Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Family - God Cares


Hannah, a barren and saddened woman, comes to the temple praying and weeping with anguish asking the Lord for a child. Her anguish causes her to appear drunk as she moves her lips in prayer but does not speak her petitions out loud but in her heart. Eli does not hesitate to reprimand the woman, "How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!" But as soon as Eli realizes that she is in sorrow he is filled with compassion and ready to offer hope and assurance.

Samuel, a son of Hannah, now serving in the temple comes to Eli at night thinking he is being called by the priest. Eli recognizes that it is the Lord that spoke to the boy. He sends him back with instructions to respond by saying, "Speak, for Your servant hears." This man understands the ways of God.

The priests' sons, on the other hand, sinned without shame. Defiling the women that come to the temple as well as disrespectfully breaking God's ordinances in regards to the sacrifices brought by the people.

Eli, a priest and a father. Giving counsel to those who come to the temple. Unafraid to rebuke the sinner. Knowing the ways of God. And yet, he did not have a close relationship with his sons. He found out the evil deeds they where doing through reports that he heard from others. His sons sinned within the temple. God warned Eli and gave him the opportunity to repent as well as bring his sons to repentance. He did not heed the warning, honoring his sons above God, and so Eli's priesthood was taken away from him and his sons were punished.

The warning and punishment makes it evident that God cares about the family. Eli's family was more important to God than his service in the temple.

(1 Samuel 1-4)

Monday, July 09, 2012

Obama Care

Political Cartoons by Lisa Benson

by Lisa Benson, July 6, 2012

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Homesick

Friday, July 22, 2011

Tuesday, July 12, 2011


Ocean Sky from Alex Cherney on Vimeo.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

gossip

Mildred, the church gossip, and self-appointed monitor of the church's morals, kept sticking her nose into other people's business... Several members did not approve of her extra curricular activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence.

She made a mistake, however, when she accused Frank, a new member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his old pickup parked in front of the town's only bar one afternoon.

She emphatically told Frank (and several others) that every one seeing it there WOULD KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING!

Frank, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just turned and walked away. He didn't explain, defend, or deny. He said nothing...






Later that evening, Frank quietly parked his pickup in front of Mildred's house... walked home... and left it there all night!


(You gotta love Frank!)


-Author Unknown

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Children are a blessing

To the one who understands,

I heard a comment made today, just one done in passing,
I know I should just laugh it off,
but my face, a smile was lacking.

My heart sank deep, my eyes they swelled,
Hands were clenched,
I wanted to yell

Complain about a blessing?
I just can't comprehend,
All my thoughts where quite depressing
My heart may never mend.

I take a moment for myself,
to calm,
Reflect and ask for help

As I pray to God above,
My smile returns,
And I feel his love

God is Faithful, God is True,
It's him I must trust,
Pray and look up to.

Words can't describe the comfort I feel,
The softening of my heart,
Knowing my God's love is real.

-Toni Fleischer