What happens in Heaven when you Pray?
I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels. My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, ' This is the Receiving Section. Here, all petitions to God said in prayer are received.
I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world.
Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section.
The angel then said to me, "This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them." I noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth.
Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the door of a very small station. To my great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. "This is the Acknowledgment Section, my angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrassed." How is it that there is no work going on here? ' I asked.
"So sad," the angel sighed. "After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments"
"How does one acknowledge God's blessings? " I asked..
"Simple," the angel answered. Just say, "Thank you, Lord. "
"What blessings should they acknowledge?" I asked.
"If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy. "
"And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity."
"If you woke up this morning with more health than illness .. You are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day. "
"If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ... You are ahead of 700 million people in the world."
"If you can attend a church without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world."
"If your parents are still alive and still married ..you are very rare."
"If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair......."
I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world.
Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section.
The angel then said to me, "This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them." I noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth.
Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the door of a very small station. To my great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. "This is the Acknowledgment Section, my angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrassed." How is it that there is no work going on here? ' I asked.
"So sad," the angel sighed. "After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments"
"How does one acknowledge God's blessings? " I asked..
"Simple," the angel answered. Just say, "Thank you, Lord. "
"What blessings should they acknowledge?" I asked.
"If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy. "
"And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity."
"If you woke up this morning with more health than illness .. You are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day. "
"If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ... You are ahead of 700 million people in the world."
"If you can attend a church without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world."
"If your parents are still alive and still married ..you are very rare."
"If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair......."
The Twelve Days of Christmas?
From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.
-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.-
-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.
So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on if you wish.'
Merry Christmas Everyone
-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.-
-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.
So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on if you wish.'
Merry Christmas Everyone
A Christmas story
'Twas the night before Christmas and out on the ranch,
The pond was froze over and so was the branch.
The snow was piled up belly-deep to a mule.
The kids were all home on vacation from school,
And happier young folks you never did see,
Just all sprawled around a-watchin' TV.
Then suddenly, some time around 8 o'clock,
There came a surprise that gave them a shock!
The power went off, the TV went dead!
When Grandpa came in from out in the shed
With an armload of wood, the house was all dark.
"Just what I expected," they heard him remark.
"Them power line wires must be down from the snow.
Seems sorta like times on the ranch long ago."
"I'll hunt up some candles," said Mom. "With their light,
And the fireplace, I reckon we'll make out all right."
The teen-agers all seemed enveloped in gloom.
Then Grandpa came back from a trip to his room,
Uncased his old fiddle and started to play
That old Christmas song about bells on a sleigh.
Mom started to sing, and first thing they knew
Both Pop and the kids were all singing it, too.
They sang Christmas carols, they sang "Holy Night,"
Their eyes all a-shine in the ruddy firelight.
They played some charades Mom recalled from her youth,
And Pop read a passage from God's Book of Truth.
They stayed up till midnight and, would you believe,
The youngsters agreed 'twas a fine Christmas Eve.
Grandpa rose early, some time before dawn,
And when the kids wakened, the power was on..
"The power company sure got the line repaired quick,"
Said Grandpa and no one suspected his trick.
Last night, for the sake of some old-fashioned fun,
He had pulled the main switch - the old Son-of-a-Gun!
-anonymous
The pond was froze over and so was the branch.
The snow was piled up belly-deep to a mule.
The kids were all home on vacation from school,
And happier young folks you never did see,
Just all sprawled around a-watchin' TV.
Then suddenly, some time around 8 o'clock,
There came a surprise that gave them a shock!
The power went off, the TV went dead!
When Grandpa came in from out in the shed
With an armload of wood, the house was all dark.
"Just what I expected," they heard him remark.
"Them power line wires must be down from the snow.
Seems sorta like times on the ranch long ago."
"I'll hunt up some candles," said Mom. "With their light,
And the fireplace, I reckon we'll make out all right."
The teen-agers all seemed enveloped in gloom.
Then Grandpa came back from a trip to his room,
Uncased his old fiddle and started to play
That old Christmas song about bells on a sleigh.
Mom started to sing, and first thing they knew
Both Pop and the kids were all singing it, too.
They sang Christmas carols, they sang "Holy Night,"
Their eyes all a-shine in the ruddy firelight.
They played some charades Mom recalled from her youth,
And Pop read a passage from God's Book of Truth.
They stayed up till midnight and, would you believe,
The youngsters agreed 'twas a fine Christmas Eve.
Grandpa rose early, some time before dawn,
And when the kids wakened, the power was on..
"The power company sure got the line repaired quick,"
Said Grandpa and no one suspected his trick.
Last night, for the sake of some old-fashioned fun,
He had pulled the main switch - the old Son-of-a-Gun!
-anonymous
Light and Good Tidings
By Gil Hanke
This week I have seen the intersection of two scriptures: Matthew 5:16 and Isaiah 40:9. These verses tell me to be a light and to declare good tidings. In some of my recent travels, I have driven on dark and rainy roads that kind of misty rain that makes seeing difficult and distorts perceptions. What was needed was more light.
In some of my travels I have been in meetings where participants wanted to center our work and attention on things that were wrong, broken, and dysfunctional. What these meetings needed was good tidings.
This is a season of both light and good tidings.
Advent and Christmas mark their passing by degrees of light. Each week there are more candles lit on the Advent wreath. Some in our neighborhood had lights up the Friday after Thanksgiving, and as Christmas draws closer the lights are being added to nearly every house.
In my job, I get to bring light to local congregations, districts and conferences about our ministries within GCUMM and the many ministries where we partner with other agencies and other entities inside and outside the UMC. In so many cases, folks comment, "I never knew the church was involved in that," or "I didn't know those resources were available," or "I can get that training just by going to your website?" I have also been able to share some light about how Jesus has transformed mission teams and men's small groups, and have been able to lift up His words of action which we are to do with intention.
In the midst of decline in many areas, there are also good tidings:
Stories of growth and new ministriesof healing and wholenessand new ministries that bring men and their families to a closer walk with Jesus, the Christ.
Men who have lost their jobs, but found a new life.
Young adults who are creating a new entrepreneurial ministry which will form leaders within all aspects of the church.
Within this agency we have seen new life, healing, and growth in unexpected areas. With a year of a troubled economy and some unexpected expenses we are finishing in the black.
God is so good!
I will not let the news of the world or of Washington diminish the light or the good news of our work together. I will look to next year with excitement and anticipationnot fear and worry. When we are obedient to His call, there is always light, and always good news!
Stay in touch; let me know how we can accelerate you in your ministry.
Striving to be His servant
Gilbert C. Hanke, general secretary
General Commission on UM Men
ghanke@gcumm.org
This week I have seen the intersection of two scriptures: Matthew 5:16 and Isaiah 40:9. These verses tell me to be a light and to declare good tidings. In some of my recent travels, I have driven on dark and rainy roads that kind of misty rain that makes seeing difficult and distorts perceptions. What was needed was more light.
In some of my travels I have been in meetings where participants wanted to center our work and attention on things that were wrong, broken, and dysfunctional. What these meetings needed was good tidings.
This is a season of both light and good tidings.
Advent and Christmas mark their passing by degrees of light. Each week there are more candles lit on the Advent wreath. Some in our neighborhood had lights up the Friday after Thanksgiving, and as Christmas draws closer the lights are being added to nearly every house.
In my job, I get to bring light to local congregations, districts and conferences about our ministries within GCUMM and the many ministries where we partner with other agencies and other entities inside and outside the UMC. In so many cases, folks comment, "I never knew the church was involved in that," or "I didn't know those resources were available," or "I can get that training just by going to your website?" I have also been able to share some light about how Jesus has transformed mission teams and men's small groups, and have been able to lift up His words of action which we are to do with intention.
In the midst of decline in many areas, there are also good tidings:
Stories of growth and new ministriesof healing and wholenessand new ministries that bring men and their families to a closer walk with Jesus, the Christ.
Men who have lost their jobs, but found a new life.
Young adults who are creating a new entrepreneurial ministry which will form leaders within all aspects of the church.
Within this agency we have seen new life, healing, and growth in unexpected areas. With a year of a troubled economy and some unexpected expenses we are finishing in the black.
God is so good!
I will not let the news of the world or of Washington diminish the light or the good news of our work together. I will look to next year with excitement and anticipationnot fear and worry. When we are obedient to His call, there is always light, and always good news!
Stay in touch; let me know how we can accelerate you in your ministry.
Striving to be His servant
Gilbert C. Hanke, general secretary
General Commission on UM Men
ghanke@gcumm.org
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