Pastor Tom's Journal

Everything? "What am I willing to lose in order to gain all?" The parables of the treasure in the field and the pearl of unspeakable worth all lead to the question. Everything must go? What does that include? What is best? What does your heart desire most? Who are you made to be? What are you made to do? What is worth more than everything else in your life? What is in the way of you becoming who you really are? It is one thing to say that I sell it all and divest myself of all my other treasures. That I do in the most generalized possible way. It is a broad stroke, without any threat. But then I start digging into the piles of specificity and it hurts to part with old ideas, false concepts of who I am, preferences, amusements, possessions, attitudes, and patterns of living. These have been my treasures for a long, long time. Whether you are a faith walker or a just an honest lover of truth wherever it is found, there is a principle that can aid you in your journey.

Here is water, melting, freezing, and boiling all at the same time. We have trouble wrapping our brains around that in a world of rules, natural laws, definitions, limitations, and linear logic. Even the observed and observable realities of physics defy our sense of order, sequence, and possibility. Imagine the unimaginable and then let your imagination go from there.

  Source FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT April 3, 2022 Year C, Revised Common Lectionary This is an expression of the church, the fellowship of believers in and seekers of Jesus. We meet online in an online community on Facebook. This feed is available to Pastor Tom's friends and followers, but also the general public. There are no restrictions. Welcome. Help us make this a REAL community of Joy and love.   Online friends are REAL friends!   Please leave your comments, questions, and prayer requests in the comments section We meet online at https://www.facebook.com/groups/fellowshipofjoy Blog: https://pastortomsims.typepad.com/the_fellowship_of_joy/   The Fellowship of Joy is building a team of technical advisors to assist with the delivery and expansion of this message. Respond in comments or PM.   Devotions are posted daily -  http://facebook.com/pastortomsims   Join us for the prayer our Lord taught us to pray   Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed

Remember, I love you.

If CEU credits were required to renew our citizenship credentials, i would recommend this one hour to be on our common curriculum.

In praying for peace, we must always ask ourselves and God, "Have I done and am I doing, saying, and being all I can do, say, and be?"

In 2013, suicide took the lives of 41,149 people in the USA alone. Depression affects about 20 million people in the USA, 350 million worldwide. Mental health disorders are serious issues in our culture and it is important that we have open conversation about their existence and that we show support to those who are battling them. “Please Stay” is an anthem for hope — an attempt to destigmatize mental illness and challenge all of us to support those who are battling depression and thoughts of suicide. You are not alone. We can make a difference. We can be the support system that saves a life. Give voice to hope: Share your #ReasonsToStay on Twitter. #PleaseStay A portion of the proceeds from this work will be donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. [For some people, depression may lead to thoughts of suicide. Try to remember that you don’t have to act on these thoughts, no matter how overwhelming they might be. If you’re considering ending your life, it’s impor