Earlier this week I sat with a dinner guest; the waiter started the meal by placing a steaming hot cloth in front of me so I could wash my hands. The first course was a crab salad, followed by Chicken Cordon Bleu, with a red sauce, boiled new potatos and vegetables. It was a quite elegant room. It was raining outside, but the room was warm, and it was a joy to watch the leaves changing color. The dining room was full.
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One of the great honors of my life was to spend time with Ruth Glass as she lay dying. She taught her family a new word that she heard from a neighbor when she was young. When something would go wrong, he’d say, "O, Piffle." I think it was her way of saying she was so tired and exhausted the word was a good way to describe the end of her earthly life. Ruth was on her death bed and since she had never complained before, she didn’t know what to do or say, so her mind went back to a very old word from days of a child, “O Piffle”.
The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference….
The opposite of life is not death, it’s complacency…. A complacent person is searching for life. "Complacency is a blight that saps energy, dulls attitudes, and causes a drain on the brain. The first symptom is satisfaction with things as they are. The second is rejection of things as they might be. "Good enough" becomes today's watchword and tomorrow's standard. Complacency makes people fear the unknown, mistrust the untried, and abhor the new. Like water, complacent people follow the easiest course -- downhill. They draw false strength from looking back." -- anonymous. There are many ways of looking at the same thing. We both see the same picture; you love it and I hate it. Forest and I had an informal game we played with making designs in the egg carton as eggs were used. We saw it as art. One day I knew Sally had used the eggs and I was pleasantly suprised to see she joined us in our game by creating her own pattern. When I commended her, she told me she only arranged them that we because the carton balanced better!
People look at God in many different ways. To some God is good news, to others bad news. I am not comparing myself to God, but as a pastor I remind some people of God. To some my presence makes them feel guilty, or uncomfortable. To other people they make me feel like a million dollars. God says you are a sinner. Is that a description or a prescription? You can deny it. You can water it down. You can fight it. You can accept it. You can learn something about yourself. You can learn something about God. I wish I could fix every problem. Pay every bill/rent/food on every table. Clearly there are real problems, such as people without jobs, difficult relationship issues, harsh words, put-downs, unfulfilled promises, and disappointments of every kind. We are seeing a lot of people in our community that need help.
A word of HOPE:. Distinguish between that which is temporary vs. that which is eternal. The younger a person learns this lesson, the more depth and satisfaction will be found. |
 
Carl Crouse, Pastor
At SACC we believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Every Sunday the worship service includes a message from the Bible. My words are an attempt to understand and apply the Bible to our daily living. I post weekly sermons and other biblical messages on this page. May you find meaning and hope as you read through each message and seek to hear God's voice. Leave a comment to ask questions or inspire others with your insights. Categories
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