A Tribute

Three weeks ago we held a memorial service for our dear friend, Lynn Woodruff.  Ken and Lynn's nephew Eric Keller is a pastor in Enid, Oklahoma.  He writes a blog and this is what he shared about the service for Lynn.

Blessed By a Funeral

What a crazy week. I've driven about 1,500 miles this week as I went to KC, MO to my aunt's funeral on Monday and went to Arkansas for a conference on Wednesday. Lots of miles, but lots of blessings too.

I was deeply impacted at my aunt's funeral. There were many things that were impressive about the whole experience there. First of all, this church (Woods Chapel) was so loving to my uncle and the family there. You could feel it and sense it. They had their guest services team there. They were opening doors, greeting, directing people. I asked someone if this was normal. They said yes. They do it for most funerals for church members. That was really impressive. A long line formed to offer condolences to my uncle. It went on for about 90 minutes. Person after person expressing concern and love for my uncle and his loss. I must admit, it was not what I expected at all, but it was really neat to watch.

The funeral service was equally impressive. You talk about a life celebration service! That's exactly what it was. If you knew my aunt, then you knew that she was the epitome of kindness and goodness and love. She just had that way about her. It wasn't how she acted, it was who she was. She lived out her faith and commitment to Christ everyday. At the funeral there was story after story after story that people wrote in or shared at the mic about her impact and Christian example. Friends and acquaintances alike shared how they were touched by my aunt's life. It was amazing.

Several take aways for me. First, this church expressed love and care in a big way. The guest services team was even there and this was one of the most well attended funerals I've ever attended. The church lavished concern and caring on my uncle and the family. This is how churches should respond when someone among them loses a loved one. Just showing up so the family knows you care is huge. When in doubt...if it's someone in your church family...show up. Just showing up says we love you and we care for you. It means a lot to a mourning family or individual.

Another take away is that a Christian's funeral should be joyous. I really enjoyed celebrating her life at the funeral. Christians should not mourn as those who have no hope. (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13) There will always be mourning at any funeral, but the Christians should remember that the deceased is with Christ and there is no better place to be. Knowing this, we find a celebration of Christ's love for us is appropriate.

Overall, let me just say...well done. The whole experience was well done. I saw Christian brothers and sisters serving, loving, and sharing life together in such a way that it made me think, this is what koinonia (deep fellowship) must have been like in the early church. To Woods Chapel, I commend your Christlikeness. It blessed my soul. Thank you Lord for this example of the way things ought to be when you're a part of the family of God.

http://eric-keller.blogspot.com/2012/08/blessed-by-funeral.html

Today I simply share this with you to again celebrate the life of our friend, Lynn and to celebrate the fine Woods Chapel family.  I am blessed to have you in my life.

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

Logan's

Breakfast, lunch, dinner.  It is more than a part of my day, it is often a part of my job as a Pastor.  When people want to talk, I often end up with a Breakfast or a lunch on the schedule.  I am glad to do this.

Since I have been on my diet, I have been looking for places to eat that have healthy food.  Subway is wonderful.  Also Applebees and Logan's Road House have several tasty, yet healthy meals.

So, having said all of that, I would like to apologize to a member of our church.  I was at lunch at Logan's a couple of weeks ago with a woman from church and her mother.  We were engaged in some discussion, and another woman that attends our church came to the table.  She just wanted to say hello, she told me that I probably did not know her name, but she comes to Woods Chapel.

Since we were talking at the table, the whole moment took me a bit by surprise.  Looking back, I am sorry if I looked startled, I am sorry that I did not know your name, and I am sorry that I did not handle the whole thing better.  Please forgive me.

It is important for all of us to remember that every person is important. For example, that is not just a neighbor walking back from the mail box.  That is a precious child of God that matters very much to Him.  To the extent that we remember this, we are seeing people as our Father sees them.

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

trips

Trips and vacations.  Do you know the difference between a trip and a vacation?  If you take the kids, its a trip.  Ha ha.

I think about places that I like to go.  Northern California.  Florida.  New Orleans.  Where do you like to go?

Now I am going to change the subject.  I am driving down the road, thinking about the cars that are coming the other direction at 55mph.  If one of them crosses the center line, I am going to be going on a trip.  A trip to eternity.

It is a trip that all of us are going to take.  It is not optional.  We are all going to make the journey.  We forget how fragile our bodies are, but in one careless moment, our souls can so easily become dislodged from this earthly house. 

Take care of yourself, and enjoy today.  Enjoy your trips and vacations, and enjoy the gift of this day.  We have a limited number of them left, you and I.

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

for each other

Do we go to worship for ourselves, or for others?  Do we stop going when we begin to feel like we are not getting anything out of it?

Sunday the pastor reminded us that sometimes we sing, not for ourselves, but for others.  For those who have shown up that are broken and crushed.  For those who cannot muster a smile much less a song.  We sing for them.  He encourage them by our singing. 

Sometimes worship is about what we give to others, and about what we give to our Father.  The moment we get this, everything changes.  I recently received this comment from a dear friend.  "Before my Christianity dropped 12inches (from my head to my heart), I did not need to be in church. I thought it was all about me, my needs. Now I understand that others in the Church need me to be there, that we all need the Community worship."

May we all come to a greater understanding of how our lives interface with others.  May we all learn to see that we can be a blessing to others.

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

a great day

Labor day was a great day for me.  One great moment after another.

It began with a trip to a friend's home where we did a guy thing.... we shot guns.  Very nice.  Lots of fun.  It is hard to explain why this is enjoyable, but it is

Then another friend picked me up and took me out to Blue Springs Lake where we rode in his boat and sat in the water for a couple of hours.

I arrived home to find a 1970 corvette in my driveway.  A friend stopped by to show me his acquisition.  I got to drive it.  Awesome. 

Top it off with a dinner out with my wife.  I am on top of the world.

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

visible sins

I once read a story about a group of people that were very mean and judgmental.  They were always looking at others and commenting on their sins.

Then one day an interesting rain storm hit the town.  The rain washed away the ability of people to hide their sins.  Colored marks would appear on the face of the person corresponding to their sin.  Red for adultery, green for lust or envy, black for hatred, orange for gluttony, etc. 

Suddenly everyone looked at each other a little differently.  Now there would be no pretending.  Anyone that focused on the sin of another, had to know that their sins were completely visible as well.

That is the end of the story.  What does it mean for us?  Well, our sins are completely visible to God.  Also, most normal people understand that everyone has their sins.  Healthy people don't spend time gossiping about the faults of others.

Seeing the good means looking at others and focusing on their strengths, not their weaknesses.  It means seeing the best in people, not the worst.  It means doing unto others as we would have them do unto us.

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

Happy Day

For seven years my wife Cathy has travelled with her job.  She got on a plane every Monday and flew to some town.  Sacramento.  LA.  San Antonio.  Chapel Hill.  Tampa.  Miami.  Billings.  Denver.  New York.  DC.  And then there were the really cool places that she went to like Wheeling West Virginia and Hazard, Kentucky.

I would go about my business during the week and look forward to her coming home on Thursday or Friday.  As you can imagine, it took years to get used to her being gone so much.  It was also impossible to get together with anyone.  Someone would invite us over for dinner and it was impossible.  When she was finally home, the last thing that she wanted to do was to go somewhere.

Well, all of this is coming to an end.  It has come to and end.  Cathy is on vacation this week, and starts a new job in town later this month.  Her travelling days are over.

This is a happy day and I invite you to rejoice with me.

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

elevators

There are many life lessons to learn from elevators.

First, always stand back so that others can get off, before you try to enter.  There isn't room for everyone, and it is just good manners to let others get off before you try to enter.

Second, do not talk on your cell phone on an elevator.  It is not your private phone booth.  Make your calls in private, later.  Same goes for in line at the grocery store by the way.

Third, if you are on the elevator with your friends as well as others that you don't know, respect the space of the others and hold off on your conversations with your friends until later.

Finally, this is shared but personal space.  The people that are on the elevator do not need to be looked at or engaged in conversation.  Frankly, it may scare them.  Just a simple hello is plenty.

Elevator manners say a good deal about who we are.

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

investment

I posted last week and referred to the concept of investment.  Investing in others.  The post gathered some comments, so I wanted to clarify further.

When I speak of us investing in others, we do not do this to get something in return.  When we invest in the stock market, we hope to receive a return, but people are not our "projects."  The best human investments are completely self-less.  Just simply doing good to another with no thought that they must reciprocate or do something back to us.

Now of course, this can be taken too far out of context as well.  When I invest in my children, I really hope that they take in what I am saying and follow it.  When I invest in a sermon, I hope it reaches the hearers and they make positive responses.  When God invests in us, he hopes that we will respond with love.

But in our daily life, to invest in another without expecting anything in return is a true gift.

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

witness

A few years ago, the United Methodist church added the word witness to our membership vows.  Prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness.  Witness scares most people.  I am supposed to do what?

Witness does not mean that you run around scaring people to death.  It doesn't mean that you become an annoyance to others.  It doesn't mean that you leave your normal life to corner folks and talk to them. 

When we are living the Christian life, we are a witness.  Our word and our actions, are a testimony to Christ.  We don't have to tell people that we follow Christ, they can see it.  They can tell that there is something loving and joyful about us.

Our goal should not be to rush out and witness, our goal should be to follow Christ and then just do what comes naturally.  You will know when it is right to talk with someone, and you will know when it is weird.  Stay close to your Father and love Him with all your heart.  If we do that, we can't help but be a witness.

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

helping orphans

Someone asked me the other day what they could do to help orphans.  This is what I told them....

Helping orphans is not the answer.  Helping orphans is a symptom of a life that is lived beyond one's self.  Begin to see every person as valuable, every person as a gift from God.  No one is an interruption, no one is an annoyance, no one is in your way.  Every one is God's child, everyone is an orphan.  Everyone is needing of care.

Do this, think like this, every day.  Over and over again.  Then to volunteer or reach out to help orphans in some specific way is simply an out growth of who you are and what you do.  You don't step out of your normal life to help someone, you are constantly helping someone and the recipient this time happened to be orphans.

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

what ever I am doing

What ever I am doing now.  What are you doing now?  What will I be doing, what will you be doing in an hour?  At 5pm?  Tomorrow?  Whatever we are doing, there is this thought that occurs to me from time to time...........randomly.

I am working on a sermon, I am watering flowers, I am talking to a child, I am talking to a staff member, I am doing something about the church or my family or my home.  I am having lunch with a friend that loves history.

And the whole time that all of this is taking place, the entire time, I am rushing about with my life, people in the Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Mozambique are starving to death.  Starving to death.  Starving.   Sorry to depress you, but what is wrong with me that I am not consumed by this reality?  Is what I am doing really more important that people starving?

Is it a beautiful day for them?

If this post takes you by surprise, then you may be as lost in your own life as I tend to get.  How can this be?  I go blythely on my way, and people are dying.  I am so glad for our missions program at church and the chances that each of us have to help others.  I want to do more of that.

repentance

Repentance means to turn around.  To stop one action or behavior and turn to another.  I wonder if the Christian church has missed this.

We tend to think of repentance as turning from sin.  But, what do we turn towards?  Do we say that we are sorry and let it go at that?  Repentance is more than saying we are sorry.  Repentance also must mean that we turn towards our Father.

Not just turning away from sin, but turning towards.  Towards our Father.  Is it enough to say sorry for the bad things that we do?  Is that where we want to leave it?  Or is the story that we really want to leave about us moving towards our Father.

I repent.  I want to stop the bad behavior, but I also want to move towards the great lover of my soul.

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

I like you

I realized an odd thing last week.  Here it is......when I like me, I am easier on you.  They say that we are the worst on the people that we love.  The folks that we love tend to get the worst of us. 

So, I am nasty to my wife and kids when I have a problem.  Let's turn that around.  When I am feeling good about myself, then I am more kind to those that are close to me.  I love them better when I am happy with myself.

{Lord, is it still all that much about me?}

Take a deep breath and feel good about yourself today.  Will that prepare you to be more kind to your family?  When I like myself, I bring so much more positive things to my family.  Let me work harder on liking me so that I will be more kind to those that I love.

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

believer

I have been thinking lately.  That is usually good.

Am I a believer or a Christ follower?  [by the way, there is no guilt here, I am just having a discussion.]  Believers tend to punch their ticket and then go on with their lives.  Christ followers think every day about who they are emulating. 

This is not about who the good ones and the bad ones are.  It goes like this- I love Jesus and I want to follow Him.  So, what did He do?  He loved, he cared, he invested in people.  He didn't judge anyone.  Christ followers are intentionally working to live like Jesus did, because we want to follow Him.

To the extent that we are able to do this, it is a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

oppression

Each of us have the choice in this life to be lovers or haters.  Lovers or users.  Too often we select our course of action, insisting that we are right, with no thought of the effect upon others around us.

What did the Aztecs think when they were being starved and slaughtered by Cortez?  What did the American Indians think when they were being hunted and systematically exterminated?  Did they pray to the Great Spirit? 

What did slaves think when they were kidnapped from their tribes in Africa and smuggled to America in the belly of a boat?  Their familes were split up and they were sold in chains.  They worked hard and they sang songs like, "swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home."  They looked for a time when God would save them and release them from the pain of this life.

Are we inflicting pain on the lives of others or are we bearers of hope?  Are people glad to see you and me coming or does it cause them distress?  We have a choice to make each day.  May we always be thinking about how our actions affect others around us.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, make it one for those around you as well.  Help them see the good.

worship

It is the Lord's day.  Why do we worship?  We go to worship because we love God and because God loves us.  We go because something happens when we are together in God's house.  There is an encouragement that comes to us that is hard to explain.

To love God and be loved by God is the greatest truth in this life.  To express our grattitude to Him is the most holy prayer.  Worship doesn't start at 9:05 or 10:10, worship has been going on for eternity.  When we get to church on Sunday, we are simply joining in a song that has been being sung for ages.

Sunday.  The Lord's day.  A time to rest from our concerns and celebrate life in Him.

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

framiliarity

Framiliarity breeds contempt.  If you are around something long enough, you can forget how wonderful it is.

A man loves the beach so much that he moves from the mid-west and buys a home on the ocean.  He goes out to fish in his boat every day.  After a while, he allows his life to be overcome by the same things that bothered him in the mid-west.  His worries and insecurities take over his brain.  Pretty soon, he stops noticing the wonder of the ocean, the waves and the beach.

A person gets married and is so excited about their spouse.  After a few short years of living in close proximity, the good things are forgotten and the painful things are exagerrated.  The person wonders how it got to be like this.

A family gets a pet.  They are so excited. The new pup is so cute.  One year later, after feeding it and cleaning up it's waste, the same family that so loved the dog, now moves through it's life, barely noticing.  The dog is left wondering what happened.

You and I.  We lived for years before we actually noticed the miracle of a sunset.  Once we caught on, we spent some time savoring the beauty of sunsets, day after day.  Then we got busy.  Today we know that sunsets are beautiful gifts from God, but we rarely take the time to enjoy them.

I think this is a sin.  To be so close to something that you love, that you no longer recognize it's wonder.  Take another look.  Look at that spouse, that pet, that home, that ocean, that sunset.  Take another look.  See the good, it is still there.

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

what do you love?

One way to tell what we love is to see the amount of power that we give to it in our lives.  I love my dog, but he doesn't get to chew up my car.  There are boundaries.  I love my kids but they don't get to sass their mother. [It's just an illustration, my kids love their mom.]  I love our trees so I protect them from pest infestations.

Now it gets tricky.  I love my money so I protect it from things that want to take it, including God.  I love my time so I resist the invitations from God to give my time.  After all, it is my time and my money, isn't it?

Ask yourself what you love more, your time and money or God.  Are these things submitted to Him or is there a boundary that you have placed up that holds our Father back from speaking into how you spend your time and money?

Answer honestly, and you can tell pretty easily how much we love which things.  The good news is, the moment we put God first, there is a joy and a happiness that we cannot find when we put other things before Him.

Love God!  Love Him with all your heart, your soul, your mind, your strengh, and love your neighbor as yourself.

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

time

Last night I was going through a drawer in my desk and I ran across a copy of a speech that the late Steve Jobs had made. I kept it because it spoke to me and still does.

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." Steve Jobs

Each day is a gift. If I don't put that thought into my head each morning then where is my day taking me? to the next day? end of the week? the year? and so on.....

Peace,
Lion's Den Man

do more

From a reading this morning..... "Love pushes us beyond duty, rather than stopping there, and acts when we don't know for sure what the ethical thing to do is. If the ethical question is, "What must be done?" love adds, "I will do more."

If you are like me, sometimes it is hard to go into the day with the attitude I know is best and the one that actually works.

Colossians 3:23 (The Message)
22-25Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't cover up bad work.

Peace,
Lion's Den Man

approval

Years ago when I felt more on the "outside" of my faith, I used to think that being a Christian meant throwing everything away...I mean big things like your personality, your humor, and most of the things in life that I could identify with....

Unfortunately, at the time, the people I knew who were working hard at their faith and working hard to gain others into a life centered on Christ just seemed dull and somewhat unhappy. They seemed to lack a spirit...their soul did not soar.

Now, that is an experience with a certain group of people in my past, but there are some, today, for whatever reason that still walk in the shadows and can't quite seem to express fully who and what they are all about. Maybe it is fear. Maybe they feel they need to project a certain image. Maybe we all have a bit of this in our makeup...

What I do know is a fuller life is available when we set our souls free.

Peace,
Lion's Den Man

moving forward

Sometimes I find great pieces of insight in movies.


From the movie HUGO
Hugo Cabret: I'd imagine the whole world was one big machine. Machines never come with any extra parts, you know. They always come with the exact amount they need. So I figured if the entire world was one big machine... I couldn't be an extra part. I had to be here for some reason. Maybe that's why a broken machine always makes me a little sad, because it isn't able to do what it was meant to do... Maybe it's the same with people. If you lose your purpose... it's like you're broken.

Of course broken things can be repaired. Hope is always there. You may not be completely dismantled...maybe just a little off track. Either way it is just about taking the next step. Move forward. As Jeff said in the sermon yesterday, “the rest of my life is mine”. Take that thought and run with it....

Peace,
Lion’s Den Man

cats and dogs

So, here is a long story.  When I was 13 I read a book called In the Serpent's Coil by Farley Mowat.  It was about ocean going tug boats that save ships in distress.  I know that makes me a nerd.  In the past year I have learned that Farley served in Holland during WW2 and has writeen many books and has been involved in at least one movie.  The movie is called, Never Cry Wolf.  I found the movie and recorded it.  I started watching it the other night.  So did our cat, Tyler.  He was very interested in the big white wolf.

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

truth, pt. 2

Truth Part Deux.  I mentioned yesterday that we like truth.  I need to readdress that.  I think we like truth when it is convenient, when it is what we like to hear.  I think we hate truth and ignore truth when we choose to.

We see the hypocrisy in the other candidate but refuse to acknowledge the very same practices in our candidate.  We easily identify the shortcomings of our spouse, but have a deaf ear to our own.  We like the part of Jesus that makes me feel saved, but we are not interested in the truth that asks us to live differently.

What is the truth about how I treat my spouse?  What is the truth about my standard of living?  What is the truth about my eating habits?  What is the truth about my level of generosity?

Living a Christan life means living a congruent life.  It means that we allow the Spirit to reach in and change us, even in, especially in the ways and places that make us uncomfortable.  It means that we finally come clean and are honest with God and with ourselves about who we are.

When we begin to live like this, it is a beautiful day in God's world.  Be sure to see the good.

truth

Truth.  We all know it and we all like it.  We all identify truth and take it in.  Sometimes we think that we have the truth market cornered.  But, how much is there in the world that I don't know about?  How much is there in the world that you don't know about?  Isn't there a lot of truth out there that we have never heard, and will never hear?

Now don't get uncomfortable, but if there is truth out there that we don't know about, doesn't that mean that there is a lot about God that we don't know?  Jesus said I am  the way the truth and the life.  That cannot be defined by our tiny grasp of truth in the world.  What that tells me instead is that Jesus is a whole lot bigger than I thought, and a whole lot bigger than even the church thinks.

The God that we serve is immense and amazing.  Although He is beyond our ability to control and manage Him, He has made himself known to us.  That is pretty wonderful.

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

being there

Someone was there for me.  I am going to be there for them.  It is a life principle.  Sure we need to take care of everyone that we can, but there are those people that have loved you for a long time.  Sometimes they need help, and when they do, we must be there for them.

It is not done out of duty, though it could be, it is done out of love.  To stand with someone when they need your help is a very good thing to do.  I owe a lot of people.  You may as well. 

We should all count ourselves as lucky to have people in our lives that have had our backs.

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

rejection

You have to put rejection into perspective.  There is always going to be someone that does not like you and does not agree with you.  If it is a serious discussion, then I love to entertain them, but if it is just criticism, then sometimes you have to put rejection into perspective.

How hard is it to let something roll off of your back?  Don't let the arrow stick.  Love everyone, especially those who seem to enjoy hurting you.  Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.  I think Jesus said that.

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

my latest disaster

My latest disaster occurred about five days ago.  I was going to write about it, but I was so angry that I couldn't.  Finally today I sit down to write about what was bothering me so much, and I cannot remember what happened.  Do any of you remember why I was so upset?  It seemed so important at the time.

How many times has something happened to me and I thought it was the end of the world.  But just a few days later, I couldn't remember what all of the commotion was about.

Maybe much of what we get bothered about really isn't worth being upset over.

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

bike ride

Last night I went for a bicycle ride.  Six miles.  I saw several friends from church out for a walk or a walking of the dog.

The thing that impressed me the most about the ride as compared to driving in a car were the smells.  I loved the smells of the trees that I caught along the way.  It was wonderful.  It was so nice to have a day to be outside in God's world.

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

Don't give up

You may feel that you are behind.  You may be in trouble, and not see a way out.  It is very easy to get discouraged in this life.  Don't give up.  Keep after your goals.  If you are overwhelmed by 5 problems, then work on them one at a time.  God makes a way where there seems to be none.

Don't fret that today does not look quite the way you wanted it to look.  The world is filled with countless stories of those who persevered difficulty to overcome.  In fact, the only great stories of victory belong to those who came from behind to win.  Does anyone even care if the Yankees win the World Series?  They have the best team that money can buy.  Oh, but if the Royals win the World Series, that is a sweet victory indeed.

Keep smiling, keep loving, keep going.  The race is not always to the swift, nor the victory to the strong.  Get up every day and put one foot in front of the other. 

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

Three favors

Sorry that today's post is late.

I have this theory that you get about three favors with most people before they get sick of you.  Consequently we have to be careful how much we ask of the people around us.  Sometimes we get in trouble at church because I think I have only asked a person  who may be looking for help.

Take care not to over burden those whose help you need.  Also, feel free to say "no I can't help with that."  And don't feel guilty about it, if you are the one being asked.

Where are you and I on the three favor thing?  Have I exhausted you or are you pretty open to my asking for help?

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

internment camps

I am reading a book called "The Invisible Thread" by Yoshiko Uchida.  Someone recommended the book to me, so I ordered it.  Unfortunately the book they were wanting me to buy was a different book of the same name. 

I will have to get that invisible thread book another day.  This one is the autobiography of a Japanese- American woman who was 24 or so when WW-2 started.  Of course, she and her family lost all of their possessions and were put into an internment camp as all  Japanese- Americans were for the duration of the war.

The stories from her book are so terrible, so unfair and so unconstitutional.  I am not going to chase any of them in this blog, but it does cause me to stop and ponder a question:  "Are we oppressing anyone?" "Are you oppressing anyone?" "Am I?"

Anytime we hurt another person, we crush them down and force them to live in a prison of fear and worry.  How do you treat your employees?  Your co-workers?  The annoying cousin? 

It is far too easy for us to ignore injustice and just go about our merry way.  May we all learn from the lessons of the past and refrain from actions that hurt.

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

hearing and seeing

The bible is filled with comments about how the people had ears but did not hear, or eyes but did not see.

"Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember?"  Mark 8:18
See also, Jeremiah 5, Ezekiel 12, Psalm 135, Mark 4, Isaiah 6, Deuteronomy 29 and there are many more.
And how many times does Jesus end a story with, "he who has ears, let him hear."

There is the trait of humans that we just are not paying attention.  It is something that all of us have going on, but we face it in different ways.  Some don't see or hear but they aren't aware of their predicament.  They think they are doing great.  Others know that there is more, but don't ever take the time to explore what it is.  Then there are the brave, those who realize there is more and pursue it every day.  These are the folks that truly live.  They are ever growing, ever changing, ever falling deeper into the arms of our Father.

How are your ears doing?  Are you listening for that which is truly real?  Are you pursuing the life that is truly life?  Our days are too short to just muddle through.  Spirituality invites us to wake up, to be aware of what God is doing all around us.

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

cats and bags

What is it with cats and bags?  Cats and bags, boxes or cartons.  Throw something on the floor for them and they are inside of it in a flash.  Leave something on the counter and they will find a way to climb in.  Is it a source of comfort?  A place of safety?

This cat is named Tyler, and he and his sister were fighting over who got to lay in this bag.  He won this time.  Cute cat.  Good pet.  Pets make us happy.  They too are a gift from our Father.

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

the mystics

mys·tic (mstk)

adj.

1. Of or relating to religious mysteries.

2. Of or relating to mysticism or mystics.

3. Inspiring a sense of mystery and wonder.

      a. Mysterious; strange.

      b. Enigmatic; obscure.

 

Mystical.Right brain, left brain.  Learning or experiencing.

In my younger years I had more answers, in my later years I have more questions.  I would rather have a God that I have experienced, but cannot explain, then a God that I have all of the answers about.

Recently I have been reading a book by Kenda Creasy Dean called "Almost Christian."  Late in the book she encourages her readers to believe in a God that is near and available.  She suggests that we come to know God is this way, more from experience than from knowledge.

"For Christians, the best guides for faithful reflexivity are not scholars, but mystics- contemplatives who understand the necessity of temporary apartness from society in order to become detached [decentered] from self interest, in the service of perceiving God more clearly.  Throughout Christian mystical tradition, detachment serves as a preconditon for spiritual insight."

In other words, when we find a way to break loose from our self interest, we can find our Father.  Most often this comes from a place of prayer that goes beyond head knowledge. 

Take some time.  Savor the God who is above, below, around, beyond and amazing.

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

the pelican

I had the good fortune to spend a couple of days with friends in Florida last week.  They take some great photos which are posted around their home.  Being there allowed me to take this shot of this pelican.  I just love getting up close to God's creatures.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.  And take a picture of it if you can.

rain storm at dawn

In a picturesque moment last week, the author captured this photo, which he named "rain storm at dawn."

You can drive right through many wonderful moments in this life and never see them for what they are, but if we keep your eyes open in this world, there is always something amazing to see.  The art of actually seeing is quite a gift from our Father.

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

growth

Are you growing as a Christian?  Is your capacity for love expanding?  Are you becoming a sweeter person?  Are you going on to maturity?

The Christian faith, and Methodism for that matter has always valued the journey of this life that takes us from a new believer to an experienced believer.  Too often we confuse this with knowledge.  Knowing and learning things is surely a part of Christian growth, but by itself it is not the answer.

Real Christan growth happens when we allow the Holy Spirit to reach into some new part of our heart.  When we join with God in actively working to become better at being loving, joyful or peaceful.

I am all for entertainment, but what are you reading that is challenging you to become more like Christ?  What are you reading that is inviting you to change your life paradigm?  Life is too short to simply skate through.  There are many Christians that have aged chronically but not spiritually.  The spiritual life that is not becoming more loving............ is it really that spiritual?

Sorry that this post is a little heavy.  Don't let it deliver you guilt.  My point is that all of us can read something that will help us become more kind.  Is there any reason not to?

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

Bambi

A few blocks from our home is an open field.  It butts right up to Veile Road which is pretty well travelled.  There is a vacant house with a big yard that has attracted a lot of visitors lately.  I saw these little guys in the field and rolled up to about ten feet from the closest one.  You know how close fire hydrants are to the road - there was no zoom involved in these photos.

There is something about seeing God's creatures up close that just warms the heart. 

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

bragging

brag (brg)

v. bragged, brag·ging, brags

v.intr.

To talk boastfully. See Synonyms at boast¹.

v.tr.

To assert boastfully.

n.

1. A boast.

2. Arrogant or boastful speech or manner.

3. Something boasted of.

4. A braggart; a boaster.

 

Brag.  Bragging.  Bragadocious.  How ever you say it, most of us find the practice to be unattractive at best.  Every time I observe it, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.  I hope that I don't ever do it.  If I do, please punch me in the face.

 

There is an old saying: "those who say, don't know, those who know, don't say."  I would add a couple of words for clarification: "those who say, don't know; those who know, don't have to say."

 

It's like if you know that you are pretty or handsome, you don't have to run around and tell everyone.  They can see it for themselves.  There is no need to blow your own horn.  It's not a very good tune.

 

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

should or shouldn't

Regarding the earlier post today,  I should have written:

  If God doesn't throw this arrogant son away, then maybe we shouldn't.

Thanks to my friend who caught this. 

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

two sons revisited

My post last Saturday raised a couple of questions.  Let me clarify what I was trying to say.

In the story of the prodigal son, there are two brothers.  The prodigal brother has a bad attitude in the beginning and a good attitude in the end.  The other brother, the older brother has a bad attitude at the end. 

At the end of the story, the prodigal is sorrowful and humble.  The elder brother is arrogant and sassy.  It is all about him.  We generally love the humble and loathe the arrogant.  I think that the tone of scripture usually leans this way  as well.  God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

In this case however, both sons are loved by the father.  This picture gives me something to think about.  If God doesn't throw this arrogant son away, then maybe we shouldn't, I should be a bit more gracious to those whom we may have set aside, for any reason.

Grace is amazing.

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

seeing the good

The all-star game was in Kansas City this year.  It was hot and it was dry and it was a very bad baseball game if you were a fan of the American League.  For that matter, if you like a good baseball game, it wasn't that good no matter what side you were for.  The score was 5-0 at the end of the top of the first.  From that point on, the game was pretty much over.

So what will we remember from the allstar game this year?  First I remember that I got to go.  God bless the kind soul who called at 10:30am the day of the game and offered me tickets.  Second, I will remember that the all-star game, like baseball in general, is a bit of Americana.  There is something that just feels right about being at a baseball game, and this one was no different, win or lose.  Thirdly, I will remember the B-2 flying over.  My oh my, what moments those are.

Finally and possibly most important, I will remember that I was there with my daughter Jenny.  I hope she remembers it for the rest of her life.  I will.

Bad game?  Not really.  There is always something good to see if we just keep our eyes open.

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

the plans of men

Ah, the plans of men and women.  The ideas that we have.  I think I will build a fence.  Great!  We spend a good deal of time in this life constructing things, only to find later that God has other plans.  We totally forgot about the natural order of things.  We totally forgot that we are but dust.  This person forgot that live trees eventually trump dead trees.

How do you feel when life messes up your design?  Maybe we should be a bit less intransigent and a bit more flexible.  Maybe we should stop being upset when things don't turn out as we expected, and just laugh instead and understand that life is bigger than me.  God is bigger than me.  And it's all good.

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

Interruptions

Sometimes we have our plans, and then life interrupts us.  We get it all laid out.  A nice morning, the computer is fired up, a cup of coffee, and then the interruptions.

Sometimes we are interrupted by people as well.  It is very human to resent when things intrude into our plans.  Please be sure never to see people as interruptions.  People are valuable, people need to be loved, people are created by God.  God does not see people as interruptions.

Cats, well cats are different.  Scratch their heads and then throw them off of the table.  People however, need our attention.  It is our life mission to care for people.  We can always get back to our plans later.

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

2 brothers

In the prodigal son story, there are two brothers.  One wastes his inheritance and then finally comes home declaring that he is not worthy to be his father's son.  The second son is upset over the party that is thrown for the prodigal and insists upon his own worthiness.

One feels unworthy, one demands attention.  The interesting thing is this........... the Father loves both of them.  He looks right past their silly humanness and he just loves both of them. 

What does that say about you?  What does it say about those that you think don't get it?  Is there any reason at all to judge someone else if God's love extends beyond our approach to life?  Just some food for thought.

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

Ways God speaks

A friend shared this with me.

It is from the Book, Jesus Calling.

As you listen to birds calling to one another hear also My Love calling to you.  I speak to you continually, through sights, sounds, thoughts, impressions, Scripture.  There is no limit to the variety of ways I can communicate with you.  Your part is to be attentive to My messages, in whatever form they come.  When you set out to find Me in a day, you discover that the world is vibrantly alive with My Presence.  You can find Me not only in birds and birdcalls, but also in tragedy and faces filled with grief.  I can take the deepest sorrow and weave it into a pattern for good.

Search for Me and My messages as you go through this day.  You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with your whole being.

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

sunrise

Sunday morning sunrise on the Woods Chapel parking lot.  Don't miss your opportunities to see the beauty and glory of our Father.

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

Hot

Hot.  Yes it is hot.  Hot as Hades.  Maybe not quite that hot. 

Everyone has hot stories.  When I was in college, 77, 78 or 79, we had a fall that was very warm and the a/c in the dorms could not keep up.  We complained and protested to the administration.  We made signs and marched.  Nothing changed, except the weather, eventually.

In August of 1980 I was laying asphalt for a living.  We were putting a 2 inch cap on the parking lot at Truman Corners.  This was a big job and we were there for weeks.  It was hot.  Hot as Hades.  There were 21 days in a row that August that were over 100 degrees.  Thank heavens for the kind people at Ponderosa who let us come in and cool off and drink their water and sodas for free.  Eventually September came.

So here we are, the heat wave of 2012.  No one is having fun.  The Mercury is up.  Electricity bills are up. Tension is up, and it is only the middle of July.  What will August bring?  Maybe we should make some signs and complain to God.  Maybe, but maybe eventually August will be over and September will be here and things will cool off.

There is one thing that we have always said about the weather in Missouri, "if you don't like the weather, just wait, it is sure to change."

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

How?

Years ago I was having lunch with a very special person.  This is someone that I have known for a long time, but had never had the chance to sit down to eat.  This is someone who is wise beyond their years.  Someone who has had the most helpful advice for me in problems that I have encountered.  Over lunch I asked them, "how did you get to be the way that you are?"

They were not taken aback by the question, and responded as if they had been thinking about this very inquiry.  She said, "well, two things.  First, I had the most wonderful parents, the most wonderful home growing up.  Secondly she said, I have had in my working life, some wonderful mentors."

It did not surprise me that she gave such a good answer.  Like I said, this is a person that seems to always know what to do when I am at an impasse.

Family.  You can pick your friends, but not your relatives.  Some people that are raised in wonderful homes turn out wonderfully.  They take in the love and are shaped by their environment.  Others though, for some reason, go off the deep end and make bad choices.  The same is true for those raised in bad homes.  Some carry the dysfunction on into their adult life.  Others seem to somehow rise above their circumstance and live a life that is almost a reaction to the pain of their childhood.  All in all though, I would say that the odds are in favor of those raised in a loving supportive home.

Mentors.  This is very interesting.  Most of us have had a good mentor or two along the way.  The trick is to take advantage of the mentoring that is available.  Many folks cruise through life and miss the gifts that come from the wealth of knowledge and experience in a mentor.  A mentor can also be a book.  We can learn so much from those we have never met, simply by entering the world of their thoughts.

In either case, the question that is still circling above me in the air is this, "have I chosen to take advantage of the good opportunities that have come my way in this life?"  Did I recognize them for what they were and savor them?  Did I cling to words of wisdom and solid advice no matter how challenging it was?  Our response to such inquiry can make all the difference. 

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

suit and tie

Someone asked me recently if I had sold all of my suits and ties.  :) No, I still have them.  I explained to them that a shirt with tie can get pretty uncomfortable in warm weather.  Add a jacket and Sunday morning gets pretty miserable for me.  Pity the pastors who are wearing ministry robes in this heat!

So I have opted for a more casual dress for the hot weather.  When things cool back down, my ties will reappear.  I hope that is ok with the congregation.

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

conflict

If we would heal relationships, we must be willing to hear from those who do not agree with us.  If we expect to be successful in communicating with others, we must be willing to listen as well as talk, and we must be willing to listen well.  Maybe they actually do have something to say that has some truth.  Maybe I can learn from those that disagree.

When greeting them, do not be nervous.  People can smell this.  Make up your mind ahead of time that it is all going to be fine.  What is the worst that could happen?  See the good in them and remember that God loves them.  Do not be threatened by what they say.  Listen, take it in, and respond.  Do not react, but respond.  Speak from the best of who you are.  Do not let your insecurities take the moment over.  What does it say anyway if you are insecure about whatever position you are holding?  Isn't that a sign that you may be on shaky ground?

Conflict usually only becomes conflict when we raise the ante.  If we can stay relaxed and grace filled, real communication is possible.

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

3.2

3.2 miles.  That is the distance of my wife's little walking excursion.  Up our street, down Veile Road, enter Lakewood and make the Northgate Crossing loop.  Then home again.  3.2 miles of up and down hills, automatic lawn sprinklers and barking attack dogs.

I know all of this because I finally went on the walk with her.  I had dreaded the journey, but once I got started, I felt a lot better, in fact, once I got started, I wanted to beat her.  Instead of worrying that she would leave me in the dust, I wanted to end the walk just about ten feet in front of her.

Well, it could not have gone any better.  I walked the flats and jogged the hills and waited for her at the top.  I think I totally exhausted her.  I was proud of myself.  Maybe I still have it.  Whatever "it" is.

Well, a couple of days ago, my wife is out of town, [story of our life the last eight years] my wife is out of town on business and my 23 year old daughter wants to take me on the 3.2 loop.  Ok, I am in.  It is another opportunity for me to show my prowess as a new member of the Olympic track team.  She never played a lot of sports, so I should have this in the bag.

Off we go, walking at a brisk clip.  I keep waiting for her to get tired.  We come to the first hill.  I have warned her that I jog the hills.  I take off.  3/4 of the way up the top, I am out of gas and I quit.  I hear a noise behind me, Jenny is still running.  She says, Dad- if you are going to jog the hills, you have to jog to the top. 

Well as you can imagine, the rest of the 3.2 loop was pretty painful with 55 year old me trying to keep up, and unsuccessfully trying to keep up with my 23 year old off spring.  Only the price of life kept me from throwing in the towel and begging for a break.  We arrived at home and I crashed.

Here is the moral of the story.  There are many races in life that you may feel afraid of at first, but once you get started, you will feel a lot better about it all.  Just don't try to race someone that is 30 years younger than you are.

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

resilience

I had a cup of coffee with a friend the other day.  One of the words that came up was resilience.  What a powerful word that is, and what a wonderful characteristic to have.

The ability to get up when one gets knocked down is quite valuable in life.  To learn the trait of resilience is very needed when life gets difficult.  To some degree, it all boils down to the choice we make to lay on the ground and pout or to get up, dust ourselves off and look to see the good.

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

safety - something to think about

A long time friend sent me this story...........I enjoyed his comments as well.........

Children attending kindergarten cannot fully comprehend all the priceless reasons they are there - to socialize, make friends, grow, and prepare for ever higher realms of awareness - by that age they can, nevertheless, sense and grasp that their wise and doting parents have kept their very best interests in mind, and that is enough. Because with this awareness, they can at least stop trying to figure everything out and simply start enjoying their hand painting, alphabet lessons, and cat-naps. Knowing that even if they break a crayon or some lad pulls a chair out from under them, they're still exactly where they should be, everything is going to turn out just grand, and everyone back home is as proud as can be.

His comment:  "Made me think of boys we know.  No not you and me, ...our sons.    Ok you and me too."

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

thinking

Someone posted this comment to the blog the other day:  "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."  Aristotle

I love it.  It is a reminder that we do not have to be threatened just because an idea is different than what we may hold to.  The world is full of angry retorts to ideas that people don't agree with.  What would the world look like if we were all able to think and let others think?  What would the world look like if we could actually entertain a thought without being threatened by it?

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

one little voice

Sunday morning I am walking from my car to the church.  I park a long way away, as I know that most of you do, so that visitors can park closer.  There is nothing going on in the parking lot on Sunday morning, but I hear a really loud bird.  The song of this bird is filling up the entire north lot.

I go to find him.  On the top of a light pole he sits.  a little tiny guy.  A little tiny guy with a very big song.  When I tried to take his picture, he flew away.  You may not be able to see him in my picture, but he is there.

How big are you?  How big is your song?  Most of us feel small and insignificant.  But you know, some wonderful songs come from small things.  Why not open your mouth and sing for God.  SMILE, LIVE, LOVE.  Let your light shine.  You are not a little insignificant thing.  I'll bet that your song is bigger than you ever thought.  Let it out.

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

an old friend

I saw and old friend the other night at a wedding.  We don't see each other very often, but it is always a good thing, at least for me, when we do.  Sometimes there is a feeling that people have, that if we don't hang out, then the relationship does not matter.  Well, you know, we get busy, and life happens.  There are many people that I really love that I don't see as much as I would like.

But here's to this old friend.  Let's get some chicken wings one of these nights.  But, until then, please always know that you are greatly appreciated even if it takes a wedding for us to find one another.

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

three things

So, we rise to another day.  Will it be a day that is good for us?  Will we sense the presence of God?  Is it possible that we have some control over that?  What if we woke up every day and made a commitment to do three things.

1.  smile at other people
2. speak and be pleasant
3. hug every one that you can

I just have to believe that when we take the initiative and act upon the world, our day has a chance of being great.  Don't wake up and wait for the world to act on you.  Step out and be who God has called you to be.

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

an open mind

An open mind.  Do you have one?  How does one get one?  A mind is a terrible thing to waste, but many people do just that.

I watch people listen to political ads and they usually are not swayed one iota from their current view of reality.  I listen to people talk about their faith and the language is some of the most intransigent that you will hear.  It is almost as if people are afraid of things that might change their way of thinking.

Why be afraid?  Safety appears to be valued more than growth and learning.  You don't know what Presbyterians think?  Muslims?  Libertarians?  Rastafarians?  How on earth would it harm you to gain the knowledge of what other humans are doing and thinking? 

Personally, I find the ability to understand the perspective of others to be invigorating.  Years ago, I feared the perspective of others, and my life was filled with fear and intolerance.  When I began to try and understand others, I gained a bit of peace with them, even if I did not agree.  The world is a big place.  As my mother used to say, "there is more Horatio that is dreamt of in your philosophies."

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

a good story

I got this from my friend Jim.  I get many of these, which I usually delete if they come in a mass email.  He sent this to me personally and I am glad that he did.

A NYC Taxi driver wrote:

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard
box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'

'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive
through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice..'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired.Let's go now'.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut.It was the sound of the closing of a life..

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day,I could hardly talk.What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, remember that you have the gift to help others to see the joy the glory and the good.

Birthday

Last Thursday was my birthday.  It was a remarkably good day and I thank you all for it.  I ask myself, why this was such a good day?, and I have come upon something interesting.

I had absolutely no expectations, zero expectations about my birthday.  So, when I came to work and my office was decorated, it was a nice surprise.  I didn't expect any cards or gifts.  A few came in.  I wasn't thinking that I would receive calls or texts.  I received many.  I had no thought for facebook, but I received many good wishes.

Thank you all.  And I am wondering about the role of expectations.  When we really think that we deserve something, maybe it is easy for us to be disappointed.  But, when we are not expecting anything amazing, that is when we can be pleasantly surprised.

When I demand things from God or others, it never works out very well, but when I live and love and let live, then any moments of joy are just that.

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

prosperity

Prosperity.  Compared to the rest of the world, probably every single person that reads this is prosperous.  Why do I say that?  Well here are two good signs for you.......1.  you have access to a computer.  2. you can read.

We tend to look at the world and think that we need more.  More stuff.  Well, I keep thinking, "why did God give us this stuff in the first place?"  How much is enough?

If a person can retire in a small home, with a car that runs, that should be enough.  That is more than most people in the world will ever have.  Throw in a dog or a cat and you have everything that you need.

The rest of it?  Well, that is God's gift to you so that you can help others.  We are not prospered for our own pleasure.  We are prospered so that we can do God's work.  How much of what God gives you do you give to others?

My very best days are not the days when I got some new something for myself.  My best days are when I can look back and see something that I participated in that was a gift to someone else.  We are blessed not for ourselves, we are blessed to be a blessing to others.

Those who know this, find much joy in life.  For everyone else- try it, you'll like it.

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

sinners

We are still sinners.  We keep trying, but we are still sinners.  I run into people with lots of Christian bumper stickers on their cars.  Sometimes they aren't very nice when they drive.  I witnessed a young woman with a shirt on that said, "be aware- life is short."  She was behaving in a manner when I saw her that told me that she had totally forgotten the message on her shirt.

We keep trying.  We hope that things will get better, and some things will, but we are still sinners.  We are still the broken.  That is the bad news.

Thank God for the good news.  Because we are broken, because we are sinners, we need grace, and God gives it to us.  As crazy as we are sometimes, God's gift of grace to us is amazing.  And the world just became a wonderful place.

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

prayer

Yesterday we talked about facing change and dealing with difficulty in our lives.  Sometimes there is nothing we can do about a particular thing.  The natural human response to that is to complain and be angry that God isn't making my life happy.

There is another approach, and that is to trust in God, regardless of circumstances.

Here is the prayer that we concluded the service with:  "Father, if this is the new reality; let me see the good in it.  Let me learn to find the joy in that which I cannot control.  Give me your peace that passes understanding. In Jesus name, Amen.”

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

the gift of friends

On the 4th of July my 23 year old daughter had a bunch of her friends over to the house.  It was a very exciting time, with lots of young energetic people around.  They all brought food and drink and fireworks.  It was the best fireworks show that we have had in a number of years.

And so I notice something about these "kids."  Most of them have been Jenny's friends since they were 12 years old.  Think of that.......... friends that you are connected to, and love, and stay in contact with, since you were 12.

I have one friend from high school, a couple from college, a couple from past appointments, but none that I really stay up with.

What a gift it is to have long term, life long friends.  If you have them, give thanks!  If you don't have them, well, there is no time like the present to start.  Introduce yourself to someone at church and go to lunch with them.  Just think what you may be saying 12 years from now.

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

change

Change is gonna happen.  It is one of life's sure things.  Nothing lasts forever, nothing stays the same.  But, oh, how we grieve change!  How difficult change is for us!

A friend sent me this quote: "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

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

stretch 2 - update. I mis spoke

stretch

Problems stretch us. They just do. That is why we don't like them. We don't like to be stretched. Stretching makes us feel stress and robs us of our comfort.

Funny to use the word "rob" there, as if we have a right to comfort, but that is the way we usually think.

The older I get, I find more problems that I can do nothing about. But I have realized along the way, that I can do something about me. I can choose to become stronger. I can choose not to worry. I can choose my focus.

It is an odd thing but when I focus on the problem, it gets bigger. When I focus on making myself stronger and becoming the person that God wants me to be, the problem grows smaller.

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

stretch

Problems stretch us.  They just do.  That is why we don't like them.  We don't like to be stretched.  Stretching makes us feel stress and robs us of our comfort. 

Funny to use the word "rob" there, as if we have a right to comfort, but that is the way we usually think. 

The older I get, I find more problems that I can do nothing about.  But I have realized along the way, that I can do something about me.  I can choose to become stronger.  I can choose not to worry.  I can choose my focus.

It is an odd thing but when I focus on the problem, it gets bigger.  When I focus on making myself stronger and becoming the person that God wants me to be, the problem grows smaller.

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

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to me.  I was born at St. Lukes Hospital on the Plaza 55 years ago.

When I turned 50, I was driving somewhere with my son.  He said, "ha ha Dad, you are old."  Often when confronted by such nonsense, I never think of what to say until later.  You know the experience of thinking later - "I wish I would have said that then."

Well I was ready for 16 year old Scott.   I told him, "you know son, I have had many friends who never lived long enough to see 50, I am glad to be here.  I hope that you get to be 50 one day too."

He said, "good point, Dad."

Every day is a gift from God and it's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

80 cents

So I am waiting in line at a convenience store.  The woman in front of me is taking forever.  I am being really patient, then I get nosey and sneak a peak so see what she is doing.

She has five visa cards  or debit cards, each of which are supposed to have less than a dollar on them.  She is trying to use them to buy a two litre of coke.  She is 80 cents short.  She is pretty upset about this and tries to get the cashier to let her go.  He tells her that he cannot.

I catch his eye and nod my head.  I will cover the 80 cents.  She turns to me and says, oh no.  You dont have to.  I insist.  She is embarrassed, but takes the money and the coke, and leaves.

I am trying to imagine what life is like when you need five almost used up visa cash cards to buy a two litre.  There are people in our community that really need help.  I would rather help one too many, than to pass by those that actually do need help.  I think that God wants us to have a heart for the needy.

¹⁷ If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him,^(AR) how can the love of God be in him?  1 John 3:17
It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

the other side

There is always another side.  I got a nice note from a dear friend about my posts regarding politics.  She reminded me that it is our responsibility to be informed.  She is right.

Sometimes it is easy to see and think and talk about one side of an issue and leave the other side out.  sometimes I make a point in a sermon about something and there is another side to the issue that may be equally as true.

Where in your life are you listening to only one side?  What might you learn from the other side?

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

politics 2

Occaisionally I strike a nerve.  I was very appreciative of some of the comments on the post from Saturday on politics.  It looks like there are a lot of people that think the way that I do.  That is a bit scarry.

By the way, spell check isn't working lately on the blog so forgive my mis-spellings.

Here are some of the comments on politics:

1. You just got through saying this for many of us. I wonder where our kids who are growing up are supposed to look for good mentors today. They certainly can't look at Hollywood, Sports, or Political people. My best hope is that they grow up with good parents. And unfortunately it's not the good parents who make the news the most, so it's hard to guage that.

2. This may sound awful to most people, but I never watch the news. I usually find out what's going on in the world from other people that do. And the really sad thing is, what they tell me usually isn't even important or what I would consider "news"--it's depressing, or scary, or just disgusting sensationalism about some celebrity or issue that doesn't concern me or you or anyone else in the world.  Yep, I stick my head in the sand so to speak. Or the Bible--which I did this morning on the deck with a cup of coffee. I got the "good news".

3. i agree with turning it off. i have tuned it out and turned it off. i don't listen to sports talk either.... can't stand any of it.....so i am uninformed i guess...lack opinions on matters or the world...but at least i am not bitter and twisted and hateful and therefore i can be there in full for family and friends....

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

the box

Sometimes when we talk about a box, we talk about the box that people put God into.  Today I want to talk about a different box.

The box that is you.  Draw a box on a piece of paper and ask yourself, "what is in the box?  what are the elements, the parts, the characteristics of me?"   For some, this exercise in itself will be a little eye opening.  To think that a person can actually look at themselves and see what they are made of?  If we are honest with what we see in our box, we may not be that proud of it all.

So what is in your box?  maybe things like this.......
1.  I want to love people
2.  I am in a hurry when I drive
3.  I get hurt easily
4.  Life is basically good
5.  I rarely get a fair shake.
6.  I trust God
7.  I am mad at God

Those are random things, some of which are probably mutually exclusive, but you see what I mean.

Now here is the second question.  How does something get into your box?  How do you decide to let it in?  How do you decide to kick something out?  Wow- you mean we can do that?  Yes you can.  You can look at yourself and choose to be different that what you might naturally be.  We can choose the things that we want to add to ourselves, and the things that we want to get rid of.  It is not easy, and it does take time, but everyone that wants to change can do so.  It begins with really seeing who we are.

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