Senseless Ramblings of the Mindless

There has been something I have been thinking abut for some time now and that something would be called ‘sheep stealing.” I’m not talking about the the sheep with four legs I am talking about church leaders, parishioners or those are are already going to church and is convinced that they should move to another church because they are moving.

When I talk about “sheep stealing” I am talking about what pastors and or congregation/parishioners do to convince those already attending a church and they entice the church members to attend another congregation. I think ever since I can remember I have seen this done in churches and I sure at some point I am guilty of doing this. Once I learned more about how this is not what we should be doing to get people to come to church, I had to revise my way of thinking when it comes to inviting people to my church. I have also found that trying to manipulate people into not attending whatever church they are going to has a potential to be hateful and dishonest way of wanting to grow their own congregation. It isn’t really about someone deciding that the church they are attending isn’t where they feel God wants them to be or where they aren’t being fed spiritually. It is about how thief’s dressed as church members think it is OK to take members from where God called them to begin with. The whole idea of stealing members from one church/congregation in order to increase the membership in another congregation is hurtful and can be destructive.

Over time and throughout the ages people have left churches for whatever reasons. Sometimes the reasons are very petty and distracting when it comes to why we are at church to being with. When people leave churches many times they are angry,confused and bitter about what happened at the church they just left. Who knows why, but with that kind of anger it doesn’t take long for it to overflow into the congregation. People start talking and then there is a division. This is one of the reasons we have so many denominations. Pretty ridiculous to me actually. If someone chooses to attend another church on their own, that is fine. Sometimes you have to find the right fit. My friend Lisa felt she needed to attend a different church that fit her needs and where she can grow stronger in her walk with Christ. For me, she is a good example of how checking out churches to find the right place is for them. She never asked me to switch over and she has never tried to divide and conquer. In the 20 years we have gone to our church, I have seen a large number of people who are what I would call, “sheep stealers”.

In my opinion when pastors and people use this tactic, it is a form of pure laziness and I would think that God would not take these actions lightly. One day when we stand before the Lord, there will be things that we are accountable for. Churches and individuals should be advancing the Kingdom of God, not dividing it. It says in James 3:1 that “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”

Some of the conversations that goes on during the whole “sheep stealing” situation is where they will make comments like, ” since our church doesn’t care what you do or what our sexual preference is, you should come and check out my church. There are real reasons for switching churches. But to be coaxed into going just to increase the bank roll and a huge amount of growth numerically, then you are switching for the wrong reason. I’m not naming anyone one person in particular since things like this happens in all churches and it has our mine off an on through years. I have also heard over the years that the pastor ‘or others take the Bible literally. “Not everything in the Bible works with how society is these days.” That’s a bunch of bull. God’s Word is the same yesterday, today and for eternity.

There are many people in our area that is unchurched or looking for a new church home. If a church is wanting to advance the Kingdom of God, then we should be reaching out to those who need to hear the “Word of God”. I hate to put it this way, but there are parts in the Bible that can be very direct and things I don’t want to hear. The reason for that is that I am guilty of I would say all of the commandments in one way or another. I haven’t literally killed anyone, but there was times I wish certain people wasn’t alive. Church is not a social hour. Church leaders are there to share the Gospel of Christ and the Good News. If you get your feelings hurt, you may want to take time to pray about it. Too many people get feelings hurt and they then leave church. I may not always agree or understand what our pastor is talking about, but the nice thing is that he can back up all of his sermons in the Bible. Pastors are merely messengers of the Good News, like it or not. If you don’t like it, that doesn’t mean it is going to change. If you don’t believe what is in the Bible and that it is the Word of God, then you may want to read it more. So dust off the cover and crack open, clear out the cobwebs and dive in.

I get distracted at church or just about anything. I forget things from one minute to the next and even seconds later. Most of the time when I get distracted it is because Pastor Ray will cover something in the Bible and I have to jot down notes so I can look it up later or ask him about something. For the longest time I wonder how many people that proclaim they are Christians and they aren’t. I don’t always agree with what is being preached or said. If I don’t agree or understand, I have no problem asking. My pastor is great about that. Even when I disagree, I do my very best show respect to him and to God.

When I was talking to Pastor Ray a light bulb came on in my head and I am sure he mentioned it to and that is even though people think it is better somewhere else doesn’t mean that God won’t direct those who really want to learn about what God has to say on things. I get a bad taste in my mouth and always have when people try to recruit those who are happy where they are in order to grow another church. There are many places that on the surface looks as if they are Christians and advancing the Kingdom of God, when in reality they are feeding you generic food. Why go to a church that is generic when you can have the real thing and that is Christ and teachings from the Bible.

I’m not going to bash any one church because I to feel that each and every one of us has a purpose as the Body of Christ. I will on occasion go check out other churches if I am needing or want to go to a special event or gathering with fellow Christians. The name on the building doesn’t matter to me as long as they are worshiping God and no other Gods. I enjoy fellowshipping with those at my church and I have no plans on leaving.

In closing I just want to say that if you are happy where you are going to church and the church is a Bible believing church, then don’t let someone sway you to go somewhere else. If you are feeling led to check out new churches, then it’s OK to day that. Just be sure who and what the motivation for someone wanting you to get to their church. Do they want you to leave to increase the number of people there and how much they are getting in the offering plate, or are they there because God directed them. Don’t let petty stuff get in the way of worshiping God. Always make sure what is from God instead of someone else.

I went to a concert at my church tonight. Wade Hammond was the singer and I have to say that I was rather disappointed in the concert. Not because he wasn’t worth coming out to hear. He was more than worth my time and better than most concerts I have paid a lot of money to go to.

Wade Hammond and his wife came to our little church and put together a wonderful offering of music and words of encouragement. I am not one that likes country music and I’m not really into the Southern Gospel. Wade sang songs that spoke to my heart and was from his heart. For those who missed it, you really missed out. This concert was free and Wade and his wife took time out to visit our town and yet there was only around 25 people there including them. Why !!!

It has been publicized for weeks on our website, Facebook, power points and so on. There is no excuse to say that they didn’t know. Announcements have been made from the pulpit and Pastor Ray made sure to get the word out. I can understand outside of the church since not all subscribe to the paper. But for those who go to our church should have been there to support Christian artists. It isn’t like our city gets a lot of concerts like this that is free.

I can also understand if someone is sick or doesn’t drive at night. But there are plenty that can give a ride to someone if they need a ride. I guess you can say I am rather ticked off that there isn’t more support and more of a showing from those who go to our church. I know that Wade wouldn’t complain and neither did Pastor Ray. But, I have no problem saying what is on my mind.  As Christians, we should be willing to support and attend concerts like this. There was a time were we were off the map when it comes to Christian artists. And here we are, getting one to come to our church and it costs nothing but 2 hours of your time and you don’t go. What the heck is up with that???? 2 hours isn’t a lot of time to worship Christ. Shoot, in a village of one of missionaries, people will walk a day just to get the chance to listen to the Word and music. And yet, people will throw away what many fight to be able to do. Many are killed everyday and ticks me off that God wasn’t worth the time to spend it singing praises to the Lord.

I’m sorry that I am going on about this. Well, not totally sorry. I am very disappointed  that a very small group showed up. We have more people show up where food is for ladies luncheons and yet many that could have gone out decided it wasn’t worth going. I was talking to one lady about why she wasn’t there and she said it was raining. That is so not true and it was still light when the concert was over.

To those who showed up, it was nice to at-least have someone there. I felt bad for Ray, he was there and I am sure he was stressing over people not coming. People started coming about 5 minutes prior.

There has been some big name concerts that have come to St. George over the past few years. The concerts are it the 30.00-40.00 range and yet it sells out. I overhear people say how nice it is to get Christian artists and that as Christians we need to be sure to go to those concerts, even if it isn’t our favorite genre. If we show up for concerts like this, there may be a day when there is nothing coming to town.  I would like to know where those who say this were tonight. I best get off this topic or it is going to make me even more upset. I shouldn’t be getting upset about this, but I did and I am.

In Closing- You all missed out on something special!!!

Wade Hammonds Website

Wade Hammonds Facebook Page

I have a page on my personal website that talks about my experience with Guillian Barre Syndrome. This is more about my experience.

What is Guillian Barre Syndrome (GBS) ?

(Wikipedia) Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) (French pronunciation: ​[ɡiˈlɛ̃ baˈʁe], English pronunciation: /ɡiːˈjænbɑrˈeɪ/), sometimes Guillain–Barré–Strohl syndrome or Landry’s paralysis, is a rapid-onset weakness of the limbs as a result of an acute polyneuropathy, a disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system. The disease is usually triggered by an infection, which provokes immune-mediated nerve dysfunction. Many experience changes in sensation or develop pain, followed by muscle weakness beginning in the feet and hands that develops rapidly (between half a day and two weeks). Guillain-Barre syndrome damages the myelin sheaths covering the nerves in the peripheral nervous system, which disrupts the nerve impulses, similar to multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases. During the acute phase, the disorder can be life-threatening with about a quarter requiring admission to intensive care unit for mechanical ventilation. Some are affected by fluctuations in the function of the autonomic nervous system, which can lead to dangerous abnormalities in heart rate and blood pressure.

The diagnosis is usually made on clinical grounds, through the exclusion of alternative causes, and supported by tests such as nerve conduction studies and examination of the cerebrospinal fluid. Various classifications exist, depending on the areas of weakness, results of nerve conduction studies, and presence of antiganglioside antibodies. In those with severe weakness, prompt treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins or plasmapheresis, together with supportive care, will lead to good recovery in the majority, although some may experience ongoing difficulty with walking, painful symptoms, and sometimes require breathing support. Guillain–Barré syndrome is rare, at one to two cases per 100,000 people annually. The syndrome is named after the French physicians Georges Guillain and Jean Alexandre Barré, who described it with André Strohl in 1916.

I was a healthy 17 year old that was into all kinds of sports and was very active. I enjoyed track and field. I ran the anchor for my High School. I was on the girls basketball team, cross country and volleyball team. Anything athletic was what I enjoyed participating in. It was nothing to run 10-12 miles a day. I loved the adrenaline rush.

I quit school and move to Texas where my future and present husband Chuck was stationed. Well just a month or so after I moved to Texas I started to feel weird. I have never been sick with anything major besides the normal cold and flu stuff. Boy was in in for something new.

I was getting really tired all of the sudden. I had no idea what was happening. I would take a walk into town, which was just little less than a mile. That was easy, no sweat at all. Well as I got into town, my legs felt very heavy and tired. I could barely get enough energy to cross the street. I managed to get home, which to this day I have clue how I made it that far. I made it to the step and had to rest a few to make it up but eventually I did. I was under 18 so it was hard to get to see a Dr. I wasn’t about to tell my parents I wasn’t feeling good, especially since I ran away from home.

Well as a day or so passed by , I noticed that my feet was becoming numb and that they tingled really bad. I couldn’t even lift them anymore and it was slowly going up my body. Things just didn’t look too good. Well Chuck and I decided to go to the ER and we tried to lie about my age. That didn’t work. I guess I’m not that good at that, lol.

We were sent home and still not knowing what was happening. I knew that somehow I had to get some help. It got to the point when there was no choice. We went to a different hospital. By this time I couldn’t walk at all. I was having a lot of problems breathing. I couldn’t move my eyes or any muscles on my face. I couldn’t move period. After we got to the hospital the Drs in the ER automatically assumed that I was on drugs. I guess it was that 70’s thing. Every teen was suppose to be strung out on drugs. I knew I wasn’t but they ran tests anyhow. They came back negative.

They admitted me into the hospital and put me in ICU. My breathing by this time has been worse than when I went in . They ended up doing a spinal tap and found out that I had Guillian Barre Syndrome. I was totally clueless on what this was and what it meant for me. I was rushed to a hospital that had a top notch Neuro Unit and was placed on a vent and was basically felt like a vegetable until they took me off that contraption.

You may wonder what it was that I caught this from. I was around a little girl that had strep throat. I also recently had the flu vaccine. Normally this wouldn’t bother anyone beyond getting the strep virus that was passed on. But thousands of people carry an antibody that isn’t normal. When there are viruses or other things going around for some odd reason it does something with this antibody and then its like your body is fighting itself and your body thinks that there are foreign cells so it destroys your body and muscles. I would also like to add that my Dr’s at the time I first got this said that once you get better you don’t have to worry about getting it or worry about problems. It can happen in a few cases but not many. I would also like to thank the Shiners  for their assistance. I was under 18 and had no insurance and they paid every single medical bill I had. True angels on earth I must say. I am going to give you some information on GBS so you can better understand it from a medical perspective. The information below is from the Guillian Barre Foundation and the link to the website and other important information is found below. God Bless and thank you for taking the time to better

Post GBS:

I still have many residual effects from GBS and have been diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis on top of that. How they figured that out, I have no clue. My Dr’s told me that it is common for people that have auto-immune diseases to have more than one since the the body is fighting itself. I was pretty shocked to hear how common it is to have Guillian Barre Syndrome and Myashtenia Gravis.

For me I think my faith in Christ is the biggest thing that helped me deal with all the medical things like GBS and MG. I don’t know how people can get through things like this without Christ.

I have always wondered about why most churches always teach or do sermons on the books of the New Testament for the most part. For Christians the New Testament is important because the first four books are biographies of Jesus. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are called the Gospels.The rest of the books are letters or accounts about the teachings of Christ and why the are important to the churches. You will also find prophesies in the Book of Revelations, which is the last book in the Bible.

There are 66 books in the Bible and I am willing to bet that 3/4 of those who profess to say they are a Christian doesn’t know them all and hasn’t really done an in-depth study of those little known books of the Bible. There is a poll that is out that says that more than half of Americans think the Bible doesn’t have much of an influence in the world and they see in moral decline, yet only one in five Americans read the Bible on a regular basis, according to a new survey It is strange to hear people brag about their spirituality when they lack the true knowledge of the word of God. It is the amount of knowledge of God in a man that decides his true spirituality. (Psalm 119:11)

Reading my Bible more consistently is something I for sure need to work on. I have been lacking in that area. In another survey it says that only 25 percent of Americans said that they read their Bible on a regular basis. And the younger generations will only be reading their Bibles around 3 times per year, if they read it at all.

When I think of reading the Bible, I have a hard time knowing where to start. I’m not good at the reading your Bible in a year. I don’t know why that is since the desire is there. I have many friends and some family who has done this, I’m not one of those people. I think I have the idea that I need to start from the beginning and go from front to back. I get to the geology part of the Bible and I fizzle out. People say it is important to know the begats, but they seem to cause me to put on the breaks and I come to a screeching halt.

I understand that by not reading the Bible, I am missing out on the most and best things in Life. Things of this world will not satisfy the hearts of mankind. For me the Bible is the most important possession I have. I have the tendency to take it for granted. When reading the Bible, it has a way off guiding me through my life and fulfilling my heart.

John 6:63 says. “The Words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life”. Our lives become worthwhile and we are satisfied as we go through our life. When I read the Word of God, I find that it is the key to my own happiness and it can be the key to anyone’s as well. Life is full of terrible things and we will stumble and fall. The Word of God shines through the darkest of moments and the light shines like a beacon of light. The Bible gives us the truth about God and what our future looks like. The Bible also covers the problems of sin and the path to salvation.

In 2 Tim. 3:15 The Lord Jesus Christ made the way of salvation very simple when He said, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in” (Rev. 3:20). All we have to do is open the door and invite Him into our hearts and have faith that He is Who He says He is.

I would love to see our church when it is done with the Book of Luke to do the Book of Titus. I wouldn’t mind doing the books of Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther. When I ask Christians about the Books in the Bible, Titus is one of them that they forget that is there. The Apostle Paul wrote this book which is actually a letter. The Book of Titus can be found in the New Testament after 2 Timothy and before Philemon.  This letter is about Titus who was a Greek Christian and he put his trust in Paul to oversee the churches in Crete. One of the things I think that is important about this book is that is is still relevant today when it comes to immorality and worldly behaviors.

When I was reading up about the Book of Titus, it demonstrates and discussions how if a person believes in Christ, their actions will reflect them. As we have been studying the Book of Luke, we can also see that good works will NOT save us, but they will reflect who we believe in. There are also instructions about church leaders and how to treat others. I don’t think we have a problem of a pastor who doesn’t demonstrate the love and truthfulness of Christ. However, there are many churches and church leaders that are just going through life and not really applying the Word of God in their lives.

Here are a few verses in the Book of Titus that I want to leave you all with;

• Titus 1:7-9 (NIV)
  Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless-not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
• Titus 2:11-14 (NIV)
  For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
• Titus 3:9-11 (NIV)
  But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.

In Closing, I just want to say that churches and individuals seem to focus on how it is that they are worshiping God- lighting, music styles (traditional and contemporary) instead of what it is that they believe and Who they have faith in. For myself, I love my church, I don’t really care for the traditional hymns most of the time. I enjoy the praise and worship music (Casting Crowns, Big Daddy Weave, Jeremy Camp and on and on). I’m not into the whole Southern Gospel thing either. I’m not at church for the music, I am there because God is the main focus and our church is sound in doctrine and Worshiping God is the most important thing we do. If a church isn’t focused on Christ Alone and the Bible, then I would suggest spending time in prayer and really making sure why it is that you are going to church or not going at all.

Craigslist is awesome for many things, but it is also a breeding ground for people who have no conscious. People have lost their lives when they use Craigslist.  I won’t be posting pictures for this post since it makes me sick to look at these innocent victims.

Craigslist is dangerous when it comes to pets. There are people out there who will seem like they have honest intentions, but that is far from the truth. Never put a pet on Craigslist for free unless you want to risk their lives. There are predators out there that are willing to take them off of your hands and they don’t care. Some of these individuals will use them as bait dogs in order to train their dogs to fight. Usually they will go for the puppies and the older dogs who are unable to fight for their lives.

I had a friend who had no choice but to get a new home for her dogs. Then she finds out that the dogs she rescued and had to re-home were used as bait dogs and eventually they were killed. The person on Craigslist gave false information and false names. It isn’t just Craigslist where those who want bait dogs for free, they will also adopt through animal shelters. They won’t pay a lot for a rescue, but they will pay a small amount and would for sure go for the free dogs.

We don’t hear or read much about this form of animal cruelty , it is still a real problem that occurs all over the country. Dog fighting isn’t just a crime, it is the worse form of abuse and animal can endure. Dogs that are used for bait dogs usually have their muzzles bound with duck tape or another device. The dogs and cats end up with broken bones, ruptured lungs and horribly wounded. Most don’t survive the injuries they have. These dogs are tortured until they die. They are unable to defend themselves in order to not injure the prized dog that is being trained.

Dog fighting is illegal in the US. Unfortunately, that does not stop it happening, it just happens in secret.

If you must use Craigslist as a way to find a good home for your beloved pet, be sure to have a re-homing fee and make sure that your pet is going to be in a good home. There are times people may not have a choice since they can’t keep the dog for one reason or another. But be smart about finding a home. Once they are out of your home, you have no say so in what will happen to those dogs.

There is a dog that we were fostering and then we ended up keeping her. In our town, there is a limit of 2 dogs. Patsy was abused when she was younger and by her appearance I wouldn’t doubt if she may have been part of a dog fighting ring. She has a healed over scar down the middle of her face and one eye is lower than the other. She also has many scars. Since we couldn’t keep her, a friend of ours has her. Even though my friend has allergies, she still welcomed Patsy into her home. Eventually I am sure she will be re-homed and I hope it is a loving home. Patsy has had a pretty rough life until she got to us.

There are a lot of dogs like Patsy out there. We may not see what is going on and people may seem kind and loving, but not everyone is honest. If someone will take your pet sight unseen, be careful. Nobody will take a dog without seeing it first.

In closing I just want to add the dangers that can happen to a pet sold or given away on Craigslist. or other sites. Puppy Mill owners, dog fighters, dog flippers and “bunchers” scan these free ads to find animals that they are then able to use and abuse for whatever intended use they want. For the most part these people are too cheap to spend money on these animals (because they have no value, in their eyes), so even a small re-homing fee will turn them off. Even if you only put “re-homing fee” in your ad will scare them off.

For those who are needing to re home their pet, here are some good options that would ensure a safe option for your pet.

• Ask your friends, family and neighbors. They would be the best chance of finding a good home for your pet and they would be someone you would know personally.
• Ask your vet or groomer. They would know of clients who are looking for a pet and you would know that if they recommended someone.
• Have your pet spayed or neutered if they aren’t already. That would make it so the person adopting your pet won’t be using them for the purpose of breeding then for puppy mills.

Make sure that the home your pet is going to will be treated right. If your pet doesn’t get along with small children, pets or cats, you would want to make sure that something doesn’t happen. There is nothing wrong with asking questions. Your pets life depends on it.

Have you ever thought about how you want to be remembered when you die?

With all the things going on with my mom and family. I got thinking about this when my sisters and I were discussing if there would be a memorial service for my mom when she passes away from cancer. I had to look really deep into my heart and gut as I was thinking about what kind of a service would we have. Usually when I have attended funerals they have it where those who came would talk about how the person was during their lives and things the deceased person enjoyed doing.

One of the funerals that sticks in my mind is a funeral that Kelly Mzik did for one of the church members at Oasis Church. When I went to that I really got a good feel for who the lady was. People talked about how strong her faith was in Christ. The service was filled with music, laughter, joy and a message of hope. Then one of the other funerals that was our church was for Bob Morganti. His family was there and Bob had a full and loving life. Anyone at the service knew that he was loved and he loved his family. As I was thinking of the many funerals I have been to, I realized that it would be hard to do one for my mom. The reason I say this is because growing up, our parents never really put anyone first. Us kids didn’t have a relationship like many families do. As I was making notes on what to do for a service, I come up empty handed. My parents have always caused division in our lives. They never allowed us to talk to anyone outside of the family about the abuse. They would do what they could to make sure they were taken care of, even if that meant they would be throwing anyone under the bus. People who want to help are chased away and the police are called. Most people have pretty much left. Nobody can handle the violence. Mom isn’t close to anyone and in a Christian way, I don’t know where my mom is at.

When I ask around to see if it is possible to do a service for my mom, I get doors slammed and they refuse to even go to one. I have a feeling, we will just have to do a family dinner. The sad thing though is that when I say a family dinner, it means 3 of us eating together since nobody can get along. As I think of what could be said and shared about the things that I loved about my mom and sharing stories, I can’t think of much to say. I can say I love my mom, but I would have a hard time trying to share the good things on how she was an awesome and loving mom. I’m sure somewhere, she loved me and my sisters. Her actions never showed that though. But, as I was thinking about her, I began thinking about what would others say about me when I die. Would they feel that I wasn’t a good mom, wife, friend and a Christian.

As I think about what it is that I would like to be remembered for, I do have a list of those things. Here is my top ten answers.

1. The first thing I would want to be remembered for is my faith in Christ. My relationship with Christ is the most important relationship in my life.
2. I want to be remembered as a mom who isn’t perfect, and that I love my children and family, even when I majorly flub up.
3. I want to be remembered for being a kind, compassionate person.
4. I want to be remembered for helping others.
5. I want to be remembered for being a good friend
6. I want to be remembered for not being afraid to stand up for what I believe in.
7. I want to be remembered for being a good cool that uses love as the main ingredient.
8. I want to be remembered for being non selfish.
9. I want to be remembered for being sacrificial which means to give of myself, even if I do without.
10. I want to be remembered for making a difference to animals. I may not change the world for too many, but the ones I do help, I would hope that I made a difference to them.

I want to cover what is the most important thing I want to be remembered for, and that is my faith. This is a pretty deep subject and most of the times, people don’t want to think about what it is going to be like when we are gone. I have decided that this is a good time to post my thoughts on this topic since Memorial Day is right around the corner. Memorial Day is a day that is set apart for us to pay respect and to honor those who gave their lives so that we can be free. We must remember that “freedom is never free”. Someone pays the price for our freedom. The price for our freedom is blood that has been shed. There is a show that I love to watch. It is called “Once Upon a Time”. One of the characters explains to those in the town of Storybook that everything comes with a price.

In the same way, we must never forget that Jesus who is the Son of God paid the price by dying on the cross and He became the sacrificial lamb by shedding His blood for me and for you. We were dead in sin and we had no hope of going to Heaven since God doesn’t allow sin in Heaven. Jesus shed His innocent blood for us. It is the only way we can receive grace and mercy and be set free.

There is no way of knowing how long we will live. “Man does not know his time” (Ecclesiastes 9:12). No one know what tomorrow may bring. As I sit here typing late at night, I have my own list of things I need to do. Perhaps I will get them done. Perhaps God has other plans for me. There are no guarantees that I will even be alive 24 hours from now. The Dr’s can give us a time table, but there is no guarantees. Death will come to all of us sooner or later. I have had doctors give me a horrible prognosis and the look on their faces breaks my heart. It isn’t because of what they told me, but because they don’t understand that even though we all reach the end of our life in this world, that because of God’s love and faithfulness. When we die, God promises live on. Our body (vessel) is buried when we die, but God’s promises are not buried with us. God is there for our children, grandchildren and so on.I don’t fear death because I know that death is not the end but the beginning because I am a children of God.

I was taking a class at Dixie Collage here in my town. It is now a university, but when I went, it was still a community college. For one of my classes we were asked to write our obituary and to write our own biography. If you have never done that, it is an eye opener and was difficult for me to do. In the obituary, you can only have so many lines and words. As I was writing my own obituary, I realized that I didn’t really know me. I had no clue what to write about myself in a third person kind of way. As I was writing it, I wanted to be sure to use this as an opportunity to share God and the blessings as in family that He has given me. In my obituary, I stated that my faith isn’t just a for now thing, it is a choice that has changed my life. If we put God first, our lives are full. Not saying that you won’t stumble and fall. Shoot, I have fallen a lot, but I get back up. Even though I will die, I want to those I love and for generations to come know that when we called to live our lives for God and honor Him, we are blessed.

In closing I just want to add a question for you all. And that question is, “What do you want to be remembered for?“

How many times do we take the time to thank our pastors and wives. I know there are certain times throughout the year (October) that is pastor appreciation and so on. But what about being thankful everyday for what they really do. I’m not sure exactly why I am doing a blog on this topic, but it has been on my heart lately.

When I talk to different people about where they go to church at and what kinds of things they do, I end up with all kinds of answers. Usually for the most part they either have a love-hate reaction when it comes to thier experiences. One of the things I have noticed is that the pastors and church leaders must have people that has to drive them nuts over some pretty petty stuff.

Pastors must have a great deal of patience when it comes to dealing with so many different types of people. Pastors have a pretty difficult job when I think about it. They must deal with difficult people that have Type A personalities (me) and Type B personalities. It must be difficult to deal with people come in all different types of people.I wonder how many times pastors do the palm face thing with all they have to deal with.  I would think it would be very challenging to pastors when it comes to having to make people happy. When really in my own mindset, it isn’t the people that should be made happy like some think, it is God that pastors and people should be wanting to please. Some people are unrealistic when it comes to what pastors and church leaders do. I would rather have a pastor that isn’t all about stroking my ego. Even though it is a nice feature in a spouse, lol.

I wonder at times what pastors think when they have people coming at them from all directions and they all have something else they have in mind. I don’t think there is any church that will 100 percent agree on what is best for the church and to bring the truth to God’s people. I think that is what I like the most about our pastor. He isn’t worried about saying it as it is. If it is in the Bible then that’s what is going to be shared with the congregation. It drives me nuts when churches and pastors are so worried about being politically correct and afraid to offend others. Offend me all day long if that is what I need to hear to live eternally with Christ. I have never been or plan on being politically correct.

In James 1:19-20 it says, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (NKJV).

I heard a quote when reading a blog and it said, “You only have to deal with these people a very few hours of the week. Be glad you aren’t married to them or don’t have to live with them.” I would think that would be true. I am on good behavior at church. Well, kind of good behavior. I’m not a sugar coating kind of person. But many people want to have their church face on when it comes to church. They don’t show all sides of their personalities. Now if I were to go off in a tangent when my patience has run low or is out the window all together, I would think people would not want to be around me. Thankfully I don’t do that at church. There are some people though that I want to hit them over the head with a mallot. But I can’t, so I won’t lol.

When I was reading about the different kinds of people that are at church, I had a chuckle over it. Here is a list of just a few of them. I wonder if Pastor Ray ever feels he is dealing with these types of people. Intimidating people are very blunt and tell you like it is. They will want to be sure you understand what they are saying and that you have to do it their way or the highway.

Then you have those who just can’t stop controlling everything when it comes to church meetings and other events. I think this is why I hate going to business meetings at church. There is always someone who has an opinion about EVERYTHING. Complainers are plentiful from my understanding when I talk to some of my friends who are or have been pastors. One of my friends is no longer one because those in the congregation would complain about everything and anything. They just go on and on and on about stupid things, like curtains, lol.

Then there are those people who you don’t want to deal with. They get their feel bads hurt to easily or they get loud if they don’t agree with them. I know a few of these people and I have to say that I am somewhat happy when I don’t see them at church. When I hear their voices, I cringe since I know that nothing I have to say will make a difference and it is a one way conversation.

I wonder how many people really take into account just how much a pastor does. In our church our pastor does the administration stuff, correspondence, home visits, on call 24/7, meetings, baptisms, funerals, problem solving, studying, teaching, counselors and just about anything the church needs. In our area where Bishops from the LDS church doesn’t get paid, many wonder why we pay our pastors. It is because his work is never done. He is on the job all the time. He has no job outside of the church and we are grateful and blessed to call him our pastor.

I have three close friends who are pastors that aren’t of my church and I asked them what is it about being a pastor or church leader that is the hardest for them. They were saying how the congregations for the most part expect them to have a level of perfectionism. Nobody really asks them what it is that they are going through whether it is fears, stresses, health issues and how they feel discouraged when it comes to things going on in their lives. They also said that there is no right answer. No matter how hard they try to make things work the best for everyone, meaning in comfort levels in church, someone is going to gripe and complain.

I can see how the hard to please people thing goes. Our church is a mostly senior congregation. They like things HOT. I hate the heat and I like things cooler. So you have some of the people acting like they are going to freeze to death and the others like me that is going t have a heat stroke. I would think that as long as I am comfortable, then they all need to deal with it, lo. Of course that isn’t a reality, but it should be. There is only so many cloths you can take off until you get arrested. Those who want to be hot, can wear a parka. Just saying!!!

For the most part minus one pastor some time ago, we have been a blessed church. I’m pretty sure we have some difficult people, including myself :). Pastors I would think are just like anyone else, except they have a much higher calling and an obligation that makes and eternal difference. But they have struggles just like all of us do. I wonder if pastors have other pastors to talk to when they need someone to just vent to. I would think as a congregation that those of us who have pastors are willing to lend a listening ear and be a friend. You know, pastors need friends too! Our church is a small one and are very supportive when it comes to our pastors and their family. At-least that’s how I see it. If we are failing our pastors, we need to examine how we can help them, not hinder them.

In closing I just want to say that as a church family, no matter what church you go to, we should be supportive of our pastors and their family. I would hope that as a church we would want to make sure that our pastors are treated well and that if we see they are getting discouraged and burnt out, that we reach out to them. One of my pastor friends with the Methodist Church was burnt out and treated horribly. No longer is my friend a pastor because of all the expectations the congregation put on her. Pastors burn out just like anyone else and we need to make sure to be there for our pastors and support them in prayer and thanksgiving. I was reading somewhere that people lean on pastors for strength and encouragement but pastors have few if any people they can lean on. I would have to say that is true for the most part. I do hope that isn’t the case with our pastor and if it is, that has to change.

So! I want to say, thank you to the pastors I have had in the past and their wives and thank you to our current pastor and his lovely wife Kathi. We don’t need to have a day set aside to say thanks, we should do that everyday.

With mothers day coming this Sunday, I want to pay tribute to my mother in Law Marjorie. While many people have had the experience of horrible in laws. I would have to say that when I describe my mother in law who is now with the Lord was a God fearing, people loving and praying woman. When my husband and I met, it was because of her. I was only 17 when we got married. Mom always treated me like her own daughter. It wasn’t like I was her daughter in law. I was her daughter.

I am extremely thankful and blessed to have the mother in law I had. I do miss the times we would spend together. Mom also loved to do cross stitching, crocheting, embroidering, sewing and just about anything that she could do with her hands, she was great at. Moms favorite shows were ‘Fiddler on the Roof”, “Yankee Doodle Dandy” and “Phantom of the Opera”. She loved the southwest and the desert. She loved the saguaro Cactus and roadrunners. She would look out her window in Tucson and watch the roadrunners playing.  Moms favorite song was ‘In the Garden” and El Shaddai by Amy Grant. One of the awesome things about mom is that she would try anything first. We went to the Women of Faith conference in Las Vegas. Almost all of the older ladies were grumbling about how the loud the music was. Not mom, she was clapping along and if she knew the songs, she was singing them. She didn’t act her age.

I have many gifts around my house that my mother in law made for me and I will cherish them forever. Most of all she loved her family and loved studying the Word of God.

Mom and I had many conversations about God. Until my mom came to live with us here in Utah, she had the impression that she couldn’t hear Gods voice. During church she would doodle and on our way home one day we got talking about hearing Gods voice. She was thinking that she would hear a literal voice like what happened with Moses and the burning bush. By the time we made it to the house, she was in tears. I explained to mom that it isn’t a literal voice, it is that God puts things on our hearts.

Mom was a spunky little lady. She was only 4’8″ and you wouldn’t think she was a little spit fire by looking at her. While she lived with my husband and I, I got to where I really knew her well. After I talked to her about what it means to hear the voice of God, she was relieved beyond any words I can think of.

My mother in law was also a loving mom to her three sons. I hear a song coming to mind,lol (My Three Sons). She also loved her grandchildren. There wasn’t anything that she wouldn’t do for them. Mom was a real grandma to my daughters. They loved going over to her house and visiting with her. My daughters would and still do think of her as their real grandma. Beckiah also has her grandma that she adores very much. We adopted Beckiah and my in laws loved her just as much as if she was related by blood. Mom would take them for a couple weeks each summer and mom and dad would drive from Tucson to Phoenix to just visit for the day. They had no problem going out of their way to see us.

When mom passed away it was a sad time and a joyful time. She passed away on August 4th, 2008. She missed my father in law and would be sobbing in her room. Everyday she would pray for anyone and everyone. I can say without a doubt where she is and that is in heaven.

Right before mom passed Craig (her son) and I went to the care center to see mom. We knew time was short. As we walked into the room, a little black lady named Helen was sitting there holding her hand as mom took her last breath. Helen then went on to tell us that she is with the Lord now. What she said next was amazing. She was telling Craig and I how wonderful it is that our church sent over the young people from the choir to come and sing there. She said they had voices of the angels. One of the CNA’s also heard the singing, but didn’t see anyone coming or going. Craig and I knew it wasn’t a choir from our church since we have no choir. Our church is mainly a church for seniors and there is no way they would be from our church. I think God sent His angels to escort her home. There is no other reason for what they all were hearing.

Mom is missed and she has touched many lives. For me she will always hold a special place in my heart and I will cherish her everyday. I am thankful that God gave me the sweetest mother in law ever. She was in all senses a real mother that loved unconditionally and with her whole heart.

I was thinking about my friend Lisa when someone asked me about what is a true friend and do they have to be just like us. While I have many friends, Lisa came to mind. When I think of what a true friend is I would say that she is person that I can trust to be with me when I am at my weakest and having a bad hair day. They also there when I want to throw something at the wall. A friendship isn’t a one sided thing, you have to be willing to be there for each other, without judging one another.

Lisa is the kind of friend that would do just about anything for anyone. I don’t know anyone that would be willing to go with me to go see my parents in Arizona and endure a road-trip that was far from uneventful. We dealt with crazy passengers, ha-boobs, rattlesnakes, wild pigs, the Bates Motel and so much more. We lived to tell about it thankfully.

Whats nice about Lisa is that she would be there for ya in good times and bad, when you are at your best and when you’ve behaved badly. As if I would ever behave badly, lol. True friends care about you no matter what you do.

Part of the conversation I was having with one of my friends on Facebook is about what it is that makes a true friend. I would have to say that there has to be unconditional love and acceptance of others. I have found that when I have friendships that are outside of my own beliefs and lifestyle, it doesn’t work out as well. Many times those types of friendships will drift away and collapse. I enjoy the kind of friendship where one is like-minded.

Lisa and I can get into some pretty off the wall conversations. Just this week Lisa and I were talking about some new neighbors that she has. I started receiving messages in the evening about how there are bikes at the house next door and that would mean kids are going to live there. To fully understand Lisa, you have to know that Lisa is NOT a person who enjoys having children around. While she has two adult sons, she is done with dealing with children. God must be trying to play around with Lisa’s love of children (sarcasm intended). The next message I received was that there are 6 bikes, lol. She is stressing a bit over the whole situation. I’m laughing on my side of the conversation and she isn’t. I don’t think I would want 6 young kids living that close to me either. My ears have a noise intolerance these days, I enjoy my peace and quiet.

When I hear the quote,”A friend is someone who will let you have total freedom to be yourself” would describe Lisa. She isn’t out to change anyone. Lisa is much more daring than I am. If I was asked how to describe Lisa I would have to say that she is a motorcycle momma who isn’t afraid to tell you what is on her mind. So don’t ask if you don’t want to know. She also is a redhead when she wants to be and is tattooed. But more-so, Lisa wears her heart on her sleeve. She has her moments and I understand that when she is upset, she just needs to be alone or she may want to go out to Applebee’s and eat all the chips and dips with a drink. Long story on how I know this about her, lol.

Towards the end of the conversation I was having on Facebook, we summed up that a true friend is unconditional. They will be there for ya when you call and need a ride or just to talk. I have a few friends that I can say is true friends. Then I have those friends who are what I would call “friends of convenience.” Lisa is NOT what I would call a “friend of convenience.” When you have true friends, you best hold onto them because they don’t come by all the time.

Now, the next question I was asked in my conversation is “do we know how to be a true friend”? Now that is the flip side of the coin. Friendships aren’t about what someone can do for me, but what can I do for you. I try to focus on being a true friend and would hope I would be considered a good friend.

One thing that I should add about true friends is that “true friends” can also be family. My daughters are my best friends and they are lifelong friends. Since the conversation I was having on Facebook was about friends that are outside of the family, I wanted to be sure to add that for me my best friends include my daughters and a couple of my sisters. I can’t really say all of my sisters since there are conditions put on everything and siblings have a way of throwing you under the bus. I think with all families there will be some you are closer to over others. If you have that kind of a friendship with family, you are very bless and I feel blessed in those relationships.

In closing I just want to say that you have ever had the opportunity to be part of a friendship that is unconditional you should make it the best friendship ever. There is something special about knowing that someone has your back. For me that person is Lisa. I can say without a doubt that Lisa would be someone that would stand in my corner and fight like a mad women. If you seen how she gives her hubby a what for when he does something stupid, you would know that she can handle herself and others that would hurt those she loves and cares about. True friendships are unconditional.

I would love to hear from others about what a true friend is to you and what makes your friendship special.