The Mainline

The Mainline has Moved

2007-03-01T21:18:00.000-06:00

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.

A Day for Trying, A day for Doing

2005-10-13T07:11:00.000-05:00

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!

Jubilee!

2005-07-29T00:32:00.000-05:00

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 Saw God Walking

2005-04-27T21:11:00.000-05:00

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!

Bible Verse for Today - March 30, 2005

2005-03-30T09:36:00.000-06:00

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.

Become an Advocate

2005-03-30T08:54:00.000-06:00

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

The Power of Speaking Out

2005-03-20T22:58:00.000-06:00

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

A Psalm of Sorts

2005-03-19T14:03:00.000-06:00

You, oh Father, are a God of abundance,
You, oh Father, give freely to you children.
Those who Trust in you, lack no good thing,
Those who trust in you, will reap a harvest of blessing.
Therefore, I will cry out to you and bring to you my cares and concerns.
And I will lift up the need of the poor and homeless.
Who can out give God?
Therefore, I will open my wallet to the poor; I will give that they may have food.
Open the hearts of your people, oh Father, that they may care for your broken ones,
That they may give and not hold back.
Therefore, I will open my wallet and give.
I will give my words and my dollars as seed to be planted,
That you may bring a harvest in my life and in the lives of the poor.
Pour out your blessings on us! Give to us from your infinite abundance!
Teach us to love!
Give, that we may give!
Fling open wide the doors to your storehouse,
That there may be food and healing in the land.
Heal those weak in body, and spirit. Enrich those poor in body and soul.
Increase our faith! Increase our joy! Increase our hope! Multiply our love!

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

Loaves & Fishes, Visionary Wishes

2005-03-14T13:00:00.000-06:00

Oh lord let me dream your dreams,
And let me see with your eyes.
For where there is no vision,
It seems the people die.

Oh lord make me a force life giving,
Your vision, light and life to share.
Oh holy God please keep us,
Here and everywhere.

We know not what lies before us,
Whether humble things or great.
Please, keep us good father.
Save us before it's to late.

To late to do the things we dreamed of,
To late to say we're sorry,
To late to offer hope or comfort-
Let's not wait until tommorrow -

To say that "I love you,"
Or to give someone a hug.
Today is our salvation,
It began with your son.

And now we're called to pass it on,
In thought and word and deed.
To reach out and touch those many lives,
In manifold states of need.

But Lord, I'm just one person -
What can one person do?
I'll offer up my fish and bread,
And leave the rest to you.

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" {6} He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. {7} Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" {8} Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, {9} "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" (John 6:5-9 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.

Seeing Your Gifts as Bread and Fish

2005-03-13T23:10:00.000-06:00

Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" (John 6:9 NIV) "If you read the whole accompanying story in John or one of the similar accounts in Matthew, Mark or Luke, you will see that Jesus answers this question by taking the gifts offered, blessing them and giving thanks then distributing them to the crowd gathered. When it is all done they pick up baskets full of pieces left over.

Conservative scholars would say Jesus actually multiplies the bread and fish to feed the multitude (and I must confess that I rather like that interpretation). Those of more liberal leaning might say that he moved the hearts of the people to share the food that they had with them. Some would ask which is really the greater miracle. Perhaps both were going on.

My point is not to debate what really happened, but to point out that God can multiply our seemingly small gifts and do far more with them, than we can ever imagine. Our job is to offer them to God, like little children, to share what we have and to trust God with the results. Watch out though miracles do happen.

There is a little girl in our church named Jena. Jena often greets me with a hug. It often makes my day and she hugs others also. Can you imagine the wave of good tidings and love that little one produces. I bet it spills over to hundreds of lives as others in turn our warmed and pass it on.

Consider the person who has a kind word for the woman at the checkout stand. It turns her whole day around. She shares a word of encouragement with a fellow worker. Renewed in spirit they go home and greet their children who pass it on to the dad, the dog and the neighbors. And so the cycle of love continues and is multiplied, all because of one small act.

Consider our financial gifts as well. Suppose you give a gift to world hunger. Lets say to Lutheran World Relief or World Vision if you prefer. Perhaps it is a small gift. What is it among so many? But can't God move the hearts of others to give as well and so the gift is multiplied. Can't he move your heart to do the same thing week after week and so it is multiplied. Can't he use it to buy seed which is planted and grows more food and more seed and so on, the gift is multiplied. Can't he use it to buy a pair of goats, which have baby goats, which in turn have more baby goats and so the gift is multiplied. Can't he use the gift to save the life of a child, who grows up to be the benevolent leader of his country and so the gift is multiplied. Yes, and can't he if he so chooses use your gift to miraculously feed more people than you can ever imagine.

More and more I view my time, talent and treasure; my words; my life, as fish and bread. Here they are Lord do with them as you please. I'm expecting miracles.

Here are some practical possibilities to get you started.

Determine to greet everyone with a kind word (yes, even telemarketers). Ask God to bless them and do great things through them.
Skip lunch once a week and donate the money to your favorite charity. Ask God to do miraculous things with your gift.
Write a letter of encouragement to someone. Ask God to use it in ways you can't even imagine.
Count your blessings. (OK, not original.) Ask God to make you a blessing to others.
Invest some of your time and/or money in a promising (or not so promising) young (or not so young) person. Ask God to do great things through them.

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.

What shall I do with you Jesus?

2005-03-11T22:53:00.000-06:00

What shall I do with you Jesus?
Your words are often hard, but your heart is soft.
You play tenderly with children, and invite them to come.
Then you "rip the Pharisees up one side and down the other,"
And condemn their duplicitous nature.
I am condemned also by your words.
I cannot measure up to your high standard.
Where shall I find peace?
I will "sue for peace" for I cannot overcome you.
I surrender unconditionally.
Your words are most gracious.
Go in peace!
Love one another!
Copyright © 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!