NOT HOME YET

An old missionary couple had been working in Africa for years and was returning to New York to retire. They had no pension; their health was broken; they were defeated, discouraged, and afraid. They discovered they were booked on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt, who was returning from one of his big-game hunting expeditions.

No one paid any attention to them. They watched the fanfare that accompanied the President's entourage, with passengers trying to catch a glimpse of the great man. As the ship moved across the ocean, the old missionary said to his wife, "Something is wrong.

Why should we have given our lives in faithful service for God in Africa all these many years and have no one care a thing about us? Here this man comes  back from a hunting trip and everybody makes much over him, but nobody gives  two hoots about us."

"Dear, you shouldn't feel that way," his wife said. "I can't help it; it doesn't seem right." When the ship docked in New York, a band was waiting to greet the President. The mayor and other dignitaries were there. The papers were full of the President's arrival.

No one noticed this missionary couple. They slipped off the ship and found a cheap flat on the East Side, hoping the  next day to see what they could do to make a living in the city.

That night the man's spirit broke. He said to his wife, "I can't take this; God is not treating us fairly." His wife replied, "Why don't you go in the bedroom and tell that to the Lord?"

A short time later he came out from the bedroom, but now his face was completely different. His wife asked, "Dear, what happened?"

"The Lord settled it with me," he said. "I told him how bitter I was that the President should receive this tremendous homecoming, when no one met us as we returned home. And when I finished, it seemed as though the Lord put his hand on my shoulder and simply said, 'But you're not home yet!"

PIANO CONCERT

Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her.  Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy quietly got up and eventually explored his way through a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE."

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage.

In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing." Then leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was mesmerized.

That's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't exactly graceful flowing music. But with the hand of the Master, our life's work truly can be beautiful. The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You can hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing." Feel His loving arms around you. Know that His strong hands are there helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces.

Remember, God doesn't call the equipped, he equips the called. And He will always be there to love and guide you on to great things!

"Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)

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A LAW OF SUCCESSFUL LIVING

I am impressed by an incident that happened during Ignacy Paderewski's (November 18, 1860 - June 29, 1941) career. The famous Polish pianist agreed to play a concert organized by two Stanford University students working their way through school. Paderewski's manager said they would have to guarantee the artist a fee of $2,000. The boys agreed and eventually the concert was held.

Though the two student promoters worked hard, they took in only $1,600. Discouraged, they told Paderewski of their efforts and handed him the $1,600 with a note promising to pay him the balance of $400. But the artist tore up the note and gave them back the $1,600. "Take your expenses out of this," he said, "give yourselves each 10% of what's left for your work, and let me have the rest."

Years later, Paderewski was faced with feeding the people of his war-ravaged Poland. Amazingly, even before a request was made, thousands of tons of food were sent to Poland by the United States.

Paderewski later traveled to Paris to thank Herbert Hoover, who headed up the US relief effort. "That's all right, Mr. Paderewski," said Hoover, "I knew that the need was great. And besides, though you may not remember it, I was one of two college students whom you generously helped when I was in need."

The story illustrates a law of successful living: sooner or later we will reap what we sow. Paderewski reaped a harvest of kindness he had sown years before. Those who sow love will eventually reap love. Those who sow goodness will reap even more. Those who sow fear and mistrust will reap an unwanted harvest later.

It's a basic law of successful living. And powerful enough to change a life.

Grief Articles 1st Week.

You who have lost loved ones are in our prayers. I know for some of you that it has been weeks since your loved passed, but others of you it is still very fresh and can't believe it happened.

Grief is a difficult process, yet God gives us hope. Our family lost 3 out of our 4 parents in the last 9 months. There has been lots of reflection on grief.  

Here is a list of articles from friends, that have been helpful to me during grief. They are being shared with you in hopes they will give you some direction and hope. Feel free to pass them on to others in your family. 

We are here for you and willing to walk along side you in this journey. The church has resources to help as well.

— Kevin Rayner

The photos are small, but you can click on them to make them larger and cycle through them.

I decided to make these a picture files so that you can view them on your phone or computer.

Praying for you this day.

The Rayners

Seeking the Lost

When We Struggle With Faith

Looking Up: Humility in Suffering (Job)

Randy Roper

Description:Sometimes in our suffering, we cannot see beyond our painful circumstances. Through Job's story of loss and faith, we learn the importance of looking up and seeing God in hard times. God may not give us answers, but He gives us himself.

#Bad Things Happen to Good People

Seven Promises From God's Word

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Good Advice to Live By

Good Advice to Live By

• If you want your dreams to come true, don't oversleep.
• The smallest good deed is better than the grandest intention.
• Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important.
• The best vitamin for making friends....B1.
• The 10 commandments are not multiple choice.
• The happiness of your life depends on the quality  of your thoughts.
• Minds are like parachutes...they function only when open.
• Ideas won't work unless YOU do.
• One thing you can't recycle is wasted time.
• One who lacks the courage to start has already finished.
• The heaviest thing to carry is a grudge.
• Don't learn safety rules by accident.
• We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.
• Jumping to conclusions can be bad exercise.
• A turtle makes progress when it sticks it's head out.
• One thing you can give and still keep...is your word.
• A friend walks in when everyone else walks out.

AND FINALLY...

The pursuit of happiness is the chase of a lifetime!!!

Click Here for More Quotes about Advice

One Word Essays

Determination Hope Contemplation True Love Excitement Security Scary Adventure Contentment Longevity Curiosity Heroism   Confusion Honor Accomplishment Perseverance Whimsy Companionship Beauty Caring Relating Fruitful Awe Loneliness Tradition Tenacity Friendship Fun

It's Our Time

A Life of Action

Talks to celebrate spring

My Dad's A Hero

https://youtu.be/b_hxJgjD9BI

What's on my phone? - Joe Fedewa

Grandmothers Make A Difference

Dixon Chibanda is one of 12 psychiatrists in Zimbabwe -- for a population of more than 16 million. Realizing that his country would never be able to scale traditional methods of treating those with mental health issues, Chibanda helped to develop a beautiful solution powered by a limitless resource: grandmothers. In this extraordinary, inspirational talk, learn more about the friendship bench program, which trains grandmothers in evidence-based talk therapy and brings care, and hope, to those in need.

What

THE PLACE OF FAMILY TRADITION

THE PLACE OF FAMILY TRADITION

by Norman Bales

There's a picture of my father on a shelf just behind my office chair. In the picture he's wearing a western hat cocked slightly to the right. Last week I wore a baseball cap while doing some yard work. I happened to glance at myself in the mirror and noticed that I was wearing my cap cocked slightly to the right. When I thought about it, I realized that family tradition determined the peculiar angle of my cap. As a matter of fact I imitate my father in many of the things I do. I'm far better educated than he was, but in my unguarded moments I make the same grammatical errors in my speech (I say "ain't," use double negatives and I often feel inclined to substitute "them" for "those" even though I know "them" is not a possessive pronoun). I sometimes mispronounce words the same way he did. A wheel barrow becomes a "wheel bar;" Ann "arns" my clothes and barbed wire becomes "bob war." I also tend to emulate many of his social patterns, much to the irritation of my wife. Family tradition is strong.

            Family tradition probably has more influence on the adoption of ethical standards among young people than any other one factor. Recent studies among adolescents indicate they often adopt the lifestyles and behavior patterns of their parents. (See The Gospel According to Generation X by Dodd, Lewis and Tippens). If a child's parents say one thing and do another, their offspring will generally pick up on their behavior, not their rhetoric. Certainly the church has a strong role to play in character formation. We need to do everything we can to communicate Biblical ideals. Sometimes a preacher, a youth minister and other church leaders can be quite effective in mentoring young people whose parents are poor role models. Even so parents generally have more influence than any one else. We like to pin the blame on the media, peer pressure and public institutions when our kids get in trouble. It makes us very uncomfortable to deal with our own parenting shortcomings as a likely cause of a child's irreverent behavior.

            Children are perceptive. They are quick to detect phoniness. That's why it's important for us to make sure that our life styles and beliefs match up as closely as possible.

            The educational system under the law of Moses was constructed on the premise that standards of behavior are most effectively communicated through family tradition. "Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise" (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). "Like father like son" is not an empty phrase. What kind of family traditions are being developed in your home?"

Bible

One man said, "One morning I spoke to eighty students in a class in a state university.  I was informed that it would be better if I did not mention the Bible in the university.  That same afternoon I was invited to speak to eight hundred men in the state prison, and the warden asked me to give them Bible truths." 

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