Halloween

My mom was a pretty fundamental Christian.  Everything was black and white.   Lots of judgment. That was then, this is now.  She is in heaven with Jesus now and I know that she is basking in his love and sharing it with others.  She is whole.

So what does this have to do with Halloween?  My mom, the fundamental Christian, loved Halloween.  She set aside all of her dogmas and let the dogs out for Halloween.   Demons that were feared and riled against during the rest of the year were amicably welcomed on Halloween.  She had more Halloween decorations than Christmas ones.......

One of my favorites was a sign, which went up every year on the front door. The sign had an ugly witch on it and it said, "Welcome kiddies, put all your goodies in the box below... go quietly and no one will get hurt."  Yes there was a box underneath the sign.   No one ever left any candy, but I find the story to be so funny.

As a child we would run from house to house, covering many blocks.   When our pillow cases got full, we would go home and empty them out and go back for more.   Sometimes when we got home, we found that our Dad had raided our candy and pulled out the Hershey bars!!!

These days, things are different.  Children do not run unsupervised... they go out protected by parents.   It is a shame what our world has become.

But my family still loves Halloween.  Chili on the stove, scary movies on the TV.  Kids coming to the door... it is a great day that we look forward to each year.

Have a Happy Halloween. October 31 is the Lord's day too. This is our father's world.

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

- - - - - - - -

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
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How can you covet what we have?

Caratacus was a British chieftain who led tribal forces against the Roman invasion.  After 7 years of fighting his forces were defeated in 50ad.  As was the custom, the defeated army's leader was taken to Rome and paraded around.

He asked to make a speech to the Roman senate and the request was granted.   His speech was so good that the emperor let him and his family live out their days on a small farm in Italy.  One of the things that he said to the senate was this: "And how can you, then, who have got such possessions and so many of them, covet our poor huts?"

This story made me think again about how we humans just want everything. We can't get enough. But when you think about it, we do have enough. We just need to recognize that and enjoy what we have. When our lives are consumed with wanting more, we are missing the very purpose of our journey here.

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

- - - - - - - -

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

where am I from

My Dad, in his later years, got very into our family genealogy.  Evidently we go back to the Mayflower. We also had generals fighting in the Civil War for both the North and the South.

For Christmas one year, my daughter Allison bought me an account on Ancestry.com

I look at it every now and then. But they sent a recent update. Here is where I am from;
and if you click on the links, it will show you the general areas...

Western Europe 49%
Northwestern Germany15%
Bavaria & Western Austria14%
Northeastern GermanyNew11%
The Netherlands5%
BelgiumNew3%
France1%

England 33%
Southeastern England15%
Devon & Somerset7%
East Midlands & Yorkshire4%
West Midlands4%
Northern England3%

Central & Eastern Europe 10%
Western CzechiaNew7%
Western Carpathian BasinNew2%
Carpathian Basin & UplandsNew1%

Celtic & Gaelic 5%
Leinster, Ireland4%
Southern Wales1%

Nordic 2%
Denmark2%

Southeastern Europe 1%
Slovenia1%

So I have a friend that tells me that I am all over the place... here, there, this idea, this topic and then suddenly onto the next.

The above family tree may explain everything.  I am a mutt.  I am from everywhere.

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

- - - - - - - -

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

thoughts on discipline

Thoughts on discipline

In Plum Johnson’s book “They left us everything,” she talks about how her father had beat her brothers with a bamboo cane. She commented that she came to realize that “it wasn’t something that he wanted to do, it was something that he felt that he had to do, some version of misguided discipline that he had experienced in his own childhood. He must have been beaten hard at his boarding school.”

This paragraph struck a nerve.   I reflected on my mother’s beating us with the metal end of a boy scout belt. I reflected on the many times that she bloodied our mouths. I guess it is possible that she didn’t enjoy it, but that she was just doing what she felt she had to do, living out some version of misguided disciple that she had learned growing up.

And I reflected on our discipline of our children. I never slapped my children or struck them.  There were a few spankings.  Cathy and I always felt terrible after the fact.   We were much much easier on them than our parents were on us. Much easier.

Now in hindsight I feel bad for every spanking. There was another way for sure, but I was operating out of some misguided sense of discipline that I had learned growing up.

I am going to apologize to my kids.

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

- - - - - - - -

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

Good Job, Good Dog

Tell me that I am ok.  Please.

Am I the only person who feels this way???

I was working at a store in Chicago and I fixed this corner. It wasn’t anything that I had to do, I was just trying to be good to the people who worked there.

Carts and dolly's and who knows what had hit that corner 1,000 times. I should have taken a before picture.

After I got it done, I made a point of telling the employees to go check it out. I think I was hoping that they would appreciate what I did.

And this is something about me that I don’t like. When I do something, I always hope that the person that I am working for will tell me that I did a good job. It is like I need the affirmation.

You are ok Jeff
You are good Jeff
Good job Jeff
Good dog Jeff

I know that when I was a kid, we didn’t get any affirmation at all. No “good job.” No “well done.” No thank yous. No I love yous.

Moral of the story is this. Tell people that you appreciate them. Tell them that you love them. Tell them that they did good. Your kind words may just be the message that they need to feel that they are ok.

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

- - - - - - - -Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

don't say this

Not allowed to say

When our kids were little there were three things that they were not allowed to say.  Well, cursing and swearing was out as well, but there were three specific things that we would not let them say.

1. You are stupid
2. I hate you.
3. Shut up

I hope that you can see why.  First of all, children have no idea of when to say things. They have very little idea of what is appropriate and what is not.

And those three phrases are probably the most hurtful things that one human can say to another.   I can’t remember ever saying those phrases to anyone.   Well I am sure that I have used shut up.

Words can hurt. Let’s be careful about the ones that we use.

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

- - - - - - - -

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

The fingernail

I have a fingernail on my right hand that is constantly splitting.  It hurts.  It is annoying.  It is like the splinter in the lion's paw.

I think about it way too much.  I grabs my attention because it hurts.  And if you know fingernail pain, I keep catching it on things and it is really painful.

Then I think... my other 9 nails are fine.  So are my toenails.  Maybe I should spend more time focusing on what is good instead of what is wrong.

Instead of saying, "why me? Why does this hurt?"  Maybe I should ask things like this:  why can I see when others are blind?  Why can I walk when others are in a wheelchair?  Why do I have the ability to think and remember when others have dementia?

There are 1,000 questions like this and I should think about them more often and think about my fingernail less.

 Why can I hear when others are deaf?  Why do I have people that love me when others are alone and lonely?  There are 998 questions like these.  We should ask them more.

We have a lot to be thankful for.

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

- - - - - - - -

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

Do you notice

Another gem from my friend Judy...

I am in love with this sentence:

"The amount of beautiful things in your life depends on your ability to notice them."

Are you paying attention to the good?

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

- - - - - - - -

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

from my friend Judy

Ah, kindness.

What a simple way to show another struggling soul

that there still is some love to be found in this world.

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

- - - - - - - -

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

quote

Yesterday's post reminded me of this quote which is one of my all time favorites:


This is the true joy in life,
the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one;
the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap…
and being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod
of ailments and grievance,
complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.

George Bernard Shaw

May we all lean away from selfishness and grievance and devote ourselves to the purpose of loving others.

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

- - - - - - - -

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

circumstances or choice

Are you happy?  Joyful?

Is it because of circumstances or of the choices that you and I made?  Far too many humans let their feelings about life roll with the circumstances of the day.

Sure my car has an issue.  Sure my kids live too far away.  Sure I have abdominal adhesions. Sure gas is way too expensive.  Sure I miss my friends.  But I do not have to left those feelings and concerns control me.

We can choose to see the good.  We choose to do it.  We choose to overcome.  We control out thoughts.  And this my friends is the difference between people and great people.

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

- - - - - - - -

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

open your eyes

I heard a song the other day called "open your eyes ii" the group that sings it is called Victory.  I was intrigued by the words... open your eyes to the beauty of life.

As I further read the lyrics, the author is trying to get someone to see the good but there are forces always weighing them down.

It is true that there are things in life that weigh us down.  We however, can make the choice to rise above them.  But it is a conscious choice.

Here are the lyrics to the song...


Open your eyes
You'll be so blind
Beauty of life
Everywhere so won't you dare

Open your eyes
You'll be so blind
Beauty of life
Everywhere so won't you dare

I wanna fly beyond the sky
Higher than where the airplanes glide
I wanna sail the seven seas
And maybe visit all of the countries
I want you to come along
Life is better when we're not alone
And we might make a very good team
And then we could reach our every dream
But you always got something sad to talk about
Always walking with a heart full of doubt
You don't seem to to see all of the possibilities
And I wanna make you happy
I want you to be free
But there seems to always be
Forces of gravity
Weighing you down
And I want you to fly with me

So darling, won't you open your eyes
How can you be so blind to the beauty of life
It's everywhere so won't you dare
To open your eyes
How can you be so blind to the beauty of life
It's everywhere so won't you dare
To open your eyes

I wanna explore the ocean's floor
And see things no one's ever seen before
I wanna build a jungle mansion
Just like the Swiss Family Robinson
I want you to live there with me
Otherwise it might get lonely
And could be a dynamic duo
Makin' up our own rules
But you don't believe in yourself enough
You always settle when things get tough
You don't seem to know
All of your potential
And I wanna make you happy
I want you to be free
But there seems to always be
Forces of gravity
Weighing you down
And I want you to fly with me

So darling, won't you open your eyes
How can you be so blind to the beauty of life
It's everywhere so won't you dare
To open your eyes
How can you be so blind to the beauty of life
It's everywhere so won't you dare
To open your eyes, ooh
It's everywhere so won't you dare
To open your eyes, oh yes
It's everywhere so won't you dare
Open your eyes
It's everywhere so won't you dare
To open your eyes


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


- - - - - - - -

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

Halloween - spoiler, if you don't like scary things - just delete

My family has always loved Halloween.  My daughter and her husband in Chicago go all out.  This is some of their collection of scary stuff.

I love it!

Giant Spider - hard to see

pretty creepy

arm is not real

very creepy

creepiest

I had to share.  Hope you enjoyed the tour of their front yard!!!

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

- - - - - - - -

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

Chicago

On October 1 I got the invite from the construction company to go to a job in Chicago.  I jumped at the chance not just because I like to work, but my daughter Alli and her family live there.  Every weekend I have been able to spend time with them.  Last Sunday we went to a park.  It was beautiful.

Alli with Baby Leo - 7 months

Bella 6, Cruz 3

When I am out of town on a job, weekends can be pretty boring.  But not this time!  Very exciting to be able to see them and spend time with them.

For my friends in Ft. Pierce, I fly home on the 24th and should be in church on the 25th.

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

- - - - - - - -

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

Wrong

I was wrong about something the other day.  It happens.  It is good to be wrong every now and then.  It keeps us humble.

Being wrong reminds us that we are not perfect and we are not invincible.

We are all wrong from time to time.  If you are wrong, admit it.  And if need be, say you are sorry.

The Fonz may not have believed it, but "I was wrong" and "I am sorry" are two healthy things for us to say when needed.

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

- - - - - - - -

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

Best Church Sign Ever

My friend Susan was driving through West Texas.  She found this sign at the St. Paul Episcopal Church in Marfa, Texas. This is their church sign. 

 I LOVE IT!!!  Here is the text...

We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, widowed, trans, gay, confused, filthy rich, comfortable, or dirt poor.  We extend a special welcome to those who are crying newborns, skinny as a rake, or could afford to lose a few pounds.  You’re welcome if you are old mafia, new mafia, not mafia or just passing by.  We welcome you if you can sing like Pavarotti or can’t carry a note in a bucket.  You’re welcome here if you’re just browsing, just woke up or just got out of prison. We don’t care if you’re more Christian than our presiding bishop or haven’t been in church since little Jack's christening.

We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown-up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast.  We welcome keep fit mom‘s, football Dad‘s, ranchers, starving artists, tree huggers, latte sippers, vegetarians, and junk food eaters.  We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted.  We welcome you if you’re having problems or you’re down in the dumps or if you don’t like organized religion.  We’ve been there too!

If you blew all your money on fantasy football, you’re welcome here.  We offer a welcome to those who think the Earth is flat, work too hard or don’t work, can’t spell or because Grandma is in town and wanted to go to church.  We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both.  We have a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid or got lost on the far west Texas roads and wound up here by mistake.  We welcome tourists, seekers, and doubters, bleeding hearts, and you.

Come worship with us Sundays at 10:30 AM

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

- - - - - - - -

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

Giving

David VanGiesen is a fantastic man.  He was my District Superintendent for three years when I was assigned to the Princeton and Mercer Missouri United Methodist Churches.

David had many good sayings, but one that I have always cherished is this:  "When the heartstrings are warm, the purse strings are loose."

I found this to be so true over the years.  When people love their church, the finances go well.  I am so happy now for my church in Ft. Pierce.  The giving is good because everyone loves the church and you can feel it when you go there.

What do you love?  What are you giving towards?

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

- - - - - - - -

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

Paradise

I was listening to a podcast.

A woman was on a sailboat in the Caribbean.  She said it was beautiful.  It was paradise.

Later she was visiting with her counselor and she said, "I was in paradise, yet I was miserable."

The counselor told her, "paradise is not a location."

You have to learn to be happy, you have to learn to be content no matter the circumstances.  That is where and when we humans find paradise.  Happy, contented, no matter what ever else is going on.

Peace and solace.  No matter.

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

- - - - - - - -

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

tues oct 13 Karma

Karma - what goes around, comes around.  

This principle has strong support in Christianity...

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Mt 7:12

Cast your bread upon the waters and after many days it will return to you.  Ecclesiastes 11:1

You reap what you sow.  Gal 6:7 and 2 Corinthians 9:6

You probably know that I travel from time to time for a construction company.  I love the work and I love being around those who do the work.  I love watching the big machines work.

I also love interacting with the people.  The industry is filled with scheduling issues and various mistakes that create problems.  The result of all of that is people who are under  pressure, stressed and often negative.

And into that high pressure environment, I get to bring as much joy and kindness as I can.  It is amazing how people respond to kindness, especially after they haven't had much for a while.

May we be those who bring a friendly smile, a kind word and a helping hand.  The atmosphere around the place will totally change.

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

- - - - - - - -

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info

thoughts on cleaning out

I have been thinking about cleaning stuff out, you probably know that.  There are many ideas that can help us rid ourselves of items.

One is, "if you haven't used it in a year, get rid of it."

Another is, "how does that item make you feel?"  If it makes you feel good, keep it... if not, then move it along.

My friend Judy offered a thought a few days ago... "What purpose does this serve?  What meaning does this hold?"  If an item holds no meaning or purpose, then why is it still here?

There is an old saying, everything that you own, owns a little bit of you.

I for one, am going to keep on thinning things out.  It makes me feel lighter and it makes me feel happier.

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

- - - - - - - -

Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
Here is a link for more information
Click here for New Zealand Info

Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
Here is the link for more information

click here for Canada New England cruise info