Faith /
Living Faith
Published 02/07/2012 - 6:49 a.m. CST
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By Michael Thomas
Our story begins with Diamond and I officially meeting each other, while participating at a homeless outreach at The Bowery Mission, which is located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan (New York City). Diamond was a committed volunteer who frequently collaborated with the Mission through her own outreach organization initiative to rally others to serve in New York City.
I was a part of a young men's group and our leader invited us to volunteer at The Bowery Mission with Diamond. There is where I first saw her and noticed her. She was very striking and beautiful, but I resolved in my mind to focus on the outreach, which was to the homeless.
Our story begins with Diamond and I officially meeting each other, while participating at a homeless outreach at The Bowery Mission, which is located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan (New York City). Diamond was a committed volunteer who frequently collaborated with the Mission through her own outreach organization initiative to rally others to serve in New York City.
I was a part of a young men's group and our leader invited us to volunteer at The Bowery Mission with Diamond. There is where I first saw her and noticed her. She was very striking and beautiful, but I resolved in my mind to focus on the outreach, which was to the homeless.
Published 02/01/2012 - 10:53 a.m. CST
As we await the coming of spring, we look forward to preparing the
land and sowing good seed so that we will be blessed with an abundant
harvest.
How will your garden grow that lies within the sanctuary of your heart? The garden within you needs constant preparation and sowing to continue to bring forth an abundance of good fruit.
How will your garden grow that lies within the sanctuary of your heart? The garden within you needs constant preparation and sowing to continue to bring forth an abundance of good fruit.
Published 01/26/2012 - 3:31 p.m. CST
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Writing this article is definitely stepping out of the comfort
zone for this Bible-believing, born again Christian. But over and
over, I’ve learned that whenever there’s an uncomfortable task or
situation…this is God’s way of stretching and growing me.
My assignment for this issue was to do a one-on-one with another faith I am totally unfamiliar with, or a belief that is not my own. I chose atheism (I learned the “a” isn’t capitalized). So I set out to try to understand the reasons why they believe or don’t believe. Since I have a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy, I was specifically interested in how they address the subject of suffering.
Published 01/07/2012 - 9:59 a.m. CST
To be a friend of Jesus means to honor, obey and serve Him. Most
people,
no matter in what culture they may live, do not really want
to serve
others. The Christian is called to serve.
It is very difficult to serve the selfish, the unkind, and the self-centered. The basic problem we have in being what we ought to be is that we are all sinners. We get caught up in the worldly ways with who is the greatest and how to climb the ladder of success.
It is very difficult to serve the selfish, the unkind, and the self-centered. The basic problem we have in being what we ought to be is that we are all sinners. We get caught up in the worldly ways with who is the greatest and how to climb the ladder of success.
Published 12/25/2011 - 6:45 a.m. CST
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Angels Unaware?
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"Oh, great." My first thoughts are not charitable. Someone is
intruding on my evening, and Christ's unfortunate words come almost
instantly to mind: "... as you did it to one of the least of these
my brothers, you did it to me." In other words, I'm
stuck.
The man being presented to me is pretty much right out of central casting--unkempt and smelling strongly of tobacco and two weeks worth of body odor, with a large black pack full of his worldly possessions. Exactly the type you'd expect to find at a homeless shelter. But I'd arrived with simpler motives: our church is performing its occasional service to the needy, and I've dropped in to pitch in where I can. I fully intend to depart on time and unencumbered. Or I did. I hadn't figured on Homeless Don.
A church member brings him to me (why does she hate me so?). He needs a ride, he says, because the shelter is out of beds for males. Naturally ... it's the added "no room at the inn" angle. And did I mention it's almost Christmas?
The man being presented to me is pretty much right out of central casting--unkempt and smelling strongly of tobacco and two weeks worth of body odor, with a large black pack full of his worldly possessions. Exactly the type you'd expect to find at a homeless shelter. But I'd arrived with simpler motives: our church is performing its occasional service to the needy, and I've dropped in to pitch in where I can. I fully intend to depart on time and unencumbered. Or I did. I hadn't figured on Homeless Don.
A church member brings him to me (why does she hate me so?). He needs a ride, he says, because the shelter is out of beds for males. Naturally ... it's the added "no room at the inn" angle. And did I mention it's almost Christmas?
Published 12/07/2011 - 5:41 a.m. CST
Our Lord’s birth was an Advent, a coming and arrival of unprecedented power and majesty into human history. When Jesus was born, salvation entered the human race in the form of a child.
Published 11/25/2011 - 3:18 p.m. CST
I am grateful for your son Jesus Christ who came and cleansed us and
set us free on Calvary.
I am grateful for my earthly parents who gave me a loving home and a lasting foundation routed in You.
I am grateful for my loving wife and family and friends, for my health, and for the home, food, and clothes, that are available to us.
I am grateful for my earthly parents who gave me a loving home and a lasting foundation routed in You.
I am grateful for my loving wife and family and friends, for my health, and for the home, food, and clothes, that are available to us.
Published 11/11/2011 - 9:29 a.m. CST
When we honor our fallen hero's on Veterans Day and on other occasions
I am always reminded of the verse in Scripture, " Greater love hath no
man than this, that a man lay down his life for friend." John 15:13.
Jesus does not ask us to die for Him but to lay down our life for Him,
to follow in His ways.
Published 10/28/2011 - 7:52 a.m. CST
When I first joined The Cypress Times years ago, I felt led to
write.
Years ago I was diagnosed with more than one serious illness. One required surgery and during the recovery time I started to write. When my first Christian book Two Stepped Out For Him was released in 2005, I thought I was healthy. Having more than one life threatening illness, I wrote a second book The Darkness Before The Dawn. During my convalescence I also wrote a book of poems which I combined with The Darkness Before The Dawn titled In My Footsteps/Poems to Inspire. In 2009 I published my first children's book, The Adventures of Little Buddy and Grizz.
Years ago I was diagnosed with more than one serious illness. One required surgery and during the recovery time I started to write. When my first Christian book Two Stepped Out For Him was released in 2005, I thought I was healthy. Having more than one life threatening illness, I wrote a second book The Darkness Before The Dawn. During my convalescence I also wrote a book of poems which I combined with The Darkness Before The Dawn titled In My Footsteps/Poems to Inspire. In 2009 I published my first children's book, The Adventures of Little Buddy and Grizz.
Published 01/21/2012 - 10:53 a.m. CST
Have you noticed the well that you draw from at times, seems to be
running on empty.
Since my recent surgery last month, at times I find myself asking what is my purpose in life. Why, when cold weather arrives, I often find myself in a hospital for one thing or another.
When we feel like we are running on empty, it is time to relax and reflex on what God is asking us to do.
Since my recent surgery last month, at times I find myself asking what is my purpose in life. Why, when cold weather arrives, I often find myself in a hospital for one thing or another.
When we feel like we are running on empty, it is time to relax and reflex on what God is asking us to do.
Published 12/17/2011 - 7:17 a.m. CST
Starting another year and already in my so-called Golden Years I can
not think of what I would be doing today if I never took up writing
using my computer. When I retired I had little skills to work on a
computer, I certainly was not an advanced user. I had never published
a book or poem, and heavens, sending them off on my computer to a
publisher I would cringe at the thought.
Published 11/29/2011 - 11:58 a.m. CST
Nearly
forty years ago, I crafted a Santa piñata for my husband’s
nephews and
niece. Since I had no children and consequently abundant
spare time back
then, I could afford the long hours necessary to
create him. I covered
balloons and tubes with the papier-mâché,
slathered more paste on top
and waited for everything to dry.
Several days later, I sculpted boots
and a face from paper pulp and
waited for them to dry. Then I
painstakingly glued on string for the
beard and hair and, after
finishing, filled the Santa with candy and
closed up the hole in the
back.
Done.
I stood Santa on the fireplace and admired him during the days leading up to Christmas. I imagined how the kids would love pummeling that piñata. I saw the candy spilling out and heard the squeals of delight. But when we took him to the family Christmas celebration, both children and parents refused to beat on him.
Done.
I stood Santa on the fireplace and admired him during the days leading up to Christmas. I imagined how the kids would love pummeling that piñata. I saw the candy spilling out and heard the squeals of delight. But when we took him to the family Christmas celebration, both children and parents refused to beat on him.
Published 11/17/2011 - 6:09 a.m. CST
My Greatest Gift was originally written as a meaningful sentiment to
my wife on our 29th wedding anniversary November 16, 1997. Some of you
might remember I published this writing in The Cypress Times in 2009.
I thought I would write it once again as my wife and I celebrated our
43rd wedding anniversary on the 16th of this week.
Published 11/04/2011 - 11:47 a.m. CST
I believe in the Resurrection Power of Jesus Christ.I believe what we
ask for in prayer we will receive.I believe the power of truth will
always overcome the power of evil.I believe the smile of a child will
warm the hardest of hearts.
Published 10/20/2011 - 7:11 a.m. CST
With all the tension going on in the world today, I thought it would
be good to write something humorous and put a smile on your
face.
In Matthew Chapter 6 Jesus tells us that God cares for us. So we should not worry about tomorrow. He couldn't resist saying, "Each day has enough trouble of its own."
In Matthew Chapter 6 Jesus tells us that God cares for us. So we should not worry about tomorrow. He couldn't resist saying, "Each day has enough trouble of its own."
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