“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11If any one speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1st Peter 4:10-11. This paragraph begins with verse seven and is one sentence continuing through verse ten. Verse seven starts with the end of things being near at hand and therefore Christians need to be “clear minded”. What we are looking at now is another area where Christians need to be sound minded so they can make a sound judgment. The judgment or choices you make just might make all the difference in your eternity.
By Evangelist, Eric Smith
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11If any one speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1st Peter 4:10-11. This paragraph begins with verse seven and is one sentence continuing through verse ten. Verse seven starts with the end of things being near at hand and therefore Christians need to be “clear minded”. What we are looking at now is another area where Christians need to be sound minded so they can make a sound judgment. The judgment or choices you make just might make all the difference in your eternity. Have you ever almost taken a bite out of some fake fruit? How about trying to smell some fake flowers? A friend once accidentally started eating a display from a restaurant counter that he mistook for his order. Boy did it taste awful! I guess it’s funny as long as you aren’t the one doing it. In today’s world of photo- shopping and high quality reproductions, it’s often difficult to tell what’s real from what is fake. This is especially true when dealing with others. What we see on the outside isn’t always a true representation of what’s inside. A few politicians come to mind! Although it is very easy to point my finger at someone else, I sometimes have to look in my own mirror and examine how much of myself I have been photo-shopping. How about you?
Some of my favorite people are those that are, “comfortable in their own skin.” You may not always like or agree with what they say or do, but you do know their true identity and where they stand. Can you think of someone that is both genuine and good spirited? I can, and those people truly warm my heart. It makes me motivated to be more like them. The truth is, I know how to get there, but I often forget, or refuse to position myself. In my life, my relationship with God makes all the difference. Am I close to Him or not? Matthew 12:34 states, “…For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” We already know this as when we are angry, we say and do things we regret and we are happy, it’s the opposite. So how do we get our hearts to be in the “good things” position more often? The answer is in getting and staying close to God. He is there and waiting all the time and His Spirit will fill us with joy and truth…if we will let it. Does this ring true with you? Do you know Him? The people and things of this world are often frustrating and direct us away from God and His Spirit. We need to prepare ourselves spiritually and recognize these distractions before they get into our hearts. Otherwise… God is love and we are made in His image. When He is in our hearts, we are REAL, loving and Godly. That makes us comfortable in, “God’s own skin.” This is what we were created to be. The problem is that we get distracted and forget. Perhaps you have heard it said, “If God doesn’t feel close to you, guess who moved.” Something to think about… These are supposedly taken from real resumes and cover letters and were printed in Fortune Magazine: “ I have lurnt Word Perfect 6.0 computor and spreadsheet progroms. Received a plague for Salesperson of the Year. Reason for leaving last job: maturity leave. Wholly responsible for two (2) failed financial institutions. Am a perfectionist and rarely if if ever forget details. I was working for my mom until she decided to move. I have an excellent track record, although I am not a horse. I have become completely paranoid, trusting completely no one and absolutely nothing. Marital status: often. Children: various. Note: Please don't misconstrue my 14 jobs as job-hopping. I have never quit a job. The company made me a scapegoat, just like my three previous employers.” And here is my favorite candidate, “ References: None. I've left a path of destruction behind me.” God can create a path of peace and joy for YOU. Come and see. Lighthouse of Faith, 141 E. Main St. Canton (across from Acorn Mkt.) Check us out at: www.lightousecanton.com or call 570-673-5912. Services are Sun. at 10:30 am. Come to pray and learn Wednesdays at 7 pm. Until next time, look up and smile! On December 21, the calendar marks the arrival of winter at 6:03 p.m. Eastern Standard Time; however, by then, most, of nature, have already prepared for winter. Birds that migrate have gone south to a warmer climate; animals that hibernate are snug in their dens and others have put on extra fat and heavier coats to prepare for cold months ahead. Trees have lost their leaves and other plants have dispersed their seeds and died back, only to grow again next spring. Our word migration comes from the Latin word migrare meaning to wander. Our word hibernate comes from several Latin word: hiems meaning winter; hiberna meaning winter quarters; himalays meaning winterland (Himalaya Mountains) and hibernare meaning to pass winter. "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
1st Peter 4:8-9. Peter finished writing about praying and then he wrote the verses we are examining. “Above all” is telling us to pay attention to the instruction Peter is now giving. He goes back to the subject of love which already has been dealt with several times in this letter but in a different perspective. Love, above everything else is the most important. By Canton Fitness Center
Like many people this time of year, you might start to reflect on the past year and see how you did. You might assess whether you met your goals or whether it was another year of disappointments. You also might contemplate what the upcoming year might bring. Will it be better than the past year? Will I make plans and actually accomplish them? Where do I want to be by the end of next year? All of these are reasonable questions to ask. Planning and reflecting is a great way to make informed decisions. It also will give you a sense of direction, purpose and accomplishment. It will help you to evaluate failures and create a strategy to not make the same mistakes again. If you have been reading the Canton Fitness Center articles for a while, you know that I am a big proponent of goal setting. Without making a plan, you are planning to fail. Let’s get you ready to face 2015 head-on! We sometimes see on T.V. and the movies, a situation where there is a line to get in, (or not) to an upscale night club or event. This usually involves a scenario where there is an attendant at a velvet roped gate and a line of hopeful and expectant attendees waiting to get in. Often it appears that you get in or not on the basis of who you are or who you know. You need to have money, connections or fame or you aren’t considered, “special” enough to gain access. They sometimes show someone refused entry trying to buy, beg or convince the attendant in order to get in, only to be turned down. The party is reserved for a select few; you have to be special.
There seems to be an award show for every acting, music, sports and “whatever” celebrity profession. Some of our culture is fixated on these, ”Red Carpet” events and the people who attend them. We wish that we could be there, to be a star and go the parties with the other celebrities. Many want to be one of the special people and be accepted into this inner circle, even if it’s for a brief time. To walk the, “Red Carpet.” By Richard & Joyce Pratt
With first cold, and then hot, weather, snow and freezing rain, who knows what is next. The calendar says that Christmas is coming soon so we can expect winter weather and everyone wants snow for Christmas. We wish to apologize for not having any column last week but we both were sick and are now on the mend. Many enjoyed a delicious, free, Thanksgiving dinner, fixed and put on by Tamie and Dave Storrs and family from the Family Haven Church, for all who had no place to go and enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving Day; and all who came in and enjoyed it appreciated it. A very special thank you to the Storrs family. It was wonderful. Pastor Storrs read the Thanksgiving Psalm (Psalm 100), and later a Magic Show was performed by one of the sons in the family, after all had a chance to enjoy dinner. Never underestimate a truck driver from any area near Canton, PA.
A limousine had encountered a red traffic light and was waiting for it to change when a strange looking truck also drives up. It didn't have a trailer hooked up but the cab looked vary large and strange The haughty businessman in the back of the limousine started bragging to the owner. "This is the best limo that money can buy. It has ABS, airbags for all passengers, automatic climate control, onboard computer control system, photochromatic glass, mini bar, a television with satellite dish embedded in the roof, and this, and this..." By Terren Smith
Hi all, how was your week? Flying fast to the holidays. Soon it will be over and 2015 will be here and just a few years ago we were all worried that the year 2000 everything was going to crash. Now look 15 years later we are still here. Computers are better, phones do everything you could ever think of. Well let's get to the next thing, birthdays. Dec. 8, Bobby Cory; Dec. 14, Vaughn Harkness; 16th, Mary Soper. Happy birthday to all. Sympathies are extended to the family and friends of my first cousin, Betty Slingerland, who passed away this past week at the age of 93. Betty (Foust’s) mother Maude was my father Max Shoemaker’s oldest sister. That would make her my dad’s niece. It’s yet another reminder as to how time flies.
I try and talk to my brother Art every day as he continues to obtain information regarding going forward with the treatment of his cancer. His most recent appointment revealed a fractured vertebrae in his neck area where they immediately put on a “C” collar to be worn 24/7 until further notice. In addition he is scheduled for a “PET” scan this week, another MRI, and the goes on. I’m impressed how he continues to be very upbeat and says he “feels good” and doesn’t want all the fuss and with me (and his family) being so upset about all of this. “It is what it is”, he says. Please pray for his doctor’s wisdom. Some recent temperatures there have been in the low 80’s when we struggled to get out of the 30’s. But this past weekend it was a cold 40 degrees in Albany, Georgia. Greetings from Sister Street. I guess I was premature in bragging about the light display. It didn't take long Saturday evening for the wind to make a shambles of it including a little two-foot tree that I had securely anchored to a bench or so I thought.
I haven't heard much yet about my less than perfect attempts but it has only been a week. I had not seen my neighbor who lives at the end of the street for a few weeks (since the temperature dropped below 50 degrees). I stopped by his wife's place of employment to check on his welfare. She assured me he was fine. I'm used to seeing him often during warm months. We traveled down to Linden, PA Sunday morning to take in a model train show and sale. I should have known it would be a whole bunch of dealers selling obsolete, rusty old train pieces and parts at outrageous prices. I did buy a few magazines at four for a dollar. Good for cold snowy days which am sure we will have plenty of soon. That's as far as my railroad plans usually get anyway. By Lois Ribovich
Visiting John and Gale Orr were Mr. & Mrs. David Orr, from Patton, PA, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Morse from Cortland, NY. Visitors of Steve and me were our grandkids and great grand kids Tim, Erika, TJ, Gabby, and Hunter Witmer from Millersburg. Authored by Esther Butcher
What a messy week we are having. The snow wouldn’t be so bad, but the black ice and freezing makes it very hard. Smart people who don’t have to work should stay home off the roads until they are treated and good for shopping. Jerri Renzo, Burlington, and Dona Beers attended the Christmas Conglomeration at the Canton Church of Christ on Friday evening, and reported it was really, really nice. Authored by Kathie Lepper
I was rather late gathering news here on "The Ridge" this chilly (cold) Monday morning. I attended Mass before starting my rounds and "my noggin" doesn't want to wake up, so I'm slow. Any way, it is a great way to start the day. However, with Mass that is. I was so happy to see the little red flag up on the mail box. Yeah! I had to have another box for the news here. It does help out some what. I found it at the Dollar General. It had a flag, it was cheap. So there you go. We have a news box again. Thanksgiving is over and hopefully your cookie tins are getting full. Get the ones you are giving as gifts made and given out so you don't have to think about them. Then on to your own. If you pick up out of place things and put them where they belong, it will save you time.
These dips and cheese balls are easy to make and are usually liked by all: Clam Appetizer Dip, Chicken Liver Mousse, Curried Chicken Cheese Ball, Mushroom Liver Pate, Cheddar Cheese and Walnut Log, and Pineapple Cheese Ball. |
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