Chandler F.U.M.C.
by Linda G. Keeling

I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I aligned my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw. Proverbs 24:30- 32

"Breathing is not something you do when you think of it. Breathing is so essential to life that your body does it instinctively. When your body is denied air, an emergency signal is relayed to your brain, and your brain sends out a signal that you are suffocating and need air," explains Jennifer Kennedy Dean. "So it is with prayer. Prayer is not a duty you perform for God. You are praying even when you are not forming your thoughts into sentences. You can always be engaged in prayer, the interchange of love between you and the Father. Prayer does not have certain parameters and defining rules. Prayer is the release of your whole life to His whole purpose. When you have taken that step, you will find that life is prayer. You can no sooner stop praying than you can stop breathing. If you step out of the intimacy and immediacy of your relationship with God by choosing to walk by your human nature rather than your spiritual nature, then your heart will cry out for prayer like your lungs cry out for air. God Himself will draw you back," continues Dean.

"When morning comes, don't choose `A little sleep, a little slumber, a scarcity like an armed man.' Proverbs 24:33 The enemy is waiting to steal your spiritual health; inattention to a daily time of focused prayer will give him just the opportunity he seeks to leave you spiritually impoverished, " warns Jennifer Kennedy Dean in her book Live a Praying Life.

First Love: Revival with Jennifer Kennedy Dean offers the opportunity for a "Spiritual Check-Up." Let us make you an appointment. We need you to register so we can prepare effectively. Registration is $25 a person for non-members and $25 a couple/$15 singles for Chandler UMC members. Pre-registration is necessary for preparation. You may get a registration form at the church office or call Sandy Dinsmore at 903- 849-3887 for more information. Contributed by Shirley Murray, Chairman of the Prayer Committee.

What's happening? We would like to wish Bill Carnes a Happy Birthday! Bill celebrated February 2nd at his home in Garland with his wife Joann and their daughter, Sherri Day, granddaughter, Joanna Houston and sister, Rosie Bussman. Congratulations, Bill.

Tammy Copeland was selected Teacher of the Year at Nathan Adams Elementary School in the Dallas Independent School District. Tammy taught in the Chandler Elementary School a few years back. She has remarked that that was a very rewarding experience. Tammy is married to Stan Copeland and is Don and Martha Copeland's daughter-in-law. Stan and Tammy have two children, Zach, a junior at Southwestern University in Georgetown and Emily, a freshman at Parish Episcopal High School. Zach recently received the All Conference Academic Team Award. Emily is presently working on a one-act play and has developed an interest in softball. Stan and a group of United Methodist Clergy had the opportunity to attend the President's Prayer Breakfast. He enjoyed meeting some of the presidential candidate hopefuls.

I (Linda) have been at home with the "crud" this week, but with the help of Martha Copeland's chicken soup and a stack of library books I think I will make it. There were two books I would like to recommend to everyone. The first is called I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist. This book breaks down in very logical documentation, why the hypothesis (which is defined as an unproven theory) of evolution and other atheist ideals are so weak. The other book is entitled I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This!: and Other Things That Strike Me as Funny by Bob Newhart, just because he makes me laugh.

Happy Anniversary to Alberto and Susan Romo and Hill and Mary Alice Paddock.

Happy Birthday to Mike Carmichael, Shirley Cherry, Edie Young, Shirley Murray, Tammy Kidd, Barbara Alexander and Lori Reelfs.

Thought for the Week: "Don't grumble about each other, brothers. Are you yourselves above criticism? For see! The great Judge is coming. He is almost here. (Let him do whatever criticizing must be done." -James 4:9