Courage and the Greater Good

Accidentally saw part of a "news" clip while surfing (looking for a spaghetti Western). "It takes real courage to write a whole book anonymously," quoth the anchor.
And here we are. It is logical that in a time in which evil is called good that cowardice should be called courage.

National network "news" cast.  Why cannot these people report the news?  If the anchor has an opinion she should get a soapbox-- or write an op-ed column but don't call it news.

Laughter doeth good like a medicine?

The wife is reading Land of Wolves, by Craig Johnson.  This afternoon as we were sitting in our sun room she got my attention and read a passage to me in which this exchange took place between two of the characters.

 "So what are we doing about the wolf problem?"

"I think the Game and Fish are capturing them, neutering them, then releasing them." 

"They do understand that the problem is the wolves eating the sheep and not screwing them, right?"

I got truly concerned that we were going to be unable to stop the seemingly uncontrollable laughter that ensued

The thought actually crossed my mind that one or both of us might die laughing!

🤩🤩

Noodle noodle

He heard how do you like my noodle earrings.

Your noodle earrings? he asked

New little earrings! she shouted.

Service with a Smile

While on our recent Michigan vacation, we stopped at Culver's in Grand Haven for a bite.  Really pleasant woman took our order.  She said, "You guys are so groovy.  Were you at Woodstock?"  I said, No, I was much too old for Woodstock.  I'm 85.  She said, You were 35, yep, too old.  Oh, wow, I am thinking.  A lady who can smile while she serves AND she can do arithmetic!

Scales and Order

Nehemiah rebuilds the wall. Ezra reads the law.  Leviticus 19:35 -37.  God's heart revealed to his people.
Our actions must reflect God's character. God cares about order and honesty.  He hates when people are exploited.  Proverbs 11:1
 Nehemiah 5:1-7 people were subject to famine,taxation, and exploitation. Nehemiah is broken, angry, distraught. He said we must change our behaviors.  Further he said, May God shake out of the house anyone who does not keep this promise.  Read Galatians 5:13-15.  Christ fulfilled the law.  Do not indulge the flesh; serve one another humbly and in love.  In Leviticus 17:18 we read from the law, Love your neighbor.  Jesus upped the ante when he said. Love your enemy.  Don't worry about who your neighbor is but be a neighbor.  We are good at finding loopholes.  Read Ephesians 4:1-2. we are called to live a life worthy of the Gospel.
1.  How can you reflect God's order where you have been placed?
2. Who do you need to be a neighbor to?
3. How can you give yourself away to them?

Pastor Joe Johnson
Sunday morning, Holland, MI

Confronting Giants

“Open the servant’s eyes so that he may see.” --Elisha’s prayer, 2 Kings 6:17

Review of the account of David and Goliath from I Samuel 17.

Whatever Goliath you face, you need to bury one truth deep within your heart: God loves you, and when you place your trust in Him, He will not allow you to suffer defeat.

You may experience failures along the way but ultimately God wins.

We see the giant because we don’t put our focus in the right place. Train yourself to look beyond what you can see to what God sees. Trust is like climbing a ladder; take one step at a time and continue to climb higher and higher. The stronger the trust the deeper the peace. We are children of God; we can know.

How can we gain that kind of faith?

1. Recall past victories. David recalled how God delivered him from the bear and the lion. (I Samuel 17:32-37)

2. Reject discouraging words. Maintain your confidence in God.

3. Recognize the true nature of the battle. Our Father is sovereign over all.

4. Respond to the challenge with positive confession. David firmly declared, The Lord will deliver. He asserted that he could not lose because God was with him. The positive attitude is not mere mental gymnastics because we base it on the promises of God! The Holy Spirit will remind you that you are a child of God.

5. Rely on the power of God. God provided the victory and God received the glory. Trust God for the victory, praise God for the victory.

6. Reckon the victory. David knew that it wasn’t his strength or cunning that would win the battle, but God’s strength and wisdom. Understand that it is God’s battle and give it to Him!

Get out the ladder and take another step up!

Pastor David Harrold

Sunday morning

Daddy

My father, Rev. D. W. Lacy, passed to his eternal reward twenty years ago this month.  Dad was proper to a fault.  When he was digging a ditch or framing a building he was attired in work clothes.  When he was in the office, in the sanctuary, or calling on parishioners or conducting business in town he wore dress shirt and tie and a suit.  He wore knee-high socks because he thought it an abomination for a man to show even a bit of bare shank.  If he was in work attire and needed something from the lumber yard or hardware store he would change into business attire before showing himself in town.

I still miss Daddy every day.