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Today's Stuff
from Pastor Barry Mitchell      revmitch@rcn.com

Wednesday, November 19, 2008
This is the day that the Lord has made!
 
-A Prayer for the Day:
 
"Blessed are you, God of growth and discovery; yours is the inspiration that has altered and changed our lives; yours is the power that has brought us to new dangers and opportunities. Set us, your new creation, to walk through this new world, watching and learning, loving and trusting, until your kingdom comes. Amen."
-William Collins
 
-Quotes of the Day:
 
"I have long held the theory that the pilgrims were so happy on Thanksgiving because they didn't have to go back to England and spend time with their relatives."
-Jim Mullen, It Takes a Village Idiot: Complicating the Simple Life
 
"The pursuit of happiness is a most ridiculous phrase; if you pursue happiness you'll never find it."
-C. P. Snow
 
"Words in the heart are not words."
-Talmud

-A Husband Funny
 
Smith goes to see his supervisor in the front office.
 
"Boss," he says, "we're doing some heavy house-cleaning at home tomorrow, and my wife needs me to help with the attic and the garage, moving and hauling stuff."
 
"We're shorthanded, Smith" the boss replies. "I can't give you the day off."
 
"Thanks boss," says Smith. "I knew I could count on you!"
 
- A Story Worth Repeating: "The Giant"
 
After dinner, the children turned to Jacob and asked if he would tell them a story.
 
"A story about what?" asked Jacob.
 
"About a giant," squealed the children.
 
Jacob smiled, leaned against the warm stones at the side of the fireplace, and his voice turned softly inward.
 
"Once there was a boy who asked his father to take him to see the great parade that passed through the village. The father, remembering the parade from when he was a boy, quickly agreed, and the next morning the boy and his father set out together.
 
"As they approached the parade route, people started to push in from all sides, and the crowd grew thick. When the people along the way became almost a wall; the father lifted his son and placed him on his shoulders.
 
"Soon the parade began and as it passed, the boy kept telling his father how wonderful it was and how spectacular were the colors and images. The boy, in fact, grew so prideful of what he saw that he mocked those who saw less saying, even to his father, 'If only you could see what I see.'"
 
"But," said Jacob staring straight in the faces of the children, "what the boy did not look at was why he could see. What the boy forgot was that once his father, too, could see."
 
Then as if he had finished the story, Jacob stopped speaking.
 
"Is that it?" said a disappointed girl. "We thought you were going to tell us a story about a giant."
 
"But I did," said Jacob. "I told you a story about a boy who could have been a giant."
 
"How?" squealed the children.
 
"A giant," said Jacob, "is anyone who remembers we are all sitting on someone else's shoulders."
 
"And what does it make us if we don't remember?" asked the boy.
 
"A burden," answered Jacob.

Have a wonderful day!
Pastor Barry
 
-Bible Readings for Today:
November 19
Ezekiel 39:1-40:27
Psalm 118:1-18
Proverbs 28:2
James 2:18-3:18 (nrsv) But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder. 20 Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works. 23 Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.
3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. 4 Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, 8 but no one can tame the tongue--a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh. 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. 16 For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.