Thanksgiving for the Poverty Stricken - You're Invited

I met a guy recently who gets up at 4:30 a.m. to catch a bus so he can make it to his part-time job and be there on time by 7 a.m. He had rode his bike to get where he was going today in 27 degree wet icy conditions. He stopped at the food bank on his way home today to get some groceries because he is broke. While he was there he spotted some nice warm coats that would be just right for the winter conditions. This is just one example of thousands of people in need. Is this the country that is blessed? I think we are responsible to help pull someone out of the depths of hell on earth while we're here sucking air.

Poverty in United States is a moral and social crisis that threatens the health and well-being of our country. With record foreclosures, job losses, natural disasters, and family breakups, it has become time to renew our commitment to action on behalf of the poor and vulnerable. The food banks are in need of more donations of food and money, we can clean out our closets to donate warm winter clothing or buy a special gift for that children gift tree at church.

Just think, if every person in the USA who is blessed with the gift of a warm home, a job, and food on their table gave just a few dollars or some can goods to make someones life a little better this Thanksgiving, what a difference it would make.

Make a commitment today to get involved this Thanksgiving by giving or volunteering your time, and thank God you are blessed enough to do so. I'll start tomorrow, how about you?

Have a blessed day, Mike

In All Things - We have Reflections

A friend of mine recently wrote a great book called "In All Things" that brings life in to perspective for you if you live some of the stories that Jim Jackson writes about. It's about Moral Reflections & Decisions on Life Issues. You can read my review on Amazon and obtain more information there. Jim and his wife Donna are the most wonderful people I have ever met, I think it's because they live what they say, and I love that about people. St. Francis often said, "Preach the Gospel often, and sometimes use words"
When Jim was only four years old his uncle David and aunt Bessie adopted him and his 9 other brothers and sisters after his parents had died. Jim's life was inspired by their lives. Do you have people in your life who live the Gospel and inspire you? they are out there, go find one today, and give thanks.

The Book of Job, Us Today, My Reflections

I have tried to put myself in Job’s position of losing his fortune and his children. That alone would be enough to make any person bitter, angry and hard-hearted toward God. Job received the ultimate test, especially with his friends blaming him, a righteous man, and his wife telling him to curse God. I honestly believe the test that Job was put through would be more then I could handle. Losing my possessions and being unhealthy, I maybe able to keep my faith, however losing my children the way Job did would require much ministering from someone better equipped then Job’s three so called friends. I also struggle with God in this story that he would play a game with Satan just to prove Jobs righteousness. Satan is termed as an opponent or adversary or one who opposes in Hebrew. This may explain why the story was designed the way it was. I think Job is a great model for all of us who will suffer disappointments, tragedy, sickness, suffering and death. The adversary or opponent is the one who inflicted the hard times, not God. God knew Job would be just, righteous, and fear the Lord.

I am surprised that even today many people believe that hard-times come to sinners. We are all sinners, we are all gifted in some fashion or another, and we will all be tested in some small or large way like Job was in this reading. I know God is the supreme judge and may afflict without cause, however that seems to be the mystery we do not have the answer for. Usually something good comes from our cross that we carry.

When my brother died fourteen years ago at the age of 56, I was very angry that I did not have the time needed to see him off. Although my mother suffered with pain at her death bed I felt at peace knowing that she understood the world of pain and did not blame God for her discomfort. She had the righteousness and patience needed to be a Job. My brother also handled his idea of death coming in his direction like a Job would. God gives us the strength we need to handle our crosses in life. He strengthened my faith when these two losses in my life came along, by putting me on a faith journey I never dreamed possible.

Job hints a few times in this story about afterlife which was not talked about much in those days. I can see where the wisdom books offer much insight for our daily ups and downs. God knows we just cannot understand the mystery of life, death and tragedy. I have learned from the Book of Job, a better understanding of the marvelous power that God has over tragedy and suffering if we keep our faith in Him. Although Job was God fearing and morally perfect, he still cannot challenge God. The moral of the story is Job recovered and also realized that he is the creature and God is the creator. I need to make the best use of this wisdom myself, for the future crosses in my life. What do you think?