DOES GOD HAVE FRECKLES

     Daisy Smith was busy cleaning house. Of course there wasn't a lot to clean but there was some laundry and as she went into Louie's room to put his clean clothes away she couldn't help but notice a rather forlorn looking, freckle faced, red headed boy sitting on his bed with a Bible in hand. “Hello there” Daisy said but got no response.

      As she finished putting Louie's clean clothes away she walked over and sat down beside him. “Are you okay?” she asked but still Louie gave no response. Next she tried waving her hands in front of his face but still Louie didn't respond. “I'm going to tickle you if you don't say something.” Daisy said next to which Louie giggled and said “Alright”

      “What has you so preoccupied?” Daisy asked “Well,” Louie started to answer, “Ever since the science fair I have been wondering, Does God have freckles?” “Does God have freckles?” Daisy repeated wondering what brought that on. “Yeah.” Louie said, “And what color is He? Does he look like me or Barney? By the way, did you know Barney now has freckles?”

      “Why did you want to ...” Daisy started to ask but finished her sentence with “Barney doesn’t have freckles.” “He does now.” Louie said, “And so do a lot more people thanks to Harold.” “Uhm,” Daisy started to say, “Does this have something to do with the science fair? Randy said he almost blew up the church working on some kind of potion.”

      “Since he couldn’t make a potion that would take away evil,” Louie answered, Daisy, “He tried making a potion that would make us more like God.” “Not another potion.” Randy said sticking his head in the door. “It tasted like banana soup.” Louie said lowering his head and looking at the floor. “You mean you had some?” Daisy said in surprise. “Lots of people were taking it.” Louie replied.

      “And did people become more like God?” Randy asked. “I’m not sure.” Louie said looking up at Randy, “As for myself nothing happened. I don’t feel any different. As for everybody else, well, they don’t appear to be any more like God unless God has freckles.” “Freckles?” Randy said a bit puzzled.

      “Yeah,” Louie piped up, “Everybody that was drinking the potion looks like me now. They are covered with freckles.” After a slight pause, Louie added, “So, does God have freckles?” “NO” Randy said. “Than I guess the potion didn’t work.” Louie said After a long pause, Louie asked “Would you like to hear how my science project did at the fair?”

      “I would love to.” Daisy said “But I need to get some supper in the oven. Can you tell me about it while I'm working?” “Uh, oh.” Louie said when he heard that, “You might not want to use the oven for a while. My experiment kind of, well it, uhm.” How about we all go out to eat.” Randy piped in to which everyone readily agreed.

      Many believe that millions and billions of years ago a bunch of pond scum produced life which mutated over time into human beings. If this were true we would be nothing more than over sized mutations. Science shows us that, that can't happen and God's word tells us it didn't happen. God's word tells us that we were created in God's image.

      When the LORD God made the heavens and the earth, there were no plants or grain growing on the earth, for the LORD God had not sent any rain. And no one was there to cultivate the soil. But water came up out of the ground and watered all the land. And the LORD God formed a man's body from the dust of the ground and breathed into it the breath of life. And the man became a living person. Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he placed the man he had created. … to tend and care for it. But the LORD God gave him this warning: "You may freely eat any fruit in the garden except fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat of its fruit, you will surely die." And the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him." … So the LORD God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. He took one of Adam's ribs and closed up the place from which he had taken it. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib and brought her to Adam. "At last!" Adam exclaimed. "She is part of my own flesh and bone! She will be called `woman,' because she was taken out of a man."

Genesis 2:4-25 (NLT)

      Genesis 1:27 says God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (ESV) Psalm 139:13-16 Tells of His creating us while in the womb For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them. (ESV)

     With this in mind, How special might we be?

• Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (ESV) .
• Matthew 10:30-31 God even knows how many hairs are on your head. So don’t be afraid. You are worth much more than many sparrows. (NCV)
• 1 John 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. (ESV)

     God Himself does not have a body, Jesus tells us in the New Testament that He is spirit but He did take on a body in Jesus and Jesus tells us that if we've seen Him we've seen God. And while God may not have a body like us we do have a spirit, we have a part of us that is not physical but more like God, a part we don't really see and all to often forget exists. We need to remember that we are God's creation.

      Here's Something To Ponder

• Do you see yourself and those around you as being created in God's image?
• Are you letting God's image be seen in you?

FAILED EXPERIMENT

     It was the first Sunday of October, Church was done for the morning and Randy was relaxing in his office while looking out the window at the brilliant colored leaves. “I suppose it won't be long now until I have to grab some rakes out of the shed and start raking leaves.” He thought out loud as he gave a big sigh “Maybe I can get the youth group to do it again.” he thought but that was suddenly interrupted by the sound a an explosion and somebody yelling “Quick!! Somebody!! Call the fire department!!”

     Somebody was in that shed and now he was running around screaming like a maniac and “Is that smoke coming out of the shed?” Randy hollered and took off. “Who's there?” He hollered out as he came around the corner to the shed, “Are you all right?” “It's still isn’t working.” came a coughing and sputtering response.

     “Is that you Harold Peterson?” Randy asked as he looked over a boy covered in, well, covered in something. “I think it’s still me.” Harold answered still coughing and sputtering. “What are you doing?” Randy demanded to know, “Are you trying to blow up the church?” “No.” Harold responded, “It It was my experiment - again.”

     “Experiment?” Randy said, “ What experiment?” “The one I am working on for the school science fair.” Harold said. “Well, why are you working on it in the church's shed?” Randy asked. “Because they wouldn't let me back in the lab at school?” Harold said, “It kind of no longer exist. I had to much powder in my experiment and it blew up.”

     “And now your trying to blow up the church.” Randy stated. “No.” Harold said as he started to clean himself off, “I’m just trying to come up with a cure for the science fair.” “A cure?” Randy questioned, “What are you trying to cure, cancer?” “Somebody else is trying to do that.” Harold said, “ I wanted to create a cure for something even worse.”

     “Something worse?” Randy asked wondering what it could be. “A cure for death?” “Well, maybe sort of but not really.” Harold said confusing Randy “You see,” Harold went on, “Death is the result of sin, and, well, I’m trying to come up with a cure for sin. All you would have to do is drink my potion and you would never sin again.”

     “And just how would you get people to drink it?” Randy asked. “Well, why wouldn't they?” Harold asked sure everyone would want it. “God has already provided a cure for sin and most people don’t want it?” Randy told Harold. “What?!” Harold shouted, “He beat me to it? Oh well, the stuff didn’t taste very good anyways. Well, back to the drawing board. By the way, do you have a drawing board I can borrow? The one I was using was destroyed in the explosion.” “No.” Randy said, “But I do have some rakes and a church yard that is going to need some raking.”

     Through out the Bible references are made to something in the beginning of Genesis. It is the first story in Genesis, the first one in time, it is the story of creation. The story of creation can be found in Genesis 1:2-2:3 and can be summed up as follows:

• Day 1: God created space, time, matter and lightened
• Day 2: God separated the waters
• Day 3: God produced dry land and plants
• Day 4: God made the heavenly bodies such as the sun and stars
• Day 5: God made birds and fish
• Day 6: God made the land animals and God made man
• Day 7: God rested.

     When we read the story of creation one thing we read over and over again is that what God made was very good. We can see that in Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25 & 31. The last time God says what He made was good He say it was “Very Good.” You can't get any better than that but is it still good?

     When one looks around us today, what we see is far from very good. Romans 5:12 says that Sin came into the world because of what one man did, and with sin came death. This is why everyone must die—because everyone sinned. (NCV) Ever since that day sin has plagued mankind and all of creation but is there a cure?

     One may try to solve the problem of sin and its consequences like Harold with some kind of potion but God has given us a cure. Romans 6:23 says For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV) and John 3:16 says For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)

     One day everything will be restored. We are reminded of this in...

• Romans 8:19-23 For all creation is waiting patiently and hopefully for that future day when God will resurrect his children. For on that day thorns and thistles, sin, death, and decay --the things that overcame the world against its will at God's command--will all disappear, and the world around us will share in the glorious freedom from sin which God's children enjoy. For we know that even the things of nature, like animals and plants, suffer in sickness and death as they await this great event. And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us--bodies that will never be sick again and will never die. (TLB)
• 2 Peter 3:10-13 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (ESV)

     God did make everything good, go ahead and read the story for yourself. And as you do, Here's Something To Ponder

• As you look at creation can you see past the corruption to see the good?
• Will you acknowledge God as Creator?

I AM GOD

     For may years I have enjoyed writing puppet skits and puppet stories. Sometimes it is a lot of work and I wonder how or why I should keep going and then I start letting my imagination and go and, well, sometimes it is as if the characters themselves, the ones that I created come to life and start telling me what to do like happened recently.

      While I was working on series of lessons for Genesis and writing a puppet story for the first one, I was thinking about which of my puppet characters was the most bossy when low and behold, Stella turned up. “STOP!!! Stop everything.” She yelled at me, “This puppet story is over, done,finished, kaput.”

      “What?” I asked looking around for her, “What are you talking about?” “Your position here has been terminated.” She responded as she peered over the computer monitor at me. “It is ended, finished, YOU are fired.” she continued. “You can't do that!” I said staring back at her. “I can and I am.” She said back to me. “From now on I am in charge here. Now get out of here.”

      “Alright Stella Peterson!” I said, “Just who gave you the right to come in here and take over my lesson writing?” “I did!” she snapped back at me “And from now on everyone will obey me and only me.” “Just who do you think you are?” I asked and of course she answered in a typical Stella way, “You can call me god.” she said.

      “I don’t think so.” I told her, “There is but one God and you are not Him.” “Not anymore.” She quipped back, “And if God wants to argue about it I’ll make Him miserable.” “So, you really think your god.” I said. “No!” she responded, “I know I am god and from now on what ever I say goes, and you go. Now get out of here.”

      I couldn't let her get away with being so bossy so I told her “No, and you can't make me.” “Yes I can.” She snapped back. “How?” I asked “Well, well,” she stammered, “For starters I'll, I'll erase all your puppet stories from your computer. And then I'll get my dog Ralph to chase you away.” “You don't have a dog named Ralph.” I reminded her but that didn't stop her. “Then I’ll get one. A big, ugly, ferocious one.” she said.

      “Why don’t you make one?” I asked her “After all,” I said, “If you are god than you should be able to make one right here and now out of nothing.” “Yeah right.” she snorted when I said that. “I tell you what, Stella.” I said as I stared into her eyes, “You just go home and forget about trying to be God.” “And what if I don’t?” she asked. “If you don't,” I told her, “I'll send my son Aaron after you.”

      “Do you mean that Aaron, that over six foot tall Arron standing behind you?” she asked. And then she looked at me and said “I'll let you win this time but I'll be back.” and then she left with a sinister laugh, and I woke up.

      Romans 1:20 states For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (NASB) There are those who claim there is no God, or if there is a God we can't know Him and yet He does exist and we can know He exists and who He is but, even then we may choose not to believe as many have. Some may say that if they only had more evidence they would believe but would they?

      The Israelites had just received a miraculous delivery from Egypt, the ten commandments in person and yet.... When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, "Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him." So Aaron said to them, "Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me." So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!" When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made proclamation and said, "Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD." And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. And the LORD said to Moses, "Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!' "

Exodus 32:1-8 (ESV)

      They witnessed God and His power first hand and still they chose to gather their gold and make a calf and worship it, claiming it to be God.

      Genesis 1:1 starts “In the beginning God.” It doesn't try to prove His existence, it just says He is. The Bible goes on to tells us about God and who He is … It tells us in:

• Isaiah 43:10-12 "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior. I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and I am God. (ESV)
• John 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." (ESV)
• 1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. (ESV)
• Psalm 119:68 You are good, and You do what is good; teach me Your statutes. (HCSB)
• 1 John 4:8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (ESV)
• Joshua 24:19 Then Joshua said to the people, "You will not be able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgression or your sins. (NASB)
• Hebrews 12:29 for our God is a consuming fire. (ESV)

     The list goes on and one day we will see Him if we want to believe it or not. In the mean time...

      Here's Something To Ponder

• What are the real reasons for choosing not to believe in God?
• In what ways have you ever tried to lift yourself up as God?

STARTING IN THE MIDDLE

      Not every day is a sunny day in Pupperville. Some days it rains and rains and rains. Thursday was one of those days and the Greys found themselves sitting in their easy chairs relaxing, well at least Helen was relaxing. Robert was having trouble relaxing and kept fidgeting around and wondering back and forth looking out the window at the rain.

      “Why can't you just sit still?” Helen finally said, “You're starting to drive me crazy.” “I can't!” Robert said, “I'm bored.” “Well,” Helen said, “What happened to that good book you told me you were reading? You could sit and read that book.” “Uhm,” Robert said, “ I think I spoke to soon about that book being a good book.”

      “What do you mean?” Helen asked. “Well,” Robert went on to explain, “I thought the book was going to be a good one, but I guess titles can be misleading. As it turned out I couldn’t understand anything that was happening in the book so I sort of threw it on the burn pile.”

      “What was the book about?” Helen asked, “Didn't you say it was an old western?” “I thought it was an old western.” Robert replied, “It was called “Trouble on Cactus Hill”, another adventure with the smokin’ gun slinger.” “That sure sound like a western to me.” Helen said in agreement, “So why didn't you understand it?”

      “ When I started reading it,” Robert answered, “I thought there would be some old fashion gun battles between the good guys and bad guys but the chapter I was reading was on building some kind of radio to call for help or something like that.” What chapter was that?” Helen asked. “Oh, I don't know.” Robert said, “It was somewhere toward the middle of the book.”

      “Do you mean to tell me you didn't start at the beginning?” Helen said almost scolding as she said it. “Beginnings are sooooooo boring.” Robert protested, “I always start in the middle.” “So, that's your problem.” Helen said. “You mean the books problem.” Robert said back, “They never make the middle of the books so you can understand them.”

      “Robert!” Helen said in a stern voice, “If you want a book to make sense you need to start at the beginning. If you don’t you’ll miss out on a valuable part of the story.” “I suppose I could try that.” Robert said with a sigh, “ Last week I was reading a book that made no sense and when I looked at the start of the book I found out I was reading the phone book.” “The Phone book!” Helen said in surprise but before she could say more Robert interrupted her. “Don't ask!” He said I suppose I should go dig those books out of the burn pile and try reading that western again. This time I'll start at the beginning.”

      Outside of God, everything has a beginning but if we don't know the beginning we can get things messed up like those who should have know the beginning...

      Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?" And He answered and said, "Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, and said, 'FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH'? "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." They said* to Him, "Why then did Moses command to GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY?" He said* to them, "Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way.

Matthew 19:3-8 (NASB)

      The Pharisees, the ones who should have known what the Bible said, test Jesus on divorce. When Jesus answers he goes to the source they should have know and he takes them back to the beginning, back to Genesis, what we know as the first book of the Bible.

      In Hebrews 5:12 we read You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food. (NLT) We need to know the basics, we need to know the beginnings and what better place to begin than in Genesis for there are many things we find beginning in Genesis such as: creation, sin, clothes, marriage, prophesy, judgment, redemption, life and death, people groups, various languages....

      Genesis is often used in the New Testament. Let's look at some of these uses...

• John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (ESV)
• 2 Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (ESV)
• Jude 1:11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion. (ESV)
• 1 Peter 3:20 because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. (ESV)
• Matthew 24:37-39 As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. (ESV)
• Luke 17:28-32 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. Remember Lot's wife. (ESV)

      And there are many more. From this we can see that the beginning book of the Bible is important and it helps us to explain many things and warn us as well. Over the months to come, Pupperville Ponderings will be focused on the book of beginning to see what we can see, to find things on which to ponder. In the mean time...

      Here's Something To Ponder

• What are somethings that have failed to make sense to you because you missed the beginning?
• Are you able to see how understanding the beginning can affect how we see the ending?

WORK, WORK, WORK

     It was time. Time to fix all the damages that had occurred to the church building from the tornado and what better way to do it than host a WORK AT THE CHURCH AND BARBECUE. With all the work that needed to be done some people thought there wouldn't be enough workers but with the offer of a barbecue when the work was done, well it was supplies they didn't have enough of.

     It wasn't long before John McDonald and his daughter Tracy headed off to get some of those supplies. When they arrived and Frank's Do-It-Yourself Hardware store they not only found the supplies they were looking for but they also found someone who wasn't working. It was Cindy Miller and she was, will, not doing anything.

     “Hey, Cindy.” Tracy called out, “Don't you know what weekend this is?” “I know what it is.” Cindy said with a sigh, “It's a weekend for work.” “So you do know.” John said. “I thought everybody knew this was the weekend we all have to work.” Cindy sighed again. “I guess so.” John said, “But it is also the weekend we celebrate work and all the people who do it.”

     “Celebrate work!” Cindy exclaimed in shock, “Why would anybody want to celebrate such a thing?” “Well,” John said, “Aren't you thankful for all the workers and the work they do?” “I guess so.” Cindy replied, “As long as it isn’t me that has to do the work.”

     “Oh yeah,” Tracy said, “It Mindy who likes to work.” “You can say that again.” Cindy said, “When it comes to work I avoid it like the plague. Why else do you think I’m here and not helping at the church.” “That's too bad.” John said, “There is plenty of work around the building and work is a good thing especially when you are doing it for God.” “You could have even helped Daisy in the kitchen.” Tracy added.

     “What.” Cindy Scoffed, “Did the tornado scatter all the pots and pans?” “The kitchen is fine.” John said. “She working on the food for after were done.” Tracy added, “Obviously you weren't listening to the announcement.” “Announcement?” Cindy questioned. “Yes.” John said, “There having a big barbecue dinner after the work is done.”

     “They are!” Cindy said with excitement, “I better get over there for that.” “It won't do you any good.” Tracy said. “Why not?” Cindy demanded to know. “ I love barbecues.” “That may be.” John sad “But the dinner is only for those who work.” “WHAT?!” Cindy hollered “That's what you get fo not working.” Tracy said.

     “Well then.” Cindy said with her nose in the air, “I guess I might as well go home and do nothing.” And then she hopped on her bike and took off. “I'm glad you're such a good worker.” John said to his daughter as they loaded the stuff in John's truck. “So am I.” Tracy said “And I can't wait for the barbecue. Do you think we should have told her about the hayride she'll miss too?” “I'm sure she'll find out soon enough.” John said, “We better get back to the church.”

For the people had a mind to work. - Nehemiah 4:6b (ESV)

     How many of you enjoy work? How many of you try to avoid work? What happens when we fail to work? In Nehemiah the people had a mind to work and as a result, something got done. It all started in Nehemiah 2:1-5 where we read In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. And the king said to me, "Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart." Then I was very much afraid. I said to the king, "Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" Then the king said to me, "What are you requesting?" So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it." (ESV)

     Nehemiah made a request of the king to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and if we were to keep reading, we would learn that he received it. We would also learn that Nehemiah would ride to Jerusalem and inspect the walls, that he would incite the people to rebuild the walls. We would learn that the people started working everywhere and they were teased and then more trouble came and they had to stand guard but, work went on and 52 days later the wall was done.

     It's amazing what can get done when someone or a group of people have a mind to work. There are some who would think work to be a four letter word – meaning it is a bad thing but work is a part of life and comes from God Himself.

• Exodus 34:21 Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest. (ESV)
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, (NIV)
• 1 Corinthians 3:9 We are God’s workers, working together; you are like God’s farm, God’s house. (NCV)
• Proverbs 16:3 Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established. (ESV)
• Acts 20:35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help the poor by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: `It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " (NLT)
• Ephesians 4:28 If you are a thief, stop stealing. Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need. (NLT)

     Here's Something To Ponder as you celebrate Labor Day.

• Do you value the work that you have been allowed to do?
• Are you grateful for the work for which you reap the benefits?

GRAMPA SAW AN ANGEL

      Stella Peterson had just come from visiting her grandparents and was aching to find someone to talk to, to tell them the story she had just heard. She tried finding Bernadette, she tried finding Tracy, She tried finding Mindy and Cindy she even tried to talk to her brother but no-one was around and if they were they didn't have time to listen but then she bumped into Gladys.

      “Do I know you young lady?” Gladys said and than finished her sentence before Stella could answer, “You're Hero Harold's sister aren't you. Stella, I think. Do you always walk around bumping into people?” “I'm sorry.” Stella said and then burst into laughter. “You think that's funny?” Gladys said in disgust. “No.” Stella said “But what I heard was.” and then Stella started snorting she was laughing so hard. That was the wrong thing to say.

      Gladys, being the town gossip and all, was all ears when she heard that and couldn't wait to hear more. “What's so funny?” she asked. “You won't believe it.” Stella said through her laughter, “ Grampa ... said .... he ... saw ... an ... angel.” and then started to snort again. “Is that so..” Gladys said thoughtfully, “And why is that so funny?”

      “Silly.” Stella said, “Nobody sees angels they only saw them in the Bible and Grampa isn’t in the Bible.” “Looking fo a good story Gladys prodded Stella along, “How do you know that?” She asked. “ I thought it was pretty obvious.” Stella said no longer laughing, “Besides, Grampa was a bit hysterical when they got him out.”

      “Got him out.” Gladys thought to herself, “That sound good. Maybe he was drunk and fell in a hole...” “Got him out of where?” She asked out loud. “Out of church!” Stella said, “Didn't you hear about the tornado?” “Oh, that.” Gladys said a bit disappointed. “Well,”Stella went on, “He was one of those trapped in the building and that is where he said it happened.”

      “Where he saw the angel?” Gladys asked. “Yeah.” Stella said and then let out a snort, “He said it told him they would all be safe and that things would be worse on their mission trip but they were not to worry only trust in God and He would see them through.”

      “Sound like some good advice.” Came a man's voice. “It was Randy Smith and apparently he had heard the whole conversation. “You don’t believe he saw an angel, do you?” Stella asked. “I wasn’t there but I don’t see why not.” “Are you cracking up?” Stella asked. “From the way you sounded.” Gladys butted in, “You were the one cracking up.” “Besides,” Randy went on, “An angel appeared like that to Paul, and the Bible says that some people see angels and don’t even know it. In fact, they’re probably all around us.”

      When Stella heard that she started to cry. “I missed seeing an angel?” she said and then ran off. “Are you sure he wasn't a little, well, you know...” Gladys said to Randy but Randy gave her a stern look back and then she ran off.

      Have you ever felt like a stranger in a new place? Sometimes we are strangers, sometimes we see the strangers and sometimes we want to avoid them. In the Bible we see times when strangers showed up but, were they really strangers?

      In Genesis 18 we read of the appearance of three men to Abraham .... He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth and said, "O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. … They said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" And he said, "She is in the tent." The LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. … Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. The LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,

Genesis 18:1-22 (ESV)

      In Genesis 32 it is Jacob's turn .... And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the day has broken." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." And he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." Then he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered."

Genesis 32:22-30 (ESV)

      Hebrews 13:2 says Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (ESV) Have you ever wondered if the strange that just walked by or that you just walked by may have been an angel. If if the strangers around us are not angels we do have a duty towards them.

• Leviticus 19:34 You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. (ESV)
• Leviticus 19:10 And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God. (ESV)
• Exodus 22:21 "You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (NASB)
• Deuteronomy 24:17 You shall not pervert justice due the stranger or the fatherless, nor take a widow's garment as a pledge. (NKJV)
• Deuteronomy 26:11 So you shall rejoice in every good thing which the LORD your God has given to you and your house, you and the Levite and the stranger who is among you. (NKJV)

     Here's Something To Ponder

• What would you do if an angel did appear before you as a stranger?
• When you have been a stranger how have you wanted to be treated?

THE BIG STORM

     It had been a long busy day for John McDonald working on his farm and he was looking forward to a good nights sleep. Tracy had slipped off to her room and drifted off to sleep hours ago. John laid his head down on his pillow and with a matter of minutes he was sleeping soundly only to be awaken by someone banging on his door.

     “I don't believe this” John said to himself as he slipped a robe on and headed to the door. Opening the door he found Bill Peterson standing their drenched from head to foot. “Excuse me.” Bill said, “But but do you have a chainsaw?” “I guess that depends on who you ask.” John said leaving bill with a confused look on his face.

     “It's a joke.” John said, “My daughter keeps telling me I don't have a 'real' chainsaw. But yes I do have one.” “Good.” Bill said, Can I borrow it, I need it to get into the church building.” “At this time of the night?” John asked, “What's wrong with using the door? And why can't you wait until morning?”

     “Can't open it and can't wait.” Bill said, “There are people stuck inside.” “then why don't they open it?” John said, “I'm trying to get some sleep.” “Too many trees.” Bill said, “That's why I need the chainsaw.” “Huh?” John said, “What's going on? Why do you have trees in the church building?” “I think it was a tornado.” Bill said, “But it hasn't been confirmed yet.”

     “A tornado!” John said as his eyes popped wide open. “Yes.” Bill said, “The old folks were at the church planning a mission trip when it hit and that's why I need the chainsaw tonight.” “If that's the case than you can use it.” John said, “I'll even get dressed and come help. But just so you know, I don't have any gas.”

     “No Gas?” Bill exclaimed, “What good is a chainsaw without gas?” “Well I had some.” John said, “But it got dumped out. We can get some at the Corner Mart on our way back to the church.” “No can do.” Bill said shaking his head, “The tornado destroyed it.” “I guess I can't help you then.” John said. “Have you tried asking God for help?”

     “Well, yeah.” Bill said, “We asked him first but all he sent was a bunch of kids who said they could help but what help can they be?” “Well,” John said, God can use them just like he uses us and they can get into place we can't. Just think of all the places Harold use to get into.” “Yeah maybe.” Bill said hesitantly and then Tracy came running up behind Bill totally drenched.

     “Tracy?” John called out, “I thought you went to bed ours ago.” “No time to explain, dad.” Tracy said, “We need your tractor to help lift the trees of the church building, can you help us.” What a great idea.” John said, “Let me get dressed and I'll be right down.” “I'll go get things ready.” Tracy called out and took off. “I'll go tell everyone help is coming.” Bill said and then he took off. “What is sleep?” John asked and went to get dressed to help.

     Again Jesus began teaching by the lake. A great crowd gathered around him, so he sat down in a boat near the shore. All the people stayed on the shore close to the water. - Mark 4:1 (NCV) Jesus was along side the sea and a large crowd came to hear His teaching. As a result of the crowd, Jesus got into a boat with His disciples. No, He didn't leave, He sat down and taught till evening. Then He decided to leave and that is where our story begins.

      That evening, Jesus said to his followers, “Let’s go across the lake.“ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him in the boat just as he was. There were also other boats with them. A very strong wind came up on the lake. The waves came over the sides and into the boat so that it was already full of water. Jesus was at the back of the boat, sleeping with his head on a cushion. His followers woke him and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are drowning!“ Jesus stood up and commanded the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!“ Then the wind stopped, and it became completely calm. Jesus said to his followers, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?“ The followers were very afraid and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!“

Mark 4:35-41 (NCV)

     After deciding to go to the other side, the disciples started rowing, while Jesus laid down to sleep. In the meantime a strong wind came up and the waves got high and the boat started to fill with water and the disciples thought they were goners and finally one of them woke Jesus up and He said “You better swim for it? No, He said “Peace be still.” and it was.

     Who should we trust in / rely on. In past stories we saw how God sent Harold to be a hero and while other didn't see how, God used him to solve the towns problems. God sent kids to help at the church when the Tornado hit and while Bill couldn't see how kids could help, they came up with the solution. We need to trust and rely on God even if we can't make sense of His answers.

     The Palmists is one who had much to say on trusting God.

• Psalm 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. (ESV)
• Psalm 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. (ESV)
• Psalm 115:11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. (ESV)
• Psalm 118:8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. (ESV)

     Even Solomon had something to say years later

• Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (ESV)
• Proverbs 28:25 A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the LORD will be enriched. (ESV)

     Here's Something To Ponder

• What are the times in your life that you have needed to trust God even though His ways didn't make sense?
• Do you tend to rely on man over God?