musings

I LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO THAT ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING. Outlook determines outcome. Whether you approach life from a positive or negative stance will determine to a great extent your level of success or failure.

For example, a man pulled into a gas station on the outskirts of town. As he filled his gas tank, he remarked to the attendant, "I've just accepted a job in town. I've never been to this part of the country. What are people like here?" "What are the people like where you came from?" the attendant asked. "Not so nice, "the man replied. "In fact, they can be down right rude." The attendant shook his head. "Well, I'm afraid you'll find the people in this town to be the same way."

Just then another car pulled into the station. The drivere was from the same town as the first man. "Excuse me," the driver called out. "I'm just moving to this area. Is it nice here?" "Was it nice where you came from?" the attendant inquired. "Oh, yes! I came from a great place. The people were friendly, and I hated to leave." "Well, you'll find the same to be true here in this town." "Thanks!" yelled the driver as he pulled away.

"So what is this town really like?" asked the first man, now irritated with the attendant's conflicting reports. The attendant just shrugged his shoulders. "It's all a matter of perception. You'll find things to be just the way you think they are."

This is kind of a "folksy" way of expressing the importance of attitude, but isn't it true? There are two types of people in the world---those who come into a room and say, "Here I am!" and those who say, "Ah, there you are!"

People of faith, people who believe in a BIG God, will pluck fruit from the tree of life all their lifetime. John Haggai said, "Attempt something so impossible that, unless God is in it, it is doomed to failure."

musings

Valentine's Day! No one knows for certain where or how it originated, but we do know who is responsible for keeping it before the public eye---the greeting card, floral, and candy industries!

The Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. Women purchase approximately 85% of all valentines.

St. Valentine is the designation for several saints. The most prominent are two martyrs whose feats are celebrated on this date. One was a priest and the other a bishop. We don't know much about them, but we do know that they died on the same day.

According to church tradition, St. Valentine (the priest)was arrested in the year 270 A.D. for his faith by the then pagan Roman Emperor. During the trial they asked Valentine what he thought of the Roman gods Jupiter and Mercury. Valentine said they were false gods and that the God that Jesus called Father was the only true God. So the Romans threw him in prison for insulting the gods.

While in prison Valentine continued to minister. He witnessed to the guards. One of the guards was a good man who had adopted a blind girl. He asked Valentine if his God could help his daughter. Valentine prayed and the girl was given her sight. The guard and his whole family, 46 people, believed in Jesus and were baptized. Because these people had come to know Jesus, Valentine praised God right there in his prison cell. When the Emperor heard about this he was furious, so he had Valentine beheaded.

John 15:13: "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends."

The custom of sending "valentines" or "love tokens" usually anonymous, probably had only an accidental connection with St. Valentine. It really owes its origin to a belief held in Medieval Europe. It was believed that at the start of the second fortnight of the second month that the birds began to mate. The poets picked up on this, blending mating with love and hence, valentines!

In a sense, every time we meet for worship we celebrate love---God's love for us. He sent us a Valentine---His Word. And every time we share His love with others, we are sending them a "Love token."

musings

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day! Oh, won't the greeting card and flower industries be happy. It will be a big pay day for them!

Just in case you don't remember, this holiday is named after two men, both Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

The Greeitng Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. The association estimates that women purchase approximately 85% of all valentines.

Most historians believe that Valentine's Day was probably inported into North America in the 19th century by British settlers. The first mass-produced valentines of embossed paper lace were made and sold shortly after 1847 by Esther Howland of Worcester, Mass. Her father operated a large book and stationary store, and she took her inspiration from an English valentine she had received. Since 2001, the Greeting Card Association has been giving an annual "Esther Howland Award for a Greeting Card Visionary."

I hope you're planning to do something special for your sweetheart, guys. Some flowers, candy, a nice card, a dinner out. Women love this kind of thing and men score some huge points.

Did you hear about the shy young man who took some flowers to his girlfriend? She threw her arms around him and kissed him as she thanked him for the lovely gift. He jumped up and headed for the door. She said, "Oh, please don't leave. I didn't mean to offend you." "Oh, I'm not offended," he replied. "I'm going after some more flowers!"

musings

YESTERDAY, AT EXACTLY 3:20 P.M., I LOST THE POWER! I was sitting at my computer, talking on the phone when suddenly without any warning, the electric feed to my house crashed. Without power it meant no heat, no means of communication with the outside world (we have portable phones), no hot water, no TV or radio, no means of fixing a meal or brewing a cup of coffee.

Makes one realize that we cannot function without electrical power. And what's more, we don't want to either. Once you have tasted it's many marvelous benefits, its hard to be without it. I don't know of anyone who wants to return to the "good old days" of outhouses and cisterns.

When energy is snuffed out like a candle, we tend to panic. What does one do when it is 5 degrees out and the chances of frozen pipes looms large? Call for help. Trudge over to the neighbors and use the phone to give Consumer's Energy the word. And what then? Wait and pray. Then expect a solution!

This whole scenario kind of reminds me of those who are without spiritual power in their lives. They don't have what it takes to resist temptation, or deal with difficulties in life. If they are wise they would seek outside help; they would call upon the name of the Lord and help will be on the way.
As the Bible says, "He gives power to the faint."

In my case, help did arrive---not at once but it was about an hour and fifteen minutes till the power was restored, which leads me another thought: If you once had the power of God, but seemed to have lost it, He is in the restoration business. All you have to do is ask!