A Distant Thunder a Dud of a Movie

 Tonight, for our drive in movie outreach, we showed the old movie A Distant Thunder. I remember when this first came out how exciting it was to have a sequel to A Thief in the Night. But watching it tonight I was struck by how bad this movie really is. The plot is lame and unbiblical. The Gospel preaching seems forced and unnatural. The movie is horribly dated with black and white tv and dial phones and phone booths and communicating by letters. It was also at the time when feminism was just starting to show it's strength among American women.

I vote that we retire this movie permanently. It is good for nostalgia but not much else.

Volume or Results?

 If zeal and volume get God's attention then tonight at our outreach we should see hundreds of people saved. And Bridget should be there feeling healthy and strong. But if only one or two or a handful of people pray is it a failure? And if Bridget dies anyway who is to blame?

I think that we mistake enthusiasm for results. We talk like God is moving powerfully but there is no evidence that He is doing anything. Our prayer list of very ill brethren who need our help would disappear since we are contending for God to heal them now.

My fear is if we pray with fervor and nothing happens we do not accept it as our fault. If Bridget dies, like she is dying now, is it her lack of faith that kept here from living a few more years?

King Hezekiah was on his death bed when the prophet told him to get his house in order. But the king's tears and prayer bought him 15 more years. He was healed immediately. So there is a God who heals for sure. And there is a God who takes people to Heaven where we all want to go.

There was a time when I no longer prayed for pastor or sister Mitchell for healing. I prayed for them for strength and peace and comfort. Same with Kathy. Same with Bridget. Death is not a failure. Baseless enthusiasm is deceptive. Results speak louder than loud prayers.

Bible Promise Box

 I have a daily Bible reading app. It takes me through the Bible in various ways. I get it a week at a time. This week it is one verse Bible answers to life's questions. There are very few issues in life where I need God's guidance where one verse will suffice. But it's only for this week. Come Monday it will change. This week I call it my Bible Promise Box.

Ministry to the Elderly

 Here are a few simple thoughts on how to minister to the seniors in our churches. This ministry need not cost a lot of money or take a lot of time. But it does take time and money and a loving heart and a willing hand. This is not all that can be done, but it may be something to think about.

1. Prayer. Ask someone how you can pray for them. Pray for them all anyway.

2. Tech assistance. Things you take for granted are a mystery to them. Be patient and teach them.

3. Teach how to buy groceries online. How to get home delivery. Help them set up an account.

4. Encourage children to make gifts or to simply talk to them.

5. Create a daily devotion either in print or by email. Simple, truthful.

6. Send them a card. Give them a note. Let them know you are thinking about them.

7. Provide services that they need. Cleaning, laundry, transportation, etc.

8. Ask what is the biggest disruption to their routine and find a way to fix that.

9. Call them. Not just hi/bye. Spend time. Let them talk.

Be their friend. Ask them what they need. Do what you can to help. Do not wait for them to reach out.

The Testimony of Good Works

 I read an interesting story. A lady was at the grocery store to pick up a few things. As she walked towards the main entrance she noticed an elderly couple sitting in their car. She took note that they were just sitting there and she went inside. But when she came back out the elderly couple was still sitting there. So the lady went over to the car and tapped on the window. The woman inside rolled down the window and that's when the lady noticed that they seemed to be afraid. She asked if there was anything wrong and she asked if she could help them in any way. The elderly lady looked down and said quietly, We need to go shopping but we are afraid to go inside. That there was nothing to be fearful of made no difference. So the lady offered to do their shopping for them. They gave her their list and she got their groceries. When she returned the elderly couple seemed so relieved. When they tried to pay her she told them that she was happy to cover the cost of their groceries this time. 

The testimony of good works sometimes speaks louder and any street corner preaching with a bull horn.

God's Evident Help

 Before I finalized my decision to move here I spent time checking home values and prices on-line. I was surprised to find lots of affordable housing in this market, since in AZ home prices had sky rocketed out of sight back then. I made the move, found a house, and I am living in the house that I found.

Today I was looking at housing in this area again and I was shocked by how much home prices had jumped just since I moved here. These home prices would have been a deal breaker for me before. 

I can look back and see how God helped me not just move here but to find an affordable house here and to find the means to improve and furnish this house like it is today. For that I am grateful.

Pastor Mitchell said that money brings reality to life. We only get into trouble when we ignore our means to buy what we cannot afford.

I plan to be here for a long time. And as God will continue to help me I will stay here and be grateful to be here.

Growing Up is Not a Sin

 Pastor Mitchell used to say that life must be lived to the end. We hear that and agree with that. And we think that we will be like we are now for the rest of our lives. We would be wrong to think that.

None of the great heroes of faith in the Bible are still alive. Heaven doesn't count. And fewer and fewer of our current heroes of faith have gone to their Heavenly reward. Bridget will be there very soon. Kathy is already there.

We must rightly divide the word of truth to make sure that we are living according to the Bible and not the world. And we must correctly assess our lives from time to time to see what we can and can't do. No amount of preaching will turn back the hand of time. Zeal is not a tree of life no matter what anyone says.

Mid life crisis is that uncomfortable time when young people come to grips with the reality that they are not young anymore. If you haven't done it by now chances are you might never do it. Or if you try you might do things but you will be isolated and alone since young people are not interested in you or what you represent. This is hard to accept. You can spot someone in this stage of life when that try too hard to be young and zealous and excited and enthusiastic. Just like the man or women who tries to dress too young. We can try too hard to be new converts and we are fooling no one but ourselves.

Churches go through this. When there is more talk about what God did than evidence of what God is doing we are getting old in our faith. Maybe it's time to grow up?