God Breaking Through in Our Lives

How many times do we look at our phone to see who is calling us? If a number is unfamiliar, we sometimes if not all the time, do not answer it. I must admit occasionally I do that myself. The other night at 9:30 p.m. an unfamiliar number appeared on my phone. I let it ring a few times then something said answer it. I did and the result of that phone call was a person whom I met maybe twice talked for a good hour about how she needed to find God to give her strength in her life. Much was happening in her life that she was finding hard to handle. She heard from someone about St. Barnabas, and that I attend the church. During this phone conversation, I did the listening as she told me what had happened in her life for the past 5 years. She does not think that God is in her life. I replied, "If He wasn't in your life then why did you call me?" The end of the conversation left her saying that she was so thankful to me for taking the time to listen. I said it wasn't just me listening, but also God- the one who gave you the strength and courage to make that call.

God is amazing in all His works. I wonder how He finds the time for all of us? So next time an unfamiliar number appears on your phone, answer it..
                                                                                                                   L.Lee

An Acts 8 moment!

"You are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ's own for ever." BCP 308

It was wonderful to be able to baptize the Duke family last Sunday, July 29, 2012.

The power of God's Holy Spirit!

Getting Our Hands Dirty

Getting Our Hands Dirty:

Becoming involved in something meaningful and being prepared to put in the effort and hard work to make it happen.

poster by Roland Tiangco.

There are so many things that we wish were different, but things do not simply happen because we wish it or we just talk about it. We can question decisions and methods. We can complain about leadership. We can become frustrated. But in order for our world to get better, one needs to act, to do something, for change to occur.

I believe that is what the Episcopal Church USA has done and is doing. Our General Convention, which met in Indianapolis, IN just ended and though I was not able to attend some amazing things have been set into motion. Many of the sermons ( http://www.episcopalchurch.org/ ) sparked a desire to do something. But things will not just happen unless you and I are willing to get our hands dirty -to take the initiative and ownership of the issues at hand.

But what usually happens after all the excitement, all the emotional “hoopla”, when everyone goes home to the “real” world? We make excuses that we are too busy or too stressed and cannot handle one more thing. We expect “others” to carry on the work and to just pass the information on to us.

But why can’t it be YOU? or ME? Can we do one thing today that will energize us to take that step to bring about change, to get our hands dirty?

 Jesus understood this when He said “the harvest is plenty, but the workers are few.” Luke 10:2

 Are you willing to labor for Christ? I think that is why we Christians are here on this earth. What do you think?

dmr+

Heroes of Faith

                                           
 

The Scriptures talk about heroes of faith in the book of Hebrews chapter 11, but I thought of some people who have made an impact on my life as a believer. First, it begins with my grandfather. He lived and walked the footsteps of Christ. He was a man that met no stranger that he didn't like. A man that thought of others first and then himself.  He was kind and gentle.

Second, I think of Sister Robert Ann. My fifth grade science teacher. She introduced me to the idea that I could have a relationship with God.  She believed in me by allowing me to share the gifts God had given me. My true hero is the one that knows me better than I know myself. The one who has been with me through hardships and good times. The one who has, I know, forgiven me and through whom I have learned to forgive myself – that is God.

One never knows who they will meet along their life's journey. We may come across many people that we can call our heroes of faith. When God puts you in a certain place (like St. Barnabas) and places people and a priest that inspires you, encourages you through her teachings of the Gospel of Christ and strives for you to become the person God expects you to be, I call  people like that my heroes of faith as well..

So, who are your Heroes of Faith?

                                                                                                                         Lorraine Lee

For those who have wondered what has happened to us, well, we are up and running again. There are some changes with this blog. First, there will be others from St. Barnabas posting their thoughts and ideas about what is happening in their lives and with the people of St. Barnabas. Second, together we will make sure that there is at least one post every week. So check us out and see what has been going on at St. B's.

South Africa Trip

Recently, Dave and I made a trip to South Africa and Zimbabwe. It was one of the most exciting trips we have made. We visited Kruger National Park, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Langa in South Africa. We also traveled to Zimbabwe, where we were chased by baboons and saw the beautiful Victoria Falls.

One of the absolutely insane things we did was to do the “Zip Line” across the gorge at the top of the falls. I say insane because no one in their right mind would actually pay to be thrown over a cliff to fly about 300 feet above water. At least, that is what I kept telling myself as they put the harness on me.                                         
Take a look at the evidence of this event.

It was very scary for me because I do not like heights of any kind. We had to stand on this little platform and attach to this cable line. Dave and I did it tandem, because even though I may be crazy, I am not stupid. I was not going to do this alone. You talk about taking a leap of faith ---- well, once I committed to dying ---- there was such a peace that came over me when I finally realized the harness I was in held and I was going to be okay. Hey, is there a sermon coming on????? All in all, Dave and I enjoyed the trip immensely. If you ever want to see all the pictures we took (about 400) we would love to share them with you.

I thank all of my St. Barnabas family for allowing me to take the time to go. Thanks to the Reverend Marcia McCrae for filling in two Sundays for me. My hope is that everyone who reads this Blog will get a chance to travel to South Africa and Victoria Falls some day. ......And take your own "leap of faith".

Peace, Denise+

Having a Critical Spirit.....

Criticism—when we hear this word we are convinced that when a person is doing it he/she is justified to give one’s own “opinion” or “view” on a situation or person. But when someone criticizes us or what we are doing, well, that becomes a negative or hurtful situation.

Matthew 7:1-2 (NIV) says, “Do not judge or you too will be judged, for in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

If we were to replace the word “judge” with “criticize” I think this passage takes on a whole different focus.
“Do not criticize or you too will be criticized, for in the same way you criticize others, you will be criticized……”

Catherine Marshall* talks about a time when God asked her to fast one day from criticism. What she found out was that a critical spirit always focuses on self and one’s perspective is distorted. A spirit of criticism has a tendency to block positive creative thoughts and ideas that God longs to give us. Being critical puts an obstacle in the way of God’s Spirit and hinders God from working love, mercy and acceptance in and through us.

Being critical of someone or something only takes our focus off of what God is wanting you and I to accomplish. When we see something wrong in another person’s behavior or a situation, instead of criticizing or grumbling about it, God desires that you and I seek God’s Spirit through prayer to intervene and correct what is needed. Because in all truth change can only come through the power of God’s Spirit.
Let us together love each other and let God transform the areas that need fixing.


*Catherine Marshall, A Closer Walk (Old Tappen, NJ: Chosen Books/Revell, 1986)