If you are cleaning out your stuff and just say to yourself “we have too much” I am sure we can help you put it to good use.  Shelters and Ministries all over are needing tons of stuff like clothes, kitchen goods, coats, shoes, bedding, blankets, toys….really a little of everything. If you have something in your house (anything) and you are not using and would like to put it to good use let me know I will find a spot for it in the community.  My e-mail address is Pszyman@comcast.net.

Most of you know that I took the year off from reading any other books to read the Bible.  Well I am coming to the end and I am looking forward to reading some books that were Bible inspired.  I want to read a Piper, a Moore, a Bunyan, a MacArthur, and a Jeremiah to just name a few.  I don’t read Fiction and to be honest with you I actually don’t really enjoy reading most of the time.  However, when I have accountability I do so much better.  Therefore, I was thinking of reading a few books this year in a “group” format.

So what do you think?  Interested.  I was thinking maybe one month on, one month off type of schedule?  Not sure yet.  Anyway, I would love to hear suggestions on books you have either read or would want to read, even if joining us is not your thing I would love to hear book selections.

Has anyone read Pilgims’ Progress?

For anyone who does not know what Jonestown is, it was a drug induced cult in the Safari that was intoxicated by the poison laced “Kool-Aide”.  The phrase “Don’t drink the Kool-Aide” came from it.  anyway, he was implying that my found “religion” was nothing more than a Cult.  Interesting huh.

Here is how it went down.  I went on FaceBook to write him a note regarding an incident that happened in his area of the country that saddened me.  I was going to just write him that I was praying for him.  Hmmmm, he was not on my friends list anymore. I researched it and found NOT that he just hid me, that he deleted and blocked me. LOL.  Uhhh ohhhh.  What did I say this time?? Right.  So I went on my daughters account and wrote him a note that I was searching for him that day and that I saw he had deleted me and that I hoped I had not said anything that angered him.  The response was SHOCKING! 

Here is parts of the convo:

For you to find something that you believe in is great, fantastic even. But it would be so much better if you just kept these beliefs to yourself, or to others that are so charismatic about it. My family and I are just not that much. I have wondered what had happened when you moved that you found god?! Was it the people,  did you have a revelation,  or did you just drink the purple cool- aid but frankly I find it a bit odd. There are no hard feelings but like I said I think we are on two diffrent pages. I see things daily that curve my views, and beliefs but the last thing I ever do is push them upon anybody else, and that is what I feel you are and were doing.

SO I of course in my Jersey sarcastic way (yes Lord I am sorry) I  came back with offense to the Cool aide remark but that I truly did pray for both him and his kids and that I did not join a cult, I just like to pray. and the response was nothing short of what I expected:

Trish there is no need for your prayers and I think you need serious help,  I’m done don’t respond. For you to use your child to preach to me (I used my daughters facebook to reach him to apologize)  is also disturbing obviously there are enough people who are blocking you that you needed to use Charlie way to go. So sorry for the mistype I am human and with your religion I’m sure you can find forgiveness. Good luck with everything. All I was saying is that I find it strange, odd, and weird your new found relationship with God. Very different then the Trish I knew growing up. My family is more than fine and does not need your prayers thanks. I was not comparing anything to the Jonestown massacre I was just trying to figure out how and why you suddenly fell in love with God (yes I corrected the capitilzation on it). Was a little bit taken back since you never mentioned him at all growing up. In fact I remember a very different Trish. Right now I find you extremely disturbing, including your posts.

 

On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Cor 4

 

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing 2 Cor 2

 

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin  for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Tiarra

8 year old, female

Shirt: 7 or 8

Pants: 7

Coat: 8

Shoes: 3 ½ youth

Christmas Wishes: Nintendo DS, MP3 player w/ itunes gift card (foster mom does have a computer), Michael Jackson CD, Beyonce CD, Dreamgirls soundtrack, CD player with headphones, fun games, shoes, and clothes

She probably needs pajamas, socks and underwear too!

She loves the color pink and loves music (I think she would really enjoy some sort of karaoke toy)!

 Michael

5 year old, male

Shirt: 5

Pants: 5

Coat: 6

Shoes: 11

Wishes: Nintendo DS, bike, clothes, shoes, basketball or football stuff, books, games.

He also probably needs pajamas, socks, and underwear!

He loves the colors red and purple and likes Spongebob!

Thanks again,

(I like to look back what I was writing 1 year ago to see how my walk is going….this was 1 year ago this week  )

Have you read 1 Timothy?  I read it this week for the first time.  It is a short book, which saddened me because it was so good (aren’t they all though).  Paul wrote it to a young man, probably what we would call a boy who was a new Christian,  and was left in  Ephesus, a major town,  to take care of the runnings of the Church.  Now let me give you a visual, when I think of church I picture a building, made of stone maybe, a cross, some stained glass…uh no!  Remember Nero, if you don’t,  picture living next door with to Saddam Hussein with a George Bush bumber Sticker on your car.  Nero used to dip Chistians in tar and light them on fire to light up his garden at night. 

Timothy was left to manage this Church  Um, he let me remind you he was a young man, could you imagine the responsibility Paul (God) gave him.    So Paul wrote to him to give him a guideline.  So Paul kept it short and simple!! Just the way I need it.

The first thing he wrote about was Doctrine.  I really need to repeat that.  DOCTRINE.  If you don’t know the Doctrine of your church, you really need to check them out.  Doctrine is like the skeleton of the Body.  If your bones are false, or cracked not good!  Who wants false bones?  How will I know if they are false Doctrines…SIMPLE, line it up with the Bible. First, if it is not in there at all…uh BIG red flag.  Second, if it contradicts it, uh Red flag.  If it does not match word for word (no pun intended) ….uh Red flag.  Even if you find they line up on paper is the church communicating it? 

This is a tough thing to do.  We all LOVE our home church and to investigate them would feel weird.  But this week my washing machine broke and I had to buy a new one. Merry Christmas…ugggg!  And the salesman told me all I needed to know about all the different brands.  I really felt like he knew what he was talking about.  He sounded so smart, he had facts, numbers, gallons…he told me EXACTLY which one was the best for my money.  I was convinced! Until I went to the next store and the salesman, just as smart, with all his facts talked of other products.  How can this be?? How can FACTS be so different.  The bottom line is I was just too lazy to find out for myself.  Have you seen those manuals?? So I took their word for it.

We do that when learning about God and His word.  If its at Lifeway, it must be true, if a church is preaching it, it must be true, if my mentor said it, it must be true…unless God says it…it might not be True.  And I know what you are thinking….”well it is interpretations” NO, don’t be sold on that, the Bible interprets itself.  That’s what all those cross references are that we ignore. (By the way, doesn’t it make you smile that we call the “cross” references…get it? anyway!)

My point is that if Paul addressed it with the “urgency” and bluntness He is warning us that this happens.  Read this…..

Warning Against False Teachers of the Law

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm…..and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

Sound Doctrine.  I leave you with the fact that I did buy a washing machine and I hope that the salesman knew what he was talking about.  Who knows.  But believing in a washing machine and believing what is taught in church are two different things.  So if you ever questions the doctrine of your church, it is ok to investigate….just ask Timothy.

If you happen to go to Long Hollow attached is our BONES! (click here)  I encourage you to call your Church and do the same.  If they cannot get you the information…it might be a Red Flag.

If you feel  like giving an hour or 2 tomorrow, 3 LH ladies are painting a kids room at one of the Shelters.  E-mail me for address if interested.  We have the supplies already.    Pszyman@comcast.net

HELP: Woman in Shelter in Gallatin Needs Help. She needs her spare tire put on her car. She is a great great great woman and would love for a person to step up and help me on this. I am just not strong enough in the muscles. Needs by Satuday if Possible.

Fulfuilled within 20 minutes of POST

It’s hard to make the time to come in for a whole day to do a service project, and it is also hard to donate “stuff” or money for a project too in this economy, so I was hoping some groups would consider doing something in-between.

Adopt a Room in a Shelter  for a specified period of  time (See attached Click Here to see Options).  GNM has 2 Shelters. (one is a duplex, so 3 units total).  Here is how it works:

A GROUP (maybe a small group, a teen group, a family, a group of friends….) commit to care for a room in the shelter for 1 year.  ALL the rooms are currently in very good condition.  Your group would evaluate the rooms after a resident leaves the shelter and offers to care for the room before the next resident comes in.  This may include paint, restocking missing items, restock pantry ( if kitchen is your adopted room), Hangers (if bedroom is your adopted room),  organize…whatever your group prefers to do.

• Example: Bathroom.  The group/family that adopts it would come in and clean/decorate/restock the bathroom.  During the residents stay the group is welcome to bring in any items during their stay too.  Most residents stay about 2-3 months a year (some longer, some shorter)  so your average service project would be about 4 times a year.

Here are the rooms to choose from

1. Master Bedroom
2. Bathroom
3. Children’s Room
4. Family Room
5. Kitchen

Pick a room that you feel most comfortable with.  If you have children (and extra toys) pick the children’s room.  If you are past that stage, maybe the Master Bedroom or Kitchen.  You get my idea.  Please contact me if you would like more information.  It is a small committment that could make a HUGE impact.  If we all just take a little..it adds up to be a whole lot!

Click below for a handout to sign your group/family/friends up for a specified period of time.

Adopt a Room

Want  to see what the Body of Christ can do??

Here are some of the items that came in this week  PLUS so much more!  I am just so emotional I can’t think of them all!

• 10 year old girls wears size 12/14 pants, 10/12 shirts 
• Boy 4T, 5T  He needs pants and boys underwear
• Vaccuum needed badly!
• 3-6 months clothing
• Baby bottles and a bottle brush
• Laundry Detergent
• Mom needs size 6 shoes! (wearing her daughter’s right now)
• Diaper bag
• Baby Toys
• Pajamas for the kids
• Food donations
• Halloween Costumes I got one costume so far
• lightbulbs
• Drip pans for Stove Top (under coils)
• Drain Board for dishes
• Washing Machine  Amen!!
• Baby Bassinet
• Pots and Pans
• Cleaning Supplies
• decor for the House
• An Entire wardrobe for the mom
• Clothes for the Boys
• Clothes for the Girl
• Baby Needs
• Toys
• TV
• Bedding
• Books
• Stereo
• Toiletries
• Feminine Items

There has been so much more!  The Shelter is CLEAN and been prayed in.  We have met the family and have hugged them.  We talked to the children about the Lord!  All who were involved from me to you I THANK YOU but it was all from God drawing you to serve and creating a stir in your heart so ALL THE GLORY TO GOD for without him none of us could be instruments  in HIS Provision.

The Sandals Foundation is doing a book drive to put books in libraries in Jamaica and Turks and Caicos to promote literacy across the Caribbean. Please donate new or gently used children’s books.  Hopefully some will want to donate some of their extra books to help in this campaign. Message me…I can pick them up at your  house.  418-9377

Trish