Letter From My Friend & Former Pastor

They're smooth!

I'm talking about the Freedom from Religion group! After reading the Ellwood City Ledger I see what they are after...bogus statement of "no god, no hell, no faith" on a banner to be placed "above" the Happy Holiday banner in front of the Ellwood City Municipal Bldg. The local resident who remains cowardly hidden in the shadows and supposedly filed a complaint through Freedom From Religion is being used!

Since Freedom from Religion know they do not have a legal leg to stand on, they appear to make lots of threats and noise to intimidate through fear tactics. Then they will "settle" for a banner in a prominent place to "preach" their No god atheistic mantra.

Smart, huh?    Well, it time PEOPLE wake up and be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves".

One more thing on the group Freedom from Religion. After spending about 2 hrs reviewing their site, I came to these conclusions:

The founder, ANNIE LAURIE GAYLOR, is a generational liberal, feminist, atheist with a long history of public forums. She married a former "Christian" pastor, (of 19 yrs!) DAN BARKER. He opened his mind to reading other materials than from Christian authors thereby renouncing his former "faith".  (Thought: If one really meets the Lord, how can that one "unmeet" the Lord?) They appear to be solidly "anti Christian" rather than anti other religions, i.e. Islam, Buddhism, New Age, Wiccan, etc.

at first I was disheartened to think that we as a community of faith and residents of Ellwood City would only come together like this through opposition and the threat of not being allowed to display the traditional Nativity Scene. Then I thought -  (wouldn't it be wonderful if every year we would have come together for the displaying of the Nativity Scene with the whole community of churches, businesses, schools, etc, and sing Christmas carols, drink hot chocolate, eat cookies – and maybe we could start a NEW TRADITION along these lines? ) 

but then I became aware of a few other insights.

Ellwood is like a family that can talk, fight, and disagree with each other but DON'T let someone from outside do it!  If anyone dares to do that  we will come together FOR each other and defend one another!   I guess I realize that when the proverbial chips are down, we will unitedly stand.  That is a good thing; especially in this day in which we live.

Another thought I had was that by supporting the Nativity Scene, as a community we have INVITED the Lord Jesus to come into our city in a public and possibly greater measure. We are in essence saying, "Lord, we want YOU to be recognized from Your birth to Your coming again. We want You to be established in our government. We want You to have a place among us."

I think He will accept our invitation and manifest Himself the way He desires.

Also, if the "churches" would hold a rally, organize an event in support of OUR faith, or any other "churchy service", probably no "non-believers" would come.  But since this Nativity Scene issue is a grassroots movement, it opens the door for many different people of various faiths or no faith, of different backgrounds and cultures to participate and STAND UP for the Lord!  How cool is that?

There is another name for our God...Jehovah Sneaky!  I think He is just  "sneaking" up on us to do things in our midst that we cannot even imagine!

These are exciting days in which to live and serve the Lord!

Keep your prayers and support ongoing and LETS determine to become that prayer through loving actions and deeds of kindness.

This has just been some rambling thoughts and impressions as I process the recent happenings surrounding the Nativity Scene.  Hope it was worth the reading!

God Bless and Shalom!

Cynthia

 

P.S. Don't forget to say, "MERRY CHRISTMAS" to everyone you meet this month!

 

Gloria Biffert A Missionary Who Made Me Smile And a Note From Me

Gloria Bifert is a missionary to the Democratic Republic of Congo. What an amazing life she leads!  She gripped our emotions, when she spoke at our church, in every possible way, as she told us of a people who’s hospitality would put us to shame. What a generous people she serves and yet the Congo can be such a dangerous place also. Her life is filled with the important connections that will always matter….even in eternity.  Do check out her blog at gbincongo.blogspot.com This is a woman who’s passion burns for the salvation of friends she hasn’t met yet. May God bless and keep her and those He has her minister to now and forever! Amen

Just a note to tag along with my thoughts on Gloria…. Life has been so busy and full! Work, Pens, my novel, family, and Porschea our perfect puppy, along with Christmas preparations has put me on my tippy toes with to-do’s!  I’m sure it is the same for everyone this time of year. Sometimes the tinsel and trimmings and activities bulldoze us over till we are too exhausted to think. But we do need to stop and reflect about our great, almighty Savior. How blessed we are to do so.   How wonderful that church is actually on Christmas day this year!

I’m itching for more time to write and I plan on making use of the week off at Christmas time. A friend of mine, Becky McLafferty, and I are writing and exchanging manuscript pages as fast as our little fingers can type and ah re-type. Well, also as time allows! When you work full time, there is such a huge chunk of the day that you cannot possibly touch with writing time. Ideas are falling into my mind concerning the contemporary I’m currently writing. This book is about a child’s abduction.  Also ideas are brimming over for the next book in the series. I jot those ideas down before they escape my notice completely. Information is falling into place for a historical my sister is helping me research. I am fascinated with the late 1800’s, how about you? I will only jot down the ideas for the other stories as they pop into my head for now. I refuse to get into writing the other novels since I am determined to finish my contemporary first.  Those ACFW CD-Roms share such exquisite teachings and they have been the inspiration for many of the rewrites I’ve dived into this past year.

My daughter and I took our puppies to the dog park and they had a fantastic time. We had such a quiet night afterwards! The puppies dreamed away the night with visions of puppy toys to steal from one another and smaller dogs to chase. Of course they would not purposely dream about the two Irish Wolf Hounds that ran alongside them and were head and shoulders above the  rest of the crowd.  My 105 pound puppy looked dwarfed beside them. I have to admit I love the fur and the build on my Leonberger far better than the impressive Irish Wolf Hounds!  

Can you believe I misplaced my mouse? Goodness I’m having to write this and make corrections with just my mouse pad on the computer! I am almost frustrated!  Ho hum, well I wish you all a very exceptional and wonderful night. Maybe you will cozy up with a book or watch a favorite movie or pray. I wish you a restful and eventful night.

Blessings and joy! 

Pens of Praise Devotion December 10, 2011

Pens of Praise Devotion December 10, 2011

©Susan Marlene Kinney

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.

Isaiah 9:6 – 7a

Coffee shops and stores are humming with activity during this time of the year. Traditions of gift giving surrounding us maybe sweet and memorable, but that sure isn’t what Christmas is about is it?  Who is this Jesus? How could He give up everything in Heaven and leave behind His father to be born of woman and tolerate the fickleness of man? He shared in our sufferings and laughed in the sunshine. He is intimately acquainted with our feelings, our physical weakness, and day-to-day challenges.

Though He is what Webster says:

WONDERFUL-wonder, marvelous, extraordinary, remarkable, awesome, wondrous, miraculous, prodigious, astonishing, amazing, astounding, phenomenal, unique, curious, strange.

COUNSELOR-one who counsels, an advisor. A faculty member as in a high school, who advises students on personal and academic problems…..a lawyer, an official at an embassy or legation…advocate, attorney

MIGHTY GOD- (mighty – characterized or showing might or power, by great size, great in amount, extent, degree ,or importance, exceptional) (God –Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe)

…and well you get the general idea! Go ahead and thrill at His name, His greatness, and His extraordinary love and commitment to you! With every twinkling of Christmas tree lights, think of how His eye shines at the thought of you. Remember He thrills at counseling you to find your purpose. Jesus loves it when you share your journey with Him! He is ever the listening ear and the lover of your soul. He can be the astounding and phenomenal advocate of great importance in your life. If He isn’t just ask Him into your heart quick….and hold on for the thrill of your life! Share your experience with Him and others, be it with pen and paper or computer keys or tape recorder! Memoirs, journals, short stories, poems, non-fiction, cards, letters, and God-honoring fiction novels wait for your imagination and uniqueness.

Remember your choice to follow His lead is strictly quite up to you!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND MAY YOU ENJOY A LIFE WITH JESUS!

AMEN

Pens of Praise Devotion December 10, 2011

Pens of Praise Devotion December 10, 2011

©Susan Marlene Kinney

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.

Isaiah 9:6 – 7a

Coffee shops and stores are humming with activity during this time of the year. Traditions of gift giving surrounding us maybe sweet and memorable, but that sure isn’t what Christmas is about is it?  Who is this Jesus? How could He give up everything in Heaven and leave behind His father to be born of woman and tolerate the fickleness of man? He shared in our sufferings and laughed in the sunshine. He is intimately acquainted with our feelings, our physical weakness, and day-to-day challenges.

Though He is what Webster says:

WONDERFUL-wonder, marvelous, extraordinary, remarkable, awesome, wondrous, miraculous, prodigious, astonishing, amazing, astounding, phenomenal, unique, curious, strange.

COUNSELOR-one who counsels, an advisor. A faculty member as in a high school, who advises students on personal and academic problems…..a lawyer, an official at an embassy or legation…advocate, attorney

MIGHTY GOD- (mighty – characterized or showing might or power, by great size, great in amount, extent, degree ,or importance, exceptional) (God –Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe)

…and well you get the general idea! Go ahead and thrill at His name, His greatness, and His extraordinary love and commitment to you! With every twinkling of Christmas tree lights, think of how His eye shines at the thought of you. Remember He thrills at counseling you to find your purpose. Jesus loves it when you share your journey with Him! He is ever the listening ear and the lover of your soul. He can be the astounding and phenomenal advocate of great importance in your life. If He isn’t just ask Him into your heart quick….and hold on for the thrill of your life! Share your experience with Him and others, be it with pen and paper or computer keys or tape recorder! Memoirs, journals, short stories, poems, non-fiction, cards, letters, and God-honoring fiction novels wait for your imagination and uniqueness.

Remember your choice to follow His lead is strictly quite up to you!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND MAY YOU ENJOY A LIFE WITH JESUS!

AMEN