Update

Several readers have asked for an update on Scott and the Cat.  Some thought that I should have kept the cat.  I could have named him Kia or fan belt or battery or radiator or spark plug.  

The cat lucked out.  Animal Control took him to the Humane Society.  The owners had already reached out to the Humane Society and the cat was reunited with his family.

Scott continues to improve.  He has graduated from lots of gauze and ace bandages to iodine and a compression sock.  He is walking with a cane and you can tell things are getting better for him.  I expect that he will be back at work in another month or so.

Thank you for caring about my family and stray cats!

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

Are you rich?

Round about 2002 I was invited to be a speaker at a Youth Conference in Moscow.  We stayed at a Union trade training facility.  The 18-24 year olds came from all over Russia.  Everyone had warned me that these kids were very poor, but when I met them, they were all dressed so nicely.  As the week went on, I noticed that they all wore the same clothes every single day.

Anyway, one night after the scheduled activities were over, I was invited to a party in one of the kids rooms.  Seven of us sat in a circle and shared food.  Everyone brought a bit of what they had and we drank soda and ate the snacks.

They were very interested in my life in America.  Are you rich? They asked.  I said, No I am not rich.  Then here came the questions.

Do you own a house? Yes.
How many rooms are in it? 12.
Do you have a garage? Yes.
How many cars does it hold? 3.
How many families live with you? Um... none just me, my wife, three kids, a dog and two cats.
You have a dog? Yes. [they thought it would be amazing to have a pet.]
Do you own a car? Yes.
How many? 5 cars and a motorcycle. [My wife's car, my car, and all three kids were driving $1,000 beater cars.  There were lots of oil slicks in the driveway back then.  But, this question really hurt because by this time I realized that what I took as normal, was amazing to them.]

Do you have a helicopter? No.

Are you rich?
Reader are you rich?
We have so much to be thankful for.

Most of us were born rounding third base...

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

Fat Tellers

My bank tellers are not fat but they are going to be one of these days.

So here is the story.  At the bank they have a box of chocolate bars that you can buy for $1.  The money goes to some charity.  I started buying 4 bars and leaving them for the tellers.  After a few episodes of this, I thought that maybe they would like some other kind of treat.

I love the Dollar Tree store.  It is the only dollar store were everything is actually $1.  So I took my $4 in there and bought a Baby Ruth 6 pack, a Twixt 6 pack and two other 6 packs.  When I gave them to the tellers, they were thrilled.  Now when I go to the bank I never go empty handed.

This practice grew out of something that I have been doing for years at Christmas.  Always around the holidays the pharmacy or Walmart has Russell Stovers on sale for $5 a box.  I make a list of people that have taken care of me over the year and I make a delivery.

To the bank.  To the bartender.  To the neighbor.  To the waitress.  To eight or ten people.

Chocolate makes people happy, it is easy to come by and you can get it cheap at the Dollar Tree.  I encourage everyone who reads this to give it a try.  Spend a few bucks on chocolate and see if you can't light up someone's day.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

Thankful

I drive a 2017 Kia Sportage.  It's a great car.  But for my handyman work I also have a truck.  I bought it in 2016.  It is a 2006 Ford F-150.  It's got everything on it that was available in 2006, but it is 15 years old and it has 217,000 miles on it.

So I was at the bank last week and I told the tellers some jokes, gave them some chocolate and deposited a check.  Then I went out and got in the truck.

As I stepped on the running board and hoisted my old carcass into the truck, I had a sudden feeling of thankfulness.  Thankful for this truck.  It made me happy to be grateful, and it made me happy that the feeling just came to me naturally.

Gratitude is so powerful and it is so important.  May we all be more grateful.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

It's too easy to quit

I am not a very technical person.

This blog has been going out since 2007 for free via a service called feedburner.  This free service has gone away and we have had to change delivery providers to a company called mail chimp.  I may put out a request for funding in the future as the bills come in.  You also may have noticed some changes in delivery time and appearance.  We are still working out the glitches.

One of the things that I can see with this new service is who has joined the blog and who has quit.  After a recent post, two readers unsubscribed.  Unfortunately, they won't be able to read this, because they quit.

I am not offended that they quit the blog, people have a right to read what they want to and ignore what they choose to.

I just think that it is sad that people won't entertain ideas that are different than theirs.  If all we want is to have our ideas affirmed, then we live a safe but shallow life.

I love reading new things and thinking about new ideas.  I love it when my brain is pushed.  I hope that you do too.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

Here Kitty, Kitty

So I am out running errands.  My five stops include:

• Best Buy to spend a coupon.
• Harbor Freight for a sorting tray.
• Como Oil for one gallon of rec fuel.
• Walmart grocery for bottled water.
• Habitat for humanity to drop off donations.

I am half way thru my errands.  I am filling up the gas can at Como oil on the corner of 16th and Commerce St.  It is a quiet afternoon, I am the only one at the station.

I hear a cat yowling.  We used to have cats.  I know about cats.  I like cats.  I assume that a local stray is looking for food.  The noise sounds like it is coming from my car.  I step back and look underneath.  No cat underneath the car.

I shut off the engine and pop the hood.  OMG!!!  There is a cat in my motor!!!  How long has he been there?  Did he pop in at Best Buy or Harbor Freight?  Possibly, but I bet he crawled up there at the house and went for an 8 mile ride.

I call animal control.  A very nice man showed up and pulled the kitty out and put him in a cage.  I posted the cat's picture on the neighborhood app.  Two people think it might be their cat and they are calling animal control.

A lot of people lose cats around here because they don't understand that bobcats and foxes are all around.

This cat only has 8 lives left.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

stinkin thinkin

One of my friends used to use the phrase "stinkin thinkin."  That idea sounds like stinkin thinkin to me, he would say.

We think our way of thinking is right, otherwise we would change our ideas wouldn't we?  One of the best ways that we can modify our thinking is to learn what other people think.

In American Christianity, we are all about knowing.  Knowledge.  I know.  I know and you don't, unless you see it like I do.

In other cultures, there is lots of room for not knowing.  For being comfortable with mystery.

Heard recently on the BEMA pod cast... The church and Christians in general would do well to grow more comfortable with not knowing instead of having to try to explain everything.  When we have to figure everything out we end up with crazy explanations of why things are the way they are when in fact it’s OK to recognize that God is God and we are not, and not knowing is OK.

When I have to know everything, my life and my brain are full of stress. Oh My! I have to get it all right.

When I trust in God and agree that I don't have to know everything, I can relax. It is a beautiful thing to be comfortable with not having to know it all.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

Click here for the cruise brochure

love and truth

13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love 1 Cor 13

When I was in Kansas City a few weeks ago, I saw a sign on a church marquis that said something like, "love never comes at the expense of truth."  It made me sick to my stomach.  This is what you teach?  This is going to attract people to your church?

Truth is important, but love is more important.  Love embodies truth.  Too many people get truth confused with doctrine.  There are 33,000 protestant denominations.  Which one has the truth?  Love is not confusing.  Love is beautiful.  Love never hurts people.  "Truth" as some deliver it can be very hurtful.

We were not put on this earth to sort out every truth. We were put here on this earth to love.

"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing."

Someone has strained a gnat and swallowed a camel.

Love is the only thing that matters. Love first, everything else will follow.  Always choose love.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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On forgiving yourself

If you can't forgive yourself, you can't love yourself.  If you can't forgive yourself, can you really forgive anyone?

We are forgiven by God.  We live in a state of grace.  When I was a kid I was taught that we were only forgiven by God when we asked for it.  Consequently there was this constant fear that I was going to sin and die and not get in an apology in soon enough and end up in hell.  Some of what the church taught us was/is so terrible.

We do not have to worry.  God loves us and he forgives us.  We live in a state of forgiveness.

• Forgive yourself for what you did in the past.
• Forgive yourself for some of your thoughts.
• Forgive yourself for not being perfect.
• Whatever it is, forgive yourself for it.

Are your children perfect?  Do you want them running around neurotically worried that they aren't doing it quite right?  No!  We want them to know that they are loved and to live a life of love.  We don't want them filled with worry.

God doesn't want us filled with worry either.  You are forgiven.  Forgive yourself.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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Your freewill actually matters

Does God really have a plan?

I hear it all the time. God has a plan. If that is true, does that mean that your free will does not matter? God has a plan so what you think or the choices that you make do not matter?  Are we really just pawns on the chessboard of life?  I don't think so.

Think about you and your kids. Do you want to control their life? NO! I want to invest in my children and raise them to be responsible adults. But I do not want to be a helicopter Dad. I want to release them to live. I want to watch them make their choices, for better or for worse.

I think that God has the same idea. Raise us, reach for us, and watch us make our choices. I think he celebrates the good ones, the loving ones, and hopes that we will turn a corner on the bad choices.

God may be in control, maybe, but he is surely not controlling.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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an integral speck

A quote from my friend Joanne, "Although we may not see God's promises entirely fulfilled in our own lifetime, the contributions we make in faith and trust are a necessary and important part of His ultimate plan.  I may only be a speck of dust in the master plan however, I am a very integral, important, loved speck."

Think of the contributions that you and I can make, day by day, loving people.  We may not see the big picture, but we can be a part of something big and beautiful!

I loved the phrase, "I am a very integral, important, loved speck!!!"

Keep making your contributions, no matter how small you feel that they may be.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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the cobwebs of time

I find it interesting how memories from long ago can be lost in the cobwebs of my brain and then one day just show up.

When I was in second grade, evidently I was talking too much in Mrs. Faber's class.  She decided to punish me by giving me a homework assignment.  I had to write this very long sentence 100 times.  For years, I remembered having to do it, but I could not remember the sentence.

Then the other day, the fog lifted and the cobwebs fell away and there 
was the horrible sentence.

"I realize that my conversational proclivities are not helpful but are detrimental to my studies and harmful and hurtful to the work of others."

100 times.
100 times on my big chief tablet.

I hated doing it.  I am not sure I stopped talking either.  But isn't it amazing how much information the brain stores.  Who knows what else is lurking in the files in the deep recesses?

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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We made it a God

We made the Bible into a God.  Bible idolatry.

Instead of being grateful for a book that is inspired by God and written by men, we made the Bible to be equal to God. 

Some say, you cannot question it.  Really?  God doesn't allow questions?  Slavery is ok?  Subjugating women is ok?  Cannibalism is ok?  God has to kill something to be happy?  No one can question such things?  

Actually I think it takes away from God when we raise the Bible to a level that cannot be questioned.  And whose interpretation of the Bible?   We have to remember that we worship God, not the bible.

The Bible is a finger that points the way to God, but it is not God.  Only God is God.

Shoot me if you like.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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the best me

Recently heard: "This me is the best I could do with what I had to work with."

I think back on dumb things that I used to think and believe.  And then I have to cut myself a break because I was doing the best I could with what I knew at the time.

Today, after collecting 63 years of life experience, I have some ideas on making yourself the best self that you can:

1. Pay attention to what you are doing.  Don't just live on auto pilot.  Keep an eye out for selfishness and if you find it, squash it.
2. Determine to live outside of yourself.  See others and love them.
3. Let kindness always be the rule.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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Everyone matters

We humans tend to hang out with those that we like. We tend to ignore everyone else. Jesus was loved by so many because he believed that everyone mattered. He reached for everyone. He provided an immense welcome.

At Jody Goddard's memorial service her son David described this skill in her: "My mom believed in inviting everyone to the party and that there is magic in bringing people together and allowing things to unfold. She didn’t go to parties, she WAS the party...and everyone felt it."

When we are reaching for people, they love us. People want to matter. They want to be included. Part of being a Christ-follower is seeing people, and welcoming them. Spending time with them. No one should be invisible. Everyone matters. When we get this down, our lives change for the better and so do theirs.

Reach for someone today.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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on trying to fix things

When things go "wrong" we try to fix them. And we should. But we cannot fix everything. Sometimes a life skill is needed that allows us to relax and make friends with difficulty.

At Jodi Goddard's memorial service her son David said that his mom taught him to "let life in instead of trying to control everything."

When we cannot change the circumstances, it is time for us to change. It is time to stop fighting with life and rest in the beauty of the day, even the parts that we wish were different.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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The Manor House

I was my privilege to officiate the wedding of Scott and Cassie Connor's daughter Morgan to Tyler Hutton.  Beautiful wedding, beautiful couple, beautiful life.

The wedding was held at the Manor House in Littleton, Colorado.  Inside the Manor House are several pictures from days gone by.  One was a picture of Teddy Roosevelt on the front porch.

I stood where Teddy Roosevelt stood.  For a moment, I felt presidential.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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Go Outside

I was talking with a friend the other day.  They were really stressed out.

One of the things that I do when I get stressed out is I go outside.  I breathe in the outside air.  I look at the trees.  I look at the clouds.  I take it all in.

Creation is God's first bible.  Before there was a bible or a church or pastors, God spoke to people thru creation.  It is still the best voice that we have.

If you are stressed, get outside and take it all in.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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Click here for the brochure

People

My dad used to say, "people are no damn good."  I don't know why he said that or why he felt that way.  He never really had any friends and he was a pretty serious recluse.

I hate to disagree with my dad, but I like people.  He used to say to me, "son, you have a bug about relationships."  I can think of worse things to have a bug about.

Yes I know some people who are grouchy, mean and such, but that does not make everyone bad.  I love to love people, and I love trying to love people.  It is fun to watch their eyes light up when they see that you are caring for them.  Just asking their name and wishing them a good day can be such a blessing to them.

#1 rule in life: value every human that you see.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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Donna Hoover

I loved Donna Hoover.  She was awesome.

I remember sitting in Annual Conference probably the year 2000 and watched Donna being invited up to the podium to receive an evangelism award for bringing people into the church.  I thought that was cool.  I was proud of her and envious of her.

Some years later, I heard that she was retiring.  I knew that she lived in Blue Springs so I called her and asked her if she would like to visit with me about coming to work for us part time at Woods Chapel.  I was always looking for good people.

Donna and I met at the Applebee's on the corner of 7 Highway and I-70.  To my surprise, Bob came with her.  He wanted to see who this young whipper snapper was that was trying to hire his wife.  Well  by the end of the lunch, I loved Bob and Bob loved me.

Donna worked for us at WCC for 10 years.  She was awesome.  She was such a great member of the team.

Last week was Donna's memorial service.  Since she was an Independence Police Chaplain, the force rolled out for her.  The processional from the church to Mt. Washington Cemetery was amazing.  Ten police cars.  Twenty police motorcycles.  Two fire trucks.

I thought about how fitting it was that she was celebrated so... then I thought... "hey, everyone should be celebrated that much."

Thank you Donna for your life.

Thank you God for Donna's life.

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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Follow your heart

I have talked to a few people lately that were facing challenging decisions and situations. It occurred to me... "follow your heart." When ever possible, look within and follow your heart. Doing the right thing is most often a thing of the heart. Others may not agree or understand, but what is your heart telling you?

A man offered to pay a sum of money to his twelve-year-old daughter if she mowed the lawn. The girl went at the task with great zest and by evening the whole lawn had been beautifully mowed-well, everything except a large uncut patch of grass in one corner. When the man said he couldn’t pay the sum agreed upon because the whole lawn hadn’t been mowed, the girl said she was ready to forego the money, but would not cut the grass in the patch. Curious to find out why, he checked the uncut patch. There, right in the center of the patch, sat a large toad. The girl had been too tender-hearted to run over it with the lawn-mower. 

Where there is love, there is disorder. Perfect order would make the world a graveyard.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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lock up the carts

A grocery cart costs about $150.  I have a friend who was a grocery store manager and he knows the price.  He told me $150 each.

Homeless people love to take them to keep their belongings in.

I was at the Dollar Tree in Ft. Pierce.  I saw that the carts were locked up.  I have mixed feelings about that.

Sure we as the business don't want people to steal our carts.  But I am sure that Dollar Tree makes plenty of money.  If a homeless person needs a cart, who does that hurt?  Let's raise the price at Dollar Tree to $1.10 per thing and let them take the carts.

Or, lets have a fund raiser at church, buy used shopping carts and give them away for free.

We need to do more for the needy in my opinion.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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Click here for the brochure

motivation

Recently heard:  "The motivation to bear up under hard times is strikingly missing in our society today."

My parents stood up in hard times.  Mom was one of six.  They were very poor.  She dug dandelion greens in the front yard for the nightly vegetable.  The protein was a squirrel or rabbit that happened through the yard.  She went to college for one semester.

At college she met my dad.  He had a better life growing up than she did, but nothing to shout about.

They launched into life.  Three miscarriages, then three kids.  Threats of divorce, way back then.  Demands on the kids that they behave.

Dad lost his job in 1975 during one of the oil crisis'.  It was the only time that my mom ever worked.  She took a job at a place like Kohls.  Dad was off work for a year.  They sucked it up.  We ate hotdogs for a year.

Sometimes you have to do what you have to do.  No room for whining.  You just do what you do to make it work.

The motivation to bear up under hard times is strikingly missing in our society today.

What will happen tomorrow?  What will happen next year?  Whatever it is, we need to stand up, do what needs to be done and see the good.  Pull together and do the good.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

better to give?

Yes it is better to give than to receive. So says the scripture.

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Acts 20:35

Yes it is true. Giving is beautiful. But I have to tell you that I run into people all the time that do not know how to receive.

I used to be one of them.

We were raised under strict parameters. Give, give, give. And we should. But, when you don't allow people to give to you, you rob them of the chance to be kind.

Are you the only one that can be kind? Or should others have that opportunity as well?

The next time someone wants to be nice to you, let them. Say thank you. Accept the gift.

The gift that they give you will motivate you to continue to give to others.  When you are full, then you want to reach out to others.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

A better place

I was in a town recently where I experienced a great deal of stress and pain in the past.  [Don't blame the town or the people.  A good deal of it was self-inflicted]  I saw a counselor regularly during that time.  I was driving around and I realized that I was in the vicinity of that counselor's office.  It's an obscure little street entrance that is easy to miss.

I pulled in.  I drove to the back.  I parked where I used to park.  I am happy to report that the pain of those days is gone.  The stress that I felt is gone.  The dreadful feelings that I had have healed.

For the first time ever in that space, I saw that it is a beautiful place.  Lovely trees and foliage.  It was peaceful.

It actually felt good to be in the counselor's parking lot and feel good, feel happy.  

If you are struggling with something, if you are hurting, I write this today to tell you:  it can get better!  IT CAN GET BETTER!

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

A final word

I don't want to jinx myself.  Oh, by the way, when I was 3 years old we had two cats, Jinx and Jerry.  I don't want to jinx myself.

So I have made an intentional effort to write daily again.  Sometimes I am days or even a week ahead.  I can write and make them post in a few days.

I have been thinking, if I keep this up, one day I will die and there will still be five blog posts that come out.  People will be reading my thoughts 5 days after my death.  Finally the last one will post.  What will it be about?

I love you.

Know that you are forgiven.  Feel the joyful peace of God's love in your heart.

Grace.  Be graced.  Receive it.  Give it to others.

Let the last sentence of the last chapter of every life be: "love, joy, peace."

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.  And for the record I hope to be alive long after this posts on June 5th!

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

That person hurt me

A couple of months ago I was put in a position where I had to spend a small amount of time with someone that really hurt me.  I mean, in my life, they are in the top five of life wounds.  I will never forget what this person did to me.

Someone who knew the story well, asked me if I was going to speak to them when I saw them.  At first, jokingly, I said, "no.  I am going to punch that person in the head."  Then I told the truth.  Yes.  Of course I am going to speak to them.

Grace.

Me giving you grace is nothing.  It is easy.  It comes in small doses.  Not much is needed.  But when we are in the presence of people who hurt us, grace is needed all the more.  In this case, not only did I want to give it to them, but they wanted it as well.

Loving you is easy.  A piece of cake.  It feels normal.

But when we show love and grace to those who hurt us, it is like a giant geyser gushing out of our innermost being.  We are lifted up and they are blessed as well.  Life is to short to let the pain have the last word.  Let grace be the final word, the final thought on your mind.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

The Ravensbruck Prayer

Ravensbruck is a town in Northern Germany.  During WW2 there was a concentration camp there for women.  When the camp was liberated, someone found this prayer on the ground.

Lord, remember not only the men and women of good will, but also those of ill will. But do not only remember the suffering they have inflicted on us. Remember the fruits we have brought, thanks to this suffering--our comradeship, our loyalty, our humility, the courage, the generosity, the greatness of heart which has grown out of all this. And when they come to judgment, let all the fruits we have borne be their forgiveness.  Amen

Forgiving the people who put me in a concentration camp?  If someone can do that, then maybe I can forgive the people that have hurt me.  For as much as my wound have piled up over the years, they are nothing compared to the atrocities inflicted on the people in this camp.

Grace can be given to anyone.  If they can do it, so can I.  So can you.

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

We have a choice

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.
Victor Frankl

Each moment is a choice. No matter how frustrating or boring or constraining or painful or oppressive our experience, we can always choose how we respond.
Edith Eger as quoted in Richard Rohr's daily devotional on May 20

I don't have much to add to these quotes.  Both of these statements come from Auschwitz survivors.  I think I have problems?  I think that something isn't going right for me?  We always have a choice.  No matter what is happening in our world, we can let in conquer us or we can choose to see the good.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

Pastor Friends

A few weeks ago I was in Kansas City for a wedding.  Because of the timing of the trip, I also got to attend Jody Goddard's funeral.

I miss my pastor friends.  They are some fantastic folks.

Brian Swanson and my Dad in the Woods Chapel lobby.

Brian Swanson, Sherri Swanson [mother of the groom]

me and Michael Scott.

Pastors with police escort.  
You have to keep an eye on pastors.

Over the years we have had many people from our church go into the ministry.  Sandy Nenadahl, Kate McClain, Colin Brown, Steve Price, Bob Jeppson, Donna Hoover, Sherri Swanson, Gina Kennedy, Allison Predmore, Brian Swanson, Michael Scott, Steve Elkins, Brittney Jacobs Rhinehart, Wendy Minshall, and many more.

It is such a joy to have had these friends in my life and to know that they are out there making a difference in God's world.

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

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure