes through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing?

Isn’t it sad how when you go to forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you’re not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it to them? As you think about that, can you see yourself sending it to someone you know is NOT a Christian?

Isn’t it sad how I can be more worried about what other people think of me than what God thinks of me? Let’s pray for everyone who sends this to their entire address book, they will be blessed by God in a way special for them.

Take a moment to relax your mind and humble your heart to focus on Christ. Allow God to be the only person on your mind while you read this prayer. If we can take the time to read long jokes, stories, etc., we should give the same respect to this prayer. Friends that pray together, stay together.

Dear Lord, what a wonderful God You are, and all that you have created, including my loved ones (). I thank You for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I’m blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me.

Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said, or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things. Please enlarge my heart so that I can love you with all of it and love my fellow sojourners on this Earth, too. Please brighten the light of my spirit so that they can see the beauty of Jesus in me.

Let me not whine and whimper over things that I have no control over. Let me continue to see sin through God’s eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive — and accept — the forgiveness of God.

And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus’ example – – to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It’s the best response when I’m pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can’t pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will. Help me to remember to PUSH ASAP –Pray Until Something Happens Always Say A Prayer.

Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those that are lost and can’t find their way. I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don’t know You intimately. I pray for those that will delete this without sharing it with others. I pray for those that don’t believe, and I thank you that for everyone that does believe.

I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my spiritual sisters and brothers, daughters and sons, and for each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, hope, love and joy in their homes, that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God is. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them willingly.

Your turn.

Just sincerely pray this prayer, even if you’ve prayed it hundreds of times before and especially if you’ve NEVER prayed like this before, and see how God moves!!

Lord I love you and I need you, come into my heart, please. I know I am a sinner, but I also know You have set me free from sin. I accept you as my Savior, and give my heart to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

I want you to believe that this prayer can and will be answered. This might help you with that:

In a small town in West Texas, drought had nearly destroyed every crop for the past two years. The community decided to ask their pastor to hold a prayer service so they could pray for rain.

As the people filed into the church, the pastor was there at the door to meet them. He looked solemn, and had an air of firm resolve. Some of the congregation eve thought he looked a little sad.

Once everyone was inside, the pastor went up to the dais and sat down behind the pulpit. No one could see him there. He stayed there for a long, long time. After several minutes, one of the men stood up and spoke.

“Um, Preacher? Ain’t you gonna lead us in prayer? I mean, we DID come here to pray for rain, right?” And he sat back down amid murmurs of agreement.

Finally the pastor stood up, placed both hands on the edges of the pulpit and looked into the faces of the congregation. It looked as if he had tears in his eyes. After another long moment, he cleared his voice, and spoke.

“I’d like to have the following people come up to the front of the church and stand here, in front of the pulpit: Sister Annie, Sister Esther, and you too, Brother Willis.” The persons named dutifully went up front. The pastor spoke again. “The rest of you can go on back to your homes now.” Again, murmurs rippled through the rest of the congregation. Finally, another man stood up and demanded, “What do you mean, Pastor Bob? Are you calling off this prayer meeting?”

“No,” the pastor replied. “I’m going to still hold the prayer meeting, but only with these people.” “Why?! Why just them? Aren’t the rest of us entitled to pray, too?”

“Yes, of course you are. But look around, all of you. There must be close to 200 people here, and only these three,” he said as he reached for something inside the pulpit, “had faith enough in their prayers to bring an umbrella!

If you’re going to pray for rain, you’ve GOT to have faith your prayers will be answered.” The pastor held his umbrella in the air for all to see. Then he motioned the other three umbrella bearers to join him on the dais.

Slowly, quietly the rest of the congregation filed out of the church and went home surprised and saddened because they had overlooked an easy opportunity to demonstrate their faith.

Here’s an easy opportunity for you: Pass this on. Have enough faith to pray for peace and expect to find it everywhere. Commit your life to Christ. Be a witness. Let your light shine. It’s all good.