tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13605204016998688492024-02-06T20:59:48.970-08:00Words From The ParsonageAndria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-75827475992162581462013-10-31T08:25:00.000-07:002013-10-31T08:25:25.597-07:00Was That The Kingdom?! In Luke 19 we see a man 'desperate' to see Jesus - it says he was 'quite rich'. Do the very rich have a kind of lifestyle that is uncommon? Do they have opportunities and resources to take advantage of the world in extraordinary ways? And yet this man was desperate to see Jesus and couldn't get a glimpse of the King who became flesh, so he had to shimmy up a sycamore tree. It says he ran ahead, which was considered undignified in his culture for adults - a man of importance, to run, but Zacchaeus in his moment of desperation threw aside social code. This kind of tree had inferior pieces of fig that only the poor would eat which really adds to this picture of Deity coming into the presence of humanity. But humanity here was indignant, ignoring the King of all hope and mercy; flung their words of judgment and shame in the face of Zacchaeus who was a little stunned at their hatred of him. Maybe he felt their stinging indictments before, but Zacchaeus was so caught up in the presence of Jesus - you know the Godhead who became flesh to walk among us, that their harsh words tried to halt him in his rhythm of joy and gladness. So he apologized and said he gives half of his income to the poor. <em>The Message</em> translation uses the present tense, but other translations indicate it was something he <em>would</em> do. And if I'm caught cheating, he says, I pay four times the damage. Either way, he has encountered the Kingdom of God and it is life altering for him. Jesus confirms all of the activity in the heart of Zacchaeus when He proclaims, "Today is salvation day in this home!"<br />
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But it is so sad what I read in the very next verse. The crowd was getting closer to Jerusalem, because that's where Jesus was headed, and their expectancy was building - oh they were excited because there was all this hope that God's Kingdom would appear any minute. <strong>They Just saw the Kingdom - The Glorious Kingdom had just appeared in that last minute back there on the road! </strong>Who<strong> </strong>else can bring salvation? Zacchaeus, this crook as they called him, was so overcome with desperation because He knew there was something extraordinary about this man in sandals walking his beat, breathing his air and crowding into his space. But they despised this glorious interchange of love and sweetness, profound exhilaration at the top of the tree - shouts of love! " Master, I give..!" He called Him Master, which implies that he had become a servant and he was also compelled to give outrageously and right any wrong. The Kingdom called out to Zacchaeus and his heart was pierced and he embraced that love, the audacious love that overcame social constraints to bring eternal life a life of love that never ends to the man Zacchaeus.<br />
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Ohhh I don't ever want to miss any time the Kingdom comes and spreads wings of unreasonable love over anything, anyone, anywhere, anytime. Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-64789496841526160752013-09-26T10:08:00.000-07:002013-09-26T10:08:09.828-07:00UnprecedentedAs I look at Psalm 4, it reminds me of what I hear in many of the other Psalms - Complaining and Whining. I don't disagree with that sentiment. There are plenty of things that are not right, unbalanced, unfair and down right awful!<br />
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Our Government is whining about their lack of cash flow and they want to borrow more money and add to the trillions of dollars we already owe. What is a trillion dollars anyway?! When I run out of money, I don't buy (most of the time). I can whip out the credit card and delay the pain, but I still have to pay. <br />
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It aggravates me that the Government won't live on a budget. I have to live on a budget. Can they try to change their spending habits?! I know that sounds too simple. So I can whine and complain about what happens in our bureaucracy or I can look for another option. We have to be unprecedented. We have to do something that's unprecedented. The we is the Church. The church must be an unprecedented force.<br />
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Scripture tells me that 'Pure religion is taking care of orphans and widows' (James 1:27). That's a powerful start - the church taking care of the world's orphans?! And the world's widows?! This would be unprecedented.<br />
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A thorough search of the scriptures gives me a recipe for every pain I endure and the suffering I will meet in this world. There is no lack in God and through His Kingdom there is opportunity for me to bring hope to a lost and dying world. So I'm in for the unprecedented in my corner of the world. I will do my part and learn to believe that God does hear me when I cry out in need of answers.<br />
<br />Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-45095418411853542632013-08-29T06:37:00.000-07:002013-08-29T06:37:42.928-07:00You Don't Need a Gym <span style="font-size: large;">You don't need a gym if you have a country road, a dog and a set of free weights. Improvise! My dog gets me up in the morning (if I let her), I don't need a cup of Java or tea. Lili is ready and I've got to get moving before she tears into a possum or worse yet, a skunk! I grab my 5 lb. weights which are laying, waiting, by the front door, and I'm off down a side lane next to a cemetery, surrounded by fields. It's a perfect 'work-out' room- the scenery is incredible and I even have a few inclines, or knolls as they call them here in Southern Indiana. I'll just have to stick with the morning routine and enjoy the benefits!</span>Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-38888369305269805102013-08-22T02:52:00.000-07:002013-08-22T02:52:04.297-07:00Breaking Tradition I ran my hands over the smooth finish of the Walnut case, it's insides covered in felt to protect the pieces of gold-tipped silverware I've held onto for more than twenty years. I saw my father smile as I held the platter filled to the brim with fresh vegies, cut and placed in a circular pattern, their colors bright and cheerful echoing the sentiment of the afternoon. More memories of family gatherings held together by culinary delights raced through my mind. My mother along with others cousins and aunts and a few from my new family brought them to our home as wedding gifts, and I've only used them on holidays - the times of celebration when the house is full of family and friends.<br />
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But the other day I was cooking up a dessert, along with the final prep for dinner and I ran out of serving utensils. It occurred to me that I could use those beautiful pieces of silverware, hidden in that walnut case on the other side of the kitchen in the dining room. So I walked over to the hutch, swung the door wide open and pulled the wooden box away from the linens that were stacked on top. As I lifted open the lid, it was Christmas in July!! It was empowering! I was using my good silverware for an everyday meal!<br />
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They have a new home now, outside of their walnut box, laying in the drawer, mixed in with all of my everyday silverware, making every meal a real treat! Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-59949221372576805052013-04-16T12:29:00.002-07:002013-04-16T12:29:59.718-07:00Help From The DivineAs I turn the final page of <em>Letters From</em> <em>My Friend Teilhard De Chardin, 1948 - 1955</em>, I found myself mourning the loss of a friend I just found inside his essays written with passion, convinced that the evolutionary movement that presses us forward, just as surely drives us upward can only be truly understood in terms of a reach of union with the Divine. I found a beautifully convincing correlation between God and evolution. A Jesuit Priest and French philosopher, Teilhard was a trained paleontologist and geologist who took part in the discovery of Peking Man and Piltdown Man. In his final months before his death, he said to his biographer, friend and colleague as they traveled down familiar streets in NYC back to his residence after lunch, " I can tell you, that I am constantly living in the presence of God!"<br />
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Here was a man of science and theology, a lecturer, missionary, author and a decorated military man who traveled to Africa, China and Asia as a celebrated geologist and scientist. And yet, Rome forbade him to write or teach on philosophical subjects. In 1925, Teilhard was ordered by the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_General" sb_id="ms__id1604" title="Father General">Jesuit Superior General</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wlodimir_Ledochowski" sb_id="ms__id1605" title="Wlodimir Ledochowski">Wlodimir Ledochowski</a> to leave his teaching position in France and to sign a statement withdrawing his controversial statements regarding the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_Sin" sb_id="ms__id1606" title="Original Sin">doctrine of original sin</a>. Rather than leave the Jesuit order, Teilhard signed the statement and left for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China" sb_id="ms__id1607" title="China">China</a>.This was the first of a series of condemnations by certain <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecclesiastical" sb_id="ms__id1609" title="Ecclesiastical">ecclesiastical</a> officials that would continue until long after Teilhard's death. The climax of these condemnations came in 1962, seven years after his death, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monitum" sb_id="ms__id1610" title="Monitum">monitum</a> (reprimand) of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregation_for_the_Doctrine_of_the_Faith" sb_id="ms__id1611" title="Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith">Holy Office</a> denouncing his works.<br />
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Even though he was unrecognized, cast down and abandoned, Teilhard never lost his love for God. It appears only to have enriched his supreme devotion to God and the mystery of the Divine. I take courage from this blessed life. I can't even remember what brought me to his name. He is a mystery to me and yet I believe it would be helpful to try and understand his unreasonable attraction to the Divine that kept him focused. I may need a revelation! Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-61509208187908936372013-01-03T07:08:00.000-08:002013-01-03T07:08:44.767-08:00Just Say No To a New Year's Resolution! I used to cave under all the hype around New Years resolutions - not any more!! Why expose myself to all those feelings of guilt when I break that resolve the second day into the year, because it was sooo depressing the first day when I couldn't stay in my 'resolve' for 24 hours!!<br />
A couple of weeks ago I was reading Colossians 3:12-17, and it occurred to me that these few, but powerful verses could be a 'way of living' for me. A goal I would endeavor to live by for the rest of my life as I am able, and as I learn to live in the joy of Jesus' presence. It's one thing to live happily ever after in my own home surrounded by friends and family, but the 'happily ever after' gets a real beating in life when I engage in life with others in the culture around me.<br />
Petterson writes in Colossians 3 to 'dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: Compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense.' These evoke such beautiful pictures of harmony and understanding, especially, dressing in quiet strength - I love that!<br />
My husband has gone into a store and picked out the most perect outfit for me to wear - something I would never have tried on. I'm not sure that happens often with other couples. And he also has missed it completely, pulling out something he likes, but it's not really <em>my style</em>. I want to be in style - in sync - with the creator of the universe, who holds the world in the palm of His hands and has the number of hairs on my head numbered. <br />
I believe quiet strength, kindness, compassion, even-tempered and humility look good on everyone, in any culture, any age at any time of any day of the week. It's not a New Year's resolution, but a new way of life. And when I don't make the mark in every situation, I know that I can start all over again tomorrow, livng in the joy and forgiveness of the One who made me whole and complete.Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-8388390217667497462012-12-21T04:56:00.002-08:002012-12-21T14:19:39.882-08:00Christmas Past<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: EN; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-default-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> '</span>Whose woods these are I think I know<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: EN; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-default-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";">His house is in the village though<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: EN; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-default-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";">He will not see me stopping here<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: EN; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-default-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To watch his woods fill up with snow'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; language: EN; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-default-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";">I was admiring the snow glistening in the sunlight this morning, laying a thin white blanket over the frozen ground when I saw these words hanging on the walls of my memories like pictures framed up in my young days of childhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Robert Frost was one of the first poems my father and I memorized together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can see him sitting on the couch and me leaning in close toward his lap, careful not to crowd him - we three kids clamoring for his attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad opened the world of poetry to me, and considered it important to bring the joy of writing words that carried strong emotion or simple thoughts clinging together in stories and adventures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We traveled on roads filled with characters cajoling one another, or enjoyed beauty lingering as a backdrop to Mother Nature’s symphony of colorful sunsets, cascading waterfalls, or winter on mountains tops before spring flowers peeked out from snowcapped crests. After a while, my imagination knew no limits and wandered down the streets of possibility.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; language: EN; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-default-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember riding the train downtown with dad and visiting his studio where he worked as a commercial artist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can still see the trail of his cigar smoke as he puffed and drew a line, or dabbed a stroke of color on his painting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom worked as a secretary at the studio when they met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She made him a very happy man, because the only thing I noticed in the photos on their wedding day was a smile that filled half his face – nothing but smiles in every picture that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; language: EN; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-default-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Presents from dad were special, because he worked many days past dinner and brought work home too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when he took time to shop, well, it was a real treasure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He shared his art with us, and that’s when my modeling career began while posing for a Louis Lamoure book cover, or holding up my cardboard box of laundry detergent with a look of cleaning determination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Modeling began and ended at 2933 West 183</span><sup><span style="color: red; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; language: EN; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-default-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";">rd</span></sup><span style="color: red; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; language: EN; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-default-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-latin-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";"> street which was home for more than 50 Christmas’ for me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One year we had the most perfect Christmas tree when we chopped down a pretty little evergreen from our front yard to make room for a turn-a-round in the drive way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just the right height for our living room and full of beautiful branches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe that was the year we began using garland instead of tinsel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-8030795900125892802012-12-17T08:30:00.001-08:002012-12-17T08:30:23.441-08:00
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Batang","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Iskoola Pota";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The season of
Christmas is one of the best times of the year to reminisce and review the
wonder and magic of time spent with family and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are so many friends God has brought
across my path that have added moments of great joy and assurance that I really
never walk alone in my life’s journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One such friend was Valeda, whom I met when I moved to Anderson 3 years
ago and had the privilege of spending time together, on what would be her last
Christmas eve – she was 98 years old. I was so inspired by her life’s story
that night that I wrote these words to remember her life.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Batang","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Iskoola Pota";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I can hear the blades of her sleigh
cutting through crusty, hard, cold snow, clinging to the silence in the
moonlight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cold is pressing in,
fighting it’s way past her muffler, wool scarf, boots and blanket she had wrapped
up in that beautiful night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bright
gleam of moonlight was blazing a trail past the woods and up the glen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh how she adored those sleigh rides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Batang","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Iskoola Pota";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Nothing compares to
that experience,” she mused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could see
her breath hanging in the crisp, cold air as they sped along listening to the
clip-clop of horse’s hooves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Batang","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Iskoola Pota";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Could you hear that
sound on the snow?” I asked Valeda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Batang","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Iskoola Pota";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh yes!” she said,
as she looked beyond me to the scene in her mind hanging on the walls of her
memory like pictures framed in the early years of her childhood.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Batang","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Iskoola Pota";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I slept on a hay mattress, and you wouldn’t
think it so, but it was warm, or at least that’s how I remember it,” she said. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Batang","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Iskoola Pota";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I could
almost feel her hay mattress, the smell of straw filling my mind with her summers
on the farm, pulling weeds, or picking turnips, parsnips and potatoes. Their
meals consisted of all<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>they harvested
from their garden and some of this produce was traded with their neighbors who
had cows, goats and sheep for milk and meat. I tried to remember that blend of
herbs she was so fond of cooking… what was it? A blend of dandelion leaves,
burdock and something else? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t
remember, but she did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think she tasted
the blend of those wilted leaves in bacon grease; the thought of smelling that aroma
brought her back into the kitchen where her mother hung clothes to dry by the
heat of the fire.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Batang","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Iskoola Pota";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Valeda turned her
head to catch the birds chirping in her memories, acknowledging she hears their
singing with raised eyebrows and a wide contagious smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She loved to hear birds singing their melodies
and opened her windows in the summer to feel warm breezes against her face. It
brought comfort to her just like the strands of memories that weaved a colorful
and vivid tapestry of her life. Most anything could stir up a memory, sometimes
as far back as a small child, remembering a Christmas when she was 3 years old,
sitting on her mother’s lap while she read, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Little Red Hen</i>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Batang","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Iskoola Pota";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her life was an inspiration to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She loved all of us who had the privilege of
spending time with her in her home and we loved her as she shared her thoughts
and feelings, composing every emotion of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were significant and detailed musings
about her life growing up on a farm, her perspective on all kinds of issues at
home and abroad, and the intense love and adoration she had for her family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved her stubbornness because it proved to
be an incredible asset for her as she talked herself out of being discouraged
while she was bed-ridden those last few months of her life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her faith was remarkably strong and I was
privileged to call her friend. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-79789186975836775892012-07-25T10:21:00.001-07:002012-07-25T10:21:33.386-07:00Is This Revival?!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve been praying for Revival off and on for more than 20
years, as far as I can remember. But sometimes, I’ve experienced a work of God
that is very exciting, and I really don’t realize that it has the elements of
revival, until I’ve stepped back from the experience and reviewed the moments
with a colleague or friend. I suppose I need to ask, what is revival? There is
much written about the phenomenon, and there are many reports of revival
breaking out in previous centuries on the east coast, reports of meetings where
many are healed and delivered in Africa, places in the Middle East have
reported enthusiastic experiences by Christians living on the edge, or in
persecution or being miraculously<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>saved
from despair and humiliation. Not everything that is happening gets recorded.
In John 20:30 it says that Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his
disciples, which are not recorded in this book. So I can safely assume that
revival is experiencing something done by Jesus (God, Holy Spirit), and we
don’t always hear about it. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saturday my pastor was asked to talk with a man, 61 years
old, who was very sick and during that meeting the man prayed a prayer of
salvation, asking God to forgive him of any transgressions and invited Jesus to
come and reside with him, in his heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Monday, the man left this life and was swept up into the arms of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Revival?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Awesome timing!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next evening, I stopped in and caught the tail end of
our evening bible study and we spoke about this timely confession of faith
before this man died, and a parishioner in our bible study, with tears in his
eyes spoke about something that was recorded in a magazine about what a heavy
metal musician said, expressing his viewpoints on dying. It wasn’t very hopeful
or full of faith. This parishioner was overwhelmed with compassion for this
musician whose music he really loved. He just couldn’t believe this musician
spoke so callously about death, even his own death, which occurred in the
unforeseen future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I said, in
Revelation 1:18 it says, “….I was dead, and see I am alive forever and ever;
and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” That says to me that the keys give
Christ access into Hell (Hades) and if Christ Himself overcame death on the
cross, He can go to Hell and save us. Now, this may not line up with theology,
but I can’t imagine God ignoring my bible study companion’s heart of compassion
filled with love for this musician! Just the thought of this possibility is
rather reviving to my heart!!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today, I’m working on a new project to bring hope into our
neighborhood, and I’m feeling rather excited, believing God to do a work of
revival in our neck of the woods today! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-21141591938594449982012-06-12T11:41:00.000-07:002012-06-12T11:45:39.523-07:00A Tribute To My Father<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I remember most mornings before school hearing <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the music of popular composers and jazz
artists blowing their horns; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>opera
singers belting out chorus and verse of songs, as we sat eating <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- the notes and rhythms cascading around the
breakfast table. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Music was the
background to my morning routine. To this day I’m drawn to these musicians and
their creative rush of melody and song.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I remember how much you enjoyed the classics, and we were
brought into your world, living in this creative culture of beauty and sound
that seemed to help you harness your artistic passion. It is a passion that is
full of courageous expression of inward enthusiasms. I wonder just how many illustrations,
paintings, drawings and sketches you have brought to life on canvas, or in your
sculptured bronze patinas.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Thanks for staying in your creative zone dad, and bringing
to us the imaginative energies of your gift that gave me hope to find my own
passions in life.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></i></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Father’s Day<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-34379907664069628042012-05-30T09:43:00.000-07:002012-05-30T09:43:15.843-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Crushing the Enemy Part ll</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Abraham believed God. Now the miracle with Abraham happened after he believed. And because he believed God, he acted. I don't think he acted on a presumption, he responded to the dream God gave him. So I ask myself, what is it that God is telling me? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We live in a neighborhood that is lonely for God. I have a neighbor whose daughter is in the first grade, and attends our Kids Club that meets during the school year. I saw her Grandmother who also lives in our neighborhood on election day and she was concerned that Kids Clubs was ending for the summer. She also said she liked my sandals! My first thought was to take them off my feet and give them to her, but these were my best pair of flat shoes for the summer and I wore them practically everyday, so I changed my mind and asked her what size she wore. A few hours later I was chatting with those who attend our bible study and talked about Grandma admiring my sandals and asking for a summer program for her grand-daughter. I wanted to teach something, but had so many committments for the summer I couldn't do it every week. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> "Why don't you do something once a month and have 3 sessions for the summer?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I thought, I could do that! Then someone chipped in money for a bible for the grand-daughter and another said her son (who works in a shoe store) could get a pair of sandals the same color as mine in the right size for grandma.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The pastor gave the bible to the first-grader and I really wanted to tell her how much God loved her more than anyone else could love her and the next morning, I was on my way to my local grocer and there she was sitting on the side of the road waiting for the bus with her bible in hand! So I had a little chat with her and told her what was jangling around in my heart about how much God loves her!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Like Abraham, I'm a beleiver, too!</span><br />Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-68600177219477126942012-04-14T07:56:00.000-07:002012-04-14T07:56:13.499-07:00Crushing the Enemy, Part ISunday is the second Sunday of Easter, and one of the scriptures from the Lectionary resource uses 1 John 2:2. The Message says we have a priest-Friend in the presence of the Father: Jesus Christ...I was considering this word, priest, and the first time priest is mentioned, linked to something holy, as in God, was in Genesis 14. Melchezidek, King of Salem was priest of the High God. In this chapter it also talks about the exploits of Abram, before he had his name changed by God to Abraham. He defeats Kedorlaomer, King of Elam. This was no small feat. King Kedorlaomer was an oppressive King and also had an alliance with King Amraphel, Arioch and Elam and the Tidal King of Goiim. They fought the King of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela. But in the thirteenth year, all these that had been attacked, came together and revolted against their attackers. Again, King Kedorlaomer and all those kings allied with him, defeated Repaim, Zuzim, Emim, the Horites,the Amelekites and the Amorites.<br />
<br />
Enough of this! And it says the King of Sodom, King of Gomorrah, King of Admah, King of Zeboiim, and King of Bela marched out and drew battle against their enemies in the valley of Siddim - it was against the great oppressor, King Kedorlaomer and his allies: Tidal King of Goiim, Amraphel King of Shinar and Arioch King of Ellasar.<br />
<br />
But an interesting thing happened. This Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and it says when the Kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell into the tar pits. I wonder why they fled? And all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, all their food and equipment was confiscated or captured by their victors, King Kedorlaomer and his allies.<br />
<br />
Now, Abram found out about the fighting and plundering by King Kedorlaomer and his allies from a fugitive who came to Abram with news that his nephew, Lot was taken prisoner. I don't think Abram even considered a diplomatic meeting with the captors to reason with them about the importance of this man, Lot, to Abram. Instead, he counted up those that were born in his household and it was a total of 318 servants - men servants. The Kings of Sodom and Gomorrah with all of their men fled before the King Kedorlaomer and his allies, so, was it a large army of fighters? Even so, Abram got up with his 318 men and chased his captors all the way to Dan. Abram was settled in Hebron which is approximately 120 miles south of Dan. If the 318 men could walk 40 miles per day that would be 3 days to Dan. But how did these men eat, and how/where did they rest? Maybe this is ambitious to think they could travel this far in such a short time, but it is interesting to think about them traveling such a distance, and all the while wondering how they were going to go up against an enemy who was I'm assuming, much bigger than they were. They were coming up against groups of Kings and their Kingdoms.<br />
<br />
But Abram was a smart warrior. He split his men into two groups and attacked under the cover of night, chasing their enemy all the way to Hobah, just north of Damascus - about 35 miles. They had traveled more than 150 miles, attacked their enemy and recovered all the plunder, along with his nephew Lot, and his possessions, including the women and people.<br />
<br />
When Abram returned, Melchizadek, King of Salem, priest of The High God, blessed him and brought out bread and wine. Melchizadek recognized that God was with Abram. He was a mighty warrior. He conquered all the heathen kings as well as priestly kings. He was completely successful. Not one of Abram's men or allies was lost and the spoils and prisoners recaptured. Bible commentators have said great generals have adopted his tactics - Themistocles of Greece, having persuaded Athens to build a navy which went on to defeat Persia, Belisarius, a Byzantine general who led Imperial armies against Persia, N. Africa and the barbarian tribes encroaching upon Constantinople, Oliver Cromwell, who was convinced that he would be guided to carry out God's purpose, ended war with Portugal, Holland and defeated Spain with his Calvary known as 'ironsides', and even to our own generals, Stonewall, Jackson and Sherman.<br />
<br />
Abram has quite a resume if you will an incredible track record, defeating the enemy. But I am constrained to think that there was something to this living in and for the Kingdom of God that is much more precious and stirring to God than the crushing of our enemies.<br />
<br />
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Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-67894381466879159312012-02-20T11:50:00.000-08:002012-02-20T11:50:05.938-08:00Pruning, Cutting and Downsizing<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I read John 15, I see 4 points I would like to highlight:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus is the vine</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God is the Farmer</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unfruitful branches are cut off</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fruitful branches are pruned <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">so that they will bear more fruit</b></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It always begins with God, more specifically; humanity begins with Christ, who poured out His life so we could get to God. God is the Farmer. A farmer is hoeing and tilling up the ground, preparing it for seed and then caring and tending to what is growing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The farmer prunes every branch that is producing so that it will bear more fruit and cuts off every branch that doesn’t bear fruit. He tells us how he prunes – nothing is left to our guessing. He says we are already pruned back by the message he has spoken. When we hear, really hear these words, it does something to our hearts. That’s the living action of the Word of God. Pruning and cutting off are the main actions of these few verses, not the being <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fruitful</i>. Actually it says we are to be <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">more</b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fruitful.</i> The fruit in this chapter is maturity, “maturing as my disciples”. Most of the action is in down-sizing! There is a bon-fire that burns up the deadwood; those branches that are not connected to the vine, to Jesus who is the source of life, which literally is love.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Verse 5 says, “when you’re<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> joined</b> with me and<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> I</b> with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. I don’t think God wants us to use a ‘how to’ manual to get some fruit growing so we can be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fruitful.</i> The fruit just grows out of this relationship in the vine, this wonderful, intimate, organic love affair that matures. I suppose, if you have to have a manual, it would be a manual about having a relationship with eternal love. Not a manual about getting saved, but the everyday, living, breathing, being transformed into the image of God life of a disciple, who is maturing. There is no work on our part to salvation – it was completed on the cross, but the maturing as a disciple is the work in John 15. So get ready for those pruning sheers and enjoy the new look!</span></div>Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-2406890365201607672011-12-03T10:17:00.000-08:002011-12-03T10:17:19.436-08:00Holy Communion - Remembering Christ’s Death<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> For many years I have tried to grasp the magnificence of such a gift God has given to mankind by presenting His son to the world, who dwelt on this planet in skin like us that was ripped apart - sinew, bone and ligament; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>severed from His father, racked in the severest of pain, to die broken in body and maybe even in <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His spirit. He was fatally pierced for something He never did. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For many years I have pondered, thought about, and even at times anguished over my inability to grasp the very essence of this cruelty that changed the very course of humanity from damned death to life. I’ve had such remorse at times to know that I lack the intimacy needed to feel and be moved at depths worthy of this magnanimous action of will on the cross. Will I ever be provoked by such a willingness to choose what seemed, can I say it – ridiculous, audacious?! </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> I have yet to fulfill what I am called into, but I drink deeply in anticipation, racing to the call. I was asked to serve communion, but I’m just beginning the licensing process, with several months of preparation and lack credential.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve put myself under the authority of this process outlined in the church discipline, submitting myself to the process. And then I saw something. When Christ said He only did what the Master told Him to do, that’s what He did. He wasn’t moved by someone’s whim or wants, and yet, because He was God, we see in the scripture that when He was moved with compassion, He acted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now this is quite a mystery for me. It’s enough to chew on for a lifetime, maybe forever!</span></div>Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-54449450341071122302011-09-11T14:50:00.000-07:002011-09-11T14:58:20.099-07:00Post 9/11<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Yesterday, on the eve of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, our morning routine was shattered by a loud bang. Our hearts broke when we saw and heard the ambulance taking the victim of a gun shot wound to the hospital. It was a reminder that we live in a world, hostile to grace, filled with war and divisions. I don’t know what caused an individual to pull the trigger and shoot someone a block away from me, and neither do I understand the complexities and the tyranny of judgment someone has against another because they have different lifestyles, beliefs and cultural norms. It’s the breeding ground for hatred and animosity. God really doesn’t need our help in judgment. If anyone had the right to retaliate and take matters into His own hands against the humanity that bludgeoned Him and hung Him on a cross to die, it was the Christ - there was no sin in Him. He was perfect, and yet His life was offensive to those who didn’t believe. It’s hard to keep weapons of anger, hate and suspicion in the face of love. In this post 9/11 world, we can be the first to offer peace.</span> </span></span>Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-82955524188438270462011-09-07T13:38:00.000-07:002011-09-07T13:44:23.201-07:00What Can I Fulfill?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Fulfill</i> is to bring to realization, or satisfy requirements or obligations, to bring to completion, or develop the full potential. The King James version says in Matthew 5:17 that Christ came to fulfill the law. I never questioned the completion of His suffering on the cross. What He did was complete. So complete that I couldn’t add to it or diminish it by what I do or don’t do. But then I heard another scripture Sunday morning from Romans 13:8b, in that same translation that says, for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. I had to think about that. The Message translation says we have a huge debt of love we owe each other, and when we love others, we complete what the law has been after all along. This has really challenged my way of thinking! It seems clear to me that Christ hanging on the cross and spilling His blood and life over and over again for my tendency to sin was not the only act that fulfilled the law. I do have a clean slate and don’t have to carry around my sins, but I do have a debt. I thought all was forgiven? Yes I believe that is correct, but as I enter into that forgiveness, I also have a debt. What comes to my mind is the National debt, which is a few trillion dollars and increasing by the minute. If we divide that debt among all of us, financial experts say, that would be $23,000.00 per person. </span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> It’s not that kind of debt. This debt of love is not something I take out of the bank or store in a vault. Because I have been forgiven much and I’m forgiven again and again, over and over, I owe a debt. A debt to love in a way that I have been loved when I have been forgiven. It really is exciting to know that I do walk with a clean slate and have been forgiven for my continual weakness’, but it’s still a pretty big mystery to me – and I suppose you may have to ask yourself, what does that debt of love mean to me?</span> </span></div>Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-87706701833256566682011-09-03T12:15:00.000-07:002011-09-03T12:15:23.492-07:00“Love From a Full Tank”<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Berling Antiqua","serif";"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Romans 12: 9-21</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Berling Antiqua","serif";"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">You just had to be there to get the full effect and to feel the energy and sweetness that was among us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s how it was on Sunday. It all began when we pulled into Starbucks for our ‘caffeine charge’- bold African that morning, but when we were ready to head out to our first ‘gig’ (Harley preaches at 2 locations every Sunday) we couldn’t start the car. We had a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>full tank of gas but it wouldn’t even turn over. We opened the hood to stare at the big dark masses, like we know anything about them?! We immediately start calling for a ride, trying not to fret about the car stalling (after we plunked down $5000 for a rebuilt engine 3 months ago.) <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Berling Antiqua","serif";"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pretty much, nothing happens without the Pastor, so Harley was getting kind of anxious and nervous about being late, or missing the first service entirely. But he heard this small voice inside say, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Are you going to trust me?”</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Berling Antiqua","serif";"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an unforeseen predicament – he didn’t plan this untimely breakdown, nonetheless Harley started to get anxious trying to figure his way out of our predicament. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> He called </span>Bob from church who came right away to our aid after he called John (church soundman) to let him know what was going on. Now John was still at home because he woke up late and just told his wife that he was probably going to stay at home because it would be too late by the time he got ready. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he heard the pastor was running late, he revved up his engine and headed to church. The jumper cables worked like a charm on our car, and we headed down the road to church.</span></span></span></div><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Berling Antiqua","serif";"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">So Dan happens to be the illustration for his sermon. He really doesn’t like to be the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">living sacrifice</i>, but it was a good example! But I have to back up, because it wasn’t the first time he heard that question this past week-end. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dan worked a shift at the motor GP in Indianapolis, and Friday morning he miscalculated his time and set his alarm for the time he should <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">leave</i>, arriving 45 minutes late with high octane anxiety running through his nervous system. But it just so happened he walked in right behind the other worker in his booth! <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Everyone</i> was running late. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Berling Antiqua","serif";">You can trust me! </span></i><span style="font-family: "Berling Antiqua","serif";">That’s what the small voice said to him over the week-end! He even got a free ticket for his wife (that would be me) to attend Motor GP Sunday afternoon. Everyone at church was chatting about the sufficiency of God during the preliminary activities before the sermon, which almost turned into the sermon due to the time factor; but the conversations were pertinent, illustrating and reminding us of God’s sufficiency.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Berling Antiqua","serif";"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am still amazed at how much God cares for us, even down to the smallest of details. How much turmoil is in the world? Who’s going without food today? How many are fighting and what are they fighting about? God knows and cares - down to the smallest detail. Nothing escapes His attention.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></span></div>Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-84013370252517625702011-05-07T11:58:00.000-07:002011-05-07T11:58:33.136-07:00Parade People -Matthew 21:1-11Why was it such a surprise for some? Parades usually aren't a surprise, and not everyone was happy about the whole outdoor procession. Others were asking, "What's He doing?" Jerusalem should have known the Messiah was coming - but they didn't like the 'interruption'. They were irritated. This King interrupted their plans. But often we plan poorly. It's heart-breaking that what could have been a lavish, victorious celebration, became an upheaval. It was a divided experience. <br />
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What do we have to do to celebrate God's way? Expect God to interrupt our plans regularly. Let God give us His ideas. Crucifixion looked like a bad choice! The worst choices we humans can make will not mess up God's intentions or the Son of God being King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Welcome interruption as God's hand - believe that God has the upper hand. Follow Him in joy and get in the front of the parade! The Kingdom of God is 'already upon us' so let's prepare for the parade because we're parade people!<br />
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Excerpts from Harley's sermon April 17, 2011<br />
<a href="http://www.fifthstreetumc.org/">http://www.fifthstreetumc.org/</a><br />
eaglesridethewind.blogspot.com/Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-88741735923407874052011-04-11T10:03:00.000-07:002011-04-13T06:33:22.851-07:00BonesEzekiel describes his vision in chapter 37, of a valley of dry bones that were not buried, but scattered, picked clean and destroyed. They were dismembered bone chips. There was no skin on those bones for protection. We can't live without skin, it keeps boundaries. It's also a barrier that allows for absorption. Neither was there a spine or backbone. They weren't standing for anything in that dry desert. Muscle was long gone from those bones indicating perhaps, a lack of spiritual strength. And most importantly, there was no breath, or spirit, God's Spirit.<br />
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How did this happen? Long before Ezekiel had this vision, God told him to eat <em>'this book',</em> eat the Word of God. We are consuming all the time - feeding on something. When we feed on God's Word - feast on it, we are nourished. This dead jumble of bones, or army as some commentators call them, had starved themselves to death.<br />
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Instead of digesting God's Word, there is the temptation to eat 'bad food' or just fill up on junk food. We have access to plenty of stories, teachings and prophesies in the bible that are true and pertinent to the world we live in today. We live in a devastated world. Where are God's people in these times? We don't ignore the chaos, but believe in resurrection for Egypt, Syria, Japan, Libya, Afganistan, Ivory Coast and the list goes on and on. Ezekiel saw a picture of resurrection power. And this is the kind of power we need today.<br />
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Excerpts from Harley's sermon 4.10.11 Ezekiel 37:1-14<br />
<a href="http://eaglesridethewind.blogspot.com/">http://eaglesridethewind.blogspot.com/</a><br />
fifthstreetumc.orgAndria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-23890212040380614102011-03-22T07:30:00.000-07:002011-03-22T07:30:30.010-07:00Life Begins at 70 For Abraham!"Life began for Abraham at age 70", writes Eugene Pederson in <em>The Way of Jesus</em>. I know I don't want to wait until I'm in my 70's to do something significant with my life or to have some kind of impact in the Kingdom of God, but Pastor Harley says we have to ask the right question. It's not what can I do for God, but what is God doing and what's my part? You might say, God is a 'live-stream' and we jump into it and get involved with what God is accomplishing. And it's more than positive-thinking says Pastor Harley, it's thinking Godly. <br />
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Paul is reviewing the life of Abraham, on his journey into faith, who was not alone in his quest for faith. One time God intervened, and alerted an agnostic king who was about to sleep with Abraham's wife. Abraham lied, and told the king, Abimelech, that Sarah was his sister. In spite of his doubts, God used Abraham mightily - he was a father of many nations. What is remarkable about this is that Sarah was childless until she was very old, past her child-bearing years. Actually she was at least 90 years old when she bore her first son, Isaac. For Abraham, having his own family looked impossible, it was impossible. But God promised the impossible and made good on it.<br />
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"Plug into the success of all eternity." <br />
Excerpts from Pastor Harley's sermon 3.18.11 Romans 4:1-5; 13-17<br />
<a href="http://eaglesridethewind.blogspot.com/">http://eaglesridethewind.blogspot.com</a><br />
fifthstreetumc.orgAndria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-42060419605449682272011-03-12T07:10:00.000-08:002011-03-12T07:10:27.923-08:00Ways and MeansYou might say the <em>Ways and Means Committee</em> gives us a charge in Matthew 28: <br />
“Go out and train everyone you meet far and near in this way of life.”<br />
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When you read an instruction manual, sometimes you might have trouble understanding the next step - it just doesn't make sense, and you wonder, "Did I miss a step?" Or you may have trouble hearing the person giving you instructions over the phone. But it’s very different when you have a person right next to you, in the flesh, going through each step. Here is Jesus who shows us the way, who is <em>The Way</em>. He is the center. <br />
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We are all very different and unique – extremely unique, and God speaks to every one of us, in every different culture. He has a way for us. There are so many possibilities and ideas within cultures throughout the world, but we can watch Jesus because He has <em>A Way</em>. He uses concepts everyone can deal with and understand. For example, He tells stories using water, a rock, a fish, and grain. <br />
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Now Jesus says to think of Him as the Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7). And He also tells us how to treat the world – there’s hunger, so take what you have and feed them (Mark 8:5). When people came to try and trap Him and get him into trouble with the law, Jesus said, “Give me a coin.” And there was Caesar, so Jesus said to give Caesar what’s his and to God, what is His (Luke 20:25).<br />
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Jesus also said not to get caught up in critiquing the different ways of expression, when He said, “If they’re not against us, they’re for us!” (Mark 9:40) <br />
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Beginning this past Wednesday, for 40 days, Christianity denies themselves to try and remember what God did for them. It is the way of love.<br />
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This is an excerpt from a sermon dated 3/06/11Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-56512720846111692432011-03-04T07:45:00.000-08:002011-03-04T07:45:02.339-08:00The Quest For Freedom<span style="color: #741b47;">Egypt isn't the only place struggling under the chaos of oppression and the inspiration found in the pursuit of freedom. I watched an extraordinary production of <em>Les Miserables</em> this week-end and was stirred to think similar events of revolutionary proportions are occurring around the globe.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">Peterson describes revolution as "holy" - to sum it up: something spiritually blazing and extravagant and glorious. He was talking specifically about the French Revolution, even though he had little idea of what was involved in an actual revolution. After he had been pastor for a few years, it came to him after observing people in his congregations that holy was to Christian what revolution was to the French in the 18th century, the energy that created a community of free men and women plunged into a new life.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">Apart from the death and all the suffering, revolution looks inviting especially if it creates a new community. But it's not without cost.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;"></span>Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-11486420728835429422011-02-28T03:17:00.000-08:002011-02-28T03:17:53.864-08:00A Corinthian Lifestyle<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Paul has written a letter in 1 Corinthians, chapter one, to a church he began on a small, 4 mile isthmus, connecting the north and south parts of Greece together. It was small in size, but Corinth had a big reputation for serving up a good time to rich merchants and sailors. Every nation in the civilized world, Arabia, Phoenicia, Libya, Babylonia, Cilicia, Lycao and Phrygia all had reason to visit this small, but very important piece of property, because it linked them to Rome. Instead of sailing around Italy, sailors saved 202 miles by hauling boats and their goods across Corinth, and launching them on the other side of the island. Corinth had much to offer a tired, hungry and lonely sailor. There was the temple of Aphrodite that loomed above Corinth, on the hill of the Acropolis, home to the goddess of love and her 1000 sacred prostitutes. But there was nothing sacred about their evening journey to work their sex trade on the streets of Corinth. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Paul is addressing certain actions that are everywhere evident in our culture today. I don’t know about your town, but we have more bars than grocery stores, only 50% of our teens graduate from high school (CASA 2010), and there are a host of habits and addictions keeping us from holy. I like the way Eugene Peterson decribes holy in Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places, as something blazing - a community bonfire. But is there a desire to be holy in our culture today? We want heroes and idols, but do we want holy?</span>Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-46547089494486114932011-02-17T09:03:00.000-08:002011-02-17T09:03:46.296-08:00History Repeats Itself Again<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: small;"> It’s not the first time Egyptians have been oppressed. Possibly, sometime between 1300-1200 BC Moses was given charge over approximately 1.5 million complaining people. They were oppressed by Egyptian leadership. The book of Exodus describes a God who saw this evil oppression and was intensely personal in His response. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He hears their cry in the midst of their oppression and comes down to rescue and deliver them from the power of the corrupt Egyptian leadership. God also gave them a picture of where they were going – into a land that was already occupied. They will have to fight to get it back. It could be described as a '12-step' plan. This didn't happen overnight. Like an alcoholic who has given over the land of his mind, body and soul to consumption, he must fight and battle his way back to possess the territory of his heart. Once again, Egyptians are fighting oppression and I hope and pray they receive their land.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1360520401699868849.post-38473227113547161652011-02-03T11:59:00.000-08:002011-02-05T12:01:31.513-08:00"Write With Precision and Restraint"<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week on PBS Newshour, Art Beat, Journalist and Author, Roger Rosenblatt talked about his new book, <em>Unless it Moves The Heart, The Craft and Art of Writing.</em> He believes that what we write must be useful to the world, and it’s important, because what we write can make suffering endurable, evil intelligible, justice desirable and love possible. He is teaching the craft of writing because he wants to give himself to others for an hour or two each week, and encourages others to do the same – give to others. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The noun he says is important. Emerson said the noun carries its own power, and Twain said a writer must find the right word, because it’s the difference between the lightening bug and the lightening. And so Rosenblatt tells his students that they are in the lightening business, and so, strive for anticipation rather than surprise, imagination rather than invention and make the world better. He calls this the ultimate definition of useful. </span>Andria Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18391281281713955098noreply@blogger.com3