Wednesday ~ April 4, 2007

I love spring. Do you love spring?



For those of you living in the North, it usually means the weather is finally starting to turn warm. Or at least to a temperature above freezing that you call warm where by you run around doing daily chores dressed only in Levi jackets or a sweater and long sleeve shirts.

For that same weather, we in Florida would think possibly your brains up North had been out in the cold just a little too long and have not quite thawed out yet. For what temperature you call warm, we would have on parkas and mittens. Any temp below an open refrigerator is a ice emergency for us, call out the National Guard and salt the roadways Tillie !!!!!!



Spring is a great time of the year; it is a time of new animals and new plants. A time where mother earth takes on a whole new attitude about itself….Even the wind seems to be of a softer nature stirring a single leaf on a poplar tree or rushing about giving of itself freely to all that would inhale it. Never withholding, joyously, softly rushing along to fill any emptiness, yet it is never used up-- just constantly beckoning us to come out of our closed up homes and enjoy the beauty, the refreshing fragrances of the world God has created.



The clouds appear more white and the sky decidedly more blue, rather one be standing in the Great Smokey’s or the majestic Rockies, Chattanooga, Tenn. or Des Moines, Iowa, Portland, Ore. or Key West, Fla. at this time of the year people are drawn back to mother earth.



Though we generally think only of farmers and cow hands, as being so close to the earth, Most people who are close to the earth are tranquil people whether it is great wheat field or sandy beach. Unknowingly, together, they are all one beating tranquil heart of the great earth mother.



Jesus was close to earth, He loved to be alone in the deserts and on mountains. He spoke of sowing and reaping, of fig trees, of vineyards, of flocks and lilies of the field. John even called him the Lamb of God, in fact when Jesus thought of how we could remember him-- He took up the bread and wine, all by products of earthly goods.



John 15;11, reminds us that Jesus spoke of such things so that the joy that He has might remain in us, and it is with just such joy that we should look at this time of the year.



With spring we associate Easter, a time we associate with crossing over from where we are to where we would like to be….a time when our old ways need to die so that we can be rejuvenated, refreshed, realigned, resurrected to a new refreshing path way of life.

A time when we can evaluate how we can be come a part of the planet and not just on the planet.



Just as spring is a time of new life , so is the Easter time a time for us to have a new life through the Christ within. Once we are through all the Easter bunnies, eggs and ceremonies, let us just pray-meditate-and as we cross over from all this material examples of Easter let us become more spiritual as we recognize the Christ connection that is within us all, and let it radiate out to all those in our neighborhood in confidence of resurrecting a new love and understanding for ALL of the world.



Happy Easter



Fred



One Church Two Languages



Luis informs us that he is now praying, writing letters and listening to request of 25 to 30 Spanish speaking residents a week at the nursing home he has begun to minister to.

This week the flowers we use for the Sunday service were taken to the nursing home for the enjoyment of all that would like to gaze upon the majesty of God.



EVENTS:



9am Easter Sunday we will serve a pancake breakfast to any and all that would like to join us,,,,the Easter service will start promptly at 10am.



April 21st - The Women’s ministry will meet again at Perkins on North Dale Mabry and Stall Rd. for breakfast and what ever you women do, evidently it is fun, the last time we had to pry them out of there with a vacate order.





April 8th- will be our explanation of the last two of the 12 Powers of Man by Fred

April 22 – We all wear those little bracelets, but, Just What Would Jesus Do?-by Fred

April 29-God Does Not Want You Happy!—by Fred







ON THE GROWING LIST;

We are still looking for musicians that would like to play contemporary and Christian Gospel music, if you know of anyone with a keyboard, and or guitar, please contact Danny at 813-973-7889





Now, it is time for us to grow even more. We are beginning a search for individuals with biblical/metaphysical knowledge who can pass a police background check, have an imaginative mind, and a desire to instruct school age children. Please contact Pastor Fred at 813-748-7095




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