1st Presbyterian Church Coeur d'Alene ID
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Safe in the Storm

11/29/2021

1 Comment

 
Two weeks ago our electricity went out. The wind blew a tree down across a power line in our neighborhood. As we sat there in the dark, we decided to make the best of the situation. It was a great time to spend time together without some of the regular distractions of that time of the day. We lit candles throughout the house, listened to music and various comedians on our mobile devices and laughed. I have to say, even though the wind was howling outside, it was peaceful where we were.
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Picture
Stephanie Rogge
Just as every time I am made to stop, God opens my eyes to what He is doing in that moment. I realized that even though the wind was howling, God was keeping us safe and secure. It seems like this has been my life theme since 2020. As things have changed and surprised us over the last year and a half, God has continually showed us that He cares for us and is keeping us safe. Whether it was keeping us from becoming ill, providing our needs from day to day, or keeping us safe from storms (both figuratively and literally), God was faithful to show He cares for us.

Sometimes things happen that leave us feeling vulnerable and we do not feel His presence. What if we do become ill, or we cannot find things we need, or we get stuck out in the storm? Is it because He is distracted or that He doesn’t love us? Quite the opposite! It is times like these that we learn to lean on Him, learn what He wants to teach us, and learn to depend on Him more.
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It is through illness that we realize He is our comfort and strength.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Through times when we feel lack or need, we learn that He is the provider of everything good.
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
During storms in our lives, when life is chaotic and we feel fear and helplessness, we learn that He is our hope and salvation.
Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. Psalm 50:15
His care for His children is constant because He does not change.
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not, they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3: 22, 23
Next time you are sick, or in need, or are experiencing chaos in your life, I hope these verses will remind you that He will keep you safe through every storm.


Blessings,
Stephanie Rogge
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Emily Post and the Bible

11/22/2021

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Thanksgiving…ah, what warm, wonderful memories: beautifully set table with candles and a lovely Autumn centerpiece. Our much-beloved auntie brought individual candles that were set before each place (boy and girl Pilgrims, turkeys, cornucopias), specially folded cloth napkins and China dishes were set on the lace tablecloth. The children had polished the silver and 
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Emily Rogers
dinnerware to a high gloss shine. Matching glasses were sought (with six kids, that was a harder task than imagined!) and given an extra wash and dry. Emily Post’s Etiquette…The Blue Book of Social Usage was studied to ensure that every place setting was correctly arranged. While my sisters and I were earning Girl Scout merit badges, we were given the great honor of setting the table (and our mother inspected its accuracy before the Big Event). Table manners were policed daily, so we didn’t need many reminders except for the occasional “look” to get our elbows off the table.

Emily Post was also consulted beforehand if we expected additional guests. We knew we could skip the sections on introducing the President of the United States, a Reigning Sovereign, or a Cardinal (even though we were Episcopalians, it probably wasn’t going to happen), but went right to the many sections on informal introductions, including kindly looking people in the eye while shaking hands. My mother overlooked the advice that young children were not involved in introductions as we were expected to greet guests with utmost courtesy just like the adults. Removing hats when indoors, rising when someone (not younger than you) enters the room, making conversations with others (I probably should have spent more time with the latter topic) were all studied in her book on etiquette.
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We certainly consulted Emily Post regularly when writing letters to be sure they were addressed correctly, salutations were in the right form, and appropriate closings used. Etiquette also has great tips on writing many different types of letters. Thank-you letters were essential! As I was perusing the reference for this blog, I came across these lines in her book:
Pretentiousness in a letter of thanks or sympathy is an infallible sign of insincerity and lack of taste. For simplicity of expression, such as is unattainable to the rest of us, but which we can at least strive to emulate, read the Bible first, then at random such authors as Robert Louis Stevenson, John Galsworthy […] or A.A. Milne!
Here in black and white was a clear connection between Emily Post and the Bible! Growing up on the King James version of the Bible, I wouldn’t consider it renowned for “simplicity of expression,” unless you’re reading Proverbs or Psalms. Although I wouldn’t look to the Bible to teach me how to set a table, a connection between the two sources includes the expected outcomes of: courtesy, common sense, respect, and kindness.
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My annotated Leadership Bible (NIV) introduces the chapter on Proverbs this way:
Proverbs is an extremely practical and specific book that challenges us to pursue wisdom in each area of everyday life. These maxims are concise and practical; read them slowly and carefully with an eye toward bringing your behavior in line with God’s common-sense directives and divine will.
A wealth of sage advice appears here, such as: Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs. (Proverbs 10:12) A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. (11:25) An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. (12:25) A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (15:1)
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It certainly seems that the world could use more regular doses of the wisdom written down by Solomon, the wise men, and Agur and Lemuel some 2800 years ago (around 950-700 B.C.) in Proverbs. Paul’s writings 700-1000 years later in Philippians are full of the “joy and encouragement that inspires its readers to focus their thoughts and actions on Jesus Christ.” (Leadership Bible) “Only by pursuing him first will we discover the peace and contentment that come from God.”

Were most of us (dare I suggest: all of us?) to follow God’s teachings of 3000 years ago or Jesus’ teachings of “only” 2000 years ago, or some of Emily Post’s teachings of 100 years ago, we would surely be treating each other with more courtesy, common sense, respect, and kindness.
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This Thanksgiving, as we look back over comforting memories of times gone by with family and friends, may we all strive to look forward while keeping our Lord’s teachings always in mind and heart.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:4-5)
I’m thankful for you, my friends in Christ! Happy Thanksgiving!

Emily
2 Comments

A Snowstorm Turns Medical Residents Into Kindness Heroes

11/15/2021

1 Comment

 
We picture medical residents as highly trained, overworked, exhausted people. They say that is an accurate image. In addition to all that, we can now add snow removal and driveway clearing, at least in this case.

This story expresses a truth found in scripture. I’ll describe this in a little bit but first, I’ll describe the actions that caught my attention.

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Pastor Neal Nybo
​First, who is this medical resident?
Dan Tran is a resident at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dan was diagnosed with lung cancer at age 30 during his second year of medical residency as an oral surgeon. It started out with back pain and numbness in his legs. When an MRI showed a tumor on his spine, Dan knew it was serious, but nothing prepared him for the unexpected diagnosis of advanced lung cancer. Dan was a health-conscious, non-smoker, just embarking on a hard-earned career. Following surgery to remove his tumor, Dan received treatment that targeted a specific mutation that was driving his cancer growth.

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Second, where does the snow come in?
After Dan had surgery, a snow storm came through his Virginia community laying down two to three feet of snow and covering his driveway. He planned to go back to work but there was no way he was going to be able to shovel his drive. He called the office to say he wasn’t going to be able to make it. In less than an hour, doctors, nurses, and other staff were at his home, shoveling his drive.
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We might be tempted to think they just really needed Dan to take his shift! But, their kindness didn’t end there. They began bringing meals, checking on him daily, and came over for holidays.

The kindness of that busy staff raised the positivity of the entire residency program.

How this relates to Jesus
One of Jesus’ most familiar interactions is in a story he told about people doing the very kind of things Dan’s colleagues did for him. There was a king in this story and Jesus blessed these people for showing the king kindness in small ways. They responded by saying, “When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
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To this day, we have positive, thankful responses when we see these same kinds of micro-actions of kindness demonstrated in everyday situations like Dan’s.
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Third, what happened to Dan?
Dan is now back to work and is bringing kindness to the doctor’s office and other cancer survivors. He has a whole new perspective on what it’s like to be on the other side of the stethoscope. The experience taught the young father that life isn’t guaranteed, and we could all benefit from a dose of kindness. He’s also advocating for other patients like him so they know they aren’t alone. You can follow Dan’s journey at danfightscancer.com.

Fourth, hear Dan tell his own story on the NPR Kindness Podcast.
NPR affiliate, WOUB, hosts the NPR Kindness Podcast. You can hear Dan’s story here.
Kindness has the power to transform a mundane, passionless life, but it also has the ability to re-route a single bad day. The Host of the Kindness Podcast, Nicole Phillips, talks with people who share their uplifting stories.

In His Name, Pastor Neal
1 Comment

In All Things, Give Thanks

11/9/2021

1 Comment

 
​Does this season of thanksgiving put you in a reflective mood? I know for me personally, moving into the holiday season allows me to take pause, reflect, and praise the many blessings around me. Holidays can also be bittersweet reflecting on sweet memories of holidays shared with those we’ve loved who are not physically present with us for one reason or another. How do you spend time expressing gratitude? Is it through silent prayers, cards, or maybe journal reflections? How do you ​
Picture
Kierstie Renninger
express gratitude for the people in your life? Family, friends, colleagues, the people God puts in our lives are there with purpose. They share their love, pass on wisdom, and teach us in ways that push us to grow. Won’t you join me over the next couple of weeks, intentionally sharing our gratitude with those who God places on our hearts? Reach out to a friend you’ve been meaning to connect with, send a card to someone who you haven’t seen in a while, or journal in gratitude to God. Connection is such a blessing, especially around the holidays! 

Many blessings, 

Kierstie
1 Comment

Forgiveness

11/3/2021

3 Comments

 
Forgiveness. Oh boy, this is a tough one. The apostle Paul wrote “Christ died for me before I deserved it, not because I deserved it”. Can I forgive someone in my heart just because it’s my duty to forgive? This is the most difficult challenge in my Christian journey. 

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus says “forgive us our debts as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us”. The inference is clear: not more, not less, but exactly the same measure. 

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Kent Kimball
So if I withhold forgiveness from my neighbor (or brother, or wife, or boss) I’m withholding it from me! But if I forgive my neighbor, I’m accepting God’s forgiveness to me. It’s a package deal. All or nothing. It’s a tough bargain. So I try daily to pray … help me to practice forgiving others and help me Lord to accept your forgiveness!

​In His Name, Kent
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  • Home
    • Connect With Us >
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      • eNews Archive >
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        • Blog Archive 2021
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      • Christmas Families
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    • What Presbyterians Believe
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    • Serve >
      • Choir
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    • Grow >
      • Book Studies
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      • Sunday Bible Study
      • Women's Circles
    • Connect >
      • Dinners at 6-ish
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  • Sundays
    • Classic Worship
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