Is It Too Late To Open Your Eyes?

If the rapture comes and you're left behind

"So, what to do if you notice people missing from your life at some point today, or early tomorrow. I’m going to rejoice. That means people like Jack DeCoster, a good Xian who never saw a labor violation he didn’t like will be gone. So will legislators like Dale Crafts, who runs interferance for the Jack DeCosters of the world, along with my own representative from Durham and most of Maine’s current legislature, which seems to be stuffed with pro-rapture types, and more interested in imposing their religious views on Mainers than job creation, along with a host of other people that I’ll never, ever see eye to eye with. Camping of course will be gone, but given his age, he probably doesn’t have much more time here anyways. I think my boss will be gone as I gather he’s in tight with the big guy upstairs. I’m not sure about my parents because while they’re Catholic and devout, the Catholic position isn’t one that holds to a premillenial rapture."

Continue Reading Here!!!




Submitted by a Friend of TLR

Value what you have "Song of the Birds"

This is very moving video. So sit back and enjoy the pictures, music, and read the captions of each slide.

The Song of the Birds - Watch more amazing videos here

The Song of the Birds - The best bloopers are a click away

Creation Calls -- are you listening? Music by Brian Doerksen

Utilizing footage from the BBC Planet Earth Series, we take a look at the wonder and majesty of God's creation. Set to the song, "Creation Calls" by Brian Doerksen, this stunning glimpse of God's masterpiece is meant to glorify Him and draw the mind to new places of intimacy with Him.
The video was used in conjunction with the series of messages, "Blueprint" from Chris Seidman. In the series he discusses the subject of God's plan for His creation. The message "Creation Calls" can be viewed here: 

St. Matthew’s offers free Christmas & Praise concert

The group Manifest (from left) Tim Sturtevant, Lee Fellman, Nate Holcombe, and Kelly Bisson will perform a free Christmas & Praise concert on Saturday, Dec. 11 at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Lisbon.

St. Matthew’s offers free Christmas & Praise concert

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church on the hill off Route 196 in Lisbon is offering a free Christmas & Praise concert featuring “Manifest” as its 8^th annual gift to the community on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 7 pm.

“Christmas brings a joy and energy into our lives.  This year St. Matthew’s helps the musical group Manifest share some of that joy and energy with our neighbors as we celebrate the joy that is the birth of Jesus, the Christ,” said the Rev. Beau Wagner, Rector of St. Matthew’s Church.

St. Matthew’s parishioners will provide free desserts. 

Manifest features Kelly Bisson (25) from Sabattus, Nate Holcombe (26) from Portland, Lee Fellman (23) from Readfield, and Tim Sturtevant (21) from Fayette. 

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, founded in 1906, brings together contemporary worship with ancient ritual, Bible-based preaching, expressions of the Holy Spirit, and loving service to others.

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church

496 Lisbon Street (Route 196)

Lisbon, ME  04250   207-353-8453     

www.stmatthewslisbon.org       stmatthews@gwi.net

The Rev. W. Beau Wagner, Rector

Free Women’s Advent Seminar Studies The Book of Ruth

 Janice Settlemoir, retreat leader and Navy chaplain’s wife, will give a free seminar for women on Saturday, December 4 from 9:30 until noon at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Lisbon. 

Free women’s Advent seminar studies The Book of Ruth

  St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Lisbon is offering a free women’s Advent seminar in the Book of Ruth, led by Janice Settlemoir on Saturday, December 4 from 9:30 until noon.  Child care is available upon request.

“Through our study in Ruth, we will see God’s plan of redemption even in the darkest of times,” said Janice.
 
A free lunch is also included and reservations can be made by contacting the church at 207-353-8453 or debwagner@gwi.net.

Janice was born in Southern California and has lived in Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. She is married to United States Navy Chaplain Jon Settlemoir and has three children: Joshua (17), Justin (15), and Joel (13). She enjoys writing and teaching ladies’ Bible studies and has worked alongside Jon in his pastoral ministry in Southern Baptist churches for several years. She has also taught reading and social studies in the public school system.  Janice is now privileged to be serving God in her role as a chaplain’s wife ministering to our military. The Settlemoir family is currently stationed at NAS Brunswick.

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, founded in 1906, brings together contemporary worship with ancient ritual, Bible-based preaching, expressions of the Holy Spirit, and loving service to others.  The church is located on the hill off Route 196. 

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church
496 Lisbon Street (Route 196)
Lisbon, ME  04250   207-353-8453
  The Rev. W. Beau Wagner, Rector

For more information, visit www.StMatthewsLisbon.org

Care Packages Gathered For Maine Troop In Afghanistan

 Andrew Calhoun of Lisbon puts a package of beef jerky alongside the other care package goodies headed for Maine’s National Guard 172nd Unit currently deployed in Afghanistan.

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Lisbon will gather cards and care package goodies on Sunday, Sept. 19^th for Maine’s National Guard 172^nd Unit (The Mountain Company) currently deployed in Afghanistan. 

In addition to sending care packages, members of the parish have committed to daily prayer by name for many members of the Maine National Guard.  The children attending the July Vacation Bible School also raised $442 to help purchase items for the boxes and help with shipping costs.

According to the Maine National Guard’s Chaplain’s office, the 172^nd Mountain Company lives in a very rustic environment (cots, no bathrooms) and the men have no access to stores.  The care packages include food items like energy bars and beef jerky and personal toiletry items like spray misters.

“We are grateful for their sacrifice and this opportunity to share in the ministry of Maine’s National Guard chaplains,” said the Rev. W. Beau Wagner, Rector of St. Matthew’s.

For more information visit:  www.StMatthewsLisbon.org  St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, founded in 1906, brings together contemporary worship with ancient ritual, Bible-based preaching, expressions of the Holy Spirit, and loving service to others.  The church is located on the hill off Route 196.

ON THE WINGS OF A PRAYER

Just close your Eyes and open your heart,
And feel your worries and cares depart.

Just yield yourself to the Father above,
And let him hold you secure in his love.

For life on earth grows more involved,
With endless problems that can't be solved,

But God only ask us to do our best, Then he will take over and finish the rest...

So when you are tired, discouraged and blue, There is always one door that is open to you,

And that is the door to The House of Prayer, And you'll find God waiting to meet you there.

And The House of Prayer is no further away, than the quiet spot where you kneel and pray.

For the heart is a temple when God is there
As we place ourselves in his loving care.

And he hears every prayer and answers each one When we Pray in His name - Thy will be done.

The burdens that seemed too heavy to bear Are lifted away on the wings of a prayer.

~~ Author Unknown ~~

Lisbon Falls Residents Participate in 3rd annual National PrayerFlight‏

The picture taken over the State House also shows the tent in Capital Park where the annual "on the ground" Capital National Day of Prayer event was taking place at the time of the PrayerFlight. 
(Photo by Bethany Douglass)

Maine Pilot participates in the third National Day of Prayer PrayerFlight


Jerry Douglass, owner of Brunswick business, The Modular Advantage, piloted his private plane over Maine’s capital City of Augusta, last week in the third annual “50 Capitals” PrayerFlight.  On board and praying for our Capital City and the State of Maine were Pastor Steve DeGroft & Associate Pastor Jonathan Jones of Lisbon Falls Baptist Church, Richard Garrett, Lisbon Falls resident, and Bethany Douglass of Temple.

The "50 Capitals" PrayerFlight was first organized and flown in 2008 when approximately 75 pilots from every state in the nation made history through a coordinated effort to pray over every capital city in the United States from private aircraft in observance of the annual National Day of Prayer.

Pictured in front of the plane are (left to right) Associate Pastor Jonathan Jones, Lisbon Falls Baptist Church, Brunswick business owner and pilot and Lisbon Falls resident, Jerry Douglass, and Richard Garrett, Lisbon Falls resident.  (Photo by Bethany Douglass)

For more information contact:

Kathy Todd

State Coordinator, Maine National Day of Prayer Task Force

kathleenatodd@gmail.com

729-8403

Happy Easter!

Why Go To Church?

Why go to Church?  

 

If you're spiritually alive, you're going to love this!  

If you're spiritually dead, you won't want to read it.  

If you're spiritually curious, there is still hope! 

 

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday.   "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons.  But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them..  So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all." 
 

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor.  It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: 
 

"I've been married for 30 years now.  In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals.  But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals.  But I do know this.. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work.  If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.  Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"  When you are DOWN to nothing..... God is UP to something!  Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible!  Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!   
   

"When Satan is knocking at your door, simply say, "Jesus, could you get that for me?"

 

Have a blessed day!

The Prayer

When minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new sessions of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:

THE PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good,," but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

We confess:

We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it Pluralism.

We have worshiped other gods and called it multiculturalism. 

We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle. 

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. 

We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. 

We have killed our unborn and called it choice. 

We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. 

We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. 

We have abused power and called it politics. 

We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. 

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. 

We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.

Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent to direct us to the center of your will. I ask it in the Name of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest. In six short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively. The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India, Africa, and Korea.

Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on "The Rest of the Story" on the radio and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired.

With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called one nation under God.

 And this was  delivered before the Kansas House of Representatives by Central Christian Church Pastor Joe Wright on January 23, 1996.

Click here for source

Pray For Our Nation

Sung by Andre Bocelli.

America needs GOD more than ever....

 Click here: Pray for our nation

One Nation Under God - Jon McNaughton

"One Nation Under God."

""This simple phrase, added to the pledge of allegiance over 50 years ago has been the source of unbelievable debate and heated controversy. Likewise, the phrase 'In God We Trust' on our currency has been targeted and continues to be attacked as improper and politically incorrect. Lawsuits have been filed and legal minds employed to ascertain whether such statements violate the concept of 'separation of church and state'.

As this debate continues, some so called experts have implied or concluded that our Founding Fathers and Patriots were not religious. These secular champions, in an effort to further their own causes, have even painted these great men and women from our history as being devoid of religious passions or even a belief in God. This is a part of their strategy to remove any discussion of God from the public forum.

These men and women were passionately religious and saw the hand of God all around them. To God they gave Thanks for His Hand in the founding of this great nation. To Him, according to their own testimony they turned for wisdom and strength when life and liberty hung in the balance. Certainly the debate on separation of church and state will continue. But no one can dispute how our Founding Fathers and Patriots felt about God. The record is clear!

'One Nation Under God' is Jon McNaughton's witness and reminder that those who went before us knew from whence their blessings came!

To view the details of this artwork, click on the link below:
http://mcnaughtonart.com/artwork/view...

Original Edit by Bryan Illguth
Cinematography by Rod Meldrum""

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,

 I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.

 My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,

 My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

 Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,

 Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

 The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
 Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
 My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
 Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
 In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
 So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

 The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
 But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear..
 Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
 sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
 My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
 And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

 Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
 A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
 A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
 Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
 Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
 Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

 "What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
 "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
 Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
 You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
 For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
 Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

 To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
 Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
 I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
 "It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
 That separates you from the darkest of times.

 No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
 I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
 My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
 Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
 My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
 And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

 I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
 But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
 Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
 The red, white, and blue.... an American flag.
 I can live through the cold and the being alone,
 Away from my family, my house and my home.

 I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
 I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
 I can carry the weight of killing another,
 Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
 Who stand at the front against any and all,
 To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.."

 "  So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
 Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
 "But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
 "Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
 It seems all too little for all that you've done,
 For being away from your wife and your son."

 Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
 "Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
 To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
 To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
 For when we come home, either standing or dead,
 To know you remember we fought and we bled.
 Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
 That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."






 PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many
 people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our
 U.S service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
 festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people
 stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

The Dash "Are My Priorities Where They Should be?"

In July 2006, a short 3-minute movie was launched on the Internet called  The Dash.
 Since then, over 40 million people from around the world have watched it;
 and over 20,000 a day continue to watch it as a result of people passing it along.
 
 The movie has been more successful than could ever have been imagined.
 More importantly, however, it has inspired many, many people to reflect on
  their lives and ask that all important question,
 'Are my priorities where they should be?'
 
 I hope you enjoy this 180 second movie.

http://www.dashpoemmovie.com/

Free Chapel Chix & Chap Concerts‏

Chapel Chix & Chap (from left) Jeannie Stowell, Elizabeth Park, Carol Levesque, and Mert Ricker will perform free Christmas concerts on Dec. 12 & 13 at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Lisbon.

St. Matthew’s offers free Chapel Chix & Chap Christmas concerts Dec. 12 & Dec. 13

Dec. 1, 2009.  St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church on the hill off Route 196 in Lisbon is offering the 7^th annual Chapel Chix & Chap Christmas concerts as a gift to the community on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 7 pm and Sunday, Dec. 13 at 2 pm.

 “Bring your family and friends to experience seasonal theater and traditional hymns at St. Matthew’s.  Celebrate the season’s greatest gift of all—the birth of Jesus into our broken and troubled world,” said the Rev. Beau Wagner, Rector.

St. Matthew’s parishioners will provide free desserts at both concerts.  Audiences may give a loving donation.

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, founded in 1906, brings together contemporary worship with ancient ritual, Bible-based preaching, expressions of the Holy Spirit, and loving service to others.

The Chapel Chix & Chap are an eclectic show and song group who perform gospel, show tunes, and music that spans seven generations in an interactive, improvisational style.  Since 2002, The Chapel Chix (Carol Levesque of Durham, Jeannie Stowell of Topsham, and Elizabeth Park of Lewiston) & Chap (Mert Ricker of Lisbon) have been performing throughout Mid Coast Maine and Lewiston/Auburn region. 

Religious Demonstration in England

What is it that the American people do not understand about the crisis our country and the
world faces..........Is it possible we have become a nation of cowards.......... That I cannot imagine
but wake up and prove that our invincible spirit and our freedom is not dead.......It is
terribly late but at this point we have no other choice........Our country has never faced
such a deadly enemy externally-- but while we were sleeping that enemy has successfully taken over our government while many are still in denial....... Yes-- It can happen here.........

Pictures are from 2006

These pictures are of Muslims marching through the streets of London during their recent Religion of Peace Demonstration.

Subject: PICTURES FROM LONDON ....THIS IS BEYOND SCARY

View the pictures below and decide how

you really feel about the future of the

Western World. These pictures are of

Muslims marching through the

STREETS OF LONDON during their

'Religion of Peace Demonstration.'

Makes you wonder doesn't it...can you imagine having a
Christian demonstration against Islam in downtown Baghdad?

Why would anyone think that we should be at war with such nice,

peaceful Muslims?!

You need to forward this one to everyone! These pictures tell it all!

Muslims have stated that England will be the first country they

take over!

These are pictures not shown on American TV or in American Newspapers

, but were forwarded by a Canadian who thought All non muslims ought

to know!

An O Beautiful Road Trip

Thanks Norm! Enjoy Everyone!



In his Stoplight® commentary, Stuart Shepard takes us on a little road trip. Why not give yourself a two-minute vacation to contemplate life's bigger issues?

The Seed

A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business.

Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.

He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you." The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. “I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."

One man, named Jim , was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.

Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.

Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing.

By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.

Six months went by - still nothing in Jim 's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - he so wanted the seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.

Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful - in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"

All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"

When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed - Jim told him the story.

The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim . He looked at Jim , and then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next Chief Executive Officer!

His name is Jim !" Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed.

"How could he be the new CEO?" the others said.

Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow.

All of you, except Jim , have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!"

* If you plant honesty, you will reap trust

* If you plant goodness, you will reap friends

* If you plant humility, you will reap greatness

* If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment

* If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective

* If you plant hard work, you will reap success

* If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation

* If you plant faith in God, you will reap a harvest

So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.

"Whatever You Give To Life, Life Gives You Back"

"Did America ever consider itself a Judeo-Christian nation?"

Our Judeo-Christian Nation

On May 6th, Congressman Forbes addressed the U.S. House of Representative on the House Floor in response to President Obama’s claims that the United States was not a Judeo-Christian nation. Congressman Forbes asks the questions "Did America ever consider itself a Judeo-Christian nation?" and "If America was once a Judeo-Christian nation, when did it cease to be?

http://forbes.house.gov/judeochristiannation/