Prayers

"Yea, all kings shall fall down before Him: all nations shall serve Him."
Psalm 72:11

Imagine a world where everyone acknowledged God and promised to try to live by His will. Imagine leaders who were committed to love and peace and justice. Imagine a world where people forgave one another instead of living for revenge.  God gave us a beautiful world and gave us the choice of what it would become to us.  Is this the best we could do?
 
Lord, where have we failed to be Your people on earth? Guide us  as we try to be the people You want us to be. Help us to strive for the world this one could be, with Your aid, for with You, all things are possible. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

Sis...That last post was beautiful it brings tear to my eyes just thinking what we could be but are to prideful to seek. Your friend and his family will be in my prayer I regret I didn't get the chance to meet him. God bless you all!

Paying for sister, Anita!!!

Sis, Very sad to hear about PhantomII :( very sad. I will be praying for the family.

WT, thank you.  It makes you wonder what we would be like if Christians really stood up for what we claim we believe instead of "pew sitting" for an hour a week.  I've recently been disappointed by several Christians whose politics do not conform to Biblical teaching.  I hope any of you who can attend a Stand Up For Religious Freedom Rally Friday at noon are able to do so; I can't get a ride but will spend time in prayer to support them.

Tony, I was saddened by the news of PhantomII's passing, as I know many of us will be.  He fought so hard and so long, part of me is relieved he is home with the Lord, but I know his wife and children and brothers and sisters, and I know they will have to grieve this loss.  One of his sons is active military and I pray he made it home in time.

For those of you who didn't know PhantomII, he was retired U.S. Air Force.  We had a group of veterans who used to sit "in the back of our church" here and got rowdy picking on each other occasionally (they were really funny); I had to calm them down by passing back cookies and soda to occupy them for a while.  What a group we have developed over these almost six years together!  God's peace be upon all those who grieve his passing and illness while celebrating his homegoing.  My dear friend, R.I.P. in the arms of our Lord.

God be with you all,
Sissy

This message has been removed by the administrator.

I found this article posted online tonight and thought it spoke so deeply to me and may to others who knew PhantomII.  Here goes:

Funeral Theology
Kyle Reynolds is the director of young adults at Crossroads Bible Church in Bellevue, Washington.

To be fair, I’m writing this as a way of processing the past few days. I lost my friend Jeremy and I miss him. However, the past few days has also left me with one haunting question:

“Why don’t I always treat people like this?”

I Answered My Phone
The past few days I’ve spent a lot of time over at Jeremy’s home. I let Rebecca (Jeremy’s wife) and her family know they could contact me at anytime and for any reason. I wanted to be completely accessible to them as they mourned. I answered my phone every time she called. I cleared my schedule. It was not a burden.
 Did you ever notice how the majority of Jesus’ miracles did not come about by strategic planning or appointment? Rather, his miracles often began out of interruptions, inconveniences, and even annoyances. He was never too busy. Jesus would stop the world to address a need and still stops all of heaven to hear your prayer.

Others Were More Important
When someone passes away there are countless details to attend to. Rebecca’s phone was ringing off the hook. One day while I was visiting with the family, Rebecca’s phone interrupted our conversation. She apologized and I made a decision. I told her and her family, that for the next few days they will never need to apologize to me for anything. They can get angry, answer the phone, ask me to leave, anything they want. They were more important. I was just honored to be there.

The apostle Paul writes about Jesus by saying, “but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant.”(Philippians 2:3-7) As I studied this scripture I discovered something startling. Jesus didn’t just give lip service to the idea that other’s were more important. He didn’t just talk about it or act like it. Jesus actually thought others were better than him. When he saw another person walking by, Jesus saw their needs as more valuable. In a world where we won’t even let the truck merge into our lane, what a revolutionary idea! What if I thought this way all of the time?

Grace Got Liberal
During one of my last conversations with Jeremy, I asked if I could share who God is. See, Jeremy was a skeptic and had plenty of questions regarding faith. I always appreciated his honest doubt. As I sat next to his bed, I decided to share the story of the thief hanging on a cross next to Jesus as they both slowly died. I’ve always enjoyed the simple conversation Jesus and the thief had.

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”(Luke 23:39-43) I think most pastors and theologians, given the choice, would leave this conversation out of the Bible. It doesn’t fit neatly into our boxes of belief regardless of how it’s dissected. Read it however you like, but I see a man throwing a hail marry pass with his last breath. This conversation seems more like a bail-out plan than belief.

Near death conversations often end up this way. Grace gets wonderfully liberal. Hoops and hurdles are removed. Questions remain unanswered, evidence is still insufficient, uncertainty shadows faith, and yet Eternity approaches. In conversations like these, it is never about a belief in a statement, it is trusting in a person. As we prayed together, Jeremy decided to trust Jesus with his life and death and today he is with God in paradise. That’s why we sing about grace being amazing.

So why don’t I always communicate grace this way? Why do I have this constant need to restrain and control God’s reckless love for others? Why not fling open the door and reveal a God that honors a dying man’s request?

Hey gang, I am sorry to bring sad news but those of you who have been on the thread for a while may remember PhantomII.  He passed away May 28 of cancer.  Please keep his wife, his children, his grandchildren, and his friends in prayer.  I will miss him very much.

Heaven gained an awesome soul on 5/28/12! PhantomII will be missed! I will pray for his friends and family. Love you guys!

Gary 

magine a world where everyone acknowledged God and promised to try to live by His will. Imagine leaders who were committed to love and peace and justice. Imagine a world where people forgave one another instead of living for revenge

A lot of us think that when the Lord returns, we will just be sitting on a cloud plucking a harp.  In fact, during the Millenium, Jesus will reign and we will be his ministers- governors, judges, officials for a thousand years on this Earth.  That's what a millineum is- a thousand years.  We will have glorified bodies and will be like the resurrected Jesus.  He walked the Earth, fellowshipped with the disciples, ate with them, although he didn't have to eat, he did.  He had a solid body, but he also was able to disappear and reappear where he wanted to.  Remember when he appeared to the disciples and Thomas?  Then he "went away" only to rejoin them along the Sea of Galilee later.  It's a mind boggling thought, but we will be administrators in His government on Earth- judging kings and leaders around the globe. 

Our life here and now is a training ground, in which we learn how to be obedient, so that we may be trusted with more responsibility "in that day".  You know, I used to think the parables of the talents and similar parables of the Lord were simply demonstating principles, but it is clear in this context that they have a more literal application.  When the Lord says that the servant who invested his treasure wisely and laid it at His feet at His return was given charge over many things, it seems clear that during the Millenium it means exactly that.  We'd better get busy and practice our skills of discernment and wise decision- making- we'll need them.

Greg 

Matthew 25:

The Parable of the Bags of Gold

14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
-
Unfortunately, this is me.

Here's hoping that Phantom fully and truly embraced the Lord.  I have a feeling he did.  Many have doubts even after salvation, and it has more to do (often) with our own ability to forgive ourselves than it does with the Lord's forgiveness.  I'm not saying that is the case with Jeremy- I didn't know him as well as Sis, but in general, I have seen that with those who may doubt salvation.  In this case, it seems, the skepticism may have been more of a sincere and courageous doubt- an uncompromising desire for certitude.  These are feelings many of us have, but won't say. 


I hope to meet Jeremy on the Day of the Lord with joy in his heart.  If the old F4 fighter jockey needs a wingman, it would be a privilege as we get to check out our new hardware. 

Greg

Unfortunately, this is me.

Cheer up- as long as we're still sucking air, there's still time.  It isn't about years of "time in grade" as they say in the military, but how we open up and let the Lord use us.  I know many men who were busy with work and careers and didn't really get fired up for Jesus until retirement.  With the time and opportunities they had to travel, some went on missions trips, some built homes for Habitat for Humanity, and others simply glad- handed as greeters.  Don't get the idea that there are Superstar Saints and pew polishers.  We all have been gifted.  I was even introduced to a ministry that I need to invest in that a homebound person could do. It's an internet ministry that isn't inhibited by closed borders, hostile governments, or persecution.  Anybody with a cell phone App can reach it and millions per day are being reached through this internet web site and getting saved.  Most are in the Middle East, China, and Africa- in places where it is dangerous to be a Jesus Freak. 

Greg

OK, my friends, I need to kick this into high gear.  My best friend from high school, Debbie, just called me.  Her youngest brother Danny committed suicide last night.  He was quite ill, in a lot of pain, on a lot of pain medications, and planned for a week apparently to do this.  He had his life insurance cashed in, had his girl friend cook his favorite meals for a week, then last night got out his gun and told her to leave the room and that he loved her and shot himself.  Danny had spent some time in rehab a few years ago and accepted Christ, but he just had no one around him to help him get medical treatment or fill out disability papers.  Deb's parents are nonbelievers and had pretty much shut Danny out.  Deb and her other brother and their families are all believers and live several states away, plus Deb's daughter just got married in New Orleans last week so no one was around to see Danny's plans take shape sadly.  Deb believes that this tragedy may move her parents' hearts to accept Christ.  She and her family are on their way to New Jersey now when I spoke to her.  We agreed 'once saved, always saved' and that Danny is in God's arms even if the pain medications took his hope for this life.  She asks that we all pray for the rest of the family, most especially her parents.

Lord God, You know the number of our days long before we are shaped in our mothers' wombs.  You know what Dale and Danny had to go through, and You knew when it was time to take them home to be with You.  We thank You that there is a home for us where there will be no more pain, illness, sadness, or tears.  We pray for Danny's parents that through this loss their hearts may be moved to receive the truth of Your message and Your hope.  We pray for the believers who have lost their loved ones and will face the aftermath of grieving and of all the business this world demands.  Please be with Gwen, Debbie and Mickey, Mickey and Kim, and their families for the strength to fall into Your arms for comfort and for the strength to help with the business affairs and with witnessing to those around them who do not see what we all know to be the truth of Your love and mercy.  We pray for those who are suffering in silence wherever they may be that You would send someone to them to bring them the hope that Your Son died to provide for us.  Let us never remain silent when we see those who hurt.  Speak Your peace upon those who sorrow at the loss of loved ones; give help to those who face the loss of homes, jobs, or the hope this world pretends to offer.  Let Your truth pierce through the blindness and the darkness that pervades this world and move Your church to be what Christians we designed to be in this world--the light, the salt, the truth, and the hope to see You through us.  We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen

Lord,

We lift up a prayer for Sis' friend Debbie and her family on the tragic loss of her brother Danny.  Please bring peace to this family and let them know that their brother/child/friend is in your loving arms free from the pain and confusion that filled his mind but not his soul.  Watch over this family lord and let your spirit be know to those that are strangers to you let them feel the glory and peace that comes with acceptance of your son Jesus into our hearts.  Keep all of them safe as they travel and help them find and reconcilation and peaace through the mutual support of each other.

Please be with Sis as she counsels her friend through conversation and prayer for we ask these things in your name.  Amen

WT, thanks for the beautiful prayer for Deb and her family and for Danny's family and friends.

You know what they say about 'waiting for the other shoe to drop?'  Well, I got another call, and I'm in my closet burning my shoes.  Another friend died yesterday of cancer.  Bill was much older than I and had been sick for quite a while.  His wife, Andrea (Andy) was my last employer and a wonderful friend and strong woman.  She's taken care of Bill for more than a year and still got work in.  It is a blessing that Bill is finally home with the Lord, but Andy will need prayer support, as will all their friends.  No matter what went on at work, the day always ended with Bill walking past my desk whistling a song.  God has certainly increased those singing around His throne in the last 48 hours (I'm starting to think I missed the rapture--NOT REALLY)--I just want to shut off the computer and disconnect the phone and get down to my stack of sympathy cards.  May our gracious Father speak peace to those grieving and open the eyes and ears and hearts of those who have stubbornly refused to see His Hand all around us.

I thank you all so much!  I'll be making more calls, and my computer is dying so I've ordered another one.  If I don't get on as often in the next few days, know you are all in my prayers (God won't separate me from my fellowship, I'm sure of that!).

Be God's!
Sissy

This message has been removed by the administrator.

Link to an obscene story, friends.  Like I need this with the passing of three friends.  Just ignore the Lord Owned post please.

Sissy

This message has been removed by the administrator.

A special thank you to the CBS Admins for cleaning up that little mess.  Much appreciated.  Going back to working on sympathy cards and phone calls now.

Here's hoping that Phantom fully and truly embraced the Lord.  I have a feeling he did.  Many have doubts even after salvation, and it has more to do (often) with our own ability to forgive ourselves than it does with the Lord's forgiveness.  I'm not saying that is the case with Jeremy- I didn't know him as well as Sis, but in general, I have seen that with those who may doubt salvation.  In this case, it seems, the skepticism may have been more of a sincere and courageous doubt- an uncompromising desire for certitude.  These are feelings many of us have, but won't say. 

I agree with this personally. I have had doubts (on some level) at times. Every Christian does! Jesus spoke of faith the size of a mustard seed, because he knows we are a faith tested peoples. John the Baptist had doubts, he asked if "He" was the one to come, or should we expect someone else. This after seeing the Spirit of God descending on Christ and God verbally afirming him.