An update and Forgiveness is Coming

There are only a few out there who read this and I appreciate you and hope my frail words can bring some inspiration.

The last few weeks I have been considering what I need to be focusing on. Thus the weekly post I try to get up hasn't been happening.

I mentioned that I have gotten serious about losing weight and I have lost 20 pounds and more than 5% of my body weight.

My plan is to attempt NaNoWriMo again this year but this year instead of a traditional fictional novel of 50,000 words, I am going to write nonfiction. This year I am going to update and expand my book, Impossible to Forgive.

My current plan is to publish my daily work on my blog and ask that you and others you might recommend this to might comment, give feedback, and suggestions to the work. One warning the words are not going to be edited and they will be rough. They may even be a little tough and need to be some toning down.

So If you are interested in forgiveness then start reading November 2nd.

Is Dialogue Dead?

Is Dialogue Dead?

“Dialogue is dead. Welcome to the age of a million monologues. Welcome to the day when people shout angrily at empty space rather than conversing with one another. Today is a day of hearing but not listening, when accusations are made without understanding, and when we fight against one another as we try to reach shockingly similar goals.


I am convinced that we are not as opposed to one another as we think we are, but we have lost the capacity to understand. And I lament that our ignorance appears to be increasingly willful. Rather than disagreeing, we make enemies. Rather than engaging perspectives that differ from our own, we villainize. Rather than recognizing our shortcomings, we cast our sin upon scapegoats.” Pastor Nick Highland


I wish I could say Nick is wrong but it seems that he is correct. Attacks and insults seem to be most peoples’ first response. So, what do we do as Christians? Forget that question, I have been hearing and seeing what Christians are saying and doing. Maybe I should say, “What should we do?” The answer is to live and talk like Christ. How is that? In Love.


No, it isn’t easy to walk in love. Yes, we will take abuse, but that isn’t anything new for the Christian. Jesus said we would face persecution.


Next, in a world filled with the noise of anger and hate-filled monologues, what should we focus on? I suggest we look to the Bible and what Paul said in Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.”


Finally, I suggest that we practice forgiveness. It is easy to get upset, angry. and bitter. Sports figures, politicians, reporters, bloggers, the twits on Twitter and the Slander on Facebook, just to name a few, make it easy to lose your cool. However, Jesus told us to forgive and to love. There wasn’t an exception clause because someone was an idiot or because they were evil.


It doesn't matter if Dialogue is Dead, we are called to act one way no matter what other people do.
Think about it.

Christian: noun or adjective?

JD Walt is the writer of the Daily Text (Info below). Today he asked:  a couple of questions and I thought I would ask and answer two of them here.

1. American Christian or Christian American; what’s the difference?
2. Why does it matter?

Is Christian the noun or the adjective for a Christian who has American citizenship? 

The fact that a pot is green of blue does not change the function of the pot. A pot is a pot what color it is, doesn't matter in the least. With this logic, I have to say that Christian is the noun. You can have a Christians who are different but we are all in a sense the same. This is born out in Scripture where Paul said: "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28).

However, if you talk about service, then there is compassionate service and resentfully, spiteful service and that changes everything. In this example, the type of service or the lack of it is changed by the adjective. In this, an American Christian could carry a negative overtone (in today's world it probably does) where a Christian American may not. 

 

So which is it?

I am going to say that the primary noun and the primary adjective in a Christian who has American citizenship is Christian or maybe I can put it in a more confusing way. 

We are Christian American Christians. 

Yet, when this life is over we will just be Christians. Just like a child is both a child and child-like but one day by God's design they will be neither: "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me." (I Corinthians 13:11)

I know that it isn't just Americans who read this blog, so if you're from Germany, Russia, or from elsewhere, you have to change the term American to where you are from. 

Anyway, think about it. 

Promised Infomation:

Join the Daily Text Facebook group here.

Subscribe to receive the Daily Text email.

Join the Daily Text Fasting Challenge here. Whenever you sign up, it will begin the following Tuesday.

Why a newsletter at TCN

Why a newsletter?

There are many reasons for an organization to send out newsletters. These are at least some of the ones we considered when we decided to launch a newsletter here at Tell City First Church of the Nazarene.

11.     Information:

We live in very busy times and though our church is close there are times when we miss out what is happening. Bulletins are lost, websites and Facebook don’t always get updated or work right. Let’s be honest our little church has a lot going on it can be hard to keep track of it all. Our hope is this newsletter will help people know what is going on.

22.     Connectedness:

The information sent out will help us connect better. A listing of Anniversaries and Birthdays will be listed and reminders of special times of when we can enjoy fellowship.

33.     Growth:

To supply an extra bit of spiritual insight from myself and others. Also, provides links to other sources of growth and inspiration.

What do I promise:

11.     That as long as the newsletter seems to be a blessing we will continue it. If this seems to not be a blessing anymore, then we will discontinue the newsletter.

22.     I (Pastor Charles) promise grammatical errors, misspellings, forget to add an event or some other mistake. I’m a doctor, not an editor. Oops, I mean I’m a pastor, not an editor (If you’re not a Trekkie, over look that last comment).

33.     To try and make looking at this worth your time to look it over.

We are family here at Tell City First Chruch of the Nazarene and it is our hope that Hitting the Mark will help give us what every family needs: better communication.

Hitting the Mark: 

What is in a name.

No, I (Pastor Charles) didn’t ask the church board what we should call our newsletter and who knows maybe after it’s been out we will change the name, For now, I have chosen to call the church’s newsletter Hitting the Mark. 

I wanted to name the newsletter something which would both be scriptural and fit our community. Calling it the Marksman wouldn’t work, we have people who attend Perry Central and besides that name has already been taken. Yet, I did like the idea of shooting for a goal and trying to reach something. This is when I remembered Paul saying, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14, KJV). I memorize this scripture as a child and it just felt right. Even a student from Perry Central or Cannelton can say they want to hit their goals, so that’s how Hitting the Mark became the name. It is my prayer that Hitting the Mark will help us hit the goals God has given us in our lives and in our church. 

God Bless. 

Pastor Charles 

Miracles from Heaven (my thoughts)

I am more often than not a little skeptical when it comes to claims of miracles. I have seen some and know that God does them, but as Chuck Swindoll said, “They’re miracles, not Commons." In recent years there has been a plethora of books and movies about miracles and visitations to heaven. I have heard the people say, "It's a great story" to which I resist saying, but is it true. Some of them make claims of things which are not evident in scripture, but normally I hold my tongue. This being said, I sat down and watched Miracles From Heaven and was thoroughly surprised. It was at times hard to watch but afterward, I was glad I did. You can decide for yourself. PC

The Journey Continues

Week one was completed last week.

I lost 5 pounds last week. I know this isn't the same for some people, but for me it was encouraging.

I keep under my point count (weight watchers food counting) for the week. I even had several treats, that I adjusted my eating for.

The first week was actually easier than I thought it would be. As of today, I am 4 days into my second week and it's getting harder. This is when the initial push of emotion has passed and the reality of what I am doing is setting in. I am still determined but the cost of changing my eating lifestyle is becoming real. I am not giving up, but I can't lie and say everything is easy.

Wish me luck, as the journey continues.

8-21-17   5 down  - 95 to go...

UPDATE 9-15-17 14 down 86 to go

A new journey (trying something different)

I am starting a new journey, or maybe I should say I am starting again. I didn't get there last several times I tried.

I am going to change my lifestyle and become more healthy/

No, I didn't have a heart attack or bad news from the doctor. No, it was something a lot worse...

My own words.

We all know what we should be doing things about. The doctor had said many times it would be good for me to lose weight. I know I would feel better and eventually it would hurt me in ways that I may not recover.

What did I say?

In talking Sunday about the spiritual discipline of engaging your Bible (reading, reflecting, responding), I said if what you are trying to do isn't working do something else. Find something that works and stick with it. It is like dieting. What does works? The one you stick with, so find one that works for you and stick with it. If what you are doing isn't working try something else.

What I am doing when it comes to food isn't working. I was challenged by a friend to try Weight Watchers.

I had excuses, but it was something I had never tried and we both knew what I was doing wasn't working. So I found a good deal, a good meeting time and started.

Where will this lead?

To success I believe, but here is the teachable moment.

At least, I am trying something different since what I was doing wasn't working.

So what in your life isn't working?

Try something else, try another path toward your goal.

I'll keep you updated on mine.