Oops, there goes another cool way to study the Bible

I believe it was around Christmas when Misty had me in Winston shopping for gifts and I was hanging out at the Christian Book Store that I found these Bibles. They look like magazines and they have lots of extras that are of interest. In Align, the one for men, there are Tech Tips and lots of things that men might be interested in. Then there is the one for ladies, Becoming and Becoming 2, I picked this one up for Misty and she loves it. Refuel and Revolve is for teen guys and girls.

If you hang around Hillsville FUMC very long you will hear me challenge you to read the Bible, this is just another great tool with a great translation, New Century Version and the great thig is you can pick them up for just over $10.00 at Amazon. Almost forgot, there is Magnify for the younger children.

Give them a try, pick one up for the kids or the parents.

Ronnie

Ever wish your Bible was as easy to pick up as your favorite magazine? Now there’s a new BibleZine created with today’s modern guy in mind. With an edgy, techno-savvy style and content that makes Biblical truth fresh and relevant, it might just make Bible reading the best part of your day. By putting one of the most readable versions of the Bible, the New Century Version^®, together with articles about the topics you face everyday, we’ve created a ‘zine that will help you get deeper in the Bible, find out what God has to say for your life, and grow in your faith.

For the fast-paced, busy lifestyle of women, the Becoming BibleZine is the perfect gift to help her on her spiritual journey. This second edition of Becoming offers practical insight on the Christian life through features such as: “Women & Men of the Bible”, “Be still & Know”, “Modern Worship”, “Balancing Act”, “Love”, “Life Issues”, “Health”, “Relationships” and many more. Becoming is a wonderful gift for women between the ages of 22-35.

The title says it-MAGNIFY-both in discovering the secrets and truths of the Bible and in magnifying and honoring God. Following the incredible success of Revolve for teen girls and Refuel for teen guys, this new Biblezine provides a completely unique format for kids to have a blast while learning about God’s Word. The complete New Testament of the International Children’s Bible® will suddenly come to life, applying to kids’ lives through this magazine format’s interesting articles, thought-provoking quizzes, and interactive games. Even a secret decoder is included to help kids uncover amazing secrets only found in the Bible!

 

VBS: God’s Big Back Yard

Vacation Bible School @ First United Methodist Church Hillsville

225 Fulcher Street

Hillsville VA

Don’t miss it!

Sunday June 1st – Friday June 6th

6pm to 8:30pm Each Night

If you need a ride to VBS call 276-728-2434

Everyone is Invited!

Out for a Ride

Thursday was my day off and me and the boys went out for a ride. We were riding around the yard and Christopher said, “yay Pupa”. (Translated) that means he was having a great time. Now don’t tell Samuel’s mother that he was out riding on the motorcycle.

God is so Good.

Ronnie 

Hal Lindsey cites recent disasters as evidence of last days.

 I have read Hal Lindsey through the years and I have learned from him. I will say that my focus has been on winning the lost and I have really moved away from his writing over the last few years. However, I ran across this piece this morning and it is worth a read. He is correct in what Jesus said about the End Times and he is right that these things are on the increase. It is a little long but worth the thought time.

Ronnie

Saturday, 17 May 2008

Posted: May 16, 2008 1:00 am EasternBy Hal LindseyThe world has endured an almost mind-numbing series of shocks in recent weeks, from the unprecedented swarm of tornadoes across the American Midwest to the death and destruction wrought by Cyclone Nargis as it tore a path through Myanmar, better known as Burma. There were 368 documented tornadoes in the U.S. in January and February of this year, shattering the previous record of 243 over that two-month period, set in 1999. February’s total of 232 tornadoes also shattered previous records. Cyclone Nargis ripped Burma apart, killing at least 128,000, according to Red Cross estimates, and creating some 2.5 million refugees. Al Gore was quick to blame global warming. In an interview on NPR to plug his appropriately named book on global warming, “Assault on Reason,” he told host Terry Gross: “And as we’re talking today, Terry, the death count in Myanmar from the cyclone that hit there yesterday has been rising from 15,000 to way on up there to much higher numbers now being speculated. . … And last year a catastrophic storm last fall hit Bangladesh. The year before, the strongest cyclone in more than 50 years hit China – and we’re seeing consequences that scientists have long predicted might be associated with continued global warming.” Maybe. But Germany’s Institute of Marine Scientists says we’re in for a 10-year period of global cooling. There sure seems to be a lot of opposition to what is supposed to be “settled science.” Global warming can’t explain away the devastating earthquake that all but flattened a huge portion of western China. The death toll from Monday’s quake is approaching 20,000, with twice that number still listed as missing. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Monday’s earthquake was the 25th “significant” earthquake registered so far this year. Back in 1969, the year I wrote “The Late, Great Planet Earth,” the USGS identified a total of seven “significant earthquakes.” I had noted in 1969 that there was a slight but discernible increase in worldwide earthquake activity since Israel’s rebirth in 1948. During the entire decade of the 1970s, the USGS recorded a total of 44 earthquakes it classified as “significant.” The following decade, from January 1980 to December 1989, the USGS recorded 47 significant earthquakes. That is for the entire decade. From 1990 through the end of 1999, the USGS records 57 significant earthquakes. From 2000 thru to Monday’s earthquake in Sichuan, China, the USGS recorded an astonishing 109 earthquakes of at least magnitude 7.0 and 13 earthquakes measuring between 8.0 and 9.9 on the Richter Scale. On the other side of the world, the long-dormant Chaitan volcano erupted May 2 for the first time, say geologists, in more than 7,000 years. The BBC reported that a government volcano expert warned there could be a big eruption at any time. “There could be a major explosion that could collapse the volcano’s cone,” said Luis Lara of the National Geologic and Mining Service. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization warned that Iran had “detected” a new highly pathogenic strain of wheat stem rust. The U.N. said the fungal disease could spread to other wheat-producing states in the Near East and western Asia that provide one-fourth of the world’s wheat supply. The new strain, called Ug99, is capable of infecting up to 90 percent of the existing strains of wheat worldwide - and once infected, crop losses range between 70 percent and total loss. Coupled with the losses already sustained as a result of the typhoon-related flooding in Java, Bangladesh, and India and from agricultural pests and diseases in Vietnam, it starts to add up. Last year, Australia suffered its second consecutive year of severe drought and a near complete crop failure; heavy rains reduced production in Europe; Argentina suffered heavy frost; and Canada and the U.S. both produced low yields. Food riots have broken out in Egypt, Haiti and several African states, including Mauritania, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Senegal. Meanwhile, the drums of war continue to beat around the planet. Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad renewed his threat to destroy Israel this week. Hezbollah took over West Beirut, while the Arab world mourned the catastrophe of Israel’s 60th birthday with threats of annihilation of the Jewish state. In Israel, President Bush again warned that allowing the Iranian regime to obtain nuclear arms would be “unforgivable,” signaling a continuation along a path that can only lead to an eventual war that will engulf the whole Middle East. When Jesus was asked by His disciples to tell them what “signs” would precede His return at the end of the age, He warned that “nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines, plagues and earthquakes in various places,” He said (Matthew 24 and Luke 21). Using an analogy immediately understandable to all peoples in all nations, he said of these signs, “All these are the beginning of birth pains.” Jesus used a Greek word for the labor pains of a woman about to give birth. Jesus knew that every generation could understand the illustration. His meaning is clear. Just as a woman experiences birth pains that increase in frequency and intensity just before giving birth, so ALL the signs of His return would increase in frequency and intensity just before His return. Hey, for he first time in history, all of the signs have appeared together in the same time frame and are increasing in frequency and intensity. That, coupled with the fulfillment of the great predicted sign that Israel became a nation again after 2,000 hopeless years of worldwide dispersion, indicates that Jesus Christ is already at the door ready to return. Are you ready?

 

FUMC Blood Drive

GIVE BLOOD – GIVE LIFE !! YOUR blood is needed!

During the summer,

need goes up

and supply goes down.

 

Please come out and give blood

between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM

on Saturday, June 14^th

at Hillsville First United Methodist Church,   225 Fulcher Street in the Fellowship Hall!

 

Also, volunteers as greeters, escorts, and food table workers are needed.  Please contact Bill Webb at 728-4883 or WBWebb@aol.com for more information on donating or on how you can help this worthy ministry of FUMC.

I Thank God for Don and Deb Justine

The picture above is of Don, Debbie, their 3 children, spouses and 8 grandchildren. Wow, what a great looking family. I met Don and Deb when I was Director of a Children’s Home, they came as Houseparents in Big Brother Cottage. Don and Debbie were some of my longest serving staff and some of the best in my opinion. By the way, in my world my opinion counts, at least to me.

I am thankful for many things, number one, Don and Debbie were instrumental in Mike doing so well there and turning out to be the Awesome Young Man that he is. Number 2, I feel that I made some lifelong friends that will always be considered part of our family. Don and deb have many talents and they have children that are very talented as well. They have spent most of their lives in full time ministry to children and other adult populations that most of the world would rather forget.

Don and Deb, I just want to say on behalf of me and my family, we love you and we will always be grateful for what you did for our Son Michael. Michael is a wonderful young man who has made us grandparents two times now, Christopher and Victoria. He already owns his home at the young age of 22. Wow, we are truly blessed.

By the way, we still miss Jefferson too.

Ronnie

DECLINING INFLUENCE OF THE CHURCH

In the most recent issue of FFV magazine, Ed Stetzer writes, “We live in a world that is losing respect for Christianity. People don’t like Christians all that much, but they do like Jesus – at least the Jesus they have created in their own image.

“LifeWay Research discovered some sobering facts during two surveys conducted in 2007 of 1,402 people who had not attended a religious service at a church, synagogue, or mosque in the past six months. The following statements were agreed to ’somewhat or strongly’:

62 percent — ‘The God of the Bible is no different from the gods or spiritual beings depicted by world religions such as Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.’

86 percent– ‘I believe I can have a good relationship with God without being involved in a church.’

79 percent — ‘I think Christianity today is more about organized religion than about loving God and loving people.’

“Perhaps the most sobering statistic is that 44 percent of people agreed (somewhat or strongly) with the statement, ‘Christians get on my nerves.’ I spoke with a CNN reporter who indicated that even he was ’startled’ by the number. Few would be willing to say, ‘Jews/Muslims/Buddhists’ get on my nerves.’”

Update of Dr. Falwell Blog

This is a picture that was taken while Dr. Falwell was at the Ranch for our banquet, with me and Mike.

I also looked on my shelf and his latest book that replaced “Strength for the Journey” is “Falwell an Autobiography”. I highly recommend the book, it is a great source of encouragement.

Other sites of interest are:

Liberty University www.liberty.edu

Jerry Falwell Ministries www.falwell.com

Thomas Road Baptist Church http://home.trbc.org/

Liberty Home Bible Institute (LHBI) http://www.lhbi.net/splash/ this is where I started on my journey to higher education.

Ronnie

 

Pregnant With Number 18

 

 This is a story that some of you are no doubt familiar with but it is worth looking at. I am including a link to their family web site. They are a Christian Family and God has certainly blessed them with a great family. Wow

I actually have a great aunt who had 20 children, she died in recent years and all 20 of the children are still alive and doing well.

The Duggar Family Web Site http://www.duggarfamily.com/

Here are the Duggar House Guidelines:

1. Always use soft words, even when you don’t feel well.
2. Always display kind actions, even if you have been mistreated.
3. Show joyful attitudes even when no one is looking.
4. Have sincere motives with no thought of self-gain.
5. Think pure thoughts.
6. Always give a good report of others. Never talebear unless physical harm will come to someone. Use Matthew 18.
7. Never raise a hand to hit.
8. Never raise a foot to kick.
9. Never raise an object to throw.
10. Never raise a voice to yell.
11. Never raise an eye to scowl.
12. Use one toy/activity at a time.
13. Never let the sun go down on your wrath. (Don’t go to bed angry or guilty)
14. Amendment J.O.Y. – Make serving your family a priority.
           Put Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last.

 

Michelle Duggar, 41, is seen here with her family. She is expecting her 18th child in January.

•  

Michelle Duggar, 41, is due on New Year’s Day, and the latest addition will join seven sisters and 10 brothers. There are two sets of twins.

“We’ve had three in January, three in December. Those two months are a busy time for us,” she said, laughing.

The Duggars’ oldest child, Josh, is 20, and the youngest, Jennifer, is nine months old.

The fast-growing family lives in Tontitown in northwest Arkansas in a 7,000-square-foot home. All the children — whose names start with the letter J — are home-schooled.

Duggar has been been pregnant for more than 11 years of her life, and the family is in the process of filming another series for Discovery Health.

The new show looks at life inside the Duggar home, where chores — or “jurisdictions” — are assigned to each child. One episode of the new show involves a “jurisdiction swap,” where the boys do chores traditionally assigned to the girls, and vice versa, Duggar said.

“The girls swapped jurisdictions, changing tires, working in the garages, mowing the grass,” she said. “The boys got to cook supper from start to finish, clean the bathrooms,” among other chores.

Dr. Manny Alvarez, the managing health editor for FOXNews.com, said he has seen other families who have a large number of children; however, the more children a woman has, the higher her chance for birthing complications.

“There can be bleeding complications at the time of the birth, due to overstretching of the uterus,” Alvarez said. “But, under the proper management, it can be done.”

Duggar said she’s six weeks along and the pregnancy is going well. She and her husband, Jim Bob Duggar, said they’ll keep having children as long as God wills it.

“The success in a family is first off, a love for God, and secondly, treating each other like you want to be treated,” Jim Bob Duggar said. “Our goal is for each one of our children to be best friends, and everybody working together to serve each other makes that happen.”

The other Duggar children, in between Joshua and Jennifer, are Jana, 18; John-David, 18; Jill, 16; Jessa, 15; Jinger, 14; Joseph, 13; Josiah, 11; Joy-Anna, 10; Jeremiah, 9; Jedidiah, 9; Jason, 7; James, 6; Justin, 5; Jackson, 3; and Johannah, 2.

 

 

 

 

 

I thank God for Jerry Falwell

I have done several in the series of church groups that I am thankful and I want to take it further with some people that I am thankful for. I really am thankful for Dr. Jerry Falwell. I will say right up front that I didn’t agree with everything the man ever said but I respected him a great deal. Further, I agreed with a lot of what he said and did.

When I was saved and the church wasn’t really helping me to grow, I started to listen to the radio and Dr. Falwell was one of the ones who held my attention. I would listen everytime I possibly could and through listening I came to love the Bible more and more. Through the inspiration of Jerry Falwell I started something called The Liberty Home Bible Institute (LHBI). I just assumed that was all the post highschool education I would ever receive. It was a two year Bbile Study course that probably took me 5 years to complete. I am the kind of person that procrastinates if there are no specific deadlines and there were none.

Several years later I found out that I could get some college credit for Life Learning Experiences and LHBI qualified. I found this information out through Wytheville Community College. I started Liberty University through their Distance Learning and in a few years I had earned my Bachelors Degree in Religion from Liberty University. I never reall thought that I would obtain a college degree.

I earned my bachelor’s while working as the Director of Joy Ranch Children’s Home and it was during that time that I first met Dr. Falwell. I was attending Super Conference at Liberty University with a display of information about JoyRanch. We were hoping to recruit staff as well as obtain supporters of the children’s ministry. Dr. Falwell came through the building and he shook my hand and talked about the fact of coming to Hillsville in the late 60 to early 70s and preaching for a youth revival held at Joy Ranch. I said to Dr. Falwell, we would love to have you come back and speak for us again and his response was, call my office any time.

I was still shocked when we called and asked him to come for the 40 year Anniversary and he accepted. I had dinner with him that evening along with my son Michael, he met most of my family and I have several pictures of him with me, Mike and Alex.  he was such a gracious person. He loved to laugh and just have fellowship. I remember that he would slap people on the back and just laugh, he was a very stout gentleman. I still remember how I introduced him that evening at the banquet. I said one of my hero’s “Steve Brown” always says that our hero’s should all be dead so they can no longer make mistakes and mess up, however tonight I have two of my hero’s here in this room, my dad and Dr. Falwell.

It was a great night, he was a real person just like me and you and he didn’t ask for any special treatment. As a matter of fact he made the first donation of that evening and let the people know that he didn’t charge anything to come and speak for the ministry.

The last time I actually got to see and speak to him was at my graduation ceremony at Liberty University in 2004. I shook his hand as I received my diploma and then afterwards while walking through the parking lot a vehicle came speeding up behind me and it was Dr. Falwell, just having a little fun. One of the greatets inspirational books that I have ever read is “Strength for the Journey”. It is the life story of Dr. Falwell up to the 90s. There is a newer version out now and under a different name, I highly recommend it.

Regardless of what a person thought of Jerry Falwell, I believe he was a man who Loved God and worked as hard as anyone I have ever met to win people to Jesus Christ. I may have disagreed with his way of doing things at times and I certainly disagreed with some of the ways he said things, but he was a great man and I miss him. I really feel like a member of my family is mission since his death and I look forward to talking to him in Heaven some day.

If you ever get the opportunity to visit Lynchburg, you should tour the Liberty Campus and also Thomas Road Baptist Church. there is a vast history to explore.

Ronnie

Mom rejects abortion after Down syndrome diagnosis

Praise for governor: ‘May God give America more women like her’

---

Posted: May 20, 2008
9:29 pm Eastern

© 2008 WorldNetDaily

 Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska is known for being attractive (a former pageant winner, she was featured in a Vogue photo shoot this year), forceful (her opponents have nicknamed her “Sarah Barracuda”) and a possible running mate for John McCain. Challenging circumstances now also have made her a shining example of personal pro-life convictions.

In December, her doctor told her that prenatal tests indicated the child she was expecting in May would be born with Down syndrome, a genetic condition that stems from an extra chromosome and that impedes a child’s physical, intellectual and language development.

Only one year into her governorship and with four children at home already, a child with Down syndrome would present serious challenges. Studies in the late 90s showed that more than 80 percent of prenatal Down syndrome diagnoses end in abortion.

Ending the pregnancy, however, was never an option for the Palins. On April 18, Sarah Palin gave birth to a 6-pound, 2-ounce son, Trig Paxson Van Palin.

“We’ve both been very vocal about being pro-life,” Palin told the Associated Press, speaking of herself and her husband, Todd. “We understand that every innocent life has wonderful potential.”

The day after the birth, the Palins released the following statement: “Trig is beautiful and already adored by us. We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives. We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed.”

Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America, commended Gov. Palin, telling WND that she “is even more beautiful inside than out. Her proud and warm announcement of the birth of their special child revealed the depth of love and faith of this extraordinary woman. May God give America more women and statesmen like her.”

Trig Paxson Van Palin gets his unusual name from a number of sources. Grandfather Chuck Heath told KTUU in Anchorage that Trig is named after his great uncle, a Bristol Bay fisherman, and Paxson comes from a well-known snowmachining area in Alaska.

The middle name Van, however, may have the most interesting origin. Gov. Palin joked with an Anchorage Daily News reporter that she and Todd have “always liked the middle name Van because, you know, growing up in the ’80s, Van Palin (which rhymes with rock band Van Halen) would be a really cool name.”

Three days after the birth, the governor brought baby Trig and husband Todd to her office in Anchorage. There seemed to be little slowdown for the governor who in her short tenure so far has line-item vetoed massive sections of the state budget, taken on her own party’s state chairman for ethics violations and fired the Alaska Board of Agriculture.

“It’s a sign of the times to be able to do this,” she told the Associated Press. “I can think of so many male candidates who watched families grow while they were in office. My baby will not be at all or in any sense neglected.”

Gov. Palin has some precedent to follow. U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas has a son with Down syndrome. U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Washington state Republican, is campaigning for her third term, even while she celebrates the fire birthday of her son Cole, also born the genetic anomaly.

“It’s in human nature to focus on the negative,” Rodgers said, “on what the person can’t do. In our mind, we are focused on what he can do, what he will be able to do and do very well.”

Gov. Palin has a similar outlook. In an e-mail she sent to relatives and friends the day of Trig’s birth, she wrote: “Many people will express sympathy, but you don’t want or need that, because Trig will be a joy…Children are the most precious and promising ingredient in this mixed-up world…Trig is no different, except he has one extra chromosome.”

Adoption Is Greater Than The Universe!

John Piper is one of Americas Great Preachers. Here he shares how Adoption is God’s Idea.

Blessings

Ronnie

Foster Care Adoption Facts

James 1:27 (The Message)

 26-27Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless (children without a home, added by Ronnie) and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.

 

 

 

On any given day in North America, nearly 600,000 children are in the foster care system, and more than 150,000 of them are available for adoption, just waiting for the right family to find them.

• There are 510,000 children in the U.S. foster care system; 129,000 of these children are available for adoption.

• More children become available for adoption each year than are adopted. In 2006, 79,000 children had parental rights terminated by the courts, yet only 51,000 were adopted.

• A child in foster care can wait up to five years to be adopted.

• The average age of the child waiting to be adopted from foster care is eight years old.

• The average number of months a child waiting to be adopted has been in foster care is 39 months.

• Each year, 20% of children (26,517 in 2006) exit foster care at age 18 without an adoptive family.

• According to a National Adoption Attitudes Survey commissioned by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, 63 percent of Americans hold a favorable view of adoption and 78 percent think more should be done to encourage adoption.

• Nearly 40 percent of American adults, or 81.5 million people, have considered adopting a child, according to the National Adoption Attitudes Survey. If just one in 500 of these adults adopted, every waiting child in foster care would have a permanent family.

 

NOTE: Statistical source is Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System; Department of Health & Human Services (January 2008), unless otherwise stipulated.

CCHS Graduation: Congrats Grads

From left: Carroll County High School Class of 2008 President Josh Early, Chaplain Laura Holderfield, and Valedictorian April Gunn lead the 272-member class to their seats prior to Saturday’s graduation ceremonies.

First UMC had several Graduates this year and the saddest part is that we will miss them in the Youth Group. It is one of those times where we are sad and excited at the same time. The awesome things is that several of the graduates will still be close to home and we will get to see them.

Clay #1 Intern is going to New River and plans to pursue a career in Law Enforcement. Just remember Clay, when you are in Law Enforcement I am going to come and be your intern. I always wanted to be The Sheriff.

Laura is going to VA Tech and is pursuing a Marketing Degree. Laura will still be close enough to be at church and sing @ SNL with SouledOut.

Dennis is going into the field of Paramedic/Firefighter and is already actively involved with Firefighting.

Jacob is going into a field that is near and dear to my heart, full time ministry. I have heard Jacob speak and I can tell that he is a natural when it comes to being a preacher.

Just a note to our graduates, stay close to the Lord, stay close to the church and always remember that you can call on me for advise or encouragement at any time. We will be praying for you and thinking of you often. You are an awesome part of this church and the fun will continue.

Ronnie

Celebrating Older Adults!

Youth and Young Adults, this is your opportunity to Shine.

This year for the first time I attended Jubilation with several of our Senior Adults and I had a BLAST!

I was thinking then as several times before that we have days to celebrate almost everyone, from children to graduates to singles but I hadn’t seen anything specific for Senior Adults. Hey, I am quickly becoming a Senior Adult!

Keep reading, our General Conference has voted to observe a Specific Day in May 2009 and beyond to Celebrate Senior Adults. I think we need to go to Scripture and see just what God says about the way we are to treat those older than we are and we need to have a huge Community Wide Celebration.

Stay tuned and let me know if you would like to help plan the event. Again, Youth and Young Adults, this is your opportunity to Shine.Ronnie

Church plans annual celebration of older adults

May. 22, 2008    

NOTE: Photographs are available at http://umns.umc.org.

By Kathy L. Gilbert*

FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)-An annual Older Adult Recognition Day will be held in The United Methodist Church starting in 2009 to celebrate older adults.

The 2008 General Conference, the denomination’s top lawmaking body, voted to add an Older Adult Recognition Day to the special observances on the church’s calendar. The day is to be observed annually, preferably during the month of May.

The day is intended to provide congregations with the opportunity to learn more about the issues and concerns related to aging and older adulthood. The Committee on Older Adult Ministries, Board of Discipleship, will have responsibility for supervising and promoting the observance.

During the April 23-May 2 international gathering, the denomination revised its resolution on aging in the United States to include the latest information from the U.S. Census Bureau. Updated information shows people are living longer, and by 2032, there will be 72 million people 65 years of age and older in the United States. The average United Methodist is at least 60 years old, according to the committee.

Older adult ministries

The church’s Comprehensive Plan for Older Adult Ministries for 2009-2012 will emphasize intergenerational ministry and caregiving ministry.

Intergenerational ministry will build understanding between younger people and older adults by promoting the gifts, faith and wisdom of each age group.

The Census Bureau projects that by 2030, there will be more older adults in the United States than children and youth combined. Intentional church-based caregiving will become more necessary as federal entitlements are cut and family structures change.

Two hundred years ago, people didn’t retire; they just “worked until they wore out,” according to the comprehensive plan. Medical and scientific advances mean people are living longer, and post-retirement can be 25 to 35 years or more.

Some of the more alarming statics about aging include the rising rate of dementia for those 85 and older. In 2000, more than 4 million people in the United States had Alzheimer’s disease, and it is predicted that by 2050, 16 million could have the disease.

“In many ways, we haven’t determined the modern purpose of a longer, healthier old age,” the comprehensive plan states. “To what use do we put the incredible resource of elderhood? How do we help older adults continue to grow in faith as disciples of Jesus Christ? We need new models of old age for our coming maturity.”

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.

News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org

 

Readers Are Leaders!

The following are startling statistics, shared by my friend Mike Morris at Cornerstone Church.

From Mike:

“I was reading in the February issue of Discipleship Journal and I came across a disturbing statistic. It was one of those wake up calls because it affects how we teach and how we communicate the truth of the Bible. I’m an avid reader and I think sometimes I assume that other people read as much as I do. Even right now at church we are trying to encourage everyone to start reading their Bibles. We can’t forget the fact that many people struggle to read. To me this just reinforces the need to creatively share stories that teach the truth of Scripture. We also need to come up with ways to teach and connect to people who are not learning through books. How do we overcome this barrier and get people to continue learning throughout their adult life? This is not just a church problem, it is a cultural problem, and we must come up with solutions”.

• One-third of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives. 
• 58% of the US adult population never reads another book after high school.
• 42% of college graduates never read another book.
• 80% of US families did not buy or read a book last year.
• 70% of US adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years.
• 57% of new books are not read to completion.

–Jerrold Jenkins.

Wow, I know that this may not startle a person who is not a reader, but for those of us who read a lot, it is amazing.

I remember when I found a love for reading. I was in high school at CCHS and I had to ride the Big Yellow School Bus from Lambsburg to Hillsville and back home every day. As you can imagine it was pretty boring. I was in the 10^th grade. I decided one day to check out the book “Roots” in the library and started to read it back and forth on the bus every day. I knew that my dad had borrowed the same book from his mother and I figured it was a god book. I soon discovered that I couldn’t wait for the time to and from school so that I could read more of the book. I have to admit that when I was home, being outdoors was more exciting.

Since that time I have been a reader. I will read on average a 200 page book most weeks of the year. That may change with the changes that God is now bringing into our lives but I will continue to carry a book everywhere I go. I always keep one with me. I read in traffic jams, while waiting in the dentist office, while traveling (if someone else is driving). I have actually witnessed someone driving down the interstate while reading the newspaper. As my friend Farrah says, “We call those people organ donors” at the hospital. 

I truly believe that readers are leaders. I am going to start this next week writing a brief review of the books that I read. Hopefully that will give more people the desire to read and not just give them a place to read reviews.

Ronnie

 

Every Child Needs Love!

 

Every Child Needs Love. One of the greatest ministries we could ever have is to give a child a home, to love them and give them a family.

In my days of working with children who were displaced from their families, I came to understand that we don’t do enough as Christians to take care of the major problem, right here in our own front yard.

I have done something about that, I adopted Michael. The truth is that Michael is one of the greatest blessings that has ever come into my life. I don’t feel like I did him a favor by adopting him, I feel like we are both blessed and the blessing continues. Because of Michael, I have been blessed, my family has been blessed, our church has been blessed, and our community has been blessed. It just continues, the numbers of lives that have been touched by Michael are countless and Misty and I can’t wait until we are able to adopt again.

Maybe your family could consider caring for a child in need of a family. I have lots of resources if you are interested in learning more about foster parenting and adoption.

 

I am praying for Laborers!

 

Ronnie

My Hat Is Off To All Who Care For The Children!

Nearly 8,000 children are in foster care in Virginia Alone.  Approximately 50 percent are 13 and older. These children are in urgent need of foster parents and, for many of them, a “forever family.

Help me to pray for the Children.

Ronnie

Children Need A Forever Family

Foster parents needed around the state

 

OK, I know that many of you reading this blog are teens and you are not in the situation or the mind frame to adopt or foster a child, however, your parents may be. Maybe you need to let your parent know that you would be Great with the idea of having another person in the family!

After working with youth and teens in local churches for the past 15 years, then at a Children’s Home for 5 years, there is such a need. Every child deserves a home of their own where they have a mom and dad and even brothers and sisters to call their own.

 

May is National Foster Care Month

Exciting things are happening at FUMC Hillsville and taking care of children who need families is one of the things happening.

In July and August we will be having something called “Heart Galleries” in our church. We will be doing several things to promote Adoption and Foster Care.

Be in prayer as we teach families about the needs and they are many. Also, you your family would consider the opportunity to adopt, go see your local Department of Social Services and get a Home Study started, it will save time.

Ronnie

First Lady works for strong foster care programs; May is National Foster Care Month

 

Richmond, Va. – Nearly 8,000 children are in foster care throughout the Commonwealth.  Approximately 50 percent are 13 and older. These children are in urgent need of foster parents and, for many of them, a “forever family.”

 

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is asking families, couples and individuals to open up their hearts and homes to a foster child. 

 

First Lady Anne Holton created the For Keeps foster care initiative in 2007.  It was founded on the belief that every child deserves and needs a “forever family.” Under her leadership, a number of foster care reform efforts were successfully passed this year.   

 

“As a juvenile court judge, I met so many older teens in foster care trying to navigate the adult world without the stable family foundations that so many of us rely on,” First Lady Holton said. “For Keeps focuses on ensuring older children in foster care have permanent family connections and community support to help them develop into successful, independent adults.”

 

The goal of Virginia ’s foster care program is to maintain family unity and ensure that all children grow up in safe, stable homes. “There is no ‘typical’ foster child, but they all desire a permanent, loving home.  This is especially true for older children, teens and siblings,” said VDSS Commissioner Anthony Conyers Jr .

 

The need for loving foster parents is ongoing for both short and long-term placements.  Local departments of social services offer training for families and individuals interested in becoming foster parents.  To learn more about making a positive difference in a child’s life, visit http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/fc/index.html or contact your local department of social services. 

 

Wesley’s Death

From Fellow Methodist, James Howell. May we all strive to live and die for the Glory of God!

Ronnie

At age 87, having lived a full, vigorous life, Wesley fell into ill health.  He travelled to preach in mid-February of 1791, but then caught a severe cold.  Trying to recover, he wrote a letter to William Wilberforce, encouraging him in his quest to banish slavery:  “Go on in the name of God till even American slavery (the vilest that ever saw the sun) shall vanish away.”

   His fever mounted, and gradually his housekeeper and closest friends gathered by his bed for the death watch.  Unresponsive for days, he suddenly gathered his strength and broke out into a hymn:  “I’ll praise my Maker while I have breath, and when my soul is lost in death, praise shall employ my nobler powers; my days of praise shall never be past…”  Then he sank into a feeble state, and could say nothing, until late in the day he spoke his final words:  “The best of all is, God is with us.”  The next morning, March 2, he was dead.

   Wesley’s last will and testament stipulated that six poor people should be paid one pound each to carry his coffin, so they would have money to live on for a while.  The chapel was draped in black for the funeral service, and his will mandated that the fabric be taken down afterwards and remade into dresses to be distributed to poor women.  He had given away all of his money to the poor, and had kept back precisely what was needed to pay the pallbearers and to provide the dresses.

   Imagine this kind of end-of-life planning!  In my death, will the poor be lifted up in some practical way?  How much will I have given away, and what will be left?  What will be the manner of my death?  Panicked anxiety? Or words of praise and faith passing my lips with my last breaths?

   Wesley knew why he had been placed on earth, and his reason for being provided his message to thousands, and this sustained him:  “I am a creature of a day, passing through life as an arrow through the air.  I am a spirit come from God and returning to God; just hovering over the great gulf, till a few moments hence I am no more seen – I drop into an unchangeable eternity!  I want to know one thing – the way to heaven – how to land safe on that happy shore.  God himself has condescended to teach the way:  for this very end he came from heaven.”

Tragedy

Daughter of Gospel Star Steven Curtis Chapman Hit, Killed by Car

Thursday, May 22, 2008

 This undated family handout shows from left to right: Will Franklin, Maria, Steven Curtis, Shaoey, MaryBeth, Stevey Joy, Caleb and Emily Chapman.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. —  The 5-year-old daughter of contemporary Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman was struck and killed Wednesday by a sport utility vehicle driven by her brother, authorities said.

The girl, Maria, was hit in a driveway on the family residence Wednesday afternoon by a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by her teenage brother, said Laura McPherson, a spokesman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

McPherson said no charges are expected.

“It looks like a tragic accident,” she said.

She said several members of the Chapman family witnessed the accident, which happened in Williamson County just south of Nashville.

The brother apparently did not see the little girl, McPherson said. She did not have the name or exact age of the brother, only that he is an older teenager.

The girl died later at Vanderbilt Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Laurie Holloway said.

Chapman, originally from Paducah, Ky., and his wife have promoted international adoption and have three daughters from China, including Maria.

Chapman has won five Grammy awards and 51 Dove awards from the Gospel Music Association.

The singer’s Web site said that Chapman and his wife, Mary Beth, were persuaded by their oldest daughter to adopt a girl from China. The experience led the family to adopt two more children and create Shaohannah’s Hope, a foundation and ministry to financially assist thousands of couples in adoption.

The Chapmans did missionary work at Chinese orphanages in 2006 and 2007, according to the Web site.

“After our first trip to China, my wife and I knew our lives were changing — our eyes and hearts were opening to how big God really is, and we have wanted to experience more of that,” Chapman says on the Web site. “We’ve really wondered whether or not we should just go to China and stay there. But I don’t think so. I believe God is saying, ‘I want you to go, get your heart broken, your eyes opened, and then take this story back to the church in America and around the world.”‘

Chapman also has released a book about bheing a father entitled “Cinderella: The Love of Daddy and his Princess.”

I can’t even start to imagine the pain that the Chapman family is experiencing right now. We need to pray for the family and especially for the young man who was driving the vehicle. Though no fault of his, he will struggle with this, probably for the rest of his life.

It was just a couple of days ago that I blogged about this song after hearing it on the way home from seeing the newest member of my family for the first time.

My heart breaks for this family.

You can scroll down a couple of blogs to hear the song mentioned here.

Ronnie

Bishop Swanson’s Reflections on General Conference

I just read the Bishops reflections on General Conference and I am encouraged.

Ronnie

Why am I so hopeful?

By Bishop James Edward Swanson Sr.

In the Word and Table Service of the Eucharistic Prayer, the celebrant prays these words:

By your Holy Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other and one in ministry to all the world until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at his heavenly table.

On April 23, some 994 delegates and about 5,000 others gathered in the Fort Worth Convention Center to begin to find ways to make this prayerful petition a reality among those of us called United Methodist Christians.
You see, every four years delegates from 50 different nations, 129 annual conferences, and five continents – representing 48,000 congregations and 11.4 million members – assemble to pray, confer, worship, vote, and seek God’s direction for our church.

In 2008, General Conference met under the theme, “A Future with Hope.” During this time I experienced a range of emotions, from sadness to joy, anxiety to calm, tears of grief to tears of joy. Yet I came away from General Conference with more hope for our church than at any time in my more than 35 years of ministry.

Why am I so hopeful? (I am so glad you asked.) I am hopeful because despite our differences, we were able to focus attention on four areas that I find exciting. These areas are: starting new churches; leadership development; global health (in particular, stamping out the killer diseases of poverty); and engaging in ministries with the poor.

I applaud the Council of Bishops for rallying our energies, resources, and prayers around these four areas. I witnessed our general boards and agencies developing strategies to give attention to these four areas. I saw a seven-year-old girl challenge us to follow her example by giving at least $10 to buy a treated mosquito net to protect African children from malaria.

I heard choirs sing a variety of songs in praise to God – inspiring us to smiles, tears, shouts, and adoration for the God of our salvation. I saw hands lifted in praise to Jesus and pleas for the Holy Spirit to descend upon us. I saw persons with opposite opinions on key issues embrace and seek to be Jesus’ disciples, even as they disagreed.

But, what I appreciated most of all was a clear call to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

Oh yes, there were moments that brought me pain and discomfort, but the moments when I witnessed Jesus and felt the power of the Holy Spirit have given me strength to run on in Jesus’ name. Yes, I could have done without the long hours and endless amendments to the amendments. But through it all, there was no doubt that Jesus was with us. I do believe that many of you were back here in Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee praying for us, and I thank you for your prayers.

Now we head on to Annual Conference in Holston, and I ask that you join me in our “40 Days of Preparation.” If you are unaware of our 40-day Bible study, please ask your pastor or lay representative, so that you may join us in studying the scriptures and praying for God to be with us as we seek to “Offer Them Christ.”

I am convinced as never before that God can be with us in power, at Annual Conference, just as he was with us in Fort Worth.

The Clock Will Strike Midnight and She’ll Be Gone

Coming to the office from the hospital on Tuesday I heard this song and I thought of all the children in my family and in yours!

These precious kids and I don’t want to miss even one moment of their lives. Kevin and Dustin were 10 and 13 and we were in the woods camping with friends. I can remember like it was yesterday, they had full Ninja Turtles Outfits and some dull machetes. The adults sat around the camp fire talking and the kids ran through the woods half the night, where did the time go?

Seems like it was yesterday that Michael learned to drive. I was so excited, I would let him drive everywhere so I could read. Nothing like having someone chauffeur you around. Now Mike has two little ones of his own and we just don’t get that much time together. At least it’s not as much as we would like to have.

Alex is 5 years old, it seems like yesterday that he was born. He has said some of the greatets things. Wewere coming from dinner in town one evening and he said, “pupa, what are you going to do when we get home”? I said, I have to study because I am preaching tomorrow and he immediately said that he would like to preach with me. I said, Alex what would you preach about, he thought for a minute and he said “Candy”, I said candy, what would you say about candy and his response was “it’s sweet and sugary”. That sounds like the Gospel to me.

I think the sweetest thing he has said was when Misty was pregnant and again we were driving home from dinner in town. Alex said, Pupa, are you going to be a daddy? I said yes. He thought for a minute and said, are you still going to be my pupa? I cry when I think about it. I said, Alex, I will always be your pupa, no matter how many kids we have. He was fine with that answer.

The rest of the kids, Christopher, Seth, Samuel and Victoria, they are changing before our eyes, every day there are such drastic changes. this song touched my heart.

Ronnie

The Newest Member of the Collins Family!

He hasn’t been named yet but here is the newest little boy in the Payne/Collins Family. Of course we had to get the others in the show as well. He weighed in at 7lb and 12oz and he is 20.5 in long. Handsome young soul!

Ronnie

Lessons From The Little Ones!

It is mowing day at the Collins Home! I love to work out in the yard, mowing the grass and planting trees, shrubs and flowers. The only problem is that I don’t like to have to do it in a rush and since starting school several years ago, I always have to do it in a rush. That makes it a chore and not so much a joy.

However, today (Monday) is my day off and I cooked breakfast for Mike and his family and Mike is helping me to mow the yard. Actually Christopher and I are mowing the yard and Mike is working on the weedeater.

We were sitting around after breakfast and just watching the kids play and I had to laugh at the way things progressed. Samuel and Victoria were playing in the wagon and for no seemly reason Samuel would reach and pull Victoria’s hair. Then Christopher would come along and he wanted both of them ot of his wagon.  Jelousy is a mean thing. Now I don’t think at Samuel’s age he is jealous, he just likes to pull hair. But for Christopher I am sure he feels like he has been here much longer than the other two and he wants to be first. It is funny, when Alex is around Christopher, he doesn’t treat Alex that way and I am sure it is because he knows that Alex was here first.

It is cute when we see the children doing this and we just have to assure them that no one could ever take their place. Christopher is my first grandchild and nothing will ever change that. He is my pride and joy, and so are the rest of the little ones. I really can love them all.

The sad thing is when we see adults who act this way. We see it in family’s, business and sad to say even in churches. People feel like I was here first or someone is getting more attention than I am. We need to always be eager to share what we have with others, even our family and friends. Those who truly love us have a lot of love to share with others also.

I just thought you should know.

Kevin, Dustin, Michael, Alex, Christopher, Seth, Samuel, Victoria and the one born today that doesn’t have a name yet. I love you all will all of my heart and each one of you are my pride and joy. I wish I could spend every waking moment with my wife, kids, grandkids and parents. We will have Eternity some day.

Ronnie

Happy Birthday To You Misty!

Misty is getting older, she turns 34 today. Just think, in 16 years Misty will be the BIG 50. She has to spend her birthday at school, have to keep that paycheck coming in. We spent the day on Saturday in Boone shopping at the Outlet Mall. I am going to spend my birthday shopping in a Christian Bookstore. Send Money!

Misty got cards and gifts from friends at church on Sunday (A BEAUTIFUL AND TASTY CAKE) and last week we celebrated her birthday with her mom and dad. Wow, this thing has gone on for a week.

 

A birthday is an occasion for prayer, a holy time.
A journey began. God blessed you with life Misty.

Every time I think of you, I thank God,
and pray for you with prayers of joy.
For God began a good work in you,
and will complete that work in years to come.

My prayer for you now is this:
that your love grow richer
in knowledge and insight of every kind, especially of Him,
that you learn by experience
what really matters,
that on the day you appear before God,
God welcome you as a flawless gift,
a rich harvest of praise,
through Jesus Christ. Amen.

 Philippians

May the Lord bless you with a great day;
May the Lord give you a great year,
May the Lord give you peace and happiness.

 

Happy Birthday Misty, I love you!

Ronnie

 

Born Without Eyes and Giving God Glory!

The Video spaeks for itself, Wow. Below are Patrick’s own words. I hope that you are as encouraged and movitated as I am.

Ronnie

‘God Made Me Blind — Big Deal’

“I mean, God made me blind and didn’t give me the ability to walk. I mean, big deal.” Patrick said, smiling. “He gave me the talent to play piano and trumpet and all that good stuff.”

 

This is Patrick’s philosophy in life, and he wants people to know it. He isn’t fazed by what many of us would consider insurmountable obstacles.

 

“I’m the kind of person that’s always going to fight till I win,” he said. “That’s my main objective. I’m gonna fight till I win.”

 

Patrick also attends the University of Louisville and plays trumpet in the marching band. The band director suggested it, and Patrick and his father, Patrick John Hughes, who have faced tougher challenges together, decided “Why not?”

 

 

Good vs. Evil

There is definitely an evil force in this world today as there has been since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden more than six thousand years ago. All we have to do is take a look at the evening news and see that evil exists.

What must be done in this world so that evil doesn’t win? I am so glad that you asked. In order that evil doesn’t win, the Christian’s have to take a stand. What does that mean? Again, I am so glad that you asked. It means that we have to behave as the Bible teaches us we should.

Take for instance in the Book of James, we are told to be Slow to Speak, Quick to Listen and Slow to get Angry. We are also told in other places in the Bible that we can be angry and sin not, here James tells us, even with righteous anger, we should be slow about it.

Got someone you can’t Forgive? Let it go, the Bible says to forgive as we have been forgiven!

Got someone who gets on your nerves and you would just like to tell them off? Let it go, the Bible says in love there is Great Patience!

Someone said something bad about you and you want to retaliate? Let it go, Jesus never defended lies!

Every where you go, with everyone you meet, whether frustrated or tired, respond as Jesus has taught us to respond, never react. We can change the world!

Defeat Evil, fight the good fight!

Ronnie

No Excuses!

The Blog this past week has been an attempt to remind us that we are the only ones that limit us!

We have seen a man born with no arms and no legs, a man born with Crebreal Palsy, a child born way too early and finally a look at the FACT that Jesus understands our pain. You could say that we are all scarred in our own way. We all have insecurities and issues that we have to deal with but all of us have gifts and graces that we can offer to God for His use.

What are your gifts and graces? We all have the responsibility to find out and then work within those areas as mush as possible. A good place to start may be to discover your Spiritual Giftedness, you can do that by going into the archives here and taking the Spiritual Gifts Inventory. Then we can sit down and talk further about what God has placed on your heart. What is it that you have this overwhelming feeling that God want’s you to do?

It may seem like it would be hard and that there is no way you could be happy if you followed that leading, let me assure you that you will never be more satisfied than when you are in the Center of God’s Will for your life.

What is your excuse?

Ronnie

Thinking of Suicide?

If you are feeling suicidal now, please stop long enough to read this. It will only take about five minutes. I do not want to talk you out of your bad feelings. I am not a therapist or other mental health professional. I don’t know who you are. I only know that for the moment, you’re reading it, and that is good. If it were possible, I would prefer to be there with you at this moment, to sit with you and talk, face to face and heart to heart. But since that is not possible, we will have to make do with this.

I know that you might not be up to reading a long book, so I am going to keep this short.  I have learned five simple, practical things I would like to share with you. I won’t argue with you about whether you should kill yourself. But I assume that if you are thinking about it, you feel pretty bad.

I hope your reading this means you are at least a tiny bit unsure, somewhere deep inside, about whether or not you really will end your life. Often people feel that, even in the deepest darkness of despair. Being unsure about dying is okay and normal. The fact that you are still alive at this minute means you are still a little bit unsure. It means that even while you want to die, at the same time some part of you still wants to live. So let’s hang on to that, and keep going for a few more minutes.

Consider this statement:
“Suicide is not chosen; it happens when your pain is greater than your ability to handle the situation.”
You are not a bad person, or crazy, or weak, or flawed, because you feel suicidal. It doesn’t even mean that you really want to die – it only means that you have more pain than you can cope with right now. If I start piling weights on your shoulders, you will eventually collapse if I add enough weights… no matter how much you want to remain standing. There are many kinds of pain that may lead to suicide. Whether or not the pain is bearable may differ from person to person. What might be bearable to someone else, may not be bearable to you. The point at which the pain becomes unbearable depends on what kinds of coping resources you have. Individuals vary greatly in their capacity to withstand pain.

When pain exceeds pain-coping resources, suicidal feelings are the result. Most people have had suicidal thoughts at some point in their life. This does not in any way make you a bad person; it is not a defect of character. It is simply an imbalance of pain versus coping resources.
You can survive suicidal feelings if you do either of two things:
(1) find a way to reduce your pain, or (2) find a way to increase your coping resources. Both are possible.
1. This too shall end. The first thing you need to hear is that people do get through this — even people who feel as badly as you are feeling now. Statistically, there is a very good chance that you are going to live. I hope that this information gives you some sense of hope.

2. The next thing I want to suggest to you is to give yourself some distance. Say to yourself, “I will wait 24 hours before I do anything.” Or a week. Remember that feelings and actions are two different things – just because you feel like killing yourself, doesn’t mean that you have to actually do it right this minute. Put some distance between your suicidal feelings and suicidal action. Even if it’s just 24 hours. You have already done it for 5 minutes, just by reading this page. You can do it for another 5 minutes by continuing to read this page. Keep going, and realize that while you still feel suicidal, you are not, at this moment, acting on it. That is very encouraging to me, and I hope it is to you.

3. The third thing is this: people often turn to suicide because they are seeking relief from pain. Remember that relief is a feeling. And you have to be alive to feel it. You will not feel the relief you so desperately seek, if you are dead.

4. The fourth thing is this: some people will react badly to your suicidal feelings, either because they are frightened, or angry; they may actually increase your pain instead of helping you, despite their intentions, by saying or doing thoughtless things. You have to understand that their bad reactions are about their fears, not about you.
But there are people out there who can be with you in this horrible time, and will not judge you, or argue with you, or send you to a hospital, or try to talk you out of how badly you feel. They will simply care for you.

Call our church office and ask to speak to Ronnie  1-276-728-2434 or e-mail to ronnie24317@yahoo.com

What does the Bible say about it?

The Bible is very clear that we don’t have the right to take our own lives. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

Jesus also said in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

There is hope for your life, and your life is worth living, even if things seem really bad right now. Everyone feels lonely, depressed, or hopeless at times in their life. But instead of focusing on the negative, turn your eyes and mind up to Christ. In your relationship with him you will discover your exciting purpose and destiny. Don’t throw away your future!

Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44) and he will use everything in this world to make you believe that you are ugly, unloved, unworthy, not valued, not wanted or anything except the truth. What is the truth? For you “to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses all knowledge.” (Ephesians 3:18-19)

Satan does not want you to know this love, but it is there for you and it is unconditional.

Let’s Talk,

Ronnie