Thanks to Those Who Helped at Tract or Treat

Behind the Scenes Look at the World Series

As many of you know, there was significant rain at the World Series held in Philadelphia on Monday night. In order to help get the field playable again, a rake manufactured by Midwest Rake Company LLC is shown being used. Midwest Rake is an organization run by Christians. The President of the company is Bill Henthorn. We went to college and played soccer together (so you have to know he is a young man!).

In the about us section on the company website they write, "We try to honor God in all we do. Although it’s often a struggle and we stumble and fall along the way, we thank God for the success of Midwest Rake Company and recognize the Bible as the best road map for living and doing business. No apologies. This does not make us better than anyone else, but it does mean that we try hard to work with others the way we would like them to work with us. We value relationships as well as sales."

If you want to read a bit more about this event, you can do so at BMH Editor's Blog (here). If you would like to read more about Midwest Rake Company LLC and their purpose, testimony and products go here. They have a strong purpose statement in a world of cheap products. We wish them God's best!

A Pre-Election Reflection

We have all heard promises from the presidential candidates telling us that they can fix the economy, war in the middle east, health care, education, lower taxes and raise spending on programs, plus a host of other remedies. These individuals would have to be supermen and a superwoman to be able to accomplish all of those things – plus part magician. There is no way that a president can fix all of the challenges facing America, and promising to do so by creating more government is not the solution. I believe that John Stossell is right – more government is often the problem, not the solution (see John Stossell's comments via video here).

So instead of listening to all of the promises and hoping that the candidate can deliver, we need to look at each candidate's record to see what each really believes on issues of substance. Which candidates will attempt to provide an environment which is least hostile to biblical values? No, we are not attempting to create a theocracy in America, but a place where the followers of Christ can carry out our responsibilities before God. A place where pre-born life is sacred as well as life in the waning years. A place where marriage is honored as sacred, and not a construct of human whim. A place where families can flourish built on the foundation of Biblical truth. There are other areas of importance, such as stewardship of God's earth, but this is a starting point for your consideration.

The apostle Paul writes to Timothy to urge every believer to pray for leaders in authority over us so that we may be able to lead "a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity" because God our Savior desires "all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:1-4).

So what should we do?

1. Pray for our current leaders, whether we agree with them or not, whether they are from our political party or not. Pray as they are seeking to lead our country, state, and local government.

2. Pray for the upcoming elections that God would place a President, Vice-President and Congress in office that would allow us to lead a "tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity" as we seek to help introduce people to Christ.

3. Prayerfully study each candidates voting record and how they have voted in the past, regardless of current rhetoric. I realize that individuals can change their views over time, but it is doubtful their views have changed much in recent years.

3. Vote for biblical principle rather than promises of economic prosperity. Jesus asked, what does it profit to gain the whole world but lose your soul? We dare not sell our soul for mere promises of economic prosperity, something which I doubt either candidate has a clue of what to do. Even the economists don't know what to do and are finding that their solutions often bring the wrong results.

4. Remember that God is still in control! He raises up kings, presidents and leaders and sets them aside. No matter who is voted into office, our job as followers of Christ hasn't changed. So we can find peace in times of turmoil for God still sits on His throne orchestrating the events of His world.

See you at the polls!

Congratulations to Jeremy Leatherman & Holly Shifler on their Wedding - 10/18/2008

Please pray for Holly & Jeremy as they begin their lives together built on the foundation of Jesus Christ.

Living for Christ in an Hostile World

This past Sunday (10/19/2008) we were instructed from Scripture that we are living in an "unfriendly world." Gayle Williams, 34 years old, lived in a hostile world. She worked with an organization called SERVE (Serving Emergency Relief and Vocational Enterprises) in Afghanistan. On Monday (10/20/2008) she was shot and killed by two men on a motorbike in Kabul as she walked to work. The Taliban have claimed responsibility for issuing a decree that this woman had to be killed because she, as a Christian, was proselytizing. SERVE states that they do not proselytize because it is illegal. Their website states that their purpose is to ""SERVE Afghanistan's purpose is to express God's love and bring hope by serving the people of Afghanistan, especially the needy, as we seek to address personal, social and environmental needs."

We are reminded to "Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body." (Heb 13:3 NASB)

This is a good reminder to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ in Afghanistan and other parts of the world where there is extreme animosity toward followers of Christ. If you want information on fellow believers who are suffering, here is a link to check so that you can pray! Why not make this a regular category in your personal prayer time and with your family.

Book Review of "Through the Storm" by Lynne Spears

Book Review: "Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World" by Lynne Spears and Lorilee Craker. (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2008. 206 pages).

Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for this review.

This books is the story of Lynne Spears (mother of Britney, Jamie Lynn & Bryan) and is written to tell the rest of the story behind the lives of her celebrity family. It is not intended to be a parenting book. However, the reason I read the book was to try and learn some lessons of what happened and how to attempt to avoid the traps that led to such heartache (though Lynne points out that there were also many treasured times).

There are lessons to be learned about life and choices and parenting. For example, Lynne warns of the danger of alcoholism and how one beer at a cookout led her husband into a slow slide into alcoholism (p. 48). The reader will also see the results of other decisions as they are played out.

The book reveals the heart of a mother who loves her children and wants them to succeed. She wanted to help her children achieve their dreams, yet got sucked into the whirlpool of celebrity. This presents a challenge to parents to stop and ask and honestly answer the question, "where are we headed with our family?" This would make for a good discussion between parents from time to time to ask, "If we keep heading in this direction, where are we going to end up?"

The admonition to parents to savor the time with children is well emphasized. Life moves so fast and to often parents keep thinking that the next phase will be easier, or more enjoyable. Reading through this book reminds us all that our times with our children are moving fast as well.

Lynne explains what happened with Britney's meltdown and how an individual named Sam Lutfi was involved. You will need to read the book to understand what was behind the troubled soul that the media and paparazzi delighted in pursuing.

I read the book looking for insight into helping parents protect their children from disaster. Here are a two observations, there are more (gleaned from Regrets, page 189ff).

1) The need for daily exposure to God's Word and a committed relationship to a local church that teaches and encourages from Scripture (p. 189). This apparently was not a consistent part of life in the growing celebrity years. I believe there are many parents making the same mistake as they dash here and there for every sporting event, or pageant, or performance, or whatever as they try to help their child/ren reach for their dreams. Too often the things of God are made optional with disastrous result. A Biblical precept worth remembering, "what does it profit (a boy, girl, man, or woman) if he gains the whole world and loses his (or her) soul" (Mark 8:36)

2) Be the parent (p. 191). Parents often can be intimidated to feel that they are inadequate because they are not the "professionals." If a parent feels that something is not right, they need to intervene. This is true in the realm of education, sports, health, medicine, etc.

The book is an easy read and moves quickly. There are jumps back and forth in chronology, so the reader must stay awake. It is not a "tell-all" book, and in fact, is very gracious to those who have hurt the family deeply. It is a story of God's grace and redemption in progress through life, a story of which we all need to be reminded.

Dividing the House - Literally

A Cambodian couple apparently decided to conduct a "do-it-yourself" divorce because the country's divorce system is so corrupt and expensive. In order to divide the assets, the man literally "divided the house." The husband Meuon Rima, divided his house down the middle and left his ex-wife Nhang with the part that is pictured. He sought a divorce because his wife didn't take care of him when he was ill. The last that was seen of Meuon he was driving away from the village with his half of the house. Fortunately, Meuon did not see the need to take the same approach to their two teenaged children. Both of the children were left with Nhang.

Thanks Ashlee!

We want to thank Ashlee Taylor for her ministry in signing at Valley Grace. Ashlee moved back to Fort Campbell on Wednesday and expects to be there until March. Aaron (her husband) should be getting home in the middle of October. They are hoping to be back in Hagerstown for a month for his block leave and anticipates interpreting on those Sundays. We wish you Godspeed and will rejoice with you in Aaron's safe return.