I like what I just ran across at his site about failure. The gist of it is that people who don’t fail are usually people who don’t try anything new! Failure is not a bad thing — unless it’s failure to try anything new or failure to learn from mistakes.

Here are Jame’s “3 Reasons You Need To Fail”:

1. Until we fail, we don’t know what doesn’t work. If I make a cake and forget to put the baking powder in, I end up with a pancake I get to frost. Because of my anguish over this failure, I will never again forget to add baking powder. I can apply this same principle of using painful memories of failures to avoid hurtful relationships, going broke before the next payday, and gaining weight. So, failure teaches us how to live on purpose, and what values to cherish.

2. If we never fail, we have no compassion for others who mess up. How can I help you through a rough time with a family member if my own family has never experienced trouble? How can I empathize with you over rejection letters from editors and agents if I’ve heard only compliments? By our familiarity with failure, we develop gracious hearts to encourage others around us.

3. Finally, failing will enable us to get over our fear of failure. I know it sounds crazy. But it works. If I get on a horse the wrong way, and slide off, I may bump my fanny or my elbow. My fear might have been that I’d break my neck and die. When all I do is bruise my elbow or bum, I’m encouraged that falling off a horse isn’t the end of the world. Surviving a failure helps us grow brave, so we can attempt greater feats.

Great points — and great reasons to take risks, even if it means sometimes failing!

If I can help somebody as I pass along, If I can cheer somebody with a word or song, If I can show somebody he’s traveling wrong, Then my living will not be in vain. If I can do my duty as a Christian ought, If I can bring salvation to a world once wrought, If I can spread the message as the master taught, Then my living will not be in vain. Yes, Jesus, I want to be on your right or your left side, (Yes) not for any selfish reason. I want to be on your right or your left side, not in terms of some political kingdom or ambition. But I just want to be there in love and in justice and in truth and in commitment to others, so that we can make of this old world a new world.

These are the words of a brave man, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was not perfect — but none of us are. Dr. King worked for justice and to give rights and liberties to all people — a goal that is a part of God’s will for all people. He was indeed a Godly man and a brave man at that.

Here is a link to a post I made a few years ago about my Dad, his history with the Civil Rights movement, and how my opinion of Dr. King has changed over the years.

Letter from Jesus about Christmas –

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you’ve forgotten that I wasn’t actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don’t care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn’t allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn’t be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 – 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don’t have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don’t you write and tell him that you’ll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can’t afford and they don’t need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don’t know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren’t allowed to wish you a “Merry Christmas” that doesn’t keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn’t make so much money on that day they’d close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary– especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here’s a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no “Christmas” tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don’t know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don’t forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I’ll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I’ll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :
I LOVE YOU,
JESUS

The message the Church needs to take to the community and the world is that there is a God who longs for people to know Him and fall in love with Him – and participate in His work in the world. Evangelism is about what we say — but it’s also about who we are and what we do!

A holiday for many. I’m working on odds and ends at the Church office today but for some it’s a day off. However you spend your day today, remember the reason for today. Many have given their lives for the freedoms we enjoy as Americans — and many continue to give their lives so that we and others can continue to enjoy freedom.

On Memorial Day I always remember a poem I learned in the fifth grade — John McCrae’s In Flanders Fields.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

You can read the story of the poem here.

As we remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, and especially this year those who continue to fight for freedom, I offer this prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, we think of how they have followed in the footsteps of your son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Please hold our service men and women in your strong arms. Cover them with your sheltering grace and presence as they stand in the gap for our protection.

We also remember the families of our troops, and ask for your unique blessings to fill their homes and your peace, provision and strength to fill their lives.

May the members of our armed forces be filled with courage to face each day and may they trust in the Lord’s mighty power to accomplish each task. Let our military brothers and sisters feel our love and support.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

On Friday of Holy Week — Good Friday — Jesus was crucified for our sins (Matthew 27:1-66, Mark 15:1-47, Luke 23:1-56, John 19:1-42.)

Take some time today to reflect on what Christ did for you.
Take time today to thank God for the salvation you have through Christ.

As a prayer for Good Friday, I offer the following — A
Responsive Prayer On Christ’s Passion — from The Book Of Common Worship of the Presbyterian Church, USA

Our Redeemer suffered death,
Was buried and rose again for our sake.
With love let us adore him, aware of our needs.

Christ our teacher,
for us you were obedient, even unto death:

Teach us to obey God’s will in all things.

Christ our life,
by dying on the cross
you destroyed the power of evil and death:

Enable us to die with you, and rise with you in glory.
Christ our strength, you were despised,
And humiliated as a common criminal:

Teach us the humility by which you saved the world.

Christ our salvation,
you gave your life out of love for us:

Help us to love one another.

Christ our savior,
on the cross you embraced all time
with your outstretched arms:

Gather all the scattered children of God into your realm

Jesus, Lamb of God,

have mercy on us.

Jesus, bearer of our sins,

have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the world,

grant us peace.

Jesus prayed that He would not have to die on the cross — and yet at the end He accepted God’s will. (Matthew 26:31-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:39-46).

If you have ever seen the movie “The Passion Of The Christ“, you will remember the first scenes at Gethsemane and the Devil trying to persuade Jesus to abandon God’s plan — but Jesus resisting. It’s a very powerful rendition of this powerful event.

Jesus accepted and followed God’s will for Him — even though it meant suffering and death.

O God — Strengthen me when I am tempted to abandon Your will for my life, so that I may follow You. Amen.

Thursday of Holy Week is the day Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Communion

As He gathered with His disciples the night before His crucifixion, Jesus took the bread and the cup from the Jewish Seder Meal they were celebrating and gave the bread and cup new meaning (Matthew 26:26-30, Mark 14:22-26, Luke 22:14-20).

This is my body — broken for you
This is my blood — shed for you

It does not matter how many times I say these words or celebrate the Sacrament — these words still give me goose bumps.

Lord — Help me to always remember what You have done for me — and always reach out to others with Your love. Amen.

On Monday of Holy Week tradition holds Jesus chased the money changers out of the temple (Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-17).

Why did Jesus do this?

I believe it was because He wanted to “cleanse the temple” of the things that were distracting the people from a true relationship with God.

This raises the question:

What is it that Jesus might want to “cleanse” — to “clean out” — of my life so I can have a better relationship with Him?

Lord Jesus — Cleanse from my life anything that is holding me back from a true and right relationship with You. In Your holy name I pray, Amen.

While it’s origin is is in question, most feel it is related to Saint Valentine. Regardless of how it got started, it has become “the day of love” when love notes, cards, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged. I enjoy Valentine’s Day — I enjoy the cards and the candy (especially the candy ).

In the midst of the excitement and sentiments, I hope we all can remember that love is something we should feel and express every day — and not just on “special days”. As 1 John 4:16 reminds us:

God is love,
and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them

In other words, love is something to feel and express every day!
After 25 (almost 26) years of marriage, my relationship with Sally is the way I gauge how well I am doing with loving others. When I am showing love to her, I am usually doing pretty well with showing love to others. When I am grouchy and not very loving to her, then everybody else catches it also! I found this quote about marriage that — for me — describes marriage and love very well. It was written by an Italian priest and writer Romano Guardini :

Marriage is not only the fulfillment of the immediate love that brings a man and woman together; it is also the slow transfiguration of that love through the experiences of a
common reality. Early love does not yet see this reality, for the pull of the heart and senses bewitches it. Only gradually does reality establish itself, when eyes have been opened to the shortcomings and failures revealed by everyday life. He who can accept the other then, as she really is, in spite of all disappointments, who can share the joys and plagues of daily life with her just as he has shared the great experience of early love, who can walk with her before God and with God’s strength, will achieve second love, the real mystery of marriage.

The secret is God’s strength — which helps us to love!