two sentences

When the folks are talking, do you add your two sentences?  When you do, are they positive or negative?  Do they lift up others, or tear things down?

Human nature tends to like to join into the chorus of negativity, but it doesn't have to be that way.  When you find yourself having said bad things about another, do you feel bad later?  Its like what we thought was going to make us feel better really made us feel worse.

There is a simple solution.  Even the most difficult people are worth two sentences of good.  We can find something good to say about just about everyone if we try.  What if you choose to lend your voice to the chorus and say two positive sentences.  What if we stop listening to the negativity?  What if we walk away and just go find people that are positive?  It can be done, and they are simple choices.

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

I have your back

Recently I engaged in a discussion with a friend.  Isn't it nice to have a friend?  Just the thought, at this moment, makes me smile.

We were talking about something that I said, and how those words came across.  I did not mean to upset him with my words, I was trying to be funny.  He explained that he knew that, and then he said this - "never worry about me, I always have your back."

I always have your back.  Wow.  Those are giant words.  I am in your corner.  I know who you are.  I know what you are about and I am with you.  You can trust me.  You can rely on me.  We are in this together. 

To have someone's back is a great gift.  From one friend to another, from a parent to a child, from our Father to us.  I have your back.  Good words.

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

Joplin

Yesterday I took a day trip to Joplin.  We left at 730am and got home at 730pm.  I rode down with three fine members of Woods Chapel.  Dennis, Eastin and Lynn.  We visited a school and presented a donation from our children's department.  I had coffee with a pastor friend.  We visited the new warehouse where Missy and Ivan are working, deploying volunteers.  Then we went to lunch.  Then visited  St. Paul's and talked with Ben.  Then some of us roofed a house and others worked in the office contacting volunteer groups about their upcoming mission trips.

Point of this story- There is much to do in Joplin.  You can do manual labor, you can help Missy in the office.  There is something for everyone, for anyone, and much help is still needed.

I want our church to remember these people and their needs.  Please do not forget that I asked our entire congregation to try and go to Joplin this year for at least one day.  I would hope that if a tornado happened to our community, there would be a church somewhere, that would not quit, not stop coming to help, until the mission was accomplished.

One of the greatest joys in life is learning to live outside of one's self.

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

to believe

To believe in something is to endue it with power.  To believe is to speak hope into a moment.  I believe in my children.  I believe in my church.  I believe that things can get better.  I believe for every drop of rain that falls, a flower grows.  I believe that everything is ok, and it is. 

Belief is so powerful, so constructive when focused on the positive.  Christians have hope in this life because we believe that God loves us and is with us.  Ultimately, that is enough.

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

daffodils

A few years ago we planted thousands of daffodils on the north bank of the pond at church.  I encouraged this and enlisted help for the plantings in this blog.  It was my hope that over time the north bank would become covered with the pretty little flowers.

It was my assumption that when you plant a daffy, that they come back every year, and that they will usually double each year.  So if you planted 3,000 - next year you would have six and so on.  This is certainly true about the Iris in my back yard.

Well, it has not been the case with the Woods Chapel daffodils and I apologize.  Many people worked very hard to plant them and over the years there have been fewer and fewer of them come up in the spring.  There are several reasons for this.  First of all, the soil on the north bank is terribly rocky.  Secondly, daffys need the blessing of bone marrow from time to time.  Finally, sometimes we mowed over them inadvertently.

There are some lessons to learn from this in life about people from this experience.  You can plant beautiful things, but if you pick bad soil, the beauty is not going to grow.  I would also say that the effort put in to make something beautiful is never effort given in vain.  Finally, one daffodil is  beautiful.  As long as there is one, I want to remember the hard work that so many put in and thank you and celebrate with you.

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

some special words

Yesterday I posted on my son's facebook page- "Happy Birthday Son.  I love you and I am proud of you."  Scott turned 21 yesterday.

The words I posted stuck in my brain.  "I love you and I am proud of you."  They stuck because they took me back suddenly to the first time I heard my Dad say them to me.  It was the afternoon of Easter Sunday 1995.  We were sitting on the deck behind our house and it was sunny.  My Dad randomly offered, "Son, I love you and I am proud of you."  I was 38 years old.  Time stopped.  An brain imprint was made.  I will remember the moment until the day that I die.

I am sure that it was difficult for those words to come out of his mouth.  Men were raised differently in my Dad's generation.  I know it was a gift from his heart to mine.  I just wish I could have heard them a little sooner.

If there is someone that you love, tell them.  Some of the world's most powerful words are, "I love you and I am proud of you."

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

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Scott-

21 years ago today, you popped into this world.  The nurses had to hold you back until the doctor got there.  I am smiling now just remembering the evening you were born.  It was the Sunday night of the big 8 tournament final.  Your mom wouldn't leave for the hospital until she saw where her KU Jayhawks were seeded in the NCAA tournament.  Then I had to drive like a bat out of hell to get her to the hospital - 45 miles away!

Anyway, what a joy it has been to be your dad.  Like Peter Panning in the movie "Hook" you are my happy thought.  This is a milestone day for you.  And although we are miles apart, you are near and dear to my heart. 

I hope you get a chance to read this because I love you very much and I am proud of you. 
Love, Dad

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

God's will and free will

God’s will vs free will.  I hear so many people speak of God’s will and God’s plan.  You would think we are Calvinists.  Sometimes I wonder if we are hoping that God will shine a light from heaven and show us exactly what to do and in so doing, save us from taking responsibility for our lives.  Do you have free will?  Yes you do.  Maybe the joy and glory of this life, is not expecting God to show you or give you the exactly right thing, but in your choosing to honor him by making choices.

When we look to circumstances for God’s will, it can get real confusing really fast.  There was an old farmer who kept a horse for tilling his fields.  One day the horse escaped into the hills and when all the farmer's neighbors sympathized with the old man over his bad luck, the farmer replied, Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows? A week later the horse returned with a herd of wild horses from the hills and this time the neighbors congratulated the farmer on his good luck. His reply was, Good luck? Bad luck? Who knows? Then, when the farmer's son was attempting to tame one of the wild horses, he fell off its back and broke his leg. Everyone thought this very bad luck. Not the farmer, whose only reaction was, Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows? Some weeks later the army marched into the village and conscripted every able-bodied youth they found there. When they saw the farmer's son with his broken leg they let him off. Now was that good luck? Bad luck? Who knows?

The point of the story is that our relationship with God cannot be rooted in circumstances.  If we believe in free will we have to stop trying to make life sound like God is pulling all of the strings.  You have choices and our Father wants you to prayerfully use them.  If you feel a sense of direction, then celebrate that and step out in faith.  If you don’t feel anything special, then you still must live your life and follow God the best that you can, trusting in the fact that he has given you the gift of freewill and rejoices in the positive life choices that we make.

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

Why Woods Chapel?

Someone asked, "Why Woods Chapel?"  I love the question.  Here is my first shot at an answer, but what would you add?

I invite you to attend Woods Chapel because-

1. Woods Chapel focuses on the essentials, the core of the Christian faith.  On peripheral issues, we invite our members to think and let think.
2. Woods Chapel people are most generally positive, constructively focused on our mission of connecting people to Jesus Christ. 
3. Woods Chapel people are deeply committed to missions.  We are learning to live outside of ourselves. 
4. Woods Chapel is grace based.  The story of salvation does not begin with sin, but begins with "God so loved the world…….”

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

a pastor's week

A pastor's week seems to go like this.  Sunday, Monday, Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday, Saturday and then Sunday again.  It seems like Sunday comes three times a week.

Why is this?  I think it is because so much of what a pastor does, revolves around the 25 minutes that he or she talks to the people during the sermon.  I have to tell you, the pressure to come up with something inspirational is very heavy.  Sometimes, you don't feel inspired.  Sometimes, you want to listen to someone else.  And, yet, here it is again, another Sunday.

As a pastor, you have to prepare your very best and then just pray.  Pray that God will use these words.  Pray that you have "got it right."  Pray that the people will be touched in someway.  And it's all good.  God is good.

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

Your bottom line

Christians can be funny.  Funny like hard to understand.  It is so easy for us to get off track and focus on everything but what we should be focusing on.

If you had the choice of one of the following, and you could only choose one, which would you choose.

a.  the Bible
b.  American returning to her Christian roots
c. a national referendum on some social issue to your preference.
d.  keeping the same pastor
e.  getting rid of your pastor
f.  keeping every thing the same at your church.
g.  bringing back the good old days.
h.  Jesus Christ
i.  knowing when the end of time would happen
j.  being recognized as a spiritual giant in your church
k.  keeping your worst sins a secret

Obviously Christians should choose Jesus.  If you missed him on the list, he was option h.  If you missed him, don't feel bad, Christians often miss Jesus when we are surrounded by all of that other stuff.  But we shouldn't.  The name of the faith is after all, Christ-ianity.

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

worship styles

Occaisionally we get comments about worship styles for various services that we hold at the church.  Someone might suggest from time to time that a particular services is well attended due to the time that it is scheduled rather than the style of worship offered at that time.  I think the hope of the person making the comment is that the service time in question could possibly be changed to their preferred style of worship.

Last week we took a brief survey to see if people like the kind of worship offered at partiuclar times.  Here are the results.

 Here are the results – from those who expressed a preference………..

8am traditional service – 87% prefer traditional

905 contemporary service – 96% prefer contemporary
1010 contemporary service – 85% prefer contemporary
1115 traditional service – 88% prefer traditional

I think the results speak for themselves.  I am sorry that for some of you the style of worship that you prefer is not offered at the time that you may prefer.  If you find yourself in that group, I hope that it is a minor inconvenience to you.

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

don't skip church

I know it is tempting but please do not skip church today to go to the parade.

This comes around once per year and this year it falls on Sunday.  Please don't skip church to go to the parade. 

Oh.  What parade you say?  You do not know?  Today is the day that all of the bands line up downtown and March 4th.

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

children learn

Children learn what they are taught.  You can teach a child to fear and you can teach a child to love.  Some teaching is done intentionally, a good deal of teaching is done subliminally.  The children just watch you, and learn from your clues as to how to act.

Grandma is dying.  How will a child respond?  Exactly as you teach them.  If you are a total basket case, then you can expect them to be inconsolable.  If you tell them that it's ok, and that Grandma is going to be with Jesus, they will accept that and go back to playing.  What you show them, they will emulate.  If the worst of your insecurities are on display, then you can expect  your children will mirror them.  If the healthy part of you is on display, then you can expect that your children will take comfort in your leadership.

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

investing in people

Most humans struggle with money.  Making money, having money, saving money.  They are worried about their investments. 

We forget something.  When a millionaire dies, how much of his fortune does he or she leave?
All of it.

What a different world this would be if we spent as much time investing in people as we did money.  How many people are out there that could be touched and blessed by 20 minutes of our time.  I promise you, there is someone out there that could use a bit of face time with you.  The best thing that we do in this life is to reach out and care about others.  Do what Jesus did.  Invest in people.  I hear the retirement plan is out of this world.

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

L.I.V.E.

Soren Kierkegaard once told the story of an immense vestibule with two doors. Over one door the sign reads: Heaven. Over the other door the sign reads: Lecture on Heaven.
Guess which one Kierkegaard said the people were flocking through?

Do we settle for talk about God and talk about Jesus and talk about living?  Or are we without reservation, throwing ourselves at everyday that God gives us.  Craning our necks to see the good.  Celebrating the song of the bird.  Live.  L.I.V.E.  That is the invitation of true spirituality.  It's not a talk, it's a way of life.

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

Leap Year

Ha ha.  I forgot it was leap year.  I wrote a post for March 1 and thought that was today.  That is why nothing came out on the blog this morning.  I forgot that we had a February 29th this year. 

The older I get, the harder it is for me to remember things.  People's names, how to make some repair.  The capital of various states.

I apologize to those who have birthdays today.  Happy Birthday.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, that should not be taken for granted, be sure to see the good.

thinking about the same things all the time

Do you find yourself thinking about the same things all of the time?  I guess I do.  My brain seems to be stuck on gratitude, joy, perseverance, restoration, forgiveness and the like.  Now that I get them down on paper they look like pretty good things to think about.  I want to work hard to have good relationships and restore the ones that need help, and I do need help.

What do you like to think about?  Do you have trouble controlling your thoughts?  Every moment that we think about something negative, we cannot be thinking about something positive.  We can only think about one thing at a time.  Let's work on, let's practice thinking on the good things.  Worrying less.  Trusting more.  One moment at a time.

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

make it personal

Yesterday a friend shared a verse from the bible that he carries in his heart. One day while in study he decided to put a twist on this verse and make it more personal. The changes were simple but very effective. Using (my for your), (I for you) and so on as noted in italic it becomes very personal. Reading it this way may just may change the way you see today and your relationship with your Savior...it did for me.

Colossians 3

2Set my mind on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For I died, and my life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is my life, appears, then I also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to my earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7 I used to walk in these ways, in the life I once lived. 8 But now I must also rid myself of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from my lips. 9 Do not lie to others, since I have taken off my old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in me.

12 Therefore, as one of God’s chosen holy and dearly loved, I clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with others and forgive others if I have a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave me.

Peace,
Lion's Den Man

enjoy the show part 2

David Letterman had the musician Warren Zevon on his show soon after Zevon found out he had cancer. Letterman asked him, "From your perspective, do you know something about life that maybe I don't know? Warren Zevon answered, "I know how much you're supposed to enjoy every sandwich."

It is the simple things the things in our daily lives that we tend to take for granted.

Do you let life go by each day without taking possession of it and doing with it the things that are of most importance? Each day is a gift. There is no guarantee of tomorrow. We hear those words we know and understand them but what do we do with that knowledge.  Do we plan for tomorrow and leave today off the planner? I throw these things out only because I am guilty of often looking past today and not enjoying people, time, and the simple things in my life.

So, the goal today....live in the moment, be apart of what is going on here and now, enjoy what is in front of me. Put "now" first and the plans second. Life will fall into place if I don't get in the way.

Peace,
Lion's Den Man

Just Enjoy the Show

You may not be a fan of baseball. You may not be a fan of Brad Pitt. But, I think it is hard to not be a fan of a good message. Moneyball is a movie that has been nominated for best picture. My son and I watched this movie together as a rental. We paused it so many times to discuss what was going on that it took nearly an hour longer to watch the entire film. It was a great way to kill an afternoon. It was the first time we really connected on a topic. It made the day really slow and really enjoyable. I think I will remember that day for a long time.

There are a lot of good quotes in the movie. I like the one that Brad Pitt makes, " I made one decision in my life based on money. And I swore I would never do it again."....solid thinking...great message. But, without a doubt, the final scene is a great message and a great reminder for all to hear.

I hope this link works. You may have to cut and paste it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkKCNXbtmcY&feature=related

Remember "Slow it Down.....Enjoy the Show"


Peace,
Lion's Den Man

sometimes

Sometimes when you don't know what else to do, you have to do what you can, and go on.  You have to play your hand and then do what you have to do.

I would like to fix everything.  I would like to understand it all. But, sometimes, you do what you can do and just wait and see what happens.

We can't control everything.  Sometimes in life you just have to live and let live and see what comes.
And...............

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

prayer

Last night at the Ash Wednesday service we did something different. Instead of having four pastors doing the ashes, we had three.  So one pastor always had time to pray at the communion rail.  I had about three turns to pray.

I prayed for every person in our church that has ever been mad at me or at any thing that we did.  I prayed for my children.  I prayed for my marriage.  I prayed for our staff.  It was awesome. 

I hope you got a chance to pray last night. 

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

I'm sorry

Yesterday I did something wrong.  I hurt someone's feelings.  I just wasn't thinking.  A "no" came out of my mouth that left someone feeling left out.  It was wrong.

Here is the good news.  I realized this by their reaction and I apologized.  I apologized again later in a more personal way.  I sent an email to those in the meeting, apologizing again.

We are all going to do things from time to time that are wrong.  Sometimes we may feel like we don't want to say we are sorry, but we just have to do it.  We just have to swallow our pride and say we are sorry.  Healing begins there.  The only thing that helps us turn a corner after being wrong, is to apologize.  If you need to do it, you know it.  Go for it.  You will be glad that you did.

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

out of my control

There are some things in life that we can't do anything about.  No matter how hard we try, no matter how much we worry, we are powerless.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.  Amen

God also grant us the ability to not worry when we cannot control the outcome.  I know that when I do worry, I get consumed by the bad news.  Then I am not good for anyone.  Anyone can see the good when things are going well.  God grant us the ability to see the good, even when we get bad news, and there is not a thing we can do about it.

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

just another day

Who sang it?  di di di di di di, it's just another day. Di di di di di di, it's just another day........so sad..........so sad......

I have had many days that seemed like just another day.  But today, February 20th, for someone is not just another day.  Today they will get bad news.  Today they will face the music.  Today the judge will pronounce a sentence. 

For some, today is just another day.  For someone else, today is a day that they will remember for the rest of their lives.  May we always be mindful of those who are having the remarkably painful moments.  Maybe somehow we can help them to see......

That it is still a beautiful day in God's world.

Whitney Houston

Yesterday I listened to the gospel choir of Whitney Houston's home church practicing for her funeral.  They were singing a song that our gospel choir sings, "Grateful, grateful, grateful, grateful........."

So we have this woman who rose to stardom from a little church in New Jersey.  I can imagine the great excitement and pride that the church folks felt when she made it big time.  How painful it must be for them today to have to say goodbye.  The troubled marriage, the admitted drug use, the very short life.

I wonder sometimes what stardom does to people.  The pressure that it puts upon them.  Be careful what you wish for.

Anyway, we are left with what we are always left with, the chance to say thank you to our Father for her life.  For her kind nature and for the beautiful songs that made us feel alive.  Someone said that all music is God's music.  I don't know about that, but Whitney's voice made everyone feel happy and alive.  That is a gift from God.

We are also left with the opportunity to be grateful.  Grateful, grateful, grateful.  For her life, and for ours.  Today is God's gift to you.  What you do with it is your gift back to him.

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

making promises

I am asked by people on occasion to pray for them so that they will get a promotion or a new job.  They have some thing in their sights that is going to make them more money.

Sometimes they say that if they get this thing, they will give more to God's work.  I wonder if the same promise was made when they were seeking their current job?

I find it a bit odd that so many want to bargain with God for a more favorable station in life, so that they can give to God's work.  Can't we give to God's work now?  Of course we can.

I can tell you sadly, that most of the stories that I hear about people promising to do more for God, are quickly forgotten when the promotion or windfall finally comes through.

May we all learn the value of being good stewards whether we have been given one talent, two talents or five.  No one lives for ever and you can't take your stuff with you.  The best investments ever made in this life are investments in the work of our Father and his people.

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

not for sale

I recently spoke with a member who shared a story about someone telling them that they could, "buy you out in a heartbeat." 

People are funny about money.  For some, money makes power which leads to arrogance.  The member had a pretty good come back, I thought.  He said to the person, "you probably could buy me, except that I am not for sale."

I like that thought and I hope that you feel this way about your life.  I am not for sale.  I am not available to the highest bidder.  I am not here to fall for a little bit of gold.  I have something to do here on this earth and it is not defined by making a little bit of money.

At the end of the movie Fargo, Florence McDermot [the sheriff] has the last bad guy in her car and she is counting the number of people that he has killed.  She says, "And for what? For a little bit of money. There's more to life than a little money, you know. Don'tcha know that? And here ya are, and it's a beautiful day. Well. I just don't understand it."

As long as we are focused on what we have or don't have, we will never find peace.  We need to remember that life is about more than money and stuff and how much a person has.  The best riches in the world are held by those who have a loving heart and a selfless outlook on life.

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

self esteem

Most people I know struggle with self-esteem.  Often those that act like don't, are putting on a show to cover up their lack of self-esteem.  Sometimes I meet healthy people who have their feet on the ground and know who they are, and don't have the self-esteem struggles.

But, for me and all of you out there that sometimes struggle with self-worth, I read something interesting the other day.  The next time someone is nipping at your heels or some thought, insult or comment takes you down, remember who you really are and think of this:

"The only kind of dignity which is genuine is that which is not diminished by the disrespect of others.  You don't diminish the majesty of Niagara Falls by spitting in it."  Anthony DeMello

Remember who you are in Christ and how much you are loved by God.  The insult just got much smaller.

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

education

There are two educations.  The first one teaches you how to make a living.  The second one teaches you how to live.

It is a great success to help someone learn to make a living.  Whether via college, trade school, or the school of hard knocks, when someone finds a way to make an honest living, it is good.  It makes a parent proud.

I hope that I have been as good at teaching my children how to live as we have been at helping them get a degree and find a job.  There are some pretty important differences.  The first education helps a person earn money.  The second helps them find joy and satisfaction.  The first helps you keep a good credit rating.  The second makes you a person of character.

What would we teach in the class of how to live?  How about these topics-

Faith, Work, Love, Apologizing, Grace, Forgiveness, Bearing pain, Letting your parents go, Seeing the good, Living below your means, Saving for the future, Delaying  gratification, Planning, Service, Setting an example, Being real, Knowledge, Wisdom, Leadership, Accountability, Humility, Vision.

I better get to work.

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

in the ditch

You know that my wife travels every week.  She also refuses to drive in snow.  So yesterday, I am joining her on a short trip.  We finally get a snow.  2 inches, no big deal, except my wife will not drive in the snow.  So I am driving her up to KCI.  Now let me give you a little life advice about driving in the snow-

Respect the weather.  Drive slower, increase your following distance.  Take your time.  Don't be in a hurry.  - ignore this advice to your peril.

So we are driving to KCI.  The farther we go, the worse it gets.  There are no plows out to be seen anywhere.  We did not see a single plow along the way to KCI. 

As we crossed I-35 past Worlds of Fun and entered the northern section of 435, we began to see cars off the road.  I always laugh.  It will be them, but not me.  I am too careful.  We see a car exactly like my wife's car in the ditch.  I laugh and tell her it is an omen. 

We are cruising along at about 40 mph when we come behind this Volvo that is putting along.  Dangerously slow.  I pull out into the fast lane to pass the Volvo.  The fast lane is snow packed.  I just get past the Volvo and our car catches an edge.  The back end begins to skid out to the left.  I turn into the skid.  For a moment I think that I am going to pull it back together, but no.  My wife's car begins to spin out of control in the middle of 435, right up where Derek Thomas was injured.

The guy in the Volvo has to be laughing by now.  We end up on the right shoulder, half way down in the ditch. My dear wife is freaking out.  [This picture is not us, but we were stuck almost exactly like this.]

I get out of the car and tell her to get in the driver's seat.  She rolls down the window so she can hear me.  I have her straighten up the wheels and I clear out the snow from behind them.  Then I go to the front and I start to rock the car.  She accelerates.  Back and forth we go.  It takes about five minutes, but we get the car up the side of the ditch and now on the shoulder of the road, facing the wrong direction.  Success.  Sort of.

I hop back in to drive.  We wait until no one is coming, then I drive backwards across 435, turn down, stop, and turn around.  Whew!!!

We get to the airport on time. I don't know if I feel dumb for driving unsafely, or smart for getting us out of the ditch.  That's all I have to say.

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

everything is alright

Everything is alright.  When my father died, I thought the world had come to an end. It didn't.  When I lost my friend, I thought the world had come to and end.  It didn't.  When my child was in trouble I was at my wits end, as if the world had come to an end.  It didn't.

Sometimes, we have to let ourselves grieve.  But then sometimes, we have to get a hold of ourselves.  Trusting God is about trusting God in spite of the circumstances.  Trusting God does not mean that we trust God so that we can get the circumstances to change more to our liking.  Trusting God means that we lean on him and let him be our strength.

When we focus on him and not our problems, we are reminded of a very big truth.  Everything is alright.  This is our Father's world.

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

There is no place like home.

It's nice to go, and it's nice to come home.  Home is where people love you.  Home is where you are accepted.  Home is where familiar, comfortable things are.   Home is where the cats and dogs can't wait for you to sit down so that you can scratch their backs.

Home is where you know that everything is ok.  Home is where you live life.  Home is ......... home.  There is no place like home.

I hope your home is like this.  And I hope you feel this way about your church home.  A church is a place to belong.  A place to be comfortable, and challenged.  A place to live and a place to launch from.  A church home is such a blessing.  I thank our Father for my home and my church  home.

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

where in the world is Jeff?

Usually when Jeff goes on a trip, he doesn't tell anyone.  Some skip church if they think Jeff is gone, and a few have made comments that make Jeff feel that he doesn't deserve to go on that particular trip.

Well, this trip is different.  I am going to tel.  I have not been skiing since 2003.  I have thought about going for years, but finally this past week I made it. 

[This is a guy trip]  I loaded up my 2005 Honda Civic and took off with a friend.  We drove straight thru to Georgetown, Colorado in 9hrs and 15 minutes.  We stopped only to get gas.  We made sandwiches in the car along the way.  We stayed at the cheapest motel we could find, the Super 8.  We ate cereal for breakfast and pizza the rest of the time.  We skied two days, Thursday and Friday and are driving home today.

It was a wonderful, joyful, relaxing time.  I forgot how much fun snow skiing is.  And Oh, the beauty of the trees.

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

what you see in the daylight

Two nights ago night we arrived in the pitch black.  This is what we saw. 

when we woke up yesterday morning, this is what we saw.

So I am wondering about what we see and don't see in this life.  I fear that too many of us run around in the dark, thinking that we see perfectly well.  Is it possible that our Father can open our eyes to see things and people in new ways.  How would he look at some of the things that we look at?

A few years ago, Amy Grant shared a line, "I want my Father's eyes."

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

driving into a town in the night

So you drove all day and into the night.  You arrive at your hotel/motel and go to bed.  It is dark and it is late.  In the morning you wake up and walk outside and see the area that you drove in to in the night.  You see the trees, the buildings, the mountains for the first time.  You drove in, in the dark and you did not know how beautiful it was until you saw it in the light of day.

And so, we are born in this world and we don't see most of what is there.  We start our life and we live for years without seeing what is really there.  Then one day we wake up and our Father opens our eyes.  Then we see his handiwork- the trees, the stars, the hills.  Creation speaks to us and it is awesome.

Why do we wait so long to see what is all around us?  Why do we not open our eyes and behold the glory of God?  To see as God intended is truly a great gift.

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

visitors

We had some visitors on Sunday.  We  have visitors every week, but I got to meet these visitors.  I don't get to meet everyone who visits, but I did get to talk with these folks. 

After church I saw them leave.  They made a b-line for the door.  Whoosh!  You never know what they are thinking, but I wonder if they maybe didn't like the service.

Every Sunday before church I pray for the folks that come to worship.  I pray for them that they will be reached and blessed.  You never know what happens, but you pray none the less.

I don't know what I expect of visitors.  That maybe they should be sure to shake my hand, Then do a dance and hang out in the coffee bar and make new friends.  Maybe I want them to sign up to join the church on their first Sunday and come to choir practice on Wednesday night.  I am crazy.

So, I pray for these folks, that they come back again and find a friendly handshake and find their way into the arms of our loving family.

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

getting up

Good people get up when they get knocked down.  Leaders get up every time they get knocked down.  Leaders help others get up when they are down.  Good people keep going.  They don't quit.  They get up and stay after it because they know there is no other alternative.

Every day our Father gives us is worth living.

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

It's all about me, chapter 41

I read most of my news on the internet.  I found this article from the Associated Press a bit humorous.

HOPE MILLS, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina deputies say they used a stun gun on a woman who blocked a McDonalds drive-thru for 20 minutes after employees refused to serve her because she broke in line.

Authorities say 37-year-old Evangeline Lucca bypassed the order screen and the line at the restaurant in Hope Mills, about 60 miles south of Raleigh, and pulled directly up to the pick-up window Friday afternoon.
Cumberland County deputies say employees refused to take her order and told her to go to the back of the line. She refused to move, and police were called.
Authorities say Lucca was shocked after she blocked the line for 20 minutes. Her 3-year-old daughter was taken into protective custody.
Lucca was charged with second-degree trespass. A phone listing for her couldn't be found.

May the Christ within us continue to cause us to put others first  and graciously wait for our turn.

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

Sunday

This is the day that the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it!  I was glad when they said to me, let us go up to the house of the Lord.

In our Father, we find hope.  We find joy.  We rest.

We have a great video to share with you in worship today.  I hope you are able to join us.

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

when you get bad news

When you get bad news it can break your heart. It can make it seem like the sun will not rise. It can- it does feel like the only thing that mattered in life- I just got a "D" in.

It can make a glad day sad. And I am fighting the pain. Gosh I had no idea that parenting was such a two edged sword.

God I need you to show up. I need to see the good. My tears are hitting the pillow. God show your strengh. I know you are good and I know there is a better angle on this for me.

It's still a beautiful day in God's world. Let's agree to see the good.

belonging

Occasionally I run into people who say that they can believe in God and not go to church.  They are right.  But there are many things that people miss when they choose to believe, but not attend church.  One of them is the amazing phenomena of belonging.

At Woods Chapel you and I belong to a very amazing group of people.  We are engaged in mission together in a way that no one could ever do by themselves.  Sit in the coffee bar on any Sunday and you will meet great folks.  Walk the walking trail, sit it the pavilion, or enjoy one of the gardens and feel the power of years of dreams, hard work, and honor to God.  Bow your head and pray in the sanctuary and your prayers join the prayers of many other souls.  Shake a hand during greeting time and make a new friend.  Wander into any local restaurant and see your friends out and about.  Stand at the end of service and join your heart and hands to others as we remember that it is all about God's grace.

Yes,  Scarlett, you can believe and not go to church, but why would anyone do it?  I love our church.  It is a place when we can all belong.  It's a place where we can all be connected.

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

prayer

A convert rode his camel to the church and went inside to pray.  [this story takes place in the middle east]After praying for a time, he ran into the priest and told him that he had so much faith in his prayers to God that he left his camel outside and did not tie him up.

The priest said, you fool.  Go outside and tie up your camel.  You should never ask God to do the things that we can do our selves.

Have you created some difficulty in your life?  Tie up your camel.  It probably isn't fair for us to dump problems on God that we can resolve ourselves with a little hard work.

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

lost and found

A few days ago I told you that I was looking for an old friend, Dan Denevue.  I have looked for him off and on for 30 years.  Thanks to the help of a reader, and the web site "Linked in"  Dan and Jeff have been reunited and are communicating by email.

I have to tell you that this is so exciting to me.  This is now my oldest friend.  The serotonin in my brain is just awash with joy.  It is almost like having parents again.  I feel like part of my home has been restored.

In May we are going to meet up in California.  Very very exciting.

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

today

Today I have some choices to make.  They are mine and mine alone.  Will I acknowledge God early and thank him for the gift of this day?  Will I be kind to those that I meet?  Will I consider their issues, their hurts, their challenges?  Will I smile?  Will I see the joy and let it go out to the world?  Will I think of our Father often during the day and look up and smile and nod my head in appreciation.  These are some of our choices for today.  Let's go give it a shot.

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

on taking up a cross

Don't read this post, you are probably not going to like it.  It's ok.  Log off and go about your day.  Stop.  Really, it's ok.  Don't read any more.

Opps.  Too late.  Here you go.  Is there really any Christianity with out a cross?  Are we living the life Jesus intends if there is no cross to take up?  Have we sought pleasure so exclusively that we are not willing to bear a cross?

How am I sacrificing for Christ?  How are you?  If we are not sacrificing something, are we really on the road that Jesus intends.

I suggest to you today that the way that leads to joy and blessing is also the road of sacrifice.  We are invited to lose our life to find it.  Kind of an oxymoron.  But it is the way of Jesus.

Take the road less travelled by.  Step out of your comfort zone.  Stretch.  Invest yourself in others.  Make a sacrifice for the sake of our Lord.  That is where the joy is.  That is where the blessing is found.

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

winter

Sometimes people ask me to pray for good weather.  They want to save a cruise or a ball game or maybe they are just tired of rain, or they want some rain.  I always tell them, "I am in sales, not management."

And so it is January 29th and we have had a very very nice winter.  I want to carefully talk to God about this. 

Dear Father, I know I don't get a vote, but I did want to take a moment to tell you that I approve of winter so far this year.  Thanks.

Today I parked in the Pastor's spot on the far end of the parking lot and made my normal Sunday morning walk in the dark, across the parking lot, to the east entrance.  Today, January 29th, I made that walk without a jacket. 

I approve of winter.  So far.  I do understand that February still lies ahead of us, and you never know.

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

thinking

been reading some good stuff and my head is spinning... how hard is it for you to acknowledge that your way of thinking is not necessarily the "way" to think....How big is Your God? Is He limitless and does He have infinite possibilities? Can He be out of the range or radar of your thinking? Think about this.....Who is your God.....If the God you believe in is nice and neat and enables you to see things "clearly" then maybe your God needs to grow....Good good stuff to think about.


Peace,
Lion's Den Man

finding an old friend

One of my best friends in high school and the year after graduation was Dan deNevue.  We had a lot of fun when we were 20 years old.  I had a Chevy Vega and he had a Ford Pinto.  I have thought about him off and on for years.  We have not spoken since 1985.  You just lose touch after a while.

Last night, as I was randomly cleaning up in the office, I found an old address.  I mailed a note card off to Dan in hopes that he still lives in the same place, or that the new owners have a forwarding address for him.

Please pray with me that my letter gets to him.

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

I am running for President

I am running for President of the United States.  My platform has one plank - "the debt clock must stop."  If I am elected, I will balance the budget and the debt clock will stop. 

Ask me how I will do this?  I don't know.  There are 500 ways, and ultimately the argument over how it will be done will be rendered quite foolish if it is not done, somehow and soon.

If the debt clock does not stop it will not matter your opinion on abortion, stem cells or the death penalty.  It won't matter if you are a republican or a democrat.  If the debt clock doesn't stop, we are going to be Greece, or worse.

A couple of interesting Quotes-

Democracy is a form of government that cannot long survive, for as soon as the people learn that they have a voice in the fiscal policies of the government, they will move to vote for themselves all the money in the treasury, and bankrupt the nation."    Karl Marx

  "A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury. After that, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits with the result the democracy collapses because of the loose fiscal policy ensuing, always to be followed by a dictatorship, then a monarchy."

       Alexander Frasier Tytler

Write in my name on the ballot and I will balance the budget.

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

looking for patience

Do you ever have one of those days when you just want to crawl into a hole and hide?  Someone is annoying you and you just feel like you are at the end of your rope?  I am reminded of this story from Anthony Demello:

One day Abraham invited a beggar to his tent for a meal.  When grace was being said the man began to curse God, declaring he could not bear to hear His name. 

Seized with indignation, Abraham drove the blasphemer away.

When he was at his prayers that night, God said to him, "This man has cursed and reviled me for fifty years and yet I have given him food to eat every day.  Could you not put up with him for a single meal?"

And, now after hearing that, I have more patience.  It is a fruit of the Spirit after all.

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

stress

Ugh.  I was stressed out.  Problems.  Challenges.  Stress. 

Everyone has days like that.  What do you do?  First, I try not to hurt the people around me.  It is easy when you are stressed or unhappy to barf on whomever is around you.  I try not to do that.  Make your points as carefully and caringly as you can, and walk away to cool down.

Next.  Walk around.  Get some exercise.  Work out the stress.  Do some push ups.  What ever you can.  Physical activity reduces stress.

Next- pray.  Pray for every person involved.  Especially for those who you think are providing you stress.  Remember, you may be providing them stress as well.

Finally, stay with it.  Feelings don't last.  Whatever it is, it is not forever.  Try to rest in God and see the good.

If stress remains, repeat steps above.

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

Life is Good

Life is good.  Yes it is.  In spite of the many difficulties that we all face, life is good. 

I came into the office yesterday morning and someone had left me a present.  A life is good hat.  I love it.  Thank you for the kind gesture.

Today and every day, let's put on the life is good hat.

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

fear

Last night Cathy and I watched the movie, The King's Speech.  If you have not seen it, it is a mostly wonderful show about overcoming fear.  It is also a wonderful historical piece.

In the movie, the King works to overcome his fears.  I think most of us can relate to the story line.  We live with fear, we fight our secret fears, we hope to over come them.

Ultimately, we never overcome our fears until we are comfortable with ourselves.  We need to find our voice, to sense our value, to hear God speak his love into us.  When that happens, our fears are dissolved.

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

your story

Everyone has a story.  You have one, and I have one.  Most of us have parts of our story that we are less than proud of.

We can sit around and fret about those parts of our story.  Some times we do.  Some people get so stuck on the bad part of their story that it begins to consume their entire life.  You can actually feel as if one bad event or one bad year is who you really are.

Please remember that God loves you and forgives you.  Please remember that there are many good things about you and good parts of your story.  It is a much better choice to dwell on these positive things.  Also remember that your story can change.   I can make amends, I can change behaviors, I can become something new.  This hope we have in this life because of the forgiveness and love of our Father.

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

geese

The geese are back at the church.  Although they appear to be headed for one of the stations of the cross, there is no such thing as a Christian goose.

These big birds are gross and disgusting.  They leave behind quite a mess in their wake.  If you have a dog, please bring your dog up to church and let them run around a bit.  It is good for the dogs and it tends to help with the goose problem.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, unless we see the geese.

song

This song blessed me on Sunday..........

You lived among the least of these
The weary and the weak
And it would be a tragedy for me to turn away.

All my needs you have supplied.
When I was dead you gave me life.
How could I not give it away so freely?

And I'll follow you into the homes that are broken.
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow you into the World.
Use my hands, use my feet
To make your kingdom come
Through the corners of the earth
Until your work is done

'Cause Faith without works is dead
And on the cross your blood was she'd
So how could I not give it away so freely?

And I'll follow you into the homes that are broken.
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow you into the World.
2X

I give all myself.
I give all myself
I give all myself... to you.

And I give all myself.
Yes, I give all myself.
And I give all myself... to you.

And I'll follow you into the homes that are broken
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow you into the World.

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

care package

How surprised and pleased I was to receive a care package at my door on Thursday when I was sick.  Jello, seven up, chicken noodle soup, some medicine and some cookies.  Very tasty all around.

Our church is wonderful and you all are so very kind.  It made me smile.  The small simple gestures are such powerful ways to show God's love.

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

what is your church like

What is your church like?  How does it feel?  What does God really want our churches to feel like?  How does he desire to be portrayed?  When you sit in the sanctuary and consider that you are in the house of God, how does that make you feel?

I heard a quote this week - "if grace is like water, then the church should feel like an ocean."

Imagine basking in, floating in, relaxing in the ocean of God's grace.  That.  That.  That is the Christian life.

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

the gospel

Yesterday I had the opportunity to listen to a young person talk about their faith.  They had a lot of comments and questions about sin.  How can God love us, we are such bad sinners.  How can someone as sinful as me understand a holy God.

Honestly, it hurt to listen to it all.  Here is another fine person who has been raised on the gospel of how bad everyone is.  Many American churches have fed this to our people for so long that it is hard to overcome.  It is hard to help people that are infected with this to see the truth.

On this I will stand to my dying day- A gospel based on sin is not good news.  The gospel of Jesus Christ does not begin with sin, it begins with love.  God so loved the world that he gave.  Of course we are sinners, but we do a disservice to our Father and to ourselves when we spend our lives focusing on how bad of sinners we are instead of the amazing mercy and love of God.

In fact, when we spend too much time talking about our sin, the focus is on us.  It's about us.  When we talk about God's love, the focus is on Him and he gets the glory.  The gospel of Jesus Christ begins with love not sin.  Get that.

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

the bowling ball

The church started a men's bowling league on Monday nights.  I have struggled along bowling with an average of 140 for several months.  That's fine, but nothing to scream about.  Then my friend Eric suggests I buy a real ball and stop using the house balls.  I tell him that I cannot afford one.  He tells me about this pawn shop.  And the story unfolds......

I visit the pawn shop and buy a ball for $15.  I have it drilled to fit for another $10.  They man at Lunar Bowl Pro Shop gives me a few pointers.  I have bowled with this ball for a month.  Same old stuff.  Running about a 140 average.  But.  But, last Monday night, I found a groove with this ball.

We bowled three games.  I bowled 138, then 216, then 206.  I was so surprised.  I am still smiling about this.  It was unbelievable.  We old guys are having so much fun with this bowling.  I just had to share the joy.  I am sure that next week I will struggle to break 100.

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

old movies

So I caught an old movie the other night.  Some crime thing starring Mel Gibson.  I was thinking about how nice it was that I could watch an old movie and enjoy it again.  I thought it funny that it has been so long since I have seen it that I barely remember watching it in the first place.

That is kind of cool.  I have lived long enough to enjoy a movie, forget it, and then watch it again and enjoy it......  Savor that thought for a moment.

Here is the problem.  The old movie was made in 2010.  I saw it less than two years ago and I barely remember it.  Either I am losing it, or my brain is really full.  I choose the latter.

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

Grants for churches

If you are a United Methodist in Missouri and you are reading this, I want to make you aware of a program that Woods Chapel has in place.  As a part of our recent building campaign, 5% of the funds received are set aside to be used as grants for other United Methodist Churches in Missouri.  The funds are specifically to be used for buildings and capital aquisitions.  Roof repair, air conditioning repair, computers, projectors, making things handicap accessible, things like that.

We have had a bit of trouble getting this info out, so I wanted to share it with you through the blog.  You can apply online at  https://wccumc.ccbchurch.com/w_form_response.php?form_id=64

Please direct any questions to Wendy at Wendym@woodschapelchurch.org

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

sick

I am not sick very often, but I am today.  Nothing out of the ordinary, cough due to cold.  Drink plenty of fluids, rest in the recliner, take some aspirin for the aches and pains.

It is pretty easy when we are sick to drown in self pity, but Cathy is out of town and so is my one daughter that lives here.  I have no one to complain to.

Being sick is an exercise in trying to see the good, when you don't feel good.  I am comforted by the fact that it is only a cold and I will get better.  I am also comforted by the fact that I am rarely sick.  I thank God for that blessing.

I shall be feeling better very soon. 

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

regrets

Points offered in Sunday's sermon to help us leave regrets behind.

1.  if you need to apologize to someone, do it, sincerely, once.

2. get a glimpse of how destructive ongoing regrets are to you.

3.  get a glimpse of  how destructive ongoing regrets are to those around you.

4.  get a glimpse of the joy of life when regrets are gone.  Worry and sorrow is replaced with joy and peace.  We begin to live as our Father intended.

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

table top

Well, I have to share this with you.  I am so tickled with myself.  Sorry, this is a bit self-indulging.  We had an old kitchen table.  Chairs that did not match, but the table was an oak table with eagle claw feet.  I loved it.

One day I came home and it was gone.  My wife had given it away!  So we have to buy a new table.  We bought one from Nebraska Furniture Mart that we liked, but I knew it was a cheap table.  After six years, the top is coming apart.  Burns, scratches and the veneer peeling off.  It was time for a change.

But since we liked the rest of the table, we decided to refinish it.  I just got done cutting the tile, grouting and putting tile on the new top.  I am pretty excited about this.  No more worry about taking care of the top because it is indestructible.  Also, we saved some money and I think it looks great.

The small things in life that make us happy.

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

muscle memory

Muscle memory.  A pitcher throws a ball so many times, that he just knows what to do.  A bowler throws the ball so many times that he can do it over and over again the same way.  Time after time.

I wonder if it works for brains?  Learning new ways to think.  New ways to look at the world.  New ways to respond to others.  If I find a new approach and I do it over and over and over, eventually it may become a part of me and be naturally integrated into my life.

Worrying less and seeing the good are two things that I would love to have imprinted forever in my brain's muscle memory.  I keep believing that if I stay with the program, then one day my natural inclination will not be to worry, but to trust.  I like it.  Thy kingdom come.

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

the new year

The new year still feels new to me.  I wonder how long that can last.  So far, I don't think I have upset anyone or made any major mistakes.  I have written several checks, and I have not put the wrong year in one time!

It is a good feeling.  There is this sense of joy that I have a fresh start.  Since Christmas I have felt very peaceful and good.  I wonder if I can make it the entire year?  Maybe I am growing older and more steady.  Maybe I am growing up.

Wouldn't it be great to have a year, or the rest of my life, without worry.  Lord, let us rest in you and please bless us all with peace and joy.

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

Chinese Food

I love Chinese food.  And it makes me happy that it is so good, so healthy for you.  Actually I only eat one dish on the menu.  This is my order, every time - General Tsao's chicken, fried rice, no soup, crab rangoon.  The people at the Panda Cafe know me by name.

I once asked one of the servers how to pronounce "General Tsao's chicken."  They laughed and said that I should just call it "General's chicken."

There are a number of my favorite fortunes taped to my office door.  Here they are.  May you enjoy them as much as I do.

• Practice an attitude of gratitude.
• A great teacher never strives to explain his vision. He simply invites you to stand beside him and see for yourself.
• Follow your instincts when making decisions.
• You will finally solve a difficult problem that means much to you.
• People in your surroundings will be more cooperative than usual.
• Great things happen when men and mountains meet.
•  It is a nice day.
• You will have a close encounter of a surprising thing.
• A friend is someone who knows the song of your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.
• Good timber does not grow with ease; the stronger the wind, the stronger the trees.
• Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.

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

undecorating

After the joy of Christmas comes the undecorating.  My wife always wants to hurry and get the things down and put away so that she can have her house back.  I tend to want to leave them up longer.  After all, the 12 days of Christmas are not over until January 6th.

But, this year as always, she wins, and the decorations are coming down.  By the way, this is what happens when cats help undecorate.

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

three things for the new year

Several have asked, and a few missed church Sunday.  Here are the three things that I asked our congregation to do in 2012.

1.  Go to Joplin for at least one day.  Every single one of us.  We can at least get up on a Saturday and drive there, work all day and come home.  Or, go on Sunday.  Attend church at St Paul's, then work in the afternoon and come home.  The work there is not done.  I know they are praying that God will keep their city on someone's heart.

2.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Yes it is the basic act of the Christian faith, but doesn't that make it all the more appropriate that I hold it up to you?  Treat others with kindness.

3.  Open your eyes and see the mission field around you.  The neighbor, the co-worker.  And these people are not your projects to fix or straighten out, they are your mission, your opportunity to share God's love and grace.

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

More on the Sneetches

This story is an allegory for prejudice and discrimination, and also offers a lesson of materialism and entrepreneurship.

Sneetches are a group of vaguely avian yellow creatures who live on a beach. Some Sneetches have a green star on their bellies, and in the beginning of the story the absence of a star is the basis for discrimination. Sneetches who have stars on their bellies are part of the "in crowd," while Sneetches without stars are shunned and consequently mopey.

In the story, a character named Sylvester McMonkey McBean, calling himself a "fix-it-up chappie," appears, driving a cart of strange machines. He offers the Sneetches without stars a chance to have them by going through his Star-On machine, for three dollars. The treatment is instantly popular, but this upsets the original star-bellied Sneetches, as they are in danger of losing their method for discriminating between Sneetches. Then McBean tells them about his Star-Off machine, costing ten dollars. The Sneetches formerly with stars happily pay the money to have them removed in order to remain special.

However, McBean does not share the prejudices of the Sneetches, and allows the recently starred Sneetches through this machine as well. Ultimately this escalates, with the Sneetches running from one machine to the next,

"until neither the Plain nor the Star-Bellies knew

whether this one was that one... or that one was this one

or which one was what one... or what one was who."

This continues until the Sneetches are penniless and McBean departs a rich man, amused by their folly. Despite his assertion that "you can't teach a Sneetch," the Sneetches learn from this experience that neither plain-belly nor star-belly Sneetches are superior, and they are able to get along and become friends.

The Sneetches is planned for released on August 5 2012 the movie is produced by Walt Disney Pictures.

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

2011 or 2012

Forgiving the pastor's sins. 

It was brought to my attention that during several of the services on Sunday, I misspoke about what year was ending, and what year was beginning.  I am sorry for this.  Please be assured that I know that it is now 2012, even if I didn't say it correctly.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, in 2012, be sure to see the good.

Christmas presents

I want to thank you for the cards and gifts this Christmas.  God bless you and thank you.

I have heard from several who told me that they did not give me a gift as in the past, because in lieu of this, they gave a goat, or 5 goats to Guatemala.  These stories make me very happy.

Here is a note from a person who has been listening to that annoying preacher talk about living the Christian life..............

Jeff—

A few weeks ago you asked for a Christmas gift.  You asked that in lieu of gifts we buy a couple of bags of groceries for a needy family.  Well….We bought two family dinners for thanksgiving.

 We sponsored two children for Christmas through church – and doubled what was requested.

We filled a Harvesters bucket at our office from donations brought to our holiday open house.

 We purged a LOT of unneeded items from our home.  Van loads went to Community Services League.

 I have a friend whose Marine son is fighting on the front lines in Afghanistan.  He has lost 8 buddies at last count, and a couple of dozen have been sent home with life altering injuries.  My friend’s son, as of this writing, is safe.  We put together a package for him and his buddies.  We asked several people to join us and write letters to him.  Our daughter told her class about it, and came home with an envelope of letters and pictures from her grade school class.  

Yesterday our office closed down for the afternoon.  Our staff printed 25 envelopes with a Christmas message.  The we took all the bonus money that we had received and divided It up between the envelopes and hit the streets.  We went to a pawn shop, a laundry mat, Aldi’s, Dollar General, Independence Power & Light, bus stops, the Salvation Army Thrift Store, and the Walmart parking lot on Blue Ridge Blvd.  We simply passed out envelopes to 25 people who looked like they could use a  little Christmas cheer.  My favorite was watching one of our staff park the car and walk in pouring rain to a man panhandling on the street corner at the exit ramp from I70 to Sterling.  She handed the man the envelope and he started crying before he even opened it.  As she walked back to the car, I was able to see him open the envelope, smile a wide toothless smile, and yell his thanks to her.  Then he picked up his stuff and left his post.  Apparently it was enough to allow him to find a dry spot to land. 

My husband has contributed to every – and I mean EVERY – request for Christmas contributions he has encountered. 

We have made it clear to our children that there will not be an abundance of gifts this year and why.  Santa will bring them, as always, three gifts (one for each of the wise men), and there will only be a couple under the tree.  My oldest gets it and is talking about caroling around our new neighborhood with the wagon to collect canned food.  That said, gifts wrapped by young hands have been appearing under the tree.  One child wrapped the others slippers that have been missing and put them under the tree.  She was just having so much fun giving and she thought there should be more gifts under the tree.  Not for her.  Just because we should give.  I can’t wait to open gifts Christmas morning to find out what I’m missing.  There are a lot of gifts for me under the tree.

Merry Christmas, Jeff.  This may be my gift to you, but it has really been a Christmas gift to me.  And I’m enjoying it so much that it may just have to continue through the year.  Blessings to you and your family.  

I hope that this story blessed you as much as it blessed me.  It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Christmas Turkeys

One of the members of your church smoked 300 turkeys which were given to needy families around the metro area.  Here are three stories from those who made the deliveries-

1.  Dear Kind and Thoughtful persons who donated the turkeys for Christmas distribution.  I wish you could have
been along when my grandson and I delivered turkeys today.  Then you would know how much they were appreciated by the folks who got them.  The smiles when we went to a house with a pregnant mother with  small children were just radiant.  I know that turkeys would not have been on the menu at that house without your wonderful and kind gift.  The little old lady who answered the door  at our next stop was just as surprised as  if we had delivered a pound of gold.  She couldn't thank us (and you) enough.  I'm sure our visit was the best thing of the season for her.  The next two women were both graduates of the Hillcrest program for homeless people.  One of them had never cooked a turkey in her life so it was wonderful to have a complete turkey ready to eat with instructions how to heat it up.  A very thoughtful touch -- as the next lady would not have a pan to cook that big a piece of meat in. 

I hope that your Christmas is a happy one as you have brought much happiness to 4 people plus all of the others your gift reached today.  Plus my grandson and me.  We enjoyed it so much.  God Bless and Merry Christmas
from one who helped deliver the turkeys.  

2. Another story from yesterday:

A member delivered to five of the Blue Springs BackSnack families.  When one mom didn't come to the door, he called her cell phone and left a message, saying he's ready to delivery her cooked turkey.  She came out of her front door as he was leaving her driveway and he gave her the turkey, but as they talked, she mentioned that she didn't have her cell phone anymore, so the number wasn't hers anymore.  As he was driving around Blue Springs, he received a call back from the number at which he left the turkey message.  It was a disabled elderly man on Noland Road in Independence who was thrilled to receive a cooked turkey for Christmas.  The member who was delivering came to the church, picked up an additional turkey and some groceries from Grace Place, and delivered to the man.  Pretty neat.

3.  this note from another member:  Our last stop was to [name withheld].  She was not home but there was a nice young man there.   We told him we had a surprise from Woods Chapel Church and his face lit up when we gave him the turkey.  Made our day!  (Note from me: [name withheld] attends WCC. We've helped her several times over the year.  They live in the town homes to the south of WCC.  The nice young man was her teen son that attends BS South.)

epilogue- Your acts of kindness in the name of Christ always brighten up the day of those who receive them.  And they bless us as well.  It is better to give than to receive.

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