You may have seen these billboards while driving around the country. The billboards are a simple black background with white text. They are supposedly messages from God?
Tell the kids I love them. – God
Let’s meet at my house Sunday before the game. – God
What part of ‘Thou Shalt Not…? didn’t you understand? – God
We need to talk. – God
Keep using my name in vain, I’ll make rush hour longer. – God
Loved the wedding; invite me to the marriage. – God
That ‘Love Thy Neighbor? thing… I meant it. – God
(And my personal favorite…)
Don’t make me come down there. – God
God has in fact given us many ‘messages.? Messages of truth and love and hope and warning. The question is, are we listening?
Maybe you are making some New Year Resolutions ‘to lose weight, to join a health club, to save more money ‘whatever.
How about this? ‘I resolve to get to know God better??
Maybe you’re not sure God even exists. Maybe you’re skeptical because everyone seems to have a different ‘version? of God. Maybe you have all kinds of questions and doubts. That’s ok.
Here’s the deal: Either God exists and deserves our utmost attention, or he does not exist, and we are fools for paying him any attention.
How can we get to know God better? How can we decide if he even exists?
By reading the greatest message of all, the Bible.
Our church is currently reading through the Bible together ‘at all levels ? our children, teens, and adults. If you don’t already have a home church, I encourage you to check us out.
We are a safe place for you to explore and ask questions. Isn’t it time for a fresh start?
The Rev. Greg Henneman is pastor of Clarkston Community Church.

What do you worry about? What preoccupies your mind and causes you to lose sleep at night?
Do you find yourself thinking, ‘How am I going to pay the bills this month? What if I lose my job? What if the car breaks down? What if that doctor’s exam comes up positive? What if my kids don’t turn out? What if my marriage doesn’t make it??
Anxiety can overtake us simply because of our ‘to do? lists! ‘I’m so busy! I’m so overwhelmed! I have these goals. I’ve got to perform. I want to look good. But I can’t get it all done! I’m stressed out!?
Maybe we stress out because we care about our country and all the chaos and terrorism. We get upset when the ‘wrong? candidate wins the election. There is so much ungodliness in our country, and we worry and we are upset and we are stressed out.
It’s a fact that we face all kinds of stresses in life, right? It’s easy for us to worry about our stuff, our future, our health, our ‘to do? lists, and all that’s going on in the world today.
The fact is, life is hard. We may lose our job. We might get sick. Few of us have all the money we want. We wish we could have stuff that we don’t have. And the fact is, we cannot eliminate most of these stresses from our lives. So if we can’t eliminate these stresses, how can we cope with them? How can live with less anxiety and more joy?
Here’s how: practice. Peace requires practice. That’s important! So I’ll say it again: Peace requires practice. You can have greater peace! You can have less anxiety! But you’ve got to practice! I encourage you to practice these four things.
First, fight for joy. The Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4:4 ‘Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!? It’s a command! Just like ‘do not commit adultery! Do not steal!? Rejoice in the Lord always! It’s not a suggestion. It’s a command. God commands us to be happy! God wants us to fight for joy in our lives! Joy does not come easy! We have to fight for it!
Second, refuse to be easily offended. Paul goes on to say, ‘Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.? (Philippians 4:5) To be gentle is the opposite of being contentious and self-seeking. You put up with other people’s faults. You don’t get your feelings hurt all the time. You’re not looking for a fight. You don’t seek revenge. You don’t get bitter and gossipy.
Some people are so easily offended that they spend have their life mad and filled with anxiety!
Thirdly, pray! Philippians 4:6-7 ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God’will guard your hearts.?
The way to peace is prayer! Prayer is more than asking God for stuff. Prayer is about casting your anxiety on God and asking for his peace!
Fourth, avoid stinkin? thinkin?. Philippians 4:8 ‘Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable’if anything is excellent or praiseworthy’think about such things.?
What do you spend time thinking about? What do you fill your mind with? You are what you think! If you keep thinking bitter thoughts, lustful thoughts ‘if you keep thinking about how you hate somebody ‘you will become a bitter, self-centered, hateful person. Fill your minds with positive virtues that make life meaningful. Think about things that encourage healing and peace. You can’t have bitterness in your brain and peace in your heart!
One more thing that I find helpful. Get a grip on your schedule. Try to balance it with rest, sleep, family time, and recreation. So many of us have killer schedules. Even if you can’t change your schedule, take mini-moments throughout the day to exhale and whisper a prayer to God. ‘Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.? (1 Peter 5:7).
The Rev. Greg Henneman is pastor of Clarkston Community Church

Recently I discovered this little story from a speaker on stress management. To illustrate a point she raised a cup and asked, “How heavy is this glass of water?”
The audience called out answers ranging from 1 to 5 pounds. The speaker replied, “I don’t know the precise weight, but in this case it is not the weight that really matters. How heavy it is depends on how long you try to hold it.”
“For example, if I hold it for a minute, that’s easy. If I hold it for an hour, my arm will ache. But if I try to hold it up for a whole day I might collapse. In each case, the glass is the same weight.
However the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes. And so it is with our stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, the burdens will become increasingly heavy, and we won’t be able to carry them. When that happens, as with the glass of water, we have to put them down or something even worse might happen.”
We certainly are living in very stressful and difficult times. But does that mean we have to live as weighed down or stressed out people? Is there a way we can set our burdens down for awhile without simply avoiding or denying them, and have life restored to us?
There are many good stress management tools and techniques to help us deal with worry and anxiety. Getting exercise and a good diet certainly can help a lot with stress too. Finding others for support, such as in a faith community, is also very important. We were never meant to carry our stress and burdens alone. God made us to be ‘better together.?
I believe that stressful times are also a call for us to trust God more and turn to faith. Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.? (Matthew 11:28-30 NRSV)
Or as this passage appears in The Message: ‘Are you tired? Worn out? Even burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me, and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me’watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me, and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.?
Jesus does not offer us a religion with more burdens and stress. Rather Jesus offers us a life-giving relationship based on God’s grace and unconditional love. He desires to share with us an eternal perspective and a way of living today consistent with God’s purpose and plan.
Our stress does not magically go away nor are our problems all immediately solved when we give them to God.
But we do get a rest from them, and we do regain our confidence and hope as we realize we are not carrying the weight of the world by ourselves, and that ultimately everything is in God’s hands.. As the old gospel song reminds us:
He’s got the whole world in His hands?
He’s got my brothers and my sisters in His hands?
He’s got the sun and the rain in His hands?
He’s got the rivers and the mountains in His hands?
He’s got you and He’s got me in His hands?
He’s got everybody, everywhere in His hands?
He’s got the whole world in His hands.
The Rev. Jonathan Heierman is pastor of Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church.

What an amazing spring we have had! March started out with April weather, then moved to May weather, and then gave us a taste of June weather with temperatures in the 80’s.
That is my kind of March. Every year, I anticipate and measure the coming of spring and the return to the beautiful green-colored trees and grass, which I love!
An early season means that I will see mostly green during the first week of May; a later spring, such as last year, will mean that it can come a week or two later.
This year, the first week of April will resemble an early spring first week of May. It is funny how we respond to what we get used too.
A normal high of 50 degrees with sun will feel good in a normal year; but this year, when it was 50 and sunny at the end of March, it seemed so cold.
Once we get used to the higher temps, it is hard to tell our mind what the date is because we are used to something different.
There is something about the human condition that makes our expectations change based on the conditions we are surrounded by.
Well, I guess it should be expected since even the trees have been fooled by the weather.
Many trees have blossomed early and a cold spell, which is quite normal in April, could cause damage to the blossoms and trouble for the fruit season in the fall.
It seems that unpredictable patterns can be a source of trouble for everything.
We can see that the same thing has happened to our society in the economic realm.
Unusually, prosperous conditions over a 25-year span have conditioned us to think that we do not have to prepare for bad times economically.
For many years, our government and the people have lived with the idea that we could shield ourselves from the low points of the economy, so typical throughout history.
I perceive that we are now operating in a state of denial, trying to assume that past policies will protect us and give us back the wonderful season we loved.
I could be wrong, or there could be a fix for a season, but my observation is with the human condition.
It is very difficult to tell people that we cannot go by how we feel, we must look at the calendar from time to time and realize that the seasons are sometimes out of whack, but they will eventually return.
Winter looks different in every part of the world I have traveled, and I have been to many’but sooner or later, winter comes.
Of course the opposite is true: so does spring, summer and fall. The important thing is that we learn how to prepare for the cycles of life that will surely come.
I am a part of the baby boomer generation and we love to say that 60 is the new 50 or 70 is the new 60, because we refuse to believe that the cycles of life will affect us.
Maybe this is the result of the illusion we have developed from the good times we have lived in.
The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 11:4-5, ‘He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap. As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.?
Weather can be a temporary condition, no matter how long it lasts. In the end, the climate will manifest itself and the seasons will come.
We do not always know exactly what is going on, but we must know that God has a plan, and we must recognize the need to line up with the plan by preparing for the seasons that will surely come.
Are you preparing for the coming season or are you stuck in what you feel today?
The Rev. Loren Covarrubias is pastor of Mt. Zion Church

Many people like to think of the United States as a Christian nation, they even see it as a part of our founding.
This type of thinking is very dangerous because it actually takes us, as Christians, out of our proper place in society.
When we align ourselves with the thought pattern that the United States is a Christian nation, we end up thinking that government is the solution for our problems.
Government is not our solution, God is!
Our government has not been the source of blessing on our country; it has come from the Church.
The scripture is very clear’God looks at the world from the lens of His Church; we are the pupil of His eye.
If the Church takes its proper place, it will not matter if we have an anti-Christian nation because the Word boldly proclaims: ‘if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray??
He will hear our prayers and heal our land. If we have a pro-Christian nation, but the Church fails to keep our right standing with God, the opposite can also happen.
Our lax attitude towards our Christian responsibility could bring judgment upon our country.
For this reason, as Christians, we must understand that our first responsibility to our nation is to be the salt and light God has called us to be.
Through the influence of Christians in the founding of our nation, it is good to recognize that we have a government that is very conducive to the operation of the Church in allowing our influence to pervade the land.
The biggest problem the early Christians feared in their new government was too much government involvement in religion. For this reason, they were adamant on the separation of church and state.
Most of them were familiar with the European model of state churches, sponsored and supported by governments.
The state-supported churches became dependent on the government, as people do in modern society when the government is seen as the support system to help them in their time of need.
The end result of this will be an overly intrusive government trying to control the behavior of its citizens, or in the case of the Church’trying to control the Church.
The marriage of church and state is an unholy union because the Church is the bride of Christ; we must always remember our fidelity and that help should only come from Him.
The real issue in present society is not the separation of church and state, but separation of God and state.
Our nation has always felt comfortable calling on God; but recently, secularists have advocated the removal of religion from the public square.
As Christians, we must advocate ‘godliness? as our national heritage.
As ‘Americans? we should also be very mindful of our Christian heritage and resist the influence of multiculturalists, who insist we divest ourselves of this important heritage.
I also believe it would be wise to promote immigration policies that favor those who share our very important Christian heritage!
The Rev. Loren Covarrubias is pastor of Mt. Zion Church.

Ever walk through a cemetery and really study the headstones?
I have on several occasions. Once in a cemetery in Pennsylvania, my dad showed me the graves of my great-great grandparents and extended family. Wow.
Ever notice the dash? On most headstones there’s a birth date, a death date, and a dash between them.
That dash represents their lives.
For some of them, that dash represents 90 years. For others, it represents two months.
I wonder’how did they live their dash?
For most of them, a bundle of hopes and dreams, struggles and joys are concentrated in that dash.
I wonder’how are you living your dash?
The older I get, the more I realize how precious life is. Time is literally running out. I suspect you are a lot like me. You want your life to count.
You don’t want to live with regrets.
You don’t want to look back and say, ‘I wish I had done it differently.?
I wish. I regret. If only.
This September I’m starting a teaching series called One Month to Live: Thirty Days to a No-Regrets Life.
Our entire church ‘adults, teens, and kids ? will be studying in their small groups what I teach in the services each week.
Our goal? To live life more passionately. To love more completely.
Hey, feel free to join us.
The Rev. Greg Henneman is pastor of Clarkston Community Church

This is your time. Your future lies before you. It is time to pursue your passion and follow your ideals.
These are the kind of statements given to graduates each year. These comments sound like the cheer leading we think 17 and 18 year olds need as they set off into adulthood.
There is nothing wrong with encouraging youth. I just wonder how many young adults have clearly defined passions or ideals.
My personal experience is that my deepest held passions and ideals were not clear at high school graduation.
Most of what I hold dear today came out of the context of living my life.
I did not wait for clarity and focus before I launched (or was thrust) into my future.
Clarity and focus were gifts given to me as I kept my heart and mind open and my life unfolded.
As I worked and went to school, I gained greater understanding of myself and others. My faith grew as I faced trouble and challenges in my path.
My understanding of grace and real joy grew as God’s blessing became a shared companion on the journey.
Whether we are graduates or retirees, newly married or divorced, gainfully employed or yearning for work, we have decisions as to what is next in life.
We are wise to seek counsel and look within ourselves to find clues to discover our next chapter of life.
We will also discover clarity and direction in our life when we get busy living.
Jesus went to the sea side and gave to his disciples a new future. He did not tell them to follow their passion or attempt to fulfill their potential. He called them to follow in faith.
He taught them to use their greatest gifts to meet others at their greatest place of need.
He said the best way to find their life joy would be in surrendering their lives to a purpose larger than they could understand in the moment.
The greatest promise he made was that they would never be alone. He would go with them. He would never leave them or us.
Not even death could change that. So go.
Go into tomorrow and take this with you. You are a loved child of God. You are blessed with gifts and abilities beyond your understanding.
When you surrender your life to God you can literally transform the lives of others.
That is true for our graduates. It is true for us all.
The Rev. Rick Dake is pastor of Clarkston United Methodist Church.

The lights of Bethlehem are still in the rear view mirror as we leave Christmas behind and enter into 2009. But now the sound of angelic choirs is replaced with warfare, accusations and justifications.
As I write this, war is occurring in the streets of Gaza. Israel is claiming the right to protect itself from acts of violence. Palestinians are condemning they are the victims of brutal aggression. The U.S. is government is placing the blame squarely on Hamas.
Meanwhile, more than 500 have been killed in the past two weeks.
Peace on Earth and Good Will to all.
Certainly there have been other seasons of Christmas challenged by the brokenness of the world.
Tragedies on international or personal scale do not suddenly cease to occur just because we have lit some candles, sang some hymns and greeted each other with wishes for a peaceful and joyful new year. Some of you have recently experienced trials, life changes and grief in the midst of the season of peace and joy.
So is it just back to business as usual in this year? Do we only hope that next year we can find peace in one of the boxes where we stored the Christmas decorations?
I suppose the answer is affected by whether we thought Christmas and its message were meant to be sentiment or a calling.
Jesus did not come into a world of bliss. He entered into poverty, born to an oppressed people and was rejected by many.
In the midst of this he offered to us the kind of peace that passes all understanding. He offered for his followers to live in the Kingdom of God, not just a better world.
In such a Kingdom, believers experience the living God and discover their lives are intended for service, not entitlement. We are not expected to be immune or removed from brokenness, but transform it by grace.
The power of faith is not measured by the absence of conflict.
It is found in its ability to live in the midst of brokenness and offer hope.
It is to live with confidence that the love given to us can conquer hate as we give it to others.
A world or life in chaos is not denial of Christmas hope, it is its birthplace.
The year ahead holds a lot of opportunity for faith. May you blessed with a healthy heavenly dose.
The Rev. Rick Dake is pastor of Clarkston United Methodist Church.

‘And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.? (Colossians 3:17)
If the Puritans who founded Plymouth Colony in 1620 could look at what has become the American celebration of ‘Thanksgiving? today, they wouldn’t recognize its customs. They wouldn’t even call it by that name.
America’s national holiday of ‘Thanksgiving? is characterized by seasonally decorated tables filled to over-flowing with a variety of different foods, televised holiday parades from our largest cities, watching college football games, and an extended weekend for government workers and many other employees across America.
The Puritans wouldn’t recognize America’s celebration by the name ‘Thanksgiving? because they gave thanks to God continually for all His many blessings that sustained body and soul.
For those Puritans ‘thanksgiving? was not a single celebration worthy of great preparation and a variety of festivities. For those Plymouth Colony Puritans so long ago ‘giving thanks? was a way of life. Giving thanks became ‘thanks-living?.
God’s Word teaches us in Colossians 3:17 that in everything we do we are to give thanks to God in the name of Jesus.
I make it a priority to ‘give thanks to God? whenever I pray ? whether at the bedside of a member in the hospital or when visiting them in their homes or whenever I pray with a member over the phone or even in my own thoughts and prayers.
My prayers begin by offering God thanks for each ‘new day? ? for shelter, food, and clothing ? for family and friends ? for a way to support and provide for my family ? for His love that will never be taken away from me ? for the sacrifice of Jesus that earned forgiveness for all my (and your) sins ? for a saving faith in God that gives me (and all Christians) the certainty of eternal life in heaven ? well, you get the picture.
My thanksgiving to God helps set the stage for the rest of my prayer. My continued thanksgiving to God has become my own way of ‘thanks-living?. God has never ‘let me down? when I open my heart and soul to Him. In fact, He already knows my needs before I do and often-times they are met before I even have a chance to ask. Thank-you, God! Thank-you!
Before you sit down to celebrate America’s annual day of feasting, family gatherings, and the beginning of an extended weekend of ‘rest and recreation?, remember these lyrics from a beautiful Christian praise song ?
‘Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One, give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son?.
You might not have everything you want, but by the grace of God we have everything we need in Jesus Christ our Lord. Let your ‘thanksgiving? become a pattern for ‘thanks-living?, so that whatever you do, God is praised as we say ‘Thank You, God! Thank You!? Have a blessed ‘thanks-living? in Jesus.
The Rev. James Krueger is pastor of St. Trinity Lutheran Church.

Consider the power of words.
We all strive to do good to others, but how often do we strive to speak well of others?
Brotherly correction is certainly called for at times and pointing out inconsistencies in others? viewpoints is fair play. Yet one simple exercise could be to take a few seconds and ask myself: ‘Is what I am about to say about this person going to truly help them??
This could be a particularly relevant question in the midst of an election year when things get very personal.
Rightly, we hold our public officials to high standards. Yet, if we were to believe every bad thing we hear about people in the news, we might conclude that there are no good people left in the world.
One thing we often forget is that goodness is more common than evil.
As one priest told his congregation, ‘What we see in the news is generally bad because goodness continues to be more prevalent.?
How often do we read in the newspaper that a mom picked up her children at school and arrived home safely? Never! Why? Because it happens all the time.
We are continually making good, honest decisions that never make the headlines.
We are all familiar with the phrase, ‘Charity starts at home.?
I believe we could also say, ‘Charity starts in the heart.?
When we begin to realize that most people are good people, we will begin to speak that way. Often we react differently.
We accept as a proven fact those negative things we hear about others and demand incontrovertible evidence to believe that someone is good. Well, the spirit of Christian charity invites us to see things differently.
A close friend once counseled me to ‘believe all the good you hear and only the evil you see.?
We inevitably notice quirks in others that irritate us and certainly we have quirks that irritate others. Couldn’t we say, however, that these quirks are the exception and not the rule; that others are truly good despite their imperfections?
A teacher once asked his students to ponder: ‘Couldn’t my neighbor still be a living saint despite that small flaw that I notice in him??
When we honestly strive to see the overwhelming good in others, our words will follow and we will help create an atmosphere of true Christian charity.
Father Daniel Pajerski, LC, is the Director of Formation at Everest in Clarkston..

By Cheryl Smith

You may be familiar with a popular Youtube video that features Carnegie-Mellon professor, Randy Pausch delivering his ‘Last Lecture.?
If you haven’t seen it, I encourage you to do so. A popular professor, Randy Pausch, a young man of 46 with three children and a wife, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given six months to live’this being the opportunity to deliver his ‘last lecture.?
The popularity of the video (and resultant book) did not grow from the emotional impact of the disease or the inevitability of his early death, no matter how much that could have succeeded on pulling on our heartstrings.
Rather, the video’s popularity was bred in the realm of the positive force of what it means to really live life.
Since his children were uppermost on Randy Pausch’s mind when delivering his lecture, he organized his thoughts around what he would most like them to understand about living a good life.
Not surprisingly, what’s good for the children is even better for the adults!
The wise professor tells his audience that if he only had three words to tell his children about how to live their lives, those three words would be ‘Tell the truth.?
He goes on to say if he were given three more words to express, they would be ‘all the time.?
Truth. Honesty. Integrity. All the time? How many of us can claim that?
Surely, it is impossible for any human being to live in a constant state of truth. Or is it? In John’s Gospel, Jesus promises his disciples that after he leaves this world he will send the Spirit of Truth who he promises ‘will guide you to all truth.?
Well, I for one say, ‘Thank God!? I can use all the help I can get!
Maybe telling the truth all the time doesn’t seem like much of a challenge for you. Perhaps you’ve been trained since childhood to never tell a lie and have learned your lesson well.
Or, perhaps we could all consider the benefit of looking at the subject of truth, honesty and integrity through a new lens.
Take truth, for example. At many levels of society, but especially at the religious level, different groups of people claim to know the truth. Very often, this results in groups of people labeling one another, often in the categories of ‘conservative,? ‘liberal? or, if you’re lucky, ‘mainstream.?
By labeling a person, we put that person outside our circle of truth. In talking with a person outside our circle of truth, we tend to filter what is being said.
Honestly now, where can one find truth if we’re all being selective about what we hear? The truth is fundamentally found somewhere beyond the label and no one group can ‘honestly? claim a monopoly.
Maybe we could all make a positive step toward living the truth by refusing to label others and ourselves when it comes to understanding the truth.
The psalmist in Psalm 86 prays, ‘Teach me, Lord, your way that I may walk in your truth.??
For Christians, we have the perfect model to follow as we seek to learn and live the truth ? the person of Jesus. And just for the record, Jesus wasn’t into labels. As John the Baptist testified with God-given insight, ‘while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.?
If modeling our lives after Jesus is what it means to ‘tell the truth,? perhaps Randy Pausch’s challenge to all of us, adults and children alike, can do more than make us more honest individuals.
Perhaps our newfound understanding of truth could transform the world.
Cheryl Smith is director of Adult Faith Formation at St. Daniel Catholic Church.

She is old now; at least by the standards she is measured. She is grayer, thinner and a little slower than days past. Sabra is our chocolate Labrador who has been with us now 13 years.
Recently she and I went to the vet and while there I asked how long do labs usually live. When the answer came back, ‘About 12 years?, she turned her head quickly and looked at him. It was as if she was doing mental math and coming out with a conclusion she didn’t like.
She is in the autumn of her life. For years she never ate more than her dog food, but now she knows her begging will not be ignored. She is particularly fond of pita chips we have discovered.
We would never have known that a few years ago. But there is a softening in us that rewards her sad eyes and ever present stare with tastes of goodies never before shared with her.
She is not a threat to jump on the bed anymore; it is too high for her. But now she is allowed to lay on the couch next to us. We have thought about what it will be like no longer have her with us. We have thought about whether we will one day no longer have a dog in our home for the first time in our lives.
But those decisions are for another day. For now, we enjoy her, spoil her and give God thanks for her.
Some of you may be animal lovers also. Some of you may never want an animal in your home. But for all of us there may be some lessons to learn from Sabra. They have been important to me and I pass them on to you on her behalf.
One, each day is one to be entered into with joy. Each morning when I let her out the back door, she looks around her domain with great interest. She inspects what she has inspected hundreds of times before. She does not let the newness of each day to get lost in the repetition of days past.
Two, she is at peace with her life. She can no longer run as fast or play as long as she could years ago. But she is content. She loves our routine and often reminds us of exactly what she expects of us. She does not get irritable, or resentful or proud.
Three, she remains a consistent reminder to me of the unconditional grace of God. No matter what else happens, she is glad to see me and welcome me home. She loves me when I am irritable and rejoices when I am present to her. I can be gone for minutes or days, and she is ready to welcome me home.
I suppose there are those who would claim they cannot learn lessons of life from lowly dogs. I only give testimony to this, there are days my soul desires to be at such peace as Sabra.
Christ taught us how to live in such harmony, peace, and contentment. I turn to him to find it for my life. I give God thanks I can go home today and be reminded of lessons I forget as soon as I open the front door.
The Rev. Richard L. Dake is pastor of Clarkston United Methodist Church.

Several years ago my wife and I were driving down Square Lake road. We were going to visit somebody in the hospital.
The two lanes were being squeezed into one, and the traffic was backed up almost a mile. Everybody was cooperating and going single file when I looked in my review mirror and saw a guy flying alongside of us expecting to cut in at the last second.
All of a sudden he boldly started to cut in on me, and I had to pull over and stop or he would have hit me!
Immediately I flushed with anger. I was hot! So I didn’t slow down. I played chicken with him! I had a big van. He had a little sports car. I’m in the right; he’s in the wrong. I’ll show him!
All of a sudden he violently pulled in broadside, rolled down his window, screamed at me and gave me the finger! (And it wasn’t his little finger either!)
I admit that I had the impulse to jump out of my car and pound that guy’s head in! But then I had visions of me sitting in jail and all of my parishioners writing letters to me.
I realized, ‘This is silly and stupid. Just let it pass!? And within three minutes we were past the traffic jam and on our way.
Anger. We all experience it. Anger can make an otherwise rational person do crazy things.
That experience made me go home and search the Bible regarding anger. Here’s what I learned:
1) Anger is dangerous. ‘A hot-tempered man starts fights and gets into all kinds of trouble.? (Proverbs 29:22)
2) Anger is a symptom of a deeper problem. ‘A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.? (Proverbs 19:11)
If you’re always getting ticked off; if you’re always blaming people for ‘making you mad,? you then you’re not wise. You just don’t get it. The more you understand your kids, the less you get angry at them. The more you understand your husband/wife, the less you get angry at them.
Anger is never really the root problem in your life. It’s a symptom, a warning light. It tells you something is wrong. Anger usually signals that you’re hurt, you’re fearful, or you’re frustrated.
3)It’s ok to be angry’just express it in healthy ways. It’s ok to be angry. But it’s critical we express our anger in the right ways. We tend to clam up or blow up.
God says, ‘Grow up.?
‘If you are angry, don’t sin by nursing your grudge. Don’t let the sun go down with you still angry’get over it quickly; for when you are angry, you give a mighty foothold to the devil.? Ephesians 4:26-27
God promises us his grace to change. We don’t have to live with grudges and ulcers that eat our lives away. Freedom, forgiveness, and wholeness are ours in Christ.
The Rev. Greg Henneman is pastor of Clarkston Community Church.

In a recent episode of ‘House? (one of the few TV shows with new episodes each week! Thank goodness the writer’s strike is over!), I was intrigued by the theme of the show, which attempted to answer the question of whether people can change.
As an appropriate theme for Lent, I watched with great interest, albeit through the filtered lens of a Christian person.
For those of you who don’t watch the show, you probably should understand that Dr. House’s character is arrogant, atheistic, and highly intelligent. His wit is only exceeded by his sarcasm. Love him or hate him, you can rest assured that each episode evokes some extraordinary aspect of human behavior that will turn your notions of right and wrong, good and evil, completely upside down.
In any case, back to Lent.
In this particular episode, Dr. House communicates a somewhat clinical opinion that it is impossible for people to change. If, in fact, a person appears to change in some significant way, there must be a medical explanation. If not, there is sure to be an ulterior or even sinister motive. The only other possible conclusion is that they are mentally unstable.
Dr. House is unequivocally convinced that a tiger cannot change his stripes and spends the entire show attempting to prove his point.
So, which is it? Can people really change? Certainly, our human nature makes it difficult, but we can find much needed help in our Christian faith. The liturgical season of Lent serves to remind us of our need to take stock of our life, consider our bad habits and our selfishness and turn back to God.
C. S. Lewis once wrote in a letter that, ‘it is when we notice the dirt that God is most present in us: It is the very sign of his presence.? I think we all find great comfort in knowing that God is with us in our weakness.
Even St. Paul wrote, ‘I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me (2Cor 12:9).?
This ‘power of Christ? is manifested in the practices of our 2000-year Christian tradition. We find strength in our desire to return to God through prayer, fasting, and sharing what we have with others.
Repeating these positive behaviors over the course of a 40 day period also fits in with what psychologists tell us about the value of repetition, that is, a disciplined behavior takes at least 21 days to begin to effect a change in habit.
I encourage you to tap into this tradition and find a practice this Lent that will work for you. Start by reflecting on your day each night before you go to sleep, thanking God for all the good things and recalling where you fell short of living a truly Christian life. This daily examination of conscience may help you to decide upon a positive practice for Lent.
So, how did the television show end? With change, of course! Everyone loves a happy ending, but poor Dr. House was left to contemplate why his theory didn’t hold up.
Despite difficult challenges and much opposition, people can and do change. The optimistic, Easter-version, of myself couldn’t help but hope that positive change is in store for his character as well.
In any case, we have faith as Christians that the power of prayer, the witness of our faith tradition, and the support of our communities can help to transform each of us into a person more like Jesus. Happy Lent!
Cheryl Smith is director of Adult Faith Formation at St. Daniel Catholic Church.

By the Rev. Loren Covarrubias

Our nation is in the midst of selecting candidates for the November national election. Candidates are promoting their attributes and programs while trying to convince the electorate of their worthiness to serve as our nation’s president and commander in chief.
As I listen to their political solutions I compare them to my opinions about the issues of the day. Politically I have been a conservative Republican all of my life. As a matter of fact, I like to joke with friends that I became a Republican before God did.
Yet, as a long time politically motivated person I sense that our nation is in need of much more than simply a political solution.
We are in a time of crisis that requires much more than a simple political answer. I believe we need a truly transformational leader.
What do I mean by transformational leader?
Over time we have had transformational leaders that not only impacted the laws of the land but also inspired the people of our country to do great things.
Franklin D. Roosevelt is a good example of this concept of a transformational leader. I may not be a fan of the political solutions he had for our country but in a time of great economic crisis and world conflict he inspired the nation to believe in themselves, the greatness of our national values, rebuild the nation’s economic system and face a devastating war.
This generation has been referred to as ‘The Greatest Generation? by Tom Brokaw and others. Our nation has prospered on the foundation of this great generation for many years.
When Ronald Reagan became president, one of the sons of this great generation, he also inspired us and completed the world confrontation of the Cold War.
He heralded great hope when he declared to the Russian leaders while standing in front of the Berlin Wall in the 1980s, ‘Mr. Gorbachov, tear down this wall!? To the surprise of much of the world that is precisely what happened not many years later.
Today we are at an important and critical time in history. As it was in the 1930s we have become disillusioned by the unrestrained materialism and failing of our economic fiber.
Like people before us, we are looking for answers.
We need to be inspired to make responsible choices for our long-term health.
We need to fix our failing social security and health care systems.
We need to bring into balance both our national and personal debt that is strangling our free market economy.
As a pastor and church leaders I know the church also has to stand up and take our role as a transformational influence on our nation.
For too long we have catered to human desires without concern for the long-term impact of our choices. History has proven that the third generation is an important turning point for any nation, business or institution.
We need leadership that will once again raise a generation of greatness that will lay the foundation for our future.
At Mt. Zion church we refer to this as the ‘Joshua Generation.? In the Bible this is the generation that went in and took possession of the ‘Promised Land.?
The Promised Land was a land God promised for His people that was ‘flowing with milk and honey.?
This land also had giants. One can not get to the land unless they are willing to face the giants.
Is there a Joshua who can inspire us to ‘taken the land??
The Rev. Loren Covarrubias is pastor of Mt. Zion, Clarkston.

By Loren Covarrubias

2008 greeted us with a record snowfall. It was said to be one of the largest on record for Michigan with Clarkston being one of the hardest hit areas.
The prediction for the storm was that we would get 4 to 8 inches. Since I particularly detest snow I was hoping for the much lower figure.
When I left a New Year’s Eve party in the early morning hours the snow was just beginning. You can imagine my unpleasant surprise when I woke up New Year’s Day to the record snowfall!
I was particularly disappointed when I learned that other metro areas only received one to four inches.
I was having company on New Year’s Day and worried about my guests being able to make it to dinner. Fortunately they owned four-wheel drive vehicles and were able to make it to my driveway, even though one still managed to get stuck.
When I saw the mounting piles of snow from all the plowing my only thought was, ‘Oh no, this snow will be with us forever!?
I sit here less than a week later and am amazed as I look out my window.
The sun is shining. There is no snow in sight. Even the mountains of snow in the parking lot have disappeared. It is amazing the difference in a week!
I am also well aware that the opposite may well be the case next week at this same time.
In the past when discussing my dislike for Michigan winters people have advised me to take up a winter pastime so that I can enjoy the winter.
I have followed their advice?..I now vacation in the south during the winter months. My winter pastime is visiting Florida, Mexico and next week I will be taking a mission trip to El Salvador.
The problem is I will soon be back and the sight of snow from the arriving plane will not be pleasant to me. The truth is if I bide my time the sunny days and warm weather will soon return to Michigan as well.
The other storm we are enduring is the economic storm in Michigan. Many people talk as if it is the end of the world and are caught in the emotional distress of seemingly endless storms.
I want to remind all who live in Michigan that our economy is much like our weather.
We have storms and sometimes they seem endless but the truth is if you simply wait a better day is certainly on the horizon.
We should not plan our life as if the better day is not coming because indeed it will.
The Bible says, ‘While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.?
This is true of the weather but more importantly it is true of the economy. Start getting your seed ready because spring is just around the corner!
Loren Covarrubias is pastor of Mt. Zion Temple.

By Pastor Greg Henneman

Someone has said that an expert is anyone who is more than 100 miles away and you have to pay to talk to them.
Our culture is full of experts.
There are experts out there who will tell you that the economy is lousy ‘you’ll never get that career you’ve always wanted.
You’re marriage is too far gone ‘you might as well call it quits.
You don’t have the skills necessary ‘you might as well settle for less.
Oh yea? Listen to what the experts used to say:
Everything that can be invented has been invented.
? Charles H. Duell, U.S. Patent Office director, 1899
Who the h? wants to hear actors talk?
? H. M. Warner, Warner Bros. Pictures, c. 1927
Sensible and responsible women do not want to vote.
? Grover Cleveland, 1905
There is no likelihood man can ever tap the power of the atom.
? Robert Millikan, Nobel prize winner in physics, 1923
Heavier than air flying machines are impossible.
? Lord Kelvin, president, Royal Society, c. 1895
Ruth [Babe Ruth] made a big mistake when he gave up pitching.
? Tris Speaker, 1927
The horse is here to stay, but the automobile is only a novelty.
? The Michigan banker who advised Henry Ford’s lawyer not to invest in the new motor car company
Gone with the Wind is going to be the biggest flop in Hollywood history. I’m just glad it’ll be Clark Gable who’s falling flat on his face and not me.
? Gary Cooper
Why not dream some big dreams this New Year?
Scripture says that God can help you ‘sing a new song? (Psalm 96).
God can make you into ‘a new creation? (2 Corinthians 5:17).
He can give you ‘a new heart and a new spirit? (Ezekiel 36:26).
You can ‘be made new in the attitude of your mind? (Ephesians 4:23).
Through faith in God you can ‘put on a new self? (Colossians 3:10)!
Don’t listen to the experts this New Year! Listen to God! And go for it!
Greg Henneman is pastor of Clarkston Community Church.

By Pastor Jonathan Heierman
I wonder what Jesus wants for Christmas ? for his birthday ? this year?
I have been pondering this question while preparing for my Christmas sermons at Calvary Lutheran. It’s an interesting question because in most cases the one having the birthday is the one who receives gifts.
However at Christmas it seems most of the focus is on what gifts we will either be receiving or giving someone else for Jesus? birthday.
Of course these can be very kind and loving gifts we give to others. And the Bible teaches us that especially when we give to those in need we are giving to Jesus in a very real way.
But still, I wonder how often we really stop to ask the question, ‘What does Jesus want for Christmas this year??
I am thinking that this is the year to focus first on what Jesus wants for his birthday ? from us.
I heard this little story recently which might make you smile, as well as offer some insights into answering this question:
A couple days before Christmas there was a long line at the post office as people were frantically trying to get things in the mail for loved ones far away. An exasperated woman finally reaches the counter and asks, ‘Can you get this to my dad in California by Christmas??
The clerk responds, ‘Yes we can, but it will cost you to get it there overnight.?
‘How much??
‘It will be $53.25.?
The woman continues, ‘Wow, that is a lot, but I’ve got to do it. This present is for my dad and it has to be there by Christmas’because Christmas is his birthday.? To which the clerk responds: ‘What a bummer that is’having a birthday on Christmas day. I sure am glad I don’t know anyone born on Christmas.? Someone from the back of the line with a quick wit and a vital faith says, ‘I sure am glad I do!?
I believe that Christmas, at its deepest level, is really all about knowing someone born on Christmas day ? really knowing him, and loving him, and living our lives for him.
Because of that I am convinced that the best gift of all we can give Jesus, and what he wants most, is our hearts and our lives and our first love. This is what he wants, because he knows that when we do put him first, our lives will begin to have more purpose, hope, joy, peace and love ? for God and for others. God sent Jesus to us at that first Christmas to be the gift that would truly keep on giving.
So what does this look like? Here is what Paul writes in

By Pastor Loren Covarrubias
Next week we will be celebrating Christmas.
Christmas is the celebration of the incarnation. For Christians this refers to the time when God became a human person in order to dwell with His people.
The non-Christian person, as well as some Christians, deem this concept hard to fathom. They ask, ‘How could God be ‘made flesh? and dwell with His people??
The doctrine of Christ that most Christians adhere to is that Jesus Christ was truly man as well as being truly God. His human body was the result of the conception in the womb of His mother Mary with the seed for His body being the Word of God.
This is why the scriptures also say, ‘The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.?
The Christian God by nature is a triune being.
He is God the Father which is the source.
When He speaks and His word proceeds from Him it is the action or creative part of God.
The third aspect of His nature is His Spirit.
When Mary consented to the will of the Father, the Holy Spirit then overshadowed her and the word she received became the child we call the Son of God.
The important lesson in all of this is that God is a God who wants to interact with His creation. God wants to be a part of His creation and He certainly wants to interact with people.
I always find this to be amazing.
The God who is all powerful and the God who fills and sustains all things wants to be a part of our individual lives. I often tell people that the most amazing thing to me is not how big God is but rather how small He is willing to become in order to enter our world.
When we see the image of the nativity we should be so awed by the fact that God was willing to stoop so low to reach His people.
Although the Christ was truly a king, He came in a humble fashion because God does not just care about the big shots and who we would assume to be important people but He cares about everyone from the least to the greatest.
When I was a child I was very introverted. I was shy and kept to myself. I had a large family of eight brothers and sisters.
To me that was a big enough world for me to find happiness.
As a young child I heard the story of Jesus Christ and invited Him into my life. The great God who created the heavens and the earth was willing to become small enough to enter my world.
Through the process of time He has indeed made my world much larger. People who knew me when I was young would never believe my life would be as large as it now it.
I founded and pastor what is referred to as a mega-church. I have a television ministry that reaches the nations of the world and regularly visit many nations of the world. My big world started when the great big God became small enough to come into my then small world.
Do you know that Christ wants to come into your world? It does not matter how insignificant you feel yourself to be, to God you are as important to Him as you will let Him be!
Loren Covarrubias is pastor of Mt. Zion Temple.