belonging

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

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

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

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

prayer

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

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

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

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

lost and found

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

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

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

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

today

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

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

on taking up a cross

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

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

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

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

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

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

winter

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

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

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

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

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

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

thinking

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


Peace,
Lion's Den Man

finding an old friend

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

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

Please pray with me that my letter gets to him.

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

I am running for President

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

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

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

A couple of interesting Quotes-

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

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

       Alexander Frasier Tytler

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

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

looking for patience

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

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

Seized with indignation, Abraham drove the blasphemer away.

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

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

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

stress

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

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

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

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

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

If stress remains, repeat steps above.

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

Life is Good

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

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

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

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

fear

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

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

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

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

your story

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

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

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

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

geese

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

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

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

song

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

care package

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

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

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

what is your church like

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

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

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

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

the gospel

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

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

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

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

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

the bowling ball

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

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

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

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

old movies

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

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

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

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

Grants for churches

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

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

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

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

sick

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

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

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

I shall be feeling better very soon. 

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

regrets

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

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

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

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

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

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

table top

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

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

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

The small things in life that make us happy.

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

muscle memory

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

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

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

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

the new year

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

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

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

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

Chinese Food

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

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

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

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

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

undecorating

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

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

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

three things for the new year

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

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

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

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

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

More on the Sneetches

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

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

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

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

"until neither the Plain nor the Star-Bellies knew

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

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

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

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

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

2011 or 2012

Forgiving the pastor's sins. 

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

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

Christmas presents

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

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

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

Jeff—

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Christmas Turkeys

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

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

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

2. Another story from yesterday:

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

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

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

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

New Years Day

Christmas was on a Sunday this year.  So is January 1st.  Since several have been asking, I need to let you know our schedule for Sunday, January 1st.

It is our normal worship and Sunday School schedule.  Tomorrow, we will be holding services at 8, 905, 1010 and 1115.  Sunday School at the regular times as well.

So we are back on normal worship and program times.  Happy New Year!

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

office buddies

Some years ago I began a small collection of stuffed animals.  The first was the Piggly Wiggly Pig which I have had for over 20 years.  I don't know what came next, but you can see the group.  They live on the top book shelf in my office.

The Piggly Wiggly Pig
Captain Crunch
Eore [Winnie the Pooh's friend]
Charlie Brown
The Star Bellied Sneach

I guess what I like about these guys is that they are the kind, the shy, the overlooked, the benign, the underdog.  For some reason, it makes me feel good to have them around.  I was moving some books the other day and I thought I would share them with you.  Do you know the story of the Star Bellied Sneach?

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

diet plan

I don't know how many times I grab something to eat that is quick and flavorful yet has no ability to keep me satisfied. It is a bad habit and a hard one to break. I know it, yet I continue to do it. And I know that it really does me more harm than good...I have a scale to prove it. Lessons on good nutrition can be found everywhere. When it comes down to the basics, the lesson is eat healthy push the other stuff away and the rest will take care of itself.

I make choices in other areas of my life each day on what or how I feed myself. Where I spend my time, my money, what I read, talk about, listen too etc. Just like with food, I have choices on what I will fill myself with each day...the junk or the good stuff.

This time of year many look to what they don't like about their lives....what they want to fix, change or improve on. Maybe the best place to start with change is to work on what we allow ourselves to take in....

Peace,
Lion's Den Man

Job

I have a bookmark in my bible at "Job 38-42". This book serves as a reminder to me of how much I do not know or understand and how big God is. With all that happens in our world that is beyond understanding I find comfort in having a God that I cannot comprehend.

Excerpts below of what you may have read before or of a book that you should consider taking the time to read...

The LORD Speaks 

38 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— 7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels[a] shouted for joy?

42 1 Then Job replied to the LORD: 2 “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.

Peace,
Lion's Den Man

watching them sleep

When the kids were little they would fall asleep in the funniest places.  They would be roaring around the house and then it would get quiet.  You notice this and get worried.  You start to look, and lo and behold you find them.  They got tired and crashed in mid stride.  On a chair, on the floor, on the stairs, wherever.  They were so cute when they were sleeping.

At night before we went to bed we would always open each door and make sure everyone was snuggled in their beds.  It was so sweet to watch them sleep.

Now they are big and grown up.  They come over to eat the food and enjoy the family.  Then, just like in the old days, they fall asleep.  You throw a blanket on them, and move their soda so they don't spill it.  Then you watch them, and they are still so cute.  Sometimes they are joined by various lazy animals that sleep all the time anyway.

I wonder if God ever looks down from heaven and watches his children sleep?  It is a comforting thought that our Father looks upon us with warm and loving care.

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

December 26th

Ahhh - the sound of rest.  Christmas is over.  Is it a sin for a pastor to be glad that Christmas is over?  It is definitely high pressure, hard work time.

Anyway, it is over, and it was wonderful [at least from where I sit.]  The gospel choir concert, the jazz band concert, the children's program and the cantata were wonderful.  Christmas eve services were delightful and it was good to see so many of you on Christmas day.

Several have asked about Christmas eve attendance.  Remember, numbers are not about numbers, they are about people.  They reflect who we are reaching.  With that in mind, I am pleased to tell you that we had more folks out for Christmas eve than any prior year.

Thank you to all of you who worked hard to make this Christmas a real celebration of God's love.

God is good, and by his grace we will love those who are here, and reach many more for Christ in 2012.

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

Merry Christmas

Clipped from a Christmas card a few years ago, this phrase hangs on the door to the pastor's office at Woods Chapel UMC.

A bell is no bell 'til you ring it.
A song is no song 'til you sing it.
And love in your heart wasn't put there to stay.
Love isn't love 'til you give it away.

                    Oscar Hammerstein
                         The Sound of Music

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

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

honor

Holy Father,

We honor you this day.  We set aside time to worship you.  We bring our gifts.  We pause at the manger to say thank you. 

We consider our lives.  We consider our choices.  Please help us to follow you more fully.  Please help us to leave the world of selfishness and learn to give ourselves away in your name.

Thank you for the gift of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. 
Amen.

worship times

For those of you who were wondering, here are the worship times for Christmas Eve and Christmas day.

Christmas Eve
10:00 am
4:00 pm
5:30 pm
7:00 pm
8:30 pm
11:00 pm

4:00 pm will be the busiest, and then the 5:30 after that.  Try to arrive early if you want to attend at those times.  Overflow seating is available at 4pm in the lecture hall.  All other services should have plenty of room.

On Christmas day, we are having services at 9:00 am and 10:30.

As always, feel free to invite your friends to these special days.  

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

lost dog

Well, I just about lost it all last night.  Such a simple thing.  Let the dog out to do his business and go to bed.  Well, the dog, Lou, went out and ran away.  Ten years old, that is 70 in dog years, and he went around the corner and just kept going.  Maybe he was chasing a possum.  Maybe he has doggie althiemers.

Either way, I am thinking about my wife who is in Florida, my son who is in Kentucky and my daughters who are downtown on a holiday night.  I am the only one here, and I lost the family dog.  Possibly the most important member of the family.

I have been up and down the street three times.  I have called for him.  I have promised a treat.

Finally, after I have given up, after I have made peace with explaining all of this to the rest of my family, I hear a little jingle.  It is Lou.  I find him, and he comes home.  All is well.  Disaster averted.  I am sure that he was unaware of the problem that he caused.

Oh, for the life of a dog.

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

Christmas Turkeys

Driving down a local back road I noticed a yard full of wild turkeys.  It was a bit of an unusual sight.  Since I had my camera, I stopped and took a picture. 

This scene just made me smile.  A little bit of God's creation, right here in the city.  I suspect that they are aware that they could end up on someones Christmas dinner table.

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

homeless adoption

I have been adopted by a homeless couple.  Its the reverse of normal.  Usually someone makes a commitment to adopt a needy person.  This couple has attached themselves to me.

They call me all the time.  Yesterday, he called me four times.  Part of me wants to walk on by, but I just can't do it.  I have to find some agency or something that can help them.  I can't do it all.  I don't want to think of them and their needs all the time, but it sure has taken up a goodly amount of my brain.  Maybe that is a good thing. 

They are staying at this motel on 40 highway.  $20 per night.  We forget how blessed we are.  We also forget that the good news is for everyone, not just the folks that live in our comfort zone.  I know there is a reason why all of this is on my mind.

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

the problem with preachers

Actually there are several problems with preachers.  Today I want to address one of them. 

When the preacher stands to preach there is the temptation to take it all in without question.  There is the possibility that we begin to see this person as the source.  They can almost become an intermediary for us.  We can begin to live our spiritual lives through the lens of this person.

Just like a parent or a grandparent who watches the child play baseball.  We cheer, we yell, we can almost feel ourselves sliding into second base, when in fact we are sitting in the stands.  With great determination we support and defend our kids in sports, as if we were defending ourselves.  Again the problem is that we are not on the field.

So back to church.  Is it possible for someone to live their spiritual life through the stories of their pastor?  Is it possible that we have done this for so long that we don't even realize that we are in the audience and not in the game?  Does it help that some pastors love this kind of attention and adoration?

How about a pastor who points you not to him or herself, but to the Source.  How about a pastor who insists that you get out of the pew, off the bench, and into the game.  How about a pastor who is willing to make you mad and risk the relationship you have with them, if that's what it takes to get you in the game?

Christianity is participatory.  There are no observers.  May we all get out into the dance of life and create our own experiences with our Father.  When we do this, we become a disciple.  We become a part of the story, and we help the pastor find his or her rightful place as a fellow sojourner, a co-worker in the kingdom.

One preacher problem solved.

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

noise cancelling technology

Ahh the things that people invent are amazing.  I recently tried out a friends head phones with “noise cancelling technology.”  Have you heard of this?  They are amazing.  You put them on your head and turn on your music.  Good sure, like any other headphones.  But there is this little switch. 

When you turn the switch, something happens.  The headphones emit a sound wave that is an anti-wave to much of the back ground noise around you.  Really.  The noise of an airplane and the sound of the people talking around you disappears.  Their mouths move, but no noise is coming out.  Just the turn of a switch and the distractions are gone.

 And so I have an idea.  If I wear them all the time, will all of the noise of life disappear?  No more sadness, no more anger, no more worry, no more concerns, no more unhappiness.  Now that would be an invention wouldn’t it?

 And some how I know our Father offers this.  Jesus said, "come unto me, all ye who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."  Just a turn of our focus and the distractions are muffled.  The noise of life is replace with a quiet peace.  This is the gift of God to all who ask.  As the old song says, “turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.”

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

Dear Jenny

Dear Jenny,

You had a dream the other night that your father had died.  You were very sad. 

I am writing to you now to remind you of a few things that you must know.  First of all, everything dies.  Dogs, cats and fathers.  One day, I will die.  It is what we humans do.  I have had 54 years to think about this and I am not afraid.

I have spent a great deal of time considering the relationship between myself and our Father.  I have seen the beauty of his creation and I have tasted many of the joys of this life.  I had a close call six years ago with the whole sarcoidosis scare.  I an not a stranger to the concept of eternity.

So, when the time comes, I want you to stand there at the side of my bed and hold my hand.  Talk to me.  I can hear you even when I no longer respond.  My spirit will have moved past the abilities of my broken body.  Kiss me on the forehead and know that I am in good hands.  Never fear or worry for me.  Then leave the death bed and go live your life.  Live.  Love.  Dance.  Enjoy your successes and don't kick yourself so hard over your failures.  Learn to understand yourself, your moods and your thoughts. 

Read what I have written.  Consider my journey, as it will help you.  Also, read the journey and the story of other men and women of history.  They have all passed where you too one day will be going.

Provide for your children better than you have been provided for.  More love, less worry.  More grace and more grace.  Teach them to work for what they have.  Nothing in this life is free.

Smile!  Laugh!  Toast it up.  Here's to the gift of life.  Thank you our Father.  All is well.
Love, Dad

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

the face of Jesus

A person was invited to gaze into the face of the Savior.  They could not do it, for they feared judgement and rejection from the Lord.   Yet, they dutifully continued to serve him.   The invitation was repeated over and over, but the person could not look in the face of Christ.  They felt too unworthy.

Finally on their deathbed the invitation came again.  This time, with death at hand, the person looked into the face of Jesus.  To their surprise, they saw no condemnation, no rejection, only love.

They cried like a baby.  They cried for the joy of being forgiven and accepted.  And, they cried because they had lived their entire life without the joy that could have been theirs had they simply seen the Savior for who he was.

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

Pat has a sin

So you know someone who has a particular sin.  Lets name the person Pat.   Odds are, Pat enjoys it briefly, then feels guilty about it the rest of the time.  All in all, it provides Pat much more pain than joy.

Then I know someone who is always talking about Pat's sin.  It seems to be a constant topic for them and they seem to derive much joy from talking about Pat's sin.

Each time I chew on the sins of others, I suspect that the chewing gives me more pleasure than the sinning gives the sinner.

Let's find better ways to spend our time.

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

Growing points

Following yesterday’s post, I got to wondering what are the topics that I have chased over the last 18 years as pastor at Woods Chapel.  In other words, if you have attended church here all these years, what are the things that I have been going thru that you would have heard me address in sermons?  What are the things that you would have been invited to join with me in the great journey of life? 

Here are some of the things that I have seen myself think about and grow in over the years:

• Evangelism- that God calls us to reach others
• Hospitality – making others welcome
• Inclusivity – all must be welcome
• Missions – the growing awareness that we must live outside of ourselves
• A guilt based or a grace based faith
• Seeing the good.
• Awareness – being awake in life
• Compassion for the Homeless and the needy in general
• Learning to be thankful and grateful
• Choices about what our children will be involved in
• The loss of loved ones
• Overseas missions trips
• Absorbing the pain of losing friends
• Finding daily joy

What have you been thinking about these last 18 years?  What are you thinking about now?  Where are your growing points?

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

Physican heal thyself

When you hear the pastor talk or read what the pastor writes, who is he talking to?  Is he or she only talking to others or is he also speaking to him or herself.  This might be a good way to separate those who talk to us and those who talk down to us.

 An honest pastor knows that they put their pants on one leg at a time.  Their spiritual journey isn’t just about helping others “get it.”  They understand that they too need to get it. 

 So when this old boy writes something or says something, please know that it is probably something that I am thinking about, struggling with or dancing with.  We are on this journey of life together, you and I.  We are the same.   And as we pursue and find our Father, we are whole.

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

Financial Problems

I recently finished a book by Larry Burkett called “Debt Free Living.”  It was written 20 years ago, but recently updated due to conditions in our country.

 As I talk with people about their issues and talk with my children about theirs, Burkett has identified some human behaviors that lead to financial trouble that I thought made an interest litany.

 Here is a partial list of ways we get in trouble-

Living beyond one’s means, spending more than they make, being unwilling to lower their standard of living, greed, impulse buying, get rich quick schemes, a lack of planning, being unprepared for future expenses, not having a budget, not being willing to deny myself anything, insisting that I have everything now that I grew up with or have had in the past, an inability to account for where the money went, lack of self discipline, assuming  that lenders would not loan you what you could not pay for, lack of communication between spouses, intentionally hiding things from spouses, wanting too much too soon, trying to match in three years the lifestyle that it took your parents thirty years to accumulate, ignoring your advisers, giving in to “small” indulgences, and finally, not thinking about it – denial.

 There are many problems with living a life that is out of financial balance.  Such living puts our families in danger, robs us of self esteem and is often dishonoring to God.

 There is good news though.  Simply by beginning to practice good stewardship habits, things can improve. For anyone that is interested, we have people at our church who are willing to spend time to advise you.  I am willing as well.  Regardless of the hole that a person may find themselves in, God is good and life is good and things can improve.

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

the board

There is a board.  You have one and I have one.  What board do you speak of Jeff?  I do not have any boards.  Ahh, you are correct if you recognize that this board is not easy for us to see.  It is not a board that is kept in the garage or basement.  It is not a board for a project.  It did not come from Lowes or Home Depot.

The board that I refer to is invisible to us.  We cannot see it, because it is in our eye.  It is the board that Jesus refers to in Matthew chapter 7.  We don’t see this board because we have looked past it for so long that now it just seems to be a normal part of the panorama of our vision.

 Jesus calls us out on this.  It may be normal to us, but he begs us to see this perversion.  This board is unfair, it judges others and it is a blind spot to us.  As long as this board remains, we are unable to see anything as it is.  Not our fellow sojourners here on earth, or our Father in heaven.  We only see clearly when the board is removed.

 Maybe your board tells you that all Republicans are bad or all Democrats.  Maybe it tells you that all Baptists are bad or all Catholics or all Methodists.  Maybe it tells you that KU fans are stuck up or MU fans are something.  [And please do not post a comment saying that KU fans are stuck up.]  Maybe your board tells you that poor people are lazy.  Homeless people should just get a job.  All corporations are evil.  All people in power over me are unfair.  Good looking people are snobs.  The pastor at that church must be………

 And on and on it goes.

 Are you aware of your board?  Do you see it?  Only by becoming aware of our preconceived foolishness can we move into real living.  Only by waking up to our own darkness can we ever move into the light.  May God help us see our boards and remove them so that we might begin to see the world as he does.

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

I hope for a Methodist

If all a Methodist does is say the sinner’s prayer and punch his ticket for heaven, then we will continue to be a powerless lot.  There is so much more to the Christian life.

 I yearn for Methodists that learn to pray when they are unhappy.  That give not their voice to complaint or sadness, but lift up their concerns to our Father.  Their prayers are filled the phrase, “thank you.”  Their prayers are becoming more and more about being in His presence, and in such activity, they are being infused with joy.

 I yearn for Methodists that make their church a priority.  They are present unless sick or out of town.  They see their church’s imperfections and love it and support it all the same.  They teach their children the value of the church and invite the unchurched to attend.  They are so committed to their church, when they roll in for their funeral, it won’t seem strange to them to be in the sanctuary.

I yearn for Methodists who have fought and won the war with our culture.  Who have turned their back on the American dream and learned to pursue God’s dreams.  These are those who know that all that we have and all that we are have come from above.  They look at their possessions, their salary and their 401k as gifts from our Father to be used in his service.

 I yearn for Methodists who serve.  Their time is their Father’s.  They find a place to give themselves in service to others.  Not out of duty, for they have truly found the joy of living outside of themselves.  A church filled with such people is a wonder to behold in the community.  A church not turned in, but a church that is turned out.

 I yearn for Methodists who bear witness to their faith.  Not in scary, guilt laden ways, but with a joy that is based in reality.  They accept people where they are at and are filled with grace.  They are always willing, always ready to share a word with another.  To help them see the good.  To help them see and find the God who is the source of love in this world.

 Give me such Methodists and we will turn a new page in every work place, every school and every community. 

 What kind of a Methodist are you?  What kind of a Methodist am I?

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

thinking

What are you thinking about?  What do you think about during the day?  What do you think about in your best moments?  In your worst?

 As I witness the rise of pornography in our culture I am again reminded of the importance of guarding our hearts and minds.  It can be done.  We can choose to think about other things.  Just because  a thought comes into our brain does not mean that we have to dwell on it.  What you dwell on, you eventually embrace.  What you embrace eventually becomes a part of you.

 If you are harboring thoughts of any kind that are not healthy, you know it.  You don’t need me or anyone else to tell you.  Since we can only think about one thing at a time, we need to remember that thinking on the unthinkable precludes us from thinking about our Father or his purpose for our lives.

 Maybe you are not the same person as you used to be.  Maybe you are not the person that you aspire to be.  It is never too late to change.  Right now, pray.  Give that thing over to our Father.  Ask him to take it away, and begin the battle.  Begin to fill your mind with other things.  You will turn the corner, and around the corner you will find the God of peace.

  ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Phil 4:8-9

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

the passages of life

There are many passages of life.  Times when you are in between normal.  We all know what normal is, everything is going along so fine, so smoothly that you think life will always be this way.  Then something happens.  Children are born.  Children become teenagers.  Children graduate.  Children leave home. 

There are other passages.  The day you realize that your knees are so bad that your softball or tennis career is over.  The day you look in the mirror and realize that you actually do look like your father or mother. 

You know a passage has arrived when you enter a period of life that you cannot change and you know it is never going to return to the way it was before. 

Passages.  Life has them.  If you live long enough you will find yourself in them.  Here is the good news.  Many others have been there before you, and they survived.  Change is inevitable.  Adapting to change is optional.  There is good in every period of life, and if we look long enough, we will see it.

Take heart, we have all been this way before.

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

happy birthday

Happy Birthday, yesterday, December 6th to my dear wife Cathy.  She turned 31 this year.  What a delightful, funny, hardworking, compassionate, ornery person she is.  She loves her kids.  She loves to cook.  She loves the cooking channel, the food channel, iron chef, chopped, and any show that has the word chef in it.  She loves Michael Chiarello.  I actually was forced to visit his restaurant in Napa.

She likes red wine, mystery books, gardening and playing tennis.  She has been a great friend and partner for almost 27 years.  If you do not know her, I hope some day you get the chance to do so.

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

being challenged

This question from a book got me thinking, "Do we go to retreats, church, seminars, conferences, pray and read books on faith to be spiritually nourished? Or do we do these things to be spiritually challenged?"

Maybe your answer is both, which I think is a good answer. A big part of growth comes from the challenge. A big reason I attend church is because my thoughts, beliefs and understanding were put to the challenge. It made me dig for answers and helped me find the truth. Now, years later I find myself still wanting to be challenged. It strengthens me. It makes me ask questions and seek council. The one thing I can say with certainty is that God is bigger than I could ever allow Him to be. I am not, and hopefully never will be, satisfied and comfortable with what I know or feel I understand regarding God. Sure there are some basic truths revealed to all of us that I find comfort in knowing, but I pray I never limit God or become satisfied, arrogant, or complacent by knowing just those things. I believe God gave to me (us) a glimpse so that we might understand enough to want to seek out more.

Peace,
Lion's Den Man

J A Z Z

Last night the WCC Jazz Band put on another great performance. I am glad it was able to happen knowing that they have had some struggles this year. We are blessed at WCC to not only have this talent but to have it pulled together and used as an outreach ministry.

One very cool thing I learned at the concert was that the Jazz Band was open to youths as well . There was some great young talent on the stage last night and it could not have happened if the opportunity had not been made available. It seems of late that every time I turn around I hear/see of another person stepping up to do the right thing for the youth in our congregation and our community. I have written in past about the positive influence people at our church, in the community, coaches and teachers have had on my kids. It just goes so far and so deep and makes such a lasting impression. So today I want to say thanks to Jim McFall and the WCC Jazz Band for doing so much more than just playing great music....


Peace,
Lion's Den Man

the dark night

We think of Christmas as a time of joy and light, and surely it is.  But have you ever wondered about the struggles that Mary and Joseph faced?  Quite a dark night.  Lots of questions, lots of doubts.  How do you get thru carrying a baby on the word of an angel?  How do you traverse a bride to be who is pregnant by word of an angel?  These are questions that no human had ever dealt with before. 

The only way that I can get my mind around such questions is to remember that they had to rely on our Father.  They had to keep pointing their hearts and minds toward the One behind the story. 

And so, they are not much different than the rest of us.  We all face darkness, discouragement and fear.  We all have questions that are much larger than we can answer.  And we all have choices about how to respond to them.  Do we cower away?  Do we mount the horse of complaint?  Or do we choose to put our trust in our Father?  The way we choose to respond to struggle will tell all about what kind of a day, week, year or life that we will have.

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

tacos part deux

My dear friend Sharon had this comment on my post of a few days ago-

Very interesting story...let me tell you mine. I was at that very same Taco Bell a few years ago but had a very different situation. I went through the drive-thru, placed my order and then pulled up to the window to pay. I realized my wallet was not in my purse--I had left it at my daughter's house. I apologized to the lady at the window and started to drive off. She says, "Oh, don't worry about it honey" and hands me my food and drink. I said that wasn't necessary and she insisted that I take the food without payment. I told her I'd bring the money back, but I'm not sure I ever did. But doesn't it seem kind of ironic that there are homeless/hungry people with no money hanging around Taco Bell waiting for leftovers while people with money (not necessarily on them) get their food for free. What's wrong with this picture?

my stomping grounds

Most of the first 12 years of my life were spent in the vicinity of 99th and Holmes.  The local landmark there has always been Gomer's.  I went to elementary school at 105th and Holmes and would have gone to Center South Jr High on 103rd had we not moved to California.

I skateboarded at Colonial Presbyterian.  I rode my bike across Holmes and Wornall roads to visit friends.  I played neighborhood baseball and football in Linden Hill and snuck into the pool at Indian Heights.  I went to vacation bible school at Holmeswood Baptist Church.  When 435 was being built, we climbed the fence, threw our bikes over, and rode up and down the newly poured concrete.  We owned the neighborhood.

My Parents moved back to this neighborhood when we came back from California in 1976.  They both finished their time on earth in this neighborhood.  My sister still lives there.

I guess things are changing in my old stomping grounds.  Besides the homeless people I met at Taco Bell the other day, I guess there are many others in the area.  I hear that they are on the corner of 95th and Holmes, trying to collect money from motorists.  We used to go to the Dairy Queen on the SW corner of that intersection. 

My sister tells me that in the woods just east of the Indian Heights pool there is a homeless camp.  Tents and camp fires and such.  She tells me that every now and then the neighbors call the police and the police run the homeless people off.  Which prompts a question or two- how do you run off homeless people?  Where do they go?

Seems like just the other day we were playing softball at the Evangel Temple field and having bicycle races around Winslow Place Circle.

You grow up a certain way and you expect some things to stay the same.  But we have no guarantees.  God is still good and life goes on.

It's a melancholy day in God's world, lets go look for the good.

two tacos

I dropped off a couple of books to a Catholic Priest friend of mine over by Rockhurst College.  It is lunch time now.  I am on the way to St. Joseph hospital to visit a member.  Since I am concerned about starving to death before I get to the hospital, I stop at the Taco Bell at 103rd and State Line.  These are my old stomping grounds [but more about that later.]

As I park the car, I notice a homeless man by the dumpster.  I go in to order my lunch.  I get my Taco Bell usual.  Three tacos and a bean burrito.  I really like hitting Taco Bell.  Thank God the food is good for you.

As I am eating, I notice another homeless man who is asleep inside, in a booth.  Arms crossed on the table, head on arms, out cold.  Dead to the world.  Someone has laid a $5 bill on the table at the edge of his arm.  When he wakes up, he will be glad to see this.

As I am eating my food, I keep thinking about the homeless man outside.  I decide that I really don't need to eat the last two tacos.  I go to get a to go bag and head outside.  I go looking over by the dumpster, but the homeless man is gone.

Three people sitting in a car think that I am throwing away the bag.  They try to tell me where the dumpster door is at.  I tell them that I was looking for the homeless man.  I was going to give him these two tacos.  Without hesitation, they all said, "we are homeless."  I took the bag of two tacos over to their dilapidated car.  A young woman in the back seat stuck her hand out the window.  I gave her the tacos.

She was absolutely delighted.  You would have thought she hadn't eaten in a week.

Oh.  Wait.  Well, I guess I don't know when she ate last.  But yesterday, she got two tacos from an old preacher.  And she gave the preacher something to think about.  Is it possible that homeless people hang around at places to eat, hoping that some kind soul will bring some food to them on their way out?

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