A Spring In Your Step
By Rhonda Rhea
My kids keep asking me if I’ll bounce on the new trampoline with them. I keep telling them that I can bounce without the trampoline, thank you very much. Besides I could get hurt on that thing. Not just the average compound-fracture-when-you-splatter-on-the-ground kind of injury. No, I’m telling you. Women over 40 do not want to sass gravity.
For instance, a younger woman can see a friend across the yard and give a big, friendly wave. Not so we of the over 40 crowd. If I were to give one of those big waves at this stage in my life, the hand/wrist part of the wave would be long over before that fluttery stuff between my elbow and shoulder stopped waving. No one wants to be that friendly.
Rain, Rain, Go Away
November 7, 2024 by admin
Filed under Faith Articles
By Brenda W. McIntyre
Do you remember the children’s rhyme ‘rain, rain, go away, come again another day?’ I’ll bet I uttered that rhyme under my breath at least a hundred times lately as the rain drenched the area where I live. Georgia experienced heavy downpours and flash flooding for several days straight. Governor Sonny Perdue declared a state of emergency in seventeen counties. Four of those counties were federally declared as disaster areas.
Although the more saturated areas were to the north and northeast of my home, Middle Georgia received an excessive amount of rain. The Ocmulgee River threatened to spill over its banks. Gray clouds covered the sky day after day, blocking the sun. I was surprised one afternoon to see a tiny portion of blue sky surrounded by angry gray thunder clouds. As the wind blew, the clouds swirled about. I was sure they would block out the small patch of blue the color of an inviting swimming pool. For as long as I watched, the patch of blue remained – a testament that the storm would eventually pass and the sun would shine again.
What Does a Quarter Buy?
October 27, 2024 by admin
Filed under Faith Articles
By Susan Dollyhigh
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40 (NIV)
What can you buy with a quarter? Not even a pack of gum today, but in 1963 a quarter would buy my lunch at school. With this bit of trivia I’m telling my age but it’s worth it to tell the rest of the story.
Passion
October 7, 2024 by admin
Filed under Faith Articles
By John McNeal
How many people do you know who are very passionate about something? Just look around. It’s October, and the football season is just getting started. Hockey season is on the way, while baseball and NASCAR racing are finishing up. Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the bend. As for myself, I have a small passion for hunting this time of year.
In today’s society many people dish out a lot of money and time to enjoy their passion. They pay big dollars to sit in a crowded cold stadium with people they don’t know, giving them high-fives when their team scores a touchdown. They buy the biggest televisions that they can’t afford in order to get a better glimpse of the action. People purchase clothing, big foam hands and cheese hats, letting everyone know what they are passionate about.
Passionate sports fans know the stats of their favorite team and they can quote the roster by heart. If a person is rooting for a rival team or individual, they might have swift words with someone if they blaspheme the team at hand. Sometimes people even get physical in order to prove their point. I always know when it is race season or football season; my neighbor yells passionately for his favorites.
Several years ago, my pastor stood on stage and told a story how he met Faith Hill while traveling back from a Christian conference. He said that she would be in Atlanta for a day or two and that she was at our church that day to give her testimony. After he gave her an introduction, he asked us to welcome her to Chestnut Mountain Church. Over 95% of the Church stood, whistled, clapped and cheered as if she were about to give us a private concert. The stage door swung open and nobody came through the door.
Pastor Jeff’s point was well taken that day, at least by me. We stand up, clap, and cheer for our favorite team or celebrity, and we pay all kinds of money to support our passions. When is the last time you were passionate about going to church? What about singing the hymns or worshipping with your whole heart? What about giving money in the name of the One who gave up everything to die for you? If Jesus is really our passion, why do we cheer harder, clap louder, and spend more money on other pursuits than we do at church?
Pastor Jeff turned to us after he walked up and closed the door. “Would you have cheered as hard if it was for Jesus?” Now can you imagine if your pastor did this and was introducing someone of importance, and that person did not come through the door? Faith Hill wasn’t at our church that day. But Jesus was there.
‘“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind.’ Matt 22:36-73(NIV)
God Really Does Answer Prayer
By George Dalton
Seven years ago my father died after a long illness and went home to be with the lord. At his funeral I met a cousin that I had not seen since we were boys fifty years ago. You know how you do when you see someone that you were once close too. “Give me your phone number; here take down my number.”
My wife and I had a ranch in east Texas, part of which was on four hundred acres of leased land. We sold all of the cattle and equipment and moved to a large city. Several large bales of hay were left in the field from the year before and the owner asked me to make sure they were removed. I contacted a neighboring rancher and asked him if he could help me get rid of the old hay. We agreed to meet back at the ranch one morning a week after my father’s funeral. While driving to the ranch, my cell phone rang, and you guessed it: it was my long lost cousin. His words were, “How are you fixed for cash money.” I was stunned. I haven’t seen this man for five decades and the first thing he wants to know is how much money do you have? I asked, “Why, what do you need?” He responded, “I need to borrow a thousand dollars today.” I asked, “Why do you need a thousand dollars today?” He said, “I am over drawn at the bank and if I don’t get a thousand dollars today I will have checks bouncing all over town.”
I knew right then I was in over my head. I told him I was on the way to the ranch and would call him as soon as I got back. As soon as he hung up I thought of Gideon and his fleece. So I started to pray, “Dear God I don’t know this man anymore. Is he a drug addict, an alcoholic, a gambler? Father I don’t know him, but you do. Please give me a sign telling me if I should give him the money he wants or not.”
Remembering Gideon’s fleece, I drove for a few minutes thinking about how could God give me a sign. I prayed, ”Father use the old hay. If Bud charges me to haul off the old hay, I will know that you do not want me to give that man the money. If he offers to buy the hay for any amount over $5.00 per bale, I will know that you want him to have the money.”
Bud walked around the field and asked me how many bales I had? I didn’t know so we counted them. Exactly one hundred bales. Then he asked me how much I wanted for the hay. I decided that I wouldn’t say a word because I had made a deal with God just a few miles up the road. I said, “You tell me what it is worth to you and that is what I will take.” He walked around the field for a few minutes looking at the bales and then said, “I’ll give you $10.00 a bale. Is it Ok if I pick them up Saturday?” Do the math. I had one hundred bales and he was going to pay $10.00 per bale.
I raced home and told my wife that I needed a check for $1,000.00. When I told her the story, she immediately agreed that we should take the money to my cousin. When I delivered the check to him, my cousin, that I only had seen once in fifty years, thanked me then informed me that he had no idea when he would be able to repay the loan. I told him about my prayer and then said, “I made my deal with God. If you pay me or don’t pay me, that is between you and God.”
I shook his hand and walked out of the Wal-Mart where he worked, a happy blessed man. Because I knew I had just witnessed God’s direct answer to an urgent prayer.
