stinkin thinkin

One of my friends used to use the phrase "stinkin thinkin."  That idea sounds like stinkin thinkin to me, he would say.

We think our way of thinking is right, otherwise we would change our ideas wouldn't we?  One of the best ways that we can modify our thinking is to learn what other people think.

In American Christianity, we are all about knowing.  Knowledge.  I know.  I know and you don't, unless you see it like I do.

In other cultures, there is lots of room for not knowing.  For being comfortable with mystery.

Heard recently on the BEMA pod cast... The church and Christians in general would do well to grow more comfortable with not knowing instead of having to try to explain everything.  When we have to figure everything out we end up with crazy explanations of why things are the way they are when in fact it’s OK to recognize that God is God and we are not, and not knowing is OK.

When I have to know everything, my life and my brain are full of stress. Oh My! I have to get it all right.

When I trust in God and agree that I don't have to know everything, I can relax. It is a beautiful thing to be comfortable with not having to know it all.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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love and truth

13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love 1 Cor 13

When I was in Kansas City a few weeks ago, I saw a sign on a church marquis that said something like, "love never comes at the expense of truth."  It made me sick to my stomach.  This is what you teach?  This is going to attract people to your church?

Truth is important, but love is more important.  Love embodies truth.  Too many people get truth confused with doctrine.  There are 33,000 protestant denominations.  Which one has the truth?  Love is not confusing.  Love is beautiful.  Love never hurts people.  "Truth" as some deliver it can be very hurtful.

We were not put on this earth to sort out every truth. We were put here on this earth to love.

"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing."

Someone has strained a gnat and swallowed a camel.

Love is the only thing that matters. Love first, everything else will follow.  Always choose love.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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On forgiving yourself

If you can't forgive yourself, you can't love yourself.  If you can't forgive yourself, can you really forgive anyone?

We are forgiven by God.  We live in a state of grace.  When I was a kid I was taught that we were only forgiven by God when we asked for it.  Consequently there was this constant fear that I was going to sin and die and not get in an apology in soon enough and end up in hell.  Some of what the church taught us was/is so terrible.

We do not have to worry.  God loves us and he forgives us.  We live in a state of forgiveness.

• Forgive yourself for what you did in the past.
• Forgive yourself for some of your thoughts.
• Forgive yourself for not being perfect.
• Whatever it is, forgive yourself for it.

Are your children perfect?  Do you want them running around neurotically worried that they aren't doing it quite right?  No!  We want them to know that they are loved and to live a life of love.  We don't want them filled with worry.

God doesn't want us filled with worry either.  You are forgiven.  Forgive yourself.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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Your freewill actually matters

Does God really have a plan?

I hear it all the time. God has a plan. If that is true, does that mean that your free will does not matter? God has a plan so what you think or the choices that you make do not matter?  Are we really just pawns on the chessboard of life?  I don't think so.

Think about you and your kids. Do you want to control their life? NO! I want to invest in my children and raise them to be responsible adults. But I do not want to be a helicopter Dad. I want to release them to live. I want to watch them make their choices, for better or for worse.

I think that God has the same idea. Raise us, reach for us, and watch us make our choices. I think he celebrates the good ones, the loving ones, and hopes that we will turn a corner on the bad choices.

God may be in control, maybe, but he is surely not controlling.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022. If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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an integral speck

A quote from my friend Joanne, "Although we may not see God's promises entirely fulfilled in our own lifetime, the contributions we make in faith and trust are a necessary and important part of His ultimate plan.  I may only be a speck of dust in the master plan however, I am a very integral, important, loved speck."

Think of the contributions that you and I can make, day by day, loving people.  We may not see the big picture, but we can be a part of something big and beautiful!

I loved the phrase, "I am a very integral, important, loved speck!!!"

Keep making your contributions, no matter how small you feel that they may be.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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the cobwebs of time

I find it interesting how memories from long ago can be lost in the cobwebs of my brain and then one day just show up.

When I was in second grade, evidently I was talking too much in Mrs. Faber's class.  She decided to punish me by giving me a homework assignment.  I had to write this very long sentence 100 times.  For years, I remembered having to do it, but I could not remember the sentence.

Then the other day, the fog lifted and the cobwebs fell away and there 
was the horrible sentence.

"I realize that my conversational proclivities are not helpful but are detrimental to my studies and harmful and hurtful to the work of others."

100 times.
100 times on my big chief tablet.

I hated doing it.  I am not sure I stopped talking either.  But isn't it amazing how much information the brain stores.  Who knows what else is lurking in the files in the deep recesses?

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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We made it a God

We made the Bible into a God.  Bible idolatry.

Instead of being grateful for a book that is inspired by God and written by men, we made the Bible to be equal to God. 

Some say, you cannot question it.  Really?  God doesn't allow questions?  Slavery is ok?  Subjugating women is ok?  Cannibalism is ok?  God has to kill something to be happy?  No one can question such things?  

Actually I think it takes away from God when we raise the Bible to a level that cannot be questioned.  And whose interpretation of the Bible?   We have to remember that we worship God, not the bible.

The Bible is a finger that points the way to God, but it is not God.  Only God is God.

Shoot me if you like.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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the best me

Recently heard: "This me is the best I could do with what I had to work with."

I think back on dumb things that I used to think and believe.  And then I have to cut myself a break because I was doing the best I could with what I knew at the time.

Today, after collecting 63 years of life experience, I have some ideas on making yourself the best self that you can:

1. Pay attention to what you are doing.  Don't just live on auto pilot.  Keep an eye out for selfishness and if you find it, squash it.
2. Determine to live outside of yourself.  See others and love them.
3. Let kindness always be the rule.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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Everyone matters

We humans tend to hang out with those that we like. We tend to ignore everyone else. Jesus was loved by so many because he believed that everyone mattered. He reached for everyone. He provided an immense welcome.

At Jody Goddard's memorial service her son David described this skill in her: "My mom believed in inviting everyone to the party and that there is magic in bringing people together and allowing things to unfold. She didn’t go to parties, she WAS the party...and everyone felt it."

When we are reaching for people, they love us. People want to matter. They want to be included. Part of being a Christ-follower is seeing people, and welcoming them. Spending time with them. No one should be invisible. Everyone matters. When we get this down, our lives change for the better and so do theirs.

Reach for someone today.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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on trying to fix things

When things go "wrong" we try to fix them. And we should. But we cannot fix everything. Sometimes a life skill is needed that allows us to relax and make friends with difficulty.

At Jodi Goddard's memorial service her son David said that his mom taught him to "let life in instead of trying to control everything."

When we cannot change the circumstances, it is time for us to change. It is time to stop fighting with life and rest in the beauty of the day, even the parts that we wish were different.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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The Manor House

I was my privilege to officiate the wedding of Scott and Cassie Connor's daughter Morgan to Tyler Hutton.  Beautiful wedding, beautiful couple, beautiful life.

The wedding was held at the Manor House in Littleton, Colorado.  Inside the Manor House are several pictures from days gone by.  One was a picture of Teddy Roosevelt on the front porch.

I stood where Teddy Roosevelt stood.  For a moment, I felt presidential.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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Go Outside

I was talking with a friend the other day.  They were really stressed out.

One of the things that I do when I get stressed out is I go outside.  I breathe in the outside air.  I look at the trees.  I look at the clouds.  I take it all in.

Creation is God's first bible.  Before there was a bible or a church or pastors, God spoke to people thru creation.  It is still the best voice that we have.

If you are stressed, get outside and take it all in.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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People

My dad used to say, "people are no damn good."  I don't know why he said that or why he felt that way.  He never really had any friends and he was a pretty serious recluse.

I hate to disagree with my dad, but I like people.  He used to say to me, "son, you have a bug about relationships."  I can think of worse things to have a bug about.

Yes I know some people who are grouchy, mean and such, but that does not make everyone bad.  I love to love people, and I love trying to love people.  It is fun to watch their eyes light up when they see that you are caring for them.  Just asking their name and wishing them a good day can be such a blessing to them.

#1 rule in life: value every human that you see.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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Donna Hoover

I loved Donna Hoover.  She was awesome.

I remember sitting in Annual Conference probably the year 2000 and watched Donna being invited up to the podium to receive an evangelism award for bringing people into the church.  I thought that was cool.  I was proud of her and envious of her.

Some years later, I heard that she was retiring.  I knew that she lived in Blue Springs so I called her and asked her if she would like to visit with me about coming to work for us part time at Woods Chapel.  I was always looking for good people.

Donna and I met at the Applebee's on the corner of 7 Highway and I-70.  To my surprise, Bob came with her.  He wanted to see who this young whipper snapper was that was trying to hire his wife.  Well  by the end of the lunch, I loved Bob and Bob loved me.

Donna worked for us at WCC for 10 years.  She was awesome.  She was such a great member of the team.

Last week was Donna's memorial service.  Since she was an Independence Police Chaplain, the force rolled out for her.  The processional from the church to Mt. Washington Cemetery was amazing.  Ten police cars.  Twenty police motorcycles.  Two fire trucks.

I thought about how fitting it was that she was celebrated so... then I thought... "hey, everyone should be celebrated that much."

Thank you Donna for your life.

Thank you God for Donna's life.

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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Follow your heart

I have talked to a few people lately that were facing challenging decisions and situations. It occurred to me... "follow your heart." When ever possible, look within and follow your heart. Doing the right thing is most often a thing of the heart. Others may not agree or understand, but what is your heart telling you?

A man offered to pay a sum of money to his twelve-year-old daughter if she mowed the lawn. The girl went at the task with great zest and by evening the whole lawn had been beautifully mowed-well, everything except a large uncut patch of grass in one corner. When the man said he couldn’t pay the sum agreed upon because the whole lawn hadn’t been mowed, the girl said she was ready to forego the money, but would not cut the grass in the patch. Curious to find out why, he checked the uncut patch. There, right in the center of the patch, sat a large toad. The girl had been too tender-hearted to run over it with the lawn-mower. 

Where there is love, there is disorder. Perfect order would make the world a graveyard.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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lock up the carts

A grocery cart costs about $150.  I have a friend who was a grocery store manager and he knows the price.  He told me $150 each.

Homeless people love to take them to keep their belongings in.

I was at the Dollar Tree in Ft. Pierce.  I saw that the carts were locked up.  I have mixed feelings about that.

Sure we as the business don't want people to steal our carts.  But I am sure that Dollar Tree makes plenty of money.  If a homeless person needs a cart, who does that hurt?  Let's raise the price at Dollar Tree to $1.10 per thing and let them take the carts.

Or, lets have a fund raiser at church, buy used shopping carts and give them away for free.

We need to do more for the needy in my opinion.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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motivation

Recently heard:  "The motivation to bear up under hard times is strikingly missing in our society today."

My parents stood up in hard times.  Mom was one of six.  They were very poor.  She dug dandelion greens in the front yard for the nightly vegetable.  The protein was a squirrel or rabbit that happened through the yard.  She went to college for one semester.

At college she met my dad.  He had a better life growing up than she did, but nothing to shout about.

They launched into life.  Three miscarriages, then three kids.  Threats of divorce, way back then.  Demands on the kids that they behave.

Dad lost his job in 1975 during one of the oil crisis'.  It was the only time that my mom ever worked.  She took a job at a place like Kohls.  Dad was off work for a year.  They sucked it up.  We ate hotdogs for a year.

Sometimes you have to do what you have to do.  No room for whining.  You just do what you do to make it work.

The motivation to bear up under hard times is strikingly missing in our society today.

What will happen tomorrow?  What will happen next year?  Whatever it is, we need to stand up, do what needs to be done and see the good.  Pull together and do the good.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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better to give?

Yes it is better to give than to receive. So says the scripture.

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Acts 20:35

Yes it is true. Giving is beautiful. But I have to tell you that I run into people all the time that do not know how to receive.

I used to be one of them.

We were raised under strict parameters. Give, give, give. And we should. But, when you don't allow people to give to you, you rob them of the chance to be kind.

Are you the only one that can be kind? Or should others have that opportunity as well?

The next time someone wants to be nice to you, let them. Say thank you. Accept the gift.

The gift that they give you will motivate you to continue to give to others.  When you are full, then you want to reach out to others.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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A better place

I was in a town recently where I experienced a great deal of stress and pain in the past.  [Don't blame the town or the people.  A good deal of it was self-inflicted]  I saw a counselor regularly during that time.  I was driving around and I realized that I was in the vicinity of that counselor's office.  It's an obscure little street entrance that is easy to miss.

I pulled in.  I drove to the back.  I parked where I used to park.  I am happy to report that the pain of those days is gone.  The stress that I felt is gone.  The dreadful feelings that I had have healed.

For the first time ever in that space, I saw that it is a beautiful place.  Lovely trees and foliage.  It was peaceful.

It actually felt good to be in the counselor's parking lot and feel good, feel happy.  

If you are struggling with something, if you are hurting, I write this today to tell you:  it can get better!  IT CAN GET BETTER!

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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A final word

I don't want to jinx myself.  Oh, by the way, when I was 3 years old we had two cats, Jinx and Jerry.  I don't want to jinx myself.

So I have made an intentional effort to write daily again.  Sometimes I am days or even a week ahead.  I can write and make them post in a few days.

I have been thinking, if I keep this up, one day I will die and there will still be five blog posts that come out.  People will be reading my thoughts 5 days after my death.  Finally the last one will post.  What will it be about?

I love you.

Know that you are forgiven.  Feel the joyful peace of God's love in your heart.

Grace.  Be graced.  Receive it.  Give it to others.

Let the last sentence of the last chapter of every life be: "love, joy, peace."

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.  And for the record I hope to be alive long after this posts on June 5th!

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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That person hurt me

A couple of months ago I was put in a position where I had to spend a small amount of time with someone that really hurt me.  I mean, in my life, they are in the top five of life wounds.  I will never forget what this person did to me.

Someone who knew the story well, asked me if I was going to speak to them when I saw them.  At first, jokingly, I said, "no.  I am going to punch that person in the head."  Then I told the truth.  Yes.  Of course I am going to speak to them.

Grace.

Me giving you grace is nothing.  It is easy.  It comes in small doses.  Not much is needed.  But when we are in the presence of people who hurt us, grace is needed all the more.  In this case, not only did I want to give it to them, but they wanted it as well.

Loving you is easy.  A piece of cake.  It feels normal.

But when we show love and grace to those who hurt us, it is like a giant geyser gushing out of our innermost being.  We are lifted up and they are blessed as well.  Life is to short to let the pain have the last word.  Let grace be the final word, the final thought on your mind.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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The Ravensbruck Prayer

Ravensbruck is a town in Northern Germany.  During WW2 there was a concentration camp there for women.  When the camp was liberated, someone found this prayer on the ground.

Lord, remember not only the men and women of good will, but also those of ill will. But do not only remember the suffering they have inflicted on us. Remember the fruits we have brought, thanks to this suffering--our comradeship, our loyalty, our humility, the courage, the generosity, the greatness of heart which has grown out of all this. And when they come to judgment, let all the fruits we have borne be their forgiveness.  Amen

Forgiving the people who put me in a concentration camp?  If someone can do that, then maybe I can forgive the people that have hurt me.  For as much as my wound have piled up over the years, they are nothing compared to the atrocities inflicted on the people in this camp.

Grace can be given to anyone.  If they can do it, so can I.  So can you.

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

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We have a choice

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.
Victor Frankl

Each moment is a choice. No matter how frustrating or boring or constraining or painful or oppressive our experience, we can always choose how we respond.
Edith Eger as quoted in Richard Rohr's daily devotional on May 20

I don't have much to add to these quotes.  Both of these statements come from Auschwitz survivors.  I think I have problems?  I think that something isn't going right for me?  We always have a choice.  No matter what is happening in our world, we can let in conquer us or we can choose to see the good.

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

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

Pastor Friends

A few weeks ago I was in Kansas City for a wedding.  Because of the timing of the trip, I also got to attend Jody Goddard's funeral.

I miss my pastor friends.  They are some fantastic folks.

Brian Swanson and my Dad in the Woods Chapel lobby.

Brian Swanson, Sherri Swanson [mother of the groom]

me and Michael Scott.

Pastors with police escort.  
You have to keep an eye on pastors.

Over the years we have had many people from our church go into the ministry.  Sandy Nenadahl, Kate McClain, Colin Brown, Steve Price, Bob Jeppson, Donna Hoover, Sherri Swanson, Gina Kennedy, Allison Predmore, Brian Swanson, Michael Scott, Steve Elkins, Brittney Jacobs Rhinehart, Wendy Minshall, and many more.

It is such a joy to have had these friends in my life and to know that they are out there making a difference in God's world.

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

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

I have to live with myself

I have to live with myself.

I have had a number of opportunities lately to steal from people.  I didn't do it.  I was raised by Lutherans and I just can't do it.

I paid for groceries with a $50 bill.  The woman gave me change for $100.  I very quietly pointed out her error.  She was very grateful.

A man came to the house to buy a $60 item.  He was older and gave me two twenties and a $50 bill.  I pointed it out to him.  He was appreciative.  I told him that I had to live with myself.  He said that he did too.

I was a guest at a club.  When I was leaving I stopped by the men's room.  As a decoration in the men's room they had a bunch of hats.  One stuck out as particularly attractive.  I put it on.  I thought, I could just take this.  But then I thought about how I would feel every time that I wore it.

When I was a kid I stole a plastic hand grenade from the Ben Franklin Five and Dime store on Wornall Road.  I couldn't play with it because I didn't want my mom to know where it came from.  A few weeks later when we returned to the store, I put it back.  I was 8 years old.  I have to live with myself.

A few weeks ago I sold an item for $125.  When the guy came to buy it he only had $115.  It seemed like an honest mistake on his part, or was it a scam?  I didn't care.  I let him have it for $115.  Thirty minutes later he was back at the front door.  He had gone to the ATM and got some cash.  He said, "you know, things in my life are going really well right now and I don't want to mess with that karma."

Whatever you think or don't think about karma, I think it is true that what goes around, comes around.  What you give to others, will eventually return to you.  Cast your bread upon the waters and it will return to you.

We have a choice every day to take from others or to invest in the world in a constructive manner.  I don't know about you, but I choose to make the decisions that are good for my soul and good for the world.  

On second thought, I do know about you.  If you are reading this, you probably have very similar stories.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

tomorrow

One of the beautiful things about life is the truth that "tomorrow is another day."  And this is why we should wake up with gratitude.  Not everyone gets to have tomorrow.  But if we do get to have tomorrow, then tomorrow is a day that we can do better.  Tomorrow will become today and we can try to atone for yesterday's foolishness.

To wake up to a day and make better choices is always good.  Yes.  Yesterday's choices hurt people.  You can say you are sorry, but sometimes that doesn't fix it.  But you can get up and do better this day and tomorrow.

Sometimes when we see the worst of ourselves, it motivates us to be better.  And better is always better.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

Mortified

Do you ever have a day that you wish you could erase?  Have you ever behaved in a manner that you embarrassed yourself?

That was me not too long ago.

I want to tell you how I feel about that:  I don't ever want to do that again.  I don't ever want to hurt people again.  I don't know what got in to me.  I feel like a complete loser.

This is pretty brutal stuff, but I put it out there just in case I am not the only one.  

I assume that I will be forgiven for what I said, but there is no guarantee.  I want to crawl in a hole and hide from life.  I am wondering how long it will take for me to forgive myself?

We all have choices to make every day.  I am going to make better ones.

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

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

If you don't say it

I learned this from my friend Pat Starke.  He lives in San Diego most of the time.  I miss him.

He once said, if you think something good, and you don't say it, it doesn't count.

If you are grateful, but don't say thank you, what good is that?

If you love someone, but don't say I love you, what good is that?

People are desperate for a good word.  For a word of kindness.

If you think something good about someone, be sure to tell them.

Say things like:

• I am thankful for you.
• You are amazing.
• You are so smart.
• I love you.
• You make me feel so good about myself.
• You make the world a better place.
• You are one of my favorite humans.

If you feel it, but don't say it, it doesn't count.  So say it.  SAY IT!!!

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

Leaders don't inflict pain

When I was a Pastor there is a saying that I tried to live by.  Here it is: "Leaders don't inflict pain, they bear it."

Now when we had to cut the budget, I know that I inflicted pain.  But for the most part I wanted to save my staff and members from pain. 

If someone was unhappy, I wanted them to talk to me, not dump their stuff on my friends.  If someone needed to be straightened out, I always wanted to do it in the nicest way possible.

Sometimes people in power use their power to hurt others.  To lord it over them.

Good leaders don't inflict pain, they bear it.  Good people bear all the pain that they can so that others don't have to.

This example is set by Jesus.  He spread his arms and absorbed the pain.  Those who claim to follow Christ should do the same.

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

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I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

Beautiful Chorus

I guess that there is a singing group called "Beautiful Chorus." Jodi Goddard's son David quoted their lyrics from the song Infinite Universe at her memorial service. I thought the words were profound...

Believe Only in Love.
Everything else on earth lacks meaning.
Even if this world is leveled to the ground;
Even if the seas dry up and the mountains wear down;
Love will Live Forever in the Infinite Universe.

Good stuff for sure!!!

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

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

What made Woods Chapel a great church

I was in KC last week and someone asked me what made Woods Chapel a great church. We talked about what it meant to be outward focused, that a church must focus on reaching others.

I was reminded of the ministry audit that we had in 2000. Back then, we agreed to a number of principles that helped drive us over the next 16 years. Here is the short version of them.

From church council, Saturday, August 26th, 2000 6:00pm and passed unanimously.

4. Motion: That the missions statement is the plumb line of the church by which everything else is measured. 

5. Motion: We affirm that the mission is non-negotiable and that everything else is expendable for the mission if need be. I.e. ballfield vs parking 

10. Motion: when we find that we are struggling to reach consensus, we are committed to pray and to carefully ask the question “What is God doing, and do I disagree because this goes against the leading of the spirit and the mission of the church or because I prefer something else?” And that we consider the question “where is God’s will, and where is my will?” 

11. Motion: that we work toward balanced programming by affirming the cycle of ministry as defined by the “inviting, forming and sending” model. 

14. Motion: that we commit to sharing space among the various ministries. That our mission comes before our personal feelings about, or preferences regarding particular programs or particular spaces in the church. 

15. Motion: while being committed to serve those who hurt, we agree to grow in Christ so that we are able to affirm the statement “we are called to serve, not to be served” 

16. Motion: that we commit to dream big. That we affirm the belief that God is big enough to fulfill his dreams in us as outlined in Eph 3:20 “God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” 

18. Motion: that we affirm the statement “membership is a responsibility not a privilege” [33]

23. Motion: We affirm the belief that those who are not here matter as much if not more than those who are already here. 

25. Motion: that while we work to nurture people of all ages, we make a stronger commitment to reach folks in their 20’s, who are the future of tomorrow’s church. [35]

You can see that there were many more motions that passed, but I hold these few out as those that seem most important to me.  You can hear the outward focused nature of the proposals.  You can hear the church reaching for and embracing the ideals of selflessness.

When we make it about me, my comfort and my preference, we get off track, we get off mission.  When we put others first, when we put the mission first, things start to get back on track.

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

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

Recently heard

I was at a memorial service, a celebration of life for my dear friend Jody Goddard.  I will be posting over the next few days, hit and miss about some of what I heard there.

Jody was awesome, and if a funeral/memorial/celebration can be awesome, hers was.  No one had to pretend, no one had to lie.  All of the great things that were said were true.  She was amazing!!!

Here is a quote.  I don't remember who said it.

"It's not the things that you do that make you real, love makes you real."

Think about that... why do we love who we love?  Because they love us.  They go out of their way for us.  You can do things for people in an unloving way, and it matters not.  But when you love people, it's just good.

There should be lots more love in the world.  You and I can do something about that.

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

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I am leading a River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands March 19-27, 2022.  If you are interested in reading about the trip or joining in, the link is below.

http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/RC22_031922T_TulipTime_002_FINAL-1.pdf

Click here for the brochure

How to revive your church post-pandemic

I was talking with some folks the other day whose church has been struggling.  They asked me how to revive their church post pandemic.

The $63,000 question is this... "Are you excited about your church?"  If you are not, then there is no reviving.  Stick a fork in her, she is done for.

However, if you are excited about your church, here is what needs to happen.  Everyone needs to start providing opportunities for people to get together.  Host a dinner at your house for 12 folks, members and folks that you would like to have join you.  Revive taco night and invite 30 people.  Have a corn hole tournament for 16 friends.  Invite people to the hot dog trailer food truck and spend the afternoon visiting.  Do something fun that gets people together.

There is a pent up demand right now for community togetherness.  This cannot be solved by the preacher or staff [although they should do the same things that I am suggesting.]  Successful churches are lay driven.  Every member actively engaged in the process of connecting people.  When people are having fun with others that go to your church, they will start attending.  It begins with connections.

Get out there and bring them to something fun.  Attending church will follow.

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

I've got the power

It's a quote from the movie Bruce Almighty which is one of my favorites of all time.

I've got the power.  And so do you.  You may not feel powerful, you may not be a boss, but you have power.

Power for bad:  to complain, to sulk, to wish it were different, to be hateful, to lie, to steal, to ignore and so on.

And, you have power for good:  to love, to say hello, to ask their name, to smile, to hug, to tell them how much you love them, to forgive, to over tip, to buy their lunch, to hold the door open, to do a favor for them, and on it goes.

Yes you have power.  It is just a matter of how you choose to use it.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to use your power for good.

The prayer of St. Francis

 

When I was writing yesterday's post about having no one to love, I thought of this prayer, one of my favorites.

It is in giving that we receive.  It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.  You may feel alone, you may feel hurt, you may feel broken, but there is great power in loving others.  Love them in the midst of your struggle.

It is in giving that we receive.

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

no one to love

I was talking to someone the other day who bemoaned that "they have no one to love."

Maybe you are single.  Maybe you are in a dead end relationship.  Maybe you feel unloved.  Maybe you feel that you have no one to love.

I disagree.  Although you may not get to hug or kiss them, there are tons of people around you to love.  You can show love to people every day in thousands of ways.  It is just a matter of a choice.  Will I reach for them and care for them or will I make our encounter about me?

The server, the UPS man, the person behind the counter, the checker, the neighbor, the cousin, the person on the end of the phone call, the client, the bank teller, on and on it goes.

All of these people need love.  So do you, but the best way to feel full of love is to give it away.

When I was at Woods Chapel, I received a Christmas card a number of years that had the Rogers and Hammerstein quote in it:

A bell's not a bell till you ring it.
A song's not a song till you sing it.
Love in your heart wasn't put there to stay.
Love isn't love till you give it away.

No one to love?  Wrong.  Get out there and get in the game.  Hundreds of people are waiting for you to love them.

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

Paying attention

There is an intersection not far from our home in Vero Beach where US 1 and Old Dixie parallel each other and at this point they are maybe 40 yards apart.  There have been some bad wrecks on the corner of 65th and Old Dixie.  I think people come up to the intersection but their focus is on the US 1 intersection.  And if you don't stop at Old Dixie, you can find yourself in a real jam because the cross traffic does not stop.

So I was in Kansas City last week, driving on Lees Summit road towards Woods Chapel Road by the Baptist Church.  I wasn't thinking about that intersection, my brain was thinking about turning on Colbern road.  I roll up to the intersection at 45 MPH and I notice this car pulling out in front of me.  Then I realize that there is a stop sign that I completely missed.  I hit the brakes.  They stopped.  Disaster avoided.

Sometimes it is good to think ahead, but other times it is really important to pay attention to what you are doing right now.  This moment matters.  The people in this moment matter.

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

Don't hurt back

Ok, it happened.  Someone hurt you.  Yes it happened, yes it was said, yes it was done.  It hurts for sure.

There is this human response to want to hurt back.  Sometimes we want to hurt the person who hurt us and sometimes we don't want to hurt them because we love them, so we end up hurting others.  We humans sometimes carry hurt like a wet blanket hung over our backs.

[It took me years in ministry to realize that some of the angry people that I ran across were not angry at me, there was just something else going on in their life and I was an easy target.]

Anyway, you are hurt and you want to hurt back.  Don't do it.  Nothing is gained by you hurting that person back.  Your feelings will change.  Feelings always change.  They are a lovely valuable person created by God.  Don't hurt them.  You will come out on the other side.  Keep looking for people to love.  See the good, do the good.  Things will get better.

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

That's it!!!

Lucy says, "you have pantaphobia, the fear of everything."
Charlie Brown says, "That's it!!!"

That's it!!!

Tumble with me through this post. I am trying to explain something that is hard to explain.

There is a strange phenomenon that occurs when you read or hear an idea. Sometimes I get this feeling, "that is exactly what I was thinking!"

So you have a thought- maybe like it is a bit out of the norm. Maybe you feel that the thought is borderline or not accepted by the larger group. You have been struggling with a thing and looking for a way to express your feelings.

You refrain from saying it, from sharing it, because maybe you’re the only one that thinks this way.

Then you read the thought somewhere else and you get a big smile on your face! You feel validated. I’m not the only one that thinks these things! I’m not the only one who feels that way!

You want to reach out to the person and say, thank you for saying that, it is exactly what I was thinking.

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

Gaping hole

I was talking to someone the other day who was really hurting. They suddenly have a gaping hole in their heart.

I think that most of us have felt this at one time or another. The death of a loved one, a divorce, the loss of a friend.

And there is this gaping hole.

I thought of the words from the Coldplay song, Fix you: Tears stream down your face - when you lose something you cannot replace.

Most of the time when people hurt, I don't know how to fix it for them.  So you sit, and you listen and you hug them.

If you are hurting today, my heart goes out to you.  I am so sorry for your loss.

But please remember, it is still a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

If you could hear how you sound

If you could hear how you sound. 

When I was young my mother would say that to me.  Evidently I had a bad tone of voice. As I grew older I would think "mother, if you could hear how you sound."  But I could never say it, that would result in a slap across the face.

How we say something is as important if not more important than what we say.  We can just blurt something out and deliver our information or we can think about how we carry ourselves. We can look for ways to phrase a thing or explain a thing that is less difficult and less hurtful. 

We don’t have to deliver a zinger to someone because of some misfortune or some perceived slight. 

• We had to wait too long for a table - zinger.  
• Someone said something that we didn’t like - zinger.  
• I don’t like the way this is going - zinger.

Or instead of zingers we can deliver kindness. People matter and our tone of voice says a lot about whether we are delivering selfishness to them or love. 

Do you know how you sound?

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

How much of life is about me?

We humans have an uncanny way of making everything about me.  Someone is telling us a story about their surgery, and before they can finish we start telling them about our surgery.  When I am driving, everyone should get out of my way.  I should have the best job.  I should have the best of everything.  I, I, I, me, me, me.  It's all about me.

The journey of the Christian life is to learn to make it less about me and more about others.  This begins with taking a fearless moral inventory of our own selfishness and seeing it for what it is.  The next big step involves seeing others as valuable.  Noticing other people and seeing that they matter.  They have a right to drive a car on the same road as I do.  They have a right to get warm fuzzys from me instead of cold pricklys.

How much of your day to day is about you?  Can we make an intentional effort to see others and care for them?

My worst moments are when I make it about me.  My happiest moments are when I am doing for someone else.

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

Doctrine or Love

Churches are too full of doctrine.  Doctrine is the ideas and beliefs that men and women [but almost exclusively men] have decided are important.  People can say that their ideas come from the Bible, but they still choose which ones to hold onto and they shape them.  There are lots of doctrines that are just plain hurtful.

There are very few doctrinal ideas that come from Jesus, and the few that you find, he often superseded with love.  In other words, when Jesus saw an opportunity to love, he set aside rules and beliefs because love was more important.

We don't know if our doctrines are right.  People insist that their doctrines are right, but we don't, we can't know.  Doctrinal disputes have led to the creation of over 33,000 different denominations, all claiming to have the market on truth.  People are crazy!

We can't know if our beliefs are right.  But what we can know is that love is right.  We humans should spend less time trying to believe it right and just love people.

Relax.  Live and let live.  Live and love.

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

Dealing with anger

I am sure we all get angry from time to time.  I know some people that are eaten up with anger.

Someone did you wrong.  You got fired.  Someone doesn't like you.  Someone doesn't want to be with you anymore.  You were rejected.

It all hurts and anger can be the result.  I too have collected some wounds over the years.  Some of them still sting from time to time.  Here are things that I do to combat anger when it rears it's ugly head.

1.  I don't dwell on the memory.  Since you can only think about one thing at a time, I choose to think about something else.

2.  I think of those who hurt me and I pray for them.  I see them standing next to Jesus and I see that Jesus loves them.  I remember that much of what they did was not intentionally done to hurt me.  The hurt was a byproduct of something that they said or did.

3.  I refuse to let negativity dominate my day.  I remind myself that no matter what happens in my life, it is my job to give my day to God.  If I am angry about something, I am no good to anyone that I meet during the day.

4.  I spend time with good people.  When I am with people that I like, it makes me happy and it takes my mind off of the hurts.

I hope those little ideas are helpful to you.

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

It's the church's fault

I was talking to a lady the other day and she was bemoaning the fact that people don't want to go to church anymore.  I told her that I thought much of it was the church's own fault.  She asked me why I thought that.

These are generalizations, but here is why I think that many people are not interested in many churches.

1.  Pastors and members guilt people to come, to stay, to give and to behave in certain ways.  This creates a sense of fear within a person.  Fear of God and fear of being "wrong."  When people grow up, they get tired of this.

2.  Hidden information.  Members have questions and they should be answered but often are not.  Why did that family stop coming?  What happened?  How much did that project cost?  Who approved that thing?  Why wasn't that committee involved?  Why is just one person or a few people running things?  On and on the questions go.  The problem with not answering questions is that it gives people the message that they don't need to know.  We want you to give us your money and come to church, but don't ask any questions.  When I was the Pastor, I believed in full disclosure.  You want to see the budget?  Sure.  You want to know something?  We told them everything that we could.  When you answer people's questions, you build a culture of trust.

3.  Theology that hurts.  Don't question the Bible.  God is mad at you.  You must do this or you are going to hell.

4.  Irrelevant simplicity.  Blindly going on with the same approach when the world is falling apart around them.  When my parents were going through a rough patch with their adult children [imagine that] their church's pastor told them to keep praying, keep coming to church, keep reading the Bible, and keep giving their money.  They received no practical help and no empathy.

If that is not enough, I think that the list could go on.

To avoid this from sounding like a negative post, let me say this.  If you are a Pastor or a member, make sure that your church is not doing these things.  You have a choice, you have a chance to speak health into your organization.  And when we do that, and ineffective practices are turned around, people will want to return to the organization.

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

Take me to church

Happy Mother's Day, one day late.

We had some old friends in for the weekend.  Old friends.  Great friends.  We picked up right where we left off.  Amazing.  Beautiful.  Awesome.

We talked of many things.  We talked of church.  They are not currently going.  Neither are we.  She said that reading my blog was like going to church for her.

That got me to thinking.  Gosh, if she thinks that, I should work harder on posting to the blog.  I have been worried that too many of my ideas were repeats.  But you know what, if someone is looking for something to think about, maybe I should repeat.

Maybe I should just write about whatever is on my heart no matter how redundant.

Aaron I love you.  [random, but true.]

So yesterday was Mother's day.  It was a day that we dreaded when I was a child, because we were supposed to honor the person who shamed us.

If you are a mother, I hope that shame is not in your arsenal of how to raise children.  Jesus never shamed anyone.

The Jews hated the Romans.  But Jesus, with no judgement, healed the Roman Centurion's son.

Jesus never shamed anyone.  Shame on the church for shaming people.  For heaven's sake.

The woman at the well in John 4 had had 6 husbands.  Jesus did not shame her.

It is time for the century, the decade, the year, the month, the day, the moment of shame to come to an end.  I don't care who a person is or what they have done, Jesus has no litmus test.   No one is shamed, ever.

Everyone is loved.  Everyone is welcomed in Jesus' Church, just as your are.

No more shame.  Never, ever.  Everyone,  everyone is welcome here and in God's kingdom.

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

River Cruise to Belgium and the Netherlands

Ghent Cathedral

 

Amalucia

Kinderdijk UNESCO World Heritage Site

Good Morning.  After discussions with several of you, I am looking at booking a river cruise in March of 2022.  The trip would visit several historic and beautiful places and you would get to hang with some great folks.  After the pandemic and getting my vaccine, I am ready to get back out into the world.

Here is the info on the trip.

click here to view the brochure

If you wish to sign up, my tour host number is 17768.
Let me know if you have any questions.

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

When someone knows that they are loved

One of the positive things that has come from my son's injury is that he is starting to understand in a deeper way than he ever has, that somebody loves him.  I have watched him open cards with well wishes.  I have watched him open cards with checks from people that he barely knew, but loved him deeply.  I have watched him being moved to tears by all of this.

When someone knows that they are loved, everything changes.  When someone knows that they are loved, the clouds recede and the sun shines brighter.  When someone knows that they are loved, they wake up in the morning with a hop in their step.

I hope that you know that someone loves you.  And just in case that you are not sure, let me say it...

I love you!  You matter to me!!!

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

They just want someone to talk to

My handyman work is booming right now.  That is one of the reasons that it is hard to post blogs.  In Florida, if you are working outside, you want to do it early.  So the time when I would normally write, I am loading up tools and heading to the job.

And I have noticed something lately.  Many, many, most of my clients are lonely.  They want me to come inside and take a break.  "Sit at my table and have some water," is a common comment.  Especially if they find out that I was a Pastor, they want to talk.

And so I sit at their table, and we talk.  About kids, about life, about everything.  And it occurs to me that many other people in life, whether I am working for them or not, probably need someone to talk to as well.

Be on the look out for those who need a friend, a hug, or a listening ear.  Take a break from your busy life and sit with them.

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

An update on Scott

Good morning. Scott saw the wound doctor yesterday. The doc is happy with his progress. He took out Scott's stitches. This was very painful, as the stitches were deep and evidently the body grabs onto them. They were not the self disolving kind. yikes!

The doctor told him to start putting weight on it as he was able. He gave him a post surgery "shoe!"

Scott posted a very nice update on the go fund me page...

"I am on the mend and healing well. Thank you all so much for the prayers and support over the last few weeks. I never would have thought that this many people would have donated. The money is helping so much with rent and medical bills. I am very grateful and humbled by this experience. I will be sure to pay it forward in the future. Thank you all so much again and continue being the amazing people you are."

new shoe!

leaving the doctor's office.
[He did not want me to take this picture
he hates being the center of attention!]

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

Am I in the right place?

 Those of us who have undergone a major life change often ask the question, "am I in the right place?"  Job change, retirement, and other situations can bring about a questioning of our role and status.

I was staining a fence on a handyman job.  The man of the house told the lady of the house that I used to be a Methodist Minister.  She came out to talk with me.

We talked about many things.  She wanted to know if it was hard to "stop" being a minister.  This is what I told her... "I was not put on this earth to be a minister, or a cook, or a bus driver, or a handyman.  I was put on this earth to love God and love people."

She started to cry.  She told me, "well today, you are exactly where you need to be."

Odd thing too, I didn't want to take this job.  The husband originally rubbed me the wrong way.  But it all turned out ok.

It is important every day that we make a point of remembering our purpose.  Why are we here?  Love God, love people.

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