Life is Like Surfing

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Life can be a little like surfing - you never know what blessings may come your way! Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. Ephesians 5: 1-2

Precious Memories

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Psalm 23

Amazing Love to Start Your Day

Amazing Love - What an excellent way to start any day! Give Thanks Today!

Why Do They Hurt the Children?

The look on his young face spoke clearly. I'd seen that troubled look only a few times and immediately knew - He was trying to fight back tears. "Dad can we leave now? he asked. I assured him we could as soon as we rounded up his younger brothers. As we headed back to his Mother's house I asked him what was troubling him so. "They won't let me go to the Church Youth group with my friends." "Did you ask The Pastor or any of the Church leaders?" I asked him. "I asked Ms Rhonda and the Pastor - They said they didn't know yet" was his tear-choked reply. Well, no problem son - we'll just find another Church then. You don't need all this grief. "No, Dad that would hurt my friends feelings." I had asked the Pastor and his Wife - even apologized if i was out of line for seeking his admittance. They assured me they'd look into it. Church leaders have a host of more pressing issues to attend to. So i wasn't too worried that my request was overlooked or set aside. A Week or so later i ran into a couple of the Youth leaders while going on a morning walk. Having still not heard anything from the Pastor or other Church leaders i asked this young couple how they felt about letting my son join the Youth group on Wednesday nights. When she looked down - i knew the answer. She didn't want to be the one to deliver the news i wasn't prepared to hear. Instead her husband paused for a second and finally blurted out - "Well, we prefer the children be in the 6th grade before they join our Wednesday night Youth Group." "I understand" I politely lied to him and wishing them a nice morning - headed out to finish my walk. Maybe they have too many kids i thought to myself and they don't have room for one more. ( Their Youth Group is all of 10 or 12 ) Maybe they just don't like us and this is just their subtle way of trying to convince us that their Church is not the place for us. Who knows? Maybe their guidelines - obviously cast in stone - are never to be questioned. "Maybe they just don't want us at their little Church" I thought. We'll never know why they chose to keep my little guy out of their ultra-exclusive group of twelve. His fondness for Church has never been the same. He resists going to Church now - even on Sundays. Wednesday night is pretty much over in his mind. Why go back to AWANA and only to get bullied and ordered around like inmates? Maybe God is using these discouraging obstacles to show him another lesson? I must continue to encourage him to grow spiritually - in spite of the narrow minded few who broke his little heart that Summer. I must teach him that God isn't about those few Church leaders - that God is greater than us and more loving. That God loves us all and we must learn to accept life's obstacles and setbacks and keep moving. I hope i can teach him that there is usually always another wave - so get back on the board and catch your next ride!

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