Book Review -- "Bookstore Cats"

     Today's review is about a book entitled "Bookstore Cats" written by Brandon Schultz.  This book tells about different cats that live in bookstores across the United States. One of the stores profiled is not very far from where I live.
     Each chapter of the book is about a different store and the cats that live there. The personality and the traits of each cat are discussed, and there are pictures of each of the cats in each store.
     This is a very nice book.  The writing is good, and the pictures are very well done. An interesting touch throughout the book is that the author puts in lists of things like famous cats in literature, cats in young adult books, etc.  There are even some poems about cats in the book.
     If you are a cat lover, you will definitely want to get a copy of "Bookstore Cats."

Verses For the Week and an Update

     I just wanted to let everyone know that the storms that were called for in my area on Saturday did not amount to anything.  I am very thankful to the Lord for this, and I thank you for your prayers.  I would ask that you pray for me today, the railroad is doing construction work in the town where I live, and I am afraid that they may damage my property.  Please pray that this does not happen.  Also, please pray that all goes well in my job search.  Please remember to keep praying for the people of Puerto Rico.  Thank you.

Here are the verses:

Proverbs 3:26 -- "For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught."

Philippians 1:6 -- "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.'

Weekend Sermon -- What The Lord Seeks From Us -- John 4:23

     Welcome to this week's edition of the Weekend Sermon.  Thank you for taking the time to read the blog this week. I hope that everyone is doing well, and I hope that all of you have had a good week.

     This has been a good week in writing.  I've had a lot of work, and I am grateful to the Lord for it.  There is a possibility that I might have a part-time job lined up, so please pray that this will work out according to the will of the Lord.

     Last week, I asked you to pray about the storms that were predicted for my area.  The storms caused a lot of wind damage.  My house did have some minor roof damage.  I had that repaired yesterday.  

     I would ask that you would please pray about a similar situation that is predicted for this week. We are supposed to have bad storms with wind again this Saturday.  Please pray that these storms will not be bad, and that my roof repair will hold up.  Thank you for your prayers.

     Please keep praying for those in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands who are suffering from the effects of the hurricane.  Pray that they will receive the aid that they need to get their lives on track. 

     Some of the fires have been brought under control in California, but there are still fires burning.  Pray that the fires will be extinguished and that people will be safe.

     They are getting quite a bit of stormy weather in Britain and Ireland.  Pray that everyone over there will be safe.  I have several online friends there, and I pray that they will all be OK.

     Continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world.  Remember to continue to pray for Syria, South Sudan and Iraq.

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us all pray for Kuwait and India.  Pray that many will hear the message of the love of Jesus.

     This week in the sermon, I want to speak about what our purpose is in life.  We are here for a reason.  

     Sometimes, I get very down and I don't think that my life amounts to much.  Sometimes, I don't see much point to my life. 

     It is at times like these when I have to go to the Word of God and see what the Lord has to say.  I did that this week, and I was really blessed by the verse that is the basis for the message today.

     In John chapter 4, Jesus traveled to a Samaritan village, and He had a conversation with a woman at the town well.  During the course of their discussion, the woman brought up a question about what place was the correct place to worship the Lord.  In John 4:23, Jesus said the following, "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers."

     What struck me about this verse was the realization that I am here on this earth for a specific purpose.  I am here to be someone that worships the Lord in spirit and in truth. That is my mission, that is my reason for being.

      As I've looked at jobs and things to do, sometimes I've focused on that as a way to finding a meaningful life.  But, that is not what the meaning of life is about at all.  Work, career and accomplishments are just a means to help me exist in the world to do that for which I have been called and to do that which God desires.

      I've been called, all Christians have been called, to worship the True and Living God.  We are on this earth to bring honor and glory to His holy name.

     Now, of what does true worship consist?  We are to worship in spirit.  I believe that there are two ways to look at this.  First of all, we can interpret this to mean that we are to worship the Lord with all of our being.  We are to give all of our energy and effort to being those who bring glory to the Lord.

     On the other hand, we can interpret this to mean that we are to worship the Lord as we are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit fills us with love for the Lord that leads us to true worship.

     We are also to worship the Lord in truth.  We are to have a right understanding of who God is and what He wants from us.  Only when we have a correct understanding about God can we worship God in the fullness that He seeks.

      Now, of what does worship consist?  Of course, part of worship is going to a worship service and singing songs of praise and adoration.  We worship through partaking of the Sacraments.  We worship through hearing the proclamation of the Word.

      Worship has another component as well.  Worship is about what we do.  We worship the Lord when we follow those things that He has commanded us to do.  We honor Him as Lord when we do what He has said.

     We worship the Lord when we follow His direct will for our lives.  I believe that the Lord calls individuals to specific tasks of service.  When we do these tasks, we are worshiping the Lord.

     We also worship the Lord when we do what is good in the world to make this world a better place and help others in this life.  There are many needs in this world.  People are hurting.  The whole of creation needs help.  When we bring help to this hurting world, we are worshiping the Lord. 

     When we do our best at whatever we set ourselves to do that is right, we are worshiping the Lord.  We bring honor to His name when we strive for excellence and do what we do as if we are doing it unto Him.

      I know that when I look at life from this perspective, it keeps me going.  It lets me know that I have something to accomplish.  The Lord has me here for a reason and a purpose.  He has you here for a reason and a purpose too.

      Next week, I am going to begin a new series of messages as we study the book of Malachi.  I hope that you will join me for that series.  Next week, I will post the verses on Monday, and there will be a review on Wednesday.  May God bless you all.  Amen. 

     

     

Book Review -- Arthur

     "Arthur" written by Mikael Lindnord tells the story of how a stray dog in Ecuador followed a team of extreme racers through the jungle.  After making it through the jungle with the team led by Lindnord, Mr. Lindnord decides that he wants to adopt Arthur and take him back to Sweden. The book details what Lindnord had to do to get Arthur to Sweden, and then it goes into detail about how Arthur adjusted to life with his new family.
     I liked this book for several reasons. For one thing, it introduced me to a sport that I didn't even know existed. I would never be able to come close to doing it, but it was very interesting reading about it.
     I also liked the fact that the author went all out to help Arthur. After getting Arthur home, the author didn't forget about other dogs that needed help. He established a foundation to assist stray dogs in finding homes.
     I would recommend this book for all those who like dog stories. It is a little slow at first as the author goes into a lot of detail about his sport and the first part of the race before Arthur comes on the scene. I did find this interesting, but readers should know that the story about Arthur himself takes a little while to really get going.
   

Remembering

     Whenever things go bad in life like they have for the past few days, I always remember that I had the best friend that a person could ever have.  That makes me feel better every time.

Verses For the Week and an Update

     What a difference a couple of days makes.  The job that I thought was going to work out did not.  I won't go into any details, but I believe that everything worked out for the best.  I know that the Lord will provide something that is just right. 
     The storms on Saturday night caused some minor roof damage to the house.  It isn't that bad, and I believe that it can be repaired easily.
     Thank you for your prayers on these matters.  Please keep praying that writing will go well, and that I will find a part-time job that is the right one.
     Since things didn't go as expected with the job, the blog will stay on its normal schedule with the sermon being posted on Friday.

Here are the verses:

Galatians 6:9 -- "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

II Thessalonians 3:13 -- "And as for you brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good."

Weekend Sermon -- A Prayer of St. Francis

    Part of the post is showing up with a white background.  I don't know why this is doing this, and I've not been able to fix it.  I am sorry for any inconvenience.

    Thank you for taking the time to read the blog and the sermon this week.  I am thankful to the Lord for giving me the opportunity to do the blog.  I hope that everyone is having a good week.

     I would like to ask everyone to pray for those in California who are in the path of the terrible fires.  Please pray that these fires will be extinguished, and pray for those working to contain the fires that they will not be harmed.

     From what I hear from people on the ground in Puerto Rico, they still don't have the aid that they need to get back on their feet.  Please pray for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands that they will receive the assistance they require to get back on their feet.  Those in Dominica, Turks and Caicos and other islands in the Caribbean also need assistance and our prayers.  Please continue to pray for those in Florida and Texas affected by the storms.

     I would ask that you pray for me once again.  Tomorrow, we are supposed to have some very bad storms in the afternoon and evening.  I am very worried about this.  Please pray that these storms won't be bad.  I thank you for your prayers.

     I don't have too much news on the job situation.  Writing hasn't been that good this week.  Please pray that writing will pick up and that the part-time job situation will work itself out.

     Remember to continue praying for peace in the world.  Pray for peace in Syria, South Sudan, Yemen and Iraq.

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us all pray for those in Guinea-Bissau and Uzbekistan.  Prayer that many will hear of the love of Jesus.

     Last week, I brought a message about St. Francis, animals and the environment.  Today, I would like for us to reflect on one of the well known prayers that was prayed by St. Francis.  Let us see what we can learn from this prayer.

     The prayer reads as follows:

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy. 

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive, 

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, 

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

     The prayer begins by asking the Lord that we might be those who are used to bring peace into the world.  Jesus told as that, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God."  The Bible also tells us to, "Seek peace and pursue it."

     Christians should be people that try to bring peace in difficult situations.  As the prayer says, one way we bring peace is by sowing love in the midst of hate.  Right now in the United States where I live, it seems as if there is a great deal of hatred.  People on different sides of the political spectrum say hateful things to each other.  There is racial tension.  There is a lot of turmoil in society right now.

     In the midst of this, we must continue to share the truth of Jesus who was the man of love.  The church cannot be seen as a place of hate.

     Jesus came to show His love for all people.  Jesus loved everyone, and He called all people to come to Him.  We as His followers must show love in the midst of darkness.  We reach our hands to those in need and help those who are hurting.

     As believers in Jesus, we must be those who pardon and forgive.  When we see people in despair, we are the ones who must give words of encouragement and healing.  We must be the ones who tell people of the hope that comes from having a relationship with the Lord Jesus.

     There is much darkness in the world, but we are the ones who have been given the task of shining the light of the love of Jesus into the world to drive away the darkness.  Those in the darkness must be drawn to the light of the love of Christ.

     So many are lonely and depressed.  They are sad.  However, we are believers in Jesus can bring joy to those who are in despair.  Joy comes from knowing the peace of Jesus that will fill the hearts of all who seek Him.

     In the second part of this prayer, we ask that we seek the good of others more than we seek good for ourselves.  We don't seek consolation so much as to bring consolation to others who are in need.

     We seek to understand the hurts and struggles that others are facing.  This is one of the things that people need most.  I know that as a young man when I was facing depression, the thing that I wanted most was for someone to understand me. I needed someone to accept me for who I was.

     Love is what the Christian faith is about.  We who have experienced the love of Jesus in our hearts must give that love to others.  We seek out those who need to know that Jesus loves them and cares about them.

    In the final portion of this prayer, is says that in giving we receive.  Jesus told us that it is better to give than to receive. Saint Francis gave all that he had to the poor.  Jesus calls us to give to others of our resources and of ourselves.  This week, think about some ways that you can give to help others.

     In pardoning we our pardoned.  This recalls the words of Jesus where He tells us that we must be willing to forgive others, or we will not be forgiven.

     It is dying that we are born to eternal life.  When we die to sin and receive Jesus, we are a new creation.  We have eternal life now and in the future.  If we are in Christ, we know that when we pass away from this world, we will be where Jesus is because He has gone to prepare a place for us.

     I think that this is a powerful and deeply meaningful prayer.  This prayer has been set to music, and there are several online videos where you can here the musical setting.  At the end of the sermon, I will post a link where you can here one nice version.

     Next week may be a different schedule depending on what happens with this job.  I will post the verses on Monday, and there will be a review on Wednesday.  However, the sermon may not be posted until Saturday.  I will know more later, and I will let you know.  May God bless you all. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X_5kPyLHoM