The other day, as I sat in my office absorbed in preparing for Vacation Bible School, I noticed my hands started to shake and my thinking getting a bit fuzzy.

This is a rare, but not unusual occurrence for me. It is a sure and certain sign that I am hungry, and my body is craving food.

So, I reached into the credenza behind me and pulled out a snack bar to eat so I could satisfy that physical need and keep on working. Sometimes when I wait too long for a quick snack, it takes a while for the trembling to disappear, but it does eventually. My mind eventually clears, and the work continues.

This made me think of a familiar passage of Scripture. Psalm 42:1-2 states, “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”

Deep within each of us is our soul. To reduce it to simplest terms, the soul is the center of life which keeps us connected to God. The soul continuously yearns for a strong tie to God and keeps urging us in that direction.

But most don’t understand what the sense of disquiet is within them. They have a thirst, a yearning, a hunger they try to fulfill, but don’t realize it is the soul seeking a greater connection with God. So attention is given to physical satisfaction: spending money on things, or chasing after unrealistic dreams, or overindulging in foods or chemicals.

What people everywhere are seeking is the soul’s life–giving connection to God. The longing of the soul is crying out in each person to consciously drink deeply of God’s loving presence, to be satisfied in life the only way God can bring about satisfaction.

Once we recognize for what we are longing, the trembling of our heart will cease. The confusion that clouds the mind will be cleared away.

I know when my hands tremble and my thinking gets fuzzy, I need to take in some nourishment.

The soul is the same. It needs the kind of nourishment that comes only from God.

Why not indulge in that true satisfaction? You will find a fulfillment in life for which you have been longing for quite some time.

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Longing for a connection to God

NICEVILLE — Fifteen teenagers graduated from four years of Early Morning Seminary.

A ceremony took place June 2 at the Niceville Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Every school day these young people rose early enough to attend class at 5:45 a.m. throughout their high school years. All agree that it is a great way to start the day attired in the "Armor of God."

Crestview 1st and 2nd Ward graduates are Victoria Blood, Makell Burbidge, Alyssa Carr, Silas Hammond, William Corbin, Westin Tew and Madeline Wood. Graduates also included Jacob White, Destin; Jessica Boden, Fort Walton Beach. Niceville 1st and 2nd Ward graduates are Rachael Cooley, Lauren Olinger, Sally Clifton, Elizabeth Ives, Julianna Roberts and Paige Stephani.

President Joe Anderson conducted the ceremony, with President Mike Roberts presiding. The graduates presented the program with their talks and musical numbers. Pianist was Ashley Roberts.

Silas Hammond opened with the invocation. Those who spoke and bore their testimonies were Weston Tew, Madeline Wood and Page Stephani. Julianna Roberts treated the audience to a solo, "Joseph Smith’s First Prayer." Jalayne Haverfield acknowledged the course completion for the year by 70 students, in addition to the 17 graduates of all four years.

Two Young Single Adults, Bailey Hensley and Lucas Maschmeier, invited the new graduates to the Institute program, which meets on Tuesday evenings. This year the youths studied Church History, and ended with an excursion to Palmyra, New York, and the historical sites there. 

The seminary's area sirector is J. Jonathan Austin, the area coordinator is Tadlee Welty, and support specialist is Vicki Carter. The teachers who serve these early morning students without pay are Cody Wood, Leslie Dannelly, Heather Ives, Megan Hammond, Hally Thomas, Amy Herf, Kathryn Burbidge and Kristie Moeller.

Weston Tew, who will soon leave for a two-year mission in sign language, shared his thoughts on the program.

"I am grateful for the dedication of all my teachers who served over the years, their hours of preparation and their passion for their work. I learned so much as we studied page by page, and it will serve me well on my mission," Tew said.

Victoria Blood said her testimony grew during her sophomore and junior years, and she became dedicated to studying the Scriptures. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn and grow during those high school years line upon line, precept upon precept.

President Roberts concluded the program with stories from the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon. In both examples, the heroes’ preparation assured the success of their endeavors. Rachael Cooley gave the closing prayer.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 15 graduate from Early Morning Seminary

At the Pool of Bethesda (a pool ancient Jews believed had healing powers), when Jesus approached a man who had paralyzed legs, Jesus asked a very important question: “Do you want to be made well?”

If Jesus asked you that question, wouldn’t you want to answer, “Well, DUH! Of course, I want to be healed!”

But the paralytic didn’t answer that way. He didn’t express his desire to be healed. Instead, he gave an excuse as to why he remained in his condition — he blamed other people. “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up.”

The man had lain by the pool every single day for 38 years. He had become accustomed to his paralysis. He made excuses for not being made well. Over those many years, he had grown used to the rhythm of his life of paralysis.

No one really had any expectations of the man. He couldn’t work. Others waited on him hand and foot. The reality of his reply to the question posed by Jesus is he didn’t really believe he could be healed. He had given up hope years ago.

The question asked by Jesus is a very powerful question. And where the emphasis is placed in his question will determine the answer.

“Do you want to be HEALED?” That is a question that asks for the desired outcome — being rid of the ailment or predicament in which you find yourself. The end result is freedom from the illness, the state of mind or heart, that may prevent you from moving forward in your life. 

To put the emphasis elsewhere raises an even more important question, “Do you WANT to be healed?” This speaks of desire. It begs further questions like, “Are you willing to put forth the effort needed to make changes?” “Are you willing to let go of your past failures — or the past failures of others — in order to lighten your heart?” 

I believe too many people give just lip service when they say they want to let go of past hurts, grudges toward someone, or festering anger. They say they want to change, but that change will mean becoming a new person with a clean heart.

It takes effort. It takes discipline. For some, it is easier to wallow in self–pity.

But, when the effort is made to bring healing, a new wholeness is attained. 

How will you respond the question, “Do you want to be made well?”

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Healing this way takes effort, discipline

DESTIN — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake choir and orchestra performed for the first time recently at the Destin Chapel.

The program, "I Believe in Christ," used narration, song and orchestra. Jeanine Cochran of the Crestview Ward directed it.

The group of about 40 who participated are members of the 10 units of that stake, encompassing parts of Okaloosa and Walton counties and Alabama.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Mormon choir, orchestra present 'I Believe in Christ'

There are all kinds of walls that separate people from each other — emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical.

Various political opinions have divided this nation in ways that have reached unprecedented levels. There are various dietary groups that have caused divisions — vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, gluten free. There are those that are pro-vaccination and anti-vaccination.

There are gun advocates and anti-gun advocates. There are those who still allow themselves to get riled up because of the color of another’s skin.

The divisions within the Body of Christ are innumerable. Different theological positions exist on just about everything — the sacraments, versions of the Bible, the Trinity, styles of worship, levels of service to communities. The list is endless.

In the 18th chapter of Acts, Peter tells about a vision he had. In it he saw what looked like a large sheet being lowered from heaven. On it were all kinds of “unclean” animals, the flesh of which were to never be eaten by Jews.

In the vision, Peter was told by God to kill and eat. But Peter refused, saying nothing unclean had ever entered his mouth.

Peter then said, “But a second time the voice answered from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’ The Spirit told me to … not make a distinction between [Gentiles] and us.”

God’s message to Peter — and us — is that God does not wish for us to make distinctions among ourselves. At the very core of who every person is, we are each a child of God. It doesn’t matter if we don’t share the same ideology, or theology, or dietary convictions. It doesn’t matter if we love or hate guns, or appreciate dogs rather than cats.

We are called to look beyond the surface of a person to what is deep in their heart. We are to look beyond our differences and find what unites us together, the fact that we are each created, cleansed, and claimed by God.

Does this mean that we need to condone evil and prejudice? Absolutely not. A person’s actions may be judged, and when necessary, disciplined. We have to be willing to look at what it is about a person that God loves and share that love. This is why it is possible to hate the sin, but still love the sinner.

Can you look beyond the superficial aspects that would want to make you look at someone as inferior? Can you look beyond inappropriate behavior to discover the gift of who the person is beyond the surface? Can you love others because it is the right thing to do? Can you tear down the walls?

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Tear down the walls