Abortion and other acts of playing God

One of the things that strikes me is how many times today, man trys to make himself God. Has that changed through history? Yesterday I found myself in an IVF debate. I am extremely pro-life. I always take the stand for life. I am against abortion for all reasons, I am against the death penalty. I do not believe in euthenasia. ....but what about creating life? Should man take extreme measures to begin life and what is considered extreme? Isn't this the center of the Embryonic stem cell question?

There are many bueatiful children created by IVF. And I read someone's opinion yesterday that they would be fine with it if only one egg was fertalized and implanted..or the number fertelized were always the number planted at a time. frozen eggs they were ok with, frozen fertalized eggs, not so much. I take the opinion that even in this God has shown us himself. IT is this technology that will one day render abortion obsolete. But I can not stand and say that IVF is NOT playing God. I believe it is.

I found this quote...so I thought I would post it with all this.

"The greatest act of faith is when man decides he is not God."

Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Psalm 100:3

Wise Words

I read this today...and it seemed to apply to my life lately. I want so badly to go home. Home for me is not this bright spot, but rather...a place with a lot of painful memories. And yet, my heart yearns to return to what little comfort can be found there with my family. I miss them so much, but make no mistake...going home will hurt my heart. It will be hard, and a lot of memories will return. I would still be fighting the past, as well. And yet...

God's words are wise.

Don't Ask God for What You think is good; ask Him for what He thinks is good for you.

After this manner therefore pray ye... Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9,10.

Imitation and Christian life

This article was in my hometown paper. I just wanted to share it because I thought it was so good.

Imitation and Christian life

David Sandvick, Columnist

"That has to be the best costume out of the whole bunch and you should win a prize." That's what I told a girl at our church costume party.

Oh, there were plenty of other good ones to be sure. Some disguises included princesses, a mad scientist, a chicken, Supergirl, and even Troy Polamalu dressed as Hines Ward of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

All of them were fun, but one really stood out in the crowd to me. It was a "Mini-Me." That's right, this amazingly talented and gifted girl inspired us all by dressing as the person who most inspires her ... me. Or more specifically, Pastor David.

Dressed in a navy blue suit, customary white shirt, obligatory Mickey Mouse tie, and Christmas socks, she calmly asked what scripture I would like her to read this evening. She said this as she leafed through her Bible with glasses sitting down on the end of her nose. A lapel microphone attached to the Mickey tie completed the ensemble. It really was a "Mini-Me."

Many people might let a flattering thing like this go to their heads, but not me. I just appreciate it for what it is ... an extremely brilliant child honoring a fantastic role model in her life.

But, all kidding aside, imitation is what the Christian life is all about. The apostle Paul told his readers to imitate him as he was an imitator of Jesus Christ. The very word "Christian" means "little Christ." It means that we follow his example and incorporate his teachings in the daily routines of life. When people look at us, they should at least be catching a glimpse of Jesus and the life he lived. You can learn what Jesus taught and how he lived at a good church this Sunday.

As for "Mini-Me," thank goodness she didn't want to preach a sermon as me. That would have cleared the place out!

David Sandvick is the pastor of First English Baptist Church in Frostburg.

Dare to Be Drug Free

On Friday, my kids school is allowing students to wear halloween themed tshirts for drug free week. (yesterday it was bandanas, today it was sunglasses, tomorrow it is ...ok I forget tomorrow....thursday is red tshirts and friday is a halloween tshirt. My kids wear uniforms to school...and i have no problem with this...but what about the kids who may not own a halloween themed tshirt? They just do not get to wear anything special....I guess they could get thier free dress pass..which means they can wear jeans and a school tshirt...other then that you must wear the uniform. Our school has a lot of students whose parents are not well off--78% get free lunch and another 20-some % get reduced lunch. Let's face it...middle class parents have problems paying for all the "extra's".

On friday there is a carnival too. Parents buy tickets...and then thier kids use the tickets to buy food and play games. My youngest and I are going to go and join in..but I refuse to pay more then 20$ for my kids to eat and play games for that hour. I have already donated cokes (which the schooli s then gonna sell at the cost of 2 tickets or 50 cents per cup, candy for candy bags that every kid will get one of in the school, and I am baking two cakes...every kid gets a piece of cake....I do not thik they are charging for it...i could be wrong though.

It just strikes me as how unfair it is to the kids who may not be able to pay the 10$ to buy a spirit shirt...or to go out and buy halloween shirts that the kid will only wear probably 2 times. This friday and one day next week. by next year the kids grow out of them usually...well my kids fit from last year. But still. The school says the reasons they want the uniforms is because it takes away "class"...but by having these special days...does it really?

today was shades day...you wear shades to signify a stand against drugs. And i like the drug free type weeks. I actually think they are good things. But at the same time...I feel like some of the kids are being excluded...and most of them honestly...are the kids that need reached the most on the drug free type stuff. They are in situations that are more likely to actually see drugs. And I say that as that kid growing up. There just does not seem like a good solution.

Shalom

Shalom to you now, shalom my friend
May God’s full mercy bless you my friend
In all your living, and through your loving
Christ be your shalom, Christ be your shalom.

Every sunday we end our service with this song. During the service we have a greet your neighbor time, but it is called "the passing of the peace". It reminds me that peace is not found in this world, but in only God. That only God can offer us peace. Searching the world for peace is a useless attempt. Peace comes through knowing God.

Shalom means peace in Hebrew. When we talk about it, we are talking about that inner peace. God's peace that we carry within ourselves.

To each of those I love, I wish Shalom. It can be a greeting or a goodbye. But always peace, through God's love.