accountability

In seminary they said, "never trust a shepherd that isn't someone else's sheep."  The statement was meant as a reminder to us pastor types that we always need to sit under someone else's ministry.  We always need to have people that see into our lives and can comment freely.  Folks that will hold us accountable.  I think this is good advice for everyone.

So here are some questions to ask yourself.  Do you have a counselor?  Do you have a friend that you tell everything to, that knows the best and worst of you?  Are you reading, growing changing?  Are you in the habit of allowing your thoughts and life paradigms to be challenged?

Actions like this can be difficult and painful, but life is better when we areopen and learning, when we know that we have progress to make and we are not offended by the process.

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

it was cold

It was cold last week.  Unseasonably cold.  There was a freeze warning.  It was raining.  I had been at lunch.  I came outside the restaurant to go to my car.  It was cold and windy and rainy.  The twenty feet from the door to the curb was enough cold and wet for me.  I needed to hurry to my car.  I stepped off of the curb into the shopping center driveway.  That is when we met.

You were well far enough back to stop.  You did not want to stop.  I tried to make eye contact, but you avoided me.  I stepped back out of the street so your car driving by would not splash me.  To you, I was no one, but to me, I was someone.  A cold, wet, wanting to get to my car someone.  I was the pedestrian, you were already in the safety of your car.  It would not have hurt you to stop for me to cross the street.  I thought that was what should have happened. 

You went on your way and probably thought nothing of the event.  I waited in the rain for you to drive by.  Then I made my way to my car.  I got in and started it up.  I turned on the wipers and the heater.  I was finally safe from the elements.

What is the moral of this true story?  Poor me.  I had to stand in the rain while someone insisted that their car get to it's destination in a timely manner.  Poor me.  The other moral of this story is that we should never pass the opportunity to put someone else first.  To exercise a little chivalry.  The person that you stop to let cross in front of you just might be someone from church, they may be having a bad week or a bad month.  They may be discouraged.  Don't make them stand in the rain any longer than needed.  Let them find shelter and safety.  Stop your car and let them pass.  A simple act of kindness goes a long way.

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

why I can't be at every event

Many programs will tell their leaders that in order for their program to succeed, they need the direct involvement of the senior pastor.  This can lead to many situations where good folks end up putting lots of pressure on Jeff to show up for their event.

There is too much going on at WCC for me to show up at everything.  If I tried, I would die.  It is also important that I have down time and quiet time and time with family and friends.  All of these things make for a balanced spiritual life.

Just for example, here is what I was supposed to do last evening. 

• Keep score for the church softball team. 
• Visit Disciple Bible Study
• Camino closura
• Choir concert
• meet with a couple about their wedding.

Sometimes life is busy crazy.  I hope everyone understands.  It is hard to be 5 places at once.

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

God

We like to talk about depending upon God.  We also want an easy life.  One of the surest ways to learn to depend upon God is to run into trouble.

I don't mean the kind of trouble that you can fix, or that will fix itself, I mean the kind of situation that is beyond one's self.  You find yourself flabbergasted, at the end of yourself, no clue of what to do, out of ideas, stumped.

Such moments cause us to rely on God in ways that we normally might not.  I don't wish such problems upon you, but if they come to you, at least enjoy the fact that you are leaning on the Lord more than you were before.

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

sanctuary

One of the blessings of living close to the church is that we have the ability to stop by the sanctuary or chapel and pray.  You can find your way into the church most days from 6am -6pm and later in the evening if something is going on, which is almost every night.  Check the Southeast door or look for places that people seem to be coming and going.  Sunday afternoons can be tough and Saturdays are a touch and go, but for the most part, these rooms are pretty available for you to stop and pray.

Sometimes my prayers a simple chit chat.  Catching up with God.  Sometimes my prayers are sorrowful apologies for the ways that I have missed God's call.  Sometimes my heart is pouring out for another person.  Heart-wrenching, soulful crying out to God.

It is an odd feeling, walking into these rooms alone to pray.  It's like God is there, waiting.  I almost always feel that the room is full of His presence, and I walk into this holy, amazing moment.

It's your church.  If you need to pray, stop by on the way to or from work.  Stop by any time.

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

Is it a sign?

Several have asked me if the bombing at the Boston Marathon and the explosion in West, Texas were a sign.  Are these a sign from God of the end?  Are they a harbinger, a sign from God of a judgment on our culture?

My answer is "no."  NO.

The question is very ethnocentric.  The question implies that if anything bad happens to us, that somehow it must be the end.  That America is somehow special from other countries and cultures, and if any difficulty comes to us, it must be a sign of the end.

Was it a sign of the end of the world, when Cortez destroyed the Aztec culture?  Was it a sign of the end when our forefathers kidnapped Africans and made them slaves?  Was it a harbinger of the end when we spent 300 years destroying Native American Culture?  Was the fall of Rome a sign of the end?

All of these things seemed like the end to those in the culture, but we must remember that nations rise and nations fall.  There is an ebb and flow of power among nations and cultures.  The Holy Land has been conquered 26 different times.

The only constant in our world is our God.  Heaven is his throne and the earth is his footstool.  He calls all nations unto himself and invites them to bow the knee.  God alone is eternal and it is to him that we must go, it is upon him that we must lean.  No president, no political party, no comfort level in life can truly satisfy.  Only Jesus can satisfy the soul.

I am very sorry for the violence that has taken place in our country.  But let us continue to look to our Father and invite others to do the same.  The best thing that can come from painful things is a desire on our part to look to our Father.

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

keeping it to yourself

Sometimes I think it is best to keep your problems to yourself.  Sometimes I think that there is nothing to be gained from spilling your guts. How many times have I told someone my troubles and all it did was hurt them?

Yes there is much to be said for getting things off of your chest, and a friend to listen can be a real blessing, but sometimes the opposite is true.  Sometimes I think that we are better off just taking it in and keeping it there.

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

question

A few weeks ago I published something that included the line, "I am working very hard at being a good human being."  Some asked for me to elaborate on that statement.  Here we go.

I would probably point out that there are lots of humans who consider themselves a finished product.  I do not think of myself this way.  I think one of the best qualities that we offer one another is the awareness that we don't have it all figured out.  A number of people work for me and they all have the ability and permission to question me.  I am not always right.

Something else that I think we can do to work on being a good human being is to work on love.  To think on love, to practice love, to give love, every chance that we can.

Finally I would add that it is very easy in this life to simply react to what happens around you.  This can often lead to the worst of us coming out.  I think that being a good human includes working on responding instead of reacting, or acting instead of reacting.  To learn to take a step back when we don't like something, take a deep breath, count to ten, ask you who you are and who you want to be, say a prayer, get centered, then act.  Act out of the best of who you are.  When we do this, things usually go better.

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

quote

I love great quotes.  This was shared with me by a friend.  It's attributed to Mother Theresa.


People are often unreasonable and self-centered.

FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.

BE KIND ANYWAY

If you are honest, people may cheat you.

BE HONEST ANYWAY

If you find happiness, people may be jealous.

BE HAPPY ANYWAY

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.

DO GOOD ANYWAY

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough.

GIVE YOUR BEST ANYWAY.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.

IT NEVER WAS BETWEEN YOU AND THEM ANYWAY.

 

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

housing in Nicaragua

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






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



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




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





new village under construction


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

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

Nicaragua 4

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

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


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

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

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

Health and nutrition in Nicaragua

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nicaragua 2

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

[boy picking up chicken feed from the dirt floor]



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

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



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



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

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

[one of local churches]



homes the people would put up little pictures of Jesus.

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

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

Nicaragua 1

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

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


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

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

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

indiscriminate

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

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

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

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

in His steps

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

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

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

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

pain

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

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

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

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

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

the Good Samaritan

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

 

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

I Guess I could not stand by and do nothing.

 

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

 

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

a good laugh

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

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

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

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

abandonment

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

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

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

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