family

I was so happy on Christmas Eve this year.  I wasn't worried about all of the services.  It seemed that everything was in hand.  I was  so happy and so excited because on Christmas day I was going to fly to see my family.

You know, we take those people for granted sometimes.  They are always around and sometimes annoying.  But when you don't get to see them, you miss them.  Absence makes the heart grow fonder.


Someone told me the other day that "family isn't the most important thing, it is the only thing."  How exciting to spend time with the ones that you love.  Cherish every moment.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

love

I love this quote from the opening lines of the movie the Notebook......
James Garner says,

"I am nothing special, of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough."

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

I got it right

Since yesterday was an oops, today I can tell you about something that I did right.  I actually got it right one day last week!

So, in the picture you can see that I am at my favorite restaurant La Fuente with my son Scott.  You can also see that we are consuming lots of salsa.  What you don't know is that the level is low on the salsa carafe because it was spilled on me.

right before the salsa attack

When the server was setting things down, his hand caught the top of the salsa container and it went flying, launching towards me at a high rate of speed.  The salsa got me pretty good.  Both legs of my jeans, and all over my red electric jacket.  Which is my favorite jacket. [see picture]

Well, here is the good news.  I was surprised, but I did not get angry.  I did not flare up.  The server had an alarming look on his face but my son and I just started to laugh.  Later they came by and thanked us for taking it so well.  They told us that many customers look for the smallest infraction to demand a free drink or a free meal.  Accidents happen.  When they do, we can choose to shame the person, or offer grace.

So, for all the times that I get it wrong, one time, one time, one time, I got it right.  May we all get it right a little more often.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Oops

A friend of mine asked if she could comment on the sermon from last week.  I said, sure!  I was not prepared for what she said.

What she said horrified me!  [I thought, Oh my, I am out of touch] She said, "that one story that you told in Sunday's sermon, don't tell it again.  You have told it three times this year."

Yikes!  Oh, my I was so embarrassed.  I felt so out of touch.  Sometimes it is hard to remember when the last time I told a particular story.  I don't ever want to have people sit there in the pew and think, "Oh, this again!"  I don't know if I am becoming more forgetful, or if my hard drive is full.

Forgive me for telling that story one time too many.  I really care about what we do on Sunday morning and I want it to be good.  And I am always open to comments and suggestions.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Mary is back

After a long hiatus, the Virgin Mary is back in my possession.  At some point in my life, I would like to know who keeps taking her and teasing me with her.  I am glad to have her back.  Finding her the other day was like finding a lost friend.  What a joy!!

If you don't know the story, Mary was stolen from our manger scene outside of our old church in 1997.  Since then, she has appeared, here and there.  I get to keep her for a while, and then someone takes her again and sends me pictures of her in various places, as if she has gone on a trip.

I am glad to have her back.  I think I will just keep her locked up in my car.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

The song goes on

Howard Thurman speaks to this idea of “ keeping the joy of Christmas” beyond the markings of the calendar. He writes:

When the song of the angels is still,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the Kings and the princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their sheep,
The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among the people,
To make music in the heart.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Merry Christmas

After the Christmas Cantata, there was a music department pot luck dinner.  After dinner there were some table questions that were passed around so that we could get to know each other better.  It was a wonderful event.

One of the questions asked was this, "What is the best gift you have ever received?"  I thought for a few moments, and it occurred to me that the best gift that I have received was something that has developed over the last year.  And surprise, it is not a shirt or a tie, but thing of the heart.  After raising my children and watching them spar and fight, I have noticed that they have moved on to a different stage.  They have moved past sibling rivalry and actually care for one another.  Their interaction has turned a massive corner and today they would take a bullet for each other.

To see my kids grow up and love each other- Oh what a gift!
Today I am with my family.  It doesn't get any better than that.

Merry Christmas!!
It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Christmas Card

I received a wonderful Christmas Card from the Smith family.  Really.

On the cover were the words:

• Help a Stranger
• Praise a Child
• Light a Candle
• Share your Love
• Sing for Joy
• Lend a Hand
• Pray for Peace
• Understand

Inside were the words:
"Peace and Joy this Season and throughout the Year."

I loved the message.  It felt so good, so positive.  It made me smile!

• Help a Stranger
• Praise a Child
• Light a Candle
• Share your Love
• Sing for Joy
• Lend a Hand
• Pray for Peace
• Understand

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Christmas Eve

If the Good Lord gives us tomorrow, we will celebrate another Christmas Eve.  Services are set for 10am, 4:00, 5:30, 7:00, 8:30 and 11:00 pm at the Lees Summit campus and 5:00 pm at the Raytown Campus.

4:00 and 5:30 are our busiest times.  Please arrive early and do not save seats.

I have seen the music line up and it is going to be great.  The worship center will be open at 4:00 and 5:30.  The music will be more contemporary and the message is the same message as in the sanctuary by Pastor Jeff.

Although it is a lot of work, to me, Christmas Eve is the crowning moment of our church year.  I love you all and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

taking pride in one's work

I advertise this blog as random- what ever I might be thinking about.  For some reason, I want to post today about taking pride in one's work.  It is so very important.  What you do and how you do it matters so much.  I don't understand when I see people give half of an effort at a thing.

There are many old sayings about doing your best.
Anything worth doing, is worth doing right. 
Today is God's gift to you.  What you do with it is your gift to him.

Colossians 3:23 says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."

You know, life is short.  Why not give it your best?  I always feel better when I do.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

sick

On Friday and Saturday I asked a friend to post for me.  Christmas is a busy time and sometimes my brain needs a rest.   I knew that Ami was going to post later than I normally do.  I was surprised, pleasantly, at the number of calls that I received from folks that wanted to know how I was doing.  Was I sick?  was I ok?

I am fine.  I just needed to rest my brain.  Everyone needs to rest their brain from time to time.  I thank my friends Ami and Lions Den Man for filling in for me from time to time.  I hope that you have friends that have your back.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Walk to the Manger

Today and on Christmas Eve, Woods Chapel will be having our annual "Walk to the Manger."   If you are unfamiliar with the Walk, it is a year end opportunity for each of us to make a special gift to God's work.  Just as the Shepherds and Wisemen made their way to the manger and offered gifts, so we too take a moment during the Christmas season to honor and thank God for all that he has done for us.

We generally invite members to give to major categories, like missions, endowments, landscape, sound and lighting upgrades, or the building fund.  There is a place on the card to mark "other," and many members do give to other ministries that they feel called to support.

Walk to the Manger takes place at the end of each service today and on Christmas eve.  Envelopes and cards are available at the info desk and in the pews.  If you are feeling moved to give back to God and support any of the ministries of Woods Chapel, I invite you to join me and hundreds of others and take a walk to the Manger.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Don't Miss The Manger"

Don't Miss The Manger

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16

"Quick!  Move those papers off the table.  Get these crayons out of here.  Who left their cereal bowl out?  Come on, really?  It's 3 in the afternoon.  Who's take-home folder is this?  Bookbags people.  Bookbags.  Those hooks in the foyer are for a reason!  Nope, you can't have the Darth Vader mug; I want matching cups for everyone.  Don't hit your sister.  No, I did not give the others more.  You all have the same amount.  Really, must you count the mini-marshmallows to prove I've been fair?  Geez.  Okay, you sit here, you sit here, and you sit over here."

"Mom, what are you doing?"

"Making memories.  Quick scoot together and act like you like each other.  Okay, ready?  Everybody smile."

And THAT'S how I make a memory.

I could write a caption for the photo I took that reads, "Colder weather brings the time of sweet children sitting around the table with frothy mustaches and rosy, wind-kissed cheeks."  But that would be on big ole lie!  Let's face it, a mouth full of marshmallows muffles the incessant quarreling that has been going on non-stop around here.  I don't know about your home, but it's like the "little folk" have just up and lost their minds.  I'm not doing much better.  With squabbles, whining, and smart mouths; Momma's breaking down too.

My goal for the past three years has been to make Christmas break exactly what it's called.  A. Big. Break.  A break that slows us down enough so that we don't miss celebrating why we honor Christmas in the first place.  A precious Son given by His Father to save us all.  God so loved us that He gave His Son!  Words learned in my youth that only grow weightier as I see the depths of my own sinful soul.  How can I afford to miss such a precious gift?  A son given for me.  Thank you God.  Thank you.

I have determined not to miss it.  Not to miss Christmas.  I have determined my family won't miss it either.  As I mentioned, we have had to make some adjustments to our Christmas scene.  For starters, we scale way back on activity.  We also make use of the word, "NO," a lot when asked to do things.  We let go of the need to have to be everywhere and everything for every one. The Buccero's have started to learn the healing in shutting down for a recharge.  We focus on togetherness or as my husband likes to call it we concentrate on, "Team Buccero."  We slow down to reconnect and refocus.  We don't want to miss the manger. 

The month of December is well underway.  Christmas is close at hand.  Don't wait until school starts back to say, "What happened to the holiday?"

If stopping is not natural for you, make yourself do it.  Plan a day to just stop and be; to stop and listen, to pause and pray.  And don't just do religious activities either for the sake of being religious during the holiday.  Seek a fresh nudge from the Spirit to be Spirit led this Christmas.

Don't miss the Son born for you!  The Light of the world has come!  Grab a cup of coffee or cocoa and a smile as you celebrate the birth of your King.  Hallelujah!

Prayer:  You gave us your Son.  Your precious Son.  Don't let me miss that truth this Christmas because I'm too busy.  Slow me down to see the manger.  Slow me down to truly worship the King this Christmas.  Amen.

Merry Christmas and hugs to you my friends.
Ami

The Greatest Gift

The Greatest Gift

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."  Ephesians 2:8-9

In this gift-giving season, it is natural to focus on material things of Christmas.  As Christians we have much to rejoice in and share with the world, most importantly our salvation.

What verses better encapsulate the beauty of our salvation than Ephesians 2:8-9?  We are saved by GRACE.  Our salvation is a free gift from God!  Webster's defines a gift as "something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation, "with a synonym being "deliverance".  We have been delivered from the bondage of the sinful nature that enslaved us.  That is an awesome gift!

We deserve eternal separation from God, but by his grace and mercy, when we accept Christ's free gift of salvation, we receive eternal life in heaven. 

A USA Today survey asked Americans how much money they would pay for particular things that money cannot buy, like a great intellect, natural beauty, true love, etc.  At the top of the list, people said they would pay $640,000.00 to guarantee themselves a place in heaven.  Wow!  Do we have a deal for these people!  Eternal life is free; God only asks us to believe in him. 

What do we say to the Creator God of the universe who showers his children with this unmerited, wonderful, amazing, precious, awesome gift?  THANK YOU LORD!

This Christmas, and every day after, I pray that we will all respond to the gift of salvation with hearts bursting with thanksgiving, gratitude, praise, and generosity towards others.

Thank you, Lord, for the mercy and grace you demonstrate to me day after day as I receive gifts from your hands.

"It's a beautiful day in GODS world.  Be sure to see the good. :-)
Merry Christmas and Hugs from your friend,
Ami

wanting less

It seems that the older I get, the less that I want.

Is that because I am more interested in people than things?  I hope so.
Is that because I have met friends in Nicaragua whose Christmas list would have one item on it:  food.
Do I want less because I am becoming more spiritual?  [my wife would doubt that]

What I fear is that we learn to want less when we have enough.  I remember when I wanted a new TV, a bigger TV, another TV.  I don't want TV's any more.  Is that because I am growing up or because I have enough TVs?

My dad used to ask me how many pairs of shoes I could wear at once.  The point of that is that we don't need more stuff.

Well, I do know people who have very luxurious lifestyles and still want more.  I know people that just never seem to have enough no matter the level of opulence in their lives.

Whatever the reason, it makes me happy to want less.  It allows me to love others more.  It makes me happy to look at what is, and to be content with things as they are.  I don't need a different car.  I don't need new clothes.  I'm just glad to be alive.

All this seems true until the tool catalogue comes in the mail.  Then I begin to covet again.
What is your relationship to wanting things?

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see that it is good.  It is enough.

intention

What is your intention?  What are your plans?  Are you trying to accomplish something in this life or are you simply rolling with the punches of life?  Are you a victim or a victor?

Oh for people that will live life with intention.  Who will step out on purpose and try to leave a mark on the world.  Time is short and humanity is frail.  Share love and kindness while you can.  Do not allow a moment to be wasted.

What is the intention of your life?

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to intentionally see the good.

who's in

I am routinely asked by members and friends, "who gets to go to heaven?"
I have landed on the answer, "I am not in charge of who gets in, God is."

There are plenty of preachers who want to play God and decide who is in.  So sad.

Romans 1:20 reminds me that God's ways are higher than mine.
²⁰ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Hmm, so this does not fit the theology that I was raised on, but somehow, anyone who looks at the world that God has made, is going to see God's amazingness.  The heavens declare the glory of God.  Somehow, every person who is alive in this world is accountable, they are without excuse.  They have seen enough of God that they are either in or out, and God decides that, not me.

Who am I to say?   God has set himself at work in the world.  Lets trust him instead of trying to control him.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

the best time

Do you know when the best time to plant a tree is?

50 years ago.

Do you know when the second best time to plant a tree is?

Today.

We all have regrets about things that we should have done but did not do.  Alright, I missed the boat on that one.  I should have done it in the past, but I didn't.

Let's not stop ourselves from what we need to do.  The goal awaits.  We should have done it one year, five or ten years ago.  We didn't.   But today is a new day.  Plant the tree.  Set the budget.  Write the letter.  Change your course.

Never let past failures hold you back.  Today is a new opportunity for you to pursue your goals.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

perfect Christmas

Coming to a sermon somewhere this morning...............

Are you working hard to make a perfect Christmas?  Do you want it to be just so for your family?  Make sure the food is perfect.  Make sure all the gifts are right.  I want Christmas to be perfect for my family.

If this is you, stop.  STOP!  We can't make Christmas perfect.  God already did that.  Christmas is not about gifts or food or me getting what I want.  Our focus on those things only keep us off track.

Christmas is perfect.  God made it that way.  Let's focus on the part that really matters.  Christ the Savior is born!

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

easy and hard

Some things are easy.  Some things are hard. 

I like baseball.  Easy.
I like cars.  Easy.
Cars break down.  Hard.

Wanting to love people.  Easy.
Actually loving some people.  Hard.

Talking about being kind.  Easy.
Actually being kind.  Hard.

Making bills.  Easy.
Paying bills.  Harder.

Praying for other nations.  Easy.
Immigration issues.  Hard.

The people that I usually deal with.  Easy.
The people the FBI deals with.  Hard.

We need to learn to accept that there is ambiguity in this world.  No politician, in spite of their promises, is going to solve every problem.  Some things in this life we will like, and some things we won't.  Nothing is perfect.  Nothing on this earth is ever going to be perfect until we understand that imperfect is wonderful.  Beauty has many facets.  Good is good. 

God, grant us the serenity to accept the things that we cannot change,

The courage to change the things we can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.  See it, right through difficult things.  See the good.

Prayer for today

Dear Lord,

May we humbly go about doing your work today.  May we choose the right.  May we choose the good.  My we remember that it is not about us.

Thank you for the great privilege that we have of loving people, of going about doing your work.  Show us someone that we an love today.  Tug on our heart.  Use us this day.  In Jesus name, Amen.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

someone hit my car

A member came in with pieces of their tail light in her hand.  Someone hit her car in the church parking lot.  And did not leave a note.

Hmmm.  Hmmm.  I am trying to think of what I should say!!

I hope that every person that reads this blog would leave a note if you hit someone's car.  Its the right thing to do.  It doesn't matter if we liked the sermon if we don't leave a note on the car that we hit.

If you are reading this, and it is you, please contact me.  I can help you navigate this in a way that will be healing.  The right thing to do is always the right thing to do.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

conflict management

I was talking with a new friend the other day.  He told me that he had a degree in conflict management.  He said that his degree was not in conflict resolution, because most conflicts cannot be resolved, they can only be managed.

Wow.  My little brain stopped. 

Here I have been trying to fix things for years and I think he may be right, that there are many things that can only be managed, never completely healed.  Sure, miracles happen from time to time and God can do anything, but so often the healing that we experience still leaves a scar, a mark, or a memory. 

When I think of resolution, I expect the thing to be perfect, to go back to the way it was before.  When I think of conflict management, I think that I need to allow myself and others the freedom to be human.  It makes me want to relax in the world and accept the fact that there are many broken things in this world, but it is still good.  Keep working on them, manage them.  Your life does not have to be perfect.  It's all good.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Unintentionally Intentional

I heard a phrase the other day that I really liked.  Someone was described as being "unintentionally intentional."  Like they accidently did the right things.  Or they went about doing the right things without even thinking about them.

Much like the righteous ones in Mt 25.  They were self-unaware.  They did not know that they were doing good for Jesus, it was just their way, its just how they lived.  They weren't expecting any accolades, as if doing good was it's own reward. 

Imagine a life, a person, so kind that they just causally, without fanfare, go about doing good.  Changing lives and making a difference in the world, unintentionally intentional.

I am reminded of the Dan Fogelberg song, Leader of the Band, in which he describes his father's way of raising children "his gentle means of sculpting souls took me years to understand...."

What an impact such people have on us.  Oh how I aspire to be such a person.  How about you?

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Good will to men

Peace on earth.  Good will to men.

Jesus was born into a time when nations slaughtered nations.  Only the strong survived.  This empire, that empire, the Greeks, the Persians, oh here come the Egyptians and finally the Romans.  Kill or be killed.  Take whatever you want.

Even the Jews are killing and taking in the conquest of Canaan.  In the New Testament, when they are talking about and praying for the restoration of the throne of David, what they are saying is this:  "We are tired of being the little guys.   We are tired of being beat down.  We want to be on top again.  We don't want to be subjugated.  We want to subjugate others."

Jesus was born into a mind set of national violence.  Winner take all.  And in the middle of this setting, the angels make a profound announcement to the shepherds.  Peace on earth, good will to men.  Not just that the wars will stop, but we are going to begin a new way of treating each other.  Good will to men.  No longer an eye for an eye.  The cycle of violence and retribution is coming to an end.

Goodwill.  Grace.  Love.  This is the work of Kingdom people.  This is what we are to be about.  No more hatred.  No more one upping.  No more who is the greatest.

Peace on Earth.  Good will to men.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Happy Birthday!

Cathy on left w sister Carla

Happy Birthday to my sweet wife Cathy!  Today is her birthday and she is 29!  I love her and I miss her.  Sorry I can't be with her today, but when you only work one day a week, you better be at work!

Everyone should have someone in their world that cherishes them.  I am hooked on her for good.  It makes me smile to think of her and I look forward to seeing her every time that I can.

Happy Birthday Dear!

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

I'm an atheist

I'm not an atheist, but those can be painful words when a loved one speaks them to us.

Random people often tell me that they are atheists. Families worry about their loved ones that say they are atheists.

When someone says they are an atheist, what we hear is that they're throwing away God. I've come to believe that often what they mean is that they're not throwing away God as much as they are throwing away the church. Frankly, the church has no one to blame for that but itself. In my lifetime I've witnessed so much guilt and manipulation delivered from pastors and churches to society that what we're experiencing today is simply a backlash. 

Someone tells me they don't believe in God.  I like to ask them do you believe in love? And if they say yes and they always do, then I simply remind them that God is love. He's not an angry old man in a long beard.  He is not an angry old man waiting to judge you. God is love, and that is something that I think everyone can believe in.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

I used to be that

Yes, I used to be that. I used to cheat on my taxes. I was once in jail. I used to steal from my employer. [Not true for me, but you see where I am going.]  All of us have something that we used to do, or used to be.  We want to move on, but there is someone who insists on constantly reminding us of who we were and what we did.  Maybe our own brain is the one that won't let us move on.

But the truth is,  I'm not any of those things anymore. In human terms there are sometimes consequences that we must pay, for things that we did in the past. You have to pay your taxes back. You may have a prison record. Etc. 

In God's economy there's always a fresh start. Yes there are memories. Sometimes there is guilt, but in Jesus Christ the old things have gone away and behold all things are new. Don't think of yourself in terms of what you used to be.  Think of yourselves in terms of what you are now, and what you can be in Christ. 

Yes, I used to be that, but I am not anymore, and I thank God for his grace.

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good

me, myself

Houston, we have a problem.
There is a problem here.
And I am it.

The older I get, the more I realize how little I know.
The older I get, the more I realize that some of the things that I feel so strongly about, are just flat out none of my business.  Or worse yet, they just don't matter.

I have been thinking lately about how nice it would be if sometimes I just got over myself.  Stop expecting things to go my way.  Listen to others more.  Defer to others more. Relax more.
What about you?

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

to forgive

I noticed a thing the other day.  Someone made a mistake.  Fortunately,  I was thinking straight.  I considered my options.

• Sit down with them.
• Carefully explain the behavior and why it needs to change.
• ignore it.
• do nothing.
• fix it.
• absorb it.
• learn from it.

I remembered an old saying, "blessed are those who forgive the sins of others."  The world is full of people who always need to be right, who always need to correct everyone else.  I don't want to be that person.

Maybe the person did not know what they did.  Maybe they were in a hurry.  Maybe this is not a big enough deal to make a big deal about it.

I did nothing.  I chose to forget it.  I solved the problem quietly. We all might have a more peaceful life if we covered the sins of others more often.  Blessed indeed are those who forgive the sins of others.  I hope that they will also forgive mine.  Mercy rejoices over judgment.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

live. now. don't wait.

Learn to live in the present. It is called the present by the way, because it is a gift from God.

There is a proverb about a spiritual master who spoke at a public meeting. All questions at the public meeting that day were about life beyond the grave. The Master only laughed and did not give a single answer. To his disciples, who demanded to know the reason for his evasiveness, he later said, “Have you observed that it is precisely those who do not know what to do with this life who want another that will last forever?”

“But is there life after death or is there not?” persisted a disciple.
“Is there life before death? That is the question!” said the Master enigmatically.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.