I was driving across town on Wednesday afternoon when I looked up into the cloud-darkened sky to see the most spectacular free show. I had to simply stop and thank God for it:
A small flock of ordinary pigeons was flying back and forth in front of a partial rainbow. The birds were all different colors, but the pure white ones, especially, stood out against the dark background of the clouds. As I looked at the underside of those white wings, late afternoon sunlight hitting them, sharply contrasting with the dark sky and colors of the rainbow, I thought of Noah. and his family, staring at the first rainbow and soaking in God's promise to them, never to destroy the earth again with water.
When I arrived home, my 17-year-old son was wiping smoke off the kitchen ceiling from a small grease fire that had started when he was getting ready to fry tortillas. After he finished airing out the house and cleaning up the kitchen, which was unharmed, we drove to church together. I told him about the pigeons and the rainbow.
"Maybe it was God's way of telling you that no one would be hurt in the fire today," he speculated.
Maybe so. The ancient world was judged and destroyed by water. The modern world will be judged and destroyed by fire someday. But not last Wednesday.
"...long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire. being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men." 2 Peter 3:5-7 (New Internernational Version)
So, in the meantime, we work with God, "who is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." Let's keep at that job, brothers and sisters--sharing God's love with people, giving them an opportunity to repent!
--Posted by Mama O.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Kitchen fire
Last night, upon entering the house, I asked, "What's that smell? Is someone cooking something?" As I came down the hall into the kitchen, my 17-year-old son was kneeling on the kitchen counter, using a rag to wipe smoke off the kitchen ceiling.
The story unfolded: He had been heating vegetable oil in a frying pan on the stove to cook some tortillas. He left the kitchen momentarily (he thought), got distracted, and returned to flames from a grease fire licking up into the air. He got the flames extinguished, something involving a hot frying pan and a swimming pool. By the time I arrived home, every available door and window was open, every ceiling fan was going, carpets and upholstery had been treated with Febreze and he was wiping smoke off the ceiling of the kitchen.
My first response was anger and frustration. But, because this is my fourth son and I've learned the destructive force of unbridled anger, I held my tongue and simply gathered the facts. Then, I went to the back of the house to gather myself together. As I was quiet before God and myself, I stopped to realize how responsible my 17-year-old son was being--to even notice the smoke on the kitchen ceiling, much less take the trouble to wipe it off. I also realized that there were no injuries and the only property damage was a kitchen paint job that will need redoing (but was in line to be redone this year anyway).
I also recalled a story that has haunted me for years: I walked away from a pan of bacon on the stove when that 17-year-old boy was a baby in a swing, near the kitchen. I got distracted and returned to an extremely hot pan. It had not yet burst into flames, but could have very easily. I learned a lesson that day.
I learned another lesson yesterday. I told Andrew that story, as scary as it still is to me. I told him, "I owe you some mercy!" I thanked him for being so responsible and reassured him that the kitchen was due for some new paint, anyway.
Let's say a big "hooray" for the lessons gleaned from God's Word and from life itself:
"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But the wisdom that coms from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."
James 1:19,20; 3:13,17 (New International Version)
--Posted by Mama O.
The story unfolded: He had been heating vegetable oil in a frying pan on the stove to cook some tortillas. He left the kitchen momentarily (he thought), got distracted, and returned to flames from a grease fire licking up into the air. He got the flames extinguished, something involving a hot frying pan and a swimming pool. By the time I arrived home, every available door and window was open, every ceiling fan was going, carpets and upholstery had been treated with Febreze and he was wiping smoke off the ceiling of the kitchen.
My first response was anger and frustration. But, because this is my fourth son and I've learned the destructive force of unbridled anger, I held my tongue and simply gathered the facts. Then, I went to the back of the house to gather myself together. As I was quiet before God and myself, I stopped to realize how responsible my 17-year-old son was being--to even notice the smoke on the kitchen ceiling, much less take the trouble to wipe it off. I also realized that there were no injuries and the only property damage was a kitchen paint job that will need redoing (but was in line to be redone this year anyway).
I also recalled a story that has haunted me for years: I walked away from a pan of bacon on the stove when that 17-year-old boy was a baby in a swing, near the kitchen. I got distracted and returned to an extremely hot pan. It had not yet burst into flames, but could have very easily. I learned a lesson that day.
I learned another lesson yesterday. I told Andrew that story, as scary as it still is to me. I told him, "I owe you some mercy!" I thanked him for being so responsible and reassured him that the kitchen was due for some new paint, anyway.
Let's say a big "hooray" for the lessons gleaned from God's Word and from life itself:
"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But the wisdom that coms from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."
James 1:19,20; 3:13,17 (New International Version)
--Posted by Mama O.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Dead Faith
"What good is it my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Supoose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does noting about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
James 2:14-17 (New International Version)
Perhaps a story I heard a few years ago will help illustrate the "dead faith" James is warning against:
A man was describing a terrible car accident that had occurred on the street in front of his house the previous day.
"It was awful!" he told his friend. "Two cars crashed. There were injured people lying in the street, blood everywhere! But, I was proud of myself. I remembered all my first aid training, how a person should put their head between their knees to keep from fainting over blood loss--and it worked. I tried it and I didn't faint at the sight of all that blood!"
To put our faith into action in December, the Ocheltree Shepherding Group is participating in a number of projects:
1. Our men will shop for Angel Tree recipients on Monday evening, Dec. 3, meeting in the new lobby of the church, heading to Target at Willow and Herndon and ending with dinner at the Pafford's home, 637 Everglade Ave., Clovis. Please RSVP for dinner by texting or calling 970-1817 or 970-1816.
2. We will collect new and used clothing and toys for the Ramirez family in Firebaugh to deliver for Christmas. The mother, Gloria, wears Women's L or XL in fleece wear, the two boys, ages 5 and 6, wear 6, 6X or 7 in boy's clothes. The girl, age 3, wears 3T clothing. Warm clothing and shoes are needed.
3. Bake cookies to be shared with the many volunteers who work all year with Habitat for Humanity. Cookies should be dropped off at the church office, and clearly marked for "Habitat for Humanity" by 11 a.m. on Thursday, December 13.
4. We will donate wrapping paper, gift bags, tissue, tape and ribbon to the Toys for Tots gift distribution party at the Mosqueda Center on Sunday, December 23, from 5-7 p.m. and be present to help with wrapping. Donations can be deposited in the gift-wrapped box in our classroom throughout the month of December. Our own Ashley Henderson with Reading and Beyond has invited us to be part of the this community project.
These are just a few of the things we are doing corporately, as a class. I know each of us will be doing many things individually to offer "first aid" to a world that is "bleeding out" in need of Christ's love and salvation. Keep the faith--and the works!
--Posted by Mama O.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
The New T-Shirts Are Here!
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| Back view |
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| Front view: College Church of Christ Service Department They are here! If we don't have your size, we can order it, all Adult and Children's sizes are available for $8 apiece! Orange and blue are Pepperdine colors. Wear them proudly and join us for one of our Service Projects. Anyone is welcome to join us and to buy one of our shirts (or a dozen!) Our next scheduled project is Sunday, December 23, 5-7 p.m. at the Mosqueda Community Center, where we will be wrapping gifts for Toys for Tots. Please bring in donations of gift wrap, tissue and gift bags during the month of December for this project! T-shirt orders can be made in-class or by contacting Carolyn Ocheltree on our Facebook page: OcheltreeOcheltree. --Posted by Mama O. |
Monday, November 26, 2012
Identity theft?
From the time Jacob and Esau were in their mother's womb, they were struggling with one another. God explained the situation: these were two warring nations.
Photo from:
While their father, Isaac, did all he could to overlook the obvious, their mother knew in her spirit that these two boys had opposite spiritual destinies, according to Jewish scholars. Esau became the "material man" satisfied with the world's riches, while Jacob became the "spiritual man", following his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac, who "were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland." (Hebrews 11:16 New Living Translation)
In yesterday's blog, "The Evil Twin" I brought up the idea, commonly agreed upon by Jewish scholars, that the mysterious man Jacob wrestled through the night with on the banks of the Jordan River, at the ford of Jabbok, was the guardian angel of his "Evil Twin", Esau. Jacob was wrestling between his flesh and his spirit, his wealth on earth or his wealth in heaven, his influence and prestige on earth or his influence and prestige in heaven.
Jacob had good cause for alarm that night. He had separated his camp into two that night because of a report that his "Evil Twin" was on the war path, with 400 soldiers. Jacob figured one group could escape while the other group was under attack.
Some profound things happened during the night. After praying a sincere prayer for God's help, Jacob wrestled until dawn with the mysterious stranger, who asked Jacob's name. Jacob did not try to hide his true identity, as he had done in past troubles. He answered honestly. And the stranger both blessed Jacob and gave him his new name, Israel, which means, "God fights", because, the stranger said, "you have fought with God and with men and have won." (Genesis 32:28 New Living Translation) His old name, Jacob, meant "heel grabber" or "deceiver".
A new name meant a new identity for Jacob. Was this a case of identity theft? No. It was a case of identity replacement. Jacob received a better, broader identitiy at the end of that wrestling match, symbolized by his new name.
What happened the next day when Jacob encountered Esau's army? Esau offered terms of peace. Did God change something in the situation so Esau perceived things differently? Or did Esau view Jacob as an ally now, a "material man" of great wealth, no longer a threat to his comfortable existence? Both theories are inspected in Jewish tradition.
But, we do see Jacob making a deliberate decision to separate from his materialistic brother. Jacob may have outward wealth, but his inward treasures were in heaven. Esau's treasures lay strictly in this world. The wrestling match had ended with a new name for Jacob and a crippling of his physical strength--perhaps a symbol that the spiritual side of Jacob had won the struggle with the physical or material side. To this day, kosher preparation of meat excludes the thigh portion of the animal in a process known as "porging", in honor of Jacob's battle wound. The brothers went their separate ways and do not have a recorded meeting again until their father's funeral.
This is a powerful story, packed with symbolism. We can't know, for sure, what changed that night,
to make Jacob and Esau's encounter a peaceful one. But, we do see clearly that it is one thing to be at peace with an opposing faction, it is quite another to form an alliance. Jacob agreed to terms of peace but not to "becoming Esau", the "material man", satisfied solely by this world's riches, with no thought of heavenly riches.
We can all learn from that.
--Posted by Mama O.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
The "Evil Twin"
Today in class time we talked about Jacob's wrestling match on the bank of the Jordan River at the ford of Jabbok. Who was that mysterious man Jacob wrestled all night?
Jewish tradition teaches that this "man" was the guardian angel of Esau, or Jacob's "Evil Twin". Jacob had to wrestle between the "material man", represented by Esau and his love of creature comfort, and the "spiritual man", represented by Jacob and his high value of the birthright and the blessing of the firstborn son. To "give in" to this wrestling opponent would mean settling for the "good things" this world has to offer, and, like Esau, "despising the birthright" (Genesis 25:34)--which means placing little value on the things of God and great value on the things of this world.
Rabbi Burt E. Schuman, the spiritual leader of Temple Beth Israel in Altoon, Pennsylvania, offers these insights in his article, "Confronting the Sitra Ahra"on the website "myjewishlearning.com":
"We'd like to think of ourselves as decent, enlightened, and rational human beings, motivated only by the best of intentions. Yet experience and honest self-examination tell us that even the most righteous and generous among us possess a murky and more hidden aspect of our psyches. Our rabbinic tradition calls this the sitra ahra, the "other side."
"Our sitra ahra can lie deep within our subconscious and disguise itself as virtue. Thus ruthless amibition can masquerade as "work ethic," cruelty and vindictiveness toward others as "honesty and sincerity," vicious gossip and backstabbing as "interest and concern," and two-faced hypocrisy as "keeping the peace." The human capacity for self-delusion is almost limitless.
"If the sitra ahra is to be confronted, we must first, like Jacob, ford a river. For Jacob, it was the Jabbok, for us, it is the "River of Denial." Then, like Jacob, we must have the courage to wrestle with the murkiest, seediest, and most offensive side of ourselves--the selfish boor within us, the ruthless schemer within us, the gossip and backstabber within us, the racist, sexist, homophobe, "looks-ist" and, yes, the anti-Semite within us. Only when we have the courage to wrestle with the sitra achra until dawn can we acquire the blessing of becoming Israel and the battle decoration of a wrenched hip.
"Only when we confront our demons can we begin to free ourselves from their spell and become truly whole."
We'll talk more about Jacob's wrestling match tomorrow. For now, we have more than enough to ponder.
--Posted by Mama O.
Jewish tradition teaches that this "man" was the guardian angel of Esau, or Jacob's "Evil Twin". Jacob had to wrestle between the "material man", represented by Esau and his love of creature comfort, and the "spiritual man", represented by Jacob and his high value of the birthright and the blessing of the firstborn son. To "give in" to this wrestling opponent would mean settling for the "good things" this world has to offer, and, like Esau, "despising the birthright" (Genesis 25:34)--which means placing little value on the things of God and great value on the things of this world.
Rabbi Burt E. Schuman, the spiritual leader of Temple Beth Israel in Altoon, Pennsylvania, offers these insights in his article, "Confronting the Sitra Ahra"on the website "myjewishlearning.com":
"We'd like to think of ourselves as decent, enlightened, and rational human beings, motivated only by the best of intentions. Yet experience and honest self-examination tell us that even the most righteous and generous among us possess a murky and more hidden aspect of our psyches. Our rabbinic tradition calls this the sitra ahra, the "other side."
"Our sitra ahra can lie deep within our subconscious and disguise itself as virtue. Thus ruthless amibition can masquerade as "work ethic," cruelty and vindictiveness toward others as "honesty and sincerity," vicious gossip and backstabbing as "interest and concern," and two-faced hypocrisy as "keeping the peace." The human capacity for self-delusion is almost limitless.
"If the sitra ahra is to be confronted, we must first, like Jacob, ford a river. For Jacob, it was the Jabbok, for us, it is the "River of Denial." Then, like Jacob, we must have the courage to wrestle with the murkiest, seediest, and most offensive side of ourselves--the selfish boor within us, the ruthless schemer within us, the gossip and backstabber within us, the racist, sexist, homophobe, "looks-ist" and, yes, the anti-Semite within us. Only when we have the courage to wrestle with the sitra achra until dawn can we acquire the blessing of becoming Israel and the battle decoration of a wrenched hip.
"Only when we confront our demons can we begin to free ourselves from their spell and become truly whole."
We'll talk more about Jacob's wrestling match tomorrow. For now, we have more than enough to ponder.
--Posted by Mama O.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
We'll leave the light on for you
Tom Bodett is one of our favorite humorists. We love the Motel 6 commercials where he rambles about hospitality in his "y'all come", friendly voice, and ends with "We'll leave the light on for you."
As I think about our privilege as a church family, it seems that it's a lot like Tom Bodett's words: "We'll leave the light on for you". In a world that is dark and cold, our church is a hospitable place with a light on for those seeking shelter.
Last Sunday's special offering, and our ongoing need for that extra $6 a week from our church family members, is all about "leaving the light on". Really and truly. Like all of our homes, our church home needs to pay its light bill. And when we're here, day-in and day-out, with our light on, we are a hospitable shelter for those who need to "come home" to Jesus!
Thanks to everyone who participated in last Sunday's special offering and to all who will join me in finding creative ways to save $6 a week in this coming year, to "keep the light on". Let's share our stories and make this fun!
I am reminded of the words of an old hymn, written by the great hymn-writer, P.P. Bliss. I grew up singing this, and it seems appropriate to share it now with you all:
Let the lower lights be burning!
As I think about our privilege as a church family, it seems that it's a lot like Tom Bodett's words: "We'll leave the light on for you". In a world that is dark and cold, our church is a hospitable place with a light on for those seeking shelter.
Last Sunday's special offering, and our ongoing need for that extra $6 a week from our church family members, is all about "leaving the light on". Really and truly. Like all of our homes, our church home needs to pay its light bill. And when we're here, day-in and day-out, with our light on, we are a hospitable shelter for those who need to "come home" to Jesus!
Thanks to everyone who participated in last Sunday's special offering and to all who will join me in finding creative ways to save $6 a week in this coming year, to "keep the light on". Let's share our stories and make this fun!
I am reminded of the words of an old hymn, written by the great hymn-writer, P.P. Bliss. I grew up singing this, and it seems appropriate to share it now with you all:
Brightly beams our Father's mercy,
From His lighthouse evermore,
But to us He gives the keeping
Of the lights along the shore.
Dark the night of sin has settled,
Loud the angry billows roar;
Eager eyes are watching, longing,
For the lights along the shore.
Trim your feeble lamp, my brother:
Some poor sailor, tempest tossed,
Trying now to make the harbor,
In the darkness may be lost.
Let the lower lights be burning!
Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.
--Posted by Mama O.
Friday, November 23, 2012
A Quilt of Love
"Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8 (New Living Translation)
Holidays mean being together with people we may not choose to be with on a regular basis. There may be a history we'd like to forget. Or we may have a functioning and functional group of people to get together with. Even there, we still need spiritual and emotional WD-40 to lubricate squeaky hinges in relationships with people we actually like.
My Bible Study Fellowship group has been studying the story of Noah's ark this month. We discussed the story of life right after the flood in our last session. Noah, a truly functioning and functional man of God had done an incredibly human thing--gotten drunk and naked in his own tent. Sound a little bit like some family holidays you've been part of?
Noah's son, Ham, did what is all-too-easy to do in these situations. He turned his good father's weakness into an opportunity to gossip to his brothers and expose his father's sin. Ham's brothers chose the high road. They took a blanket and backed into their father's tent, covering him respectfully while not leering at his naked body.
As a result, Ham was under a curse for his using his father's weakness and sin as an opportunity to expose him and mock him. His brothers received a blessing for covering their father's shame with a "quilt of love". (Genesis 9:20-27)
I wonder if we sometimes choose to put ourselves under a curse when we choose the low road of criticism, negativity and gossip within our family groups, instead of taking the higher road of "covering with a quilt of love".
One of my fellow students in my discussion group observed that her own family of origin spent a lot of time exposing one another through criticism and gossip and not very much time covering one another with love.
Covering another's sins and weaknesses does not mean turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to them. It means making a deliberate choice to allow that person the time and grace of God to choose a better way, and offering the "quilt" of our unconditional love and support in the meantime.
--Posted by Mama O.
Holidays mean being together with people we may not choose to be with on a regular basis. There may be a history we'd like to forget. Or we may have a functioning and functional group of people to get together with. Even there, we still need spiritual and emotional WD-40 to lubricate squeaky hinges in relationships with people we actually like.
My Bible Study Fellowship group has been studying the story of Noah's ark this month. We discussed the story of life right after the flood in our last session. Noah, a truly functioning and functional man of God had done an incredibly human thing--gotten drunk and naked in his own tent. Sound a little bit like some family holidays you've been part of?
Noah's son, Ham, did what is all-too-easy to do in these situations. He turned his good father's weakness into an opportunity to gossip to his brothers and expose his father's sin. Ham's brothers chose the high road. They took a blanket and backed into their father's tent, covering him respectfully while not leering at his naked body.
As a result, Ham was under a curse for his using his father's weakness and sin as an opportunity to expose him and mock him. His brothers received a blessing for covering their father's shame with a "quilt of love". (Genesis 9:20-27)
I wonder if we sometimes choose to put ourselves under a curse when we choose the low road of criticism, negativity and gossip within our family groups, instead of taking the higher road of "covering with a quilt of love".
One of my fellow students in my discussion group observed that her own family of origin spent a lot of time exposing one another through criticism and gossip and not very much time covering one another with love.
Covering another's sins and weaknesses does not mean turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to them. It means making a deliberate choice to allow that person the time and grace of God to choose a better way, and offering the "quilt" of our unconditional love and support in the meantime.
--Posted by Mama O.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Thanksgiving
Today I am thankful for a God who loves each of us without reserve.
I am thankful for my wonderful family. To follow in Sandra Henderson's beautiful words about her own children, even if they were not my children, I would still like and respect them.
I am thankful for my husband's sense of humor (most of the time) and steady love (all of the time).
I am thankful for a church family who loves one another and others.
I am thankful for the generosity of our body of faith, which reaches out to the needy and helpless.
I am thankful for the generous gifts last Sunday, from our church family, to support our ongoing life as a church family.
I am thankful that Paul talked to Sandra Henderson about how to make pecan pies. It looks like there is still hope that I may learn to make a decent pecan pie in this life, if I follow her instructions!
I am thankful for my precious friends, old and new.
I am thankful for all my friends on Facebook who have been reminding me about the power of gratitude for days now, in their daily "thankfulness" posts.
Thanksgiving blessings to one and all today!
--Posted by Mama O.
I am thankful for my wonderful family. To follow in Sandra Henderson's beautiful words about her own children, even if they were not my children, I would still like and respect them.
I am thankful for my husband's sense of humor (most of the time) and steady love (all of the time).
I am thankful for a church family who loves one another and others.
I am thankful for the generosity of our body of faith, which reaches out to the needy and helpless.
I am thankful for the generous gifts last Sunday, from our church family, to support our ongoing life as a church family.
I am thankful that Paul talked to Sandra Henderson about how to make pecan pies. It looks like there is still hope that I may learn to make a decent pecan pie in this life, if I follow her instructions!
I am thankful for my precious friends, old and new.
I am thankful for all my friends on Facebook who have been reminding me about the power of gratitude for days now, in their daily "thankfulness" posts.
Thanksgiving blessings to one and all today!
--Posted by Mama O.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
More about giving...
A good-sized crowd gathered at Kyle and Judy Mason's home on Friday night, November 16, 2012, to assemble the Thanksgiving baskets and then deliver them. Tiffany Miranda did a spectacular job of making sure all the food arrived at the right place and the right time. It was a team effort assembling the baskets, which went together beautifully. Thanks to all who donated food, attended the basket-assembly party and helped deliver the baskets.
I read this story from Gary Pendleton on Sunday to the Ocheltree Shepherding Group, but thought you might like to see it and share it:
"Hi Carolyn, Grace asked me to give you our experience last night giving the Thanksgiving basket.
The family was Michael Limon, brother of Ray, the janitor at church. Michael's mother, along with his wife and children live in a trailer. No jobs and very needy. They were very openly moved by receiving the gift. We prayed over the family and thanked God for His mercy and grace. Michael was not at home but knew we were coming. Grace (Pendleton), Robin Button, Tiffany Miranda and myself (Gary Pendleton) were present."--Gary Pendleton
--Posted by Mama O.
I read this story from Gary Pendleton on Sunday to the Ocheltree Shepherding Group, but thought you might like to see it and share it:
"Hi Carolyn, Grace asked me to give you our experience last night giving the Thanksgiving basket.
The family was Michael Limon, brother of Ray, the janitor at church. Michael's mother, along with his wife and children live in a trailer. No jobs and very needy. They were very openly moved by receiving the gift. We prayed over the family and thanked God for His mercy and grace. Michael was not at home but knew we were coming. Grace (Pendleton), Robin Button, Tiffany Miranda and myself (Gary Pendleton) were present."--Gary Pendleton
"And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
Acts 20:35 (New Living Translation)
--Posted by Mama O.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Thanksgiving on the Westside
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| Thanksgiving blessings! |
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| Grace Pendleton and Robin Button visit with the family |
As
you know, this afternoon we delivered Thanksgiving baskets to two families (on Sunday, November 18, 2012, in Firebaugh).
Both families were extremely grateful and thankful to receive the food
gifts. We were blessed by seeing the gratitude on their faces. It was obvious
to us that these families are struggling, but in spite of that, you could see
the love that they had for each other, and for their children.
We
were able to meet one of the five children of Maria Perez, a sweet and shy two
year-old little girl. Berta Flores' three children were personality
parades! They were all such beautiful children ... big smiles, and happy.
But we could see the hardship wearing on the faces of the adults. It was
convicting to us ... we, who have so much ... really have no clue as to their
daily struggles. Both Bertha Flores and Maria Perez couldn't thank us enough.
God bless everyone who contributed.
Two
photos are attached, one for each family.--Robin Button
We have the privilege of developing a real relationship with Felipe Perez, the man who is helping us locate these needy families. This is a great blessing! He and Gary (Pendleton) both know Firebaugh well, as Gary grew up there, in the same government-housing project where Felipe's family currently lives.
When we took the Thanksgiving basket to the this big family living in a little house, they were so grateful! It reminded me of the children in Africa who don't know where their next meal is coming from, but they have big, happy smiles when they are worshiping God!
--Grace Pendleton
We have the privilege of developing a real relationship with Felipe Perez, the man who is helping us locate these needy families. This is a great blessing! He and Gary (Pendleton) both know Firebaugh well, as Gary grew up there, in the same government-housing project where Felipe's family currently lives.
When we took the Thanksgiving basket to the this big family living in a little house, they were so grateful! It reminded me of the children in Africa who don't know where their next meal is coming from, but they have big, happy smiles when they are worshiping God!
--Grace Pendleton
--Posted by Mama O.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Thanksgiving in Firebaugh
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| Thanksgiving Basket for the Ramirez Family, including all the ingredients for a tamale dinner |
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| Trailer park in Firebaugh (car belongs to trailer next door) |
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| The Ramirez' trailer in Firebaugh Doug and Mae Pafford delivered the Thanksgiving food basket to the Ramirez family in Firebaugh on Saturday morning on behalf of the Tuesday morning womens' Bible Study class. Gloria Ramirez lives there with her three children: two boys, ages 6 and 5 and a girl age 3. They are currently staying with a neighbor because the power has been shut off in their trailer. Mae said, "She was so appreciative and there was almost nothing inside the home. Some of the flooring was missing and many signs of poverty. This often happens when field workers have no work in the winter. Grace (Pendleton)--our Bible Study leader-- said we could ask about bringing food for Christmas and she said she would love it. We also got the children's sizes and thought it would be nice to buy sweat shirts etc. for children. Also, age appropriate toys. "It is at these times God shows us just how thankful we should be. I left a thank you note to her for letting us come and bring this food. I told her she had blessed us by letting us help her family."--Mae Pafford Doug and Mae Pafford lived and taught in Dos Palos for many years and are very familiar with the farming economy of the San Joaquin Valley's west side. Thank you, Doug and Mae, and thank you ladies of the Tuesday morning Bible class for putting your faith into action! "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:14-17 (New International Version) --Posted by Mama O. |
Saturday, November 17, 2012
In Loving Memory of Arnold Martin
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| Today, family and friends gathered to honor the life of Arnold Martin, 85 years young, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, an entrepreneur, the father of three daughters, step-father of three more children, and "adopted" father of four others, grandfather to 24 young people and great-grandfather to six children. The flag on Arnold's casket was removed and folded by members of the United States Marine Corps and was presented to Arnold's widow, Barbara Martin, by his grandson Dillon Hayes, Airman First Class with the United States Air Force. "I won't try to idealize my Pa," his grandson Marcus Rodriguez told friends and family about his very colorful grandfather. Those who knew him may not have always considered him verbally articulate, "but my Pa communicated a very articulate message with his life," Marcus said. "Our family motto was 'We are blessed to be a blessing.'" His Pa taught the family to be "channels of blessing, not reservoirs," Marcus said. Arnold's granddaughter, Meredith Rodriguez, who flew in from Shanghai, China, for the funeral, remembers a time when her grandfather lost $2 million in a business deal in one day. "He laid his head down on his pillow--and slept soundly that night," she said. "He said, 'I figured God didn't want me to have that much money!'" Family members recalled that he enjoyed giving money away as much as he enjoyed making it. He believed God "took care of widows, orphans and Martins." Known for his blunt, no-nonsense style of communication, his sayings or "isms", his love for the helpless and hurting and his ability to spin a yarn, Arnold was, in the words of his grandson, Dylan Hayes, "the most interesting man in the world. You know that guy in the Dos Equis commercials, he is nothing compared to my grandpa!" And, for those of us who knew this colorful, godly man, we'd have to agree. --Posted by Mama O. |
Friday, November 16, 2012
A Fixer-Upper
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
James 1:27 (New International Version)
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| George and Cindy Freeman in front of the the new double-pane window George installed above Ellis Street, where the crack cocaine dealers hang out. That's one of the matching IKEA wardrobes behind them, too. |
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| George and Cindy in front of the Murphy bed, which pulls down from the wall at night and fills up the whole apartment. |
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| Cindy Freeman in the kitchenette, next to the stove she cleaned and re-painted. |
Our friends, George and Cindy Freeman, have signed up for a three-year commitment, ministering to these drug addicts and street people in San Francisco. They are DIY-ing a tiny, dorm room-sized apartment on the second floor of the base, making it their home. George installed dual-pane windows to cut down the noise level (a huge improvement!) from the street below, they bought a used Murphy bed second-hand in Clovis for a fraction of its retail price. When the bed is pulled down from the wall, it fills the tiny apartment. They are making the most of small spaces with wardrobes and shelving from IKEA. Cindy has spent hours cleaning the kitchenette stove and still has some plans for making the space more liveable. George has spent hours cleaning mold out of the shower and making it "habitable".
As I study the book of James this semester, I feel like I'm in the lab portion of the class every time I visit my friends in the City. George was explaining a little about the city's namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, to us. St. Francis was known for his inclusive nature, not excluding anyone, including animals. There is a story that St. Francis once reasoned with a wolf, at the request of villagers who were being terrorized by the wolf's killing spree of chickens and possibly even a small child. St. Francis met with the wolf, outside the village, and asked the wolf why he was doing this. Then, St. Francis struck a bargain with the beast: the villagers would make sure the wolf's needs were met if the wolf would stop raiding the village. And, then, the wolf and St. Francis shook on it.
Keeping oneself from being polluted by the world certainly does not mean "staying out of the wrong part of town". George and Cindy live and work and walk daily in the Tenderloin District. I think it means keeping away from that favoritism that says, "I'm better than you", "You don't deserve to be my friend", "I don't associate with your kind".
--Posted by Mama O.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Me, show favoritism?
"My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism."
James 2:1 (New International Version)
Last Saturday night, I signed up to help with the high school band's Chuck Wagon, where we serve dinner to our band members before a performance. When I arrived, I encountered a woman who I'd met in a class I'd been taking recently. She didn't seem as delighted to see me as I thought she should (I admit to my shame), so I began to ignore her. It was subtle, but I began to give attention to the other people I knew and leave this woman to her own resources, even though she was new to the group. I wish I could tell you that I quickly caught myself and corrected my attitude of showing "favoritism" to those who paid me the kind of attention I wanted to receive. But, I didn't really come under conviction until after the fact.
It was a very subtle form of "showing favoitism". It didn't involve any special favors granted to anyone. It just involved not being very friendly or welcoming to someone.
Thank goodness, James, himself, our teacher in this course on Christian conduct, says, "We all stumble in many ways" (James 3:2 New International Version). That means I'm in good company. But, I'm also sorry that I didn't show a friendlier, kinder spirit on Saturday night. I know I'll have another opportunity to show a good attitude, if not to that particular woman, to someone else. And I pray that I'll learn a lesson, to not show favoritism based on how I think I should be treated. If you think about it, pray for me! I could use it!
--Posted by Mama O.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
How to save $6 a week
Travis Herb shared some immensely practical ideas a few months ago during an offering message. He suggested a number of ways for saving $5 a week to free up funds for sharing with God's work as it happens through our church. He suggested we inspect our telephone and television charges, seeing if we are really using everything we are paying for.
That was all the impetus I needed. I had already been asking, ever since Kyle and Judy Mason cancelled their land line, why we still needed a home phone with its service charges, when all our business was conducted by cell phone. That week, I cancelled our home phone service and signed up for a bundle that included faster wireless service, DirecTV and a family cell phone plan, plus a few promotional freebies thrown in there for good measure.
And then, I made a personal commitment (this is just me, not my whole family) to give $5 a week to our church. Ever since then, I have been writing out a monthly check for $20 and putting it in the offering plate once a month. This is not my only contribution, this is the one that comes from following Travis' suggestion.
I wanted to thank Travis for his great, practical ideas. I thought of sending him a bouquet of flowers, but realized that could be perceived as quite impractical in light of his suggestion (not that there's anything wrong with flowers!). So, instead, I sent him a $5 bill and asked him to put my first weekly contribution into the offering plate, as a way of "sharing the wealth"!
Now this is just one of so many stories that could be told of saving $5 a week, personally. Skipping one Starbuck's stop per week. Packing a lunch instead of buying lunch once a week. Walking or riding your bike to the store instead of driving. Discerning between needs and wants. Renting a movie instead of going to the movies in person.
We are a family at College church of Christ, and we love each other. Sometimes, that means we sacrifice a personal pleasure or comfort so that everyone can benefit. Instead of viewing it as a burden, how about "re-purposing" that weekly sacrifice and making it into a game--seeing how many ways you can save $5 and how God still provides for all your needs!
This Sunday, November 18, 2012, we will be taking up a special offering to close our year-end budget gap for 2012 of $46,000. Steve told me this morning that, if 120 people give $400 apiece on Sunday, it will close that hole. Then, going into 2013, we need that same number of people (doesn't have to be the SAME people) to give an extra $6 a week (maybe that's one and a half trips to Starbuck's) on a regular basis to keep our lights on, our heat and air conditioner running, our sound system sounding (you get the idea, the ordinary stuff it takes to run a church household).
Thanks for starting me thinking and acting, Travis! Join me, let's swap stories. It will be fun!
--Posted by Mama O.
That was all the impetus I needed. I had already been asking, ever since Kyle and Judy Mason cancelled their land line, why we still needed a home phone with its service charges, when all our business was conducted by cell phone. That week, I cancelled our home phone service and signed up for a bundle that included faster wireless service, DirecTV and a family cell phone plan, plus a few promotional freebies thrown in there for good measure.
And then, I made a personal commitment (this is just me, not my whole family) to give $5 a week to our church. Ever since then, I have been writing out a monthly check for $20 and putting it in the offering plate once a month. This is not my only contribution, this is the one that comes from following Travis' suggestion.
I wanted to thank Travis for his great, practical ideas. I thought of sending him a bouquet of flowers, but realized that could be perceived as quite impractical in light of his suggestion (not that there's anything wrong with flowers!). So, instead, I sent him a $5 bill and asked him to put my first weekly contribution into the offering plate, as a way of "sharing the wealth"!
Now this is just one of so many stories that could be told of saving $5 a week, personally. Skipping one Starbuck's stop per week. Packing a lunch instead of buying lunch once a week. Walking or riding your bike to the store instead of driving. Discerning between needs and wants. Renting a movie instead of going to the movies in person.
We are a family at College church of Christ, and we love each other. Sometimes, that means we sacrifice a personal pleasure or comfort so that everyone can benefit. Instead of viewing it as a burden, how about "re-purposing" that weekly sacrifice and making it into a game--seeing how many ways you can save $5 and how God still provides for all your needs!
This Sunday, November 18, 2012, we will be taking up a special offering to close our year-end budget gap for 2012 of $46,000. Steve told me this morning that, if 120 people give $400 apiece on Sunday, it will close that hole. Then, going into 2013, we need that same number of people (doesn't have to be the SAME people) to give an extra $6 a week (maybe that's one and a half trips to Starbuck's) on a regular basis to keep our lights on, our heat and air conditioner running, our sound system sounding (you get the idea, the ordinary stuff it takes to run a church household).
Thanks for starting me thinking and acting, Travis! Join me, let's swap stories. It will be fun!
--Posted by Mama O.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Sticky Faith
STICKY FAITH
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| What were some of the challenges you faced in junior high and high school? |
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| How was your faith expressed as a teen? |
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| Did you have an adult who made an impact on your life? |
What is "Sticky Faith"? It is a conversation between junior high and high school students and adults in our congregation. It is sharing life and stories and faith, building relationships, praying with and for one another. It is encountering one another mid-week with hugs and relevant questions about well-being. It is being a family and sharing our love with one another, so each of us is better equipped to go out and share God's love in the world! Here are some pictures from the Ocheltree Shepherding Group on Sunday morning, November 11, 2012.
What were some of the things that were shared? Some of our high schoo girls shared what a tremendous encourager Sarah Scott is. She invests a lot of time and energy into our girls' lives outside of class time. Sarah spent the day with Paige Kirkley at the hospital when Paige's grandmother died.
A difficulty our young people face is when friends don't want to have anything to do with God. Sometimes it can break up a friendship. But, the advice from loving adults is: keep praying for your unbelieving friend! You never know how and when God is working in his life!
Social media makes growing up a lot different than it used to be. People are more "artificially open" on social networking sites, saying things they would not say to someone's face. But, when it comes to sharing Christian faith, it's harder to be open on social media.
Thanks, high school group for sharing your class time with us on Sunday! And thanks, junior high students for sharing your time with the Dale Drury Shepherding Group! We had a wonderful conversation!
--Posted by Mama O.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Jacob's Double Wedding
Here is the link to the skit, Jacob's Double Wedding, performed on Sunday, November 11, 2012, by our high school troupe. Thank you, high school students, for bringing this story to life for us! You did a great job!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31Pjgss7uZs&feature=em-share_video_user
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31Pjgss7uZs&feature=em-share_video_user
CAST
Narrator: Jacob Locke
Jacob: Marquois Ellis
Rebekah: Teagan Frame
Shepherd: Jacob Locke
Rachel: Paige Kirkley
Laban: Jamison Spencer
Leah: Kelly Gresham
Rabbi: Jacob Locke
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| Jacob (Marquois Ellis), The Narrator (Jacob Locke), Uncle Laban (Jamison Spencer) and Rachel (Paige Kirkley) meet at The Well |
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| Jacob (Marquois Ellis) and his mother Rebekah (Teagan Frame) encounter a misunderstanding about provisions for his trek across the desert: Camel pack or Camelback? |
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| Jacob (Marquois Ellis) is given the wrong wife, Leah (Kelly Gresham) by his deceptive Uncle Laban |
Saturday, November 10, 2012
High School Group Visits Tomorrow
We will host our high school group tomorrow in the Ocheltree Shepherding Group. First, a troupe of talented students will perform a skit, "Jacob's Double Wedding", giving us a new spin on an old story.
Then, our entire high school group will stay in class with us and talk. Youth minister Aaron Scott has prepared some thought-provoking questions that will get us sharing stories. The youth group has visited other shepherding groups with great results. There are adults and high school students who have never met each other, even though they attend the same church each week. This gives us the opportunity to meet one another, talk, and begin relationships that can last for years.
We need one another within the body of Christ. The high school students need to hear our stories, and we need to hear their stories. We need to know how we can pray for each other, encourage each other, and be in each other's lives, without necessarily being in each other's business--although sometimes that's called for within a church family, as well! This will be a great experience and I hope many of us can be there to experience it.
Come early! We have lots to talk about!
--Posted by Mama O.
Then, our entire high school group will stay in class with us and talk. Youth minister Aaron Scott has prepared some thought-provoking questions that will get us sharing stories. The youth group has visited other shepherding groups with great results. There are adults and high school students who have never met each other, even though they attend the same church each week. This gives us the opportunity to meet one another, talk, and begin relationships that can last for years.
We need one another within the body of Christ. The high school students need to hear our stories, and we need to hear their stories. We need to know how we can pray for each other, encourage each other, and be in each other's lives, without necessarily being in each other's business--although sometimes that's called for within a church family, as well! This will be a great experience and I hope many of us can be there to experience it.
Come early! We have lots to talk about!
--Posted by Mama O.
Friday, November 9, 2012
What's so special about Uptown?
Louise Stuckert and I were talking to a couple of young mothers Wednesday night whose children are in our Uptown children's ministry. Both of them wee commenting on how much their children enjoy Uptown. One of the moms asked, "What so special about Uptown?" Of all the Bible teaching programs her children have been involved with, this seems to be tops.
When I told Doug Baker this, he suggested it was due to his magnetic personality!
Having had the privilege of working in Uptown, I have a few theories about what makes it so special. I believe it's the same thing that makes all of College church of Christ so special: it's the love we have for one another as a family. There is an indefinable quality about this love, but you know when you've experienced it. It crosses generational lines, racial lines, economic lines and educational lines. I am not surprised that children pick up on it because they tend to be more spiritually sensitive than adults. We do well to listen to children when they "feel" good or bad about a certain place or group of people.
Combine that family love with a really solid Bible curriculum that allows kids to learn while playing games, while making crafts and foods, while acting out skits or while learning about ancient customs and peoples, and you're living inside a really great Nat Geo channel special at Grandma's house with her homebaked cookies and all the cousins and aunts and uncles there. That's about the best way I can describe what makes Uptown so special.
Oh, and by the way, if you haven't volunteered to help in there yet, do yourself a favor and volunteer! Talk to Louise Stuckert, tell her Carolyn sent you--she'll give me a commission on her reward in heaven! You'll be glad you did!
--Posted by Mama O.
When I told Doug Baker this, he suggested it was due to his magnetic personality!
Having had the privilege of working in Uptown, I have a few theories about what makes it so special. I believe it's the same thing that makes all of College church of Christ so special: it's the love we have for one another as a family. There is an indefinable quality about this love, but you know when you've experienced it. It crosses generational lines, racial lines, economic lines and educational lines. I am not surprised that children pick up on it because they tend to be more spiritually sensitive than adults. We do well to listen to children when they "feel" good or bad about a certain place or group of people.
Combine that family love with a really solid Bible curriculum that allows kids to learn while playing games, while making crafts and foods, while acting out skits or while learning about ancient customs and peoples, and you're living inside a really great Nat Geo channel special at Grandma's house with her homebaked cookies and all the cousins and aunts and uncles there. That's about the best way I can describe what makes Uptown so special.
Oh, and by the way, if you haven't volunteered to help in there yet, do yourself a favor and volunteer! Talk to Louise Stuckert, tell her Carolyn sent you--she'll give me a commission on her reward in heaven! You'll be glad you did!
--Posted by Mama O.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Loving the gays and lesbians
I met a fellow traveler the other night, out in front of a store where we both had been shopping. This is a strong Christian parent whose adult child has recently married a same-sex partner and is now having a child with that partner. These are not marginal "Sunday Christians". These are strong, long-time, dedicated Christian parents. There was clearly pain and confusion about how to approach the situation.
"We don't want to show approval for the sin," the parent said.
Point well taken.
I remember clearly a conversation Steve and I had at Burger King with another strong Christian couple a few years ago, who were facing the same situation. The Christian father felt ambilvalence about grandchildren who were conceived and parented in a same-sex marriage.
This is the message I felt impressed to share several years ago, and it is the same message I shared this week:
Many children have been born through the centuries as a result of sinful beginnings: unwed parents, rape, incest, just to name a few. The children conceived in these circumstances had absolutely no control over their beginning or the home they were born into. As Christians, we need to look to a loving God to know how to love ALL people created in His image, those conceived in a legitimate marriage and those conceived in sinful situations.
How do we show love to a same-sex couple and their children without showing approval of the sin?
I shared the story of watching a baptism this summer at Yosemite Bible Camp. Kenny Cowger baptized his two neighbor boys. Kenny has coached one of the boys in youth football out in Madera Ranchos for years and it was a real joy for him to baptize these boys. The boys' parents came up for the baptism. They are divorced and both are remarried, so there were two sets of parents there. After the baptism, Terry Cowger arranged all of the kids and parents for a family photo. This was an exciting time!
There is no way that our church was showing its approval of divorce by sharing in the joy of this family's sons being baptized. But we were not shunning these parents or refusing to allow them to participate in a spiritual highlight for their children because they had suffered divorce.
These are complicated issues and they call for God's love and grace and wisdom. May we lift up in prayer those who have to make difficult decisions and offer them our unconditional love and support as they struggle to find God's will in the midst of imperfect circumstances within the families who they raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord!
--Posted by Mama O
"We don't want to show approval for the sin," the parent said.
Point well taken.
I remember clearly a conversation Steve and I had at Burger King with another strong Christian couple a few years ago, who were facing the same situation. The Christian father felt ambilvalence about grandchildren who were conceived and parented in a same-sex marriage.
This is the message I felt impressed to share several years ago, and it is the same message I shared this week:
Many children have been born through the centuries as a result of sinful beginnings: unwed parents, rape, incest, just to name a few. The children conceived in these circumstances had absolutely no control over their beginning or the home they were born into. As Christians, we need to look to a loving God to know how to love ALL people created in His image, those conceived in a legitimate marriage and those conceived in sinful situations.
How do we show love to a same-sex couple and their children without showing approval of the sin?
I shared the story of watching a baptism this summer at Yosemite Bible Camp. Kenny Cowger baptized his two neighbor boys. Kenny has coached one of the boys in youth football out in Madera Ranchos for years and it was a real joy for him to baptize these boys. The boys' parents came up for the baptism. They are divorced and both are remarried, so there were two sets of parents there. After the baptism, Terry Cowger arranged all of the kids and parents for a family photo. This was an exciting time!
There is no way that our church was showing its approval of divorce by sharing in the joy of this family's sons being baptized. But we were not shunning these parents or refusing to allow them to participate in a spiritual highlight for their children because they had suffered divorce.
These are complicated issues and they call for God's love and grace and wisdom. May we lift up in prayer those who have to make difficult decisions and offer them our unconditional love and support as they struggle to find God's will in the midst of imperfect circumstances within the families who they raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord!
--Posted by Mama O
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Do not show favoritism
"My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ,
don't show favoritism." James 2:1 (New International Version)
We enjoyed a lively, enlightening and convicting discussion in Tuesday morning women's Bible study class on James 2:1-7. Our ladies shared about ways they have been both the recipients and givers of discrimination. Some of us grew up in an era when many churches believed they were "the only ones" who would make it to heaven. We participated in a weird sort of evangelism that looked down its nose at anyone who wasn't "one of us". We had difficulty separating the "sin" from the "sinner" in those days.
Other women shared stories of racial discrimination--parents who did not want their children playing with little girls of different ethnic backgrounds.
We talked about the social isolation caused by poverty, when people are trapped in a certain neighborhood and don't have the means to get out. Even grocery shopping becomes impossible for a mother with little children and no car to carry the groceries home in. Artie Padilla of everyneighborhood.org had explained to us about "Food Deserts", places in the inner city where a grocery store that carries a healthy variety of fresh produce and dairy products is not within a 2-mile radius.
So, you ask, what are we doing about all this?
I'm glad you asked! We divided up job assignments for a Thanksgiving basket for a family on the Westside of the San Joaquin Valley, devastated by the economic downturn and left with no place else to go. We are sending the ingredients for making tamales for the holiday. Mae and Doug Pafford, who lived and worked in Dos Palos for years, will deliver the basket on Saturday, November 17.
And for those of you who want to study the book of James but can't come on Tuesday morning, join us on Wednesday nights, starting tonight, November 7, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Come at 5:30 p.m. for dinner. Men and women are both welcome in the Wednesday night study.
--Posted by Mama O.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Election Day
Thank you, Jason Locke, for giving us a much-needed reminder of God's powerful hand in the affairs of the nations on Sunday. As we go to the polls today, we can remember that we serve a God who takes ultimate responsibility for the world and for our personal lives. He asks us to obey him, to respect government authority as long as it does not require us to disobey God, and to be humble, remembering that it is not our job to "manage the universe". God is taking care of that one.
"Help us not to take ourselves too seriously," Jason prayed, as he quoted the words of the psalmist in Psalm 46:
"Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Come and see the works of the Lord,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he beraks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields with fire.
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress."
(Psalm 46:6-11 New International Version)
--Posted by Mama O.
"Help us not to take ourselves too seriously," Jason prayed, as he quoted the words of the psalmist in Psalm 46:
"Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Come and see the works of the Lord,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he beraks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields with fire.
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress."
(Psalm 46:6-11 New International Version)
--Posted by Mama O.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Saint or Sinner?
We've been enjoying a great discussion on the life of Jacob in the Ocheltree Group on Sunday mornings. Yesterday, we explored the difference between a "Saint" and a "Sinner". Both Jacob and Esau sinned. In fact, Jacob's sins were more obvious than Esau's were. So what made Jacob a "Saint" and Esau a "Sinner"?
It's how they responded.
Everyone sins and everyone has sins committed against them. It's part of being human to be lied to or lied about, to be betrayed, to have people break promises they made to you, deceive you, forget to do things for you. And it's part of being human to be the one who is lying or deceiving or forgetting or failing or showing weakness instead of strength.
The "Saint" takes ownership in their part of the problem. They recognize their own responsibility and confess to God, and, if necessary, to others. Then, they allow God to chisel away at them, removing all the stuff that does not look like God, so, eventually, a "Saint" begins to look more and more like the One in Whose image he is formed.
The "Sinner" allows a bitter root to develop (Hebrews 12:15). Instead of owning his own responsibility, he blames other people or God. Instead of allowing sin's consequences to chisel away his own self-reliance or negativity or bad temper, he allows the pain to fester and absess, creating a pocket of impurity that can spread sin's infection to following generations. Esau's line was known for violence, self-reliance and godlessness. They sided against Jacob's descendants in conflict. Eventually, Herod the Great, the notorious King who ordered the "slaughter of the innocents", or mass destruction of all of Bethlehem's baby boys when Jesus was born, would descend from Esau's line.
"Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its environs, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the magi. Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,
It's how they responded.
Everyone sins and everyone has sins committed against them. It's part of being human to be lied to or lied about, to be betrayed, to have people break promises they made to you, deceive you, forget to do things for you. And it's part of being human to be the one who is lying or deceiving or forgetting or failing or showing weakness instead of strength.
The "Saint" takes ownership in their part of the problem. They recognize their own responsibility and confess to God, and, if necessary, to others. Then, they allow God to chisel away at them, removing all the stuff that does not look like God, so, eventually, a "Saint" begins to look more and more like the One in Whose image he is formed.
The "Sinner" allows a bitter root to develop (Hebrews 12:15). Instead of owning his own responsibility, he blames other people or God. Instead of allowing sin's consequences to chisel away his own self-reliance or negativity or bad temper, he allows the pain to fester and absess, creating a pocket of impurity that can spread sin's infection to following generations. Esau's line was known for violence, self-reliance and godlessness. They sided against Jacob's descendants in conflict. Eventually, Herod the Great, the notorious King who ordered the "slaughter of the innocents", or mass destruction of all of Bethlehem's baby boys when Jesus was born, would descend from Esau's line.
"Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its environs, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the magi. Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,
'A voice was heard in Ramah,
Weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her childrern;
and she refused to be comforted,
Because they were no more.'"
Matthew 2:16-18 (New American Standard Version)
Interesting, isn't it? While better judgment kept Esau from killing Jacob when he returned 20 years later, his bitter root lived on in his descendants. And this prophecy of the "slaughter of the innocents" mentions the murder of Rachel's children--Rachel was Jacob's beloved wife--the one he would meet as a result of running away from his brother's murder threats.
Jacob acknowledged his need to respect the commands of his godly parents and flee from Esau's anger. And God met Jacob, as he was suffering the consequences of his own sin--separation from his family. God promised Jacob his own presence on the lonely 600-mile journey and back to the land God promised to him and to Abraham and to Isaac. (Genesis 28:13-15)
So what's the difference betwen a "Saint" and a "Sinner"? Well...
It's not so much what we do, but what we do with what we do!
--Posted by Mama O.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Thank you for giving to the Lord!
We heard today in class from people who worked on our Service Saturday at Rescue The Children. It was a blessing to be together as family, working, getting better acquainted with one another, and doing something for the Kingdom of God in Fresno. Most of the people on our work crew had not seen the facility before.
"I was impressed by how nice it is and how much work has already been done to the place," Amanda Ellington commented. Jeremy joked, "We've already put in an application to live there!"
Rescue The Children, formerly The Vagabond Inn at Clinton and 99, is a completely enclosed facility, with only one entrance. Inside the facility are lawns, gardens, pools and lots of shade trees and sidewalks. It is a very safe and peaceful envirnoment for these women and children, many of whom need a safe haven from abusive backgrounds.
"I like the way the kids are able to run around and have fun in an enclosed area and their mothers don't have to worry that someone is watching them through the fence," Jeremy Ellington observed.
Stephanie Spencer-Norby, who worked at the facility earlier this year with the youth group, said, "It's a great place! God is doing amazing things down there!" She is impressed with the wisdom of the staff who require the women to receive training in nutrition and cleanliness before they are allowed to have refrigerators and microwaves in their individual apartments.
With 22 volunteers on Saturday, we finished all our painting projects in record time and didn't even need ladders to paint ceilings, thanks to Sean Gresham and Jeremy Ellington!
Steve Ocheltree shared a little with us, this morning, about the miracle of the financing for the purchase of the property. We are happy to be a part of the many miracles happening there!
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:40 (New International Version)
--Posted by Mama O.
"I was impressed by how nice it is and how much work has already been done to the place," Amanda Ellington commented. Jeremy joked, "We've already put in an application to live there!"
Rescue The Children, formerly The Vagabond Inn at Clinton and 99, is a completely enclosed facility, with only one entrance. Inside the facility are lawns, gardens, pools and lots of shade trees and sidewalks. It is a very safe and peaceful envirnoment for these women and children, many of whom need a safe haven from abusive backgrounds.
"I like the way the kids are able to run around and have fun in an enclosed area and their mothers don't have to worry that someone is watching them through the fence," Jeremy Ellington observed.
Stephanie Spencer-Norby, who worked at the facility earlier this year with the youth group, said, "It's a great place! God is doing amazing things down there!" She is impressed with the wisdom of the staff who require the women to receive training in nutrition and cleanliness before they are allowed to have refrigerators and microwaves in their individual apartments.
With 22 volunteers on Saturday, we finished all our painting projects in record time and didn't even need ladders to paint ceilings, thanks to Sean Gresham and Jeremy Ellington!
Steve Ocheltree shared a little with us, this morning, about the miracle of the financing for the purchase of the property. We are happy to be a part of the many miracles happening there!
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:40 (New International Version)
--Posted by Mama O.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Service Saturday!
"...his faith was made complete by what he did."
James 2:22b (New International Version)
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| Kyle Mason mixes paint |
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| Chase Pafford |
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| Grace Pendleton and Pam Caples |
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| Mercedes Garcia and Angelica Tejada, students in Lori Herb's Peer Counseling Class at Central High School |
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| Lori Herb |
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| Kyle Mason and Sean Gresham |
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| Jeremy Ellington, Zach Pafford and Luke Teixeira (students at Buchanan High School) |
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| Kelly Gresham (freshman at Clovis North High School) and Amanda Ellington |
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| Stephanie Spencer-Norby |
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| Marcos and Tiffany Miranda |
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| Steve Ocheltree experiences the effects of Service Saturday Saturday, November 3, 2012, 22 of us met out at Rescue The Children, on Clinton and 99, to paint storerooms and sweep up construction debris. The newly opened facility is run by The Fresno Rescue Mission, and offers housing, counseling, spiritual training and education for women who come from abuse, addiction and incarceration. The goal of Rescue The Children is to rehabilitate and retrain the women during an 18-month program so they can be productive, healthy and self-supporting in society. Young children may live with their mothers at the facility and attend the nearby elementary school. The facility will eventually provide these services for more than 100 women. It was a glorious day, sunny, clear and cool. And it was a glorious start to our Service Saturday tradition! We hope to host a Service Saturday about six times a year, or every two months. God bless and see you at our next Service Saturday! --Posted by Mama O. |
Friday, November 2, 2012
Jacob's Ladder
What a time we're having as we discuss the life of Jacob in our class discussion time on Sunday mornings! Our discussion last Sunday of Jacob and Rebekah's deception of old Isaac reflected the confusion found in the story itself, where everyone is lying to everyone. It's a crazy, dysfunctional scenario--hard to see where God would want to have anything to do with any of them! And yet, three of the four people in that drama are hand-chosen by God to bring his people, the nation of Israel, into this world, and ultimately, Jesus, the Messiah, and Savior of the entire world! Whew!
So, what have we learned so far, in a nut shell (appropriate terminology for dealing with this dysfunctional group):
Week 1--Jacob and Esau's birth (Genesis 25:19-26)
Principle: God is sovereign and has a plan for the lives of his people. But men and women have a lot of freedom to choose right or wrong within that plan.
Week 2--Esau sells his birthright to Jacob (Genesis 25:27-34)
Principle: God not only wants, but requires, that he be at the center of our lives. We must value what God values.
Week 3--Jacob deceives his father to get the blessing (Genesis 27:1-40)
Principle: God's plan will not be derailed by the sins of his people or by the sins of the unrighteous.
On Sunday, we will tackle the story of Jacob's fleeing from his brother Esau's murder plot, and of his stopping for the night, resting his head on a rock for a pillow and dreaming of a ladder that reaches from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it. God met Jacob there and affirmed many blessings and promises to Jacob.
So what will we learn from the story of this lying, manipulating fugitive on the lam from his older twin brother's (rather justified) murder plot?
Week 4--Jacob flees; dreams of a ladder reaching to heaven (Genesis 27:41-28:22)
Principle: The consequences of our sin can chase us right into the arms of God!
Pull up a chair, or a rock, and join us for a good discussion of one of God's good men.
--Posted by Mama O.
So, what have we learned so far, in a nut shell (appropriate terminology for dealing with this dysfunctional group):
Week 1--Jacob and Esau's birth (Genesis 25:19-26)
Principle: God is sovereign and has a plan for the lives of his people. But men and women have a lot of freedom to choose right or wrong within that plan.
Week 2--Esau sells his birthright to Jacob (Genesis 25:27-34)
Principle: God not only wants, but requires, that he be at the center of our lives. We must value what God values.
Week 3--Jacob deceives his father to get the blessing (Genesis 27:1-40)
Principle: God's plan will not be derailed by the sins of his people or by the sins of the unrighteous.
On Sunday, we will tackle the story of Jacob's fleeing from his brother Esau's murder plot, and of his stopping for the night, resting his head on a rock for a pillow and dreaming of a ladder that reaches from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it. God met Jacob there and affirmed many blessings and promises to Jacob.
So what will we learn from the story of this lying, manipulating fugitive on the lam from his older twin brother's (rather justified) murder plot?
Week 4--Jacob flees; dreams of a ladder reaching to heaven (Genesis 27:41-28:22)
Principle: The consequences of our sin can chase us right into the arms of God!
Pull up a chair, or a rock, and join us for a good discussion of one of God's good men.
--Posted by Mama O.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Trunk or Treat
Thank you, College Church family
for a great Trunk or Treat
Night!
Doug Baker said many, many people toured the new
Uptown Children's Ministry.
Lee Smith's crew barbecued and served
1,000 hot dogs with homemade relish!
Pray that those who visited last night
will return to find God's love and healing
in their lives!
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| President Bill Clinton |
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| Riley and Kris Ammons |
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| Little Red Riding Hood and her candy customer (notice wolf above rear tail light) |
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| Lauren Gale and Justin Sue |
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| ZZ Top and Tony Dellamaggiore |
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| Gary and Grace Pendleton and their pirate ship |
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| Marcos and Tiffany Miranda and Blake and Sharon Sheehan |
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| Mae Pafford is a "Candy Corn Lady" feeding the crowds --Posted by Mama O. |
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