Worship News April 29, 2009

"May 7 is National Day of Prayer

"I want to invite you to pray for our country on Thursday, May 7," says Shirley Dobson, Chairman of the task force for the National Day of Prayer. Facing “economic pressures, the ongoing threat of terrorism, and the unraveling of our culture's moral fabric" has created a sense of "fear and uncertainty," she says. Honorary Chairman Beth Moore says, "We are a people who are in trouble ... but there is an answer ... God has called us to the most powerful position we could ever take, and that's down on our knees in prayer." "Let’s unite in prayer for our nation," urges three-time NASCAR winner Darrell Waltrip. "At 200 miles an hour on a race track, each moment comes at you pretty quick ... but no moment is more powerful or significant than the one moment spent on my knees in prayer." "I find my strength in prayer," says Superbowl-winning coach Tony Dung. "I find my strength in prayer ... Throughout my life, my heart has been changed by prayer, and if it can change one heart, it can change the heart of a nation."

CCN's Rita Hassard speaks for the Day of Prayer Proclamation at a Gila County Supervisors meeting April 28.

Eastern AZ to Observe Day of Prayer

On April 28, the Gila County Board of Supervisors heard CCN Editor Rita Hassard advocate for the National Day of Prayer, and passed Proclamation 09-03, declaring the Day of Prayer in Gila County, and "encouraging all citizens to pray on their own and give thanks for the rich blessings of our Country, State and Nation." Governor Jan Brewer had already declared May 7 as the National Day of Prayer for the State of Arizona. In addition to personal prayer (the most important thing!) readers might consider attending one of the activities scheduled in Copper Country: Globe-Miami: Please pray wherever you are on Thursday morning as members of the Gila County Ministerial Association do a Prayer Drive through the neighborhoods. You can e-mail prayer requests to calvaryshadowsag@ yahoo.com. From noon to 12:45, gather at the County Courthouse flagpole just east of Jack in the Box in Globe. Mesa: A Mesa service will be at Central Christian Church, 933 N. Lindsay Rd., from 7 to 8:15 p.m.

Payson/Pine to Observe Day of Prayer

The National Day of Prayer, May 7, will be observed with six Christ-centered events in Rim Country, each with the theme of "Prayer ... America's Hope," from Psalm 33:22. Events are sponsored by the Payson Christian Ministerial Fellowship. Payson: Crossroads Church, 114 East Cedar, and Mountain Bible Church, 302 East Rancho, will each be having a time of special prayer in Payson from 7 to 8 a.m., along with a light continental breakfast. Mountain Bible’s prayer time will be led by Mike Latsko, Director of Prayer ministries for Frontiers Mission, a group that operates "underground" in "closed" countries where Christian evangelism is forbidden. Payson's Rumsey Park Ramada #5 will be the site of the noon until 1 p.m. patriotic emphasis event, along with music led by Payson Community Christian School. An evening event will begin at 7 at theChurch of the Nazarene, 200 East Tyler Parkway. Pine: Pine will be having two special observances, from 7:30 to 8 a.m. at the Pine Elementary School Flagpole and from 11 until noon at the Pine Community Center Ramada.

It Seems to Me ...Grandparents Can Be Great, By Ed Kuehneman

Bertha and Art Garcia are very "close" to their grandchildren (L-R) Jennica, Jared, and J.J. Grandparents are important! If they set a good example and give love and attention to their grandkids, they are a blessing. If they support their children's marriages and their authority (and try not to meddle) and even babysit sometimes, they can bless whole families, and bring themselves a lot of joy. As a boy, I thought that grandparents were just strange visitors from far away, but as a grandfather myself now, I see things very differently! Americans often move long distances, and sometimes they have to, but for children, the loss of playmates and beloved grandparents is devastating. Of course, some grandparents have horns instead of haloes. They may be too quick to want to break up their kid's marriage ("Divorce the bum!") or take over the grandkids. ("You’re not doing it right!") Or they violate the parents' standards: ("You can watch that at our house, sweetie.") We all have our "opinions," but kids can grow up nicely under an amazing variety of standards, as long as they’re consistent -- Others have a right to their own family, unless there is ongoing abuse. My grandparents were oldfashioned. When a daughter got pregnant, they saw that the youngsters got married. When the daughter came home crying, they sent her back to her husband to work it out. The young couple did, and had a long and happy marriage. With time should come wisdom. One white-haired man told me, "You have to be careful what you say to kids. Calling names can leave scars." This was odd to hear from a man who had raised his own kids backhanding them and calling them filthy names, but he had mellowed and matured, and was a popular grandpa. A few old-timers think it’s a joke to grow worse, following the Hollywood thinking that the only acceptable older folks are the "amusing" old codgers. "I say what I think now!" They are oddly proud that their standards are going downhill: "What a humorous old devil I am!" they seem to say, but how sad it is to throw their future and their influence away for a lewd chuckle! On the other hand, drawing close to God over the years can influence both children and grandchildren forever. Although my dad thought church was just sissy religion, my godly mother saw 2/3 of her children and 6/7 of her grandchildren saved, and ended her life at 92 praising God. My grandson Tim doesn’t see me often, but once he asked me seriously, "Grandpa, you always go to church, don’t you?" He wants to be a missionary. Grandparents can help when life is rough, but this can be tricky. We have all seen parents help by making a thoughtful loan, or hurt by bailing a kid out of trouble with money they can't afford, letting the kid go on his irresponsible way. Ouch! Sometimes a parent is missing: death, divorce, not there for a teen mom, or sunken in addiction. "Rescuing" the grandkids is a hard task for older folks, but a noble privilege with lasting honor, if taken with a good attitude. Basketball star Kevin Johnson was raised by his grandparents. He became an outspoken Christian and a tribute to them, donating his time to disadvantaged youth. Self-pity, on the other hand, is a poison. A Mesa man took in his grandkids when his son turned to meth, but with such whining that it amounted to child abuse. The suffering kids wanted to love and forgive their faulty parents, but no! He could have said, "Meth parents can't keep promises, so let's just pray for them. I love you guys so much!" But, no! On he raged, making them miserable. Yes, life is rough sometimes - - death, divorce, sickness, money worries -- but when life clobbers us, we can take it with dignity, not with buckets of alcohol or despair. Generations are watching. The death of a child is crushing, and some will focus on the lost, ignoring everyone else, for years, as Jacob did. Others, like David, weep, dry their tears, and go on. Abraham Lincoln was able to do that, and lots of local heroes do too. One old teddy bear of a man in Miami is "Grandpa" to half his church. His dad had been a grouchy heathen, but his grandmother had taken him to church and had set a godly example that he still follows. She now blesses others beyond her lifetime. Now that's important! (II Timothy 1:5)

Bad News ... Good News, Co-Pastor, First Christian Church(Disciples of Christ

Divine patience was wearing thin in His dealings with the people and nations of the Old Testament. After many tries, He sent prophets to deliver the message in their language and in their terms. "Thus says the Lord: Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the Lord." Jeremiah 17:5. Crops failed, plagues were prevalent, fruit trees bore no fruit, joy disappeared among the peoples. Nations were devastated and their leaders didn't seem to have a clue. When the bad news was delivered it seemed more of a summation of current events than anything of what could be expected. Then the good news came through the same source. "Come, let us return to the Lord; for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up." Hosea 6: 1 Have you distanced yourself from the Lord? Are you asking why you are feeling depressed, angry, with no future? Quit running, turn around, face God and ask Him what you need to do. He still cares. He still loves you. He is waiting.