News you can use
News you can use
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Matthew 18:21-22 — “Then Peter asked Jesus, ‘How many times should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘Not seven but seventy times seven!’” Out our way you hear some amazing stories from time to time. Now it just so happened I met a man from Colorado who ran a horse ranch along the Gunnison River area. Many years ago, John Wayne was shooting the movie “True Grit” and the producers hired this guy as chief wrangler for the stock — and also as an occasional stand-in. Apparently Glen Cam...
Contrary to my heartfelt belief, punctuation does matter - not just for writing, but for life also. The reading for our services this weekend are: Reading I: Ezekiel 18:25-28, Reading 2: Philippians 2:1-11, Gospel reading Matthew 21: 28-32. The first reading, from Ezekiel, calls us to turn away from evil so we might live in a loving relationship with God. Some of us may say that what God is asking of us is not fair because the evil we do might not seem evil to us. It is safe...
You know Lord, teenager "Susie" stopped in last week with an announcement. She opened the door, calling out in her accustomed greeting; "Nana! Are you home? I just heard something I've never heard before - wanna hear about it?" She continued chatting, telling all about T.G.I.F. "You know what that means?" she chuckled. "That means, 'Thank goodness it's Friday' and we've gotten through one more week, headed to the weekend.'" She said her daddy, with his weekend paycheck,...
2 Peter 2:1–2 - "But there were false prophets among the people just as there will be false prophets among you who will introduce heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord, and will bring destruction upon themselves. Many will follow them and bring the faith into disrepute. In their greed they will exploit you, but their condemnation hangs over them." Out our way, although four-wheelers and trucks do a good deal of cow work these days, a good cow pony is still important. C...
I'm not much of a gardener, let me make that clear. But last year I decided to at least give gardening a try. So I started out small and was encouraged by my moderate success. A few peas. A collection of lettuce from a netted garden box (to guard against those ravenous grasshoppers). But, oh, the tomatoes! After a summer's-worth of homegrown salads I had more of those juicy red gems than my family could eat. So my ventures in gardening grew into explorations in canning. And...
You know Lord, You are the Creator - so you know that autumn arrives on Saturday, according to several of the calendars hanging around here. Several friends have mentioned that, to them, it's a yearly relief from those muggy mid-90s that they have had, and now the cool breeze is inviting them, and maybe us, outside because the sun no longer seems so hot and angry. You know that we probably all grow a little weary of each season toward its end, but the beginning of every new...
"If you've been walking the same old road for miles and miles; if you've been hearing the same old voice, tell the same old lies; if you're trying to fill the same old holes inside, there's a better life. There's a better life. If you've got pain, He's a pain taker. If you feel lost, He's a way maker. If you need freedom or saving, He's a prison shaking Savior. If you have chains, He's a chain breaker." Fifth Avenue Christian Church invites every lady and teenage girl on the...
Out our way, there are two critters even ole Doc backs down from: a bull on the fight and an angry mama cow protecting her calf. I have seen what a bull can do — Charlie and I found one in an arroyo with a broken leg after another bull went after him in rut season. He was so torn up we had to shoot him and later haul out the carcass with a big truck. Although much smaller, I have also seen a cow on the fight, and, between the two, I think the bull is less terrifying. I know I have shared this story before, but even e...
[1 Thessalonians 2:16] The affection with which Paul writes to the Thessalonians is evident in his words. He compares himself and his fellow workers to a mother caring for small children and to a father interacting with his own children, showing how much Paul and his colleagues were willing to give to nurture the Thessalonian's faith and serve them. Paul reminds the Thessalonians that he and his fellow workers supported themselves so that the Thessalonians would not be...
God’s purposes for His people do not change at the age of retirement. As followers of Christ, we are called to keep growing spiritually, to keep being conformed to the image of Christ, to keep building the church, to keep sharing the Gospel, to keep on being ambassadors for Christ, to keep using our giftedness, and to keep on making disciples in every one of our retirement years. To encourage this biblical mindset in retirement is the purpose of this study. It is particularly designed with retired and aging people in mind. W...
You know, Lord, sometimes unusual things happen when groups of gals get together. While enjoying tea on the patio, Lesha spoke up: "You know - a friend called, said Missy had lost her baby, not even one hour old. What a shock! I said: 'Isn't it great! Abigail returns to her heavenly home to her relatives until her mom and dad join her!' I don't know how that went over - but that's what popped out of my mouth." Then Sal spoke up: "Reminds me of when I cleaned at a Care Center....
Isaiah 57:2 "Those who walk uprightly enter into peace" Out our way, we know about switching leads. At the canter it is important for the horse to know its leads. The top horses can switch leads and keep the gait smooth. Unfortunately, not all horses seem able to do so. Doc, whose right lead is not the best in the world, has never been able to get his left lead down. How many folks do you know who have two left feet? Ah! Meet Doc, who has four of them! Doc has never really...
(See Habakkuk 2:1-2) It's a vivid picture: A walled city in vast, open countryside. A tower high above from which one can see all around. Is the enemy approaching or is that a band of shepherds? Is that solitary traveler a saint or a spy? The prophet Habakkuk says he is like one who stands watch. Like a guard in the tower, he has issued a challenge to God: He wonders what God will say about corruption, strife and injustice that the prophet has witnessed in the nation of Judah...
Taizé (tah-ZAY) Worship Service will be held at the Chester United Methodist Church, 510 West Monroe Ave., Chester, Thursday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m. Taizé is a short — 30 minutes — service intended for people of all Christian denominations and faiths who are seeking to pray together in song and silence. All are welcome....
You know Lord, looking back to a time in our life, to someone who encouraged and helped us along our way, Lord, You may be calling us to do the same for someone in our life who might need a bit of help, cheer or even some praise right now. "K.A.," a former neighbor, shared how her special three sisters encouraged each other, no matter that they didn't live near each other. It's been a long while ago, but thinking about them, one of them became a teacher, one became a docor,...
Matthew 15:14 - Do not listen to them, for they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, will not both fall into the ditch? Out our way, as you may recall, we often have tourists driving through the area on their way to Glacier National Park. Granted, the Bear Paws are not as spectacular as the Rockies, nor do we have the multi-millionaires from California and Texas building their majestic mansions along the way. So it is not too surprising to hear some remark as...
Let me tell you a story about a very wealthy rancher who lived a long time ago. He and his wife had 10 children, a thriving ranch teeming with herds and flocks. In one day, this man and his wife lost all 10 of their children to a severe windstorm. On one day shortly after that, they had all of their livestock either stolen or killed. On another day shortly after that, this man - most probably very healthy normally - this man was struck with a severe case of boils. When all of...
Press release God’s purposes for His people do not change at the age of retirement. As followers of Christ, we are called to keep growing spiritually, to keep being conformed to the image of Christ, to keep building the church, to keep sharing the Gospel, to keep on being ambassadors for Christ, to keep using our giftedness, and to keep on making disciples in every one of our retirement years. To encourage this biblical mindset in retirement is the purpose of this study. It is particularly designed with retired and aging p...
You know Lord, it was interesting to read what Ms. Kathy K. was sharing about the word “yet.” She wrote: “Near the end of this month, I will turn sixty, and, though the number seems big, I know that, in the review mirror, it will shrink, as did 50, 40, 31, 21 and 16. At each milestone, I looked forward, imagining my future life. Now I can say without hesitation: almost nothing turned out as I expected. “I can also say that I have lost my faith that things would be the way I wanted. Instead, I have found faith in the redempt...
We count the days and then the weeks - though 'lone-ness' feels like years. A picture, dream, or special thought is sure to bring on tears. As parent, child, sibling, or spouse; will we survived this pain? They're gone ahead; they're just 'beyond'! We'll see them once again. Grief and onions - do they compare? Peel one, you'll cry a lot. This time of grief, will we survive? It's not what we've been taught. We're not to panic, hurry, hide; we'll 'peel' - not hold tears in. God...
Out our way, we know that "There ain't a horse that can't be rode, and there ain't a cowboy that can't be throwed." I have ridden with and known a number of folk working livestock and have yet to meet one who hasn't been tossed, stomped, bitten or gored along the way. It is just a reality we all face and accept. Some of us are lucky - I, for example, only have a bad back from hitting the rocks and hard ground a few many times - but others fare far worse. As some of you know, m...
I am a circuit riding pastor ... not on a trustworthy horse but in a well-used, but reliable Toyota Tacoma or Subaru Forester, depending upon the road conditions. Each Sunday, I drive 194 miles to worship with people in my three congregations in rural Montana. I have a lot of "windshield time" driving across the prairies viewing some beautiful Montana scenery. In each season, as I look out upon the land, I see people at work: planting or spraying fields, harvesting wheat,...
You know Lord, there are "rules" everywhere you look, everywhere you go, everything you try to do, there always seems to be rules. On the road, at the border, and at work, there are rules, regulations, forms to be completed and guidelines to follow. Even silly computers try to tell us what we can or cannot do, to what it can or cannot do! Ralph K. shares this passage from Romans 12:9: "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good." Then he adds, "Are...
Luke 16:19-31 Out our way, there are many cattle trails crossing the pastures, but only one large road leading from the upper to lower pasture and back again. One fall, as winter was starting to move in, Charlie and I saddled up to move the herd from the upper summer pasture down to the lower winter pasture. The lower pasture had not been touched since early spring, so the grass was lush and plentiful. The reservoir was full and deep with flowing water, and, best of all,...
The Scripture readings that we are using for this Sunday, Aug. 20, are as follows: First reading - Isaiah 56:1-6 Second reading - Romans 11:13-15, 29-32 Gospel reading - Matthew 15: 21-28 In the First Reading from Isaiah, we read that the prophet is telling the people of God - the chosen people - that God's salvation is going to come for "foreigners who join themselves to the Lord." That His (the Lord's) "house of prayer will be called a house of prayer for all people." I...
