Thursday, March 01, 2007
The Mainline has Moved
Well I haven't done a very good job keeping up with this blog, but I've renewed my writing efforts at this website. There are several new pieces so if you want to read more of R. Michael Freed come on over.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
A Day for Trying, A day for Doing
I awoke this morning at 4:00 am from a wonderful dream that I can now barely remember. After two unsuccessful attempts to go back to sleep and watching a little TV. I decided to get up.
I’ve been thinking about a kid I work with; among other things he has some learning disabilities. How difficult it must be for him. At 14 he’s tired of trying. I suspect it’s been a gradual process one seeming failure after another. I sometimes feel like I’m just one more person pushing and pushing him. What I’d really like to do is wrap my arms around him, tell him it will be OK, tell him that I love him and that God loves him more than he can imagine. I want to have some fun with him and laugh with him, but always it seems like I push him to do school work.
I want him to succeed, but at what price and by who’s definition. And how shall I encourage him to go on when I give up so easily sometime. Look at the last time I posted to this blog, when was the last time I really worked on any of several project I have in the works, and lets not even mention the myriad of things around the house I’ve let go, or how I haven’t exercised in who knows how long. It all seems to pile up and become overwhelming. What do you do when, where do you find the energy, what will you leave undone. Sometimes I just get tired of trying, but at least for today I will try. I will more than try, I will do! God help us!
I’ve been thinking about a kid I work with; among other things he has some learning disabilities. How difficult it must be for him. At 14 he’s tired of trying. I suspect it’s been a gradual process one seeming failure after another. I sometimes feel like I’m just one more person pushing and pushing him. What I’d really like to do is wrap my arms around him, tell him it will be OK, tell him that I love him and that God loves him more than he can imagine. I want to have some fun with him and laugh with him, but always it seems like I push him to do school work.
I want him to succeed, but at what price and by who’s definition. And how shall I encourage him to go on when I give up so easily sometime. Look at the last time I posted to this blog, when was the last time I really worked on any of several project I have in the works, and lets not even mention the myriad of things around the house I’ve let go, or how I haven’t exercised in who knows how long. It all seems to pile up and become overwhelming. What do you do when, where do you find the energy, what will you leave undone. Sometimes I just get tired of trying, but at least for today I will try. I will more than try, I will do! God help us!
Friday, July 29, 2005
Jubilee!
It’s been a while, too long since I’ve posted to this blog. Guess other things get in the way. And a lot of days I just don’t feel like I have anything to write. I guess I should just write anyway.
I had a great time at Vacation Bible School last week. Lively Christian music and watching little children usually perks me up.
Among other things I’ve been thinking about the word Jubilee. In the bible a year of Jubilee was held every 50 years. All the land reverted back to the original families who owned it. Debts were forgiven. Slaves were freed. Actually slaves were freed and debts forgiven every 7 years.. In a Sabbath year the Israelites were not to plant or harvest anything, God would provide enough in the sixth year to last two years. The year of Jubilee was like an extra Sabbath year thrown in every 49 years. In the 48th year God would provide enough harvest to last 3 years.
What faith that would have taken to trust God in that manner. It’s unclear if Israel ever really followed this system for any period of time. I really have trouble trusting God to provide. Which is probably why I have a fair amount of debt piled up over the years, but God has been there. In one way or another he has provided for our every need and then some.
My year of Jubilee begins in a couple of months when I turn 49. I’ll be 49 so I’ll be starting my 50th year. I want it to be a year of Jubilee. When I first thought of this I thought mostly I wanted a year of freedom; freedom from financial struggle, freedom from health issues and a time to start over. As I explored the concept of the year of jubilee it became clear that it should also be a year of Sabbath and a year to trust in God’s provision.
"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, {2} to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, {3} and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor." (Isa 61:1-3 NIV)
Copyright © 2005 by R. Michael Freed, MainlineMinistries.com You are free to share this for noncommercial uses, as long as these copyright notices are attached. Thank you! Unless otherwise noted Sriptures are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
I had a great time at Vacation Bible School last week. Lively Christian music and watching little children usually perks me up.
Among other things I’ve been thinking about the word Jubilee. In the bible a year of Jubilee was held every 50 years. All the land reverted back to the original families who owned it. Debts were forgiven. Slaves were freed. Actually slaves were freed and debts forgiven every 7 years.. In a Sabbath year the Israelites were not to plant or harvest anything, God would provide enough in the sixth year to last two years. The year of Jubilee was like an extra Sabbath year thrown in every 49 years. In the 48th year God would provide enough harvest to last 3 years.
What faith that would have taken to trust God in that manner. It’s unclear if Israel ever really followed this system for any period of time. I really have trouble trusting God to provide. Which is probably why I have a fair amount of debt piled up over the years, but God has been there. In one way or another he has provided for our every need and then some.
My year of Jubilee begins in a couple of months when I turn 49. I’ll be 49 so I’ll be starting my 50th year. I want it to be a year of Jubilee. When I first thought of this I thought mostly I wanted a year of freedom; freedom from financial struggle, freedom from health issues and a time to start over. As I explored the concept of the year of jubilee it became clear that it should also be a year of Sabbath and a year to trust in God’s provision.
"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, {2} to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, {3} and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor." (Isa 61:1-3 NIV)
Copyright © 2005 by R. Michael Freed, MainlineMinistries.com You are free to share this for noncommercial uses, as long as these copyright notices are attached. Thank you! Unless otherwise noted Sriptures are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
I Saw God Walking
I saw God walking today as a little child,
I saw God walking today as an old man bent and grey,
I saw God walking today as a young man full of life,
I saw God walking today as a beautiful woman,
I saw God walking and working today in the kindness of those around me.
Copyright © 2005 by R. Michael Freed, MainlineMinistries.com You are free to share this for noncommercial uses, as long as this copyright notice is attached.
Thank you!
I saw God walking today as an old man bent and grey,
I saw God walking today as a young man full of life,
I saw God walking today as a beautiful woman,
I saw God walking and working today in the kindness of those around me.
Copyright © 2005 by R. Michael Freed, MainlineMinistries.com You are free to share this for noncommercial uses, as long as this copyright notice is attached.
Thank you!
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Bible Verse for Today - March 30, 2005
Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. {6} Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. {7} He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. {8} His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes. {9} He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor. (Psa 112:5-9 NIV)
Scriptures are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
Scriptures are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
Become an Advocate
The recent tsunami in South Asia opened the eyes, hearts and wallets of millions, but there is still much to do. In addition to the tsunami, millions have been displaced in places like Sudan, Uganda, Congo and Columbia and help is urgently needed. The following article on the Lutheran World Relief Website has a good overview of the various situations and what we can do to be a voice of advocacy. I'm not one who generally writes letters to congress, but maybe its time we started. Read the article, give a gift send an email or letter.
Lutheran World Relief Article
Lutheran World Relief Article
Sunday, March 20, 2005
The Power of Speaking Out
We had the Palm Sunday Gospel lesson today of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and also the lesson of Jesus' trial before Pilate. I couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if all those people who proclaimed Jesus as King on Palm Sunday had spoken up and done the same at Jesus' trial on Good Friday. Or what if Pilate had just kept with his first impressions, and refused to crucify Christ.
I think God is often looking for his people to speak out, but all to often we remain silent. What if Christians everywhere spoke out about world hunger, about the AIDS crisis in Africa, about fair trade policies and about many other issues. What if we all wrote our congressmen. Couldn't we make a difference.
I look at our own civil rights movement and at that of South Africa and am amazed what happened all because people spoke out. It wasn't easy, but it worked. I'm making a resolution to speak up more, even if it's not popular. Maybe God is waiting for you to speak up too.
Copyright © 2005 by R. Michael Freed, You are free to share this for noncommercial uses, as long as these copyright notices are attached. Thank you! mainlineministries.com
I think God is often looking for his people to speak out, but all to often we remain silent. What if Christians everywhere spoke out about world hunger, about the AIDS crisis in Africa, about fair trade policies and about many other issues. What if we all wrote our congressmen. Couldn't we make a difference.
I look at our own civil rights movement and at that of South Africa and am amazed what happened all because people spoke out. It wasn't easy, but it worked. I'm making a resolution to speak up more, even if it's not popular. Maybe God is waiting for you to speak up too.
Copyright © 2005 by R. Michael Freed, You are free to share this for noncommercial uses, as long as these copyright notices are attached. Thank you! mainlineministries.com
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