Our Father Who Art in Heaven …

As we build this community prayer platform, we ask the Lord to listen to our petitions with full confidence they not only are heard but acted upon by God according to His holy will. These requests are on my prayer list and I hope you consider putting them on yours as you place your petitions before the Lord Sunday.

Approach the throne room and respond with faith and not fear, knowing the promises of God and His mighty hand will hold us through any situation! Sometimes, all it takes is just one prayer to change everything. Something extraordinary happens when two or more agree together in prayer.

What is one of the most important things we should do as Christians? Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18).

And, so, Lord, we come to You with our petitions, knowing and expecting Your will to be done.

Thoughts and prayers to all worldwide suffering from the consequences of coronavirus flu – and all other strains. Many – many – of the prayer requests are covid-19 related … people diagnosed … people sick … people dying … relatives worried and isolated. We are in this together – in prayer!

Please keep the victims of household abuse in your prayers. Whether it be physical, emotional, sexual or neglect, this time in particular is very horrifying for them to be trapped in a house with their abuser(s) and not being able to escape.

We also need to pray for colorblind peace. Racism will remain a plague until we stop looking at people as black and white, but as human beings created by the same Creator. We pray for new eyes, calmer heads, and softer hearts. 

Special prayer requests have been made for orphanages in Kenya, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and right here in the United States. The need is real.

There were also quite a few requests for students and the new school year. We ask, Lord, You bless the students, teachers, and administrators as they continue to face new learning/teaching challenges this year. Keep them safe.

Financial issues were also high on the prayer lists with millions still out of work. Sustain those who are hurting financially. Give us and them our daily bread.

Natural disasters continue. Keep those in the path of fires and storms safe and focused on You, Lord.

LaVerne thanks everyone for their prayers. The good news is all major organs look great! The not so good news is there are some new spots on my bones – ribs and illiac. The spots on the ribs are small, but still evident cancer is still with her and trying to take over. The other spot on my illiac bone in lower back area is bigger and may be what is causing some pain issues. Next step is to see a radiologist. As far as treatment, she was encouraged to be offered just the monthly hormone blocker shots again without the chemo pill, which lowers her immunity so badly. A re-scan is scheduled in three months. She believes prayer and God’s guidance in naturopathic helps and vows to press on and praise!

Keep Andrew in your prayers as he continues to fight the fight. He contacted me the other day. Things continue to deteriorate. Prayers. Prayers. Prayers.

Eileen has been in the hospital. She has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and acute (and painful) arthritis, and has lost quite a bit of weight. Prayers requested.

Please pray for Nate who is 17 and appears to have a punctured lung and broken ribs plus other complications.

Please pray for Tab. She is reportedly struggling with her health.

Zibah asks for healing prayers after being hit by a car while bicycling to his job. He has tissue and muscle damage to his shoulder.

Please pray for Elizabeth who is battling a diabetes 2 and high cholesterol diagnosis.

Stephanie has a job interview Oct. 2 and is asking prayers it goes well.

Please pray for Regina who thinks she has a UTI or some other kind of infection. She does not feel well.

Please pray for Mercy who has a severe cough and cold. Skin on her feet have started to peel off as well.

Please pray Viviane’s neuropathy does not get any worse.

Andrea has diabetes and can’t stop vomiting, resulting in diabetic ketoacidosis. The doctors think she may also have gastroparesis. Please pray she doesn’t have gastroparesis and will not need a pacemaker.

Brenda is experiencing a blood issue and requests prayers.

Sarakutty has a heart blockage. Please pray for her.

Shalini has kidney failure, breathing problems, high blood pressure, and her creatine level is increasing every day. She has also lost quite a bit of weight. Prayers requested.

Please pray for the speedy healing of the eyes for Olina. Her retina has shrunk and detached. As such, she cannot see.

Esther is asking for prayers for a nodule on her thyroid to dissolve.

Jose is battling cancer and is requesting prayers.

Please pray for a benign lymph node on Arlin’s breast, negative result for her pap smear, and transvaginal ultrasound healing for her thickened endometrial lining.

Pray for Peter to receive urgent treatment for prostate cancer in time to save his life.

Please continue to pray for Ann’s full recovery from sepsis and surgery.

Yvonne has had terrible bone issues and her health is declining. Prayers requested.

Shannon’s biopsy is scheduled Tuesday. Prayers requested.

Prayer requested for Jacob and his family for medical and family issues.

There were a host of unspoken prayer requests and we heard of a number of deaths this week. Prayers for their families as they go through this earthly trial. We grieve … heaven rejoices.

We come to You, Lord, because prayer is the least yet the greatest thing we can do for each other. When two or more are gathered in Your name, we confidently know You are with us. What better company can we have? You reign and we trust You! We may be broken and battered but know You heal and quiet the soul. You are the source for all that happens in our lives. We thank You for the progress being made. We thank You for the many blessings we have received this week. Some we unfortunately didn’t notice. Nonetheless, those blessings are ever-present in our lives. We thank You for healing. We thank You for slowing us down. We thank You for providing us our daily needs — no more and no less. We thank You for being with us, listening to us, walking with us on this journey. We thank You for the support of our family and friends … for seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary — sunrises, sunsets, flowers, kids laughing, adventures, good news amid the bad news. We know we can come to You with our concerns and they will be heard. Through Christ all things are possible. We lift up those family members and friends who are battling various physical, emotional, financial, career or spiritual issues and ask not for Your guidance and healing (although that would be welcomed) but to keep reminding us we are not alone in our battles. Specifically we lift up LaVerne, Andrew, Eileen, Nate, Tab, Zibah, Elizabeth, Stephanie, Regina, Mercy, Viviane, Andrea, Brenda, Sarakutty, Shalini, Olena, Esther, Jose, Arlin, Peter, Ann, Yvonne, Shannon, Jacob, and all those needing Your healing and guiding touch. We pray for the families of all those You have called home. We grieve … You celebrate. We pray for obedience to Your Will so Your “Son” Light shines through us through the power of the Spirit. And we come to You through the confidence of the words taught by Your Son Jesus. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Keep your joys and concerns coming. They have been and will be included during my prayer time and I trust they will be on your lips as well as you approach the altar. All it takes is a couple of keystrokes under the “Contact Me” button on the top bar {or to the right if you’re not a follower yet}. I hope it becomes your best friend as you navigate around the site so we can all be viable prayer warriors. You can also comment or reach me at wisdomfromafather@gmail.com.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Prayer, then, is a matter of our participating in the life of Jesus Christ. – Michael Casey

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Five Minute Friday — Your

Happy Friday! Time for my Five Minute Friday contribution. Check out the amazing five minutes takes at fiveminutefriday.com by our special community of writers.

I’ve been sharing snippets taken from Five Minute Friday: A Collection of Stories Written in Five Minutes Flat compiled by Susan Shipe. They are a testament to the value of the exercise. This week, I’ll share some perspective from Jolene who I hope inspires you to check us out or, better yet, try your hand at focused, unscripted writing for just five minutes. And share it on the website. Start at the Community tab.

“I stumbled across Five Minute Friday several years ago, when I noticed that several blogs that I read participated in the weekly link up. I checked it out one Friday night, and thought it was a fun idea and a great writing exercise. I didn’t realize then, that it is truly a community. The fellow FMF writers became my friends as we gathered each week and commented on each other’s posts. I have several friends that I would never have met if it had not been for Five Minute Friday. I am blessed to be part of this wonderful community of writers.”

The prompt is YOUR. This should be interesting.The timer has been set, so I guess it’s time to GO…

The last thing I read last night was my Five Minute Friday friend Andrew’s post. He is dying. He knows  it. In the post he took an introspective look at himself and his life … how his plans were askew with visits from both Satan and God.

I drifted off into slumberland with his words etched in my mind. I also received a nocturnal visit — only just from God. This is how the conversation went …

“So, what are your plans today,” the Voice asked.

“The usual. Nothing special planned,” I responded.

“Am I included?” the Voice asked.

“Of course! I’ll start with some time just for You, take the dog out, make coffee, wander around social media, share some hopefully encouraging words with family and friends, and get back to some writing.”

“Hmm,” was the reply. “Just that brief encounter with Me when you wake up?”

“No. I’ll probably lean on Your guidance throughout the day.”

“Hmm. Those are your plans.”

“Pretty much.”

“What about My plans? You going to follow them?”

“Well, I’m … STOP

going to try.” I paused. Thinking through the suspended state I added, “I always try to follow Your plans.”

“And do you succeed?”

“No. You know that better than anyone. But I try.”

“What do you want to do right now?” the Voice asked.

Since it was still the middle of the night, I said, “Sleep!” I rolled over, got my feet caught in the sheet and blanket and literally rolled out of the elevated air mattress onto the carpeted floor. Angelina literally popped out of the bed as well. I looked at the time. It was 4:54 a.m., a couple of hours before normal wake up time. The vision was long gone. The dog had a stunned what just happened look on her face. I looked at her and blurted out, “Well, if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.”

I started the pre-dawn day — Angelina was not going to go back to sleep — with extended quiet time with my Lord and Visitor. But every task I attempted this morning ran into roadblocks — nothing catastrophic, but repetitive enough to divert my attention back to the dream. I ran out of coffee {I did have enough for a mug but had to run to the store when it opened}. The Internet went down for a couple of hours. Friends I usually reach out to with a quick message suddenly wanted to talk. They needed extra encouragement and/or self-assurance. Forty seconds morphed into 40 minutes, often just listening or searching for just that right word or phrase. Other than this post, I haven’t been able to add a word to the WIP.

I found myself going back to Andrew’s post again and again. “God’s didn’t say it’s all right, that He’ll fix everything. He didn’t offer Double for my Trouble, or to turn my setbacks into setups for greater things. He didn’t say that my purposes will be fulfilled. He did say that His purposes are fulfilled. Always. He did say, “Your sins are forgiven.” And He said that if I accept that forgiveness, I am His, and He is mine, that His purpose for me is my salvation through Him.”

I wish I was more than just a virtual friend to Andrew. At this point, all I can do is virtually hold his hand as he crosses the River Jordan. Andrew knows what his new address will be — in the ritzy neighborhood on the other side of the Jordan. We’ve chatted about it. I also know we will meet soul to soul some day at the beginning of eternity.

Prayers for a safe journey, Andrew, and for all whose life you have touched, beginning with Barb and including me and our FMF friends.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: If you judge people, you have no time to love them — Mother Teresa

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The Summer of Discontent

Well,that might not be the right word. Anxiousness? Disquieting? Those may be better discriptors of the state of my world as summer fades into fall.

As I wander around various social media platforms, I’ve noted just a little bit of apprehension, just as often from friends and colleagues known for their half full approach to life. I will include myself in the conversation.

There is definitely an air of mild anxiety about what might possibly develop. It’s like waiting for the next shoe to drop. Many of us are looking to fast forward to 2021 and just chalk 2020 off as a year to forget. The brilliant color change of seasons is muted. We’re finding it hard to find much to be thankful for. Even the hope of Christmas is approached with apprehension.

This is particularly a dark period for yours truly, but it has happened every year for the past 12 years since Karen died so I can take myself out of the equation. I’m speaking more in general. I don’t see the love. I don’t see the open sharing. I certainly don’t see the hope. I do see a more reserved, let’s wait and see view of life from my friends.

Certainly, the pandemic has contributed more to the angst than just sickness. It changed the WAY we live. We are constantly reminded of the chilling effects of the illness, with mortality emphasized and recovery de-emphasized. We get a daily overload of common sense precautions — wash you hands, stay home if you’re sick. We’re encouraged to isolate with six foot social distance mandates and closure or restrictions on most normal activities like church and other fellowships. Mask wearing has become the new normal either by state mandate or strong suggestion.

That all being said, we are told Cold War style to trust the experts — scientists, immuniologists, first providers, politicians, mainstream media. The problem is everyone is an expert and each bring their collective biases into the conversation. Joe and Jane Average don’t know who to trust.

There has been a series of street incidents which have painted people into corners that has erupted into chaos in the name of justice. We’ve seen peaceful protests evolve into violence, lawlessness, and looting, all belying the very stereotypes the protesters are battling for. We’re been spoon-fed — no, strike that — we’ve been hit over the head with “videos”, often out of context and amateurish thanks to smart phones, “proving” a particular point of view. Joe and Jane Average have been frozen in fear, afraid to venture out for a night out.

Covid and social justice issues have hijacked entertainment choices. School activities have been minimized “in the name of safety.” People’s livelihoods have been impacted. Governmental promises — from both sides of the aisle –have not materialized. Elections very well may be compromised

It’s all been very disconcerting for Joe and Jane Average. There is a real caution about moving forward because — as we have been acutely reminded — things out of our control can change plans in a heartbeat.

I think it’s time to break that cycle. There are natural events we can’t plan or control. But we can enjoy the day, whatever it brings. We can look beyond our selves and our circles and embrace the brilliant color change of seasons … and see God’s hand as green turns to vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows. It might take some looking, but we can intentionally seek out an unexpected blessing every day … and see how God’s presence transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. We can thank God for our very lives and the lives of all we touch and who touch us. That inter-connection itself is wider than you might imagine. We can look beyond the glitz and glitter of Christmas and focus on the Gift we received 2,000 years ago or so … the birth of our Savior and the bridge back to heaven.

It’s all about perspective. Calmness or Anxiety. Peace or Restlessness. Trust or Skepticism. Sharing or Self. Hope or Doubt. Faith or Apprehension. Optimism or Pessimism.

That we can control.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: You will learn a lot from yourself if you stretch in the direction of goodness, of bigness, of kindness, of forgiveness, of emotional bravery. — Cheryl Strayed

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Smile Time

One of the misconceptions about being a Christian is non-Christians think we don’t know how to have fun or have a sense of humor. Trust me, if the Big Guy can have a sense of humor when it comes to dealing with us mere mortals, so can we.

The difference for Christians is we don’t have to debase ourselves or others to generate a smile. Laughter at life or ourselves is a gift from God.

Here’s this week’s edition of Midweek Mirth  … so let’s smile a little!

Say what?

A woman went to a memorial service for World War One at St. Mary’s Church, Hemel Hempstead. The vicar said, “We will now give the peace.” This is where we shake each other’s hands and say, “Peace be with you.”

The elderly lady next to her, who was not a churchgoer and was hard of hearing, repeated after each shake of the hand what she thought was being said: “Pleased to meet you!”

… and now for the bonus …

Patience Persists

A man pacing back and forth glanced at his watch and yelled upstairs to his wife, “Honey, are you ready yet?”

Shouting back, the woman replies, “For crying out loud, Dewey, I’ve been telling you for the last half hour … I’ll be ready in a minute!”

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: As soon as you have made a thought, laugh at it. — Lao Tsu

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COVID-19

I’ll be honest. I was asked to read this short treatise about the pandemic. Typically I would shy away from equating natural disasters to acts of God. But I was drawn in by the cover and wanted to see how author Michelle Cole would weave the two together.

I don’t know Michelle or her theological background. But in the 40 written pages she presented enough information to support her theory, liberally and deftly combining facts about what we knew (as of the August publication date) and what God’s role — through Scripture and His characteristics, specifically His omnipotence (all-powerful). omniscience (all-knowing), omnipresence (present everywhere), and sovereignty (in control of all things) —  in the pandemic is.

There are no new revelations in the book, but there is the constant drip of reminders how our actions — otherwise known as sin — contributed to God’s wake up call. For all practical purposes, as Michelle states, “The world was brought to its knees by the One who created the world – God … This is God’s world. We just live in it.”

She gently yet firmly reminds readers in this very secular world, we have created God in our own image and after our own likeness rather than the other way around. “Sin is plaguing our land like never before: idolatry, adultery, murder, sexual immorality, theft, violence … When we reject God, we are headed for destruction — hence, COVID-19.”

While focusing the reflective mirror straight on us {she includes herself as part of “us”}, she also addresses how we have usurped God’s presence in our churches and schools. She also chipped in her two cents worth — with Scriptural backing — on homosexuality, climate change and global warming, persecution of Christians, and the “rich and powerful.”

Michelle concludes by noting “This global pandemic is what can happen when the world rejects its Creator. Sin is the root cause of COVID-19 … In a world full of darkness, we need to turn to the Son. The vaccine that the world needs, most, is a biblical vaccine. The name that is above every name — JESUS.  

The book wraps up with Cole’s own words, “Prayer, minus worry, equals faith in God.” ™ That serves as a prelude to a series of Scripture verses on fear, God’s omnipotence, healing, and the Prayer of Salvation.”

I give the book four solid stars. I ticked one off because it is preaching to the choir and rather predictable, albeit in a well-written and presented format.

COVID-19 by Michelle Cole. Paperback, 54 pages; English; ISBN-10: 0972217363; ISBN-13: 978-0972217361; Publisher: Write World (Aug. 8, 2020). Available at amazon.com/COVID-19-Michelle-Cole/dp/0972217363/ $6.99.

Kindle: File Size  651 KB. Publication Date: Aug. 8, 2020, Publisher  Write World, 1st Edition (August 8, 2020); English; ASIN: B08BK8MTKZ; Word Wise: Enabled; Text-to-Speech: Not enabled; Enhanced Typesetting: Not Enabled; X-Ray: Not Enabled; Lending: Not Enabled. Available at amazon.com/COVID-19-Michelle-Cole-ebook/dp/B08BK8MTKZ/ $4.49 or read with free app.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. — 2 Timothy 1:7

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The Strength or Weakness of Society

Our Words for the Week come as a warning from Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the Russian novelist and Nobel Prize winner.

The strength or weakness of a society depends more on the level of its spiritual life than on its level of industrialization … If a nation’s spiritual energies have been exhausted, it will not be saved from collapse by the most perfect government structure or by any industrial development.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Remember, that of all the elements that comprise a human being, the most important, the most essential, the one that will sustain, transcend, overcome and vanquish obstacles is … SPIRIT — Buddy Ebsen

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Beautiful Feet

Today’s reflection is by Beth Heath and based {loosely} on Isaiah 52:1-7.

When I think of beautiful things, different images come to mind, not a single one of them has anything to do with feet. Feet are not beautiful. Sometimes they are stinky and smelly. To be quite honest, they look a little funny. People spend a lot of time and money covering their feet.

Isaiah 52 reminds us though, when we bring good news, God takes the things that are stinky and smelly and makes them beautiful. I don’t think this verse is referring to smooth heels or perfectly manicured feet. The beautiful feet in Isaiah 52:7 are cracked from lots of walking to deliver the good news. These cracked feet are connected to beautiful people, created in the image of Christ, who are doing exactly what we were created for. These feet are walking with Christ and sharing the Good News: Christ is our hope. That is loving God and loving others.

Today look for ways to be who you are in Christ. Look for ways to have beautiful feet and bring good news of hope to those around you.

Heath penned this for Devotions for Daily Living, a publication of the Church of the Nazarene. Beth and her husband Joe are missionaries with the Church of the Nazarene serving on the Africa South Field in Johannesburg, and traveling  around the field in South Africa, Eswatini (Swaziland), Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Madagascar. Their ministries on the field include coordinating field work and witness, finances, administration, and teaching and training. Beth received a BA in Theology from Trevecca Nazarene University in 2004 and her Masters of Divinity from Nazarene Theological Seminary in 2011. She is an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene. Joe received a BA from Eastern Nazarene College in 2000. They were married June 29, 2013, and have one child, Peter James, born June 13, 2015.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: A smile is a language even a baby understands. It costs nothing but it creates much. It happens in a flash but the memory of it may last forever. Keep smiling.

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In Our Prayers …

As we build this community prayer platform, we ask the Lord to listen to our petitions with full confidence they not only are heard but acted upon by God according to His holy will. These requests are on my prayer list and I hope you consider putting them on yours as you place your petitions before the Lord Sunday.

Approach the throne room and respond with faith and not fear, knowing the promises of God and His mighty hand will hold us through any situation! Sometimes, all it takes is just one prayer to change everything. Something extraordinary happens when two or more agree together in prayer.

What is one of the most important things we should do as Christians? Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18).

And, so, Lord, we come to You with our petitions, knowing and expecting Your will to be done.

Thoughts and prayers to all worldwide suffering from the consequences of coronavirus flu – and all other strains. Many – many – of the prayer requests are covid-19 related … people diagnosed … people sick … people dying … relatives worried and isolated. We are in this together – in prayer!

Please keep the victims of household abuse in your prayers. Whether it be physical, emotional, sexual or neglect, this time in particular is very horrifying for them to be trapped in a house with their abuser(s) and not being able to escape.

We also need to pray for colorblind peace. Racism will remain a plague until we stop looking at people as black and white, but as human beings created by the same Creator. We pray for new eyes, calmer heads, and softer hearts. 

Special prayer requests have been made for orphanages in Kenya, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and right here in the United States. The need is real.

There were also quite a few requests for students and the new school year. We ask, Lord, You bless the students, teachers, and administrators as they face new learning/teaching challenges this year. Keep them safe.

Financial issues were also high on the prayer lists with millions still out of work. Sustain those who are hurting financially. Give us and them our daily bread.

Natural disasters continue. Keep those in the path of fires and storms safe and focused on You, Lord.

Keep Andrew in your prayers as he continues to fight the fight. He contacted me the other day. Things continue to deteriorate. Prayers. Prayers. Prayers.

Please pray for Christian, an 11 year old with cancer.  

Please pray for the Lord’s mercy and grace, and a miracle of healing for little Simon, who was diagnosed with leukemia about three years ago. It had gone into remission, but has recently come back with a vengeance.

Rob is scheduled for his second cochlear implant and asks for prayer.

Karen is experiencing arm problems and could use some prayer.

Debby continues to recover from surgery and is seeking prayers.

Kaleb is recovering from jaw surgery. He is doing well but still needs continued prayers.

There were a host of unspoken prayer requests and we heard of a number of deaths this week. Prayers for their families as they go through this earthly trial. We grieve … heaven rejoices.

We come to You, Lord, because prayer is the least yet the greatest thing we can do for each other. When two or more are gathered in Your name, we confidently know You are with us. What better company can we have? You reign and we trust You! We may be broken and battered but know You heal and quiet the soul. You are the source for all that happens in our lives. We thank You for the progress being made. We thank You for the many blessings we have received this week. Some we unfortunately didn’t notice. Nonetheless, those blessings are ever-present in our lives. We thank You for healing. We thank You for slowing us down. We thank You for providing us our daily needs — no more and no less. We thank You for being with us, listening to us, walking with us on this journey. We thank You for the support of our family and friends … for seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary — sunrises, sunsets, flowers, kids laughing, adventures, good news amid the bad news. We know we can come to You with our concerns and they will be heard. Through Christ all things are possible. We lift up those family members and friends who are battling various physical, emotional, financial, career or spiritual issues and ask not for Your guidance and healing (although that would be welcomed) but to keep reminding us we are not alone in our battles. Specifically we lift up Andrew, Christian, Simon, Rob, Karen, Debby, Kaleb, and all those needing Your healing and guiding touch. We pray for the families of all those You have called home. We grieve … You celebrate. We pray for obedience to Your Will so Your “Son” Light shines through us through the power of the Spirit. And we come to You through the confidence of the words taught by Your Son Jesus. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Keep your joys and concerns coming. They have been and will be included during my prayer time and I trust they will be on your lips as well as you approach the altar. All it takes is a couple of keystrokes under the “Contact Me” button on the top bar {or to the right if you’re not a follower yet}. I hope it becomes your best friend as you navigate around the site so we can all be viable prayer warriors. You can also comment or reach me at wisdomfromafather@gmail.com.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines. — Satchel Paige

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Five Minute Friday — Church

Happy Friday! Time for my Five Minute Friday contribution. Check out the amazing five minute takes by our special community of writers at our Five Minute Friday spot at fiveminutefriday.com. Just start at the Join the Community section, check out and click on the Recent Post tab, pick your topic, and review the links at the end.

I’ve been sharing snippets taken from Five Minute Friday: A Collection of Stories Written in Five Minutes Flat, compiled by Susan Shipe. They are a testament to the value of the exercise. This week, I’ll share some perspective from Jolene who I hope inspires you to check us out or, better yet, try your hand at focused, unscripted writing for just five minutes. And don’t forget to share it with us!

“I stumbled across Five Minute Friday several years ago, when I noticed that several blogs that I read participated in the weekly link up. I checked it out one Friday night, and thought it was a fun idea and a great writing exercise. I didn’t realize then, that it is truly a community. The fellow FMF writers became my friends as we gathered each week and commented on each other’s posts. I have several friends that I would never have met if it had not been for Five Minute Friday. I am blessed to be part of this wonderful community of writers.”

The prompt is CHURCH, yes church. This should be interesting.The timer has been set, so I guess it’s time to GO…

My first thought after hearing the prompt was the old Sunday school nursery rhyme. You know, where you interlock your finger as you say the rhyme, extending first your two index fingers. then opening your hand.

Here’s the church, and here’s the steeple
Open the door and see all the people.

https://youtu.be/-H3E33o4URc

Honestly, as a kid I had trouble with that simple exercise. I kept trying to interlock my chubby fingers tips out, so I just had people’s butts when I opened the doors. I finally did get it — after what seemed like months of practice. However, when I tried it last night, I reverted back to my original attempts.

Seriously though, it has taken me years to understand the message beyond the playtime.

The interlocking fingers represent the church building, be it a grand cathedral with vibrant stained glass everywhere; a modern, bright, airy, contemporary church that lets the Son shine through; or an old, dusty country church with all it’s simplicity. It’s the structure, the brick and mortar, the furnishings and trappings, the nails and morticed corners.

The steeple is significant. It’s the marker that sets the building apart. It identifies the building’s purpose.

But then, you open it up and there are the people. The people. The people. The heart and soul of the church.

It took me a long time to make that connection. Church isn’t the building. It’s the people who make up the church, whether they actually go into the physical building, visit by Zoom, or soak in the presence of God … STOP

in everyday life. Church is sharing and caring — not for the frills or trimmings, but for the message. Church is recognizing a Higher Power in your life. Church is looking inward contemplatively and reflecting that sense of peace and purpose outward.

That little exercise last night reminded me of Paul’s words, When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me — 1 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV). And so it is.

Don’t confuse buildings with heart and soul. Don’t confuse church with Church.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Smile — It increases your face value.

 

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Planned Obsolescence

Today’s appliances and gadgets have a tendency to work … until they don’t. The sad part is they tend to go south just when you need old reliable. It doesn’t matter if it’s a  toaster or the four wheel monster in the garage. Or, in my case, my printer.

Since retiring, the printer doesn’t get a lot of use. I use it to print envelopes, maybe occasional bookmarks, to send postcards to my family and … well, that’s about it. Most of my correspondence is done electronically.

I knew something was up a couple or three weeks ago when the colors lost sharpness and developed a decided streaking pattern. I attributed it to low ink, so I ordered fresh ink from the manufacturer. Big mistake. It took about 10 days to get it delivered to the netherlands (mid Maine, not the country). I should have just drove to the store but I was too lazy to drive the 12 miles and, well, it was Walmart.

At any rate, I loaded the magenta and cyan cartridges {yeah, I had the exclamation point on the ink level bar} and fully expected it to work. Surprise! There was no black. The ink bar indicated it was about three-quarters full but since I had the extra cartridge, I put in a new one. Still no black. I ran the diagnostics {nozzle test and clean heads}. Still no black. I printed a mostly black page. The colors were vibrant, but still no black.

So today I retired the Epson and bought a new printer.

The Epson doesn’t owe me anything. It went with me on my nearly nine month, 7,000 mile zig zag journey across the country to visit all five kids and their families in five states — Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Kentucky, and South Carolina. The last 84 days of the adventure was pretty much sequestered in Bowling Green, KY, thanks to the pandemic. At least once a week — on Fridays when I print the postcards — the Epson would vacate its spot on the back seat floor of the SUV and into whatever child’s house I was visiting. And she trudged through the crisp fall, snowy winter, and hot and humid spring until she could be permanently placed on my desk.

She made have lost a few external plastic parts during the mobile phase, but just hummed along responding to each of my commands. A few weeks ago — right about the time of the ink fiasco — I noticed a few skips in her beat, a change in her printing cadence, a wheeze here, a cough there. So I decided to put her out to pasture. Since I have a tendency not to throw things away — that’s another story — she’ll sit on a shelf in the closet. Hey. You never know. Some day I might need something printed that doesn’t require any black ink.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: We can’t go wrong with joy.

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