Christian Photographers Community

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Link of the day...[/font]

• Why Does God Allow Us To Suffer?  There are many, many ideas on this subject and this is one of them.  I was very interested in reading this lady's article.

• Creation Moment Listen to the Creation Moment every day for a new creation moment!  We can learn a lot from these!  Terrific if you are home schooling.

Verse for Today...[/font]

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." [/color]
~1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV~[/list]


Quote of the Day...[/font]

 "God's choice acquaintances are humble men."
~Robert Leighton~[/list]


Some News We Should Know About...

• Book claims Jesus had homosexual relationship
  BY RICHARD N. OSTLING -- The campaign to have U.S. Protestant churches accept homosexuals has taken a radical new turn with a Chicago scholar's claim that Jesus not only approved same-sex relationships, but also was involved in one.    This is absolutely terrible!

• Photo Moment: Polar Bear Investigates Submarine USS Connecticut  [/b]  

From our forums...

• Only a few more days to post a POSTCARD!
  
  
  
• Janet Needs Suggestions![/b]
  
  
  
• Mmmmmm.... White Chocolate Cheesecake
  

Here's a question that maybe we could discuss in here today...

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Morning Devotional...

Thou hast granted me life and favor, and Thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.                      Job 10:12


The late J. Boyd Nicholson more than once reminded me of this stupendous fact.

There are so many circumstances of life which we as Christians never know about, where God has intervened, protected, and preserved us spiritually and physically.

The psalmist in Psalm 64:1 could say, "Preserve my life from the fear (or threats) of the enemy."

Jude could look back and say, "He has done, and will do so."
                                                                                     --Brian Russell

Hi everyone.  I can't seem to get here before it is late at night.  The day is full of other things, and keeps me busy.  I am determined to not let Earl's garden die from lack of water!!  We have to water very often here.  

Tomorrow will be full as well, because we are going back to Amarillo for Earl's checkups with his cardiologist and PCP.  It is supposed to reach 100 degrees there – how did we manage to pick the hottest day of the year (so far) to go???    Daughter Elaine is driving us.  

My doctor told me today that I need surgery, and I need it soon.  Over my protests, he said "Yes, your husband is sick, but you are sick too."  Not exactly what I wanted to hear.  He says he can fix my esophagus and I will be rid of the GERD, which I have had for years.  Maybe after tomorrow, I will know more about what to expect with hubby's heart failure situation.  Really, though,  I should not be so concerned about this, because after all, God is in control, and what better answer do I need?  

Right now, I need to get to bed, 5 AM will be here before I know it!  
Hope you all have a great day in the Lord.  
C U next time.  Love, Janice

Morning folks. If you were living where I live then there would be no complaints about the temperature! Send your good weather over here. May the Lord bless these few thoughts to you today:-

'If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.' John 15:7

Just imagine for a moment going into a Superstore and the Manager met you at the door with an empty trolley, saying 'Ask me for whatever you want and I'll give it to you!' Wow wouldn't that be good!
We are not limited today my friends to an 'omer' of manna.
There is a divine simplicity in the promise written above. Often our prayers are thwarted by our unbelief and by the complications that we add to the promise. My dear friend dare to take God at His Word today. He is faithful to all His promises.
Where else would the Christian rather be than to be abiding in Christ. He is our refuge. We should have great confidence when we pray to our Father. He gave us the most precious possession that He had, namely His own Son. He will therefore withhold no good thing from those who walk uprightly. For those who abide in Him.
He awaits your petition dear brother or sister. Ask for great things! Why? Because we have a great God who hears and answers prayer.
Faith is a spiritual muscle that needs to be exercised constantly. We are to use it to fend off the fiery darts of the evil one.
Faith sees beyond the shores of this present world and views an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled which awaits the child of God.
There may be days for the child of God that seem endless with pain and misery. Their souls sigh and groan for liberty. Seems like one trial following another. Is there no escape? Is there no rest? Is there no peace?
Like the dove there is no peace or safety for us outwith the Ark. Abiding in Christ provides a greater safety than that enjoyed by Noah and his family in the Ark!
Our strength to overcome and to persevere comes from abiding in the Beloved. When the trials of this present life threaten to overwhelm us, let us meditate on the world to come. Let us think of Home. An eternity with our Beloved where nothing can corrupt, where there is no more darkness or fear and no end to life.
Are you crushed in spirit today my dear friend? If so then put your faith into action and view the beauty of Immanuel's Land. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Weeping may for a night endure but at morn doth joy arise.

Good Morning!!!

Wow....what great teaching in here today.
Thanks Pat for the devotion....
Thanks Iain also for your thoughts on abiding in Christ....would that not be great when we come to Christ and ask and totally believe that whatever we ask according to His Word we shall receive...there are many times that I ask and yet I do not receive because I do not believe or I ask amiss.....tis so sad when we do not give God the glory of complete trust.....
thanks again Iain....great booster for me to meditate upon this morning.
God bless...
Janice.....keep putting that trust in God...yes He is still in control....
God bless and take care...
Paulette.

Oh, Iain, what a wonderful devotion from you today!  Thanks so much for that.  

Hi Paulette!  Great to see you too.

I'm so sorry, Janice, to read that you might need surgery as well but it would be so good to be rid of GERD.  We're still praying for Earl and YOU!  

Good Morning

chrismar and Iain
Pull up a chair and have a coffee with me!  (Or maybe you'd rather have tea?  We have that too!)  

I think the question about cremation is a great one! Lets hear your views. I have heard many different views when I said this was my preferred method of burial.

Good Morning one and all:
What wonderful deviotions today from both Iain and Pat.

The question on creamation is provacative in many ways. Many people today are choosing creamation because it is the least expense to family members with the cost of funerals and in the ground burial rising and costs almost as much a new car. However I believe creamation is not the right thing and I know there are scriptures to back this up, but I have packed up all of my books and notes, except my Bibles. I do have, somplace, a handout with all the scriptural references.  I'm not sure but I think one of the reasons was that fire and burning of the body represents the burning in hell and is associated with that cult in the bible of passing their children through the fire. Fire is a purification process in some cases.  Also I think that our bodies should remain in tact, because when that final trump sounds and the Lord calls us from the grave, our old bodies will rise to meet him in the air and be glorified. That's all I can remember, it has been awhile since I've checked my notes.

Well I have let the dogs go for a run this morning and asked to Lord to watchover them and bring them back home safely. He always does. Bebe hasn't been for a run in over a month and needs to get that out of her system. I feel so bad about have to keep her on a chain. I don't like chaining dogs, but without a fence and living right on the road I am afraid to leave her loose when I go to work.

TTYL

I really appreciate your words about suffering this morning, Pat.  There are many, many Christians and professing Christians today who don't believe suffering is for them.  But oh the heartache when they experience it.  They can't think why it happens to them, and they begin even to doubt their relationship to God.  All this heartache could be avoided if we would just realize that suffering IS for Christians and that it has many good and gracious uses in God's hands to perfect our character and glorify His Name.  Samuel Rutherford, a Puritan of many years ago said, "Needs are my greatest riches, for I have these supplied by Christ!"  Do we not come to know His love more intimately and His power and wisdom more fully when we cry out in the midst of suffering and He supplies our need?  We are indeed told to pray, not so that we will be untroubled, but so that He will appear to us just when we need Him in its midst.  
May we be delivered, not from all troubles, but from the "prosperity gospel" that troubles us!

I certainly don't consider myself a Biblical scholar on the subject of cremation.  However, I think we should remember that we shall be created new in the resurrection at Christ's coming - all our blemishes, fleshly problems, etc. will be done away.  The body we have now is not the one that shall be.  With that in mind, I don't personally think it matters what is done to it at death.  I believe I shall see my Savior at the last day - whether I'm cremated or not.

Thanks Marilyn!  Too bad you have those books packed!  


Al, re today's devotional, that's exactly how Jack felt about his illness.  After he became very ill, I saw him grow so much in the Lord.  He had so much time to pray and there was a closeness to his Father that I never saw before.  

He had a poem that he read almost daily during his really low times along with his Bible readings...

Al,

What a delight to find another brother quoting my favourite Scottish son, Samuel Rutherford. Here is my favourite quote from his last words :-

The Bride eyes not her garment,
    But her dear Bridegroom's face
I will not gaze at glory,
    But on my King of Grace—
Not at the crown He gifteth,
    But on His piercèd hand:—
The Lamb is all the glory
    Of Immanuel's land.

Good morning.  We have another beautiful morning here.

Good to see each one.  I enjoyed the devotional thoughts.

I have no particular thoughts about cremation.  As far as I know there aren't any scriptures which would have a bearing on the subject.  As for the resurrection God will accomplish it even if the remains are completely disintegrated.  Our plans are to be buried in a little country cemetery not far from here.

I hope you all have a good day today.

--- Papa John              <)))><<

 

Hi to everyone from another beautiful morning here in the Atlanta area.  It is suppose to get into the 80's here today.  Yesterday was in the upper 70s with low humidity.  Such a beautiful day.  We went out to eat with friends last evening and the place had big garage type doors they open when it is nice and there was a delightful breeze.  However, it is situated along a busy highway and the noise of that plus the noise in the restruarant made it hard to talk as both of these friends are hard of hearing.  

Janice, sorry to hear that you must have surgery but hopefully Earl will be well enough so that you can have that and recover.  It sounds like you will then feel much better after the surgery.  Does your daughter live close by to lend a hand if needed?  God will provide.

Pat and Ian, I benefited from the daily devotional and your words, Ian.  I am certain that God has intervened in my life many times that I have not recognized at the time.  I may have shared this before but when I was taking the interferon shots for a year and suffering with a pain in my lower back all the time, one of our pastors came to visit me and at the point of leaving from the visit we prayed together.  She asked if she could put her hand on the area of my back where the pain was, which she did.  I had about a ten day period where I felt better and didn't suffer the pain.  It wasn't until several months later that my wife reminded me that the 10 day period had followed her powerful prayer for relief of the pain.  

Both my wife and I plan to be cremated.  I did inquire of our minister if this was something against the Presbyterian understanding of the Bible and was told it was not and that many people are choosing this process.  My reasons are several.  First is that I feel the cost of funerals is totally out of control.  The second is that when I die I will no longer be in the old diseased shell that would go in the ground and soon be eaten by worms and decay and my spirit will be in Heaven.  The third reason is that I want to have my ashes scattered in the cementary where my family is buried in Missouri.  This can be done at a convenient time with a small memorial service.  I also hope that there can be a memorial service and celebration at my church here in Georgia at the time of my death.  

Paulette and Jerry, good to see you both posting today.  Papa John, Al and Pat, I see we were posting at the same time.

I really don't know about cremation.  I don't think I would want ot be cremated, but at the same time, I don't know that I can find a strong argument against it, or for it.  Lemme think about it for a little.

Good day all!  I am subbing at work so this is short.  Take care and have a Godly day!
karmat

I have been thinking about the pros and cons of cremation for several years now, and am still not clear in my mind about it.  I know many more are choosing it now, for mostly reasons of expenses.  I appreciate reading other Christians' thoughts about this.

Great devotionals this morning---thanks!

PRAISE REPORT!!!  BETH DOES NOT HAVE CANCER!![/b]  Her doctor called yesterday and said it isn't cancer!  They don't know what it is, but that is wonderful news!!  Janet does the Pentecostal happy dance!!!!   Yea, God!!!  We are so happy!

karmat the baptist does the pentacostal happy dance with janet!

Karma....... Thanks!

We're so happy to hear that news of Beth.  BUT we'll continue praying for her as she's still not well.



Thanks for all of your comments on cremation.  I personally don't like the practice of it and choose to be buried but I know that many Christians have chosen cremation over burial in recent years.

Marilyn is doing the Pentacostal Happydance with y-all. Praise the Lord for answered prayer.

                           

Cute Marilyn!

I just lost an eloquent post!!!!!!!  Going out to eat.  I'll be back....as Arnold would say.

But I do want to praise God for Beth and her great news.


In the meantime......

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"A girl joining an exercise class was told to wear loose clothing.  She said, 'If I had any loose clothing, I wouldn't be joining the class.'"

Add my praise and glory to the LORD for that report.

Janice, so sorry to hear about your health problems.  I will add you to my prayer list.

Al, I , too, feel the same about cremation as you do.  I will be in a glorified body so whatever the ones that I leave want to do with me; that's o.k.

Thought I would share a cute email I received.
A MEMORIAL-- this is so cute

> One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex
> was staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the
> church.
> It was covered with names...and small American flags were mounted on
> either side of it.
> >
> > The seven year old had been staring at the plaque
> for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the little boy,
> and
> said quietly, "Good morning, Alex."
> >
> > "Good morning, Pastor," replied the young man,
> still focused on the plaque.
> >
> > "Pastor, ....what is this?"
> >
> > "Well, son, it's a memorial to all the young men
> and women who died in the service".
> >
> > Soberly, they stood together, staring at the large
> plaque. Little Alex's voice was barely audible, trembling with fear,
> when
> he asked, "Which service? ...... the 9:45 or the 11:15?"


Well, I am off again to Penna .  for a couple of days.

Take care, Love in CHrist,
Joyce

Oh I just HAVE TO join in with you, JANET, and all of you, in praise and celebration for the good report on Beth.    Like PAT, though, I will continue to pray for her until she is completely well again!    

Good Morning all,

That's such great news that Beth does not have cancer!

On cremation: What a hard thing this is. My mother went home to be with the Lord after several boughts with cancer. She was single with very little resources.
We made the choice to have her remains cremated. If money was not an issue perhaps we would have gone the burial route. It is still very confusing after 5 years.
I don't think the Lord will look down on us for making such a choice( a choice that kept us out of debt for anothers riches).
Some look to the burial of Jesus as a standard and even my previous pastor- Jon Courson was not in favor of cremation.
I don't like the idea of worms and such eating away at ones flesh, even though the spirit is the real person and the flesh is just an outer dwelling place.
I also don't like the thought of the flesh burning!
It is a very difficult choice. It has to be a personal choice.
I really can't see someone going into debt or having financial hardship just for a pretty casket in an elite cemetary. I do feel it is acceptable if one has the means and they are led that this is the best choice for them.

Sorry for my many rambling thoughts today.
Denise

Thanks to our Father for the news on Beth!  But as for Karmat's view (or lack thereof) on cremation - that really burns me up!

Hhahahha brother Al. That just burns you up. you are funny.

Oh, Al!!!

Sorry, Janice...I forgot to say how sad I am that you are in need of surgery at this time.  But you do need to be well to take care of hubby.

Hahaha!  Al!!!!    Hope this doesn't turn into a heated argument!!!!

Cremation....I have the Franklin Bible and 'cremate''
'cremation' or any derivitive is not in the NIV Bible.  I put in 'burn', 'ashes', and derivitives and this only pertained to offerings in the Old Testament.  No one today is buried like Jesus...in a tomb/cave.  But I personally, think the funeral directors are fleecing people in their time of bereavement.  It isn't the body that goes to heaven....it is the spirit...we will get new bodies when we get to heaven.  (Remember, I am asking for a size 6!)  I see nothing adverse to cremation unless it would be the final closure that some have when viewing a body in a casket.  But for rising costs of today....cremation would be less costly.  I, for one, do not want cremation for myself.  Reason being, I have my cemetery plot and enough insurance money to be buried in a casket & vault that will be guaranteed not to leak for eons.  (Who is going to know about that?)

Jerry and I had a nice drive this afternoon.  I took some pictures so check them out in the photos area.

God Bless All of You!!!

Janet, this is indeed a red letter day with the news regarding Beth.  I think we were all very worried for her.  It is indeed a time to praise God for his goodness and care.

Pat, I can really relate to Jack's poem "I Needed the Quiet".  Illness certainly does cause us to slow down and ponder what is really important.  

Al and Etta Sue, that was pretty bad, but cleaver!  

I have felt better this afternoon than I have for several days.  I have been angina free today and actually felt like sitting at the computer this afternoon.  I am hoping this means the increase in medication is really helping.