The Virtual Pew Daily: christians

Showing posts with label christians. Show all posts

Thursday, June 25, 2009

My Last Conversation With My Mom

This morning at 6:46 AM I likely got to speak to my mother for the last time. I received the call from my sister that my mother likely wasn’t going to make it through the day. I am typing as I prepare to leave this morning to go back to Upper East Tennessee alone. My story with my mother is long and complicated, I said to her though that I loved her, and that for her to not try to hold on for me to get to Tennessee. I told her that I would see her in Heaven. This was important for her to hear according to the Hospice nurse that handed me the phone. I don’t think my mother will be alive by the time I leave around noon today, and take the approximate 20 hour drive alone.

Ministry is hard, harder than many realize. I know my wife sent out a request in the last week or so to help with funds. It really kind of sucks to be honest, no money came in, I am leaving this morning, and the truth is, right now I don’t have the money to get home. I have enough to get there hoping there are no emergencies along the way. I realize times are tough, because they are tough on our family and this ministry. It just seems like things pour all at once instead in bearable moments. Our landlord who we were leasing our home with an option to buy just filed bankruptcy, go figure that one, then there are additional strains such as my son has a court case next week and we have been trying to reach him to detail the information to my mom and we haven’t gotten a return call, don’t even know if he has gotten the message. Then my doctors office withholds medication I need because I have to have some testing done which I haven’t been notified about, then to top everything off, I took our little wiener dog in yesterday to the humane society because he has killed some chickens, and has had an attitude, they inform us they can only put him down as opposed to giving him a chance. Yep, life sucks sometimes.

I don’t write this to complain, I write this to say there is hope. I know that, hopefully you know that. While I don’t know how I will get home, I know that God will work away and his will, will be done. I find joy in knowing that my mother in her later years made a real decision for Christ, a miracle I didn’t expect. My wife will stay at home to go to the trial with my son, and her recent surgery would have made the drive very hard on her, but things are the way they are. I’ll be honest, a little help getting home, covering the costs would be great, I just spent $125 I don’t have to get the car ready for the trip this morning. I will be mooching on people while there and am praying and hoping the funds come in while I am there to somehow be able to get home. I am praying for no tragedy or difficulty along the way, I am praying that my mom will pass peacefully and that today, she will enter the arms of a Christ who can forgive all sin, including the sins of a mom who had a hard time being a mom.

I will have The Virtual Pew phone with me, would love to talk as I can, the number is 316-258-3952. I am grateful for a lot of things, most of all a Savior who still provides, secondly a family that loves, and thirdly a ministry and group of friends who understand.

BTW, it is likely The Virtual Pew message boards and postings will be delayed for a few days, I hope you all understand.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Let's Talk

Yesterday I got up early as I normally do. I spent some time in devotion as I went to take care of my chickens; to feed and water, but on this Sunday morning I also spent some time watching New Spring Church here in Wichita on television. A unique message and I actually like this church. It got me to thinking about a number of things so I have outlined a message series to write on, some related, some not to the message I heard on this particular morning.

Today’s posting is somewhat simple actually. It is to promote the message boards at The Virtual Pew at www.thevirtualpew.com. I haven’t done that in some time and I think people forget the benefits of the message boards. I belong to several other message boards, lately one I have been busy at, reading, learning, and asking questions from is from Poultry One. Obviously, being new to the raising chickens, I have to learn from others. The Virtual Pew message boards are set up in much the same way. Here is what I am asking, I am asking some of the old timers to come back and am asking for other new folks to become involved. While the message boards are a part of our web site at The Virtual Pew, you can access those boards at the following url: www.thevirtualpew.com/forum.

While at The Virtual Pew forums you can find such categories as: Worship, Weekly Sermon Discussion, Bible Study, Prayer, Fellowship, Sharing Your Faith, and General Discussion. Within each of these forum are various topics and you can always add your thoughts, ask your questions, and contribute to the discussions. It is a great place to help each other out. You can find tools to help you, whether a daily bible reading that will help you read the bible in a year if you choose, or a prayer board where you can post requests.

The Virtual Pew was among the first to offer a message board like this. Our hope has been and continues to be that individuals will come on board and help give leadership. It is an aspect we felt in the early days, and still do believe can be of benefit. In fact I already know it has been of benefit from individuals that read and interacted with me and others.

I know there are many places one can go to discuss topics on a message board, but I assure you this is a safe place. While I am still in need of an individual to upload a newer version of the software and programming we use, I and others visit and moderate these boards on a daily basis.

Come on over, sign up and be a part of this group. Promote it to others. There are many who don’t attend a church, this is a place where you can engage in conversation, and a place where you can invite friends to take part. Hopefully we see the boards grow in membership and more people become involved.

As stated before, we are open to ideas and open and willing to make this our forum, where we explore spiritual truths, thought, and growth.

Yes sometimes there are crazy thoughts, I know cause I can be a crazy person, (note not a reflection on anyone with a mental illness, the term crazy is used in fun and jest only.) The following is an example of a video that I did that shows the thought process of the types of things we want to talk about. If the video don't work, just click on the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7f8Obigink

Click Here to Go to The Virtual Pew Daily Verse and Read The Bible in a Year Passages

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Now for those that do not know, make sure you check out the numerous articles and blogs by checking out the archives. If visiting The Virtual Pew or MySpace they are archived on the left hand side of the page. Scroll down to where you see newer or older listed under archives and then click there. There are hundreds of postings so make sure to check out the archives. You can also contact me for a free e-book pre edit version of The Keystone Kid at mike@thevirtualpew.comYou can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/ and on the front page down on the left side you sill see our store. Your purchase provides needed funds to The Virtual Pew. If you do not see something to purchase you can click on the search engine, (do not put anything in the search box at this time). You will be taken to Amazon where you can search for anything you desire. Hopefully you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew.

Now I get asked this quite often, Can we repost your blogs or articles? The short answer to that is, what an honor that you would ask, and by all means, spread the word.Here is our contact information

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Wichita, KS 67217

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Friday, February 20, 2009

Jack Bauer and 24's Redemption

I have to admit, come Monday nights, at 9 PM Eastern, and 8 PM Central, you can’t reach me via telephone, so the lesson here is, don’t even try. On Monday nights my wife and I watch my favorite television show 24. The exploits of Jack Bauer played by Kiefer Sutherland has kept me captive for years now. I enjoy 24 so much that I always purchase the DVD season episodes when released. I got hooked when watching season 1 on DVD and found myself involved in a marathon of watching every episode in less than 2 days.

24 is written and directed by some of the best in television, not just television but all of film. This season started off somewhat different as it started as a movie episode titled Redemption. The prequel to this season picked up after season 6.

Jack, in the turmoil that has engulfed CTU has him going to Africa to the fictional country of Sangala. While there, he becomes involved in an upheaval and revolt against the countries current political leaders. In 24 Redemption Jack is staying with and helping a Children’s mission. When approached with conflict and the children being taken into slavery to fight in that countries civil war Jack resorts back to his old ways to provide safety and escape for the children.

In the spirit of the movie, Blood Diamonds and the powerful documentary, Invisible Children, 24 Redemption takes a powerful look at how children around the world are exploited. We see children taking up arms, trained for war, and used as tools to satisfy the lusts and desires of those seeking power. 24 Redemption is powerful because it opens the eyes of a viewing public who may not be aware of these types of activities. This particular episode holds the viewer captive and is directed in such a way that we find ourselves challenged as to the conditions of these children and our lack of action or knowledge. My wife and I were so moved that we decided to go through Compassion International and support a little girl through their program to help provide escape from the horror she faces on a day to day bases. 24 Redemption is a movie that used television to have a dramatic impact. A television program can do more than entertain; it can address important social issues.

In 24 Redemption, we see Jack go through a form of Redemption as he realizes the need of his own character to serve others. He has become consumed in himself and quickly realizes that the use of his talents and gifts has to be used for the right reason. Sutherland in his portrayal of Jack Bauer plays the character as few could. Going through his own issues in life for Sutherland plays a part that likely resembles his own search for meaning. In the character of Jack Bauer, we can learn as hopefully he has that life is sometimes about doing right. This concept not only complicates the story line we are used to in 24, it caused at least this one viewer to be drawn even more into the characters. We see a different Jack in 24 Redemption, it is a Jack that we hopefully see more of in the future.

There are many aspects of giving up ones life to save others illustrated in 24 Redemption. We see religion portrayed in a loving, caring way, especially towards innocent children. This episode shows the need to be aware of injustices on our planet, even if using a fictional country; the issues addressed are real. I was reminded of the Bible verse that states, how can we say we love God, if we see someone in need, have the means to provide for them and don’t? Thankfully movies like 24 Redemption challenges us and makes us aware of these issues.

24 the television series is in full swing now. The same captivating, cliff hanger stories continue as expected. The viewer is confronted with issues like torture, terrorism, political espionage, and more. We learn that the answers we seek in life are not always as easy as we think. Jack Bauer is the driving force for those issues and questions, but with Jack, as we see in 24 Redemption, we see a struggle with doing what is right. That is a struggle we are all confronted with, and it is a journey that keeps life just as exciting as a cliff-hanger episode of 24 if we allow.

The following is the official trailer for the television movie now available on DVD. If the video don't appear, just click on the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STYKG8KVqF4

The following video has interviews with the cast about Redemption

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnZkPC-I1ng

Just For You

You are important and I want you to know that you can feel free to contact me at any time. I always try to respond to comments posted here, when appropriate, and have learned from my work as a counselor and pastor that people need to know that they are important. My contact information is available and I encourage you to contact me when need be. The fact that you are a real person is not lost on me. While you are at it, if needing a place to plug in, you can also join and become a part of The Virtual Pew. Message boards and interaction are available there as well. Thanks for visiting and know that God loves you and so do I.