Want to hear some gossip?

While watching the news coverage on the Annapolis meetings yesterday, I saw a story about gossip and the financial effects that it has in our economy; to the tune of 3-4 BILLION DOLLARS per day! That is incredible. Some companies and organizations are taking a hard line against it where an employee's job is at stake if s/he is caught gossiping. The suggested solutions given to help alleviate the problem are great ones: improve communication channels and provide a supportive environment. These two solutions seem on the surface to be very simple however they must come from the very core values of an organization's philosophy. They represent not just something you do, but who you are as a company. Good communicators listen more than they speak and will look for every opportunity to receive and understand the thoughts and ideas of others. There is a huge element of respect that must prevail. To foster a supportive environment requires insight into the needs of others. Some issues are never really understood by superiors because they just don't make the time to become a student of those they lead.

In the past, I have been the victim of the devastating effects of gossip at various times. My reputation was impugned, people distanced themselves from me, opportunities disappeared and my self image suffered. I am not without guilt here myself. I would venture to say that we all have entered into gossip fairly recently and fairly frequently. It is a subtle sin, yet one that has huge consequences in the damage it can do to others and ourselves. The admonition in Philippians 4:8 about thinking only on those things which are good, lovely, excellent, of good report, etc. certainly applies to the things we say about others as well. My mom used to tell my brothers and me: "If you can't say something nice about someone, then don't say anything at all!" That was good advice then and is GREAT advice now.

Mid-day Musings

My thoughts today keep returning to the international meetings in Annapolis concerning the future of our beloved Israel. By the way, I wonder why this was not held in DC? Any ideas? At any rate, if you are interested in end times events, this could well be a part of that final seven-year peace treaty mentioned in Scripture. Watch the events that unfold in the days following this conference carefully.

Sometimes I struggle to understand why God would harden a leader's heart as He did in the Exodus story. It is hard to fathom how what appears to be very wrong and even evil in our eyes can be used somehow for good. I know this however, God's timing is perfect, His ways are higher than ours and His intentions are absolutely just and fair. What great comfort we can take in knowing that He is in control. Does that mean that everything will always be without pain, loss or tragedy. No, not at all. I heard it said just last night that God leads and guides us in primarily two ways: through His Word and through trials. I prefer the first! But I have probably learned more through the hard times, the low times, the times of lack and heartache.

Please pray for the peace of Jerusalem as commanded in Scripture and pray for the citizens of Israel that they will find comfort in God alone, even in the midst of their horrific struggles.

Last Sunday of November, Thanksgiving fading?

Today is the last Sunday in this month and the first one following the Thanksgiving Holiday. Tomorrow we will all be back in our same old routines with school, work and other activities. The joy of thanksgiving will begin to fade into the shadows. The focus will be less on gratitude and more on schedules. Less on appreciation and more on activities. Less on how we are blessed and more on what we do and what we want. The Christmas push by retailers is in full swing so the concept of thankfulness is being dimmed by the concept of commercialism. Sometimes I want to just dwell in the moment and not let what I am experiencing in the now become just a nice memory. In our culture, we don't hear enough "thank yous" and witness many random acts of kindness, do we? Here's the challenge: don't let today pass without intentionally being thankful in at least one situation. Do it again tomorrow! Do it twice a day...three times a day! Let's be the ones to turn our world around by being undercover blessers! Let's solicit smiles by our responses to the things done for us by others. Let's let our actions speak louder than our words as we prove that it is more blessed to give than receive! Want to attract others to you? Try it!

Evening's Close

We had Mexican food in town with our campus friends this evening. I guess of all the things this year I am thankful for, one of the best is our friends. We don't all agree on everything but we sure do enjoy each other's company! We had dinner at our friend's home in Halifax county on Wednesday evening. We spent Thanksgiving with our friends in Rustburg on Thursday. Three different days spending time with different friends. Tomorrow is Sunday and we will likely have lunch after church with still more friends! It doesn't get much better than this! When you stop and think about it, the relationships we have with our Brothers and Sisters in the Lord after all, are eternal. Who said you can't take anything with you to the grave? All these wonderful, cherished and appreciated relationships will go with us from this life into the next! God has provided us with a huge family and I intend to meet as many of my siblings as I can....how about you?

God's timing is awesome!

On Thursday 10/25, we were enjoying the beautiful fall colors in Southwestern Virginia. While driving we were receiving some great teaching from Graham Cooke (if you haven't had the pleasure of hearing his teaching, treat yourself and get some of his CDs or MP3s!) As the sound bite you will hear in the following video occurred, at that same moment we came across this truck with a timely message on the side. Watch this short video and see what I mean!

Randy

Cold Night!

Last night the low was 18 degrees here in our part of the world. Many of the leaves have fallen to the ground, the days are much shorter and the fall season is soon to give way to winter. I appreciate the change of the seasons in the physical just as I do in the spiritual. One of my favorite phrases in Scripture is "It came to pass!" No matter what the circumstance, no matter how difficult things seem, give it time and learn everything you can from it and when you find contentment in the midst of it, God will promote you to the next plateau!

Black Friday for Israel?

Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day and today is "Black Friday." I guess I've never understood why it is called Black Friday but this year I do understand a special significance to the day. It is black because in just a few days our nation is hosting an event in Annapolis to unite with other countries in forcing Israel to give up the heart of their country. There is no doubt in my mind that America will suffer as a result of this action. This is one issue that the Bible is pretty clear on and we seem to be ignoring what it says. I know God is in control and that "the heart of the king is in His hand," but I also believe that He desires His children (that's US) to exercise the dominion that He has given us in the Earth. He desires for us to walk out His Word, to be His hands and feet and yes even His mouth. We cannot be silent and we all should be praying (an fasting) and taking the authority He has given us in the spirit realm concerning the events in the physical. We can do it if we will. I will.....will you? Please join with me over the next few days in interceding for the nation of Israel! She is the apple of God's eye and we do not want to give away His precious fruit to those who desire to see Israel blotted from the face of the earth. This land for peace deal is only the first step toward driving every Jew right into the sea! Do we really believe that those who are demand land from Israel now will be content with only a part? If they get what they want, they will be in greater strategic positions to carry our new waves of terrorism directed at Israel whom they despise.