which mountain

On either side of the valley, there is a mountain.  On Mt. Sinai, Moses received the law.  [We all know about the law and living a life of rules.]  But that is not the end of the story.  On Mt. Zion, we are invited into God's family.  On Mt. Zion, God taught us about love, grace and welcome.

On one side of the valley is the mountain of our youth.  Certainty.  Right and wrong.  Doctrine.  In and out.  Good and bad.  Tribalism.  Security.

At some point in our lives, we begin to have serious questions about the mountain that we live on.  As soon as we start asking questions, we are either shamed into repentance, we are shunned, or we begin the process of the descent into the valley of uncertainty.

In the valley of uncertainty we find discomfort.  We find a fear that maybe we should run back to the mountain of our youth.  We wonder what is on the other side.  In the valley of uncertainty, we plod on, looking for something better than the place that we left.

Finally on the other side of the valley, we emerge and journey up a new mountain.  It is a simple mountain.  On this mountain, the air is clear, the sky is blue and there is no guilt and fear.  On this mountain we find, experience and learn to give, God's grace and love.

A week or so ago, I received a note from a dear friend describing their journey and their struggle in the valley. I wrote this back to them:

I encourage you to continue on the journey away from doctrine, away from rules, away from who is right and who is wrong. I encourage you to enter the valley of uncertainty and make your way to the other side where awaits a world that is dominated by grace.

May we all continue the journey away from dogmatism, away from guilt and shame and towards the light of God's love and grace.

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

What we see and what God sees

In response to a recent post, my friend Joyce wrote in about a study that the UMW had some years ago entitled, "Walls that Divide Us" where the abiding quote was, "when God looks down from heaven, the walls of our churches that divide us are so infinitesimal."

What we see and what we hold dear is likely very different than what God holds dear.

While we are all tied up in our Nationality, God just sees people. We are for the Missouri Tigers or the Alabama Crimson Tide or the Florida Gators. Does God even notice when we steps across the supposed "state line?"

We have our Methodist box. We have our denominational doctrines. We have our walls.

God sees people.

That is all.

God sees people in need of love and care. Maybe we should get back to the basics of the work of the Samaritan and forget about our tribes and our tribal doctrine.

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

drink the koolaid

"Drink the Kool-Aid," or "drinking the Kool-Aid" is a phrase made famous by the People's Temple incident of 1978 in which over 900 followers of Rev. Jim Jones committed suicide by drinking Kool-Aid laced with cyanide.

Kool-aid was/is that sweet, tasty drink from our youth that was so satisfying.  But when poisoned, it can be deadly.

Sometimes the rank and file believe what is coming down to them from the top without question.  Sometimes this is safe, and sometimes this is the right thing to do. Some leaders can be trusted.  But in many cases, what we get from the top is fraught with self interest, so much so that the information cannot be trusted.  [hint:  if information is not disclosed, or if you are not allowed to question, then beware.]

In such cases, to blindly believe what we have been taught is tantamount to "drinking the Kool-Aid."  In Christianity, there is a lot of Kool-Aid to drink.  Lots of doctrine, and lots of ideas that have been pushed onto us from the top down.

Don't drink the Kool-Aid.  When something feels fishy to you, always return to the words and teachings of Jesus.

Just because you have been taught something your entire life does not make it true.  Look in the mirror.  Is there a purple stain on your mouth?  Is there one on mine?

Never be afraid to question what you believe.  God is not threatened by our questions.  He welcomes our thoughts and questions.  A relationship with him is a place of peace, not a place of fear.

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

Love your neighbor

There is a fad program of late called "Love your neighbor."  A day is selected, a Saturday.  Programs are visited by members who show support, love and care in various ways.  An elementary school, a homeless shelter, the local firehouse might all be recipients.

It is a good idea and it is, they are good programs.

But, they should be seeds of a lifestyle, not, never a one and done.  If they serve to teach people that this one Saturday should turn into a lifestyle, then great.  If they serve as a day that can help the self centered Christian feel like they are loving, then it is time for more education.

We don't "interrupt our lives" to love our neighbors.  Loving our neighbors is meant to be inert.  It is meant to be daily, hourly, moment by moment.  Not one Saturday per year, but every Saturday, every week, every day.

Love your neighbor.

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

how to do it

But how do I love?  Ok, I get it, I should be more loving.  But how to do it?

I take my neighbors flowers.  [I take flowers to my neighbors.]  I cook brownies for my sick friend.  I serve a meal at the Ronald McDonald house.  But somehow, I feel that something is lacking.  What can I do?  How can I show love?  How do I know that I am truly being a person of love???

I think loving your neighbor begins with seeing your neighbor.  Whatever we see we value.  Whatever we focus on, we value.  If we’re not seeing, if we’re not paying attention to a thing, we’re not caring.  That’s how we lose our keys, that’s how we lose our relationships  that’s how we lose our way. 

What are you paying attention to?  Do you want to be a person of love?  See people.  See the cashier at Lowes.  See the man at the car wash.  See the person wanting to get into the lane of traffic.  Don't get lost in your stuff.  Always have time for people.  Always see people.  

That is what Jesus did.  And, if we follow him, we will see people too.  See them.  Love them.

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

it's not a hobby

More from my friend Brian Swanson's sermon...

"Love is not a hobby for the Christian."  I would expand... it is not that we are Christians who choose to love.  It is not an add on.  Love is not an extra.  Love is not a hobby for the Christian.  If there is no love, there is no Christian.

A person can wear the clothes.  They can put a cross around their neck.  They can talk about following the Bible.  But if there is no love, there is no Christianity.  He that loveth not, knoweth not God.  1 John 4.

It is not a hobby.  It is central.  It is key.  It is the mark, the sign of a Christ follower.

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

they have a life too

Someone was crappy to you?  You got the raw end of the deal?  Maybe the other person was having a bad day.  Maybe their mom died.  Who knows.

But they are supposed to serve me!!!  Yes, but people in the service industry are humans and they have a life too.

Just recently I was working at a CVS and the pharmacist on duty had a family emergency.  She had to leave, and so the pharmacy had to close.  Right in the middle of the afternoon!!!  CVS put up signs to explain the situation.  It did not matter.  People were furious!  How dare that person have an emergency!!!

Now, agreed, a pharmacy is a very important thing for us to have, but people are people, and people needs our grace and care.  The world is not always going to align itself to suit me.

wanted a pharmacist, instead, facing disappointment.

Sometimes we don't get what we want.

Everyone has a life.  Everyone has issues.  Everyone needs grace.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

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

the life

As I was writing yesteday's post, I thought about the word "life."  I thought about how many churches and Christians provide a life for people that is full of negative things.

Fear
Guilt
Exclusion
Negativity
Dualistic thinking.
Fear [repeated on purpose, for reason]
Guilt [same as above]

When we find the life of Jesus, all of these go away.  When we find the life of Jesus, we find joy and peace.  We are no longer dominated by guilt and fear, because God is love.

Are you living?  Are you living the denominational life of guilt and exclusion or are you living a life of love?  When we set aside the negativity, that is when we find the freedom and the joy.  That is what Jesus meant about life.  That is the abundant life.

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

The Way, the Truth and the Life

Oh how we love to make things about us.  Our brains are "me" centered, and our churches are usually wired for self preservation.  That means that we have created doctrines and systems that support "our way" as if it were the "only" way.

Let's look at the phrase, "the way, the truth and the life" found in John 14:6.  The way that denominations use it makes it feel like this...

In the Baptist church, it sounds like, "I am Jesus, and I am the Baptist way, the Baptist truth and the Baptist life."  In the Catholic church it sounds like, "I am Jesus, the Catholic way, truth and life."  There are denominational Jesus' of every type.  There is a Mormon Jesus.  There is probably a Methodist Jesus.  These are all created to support our denominational, our tribe's way of looking at theology and the world.

Jesus will not be defined or contained by any of them.  He is bigger than our definitions of him.  He is larger than our formulas.

What if, when he says, "I am the way, the truth and the life" he means this...  

Before the world was formed, I am.  Before Pastors insisted that you believe it their way, I am.  Before the religions organized, I was.

Therefore, where ever you go in this world, you will find me.  I am the way.  If you find something that feels like the way, that is me.  I am the truth.  If you find truth, regardless of the label that man has put on it, that is me.  And if you find freedom and life, regardless of the parameters, that is me.

I am Jesus.  The Way, the Truth and the Life.  I am the Cosmic Christ from the beginning.  I will not be bound by denominational definitions.  I am not contained by man's doctrine.  

Find me.  I am out there.  I am out there in all kinds of places that might surprise you.  I am Jesus.  I am everywhere.  

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

The roll of quarters

I was out of town for two weeks of work.  During the first week I got to thinking about laundry.  At the hotel I wondered if they had laundry facilities.  I was down at the desk and I asked if the woman behind the desk could break a $10.  She thought I needed coins for laundry so she gave me a roll of quarters. I took them and went on my way.

I didn’t do my laundry that week but by the second week I definitely had to do laundry - "PU!!!"   

I started looking for laundromats and the one that I found in Logansport, Indiana had a sign on the door that says that they will do it for you.  So since I didn’t have the time to wait, I just dropped it off.

I came back to pick it up after work the next day. When I was getting out of the truck to go in to get the clothes, I saw the roll of quarters. My brain said, Jeff, you can give that away to the people inside.  People in laundromats need quarters.

Then I thought, how do you know who really needs it?   I thought also that the $10 will buy my dinner. I thought "yeah I can give it to the people at McDonald’s to pay for my big Mac and fries." 

But I thought more about giving it away... and then I thought that if I spent that roll of quarters on my self at this point I would feel like a heel no matter what I was buying. So I took it into the laundromat, I paid the bill and asked the lady if they ever gave quarters to people in need.  she said yes, "every day I do it out of my own pocket."

So I gave her the roll of quarters and asked her to give it to someone in need and I’m sure that she will. The more we learn to give the better life goes.

I found it interesting that once I thought about giving that roll of quarters away, I knew that I could not spend it on myself.  It was almost like it wasn't mine anymore.

Lord please make us all more generous.  Especially in these times, it is needed now, more than ever.

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

As Yourself

My friend DH reminded me the other day that Love your neighbor as yourself is often spoken without the "as yourself."  Point being, we should also love ourselves.  We should be good to ourselves.  We should go easy on ourselves and offer ourselves grace.

Odd how life works, later that same day, I received this poem from my friend Bruce. I loved it!!!

The Most Important Thing by
Julia Fehrenbacher

I am making a home inside myself. A shelter
of kindness where everything
is forgiven, everything allowed—a quiet patch
of sunlight to stretch out without hurry,
where all that has been banished
and buried is welcomed, spoken, listened to—released.

A fiercely friendly place I can claim as my very own.

I am throwing arms open
to the whole of myself—especially the fearful,
fault-finding, falling apart, unfinished parts, knowing
every seed and weed, every drop
of rain, has made the soil richer.

I will light a candle, pour a hot cup of tea, gather
around the warmth of my own blazing fire. I will howl
if I want to, knowing this flame can burn through
any perceived problem, any prescribed perfectionism,
any lying limitation, every heavy thing.

I am making a home inside myself
where grace blooms in grand and glorious
abundance, a shelter of kindness that grows
all the truest things.

I whisper hallelujah to the friendly
sky. Watch now as I burst into blossom.

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

Pet Peeve

I have a pet peeve.  

But, before I get there, let me give a shout out to my friend whose pet peeve is people who take more than 10 items into the ten items or less line at the grocery store.  In deference to the well being of my friend, please do not enter the 10 items or less line if you have more than ten items.  Seriously.

Now on to my pet peeve.  When we cross a street, we cross directly across.  We don't want to be in the street any longer than possible.  But in a parking lot, it is a different story.  We will walk at a 45 degree angle towards our car, even if we are blocking traffic.  I have seen people walk in the middle of the drive lane towards their car, with no mind what so ever to the poor shoppers that are trying to park.

People.  When you are going to your car, walk directly across the drive lane, then make a turn toward the aisle that your car is in.  Think of the people who are driving.  Don't make them run you over.

Be safe.  Walk strait.

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

Love

I listened to a sermon the other day by a Pastor friend, Brian Swanson.  The topic was "Love your Neighbor."  One of my favorite topics!!!

Brian put it very well:

1. We are created in God's image.
2. God is love.
3. Therefore, we should look like and act like people of love.

It doesn't get any more clear than that.  If Christ followers are to be Christ like or God like, then we need to be people of love.

God is love.  We are created in his image.  Love.  Show it.  Be it.

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

California Trip, Day 4

This was our last day in wine country!

We had a lovely trip.

Armstrong Redwoods State Park

Daughter Jenny and I at the redwood park.

La Crema

Simi Winery Redwood Picnic area

View from Francis Ford Coppola Winery

As I type this blog, we are on the way home, and I am very tired.  But it is always a blessing to see beautiful places.  May we always be thankful for the opportunities that we have.

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

California Trip, Day 3

Today we spent touring wineries in Sonoma County.  Kendall - Jackson in Windsor.  Hawkes Winery in the Alexander Valley.  Ferrari Carano in Dry Creek.  We went to another wine tasting room in downtown Healdsburg.  We had a nice dinner at Jackson's in Santa Rosa in the Railroad District.

If you are asking yourself, why Jeff is posting stuff from his vacation on the blog, there are many answers.  Probably the most important is that we got to see some beautiful places on the trip, and I hope that the pictures will give you a sense of the joy that I felt.  We need to be aware of, and really "see" the beautiful things, people and places in God's world.

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

California Trip, Day 2

Our second full day on our vacation we spent in the Napa Valley and then swung up over into the Dry Creek Valley.  We visited wineries:  Frog's leap, Mumm, Hans Fadhen and Dry Creek Vineyards.

Even though I don't drink wine, I serve a purpose... I am the driver.  Also, I enjoy the trip and the visits very much.  I enjoy the California air, the weather, the cool mornings.  I love the fog.  I love the smells.

I hope you get to enjoy a vacation or go somewhere that makes you happy!

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

California Trip Day 1

Every year we try to take a week's vacation in Napa/Sonoma.  I went to Jr Hi, High School and started college in San Jose.  Northern California is in my blood.  My little sister still lives in San Jose.  Cathy and I love the trips to Napa.  She tastes the wine and I drive.

I also enjoy the beautiful, amazing weather and scenery, which I have documented with pictures over the years.  Over the next few days I will be sharing some of my favorite pics from the trip, day by day.

Clos du Val winery

Happy taster

Rombauer Vineyard

Morning fog in Napa Valley

Look for something beautiful today and savor it.

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

forgiveness

If you are like me, forgiveness is a topic that you think about weekly.  It is a major theme in the lives of people who wish to rise above the negative experiences in their lives.

Richard Rohr says that, "the gospel comes down to forgiveness."  While I have been saying that the gospel comes down to love and kindness, being able to show love and kindness is not possible without forgiveness.

So forgiveness is a key piece of living the Christian life.  We cannot compartmentalize.  We cannot love some and resent others.  The resentment of the one will spill over into everything else that we are.   If I harbor unforgiveness for one, it affects everything in my heart that would go out to anyone else.

Desmund Tutu had a lot to forgive, for the injustices that were done to him.  He wrote, "It is the knowledge of my own frailty that helps me find my compassion, my empathy, my similarity, and my forgiveness for the frailty and cruelty of others."  In other words, when I think of some of the bad things that I have done, it helps me to release others who have done bad things to me.

If you are harboring resentment, keep working on the issues.  It takes time, but you can make it to the other side.

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

Thank you

I woke up the other day.  I was groggy.  I made my way to the bathroom.  I got a cup of coffee.  I had on my  morning face.

Then I grabbed my phone and your text popped up.

"Good morning friend!  I thought of you during my study time and just wanted you to know that you are special to me.  Have a great day."

I cannot tell you how happy your text made me feel.  My attitude went from morning groggy to awake and happy!!!

Thank you so much for your kind words.

Note to me and to everyone... people won't always remember what you said, they won't always remember what you did, but they will always remember how you made them feel.

How can you help someone feel good today?

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

Prayers answered

The recent hurricane prompted many to pray for safety.  That reminds me of one of my favorite stories, or sermon illustrations.

A woman said, "during the war we prayed that God would keep us safe.  And, Praise God!  He did!!!  All of the bombs fell on the other side of town."

We must always remember that the storm is going to hit somewhere.  And while I don't want it to hit our home, I really don't want it to hit anyone.  I don't want anyone's life to be devastated.  So while we may be happy that our family and friends are safe, may we remember that someone else's family and friends were not safe.

Let us expand our circle of care to include those we don't know.  Those who are outside our normal circle.  May we all expand our circle of love and care.

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

Satisfaction

I love handyman work.  I love construction work.  At the end of the job, you can see a difference.  You can make the world a better place.  You can consider a project, sleep on it, and come up with a solution.

And so, one of my clients had a light that was hanging off of their house.

If you zoom in, you can see that the metal strap has rotted off and the light is hanging by a thread.  Well, I have taken apart many an electrical box in my time and I know how these things go together.  I told my client that I thought that I had everything that I needed to fix his light, at home in my garage.

And so I pulled a Roger Grout.  Roger is my friend who prides himself in having enough supplies in the garage to fix a problem without going to Lowes or Home Depot.

I assembled the parts from my collection of electrical things and returned to my clients home.  In 30 minutes I had the light repaired and reinstalled.

Ahh!!! It looks great!  Satisfaction for sure!  A smile to my face, and to my client!

There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour.  This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.  Eccl 2:24

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

To become a wise one

On Sept 23rd, Richard Rohr posted about becoming a "grand parent." A Grand parent, not in the sense that my kids had a kid, but in the sense that one had arrived at a place of wisdom.

The final stage of the wisdom journey in mythology is symbolized by the ruling image of the king or queen or what I like to call the grand father or grand mother.

When we can let go of our own need for everything to be as we want it, and our own need to succeed, we can then encourage the independent journey and the success of others. The grand parent is able to relinquish center stage and to stand on the sidelines, and thus be in solidarity with those who need their support. Children can feel secure in the presence of their grandparents because, while their parents are still rushing to find their way through life’s journey, grandpa and grandma have now hopefully become spacious. They can contain problems, inconsistencies, inconveniences, and contradictions—after a lifetime of practicing and learning.

Grand parents can trust life because they have seen more of it than younger people have, and they can trust death because they are closer to it. Something has told them along the way that who they are now is never the final stage, and this one isn’t either. We need to be close enough to our own death to see it coming and to recognize that death and life are united in an eternal embrace, and one is not the end of the other. Death is what it is. I am a grand father when I am ready to let go. To the grand mother, death is no longer an enemy, but as Saint Francis called it, a “welcome sister.”

The soul of the grand parent is large enough to embrace the death of the ego and to affirm the life of God in itself and others, despite all imperfections. Its spaciousness accepts all the opposites in life—masculine and feminine, unity and difference, victory and defeat, us and them and so on—because it has accepted the opposition of death itself. Grand parents... have come to realize that spiritual growth is not so much learning as it is unlearning, a radical openness to the truth no matter what the consequences or where it leads. They understand that they do not so much grasp the truth as let go of their egos, which are usually nothing more than obstacles to the truth.

Wow.  I want to be that...

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

Respect

In response to a recent blog post, a friend wrote in and said,

I am struggling because I seem to be surrounded by those who have a dogged determination that every jot and tittle of the Bible is gospel vs Jesus' message of love God and love your neighbor. Such literalizing of scripture is tearing the "organizational church" and former congregations apart. Over the years, I have moved from a conservative thought to "hate the sin but love the sinner", to "who can cast the first stone".

Where is the love and mutual respect?

Who can cast the first stone?  But for the grace of God go we.  People are still more important than ideas.

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

The Dentist

Ugg!!!

I hate going to the dentist.  But then I remember when I went on the dental mission trip to Jamaica and saw the teeth that had never been to the dentist.  Those poor souls would wait in line, overnight, to see the dentist.

If you have regular dental care, this is something to be thankful for.

So I am sitting in the dentist chair, waiting for the famous shot.  This will only hurt for a moment.

And I notice the sign.  There is a good day to be at the dentist?  I guess so.  Many people wish they could go to the dentist.

And here is a close up of the sign.  It is a good day for a good day.  Hey!!! there is some good advice.  By the way, do you know the best time of day to go to the dentist?  2:30

[too thurty, tooth hurty]

My dentist is a Christian, he has a favorite scripture, he calls it the dentist's psalm:

"Open wide thy mouth, and I will fill it."  Ps. 81:10

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

Biblical ideas we don't or shouldn't believe anymore

The title speaks for itself.

Biblical ideas that are no longer relevant.  There are ideas presented in the Bible that we should not, cannot believe any longer.

In no particular order.

1.  Women are property.  Women should be subservient.

2.  Slavery is OK.  It is an acceptable part of society.  Slaves, just obey.

3.  Rebellious sons should be killed.

4.  If the enemy surrounds your city, it is ok to eat your children.

5.  Something must be killed in order for God to be happy.

6.  You can't or shouldn't eat shrimp.

7.  You shouldn't have a savings account... don't store up treasure on earth.

Just because I set aside archaic ideas that are presented in the Bible does not mean that I do not love God.  Actually, when I can be honest about this topic, I love God more.  God makes more sense.  The Bible is still a book filled with lots of great wisdom, and I can gain much from it.  Today I am free to experience and follow a God that is truly a God of love.

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

If God is not mad

I have posted on this before, but I have to stay with the topic.  It is such a challenge to my brain.  This thought also messes with so many things that I have been taught.

God is not mad.

If God is not mad, then it changes everything.

If God is not mad, then he does not need to kill things.  If God does not need to kill things, then he does not need to slaughter and torture his Son.  The death of Jesus becomes a sign of love instead of a remind of how mad God is at you for being a sinner.

If God is not mad, then we can stop worrying about every little sin.  If God forgives us, then his grace endures forever.

You can't have it both ways... God loves you but he has to send you to hell.  What!  Whose idea was that???  If God loves us, then he loves us.  period.  Time for old ideas to change.

Decide.  If he doesn't love you, then live in fear.  If he does love you, then live.  Just live.  Live a life of love and joy.  That is what those who follow Jesus should be about.  Lives of love and joy.

God is not mad at you, he is madly in love with you.

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

I am not getting the blog

Before today's post, an update on Ian the hurricane.  We are in California til Saturday on vacation.  Our son Scott closed the hurricane shutters yesterday.  Most of Ian skirted Vero Beach.  As of midnight eastern time, we had high winds and lots of rain, but nothing terrible.  Please pray for my friends in Cape Coral and Ft. Myers.

Now on to today's blog post...

Lately I have heard from a few of you, "I am not getting the blog."

Ok, that will happen... First, check your spam or your trash.  Mass emails often end up there.  If you find the blog there, you can click on those emails and indicate that they are not spam.

Secondly, please remember that the blog is posted daily on a web site.  That means that you can go to the web site, just like you would type in amazon.com or walmart.com or yahoo.com or anything dot com, you can go to the blog web site.

www.canyouhearthebirdssing.blogspot.com

I know it sounds old school, but it works.  Type in the address and read it there.

Also, if you need to resubscribe or if you have a friend that you want to subscribe to daily emails, go to the web site and type in the email address.  See the white box in the upper right corner in the picture?  [sign up for emails of blog postings]   Type your email in there and click "subscribe."  You will get an email asking you to verify the subscription, and then you should be good.

Well, you are already good.  At least I think so, and so does God.  More on that tomorrow.

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

6 months

Today is my oldest daughter, Allison's birthday.  She is 35!!!  Wow, how time flies.  She is such a good egg.  She is also pregnant with our second grand child!  That is pretty awesome!!!

Today is also a six month anniversary for me.  Six months ago, on March 28 I made a few new years resolutions.  Yes it was not new years, but I decided it was time to make some changes.

I decided that I would change what I was putting into my body.  What I ate and drank.  I also decided that I would be in church at Fort Pierce First UMC, every Sunday that I possibly could.

December 2021 at Disney

August 2022 w my buddy Tyler

Now, I have missed a few Sundays because of travel, but I have loved being back in church.  I love the people at the church and our new pastor is awesome!  And as far as the eating consumption resolution, I have lost 30 pounds or so, and I have kept it off.  I feel better, I have more energy, and I am sleeping better.

Point is, it is never too late to make a resolution!!!

On another note, several of you have reached out about hurricane Ian and us being in the path.  As I write this, we are on vacation in California, so we are safe.  How will the house fare?  We will see.  I will keep you posted.

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

I hope you dance, part deux

So after yesterday's post, you know that I like the song, I hope you dance. I love it when it comes on to play. It always makes me happy and it takes me back to a very special time.

Well, for all of the years that I have listened to that song and enjoyed it, I heard something new the other day. Isn't it interesting how, if we pay attention, we can find new things?

In the song, there is a descant.  But I never paid attention to those words. As Leanne Womack sings, I hope you dance, there is a descant in the background. Here are those, very important, very powerful words.

I hope you dance...........
and underneath those words...

Time is a wheel in constant motion 

always rolling us along

Tell me who wants to look back on their years 

and wonder where those years have gone

and then back to those words...

I hope you dance...

Point being, dance. DANCE. Live. LIVE. Live now. Pay attention. The years go by quickly. Make today count.

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

I hope you dance, part one

Back in my Woods Chapel days, one of the songs that was on the table annually was Cindi Harris singing "I Hope You Dance" by Leanne Womack.  It was always one of my favorite moments.  Such a great message, such a beautiful song.  Here are the lyrics.  Take a few moments to read through them.

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty-handed

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance, I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin'
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin'

Don't let some hell-bent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin' out reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance, I hope you dance
I hope you dance, I hope you dance

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

Dance, I hope you dance
I hope you dance, I hope you dance
I hope you dance, I hope you dance

Click here to listen to the song on youtube

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

Halloween

My family has always loved Halloween.  I was driving to one of my handyman jobs and I saw this skeleton.  I thought someone should make a sign to put in front of it...

Don't be afraid, I am disarmed!!!
[see arm laying on the ground]

I find that thought to be humerus.

And boom there it is... here comes a line of jokes... bone jokes.

If you boil a funny bone, it becomes a laughing stock.

Why didn't the skeleton go to the dance?  He had no body to go with.

What do skeletons order at restaurants?  Spare ribs!

Why didn't the skeleton cross the road?  He didn't have the guts.

Humor is a good thing.  We need more of it in our lives.

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

Hurricane Prep

 Several have asked in the last few days, what do we do for hurricane prep.  And as they watch the news, they wonder if the latest storm is a threat to us.

Well, first of all, you know that the news likes to sensationalize everything.  If they say it will snow a foot, it snows 1/4 of an inch.

The storm that we are currently following now, Ian, is only a storm.  It is not yet even a hurricane.

At any rate, I have begun preliminary hurricane prep.  I have filled all of my gas cans with premium gas [this is what the generator runs on.]  I used to have big 5 gallon gas cans, but I realized pretty quickly that they get too heavy for me to work with.

We have 15 gallons of rec fuel in the garage in cans and then the cars are all filled up as well.  We have a siphon hose to take gas from the cars if need be.  In case of loss of power, we should have plenty of gas to keep the generator going.

Other hurricane prep... I make sure the flashlights work and get them out and available.  If we were really worried, I would put up the hurricane shutters.  At this point we are not putting them up for Ian.

I make sure that we have lots of cases of water and general food items.  We have two extra propane tanks so that we can cook on the grill after the storm passes.

Nails for tarps if ever needed.

In case a storm is really bad and we lose some shingles, we have in our garage a number of very large tarps and the kind of nails needed to hold them down.  We hope that they are never needed.

All furniture on the pool deck goes inside.  All pictures, anything that is not tied down, goes inside.  The doors come off of the screened in porch to help neutralize the pressure against the lanai.

The other thing that I do is to make sure that my neighbors know that I am available to help them if need be.

And then now, all prepared, all snuggled safely in the house, we watch the news and wait.

Hurricane prep 101!!!

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

One thing at a time

Worry less, love more.  

How?

Choose to focus on positive things.  You can only think about one thing at a time.  YOU CAN ONLY THINK ABOUT ONE THING AT A TIME!  

If you choose to embrace worry, then you cannot think about love.  If you choose to think about love, then love will fill your mind.

We may be used to thinking about one thing or another, but we can change.  Turn that channel off.  Stop reading that internet site.  Stop listening to negative people.  Find new friends.

Negative thoughts, bad news, turn it off.  Good news, positive voices, turn them up.

You can only think about one thing at a time.  If you want your life to be filled with good, then make the conscious decision to focus on that.  Out with the bad, in with the good.

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

Worry Less, Part Deux

Oh, the immigrants! Oh the Supreme Court! Oh the economy! Oh the democrats! Oh the republicans!

Oh this, Oh that, Oh my!!!

Friends. We have a choice. What will we focus on? If you want to worry, go for it, but it is a waste of your life. Remember the words of Jesus:

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

If Christ followers would be such, they must follow Jesus.  His words on worry are clear and simple.  Begin by making a decision to stop worrying.  More tomorrow.

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

focus on the good

Before I get to todays blog, I want to visit my morning prayer again.

Yesterday I woke up, and the first thought on my mind was what I consider the best prayer ever.

"Thank you."

Simply said, thank you, thank you, thank you.  Try it.  Thank you is the best prayer.

Now on to today's blog...

I talked to a friend the other day who is struggling to see the good. So much negativity in the world, so much discord. So much going wrong. It is easy to get sucked into worry.

Here is what I have to say: worry less, love more.

I know you have seen versions of this, but we need to remember, we must remember how good things really are.

“If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, 

a roof over your head and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of the world.

If you have money in the bank, your wallet, 

and some spare change you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness 

you are more blessed than the million people who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, 

the agony of imprisonment or torture, 

or the horrible pangs of starvation 

you are luckier than 500 million people alive and suffering.

If you can read this message you are more fortunate 

than 3 billion people in the world who cannot read it at all.” ~ Unknown

Oh, friends, the next time you are feeling overwhelmed by negativity, please remember the good.  There is so much!!!

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

Thoughts on the personal budget

For most of us, budgets are getting tighter.  Things are costing more, but income is flat.  At least that is the case here in Brinkmanland.

Here are some thoughts on making ends meet when costs are up and income is flat:

1.  Make more.  My son in law, David Philips says that everyone needs a job, and everyone needs a side gig.  Even if you don't have a job, there is some side gig for everyone.  

• Sell stuff on ebay or facebook marketplace.
• make something crafty to sell.
• get a part time job.
• become a pet sitter/walker
• sell your services as a shopper or a driver.
• there are lots of ideas if a person would apply themselves.

2.  Spend less.

Don't buy that. Stop buying that thing completely.
Buy generic
Buy in quantity.

Find alternative items to purchase.

search "affordable meals to make at home" and cook them.

Turn the thermostat up.

3.  Save more.  Every dollar saved today, is a dollar available tomorrow.

4.  Don't waste anything.

Waste not, want not.  When I was a kid, we never ate out.  Well rarely.  We went to McDonalds 2X per year and eating out was for birthdays only.  My mom washed off aluminum foil and reused it.  We ate leftovers until they were gone.  Nothing was wasted.  Ever.

Finally, to make a budget work, everyone has to be willing to do whatever it takes to make the ends meet.

We will work it out.  All of us.  And we can help each other along the way.

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

Talk like a Pirate Day!!!

It is back!!! Today is one of my favorite holidays, it is national talk like a pirate day. I wouldn't miss it for the world. Here are some terms to help you make it through today as a joyful participant.

Avast ye =Pay attention
Hornswaggle =To cheat
Shiver me timbers=An expression used to show shock or disbelief
Head=Toilet on board the ship
Poop deck=Deck that is the highest and farthest back
Landlubber=A person who is not incredibly skilled at sea
Davy Jones' Locker=Refers to death
Ahoy, matey=Hello, friend
Batten down the hatches=A signal to prepare the ship for an upcoming storm
Blimey!=Something said when one is in a state of surprise
Booty=Treasure
Crow's nest=The place on the ship where the lookout stand is built
Heave ho=Instruction to put some strength into whatever one is doing
Old salt=A sailor that has a great deal of experience on the seas
Scallywag =A name that is used as an insult to someone
Seadog =An old sailor or pirate
Thar she blows!=An expression used when a whale is spotted from the ship
Three sheets to the wind=Someone who is quite drunk
Walk the plank=A punishment which entails someone who walks over the side of the ship off of the plank. Their hands are often tied so that they cannot swim and they drowned.
Yo Ho Ho=There is often used to express some sort of cheer but also can be used to call attention to the speaker.

Be sure to tell a joke or two.
Where do pirates buy their music?
Aye - tunes
Why are pirates cool?
They just rrrrrrrrrrrr.

Rrrrrrr. It's a beautiful day in God's world, be surrrrrre to sea the good!!!