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Source: 1605 - cdd "Apollo 13" 12/26/06
Cyber-Daily-Devotion by Pastor Bill
Tuesday December 26, 2006
Volume 7 Number 255
Scripture: Matthew 6:33
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” KJV
The message came in the form of a sharp bang and vibration. Jack Swigert Command Module pilot saw a warning light that accompanied the bang --- he immediately spoke into his headset, "Houston, we've had a problem here." James Lovell project Commander then told Houston that there was a problem with the “main B bus undervolt”. Later it was identified as an explosion of an oxygen bottle.
It was Monday, April 13, 1970 and the time was 2108 hours (9:08 PM). Apollo 13 was the third lunar-landing mission launch and was more than 200,000 miles above the earth in a space craft the size of small Winnebago when tragedy struck.
The words of Jack Swigert "Houston, we've had a problem here" have over the years become one of the most famous misquotes of all history. Today you may hear someone who is in a precarious situation make the remark:
“Houston I have a problem.”
The good news of Apollo 13 was Lovell, Swigert and Charles Duke the Lunar Lander Pilot ultimately used the Lunar Lander as a lifeboat. After many hours of heroics they managed to maneuver their crippled space craft safely back to earth. The story was told in a 1995 movie staring Tom
Hanks and directed by Ron Howard.
When one hears the words “Houston I have a problem” --- folks expect there is a problem that needs immediate attention or the end result will be a crash and burn. Maybe it is a project at work, a relationship with someone special or a family problem - in which case a more appropriate remark might be: “Heaven I have a problem.” My apologies to the good people of Houston, Texas but as technologically savvy as they may be --- they can not fix much beyond a machine!
When it comes time to repair issues of the heart the answers are in Heaven. So the next time you are in need of help to repair an important matter in your life it’s clear to me to start with “Heaven I have a problem” and let the people of Houston do only what they do best.
Prayer: Father help me to call on you first to solve an issue that is
heavy on my heart. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
Source: 1605 - cdd "Apollo 13" 12/26/06
Cyber-Daily-Devotion by Pastor Bill
Tuesday December 26, 2006
Volume 7 Number 255
Scripture: Matthew 6:33
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” KJV
The message came in the form of a sharp bang and vibration. Jack Swigert Command Module pilot saw a warning light that accompanied the bang --- he immediately spoke into his headset, "Houston, we've had a problem here." James Lovell project Commander then told Houston that there was a problem with the “main B bus undervolt”. Later it was identified as an explosion of an oxygen bottle.
It was Monday, April 13, 1970 and the time was 2108 hours (9:08 PM). Apollo 13 was the third lunar-landing mission launch and was more than 200,000 miles above the earth in a space craft the size of small Winnebago when tragedy struck.
The words of Jack Swigert "Houston, we've had a problem here" have over the years become one of the most famous misquotes of all history. Today you may hear someone who is in a precarious situation make the remark:
“Houston I have a problem.”
The good news of Apollo 13 was Lovell, Swigert and Charles Duke the Lunar Lander Pilot ultimately used the Lunar Lander as a lifeboat. After many hours of heroics they managed to maneuver their crippled space craft safely back to earth. The story was told in a 1995 movie staring Tom
Hanks and directed by Ron Howard.
When one hears the words “Houston I have a problem” --- folks expect there is a problem that needs immediate attention or the end result will be a crash and burn. Maybe it is a project at work, a relationship with someone special or a family problem - in which case a more appropriate remark might be: “Heaven I have a problem.” My apologies to the good people of Houston, Texas but as technologically savvy as they may be --- they can not fix much beyond a machine!
When it comes time to repair issues of the heart the answers are in Heaven. So the next time you are in need of help to repair an important matter in your life it’s clear to me to start with “Heaven I have a problem” and let the people of Houston do only what they do best.
Prayer: Father help me to call on you first to solve an issue that is
heavy on my heart. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
Brother Bob Downing oe of my Kairos brothers is an appellate court judge who sent this to me and others advising us to share with other teachers and students. The Twelve Rules of Christmas® Unfortunately, Christmas has become a time of controversy over what can or cannot be done in terms of celebrating the holiday. In order to clear up much of the misunderstanding, the following twelve rules are offered: - Public school students’ written or spoken personal expressions concerning the religious significance of Christmas (e.g., T-shirts with the slogan, “Jesus Is the Reason for the Season”) may not be censored by school officials absent evidence that the speech would cause a substantial disruption.1
- So long as teachers are generally permitted to wear clothing or jewelry or have personal items expressing their views about the holidays, Christian teachers may not be prohibited from similarly expressing their views by wearing Christmas-related clothing or jewelry or carrying Christmas-related personal items.2
- Public schools may teach students about the Christmas holiday, including its religious significance, so long as it is taught objectively for secular purposes such as its historical or cultural importance, and not for the purpose of promoting Christianity.3
- Public school teachers may send Christmas cards to the families of their students so long as they do so on their own time, outside of school hours.4
- Public schools may include Christmas music, including those with religious themes, in their choral programs if the songs are included for a secular purpose such as their musical quality or cultural value or if the songs are part of an overall performance including other holiday songs relating to Chanukah, Kwanzaa, or other similar holidays.5
- Public schools may not require students to sing Christmas songs whose messages conflict with the students’ own religious or nonreligious beliefs.6
- Public school students may not be prohibited from distributing literature to fellow students concerning the Christmas holiday or invitations to church Christmas events on the same terms that they would be allowed to distribute other literature that is not related to schoolwork.7
- Private citizens or groups may display crèches or other Christmas symbols in public parks subject to the same reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions that would apply to other similar displays.8
- Government entities may erect and maintain celebrations of the Christmas holiday, such as Christmas trees and Christmas light displays, and may include crèches in their displays at least so long as the purpose for including the crèche is not to promote its religious content and it is placed in context with other symbols of the Holiday season as part of an effort to celebrate the public Christmas holiday through its traditional symbols.9
- Neither public nor private employers may prevent employees from decorating their offices for Christmas, playing Christmas music, or wearing clothing related to Christmas merely because of their religious content so long as these activities are not used to harass or intimidate others.10
- Public or private employees whose sincerely held religious beliefs require that they not work on Christmas must be reasonably accommodated by their employers unless granting the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the employer.11
- Government recognition of Christmas as a public holiday and granting government employees a paid holiday for Christmas does not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.12
&nb sp; For more information, email The Rutherford Institute at staff@rutherford.org.
Ten Guidelines From God
Effective Immediately,
please be aware that there are changes YOU need
to make in YOUR life. These changes need to be
completed in order that I may fulfill My promises
to you to grant you peace, joy and happiness in
this life. I apologize for any inconvenience,
but after all that I am doing, this seems very
little to ask of you. Please, follow
these 10 guidelines
1. QUIT WORRYING:
Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit
and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here
to take all your burdens and carry them for you?
Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little
thing that comes your way?
2. PUT IT ON THE LIST:
Something needs done or taken care of. Put it
on the list. No, not YOUR list. Put it on MY
to-do-list. Let ME be the one to take care
of the problem. I can't help you until you turn
it over to Me. And although My to-do-list
is long, I am after all... God. I can take care
of anything you put into My hands. In fact,
if the truth were ever really known, I take
care of a lot of things for you that you never
even realize.
3. TRUST ME:
Once you've given your burdens to Me,
quit trying to take them back. Trust in
Me. Have the faith that I will take care of
all your needs, your problems and your trials.
Problems with the kids? Put them on My list.
Problem with finances? Put it on My list.
Problems with your emotional roller coaster?
For My sake, put it on My list. I want to
help you. All you have to do is ask.
4. LEAVE IT ALONE:
Don't wake up one morning and say,
"Well, I'm feeling much stronger now, I think
I can handle it from here." Why do you think
you are feeling stronger now? It's simple.
You gave Me your burdens and I'm taking
care of them. I also renew your strength
and cover you in my peace. Don't you
know that if I give you these problems back,
you will be right back where you started?
Leave them with Me and forget about
them. Just let Me do my job.
5. TALK TO ME:
I want you to forget a lot of things.
Forget what was making you crazy.
Forget the worry and the fretting because
you know I'm in control. But there's one
thing I pray you never forget. Please, don't
forget to talk to Me - OFTEN! I love YOU!
I want to hear your voice. I want you to
include Me in on the things going on in your life.
I want to hear you talk about your friends
and family. Prayer is simply you having
a conversation with Me. I want to be your
dearest friend.
6. HAVE FAITH:
I see a lot of things from up here that you
can't see from where you are. Have faith in
Me that I know what I'm doing. Trust Me;
you wouldn't want the view from My eyes.
I will continue to care for you, watch over you,
and meet your needs. You only have to trust Me.
Although I have a much bigger task than you,
it seems as if you have so much trouble just
doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?
7. SHARE:
You were taught to share when you were
only two years old. When did you forget?
That rule still applies. Share with those who are
less fortunate than you. Share your joy with
those who need encouragement. Share your
laughter with those who haven't heard any in
such a long time. Share your tears with those
who have forgotten how to cry. Share your faith
with those who have none.
8. BE PATIENT:
I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime
you could have so many diverse experiences.
You grow from a child to an adult, have children,
change jobs many times, learn many trades,
travel to so many places, meet thousands
of people, and experience so much. How can
you be so impatient then when it takes Me
a little longer than you expect to handle
something on My to-do-list? Trust in My
timing, for My timing is perfect. Just
because I created the entire universe in
only six days, everyone thinks I should
always rush, rush, rush.
9. BE KIND:
Be kind to others, for I love them just
as much as I love you. They may not dress
like you, or talk like you, or live the same way
you do, but I still love you all. Please try
to get along, for My sake. I created each
of you different in some way. It would be
too boring if you were all identical.
Please, know I love each of your differences.
10. LOVE YOURSELF:
As much as I love you, how can you not
love yourself? You were created by me for
one reason only -- to be loved, and to love
in return. I am a God of Love. Love Me.
Love your neighbors. But also love yourself.
It makes My heart ache when I see you
so angry with yourself when things go
wrong. You are very precious to me.
Don't ever forget......
Note: I received this from a friend and I have
no idea who wrote it, but I was so touched
by it, that I had to share it with you.
I hope that you will be blessed by
it and will share it with others.
Touch someone with your love.
Rather than focus upon the thorns of life,
smell the roses and count your blessings!
A friend from the prison ministry sent this today:
This week's promise: Give your worries to God, for he cares for you Another busy Christmas? "Just as being too busy gives you nightmares… Ecclesiastes 5:3 NLT " Christmas slippers
"While we are called to work hard, we must make sure that our work doesn't so preoccupy us that we endanger our health, our relationships, or our time with God.1
A woman died, leaving behind her husband and one daughter. The little girl soon became the very apply of her daddy's eye. He loved to spend time with her, but because he had to work, they had only their evenings together. After diner each night they would talk and play games; sometimes she sang for him. He treasured every moment.
One night the little girls announced, "Daddy, I need to go to my room early tonight. I have something I have to do!"
He felt very disappointed, but he let her go. She continued this pattern for a solid month. Finally, Christmas Day arrived, and early in the morning she burst in on her daddy and proudly displayed a pair of crude crocheted slippers she had made for him. It was this project that had taken her away from her father for every evening that month.
Her father thanked her warmly and gave her a big hug, but then he said, "Honey, I would rather have had you with me all those lonely evenings than to have these slippers, as beautiful and comfortable as they are."
[As in the story of Martha and Mary], God wants our presence more than our slippers. He wants our devotion more than our work. It really is a matter of balance.2
1from the TouchPoint Bible with commentaries by Ron Beers and Gilbert Beers (Tyndale) p 1298
2from Breakfast with Jesus by Greg Laurie (Tyndale) p 141 " Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House
Does this mean that there are truck vandalizing chickens [the bottom sign reads "Please do not peck on tank."] out there?This is an actual truck in front of me in traffic one day.
Last year I put up Christmas decorations as I do evey year. Actually it is the only time I make time for decorating my little door to my little room at school (which used to be a bathroom). Working with special populations involves much paperwork and I don't have time to get into a lot of decorating for holidays. One of my students has voluntarily taken on nthe responsibility of keeping my wall calendars updated. I had my usual tree with gifts and the caption "May Your Gifts be Those Not Found Under a Tree." Then I placed pictures of little boxes labelled "hope," "love," "faith," "happiness," "patience," and more and I'd tape real gift box ribbons on them. I'd even had the tree and gift boxes laminated so that I could save them to use over each year to save decorating time with all the paperwork we have to do sometimes. I'd covered my door with bulletin board paper the first year but after that there was a notice in the teachers' workroom that it was to be only used for bulletin boards and using it on doors was forbidden. So the speech teacher who shared the room with me brought some gift wrap paper and that's what I used as a background. Well, there was a bit of paperwork last year--on top of it being midterm time, so I decided that I would leave the door decorations up until I returned in January after the Christmas break. When I returned, everything that was left on the door was missing except a few strips of tape I'd used to tape up the giftwrap background. There was not a hint to where the decorations were. Sometimes if a poster I'd stuck up had fallen off I'd find where the custodian had put it in my room for me or someone would lean it on the wall next to my door--but there was not a note on my door, in my mailbox or a trace of the decorations anywhere. This year I'd not planned to go throught the trouble because I'd have to start from scratch and I thought someone would probably pull it down again. A few weeks ago I received an email with an attachment entitled "12 Rules of Christmas." It was sent to me by one of my fellow prison ministry brothers and friend to my husband and myself who is an appellate judge and a great Christian man. He knows I work in the school system and how at this particular school I have had a bit of problems from being a Christian.I sent it on to some of my Christian coworkers and made plans to decorate my door again this year. I also made a copy of the 12 rules, had it enlarged on 11"X14" paper and posted it on the wall beside my door. The speech teacher helped me put it up and I have a picture of it. This time the word "Christmas" is on it--because I have a right to say the word--even at a public school! Perhaps I can find it again and post the 12 rules here--but I will post the picture of my little classroom--which used to be a bathroom--Christmas door decoration! 
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