Need a Babysitter

Krysten is now a Red Cross trained babysitter and is available for babysitting.

Read the 'Gospel of Judas'

I read the following article about the Judas Gospel:

National Geographic releases the ancient "Gospel of Judas" today, and you too can read parts of the controversial text. Unlike Biblical accounts, "in which Judas is portrayed as a reviled traitor, this newly discovered Gospel portrays Judas as acting at Jesus' request when he hands Jesus over to the authorities," the N.G. Society says.
Read more on the USA Today blog

"Richard"

Years ago there was a baker's assistant whose sole job was to pour the dough mixture for making sausage rolls (apparently the royal family loved sausage). Because people were identified by their professions, he was just called Richard the Pourer.

One day Richard ran out of some key ingredients, namely a secret spice he used in the batter. He called his apprentice and sent him to the store to buy more spices. When the apprentice arrived at the store, he found that he had forgotten the name of the ingredient. Hoping that the storekeeper might be able to figure it out, he described it to him saying,

"It's for Richard the Pourer, for batter for wurst

Often God asks us to do hard things but we must obey regardless of the pain.

Monday, March 27 RECOVERY Reading: 1 Samuel 1-3

Often God asks us to do hard things but we must obey regardless of the pain.

SCOPE Today’s Bible reading speaks of recovery. The first chapters of 1 Samuel are set in the days of the Judges. While conditions reflect the spiritual and moral decline of the times, the central figure is first Hannah, one of those godly individuals whose faith remains strong however dark the society. Eli’s sons are immoral and corrupt, and while Eli rebukes them, he fails to discipline them. The focus now shifts to Samuel. Our Scripture reading today is 1 Samuel 1-3.

ABOUT THE BIBLE The books of 1 and 2 Samuel trace the most exciting period in Israel’s history. God had fulfilled His covenant commitments to Abraham. After breaking the slave bonds of Abraham’s descendants, the Lord brought them safely into Canaan, the Promised Land. But Israel proved faithless, again and again abandoning God for the idols and debased practices of the pagans who shared the land with them. For 400 years, during the time of the Judges, Israelite strength continued to wane. Then, suddenly, under a leader appointed by God, a stunning transformation took place. Over the space of some 50 years Israel was converted from an oppressed minority in Canaan into a powerful nation. First and 2 Samuel records the key events of these critical years, and focus our attention on one of the most beloved of biblical heroes: David, the shepherd boy who became Israel’s greatest king. The story of the birth of the Hebrew monarchy is told through the lives of three men: Samuel, the last judge; Saul, Israel’s first and failed king; and David, whose personal gifts and courageous faith in God catapulted him to greatness. Through the stories of these men we have deep insights into the religious, social, and political condition of the times. Without preaching, these books underline foundational truths that shape not only the course of history, but also the direction of our lives.

THE BIBLE SAYS The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. Again the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:1-10

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY In our reading today, the beautiful story of Samuel begins. Our Scripture reading today is 1 Samuel 1-3.

LIFE LESSON CHAPTER 1-GOD SEES OUR DESPERATION AND IN LOVE ANSWERS THE CRIES OF OUR SOUL. Hannah’s childlessness drives her to despairing prayer. She vows that if God gives her a son, she will dedicate the boy to serve God. However, her fervent prayer is first misunderstood by Eli. Hannah is promised a son and then gives birth to Samuel.

LIFE LESSON CHAPTER 2-GOD’S PATIENCE IS LONG BUT THERE IS AN END TO HIS MERCY IF WE DO NOT REPENT. Hannah great joy expressed in song is one of the most delightful poems of praise in the Bible. Then, at last a prophet approaches Eli with the grim message that God will act where Eli has not: his evil sons will die, and his line will be set aside.

LIFE LESSON CHAPTER 3-OFTEN GOD ASKS US TO DO HARD THINGS BUT WE MUST OBEY REGARDLESS OF THE PAIN. Little Samuel has to deliver God’s harsh message. It must have been hard for the little boy to bring grim news to one he’d come to love but Samuel does it. Eli humbly submits to God’s judgment.

WORD OF HOPE Restoration of a nation begins when we start obeying God and move to make things right morally and ethically.

"Paid In Full"

For all you Mother's

This is early for Mother's Day

A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper, and he handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his Mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, and this is what it said:

For cutting the grass: $5.00 For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00 For going to the store for you: .50 Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping: .25 Taking out the garbage: $1.00 For getting a good report card: $5.00 For cleaning up and raking the yard: $2.00 Total owed: $14.75

Well, his mother looked at him standing there, and the boy could see the memories flashing through her mind. She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he'd written on, and this is what she wrote:

For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me: No Charge.

For all the nights that I've sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you: No Charge.

For all the trying times, and all the tears that you've caused through the years: No Charge.

For all the nights that were filled with dread, and for the worries I knew were ahead: No Charge.

For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose: No Charge.

Son, when you add it up, the cost of my love is: No Charge.

When the boy finished reading what his mother had written, there were big tears in his eyes, and he looked straight at his mother and said, "Mom, I sure do love you". And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote: "PAID IN FULL"

~ Author Unknown

When you look into the mirror what do you see?

I gazed into the mirror to see what I could see. A face looking that looked just like mine was staring back at me But God asked in a small voice do you see my face? ................. We are His? He lives in us, but do we see God's reflection?

jury duty scam

I personnally verified this on Snopes.
http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp
Kodiak


Scam:   Identity thieves trick the unwary into revealing their personal details by telling them they've failed to report for jury duty and warrants for their arrest are being issued.

Status:   Real fraud, potential for financial harm unknown.

Here's a new twist scammers are using to commit identity theft: the jury duty scam. Here's how it works:

The scammer calls claiming to work for the local court and claims you've failed to report for jury duty. He tells you that a warrant has been issued for your arrest.

The victim will often rightly claim they never received the jury duty notification. The scammer then asks the victim for confidential information for "verification" purposes.

Specifically, the scammer asks for the victim's Social Security number, birth date, and sometimes even for credit card numbers and other private information — exactly what the scammer needs to commit identity theft.

So far, this jury duty scam has been reported in Michigan, Ohio, Texas, Arizona, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington state.

It's easy to see why this works. The victim is clearly caught off guard, and is understandably upset at the prospect of a warrant being issued for his or her arrest. So, the victim is much less likely to be vigilant about protecting their confidential information.

In reality, court workers will never call you to ask for social security numbers and other private information. In fact, most courts follow up via snail mail and rarely, if ever, call prospective jurors.

Action: Never give out your Social Security number, credit card numbers or other personal confidential information when you receive a telephone call.

This jury duty scam is the latest in a series of identity theft scams where scammers use the phone to try to get people to reveal their Social Security number, credit card numbers or other personal confidential information.

It doesn't matter *why* they are calling — all the reasons are just different variants of the same scam.

Protecting yourself is simple: Never give this info out when you receive a phone call.