Thanksgiving for the harvest is more than child's play

   With November soon upon us, the theme turns thanksgiving. Children will grab crayons to color turkeys and puritans and glue corn onto construction paper in order to hold onto the history of our country. Of course, the first thanksgiving was a celebration of the harvest that enabled their survival. We are nourished by the work of farmers who, in turn, are enabled by the great gift of growth from small seeds planted in the ground.
   The Apostle Paul picks up the language of harvest in his letter to the church in Corinth when he says, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth" (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).  Ironically, he used the image of growth in love and grace to address a particular conflict that had arisen in the church!
   What elements bring about the growth in our hearts? Have we given through to the changes needed in our souls? George MacDonald writes in Life Essential,

The words of the Lord are the seed sown by the sower. Into our hearts they must fall that they may grow. Meditation and prayer must water them, and obedience keep them in the sunlight. Thus will they bear fruit for the Lord's gathering.

Are you regularly allowing the seeds (the Word of God) to take root in your soil (your heart and soul) in order that it may grow (in grace, peace and love)? What is stopping you? You're busy? Too busy to attend to the things that matter? Too busy to invest in the very substance that remains when everything else is gone?
   Find your way to worship on Sundays. Open your bible every morning. Offer a prayer asking God to orient your day around his best desires for you. God loves you.
   Grace and peace, Scott

Back to the Future...But What Has Changed?

   The Associated Press includes this snippet in the news today (Wednesday, October 21):

"The future is today - if "Back to the Future" is to be believed. The celebration of the so-called "Back to the Future" Day on Wednesday marks the date - Oct. 21, 2015 - that the characters Marty McFly, Emmett "Doc" Brown and Jennifer Parker famously journeyed from 1985 to 2015 in the sci-fi film trilogy's second installment in 1989. "Back to the Future Part II" envisioned a colorful 2015 with flying cars, hoverboards and self-tying shoelaces. While those doodads are hardly prevalent today, the film did accurately tease the rise of such technology as flat-screen televisions, biometric scanning and hands-free gaming."

As the article points out, some things have changed in the past twenty-six years, while some hoped-for discoveries or creations haven't yet been achieved. Of course, there is more news for today:

• REP. RYAN SEEKS UNITY FROM HOUSE GOP TO RUN FOR SPEAKER
• SYRIA'S ASSAD BOLSTERED WITH VISIT TO ALLY IN MOSCOW
• ISRAEL'S NETANYAHU HEADS TO BERLIN TO MEET KERRY
• BIDEN'S DECISION EXPECTED AT ANY TIME

While each of these headlines is news to a journalist, I am struck by how none of this is new. Each of these stories, and countless others that will be reported on today, all have a similar theme: people grasping for power in the same-old ways. Ryan would accept power but wants promises. Assad is hoping power can be restored through might and offense. Netanyahu wields power but is like a pendulum always swinging with external forces. And, Biden is hoping that looking like he doesn't want power as much as others will win him the day. Today might be the future, but not much has changed. 

   Contrast today's headlines with some of the teachings of Jesus. He tells Pilate, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above." He teaches the disciples, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth..." and later, "For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” And who can forget when he said, "If someone slaps you on the cheek, offer the other one as well. If someone takes your coat, don't withhold your shirt either."

   The world spins but the news seems to stay the same. Humanity grasps at power while the teachings of the greatest (and most powerful) person to ever live say we should let go and give away. I believe we are confronted with a great choice; what we choose will shape our futures. Grace and Peace, Scott

Two negatives make a positive...only in math, though.

   Most of us remember some of the facts taught us when we went through mathematics classes as teenagers. Still, others of us have relearned these facts as parents whose children are in school. One of these basics of arithmetic states that two negatives make a positive; subtracting a negative number is the same as adding it. 

   However, that's in the world of math. In the rest of the world, it's not always true that doubling up negatives adds to the bottom line. When it comes to attitude and choices, negatives always take away. There are several common things we do to make a big negative impact on our lives. 

   All of this was on my mind when I came across this list of nine examples of negatives that are negative:

1. Blame everyone else for how your life is turning out.
2. Choose to believe people do not like you.
3. Get angry when your plans (even the little one) get interrupted.
4. Hold offenses close to your heart.
5. Refuse to share or give generously.
6. Be suspicious of people's motives, even if they are treating you well. After all, you never know.
7. Keep an eye out for signs that the people around you have more advantages than you.
8. Get mad at God when bad things happen to you.
9. Watch a lot of violent TV and movies.

These are offered by Marilyn Elliott in a list she titles, Nine Ways to Deform Your Soul. In case you skipped straight to the list, let me be clear - don't do these things! 

   May we choose life. May we choose to add value: to our own souls and into the hearts of our loved ones. May we live as bearers of light in a darkened world. Grace and peace, Scott