NATIONAL PUMPKIN DAY
1 Corinthians,
Chapter 4, Verse 21
Love demands we tell it like it is. At times because
God is a Father he must disciple those he loves. We as children, like those
that are gentle with us there are times we must be corrected. Paul tells us
that if we are to be true Christian’s we must follow the example of Christ who
did not seek self-comfort’s but sacrificed all He had for the love of us.
Therefore, seek a spiritual leader and honor the parent(s) who will challenge
you. Who will not let you be less than you can be! A good spiritual leader
teaches by example. Leadership is caught not taught.
Creditable leaders are not afraid and model Christ’s
behaviors for all. They do this because they know the law of the picture and
people do what they see. Leaders embody the principles they teach. Paul shows
us that leadership requires the leader to:
1.
Be
on display and open for ridicule.
2.
Be
willing to play the fool in order to model the surrendered life.
3.
Be
able to endure the mocking of others without wavering.
4.
Be
willing to sacrifice luxuries.
5.
Be
hard working without retaliating against opposition.
6.
Be
fatherly and live an exemplary life for others.
7.
Be
encouraging of others to imitate your example.
As members of the family of God we need to interact with the wider
family made up of parents, aunts and uncles, cousins and even neighbors. This
greater family may have members who require assistance, or at least
companionship and affection, or consolation amid suffering. The individualism
so prevalent today can lead to creating small nests of security, where others
are perceived as bothersome or a threat. Such isolation cannot offer greater
peace or happiness; rather, it drains the heart of a family and makes its life
all the more narrow. First, let us think of our parents. Jesus told the
Pharisees that abandoning one’s parents is contrary to God’s law. We do well to
remember that each of us is a son or daughter. “Even if one becomes an adult,
or an elderly person, even if one becomes a parent, if one occupies a position
of responsibility, underneath all of this is still the identity of a child. We
are all sons and daughters. And this always brings us back to the fact that we
did not give ourselves life but that we received it. The great gift of life is
the first gift that we received.” Hence, “the fourth commandment asks children…
to honor their father and mother. This commandment comes immediately after
those dealing with God himself. Indeed, it has to do with something sacred,
something divine, and something at the basis of every other kind of human
respect. The biblical formulation of the fourth commandment goes on to say: ‘that your days may be long in the
land which the Lord your God gives you’. The virtuous bond between generations
is the guarantee of the future and is the guarantee of a truly humane society.
A society with children who do not honor parents is a society without honor… It
is a society destined to be filled with surly and greedy young people.” There is,
however, another side to the coin. As the word of God tells us, “a man leaves
his father and his mother.” This does not always happen, and a marriage is
hampered by the failure to make this necessary sacrifice and surrender. Parents
must not be abandoned or ignored, but
marriage itself demands that they be “left”, so that the new home will be a
true hearth, a place of security, hope and future plans, and the couple can
truly become “one flesh.” In some marriages, one spouse keeps secrets from the
other, confiding them instead to his or her parents. As a result, the opinions
of their parents become more important
than the feelings and opinions of their spouse. This situation cannot go on for
long, and even if it takes time, both spouses need to make the effort to grow
in trust and communication. Marriage challenges husbands and wives to find new ways
of being sons and daughters.
There’s one thing
that represents October more than anything else, and it’s not Halloween (though
it’s involved). That thing? The pumpkin. It starts appearing on shelves and
farmers market’s stands on the last week or two of September and is the herald
that lets you know that Pumpkin Pies, Jack-o-Lanterns, and all the joys of fall
are just around the corner. Pumpkin Day celebrates these noble squash’s, and
the history and tradition tied up in their iconic orangeness.
History of Pumpkin Day
Often when people think of Halloween, they think of Jack-o-Lanterns and pumpkins, and even when you’re looking at that ‘false medieval’ imagery that’s present in most fantasy games, you’ll regularly see pumpkins being present, especially during Halloween events. What many people don’t know is that the pumpkin is actually a plant from the new world, like all squash, so the image of pumpkin jack-o-lanterns in front of ancient medieval homes is just plain wrong. These are an all American (And South American) plant, and the jack-o-lantern at Halloween is a distinctly New World thing. So, let’s learn a little bit about the Pumpkin in honor of Pumpkin Day, starting with what the word pumpkin means. It’s pretty simple, as it comes from the Greek word pepon, or ‘Large Melon’, but it didn’t go straight to pumpkin. First it was pompon to the French, and then pumpion to the British. It was the Americans that finally changed the word to its present Pumpkin, and so it’s been ever since! Pumpkin Day is a great opportunity to add this delicious squash to your diet, whether in the form of a traditional pumpkin pie, or a rich and savory pumpkin soup.
How to celebrate Pumpkin Day
The first step to
celebrating Pumpkin Day is simple, get out there and get yourself a bunch of
pumpkins! Alright, maybe that’s a bit much, maybe instead you could just stop
off at your favorite grocery store or restaurant and order yourself up a great
big slice of pumpkin pie. Not in the mood for pie? Pumpkin Spice lattes are
going to be hitting the shelves at your local coffee shops (Starbucks is
particular fond of trotting them out this time of year). If you’re feeling
really inventive, go back to square one and buy a bunch of pumpkins, roast
them, and make yourself an all pumpkin meal! Pumpkin Soup, Pumpkin Bread,
Pumpkin Cake, Pumpkin Muffins, and a warm cup of Pumpkin Spice Coffee for
dessert!
"Read
these counsels slowly. Pause to meditate on these thoughts. They are things
that I whisper in your ear-confiding them-as a friend, as a brother, as a
father. And they are being heard by God. I won't tell you anything new. I will
only stir your memory, so that some thought will arise and strike you; and so
you will better your life and set out along ways of prayer and of Love. And in
the end you will be a more worthy soul."
111.'Purity?' they ask. And they smile. They are the very people who
approach marriage with worn-out bodies and disillusioned minds. I promise you a
book — if God helps me — which perhaps I will call: 'Celibacy, Marriage and
Purity.
'Daily Devotions
·
Day SIX spiritual
warfare
[1] John Maxwell, The Maxwell Bible.
[2] Pope Francis, Encyclical on Love.
[3]https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/2018/10/26/
[4]http://www.escrivaworks.org/book/the_way-point-1.htm
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