housing in Nicaragua

One of the most painful things that we saw on the trip was the housing situation.  Most of the people that we met live in houses made of mud and sticks.  They are about the size of a one car garage and have dirt floors with a metal roof.  If the rains fall or the wind blows hard, these homes can be damages very easily.






The homes were usually divided up into a front room, a bed room and a kitchen area.  The pottys are outside. [see picture]  Some houses had chickens running around inside of them.  The rooms might be divided by a stick wall but more often than not, they were divided by a sheet hanging from a piece of barbed wire.  If there were clothes hanging on the wire, that was like their closet for extra items.  If there were no clothes on the wire, they probably just owned the clothes on their backs.  I saw no extra shoes, no extra socks, not much in the way of possessions.



The beds were made of sticks.  No mattress.  Not real comfy.  They mostly served to keep you up off of the floor and away from the bugs, chickens and rats.  The smoke of the open fire in the kitchen blackened that corner of the home and provided ongoing respiratory issues for those who live there.




                                                typical kitchen
Contrast this with the new homes that the Rainbow Network is helping the families to build.  New homes have a concrete floor, cinder block walls and a well near by.  The kitchen is constructed outside with remnants from the old house.  Solid walls and doors keep out unwanted critters.  The homes are arranges in a village and community is established.





new village under construction


Most of the people I know, your home is worth more than all 70 homes in the village of Los Pinos.  What ever your challenges this day, Please know that you are greatly blessed by God.

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

Nicaragua 4

Let's talk for a moment about micro lending and education.  In Los Pinos there is a school building, it was built in the 70's by Ted Turner's TNT network.  It is pretty rudimentary, but there is a small building.  The Rainbow network pays a teacher and there are volunteer assistants.  School supplies are virtually non-existent.  Woods Chapel could outfit the school with supplies and those that had an interest in teaching would be more than welcome to spend time with the children.  Education is through the 4th grade.  To continue on into high school, the children must have a sponsor.  Many children in Los Pinos need to be sponsored.  We asked, and college seems to be a logistical impossibility for them.

The micro-lending program provides money to dependable members of the community to start their own businesses.  They are required to pay the money back on six month intervals.  If one of their team does not make a payment, the other members of the team have to cover the payment.  So it is a pretty accountable situation.  When the people get their loan, they stand up and say thank you, and they promise to pay back this loan before you and before God.  Some sign their papers, others make a mark with their finger print to seal the deal. 


Businesses that we saw included, raising chickens, raising pigs, making hammocks, and various little stores like the one pictured on the right.  Woods Chapel could help by increasing the size of the program, finding other types of businesses that might work, and reducing the cost of some of the commodities involved.  The micro-lending program gives people a sense of pride.  They are not getting a hand out, but a hand up.

If you have the opportunity for an education and the opportunity to be employed, you are truly blessed.

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

Health and nutrition in Nicaragua

The Rainbow Network works in Nicaragua in five areas: Health, nutrition, education, housing and micro lending.  Today a bit about health and nutrition.

The two main health problems that the people face are digestive issues from parasites and respiratory distress due to living in a dirt home with an open fire always burning.  The rainbow network provides indigenous doctors that meet with the people and help them as they can.  There is a dental clinic in the town of San Ramon about 45 minutes away.  Medicines are

             [children of Los Pinos]
provided but are difficult to come by.  The people have limited access to the doctor and dental facilities and no access to specialists.  The doctors and dentists have no continuing education and so any time medical people from the states go down to help, it is not only good for the people that get seen, it is good for the local doctors to be able to learn new things.

Nutrition is an issue.  The people are very poor and have access to a limited amount and variety of foods.  The government and the Rainbow network provide basic meals to children, pregnant women, nursing women, the sick               [doctor explaining to us the health issues]
and the elderly.

Our potential participation with this ministry can help in many ways.  Types and amounts of food can be increased.  Medical teams can help the people.  Relationships can be built and communications established that will allow us to do our best to care for needs as they articulate them.

If you have three meals a day and access to medical care, you are truly among the world's most blessed.

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

Nicaragua 2

The group that is running the ministry in Nicaragua is called the Rainbow Network.  They have been around for about 20 years. 

[boy picking up chicken feed from the dirt floor]



They have divided Nicaragua up into seven regions.  They are working in about 20 villages in each region.  They are headquartered in Springfield, Mo and their representative, Matthew E is willing to come up and talk to us at any time.

Rainbow network works with villages in Five ways: health, nutrition, Micro Lending, education and housing.  On the trip we visited Los Pinos, that needs a sponsor, and a village



[our interpreter - pictures of Jesus on the wall of a home in Los Pinos]



that has had a sponsor for ten years.  The difference between the two villages is quite astounding.

The people of Los Pinos are strong in their faith.  All of the people that we met on the trip were either Catholic or some version of protestant/pentecostal.  Their faith and their church means so much to them, partly because they have little else.  No mall, no cars, no vacations, no movies, no restaurants, just the good Lord and the church.  In some of the

[one of local churches]



homes the people would put up little pictures of Jesus.

We will be talking about this village in church on Sunday.  Please be praying about the opportunity to help these folks.  Let us be thankful for all of the blessings that we have received from our Heavenly Father.

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

Nicaragua 1

Last week, I went for a short visit to Nicaragua with Gina H and Sherri H.  Also joining us was Jeff from the conference office.  The purpose of the trip was to look at a village that our church might adopt.

The flight was about 2:15 to Atlanta and then about 3:15 to Managua.  The drive to the village took a couple of hours.  Very back woods.  Very dirt roads - rough dirt roads.  The name of the village is Los Pinos - "The Pines."


There we met beautiful people who are living in some very very poor conditions.  We will be talking about this on Sunday.  Please be praying about our congregations, and your response to the opportunity to sponsor this community.

May we be thankful every day for the blessings that God gives us.

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

indiscriminate

Indiscriminate. love is indiscriminate. It is not given to some and withheld from others.  True love goes out to all.  As the lamp provides light to all, true love is indiscriminate.  As the scent of the rose is available to all, so love is blind.  The tree provides shade to the good and the evil, love is available to all.

When we are acting in love, the kindness goes out to all.  We love the friend and the foe. The home team and the rival. We love those who like us and those who hate us.  True love goes out to all.  Don't be bothered by anyone.  Don't be disturbed by anyone who is mean. Keep loving.  Keep caring.  Let the shade fall on them, the scent of the rose find them.  Let the light of your love go out to all.

Love cannot be contained.  It wants to come out of us.  It wants to forgive.  It wants to heal.  Don't be overcome by your hurts, find the love in your heart and give it out again.  Give it back again.  And again.  To the new person in the office, to the old curmudgeon, to the friend, to the surly, to the rich to the poor.  When we learn to love like God loves, everyone is the recipient.

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

in His steps

Several noticed on the Holy Land trip that I wear a pedometer.  This is not a requirement, but is highly suggested by the health arm of the United Methodist Church.

Friends in the Holy Land knew we were walking a lot.  They asked me how many steps I usually take and how many I was taking on this trip.

Now that I am home and have a chance to add it up, here is the answer to the question of how many steps.
Average steps while in the states is about 7,000.  Average steps in the Holy Land was 15,000.  So we did a great deal of walking in God's country.

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

pain

There is something that I have noticed about pain.  You tend to get used to it.  Or, should I say, you can get used to it if you want to.

We can fight every pain that comes along and make ourselves miserable, or we can learn to relax and make friends with the pain.  This is true of most body pain and heart pain.  By heart pain I don't mean a heart attack, I mean a general sense of sadness.  Heart pain.

Consider this story........The first time I twisted my ankle, it hurt and I thought I would not live.  I complained to my mother.  I limped for a week.  The second time I twisted it, it hurt and I limped for a few days, I still complained to my mother.  The third time, I limped for a day and did not tell my mother.  Now I am old.  I still twist that same ankle.  I try not to limp.  I don't want the attention.  Most people would never know.

My kid twisted their ankle the other day.  They are complaining and limping.  That is ok, they will learn.  In time, you can make friends with all kinds of pain.  Body pain and heart pain.  You can fight it and make every moment a misery, or you can look past the clouds and see the sky.

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

the Good Samaritan

We have read the story of the Good Samaritan many times.  Today I invite you to read it again.

 

Jeff, today I saw something I never have seen before. I saw a homeless girl at McDonalds. Yes I know we see the homeless everyday. We always see people begging for money or looking for something. Generally I do not acknowledge them. But today I saw more than I ever care to see again. She was wearing a ragged pair of basketball shorts, tennis shoes that looked like they had come out of the trash, an old AC/DC concert tee shirt that was in just awful shape. She wasn't even wearing under garments. She had lost all of her teeth from who knows doing what, but she tried to have some sense of dignity. She tried to just blend in with the rest is society but yet she stood out. She sat outside doing the best she could to eat a hamburger and fries, you could tell she was going through some sort of withdrawals by her body action. But yet, my Lord and Savior moved me to do something. It was nothing that I would truly think of as anything other than a gesture. So I bought her a gift card so she could eat another day. But yet all I did was try to make life for somebody a little easier for a day. For whatever reason....it tore me up. Generally I have my emotions in check but yet I am having problems containing myself.

I Guess I could not stand by and do nothing.

 

This was sent to me by one of you.  I am glad that you folks cannot stand by and do nothing.  In the original story of the Good Samaritan, the religious folks pass by and do not help.  Thanks for being different.

 

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

a good laugh

Last Saturday I stopped at Lowes for a couple things.  I sat there for a while in the car and read a text on my phone.  Then I went into Lowes.

After my purchase, I am walking toward the car.  I start reaching in my pocket for the keys.  This pocket, that pocket, opps... I don't have the keys.  Maybe I left them in the car.

I get to the car and open the door.  Yes the keys are there, in the ignition, and the car is still running.  Running the entire time I was in Lowes.
Bahaha.... what is happening to me?  It is always good to be able to laugh at yourself.

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

abandonment

For some reason I have been thinking lately about the concept of abandonment.  It is probably one of the most painful things that a human can experience.  To be abandoned by a friend.  To be left to die on the battle field.  A spouse leaves.  Parents give up on children.  Ouch, on so many levels.

I think that many humans live with a fear of abandonment.  If you smell any of this in your heart, you have to know that it is a very painful fear to live with.

Thank God for friends that stick with us.  Thank God for God who has said in Hebrews 13:5 "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

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

Jodi Arias

You may be following the Jodi Arias trial.  She is the one that lied about, then admitted to killing her boyfriend.

It drives me nuts to think that we are spending millions to put this person on trial.  That there is all of this "evidence" being presented to try and get her off.  How many times did she stab him and then shoot him in the head?

When I was a kid it wasn't like this.  The bad guys admitted their guilt and went to jail.  Also, no one got off because of a tiny spec of reasonable doubt.  Cases like OJ and Casey Anthony make me wonder if this gal is going to get off as well.

I know that there is a lot of gray area in life, but sometimes I think that there should be a little bit more black and white.  Thou shall not kill.  Period.  You can break up with someone or divorce someone without killing them. 

Now, how do I take you from these thoughts to "it's a beautiful day?"

Look at the people around you.  The ones that you like, and the ones that you don't like.  They are all good people, dearly loved by God.  Let's be among those who love, not those who hate.

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

to agree

To agree

GK Chesterton would disarm his opponents by agreeing with them when they attacked him personally.

So, to the ones who have said, Jeff you sometimes make very bad decisions, Jeff you sometimes misbehave, Jeff you sometimes are not there for me, Jeff you sometimes are hard to understand, Jeff you sometimes lead us down painful paths, Jeff you don’t pay enough attention to me, Jeff you take afternoon naps, Jeff you have been married before, Jeff you have made a number of painful blunders over the years, Jeff you don’t preach enough Bible, Jeff you are not conservative enough, Jeff you are not accessible, Jeff you did not come to see me in the hospital……….

And I am sure there is more, but just let me say.  You are right.  I am all of those things.  Everything that you have said is true.  But let me also say, that I am working very hard at being a good human being, a good pastor and a faithful Christian.  I do fall short in many ways, but please be assured that I am pursuing the path persistently.

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

music that others listen to

Music that others listen to

Fiona Apple.  Fun.  These are two groups that I have recently learned about from other people.  If you want to learn about folks, find out what they listen to.  Find out what they love.  When you listen to someone else’s music you delve into their soul.  Do you want to get closer to someone?  Find out what they listen to.  Your kids, your spouse, your friends.  Ask them what music they like and then check it out.

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

laughing

Laughing

 

Did you hear about the pony that couldn't talk?  He was a little hoarse.

I know a lot of jokes.  Lots of people don’t like my jokes, but I like my jokes.  I have collected them over a lifetime and I love to tell them.  Just ask me to tell you one.  I used to keep categories.  Bird jokes.  Dog jokes.  Wife jokes.  Jokes about worms.  Politically incorrect jokes.  Dentist jokes.  On and on they go. 

One of the great things about meeting new people is that you suddenly have a new audience for your jokes.  New people to tell your same old stories to.  And when no one else is there, you can just think of your jokes and chuckle. I love to laugh at my own jokes.  Someone else may not understand the joke, or like the joke.  I can still enjoy it, and I always do.

I hope that you have some jokes.  Really all you need is one.  Just keep telling it, over and over.

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

faith

Faith

I was reading some G.K. Chesterton the other day, and I think that most of these ideas came from him......

Someone suggested that I write more about faith.  Issues of faith and the Christan faith.  Well, isn’t all of life about the faith?  Isn’t every moment of encounter, every moment of question, every moment of love about our faith? 

I would encourage the readers to cease from separating faith and life.  They are one in the same.  They are inseparable.  We are all living out our faith every day.  The larger question is, “what do we believe in.” And hence I have many questions and thoughts about God, life and love.  It appears to me that all of these thoughts are about life, so all of these thoughts are about faith.

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

a dear friend

On my heart

This is an odd post, but I am feeling it today so I am just going to do it.  I love Dan Horn.  That’s it.   That’s all.  I am so blessed to know this guy.  I remember the first time that we had lunch together.  He can be hard to get to know, but when you do, this is a guy that runs deep.  I often think of friends, neighbors and church members.  Today I am thinking about Dan.  He is great.  If you don’t know him, you are missing out on a treasure.

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

work

Brains and work

I learned a long time ago that I am average.  Average height, average weight, average IQ, average test scores.  But my Dad pounded something very important into me, the willingness and the ability to work.  Over the years I have learned that average people can do well by working hard, and very smart people will fail if they do not work.

So here come my kids.  Not exceptional test scores, but long on personality and drive.  Long on work ethic.  When we can teach someone to work, to get after it every day, we create people that change the world.

Never chastise yourself because you are average.  The world is full of very average, yet successful people who just learned to work hard.

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

funny people

Funny people

Do you love funny people?  I love funny people.  I am not talking comedians, although some of the funny people that I know could have made it as comedians, I am talking about funny people.

People who have a personality.  It pops out and they let you see them.  They are alive.  They are ornery.  They are great.  I think of them and I smile.  I love ornery, funny people.  The dryer the sense of humor the better to me.

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

New Friends

Making new friends

Oh the joy of new friends.  Whether you find them by luck or if you are stuck with them on a long trip.  It is a great joy to get to know people better and make new friends.  I have made some new friends recently.

If a man would have friends, he must show himself to be friendly.

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

a little more info

Someone posted this comment on a post a few weeks back..........

Such an interesting thought. This is not asking you to share your own particular behaviors that come off as an insult to life. But what kinds of things could any of us be doing that would be insulting to life. Are we insulting the gift of life?

So is it worry, or failure to appreciated the simple things of life, or is it not taking care of our bodies, or is it not guarding our thoughts? Is it getting stuck in routine and not breaking out?

Would love to hear you elaborate on this just a bit

So, to elaborate a bit....... I guess what I was thinking with the original post is that life is an enormous gift.  That every day, every moment is so special.  Some of the things that we do are harmful to life, insulting to life.  Each item mentioned by the comment I would agree are insulting to the gift of life.  Here are some other things.......

Polluting the air, killing each other, killing animals, abusing children, abusing anyone, drinking too much, driving in a hateful manner, disrespecting parents, not paying attention to the beauty of the sky or not smelling the roses.

Maybe if we personified life itself, we would live in a manner that was more kind.

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

Easter, pt 2

Is it a sin to be glad that Easter is over?  Thank you choir, staff, HT team members and everyone who volunteered.  It was a great day, as near as I could tell.  Attendance was about the same as last year, we are still working on the numbers. 

One of the things that I notice on Easter are the people who have recently had a loss.  Someone is sitting alone, his wife died last year.  Someone lost a child.  Someone lost a job, lost a house, lost a love.

Unto these particularly, the resurrection screams out a message of hope.  He is risen!!  Death is not the end.  God will wipe away every tear. 

Easter is more than family time.  Be sure to take time to encourage those who are hurting.

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

Happy Easter

Jesus is risen.  Jesus is Lord.  Life wins.  We are forgiven. The tomb is empty.  Never do we again have to live in fear, worry or under judgment.

These are pictures of the garden tomb site outside the Jerusalem walls.  It is a place of quiet,

a place of peace, a place of pilgrimage.  45 of us got to visit the tomb last month.  May you go there in your heart right now and sense the presence of the risen Christ.

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

Easter parking

Good morning.  Tomorrow is Easter.  Please join me in making room for others.  Please park at the cancer center and take the shuttle in to the building.  Staff, choir and Hospitality members can please park at Delta Woods.  Please leave spots up close for those who really need them or for those who are visiting.

Please attend an hour other than 10:10.  we have a sunrise service at 630.  The services at 8, 905 and 1115 will be just the same and just as good as 10:10.  Services will also be held in the worship center at 905, 1010 and 1115.  We expect the 1010 hour to be a zoo so please come earlier or at 1115.

Thanks for all that you do to make room for others.  Thanks for all that you do to help us fulfill our mission.

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

Good Friday

Our annual Good Friday service is a highlight for me and for many.  Quiet, contemplative and deep are three words that I would use to describe the service.  Narration, song and pictures tell again the story of Jesus on the cross.

You are welcome and encouraged to join us tonight at 7pm.

Maundy Thursday

Today is Maundy Thursday.  It is the day that we remember Jesus' last supper with his disciples.  We will celebrate this event tonight with a special service at 7pm in the Sanctuary.  Holy Communion will be served.

You are encouraged to attend.

What ever you do this week, please be mindful of the suffering and death of our Lord.

to get or give

To get or give, to take or give, to give or receive.  It is a question that we wrestle with every moment of every day. Those who are takers may think that they get more, but it is still better to give than to receive.

Givers of time, givers of love, givers of money, givers of effort are always much happier than ungivers.  Yes you can grow tired of giving, you can feel like you give too much, you can be in a work place or a marriage where you get little in return, but it is still better to give.

Givers are filled with joy.  Their giving keeps their focus on others and off of themselves.  Those who give have discovered the secret of joy in this life.  We were created to give, to live outside of ourselves.

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

nothing new

Ecclesiastes reminds us, "there is nothing new under the sun."  Nothing new.  Same old stuff.  Yet we preachers are expected to bring a new spin, a new angle, a new idea in our sermons.  It's kind of funny because the story is still the same.  2,000 years and the story has not changed.

For that matter, we humans get bored with life because we want to be entertained.  We want something new.  Some new angle on life.  Well, it is the same stuff, the same old stuff, but let us be sure to remember that it is good stuff.  Life is good stuff.  We grow accustomed to it all and get bored, but don't ever forget how good it is.

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

Thank you

I can't say thank you enough.  For those of you who worked so hard to make yesterday a great day at Woods Chapel.  Some came up at 6am and helped to shovel snow.  Several staff stayed in hotels or with friends to make sure that they could get here.

Everyone was flexible.  We had to make a lot of adjustments due to the weather.  At the end of the day, it was a great day and will hold many fond memories.

Attendance was down of course, but over 150 homes watched the services on live web stream. 

As always, the best part of all of it is the kind ways that you all go out of your way to accommodate others and be the hands and feet of Jesus.

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

Snow Days at Church

Schools get snow days, some churches get snow days, Woods Chapel does not.  I have tried to imagine what kind of storm might happen that we would close the church, but I cannot.

Eight inches of snow last night?  We have people who are bringing their snow blowers to make sure the sidewalks are clear.  Good team of folks.  If you read this at 530am today, you may want to slip up here and help them out.  Bring a shovel.

I have always believed that there is a special blessing for those who come to church when the going is difficult.  Rule number one is be safe.  Rule number two is, the church doors are open.

I have never remembered such a special weather visitation on Palm Sunday.

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

tournament time

So it is March madness.  NCAA tournament time.  I find it interesting how much ego we humans put into the outcome of a game. 

The best and worst comes out of people when they are watching their team play.  Some folks root against teams they hate.  Some folks are braggadocios.  Some display great sportsmanship and class.

Basketball season comes and basketball season goes.  We are all much happier when our self worth is not tied to the outcome of a game.  Even if your team goes 2-24 on the season, God still loves you.  Let's keep our lives in perspective.

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

G.K. Chesterton

I have been reading a book about G.K. Chesterton.  He was an English author who lived about 100 years ago.  A very bright man, Chesterton is known for his defence of the faith and his pursuit of joy and common sense.

One of my favorite sayings of his is "the world is full of wonders.....the problem is that we humans have forgotten how to wonder." 

All around you are the wonders of our God.  What will you wonder at today?

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

Home

Judy Garland said it best.  There's no place like home. 

After passing thru Israeli security, a 12 hour flight to Newark, customs, a long layover, terminal changes- twice, and another three hour flight to KC, our Holy Land group is finally home.

The dog and cats were glad to see me.  My wife was glad to see me.  Several employees at church were glad to see me!  Very exciting!

We had a great trip.  The 45 folks from our trip were all wonderful.  That should not surprise you.  We had a great bunch, and if any of you are reading this that went on the trip, I really mean it, you guys were great.

Well, I slept from 9pm to 5am.  It was a great night.  Work to do at home this morning and then I am back in the office at 8am.

There's no place like home.

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

Holy Land 8

Animals that we saw.

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

Holy Land 7

Flowers.  The Holy Land is a beautiful place, full of many different kinds of flowers and trees.  The climate is much warmer and so there are all kinds of things that grow there all year round that we only see in the warm season, or cannot grow at all.

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

Holy Land 6

Jerusalem.  What a beautiful city.  We walked today where Jesus walked.  It is hard to describe the feeling.  It was a touching, heartwarming, moving day.

Mosque on Temple Mount

Dome of the Rock, temple mount

Zion Gate

Armenian Church of St. James the lesser

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

Holy Land 5

More Ruins.
the name of this place is Beit She’an

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

Holy Land 4

Churches.  Oh, the beautiful churches that we have seen. Oh how the world strives to reach God.  Oh how worshippers seek to find him and to tell him of their love.

 

Joppa

 Nazareth

Nazareth

 Mount of Beatitudes

Oh how the heart and mind of the creation continues to yearn for the Creator.

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

Holy Land 3

Ruins
Our guide keeps saying, it is against the law to ruin the ruins that have already been ruined.

crusader ruins at cesarea by the sea

amphitheatre at sephoris

roman road at sephoris

capernum synagogue

One man's ruins is another man's inspiration.

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

Holy Land 2

I am not sure what day it is.  But our trip is so fantastic.  The 45 folks from Woods Chapel are so wonderful.  You guys are such a great church family.

Today we rode on the sea of Galilee.  Here are some pics.

sunrise over galilee

Eric Kennedy is the King of the world

boats on Galilee

peaceful rest spot at Capernum

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

Holy Land

Good Morning-

it looks like I have missed a day in posting.  Sorry about that, but between an 8 hour time difference and a 15 hour plane flight, I am not sure what time it is where.

We had a wonderful first day.  Long flight.  But good flight.  Everyone made the trip safely except one, pray for Nancy who is in the hospital in KC.

Today we arrived here about 4pm Israel time.  We saw the ruins of Joppa where Jonah ran away and was later swallowed by a fish.

We rode in a bus for a long time.  We had a great dinner.

We are exhausted so I am going to bed.  Read some great stuff on the plane about GK Chesterton.

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

wedding

I officiated at a wedding on Saturday night.  [this post is not about the Holy Land, because we are travelling today.] Anyway, I officated at a wedding on Saturday night.  Good folks.  I enjoy weddings a lot when I can tell that the bride and groom love each other.

Usually when the bride walks down the isle, I think of the bride and groom and true love.  I think of my own dear wife.  Saturday as the bride was walking down the isle, I thought for the first time about the father of the bride.  Here he is, walking his little girl down the isle.  I started to cry.  Although none of my children have weddings scheduled, they are probably on the horizon in the next few years.

I saw myself in this man's shoes.  I was both happy and sad.  What changes life brings to us!  It is also interesting how I made that moment about me.  We humans are so funny like that.

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

Holy Land

I will be at Woods Chapel and I hope to see you there.

Tomorrow, On Monday, I am leaving for a 10 day trip to the Holy Land with 45 other Woods Chapel friends.  I will try and post every day [depending on internet access] with a picture about what we did on the trip.   Please remember us in your prayers and be sure to support your church family by attending church.

While we are on the subject of travel, I have learned that I am a person that needs to get away from time to time to renew my soul.  Last month I spent a couple of days on a sail boat in the gulf of Mexico.  It was so quiet, so peaceful.  I got more done for God's kingdom on those three days.  Please understand when I am gone and know that I am renewed by the quiet times.

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

wisdom

I graduated high school in 1975.  I still remember the words in a graduation card from my Aunt Jewel, "wisdom is it's own reward."

It reminds me of the words of Jesus in Luke 7, "wisdom is proved right by her actions."

To me this means, that when you are doing the right things, you know it in your heart.  And when you are doing the wrong things, you know that too.  People can eventually tell who is behaving with character, class and wisdom.  All things become apparent in time.

And so, if you can help me be a better person or pastor, I welcome your words.  At the end of the day, I want to place my head on the pillow and know that I have done my very best, that I have challenged my own foolishness and sought to be the person that God calls me to be.

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

the power of the tongue

Mom said it, "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."  I recently read an excerpt in a book that was a bit unkind to me.  It was also 75% untrue.  We have decided to do nothing about this, not to contact anyone or try to make a case for our "side" as it would probably would not change how this person feels.

The point of this blog is to say that it is very easy for someone to disagree with something or be hurt by something, and then in their pain, go spinning off on a tantrum, leaving a lot of body parts in their wake.

I think that everyone has done this at one time or another.  We are in pain, and we are not thinking about those who may be hurt by our outbursts whether they are verbal or in print. 

There is never anything to be gained by hurting back.  In fact, usually when I have felt a pain, if I could find the person and talk it through, we always got it patched up.  It is always better to say nicer things about someone than they deserve, than to allow your hurt to further drag a person down.

¹⁴ Make every effort to live in peace with everyone^(V) and to be holy;^(W) without holiness no one will see the Lord.^{(X) 15} See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God^(Y) and that no bitter root^(Z) grows up to cause trouble and defile many.  Hebrews 12:15

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

leaving well enough alone

I am a big believer in getting it right.  Doing it right.  Doing a thing with excellence.  Doing it to the best of your ability.  Fulfilling one's potential.

[can you hear my guilt laden, repressive upbringing shining through?]

As much as excellence is a good thing, and something worth pursuing, sometimes there is something to be said for leaving well enough alone.  Sometimes if you pick at a small thing, it will only get worse and the thing that you were trying to improve will instead become less.

There is a thought for me, in the pursuit of excellence, you can actually chase something so hard that you end up breaking more things than fixing them.

Relax.  Its good.  It is certainly much better than it used to be.

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

a new thought

I had a new thought the other day.  It goes like this........ "some of what I have been doing is insulting to life."

Wow.  I never thought of some of my behaviors in this manner.  But, I love life and I love the idea of life.  I love the joy of life, the miracle of it and the dance of it's challenges.  Some of what I have been doing is insulting to life.

I may just change some of those behaviors.  Life is short.  Life is good.

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