Chaplain’s Corner
by Bill Cummins, Chaplain
The Place Where You Live
It is a simple story, simply told. One day, a man walked into an antique shop and asked permission to look around. It was a rather exclusive shop frequented only by those who could afford to purchase articles made rare by their scarcity and age. The visitor seemed strangely out of place because he was poorly dressed, though clean; indeed it was clear from his appearance that he was a laborer whose face had been etched by sun and rain and whose hands were rough and worn. After more than a half hour, he left.
In about ten days he returned. This time he found a very beautiful piece of old glass and asked if he could make a deposit on it. Each week he made a payment, until at last the article was his. With much curiosity, the owner of the shop engaged him in conversation to determine, if he could, the use to which such a man would put his new purchase. “I bought it for my little room. It isn’t much, but I bring to it, from time to time, through the years, only the very best and most beautiful things. You see, that is where I live.”
To bring to the place where you live only the best and most beautiful - what a plan for one’s life! This is well within the reach of everyone. Think of using one’s memory in that way. As one lives from day to day, there are all sorts of experiences, good, bad, beautiful, and ugly, that become a part of one’s past. To develop the ability to screen one’s memory so that only the excellent is retained for one’s own room! All kinds of ideas pass through one’s mind, about oneself, about the world, about people. Which do you keep for your own room? Think it over now; which ideas do you keep for the place where you live?
It is well within the mark to say that the oft-quoted words of Jesus, about laying up for yourself treasures in heaven, deal with this same basic idea. The place where you live is where your treasures are. Where your treasures are is where your heart is. Where your heart is, is where God is.
“O come, Immanuel (God with us). Come dwell with us, God,” the prophets prayed. “Show us your way. Make your home with us. Save us from our sins and wrong.” And then we recall the prophets’ faithful promises.
“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light…For unto us a child is born,… and his name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Merry Christmas, be happy, Chaplain Bill Cummins
CHRISTMAS PARTY!!!!!!
When? 6pm, December 8th.
Where? Swansea Improvement Association Building
How much? $10:00 per person.
Deadline for reservations: December 1st.
If you pay by check make it out to KWVA. Reservations must be paid in advance and received by December 1st. We are asking everyone to bring a gift, wrapped. There will be a 50/50. Hope to see you at the Swansea Improvement Association building.
FACING THE NEW YEAR
We pledge ourselves
To follow through the coming year
The light which God gives us:
The light of Truth, wherever it may lead; The light of Freedom, revealing new opportunities for individual development and social service; Thelight of Faith, opening new visions of the better world to be; The light of Love, daily binding humankind to God in ever closer bonds of friendship and affection. Guided by this light, we shall go forward to the work of another year with steadfastness and confidence.
Author Unknown
Joke of the month:
A mother was teaching her three-year-old daughter the Lord’s Prayer. For several evenings at bedtime, she repeated it after her mother. One night she said she was ready to try it on her own. Mother glowed with pride and listened to each word right up to the end. “And lead us not into temptation,” she prayed, “but deliver us some E-mail. Amen”
A Few Words from your PR Person
Our chili supper at the Oct. meeting was a great success thanks to chef Russ and his helpers. It was a good way to start the autumn season. Remember our Christmas Party at our Dec. meeting It will start promptly at 6pm followed with a short business meeting and a 50/50 drawing. Then there will be catered meal and a gift exchange. I will not mention anymore for fear of duplication by chairman Bill Cummins.
Thanks to all who attended the visitations for our two recent chapter members I'm sure the family members appreciated it during their time of grief.
Also, thanks to all who attended the Veterans Day ceremonies at the court house on a rainy day. It looks very good to see our chapter represented at these public functions and we also appreciated the respect shown to all of us veterans and to our country.
Support our food pantry by bringing canned and/or paper goods to our Dec. meeting. They need extra help at this time of the year.
Have a happy holiday season. Bill Juergens.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
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