HAPPY PEOPLE

Two things happen at Wednesday night prayer meetings at my church: prayer and Bible study. After a prayer time for those who are ill and for the many spiritual needs in our church and community, Jackie Brem, my pastor usually leads the Bible study. Recently he has been teaching from Psalms and last night the study was from Psalm 144.

But last night Jackie did something unusual. He started his study with the final verse of the chapter rather than the first. The reason, he said, was that the entire chapter leads up to the final, most important verse. He didn’t want us to miss the climactic verse, so he discussed it first.

That final, most important verse talks of happiness—a kind of happiness experienced only through knowing God.

Happy is that people . . . yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord. Psalm 144:15 (KJV)

WHAT’S IN A NAME

People in New Mexico tell funny stories of people in other states who don’t realize New Mexico is one of our fifty states. One Santa Fe resident was denied the use of his credit card in another state because the establishment didn’t accept cards of foreigners.

A traveler boarding a plane to return home to Albuquerque was told he must show his passport. Most likely the confusion arises because of name association with the country of Mexico.

We are called Christians. Are people ever confused by our name? Disciples in Antioch were the first to be called Christians because of the lives they lived. (Acts. 11:26) What do people call us? We must live the name through our love and our actions.

A Good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold. Proverbs 22:1 (KJV)