Prayer

PRAYER

When we are invited to a banquet, we take what is set before us;
and were one to call upon his host to set fish upon the table or
sweet things, he would be deemed absurd. Yet we ask the Gods for
what they do not give, though they have given us so many things.
--Epictetus


Thank you for the universe, the world,
for earth and water, fire and fresh air,
for sunlight and the night sky full of stars,
the million-petalled flower of being here,
for music that reflects time in its mirror,
silence, darkness, rest and sleep, and dreams,
wind and rain, forgetting and forgiveness,
the love that holds together all there is.

I might have wanted something else, of course,
but tell me how I could have asked for this.

--Michael Creagan, in National Review (12/18/2006)

The Loftin's daughter and family leave tomorrow.

Dear Encouragers,

 

Please remember our daughter Kelli, son-in-law Jason, and 16 month old granddaughter Daniela as they leave for Buenos Aires, Argentina tomorrow (Friday, Jan 5).  They are newly appointed IMB missionaries.  They will be part of a church planting team.  Their first appointment will be for three years (during which time they will not be able to furlough to the states). 

 

Pray for safe travel, luggage safety and delivery, and speedy visas.  Also, Daniela has been running a slight fever today which makes her cranky.  They are facing two flights with a four hour layover between (one flight over nine hours) with Daniela before reaching their destination.  Much patience will be needed for all concerned (including fellow passengers).

 

Thank you so much for praying for them.

Denise Loftin

Christmas card

To anyone who received Christmas wishes from me and was offended by the admittedly religious nature of said greetings, I offer my apologies and the following in atonement for my insensitivity:

 

"Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the generally accepted calendar year 2007, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great.  Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere, and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishes. By accepting these greetings you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for herself or himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher."

 

Happy Holy Days!!!

(oops)

Cliff

(from www.bennettmornings.com)