Whose Decision Is This To Make? Do You Pray the Way Jesus Taught? What Can I Do for You? Germs On Your Smartphone? Update

 

For "Scripture Sunday":

The Supreme Court and Same-Sex Marriage: Who Really Decides?

"The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether all states will be required to allow same-sex marriages. But is this really their decision to make?

So who should really be making this decision? The people? The states? Congress? The Supreme Court?

When we understand the purpose of marriage from God’s perspective, we see that we should respect the sanctity of the divinely created marriage union and make it our only definition of marriage. Life, Hope & Truth advocates using the Bible to provide the definition of marriage—because, within its pages, is the amazing origin of the institution itself!

Regardless of how voters, state legislators or the Supreme Court decide to define marriage, if you accept the Bible as God’s Word, then the biblical definition is the only definition that matters."  More at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/blog/the-supreme-court-and-same-sex-marriage-who-really-decides/

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DO YOU PRAY THE WAY JESUS TAUGHT?

People pray many different ways across the various denominations of Christianity. How do you pray? Let’s examine what Jesus Christ actually taught about prayer.

God tells us to pray for our daily bread. For more about how God wants us to pray, see “Do You Pray the Way Jesus Taught?”

Excerpt: PRAY FROM THE HEART

"Jesus made another clear statement that is widely ignored: “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words” (Matthew 6:7). Christ was referring to the pagan form of recitation and chanting prayers based on the idea that repeating a prayer will bring favor from God (or the gods). This form of repeating or chanting prewritten prayers is practiced extensively in the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

God doesn’t want prewritten prayers to be repeated over and over. This does nothing to fulfill the basic purpose of prayer, which is to develop a close, personal relationship with God."  Complete article:  http://lifehopeandtruth.com/god/prayer-fasting-and-meditation/pray-the-way-jesus-taught/

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What Can I Do for You?

"You can't save or change the world, but each day you can find something to help another person.

Video: http://youtu.be/_kExzRy7bik

Transcript: [Gary Petty] "Have you ever felt frustrated because you see all the needs people have, you see people suffering and you want to do something, and you don't know what to do? You don't know how to help the homeless or the poor or even elderly people you might know. And you get frustrated and sometimes you think, Well, I can't help everybody, so I can't help anybody.

There's an interesting story about Jesus coming from Jericho – He was leaving Jericho, and the crowds were around him and they were cheering Him, and here He was, being praised as a great rabbi, and there's two blind men on the side of the road. And they start yelling for Him. They want His attention. Well, people were sort of embarrassed. They tell them – the blind men – be quiet, you know, you're going to bother Him, you're going to create an issue here. But they keep yelling and yelling. What's really interesting about this story is what Jesus does. Jesus stops, turns to the two men that are yelling, that everybody else is trying to shut up, and asks them a question. He says, "What can I do for you?" What can I do for you? (Matthew:20:29-32; Mark:10:46-52; Luke:18:35-43)

You know, we keep thinking that serving people and helping people and – we all know we need to do it, we desire to do it, but you can't save the world. You can't help everybody. But you know what you can do, every day of your life? Every day of your life you can look for those moments where someone comes in contact with you that needs a helping hand, a word of encouragement, a little food, a little help moving something, help opening the door. A simple way to serve and help another human being, and it happens every day, and it happens many times every day. Look for those moments. Look for those moments, when you can look around, look at another person and say, "What can I do for you?"

That's BT Daily . Join us next time."  From: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-daily/christian-living/what-can-i-do-you

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Vertical News: What's Really Growing On Your Smartphone?

" Does your phone carry more than just a mobile signal? A new study discovers the dirty truth about smartphones and bacteria hitching a ride.

http://www.ucg.org/youth/vertical-news-whats-really-growing-your-smartphone/

 

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Update:

I know it isn't Sunday.  This is late as we had some technical difficulties around here.

We have been working around the place a bit.  Ray and I moved his fridge, then vacuumed the back and under it, ready for moving it for the next day's job which was fixing a bad place in Ray's floor. Jay, Ray and I got that done a lot quicker and easier than I thought it would be.  Next thing to do in Ray's place is to lay new linoleum.  But he won't get on the stick and go through his stuff to get rid of what he says he doesn't need.

I had bought some coconut oil in a hurry and didn't look at the label thoroughly, so now I have to return it.  It was refined and that is not the best as it is usually made from old copra, instead of fresh coconuts.  It makes a difference for the taste and consistency when cooking, and it doesn't have all the health benefits and antioxidants that it should have.  I use it for cooking, and if it is a good brand it is good on toast instead of butter, and in coffee.  It helps keep my skin from drying out in the winter, and it's also good for my thyroid.  It makes a good hand and face cream, and hair conditioner.  I also put some in the dog's dinner, as it is healthy for her, too.

We moved the third van bench seat from my van, which was taking up valuable space in the storeroom, up to the new attic.  Two ladders and a board making a scaffold and a strong rope got it up there.  I wanted to put it on Craigslist, but my son told me that people buy vans so that they can have all those seats. Wouldn't you know…..As soon as we got it up there, a neighbor offered me his red Grand Caravan minivan at a really good price.  I had been wanting it for quite a while, and had already checked it out.  He had a stroke and doesn't need it anymore, but he has lost the key to it.  Because it is front-wheel-drive it is lower down than mine, and easier for me to get in to.  So now I will have to put the third seat back in my Ford van to sell it.

Ray and I went to church, and the Bible readings were Psalm 104 (The Glories of Creation), then Exodus 18-20 and Isaiah 6.  The pastor also added Mat. 5:17-48 so that we would have a reading out of the New Testament, too.   The Teaching was "He May Change Your Plans", about how Jonah, David, Nathan and Elijah and others all got their plans changed by God.

The potluck was great as usual.  I took cauliflower au gratin, and some little salmon hors d'oeuvres on Breton crackers, with different dressings on them.  They didn't last long.

We have had a very mild winter compared to last year.  It has been cold at night, but it has been beautiful during the day.