| Laughter is good medicine – Proverbs 17:22
Kulula airlines was a low-cost South-African airline that didn’t take itself seriously. From the pilot during his welcome message: “In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child travelling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are travelling with more than one small child, pick your favorite.” As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Durban Airport , a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: “Whoa, big fella. WHOA!” “As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses.” After a real crusher of a landing in Johannesburg, the attendant came on with, “Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Captain Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we will open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal…” Funny stuff: Isn’t our faith journey much like trusting that the pilot (God) will be able to land us safely at our final destination, even though there might be unforeseen bumps and bruises along the way. It also comes with love and laughter too, as we share and trust in the journey home. Blessings, Pastor Michael
Pumpkin Prayer In The Pumpkin Patch Parable, Liz Curtis Higgs uses kid-friendly analogies for the Christian life. Many parents now use a Pumpkin Prayer while carving jack-o-lanterns in October. What a great reminder about everything God has done for us! While cutting off the pumpkin top, pray, “Lord, open my mind so I can learn new things about you.” (See Proverbs 1:7.) While removing the seeds and pulp, pray, “Remove the things in my life that don’t please you. Forgive the wrong things I do and help me forgive others.” (See Matthew 6:14-15.) While making eyes, pray, “Open my eyes to see the beauty you’ve made in the world around me.” (See Psalm 104:24.) While making the nose, pray, “I’m sorry for the times I’ve turned up my nose at your many gifts.” (See James 1:17.) While making the mouth, pray, “Let everything I say please you.” (See Psalm 19:14.) While lighting the candle, pray, “Lord, help me shine your light to others through the things I do.” (See Matthew 5:16.) Display your carved pumpkins as examples of how God’s love transforms us into new creations. (See 2 Corinthians 5:17.) Living Out Grace Talk is cheap, especially when it comes to biblical concepts such as grace. How can people grasp the meaning of unmerited favor unless they experience it firsthand? That happened to Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul, in 2 Samuel 9. After his father was killed in battle, the disabled Mephibosheth hid in fear. Why? In Old Testament times, a new king killed the previous ruler’s bloodline. But David, keeping a promise he’d made to his friend Jonathan, showed Mephibosheth “the kindness of God” (v. 3). Imagine the impact that had on Mephibosheth’s life. By contrast, failing to live into God’s grace and failing to give it out to others leads to many struggles, according to pastor David Seamands. “We read, we hear, we believe a good theology of grace,” he wrote, but “that’s not the way we live. The good news of the Gospel of grace has not penetrated the level of our emotions.” Instead, may we make a point each day to treat others with God’s kindness and mercy. An Autumn Poem Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away; I shall smile when wreaths of snow Common Ground “Christianity was never intended to be a solo walk with God,” says pastor Jeremy Basset. “A conversion to Christianity is also incorporation in the body of Christ, the church.” The New Testament is clear that one cannot be a solitary Christian. We are members of Christ’s body (Ephesians 5:30) and “belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10, NIV). As you gather for worship and receive Holy Communion, thank God for “our common salvation” (Jude 3, ESV) granted to all followers of Jesus. Total Immersion In college, I took an American Sign Language class from a Deaf instructor who couldn’t speak. On the first day, another staff member explained that we’d be experiencing total immersion. She left, and the classroom remained silently engaged for the rest of the semester. Creatively, the instructor began by writing “same” and “different” on the whiteboard and demonstrating those signs. Then he took us through several examples where we were to use the signs to identify what was the same or different. That’s how he taught ASL, graciously guiding us without audible voices. We embraced a brand-new approach to communicating. The church can do that too. We can use “all that is within” us to praise God’s holy name (Psalm 103:1). We can get creative and harness everything — all our senses — to worship. This might mean removing distractions, learning a new style of music, using visual arts or engaging with a different culture — all while offering praise. Instead of feeling bound by what’s familiar and comfortable, try to be immersed and all-in while worshiping the Lord! Janna Firestone
October Mission of the Month: Turning Point
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