Forsyth Park Caller September 2024
Pastor’s Corner
23 years ago, our nation was attacked, unlike anything we had seen since Pearl Harbor and the beginning of WWII for the US. The World Trade Center towers-once symbols of America’s Free Enterprise system and American strength, were attacked-and soon fell to the ground. The Pentagon, symbol of American Military Power, was also attacked and seriously damaged. And if not for a brave set of passengers on Flight 93, who rebelled against their hijackers at the cost of their very lives-if not for their heroism, the US Capitol or even the White House might have been attacked as well.
Americans old enough to remember still have fresh and painful memories of what happened that September morning. It changed the presidency of President George W Bush, and it was another in a long series of attacks on Americans by Islamic extremists. We remember the previous attack on the World Trade Center. We remember the brave soldiers killed in Beirut-over 200 of them. We remember the attack on the USS Cole. And even before that, we remember the hostages in Iran who were held over a year under the Carter Administration, let go almost to the minute President Reagan was sworn in.
The roots of the conflict go back to Isaac and Ishmael, sons of Abraham. The root of the conflict go all the way to satan and God. President Bush declared Sept 11 to be Patriot’s Day-a day we remember the price that was paid by so many that faithful day. It seems the nation has all but forgotten.
May we remember Sept 11. May we pray for God to continue to protect our nation. And while war is still going on in Israel and the Middle East, may we remember to pray for the peace of Israel and Jerusalem. May we continue to stand with Israel. There may not be peace until Jesus comes at the Second Coming. Be thankful that then, and now, God has all things in the palm of His hand.
May our country be a land of the free and home of the brave. May it continue to be blessed by God, and be the beacon of light to a dark and dying world. May God bless America.
America
God built Him a continent of glory and filled it with treasures untold;
He studded it with sweet flowing fountains and traced it with long winding streams
He carpeted it with soft rolling prairies and columned it with thundering mountains;
He graced it with deep shadowed forests and filled them with song.
Then He called unto a thousand peoples and summoned the bravest among them-they came each bearing a gift-and a hope.
And out of the bounty of earth and the labor of men,
Out of the longing of hearts and the prayer of souls
Out of the memory of ages and hopes of the world,
God fashioned a nation in love, blessed it with sublime purpose, and called it
AMERICA
Dwell on the Gladness
Life is too short to dwell on my sorrows, to harbor my grudges in bitter tomorrows.
Life is too short to dwell on my pain, to play and replay some vengeful refrain.
Life is too sweet to waste precious minutes in nursing resentment, self- righteousness in it,
Then, let me not dwell on life’s sorrow and sadness.
O Lord, let me think of life’s blessings, with gladness!
Nancy Neff Dostie
Grandma’s Rocker
She shelled the beans and mended clothes; she dried the tears and wiped a nose;
She read the Bible, sniffed a rose, right there in Grandma’s rocker.
She soothed a neighbor, spread her cheer; did her labor, lent an ear.
Sometimes I still can feel her near right there in Grandma’s rocker.
Now, she’s gone to her reward; she won’t be back; she’s with the Lord.
But oh, the dreams that chair affords, right there in Grandma’s rocker.
Nancy J. Sexton
The Love of God
As high as the highest shining star, as deep as the blue of the sea.
As wide as the silent realms of space, as broad as the heaven, too;
So high-so deep-so wide-so broad, is the wonderful love of God.
Chuckles
One teacher said to another: “Not only is he the worst-behaved child in school, but he also has a perfect attendance record!”
Husband to wife: “I thought I told you that you couldn’t buy that new dress! Why didn’t you say “Get thee behind me, satan when you were tempted?”
Wife to husband: “I did, but he just said “it looks pretty good from back here, too!”
Australian farmer proudly showing his farm to a Texan: “How do you like the size of these oranges?” The Texan said “In Texas we have them as big as grapefruits!” The farmer said “How do you like the size of these cantaloupes?” The Texan said “In Texas we have them the size of watermelons.” Just then a kangaroo comes hopping by. The Australian farmer says “Now, don’t tell me you have grasshoppers bigger that this too!”
A new Sunday School teacher had to iron out some problems with the Lord’s prayer. One child had to be corrected after repeating “Howard be thy name.” Another youngster prayed “Lead us not into Penn Station”. Still another surprised the teacher with “Our Father, who art in heaven, how’d You know my name?”