Before the devotional I have a few things to speak to you, I was watching Joyce Meyers this morning again....

She said that (hope I quote this right):
"Truth is the Truth no matter what, it never changes. BUT, we must keep the packaging relative to the times!"
This made me think about our fandom and all the 'non-religious' members in it. I can not fathom not believing in something after this life (I tried...found everything pointless and wanted to die...), And if you notice all the Athiests and Agnostics sing the same tune when you ask them why. "I don't want to have to please and/or get the aproval of the congragation." .....ok....ones in a congragation that does that are the really old elders that think if anything changes in the church from there childhood that the church will become satanic....riiight. I'm going through that right now with an elder and one of my e-mail addresses...
But that is why churches are dying, no young blood in them because when the kids do grow up they say thing like my friend and tell me that they gave up religion to have a 'FUN LIFE'....I go to church, sing in the choir, getting looked upon by the pasture to lead the young adults and my life is full of fun! (anyone that talks to me for more than a minute can tell you that).
But, mainly they have no religion because they're ether 'gay' or not 'socially acceptable' (I like that wording!).
Well we need to tell them that....here comes the revelation.....WE ARE FURRIES TOO! I'll spell it out! F-U-R-R-I-E-S!
We know what it's like being...different...most of us don't judge. I say 'most' because there probably IS at least one that is a 'holly roller'.
And last time I checked ALL sins can be fore givin! Yes the Bible says 'Homosexuality' is a sin, but Jesus died for ALL of us, for ALL our sins! I heard a great metaphore for this too:

"A shepard with 100 sheep and one wonders off, the shepard will leave the 99 to find the 1."

So let all of them know that at the very least is a safe haven for all...I'm sure all us moderators and the founders will help any that asks for it (it's why we're here and agreed to do this), because the church is the people, not the building....that's called the 'Chapel' XP

Thank you for reading my long winded speech (I get excited and don't know how to shut up when I'm like that.....)
~Wally Bear

Now, TO THE DEVOTIONAL!!!!!


World-Changing Faith


Read James 5:13-18{link)

When [the mob] could not find [Paul and Silas], they dragged Jason and some believers before the city authorities, shouting, "These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also."
-Acts 17:6 (NRSV)


WE live along strip of rocky beach that ends in a wooded point. The sea curves around the point and forms a quiet inlet

One night, a fierce storm blew up. It was too dark to see the ocean, but we could hear the pounding surf. Wind shook the house. Rain pelted the windows. As the tide rose, we prayed that God would calm the storm.

In the light of the next morning, we were astounded to see that the waves had hurled rocks and pebbles from the ocean side of the beach onto the inlet side. Sections of the strip of land were now several feet closer to us than they had been before the storm. The forces of nature change our physical world.

Jesus told his disciples that people of faith can also change the world. Faith, he said, is strong enough to move mountains. Faith is powerful enough to change not only the outward appearance of the world but also us and the way we see the world. Praying can change the way we see our world now, the way we look at things tomorrow, and even the way the past has shaped us. The power of faith is even more far-reaching than the power of nature.

Kris Wood (Nova Scotia, Canada)

Prayer
Help us, Lord, to grow stronger in faith as we study your word. Amen.

Thought for the Day
God plants the seed of faith in our hearts.

Prayer Focus
Those who work outdoors