THE NEW EWE

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'"

Luke 15:4-6

August 31, 2022

LIFE IN THE FOLD

My brother-in-law, Jimmy, passed away from a brain tumor ten years ago. After his death, his youngest son made a video for the church that Jimmy had been pastoring. This past Sunday, we showed it once again in our Sunday morning service.

The video begins with Jared, dressed as his dad, sitting in a rocking chair sharing his dad's story with a group of young children. The story begins with chapter one, when Jimmy moved his family from Washington to Oklahoma to begin pastoring the deaf church in Tulsa. There were pictures showing things that had happened at the church for each year that he had been pastor; from Christmas programs, to fall parties, to other church related happenings.

As the story ends, he tells the kids that his chapter at the church has ended; and now God was beginning to write chapter two. The video ends with Jimmy (his son) getting up and walking out of the church sanctuary, taking his hat off in a final salute and laying his Bible down. It represented Jimmy's death and home-going to heaven. As he was walking out of the church, his wife, Janie, sat down in the chair that Jimmy had vacated; representing that her time as the church pastor was beginning and it was the start of a new chapter.

This past Sunday, at the end of the video, my sister stood in front of the church and told the congregation that chapter two was coming to a close and it was time for chapter three to begin. She will be retiring, as pastor, the end of September. She has been pastoring the church since Jimmy's death ten years ago, and feels that God has clearly spoken to her that it is time for her to resign and for a new pastor to come and lead the church into the next season.

Each of our lives is like a book. Some people's lives have longer stories with more chapters, while others are more like a short story. While it is true that God has each day of our lives recorded in His book before we were ever born, it doesn't give us an excuse to be lazy and think that we don't have to do anything to fulfill God's story that He has written for us.

I'm sure that most of us can say that God has brought interruptions and added surprising twist and turns to our lives story, that was unexpected. Even though He knows how each chapter begins and ends, we are writing it day by day as we live it out. Sometimes we don't like how the script reads and wish that we could come up with a different story line, or rewrite our story. Other times we are enjoying our life's book and loving how God has written it.

I am an avid reader. There have been times when I've read a book, then the ending is so disappointing and leaves me wishing I'd never read it. Other times I've read a book that is so interesting and good, even though it may have some hardships and be a tear-jerker in places, that I had a hard time putting it down. There are books that I've highly recommended to others afterwards, and it left an impression on me and I've never forgotten it.

That's how it is with our lives. We can live a life that is disappointing and filled with failure and negativity. Without Jesus, the ending will be devastating and horrific. We can live a life that is interesting and filled with adventures and excitement; a life lived with great joy. The majority of us will likely live a life that will have hardships and tears; yet have joys and blessings.

The most important part is to live a life where we have a relationship with Jesus. Let's leave a legacy behind that will leave a positive impression on others, and they will remember us with love and only think of the goodness in our lives.

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

Some people have a problem with understanding that God has written our lives down before we are born. They think that means they don't have any choices because all their choices were made before they know about them. That can become an excuse to make some very horrible choices.

It's true God knows what we will choose before we do. And He knows what will happen to us. That doesn't always mean that He agrees with either. Just read about Noah and almost any part of the Old Testament to see why I think that. We disappoint Him all the time, even if He knows ahead of time that we will.

But that doesn't mean that we aren't making the choices that He already knows. To illustrate, I suggest you think of a number between 1 and 10. And ask two others to also choose a number between 1 and 10. I can predict with fairly high certainty that one of the three of you chose 7. Maybe even all 3. If only one chose 7, then one or both of the other two chose 3. Does that mean that I forced anyone to chose 7 or 3? No. I know enough of human tendencies to know that most people will not just pick the first number that comes to mind. The first number in their head will be 1; just because they heard it first in the request to pick a number. Then they hear 10. They usually reject both because they were chosen for them (as part of the question), and they don't "feel" random. Then they rule out anything that isn't a whole number (until I researched this a little bit, I thought I was about the only one who picks pi=3.14159...) because it seems implied that it shouldn't have any fraction. Then they often rule out even numbers and 5 because they also don't feel random. 9 is too close to 10. That leaves 3 and 7, and most people prefer 7 (according to 2 surveys, 28% or 68%). You could try this in a group. Ask several people to pick 1 to 10, then ask, "Huh... I feel... Who picked '7'?". Then act as though you read their minds when at least one says "me".

Now, my prediction is just based on guess work and simple statistics. God knows us more deeply than that, and knows how we will feel. But it is we who feel, and we who make the choice. So no excuses. Make the right choice even though God knew you would.

ON THE MENEWE:

Brown Sugar Glazed Pork Chops

In a small bowl combine the brown sugar and all the spices; mix well.

Rub the mixture on both sides of the pork chops and set them aside.

Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once the pan is nice and hot, place the pork chops in it and cook for about 4 minutes on each side, or until they are cooked all the way through.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

This story is from 9 years ago, when Jax was 4 years old. Hard to believe that he is now 13!! I was going back through some old newsletters and found this story. I had forgotten about it and thought it was pretty funny. Hope you enjoy it to, and that it brings a smile to your face.

(From February 2013) My great-nephew, Jax, just found out a few days ago what pouting was. His mom didn't buy him a toy when they were at the store when he wanted one. She asked if he was pouting and he asked what pouting was. She told him it was when he acted ugly when he didn't get his way. Later after she checked out, he ran over to the door and said, "Mama, I'm pouting now!" She told him fine, but she was going home. Of course, he said, "I want to go with you! Don't leave me!"

A couple days later he was laying in bed with her one evening and wanted to play on her cell phone. She told him no, that she was using it. The conversation went something like this:

"I'm going to pout!"

"Okay."

"Mama, do I cross my arms like this or like this?"

"It doesn't matter -- either way if fine."

"What else do I need to do?"

"You need to roll your lip down a little bit more."

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

If speaking kindly to plants helps them grow,

imagine what speaking kindly to humans can do. - unknown

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org