Good in the Midst of Bad

As I view the scores of pictures from hurricane Katrina...I search any image that will bring me hope or give me some evidence of goodness and love. The above picture captured my attention...and bears witness that there can be goodness even in the midst of bad.

Trapped...The Only Way Out

"All of a sudden there were people screaming. I saw people jumping out of the building. Their arms were flailing. I stopped taking pictures and started crying."

Michael Walters, a free-lance photo journalist in Manhattan

Fatalities
At the World Trade Center, faced with a desperate situation of smoke and burning heat from the jet fuel, an estimated 200 people jumped to their deaths from the burning towers, landing on the streets and rooftops of adjacent buildings hundreds of feet below.

In addition, some of the occupants of each tower above its point of impact made their way upward towards the roof in hope of helicopter rescue. No rescue plan existed for such an eventuality. By some accounts, fleeing occupants instead encountered locked access doors upon reaching the roof. As many as 1,366 people were trapped at and above the floors of impact in the North Tower (1 WTC). None of them survived.

As many as 600 people were trapped at and above the floors of impact in the South Tower (2 WTC). Only about 18 managed to escape in time from above the impact zone and out of the South Tower before it collapsed.

Info courtesy of Wikipedia...The Free Encyclopedia

Reflection on Leadership

We all know people in our everyday life that have qualities and display characteristics that we admire and seek to emulate. Those qualities are all the more evident when contrasted by those who lack them...or worse display the opposite.

Whether it be the father leading his family or the boss leading a business or a mayor leading a city in a time of disaster...one of those qualities which critical and severely lacking these days is leadership.

Below are some characteristics that that I've witnessed in persons whom I've been blessed to know as leaders:

· Have a vision
· Clearly communicate
· Listen...really listen
· Have a plan
· Wade through the muck and mire to get to the other side
· Committed
· Endure
· Persevere
· Not deterred by the critics and nay sayers
· Realize that there will always be those who are stumbling blocks
· Don't let anyone or anything get in the way
· Find a way over or under or around any obstacle
· Don't quit...it's not in their vocabulary
· Build up
· Encourage
· Inspire others
· Speak the truth
· Tell it like it is
· Prefer clarity
· Share the glory and limelight with others
· Humble, doesn't seek recognition
· Say thanks
· Acknowledge others and their contributions
· Integrity
· Courage
· Selfless
· Ability to acknowledge when wrong
· Apologize

Any one of the above qualities would be worth having and should be sought and developed. Yeah...it would be peachy keen if those whom we need to lead would do so. You bet ya! But when there is a vacuum...first you need to look inward and see if you are displaying and living out those qualities that help make up a leader. If not...pick a few and start working on them.

Are you a better person when you go to sleep tonight, than you were when you got of bed?

Are you a leader?

If not, why not?

If not now, when?

Oh Lord!

Oh Lord, I am afraid,
Do not fear, for I am with you!

Oh Lord, I am filled with anxiety,
Be anxious for nothing, instead pray and bring your requests to me.

Oh Lord, I feel weighed down and burdened so,
Come unto me and I will give you rest.

Oh Lord, I am overwhelmed with sorrow,
I have taken up your infirmities and carried your sorrows.

Oh Lord, I am weak and weary,
I will give you strength and power.

Oh Lord, my soul is despairing,
Despair not, for I am your ever present help in times of trouble.

Oh Lord, I am alone…all have deserted me,
I will never leave you, nor forsake you.


By Susan Bunts - 9/5/05

The Good Interred in Rubble

"At the end of this horrific day I think of Shakespeare’s line about evil living forever, and I realize how most of the good of everything I know about this world is interred beneath the rubble before me. " - Dennis Smith

Report From Ground Zero

Following September 11, 2001, I like so many Americans couldn't begin to fully grasp or understand what had happened. In an attempt to wrap my mind around and appreciate the sacrifice of so many I rented the book on tape Report from Ground Zero by Dennis Smith. I listened to it every day during my morning walk for about a month.

In the book Dennis walks you through the events of that day, and the days and weeks that followed, through the perspective of the firemen and emergency workers. In some respects I felts as if I was descending into the hell of that day. But I came out with insight or perspective of what the terrorist attacks were like for the brave men from New York City's Fire Department.

If you want to do something that will help keep the important lessons from September 11th in the forefront of your mind and remember the great sacrifice of so many...I would recommend and encourage you to read Report from Ground Zero. Below is an excerpt from Dennis Smith's website...from an editorial that was published in the New York Times. Please click on the link to read the full text of this and more works by Dennis.

WORST NIGHTMARE - The World Trade Center - 9/11/01
by DENNIS SMITH - NYTimes September 14, 2001

The second tower has just collapsed. I am at Ladder 16, and the firefighters have commandeered a crowded 67th Street cross-town bus. We go without stopping from Lexington Avenue to the staging center on Amsterdam. We don’t talk much on the bus, and not a single passenger complains about missing his or her stop. At Amsterdam we board another bus, and here the quiet is broken by a Lieutenant who says, “We’ll see things today we shouldn’t have to see, and there will be things we might think we should attend to, but listen up, we’ll do it together. We’ll be together, and we’ll all come back together boys.” He opens a box of dust masks and gives two to each of us.

Poured Out Like a Drink Offering

Philippians 2:15-18 -
16 as you hold out the word of life in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

My beloved Pastor, Chuck Obremski did preach today. His sermon was a challenging one... "Thinking Like a Genuine Servant". The scripture that came to mind in seeing him today...and hearing him...were Paul's words about being poured out like a drink offering.

And indeed Chuck continues to willingly offer his life and will over to God and His plans. Chuck recently stated in an interview...for as long as God will strengthen me and enable me to preach His word, I'll be there. And today...he was there...albeit seated in a wheel chair.

As Chuck had stated in a recent sermon...there are blessings with having a terminal illness like cancer. It helps you to not waste time on the little things that don't matter. For many of us...it's made us more cognizant of what a blessing each day is. We don't take for granted having Chuck preach...we are most grateful to God for the gift He's given us in our Pastor.

Please continue to keep both Chuck and Linda and the entire Obremski family in your prayers as they continue to battle and ride the cancer coaster.

Thinking Like a Genuine Servant

Notes from Chuck Obremski's sermon on 9/4/05

1. The Soul has been given to God (Romans 12:1A) – Urge, Brethren, Therefore
2. The Body must be given to God (Romans 12:1) – Present, Bodies, Living and Holy, Spiritual
3. The Mind must be given to God (Romans 12:2A) – Conformed, World, But, Transformed
4. The Will must be given to God (Romans 12:2B) – Prove, Acceptable, Perfect

Romans 12:1-2 - 1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will

According to God’s standard, all are guilty before God. We may think we are pretty good…but all fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 1:16 - I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

This is our mission statement. We are to share God’s word with a world in need.

Chuck shared that he is asked, what we will do as a church, when God calls him home. What we will do…is to do that which God has called us to do…and that is to share the Word of God.

God does his finest work when nobody knows what else to do.

Continue to reach those who need it…with the gospel message. God has a plan for the lost in the world. We must walk by faith, not by sight. Fix our eyes on Jesus…focus on him. Know Jesus personally. God has given believers everything that we need to be like Jesus.

Many thousands of believers flock to various places to get that which they believe will benefit themselves. Instead we need to remember that real satisfaction is in giving everything that we have to the Lord. We have to give it all back to the Lord. Therein lies satisfaction.

John 4:23-24 - 23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

Give yourself 100% to the Lord…a living sacrifice. Ask yourself…do you really do that? Serving God…by serving in his name. We are to offer ourselves wholly and continually to our God.

Our Souls have already been given to God. Paul says, “I urge you brethren”. Urge…encourage you…come alongside you. Urge is a longing command…“I beg you”. Brethren…ones who have come to faith in Jesus Christ.

Have you come to Christ? None righteous, no not one. All are guilty before God…and must seek God’s forgiveness. Once I understand that I am guilty, I can then seek forgiveness. Is that true of your life? Are you one who has not been born again? If not…you can not think like Christ. Only the redeemed have true spiritual life.

Therefore…refers to what went before: Romans 11:33-36 – 33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" 35 "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

The filling…wonders of God’s omnipotence.

Bodies…must be given to God. What’s involved in giving our bodies to God? Our bodies presented as a living sacrifice. Once and for all…period…done! Today…this day, present your body a living sacrifice. People will see through our lives a commitment to God.

Our body is still the center of sinful thoughts and actions. In order and for people around us to see…we need to seek God’s forgiveness. They need to see a real difference in how we live. See how we conduct ourselves, i.e., how we life and think and act. What comes out of our mouth?

James 3:10-12 – 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

What do we listen to? What do we read? The Bible? How do we use our hands? Do we use them to help others in his name?

Romans 6:13 - Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.

Stop presenting your body as an instrument of unrighteousness. Start asking yourself what do you do, say, think or hear that is pleasing to God? Do you think good or evil? What do you say…you have the power to put down or build up. Do you use wholesome words? Do you embarrass or abuse others? Do you go to or from evil? Do you go where you should or shouldn’t go? People are watching our lives.

Chuck then told the story of a friend who after becoming a Christian continued on in his old life style. Only after his friends came to him and said that they had been worried that when he became a Christian…he’d be no fun anymore. But since it didn’t stop him from partying, drinking, doing drugs…it wasn’t too bad. Their word convicted him…and caused him to change.
What kind of message are you sending to others? A living sacrifice? The first example was Isaac. He willingly yielded himself as a living sacrifice. Jesus actually gave himself as that sacrifice.

Surrender all your hopes, dreams and plans to the will of God? Do you put your will first, or God’s will?

Do you struggle with what God’s will is? We need to walk by faith, not by sight. God’s got a plan…we need to continue to serve him until he calls us home. Trust him…everything God does is good.

Spiritual act of worship. Mind must be given to him. We are not to be conformed to this world. But instead be transformed.

Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

In the Phillips translation…he words it, “don’t be squeezed into the world’s mold”. You have a choice to make…how will you live? The world’s way, your way or God’s way? Don’t let the world system tell you how to think. Some examples on where that’s happening today: evolution…told to believe it, all roads lead to heaven as long as you are sincere, woman’s choice. (A woman’s choice…yes…before she gets pregnant, not after.) Racism.

Chuck then told a story that illustrates how ridiculous racism is. A guy was talking to his friend. He said, “I was born black, when I’m scared I’m black, when I’m cold I’m black, when I’m in the sun I’m black, when I’m sick I’m black, and when I die I’ll be black. Now you on the other hand were pink when you were born, when you are scared you turn white, when you are cold you turn blue, when you are in the sun you turn red, when you are sick you turn green and when you die you turn purple. And you have the nerve to call me colored.

Chuck then continued to illustrate the world’s mode. It’s okay to have protected sex, divorce is okay (God however sees the heartbreak of divorce). Drink responsibly…but God’s word tells us this is dissipation. It’s a waste of time…useless. What does it matter when you turn 21…drinking age? It doesn’t matter if you are doing God’s will. Are you being conformed to this world? You instead need to give God your mind.

But…instead of being like everything else. Be transformed. We are commanded to be transformed inwardly and in turn outwardly. Let God take your life and make it into his will and way.

How do you renew your mind? Through the reading of God’s word. How much time to you spend in the Word of God? It transforms our minds…which in turn transforms our lives. How much time do you spend in the Word of God?

We are to take our mind and saturate it with the Word of God. Then you will know when something is against the will of God. When you see it, you’ll say…what a minute that’s not God’s voice.

We are to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. We are who we are in our hearts.

Our will…this is the fourth element of the total dedication to God. Offering that is please to God. Remember Cain and Able?

How can we have a genuine mind of God?
1. Give your soul to God. Repent and trust in Christ.
2. Give your bodies to God. Are you still going to the wrong places and doing the wrong things?
3. Give your mind to God. Take every thought captive.
4. Give your will to God.

A Genuine Servant Forgives and Forgets!

Below are my notes from Chuck Obremski's sermon on 8/21/05. It was a follow up message from the prior week...called A Genuine Servant Forgives. It was a most excellent sermon...a message that I always need to reminded about. As good as that sermon was...A Genuine Servant Forgives and Forgets was even more powerful. Very convicting...but in this message Chuck shares the key to being able to forgive...and that is to forgive and forget. Each tidbit is wonderful. My apologies for my tardiness in transcribing these notes. Please be sure to go to the website for Kindred Community Church and download recent sermons.

Notes from Chuck Obremski’s sermon 8/21/05

1. Review the definition of “to forget”.
2. Refuse to keep score. (1 Corinthians 13:4-5)
3. Rise above any offense. (Psalm 119:165)
4. Resist developing a judgmental attitude. (Matthew 7:1-5)
5. Remember your own weaknesses. (Philippians 3:12-24)

Ever try to get back at someone and have it backfire? The law of reaction. Often in our desire to get even we embarrass ourselves.

Forgiveness is the lubricant that reduces friction between ourselves and others.

We are to be like Jesus…Mark 10:45 - For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

He is a God who forgives…“Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Matthew 5:22-24 - 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

If you have offended someone, stop what you are doing and go deal with it. God’s word calls us to deal with things. Called to be obedient to God’s word. Ask for forgiveness…no matter what the response will be. God’s word requires obedience, not sacrifice.

Live lives of no regrets. We need to be more serious about being doers of God’s word. By time we get to our cars or lunch…we’ve talked our self out of being obedient to God’s word.

Write it down when God speaks to you. Won’t happen without active participation.

We need to continue to forgive people. Peter tried to limit it to 7 times, but Jesus corrected him, no it’s 70 times 7…in other words forgiveness is endless.

Matthew 20:21-22 – 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Resist the temptation to be hypocritical like the servant who when forgiven his debt refused to forgive a fellow servant a smaller debt. Unforgiveness is harmful.

Matthew 18:26-28 - 26 "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27 The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.

Forgiveness is only possible when we choose to forget. Forgiveness is The Key. Forgetting is the key to forgiveness.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “I’ll forgive you, but…”? We believe that it is only natural to not forget…and indeed that is natural. However we are not to live naturally. We are to respond as Jesus responds…in ways that are pleasing to God.

We are to write injustices in the dust…and benefits to us in marble.

Forgetting can’t erase the data. Webster’s defines forgiveness as follows:
1 a : to lose the remembrance of : be unable to think of or recall b obsolete : to cease from doing2 : to treat with inattention or disregard 3 : to disregard intentionally :
OVERLOOK -- usually used in the imperative 1 : to cease remembering or noticing 2 : to fail to become mindful at the proper time

We are to choose not to remember. Make a conscience decision to not bring something up. We tend to want to bring up past offences that we have already forgiven. Instead it’s the perfect time to choose to forget. We have to make choices. Be careful not to beat that dead horse. Choose to actively not remember. Deny those urges to retrieve the data, even when tempted to do otherwise.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 – 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love…doesn’t take into account or calculate a wrong suffered. Don’t sit around calculating. Don’t sit around figuring out some plan on who to get back. Instead…calculate something different.

Philippians 4:8 – 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

What do you think about on a regular basis? What are you dwelling on or calculating? Instead think about all the good things in your life.

Chuck then reflected on the blessing of knowing how short life can be. If you knew that how much time would you spend dwelling on that which was negative. The little things that don’t really mater any more…they are not important. Blessing of dying…you realize the little things…they don’t matter.

Don’t waste time trying to get even with someone. We create a monster in our head by what we dwell on. We can choose to forgive and forget. Or…we can choose to be embittered as if we’ve been turned over to the torturers.

Matthew 18:33-35 – 33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

Chuck then relayed a story about a worker in Orange County…a man filled with hate, anger, resentment and rage…who killed six of his co-workers.

You can easily forgive when you make that choice to forgive and forget. Don’t bring it up…let it go. It’s natural to want to get even. It’s supernatural to forgive and forget.

What a terrible testimony when you hang on to an offense, bitterness and unforgiveness. Just think…it must break God’s heart when we act like that. Instead we must refuse to keep score.

Rise Above…we are to rise above. Psalm 119:65 - Do good to your servant according to your word, O LORD. Do you love God’s word? If so, you must obey his commandments.

Resist Hypocrisy…don’t be guilty of a sin, yet judge other’s about that same sin.

Matthew 7:1-5 - 1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Remember…I haven’t arrived yet. All are still under construction. Is this true about us? Live in the present.

Philippians 3:12-14 – 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Joseph named his son Manasseh…which means “God has made me to forget”. You have to choose to forget. When we choose to forget we then have the energy to press on to what lies ahead.

Amy Carmichael quote: "If I say, 'Yes, I forgive, but I cannot forget,' as though the God, who twice a day washes all the sands on all shores of all the world, could not wash such memories from my mind, then I know nothing of Calvary love."

Live for today…live in the moment. Forget what lies behind. Don’t waste time. Look for opportunities to do that which God has placed before you today.

September 11th...Father Mychal Judge

Father Mychal Judge is known as the first victim of September 11th. The image of his lifeless body being carried from the World Trade Center is forever etched in my memory.

"You know what I want for Christmas? You know what I really want? Absolutely nothing! I have everything in the world."

Those words of Father Mychal Judge, O.F.M., characterize the simplicity of the New York City Fire Department chaplain killed during a rescue mission immediately following the September 11, 2001, World Trade Center attack. Chaplain to the department since 1992, the 68-year-old died in a hail of steel and concrete as he anointed a firefighter and a fallen office worker. Father Judge became the first officially recorded fatality following the attack.

To learn more about Father Mychal...be sure to click on the above link.

Blood Donations Save Lives

Theresa...mother to Destinee, Emma and Abraham wrote the following.

I was wondering if you can pass this on to the many people you know with everything going on in the South, I received this e-mail from the Red Cross. As you know both Emma and Abraham are blood recipients. California imports 60% of their blood from other states, now that blood is going to the South. Not that I am complaining but that increases the shortage here in California. We have less than a day supply here in California.

We are having a Blood Drive at Emmanuel Reformed Church on October 1st, from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm, child care is provided for all blood donors. Each pint of blood can save up to three lives. Blood is the gift that cost you nothing and is more meaningful than words can say.

If you are able to donate...please click on the above link to get directions to the Emmanuel Reformed Church.