Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 8.1- It’s Elementary                                   Daniel 2:20-21                                  Bill Crowder     On a recent trip to London we exited the Baker Street underground station where we were greeted by a life-size statue of the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes. Created by novelist Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Holmes was an investigative genius who could continually assess seemingly random clues and solve a mystery.     Baffled by Holmes’ uncanny brilliance, his sidekick, Dr. Watson, would ask an explanation – to which Holmes would glibly respond, “Elementary!” and then proceed to unfold the solution.     If only life operated that way. So often, we face events and circumstances that are far more baffling than a Sherlock Holmes mystery. We struggle to figure life out, but we seem to come up short.     In times like these, it is comforting to know that we have a God who doesn’t need to assess the situation – He already knows everything perfectly well. In Acts 15:1

 7.31- When you forgive others as you have been forgiven by God, you become a minister of reconciliation, a world changer and a peacemaker. Ephesians 4. 32  Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other,  just as God in Christ also has forgiven  [ y ] you.

 7.30- About 3,000 years ago it was written that if you rescue someone from the consequences of their improper, outrageous anger you will only have to do it again and they may not learn their lesson. Proverbs 19. 19  A person of  great anger will suffer the penalty, For if you rescue  him , you will only have to do it again.

 7.29- Good leaders are -even keeled -very busy -very competent -very confident -bring out the best in people. Philemon 1  Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy  [ a ] our brother, To Philemon our beloved  brother  and fellow worker,   2  and to Apphia  [ b ] our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:   3  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Philemon’s Love and Faith 4  I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,   5  because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the  [ c ] saints;   6  and I pray  that the fellowship of your faith may become effective  [ d ] through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you  [ e ] for the sake of Christ.   7  For I have had great joy and comfort in your love, because the  [ f ] hearts of the  [ g ] saints have been refreshed through you, brother. 8  Therefore, though I have  [ h ] enough confidence

 7,28- Do the people you run with help you to love and care for people regardless of their political persuasion? For me the answer is yes. I am thankful. 1 Corinthians 13. 13  If I speak with the tongues of mankind and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.   2  If I have  the gift of  prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.   3  And if I give away all my possessions  to charity , and if I surrender my body so that I may  [ a ] glory, but do not have love, it does me no good. 4  Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant.   5  It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own  benefit ; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong  suffered ,   6  it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;   7  it  [ b ] keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes

 7.27- Is it truthful? Is it kind? Is it upbuilding? Is it necessary? Then it might need to be said. James 3. 3  Do not become teachers in large numbers, my brothers, since you know that we  who are teachers  will incur a  [ a ] stricter judgment.   2  For we all stumble in many  ways . If anyone does not stumble in  [ b ] what he says, he is a perfect man, able to  [ c ] rein in the whole body as well.   3  Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their whole body as well.   4  Look at the ships too: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are  nevertheless  directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot determines.   5  So also the tongue is a small part  of the body , and  yet  it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!   6  And the tongue is a fire, the  very  world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among  [ d ] our body’s parts as that which defile

 7.26- Bob and Carole Hines. These two led to many fun times at work and at play in many great places. Bob moved to be with the Lord a few years ago and yesterday Carole finished her work. Jesus came and carried her home. We rejoice in her victory in Jesus. We celebrated many birthdays with Bob, Carole, Dan and Jane Colvin at the Bent Noodle. They loved to treat Sheila and Carole on 11/11 each year and they allowed Bob and me to tag along. Always good lasagna, salad, bread and laughter. How many lovely Christian women do you know who could push a lawnmower up a hill, climb on a roof to help her husband, get down and serve a gloriously prepared and wonderfully delicious meal? Not many, but Carole could. Thank you God for Carole Hines. Proverbs 31. 10  An excellent wife, who can find  her ? For her worth is far above jewels. 11  The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain. 12  She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. 13  She looks for wool an