Jamaican nights

Jamaican nights

There really is nothing for the team to do at night, so after dinner, a few talk or hang out for a while, but in short order everyone showers and goes to bed. It is hot and humid here and the dorms are not air conditioned. Windows are open and each room has a box fan. It takes a while for me to go to sleep. [I have attached a picture of the dorm to this post.] There are many people out in the streets and sometimes you can hear them talking and laughing. There is also that occaisional smell of Bob Marley’s favorite past time.

The worst thing about the night were the barking dogs.
In Jamaica there are lots of dogs. No cats, but lots of dogs. They are of no particular breed, and it appears that they have to fend for themselves. No dog tags, few owners are present with the dogs who appear to be wild roaming hobos. They wander the streets and appear to have a slight fear of humans. They are not spayed or neutered, so there is no rest for dogs, no retirement. Even the oldest and ugliest looking of dogs are having pups. The dog population appears to be even more desperate than the people here. And so back to the night. They bark. Dogs bark. All night.

I-pods are your friend. The music of home mixes with the music of the fan and you sleep. Off and on, until you wake and our Father gives us another day.

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

dental trip to Jamaica, day 1

The mission trip begins.

So you have this idea that you are going to travel to a far away place and help someone in need.

And the mission trip begins on the airplane. The challenge to your faith. The moments when you wonder why you were doing this, begin before you ever land in your destination. People in the worng seats refuse to move. Crying babies. Raw nerves. You get to the airport and you have to lug giant suitcases full of supplies for the mission, miles, to catch a shuttle bus to the hotel where you have to spend the night because they cant get you to your destination until tomorrow.

Falmouth Jamaica. The Methodist church sits on a lot near down town. Behind it is a dorm for those who come here to help in their clinic. Their main outreach to the community is thru the mehtodist clinic which is two blocks away. The clinic was build by Methodists from Missouri twenty years ago. It is only open when teams come from churches like ours.

We used to send one team. Now we send four. I wish we could keep the clinic open longer. Today I met several of the fine Methodist people, and I assisted with three tooth extractions. I did it all. I saw it all, and let me tell you, there is a huge need for dental care in Falmouth. 

For more info on the town - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falmouth,_Jamaica

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

home from the mission trip

Last night I got home from the Jamaican dental mission trip at 730pm.  Finished the sermon and went to bed.  Thank you to my long time friend, Lions Den man, for posting while I was gone.  This week I will be posting an account of the trip log, day by day.  It will give you a very different view of Jamaica than what we see on the television ads.

Today as you prepare to come to worship, I want to tell you about something I read.  It reminded me that God is everywhere.  At every church, in every field, everywhere.  When we don't recognize him, it is usually because we are focused on our own problems, our own issues, our own stuff. 

God is at Woods Chapel today.  Come to worship and focus on Him.  Hear God's words of love and encouragement.  Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  Look full in his wonderful face.  And the things of earth, well they grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.

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

trust

yesterday a friend shared some thoughts. thoughts he wouldn't have shared a year or so ago. a year or so ago trust was not in the mix. that is easy to understand. it takes time to feel someone will use what they know about you to help you and not destroy you. some of us spend a lot of time making sure people see us as they want to see us and not how we truly are. trust is a sign of growth. trust requires an inner strength and belief in something bigger than ourselves.

Brennan Manning wrote, "Perhaps the supreme achievement of the Holy Spirit in the life of the ragamuffins (the broken) is the miraculous movement from self-rejection to self-acceptance."

Jeff returns home today and will be in service on Sunday.

Peace,
Lion's Den Man

hectic

My days are pretty full right now. I am not real open to interruptions to my daily plan or to invitations to do something else even if that thing may be a very good thing and one I should consider....neither of which is good.

I have a friend in the same boat who I compare, in a jokingly way, my to do list with. Both our plates are full...we say we need bigger plates, a better schedule or game plan, and we find ourselves sleeping less to make more hours available to get things done.

Crazy how life gets at times. Sometimes it is just the way it is and sometimes the craziness is self inflicted. Before you know it the day is over the week has gone it is summer not spring and so on.

Brian Swanson did a great sermon on this years ago. I call it his "Executive Day Planner" sermon. In it he speaks about all the good he has planned for the day and his plan to make sure it happens, but his determination and focus on his plan makes him blind to what God places before him throughout the day. Needless to say it has stuck with me ever since. If you missed it maybe we can get him to give it again.

Point is... I shouldn't schedule or make time to "smell the roses". I should just slow down and leave time to do so. Prayer helps me do that. It slows me down, puts my life on hold for a little while and then gets it back on track. This takes me back to yesterdays post....It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good...and while you're at it maybe slow down and take the time to thank Him for it as well.


BTW...Jeff will be back at WCC Sunday

Now the funny thing about this post is I woke up early today to write it so I could move on my "plan" for the day only to discover Blogger was under repairs today....hence the late post. Yesterday's post was deleted during the repair time so I posted it again. As Forest says, "It happens".


Peace,
Lion's Den Man

closing statement

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

lets think about that statement. is there a day in God's world that isn't beautiful?
is there good in each day? what happens when we focus on the bad and don't take time to see the good? where does that take you/me? what if our focus is always on the concerns and never on the joys? how does that type of persistent thinking work in God's beautiful day? how does it work on you? where does it focus our attention?

Originally Posted: 12 May 2011 04:18 AM PDT

Peace,
Lion's Den Man

back to Sunday

I just went back to read the post Jeff made on Sunday about how worry interferes in our lives. The same message was presented in a different fashion yesterday at the Men's Gathering. I started thinking about how my worry is about the less important things versus the things that are important (family, friends, relationships, etc.) and how worry has that ability to separate me from those important things. Worry changes my outlook on life and eventually separates me from the important things. Before I know it, the stress worry has brought me is now spilling over and onto the important things and I can see how it affects their lives...not good...not healthy...they don't need that...nor do I. No wonder Christ spoke of it the way he did. There is no benefit...no good that can come from it. So, as Jeff suggests, I will work towards letting all the stuff fall away. Let it go. Let love rise to the top. And, make sure the important things stay important.

Peace,
Lion's Den Man

blink

that's how it happens. blink and it is no longer 1993 but 2011. blink and she is no longer a baby in your arms but a full grown woman ready to move on from high school to the next adventure. Many have been down this road before me and many will follow. Most everyone before me has said close to the same thing in one fashion or another....it happens fast...they grow up quick...don't miss it....enjoy it while you can....

All great words of wisdom spoken from the heart of those who have been there. I wish I could say my mind was always open to wisdom. So much can be learned when we take the time to listen, observe and learn from others who have traveled the road before us. In many ways I have been preparing for this time for a long time. So now that the time has come I have very few regrets and many good memories. I wish I could say that about other wise things people have shared with me.

So what do you do with that...you tell others...you share...you encourage them to do this and not that and you hope they listen because many things in life happen in a blink...marriages...kids....friendships.... jobs...life..

If we aren't actively engaged in the present there will be many regrets in the future...someone told me that too.


Peace,
Lion's Den Man

practice what you preach

I think our actions can tell a story about who we are...what we believe...what is important to us...and what we feel should be of importance and priority. You know the expression and it is true...talk is cheap,actions speak louder than words. Here are a few excerpts from blog posts Jeff has written. You have heard many of them in his sermons and in conversations you may have had with him, as well.

Methodists historically are mission minded. "No one is saved by good works, but no one will be saved without them" - John Wesley. The Christian life is to be lived, not talked about. We are here to give ourselves away in the name of Jesus.

Missions isn't something that we do. It should be something that we are.

We don't live our lives and then take a break to be in mission. If you are a Christian, all of your life is a mission. It's not that we are being good when we act in mission. All of our life is to be a mission

It is important for all of us to be connected to something in missions. If we aren't connected in missions in some way, it is just too easy to start thinking that the world is really revolving around me. To be in mission is to see the needs of others. It helps us keep our lives in perspective. It allows us to become the hands and feet of Christ. If you have a free morning or evening sometime, pick one of our missions and go see what they are doing. You will be glad that you did.

This post isn't just about Jeff or WCC it is about all of us who believe...

Jeff is off this week to Jamaica with other missionaries. Please keep them in your prayers.

Peace,
Lion's Den Man

when it all falls away

Our minds are so full of worry.  So upset about so many things.  Concerned about money, things and people.  Worried about situations, circumstances and tomorrow.  Even though Jesus told us not to worry, we spend way too much time doing it.

Have you noticed this?  I have noticed something lately.  Worry gets in the way of love.  When I am worried, I am focused on the object of worry.  I am concerned with myself.  Love is covered up with the junk of life.

When I stop worrying about things, love rises to the top.  When I let go of the things that are on my mind, or just decide to relax, love appears.  Like it has always been there, just waiting for me to let go of the other things.  I can feel it now as I write this, how love rises to fill our hearts and minds when we stop worrying.

Let all the stuff fall away.  We can't add an hour to our life by worrying anyway.  Let it go.  Let love rise to the top.  It is right there, waiting for the chance.

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

pretty exciting

Rejoice with me!  Today, my second child, Jennifer, graduates from CMSU - Central Missouri State University [Warrensburg] with a degree in Bio-medical research.  She hopes to work in a lab or in clinical research.

I can not explain how excited we are!  In my entire life, there may be no greater joy than to help a child grow up and get a college degree.  I am one proud papa!

She joins her sister Allison, who graduated in December with a BS in Nursing.  Alli is a nurse at St Luke's East. 

Now if little sister can just land a job.
It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

culture

Culture.  We all have one.  Cars, habits, homes, schools, sports, clothes, holidays.  What are the things that we call important?  Should a Christian engage fully in our culture, or should a christian hold back and keep themselves separate from culture?

Jesus clearly did both.  He attended weddings and was a welcome sight there.  He hung with sinners.  But he also resisted the corruption of the political and religious leaders.  He stayed on mission.

If we would win the people in our community, we have to live in and enter into this culture.  But are there ways that this culture damages our children and our lives?  What are they?  How do you choose to interface with those things that draw you away from Christ and take you off mission?

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

statistics

Last week I was at a seminar for the pastors of the 100 largest Methodist Churches in the country.  We barely qualify to be on the list.  It is a very good group to hang out with, because I learn a lot from the other pastors in the group.

Some interesting statistics were presented at the meeting.  Each year, the United Methodist Church loses about 50,000 in worship attendance each year.  In another 40 years, if we don't stop the trend, there will be no United Methodist's left.  Out of 32,000 United Methodist churches in America, only 4,500 of them are growing.

These numbers tell me that it is very important that our church continue to work hard to pursue our mission of connecting people to Jesus Christ.  I hope that you understand how important it is for every single person at our church to be engaged in caring for, and reaching out to others in the name of the Lord.

You are a great church, keep up the good work.

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

a guest posting

I have a dear friend, Hubert Neth.  He is a retired United Methodist Minister.  When I arrived in Princeton, MO as the new pastor in 1991, I found that he was still the favorite pastor there, 20 years after he had moved on.

He is bright and fresh and brilliant.  He has a way of talking about his faith that draws people in.  I have learned so much from his total transparency in his preaching.  We meet every month just so that I can get a little smarter.

Today, I share a poem that he wrote.  Enjoy.

where will

the executed
carpenters boy
linger after
powerful
attempts
to seal
his fate?

look for him
where folks
work hard
to earn
their bread
or find no job.
look for him
in little churches
down gravel roads
or in central cities
surrounded by
foreclosed homes.
look for him
in the stress
vacant stares
of suburban shoppers
hypnotized by hurry
oblivious to
beating hearts
in checkout lines
around them.

look for him
in old town bars
where barbeques
aroma
and slaw
from a fathers
recipe
offer communion
to the lonely.

look for him
in quiet laboratories
where the search
is constant
to discover
diseases cure,
where grief visits
a new grave
at foggy dawn
or a brain injured
soldier returns
from multiple
deployments
and cant find
medical care
amidst slogans
spouting support
the troops.

look for him
in blood stained
emergency rooms
following another
saturday shooting
in religious hypermarts
scattering consumer gods.
look for him
where new grass
laughs up through
concrete cracks,
in rebels fighting
to breathe free.

wherever people
sacrifice for
others they love
or dont even know
he is not impressed
by praise of crowds
acclaims of his
goodness
he will descend
to reach us
in some hell
and will not
leave until
the room
is empty

h.

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

a direct line

The other day, east bound I-70 was closed.  My daughters had been in the Plaza area and heard the news on the radio.  They called me to see if it was true [like I would know].  I happened to be sitting in front of the computer.  I asked them to hold the line.  I went on the web to Channel 9's website and saw that yes, it was true, east bound I-70 was closed at Sterling.  They asked me how they should come home.  I asked them were they were.  On Van Brunt by the VA hospital.

I switched over to mapquest.  I scrolled in on that part of town.  I told them to turn right off of Van Brunt onto 31st and it will turn into 40 highway.  That is all I needed to say because they can find their way home from there.

Now, prayer is great, but don't you wish sometimes you could get that specific and clear of instructions?  Dear God, what is going on? 
Well son, its like this. 
Well God, how do I get there? 
Well son, take this turn, follow this road and it will take you back to framiliar territory. 
Ok, thanks.  You are the best.

I guess we have to take joy in the fact that part of our relationship with God involves discernment and trust.  Sometimes you know what is going on.  Sometimes you think you know what is going on, but don't.  The rest of the time, we pray, we think, and we exercise our free will trusting that God walks with us and celebrates our life with us.

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

Usama

I awake this day with mixed feelings at the news of the death of Usama Bin Laden.  Gosh we finally got this guy.  What a murderous fool.  Man I don't understand his hatred. I am glad that he is gone.  What will God do with someone like that?  It is a great day for America.

I also feel sad that people hate each other.  I feel bad for the conflict that has surrounded this man.  I wish his death would put an end to the violence, but we did not kill Bonnie and Clyde.  There are many more people that hate Americans.

So can I thank God that he is gone?  Sure I think we can.  But I am also praying for a better day.  A day when our children and our children's children can live in this world in peace.  When all will come to know the love of Jesus Christ.

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

credit

Human nature wants the credit.  It wants to be lifted up.  It wants the attention.  We compete with others sometimes for attention, disliking them simply because they seem to be loved more than we.  Are we that broken?

I don't think Jesus wanted the attention.  He just kept doing what he was supposed to do, and he pointed people to God. 

I actually think that people are repelled when you demand their attention.  When you demand the credit.  When you make something all about you.  And conversely, it seems to me that people are drawn to those who are willing to lift up others and allow them to be in the limelight.  It seems like such a Jesus thing to do.

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

city council

I talked to a large church pastor the other day who told me that he has been elected to the city council in his town.  He says that one of the unintended bi products of this election, is that he is getting used to unhappy people and complaining phone calls at all hours of the day and night.

He says that when someone complains at church now, he just says, "take a number and get in line."

In some strange way, I find this a bit funny.   I am sure he has added a great deal of consternation into his life by becoming involved in politics.  I for one, am not going to do it.  I don't want the extra phone calls, and our folks don't complain that much anyway.

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

what year

What year is it?  Lyle Shaller, a famous church consultant, used to begin every meeting with a church by asking the question, "What year is it here?"

Do you hear the question?  Here it is... Are you church folks acting like we are still in 1960?  1975?  1980?  Is your view of the church, like the church you grew up in?  Do you expect Woods Chapel 2011 to be like the church you grew up in?  How many years ago was that?  What year is it in your brain for the church?

Is it possible that Christendom is fluid and that it is not contained by the shape of any particular decade?  Is it possible that the Spirit continues to call us away from our cultural views of "church" and towards a faithful following of Jesus?  Is it possible that we are stuck in a picture of the church that no longer works, and is no more faithful simply because it is the paradigm that we learned?

The year today of course is 2011.  The church of 2011 and into the future cannot be held back by our ideas.  God draws us away from our preconceived notions and into faithfulness.   Are you ready to go?

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

Easter Attendance

Well, everyone always asks, so here are the numbers.  At all services this year for Easter, there were 2640 people in attendance.  Remember, numbers don't matter, except for the fact that numbers represent human beings.

Do you like that number, does it make you happy?  Last year we had 2819 on Easter.  Does that number make you feel bad?  Why did we have fewer this year? 

Not to make excuses, but last year we had a fiasco, being unprepared for those who were here.  I know that many were discouraged by that.  Adam Hamilton told me yesterday that it takes them 6-9 months to recover from a capital funds drive.  The most important thing that I can tell you about numbers, is that they are going to be up and down, all around the church, until we can figure out how to make room for others.  After 16 years of up, up, up, we have reached critical mass at WCC.  A restaurant with 10 tables can only serve so many people lunch.  If we want to serve and reach more folks, we have to make more opportunities.   That is why the pastor and the building committee have been holding up the proposed building addition.

I want to thank everyone for all of their work on Easter.  The day ran very smoothly and it was a great celebration of the resurrected Christ.  Please just understand, until we make more opportunities, our numbers will be up and down as we are just up against our potential.

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

timeliness

Timeliness.  Sometimes being timely is more important that being true or right.  Sometimes people cannot take the truth.  They are not ready for it.  We in our arrogance want to lay the truth on someone.  We want to give it to them straight.  What if they are not ready for it?  What if they can only digest the truth a little bit at a time?  Is it really right to crush them with something that they cannot yet bear?

Jesus said, “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear."  John 16:12  Jesus knew that folks can only take the truth a little bit at a time.  How much truth are you able to bear?  How open are you to invite Jesus to change your thinking?  How open am I?

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

old places

Yesterday I went to visit someone in Research Hospital.  On the way home I was driving by 63rd street by the old Pepsi building.  I remembered that I used to work over there in 1979.  I turned off and went back into the area to see what was still there.

In 1979 there was an office trailer, a metal building shop and a place to park trucks.  What would be there today?  Not much.

32 years later, there is no trace of the business that I worked at for two years.  It is kind of a funny feeling to know that you invested yourself in a place, and a few years later, there is nothing.

May that never be the case for the things that really matter in life.  May our investments in the people that we come into contact with always bear fruit that lasts.  Office trailers come and go, but people are an eternal investment.

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

lamb cake

Yesterday I posted about Easter memories.  Having them, and making them.  One of the things that I mentioned was eating lamb cake as a child. 

When I came home from church, someone [RK] had delivered a lamb cake. How totally nice.  How awesome.  Now you can see what one looks like, and I get to eat it.

Next year on Easter, in my blog I think I will mention some big vacation and see if it shows up the next day.  Just kidding.

Actually, here is an odd thought.  The blog post was delayed for some reason yesterday, so the cake showed up before the blog was even available.  How did RK even know about the lamb cake?  I don't know.  At any rate, it is beautiful, and greatly appreciated.

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

Happy Easter!

Easter brings many memories for me.  When I was three years old, I got a deck of Casper the Friendly Ghost playing cards in my Easter Basket.  We went to egg hunts every year in Kirkwood park.  We ate big Easter meals and finished them off with a piece of lamb cake. [white cake baked in a lamb shaped pan.]  We never missed church, ever, when I was growing up.  In fact, I believe that I have been in church every Easter Sunday for 53 years.

Today, we will make new memories.  Time spent with families, traditions exercised, relationships renewed.  And church.  May you find this day, a blessing from your worship.  May the prayers prayed, the words spoken and the songs sung, bless you.  May you feel the joy of life with God.  May the resurrection speak to you of the hope that we have in Christ.

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

yesterday

Yesterday, my mother in law had the balloon treatment on her heart.  Seems that she had been having chest pains.  Once they figured out why, the balloon worked well.  Before and after pictures indicate that the procedure was a complete success.  She will have lots of blood flow to that part of the heart from here on out.

It is nice that we live in a time when doctors can find out what the problem is and make the repairs.  It is also nice to see how friends and loved ones pour out in times of need.  All three of Carlotta's children stood vigil at her bedside.  Each of my children made the trip to visit grandma.  The concern exhibited on each face showed a true respect for this fine lady.

Family is good.  Having a nurse in the family who knows what questions to ask is good.  Standing with those in need is good stuff.  Love is good.

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

gifts

The other day I received a gift. There was no special reason or occasion. I think the person who gave me the gift just felt like doing so….I used to struggle with things like that. I felt like I needed to give back something...pay back the debt...keep things balanced so to speak. But, that’s not how it works. You can never equal the heart or the spirit in the giving of the first gift. You can, however, pay it forward.

It can be hard to accept something for free. Grace is like that, it is given…you can’t pay it back, but you can pay it forward.

Ephesians 2:8
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Peace,
Lion’s Den Man

breaking bread

Jesus spent so much time enjoying food with people that the Pharisees called him a glutton. He did it because it was time well spent... Community... If you get the chance today, share a meal with someone. Slow things down for a bit. Take your time to enjoy fellowship. Celebrate! Pray and give thanks. Find peace. Most of all remember....

When it was time, he sat down, all the apostles with him, and said, "You've no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you before I enter my time of suffering. It's the last one I'll eat until we all eat it together in the kingdom of God." Luke 14-16 Msg.

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19 NIV

Peace,
Lion’s Den Man

Chilli Pepper

Hi Chili Pepper-
I read your comment.  You want to have coffee.  That is great.  Please call me or send me an email so I know who you are. 

Anybody else out there, the coffee is on.  One of the best ways for me to spend my time is to spend it with you.  So let me know if you want to visit sometime.

For that matter, our time is such a great gift.  To give to another person, your ear, your eyes, your heart, your soul, your time.  That is what relationship is all about.  Things get better when we do that.  They don't always get fixed, but things get better when we spend  time together.

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

skunk

Last night I ran over a skunk.  I did not actually hit it, someone else took care of that.  It was just out in the middle of the road, dead, and my car travelled over it.

Odd thing.  My car immediately filled up with the joyful aroma of skunk.  Ahh.  Savor it.

There are several morals from this story.

1.  sometimes just getting close to trouble is bad enough.
2.  you can think you have dodged a problem when you have not.
3.  given enough time, the smell will leave and you will have your life back.
4.  steer clear, way clear of the bad stuff.

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

family

Jesus set aside his mother and his brothers for his disciples.  Now I am not going to set aside my sisters, my wife or my children, but lets celebrate for a moment, all of the people that we have come to know that really are our family.

I am thankful for our neighbors, my children's friends from college, and a gazillion friends from church, each of you have become a part of our family.  I celebrate you!!!

Who do you celebrate?

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

wasting time

Early Methodists were encouraged not to waste time.  Time is short, time is God's blessing.  Don't waste it.  Methodist preachers when ordained are admonished not to trifle their time away.

In the old days this was interpreted as "do not play cards."  Do not engage in behavior that is just passing the time, but engage yourself in God's work.

I offer a new spin on it today....... are you worried?  Are you unhappy?  Are you stuck on some negative thought?  Are you angry?  Upset with someone else?  Do not waste your time in such endeavors.  Every minute that we spend being angry or unhappy about something is a minute that we are not celebrating God's love and sharing his love with others.  How sad that so many people spend so much time on the unhappies.  Those moments stolen from God's work can never be returned.

I am not against playing cards.  I am not against going to baseball games.  But I am against us using time for gossip and anger when we could be using that time loving one another and celebrating God's world.

Today is a new day.  Let's use all of our minutes for love.  We can only use them one time.

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

tickled

Wednesday night I went home after Bible study and got to watching a movie that just tickled me.  You know that thing that happens to us from time to time where you just can't stop laughing, just can't stop grinning.

My Dad had a certain kind of laugh and I heard it coming out of me all night long.  I got to thinking about him and how he would get to laughing at the Honeymooners.  He always drank coke floats.  So, I went to the kitchen and made one.  I watched the movie, giggled and drank a coke float.

It was great.  Just pure joy.  An unbridled gift.  A surprise moment of enjoyment.  Thank you God.

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

it's a beautiful day

please take one minute to watch this video.  if it will not open when you click on it, cut and paste the link into your browser.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzgzim5m7oU

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

reaction

Have you ever asked yourself how much of what you think, and how much of what you are, is a reaction to something else in your life?  Someone who had a bad experience with a dog as a child, is to this day, afraid of dogs.  Someone who lost a parent in a plane crash, can barely stand to board a flight. 

Someone who was raised in a church that "didn't believe anything" [as they experienced it] spends the rest of their life looking for a church that believes all of the  right things.  While someone who grew up in a very strict religious environment, dominated by rules and judgement, becomes infatuated later in life with love and grace.

I would like to think that love and grace are good for everyone, but you can't force feed someone who has clenched teeth.  You can lead a horse to water.......

What if we all just came to a place where we understood that we are all different, and it is ok.  Not everyone is going to see it like I do, or like you do.  That is ok.  We can still play on the same team.  We can still be brothers.  We don't have to hurt one another because we see the world a little differently.  What if, instead of what bothers us about someone else, God, and God's grace became the focus of our lives?

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

on being a Methodist

Several people ask about what it means to be a Methodist.  This can be a complicated question, because there are so many Methodists that you don't always get the same answer.  Also, since so many denominations are so defined by one particular thing, they expect the same sort of "one thing" from the Methodists, and this is harder to pin down.  God is mysterious and cannot be forced into a box.  I would expect that his followers should stop trying to do so.

Methodists are open.  There is no creed to sign on to.  We expect Methodists to believe in the essentials of faith, but everyone is welcome in our churches.  There is no litmus test that decides who is in and who is out.  Everyone is welcome, even non believers.  If we don't welcome them, where will they find Christ?

Some denominations are all about baptism or salvation.  Methodists believe that baptism is primarily about God's actions not ours.  Methodists are also not hung up on one method of baptism or another, as if God were going to catch you on a technicality.  {welcome to heaven.  Oh, you were baptized wrong.  Never mind, you must go to hell.}  Methodists believe that you are baptized into Christ.  We accept and honor all Christian baptism.  Methodists are for salvation, but we will not force it upon you or guilt you into it.  We want to give you the opportunity to choose Jesus in a way that honors your free will.

Methodist are big on grace and love.  That is because God is big on grace and love.  This is not to sugar coat the scriptures.  These concepts are the central themes of the Scriptures.  To make Christianity into a heavy, burdensome system of who the good ones are, and who the bad one's are is to pervert the gospel.  The gospel is good news.  Methodists are for love and grace because God is love.

Methodists historically are mission minded.  "No one is saved by good works, but no one will be saved without them" - John Wesley.  The Christian life is to be lived, not talked about.  We are here to give ourselves away in the name of Jesus.

So to sum it up.
Methodists = yes on welcome.  yes on inclusiveness.  yes on honest dialogue about faith.  yes on different ideas.  yes on grace.  no on human doctrinal spins that hurt and manipulate people.  Yes on love.  yes on missions.  Yes on Jesus.  Yes on God.  Love wins.

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

Sunday

Last Sunday I got to go to church.  You might say, well i thought that you got to go every week.  Well, when you are the pastor, you don't often just get to go to church. There is so much to worry about, so many things that drag your brain away. 

Sunday I got to go to church and just be a worshipper.  It was great.  I went to 815 at Grace UMC and heard Hubert Neth's sermon.  Then I stayed and listened at 915 at Grace UMC to Jeremy Vicker's message.  Finally I made the 1010 service, sat with my wife and heard Shawn's sermon.  Thank you to all three of those pastors for touching me.

I hope you never tire of being in God's house.  When you don't get to do it all of the time, you miss just being there.  I was glad when they said to me, let us go up to the house of the Lord.

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

the blue book

When I was in college, if there was an essay test, you would buy a "blue book" to use during the essay test.  A blue book cost a dime and was 8 or 10 pages of blank lined paper.  You wrote down the question when given by the professor, and then you wrote your answer.  As long or as short as it took, you wrote.  Your ideas filled blank pages.

Now, I heard from somebody the other day who does not agree with my definition of the Christian faith.  I am too "outward focused."  I am too interested in missions.  We bantered for a while.  I guess I just don't understand how you can have the Christian faith if you are not missional.

I also got to feeling that sometimes people like to pick at this sermon or another, but they do not have a competing idea to offer.  So, it can sound like, "I don't like your answers, but I have no other answers to give."

So I got to thinking about the blue book.  The clean slate.  The you get a chance to say whatever you want forum about what it means to be a Christian.  Here we go.  Take some time, sit down and write what you believe.  Here are my questions:

1.  what does it mean to be a Christ follower?
2.  What role does missions [giving one's self away] play in the Christian faith?
3.  what have you given up, what are you willing to give up to follow Jesus?

You have 30 minutes to answer those questions.  At the end of that time, please put your pencil down and bring your blue book up to my desk.  Be sure to write your name on the front of the blue book.

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

you are not alone

Dear Friend,

I know that you have been hurting.  I am glad that you read something here that helped you.  I want you to know that you are not alone.  God sees you and he is reaching out to you with loving arms of support.  There are also many fine people around you that love you and stand to support you.

I am glad to sit down and visit with you.  To listen, to share a cup of coffee.  I am not too busy.  Let me know if I can help you.  You are loved.

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

no problem

Someone once said, if I am upset with you, then something is wrong with me. [don't read through that and cruise on, savor that sentence.] That is pretty close to what Jesus said about loving your enemies.

In the final analysis, the solution to problems often lies neither in action nor in inaction but in understanding. For when there is true understanding, there is no problem.

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

the candy store

When the kids were little and we would take them to the grocery store, the bakery in the back corner would always give the kids a free cookie. I guess that they still do that.

A heard a story the other day that reminded me of that. Seems that a candy store owner would give a free piece of candy to kids. One per day. So all the neighborhood kids would make their way to the candy store each day for their free piece of candy. Inevitably, they would all fight and argue over whose was best. My green one is better than your yellow one. I have a red one! Mine is shaped like a moon. Well, mine is best because it is orange and it is shaped like a bird. It always happened that someone would chase it so long that another child would leave crying with hurt feelings.

The shopkeeper simply listened to all of their banter and smiled. He smiled because he realized that the kids were doing the same thing that many adults do. Comparing their stuff and insisting that we are better because our stuff is like this or that. How sad. And the real good part of life has nothing to do with candy or colors, or cars, or the size of your home.

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

st. John

There is a story that is told regarding the apostle St. John, who is known as the apostle of love. If you are unsure why he is know as such, please read the books towards the end of the new testament, first, second and third John.

Anyway, there is a story told that St. John is surrounded by his disciples. They are asking him, "why do you always teach us about love? That is all you ever talk about." They said, "please master, teach us of something else."

His reply is worth considering. He told his disciples, "I cannot teach you of something else, for there is nothing else."

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

I've heard it

Someone said, "I've heard it all before. I have been in church so long, that I have heard all of the stories about God and Jesus. Nothing is new to me anymore."

And to this I say, it is important to hear the stories over and over. We humans have short memories. And we humans can get very calloused very quickly. Over time, questions and doubts come in. It is important to listen to the stories at least as much if not more than we listen to our doubts. To hear the story again is to savor it, to welcome it, to let it speak to you yet once more.

Yes you may have heard it all, but is thy heart still open to the message? I pray ye my friends, incline thine ear, open thine heart and lets the words of old speak to you afresh in this day.

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

nothing

Sometimes there is nothing that you can do. I can't control it, I can't fix it. I am not even on the playing field. I am not invited to the party. I am not in the circle that gets to speak to the thing.

All I can do is pray. But sometimes my praying seems to be an effort on my part to fix it or control it, and I realize that this is wrong, this is manipulative. I have not yet put the thing into God's hands. When I do put it in the hands of God, I trust him and I rest in him.

My praying becomes about being with him, not fixing the thing. There is nothing else that I can do but trust him. Thankfully, that is enough. So I must go on living and just understand that I can't fix everything and -

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

the kingdom

Religion makes people sad. Rules upon rules. Manipulation upon manipulation. You are in, they are out, they are in, you are out. Be good. Be better. What is wrong with you? God hates sin. You are not good enough. Try harder or you might go to hell.

The kingdom message on the other hand, makes people happy. The message of the kingdom falls upon the ears of humans with a joy that is truly splendid. "God loves you! Your sin is forgiven. Jesus has made the way. Live in gloom no more! Share the joy. Release your worries, cast your cares upon him. Live each moment in God's love."

This is the message of the kingdom. Which message are you listening to? It may have a bearing on how you are experiencing this life that God has given us.

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

the homecoming

It is the day of homecoming. The entire household awaits her arrival. You see, when you are gone every week, but also dearly loved, everyone waits for your return.

Although they may have survived the week, stoically going about the business of life, let there be no mistake - It is with great anticipation that the family awaits for the sound of the garage door rising. Of course the humans know, but the dog as well, he always knows when it is Friday and mom is coming home. He is the first to greet her with 5 minutes of yipping and yapping and tail wagging joy. When his turn is over, the humans get their turn. A hug, a smile, and a settling in for a few days until she hits the road again on Monday.

Everyone should be so loved in their home that they are received with such joy every time they walk in the door. The world would be a better place if we appreciated each other a little more. The next time your family member or friend comes over, put everything else aside. Get up, greet them, welcome them, hug them. They are worth the celebration.

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

magic or mysterious

Is your God magic or mysterious. Some people want a magic God. I say the prayers, and God fixes it. I learn the right things, and then I know the right things and have it all figured out. I just do the secret things, and then I am in the know, in the right, in the in. I have God in a box and it is all to my liking. But the problem with this is that God is not magic, nor can he be put in a box. God is mysterious. Bigger than us. Higher than us. Beyond our understanding, beyond our doctrine. Beyond our desires, beyond our preference. God loves us, and wants to be loved back. Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus and God is the creator of the universe. Do not expect to figure it all out. Stand in awe. God is God, with, or without our permission. Stand in awe of the mystery. It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

grieving

When you are grieving, you should not make any big decisions. So they say. Something happened. You are hurting. The world does not look the same. The world may never be the same for you. It may never go back to the way it was. Don't buy a house, sell a house, buy a car, or join the army. Don't give away your possessions, quit your friends, or join a convent. Give yourself some time to heal. Life is going to be different, from one time, one thing, to the next. Relax, rest, heal. God is with you. It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Giving something up for lent

A Lenten Reflection from http://www.appleseeds.org/lent-reflect_

1.htm On givning something up for lent-

Give up complaining——focus on gratitude.
Give up pessimism——become an optimist.
Give up harsh judgments——think kindly thoughts.
Give up worry——trust Divine Providence.
Give up discouragement——be full of hope.
Give up bitterness——turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred——return good for evil.
Give up negativism——be positive.
Give up anger——be more patient.
Give up pettiness——become mature.
Give up gloom——enjoy the beauty that is all around you.
Give up jealousy——pray for trust.
Give up gossiping——control your tongue.
Give up sin——turn to virtue.
Give up giving up——hang in there!

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

conoco clarification

Yes readers, that was a typo. I only put $12 in her car not $112. :)

Conoco

I was getting gas on Sunday. I had just put the hose in the tank and a woman came around the pump from the other side. "Sir, I am sorry to bother you, but I am on empty and I need gas to get home. Can you give me $3?" We visited a bit. I put $112 in her car. Although it was an odd thing, and I have some thoughts about the incident, I hope if my wife ever needs help at the gas station, some old guy will buy her some gas. It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

history

I have been reading some history lately. Funny thing I have noticed. When I read contemporary writers, those who are writing about today's issues or today's church, I want to talk. I want to tell. I want to explain what my thoughts are about what they are saying. I want to interface with the ideas of today. I want to be a part of the conversation, or more likely, the argument.

When I read history, something else happens. I stop talking. When I read history, I enter a world that I cannot control or effect. It is over. In history, I meet real people who struggled and dealt with everything that I am dealing with now. They have the same issues and the same problems.

When I read history, the problems and challenges of today sort of get swallowed up in the big picture of life. Things happen. Good and bad. Some are on one side, some are on the other. You can get all worked up about it, or you can relax and simply enjoy life. We don't do enough of enjoying life. How about I talk less and celebrate more? How about I get worked up a lot less and simply learn to savor life. We only come by this way once, and it goes by pretty fast. Let's live, laugh and love.

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

religious wars

I have been reading some history lately. We have been killing each other for centuries. Not just Christians against Muslims or Christians against barbarians, or Christians against Native Americans, we have even witnessed Christians against Christians. Catholics killing Orthodox. Orthodox killing Catholic. Catholic killing Protestants. Protestants Killing Catholics. German Lutherans killing English Methodists. English Methodists killing German Lutherans. Some Baptists don't like Catholics, some Catholics don't like Baptists. Some Methodists don't like each other. This preacher does not like that preacher. Who cares? Maybe someday we will realize that the message of Jesus is a message of love. On that day, all wars shall cease. It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

why is the church here?

As I listen to all of the banter lately in the church world, I have decided to weigh in.

First of all, I do believe in heaven and in hell. I believe that they are beyond our description, except that in heaven God is loved and worshiped, and in hell God is hated and selfishness abounds.

But here is the question. Why is the church here? Is the church here to judge others? Is the church here to tell people that they are going to hell? That God hates them? Do we really believe that? That sounds a lot like Fred Phelps to me.

I believe that the church is here to tell people about Jesus and his love. To tell the old old story. To explain to every person that we are all precious in God's sight.

As long as we remember that, and do that, it will never occur to us to tell someone that they are going to hell, because we will all be doing what we are supposed to be doing- showering the world with God's love,

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

right and wrong

Right and Wrong. I am thinking of this a little differently. Have you ever been right about something but handled it in a way that you were wrong? Being right is not the only consideration. Sometimes we can be so demeaning, hurtful, or arrogant about something that the issue totally changes.

I have run into people on both sides of some social issue that are so insistent that they are right. In their rightness they have crushed others. And so then they have become wrong.

There is something in the good book about "if I have all knowledge, but have not love." We should take it to heart. How we speak to one another is as important if not more important than your opinion on some issue. Love covers all. if love isn't there, then we may be technically right, but we are also a clanging cymbal.

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

Kiva

Have you heard of Kiva?

Kiva.org

Kiva is a ministry that connects people through lending teams to alleviate poverty by providing loans to entrepreneurs to help better their lives. It works in 5 different continents to provide loans to people without access to banks. 100% of the money goes directly to funding loans. Kiva is funded through donations, grants, corporate sponsors and foundations. I give $25 you give $25 and pretty soon the Kiva team from Woods Chapel has several hundred dollars to loan, but we are only in for a small amount each. Current repayment rate is 98.60%

Kiva partners with micro-institutions (Field Partners) who know the local area and do all of the legwork to find entrepreneurs to loan money. Field Partners review the loan requests and select who they will recommend to receive a loan. Once the Lending Team reviews the list and decides who will receive the funding, Kiva distributes funds to Field Partners who distributes the funds to the entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs pay the Field Partners principle + interest. Money goes back to Kiva to credit the lender. Lender has the choice of what to do with the money once it is paid back. They can either withdraw the money or recycle the money into another loan.

We can easily set up a “Lending Team”, people within the congregation willing to contribute to a Kiva fund. A list of pre-screened entrepreneurs is provided on their website and the WCC Lending Team would decide who they were going to lend the money. Once the person to receive the loan has been chosen the Lending Team will make a withdrawal using PayPal - and sent to Kiva – then the Field Partners – and finally to the entrepreneur. The Lending Team would meet monthly (or as often as the team decides) to track the progress of their loan(s). When the loan is repaid the Lending Team can recycle the money to a new entrepreneur.

One of the churches set up a world map and put red dots on each of the locations that their team had sent money. Their goal was 100 loans but now have over 200 loans.

Through this method the goal is to help the people help themselves to get out of poverty. Not to just give them the money, but to give them the start that they need to help themselves.

I would love to be a part of a micro-lending team at WCC. Is anyone else interested?

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

I'm not being fed

"I am sorry but I am not being fed. I am just not getting what I want to get from church anymore. I think I am going to do some church shopping and see if I like what some other places have to offer."

Pastors are flabbergasted when they hear this. We live in such a consumer society that some folks treat church like a restaurant. I'll go here for a while, but if I feel like something different, well I will just go there and try the lunch special.

I wonder what the early Christian leaders would have said if one of their members would have said, "hey, I'm not being fed?" First of all, there was no other place to go, no other church. No other cafeteria to try out. The church in your town was all you had. They were your family. They were the expression of Christ in your community. They weren't perfect, but they were following as best they could.

I think an early church pastor would have responded to "I'm not being fed" with, "you know, it is not about you. Keep your eyes on Jesus and spend your days loving people. That is what the church is about and that is what we are supposed to do. There is nothing else."

The moral of the story is this- when we are focused on God, and living the life that He asks us to live, we are filled. When we decide to become consumers instead of contributors to God's life in this world, then, well, then the preacher better have some really good stuff for us on Sunday.

Thank you to every one of you that knows that we are a family. We have some warts, but this is a great place to follow Jesus.

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

the trees

The trees are starting to leaf out at my house. This is one of God's annual reminders that He is in control. I may make my plans, I may have my ideas, but God is still God and life goes on whether it suits me or not.

I may want to change the direction of our country. I may not like the sermon series. I may want my faith to fit in a box that is just so. I want my kids to do such and such.

And the seasons come and go. The sun rises and sets. Winter ends and spring arrives. God is still doing his thing, with or without my permission. This is why the wise bow the knee to the Creator. They see in Him and in his world, a power that cannot be contained or controlled. I stand in awe of the God who set it all in place and keeps it all going.

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

song lyrics from Sunday

Someone asked for the words from the song that Wendy sang on Sunday. Here you go.

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
As long as we'd have faith to believe

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

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

blue and green

If I teach you from birth that blue is green and green is blue, then you will most likely believe it for a long time. If I can get others around you to confirm it, then you will never have the chance to doubt it. If I do this for generations, pretty soon, the truth is forgotten. Green is perceived to be blue by an entire culture. People will fight and go to war to support their ideas that just a few generations ago were not true.

This is why reading history is important. This is why reading church history is important as well. I don't think that Jesus needed his followers to add things to the gospel. And the gospel is pretty simple. How much would we shed if we released ourselves from all of the additions and just went back to the simple message, and allowed it to be enough?

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

taking a stand

I have been thinking about something recently. For years I have commented on, and witnessed some things in the general church [across almost all denominations] that I have been opposed to. I guess I have felt that I could speak against such things from time to time, but that ultimately we would always have to live in their shadow. I felt a sense that there was nothing that I could do about such things. I figured that I had to learn to co-exist peacefully with those things which I found so distasteful.

Today, after some thought and prayer, I have now come to a different conclusion. There are some things that are taught by some in the general church that I can no longer tolerate. I have decided to speak up and to speak out and to call it what it is- false teaching. It is time for the church to shrug off the doctrines and practices of man and return to the ways of the spirit.

With these thoughts in mind, I hereby now and forever reject and stand to oppose the following:

1. The use of guilt by pastors or Christians to scare people to faith or manipulate believers.

2. The treatment of the Holy Scriptures in a way that has caused too many believers to worship the scriptures instead of the Loving God that they point to.

3. The practice of taking up one Scripture while ignoring others, which has led to many doctrines which are not balanced.

4. The judging and condemning of others. It must stop. This practice shares nothing with the heart of God.

5. The approach to the gospel and a relationship with God that implies that the Christian faith is in any way shape or form a means to financial gain.

6. The attitude of some that forces God into a box from which he can be controlled or reduced to a human level. We have too easily forgotten that all people fall to their knees and worship before the mystery of God.

7. The focus on the end of time to the point that we have forgotten our responsibility to live and love today, now, here on this earth as the hands and feet of our Lord.

Instead of the above, I offer the following:

1. The compelling love of God that is offered freely to all people.

2. The inspired Word of God that points us beyond the pages of the written word to the living God that saves us.

3. An invitation to those that would teach to review the totality of Scripture, the tone of Scripture and the sweeping evidence of the entirety of Scripture when considering their teachings.

4. Instead of judgement, Open hearts and open minds, exactly what Jesus gave to everyone that he met. A joyful welcome and acceptance.

5. We need to repent from any approach to the Christian faith that tries to make it about me. Christians are subservient to God, not in control of God. The joy of the Christian life comes in serving and loving him, from seeking his will rather than trying to make him do my will. I invite Christ- followers to be those who seek after the life and ways of Christ. Herein is the joy of Christian living.

6. I invite all people to come into relationship with the God of creation who is above all and in all and through all things. God is beyond us. His ways are higher, his thoughts are higher. We simply need to find a place to kneel and worship before him.

7. There are several competing pictures of the end of time in Scripture. One view or passage cannot be lifted up over another. Jesus said that we do not know the hour or the day. We are invited as Christians to live a life filled with love that is focused on today. As long as we are doing this, we will certainly be ready for Christ's return.

Just a few things that have been on my mind. If you want to have a cup of coffee to talk about any of these things, I welcome the discussion.

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

a quote

Sometimes things I read just stick with me.

"Nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight." Bruce Cockburn

With this in mind I now ask myself the question "What is it that I need to fight for?" Sometimes we we know the fight. Other times we are blind to what needs attention. It is time well spent to sit back, take inventory and remember what is worth having...keeping...pursuing.

Phillipians 4:13
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Peace,
Lion's Den Man

a walk

Yesterday I did something I have wanted to do for 20 years. Not far from where my wife and I live is her family's farm. Years ago her grandfather stumbled upon some rock outcroppings that had symbols etched into them. He took photos and sent them to a person who was an expert in the field of ancient writings. A site visit confirmed that the writings were Norse (Viking). I had heard the stories and seen the pictures, but I had never made the trek to see "it" for myself. So yesterday my wife and son and I took a hike. My wife had been there numerous times as a child but finding her way again was a challenge. A cell phone call to her father (who still resides on the property) enabled us to find our way through the woods, over a couple creeks, up and down some hills, down an abandoned railway bed, left, right, right, left, and we were there......

I don't know for sure when these rocks were first visited, maybe as early as 900 AD, but to think of the journey these Viking men made is amazing to me. Yes they were explorers, but it had to have come with a sacrifice. They probably left behind friends and loved ones for this greater good. They probably had friends and people they cared for with them on the journey, too. They were seeking knowledge and although they were probably well suited for the job my guess is they were tested along the way. How the journey ended and where it ended is unknown, but I am sure it was awesome.

Peace.
Lion's Den Man

helping Japan

I have listened to several TV and radio spokespersons over the last few days. Several of them are saying that we should not send money to Japan. They are saying this because so much of the money that was sent to Haiti is evidently unaccounted for.

Well, no one wants to give to something that appears to be misappropriated. No one wants to give to something when there are questions about the disbursement or accountability of funds.

So, I want to tell you about your church. When you give to your church, or to any fund that is managed by the Woods Chapel United Methodist Church, you can rest assured that everything is happening as you have been told. We have wonderful staff, and wonderful staff in the administrative department. If there is anytime that you have questions, our books, your books are open books. Full disclosure. They are your books, afterall.

If we are raising money for a youth mission trip, the youth will get all of it. If we are asking for funds for water.org, water.org will get all of it. If we raise money for Japan, it will all get there. If you ever want to know anything about the gifts that you give to your church, your questions will be answered completely.

If you want to give to Japan or any other need in the world, your church is the place to do it.

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

help wanted

We have had several requests at church for some mechanism to allow people to advertise that they need a single bed or they have a piano for sale. Maybe they need help to build a handicap ramp. Maybe they want to offer their services to help someone else work on their car. Roommate wanted. Garage for rent. Free computer to a good home. Free cat. Ha ha. I have a couple you can have.

Sort of a Woods Chapel Church want ads. We need to find someone who would be willing to receive the emails with the info and compile them weekly into a want ads sheet that interested members could pick up. If you would be interested in helping with something like this, please send me an email at jeffb@woodschapelchurch.org

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

washers

My daughter has been bothering me about building a washers set. If you are not familiar with washers, it is a game played much like horseshoes. You build these 16"x16" boxes and throw big washers into them.

Last night when I got home I was threatened. Make the boxes or else. So, we went to Lowes and bought the materials. $20 exactly. I had to pay. [go figure] Whose washer set is this? Who wants them so bad?

We got home and started work. I was not even allowed time to eat until they were finished. Saw, saw saw. put in the screws. Cut the carpet. Bolt in the pipe. There its done. I am going in the house.

No. Dad, you cannot go in. We have to play. So, in the almost dark of last night, a 53 year old man squared off with a 23 year old for a game of washers. There was much pre game banter, and a good amount of cynical dogging. Old man jokes, young pup jokes.

The game began, the game waned, the game ended. Sorry to say, I lost to the energy of youth 11-9. don't tell her that I let her win or she will wake me up from a nap and make me play again.

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

meltdown

Japan is working to fight off two or more meltdowns at their nuclear facilities. I have always been a supporter of safe nuclear energy, but this has to make a person wonder. What does it mean? What will happen if the meltdowns cannot be stopped? How many square miles will be uninhabitable? What is the long term effect on the atmosphere? the fish?

And I wonder about just how many people this world can really support. And to what level of lifestyle can this world support? How many more tragedies can we afford to fix before entire people groups are left to live in tents for the rest of their lives?

We have increased our numbers so much, and our lifestyles are so comfortable, we forget that just 100 years ago, most humans still made their living off of the land.

And God is in the heavens. And he looks down at the plans of men and women. And He is greater than it all. We humans fall away in the presence of God. We have no answers, we have nothing figured out, except that we all need to put our trust in God and realize that everything waits upon him for breath, for life, for sustenance. And we need one another - lets not forget that.

God we look to you this day, and so because we can see you, it is a beautiful day in your world.

Lent = choosing Christ

Lent is a time to think about the sufferings of Christ. It is a time to consider what Jesus did for you, and ask yourself if you want to follow in his way. Lent asks us to step beyond superficial Christianity. It asks us to move beyond the shallowness that can so easily accompany our lives and invites us to wade into the mystery of God at work in the world.

What will we give up for Lent? the question is often asked. Actually the thing that we should give up for lent is our will. Our arrogance. Our pride. Not simply diet coke.

Christians can follow Jesus on the journey to the cross and learn to trust the Father more fully as we leave ourselves behind. Obviously, lent is not for the feint of heart.

What will you give up for lent? This but not that? That but not this? Shouldn't everything be on the table for God?

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

Japan quake

We have such nice lives. Electricity, gasoline, and all of the comforts that they bring. Then there is a massive earthquake. No electricity, cars washed away, your country is a mess. Add to that, a massive radiation leak. Hopefully the leak can be contained and with some hard work, all of that can be rebuilt, just like in New Orleans. But imagine more and more of these types of events. Pretty soon, our economies can no longer restore the damaged areas.

Over the next few years we will work very hard to help Japan recover, and we should. Please pray for those in the affected areas. Please pray for those who are hurting and suffering. Please contribute to relief funds when you have the opportunity. Let's not allow ourselves to feel differently about this because it is far away, and not in our country.

Tonight is daylight savings time. Move your clock one hour forward. See you tomorrow in worship.

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

who gets to heaven?

Romans 1:20 is a verse that answers many questions for me regarding who does, and who does not get into heaven. Actually it does not answer questions as much as it opens the door for God's grace to go to all people, and it makes it clear that God is doing things that we can neither control nor know about. Here it is:

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. Romans 1:20

This verse is referring to what theologians call "general revelation." Through nature, God has revealed himself. He has done it so strongly, that people are accountable. All living people are accountable to God because he has confronted them through what has been made. The ocean, the beach, the bird in flight, the miracle of the human body, and the heavens declare the glory of God.

This tells me that I don't have to worry about the tribe in Africa that might go to hell because they have not heard of Jesus. Somehow, God will hold everyone accountable. He has shown himself to each of us, and each of us must respond to Him.

This doesn't answer any of the questions that come up after this, about exactly how God will do this. It doesn't give me a nice pat answer or a three step approach to who is saved. What it does do is put the question of who is saved back into the hands of God, and that is precisely where it belongs. He alone determines who enters the pearly gates.

Pray for those who do not know Jesus. Pray for those who say they do not believe in God. Enjoy and celebrate the beauty and glory of God through the things that he has made.

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

Amazing!

Yesterday, an amazing thing happened to me. A friend from college that I have not seen for 30 years, stopped by the church. We visited for 15 minutes. It was awesome!

He is a pastor now in Lees Summit and we are going to have lunch and catch up. Wow - I go back to 1976-79 when we lived together across the hall in college. We ate together, went to class, played softball and baseball. We went to our floor's boxing matches and pulled pranks on each other. What great memories, and they are all coming back.

Next week we are going to get together! Rejoice with me! it is so totally exciting!

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

Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday. The palms from last year's palm Sunday are burned. Joy is over. Lent begins. Repentance is on the days docket. The ashes from last years palms are placed on our foreheads in the shape of a cross.

Come for the soup supper in the fellowship hall from 6-8pm. Then stop by the sanctuary to pray. Come forward when you are ready for the imposition of ashes. Then continue on to the front to receive holy communion.

This is a very special night. Many feel it is one of the most significant worship experiences of the year.

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

basketball tournament

This week is the big 12 tournament. Many great things have happened around our house during tournament time.

In 1991, Scott was born the Sunday night of the final game. We barely got to the hospital in time because my wife would not leave the TV until the game was over.

Over the years we have enjoyed watching the games and rooting for our teams. Our house has both MU Tiger fans and KU Jayhawk fans. And then they have me. Mr. Neutral. Mr. Lets all get along. It's a fun time.

Last night, as the excitement for the tournament begins to heat up, I am delivered a surprise challenge to the court. My oldest has decided that it is time for the old man to take back to the court. I am pooped, but I recognize the importance of the invitation and rise to the challenge.

We began with around the world. I was surprised at how good she was and how bad I have become. Shoulder surgery, knee surgery, cataract surgery and about 30 years has taken it's toll on my once NCAA stature abilities on the court. It had to be the world's longest game of around the world, but I finally pulled it out. With that momentum under my belt, it was on to a game of pig.

My short little granny shots made quick work of her. I finisher her off with the back to the basket over the head shot. PIG. Not having had enough, she wanted to stretch it out to piglet, which we did, with the same result.

Time spent with your children is so valuable, even if you need to take a nap when the game is over.

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

angry layers

Have you ever had someone that was mad at you and you weren't sure why? It seemed that their emotion toward you was over the top? Then you found out that they were in some sort of trauma at home. Ahh, it makes sense. When folks overreact to something, it is often a sign that they are struggling with personal problems and do not have peace in their heart.

I find myself doing this sometimes. I have a problem at home or at work, and so every little thing annoys me. I catch myself and i ask, why does this bother me so, then i realize that the other junk is flowing out of me and into another unrelated situation.

It really isn't fair for me to dump on others for no reason, especially when the real issue is something else. So i try to keep a cool head when I am upset. I try to compartmentalize the problem, and get about the day, treating others as they should be.

If someone around you today is angry and you can't figure it out, maybe it isn't about you at all. Just pray for them. And if the person with the attitude is you, then catch yourself and find the joy. Don't take it out on others.

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

take off your shoes

We like to get excited about things. We think we are right. We want to tell others how it is. We walk into a moment and think we are in charge.

We forgot to notice God's messenger, standing over there who says to us, "take off your shoes, for you are standing on Holy Ground."

This is our father's world after all, and so much of it, that we think we are in charge of, is really a place for us to be submitted to him. How does a situation change when we realize that God is present here, in this moment, in this place? Do we slow down? Do we bow the head? Do we take off our shoes?

There is a lot more holy ground in this world than we think. Next time we think that we have it all figured out, let's remember that God speaks, and people hush and listen.

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

rest

Rest. What a good word. REST. We all need it. We have worries. We have sorrows, hurts, wounds, and concerns. We carry them around. We fuss over them. We throw them at each other.

All this, when right next to us is Jesus. Jesus loves us. He cares for us. He embraces us. He says, "come unto me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." [Mt. 11:28]

If you are hurting, reach out to him. Call upon his name. There is no better friend.

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

March 4th

Today is March 4th. It is the day of the annual big parade. It is the day when all of the bands assemble downtown and march forth.

hmmmm. ok. March forth. March 4th.

It's a joke.

Actually, it is the oldest joke that I know. My grandmother, Louise Heising, passed it down to my mother, Mary Heising Brinkman. Consequently, I have been telling it, every March 4th for years.

There is something good about tradition. Funny or not so funny. Roots. Roots are good. My grandmother who died in 1991 at the age of 96, had a sense of humor.

Don't miss the parade today. Go downtown and watch the bands. They are gonna march forth.

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

operation smile

Operation Smile is a mission program that helps children that have cleft palate. Bill and Pam Carpenter, members of our church, are wonderful people who have been working with this program in Ascension, Paraguay.

Operation Smile has volunteer doctors and uses borrowed operating rooms. This keeps the cost to change a child's world very reasonable, yet still out of reach for families that live in the third world.

What a gift to look in the mirror after surgery and for the first time, see a normal face. Something that most of us take for granted.

You can learn more about operation smile at:

http://www.woodschapelchurch.org/pageviewer2.cfm?page_id=119

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

disapointed

Have you ever been disappointed in yourself? If you answer no to that question, then I question if you are being honest with yourself. Everyone is disappointed with themselves at one time or another.

For example, maybe I said something that I want to take back. I dwelled on a thought that I should not have. I did something that I knew was wrong. I made excuses for something when I knew better. I didn't care when I should have.

I said I, in the last few sentences, but any of these situations could be, might be, you.

Here is the good news. When we are sad on the inside, God stands by our side. He rushes to the broken, to the contrite, to the hurting. When you are crying on the inside, you do not stand alone.

So, if you are out there today and your heart is breaking, and it is a self inflicted wound, let me say that Jesus died for those sins too. It is not the end. You are not done. The sun will come up tomorrow and you will get to see it. Those who love you will forgive your sins. As do I. And I thank you for forgiving mine.

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

children

I read it the other day: Children are a mirror. They learn what they see.

What does that mean? What you pour into them, they will reproduce. A dose of love = a heart of love. A dose of dysfunction = well, most of us know what that is like.

An apple still does not fall from the tree.

It's not too late. What am I pouring into the people around me? What are you pouring in?

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

the book

The book that I mentioned in yesterday's post is titled "Walking on Water" by Anthony Demello. Several have asked about it. It is available in the church bookstore.

Demello was a Catholic priest who died in 1986 at the age of 56. He was a wonderful story teller and approached the Christian faith in a way that healed alot of people.

When I first read this book, I realized that there were several things that he was talking about that i wanted to learn. I wanted his writing to change my life paradigm. For example, Demello is the one that I quote, "If I want something from you, it's not love." And "the lover creates the love."

I would love to dialogue with any of you who may pick this book up. It has helped people in their marriage as well as in daily life.

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

she is not suffering

Ahh. What good news.

I was explaining to one of my daughters how my sisters and I all grew up feeling like we were never good enough. To this day, we all three have voices in the back of our heads that tell us that we stink as a person and we just don't measure up.

I was telling her that I have been reading a book that was helping me with this problem. I offered the book to her. She took the book, but commented that she does not have such voices in her head!

Awesome! A child that was raised and knows that they are loved! A child that knows their value! A 20 something year old child that will not be tortured for life, thinking that they can't do anything right!

We did something right! That is my joy for today. At least one child whose heart and mind is filled with love and hope instead of fear and worry.

Now, if you are in need of this book, just let me know. it has helped countless others.

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

kindness

Love is kind. Kindness is one of the attributes of God. If we hope to be Christ-like, then we want to work on kindness.

It is such a simple thing. How are my words? Do I have a kind touch? Do I look kindly upon others? When I have to do something that I don't want to do, or talk about something that is painful, do I do this in a kind way? If I must express my displeasure with something [and am I sure that I need to do this?] is it done in a kind way.

Love is kind. It feels good to be kind.

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

my family

Yesterday I found out something interesting. I have been reading through the memoirs of my grandmother's sister. I knew that they lived in a mansion on Armour Road in Kansas City- near 35th and main. Yesterday I read something interesting about their life.

In 1910, my great grandfather was worth 2.5 million dollars. How much is that today? The family had six cars and eight servants. They spent the summers at a resort in Maine. They lived in a hotel the entire summer and spend the days out on their yacht. My great-grandfather actually spent all of the money. All of it.

Now, I do not begrudge the fact that none of this came down to us. I am fine with my life. However, it is a lesson to all of us, that whatever you have, manage it well. Be a good steward. Go to FPU. At the end of the day, each of us will give account for what we have done with the blessings God has given us.

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

maybe we like to be unhappy

Sometimes I think we like pain. We like to be unhappy. Why else would continue with some of our behaviors? It's almost like we would prefer to complain about something than to really make the effort to work on it.

Think of how your day might go better if we simply stopped thinking about everything that was wrong or bad. Don't think about a bad boss, a weak 401k, or a car that is rusting. Don't think about that person that you are worried over. Can your worry fix things? Put them in God's hands and think about something good.

You are alive! You can see! You have a computer! You can read! Spring is almost here! Ahh, the world already looks better. The daffodils are coming up! You can breathe! You are loved by many!

When we start thinking about the good stuff, our outlook naturally changes. So, let's just think less about the stuff that we can't fix and can't do anything about anyway. Let's think about the good instead and train ourselves to get into that habit.

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

closing the mouth

My Dad used to say it: "Son, you don't know when to close your mouth. Sometimes the best thing to do is just to shut up." [sorry for using the shut up words, I don't like them, but that's what was said.] Anyway, I did not understand why he would say this until years later.

Back then, I wanted to tell what I knew. I wanted to say something important. I thought i was right, and maybe I was, but me speaking at that time, just didn't help anything. Sometimes when we open our mouths, even when we are right, we only make things worse. Sometimes the right thing to do is to just sit it out and let someone figure it out.

I took three years of french in high school. One of the few phrases that I remember from my teacher, Miss Robinson, is "ferme la bouche" [close the mouth.] Sometimes, it is good advice, and I probably need to remember it more often. How about you?

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

dodgeball - the aftermath

Well, it was quite an afternoon at the church gym yesterday. I was so very pleasantly surprised at how many people were there and how many teams. There were very nice teams of young ladies, teams of old people like me, and some really scary teams of big teenage boys.

After watching the first few games, I begged the promoters to move our team to the Jr division. Now if you are feeling bad about old guys playing the Jr High kids, don't. They beat us like a drum.

Today, I am:
1. proud of our kids
2. proud of Brian and how he managed it all.
3. embarrassed for the next time I see the youngsters that beat us.
4. sore as can be.

It was a great afternoon and who knows where it will lead. It was very enjoyable to get together with so many wonderful folks from our church.

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

dodgeball

Today I am playing in a dodge ball tournament at church. The point of the tournament is to raise money and awareness for world vision, a program that feeds the hungry around the world. However, there are many bi products of this tournament besides raising money to feed the poor.
1. i am very proud of Michael Barker, who organized it
2. the face of the youth has stepped into leadership at woods chapel
3. old guys get to dig the cleats out
4. there will be lots of funny outfits to see
5. there has been alot of trash talk
6. my son, who has played on several semi-pro dodge ball teams is playing
7. there is an electricity of fun surrounding the event.

if you have nothing to do today at 1pm, stop by the gym at church. I think there will be stories to come from this for years to come.

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

sisters

I have two sisters. One lives in Kansas City, the other lives in San Jose, California. Amy from California is here for a visit. So, the three of us are together for a few days. It doesn't happen very often.

When we were kids we did not know each other. What I did know of my one sister was a giant fight of sibling rivalry most of our growing up years. Then suddenly you are out of the house and gone- and on with your life. Then your parents die and you start to realize that the only family of origin you have left are your brothers and sisters.

When we got to this point, we started working harder on the three of us. Today, we are friends and it is good. It is good to care for one another. Never take your family for granted.

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

stress mgmt

Someone asked about dealing with stress. How does Jeff deal with stress? What are some tools that might help us?

First, lets just agree that we are all going to have stress. It is not a sin and a person should not feel guilty about it. Stress reminds us that we are alive. It reminds us that we have some opportunities before us. Stress reminds us that "it isn't about me."

When I feel stress I do many different things. I go for a walk. I find a quiet place and holler. I engage in behavior that I find soothing. Oddly enough, for me, something that I find soothing is painting. Not like painting a picture, more like painting a room or painting the house. But for you it could be something else- what is your hobby? Playing the guitar? Be sure when you feel stress to do so. Something else that I do to relieve stress is work in the yard.

I also pray. I pray for the situation. I find a quiet place to sit in God's presence. I also pray for myself, that I can find a better place in my brain. If you hear what I am saying, sometimes, many times, for me, the stress comes to an end when I realize that I have the wrong perspective about the situation. When I can learn to see others as God does, often, my stress with them goes away and my heart is returned to a state of love.

Ultimately, the great philosophers tell us that we need to release ourselves from the desire to control everything. That is why Jesus told his followers not to worry. When I finally get it thru my head that I cannot control the financial stress in my home or the actions of a child or the behavior of a person, I start to relax. You know, it just is what it is. I can't fix it, and me worrying about it isnt going to change anything. Sometimes you just have to make friends with the pain. You have a bad boss. You made a mistake. You aren't treated fairly. Neither was Jesus. Lets move on.

Having said that, sometimes I resolve stress by solving the problem. By working harder, by visiting with the person that is angry. By talking something thru. By reading something. Sometimes, given a few days, the stress wears off. Sleep takes it away.

When none of that works, I cry, yell and pray.

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