Good morning,
It's Friday - Praise the Lord! - and Sunday is coming! The fullness of autumn is upon us and colors are at their peak. I took a four mile walk last evening, enjoying the sights, sounds, and scents of autumn. I spent time pondering the goodness and greatness of our God, who made the heavens and the earth. The autumn colors are breathtaking and stunning in every way. In the midst of Global chaos, crisis, confusion, and concerns, we serve a God who is faithful and gracious, who reminds us to be still and "know that He is God".
As God spoke to Moses and the Israelites in Mt. Sinai, He repeatedly reminded them that He is God. Even now, He reminds that He has created us and redeemed us, and that He will sustain us until the end. Praise the Lord that He has kept us safe and sane, held in the very hollow of His hand. What an exciting time to be alive and to tell of the goodness of the Lord! The Lord keeps an open door before us to share about the Good News of Jesus with the confused and bewildered culture.
I have spoken to Micah, our granddaughter, a few times over the past week. She will be 3 years old in a few weeks - it doesn't seem possible - and soon enough she will be ready to go to college. Janice is back to work, but just one to two days per week, as needed. Sunita is currently in Portugal for work. Andy is leaving Washington, DC tonight to join her there for a brief vacation. Laureen is almost ready to fully move into the beautiful home that the Lord gave her near Lourdes hospital. Jessy is well in Philadelphia.
Please join us by watching our television broadcast tonight on Time Warner Cable Channel 4 at 7 p.m. We are planning a harvest celebration this coming Sunday after second service. There will be plenty of food and fellowship, so please join us. Some of our excellent cooks from the church will be preparing a variety of seasonal and international foods. Come and enjoy! You'll love it.
There are few things in life that are beyond description. Over many generations, Christians have worked very hard to understand and explain God. Even with all this knowledge, we have barely scratched the surface of understanding how great God is. How does a limited mind understand an unlimited God, who is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent? How does a finite, temporary being understand an infinite and eternal being? How does that which has a birth and a death comprehend that which has no beginning and no end? The more we think we know about God, the more we realize we don’t know about Him.
The Bible says the greatness of God is demonstrated in the wonder of His creation around us. King David was moved by observing that the heavens, under the dominating influence of the sun, declare the splendor of God’s handiwork. As I walked yesterday, I thought of Psam 19:
-Ps 19:1-4 (NLT) “The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or a word; their voice is silent in the skies; yet their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to all the world.” One of my favourite songs is titled "Indescribable"by Chris Tomlin .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PTvr755V8s
"From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation’s revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God"
From Laureen :
Please join the Naik Family in the celebration of
Brown’s 60th Birthday!
In honor of the occasion, we invite you to join us for a time of food & fellowship on
Saturday, October 25, 4-7 PM
Union Center United Methodist Church
128 Maple Dr. Endicott, NY
For those who are able to gift us with your presence, please consider sharing special thoughts or memories about Brown as a way to honor him.
Fri, 10/10/2008 - 9:20am Orissa: Christians afraid to return home
Phulbani, Orissa / Indo-Asian News Service
Christians living in relief camps in Orissa's volatile Kandhamal district, where communal clashes since Aug 23 have claimed at least 100 lives and rendered thousands homeless, are scared to return to their villages although officials claim that violence is on the wane.Jibit Kumar Digal, 30, has spent over a month in a relief camp at Baliguda, some 350 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, which houses more than 1,200 Christians.
posted in: Current Issue, , East India
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Fri, 10/10/2008 - 7:49am Odd names for newborns in violence-hit Kandhamal
Berhampur -Orissa: Salmon and many others with such odd names for being born during the series of violence in Kandhamal district will never forget the clash which was witnessed not by themselves but by their parents sheltering in relief camps.
Salmon was born in the hospital at Raikia, the day when the district was burning after the killing of VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati. His mother rushed to the hospital from a relief camp at raikia where the family was taking shelter after leaving their home at village Dandibengia during the violence.
posted in: Current Issue, Beliefs, East India
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Thu, 09/10/2008 - 7:45pm Kargil Hero serches for martyred brother's remains for funeral
Kandhamal: Kargil hero Motilal Pradhan desperately searches for the remains of his brother. His house in Rupagaon village of Kandhamal was set on fire by a violent mob on August 26.
While other members of the family managed to escape to the nearby jungles, Motilal's paralytic brother Rasananda Pradhan was consumed by the flames. Motilal's younger brother claims that he was a witness to the horrifying incident.
posted in: Current Issue, Martyrs, East India
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Thu, 09/10/2008 - 7:31pm Church attacked in Coimbatore, Tamilnadu
Coimbatore (Tamilnadu): A statue of Mother Mary was found damaged at a church in the city on Thursday, sparking off protests by members of the Christian community.
Some unidentified persons had broken the glass cabin in which the statue was kept in the church in the Ganapathy area in the wee hours today, police said adding that the two fingers of the statue were damaged in the attack.
Over 100 people squatted on the road near the church, demanding immediate arrest of the culprits and protection of the churches.
posted in: Current Issue, Morality, South India
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Thu, 09/10/2008 - 7:27pm Violence spreads to neighbouring district Boudh in Orissa
Bhubaneswar : Rioters sneaked into Kandhamal's neighbouring Boudh district and set afire eight houses, police said on Thursday.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, East India
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Thu, 09/10/2008 - 6:42pm Bajrang Dal dares government to ban it
New Delhi: The Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), has dared the Indian government to ban it, warning that the authorities would face the "consequences" if it was outlawed.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, East India
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