finances

You may have heard that the church has made some budget reductions.  That is true.  Whatever you call them, reductions, cost saving measures, constrictions, they are difficult.  They are most difficult for the people that are caught up in reductions. 

For several reasons, your church has taken steps to reduce its expenses.  This has resulted in some changes to the budget and the elimination of a few staff positions.  Please know that the departure of staff is very painful.  We have a wonderful staff and they have done a wonderful job for the church.

Let me explain why this has taken place.  There are three reasons.  The first is the economy.  Everyone understands that the economy has affected almost every aspect of our lives.  We hear that Sprint or Ford are laying off and we seem to understand.  It is more difficult when it is our church. 

The second reason that we needed to make changes to our budget is because of our building campaign.  Significant monies that would likely have been given to the general fund in the walk to the manger last December, have instead gone into the building fund.  The other thing that happens in capital campaigns is that you explain to your folks that capital giving is over and above.  But there are still many who simply take what they gave to the general fund last year and give half of that to the building campaign.  That can place considerable pressure on the general fund.

The third reason that we have amended our budget is because of the rise in our conference apportionments over the last five years.  Because of some changes in the way that apportionments are calculated, ours have gone up by $30,000 per year for the last 5 years.  That is an increase of $150,000 hard dollars to the budget that we have worked to absorb.  Our apportionments were artificially low because we grew so fast.  When we moved into the building in 1999 our apportionments were 25,000.  Today they are $230,000. 

The fact of the matter is that we were staffed successfully for a church in a thriving economy with apportionments of $60,000.  In order to operate in our new reality, some changes needed to be made.

We could have done nothing, and just waited until there was a disaster.  [I have seen churches do that.] Then I could get up in the pulpit every week and ask for more money.  We did not want to do that.  That is not good leadership.  The budget team, the staff parish team and lead staff chose to act proactively to manage these issues and keep us in a position where we can lead the church as you would expect.

I thank you for your faithful support of your church.  If you have any questions, please call or email me.

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

building

Sunday night at the all church conference, the building addition was unanimously approved.  I want to thank all of you for your hard work.  Thank you for giving to this project so that it can be built debt free.  Thank you for believing in our future.

I  know that there are some that are not sure about this building.  That is ok.  We all don't have to agree, and we are still family.  I love you all.  What I have been trying to do with this addition is put us in a position where we can reach the next 200-300 people.

The raising of needed funds is never easy.  Thank you for bearing up under this process.  From here on out, we are looking at the good parts.  Tractors on the property are exciting.  Soon we will be inviting others to join us in our new space.  Thank you for believing in your church.

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

back or feet

My Dad used to say, "never hurt your back or your feet."  You can hurt your arm and function.  You can hurt your knee and function.  But when you hurt your feet, you are immobile.  When you hurt your back, you are..... well, you are like me right now.  I feel like the Pillsbury dough boy.  I am just kind of rolling around waiting to feel better.

The older I get and the bigger I get, the easier it is to hurt my back.  And so I do my exercises and take celebrex.  I also keep trying to do the things that I did ten years ago.  Maybe if I stopped trying I would stop hurting my back.  But I am not ready to give up on life yet.

If I am grumpy, please understand.  And do not tell me that I look like the Pillsbury dough boy. I will feel better soon.

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

saying goodbye

It is never easy to say goodbye.  It is hard on adults.  It is really hard on kids.  Thursday night, a fine young man, Nick Lee was killed in a car wreck.  Nick was a friend of my 22 year old daughter Jenny, and a friend to all of her friends.  Nick worked for the church for many years in our We Care program.  He will be missed.  He will be grieved.

Losing a friend is hard, but you are not prepared for it all when you are 22. 

Please join me in praying for Nick's family and his friends.

I am thankful for the comfort that we get from our savior who reminds us that death is not the end.

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

on my day off

Friday is supposed to be my day off.  Sometimes that works well and sometimes it doesn't.  Just recently a famous preacher told everyone what he did on his day off, so I think I will give it a try as well.

7am - up and at it.  shower.
730 coffee and blog
800-10am church meeting
10am-12 purchase rock for flowerbed in back yard
noon - lunch
1230 - 330 working on flower bed
330-430 visit with wife who arrives home from her trip
430-6 shower.  work on sermon
6-9 dinner and hanging out with wife
9-1030 hanging out with kids
1030 - night time.

[I typed that up early in the day.  It is what i was hoping would happen.  Here is what actually happened.]

7am up and shower.
730 - coffee and blog
8-1030 church meeting
1030-12 noon pick up rock for flowerbed in back yard and install
12-1 lunch with church member who called to visit.
1pm picked up some supplies and worked in the yard.
4pm - took a nap.  yeah!
my wife's plane is delayed.  she wont be home until midnight. yikes!
430-6pm work on sermon.
eat dinner
the kids i thought I might hang out with have ditched me.
listen to music.
go to bed.

Not nearly as exciting of a day as my famous counterpart, but each life is beautiful in it's own way.

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

some things

There are some things that are hard to fix.  They tend to be classified as the hard things of life.  You see it coming, you feel the fear.  You step into it [because you can't hide your head in the sand.]  You do the best that you can.  Some will be happy, some will not.  Some will understand, some will not.  Still you must do what you know, to the best of your knowledge, is the best thing.

When we were kids, the sky was mostly blue and the sun was mostly shining.  No shirt, no shoes, no problems.  When we became adults, we had to face adult problems.  The challenges of adulthood are mandatory.  Facing them is optional.  We can either be mad and complain because things are not going our way, or we can step in and do everything we can to navigate the pitfalls of the real world.  And in case you haven't noticed, the real world has gotten a little bit more real in the last two years.

So we trust God and go to Him in prayer.  We lean on our friends.  And we wish.  We wish we were still 11 years old, sitting at our parents table.  We wish that life was free and easy.  We wish that we did not have to deal with adult problems.

But you know, there is a joy, a freedom, when we do face life.  There is a richness and a savoring that only comes from stepping into the batters box, even when we are facing the toughest pitcher in the league.  God is good, and life is good, and as we rest in Him, it will all work out.

Pray as is everything depends on God.  Work as if everything depends on you.

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

over 30

When I was a young man, the hippies said, never trust a person over 30.  I remember thinking that 30 was or would be pretty old.

Then 30 arrives.  You are gaining some life experience, you still have all of your strength.  You still look good.  30 is ok.  Looking back on it now, 30 is great.

Somewhere after 30 you start to understand that you are becoming the establishment.  What you have created in the world as an outflow of your youthful dreams, has finally become the establishment that the next generation seeks to set aside.  And time marches on.

I want my kids to understand that I was once young.  I was once a visionary.  I also challenged my parent's world view.  I matter.  And so do they.  And so do their 75 year old grandparents.  Each generation is different, they all have their own gifts to give to life.  We can and should learn from each other, and care for one another.

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

first world problems

First world, second world, third world.  We are most acquainted with the notion of the "third world."  What is the first and second world?

The first world designation refers to the United States and its allies, all highly modern, developed, free countries.  The second world used to refer to our opponents in the cold war, the Soviet Union and its allies of communist countries, all trying to catch up to us in some way or another.

The third world was every other country after that.  Little places around the globe where there was little development and massive human problems.

So what is a first world problem?  A first world problem is anything that annoys us, that the rest of the world would either laugh at or not understand at all.  here are some examples:

"I had to wait 15 minutes to get my Starbucks" first world problem [the rest of the world doesn't have Starbucks]
"gas is $3.40 per gallon" first world problem [the rest of the world pays $6/gallon]
"my daughters car has another problem!" first world problem [most daughters around the world, don't have cars]
"my flight was delayed" first world problem "most of the world will never fly on a plane"
"my mom died at 62" [my mom really did by the way] first world problem [the average life span in Mozambique is 42]
My air conditioning is out.  first world problem.  no explanation needed.

God is a global citizen.  He stands with every human being, every human being, every human being.  Isaiah 66:1 "Heaven is his throne, the earth is his footstool."  Do we live as if every person in the world is our brother and sister?  Isn't it easy to get caught up in our problems, that really are, in the long run, very trivial by world standards?  When I remember this, I get a little bit less worked up when I get a flat tire on my car.

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

Westboro Baptist "church"

I join each of you that are flabbergasted and disgusted by the actions of Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist "church."  Recently a funeral for one of the Navy Seals that was killed in Afghanistan was held at the Church of the resurrection in Leawood.

Adam Hamilton sent out a message and encouraged everyone to ignore the protesters. As always, I found his thoughts to be very helpful.  His message stated the following, "On Wednesday morning The Church of the Resurrection is hosting the funeral for Matt Mason, one of the Navy Seals who died in Afghanistan last week. Several of Matt and Jessica's friends are member of our church and we are honored to serve the family and to make our building, volunteers and staff available to care for them. I will be assisting with the service but the Mason's pastor from San Diego will preach.

We understand that the Topeka "church" that seems to specialize in spreading hurt and hate plans to protest from 135th Street. We've discussed a variety of options for addressing these protesters but in the end we believe that the best approach is to ignore them. They come seeking publicity and attention. We'd rather not give it to them. I'm hoping the media, too, might simply ignore them. They are a very small group that shows up at funerals because it gets them noticed. I wonder how long they would do this if no one paid them any attention.

I am told there are some planning to counter-protest. I would discourage you from participating - it only makes for a bigger media event. The Patriot Guard Riders will be here ensuring the family doesn't see the protester's signs.

Please pray for the Masons and pray for the protesters as Jesus called us to do. Ultimately I think Paul offers us the best response to those who do evil in Romans 12:17-21:

Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' No, 'if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

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

a visit

Yesterday was a bonus day. I saw a friend I hadn't seen for some time. Maybe you saw him wandering around the church, too. Friendly guy, easy going. I can't remember a time being around him that I didn't laugh. Not that he is always telling jokes...he just enjoys the lighter side of life and people...he has a way of keeping things in perspective. So we talked a little and caught up some and then others came up to visit with him. When he left a friend and I started to talk about him...not gossip, but the good stuff, the stuff we miss because he is not living here anymore. I hope he knows that about himself. What a great way to be thought of... to be remembered.

Anyway it makes me think about what kind of impression I leave with people. How about you?

Peace,
Lion's Den Man

out of nowhere

that is where it came from.........out of nowhere. At least nowhere I could see. I was blind to things because I had a limited view. A limited understanding. What I thought about this person, what they were about was not true. I guess because I only knew a little and not the whole story... the whole person. What they did behind the scenes. What they cared about and who they cared for....I had only seen one piece of them. We are all so different so unique and created that way, I do know that much, but I put that knowledge aside because I let the situation take hold of me. So out of nowhere this person came to help. They did something without thinking. They showed compassion and understanding. It blew me away. As Jeff stated yesterday " everyone deserves the benefit of our not knowing. We owe it to them to reserve judgment." So a lesson learned and hopefully not forgotten. You just never know, do you.

Peace,
Lion's Den Man

benefit

The benefit of the doubt.  That means, that when you hear something about someone, instead of judging them, you realize that you don't know everything that might be going on.  You give them the benefit of your doubt.  You pray for them, you understand them, you wait to hear the other side. 

This is easier to do with people that we care about.  We love them.  There must be more to the story.  It is harder to do with folks that we don't know, or folks that we know and don't like.  But, everyone deserves the benefit of our not knowing.  We owe it to them to reserve judgment.  Pray for them and give them the same grace that we want for ourselves.

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

fear

Fear is a powerful emotion.  About the time that you think it is gone, it sneaks up on you again.  I have been afraid of just about everything at one time or another.  Fear of failure, fear of illness, fear of the future, fear of my past, fear-worry for my children, about bills, about friendships, about what someone thinks.  On and on it goes, it just never stops.

On the topic of fear, I have found some comfort in 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Fear is not in God arsenal.  It is a human entity.  God wants to remove our worry, our buying of trouble.  He wants us to stop imagining what might be.  In fact, we rob our selves of the joy of this day when we only worry about tomorrow.  God wants to replace our fear with trust and with love.

May he be big enough in each of our lives so that can rest in him.  Let us trust in Jesus who said, come unto me all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.

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

Bicycle

I love bicycles.  My first job was at a bicycle shop.  I came into possession of a bike about a month ago that I really like.  When I got it, the tires were flat and the bike was filthy, but I worked on it, and resurrected it.  The other day we went for our first ride.

My son has disassembled our air compressor, so I am unable to fill the tires with air.  They are a little low, but I decide to make a go of it.

Up the driveway, up the hill.  Turn right.  Along the flat, turn left, past the pool to the top of the hill.  I am already winded, and my calves are burning.  I am in terrible shape.  Right turn onto the Northgate loop.  Up and down.  I don't remember there being hills here, but on a bicycle, you feel every one.  Coasting now towards the clubhouse, I see four people hitting balls on the driving range.

Swoosh.  Bash.  Ouch.  What is that.  One of the players has sliced a ball and it took one hop on the street and hit me in the chest.  No one even said fore.  I wanted to say something back, but I restrained myself.

Up around the bend.  Past the little park.  Past Ash Grove.  Down the hill into farmville.  I am riding on Maybrook road.  Across the wooden bridge.  I am feeling pretty good.  Misty Meadow.  Behind the school.  Anderson, Emerald and now the big hill.  Maybe the biggest hill around.  I am determined to make it all the way up to the top.

I am tired.  My tires are almost flat.  I am 54 years old.  Then disaster.  I can't get the bike to shift into the low gear on the front sprocket.  I make it most of the way.  Then I have to stop.  I walk to the top.  It was the right thing to do.

My legs are wobbly.  I coast the rest of the way home.  My wife laughs at me.  What is that about?  Tomorrow, if I can walk, I am going to try it again.  If any golfer tells you a story about hitting an old guy on a bicycle, I would like to have their name.

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

option 4

In a post a bit back I asked that you think of the three things that you consider the most important in life.  Someone posted a comment that they wanted to add a 4th option for the thing that you don't know about yet.

This is a good call and a very important point in terms of understanding how we think.  In any given situation, we can usually come up with some alternatives.  Option A, B, C, and D.  We should always list an option E which is "something that we have not thought of yet."  It is a sign of maturity to know that we don't know it all, and that our brains are not going to think of everything.

This is the joy of discussing things with people and friends.  Sometimes they have an Option 4 or an option E.  Something that you had not thought of, but may just hit the mark.

Quoting Shakespeare, As my mother used to say to me when I was young, "there is more Horatio than is dreamt of in your philosophy."

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

one time

There is the quote from the movie little giants.  The team is getting crushed.  It is half time and the coach is giving them a pep talk about getting up when you are getting crushed.  One of the kids wants to be on the injured list.  Here it is:

Danny O'Shea: [When the Giants, losing at the half, want to be put on the injured list] You know, there is something you guys should know... when I was 10 years old, I put myself on the injured list. I never got off.
Timmy Moore: Why?
Danny O'Shea: Cause I didn't get picked a few times, so I started hiding under the bleachers.
Marcus: That's where we belong, under the bleachers.
Danny O'Shea: No you don't. You guys belong out there with those Cowboys. You know how I know that? Because I belong out there with my brother.
Rudy Zolteck: Give us a break, coach. You could never beat Kevin O'Shea at *anything*!
Danny O'Shea: That's not true. I did beat him once.
Jake Berman: When?
Danny O'Shea: When we were kids. We used to race our bikes down Cherry Hill every day after school. We raced every day and he always beat me, but one time, one time... I beat him.
Jake Berman: You beat Kevin down Cherry Hill?
Danny O'Shea: Yes, I did. He ate my dust.
Johnny Vennaro: Big deal. One time.
Tad: You know, one time at Randy Cooper's swim party, I did a backflip off the high dive, and my brother chickened out.
Marcus: Roger chickened out? He's a Marine!
Rudy Zolteck: Ah, that's nothing! One time at the spring carnival, I beat both of my brothers in the Cow Dung Toss.
Tad: You beat Matt and Brett in the cow pie toss?
Jake Berman: You know, one time I went fishing with my entire family, and I was the only one that didn't throw up.
Marcus: So, what? It still doesn't make us good football players.
Danny O'Shea: Well, wait a second, guys. Who said you had to be good to play football? You play football because you want to. You play football because it's fun. You play football so you could pretend you're Joe Montana throwing a touchdown pass, or Emmitt Smith going for a long run. And even if those Cowboys are better than you guys, even if they beat you 99 times out of 100, that still leaves...
Tad: One time.
Rudy Zolteck: One time.
Junior Floyd: [Smiles] Yeah... one time!

So, I am not a very good athlete, but occasionally I get my "one time." Last week I beat a professional athlete in a game of pool.  I was as surprised as he was. 

I think God gives us those "one time" moments every now and then.  They help us so much.  Keep getting back up.  Never give up.  You just don't know when your "one time" will be.

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

change

A few thoughts from the book, "Common Sense for Community Change" by Julie Battle.  I found them helpful.

“Here’s another heads up about thinking. If you are trying to change the way things are done in your community, you are going to go against popular thinking. People may look at you like you have lost it. (You haven’t – you found it.) The radical truth is this – popular thinking is often not only wrong, it’s also restrictive. To challenge popular thinking you must be willing to go outside the norm, But here’s the upside – unpopular thinking is visionary. It cracks open opportunity. And it is a requirement for progress.”

“The reason you are doing this work is because you can’t not do it. When any big change takes place, there are always at least a half dozen people who drive it. They are a force of nature, a small but mighty army. They see the possibilities in every situation – even the negative ones.”

“People have their own agendas. Others get self absorbed. You know it isn’t about personal glory, it’s about achieving the vision.”

 “Nothing exceptional was ever accomplished because people folded at the first sign of fear.”

“Even the most confident people will tell they were uneasy and they had their doubts, but they pushed through it. They gathered the facts, surrounded themselves with good people, anticipated the naysayers and stayed the course.”

 “The difficulty lies not so much  in developing new ideas as in escaping from the old ones.” John Maynerd Keynes

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

the resurrection

I have a friend that I dearly love who is not sure about the resurrection.  I understand, this is not a normal happening in our lives.  People don't usually die and then come back to life.

However, I am trying to get my mind around the Christian faith without a resurrection.  I have to tell you, I can't do it.  I can't conceive of any way that the faith makes any sense to me without Jesus' resurrection.

If Jesus didn't rise from the dead, there is no way that the disciples would have given their lives for this cause.  There is no way that the early Christians would have put up with the persecution that they faced if they knew Jesus did not rise.  Who makes such sacrifices for something that they know is a lie?  No one does. 

There is only one explanation for the behavior of the early disciples. Only one explanation for their willingness to suffer and die for this faith.

Jesus rose from the dead.

It doesn't make sense and it is not our normal human life experience, but God doesn't live by our rules. 

It is a beautiful day in God's world, and Jesus rose from the grave.  Be sure to see the good.

Goethe

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe 1749-1832, philosopher, scientist, pretty sure a non-believer, none the less penned these words:

I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized.-

With God's help, we know what our choices will be.

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

Your paradigm

Paradigm- the way you see the world.  the systems and organization of ideas and beliefs that a person has that allows them to make sense of the world.  [my definition]

Someone asked me why I was pushing on their paradigm.  Why was there pastor pushing on their belief system?  The answer is simple.  I want you to know the God that is beyond your paradigm.

Any human belief system by nature is going to limit God.  But God cannot be contained in our paradigms or systems.  To the degree that we hold fast to our paradigms, we attempt to condense God into our brain power.  To the degree that we allow our paradigms to be opened, we begin to consider the greatness of God.  As we open our paradigm, we see that the Creator is greater than our inklings of Him.  We see that he is awesome and amazing.

Toward the end of the book of Job, Job is tired of not getting his fair shake in life.  He cuts into God and begins to ask why.  God answers him in chapters 38-40.  Here is how it starts:

1 Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: 2 “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? 3 Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. 4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. 5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? 6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—

The next few chapters of Job contain some of the most humbling challenges to the human paradigm.  God reminds Job and anyone else who reads 38-40, that God is God and he lives quite comfortably outside of, beyond our human paradigms or notions of him.

So, I know that it is painful when your pastor challenges your life paradigms, but it is the only way for us to come to know the God that lives beyond them.  I want you to know the God that causes us to worship as we consider His mystery.  I want you to know the God who is amazing and fantastic and awesome and indescribable.

I hope that helps.

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

someday

Someday, your parents will be gone.  You will wake up in the morning and have the urge to call them, and realize in that moment that you are alone.  It takes some time to adjust to those feelings, but in time you do.

Hopefully, your parents gave you enough support and direction so that you are prepared to some degree for life in the big world.  We all grow older, we have no choice.  Some of the passages that we face in this life are painful, but with prayer and time, and friends, we adjust.  Many have done it, and each of us can transition too.  It is what our parents would want.

So, if you miss your folks, lean on a friend.  Give your feelings time.  Call your pastor for a cup of coffee.

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

mobility

A few days ago I got on a plane in San Francisco and flew home.  The trip that it took pioneers months to make, I flew half way across the country in a matter of hours. 
One of the great gifts of our country is the gift of mobility.  To be able to cross state lines without being hassled by police.  To be able to travel in and out of the country to visit places or go on mission trips.  These are some of the gifts of a free society. 

Then there is the benefit of modern methods of travel.  To drive.  To fly.  Gosh, it is possible that in the near future, regular people may engage in space travel.  It is hard to imagine.

So much has changed in my life time.  When I was a kid, our cars were worn out piles of junk by 100,000 miles.  Most of our cars were worn out when we got them.  The furthest we went when I was little, was St. Louis, and we drove on 40 highway through every little town, because I-70 did not exist then.  No seat belts, no air conditioner, no cup holders.  AM radio.

Those were the days.  Mobility.  It is the gift of a free society. 

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

3 things

If someone asked you what were the three smartest things that you knew, what would be your answer?  What would be your list?

A great theologian was asked upon his deathbed, what is the greatest truth that you know?  He answered, "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so."

What would your list look like?  Can you narrow it down to three?

How is this-
1.  Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so
2.  People are more important than ideas.
3.  Love covers a multitude of sins.

What does your list look like?  What are the three smarted things that you know?

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

a few words from Wesley

During a time of particular suffering and duress, a friend shared the following quote with me.  I believe it provides a good perspective and good advice for all.

"Some may say, however, that I have misunderstood the way myself, although I presume to teach it to others. It is likely that many people will think this way and it is quite possible that I may have misunderstood at some points. I trust, though, that where I am in the wrong, my mind is open to being changed. I sincerely desire to be better informed. I say to God and others, “What I do not know, teach me.”

Are you convinced that you see more clearly than I do? It is not improbable that you may. If so, treat me as you would want to be treated yourself under the same circumstances. Lead me to a better way than I have yet known. Show me my mistake by plain proof of Scripture. And if I delay on the path I have been accustomed to taking and if I seem unwilling to leave it, work with me. Take me by the hand and lead me as I am able to accept it. Do not be angry if I beg you not to beat me down in order to quicken my pace. I can move forward only feebly and slowly at best. If you belittle me, I might not be able to move forward at all. Also, may I ask you not to call me cruel names in order to bring me into the right way? Suppose I was ever so much in the wrong, I doubt that scolding would set me straight. Rather, it would make me run so much the farther from you. In that case, I would move out of the path of truth still more and more.

Indeed, if you are angry I will become angry also, and then there would be little hope of my finding the truth. Once anger arises (“like a puff of smoke,” as Homer somewhere expressed it), the smoke will so cloud the eyes of my soul that I will not be able to see anything clearly. For God’s sake, if it is possible to avoid it, let us not provoke one another to anger.  Let us not ignite this fire of hell in each other, much less fan it into a flame. If we could discern truth by the dreadful light of anger’s fires, would it not be a loss instead of a gain? Even with many wrong opinions, how much more is love to be preferred before truth without love? We may die without the knowledge of many truths and yet be carried into Abraham’s bosom. But if we die without love, what good would knowledge be to us? It would do us no more good than it does for the devil and his angels!

May the God of love keep us from anger. May he prepare us for the knowledge of all truth, by filling our hearts with the fullness of his love and with all joy and peace in believing." 

 John Wesley 1746.

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

you will be grieved

I think I was watching the original Superman movie.  Superman's earthly father had died.  At his funeral, Superman [a teenager at the time] said of his father, "you will be grieved."

A few years before my father died, we were talking and I told him that story.  I told him that he would be grieved.  He said it was the nicest thing that anyone could say about him.  Thank you, he said.

I still miss my Dad.  Does that ever end?  One time he told me that he still missed his parents and he was 70 years old! 

There is something about your parents.  They have such an impact on you.  They mark you.  You can't get them out of your head.  They were happy, and you were marked.  They were sad, and you were marked.

It makes me want to work harder to be a good parent.  It makes me want to reach out to my kids and let them know how very much they are loved.

Alli, will you grieve your old man when he is gone?

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

that song

That song.  That song is stuck in my head again.  Arugh!!!!  Where did it come from?   When did I hear it?  How can I get it out of my head?

Sometimes they are good songs, sometimes they are bad.  If I like the song, I am ok with it being stuck in my head for a while.  But even good songs, get old.  Then, I have to get them out.  Out.  Out.  Out of my head.

I have a secret to do so.  I turn on the radio or MP3 player and listen to some music.  I write over the song that is stuck in my head by putting a new song in it's place.  Tricky move.  The problem is, one of these might get stuck in my head as well.

The same thing happens with ideas and thoughts.  When I find myself stuck on some thought, some idea, some something that is bothersome, after a while I have to help it move on.  So I find something else to think on and I keep doing it.  I find a positive thing to focus on, and I think of it.  OI think of all of the goodness and all of the joy.  And so I keep the old songs and the negative thoughts at bay.

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

tipping part two

Someone left a comment on my post from July 29th.

Here is their comment:

Wow,although I do agree in leaving a tip when deserved, but leaving a scripture or tract is an eternal tip. Some servers may not see it that way, but you never know when there is someone that needs that note or truth from God's Word. He is the one who blesses. We are to allow Him to work through us and bless others.

While I agree with caring for them and being kind, it can be done in many ways. Rather than encourage friends to leave a tip, we should encourage each other to pray for what God would want them to do in that moment. Leave a tip? Or leave a tract? Or leave both?

Here is my response. 
I am glad that we can talk to each other anonymously, and banter on this blog.  Because I need to speak frankly.   I am certain that you have never been a server.  If you had, then you would know that these people do not make any money unless you tip them.  They are counting on your tip to pay their bills.  A tip for normal serviced should be 15%.  20% if the service was good.  If the service was really bad for some reason, I might leave less, but it would have to be awful, and be the servers fault.

Leave a tract?  Is that the best we have for a witness?  The server that you leave the tract for will never want to see you again.  If your church's name is on the tract, they will hate your church. They won't feel loved, they will feel belittled.  There may be a place for tracts, but it is not when we go out to eat.  Frankly, anyone that doesn't want to leave a tip should not be going to restaurants.  Eat at McDonald's.  Their employees at least make minimum wage.

There are several servers in the area that have become a part of our church.  None of them because we left a tract.  All of them because we were kind to them, and generous to them.  Our actions showed our love for them by being friendly and tipping them.

How would you feel if your pay was based on a tip, and the person that you just helped, left you nothing?  Please tip the servers or don't go out to eat.  Figure it in, in advace, as part of the cost.  It's that simple.  Render to Cesar the things that are Cesar's and render to God the things that are God's. In our culture, servers are to be tipped.  There is no praying about leaving a tip.  What God would tell us not to tip a server in this culture?  Leave the tip.   It's simply the right thing to do.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, please help a server to see the good.

the woods

Imagine that you are walking in the woods.  Deeper and deeper you go.  The trees are so thick that the sun barely flickers through the canopy.  Close your eyes.  Imagine that you are there. 

You realize that you are lost.  You have no idea which direction to go.  And then there are those noises.  You hear them just beyond your sight.  Raccoons?  Deer?  Mountain Lions?

This goes on for hours.  You are terrified.  You can feel your heart beating.  The sound of your breathing is adding to your tension.  You don't know what to do.  You are totally vulnerable.

Then you hear it.  A noise for sure. 
Louder than the background noise. 
Something is there for sure.
You strain to see.
Your heart is racing.
Your bladder in on point.
Every muscle in your body is tense.

Then you see it.
An arm.  Then a leg.
It is a person.
Then to your surprise, it is someone that you know.
It is your worst enemy.  Your mortal enemy.

At first you feel a sense of loathing.  But then, you see the look on their face.  They are lost in the woods too.  They are petrified.  They have been crying.  They are glad to see you.  And the moment that you see them in their vulnerability, you are glad to see them too. 

The woods takes back over.  You are both terrified.  Clouds cover the sky.  The same noises return.  But  now, it all feels a little different, because I am not alone.  My enemy has become my travelling partner.  All of the worries and drama that separated us in life, are now completely meaningless.

We wander together for hours.  We talk about life.  Our families.  Our hopes. 

Finally we come upon a well worn path and follow it.  Each releases a sign of relief.  Soon we are back in familiar territory.  The incident is over.  I am no longer lost in the woods.  But, something else has changed too.  Along the journey I have lost an enemy, because we walked in this life, side by side, through the darkness.

The past was released.  Our vulnerability brought us together.  It will never be the same when we meet.

Is there someone that you need to get lost in the woods with?  See them as a person.  They are trying to make their way in a very dense forest too.

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

the void

I was reading an author who spoke of the void that exists inside each of us.  He is referring to the fact that if we are really honest with ourselves, we come to the end of ourselves.  We realize and have to admit that we don't have it figured out, we don't have the answers, we stand in this life as travellers on a mysterious journey.

The problem with most folks is that they never acknowledge the void.  They never admit it is there.  Pretending to know it all, they press on with life, hiding from the truth that we are all broken beyond repair.  Others, know that the void is there and allow it to depress them, but never quite know how to deal with it.

What if we faced the void?  What if we found a quiet place and honestly told God that we are broken.  We don't get it.  We are lost in a world that is beyond our control? 

You see, that is the moment that we can begin to depend on him.  When we totally come to the end of ourselves.  Our ideas, our theologies, our bullet points.  When we realize that without him we are nothing, then the door begins to open to an authentic relationship with God.  The wounds of the mystery are salved in the joy of embracing the master. 

We are nothing without him.  We are everything with him.

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

wise words

I was exchanging email s with my friend Bill C who is in Paraguay. He shared with me this quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer.


Bonhoeffer had been in prison for a long time towards the end of WWII. Two weeks before Hitler killed himself and the war ended Hitler ordered Bonhoeffer hanged.
These are Bonhoeffer's words on death while in London before the war:


"No one has yet believed in God and the kingdom of God, no one has yet heard about the realm of the resurrected, and not been homesick from that hour, waiting and looking forward joyfully to being released from bodily existence.


Whether we are young or old makes no difference. What are twenty of thirty or fifty years in the sight of God? And which of us knows how near he or she may already be to the goal? That life only really begins when it ends here on earth, that all that is here is only the prologue before the curtain goes up--that is for young and old alike to think about. Why are are we so afraid when we think about death? .... Death is only dreadful for those who live in dread and fear of it. Death is not wild and terrible, if only we can be still and hold fast to God's Word. Death is not bitter, if we have not become bitter ourselves. Death is grace, the greatest gift of grace that God gives to people who believe in him. Death is mild, death is sweet and gentile; it beckons to us with heavenly power, if only we realize that it is the gateway to our homeland, the tabernacle of joy, the everlasting kingdom of peace.


How do we know that dying is so dreadful? Who knows whether, in our human fear and anguish we are only shivering and shuddering at the most glorious, heavenly, blessed event in the world?


Death is hell and night and cold, if it is not transformed by our faith. But that is just what is so marvelous, that we can transform death." -Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1933

I chased this a bit in a sermon on Sunday. The time of our lives when we will know the most about God is the moment of our death. For in that moment, we cross over the river. The veil is lifted. That which has been know in part, become completely known.

May we all live each day with greater joy because we see that there is nothing to fear. Today, tomorrow, next week, next year. When ever we go, we go to be with our Lord.

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

forgetting

I had a professor in seminary, Bob Tuttle.  A brilliant guy who was also so very down to earth and relevant.  He was very popular as a teacher because he helped everyone understand that the Christian faith was accessible to normal people.  He had a knack  of helping you know that God loves you and accepts you just the way that you are.

I thought of him last week because of something he used to say.  He would be referring to someone that he had a great deal of respect for, and he would say that the person "had forgotten more about God than I will ever know."  The point Tuttle was making was that there are some people that are so deep.  Deep in the very best of ways.  People that we want to honor and stand in great appreciation of.  And I also think about all of the things that we forget.  All of us.

forgetting.  I think sometimes that the older we get, the more we tend to forget things that we used to know.  It is sad in a way, because sometimes I think we lose touch with some really valuable things that are in our minds, but just beyond our ability to retrieve them.  But I guess it also keeps us wanting to learn.  At least, I hope it keeps us wanting to read and learn.  To fill our brains back up and regather the things that we have forgotten.

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

steward your heart

I was listening to a preacher last week talk about the trials and tribulations of growing up and growing older.  Of the things that happen to us and the things that we must face and deal with.

One of the things that he said that stuck out to me was, "you have to learn to steward in every season of your life, your pain, your hurt and your disappointment."

Oh.  that stopped me in my tracks.  I thought- wow, all of these things that I have been facing and complaining about, I have a responsibility to manage my feelings?  And the thought settled in.  of course I do.  Of course it is my responsibility to grasp, hold and at least try to manage the pain and hurt of life.  Other wise, how does one overcome?

If we don't learn to do this, we can easily miss the good in life and become what George Bernard Shaw talked about -

" This is the true joy in life,
the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one;
the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap…  
and being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod
of ailments and grievance,
complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy."

Managing, stewarding my feelings.  I am thinking about this.

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

get up

When Alli was a little kid, I used to play a game with her.  I would roll her down on the floor or toss her in a pile of pillows.  Then I would ask her, "what do you do when you get knocked down?"  It took a while, but she finally learned - "you get back up."

This is an important life lesson.  What do you do when you get knocked down?  You get back up.  Chumbawumba said it well in a song a few years ago, "i get knocked down, but I get up again, you ain't never gonna keep me down."

Everyone gets knocked down.  Not everyone gets back up.  Those that would learn to see the good, must learn to accept the knock downs, and learn to get back up.  Every time.  Consider the alternative for a moment.  Then realize, we have to get back up.  Every time.

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

tip the server

I was talking to someone the other day who up until recently was a server at a restaurant.  They told me that there is at least one church in town, that instead of leaving a tip for the server, the members will leave tracts, scriptures and notes.

Ok, folks.  Really.  Are you sure?  Sometimes what sounds spiritual is really very unspiritual.  It is customary to tip the server in this country.  How is it Christian to not tip them?  How is it Christian to leave a tract instead?  In my mind the message this leaves to a server who might be looking for a church is- "don't come to our church, this is how we treat people."

I suggest for all of my Methodist friends, that you become a regular at the places that you eat.  Get to know the servers as people.  Ask about their kids.  Become their friends.  Love them.  If it comes up naturally in the conversation, talk church or faith with them.  Be patient.  Care for them.   And, tip them.  Tip unto them as you would like to be tipped unto yourself.  I promise you that if they are ever looking for a church, yours will be the one they try out.

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

my phone

What is wrong with my phone?  It calls people all by itself.  If we called or texted each other at all in the last few days, the odds are, that my phone will decide to call you, all by itself.

Sometimes my wife will walk up to me and ask me what I want.
 I will say,  what do you mean, I don't want anything. 
Then she will ask why I am calling her. 

I don't even have my phone with me.  We walk over to the counter where my phone is sitting, and sure enough, it is calling her.

Maybe there is something wrong with it.  Maybe it is time for a new phone.  Maybe it is lonely.  I am sorry if it has been calling you.  Bad phone.  It reminds me of the Terminator series.  Rise of the machines.  Has your phone been acting up lately?  Maybe there is something sinister going on.

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

quote

Seen on a plaque in the cube of a Woods Chapel staff person:

Sacrifice. 
when it comes to doing good things for others,
some people will stop at nothing.

And then there is the rest of you.  I continue to be blessed by the generosity of our church family.

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

books

I love books and I love to read.  Reading makes me smarter.  Not smarter than someone else, smarter than what I was. 

I love to ask people what they are reading.  When I find someone that I think is cool, I love to hear about what they are in to.  It's like if someone loves the band "Steely Dan"but you are unfamiliar with them, you may want to go out and buy an album.  If it is good for them, maybe it will be good for you.

So, I am driving down the road one day and I hear Dave Ramsey talking about the five books that he makes his employees read.  I pull over to the side of the road and write them down.  Here they are-

"Who moved my cheese" by Spencer Johnson
"The Go-getter" by Peter Kyne
"Rhinoceros Success" by Scott Alexander
"QBQ - The Question behind the question" by John Miller
"The legend of Monk and the Merchant" by Terry Felber

I bought them from one of my used book sites and I thought they were all very good, especially the Go-getter.  Rhinoceros Success was my least favorite.

What are you reading?

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

thinking and believing

I was talking to Shawn the other day.  The topic of "what makes a Christian" came up.  Is a Christian someone that thinks about Jesus?  Is a Christian someone who believes something about Jesus, or believes in Jesus?

Or is a Christian someone that lives a certain way because of what they think or believe?  If I think or believe about Jesus long enough, do I start spending my time differently?  Do I begin to look at others differently?  Do I finally realize that I can't take it with me, and start listening to God's direction about "my" stuff?

If the primary mark of the Christian is love [my preacher keeps saying that] then can I live a life of love by only thinking or believing?  Or does love compel action?

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

forgiveness

Dirt.  We all have it.  In a few weeks we will be starting a new series on forgiveness.  Here is the promo video for the series:

http://youtu.be/Sz2j6cIGKXQ

We are asking that you share any thoughts, stories or testimonies that you may have about forgiveness.  When were you forgiven by another?  when have you forgiven yourself?  someone else?  And anything else that you might want to share about forgiveness.

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

the truth about who we are

I have noticed something that I find a bit disturbing.  It is the fact that if someone tells themself something long enough, they actually begin to believe that it is true. 

I hear of people who committed a crime, but tell themselves that they didn't long enough that they begin to believe the lie.  It's like truth becomes what you make it. 

Something happens.  It wasn't my fault.  If I tell myself this long enough, I may just believe it.

I prefer a certain view of history.  It's what I was taught.  It is what makes me comfortable.  But what if it is not true, or what if it is a clouded version of the story?  To some degree then, I am living a lie.

This kind of thinking tends to keep us far from reality.  It keeps us rooted in our beliefs that may make us comfortable, but are still a theory of our creation.

Someone believes that Satan is the opposite of God.  That is what they were taught.  They refuse to budge even though the Biblical evidence does not teach this.  Someone believes that Satan is omni present.  It's what they were taught.  You can't help them think otherwise.  It's just what they were taught.

Someone believes that their life is about them.  It is what they were taught.  They have done it long enough that they recoil at the thought of life being about God and others.

Someone believes that all pastors are bad.  It's what they were taught.  It is their life experience.  But is it right?  Does it make all pastors to be charlatans?

And so I come to the things that I believe about myself, my family and our history.  How much of it is really true and how much of it is something that is made up for my convenience? 

It takes a brave person to really be honest about such things.  But I think that God looks for such people, who see themselves for who they are, good- bad- or indifferent.  I think that God likes honesty.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.  Also be willing to see the truth, even if it is uncomfortable.

my eye

There is something in my eye!  I can't find it.  I can't get it out.  I have washed it.  Rubbed it.  Picked at the corners.  It is driving me crazy.  I have been fighting it for four days.

Oh.  I just remembered something.  This happened to me last year at this time.  and the year before.  The first time, two years ago, I went to the eye doctor.  We tried all kinds of drops and then decided it was allergies.  I have never had allergies before, but you know, after a while, they just cleared up.  Problem gone.

Here is my problem.  Why does it take me four days to remember this?  Why does my brain allow me to worry about all of this for four days before it lets me into the fact that this has all happened before? 

I open the eye drops.  Relief.  Temporary, but soothing relief.  It's a big bottle of drops.  And all is well again in my world.  I am not losing my sight after all. 

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

people

There are almost 7 billion people in this world.  156,000 die every day.  That's alot of people coming and going.  For the most part, we don't even notice.

And then there is that one.  Among the 156,000 who died today, there was that one.  That one that I knew.  That one that I loved.  That one that I was close to.  That one that was not a number, not a statistic.  That one was my friend.

I am so glad to know that not even a sparrow falls without the knowledge of God.  I am glad to know that every hair on my head is numbered by him.  [this job has become much easier over the years.]

Somehow trusting in God gives me a sense of comfort and peace, even when I lose a friend.  He really does have the whole world in his hands.  And, every single one of the 6.7 billion is known by him.  He is extremely fond of all 156,000 that slip out of this life into the next each day.

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

coins

Since I was a child I have been interested in collecting coins.  I used to buy them at the Hart-Meyer store in Waldo.  Do any of you remember that store?

I like all kinds of coins.  Foreign.  American.  Silver.  I like the old siver coins.  Who doesn't?

 I have a Nazi coin from WW2.  My mom gave me a few peace dollars when I was a kid.  I thought they were nerdy.  I am glad to have them now.

One of my favorites is the Balboa coins from Panama.  I think they are pretty cool.

if you are going on a trip somewhere, let me give you a few bucks and maybe you can bring me back some coins from where ever you travelled.

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

why do they like me?

Sometimes I ask this question, of my friends, and of my wife:  Why do they like me?  It's not that I am a bad guy or that I have secrets that should cause them to not like me.  So what is that question about?

I wonder if I, as most or many people, have a deep seated fear of being unloved.  It's not based in anything real, and I guess I am as lovable as the next person, but the feeling remains.  Is it a hold over from childhood?  Wondering if I am worthy to be picked up and held by my parents? 

Why do I think that I have earned someone's rejection?  I deserved it.  But I struggle to capture the fact that maybe someone can just love me because they do.

I love that thought about God.  That he loves us.  He just does.  Not because we are nice or good looking or well behaved.  He just loves us.  That is cool and it gets me smiling.

Maybe this funny feeling is an appreciation of their love.  Maybe as I witness the kindness of people, I am just amazed at their God like loving behavior.  The fact that they love me is just amazing to me.  I am grateful for it.  I hope you are grateful for all those that love you.

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

don't push that button

My oldest daughter rented an apartment downtown and has moved out.  Now, when you are 23, moving out means that you take what you want and leave the rest.  Someone else will pack it up for you.  Or, maybe you leave enough behind so that you can have two lives, one at your new apartment, and one at your parents home.

The parents hope that when a child moves out, that they will take their junk with them.  I moved the bed and dresser out of the room so you could move yours in, so after you move out, I am going to set the room back up as a guest room.

So there is a lot of junk that you have left behind that I must pack.  I am nice about it and I put things in boxes in ways that make sense.  I find a few things that I don't know what they are or what to do with them.  One of the objects is a small black thing that looks like a lighter.  Now it doesn't occur to me that you don't smoke, so why would you have a lighter.  What occurs to me is that I want to push the button and see if it is a lighter. 

I push the button.  I shouldn't have.  Instead of the flame that I am expecting, a brown juice comes spraying out, bounces off the wall and hits me on the left side of my face.  I knew immediately what it was.

Mace.

I should not have pushed that button.

If you have ever wondered, I can tell you that it takes about ten seconds for mace to take effect.  There is sneezing and coughing.  You cry like a baby.  You throw up.  All because you were trying to help your daughter pack up her room.  It lasts for about 45 minutes.

When you family finds out what is going on with you, they laugh.  Such cruelty.  Can you believe it?  Only a heartless person would laugh about Jeff accidentally macing himself. 

Anyway, the moral of the story is this.  Curiosity killed the cat.  If you don't know what it is, don't push the button.

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

my space

I have space.  Personal space.  It's mine, and I wish more people would respect it.  My space is this feeling that I have about not wanting to be crowded or interfered with.  Now if it is starting to sound selfish, well it probably is.  My space is based on my feelings and does not take into consideration what you may feel about your space.

When i really need to get on the elevator and the door opens, and it is already pretty full, my brain says, make space for me.  If you are on the elevator and someone like me crowds in, you may be feeling that I am in your space.  Sorry.  My space is about me.  I imagine that yours is too.

I notice this phenomenon the most when I am at a crowded place like an athletic event, a concert or the airport.  Everyone is going somewhere and they are in a hurry.  There are no lines on the road and no traffic signs, so everyone goes every which way they can.  None of them realize that they are getting in my way. 

Why did that person just cut me off?  Don't they realize that I was going that way?  Couldn't they see that I was on a certain trajectory?  Come on, get with the program.  Don't you know that I am the queen bee?  Make room for me.

Maybe such encounters is why shy people like me actually prefer to stay away from big crowds.  That's why I like the Royals games.  Shy people don't force their way onto elevators.  They walk a little slower and keep an eye out for the crazy drivers at the airport.  When I slow down, it helps me keep my space to myself, which keeps me in my comfort zone.

And about the time I am totally feeling peaceful, walking along behind someone at a sweet and comfortable clip, well they just stop.  They just stop.  They just stop.  For no reason, maybe they just realized that they forgot something.  Maybe they realized that their flight is actually tomorrow.  But they just stop.  I jam on the brakes.  I give them the look.  They don't even notice.  My goodness man, you did not just do that.  You did not just stop!  What is wrong with you?

My space.  It is constantly getting violated.  And so, I enjoy the morning.  The quiet.  A few moments to write and think and pray before the onslaught of humanity comes crashing into my elevator or cutting me off it traffic.  Enjoy the quiet times.  With the population on the rise, they are sure to be fewer and farther in between.

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

self respect

Self respect is a very important part of life.  Being able to look at yourself and know that you are doing the right things is very important.  We have all disappointed ourselves from time to time and it does not feel good.

Another important angle to self respect is learning to take care of your problems so that you can live and help others.  We all have times when we need help, and when we do, we need to accept it.  But oh does it feel good to be able to solve a problem and move on.

I have joked about getting my kids off of the payroll.  Well I have found something out about my daughters as they have now both graduated from college and landed jobs.  They wanted to get off of the payroll too.  They want to provide for themselves.  They want to make plans without consulting parents or asking for money.  They want to buy their own LaFluente.

That is a good feeling.  One of them actually bought my breakfast a few weeks ago.  Fall on the ground.  Isn't that something?  Wait a minute, it's stopped raining, guys are swimming, guys are sailing........

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

some things that we just hate

Hate is a strong word.  Maybe too strong.  Dislike.  I don't like spiders and snakes.  Who sang that song?

Well it is true, I don't like spiders or snakes or the New York Yankees.  Most people in Kansas City agree with me.  Those are three things that go together.

But why?  aren't spiders and snakes and important part of the food chain?  And aren't the Yankees nice guys that have wives and children?  Yes and yes.  Then why the strong dislike?

I think it is because there is a fear factor to all three.  Life is going along pretty good and then, up jumps the devil.  Here they are, right in your face.  A crawling spider, a slithering snake, a Bronx Bomber.  Besides the element of surprise, they all three have the ability to hurt you.  Spiders can give a painful and poisonous bite.  Snakes can wrap you up and suffocate you.  Yankees can dash your playoff hopes with the swing of a bat.

It doesn't really change anything for me to understand these things about these scary critters.  I do think it is helpful for us to name our fears from time to time.  When I realize that most spiders are not poisonous and most snakes are not big enough to swallow me, all I have left to fear is the Yankees.  And maybe someday, the tables will turn and their fans will fear the Royal blue of Kansas City.

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

illegal part 2

I am thankful to each of you that take the time to post comments.  I received this one and thought that I would share it directly and add some thoughts.

to the post from July 6th-
I was out to lunch with some pastors the other day and the topic of illegal immigration came up. One of the people at the lunch said something like, "Before you all mount up on your high horses, I want to let you know that I am part native American. To us, all of you are illegal immigrants."

I paused to think. Nobody said anything else on the topic. Sometimes issues aren't as easy to figure out as I wished they were. It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

they commented-
You have wisely stated that issues are not always black and white or easy to figure out. I wonder what other turns the conversation may have taken, had the people in your group been able to have read this morning's KC Star story about the illegal immigrant, going by two names, stone drunk, and also driving erratically, in the wrong lane on I435 and trying to hit people. He finally succeeded in killing a mother and her beloved daughter.

This does no favors to those who wish people would welcome or tolerate illegal immigration.

And I wanted to reply.-
Yes.  There are some tragic things that have been done by people that are here illegally.  Every time I hear of such actions, it makes me angry.  The person who commented is correct- such actions do no favors to anyone who wished to tolerate illegal immigration.  I do not disagree with anything that the commenter has said. 

However, my point from the other day was not so much about the issue of illegal immigration today, as it was to simply to lift up the perspective of this pastor who is of American Indian heritage.  I wonder if he would not offer a long list of grievances that the whites brought to them.  Killing their women and children in acts of genocide.  Destroying their food supply for the intent of starving them.  Making and then breaking treaty after treaty.

Some would counter that we have spent millions, maybe billions, in welfare aid to American Indians.  That is true.  I wonder if they would just prefer to have their families, land and way of life returned to them.

So I have all the feelings that everyone else does about immigration and what it means to health care and education costs and safety on the streets.  I am just also aware that many of these injustices have been played out before on this continent, 150 years ago.  And we today are the beneficiaries of those actions.

My take away from this discussion is simply that it is important for me, for all of us to understand that it is very easy for me to take a position on something and find out later that someone else has a position that is very different than mine.  And sometimes they hold their positions for very good reasons, that make me stop and think.

I in no way support the criminal acts of those who are here, whether legally or illegally.

So what are you thinking about?  Are you sure of your positions on the issues?  Is there information out there on the topic that might help you or moderate your thinking?

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

us

I  have always like the comedian, Louie Anderson.  I was reading a bit from one of his books the other day.  He mentioned that he remembered his parents.  He remembered Mom, and Dad and himself, but he did not remember "us."

Something inside of me totally resonates with this.  I remember my Mom and my Dad and my sisters.  But there was never anything together.  There was no "us."  Its not that I don't remember it, it didn't exist.  After Mom died, I barely got started getting to know Dad.  I have been on a quest since that time to get to know and enjoy my sisters.  There ought to be an "us" to families.

I wonder if my children will remember an us.  Will they remember vacations together?  Ski trips? Movies?  Mexican food?  The little pool in the back yard?  Visits to college?  Breakfasts at First Watch?  Mission trips? 

Will they remember an us?  I sure hope so.  As I write this I just want to go find them and tell them I love them.

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

borrowing things

You know, I like to think I am a nice guy but it really bothers me when I loan things to people and they do not return them.  You have to ask, "what are they thinking?"  Maybe they just got busy and forgot.

here is a short list of some of the things that I have loaned out and did not get back.
1.  a long handle axe
2.  a file of magazine and newspaper articles about the Titanic from 1973-to its discovery.
3.  camp chairs
4.  a drain snake
5.  a stop watch
6.  a collection of old silver certificates
7.  a cooler
8.  books.  many books.

on and on the list could go.  It is so frustrating.
Oh by the way, can anyone load me a copy of the book "Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand?"

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

birthday

Another birthday came and went last week.  Thank you for the cards, calls, emails and texts.  I received a couple of note able cards.

One had redwood trees on the front with comments about how peaceful and serene and wonderful they are.  then you open the card and it says "thanks for planting them."

Another card had two fish swimming in a tank.  one had some innappropriate words to share with the other.  nice.

Another card had a cute little girl jumping rope. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, she counted.  One jump for every year.  Then you open the card and inside it says, Happy Birthday, somewhere, little suzie is still jumping.  Ha ha.

finally I got a quote from Lions Den Man-  
“I intend to live forever.  So far, so good.”  Steven Wright

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

shock

There are many things in life that we do not expect.  The untimely death of a 46 year old friend is one of them.  On Friday, a long time friend of Woods Chapel, Sonia Clogston, had a heart attack and died.

She was an employee of DFS and a tireless worker and advocate for children.  She was kind and friendly.  Woods Chapel was more than a place that helped her care for children.  This was her church home.

Please pray for her two sons and her parents.  Please join me in thanking God for all that she was and all that she did.  She will be missed by so many.

Please never take life for granted.  Every day that we live is a gift from our Father.

pray for rain

I regularly get the request.  Pray for rain, Pastor!  Pray for warmer weather.  Pray for cooler weather.  Pray for it to be more to our liking.

My answer is always the same.  "I am in sales, not management."

As a member of the good Lord's sales force, it is my job, my opportunity to invite others to know and follow him regardless of the circumstances.  Since I am not in management, I must leave the big decisions to Him.

What about your relationship with God?  Are you in sales or management?  How does our relationship with God's world change, depending on an understanding of us being in sales or management?

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

this is my country

Someone was dogging America the other day.  Someone younger than I am, that maybe has not read the history or lived through so much of the great stuff.

They were asking me what good has America done.  I told them, a lot.  We talked back and forth.  I think that there are many wonderful things that America has done.  Some very Christian things.  Here is the start of my list.  Can you add to it?

we have created a country where everyone can worship as they please
it took a while, but we ended slavery
we welcomed Irish immigrants during the potato famine in the 1800's
we rebuilt Europe after WW2
we have sent and do send foreign aid all over the world.
the innovations and technology created in this country have revolutionized the world.

Please add to the list.

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

what is old was once new

The shoes that I put on today are 12 years old.  They have been resoled twice.  They fit my foot like a glove.  I can't imagine not having them.  But, there was once a time when they were new, different and stiff.  My feet hurt anytime I wore them.  My self esteem questioned whether or not they were a good fit for me.  But, that is all in the past now, I never think about those times, I just always put on "my" shoes and enjoy them.

Everything that we are comfortable with now, was once brand new, innovative and uncomfortable.  The ideas seemed preposterous at the time.  Sell our church and move to the highway.  Have church in a hospital.  Start a contemporary service.  Go to four services on Sunday morning.  Each of those ideas and many more, we have grown comfortable with.  What was once new and frightening, is now accepted and the norm, the familiar, the shoe that fits.

And so the moral of the story is this- when you see a change on the horizon, when you see a paradigm shift coming, it will always feel like a new pair of shoes.  For a while.  Give it time.  Focus on the goals of the change, not the discomfort that you may feel.  Take joy in the new and celebrate that we are not simply reaching for the oxygen masks as a congregation.

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

illegal

I was out to lunch with some pastors the other day and the topic of illegal immigration came up.  One of the people at the lunch said something like, "Before you all mount up on your high horses, I want to let you know that I am part native American.  To us, all of you are illegal immigrants."

I paused to think.  Nobody said anything else on the topic.  Sometimes issues aren't as easy to figure out as I wished they were.

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

reincarnation

Someone asked that I write about reincarnation.  Reincarnation is the belief that when we die, we return to life as a person again or as an animal or insect.  These cycles continue until we "get it right" and enter heaven.

Reincarnation is an idea that although uncommon in the west, is very common in the east.  Not all eastern ideas are bad, but in my opinion, this is not a good one.

For one, the math just doesn't add up.  Think of the world's population in 500 AD, 1000 AD, 2011, and one hundred years from now.  There are more and more people, so I guess that there must be fewer animals and insects. If you follow my logic.  It just doesn't add up.

Another problem with reincarnation is that instead of seeing the animal world as here for our benefit, many cultures will not kill animals or insects for fear that they are killing someone's relative.  Consequently, people in such cultures suffer from insect born disease and hunger.

Ultimately, I don't see how the concept of reincarnation fits at all with my understanding of the Christian faith.  The scriptures say, it is given to man once to die, and then the judgement.  Hebrews 9:27.  This simply means to me that this is our chance, in this life to recognize and respond to God or not.  After death, we are judged and we spend eternity in the place that God has prepared for those that love him, or in the place that God has prepared for those who are selfish and perfer not to love God.

So, thats my take on reincarnation.

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

scam

I hear about scams on the radio.  They never happen to people I know.  Until last week.  There is something that has come in vogue with some young people that you need to know about.  Young people can get into some very interesting things.  When I was a kid you could sniff glue.  Over the years i have watch fads of shoplifting, graffiti, car surfing, and the list goes on.

Well there is a scam that some young people are running.  They call up one of their "friends." Acquaintances really, maybe someone that you met a few times at a party.  You are facebook friends.  They call up with some convincing story about how they need help with a check. 

Since you are kind, and you want to be their friend, you consider helping them.  If you do deposit the check and give them the money, in a few days you will find out that the check is bad and this person is not a friend.

There are a few young people in our area that are doing this.  Don't allow your teens or young adults to fall for it.  The results can be painful.

As I walk through this experience with my family, I am appreciative of the Christian character that resides within my family, our friends, and our church.  There are a few people out there that could benefit from some lessons in Christian character.

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

to my odd friend

Someone posted a comment about not being accepted in church.  Here it is:

I am one of those people who are a Christian but do not go to Church. There are millions of us and we all have a different story I am sure. With me, it's not that I don't want to go to church. It's that the churches really don't want me or accept me. I have nuerological and mental differences. I am completely harmless but I can be exceptionally odd at times. People don't want to deal with me. It's not lack of trying, I have 2o some years of effort. The churches can claim they are accepting and that they want you, but their actions are louder. If you can't fit the mold, there's the door. Sorry if it hurts your christian ears but its true. Feel free to take a walk in my shoes. 

 I got the impression that the experience that this person describes over a 20 year period did not include a stint at Woods chapel.  I want to say to you my friend, not all churches are the same.  I am sure that our church would welcome you and care for you.  We have wonderful people and a wonderful Stephen Ministry program.  If you live in this area, please send me an email or call the church and let's have a cup of coffee. 

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

free gifts

I was reading a book, kind of a Dave Ramsey style book on responsible living.  It was called "Living rich for less" by Ellie Kay.  The subtitle to the book is "create the lifestyle you want by giving, saving and spending smart."

one of the things that I really liked in her book was a list of "free gifts."  Things that you can give to another that don't cost anything, but were really cool.  Here is the list:

Twenty Priceless Free Gifts
Fix broken fences by mending a quarrel.
Seek out a friend you haven’t seen in a while or who has been forgotten.
Hug someone and whisper, “I love you so.”
Forgive an enemy, or at the very least pray for him or her.
Be patient with an angry person.
Express gratitude to someone in your world.
Make a child smile.
Find the time to keep a promise.
Make or bake something for someone else – anonymously.
Speak kindly to a stranger, and tell him or her a joke.
Enter into another’s sorrows, and cut the pain in half.
Smile. Laugh a little. Laugh a lot.
Take a walk with a friend.
Kneel down and pet a dog.
Lessen your expectations of others.
Apologize if you were wrong.
Turn off the television and talk.
Pray for someone who helped you when you were hurting.
Give a soft answer even though you feel strongly otherwise.
Encourage an older person.

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

marital advice

I am not very good with marital advice.  I am not even sure how to spell it.  But I was talking to a couple the other night and I have one good thought to share.

What ever you did together that you enjoyed when you were dating, keep doing it.  Find the time for those things that you so enjoyed when you were dating.  Maybe you went to listen to music.  Maybe you played tennis.  maybe you wandered in museums.  Whatever it was, make time to do it.

It is amazing how many people get busy with life and stop doing the very things that brought them together in the first place.  Engaging in such activity can actually be a healthy distraciton from other problems. 

So, what ever it was, go do it.  Royals games.  Bowling.  Pizza.  Golden Tee. Tennis. 

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