MEARS MEMO
a publication of Mears UMC

to: All Friends and Members
from: Pastor Ken
DATE: 4/25/08

PLEASE CHECK OUR PRAYER BLOG DAILY! WE ADD PRAYER REQUESTS AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE THEM. www.mearsumc.org
COMING UP:

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Sunday: 8:30AM - Choir Practice. We need more men to consider joining us. If you love to sing - come out and be with us.
9:30AM - Worship - Pastor Ken will be preaching
10:00AM - Kid's Church for K-5
NURSERY PROVIDED AT ALL SERVICES.
Monday: 7:00PM - CHURCH AT THE VILLAGE
Thursday: 7:30PM - Bible Study in Fellowship hall. Come at 7:15PM for coffee and fellowship before our study begins..

Some thoughts for the week.
It's difficult to believe that summer is over - Labor Day is past - and the kids have all returned to school.  Summer didn't start for us until July is seems and now fall is almost here.  What a great summer it was.  It was so good to see some many of our friends return for the warm weather. Here's some note-worthy events:
1. We had the largest average attendance ever in the month of July with 181 worshiping with us each week.  Praise the Lord for that.
2. Our Church School and UMYF had two great fellowship times this summer.  First was a bike outing to Shelby and back - WITH ICE CREAM and the second for a trip to Mac Woods Dune Rides and a cookout at Hayden's.  Great fun for the kids.
3. I was also thrilled at the great crowd we have had for our Bible Study through the summer. We have averaged about 30 per Thursday night with almost 42 different folks attending at least once during the session.  We will conclude our Bible Study on 9/11 at 7:30PM.  You can pick up our study guides on the counter in the Narthex.
4. We had a wonderful MIRACLE for MISSIONS WEEKEND!  We shared a wonderful meal prepared by our own outdoor chef, Russ Robbins and his merry band of men; heard a GREAT concert by the group "Bought & Paid For" in Johnson Square.  We have asked them to return for the whole weekend next year; We received our Miracle for Missions offering and are close to $22,500 in giving.  If you have not yet given, there is still time.  Mark your Check MISSIONS and put it in the offering plate any Sunday.  We are so thankful for your support as are those that we help support.
5. Our choir continues to grow and it is so much fun to be a part of it.  If you like to sing, come and join us.
6. We began a radio ministry in conjunction with our Internet Broadcast and have received a great response.  We want to thank WEEH-FM for sharing our worship service throughout the area.  Who knows how God will use this broadcast in the days to come.

Thank you for your faithfulness and I look forward to seeing you, Lord willing, this Lord's Day.  Again this Sunday you will have two ways to listen to our services. First, as always, you can join us live on the Internet. Just go to our website www.mearsumc.org and click on the Audio/Video link and follow the directions. It's good to know we have many people join us this way each Lord's Day.  If you live in the Mears area - you can join us live on the radio.  You can join us on WEEH-FM, 100.5 each Sunday morning.

NOTE FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE:

Welcome back Bishop Keaton celebration planned

It’s a “WELCOME BACK” Celebration for Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton  SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH
At Trinity United Methodist Church  7533 W. St. Joe Hwy. Lansing (517.627.8388)
3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Refreshments Provided

Join us in welcoming back Bishop Keaton to four more years of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. In honor of this occasion, we are asking that a donation be given either individually or through the church to the Haiti Hot Lunch Program. Checks may be made out to the Conference Treasurer’s office and designate it to “Welcome Back Bishop Keaton Gift.” We also invite you to send letters of greeting, appreciation for his leadership, and welcoming back to Bishop Keaton…individual letters and letters from your congregation. Letters should be sent to:      Welcome Back Bishop  P.O. 25068  Lansing, MI   48909

This story was sent to me by Ken Robinson... and as a dog lover (JJ rules our house) I was moved by the story.  I hope you are too.  Thanks, Ken, for sending this my way!

Mary and her husband Jim had a dog named 'Lucky.'  Lucky was a real character. Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a weekend visit they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck  his fancy. Inevitably, someone would forget and something would come up missing. 
 
Mary or Jim would go to Lucky's toy box in the basement and there the treasure would be, amid all of Lucky's other favorite toys. Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he was very particular that his toys stay in the box.  
 
It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer.  Something told her she was going to die of this disease ....in fact , she was just sure it was fatal. She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders. The night before she was to go to the hospital she cuddled with Lucky.  A thought struck her...what would happen to Lucky?  Although the three-year-old dog liked Jim,  he was Mary's dog through and through.  If I die, Lucky will be abandoned, Mary thought.  He won't understand that I didn't want to leave him. The thought made her sadder than thinking of her own death. 
 
The double mastectomy was harder on Mary than her doctors had anticipated and Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks. Jim took Lucky for his evening walk faithfully, but the little dog just drooped, whining and miserable.  Finally the day came for Mary to leave the hospital. When she arrived home, Mary was so exhausted She couldn't even make it up the steps to her bedroom.  Jim made his wife comfortable on the couch and left her to nap.

Lucky stood watching Mary but he didn't come to her when she called. It made Mary sad but sleep soon overcame her and she dozed.  When Mary woke for a second she couldn't understand what was wrong.  She couldn't move her head and her body felt heavy and hot. But panic soon gave way to laughter when Mary realized the problem. She was covered, literally blanketed, with every treasure Lucky owned!  While she had slept, the sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement bringing his beloved mistress all his favorite things in life.  He had covered her with his love.  

Mary forgot about dying.  Instead she and Lucky began living again, Walking further and further together every day. It's been 12 years now and Mary is still cancer-free.  Lucky?  He still steals treasures and stashes them in his toy box but Mary remains his greatest treasure.  

Remember....live every day to the fullest. Each minute is a blessing. And never forget....
The people who make a difference in our lives are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards.
They are the ones that care for us.  

Live simply. Love seriously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There you have it... and HOPEFULLY each one who is interested has received this Memo. If you know someone who did NOT receive the MEMO and would like to. Please email me their name and email address. If you received this memo and do NOT want to receive it.... simply click reply and put UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line and we will remove your name from our mailing list.
sent by:
Mears United Methodist Church
1990 Joy St. - PO Box 100
Mears, Mi 49436
231-873-0875

I wrote this in response to a "Conversation" that is ongoing between some of us here in the states and fellow Christians in the UK and Europe. The moderator is my good friend Rev. Kingsley Halden in Lithuania. I felt it was something I needed to share here as well. I would appreciate your comments, additions, suggestions or criticism. Hate is so strong in the world today I feel I could reach out and touch it. Please read on:

It was not quite a year ago that I wrote in my Blog of the tragedy at Virginia Tech (http://pastorken.livejournal.com/3431.html for any who might want to look). Now we have once again seen the hand of death reach out at another university. I must admit it wasn’t the NIU shooting that touched me the most. It was the killing of three city officials and two police officers in a small suburb of St. Louis, MO. I went to school not far from Kirkwood, MO at Webster University in Webster Grove, MO. I would often drive through Kirkwood on the way from the parsonage of my church to the university. What a beautiful area filled with wonderful people. I was shocked when the news first broke of the shootings at City Hall. Added to that were the other incidents that I spoke of. (shootings in Baton Rogue, LA, Oxnard, CA, Dillon,SC) Children, young adults, adults caring so little about the life of others but, perhaps more importantly, their own lives. Mr. Thorton (the shooter in Kirkwood) was killed by police officers. Two of the others took their own lives. The youngest two face years of remembering the sorrow they so quickly brought down on those around them. I appreciated Kingsley mentioning knives in the UK and Europe and we can add to that those that strap explosives to themselves in Iraq or Palestine or Syria or where ever else they might be. While it certainly is possible to restrict the sale of guns and knives and explosives – we know from first hand experience that that alone will not stop those intent on harming those around them. I was reading more today about the Kirkwood shooting and Scott L. Stearman, the pastor of the Kirkwood Baptist Church wrote these words:

Joe Cole, who is 89 and who has worked to improve race relations in the community for decades, said this of Mr. Thornton: "Everybody said he lost his brain. No, hate got into him. He couldn't stop the hate." This man let hate eat him alive, but let us not demonize him. We must all beware of hate, and remember that most atrocities have been carried out by otherwise normal folks. Mr. Thornton's actions aren't explained by racism or discrimination; it's not that simple. But if any good can come of this tragedy, it would be if it forced us in Kirkwood to look even more intently at the needs and perceptions of all the people in our community and start forging relationships, building ties. We must seek to listen, to know and to hear.

Perhaps that sums it up best. “Hate got into him. He couldn’t stop the hate.” It saddens me to think that there seems to be those in the church today who seemingly let “hate” or something very much like it, get a hold of them. A number of years ago I preached a sermon in one of my churches that I was very passionate about. I proceeded to preach with the fire of youth but not tempered with the experience of life. A few days later a young woman showed up in my office in tears. The first words out of her mouth were “Why do you hate me?” I was stunned to say the least. She was a wonderful young woman who had been a good friend up to that day. I am seldom speechless but that was one occasion where words failed me. Finally I asked her what she was talking about. She referred back to my sermon on Sunday and said she could tell by the tone of my voice and the look on my face that I hated her because she would have to be included in the group I was speaking about. From that day on until today God has opened my eyes to understand that HOW one says something is as important or perhaps even more so than WHAT we say. The fact that she perceived hate in me is something that stuns me 25 years after the fact. If I could do that in ignorance and cause such pain and hurt how much more so must those who are called Christian and intend to cause pain create an atmosphere of hate. That doesn’t mean that we can’t have feelings about the issues around us. What it does mean is that we need to follow the pattern of Christ in making sure that LOVE, Christ’s love, is reflected in us and is the preeminent theme of our lives and our preaching.

I will remember for a long time the words of 89 year old Joe Cole.. “he couldn’t stop the hate”. I want to make it the focus of my remaining ministry to attempt to stop the hate… the hate some have for others and the hate some have for themselves. Each person has such GREAT value to God and each individual life has such great worth in God’s sight. Perhaps we can work to replace hate with God’s love and in so doing stop even one person from picking up a gun, knife, bomb or some other tool of destruction. Luke tells us that when even one person comes to God’s love the angels rejoice. I’d love to rejoice with them. Let us, as Pastor Stearman says, “…seek to listen, to know and to hear” the cries of those around us!

Please pray for the families of those at Northern Illinois University and at Louisiana Tech and in Kirkwood, MO and other places where they have suffered such terrible loss. This picture was created as a memorial to those who lost their lives at NIU by Dana Waitkus. The single tear speaks volumes. Thank you Dana! May the fires of hate always bring a tear to our eyes!

Blessings to each of you and I would appreciate your comments on my ramblings…

PK

People ask me frequently how I can keep such a cheery spirit in spite of the physical ailments that I have.  It is sometimes difficult but on a bright cheery face in light of aches and pains.  The other day I came across a scripture that seems to speak to me.  It says “But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

Sometimes when I reflect back on the past few years I do find it somewhat discouraging but Doctors have given wonderful help to me and and it's partly through their skills that I have the ability to get through each day.  But my attitude is a reflection of the verse from Corinthians – "therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me."  Talking about one’s weaknesses, illnesses, surgeries, doctor visits and more force me to reflect on what is really important to me.  It would be wonderful never having to go to the doctor.  It would be unbelievable to wake up each morning full of energy; without ache or pain but that is just not the case.    It’s one of those faith-things that I don’t really understand but what I see made evident in my life.  Cancer, followed by six major surgeries in five years – 48 radiation treatments – nerves and organs burned by the radiation – implants to help my body function – and so much more.  Faith is what enables me to do all of the things that I not only choose to do but dream of doing.  There is no magic answer to how this type of faith at work.  I do believe, however, that our attitude and faithful acceptance of God's promise is a choice each one of us has to make each day.  We can wake up each morning feeling sorry for ourselves – cheated by the world around us and the circumstances of life.  We could look enviously at those around us who are in perfect health and wish it were us.  We can spend hours after our complaining about the ailments that we have or we can simply give God the glory for what we’re able to accomplish.

I look around and each day and give thanks for so many things. First I give thanks for the beautiful wife that God has given me. I’m thankful as well for my children, their spouses, and my grandchildren. I’m thankful for the chance to get out on the golf course.  And I am certainly grateful for the opportunity to stand in the pulpit of my church each Sunday and to stand in front of my Monday night friends at our Church at the Village.  I’m grateful That I’ve been able to enjoy the beauty of ocean cruises and the chance to see places I’ve never been before. I’ve had the chance to swim and feed stingrays; to swim with dolphins; to drive mini jeeps acrossed Mexico and to snorkel in the beautiful waters of the Caribbean. My wife and I have had the chance to meet many new friends and to sit down with them for beautiful fabulous dinners. All of this in spite of the fact that I have physical limitations that might otherwise make me depressed and a complainer.  But I have, however, accepted God’s plan for my life and in Corinthians I realize that it is the power of Christ that allows me to do everything that I’m able to do.  In the past six weeks I’ve been in Amsterdam, Frankfurt Germany, Freiburg Germany, and Vilnius Lithuania.  In January of 2008 I will, Lord willing, be back in Eastern Europe to lead a discussion group of Methodist ministers in Lithuania. On March 01, 2008 I will be back in Michigan presenting a program for our Bishop’s day of evangelism. You can see that God continues to give me the strength any to meet the challenges of any day. All I can do is praise and thank Him for what He’s accomplished in me. I challenge you to accept God’s promise for your life as well -- because we know that “the righteous God of all the earth does no wrong.”  Together let’s become doers and not complainers.

May god bless you now and always.

Smiling faces, lively music, friendly greetings, happy demeanors, nods of acknowledgment on the street,  courtesy on public transport, all descriptive of one country.  Few smiles, little music, businesslike greetings, solemn demeanors, no acknowledgment on the streets, no courtesy on public transportation, all descriptive of a second country.  Both countries have gone through times of dictatorial rule and have had to recover from that terror. 

Country number one saw it's dictator die by his own hand in 1944.  Rising to power in the early 1930's and finally becoming it's dictator in 1939,  Hitler lead Germany into one of the most awful chapters of modern world history. Country number two saw the iron fist of communism descend on their country at the same time that Hitler's rule in Germany was ending.  For the next 60 years, the communist dictated what could and couldn't be done.  Two generations of Lithuanians grew up and lived under the domination of the Soviet Union. Even the houses and apartments were drab concert monoliths.  Two countries in contrast.

I first visited Germany over 3 decades ago.  WWII had ended only 24 years earlier and most of the generation that fought and lived through that war were still alive.  I arrived at that time as a member of the USAF.  Germany was already a member of NATO and we were there for a NATO exercise.  There was plenty of time to visit the country and we made trips to Munich and to Frankfurt.  As I recall that long ago visit I recall many of the same traits then that I see today in Lithuania.  Germany veterans, and there were many, cast suspicious looks at these US military men walking their streets.  There was often a respectful greeting in a pub or restaurant but seldom a really friendly greeting. The fear that gripped the country under Hitler and the devastation of the war was still in the minds of the people.. but it was receding.

My visit to Germany two weeks ago showed a country far different than the one I visited in 1968.  The 2007 Germany I saw was alive with people and music.  The streets were crowded and most smiled and nodded hello.  The pace was slower and the people more inquisitive and interested in you.  The memories of the awful time past were no longer recorded on the faces of people but rather remembered with gold plaques built into the sidewalks in front of homes and businesses where Jews were taken away by the Nazis.  If you look carefully at the picture below you can even see the names of some who were taken,  in all likelihood, to die.

What a stark reminder on the streets of Freiburg of that awful time.  A paraphrase of Shakespeare says: "time heals all wounds".  Perhaps these plaques in the street give testimony to that.  The names, at one time, fresh and stark are now faded under the footprints of time - still visible but more and more difficult to read and remember.  God has blessed these wonderful people and many have come to know Jesus through these past 60 years.  Continue to pray for more to find and know the way.  One person helping that to happen is Sarah Hayden.  You can read about Sarah in an earlier blog.

My third visit to Lithuania two weeks ago showed a country coming alive.  It has only been 14 years since independence returned to this very proud people with one of the richest histories in all of Europe.  The University of Vilnius began in 1579 and continues to teach young people from all over Europe today.  Vilnius, Lithuania's capital city, is thriving.  It's population is now around 600,000 people and it continues to grow.  Colorful buildings are now going up all over the city.  Apartments are in high demand and fill, even before completion.

The people of Vilnius are only in the middle of the first generation to have freedom.  There are no plaques on the streets because the scars are still in the hearts and minds of the people.  The cloud of oppression is lifting but still hanging over the people of this wonderful country.  The desire is there to build a new Lithuania and the effort shows.  The old city, which is home to many of the tourists who come to Lithuania, now resembles the streets of Freiburg in many ways.  The new city is focused on this new venture called independence.  Over the last 3 years I have seen subtle changes in the people and as you get to know them you find them to be people with wonderful hearts.  I have come to love Lithuania and the people of this Baltic country.  I am inspired by their determination to change the direction the country was headed on for 60 years and make it a model of independent spirit and government.  There is still a long was to go but I believe they will get it done.  It took Germany 60 years after Hitler to get where they are today.  46 years from now you will see a far different Lithuania.. one of smiles, happy music, friendly nods and that "cloud of oppression" only a distant memory. 

Please continue to pray for the people of Lithuania.  For over 60 years no one could tell of the love of Christ.  Now only a few (in comparison) know Jesus as their Lord.  I am thrilled that our church is committed to the task of sharing Christ with these wonderful people.  New buildings, new apartments, new stores, growing populations, new membership in the European Union are all wonderful steps but nothing is more important than a new heart in Christ.  It is that hope that brings Pastor Herb Lange back to Lithuania as our District Resource Pastor.  Herb joins Rev. John Campbell, who heads our ministry in Lithuania and his wife, Rev. Bonnie Campbell, who serves as pastor of our Vilnius church.  These dedicated servants of God join the other Lithuanian pastors in reaching out to this diverse and growing country.  May God give us the means to reach AND may may He continue to bless the people of Lithuania.  I am already looking forward to my return in 2008.

"A. J. Gordon noted that if you tear down a sparrow's nest the little bird will build again in the same place. However, if you pull it down several times, she will seek a new location,a shelter higher up,where it will be less vulnerable. Gordon then observed that Christians are not always so wise. They form dwelling places of happiness and hope in this temporal world, only to see them pulled down time after time. Yet after each brief interval of sighs and tears, they begin building all over again in the same way. They never realize that through their defeats the Lord is directing them to put their security in Him. " (courtesy www.crosswalk.com)

Like many of you, I've been glued to the awful pictures and reports coming from Virginia Tech.  33 (including the shooter) DEAD!  As a father and grandfather I can only imagine the devastation hundreds of families - that's right hundreds - are going through right now.  Dads, Moms, brothers, sisters, grandparents, Uncles and Aunts, neighbors, classmates are all trying to deal with this terrible tragedy.  We are beginning to see names and faces now of the students and staff who were slain. Read of a Hero Prof (Copy & Paste if the link doesn't work.) http://www.foxnews.com/video2/player06.html?041707/041707_hero_prof&FNL&Heroic%20Act&acc&US&-1&News&285&&&new   It is difficult not to be moved to tears as you listen to the stories.  The question most are asking and the question there will never be a satisfactory answer to is WHY?  The overall answer, however, is quite easy.. SIN!  The more and more we try to do what A.J. Gordon talks about - form dwelling places of happiness and hope in a temporal world - the more we see Satan let us build and then tear down what we perceive to be "places of hope".  For many, the more we see of incidents like this the more we view life as hopeless.

I would hope that this incident, and ones like it, will continue to cause us, and those going through these tragedies,  to look for hope and security in Christ instead of temporary things around us in this world.  This was heartbreak on a global scale but there are many who suffer terrible heartbreak alone.  Either way the pain is tremendous and we look for answers.  Make sure that if you encounter someone in your life journey who is alone and hopeless - you can point them to the source of all our hope... Jesus Christ.  As the hymn writer says..  "My HOPE is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness".

My prayers continue to go out for all those involved in any way and I pray for our nation and world that more and more will find hope in Christ.

Shalom my friends,

PK

I've had many tears and sorrows,
I've had questions for tomorrow,
There've been times I didn't know right from wrong:
But in every situation God gave blessed consolation
That my trials come to only make me strong.

(CHORUS)

I've been to lots of places,
And I've seen a lot of faces,
There've been times I felt so all alone;
But in my lonely hours,
Yes, those precious lonely hours,
Jesus let me know that I was His own.

(CHORUS)

I thank God for the mountains,
And I thank Him for the valleys,
I thank Him for the storms
He brought me through;
For if I'd never had a problem
I wouldn't know that He could solve them,
I'd never know what faith in God could do.

Chorus:
Through it all, through it all,
I've learned to trust in Jesus,
I've learned to trust in God;
Through it all, through it all,
I've learned to depend upon His Word.

Melanie E. Swan, OTR/L of RSDSA explains : "How does desensitization work? A desensitization program is designed to provide consistent stimulus to the affected area for short periods of time, frequently throughout the day. These small bursts of therapeutic activity shower the brain with sensory input. The brain responds to this demand by acclimating to the sensation, thereby gradually decreasing the [individuals] response to the particular stimuli. In short, your body gets used to it-the stimulus becomes tolerable and no longer elicits the maximal []response."

She is writing about the desensitization of the body to certain pain,  but I think you will understand the relationship to the spiritual desensitization to sin that seems to be happening today.  If we are bombarded with sin enough we begin to ignore it and it no longer elicits a response.  We are DESENSITIZED!  You argue that this type of thing can't happen?  Let's consider these areas....

LANGUAGE:  Words once considered, at the very least, inappropriate for Christians are now used with regularity.  How often do you hear people use the word "GOD" in a sentence.. usually pronounced to rhyme with odd.  We are told not to use God's name in vain and yet we are so desensitized that many Christians do it without thinking.  We use vulgarity and crude language without so much as a flinch.

LIFESTYLES:  Jesus spoke of divorce being wrong but we have become so accustomed to it that we seldom bat an eye other than to say how "sorry we are" for the couple.  The scripture tells us that "same-sex" relationships are wrong but we are told in our politically correct society that we should not believe that part of scripture but accept this as "normal behavior".  We are told that life does not begin at conception and that the baby a woman carries is not life but a "fetus".. no different than a wart on your finger to be excised whenever one chooses.  The Psalmist and the Prophets tell us differently but the world (and often now the church) informs us regularly that we are wrong to believe that.

Listen to much of the music that we listen to today...  the movies and TV programs we watch.  There used to be a time when we would blush to have someone know we listened to or watched much of what is common fare today.  It's just "part of life" we are told.  Our children are now being inundated with vulgarity, promiscuity, violence, alcohol and drugs on a day to day basis and then we wonder why they succumb to the temptations of these things.  When a Christian raises a concern we are accused of not being "enlightened" in this modern age.

I beg to differ.  It is time we realize that there is, and always has been, a penalty for sin... no matter what name you give it or what standing society allows it.  Jesus issued the call for repentance, followed by forgiveness and redemption.  We can do no less.  Let's not allow sin to become so prevalent in our lives and in our society that we no longer feel the need for repentance because "everything is ok".  Please believe me when I say - "everything is NOT ok!"  What IS ok is that we strive to live a righteous life before God - free of the world's excesses. I pray you will join me in this journey.

PK 

It should not come as a surprise to me that even after 2000 years people are still trying to discredit the message of the Gospel... but it does.  This past week the story has come out on CNN and other websites in this way:

"JERUSALEM (AP) -- Filmmakers and researchers on Monday unveiled two ancient stone boxes they said may have once contained the remains of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, but several scholars derided the claims made in a new documentary as unfounded and contradictory to basic Christian beliefs. "The Lost Tomb of Jesus," produced by Oscar-winning director James Cameron and scheduled to air March 4 on the Discovery Channel, argues that 10 small caskets discovered in 1980 in a Jerusalem suburb may have held the bones of Jesus and his family."

The story goes on to say: "Stephen Pfann, a biblical scholar at the University of the Holy Land in Jerusalem who was interviewed in the documentary, said the film's hypothesis holds little weight.  "I don't think that Christians are going to buy into this," Pfann said. "But skeptics, in general, would like to see something that pokes holes into the story that so many people hold dear."  "How possible is it?" Pfann said. "On a scale of one through 10 -- 10 being completely possible -- it's probably a one, maybe a one and a half."  Pfann is even unsure that the name "Jesus" on the caskets was read correctly. He thinks it's more likely the name "Hanun." Ancient Semitic script is notoriously difficult to decipher.  Kloner also said the filmmakers' assertions are false. "The names on the caskets are the most common names found among Jews at the time," he said.  William Dever, an expert on near eastern archaeology and anthropology, who has worked with Israeli archeologists for five decades, said specialists have known about the ossuaries for years. "The fact that it's been ignored tells you something," said Dever, professor emeritus at the University of Arizona. "It would be amusing if it didn't mislead so many people." (read full story on CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/02/26/jesus.sburial.ap/index.html)

MISLEAD PEOPLE??  Of course it will but that was the purpose to begin with.  Anything to attempt to destroy the message of the Gospel - even after 2000 years.  My concern is not that the world will buy into this but that there will be "theologians" who will agree and begin to attack the church from within -as they have done through the years.

Easter is a time for remembering the sacrifice that Christ offered on our behalf.  His words remain true today as they were 2000 years ago when He said to Thomas in John 20: "So, you believe because you've seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing." (from the Message Bible)  My prayer is that you will continue to believe, even though we see with our hearts and not our eyes.  Don't let Satan deceive you (and he would like nothing better).  God sent His Son, His only begotten Son, to make possible our redemption.  Don't let the world tarnish this truth with blasphemy and doubt.  CHRIST is alive!!  Hallelujah, what a Savior!

PK

Feel free to leave a comment on this topic by clicking the "comment" link below! PK

I've been facinated the past couple of weeks as I re-read the Book of Job in preparation for last Sunday's message.  I sometimes forget everything that happened to Job.  I wonder how many of us could go through HALF the things Job did and keep our sanity.  Phyllis Hopper reminded me of a verse in Job that helped her many years ago as she was going through difficult times.  It's in Job 13:15-16 and reads:   ^"Because even if he killed me, I’d keep on hoping. I’d defend my innocence to the very end. Just wait, this is going to work out for the best—my salvation!" (from The Message Bible) or as the NIV puts it: ^"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation:"   What an impressive testimony of a person's faith!  "Even if he killed me..." I will continue to trust!

Job's pain and anguish (the loss of his material success.. his children.. his health... and according to legend - his wife) is enough to make one cringe at the thought of what he went through.  Yet through it all he maintained his great faith.  Death was not a threat to Job.  He was prepared to defend himself before God.  Am I prepared to do that?  Are you?

Today will be a day of some pain for me as I go to the hospital for another injection into my neck and spinal area.  I take heart in the fact that, no matter what I go through, Job remains the examply of faith in the face of adversity that I need.  Perhaps you do to!

PK

I was updating our church website and thought I would update each of you who read this or visit our website on the condition of Josh.  I don't know Josh, his family, or anyone from his church family... but looking at the picture of Josh and his wife on the web makes me believe I have some understanding of what his church family is going through.

Matthew, Mark and Luke all use these words of Jesus: "Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how."  I've had so many times during my life where I felt sorry for myself.  Cancer, surgeries, recovery, back to surgery, etc.  and with each I found it initially difficult to "embrace suffering".  Not a very good recruitment poster for the church.  I then realized that you, MY church family, were going through the suffering with me.  My example would speak more to those who were watching me than any sermon I could preach.  Would I wallow in self-pity or would I take the words of the Master seriously and "let him lead".  In so doing, I made a choice for all of us who are part of the "family".  We (you and I) would let Christ lead us wherever He wanted us to go.  It is, after all, HIS church - not mine - not yours.

I feel so deeply for the people who fellowship at Greenhouse Ministries.  They are waiting to see where God is going to lead them.  Their worship leader and pastor faces, at best, an uncertain future physically.  We, along with them, will continue to pray for complete healing for Josh.  But our Lord still says "embrace suffering".  It is through these sufferings that our faith becomes strong as steel. It is NOT an easy road.. this road of faith that we walk.  Josh is quite an example.  You can sense his faith and humor at work. Read these words for his BLOG on 1/29/07:

"I've been sitting here thinking...yup, sitting in what they call "the big pink chair." I even went outside this morning, covered with someone's beach towel. They parked me under a big tropical tree.... fortunately, just out of range of the pigeon poo poo. Which, by the way, was a narrow escape. I'm amazed that they expect me to get better in this nasty white room, when I could be outside in the Miami sunshine. I only wish they had Miami sunshine in Michigan... where, Praise the Lord, I will be at about 3pm on Wed. if all goes as expected. We have a flight scheduled for 8am! Thank you so much for praying it all goes well. Keep praying, we're waiting for the final details to come together. I love you all.

Josh

PS. I learned that I have enough muscle control to do a ghetto shoulder dance (perhaps a super bowl shuffle) and an Italian Mobster impression."

Josh is showing Christ at work in his life through more difficult times that I have ever gone through - bad as I thought my trials were.  Thank you, Josh, for the example you share with us my brother.  May God's hand ever guide you and your family through the rain and the sunshine.  We will promise to continue to do our part.. in keeping you before the throne of God and believing that His greatest work for you is still to come. 

PK