Fear ... or Hope?

Economy Shrinks at Fastest Pace in 26 Years ...

Staying The Course Might Not Work For Everyone ...

Economic Numbers Continue Down ...

Do you find yourself getting "lost" in the negative rhetoric of the daily headlines? It's easy to let what "they" say cause you to fear ... rather than hope.

I like what Dave Ramsey published recently,

" ... Yes, many people have lost their jobs and houses. You may be one of them. But guess what? People have lost their jobs and houses even in a bull market. About 93% of people are still employed. That's pretty good!"

Amen, Dave! I agree.

If we're not careful, we'll let the pundits and nay-sayers 'drive' our emotions ... rather than allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts and emotions, through the renewing and refreshing of God's Word.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Tim. 1:7)

We can choose fear ... or hope. I'm gonna choose hope!

What is Lent?

... the forty days before Easter. Lent excludes Sundays because every Sunday is like a little Easter. Basically, it's about one-tenth of a year (like a tithe of time).

What does Lent have to do with me?

It's pretty easy to get caught up in the drama of work, school, relationships, and family. Our lives are filled with distractions that take us away from living a life with Christ. We try to fill the emptiness inside us with mindless TV, meaningless chatter, stimulants, alcohol or other things.

We run from silence because we're afraid of being alone with God. So, like Jesus, we need to take some serious time to pray and figure out where God is in our lives, and where God is calling us to serve. We need to re-focus our lives to be more in line with God.

COOL THINGS TO DO FOR LENT:

• Skip one meal a day and give the money to the poor


• Start a prayer "rhythm." Say a prayer every time you brush your teeth, see a commercial, or check your e-mail


• Read a chapter in the Bible a day. (Matthew is a good book to start with)


• Forgive someone who doesn't deserve it (maybe even yourself)


• Give up beer or sodas. Give the money you save to the Red Cross
• Spend thirty minutes a day in silence


• Write someone a thank you letter


• Say one nice thing to someone each day


• Pray for others on your way to work or school


• Volunteer one afternoon a week at a local shelter, tutoring program or Habitat for Humanity

Originally published by author Penny Ford, United Methodist campus minister at Jacksonville State University in Alabama. Link: http://www.upperroom.org/methodx/thelife/articles/lent101.asp

New Things

Isaiah 43:19 reads,

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." (NIV)

Our pastor, James Twiner, has been preaching and teaching this message to our congregation at First United Methodist Pascagoula for the past year or so, and the spirit of that message has become contagious!

There is a "newness" in the spirits of our congregation at First UMC and it's catching hold of the folks all around our small town. In fact, if you listen closely and read the coastal newsprint and magazines ... that "new" thing is catching hold of folks all across the Coast!

I am glad to see that the LORD brings "new" excitement and enthusiasm from "old" and "tired" situations. St. Paul instructs in Galatians 6:9 that we " ... not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Harvest time is near ... in Pascagoula ... and in YOUR hometown. The questions beckons us all:

Are we [the Church] prepared to reap the harvest?

I'm saying to me ... to us - the Church of the LORD Jesus Christ ... GET READY! The harvest is here ... the kingdom of God is near!

Thanks ... for Family and Traditions

It is that time of year ... again. Thanksgiving Day. Our family has a handful of little traditions set in place during this time:

1. Family Time ... we do our best to get together with family members we've not been able to visit with during the year. And, we do our best to show extra love and grace towards one another, if only for a few days! (( ha ))
   
2. Christmas Tree ... yep, we believe in the Christmas tree at the Myrick house. We've cut back to the "simple, easy setup" model this year, but we make it the focal point of the Thanksgiving Day weekend.
   
3. Shopping ... the retailers call it "Black Friday", and the Myrick/Dinwiddie ladies attend the events ... religiously! I'm talking 4am wakeup, at the storefronts by 5am, pajamas and all, and they trek across the Mississippi/Alabama Coast for the next six to eight hours! (( are you kiddin ... how can one possibly "shop" for 8 hours??!! ))
   
4. Football ... ah, yes. Dallas Cowboys. Detroit Lions. SEC. PAC 10. Big 8. We love it all. 'Tis the season to throw footballs ... fa-la-la-la-la ... la-la-la-la ... :-)

So ... HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!

Valley Grove

I've found another little "touch of heaven" ... in Knoxville ... specifically ... Valley Grove ... South Knox County, near Seymour, TN. What a beautiful place!

My friends, Gordon and Donna Alford, are Music Ministers at Valley Grove Baptist Church (http://www.valleygrove.org/). Pastor William Sims III (Bro. Bill), is one of the most sincere and authentically spirit-filled pastors I've ever met. I have great anticipation that God is going to do a wonderful work here!

I met Scott Newton Smith this week as well. (http://www.snsministries.org/) Scott is one of the finest young preachers I've heard in quite a while! His messages were "spot on" every single service. Most important, he is an anointed man of God. I look forward to many opportunities to minister with Scott in the near future!

Thanks, Valley Grove friends and "new" church family! I can hardly wait to come back ... this time with my sweet wife and family. They gotta see Cades Cove!! (http://www.cadescove.com/)

storms

Camille ... Frederic ... Elena ... George ... Katrina ... Rita ... Ivan ... Gustav ... Hanna ...

Why do we name storms? Where'd that come from? I've been researching it and cannot find the answer. If you do, please share it with me.

One un-named storm occured in Jesus' day, and was recorded by a couple of the disciples in their gospels. Mark's gospel, in chapter 4, reports the story like this:

" ... 35That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." 36Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
39He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. ..." (NIV)

Wow! Amazing how that the storm, which was produced by the elements of nature that God himself (Jesus, embodied in human flesh) had created, became immediately subject to the LORD.

Point of message: Jesus IS Lord ... over all creation ... over all storms ... over all circumstances in life ... over ALL! He rules. He reigns. His Throne lasts forever. He is the King. His justice will prevail.

So, if these storms we're fretting over cause us grief, sorrow, worry, anxiety, stress, or other human woe, call on Jesus.

His Name ... is above ALL names. Even the names of these crazy storms. Call on His Name in your time of trouble, frustration, or sorrow. His Name calms all fear, doubt, and disbelief.

Thank you, Jesus ... that you truly are our Peacespeaker.

Encounter '08 ::: Nashville

This year's Encounter '08 was held at Christ Church, Nashville ... and wow ... was it ever an ENCOUNTER!

The thing I appreciate so much about Lindell Cooley and the Grace Church/MMI staff is that they truly minister to the LORD ... first; modeling for worship pastors and worship leaders/musicians the very "thing" that we should be focused on ... the heart of the Father.

Not our performance. Not our "worship gig". Not the attendance in the sanctuary. Not the coolest/most hip "worship set" list.

The Father's heart. That is our #1 priority.

I love Pastor Lindell's motto for Grace Church: God is more important than people; and people are more important than stuff.

This should be heeded by pastors and church leaders of any-size congregation in America! We are so easily being entrapped in the corporate "bottom-line result" mode; and, that can be a heartbreak to the LORD ... especially when He gets "lost" in the mix!

Thanks, Lindell and staff for an AMAZING encounter with the LORD, and with other worship leaders from across the nation who love to rest and refresh in the Presence of the Holy Spirit.
I look forward to Encounter '09!

Preacher ... President ... or, Prophet?

MIKE HUCKABEE spoke publicly through a tele-conference sponsored by Steven Strang, CEO of Strang Communications on Thursday, April 10. Click the link to read the cover story:

http://www.charismamag.com/display.php?id=16892

the little things

by Blaire ...

lately .. i've been noticing the little things.

yesterday, me and my dashing little brother (he's 7) decided to go outside and play.

the weather felt more like august then december, but despite the heat, the breeze was lovely. so, we spread out a huge blanket, and brought every board game from his closet out there. we had it all. snacks, water, the beatles playing on the cd player (which he knew every word to the beatles 1's album, and THAT made me smile).

we had a blast. laughing, singing, playing. have you ever SEEN the beauty of the Creator?

i could see Him yesterday. in my brother's beautiful blue eyes, in the fall leaves and their colors,in the cool breeze blowing through trees.

i currently work at a daycare during the day. i help out with toddlers in the mornings,and i spend my afternoons in the nursery.with newborns.no matter how tired, or how frustrated,or ready to go home i am, i can't help but smile anytime my eyes catch theirs. i can SEE Him.

the innocence, joy, purity, beginning, vulnerability, and precious tenderness.

everything around me is created. breathed. thought of. considered. i feel His love in the breeze, and see His affections in the rising sun.how could i not yearn for the Uncreated One? the One who came from nothing at all, yet is FULL of substance and all that is good .. and how could i not love His Creation, in which i am, in fact, a part of?

I see You. I see Your creation.I see Your love.

I choose to SEE the little things. To take in and absorb all that You have gracefully put in my path to reveal Your intense desire for me. and I am extremely grateful.

for more from Blaire ... click www.myspace.com/youarehuge