two old sayings

There are two old sayings that I think collide with each other.

The first one is about how when your kids are children they think  you are smart.  Then when they are teenagers, they think you are dumb.  Then when they get older, they decide that you got smarter along the way.  This is a smart, dumb, smart story.

The other is the old saying that says, the older I get, the less I know.  This is a dumb, smart, dumb story.

They seem to collide to me.

So I will reconcile them like this: 
When the kids thought we were smart, we weren't as smart as they thought, or as we thought.
When they thought we were dumb, they forgot that experience is a great teacher.
When they decided that we were smart again, well, they were only part right because none of us know as much as we think.

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

keep at it

My friend Keri shared this Mother Teresa quote.  It reminds me of the Martina Mcbride song, Do it Anyway.   Here is the link to the song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uLtyzRgmyI

One foot in front of the other. One step after the last.  Never quit, never give up.  Keep going.  Keep going.  Sometimes life is difficult.  Sometimes we don't want to do the right things, but we keep going.   If you quit, you will never get to the other side.  Perseverance is a virtue.

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

4201 NE Lakewood Way

You may remember an all church conference a few weeks back to consider the purchase of a building.  The proposal passed 82-0 with one abstention.  Last week, the building closed.  You are now the owner of an 11,000 square foot building on the 291 frontage just 1/2 mile south of the church.

The new building will serve as our missions center and will house the following ministries: 

-backsnacks
-early responders
-children's clothing closet
-cancer ministry
-prom dress ministry
-video production
-the new baby ministry
-storage
-several other things that I can't think of.

The burgeoning youth group will be moving into most of the vacated space at the current mission building.  Help is needed for minor remodeling inside the new building, and to move the ministries over.  Send me an email if you can help.

Thanks for being an awesome church and for outgrowing your missions space!

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

both at once

Someone asked me how we can help in Princeton and at Raytown at the same time.  [Read yesterday's post and the post from Oct 17, 2013].  The answer to this is that we won't be.  Princeton will have a new pastor on June 29, which is when we start in Raytown.  We timed it this way on purpose.

However, generous people do many things simultaneously.  Generous churches do as well.  We are currently in a mentoring relationship with several local churches, we have adopted a village in Nicaragua, we hosted a seminar last weekend for a nationally known church consultant, and on and on the list goes.

A generous heart cannot be, should not be bound.  May we all do all the good we can, to all the people we can, in all the ways that we can, all the times that we can.

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

Raytown

The Raytown First United Methodist Church is closing their doors.  The Missouri Conference has asked us to step in so that we can maintain a ‘United Methodist’ presence in that area.  June 22^nd will be the last Sunday that Raytown UMC will be in service and on June 29^th, “Woods Chapel UMC-Raytown Campus” will hold our first service in the building. 

 

There is a great need in the community around the church.  Michael Scott along with others from our church will be preaching and will help revitalize the ministries of this church. 

 

This is a pretty low risk way for us to try and expand the kingdom.  If we are not able to successfully restore ministry in this new setting, the conference will simply sell the building and use the money to start new churches.

We will be sharing more opportunities about Woods Chapel UMC-Raytown Campus soon!  There is a work day on May 17^th to do some clean up and painting.  Let me know if you are interested in being involved.

 

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

announcement

If you missed church yesterday, you missed an important announcement.

It is with mixed emotions that I share the following with you.  If you have been around the Methodist church for any length of time, you know that pastors are appointed from June to June, one year at a time.  Pastor Shawn has been asked by the Bishop to be the Sr. Pastor at the North Cross UMC in NKC and he has accepted.  Shawn and his family will be with us thru June 22nd. 

These kind of changes are difficult, but it is a great opportunity for him.  It is also important to keep in mind that he will be a great blessing as their Sr Pastor to that church and to the Kingdom.  Be sure to thank Pastor Shawn for all that he has done for us here at Woods Chapel.

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

equanimity

Equanimity.  An evenness of mind, especially under stress.  Surrendering to those things which we cannot control.  Surrendering to the mystery of life and the challenges that come.

I am finding in life, more things that I cannot fix.  I think it is human nature to want to fight against difficulty and fight against what we do not like.  But sometimes, the fighting a thing, only makes it worse.  It gives a thing power and control over you.  Oh for a little more equanimity in such situations. 

What the Apostle Paul referred to when he named the fruit of the spirit - "love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, self control....."  May God grant you an evenness of mind when the storms of life blow in.

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

a visitor at woods chapel

new visitor at church

After the recent rains at church, we had a very scary visitor.  This snapping turtle which was about 18 inches long....just the shell was 18 inches, was found in our parking lot.  Maybe he was trying to get in to pray.

Some of our staff were a little worried that he might get hit by a car and squished.  So, they gingerly approached him and hauled him back down to the pond.  I am sure that he is happily eating fish again.

Snapping turtles can really take a chunk out of you if they get a hold of your hand or finger.  I know our staff was pretty nervous about this visitor to our church, but they did not let their fear get in the way of their hearts.  There is a lesson for us all.  Don't let your fear get in the way of your heart.



snapper gets a free ride to the pond

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



what to say to children

I get questions all the time about how to explain death to children.  It is an important topic especially because in this day and age, when parents tend to be more open with children, we can easily overwhelm them with ideas and emotions.

Children are not dumb.  They have some idea of life and death.  There is a great book in the church bookstore call The Fall of Freddie the Leaf which deals with the subject quite well.

Generally I experience parents and adults sharing way too much with children.  Children are not prepared to take on the adult emotions, ideas and grief that you may be feeling.  It is not appropriate to expect them to act as a counselor to us.  We need to allow them to be children.  They deserve a short explanation about what happened and then they need to have the chance to go back to being a kid.

They do want to return to play and they will do so if you free them to do it.  If you tie them up with your grief, they will not return to play until you let them.

Children will take their cues on how to act from you.  If you are totally freaked out, the kids will be as well.  If you tell your kids what happened, briefly, and then tell them that it is ok, they will understand and go back to being a kid.  "yes, Great Aunt Suzie died.  She is in heaven with Jesus.  It's ok.  Mom and Dad are ok and we love you and everything is ok."  Everything is ok.  That is the message they need.

Allow your children to move through the loss of a loved one without having to bear the burden of emotions that they are not ready for.  Allow them to be kids.  That is what they are after all.

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

I need to grow up

When I was 20, I needed to grow up.  I needed to stop blaming my parents.  I needed to work and pay my own bills.  I needed to stop complaining and take responsibility for my life.

Now I am 56.  I still need to grow up.  I need to stop worrying about my kids.  If they live in Chicago or Lees Summit, that is their choice, not mine.  If they make a little money or a lot, that is their choice.  If they pay their bills, if they go deep into debt, if they don't get married and I don't get to have grandchildren, those are all their choices not mine.

Some people drive themselves crazy worrying over their kids and grand kids.  It is crazy for me to waste my life worrying about their lives, their choices, their future.  After all, they are not my choices to make, they are their choices.  It's a free country and they are free to make their own choices.

I am still working on this.  I am still trying to grow up.  Am I alone out there?

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

on Marriage

On Marriage.  There is a principle that I have come to believe in when thinking of marriage and what it takes to be successful at it.  It is the principle or the practice of "common goals."

The issue may be finances, the issue may be children, vacation, how much to spend on college, curfews, or any number of things.  For a married couple to remain sane, you must find common goals.  That requires sitting down and hashing through the issue until you find a position that you can both agree on.

What is the issue?  Where are we at on it?  What is our compromise?  Our common goal?  Then you move for it.  Together.  Marriage is us moving toward a goal - together.

Things go better with common goals.

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

not sure what to think

So I have this problem with chocolate.  If it is in the house, I eat it.  All of it.  It's very serious and I wish my wife would stop bringing it in.  I blame her.

So, on Easter Sunday I was given a nice card and a gift from a young man in our church.  A chocolate fish that spells Jesus.  I hate to eat the chocolate, but I am also thinking that fish is supposed to be healthy.  Omega three and all of that.  I am probably going to eat it.  It's a holy thing.

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

Cinco de Mayo

Today is Cinco de Mayo.  Cinco = five.  Mayo = May. The fifth of May.  I love to ask people, "when is Cinco de Mayo this year?"  Many people recognize it as a holiday but do not understand that it is date specific.  Much like someone from another culture might hear that we celebrate a holiday called July 4th.  If the words July and fourth don't translate well into their language, they might not know it was a specific day.

Did you know that Cinco de Mayo is not celebrated very much in Mexico?  It is also not the Mexican day of Independence.  That is September 16th.  Cinco de Mayo celebrates a Mexican victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla, May 5th 1862.

Anyway, today is Cinco de Mayo.  When is it next year?

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

oops

It was Easter Sunday and I was tying my shoes.  These shoes are 15 years old.  They have been soled and heeled but they have some miles on them.  Uh........oh that reminds me of a joke.  Did you hear about the fire at the shoe factory?  500 soles were lost.  I'll bet it was started by some heel.

Back to Easter Sunday.  I am tying my shoes and my shoe string breaks.  On Easter Sunday.  I am in a quandary.  What to do?  I can change to a different pair, but it gets complicated at that point.  I could just tie a knot in them and go on.  Then the dysfunction kicks in..... what if someone sees that I have a knot in my shoelace on Easter Sunday?

Then I remember something that I believe very strongly... Christians are not perfect.  They have knots in their shoes.  Hypocrites are not Christians with problems or with knots in their shoe laces.  The hypocrites are the ones who have knots in their shoes but pretend like they don't.  I decided to wear the shoes on Easter with the knot in the laces and let the chips fall where they may.

Christians aren't perfect and we need to be honest about that.  Authentic living means we are honest about who we are.  It works for God, it should work for us.

By the way, when is Cinco de Mayo this year? [more Jeff humor]

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

fruit

From one of my favorite writers…….

 

“You’ll know people by their fruit, by their life, by how they actually live in the world. Lots of people get excited about new ideas and then they shove these new understandings in other people’s faces and become the very thing they despise. If a new idea or understanding or interpretation doesn’t help transform you into the kind of person Jesus is calling us all to be then it isn’t worth much. Are you more forgiving that you were? Less judgmental? More present? More courageous? Less worried and anxious, more free and loving? That’s what is interesting, you being transformed. You can debate and discuss and try to prove and show who’s right and who’s wrong-but living the life Christ invites us to…that’s where it’s at. - For Jesus the criteria is fruit.”

 

Peace,

Lion’s Den Man

good memories

I have a radial arm saw in my workshop. A “Saw Smith” made in 1960. It was my fathers. It is one of many tools of his I now own since his passing. Every time I take on a new project one of his tools comes into my hand. It is impossible for me to do anything with a tool that does not bring a memory of my father. He spent hours in his workshop building all sorts of things and hours with both my brother and I passing along whatever knowledge we were willing to absorb. My skills and passion were never as strong as his but recently I have begun to spend more time enjoying and using the things he taught me.

 

Ami’s post on Wednesday led me to this post and to the thought of my legacy. I hope I have the kind of positive impact on my kids as my father had on me. It put me on a good path and I and grateful for what he was able to provide.

 

“One day you’ll be just a memory for some people. Do your best to be a good one.”  -  I like that….Thank you Ami.

 

Peace,

Lion’s Den Man

breathe

It can be easy to miss out on the things God places around us like family, friends and all the beauty and awe that can be seen in nature.  In last Sunday’s sermon Jeff mentioned a stand of Redbud trees along 291 that could be easily seen and I hadn’t……. How often we miss these things unless we are either deliberate in doing so or we are simply breathing God in closely each and every moment. I wish I could say the later was true for me but to be honest I need to be deliberate before I can breathe that way. So after church my wife and I decided to be deliberate and we took a Sunday drive through the parks that are close by. Time well spent…. Time in nature….Time shared with someone close to me…. Time to appreciate many of the things God places around me. Now I am breathing again…

Peace,

Lion's Den Man

 

Favorite sayings...........

 Friends, it has been an absolute honor to post on Jeff's blog for you.  On my last day of "blogging", I've decided to share two of my favorite sayings.  I read them practically every day and they keep me in check with all that matters most to me in this world.  My husband and our Marriage being Numero Uno. :-)  The second, my children, family and friends.  These sayings serve as  a gentle reminder that we won't be here on earth forever, and that we should do our very best to make a difference in the life's of others.  A Cardinal Rule at our house, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." If you follow this saying, it will be pretty difficult to go wrong. 
Until next time, I wish you a happy, stress free and blessed day.
Hugs to you my friends,
Ami

An Old Cherokee saying

An old Cherokee told his grandson, "My son, there is a battle between two wolves inside us all.
One is Evil.  It is anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, inferiority, lies and ego.  The other is Good.  It is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, empathy, and truth."

The boy thought about it, and asked, "Grandfather, which wolf wins?"

The old man quietly replied, "The one you feed."
-Author unknown

I vow to do my best to only feed the Good Wolf.  I pray you do too.
I wish you a positive, happy and blessed day my friends.
Hugs,
Ami

What would we do?

Dearest Woods Chapel Friends,
My name is Ami and I have the distinct honor of having Jeff Brinkman as one of my dear friends. 
Jeff asked me if I would fill in and post on his blog while he enjoys some much deserved time off.  Please know that this request is an absolute honor and touched my heart.  Thank you Jeff.  I am smiling.
When Jeff asked me to fill in, I have to admit I was a little nervous.  What could I possibly say that would touch your hearts, make your day better or simply make you laugh like Jeff and the Lion's Den Man ?  Well, those of you who know me, know that I love "quotes".  I have them everywhere.  So, I only had to turn around to see my answer "If someone offers you an amazing opportunity and you're not sure you can do it, say yes - then learn how to do it later" Richard Branson
So here I am!!!  I am doing it.....writing to you.  I hope what I have to say over the next couple of day's touches you, makes you think and above all else, makes you smile.
I am Ami, the proud Mother of 7 beautiful children and two amazing and very handsome step-sons.  Collectively, I have 6 daughters and 3 sons.  I am a blessed woman.  I am honored to be Larry's wife.  He's a wonderful husband and my very best friend in the entire world.  I have 3 horses, 1 dog and 4 cats.  I love my life and my Woods Chapel Family.  Thank you for your smiles on Sunday, your hugs, and your sweet gentle hand squeezes after we sing hand in hand.
So, I've had this question in my head recently and threw it out to all of my children, my Mom and Dad, my Sister and Brother, my Best Friend and my Husband.   I encourage you to do the same.  You may be surprised with the answers you get back.  Their responses made me smile and I wanted to share them with you.  Here's the question. "If you could spend one day with me, what would we do?"
Here are the answers I received back:
Children: (not all answered)
Lauren - "We would be in California, Napa Valley eating cheese and drinking wine....lots of wine"
(Lauren is 27.  Sounds age appropriate huh?) Salute!
Alexa - "Have a Mother Daughter trip, even in some remote area.  No crazy lavish stuff.  Just a fun day to talk, drink wine and bond" (What's with the wine???  Alexa is 25 and lives in Chicago)  Oh well, sounds fun!  Again, Salute!!
Nicole - "I would travel the globe with you helping out children, eating food, drinking wine and loving life!!" Ahhh.......a Los Pinos companion.  Great answer Nicole.... Let's make it happen. (Notice wine made the cut again?  A big SALUTE!  PS  Did I mention that we are Italian?) Nicole is 23.
Michaela - "Oh you know, I'd go to lunch and have a Mommy Daughter day" (Easy peasy.....we will definitely make this happen) Michaela is 19.
Mackenzie - "Email my counselor so I can take my final and be done with high school!" Mackenzie is 18.  Enough said on that one huh?
Brother Tony - "Spend the day at the lake.....chillin...eating good food...swimming....lazy in the sun day talking to my sister". Ahhhhh.......sounds like Heaven.  I love my baby brother.
Sister Nicki- "Catch up and relax doing whatever we want.  Just being able to spend time would be enough."  As it should be. I don't see her enough.  "Quality not quantity."
Best Friend Joelle - "Shop, talk, work out, horseback ride, laugh, talk, laugh some more and solve all of our issues by talking some more! Have vodka tonics, crack up and live every minute!!!"
So what do you think???  Easy right?  Sometimes, meeting people's needs and touching their hearts is easier than we thought.  Let's make the time for those we cherish so much.  Every minute of every day is a gift.
And remember......."It's a beautiful day in Gods world, be sure to see the good".  (Now...REALLY do it, turn all the way around......do a three sixty (360) with your eyes wide open and really look. It's everywhere, the world God created is amazing.

All creation sings

Psalm 19:  The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies show forth the work of His hands.......

This is a picture of part of our back yard.  Pear tree, plum tree, Angelina and yellow tulips.  Spring has sprung!  Very exciting.  Very beautiful. 

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

quote

I ran across this the other day from Indira Gandhi, former prime minister of India:

"My grandfather once told me that there are two kinds of people: those who do the work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group; there was less competition there." 

 

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

loneliness

I got a wonderful note from a friend.  She mentioned her loneliness.  I feel for her and for everyone that feels lonely.  I feel lonely sometimes.  It stinks.

I only know of one remedy.  The handshake, the hug of a friend.  Catch me on Sunday if you want a hug.  Just understand that you have to initiate it.  Pastors can't just go hugging people anymore. 

If you don't go to our church or if you can't find me, then find someone else to hug.  When hugs are present, loneliness leaves.

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

those who say

I am sure that I have written about this before, but it just keeps coming back up.  The world is full of people who need to tell you how good they are, and how cool they are.  And so that takes me to an old saying, "those who say, don't know, those who know, don't have to say."

If you are great, others will tell you.  If  you try to tell others you are cool, it doesn't count.  It's like blowing your own horn.  It should never be done.  How cool one is never needs to be discussed by one's self. I hope my kids think I'm cool but I am never going to tell them that I am cool.  Good people know good.  You don't have to point out your own goodness. 

Character, wisdom, being right, is it's own reward.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.  Enjoy it for what it is.  No bragging is necessary.

nice handshakes

I beg your understanding.  I don't know if my hand is broken or bruised. Probably bruised.  I have been shaking too many hands.  I can't stop though.  But some of you have great grips - really confident, sometimes even bone crushing handshakes.

Please be nice to my old hand on Sunday.  It is tired and sore.

And if that is the only problem that I have, then it's surely a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

new high score

Why do we love dumb things like bowling?  Maybe because I can't play softball anymore.  Anyway, a few weeks ago I topped my all time high score.  234.  I had two spares, two open frames and then eight strikes in a row.  Very exciting!

I thank God for those times in life when things just seem to go right.  All of the ducks line up.  Whether it is a bowling game or what, it is nice to have a day when everything just clicks.

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

Thank you

Thank you for a great Easter Sunday!  I thought it was a great morning. Attendance all together was just over 3,000.

Not that numbers matter, but every number is a person.  Hopefully many of those who visited church will come back and find a home with us.  As I said yesterday, I am prejudiced, but I think your church is a pretty good place.

Thanks for all that you are and all that you do.

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

He is alive!

It is Easter. The day of resurrection. Jesus is alive! Praise God. He has shown his power in the world. His power over death. We have hope. We can trust him. He is real.

But on this Easter day, I have a question.
Am I alive?

I don't mean "is my heart beating." I mean, am I living in a way that is free. Living in a way that celebrates the gift of life and makes use of what God has given to me.

When I trust in stuff, houses, cars, and people, for my joy, I am not really alive. When I worry about every little thing in my life, I am not really alive. When I am broken, and refuse to try to become whole, I am not really alive.

This kind of life should not be acceptable to us.

Because Jesus is risen, I can truly be alive. I can celebrate every moment of life that he gives me. I can choose to see his glory in all of creation. I can give thanks for each circumstances of life, the good and the bad.

When I am alive, I am concerned about sharing love. That is all. I know my purpose, sharing God's love. The human stuff begins to fade from view. I begin to live in perspective. I am alive. Alive to Christ. Free to live. Free to love.

These are the gifts of Easter.
Hallelujah! He is risen.
He is alive! I am alive!  We are alive!

Thank you God for these unspeakable gifts!

service times for Easter

Easter Service Times are as follows:

Sunrise Service - 6:30am [start at the flag pole and follow the crowd]

8am in the Sanctuary

905, 1010 and 1115 in the Sanctuary.
[be prepared to wait back from the doors so those leaving can exit earlier services]

905 and 1010 in the Worship Center
[be prepared to wait back from the doors in the coffee bar area so those leaving can exit the 905 service]

1115 Baptismal service in the Worship Center

Hope to see you tomorrow.  Free hugs.

don't know what to say

Have you ever had things happen that left you speechless?  Something happened and I didn't know what to say.  What do you do with that,  I might have though.

I will bet that on the Saturday after Jesus died, the disciples were speechless.  I'll bet they hid in that room and said very little.  Not much arguing or blaming.......just a lot of quiet. 

Some times, reflection is good.  It can open up your heart for the lessons that a moment in life might offer.  Reflection can help you get reacquainted with your soul.  Sometimes the quiet of today opens the door for the joy of tomorrow.

Good Friday

You are invited to our Good Friday services tonight at 7pm in the Worship Center. 

Good Friday. Good because why? Jesus suffers and dies. Suffering and death doesn't sound very good.  In fact, the service is a recounting of the difficult sufferings of Jesus.   It is designed to bring people to a deep appreciation of what Jesus did for us.

Good Friday. It's good for us. Because in the death of Jesus, a relationship is made right. Our sins are forgiven and our relationship with God is restored, healed.

Pause sometime today and say "thank you." To say thank you to God is the beginning of living the Christian life.

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

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday worship is tonight, 7pm at church. You are welcome to attend.

Maundy, from the latin, Mandatum. Mandate. Commandment. So named for Jesus' words at the last supper, "a new commandment I give unto you, love one another, as I have loved you. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love, one to another."

He washed their feet.
He tells some stories of the kingdom.
They eat. They drink wine.
They laugh. Friends are celebrating.

They are celebrating the passover. This feast commemorates the tenth plague in the book of Exodus, when the angel of death passed thru the land, taking the life of the oldest male child in every Egyptian home. The angel of death "passed over" the Jewish homes because their doors were marked with the blood of a lamb.

After dinner, a walk to the Garden of Gethsemane.  Time in prayer.  Betrayal.  Desertion.  A long night begins for Jesus.

So again, it is Holy Week.
If the death angel passed over your home tonight, is the entry to your home marked with the blood of a lamb?

 

new shower

Well, I have to share.  My remodel work on our bathroom is finally coming to an end.  I have been working on this project for over a year.  New bathtub, new floor, new shower, paint the cabinets, new counter top, paint the closet, and on it went.

It's a hole lot of stuff that we don't really need.  But, we saved money by doing it ourselves.  I am pretty excited about being done with it.  I sure hope that it doesn't leak!  I will have to find a book to read in my spare time now.

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

Help Wanted

I need help.  You probably already knew that.  Ha ha.

I need a helper or a partner in my volunteer job as the bicycle guy for the Hillcrest Thrift store.  Its a lot of fun and very rewarding.  The volunteers are great as is the store manager.  You even get to see Cotton Sivils, the big boss, from time to time. 

I don't know if they have more bikes than in the past or if I am busier, but I can't keep up and I feel like I am letting them down. 

The repairs are pretty basic.  Clean them up.  Air up the tires.  Fix any obvious broken part if it is easy and inexpensive.  The goal is to get them onto the floor to sell.

If you would like to help me please send me an email at jeffb@woodschapelchurch.org.  I hope to find a helper.  I don't want to get fired from Hillcrest.  It would be embarrassing.  Thanks for your consideration.

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

april fools

There were some good April Fools jokes last week.  One friend told me that they were pregnant with twins...... I am not sure if they were joking or telling the truth! 

Someone brought me a container full of brownies.  They have heard me complain about how my wife keeps chocolate around the house and I can't stop eating it.  When I saw the large container, I thought, "Oh my, I am not going to be able to resist....and so many."  The purple note says, "brownies for my friend."

Well, when I picked it up, the container was empty.  Just a foil container with air.  Who ever did that to me, well, you got me.  Thanks for the laugh and thanks for not bringing me brownies.  Humor is such a gift from our Father.

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

today

Every year there is a Sunday or two when the trees at Woods Chapel are in full bloom.  Looks like today is one of those days.  Please take a few moments [don't stop traffic to do this] but take a few moments to pause and take in the beauty of the trees on your property.

I think it is cool that many of the trees were purchased for our property cost $5 each and were about 1/2 inch in diameter when they were planted.  Oh, the miracle of God's green thumb!

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

change

Change is inevitable.  Although we don't like it, change is a sure thing.  Only dead things don't change.  It takes a level of maturity to deal with change in a rapidly changing organization or in a rapidly changing society.  Those who lead change or push for change must be prepared to help people through the angst that they will feel in times of change. 

The wilderness experience was not much fun for the Israelites.  Many of them wanted to go back to Egypt.  When you are in the middle, it is hard to see the other side.  When we feel like many things are changing at our church or our job or in our family, we need to remind each other that everything is ok.  We will come out on the other side.  Until the next change......

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

From a friend:

From a friend:

 

"There comes a time in your life when you walk away from all the drama and the people who create it.

You surround yourself with people who make you laugh....forget the bad and focus on the good.

Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living." 

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

hear the birds

Sunday morning, as I was walking from the car to the church, I heard a sound.  I heard the birds singing.  It made me smile. 

During the winter, they are gone.  We don't hear them because they have gone south for the winter.  What I find sad is that sometimes, many times, even when they are back, we don't hear them.  We grow accustomed to their beautiful sounds that we don't even hear them anymore.  It is a very large sin I think, that we take so many things for granted.

Oh if we could just wake up to hear the birds and see the good.  It doesn't make life's problems go away, but it sure makes them much easier to deal with.

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

God's presence

"We cannot attain the presence of God.  We're already totally in the presence of God.  What's absent is awareness." 
      Richard Rohr in his book Everything Belongs

So, its all there for us.  God is right there, all around us.  Right here.  We just need to wake up and be aware that he is here.  There is no place that you can go where God is not.  Sense him with you.  Sense his loving embrace.  There is nothing to attain.   He is already with you.

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

transformation

What does it really mean to be a believer?  A Christ follower?  Anyone can assent to a list of doctrine.  Anyone can sit in a church pew.  Transformation is radically unsettling.  It calls us not simply to believe, but to love.

Love is the sign, the mark, upon the life of those who would follow Christ.

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

why we do what we do

Not too long ago, someone told someone else, "we have to do it that way because that is the way that Jeff wants it done."  As a general rule, this is not a healthy thing to say.

I will not be here for ever.  I will die, retire, or be moved by the Bishop.  The Woods Chapel Church and it's staff will surely outlive me.  What we do here at Woods Chapel has to live on past Jeff's presence.  The reason that we do what we do needs to be because we are pursuing our mission of connecting people to Jesus Christ, and we are doing it while exhibiting our values of joy, authenticity and excellence.

If Jeff's ideas fit our mission, then let's do them, for the sake of the mission.  If Jeff's ideas are off-mission, then let's get him straightened out.  But at any rate, when we talk amongst each other about what we do, let's remember that we do what we do because we are called to God's mission, not because the pastor said so.

I hope that the Pastor is usually spot on with ideas that are on-mission.  But we do what we do because of the mission, not because of the pastor of the moment.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.  Not because I said so, but because God desires us to see the good.

love and fear

What if everything in life boiled down to either love or fear?  Love or fear.  How do you raise children?  Love or fear.

How do you teach people about God?
How do you act at work?
How do you drive your car?
How do you deal with those who don't like you?
Love or fear.

If that is what it all boils down to, then there is only one choice for the Christian.

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

birds

Alfred Dreyfus was a French artillery officer.  In 1894 he was wrongly convicted of passing secrets to the Germans.  He was sent to the infamous prison on Devil’s Island.  From his cell he would see birds in flight that he called the most glorious birds.  Their flight caused him to wish to be free.  Many years later, after his release, he realized that the birds had only been seagulls.

 

In the 1971 movie Harold and Maude [one of my all time favorite movies], Maude is a concentration camp survivor.  In a scene where sea gulls fly by, she tells the story of how Dreyfus got out of prison and was disappointed to see that the birds were only seagulls.  Maude says, “to me, they will always be glorious birds.”

 

Those who love life and those who see God's handiwork in creation will find many things that they find quite glorious.

 

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

blog content

Someone sent me a note about a post that they found uninspiring.  That's ok.  If you read the purple writing on the blog site it makes it clear that these posts are not necessarily inspiring and not necessarily funny.  It is not really my desire to make you laugh or cry.

I am just writing about real life.  Real life is sometimes funny, sometimes sad.  It is sometimes exciting and inspiring and sometimes difficult.  I write what I am thinking about.  I offer no guarantees.  I don't charge for it, and I refuse to allow advertising on the blog, even though that option is available.

I can't promise that you will find what you want here each day, but I do promise that what you find here will be as real and authentic as I know how to deliver it.  And for me, that is what makes life amazing and awesome.  Let's just be ourselves. For better or for worse.

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

Hail Storm advice

A friend of mine has offered this advice in view of the recent hail storms-

This is the first large storm of the season in the U.S.  After a hailstorm, hundreds of roofers descend upon a city from out of town with one goal – make money and then leave.  They will not stay in town more than a few months and won’t be around to perform any warranty work. 

The following is a list of key information to help you make an informed decision with regards to your home as well as your safety:

1.  Don't sign any documents with contractors that go door to door or that you did not request to inspect your property.  These documents are written in a way that traps you into doing business with them.  If you have signed, call immediately and cancel. 

2. Remain calm.  Hail rarely causes damage that leads to leaks immediately.  While it needs the attention of a reputable contractor to restore your home to its original state it is not an emergency.

3.  Know your rights and the laws that govern insurance claims.  Some contractors will attempt to engage you in a fraudulent scheme with regards to your insurance deductible.  An insurance claim is designed to restore your home.  A reputable contractor cannot replace your roof the right way for less than the insurance claim.  If they are willing to defraud your insurance carrier what does that say about the kind of work that they might do on your house? 

This  is from Jeff- my son worked for such a firm for a few weeks before moving to a reputable local roofing company. The result of working for the shady folks included difficulty getting paid, broken promises, unreliable crews and unhappy home owners.  The moral of the story is do business with people that you know and trust.

 It's a beautiful day [hopefully hail free] in God's world, be sure to see the good.

what does that say?

Before I begin, let me say that yesterday was April Fools Day.  I hope none of you were fooled by my post.  I am not closing the blog.

Now on with today's post:

People who really want to live life to the fullest are thinking people.  They experience a thing not simply as joyful or painful, but they experience a think and ask the question- what does that say to me?  What can I learn from this beautiful thing?  What can I learn from this moment of suffering? 

In a time of conflict healthy people don't just want to run.   They don't just blame the other person.  They learn to open their hearts and look for their burden to bear.  They look for their complicity in a situation.  They face the moment and learn from the pain.

What does that thing say to me?

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

last day

I am sorry to say but I am announcing that today, April 1st is the last day for my blog.  My first post was almost 7 years ago.  May 3rd 2007.   I have been thinking about this for a long time and I just need to take a break.  Thanks for all of your faithful reading over the years.  I love you all.

One last time.......

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

old and new

I have noticed something about me.  I would rather wear old shoes than new.  I would rather drive a car that I know, with history, than one I don't know.  I would rather go to Plymouth Rock than Times Square.  I would rather go to the antique mall than Independence Center.  I would rather read Viking writing on a rock than read a contemporary poem.

I am not sure what all of that says, but I love history.  There is a rich feeling that comes from reaching out and touching the past.  I love old movies, old music and old folks.  Well I like young folks too.  Do you savor the past?

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

trust pushes worry out

Jesus said, do not worry.  How can it benefit you?  Can you add a moment to your life?  Can you make yourself taller?

We all worry.  And, we all trust.  We just wish that we trusted God more often than we worried.  I have noticed something:  when trust arrives, worry leaves.  When we take the time to really think that God is trustworthy, worry leaves. 

You can't think about two things at the same time.  It is impossible to do so.  Think about how big a problem is and God shrinks away.  Think about trusting God, and worry gets smaller.  When trust arrives, worry leaves.

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

time

I found myself starting to read this publication from a Christian legal group, then I stopped and just deleted the thing.  I get lots of email.  I am sure that you do as well.  I accept linked in friends and facebook friends to be nice.  Then I get all kinds of unsolicited solicitations.  Somebody wants to do business with the church.  Somebody wants me to go to their seminar.  Somebody wants me to read this long thing so I will buy something from them.

I hereby give myself, and you, permission to delete.  Delete the email.  Delete the contact if you like.  Time is short.  I want to spend my time doing things that matter.  I can't read every email.  I can't meet with every sales person. 

Someone once said that your life is God's gift to you.  How you live it is your gift back to God.  Let's use our time constructively and do the things that matter.

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

learning

Learning is great.  I love to learn.  Sometimes we learn new things and simply add them to our brain trust.  For example, what is the capital of Ukraine?  If you don't know that, it is Kiev.  There- we may have added a new thing to our brains.

But, there is another kind of learning that is almost more important than gaining knowledge.  And that is the learning that takes place when we replace something that we have thought for years with a new thought.  For example, when we were kids we always took the best seat, the best toy, the best piece of chicken.  Some where along the  line, hopefully we have replaced that selfishness with a new thought, that it is better to give than to receive.

All deep systemic learning demands that we unlearn something so that a new thing can be picked up.  So that learning becomes an exercise in unlearning.  What is going on in your brain or heart that needs to be unlearned?

Do you hold to fast to money or do you live the generous life?  Do you worry too much instead of trusting God?

Most of the greatest things that we will learn in life, come our way as we are willing to let go of unhealthy paradigms that we have held onto so tightly for years.  It is difficult, but there is a joy in new thoughts if they take us closer to a life of love.

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

on being present

Yesterday I used a line...... "I was there, I just wasn't paying attention."  This is an enormous problem for us humans.  We live in God's beautiful world, and we don't see it because we don't look.  We are around great people to love and learn from, but we don't because we get so self absorbed.

What is happening around you that you need to pay attention to?  Spirituality is not just learning a bunch of things or believing a bunch of things.  Spirituality is waking up.  Waking up to the beauty and amazingness that God has placed into this life.  Waking up to the presence of God all around us.  In your car, in your home, at your work.  He is there for us to see if we just pay attention.

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

my parents

I was listening to a song the other day, In the Living Years by Mike and the Mechanics.  I have always liked the song, but never really listened to the words.

Wow.  There is a post all by itself. I was there, but I wasn't paying attention.  Anyway, the first line of the song says, "every generation - likes to blame the one before." And then it goes on to think of and appreciate the good that a parent had done, and Mike says, "I wish I would have told him, in the living years."

I notice in my life that when I talk about my parents, especially my mom, it is pretty rough.  That is because it was rough.  I want my kids to have better.  I want people to know that there are some things that are bad examples and there are some difficulties that we can over come.

Still, my parents did much good.  They loved us the best that they could. They were refugees themselves from very difficult upbringings.  I just want to stop today for a moment.  I want to set aside the bad and honor them for the good.

If your parents are living, call them and thank them for the good that they did, no matter how mixed your upbringing may have been.  Do it while they are still in the living years.

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

words to live by

I found this the other day. It may be old to you, but it’s new to me. I couldn’t agree more.

The six most important words: I admit I made a mistake.

The five most important words: You did a good job.

The four most important words: What is YOUR opinion?

The three most important words: If you please.

The two most important words: Thank You.

The one most important word: We.

The least important word: I.

-Author Unknown

Peace,

Lion’s Den Man

life edited

About 10 years ago a futuristic movie was made in which people have a memory chip place in their brain at birth and it records their memory throughout their life. When they die the chip is removed and the memories are edited and compiled. Bad stuff removed and good stuff pulled together to paint a picture perfect life for those to remember them by.

I think we all have bad stuff we would like removed and I think it would be nice to be remembered for only the good we have done. But, it doesn’t happen that way. All we can hope is the good outweighs the bad, forgiveness is in everyone’s heart and the grace of God takes care of the rest.


Peace,

Lion’s Den Man

life and technology

 

Back to yesterday’s post and my comment about what technology has taken away…..

So later in the day I was reading another blog I like and it provided a good follow up to my post. (see cartoon  below) I guess I see technology as a vehicle that sometimes robs us from being all there….all present to the world that surrounds us. It can be a distraction that is unhealthy. Our relationship to people and to the world around us is what God wants us to pursue and enjoy for Him. Many things, not just technology, get in the way of that…It goes back to that great piece of wisdom. “Wherever you are, be all there”.

 

Peace,

Lion’s Den Man

grace and technology

Sometimes I look at technology and think how much it has taken away from our lives. Other times I see what a great gift it can be.  Like yesterday… I have been following a Christian writer I like on tumbler. Daily I am able to read and think about things that I would not have had as easy of access to years ago. Here is a quote from one of his favorite authors I found on the site.

The grace of God means something like: Here is your life.  You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn’t have been complete without you.  Here is the world.  Beautiful and terrible things will happen.  Don’t be afraid.  I am with you.  Nothing can ever separate us.  It’s for you I created the universe.  I love you.  There’s only one catch.  Like any other gift, the gift of grace can be yours only if you reach out and take it.  Maybe being able to reach and take it is a gift too. (from the book Wishful Thinking)- Frederick Buechner

So yesterday one gift brought me another.

Peace,

Lion’s Den Man

poison

If you are ailing in one portion of your life, it tends to infect the other portions. If there is poison in a glass of water, no one says, “Be careful, the middle of the water is poisoned.”-Jon Acuff

Pretty much says it all doesn’t it.  It is a great visual. Poison is in all of our lives. We can’t skirt around it. God knew this and so sent his Son. But, what can we do to play a part in this healing? Do we give up? Give it all to God and His Grace or do we actively take a stand.

 

Peace,

Lion’s Den Man

my product

I love when I come across a new product, service or business that is exceptional. Recently I have been doing some wood working and finishing. By accident I came across a stain product that stands heads above all others I have ever used. By accident, because I have never seen it in a paint store or hardware store….never on television or radio or in print. As I was searching on-line for a stain product for my project, I stumbled upon several positive endorsements from non-professional hobbyists like me about this stain. I then searched for this product on-line and found only one place in KC that carried it. I arrived at the store and made my inquiry. The man at the store said it was a great product used mainly by professional woodworkers. He went on to say that this company put their money into their product and not into advertising. He said, “They made their name based on performance and it grew from there”.

So it brought to mind how I live out my faith…performance or advertisement? What am I selling and how am I selling it…..

Peace,

Lion’s Den Man

your verse

 

In church last Sunday a question was brought up to a group of us in class. What is your favorite verse and why? It was great hearing what was shared. Not one person had the same verse. I have a few that sit at the top of my list and each verse has held the #1 spot at some point in time. I think that happens to many of us, we find a verse at a particular point in time in our life… it speaks to us… we connect with it and then it sticks with us. Anyway here are two versions of one of my favorite verses. What is your verse?

 

Proverbs 18:24 (NKJV)

²⁴ A man who has friends must himself be friendly,^[a]
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24 (MSG)

²⁴ Friends come and friends go,
    but a true friend sticks by you like family.

 

Peace,

Lion’s Den Man

they didn't mean it

A friend of mine was hurt by another person.  Every time they hear the name of the person that hurt them, it brings the experience back.  It is really painful to watch.

That could be your story, or mine.  We have all been hurt by others. 

One thing that helps me most of the time is to remember that they probably did not mean to hurt me.  Even if they knew that their words were hurtful, they usually had no idea of the pain they would cause and no intention of leaving a scar that deep.

If there is someone that you need to forgive, start with trying to believe that they did not mean to hurt you as badly as they did.  Maybe they felt threatened by you.  Maybe they were having a bad day.  Maybe their spouse has left them.  Maybe the are sad and broken.  Maybe their venom directed at you was more about them after all.  They didn't mean for it to hurt like it does.

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

Mark 9:40

Jesus' disciple John told him that they found someone casting out demons in Jesus' name.  John and the others told the man to stop because he was not one of them.  Jesus said, do not stop him....for who ever is not against us is for us.

Wow.  Jesus cast a pretty wide circle of acceptance.  In a world where this denomination does not like another, where this group thinks they are the only ones, in a world where we hold ourselves up as the only collectors of the true way.... Jesus says, if they are not against us they are for us.

In other words, hey, we are all on the same team.  Get off their backs.  They may be doing it a little bit differently than you do, but they are still trying to do God's work.

God has a very big army working for him and not everyone goes about things in the same way, but every soldier, every squad, every battalion is important.  We need to stop shooting each other and get on with the business of sharing God's love in this life.

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

St. Patrick's Day

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's day.  He was an actual person.  He was a priest who was instrumental in leading the Irish to Jesus Christ.  It's almost too bad that his story has been lost with all of the leprechauns and green beer.

Anyway, there is a joke that I love to tell for St. Patrick's day:  Do you remember the name of the famous Irishman who invented outdoor tables and chairs?

Paddy O'Furniture.

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

quiet

I sit here when I visit the redwoods.

As I write this, the house is quiet.  The tick-
tock of a clock.  The hum of the refrigerator.  Oh.  Here comes a cat.  Cat's can break the silence, but they settle down after a few.

There is a blessing in quiet.  When I sit down to listen, I can hear my heart beat.  I can find the restful, peaceful place in my mind.

I love taking vacations where things are quiet.  Sitting by a pool.  Reading by a tree.  Taking in the cadence of the waves at the beach.

When was the last time you experienced the gift of quiet?  Would it hurt you to take 20 minutes right now and just sit still?  I don't think it hurts our day, I think it helps our day when we find moments of silence.  Things go better with silence.  It helps us remember that we are a soul on a journey in this world.

Take a few moments.  Rest.  Savor the gift of this day.

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

Day off

Many ministers take Mondays off.  I have always tried to take Fridays off.  I say try, because sometimes, you have to be willing to work on your day off.  To do what needs to be done.

I run into lots of people who want to protect themselves from their job.  It is my experience that those who hope to succeed will work hard, very hard, even on their day off.  My Dad used to say, "make yourself indispensable to the corporation."

Everyone needs a little time away.  I heard them say.  But in a world that rewards hard work, their is no substitute for going the second mile.

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

Julie Battle

It's kind of a miracle.  A miracle of the modern age.  I used to have a book called Common Sense for Community Change.  The author is someone named Julie Battle.  I have loved this book for years.  It has some awesome quotes in it like this:

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

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

Well, I loaned the book out and it got lost.  I have looked for another one for years.  It is so frustrating.  Yesterday I had an idea.  Find her on the web.  So sure enough, I found about eight Julie Battles.  I did a little homework and picked the right one.  I called the company she works for and asked to speak with Julie Battle.  The receptionist said, "Hold the line, Sir."  I expected to leave a message, but a kind voice answered.  "This is Julie Battle."  how exciting!

I asked her if she had written the book. She had!  We had a wonderful talk.  The book is out of print, but she is mailing one to me.

What a small world.  It's nice to meet a kind person, even if it is electronically. 

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

March 12th

Today is March 12th.  If you are fortunate, you will have other March 12s in your life time.  But not all of us will.  At any rate, this is the only March 12, 2014 that you will have in your entire life.  It will not repeat.  You don't get a redo.  This is your chance to give your best for March 12, 2014.

Every day is precious.  Every day is a gift.  Make it so.

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

deeper

So we tend to look at people and think what we think.  We know very few people really well, really.  That means that most people that I see are much deeper than I have any idea.

What ever you think of person A or person B or person C, they are most likely much deeper than you realize.  They have hopes and dreams, they are not random and insignificant.  Everyone deserves to be honored and respected.

You may not know them, but they are much deeper than you might think at first sight.  Strangers are friends that you just have not yet met.  And possibly very good future friends if you give them a chance.

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

on being right

We humans like to be right.  We argue with each other incessantly about who is right and who is wrong.  How much do we really know anyway?  I am starting to feel like when we get to heaven St. Peter is going to tell us that all of us were not nearly as smart as we thought we were.

Jesus challenged the Pharisees, but he did not spend a lot of time arguing with people.  He did not argue with the woman at the well about the best place to worship.  Jesus focused on Kingdom things.  He was more interested in loving people than proving that he was right.

Wisdom is it's own reward.  Love is it's own reward.  Those who say, don't know.  Those who know, don't have to say.

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